' 



58 James Christian Lindhcrg 



The body's freedom for the soul's ; to lose 

 The name of slave, and tnily be a slave. 



Olaf. Thou Christian heathen, come ; give me thy hand ; 

 Now what 's thy name ? 



Grih. Grib was my thralldom name. 



Olaf. Henceforth let Griffin be thy name, and let 

 A powerful griffin,^" striking to the earth 

 A venomous snake, be drawn in deepest hues 

 Upon thy shield. 



Griffin. Ha, sir : I see, I see ! 



The snake is Thorer Klake. Excellent, 

 By Odin ! Olaf, thy reward is kingly. 



Olaf. Call not Odin ! His power is impotent ; 

 Behold his spirit in his worshippers ! 

 Where now is Hakon ? 



Griffin. Yonder in the woods, 



In hiding with his thrall, sir. There he waits 

 For Thorer and thy liead. But let me take 

 My master's head and jilace it in the basket 

 Then thou shalt bring- the Jarl false Thorer's head, 

 Instead of Thorer thine. 



Olaf. No, Griffin! Death 



Is death. [To his ///r;/.] Go now and bury Thorer's corpse. 



Griffin. Behind the nettles in the ditch ! 



Olaf. Lay him 



Beneath yon elder bush that it may shower 

 Its white funereal petals on his grave. — 

 Be not so cruel. Griffin ; hate should cease 

 At death. 



Griffin. My lord, be pleased to tell me what 

 Is right, and thou shalt see me grow in grace. 



Olaf. Then follow me in silence to the Jarl. 



Griffin. This way, my noble king. 



96 



