HROLF KRAKE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2722, 16 May 1906, Page 82

HROLF KRAKE.

TWELFTH SONG.

P-aRT 11.

Aa gneJTS approaching Leire, King Hrolf went forth *o meet them; In richest scarlet luiic did Hrolf of Denmark

great them , In tunic donned on feast days. Of helm, and shiel'l, and sword No ihoujsJit, this day of pleasure, oppressed the Danish lord. He there embraced hia sister; her foiaier life's disgrace ; • -■ \ Like dreauia, he had forgotten ; of He'ge was her race, He thought, as theia lie met her. She kissed him with a ze3t, Disarming thoughts that falseaess could harbour in her Lieast. They sat at loaded feast-board, the wellstrung harps ••ut-rang; Of Hrolf's far-famed adventures the skalds their saga sang, To vex and gibe the Swedes :here. In icy, each drank hia fill; Yet Biarke, Voeggur, Hialte, there seated, deemed it ill To see the face of Skulde again in hall, where she Sat cloaked' in simulation of r.iattbn lr.ociesty.' From horn and-carven beaker the beer and mead were quaffed, -^ By Skufd' and Hiartvar seldom, by Danish champions/ oft. j " % That' tale iVnot unfounded, how Ovaser with thy blood The cunning elves ''n puucheoi lriixetl sweetest honey-flood. A little while you ".harm us ere yon our sen*ts steeip In spiit mead geds rejected clear thought lie? fast asleep, Held close in bondage guarded by elfin flocks unseen, "When in your baleful influence, sweet drink! man long has been.. fhe lusty Leire warriors through mead grew overbeaiing, Jind mccked the Swedes beside them: they laughed with witless dariug At their so cautious drinking ; — why linger o'er each horn, When fast the' brimming beakers to careless Danes weie borne? His beaker Biarke emptied, as sturdy as an oak Whose leaves with lain are freshened. Pale Hiaitvar scarcely spoke. "How comes thy cheek so bloodless?" said - Hialte; ''can it find No rosy life in revel?— what broods upon thy mind?" -v • J "A chill I took in journeying,'" came faltering from his lips; "Thou Bipp'st therefore the liquor as fowl the water sips!" * * - In jtnocking Hialte answered; "Thou, too," " v "didst 'wiser so!" ' ".",'""' Said' Rude to him softly. Young Hialte coiild not ..know -"■ Her* meaning, but stout Vqeggur perceived what Rude meant. As one by one arising, the guests from feasting went J .To seek a late night's slumber, Yceggur "wakeful lay, Full dressed, his weapons by him; he bade his page-boy stay And spy in gloomy forest, where nothing could he see, For thick from blackest midnight the snowfell silently. The boy sought out a shelter; he watched from lofty nook Of oak tree, whose dead foliage the brunt of weather took. Full aoon he saw ted torches approaching, and a host Seemed moving, fast but silent, from Icefiord's frozen coast, Towards tree-encircled Leire. The boy descended, hied To Vceggur, who, half sleeping, had not yet laid aside His naked ready weapons. When Yoe<*gur saw the youth, In whose face silent terror was writ, he read the truth, . Sprang ap. and sought the courtyard. In haste there came a- man Who, conscience-driven from Skulde, to warn Hrolf^ Krake ran From ice-bound, frozen sea-coast: to Vceggur then was shown The treachery of false friends, their enmity made known. He found the guest-hall empty; long Skuld' had hastened thence To stand by Hroli, your leader, now Hialt'! ness, whence ' ' She came, like a Valkyrie, through wintershuddering night, To devastate the kingdom, slay all ere morning light. Swiftly hastened Voeggur to' dwelling, as a blast, "* •" ' Where Hialte slept by Signe, but bolted door was fast, , - „ So Vceggur could not enter. "My" friend," cried he, "give. heed! Aiise, your King to rescue, whilst I depart •in speed To Roskild, swift to gather the war-host quartered there, Since feuds and broils taught prudence a careful watch to bear. Grant TJior will rouse in battle, confront the rout appearing With his broad shield, and stoutly o'ercome the dragon nearing, Upon his belly creeping to bring all Denmark woe; — Over the frozen billows the dragon draws through snow. To stand by Hrolf, your leader, now Hialt'! arise, arise, Whilst I bring aid from Roskild ; be speedy to appii=e The- warriors of war-da r.ger! — wake, too, our good lor«J King; Though small our fleck in numbers, it yet defeat can bring On twice, on thrice its number : and yet, we are undone, We &oon must figh'._ my Hialte! and they are ten to one." Jle ceared, anil through the gloom fled. Young Hialt in haste arose From Signe, whose white body, slipped free in sweet repose, Lay halt revealed before him She saw him standing there, And ro?e upon her elbow. Her yellow-goldea hair Hung clustering o'er her bosom. Her eye 3, half-closed in sleep By white-arched lids, shone softly as blue of Summer's deep, Upon her husband gazing. With murmuring honey-breath She apoke to him; "Mj Hialte! Thou hasteneth to death From Signe' s tender loving? Oh, stay, my dearest ! stay ; And with thy gracious maiden let life be

