Research source

These elves, who in England were called fairies or fays, were also enthusiastic musicians, and delighted…

Date of account: Ancient and medieval traditions presented in 1909
Source: Myths of the Norsemen: From the Eddas and Sagas
Reference: Myths of the Norsemen: From the Eddas and Sagas · selected passage 144
Rights: public_domain
Language: English retelling from Eddic and saga sources
Translation: H. A. Guerber
Record updated: 2026-08-24

Record summary

Published source text

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Source passage

Source text · mention only

These elves, who in England were called fairies or fays, were also enthusiastic musicians, and delighted especially in a certain air known as the elf-dance, which was so irresistible that no one who heard it could refrain from dancing. If a mortal, overhearing the air, ventured to reproduce it, he suddenly found himself incapable of stopping and was forced to play on and on until he died of exhaustion, unless he were deft enough to play the tune backwards, or some one charitably cut the strings of his violin. His hearers, who were forced to dance as long as the tones continued, could only stop when they ceased.

Historical context

Contextual commentary · mention only

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Modern context

Contextual commentary · mention only

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