IX. THANGBRAND THE PRIEST. SHORT of stature, large of limb, With nodding head, "There goes Thangbrand, Olaf's Priest." All the prayers he knew by rote, He could preach like Chrysostome, From the Fathers he could quote, A man of mark, Was this Thangbrand, Olaf's Priest. He was quarrelsome and loud, And impatient of control, Boisterous at the wassail-bowl, Would drink and swear, Swaggering Thangbrand, Olaf's Priest. In his house this malecontent So to Iceland he was sent To convert the heathen there, And away One summer day Sailed this Thangbrand, Olaf's Priest. There in Iceland, o'er their books Nor the songs they used to write. Is waste of time!" Grumbled Thangbrand, Olaf's Priest. To the alehouse, where he sat, Is it to be wondered at, That they quarrelled now and then, Drunken Thangbrand, Olaf's Priest? All the folk in Alftafiord Boasted of their island grand; Saying in a single word, "Iceland is the finest land That the sun Doth shine upon!" Loud laughed Thangbrand, Olaf's Priest. And he answered: "What's the use Of this bragging up and down, Satires scrawled On poor Thangbrand, Olaf's Priest. Something worse they did than that; Was a figure in shovel hat, Drawn in charcoal on the wall; "This is Thangbrand, Olaf's Priest." Hardly knowing what he did, Then he smote them might and main, Thorvald Veile and Veterlid Lay there in the alehouse slain. To-morrow mould!" Muttered Thangbrand, Olaf's Priest. Much in fear of axe and rope, Back to Norway sailed he then. "O, King Olaf! little hope Is there of these Iceland men!" With bending head, Pious Thangbrand, Olaf's Priest. Longfellow. III, 5 X. RAUD THE STRONG. "ALL the old gods are dead, All the wild warlocks fled; But the White Christ lives and reigns, And throughout my wide domains His Gospel shall be spread!" On the Evangelists Thus swore King Olaf. But still in dreams of the night And heard the voice that defied And challenged him to the fight. And Sigurd the Bishop said, Said Sigurd the Bishop. "Far north in the Salten Fiord, By rapine, fire, and sword, Lives the Viking, Raud the Strong; To him and his heathen horde." “A warlock, a wizard is he, He has ever favoring gales, By his craft in sorcery." Here the sign of the cross made "With rites that we both abhor, That all the old gods are dead, Said Sigurd the Bishop. Then King Olaf cried aloud: |