Oclilciischlaegcr's Ilakoii ^'xrl 63 



To overthrow — not Hakon Jaii alone — 

 But Vaihal's gods ? 



Olaf. But sir ! Hast thou forgot — 



Ah Hakon, Hakon, — quite forgot, that thou 

 Thyself was once a Christian, once baptized 

 By Bishop Popo?"'- — that thou brokest thy vow? 

 How many oaths since then hast thou infringed ? 



Hakon. Cursed be the moments, sir, of which thou speakst. 

 When blinded by a coaxing monk, I let 

 iMyself be fooled by paltr}-- tricks ; he wore 

 A red-hot iron glove, w^hen first his hand 

 Was daubed with witches' salve."" 



Olaf. Poor, blinded, wretch ! 



I pity, sir, those locks of silver gray. 



Hakon. PTa, spare thy pity, Olaf ! Look, behold ! 

 Thou seest in me the last gleam, -the last spark, 

 Of olden Northern strength, heroic life; 

 But this, proud youth, but this thou 'It never quench 

 With those thy sickly fever-dreams. I know 

 Too well, it is the Christian's wont to mend 

 Our morals, sympathize, forsooth convert us ; 

 'T is ours to deeply hate, despise you, aye, 

 To jx)n(ler on your ruin and your death, 

 As those who mock our gods, our northern ways. 

 This Hakon does and therein lies his sin, 

 His villainy. I swear by Thor, by Odin, 

 Thou 'It never quench proud Norway's heroism, 

 With pious, dreamy, mistiness.'''* 



Olaf. Enough ! 



We part, and woe to thee when next we meet. 



Hakon. Aye, woe to me, unless T crush thee then, 



Olaf. Our God shall smite thee with His deadly flame. 



Hakon. Thor's hammer^^ first shall fall and split the cross. 



lOI 



