And pricketh over stile and stone,
An elf queen to espy;
Till he so long had ridden and gone,
That he at last upon a morn
The fairy land came nigh.

16.
Therein he sought both far and near,
And oft he spied in daylight clear
Through many a forest wild;
But in that wondrous land I ween,
No living wight by him was seen,
Nor woman, man, nor child.

17.
At last there came a giant gaunt,
And he was named Sir Oliphaunt,
A perilous man of deed:
And he said, "Childe, by Termagaunt,
If thou ride not from this my haunt,
Soon will I slay thy steed
With this victorious mace;
For here's the lovely Queen of Faery,
With harp and pipe and symphony,
A-dwelling in this place."

18.
Childe Thopas said right haughtily,
"To-morrow will I combat thee
In armour bright as flower;