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To King Burislaf； it is said；
Was the beautiful Thyri wed；
And a sorrowful bride went she；
And after a week and a day；
She has fled away and away；
From his town by the stormy sea。
Hoist up your sails of silk；
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。
Hoist up your sails of silk；
And flee away from each other。
It is whispered King Olaf has seen；
Has talked with the beautiful Queen；
And they wonder how it will end；
For surely； if here she remain；
It is war with King Svend the Dane；
And King Burislaf the Vend！
Hoist up your sails of silk；
And flee away from each other。
O； greatest wonder of all！
It is published in hamlet and hall；
It roars like a flame that is fanned！
The Kingyes； Olaf the King
Has wedded her with his ring；
And Thyri is Queen in the land！
Hoist up your sails of silk；
And flee away from each other。
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；
Lonely and unhappy；
Sat the Drottning Thyri；
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；
Nor the sunshine heeded；
For the thoughts of Thyri
Were not thoughts of love；
Then King Olaf entered；
Beautiful as morning；
Like the sun at Easter
Shone his happy face；
In his hand he carried
Angelicas uprooted；
With delicious fragrance
Filling all the place。
Like a rainy midnight
Sat the Drottning Thyri；
Even the smile of Olaf
Could not cheer her gloom；
Nor the stalks he gave her
With a gracious gesture；
And with words as pleasant
As their own perfume。
In her hands he placed them；
And her jewelled fingers
Through the green leaves glistened
Like the dews of morn；
But she cast them from her；
Haughty and indignant；
On the floor she threw them
With a look of scorn。
〃Richer presents；〃 said she；
〃Gave King Harald Gormson
To the Queen； my mother；
Than such worthless weeds；
〃When he ravaged Norway；
Laying waste the kingdom；
Seizing scatt and treasure
For her royal needs。
〃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。〃
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 Venland 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 BEAR
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；
Erie 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。
With eddy and whirl
The sea…tides curl；
Washing the sandals
Of Sigvald the Earl。
The mariners shout；
The ships swing about；
The yards are all hoisted；
The sails flutter out。
The war…horns are played；
The anchors are weighed；
Like moths in the distance
The sails flit and fade。
The sea is like lead
The harbor lies dead；
As a corse on the sea…shore；
Whose spirit has fled！
On that fatal day；
The histories say；
Seventy vessels
Sailed out of the bay。
But soon scattered wide
O'er the billows they ride；
While Sigvald and Olaf
Sail side by side。
Cried the Earl： 〃Follow me！
I your pilot will be；
For I know all the channels
Where flows the deep sea！〃
So into the strait
Where his foes lie in wait；
Gallant King Olaf
Sails t