54 James Christian Liudbcrg 



The long- last rest, before thou dreamest of it. 

 Now, Grib, dost understand what I have said ? 



Grih. Yea, every word, my noble lord, full well. 



T/iorcr. Thou 'It run and plunge the dagger in his breast 

 The while we sit and talk. 



Grib. Aye. valiant lord ! 



Thorcr. And when he falls, cut off his head, and place 

 It in this basket ; follow me in haste 

 To where the Jarl awaits us, at the hut, 

 And he will grant thee freedom, Grib, and bind 

 A glaive alwut thy loins. 



Grih. Aly honest lord ! 



Thorcr. Conceive the honor thou 'It enjoy, my Grib ! 

 Think on it, Olaf's executioner; 

 Aye, he who wished to hurl the g^ods from Valhal, 

 Him, thou didst slay; and after many years, 

 In olden legend, one will find thy name. 

 And read, "This gallant deed hath Grib attained.*' 



Grib. I feel an ardent longing, noble lord ! 

 Full many a day I 've dreamed of such a stroke. 

 That might extract me from my slavish state. 



Thorcr. I know it, Grib; 'twill soon be realized. 

 Come, look, dost see this dagger, keenly ground ? 

 It shines as bright as do the stars from out 

 A quiet sea ; look, feel the point ! Is 't sharp ? 



Grib. A most surpassing knife. 



Thorcr. And yet there 's more ; 



Thou seest but half of its peculiar charm ; 

 For — notice here upon the blade this groove 

 Which reaches toward the point ? 



Grib. Aye. aye, my lord! 



Thorcr. [Smiles cunuiiigly.] 



It may be small, and yet it points the way 

 To Helheim,'*^ Grib! [Looks about.] There's no one here' 



Grib. Xo, none ; 



'T was but a hungrv raven, calling, perched 

 On yonder loftv rock. 



92 



