Then up sprang King Olaf,
Like a reindeer bounding,

With an oath he answered
Thus the luckless Queen :

"Never yet did Olaf

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 Vendland 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 BEARD

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;

Eric 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.