Ochlcnschlaegcr's Hakoii Jarl 65 



Messenger. At daybreak, sir, King Olaf hove in sight, 

 With five long warships hung with shields ; thy son 

 Was there with only three ; the others lay 

 Deep in the cove. A fog lay on the sea 

 .\nd Erland's signal failed to reach them. First 

 He thought, by happy chance, he ' d met his own ; 

 Discovering soon the truth, he turned to flee. 

 Rut all too late. The King bore down upon him. 

 He took thy son for thee, for Hakon, bade 

 The oarsmen pull their ablest stroke. At length, 

 His ships being driven upon the rocks, thy Erland, 

 With all his men, leaped boldly overboard. 

 With only three small ships, each poorly manned, 

 Opposed by five, all filled with steel-clad men, 

 The fight was too uneven, sir. He swam 

 Beneath the waves, and thuswise sought to reach 

 The shore. But Olaf watched him close. He saw 

 The shining coat of mail, the copper shield 

 Whose beauty far outgleamed the rest. And all 

 The while he thought 't was thou and cried : "Ah Hakon ! 

 This time thou 'It not escape thy doom ! Recall 

 When last we spoke! We swore that blood should flow!" 

 With this. King Olaf seized an oar, and hurled, — 

 Oh Sir, Sir Hakon, spare me further words 

 And spare thyself — 



Hakon. Nay speak, he seized an oar 



And hurled — 



Messenger. And smote thy son upon the brow 

 W^ith such a force the skull did burst and poured 

 Its contents in the sea. 



Hakon. [Concealing It is f^ain.] Hast more to tell ? 



Messenger. The King was vexed when told he 'd struck thy 

 son, 

 Not thee. His warriors butchered many men. 

 And yet he pardoned some. From these he learned 

 About the peasant forces, how they stand, 

 Their hate toward thee. 



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