Trained for either camp or court, Young and beautiful and tall; When at sea, with all his rowers, Outside of his ship could run. On the ship-rails he could stand, And at once two javelins throw; Norway never yet had seen When in arms completely furnished, Thus came Olaf to his own, 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 Said Thora, the fairest of women. So Hakon Jarl and his base thrall Karker Of Thora, 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! 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." Gazed Thora, the fairest of women. At daybreak slept Hakon, with sorrows encumbered, Sat Thora, the fairest of women. At Nidarholm the priests are all singing, And the people are shouting from windows and walls; Swoons Thora, the fairest of women. Longfellow, III. IV. QUEEN SIGRID THE HAUGHTY. QUEEN Sigrid the Haughty sat proud and aloft Why dost thou sorrow so? The floor with tassels of fir was besprent, She heard the birds sing, she saw the sun shine, Like a sword without scabbard the bright river lay Between her own kingdom and Norroway. But Olaf the King had sued for her hand, Her maidens were seated around her knee, And one was singing the ancient rune And through it, and round it, and over it all The Queen in her hand held a ring of gold, King Olaf had sent her this wedding gift, She had given the ring to her goldsmiths twain, And Sigrid the Queen, in her haughty way, And they answered: "O Queen! if the truth must be told, The ring is of copper, and not of gold!" The lightning flashed o'er her forehead and cheek, "If in his gifts he can faithless be, A footstep was heard on the outer stair, He kissed the Queen's hand, and he whispered of love, But she smiled with contempt as she answered: “O King, Will you swear it, as Odin once swore, on the ring?". And the King: "O speak not of Odin to me, Looking straight at the King, with her level brows, Then the face of King Olaf was darkened with gloom, He rose in his anger and strode through the room. |