OcJilcnschlacgcr's Hakon Jar I 17 



Hakon. Perhaps it is a childish whim that makes 

 Him pause midway, perchance to fill his lungs 

 With mountain air; I neither know nor care 

 To know. But this, as you perceive, I must 

 Find out, if underneath this artless halt 

 There lurks not something' else. I watch him close. 

 Thou, Thorer, art his friend ; how like a friend 

 That thou shouldst visit him, when thou dost know 

 Of his arrival here. The wind is friendly. 

 Tomorrow thou art there, when daylight breaks. 

 Then, Thorer, grant me this one small request, — ■ 

 To sail to him; and while, as friend thou tellest 

 Him what thou wilt, keep silent strange reports. 



Tliorcr. And what, my lord, is thy design ? 



Hakon. Even as 



I say, unravel Olaf's real design, 

 But most of all to set for him a trap. 

 Thou 'rt clever, shrewd, and wont to deal with men; 

 An easy task for thee to cause delay. 

 Till quickly I am there with all my ships. 

 His own ships tarry near him; force to force, 

 'T is ever thus that Northmen fight. Can one 

 Complain at this, I ask ? 



Carlshovcd. No, surely not. 



Thorer. But how solicit him to stay, my lord? 



Hakon. Why strike the chords, that flatter most his ear, 

 Or, chant the song, that pleases him the best ! 

 Or tell him how (none better knows than thou) 

 CJ'er Norway haugs a cloud of discontent. 

 That people murmur much at Hakon's rule ; 

 That peasants, here and there, alone await 

 Their cue, a valiant lord. Entice him then 

 On shore; I 'd rather meet him on the land — 

 I 'm growing old, and sicken on tlie sea. 

 If then, he tarries not. but quickly leaves 

 As first he planned, unheeding, though the crown 

 Implores and beckons him to stay, — why then 



55 



