With the roll and roar of ocean And the sounding blast. When they landed from the fleet, How they roared through Drontheim's street, Boisterous as the gale! How they laughed and stamped and pounded, Till the tavern roof resounded, And the host looked on astounded As they drank the ale! Never saw the wild North Sea Such a gallant company Sail its billows blue ! Never, while they cruised and quarrelled, Boasted such a crew! XV. A LITTLE BIRD IN THE AIR A LITTLE bird in the air Is singing of Thyri the fair, The sister of Svend the Dane; And the song of the garrulous bird In the streets of the town is heard, To King Burislaf, it is said, Was the beautiful Thyri wed, And a sorrowful bride went she; From his town by the stormy sea. And flee away from each other. They say, that through heat and through cold, Through weald, they say, and through wold, By day and by night, they say, She has fled; and the gossips report She has come to King Olaf's court, And the town is all in dismay. It is whispered King Olaf has seen, And they wonder how it will end; Hoist up your sails of silk, And flee away from each other. O, greatest wonder of all ! It is published in hamlet and hall, And Thyri is Queen in the land! XVI. QUEEN THYRI AND THE ANGELICA STALKS NORTHWARD Over Drontheim, Flew the clamorous sea-gulls, Sang the lark and linnet From the meadows green; Weeping in her chamber, Sat King Olaf's Queen. In at all the windows Streamed the pleasant sunshine, On the roof above her Softly cooed the dove; But the sound she heard not, For the thoughts of Thyri Then King Olaf entered, Like the sun at Easter In his hand he carried Angelicas uprooted, With delicious fragrance Like a rainy midnight Could not cheer her gloom; Nor the stalks he gave her With a gracious gesture, As their own perfume. In her hands he placed them, Through the green leaves glistened But she cast them from her, On the floor she threw them "Richer presents," said she, Than such worthless weeds "When he ravaged Norway, "But thou darest not venture ; Through the Sound to Vendland, My domains to rescue From King Burislaf; "Lest King Svend of Denmark, Forked Beard, my brother, Scatter all thy vessels As the wind the chaff." |