"Sing me a song divine, And this shall be thy reward." "Quern-biter of Hakon the Good, The millstone through and through, Then the Scald took his harp and sang, The sound of that shining word; And the Berserks round about Broke forth into a shout That made the rafters ring; They smote with their fists on the board, But the King said, "O my son, I miss the bright word in one Of thy measures and thy rhymes." And Halfred the Scald replied, "In another 'twas multiplied Three times." Therefore whistled Thorberg Skafting, Twice the Dragon's size. Round him busily hewed and hammered Workmen laughed and sang and clamoured, Spun the shining flax! All this tumult heard the master,- Fancy whispered all the faster, "Men shall hear of Thorberg Skafting For a hundred year!" Workmen sweating at the forges Did the warlocks mingle in it, But some mischief must be doing, "Twas an ill wind that came wafting After long delays returning Came the master back by night; "Come and see my ship, my darling!" In the shipyard, idly talking, "Death be to the evil-doer! With an oath King Olaf spoke; Straight the master-builder, smiling, "Cease blaspheming and reviling, Then he chipped and smoothed the planking, Till the King, delighted, swore, With much lauding and much thanking, "Handsomer is now my Dragon Than she was before!" Seventy ells and four exte nded On the grass the vessel's keel; High above it, gilt and splen did, Rose the figure-head ferocio us, With its crest of steel. Then they launched her from the tressels, The Long Serpent was she christened, XIV. THE CREW OF THE LONG SERPENT. SAFE at anchor in Drontheim Bay And, striped with white and blue, Her forecastle man was Ulf the Red; Near him Kolbiorn had his place, Every cabin-boy and varlet By the bulkhead, tall and dark, A figure gaunt and grand; On his hairy arm imprinted Like Thor's hammer, huge and dinted Einar Tamberskelver, bare Graceful was his form, and slender, In the fore-hold Biorn and Bork Shoulders broad and chests expanded, These, and many more like these, Till the waters vast Filled them with a vague devotion, 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! |