And the fowls’ little eyes were like little coals of fire, so he knew that they were the King of Elfland’s fowls, and that he was still in the Land of Faery.

And he said to the hen-wife, “Canst tell me where lies the Dark Tower of the King of Elfland?”

Now the hen-wife looked at him and smiled.  “Surely I can tell you,” said she.  “Go on a little farther.  There you will find a low green hill; green and low against the sky.  And the hill will have three terrace-rings upon it from bottom to top.  Go round the first terrace saying: 

  ’Open from within;
   Let me in!  Let me in!’

“Then go round the second terrace and say: 

  ’Open wide, open wide;
   Let me inside.’

“Then go round the third terrace and say: 

  ’Open fast, open fast;
   Let me in at last.’

“Then a door will open and let you in to the Dark Tower of the King of Elfland.  Only remember to go round widershins.  If you go round with the sun the door will not open.  So good luck to you!”

Now the hen-wife spoke so fair, and smiled so frank, that Childe Rowland forgot for a moment what he had to do.  Therefore he thanked the old woman for her courtesy and was just going on, when, all of a sudden, he remembered his lesson.  And he out with his father’s sword that never yet struck in vain, and smote off the hen-wife’s head, so that it rolled among the corn and frightened the fiery-eyed fowls of the King of Elfland.

After that he went on and on, till, against the blue sky, he saw a round green hill set with three terraces from top to bottom.

Then he did as the hen-wife had told him, not forgetting to go round widershins, so that the sun was always on his face.

Now when he had gone round the third terrace saying: 

  “Open fast, open fast;
   Let me in at last,”

what should happen but that he should see a door in the hill-side.  And it opened and let him in.  Then it closed behind him with a click, and Childe Rowland was left in the dark; for he had gotten at last to the Dark Tower of the King of Elfland.

It was very dark at first, perhaps because the sun had part blinded his eyes; for after a while it became twilight, though where the light came from none could tell, unless through the walls and the roof; for there were neither windows nor candles.  But in the gloaming light he could see a long passage of rough arches made of rock that was transparent and all encrusted with sheep-silver, rock-spar, and many bright stones.  And the air was warm as it ever is in Elfland.  So he went on and on in the twilight that came from nowhere, till he found himself before two wide doors all barred with iron.  But they flew open at his touch, and he saw a wonderful, large, and spacious hall that seemed to him to be as long and as broad as the green hill itself.  The roof was supported by pillars wide and lofty beyond the pillars of a