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But； as the summer fruit decays；
So died he in those naked days。
A dark cloak of the roebuck's skin
Covered the warrior； and within
Its heavy folds the weapons； made
For the hard toils of war； were laid；
The cuirass； woven of plaited reeds；
And the broad belt of shells and beads。
Before； a dark…haired virgin train
Chanted the death dirge of the slain；
Behind； the long procession came
Of hoary men and chiefs of fame；
With heavy hearts； and eyes of grief；
Leading the war…horse of their chief。
Stripped of his proud and martial dress；
Uncurbed； unreined； and riderless；
With darting eye； and nostril spread；
And heavy and impatient tread；
He came； and oft that eye so proud
Asked for his rider in the crowd。
They buried the dark chief； they freed
Beside the grave his battle steed；
And swift an arrow cleaved its way
To his stern heart！ One piercing neigh
Arose； and； on the dead man's plain；
The rider grasps his steed again。
L' ENVOI
Ye voices； that arose
After the Evening's close；
And whispered to my restless heart repose！
Go； breathe it in the ear
Of all who doubt and fear；
And say to them； 〃Be of good cheer！〃
Ye sounds； so low and calm；
That in the groves of balm
Seemed to me like an angel's psalm！
Go； mingle yet once more
With the perpetual roar
Of the pine forest dark and hoar！
Tongues of the dead； not lost
But speaking from deaths frost；
Like fiery tongues at Pentecost！
Glimmer； as funeral lamps；
Amid the chills and darn ps
Of the vast plain where Death encamps！
****************
BALLADS AND OTHER POEMS
THE SKELETON IN ARMOR
〃Speak！ speak I thou fearful guest
Who； with thy hollow breast
Still in rude armor drest；
Comest to daunt me！
Wrapt not in Eastern balms；
Bat with thy fleshless palms
Stretched； as if asking alms；
Why dost thou haunt me？〃
Then； from those cavernous eyes
Pale flashes seemed to rise；
As when the Northern skies
Gleam in December；
And； like the water's flow
Under December's snow；
Came a dull voice of woe
From the heart's chamber。
〃I was a Viking old！
My deeds； though manifold；
No Skald in song has told；
No Saga taught thee！
Take heed； that in thy verse
Thou dost the tale rehearse；
Else dread a dead man's curse；
For this I sought thee。
〃Far in the Northern Land；
By the wild Baltic's strand；
I； with my childish hand；
Tamed the gerfalcon；
And； with my skates fast…bound；
Skimmed the half…frozen Sound；
That the poor whimpering hound
Trembled to walk on。
〃Oft to his frozen lair
Tracked I the grisly bear；
While from my path the hare
Fled like a shadow；
Oft through the forest dark
Followed the were…wolf's bark；
Until the soaring lark
Sang from the meadow。
〃But when I older grew；
Joining a corsair's crew；
O'er the dark sea I flew
With the marauders。
Wild was the life we led；
Many the souls that sped；
Many the hearts that bled；
By our stern orders。
〃Many a wassail…bout
Wore the long Winter out；
Often our midnight shout
Set the cocks crowing；
As we the Berserk's tale
Measured in cups of ale；
Draining the oaken pail；
Filled to o'erflowing。
〃Once as I told in glee
Tales of the stormy sea；
Soft eyes did gaze on me；
Burning yet tender；
And as the white stars shine
On the dark Norway pine；
On that dark heart of mine
Fell their soft splendor。
〃I wooed the blue…eyed maid；
Yielding； yet half afraid；
And in the forest's shade
Our vows were plighted。
Under its loosened vest
Fluttered her little breast
Like birds within their nest
By the hawk frighted。
〃Bright in her father's hall
Shields gleamed upon the wall；
Loud sang the minstrels all；
Chanting his glory；
When of old Hildebrand
I asked his daughter's hand；
Mute did the minstrels stand
To hear my story。
〃While the brown ale he quaffed；
Loud then the champion laughed；
And as the wind…gusts waft
The sea…foam brightly；
So the loud laugh of scorn；
Out of those lips unshorn；
From the deep drinking…horn
Blew the foam lightly。
〃She was a Prince's child；
I but a Viking wild；
And though she blushed and smiled；
I was discarded！
Should not the dove so white
Follow the sea…mew's flight；
Why did they leave that night
Her nest unguarded？
〃Scarce had I put to sea；
Bearing the maid with me；
Fairest of all was she
Among the Norsemen！
When on the white sea…strand；
Waving his armed hand；
Saw we old Hildebrand；
With twenty horsemen。
〃Then launched they to the blast；
Bent like a reed each mast；
Yet we were gaining fast；
When the wind failed us；
And with a sudden flaw
Came round the gusty Skaw；
So that our foe we saw
Laugh as he hailed us。
〃And as to catch the gale
Round veered the flapping sail；
Death I was the helmsman's hail；
Death without quarter！
Mid…ships with iron keel
Struck we her ribs of steel
Down her black hulk did reel
Through the black water！
〃As with his wings aslant；
Sails the fierce cormorant；
Seeking some rocky haunt
With his prey laden；
So toward the open main；
Beating to sea again；
Through the wild hurricane；
Bore I the maiden。
〃Three weeks we westward bore；
And when the storm was o'er；
Cloud…like we saw the shore
Stretching to leeward；
There for my lady's bower
Built I the lofty tower；
Which； to this very hour；
Stands looking seaward。
〃There lived we many years；
Time dried the maiden's tears
She had forgot her fears；
She was a mother。
Death closed her mild blue eyes；
Under that tower she lies；
Ne'er shall the sun arise
On such another！
〃Still grew my bosom then。
Still as a stagnant fen！
Hateful to me were men；
The sunlight hateful！
In the vast forest here；
Clad in my warlike gear；
Fell I upon my spear；
O； death was grateful！
〃Thus； seamed with many scars；
Bursting these prison bars；
Up to its native stars
My soul ascended！
There from the flowing bowl
Deep drinks the warrior's soul；
Skoal！ to the Northland！ skoal！〃
Thus the tale ended。
THE WRECK OF THE HESPERUS
It was the schooner Hesperus；
That sailed the wintry sea；
And the skipper had taken his little daughter；
To bear him company。
Blue were her eyes as the fairy…flax；
Her cheeks like the dawn of day；
And her bosom white as the hawthorn buds；
That ope in the month of May。
The skipper he stood beside the helm；
His pipe was in his month；
And he watched how the veering flaw did blow
The smoke now West； now South。
Then up and spake an old Sailor；
Had sailed to the Spanish Main；
〃I pray thee； put into yonder port；
For I fear a hurricane。
〃Last night； the moon had a golden ring；
And