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No. VIII.

KING HACHO'S DEATH SONG.

RUNIC.

-M. G. LEWIS.

The Original, but in a mutilated state, is inserted in Bartholin. Caus. Contemt. Mort. Here again, as also for the translations of "the Water King," and of the " Erl-King's Daughter," I must express my obligations to Mr. Herder's Collection.

GAUNDUL and Skogul came from Thor,
To choose a king from out the war,
Who to Valhalla's joys fhould fpeed,
And drink with Odin beer and mead.

Of Ingwa's race the king renown'd,
Biarner's brother, foon they found,
As arm'd with helmet, fword and fhield,
With eager ftep he fought the field,

Where

Where clashing glaives and dying cries
Already told the combat's fize.

With mighty voice he bids appear
Haleyger brave, and Halmygeer,
Then forth to urge the fight he goes,
The hope of friends, the fear of foes.
The Norman hoft foon round him fwarms,
And Jutland's monarch ftands in arms.

Firmly is grafp'd by Hacho bold,
The millftone-splitters hilt of gold,
Whofe blows give death on every fide,
And, as 'twere water, brafs divide;
A cloud of javelins veils the fky;
The crashing shields in splinters fly;
And on the cafques of warriors brave
Refounds the ftroke of many a glaive.

Now Tyr's and Bauga's weapons brown
Break on the Norman monarch's crown;
Now hotter, fiercer grows the fight,
Low finks the pride of many a knight;
And, dyed in flaughter's crimson hue,
Torrents of gore their fhields bedew;
From meeting weapons lightning gleams;
From gaping wounds the life-blood streams:

With

With falling corfes groans the land,
And purple waves lash Storda's fand.

The warring heroes now confound

Buckler with buckler, wound with wound:
As eager as were battle sport,

Renown they feek, and death they court;
Till, never more to rife, they fall
In myriads; while, to Odin's hall,
The dæmon of the tempeft brings
A blood stream on his fable wings.

Apart the hostile chiefs were placed,
Broken their fwords, their helms unlaced;
Yet neither thought his fate would be,
The hall of Odin foon to fee.

"Great is the feast of gods to-day,”. Propp'd on her fword, did Gaundul fay, "Since to their table they invite

"Hacho, and all his chiefs from flight !"

The fated monarch hears too plain,

How fpeaks the choofer of the flain;

Too plain beholds his ftartled eye,
On their black courfers mounted high
The immortal maids, who near him stand,
Each propp'd on her refiftless brand.

"Goddefs

"Goddess of Combat!" Hacho cries, "Thus doft thou give the battle's prize? "And do then victory's gods deny "To view my arms with friendly eye?""Chide not!" fierce Skogul thus replied, "For conqueft ftill shall grace thy fide; "Thou fhalt prevail, the foe fhall yield, "And thine remain the bloody field."

She faid, and urged her coal-black steed
Swift to the hall of gods to speed;
And there to Odin's heroes tell
A king drew near with them to dwell,

"Hither," thus Odin fpoke," the king "Let Hermoder and Braga bring; "A monarch comes, an hero guest, "Who well deferves with me to reft.".

Said Hacho, while his ftreaming blood
Pour'd down his limbs its crimson flood,
-"God Odin's eyes, my brethren bold,
"Our arms with hoftile glance behold !"--

Then Braga fpoke.-" Brave monarch, know, "Thou to Valhalla's joys fhait go,

"There

"There to drink mead in fkulls of foes,

"And at the feaft of gods repofe :
"To greet thee at the magic gate,
"E'en now eight hero-brothers wait,
"With joyful eyes thy coming fee,
"And with, thou foe of kings, for thee."-

"Yet be my fword," the king replied, "Once more in Norman flaughter dyed; "Let me, as heroes fhould, expire, "And fall in fight, as fell my fire: "So fhall my glory live, and fame "Shall long remember Hacho's name."

He ceafes, and to combat flies:
He fights, he conquers, and he dies;
But foon he finds what joys attend,
Who dare in fight their days to end:
Soon as he gains Valhalla's gate,
Eight heroes there to greet him wait;
The gods a friend the monarch call,
And welcome him to Odin's hall.

Who in Valhalla thus fhall be
Loved and revered, oh! blefs'd is he;
His conqueft and his fame fhall long
Remember'd be, and live in fong.

Wolf

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