Ochlenschlacgcrs Hakon Jarl 27 



Thorcr, Indeed, my lord, for eighteen years. 

 But now our peasants feel, how base 

 It is to pay allegiance to an Earl. 



Olaf. Just so ; but why not name him king ? 



Thorcr. Can such 



A question come from Half dan Svarte's stock ? 



Olaf. What cares the peasant Norse for Halfdan Svarte ? 



Thorcr. Much more than thou surmisest. The sons of Thor, 

 Intrepid, bold, unswerving in their faith. 

 Have always reverenced their rightful king. 



Olaf. And yet this Earl has ruled for eighteen years !^^ 



Thorcr. What power, what cunning he employed to lift 

 Himself to his position thou dost know 

 As well as we. No one denies that he 

 Is brave; Jiis keen perception, rarest type 

 Of judgment, — these have made him what he is. 

 Thou knowest how matters stood ; how Gunhild's sons^* 

 Ran wild ; through childish weakness wasted, lost 

 The veneration due their rank. The Jarl 

 In easy battle conquered all. Thereto 

 Was added Denmark's friendship through her king. 

 The man who fights to win must first explore 

 The field, and such a man is Hakon Jarl. 

 And so unnoticed, like the crafty merchant 

 Who bargains only for his private gain. 

 He soon possessed the upper hand. Worn out 

 By war, the peasant longed for peace. And thus 

 Serenely Hakon sat upon his throne. 

 W^hat made his power complete was Jomslx>rg's fight^' 

 In which, to Norway's honor, he repressed 

 A youthful heresy that hitherto 

 Had terrorized the North. 



Olaf. And now in peace, 



Surrounded by his hard-gained splendor, you 

 Forsake the man ? 



Thorcr. How very natural, 



My lord ! At first was Hakon wise ; he knew 



65 



