the complete poetical works-第90节
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Fear King Svend of Denmark；
This right hand shall hale him
By his forked chin！〃
Then he left the chamber；
Thundering through the doorway；
Loud his steps resounded
Down the outer stair。
Smarting with the insult；
Through the streets of Drontheim
Strode he red and wrathful；
With his stately air。
All his ships he gathered；
Summoned all his forces；
Making his war levy
In the region round；
Down the coast of Norway；
Like a flock of sea…gulls；
Sailed the fleet of Olaf
Through the Danish Sound。
With his own hand fearless；
Steered he the Long Serpent；
Strained the creaking cordage；
Bent each boom and gaff；
Till in Venland landing；
The domains of Thyri
He redeemed and rescued
From King Burislaf。
Then said Olaf； laughing；
〃Not ten yoke of oxen
Have the power to draw us
Like a woman's hair！
〃Now will I confess it；
Better things are jewels
Than angelica stalks are
For a Queen to wear。〃
XVII
KING SVEND OF THE FORKED BEAR
Loudly the sailors cheered
Svend of the Forked Beard；
As with his fleet he steered
Southward to Vendland；
Where with their courses hauled
All were together called；
Under the Isle of Svald
Near to the mainland。
After Queen Gunhild's death；
So the old Saga saith；
Plighted King Svend his faith
To Sigrid the Haughty；
And to avenge his bride；
Soothing her wounded pride；
Over the waters wide
King Olaf sought he。
Still on her scornful face；
Blushing with deep disgrace；
Bore she the crimson trace
Of Olaf's gauntlet；
Like a malignant star；
Blazing in heaven afar；
Red shone the angry scar
Under her frontlet。
Oft to King Svend she spake；
〃For thine own honor's sake
Shalt thou swift vengeance take
On the vile coward！〃
Until the King at last；
Gusty and overcast；
Like a tempestuous blast
Threatened and lowered。
Soon as the Spring appeared；
Svend of the Forked Beard
High his red standard reared；
Eager for battle；
While every warlike Dane；
Seizing his arms again；
Left all unsown the grain；
Unhoused the cattle。
Likewise the Swedish King
Summoned in haste a Thing；
Weapons and men to bring
In aid of Denmark；
Erie the Norseman； too；
As the war…tidings flew；
Sailed with a chosen crew
From Lapland and Finmark。
So upon Easter day
Sailed the three kings away；
Out of the sheltered bay；
In the bright season；
With them Earl Sigvald came；
Eager for spoil and fame；
Pity that such a name
Stooped to such treason！
Safe under Svald at last；
Now were their anchors cast；
Safe from the sea and blast；
Plotted the three kings；
While； with a base intent；
Southward Earl Sigvald went；
On a foul errand bent；
Unto the Sea…kings。
Thence to hold on his course；
Unto King Olaf's force；
Lying within the hoarse
Mouths of Stet…haven；
Him to ensnare and bring；
Unto the Danish king；
Who his dead corse would fling
Forth to the raven！
XVIII
KING OLAF AND EARL SIGVALD
On the gray sea…sands
King Olaf stands；
Northward and seaward
He points with his hands。
With eddy and whirl
The sea…tides curl；
Washing the sandals
Of Sigvald the Earl。
The mariners shout；
The ships swing about；
The yards are all hoisted；
The sails flutter out。
The war…horns are played；
The anchors are weighed；
Like moths in the distance
The sails flit and fade。
The sea is like lead
The harbor lies dead；
As a corse on the sea…shore；
Whose spirit has fled！
On that fatal day；
The histories say；
Seventy vessels
Sailed out of the bay。
But soon scattered wide
O'er the billows they ride；
While Sigvald and Olaf
Sail side by side。
Cried the Earl： 〃Follow me！
I your pilot will be；
For I know all the channels
Where flows the deep sea！〃
So into the strait
Where his foes lie in wait；
Gallant King Olaf
Sails to his fate！
Then the sea…fog veils
The ships and their sails；
Queen Sigrid the Haughty；
Thy vengeance prevails！
XIX
KING OLAF'S WAR…HORNS
〃Strike the sails！〃 King Olaf said；
〃Never shall men of mine take flight；
Never away from battle I fled；
Never away from my foes！
Let God dispose
Of my life in the fight！〃
〃Sound the horns！〃 said Olaf the King；
And suddenly through the drifting brume
