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with melodies of olden times；
As over some half…ruined wall；
Disjointed and about to fall；
Fresh woodbines climb and interlace；
And keep the loosened stones in place。
THE MUSICIAN'S TALE
THE SAGA OF KING OLAF
I
THE CHALLENGE OF THOR
I am the God Thor；
I am the War God；
I am the Thunderer！
Here in my Northland；
My fastness and fortress；
Reign I forever！
Here amid icebergs
Rule I the nations；
This is my hammer；
Miolner the mighty；
Giants and sorcerers
Cannot withstand it！
These are the gauntlets
Wherewith I wield it；
And hurl it afar off；
This is my girdle；
Whenever I brace it；
Strength is redoubled！
The light thou beholdest
Stream through the heavens；
In flashes of crimson；
Is but my red beard
Blown by the night…wind；
Affrighting the nations！
Jove is my brother；
Mine eyes are the lightning；
The wheels of my chariot
Roll in the thunder；
The blows of my hammer
Ring in the earthquake！
Force rules the world still；
Has ruled it； shall rule it；
Meekness is weakness；
Strength is triumphant；
Over the whole earth
Still is it Thor's…Day！
Thou art a God too；
O Galilean！
And thus single…handed
Unto the combat；
Gauntlet or Gospel；
Here I defy thee！
II
KING OLAF'S RETURN
And King Olaf heard the cry；
Saw the red light in the sky；
Laid his hand upon his sword；
As he leaned upon the railing；
And his ships went sailing； sailing
Northward into Drontheim fiord。
There he stood as one who dreamed；
And the red light glanced and gleamed
On the armor that he wore；
And he shouted； as the rifled
Streamers o'er him shook and shifted；
〃I accept thy challenge； Thor！〃
To avenge his father slain；
And reconquer realm and reign；
Came the youthful Olaf home；
Through the midnight sailing； sailing；
Listening to the wild wind's wailing；
And the dashing of the foam。
To his thoughts the sacred name
Of his mother Astrid came；
And the tale she oft had told
Of her flight by secret passes
Through the mountains and morasses；
To the home of Hakon old。
Then strange memories crowded back
Of Queen Gunhild's wrath and wrack；
And a hurried flight by sea；
Of grim Vikings； and the rapture
Of the sea…fight； and the capture；
And the life of slavery。
How a stranger watched his face
In the Esthonian market…place；
Scanned his features one by one；
Saying； 〃We should know each other；
I am Sigurd； Astrid's brother；
Thou art Olaf； Astrid's son！〃
Then as Queen Allogia's page；
Old in honors； young in age；
Chief of all her men…at…arms；
Till vague whispers； and mysterious；
Reached King Valdemar； the imperious；
Filling him with strange alarms。
Then his cruisings o'er the seas；
Westward to the Hebrides；
And to Scilly's rocky shore；
And the hermit's cavern dismal；
Christ's great name and rites baptismal
in the ocean's rush and roar。
All these thoughts of love and strife
Glimmered through his lurid life；
As the stars' intenser light
Through the red flames o'er him trailing；
As his ships went sailing； sailing；
Northward in the summer night。
Trained for either camp or court；
Skilful in each manly sport；
Young and beautiful and tall；
Art of warfare； craft of chases；
Swimming； skating； snow…shoe races
Excellent alike in all。
When at sea； with all his rowers；
He along the bending oars
Outside of his ship could run。
He the Smalsor Horn ascended；
And his shining shield suspended；
On its summit； like a sun。
On the ship…rails he could stand；
Wield his sword with either hand；
And at once two javelins throw；
At all feasts where ale was strongest
Sat the merry monarch longest；
First to come and last to go。
Norway never yet had seen
One so beautiful of mien；
One so royal in attire；
When in arms completely furnished；
Harness gold…inlaid and burnished；
Mantle like a flame of fire。
Thus came Olaf to his own；
When upon the night…wind blown
Passed that cry along the shore；
And he answered； while the rifted
Streamers o'er him shook and shifted；
〃I accept thy challenge； Thor！〃
III
THORA OF RIMOL
〃Thora of Rimol！ hide me！ hide me！
Danger and shame and death betide me！
For Olaf the King is hunting me down
Through field and forest； through thorp and town！〃
Thus cried Jarl Hakon
To Thora； the fairest of women。
Hakon Jarl！ for the love I bear thee
Neither shall shame nor death come near thee！
But the hiding…place wherein thou must lie
Is the cave underneath the swine in the sty。〃
Thus to Jarl Hakon
Said Thora； the fairest of women。
So Hakon Jarl and his base thrall Karker
Crouched in the cave； than a dungeon darker；
As Olaf came riding； with men in mail；
Through the forest roads into Orkadale；
Demanding Jarl Hakon
Of Thorn； the fairest of women。
〃Rich and honored shall be whoever
The head of Hakon Jarl shall dissever！〃
Hakon heard him； and Karker the slave；
Through the breathing…holes of the darksome cave。
Alone in her chamber
Wept Thora； the fairest of women。
Said Karker； the crafty； 〃I will not slay thee！
For all the king's gold I will never betray thee！〃
〃Then why dost thou turn so pale； O churl；
And then again black as the earth？〃 said the Earl。
More pale and more faithful
Was Thora； the fairest of women。
From a dream in the night the thrall started； saying；
〃Round my neck a gold ring King Olaf was laying！〃
And Hakon answered； 〃Beware of the king！
He will lay round thy neck a blood…red ring。〃
At the ring on her finger
Gazed Thorn； the fairest of women。
At daybreak slept Hakon； with sorrows encumbered；
But screamed and drew up his feet as he slumbered；
The thrall in the darkness plunged with his knife；
And the Earl awakened no more in this life。
But wakeful and weeping
Sat Thorn； the fairest of women。
At Nidarholm the priests are all singing；
Two ghastly heads on the gibbet are swinging；
One is Jarl Hakon's and one is his thrall's；
And the people are shouting from windows and walls；
While alone in her chamber
Swoons Thorn； the fairest of women。
IV
QUEEN SIGRID THE HAUGHTY
Queen Sigrid the Haughty sat proud and aloft
In her chamber； that looked over meadow and croft。
Heart's dearest；
Why dost thou sorrow so？
The floor with tassels of fir was besprent；
Filling the room with their fragrant scent。
She heard the birds sing； she saw the sun shine；
The air of summer was sweeter than wine。
Like a sword without scabbard the bright river lay
Between her own kingdom and Norroway。
But Olaf the King had sued for her hand；
The sword would be sheathed； the river be spanned。
Her maidens were seated around her kne