the complete poetical works-第88节
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Swaggering Thangbrand； Olaf's Priest
In his house this malcontent
Could the King no longer bear；
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
Pored the people day and night；
But he did not like their looks；
Nor the songs they used to write。
〃All this rhyme
Is waste of time！〃
Grumbled Thangbrand； Olaf's Priest。
To the alehouse； where he sat
Came the Scalds and Saga…men；
Is it to be wondered at；
That they quarrelled now and then；
When o'er his beer
Began to leer
Drunken Thangbrand； Olaf's Priest？
All the folk in Altafiord
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；
When three women and one goose
Make a market in your town！〃
Every Scald
Satires scrawled
On poor Thangbrand； Olaf's Priest。
Something worse they did than that；
And what vexed him most of all
Was a figure in shovel hat；
Drawn in charcoal on the wall；
With words that go
Sprawling below；
〃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…day we are gold；
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！〃
Meekly said；
With bending head；
Pious Thangbrand； Olaf's Priest。
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
Beheld he the crimson light；
And heard the voice that defied
Him who was crucified；
And challenged him to the fight。
To Sigurd the Bishop
King Olaf confessed it。
And Sigurd the Bishop said；
〃The old gods are not dead；
For the great Thor still reigns；
And among the Jarls and Thanes
The old witchcraft still is spread。〃
Thus to King Olaf
Said Sigurd the Bishop。
〃Far north in the Salten Fiord；
By rapine； fire； and sword；
Lives the Viking； Raud the Strong；
All the Godoe Isles belong
To him and his heathen horde。〃
Thus went on speaking
Sigurd the Bishop。
〃A warlock； a wizard is he；
And lord of the wind and the sea；
And whichever way he sails；
He has ever favoring gales；
By his craft in sorcery。〃
Here the sign of the cross
Made devoutly King Olaf。
〃With rites that we both abhor；
He worships Odin and Thor；
So it cannot yet be said；
That all the old gods are dead；
And the warlocks are no more；〃
Flushing with anger
Said Sigurd the Bishop。
Then King Olaf cried aloud：
〃I will talk with this mighty Raud；
And along the Salten Fiord
Preach the Gospel with my sword；
Or be brought back in my shroud！〃
So northward from Drontheim
Sailed King Olaf！
XI
BISHOP SIGURD AT SALTEN FIORD
Loud the anngy wind was wailing
As King Olaf's ships came sailing
Northward out of Drontheim haven
To the mouth of Salten Fiord。
Though the flying sea…spray drenches
Fore and aft the rowers' benches；
Not a single heart is craven
Of the champions there on board。
All without the Fiord was quiet
But within it storm and riot；
Such as on his Viking cruises
Raud the Strong was wont to ride。
And the sea through all its tide…ways
Swept the reeling vessels sideways；
As the leaves are swept through sluices；
When the flood…gates open wide。
〃'T is the warlock！ 't is the demon
Raud！〃 cried Sigurd to the seamen；
〃But the Lord is not affrighted
By the witchcraft of his foes。〃
To the ship's bow he ascended；
By his choristers attended；
Round him were the tapers lighted；
And the sacred incense rose。
On the bow stood Bishop Sigurd；
In his robes； as one transfigured；
And the Crucifix he planted
High amid the rain and mist。
Then with holy water sprinkled
All the ship； the mass…bells tinkled；
Loud the monks around him chanted；
Loud he read the Evangelist。
As into the Fiord they darted；
On each side the water parted；
Down a path like silver molten
Steadily rowed King Olaf's ships；
Steadily burned all night the tapers；
And the White Christ through the vapors
Gleamed across the Fiord of Salten；
As through John's Apocalypse；
Till at last they reached Raud's dwelling
On the little isle of Gelling；
Not a guard was at the doorway；
Not a glimmer of light was seen。
But at anchor； carved and gilded；
Lay the dragon…ship he builded；
'T was the grandest ship in Norway；
With its crest and scales of green。
Up the stairway； softly creeping；
To the loft where Raud was sleeping；
With their fists they burst asunder
Bolt and bar that held the door。
Drunken with sleep and ale they found him；
Dragged him from his bed and bound him；
While he stared with stupid wonder；
At the look and garb they wore。
Then King Olaf said： 〃O Sea…King！
Little time have we for speaking；
Choose between the good and evil；
Be baptized； or thou shalt die！
But in scorn the heathen scoffer
Answered： 〃I disdain thine offer；
Neither fear I God nor Devil；
Thee and thy Gospel I defy！〃
Then between his jaws distended；
When his frantic struggles ended；
Through King Olaf's horn an adder；
Touched by fire； they forced to glide。
Sharp his tooth was as an arrow；
As he gnawed through bone and marrow；
But without a groan or shudder；
Raud the Strong blaspheming died。
Then baptized they all that region；
Swarthy Lap and fair Norwegian；
Far as swims the salmon； leaping；
Up the streams of Salten Fiord。
In their temples Thor and Odin
Lay in dust and ashes trodden；
As King Olaf； onward sweeping；
Preached the Gospel with his sword。
Then he took the carved and gilded
Dragon…ship that Raud had builded；
And the tiller single…handed；
Grasping； steered into the main。
Southward sailed the sea…gulls o'er him；
Southward sailed the ship that bore him；
Till at Drontheim haven landed
Olaf and his crew again。
XII
KING OLAF'S CHRISTMAS
At Drontheim； Olaf the King
Heard the bells of Yule…tide ring；
As he sat in his banquet…hall；
Drinking the nut…brown ale；
With his bearded Berserks hale
And tall。
Three days his Yule…tide feasts
He held with Bishops and Priests；
And his horn filled up to the brim；
But the ale was never too strong；
Nor the Saga…man's tale too long；
For him。
O'er his drinking…horn； the sign
He made of the cross divine；
As he drank； and muttered his prayers；
But the Berserks evermore
Made the sign of the Hammer of Thor
Over theirs。
The gleams of the fire…light dance
Upon helmet and hauberk and lance；
And laugh in the eyes of the King；
And he cries to Halfred the Scald；
Gray…bearded； wrinkled； and bald；
〃Sing！〃
〃Sing me a song divine；
With a sword in every line；
And this shall be thy reward。〃
And he loosened the belt at his waist；
And in front of the singer placed
His sword。
〃Quern…biter of Hakon the Good；
Wherewith at a stroke he hewed
The millstone through and through；
And Foot…breadth of Thoralf the Strong；
Were neither so broad nor so long；
Nor so true。〃
Then the Scald took his harp and sang；
And loud though the music rang
The sound of that shining word；
And the harp…strings a clangor made；
As if they were struck with the blade
Of a sword。
And the Berserks round about
Broke forth into a shout
That made the rafters ring：
They smote with their fists on the board；
And shouted； 〃Long live the Sword；
And the King！〃
But the King said； 〃O my son；
I miss the bright word in one
Of thy measures and thy rhymes。〃
And Halfred the Scald replied；
〃In another 't was multiplied
Three times。〃
Then King Olaf raised the hilt
Of iron； cross…shaped and gilt；
And said； 〃Do not refuse；
Count well the gain and the loss；
Thor's hammer or Christ's cross：
Choose！〃
And Halfred the Scald said； 〃This
In the name of the Lord I kiss；
Who on it was crucified！〃
And a shout went round the board；
〃In the name of Christ the Lord；
Who died！〃
Then over the waste of snows
The noonday sun uprose；
