28 James Christian Liudhcrg 



T was wisdom clinched his power. lie soon hecame 



The nation's greatest idol, honored far 



And near. "Jarl Hakon. Jomsborg-'s hero," shrieked 



Ihe crowd; "what power withstands the man; what shakes 



His might ?" And thus admired, undone b\- fame, 



His head began to swim. He soon forgot 



His former prudence, quite ignored the truth, — 



The nation's strongest pillar must remain 



The peasant's love. He then abused his power; 



Becoming indiscreet, he slacked the rein 



To every craving of his heart, and each 



Deep-rooted passion played at will. No more 



At peace, his heart was proud ; he longed to rule. 



A^o longer he respected private rights. 



But seized the peasants' lands and stole their goods. 



Indeed, far worse than that, he even took 



Their wives, their daughters, dragged them to his home, 



And offered them in sacrifice to please 



His lewd desires. Unnoticed, everywhere. 



The flames began to smolder. Heeding not 



A foreign foe, he seemed unmindful of, 



Or noticed not, the cancer gnawing deep 



In Norway's heart. His power is waning, here 



And there in daily bouts, while Norway waits 



With longing for a valiant lawful prince 



To seize the throne and strip the Earl of all 



His strength. 



Olaf. My Thorer, hast thou spoken true ? 



Thorcr. There stand thy cousins, sir, let them confirm 

 JN'ly words. 



Olaf. My friendly Jostein, where are now 



Those dimples in thy cheeks ? Thou smil'st no more. 

 Art thou not pleased that Norway casts away 

 Her thralldom chains ? 



Jostein. [Miich disturbed.] I'm all too young, my lord 

 To know my country's real advantage, yet, 

 What Thorer said is quite correct. 



66 



