Oehlenschlaeger's II a Icon larl 31 



Can hinder the espousal of thy cause ; 

 They 're thine \vJien thou dost enter Throndhiem's fiord. 

 Thy cousins' aid and mine, — I need not here 

 Assure thee, we are thine. And know beside : 

 That Norway's strongest, ablest men, desire 

 To offer thee their friendship, their entire 

 Devotion. Wishing thus to be the first 

 To bring this goodly news, we hither sailed 

 Last night. If thou dost wish to follow friends' 

 Advice, go not on strange adventure, seize 

 Thy Norn's, thy fortune's call ; for not in vain 

 They 've beckoned thee to land. 

 Olaf. [After a brief silence.] 



These tidings overwhelm me. Leave me, friends, 

 A moment ! Yonder 'neath a tree, is raised 

 A tent. Refresh and rest yourselves. I '11 come 

 Anon. Attend them. 



[Thorer, Carlshoved and Jostein go, followed by Olaf's men. 

 Olaf and Tangbr.vxd remain.] 



Ah, my Tangbrand, thou 

 Hast stood there silent and absorbed — 



Tangbrand. And glad 



At heart because thy fortune smiles, and crowns 

 Thee king of this illustrious realm. 



Olaf. A race 



Of heathen men, w'ho mock and jeer our God. 



Tangbrand. The larger, sir, thy glory will become 

 When thou hast turned them from their evil ways. 



Olaf. Yes, Tangbrand ! yes, I '11 follow heaven's call. 

 .\nd yet I had determined first to go 

 To Russia. 



Tangbrand. Yet no promise has been made. 

 An unconfirmed report has lured thee out. 

 Thou 'rt wont to do, to act, hence thou didst tire 

 Of ceaseless rest, and yearned for deeds, as well 

 Becomes a Christian ; deep within thy breast 



69 