Btol'n away." Full-weaponed, there stood Hialte, hi.B gleaming sword iv hand*

The mead within his bosom still left a glowing blaud, • But dimmed not thoughts of danger, of King, heroic deeds. The Leire-warrior panted for Hildur's ploy, where bleeds The hero; upon Signe, he gazed with soon. "Stay, stay!" . - .-,►•,», Affrighted, she repeated.-. Then patience ebbedaway, " ••'" ...';. -- .-* * And warrior-wrath .was fury.\-"And this," be cried, "from you ? .... Ycu'd hold me from my duty— withhold from Hrolf Ks. due? _ . ■ ; ?■/* : You heard how faithless • Skulde to Hrolf brings scathe appalljng^,; V . ..- -.., You heard but now how. voeggur his friend) to arms stood calling!" . • • , "No handmaid fears f or. Vceggur,"- in fear she*' low .replied: - V . ■ ->:, ii..i i.. "Lst them to battle hurtll, wild creatures, ' fearful-eyed ; May I not pray for fealty as well as Hrolf the King? What fear have you of Skulde?— to me in everything She kindly was, nor harms us, if weno harm intend." • ' "Unhallowed Alf of Nastrond,' go then whera goes thy friend I', --- . \ Not Jhus shalt ,thoiT subdue me." he^ried by. .. rage possessed," .r" „";.-?•?' ; 'j " • •And drove liis cruel weapoWn /her uncovered.* breast. ••■ X . ; '- v . "Sty friend! Thou strik'st , unkindly," We - sighed, as down bent;l - * '-'Uaids' Hps will gay in anguish whit maids* -' hearts jneveri meant.' ■-" V."-- ' Yet, Hialte, still Is love tb.ee." ' "We never " think of all," Said Hialt', with voice fast breaking, "who" ' move to passion's call." ' » In tears he clasped her ; whispered, "To Freia • turn thy flight ! Perchance' I there shall greet thee ere morn has come from night." He drew the bed's white linen, and Bid her body fair; He cried, "The first fruit, Skulde, of your deceit iic3 there, * ~ In £sar-lovad blood maturing. To you my sword shall speak -~. * • T With fury of the lightning." He kissed dead Signe'a cheek, „. Beside her' knelt. "Forgive me," he cried, "and bless my iife, Thou all too tender, loving, and faithful friend ,- and. wife. Tcodearrpriced was my anger. The maiden. loves her lord . _•.•"' Aa he bis King, hia leader, and fatherland so ' broad. - For first timo now I wholly am Hrolf's, for good or ill; . ' ; . . A lover treasures living, fights with divided - will. "Eia! ye Danish heroes!"— soon in the hall ' he fitood, , c , , , His naked sword uplifted, bathed in the dear one's '.bteotf. _ v , t "3v * „ :»<.*-. -"Awake/ awake from'Blunibe^j away with sleep ■ anii. feat, ■ , ' ' ~i' '° «'~ All ye" who swore, allegiance^ viio serve, Hxdif,' Band' and breast! - The .time is near for proving by deed surpassing word. * >' Your th«nks for his good favours; be. thanks , now seen, not heard. J , ' \ ~"< , He gave ife goodly Jbarness, rare gemsf and weapons bright. Show now thoee swords are worthy in last.- , heroic fight! '" .'-■!*"' No maid claims now your' kisses^, your clasp, no tender dame; Your valour death, can slay not; it wins undying fame. ■' " •" y Stand forth, ye Danish worthies! now tally gallant numbers Bound Hrolf, your kingly leader, whilst fear of danger slumbers. Turn, like the eagle noble, „ your breaßts *to- • wards the foe; < l *• ■" Hurl swiftly, mighty-pinioned, to glorious strife below ; ; Let sharp swords swoop resistless as on a fleeing prey. Thou, craven traitor Hiartvar, skulk now in evil way; Thou followedst Skulde' s counsel, oppressed with childish fears. But Thor shall curse her laughter and turn her smiW-8 to tear 3." — JOEANKKS C. AHDXXSEH. (To be continued.)