The blare of the horns began to ring；
Like the terrible trumpet shock
Of Regnarock；
On the Day of Doom！
Louder and louder the war…horns sang
Over the level floor of the flood；
All the sails came down with a clang；
And there in the mist overhead
The sun hung red
As a drop of blood。
Drifting down on the Danish fleet
Three together the ships were lashed；
So that neither should turn and retreat；
In the midst； but in front of the rest
The burnished crest
Of the Serpent flashed。
King Olaf stood on the quarter…deck；
With bow of ash and arrows of oak；
His gilded shield was without a fleck；
His helmet inlaid with gold；
And in many a fold
Hung his crimson cloak。
On the forecastle Ulf the Red
Watched the lashing of the ships；
〃If the Serpent lie so far ahead；
We shall have hard work of it here；
Said he with a sneer
On his bearded lips。
King Olaf laid an arrow on string；
〃Have I a coward on board？〃 said he。
〃Shoot it another way； O King！〃
Sullenly answered Ulf；
The old sea…wolf；
〃You have need of me！〃
In front came Svend； the King of the Danes；
Sweeping down with his fifty rowers；
To the right； the Swedish king with his thanes；
And on board of the Iron Beard
Earl Eric steered
To the left with his oars。
〃These soft Danes and Swedes；〃 said the King；
〃At home with their wives had better stay；
Than come within reach of my Serpent's sting：
But where Eric the Norseman leads
Heroic deeds
Will be done to…day！〃
Then as together the vessels crashed；
Eric severed the cables of hide；
With which King Olaf's ships were lashed；
And left them to drive and drift
With the currents swift
Of the outward tide。
Louder the war…horns growl and snarl；
Sharper the dragons bite and sting！
Eric the son of Hakon Jarl
A death…drink salt as the sea
Pledges to thee；
Olaf the King！
XX
EINAR TAMBERSKELVER
It was Einar Tamberskelver
Stood beside the mast；
From his yew…bow； tipped with silver；
Flew the arrows fast；
Aimed at Eric unavailing；
As he sat concealed；
Half behind the quarter…railing；
Half behind his shield。
First an arrow struck the tiller；
Just above his head；
〃Sing； O Eyvind Skaldaspiller；〃
Then Earl Eric said。
〃Sing the song of Hakon dying；
Sing his funeral wail！〃
And another arrow flying
Grazed his coat of mail。
Turning to a Lapland yeoman；
As the arrow passed；
Said Earl Eric； 〃Shoot that bowman
Standing by the mast。〃
Sooner than the word was spoken
Flew the yeoman's shaft；
Einar's bow in twain was broken；
Einar only laughed。
〃What was that？〃 said Olaf； standing
On the quarter…deck。
〃Something heard I like the stranding
Of a shattered wreck。〃
Einar then； the arrow taking
From the loosened string；
Answered； 〃That was Norway breaking
From thy hand； O King！〃
〃Thou art but a poor diviner；〃
Straightway Olaf said；
〃Take my bow； and swifter； Einar；
Let thy shafts be sped。〃
Of his bows the fairest choosing；
Reached he from above；
Einar saw the blood…drops oozing
Through his iron glove。
But the bow was thin and narrow；
At the first assay；
O'er its head he drew the arrow；
Flung the bow away；
Said； with hot and angry temper
Flushing in his cheek；
〃Olaf！ for so great a Kamper
Are thy bows too weak！〃
Then； with smile of joy defiant
On his beardless lip；
Scaled he； light and self…reliant；
Eric's dragon…ship。
Loose his golden locks were flowing；
Bright his armor gleamed；
Like Saint Michael overthrowing
Lucifer he seemed。
XXI
KING OLAF'S DEATH…DRINK
All day has the battle raged；
All day have the ships engaged；
But not yet is assuaged
The vengeance of Eric the Earl。
The decks with blood are red；
The arrows of death are sped；
The ships are filled with the dead；
And the spears the champions hurl。
They drift as wrecks on the tide；
The grappling…irons are plied；
The boarders climb up the side；
The shouts are feeble and few。
Ah！ never shall Norway again
See her sailors come back o'er the main；
They all lie wounded or slain；
Or asleep in the billows blue！
On the deck stands Olaf the King；
Around him whistle and sing
The spears that the foemen fling；
And the stones they hurl with their hands。
