"THORA of Rimol! hide me! hide me! Through field and forest, through thorp and town!" To Thora, the fairest of women. "Hakon Jarl! for the love I bear thee Neither shall shame nor death come near thee? But the hiding-place wherein thou must lie Is the cave underneath the swine in the sty." Said Thora, the fairest of women. So Hakon Jarl and his base thrall Karker Of Thora, the fairest of women. "Rich and honoured shall be whoever The head of Hakon Jarl shall dissever!" Wept Thora, the fairest of women. Said Karker, the crafty, "I will not slay thee! For all the King's gold I will never betray thee!" "Then why dost thou turn so pale, O churl, And then again black as the earth ?" said the Earl. More pale and more faithful Was Thora, the fairest of women. From a dream in the night the thrall started, saying, Gazed Thora, the fairest of women. At daybreak slept Hakon, with sorrows encumbered, But screamed and drew up his feet as he slumbered; The thrall in the darkness plunged with his knife, And the Earl awakened no more in this life. But wakeful and weeping Sat Thora, the fairest of women. At Nidarholm the priests are all singing, Two ghastly heads on the gibbet are swinging; One is Jarl Hakon's and one is his thrall's, And the people are shouting from windows and walls; While alone in her chamber Swoons Thora, the fairest of women. IV. QUEEN SIGRID THE HAUGHTY. QUEEN SIGRID the Haughty sat proud and aloft Heart's dearest, Why dost thou sorrow so? The floor with tassels of fir was besprent, She heard the birds sing, she saw the sun shine, Like a sword without scabbard the bright river lay But Olaf the King had sued for her hand, Her maidens were seated around her knee, And one was singing the ancient rune Of Brynhilda's love and the wrath of Gudrun. And through it, and round it, and over it all The Queen in her hand held a ring of gold, King Olaf had sent her this wedding gift, She had given the ring to her goldsmiths twain, And Sigrid the Queen, in her haughty way, Said, "Why do you smile, my goldsmiths, say?" And they answered: "O Queen! if the truth must be told, The lightning flashed o'er her forehead and cheek, "If in his gifts he can faithless be, A footstep was heard on the outer stair, He kissed the Queen's hand, and he whispered of love, But she smiled with contempt as she answered: "O King, Will you swear it, as Odin once swore, on the ring ?" And the King: "O speak not of Odin to me, The wife of King Olaf a Christian must be.” Looking straight at the King, with her level brows, 66 Then the face of King Olaf was darkened with gloom, 66 Why then should I care to have thee?" he said,"A faded old woman, a heathenish jade!" His zeal was stronger than fear or love, And he struck the Queen in the face with his glove. Queen Sigrid the Haughty said under her breath, Why dost thou sorrow so? |