Oclilciisclilacfycr's Ilakon Jarl 67 



Thou fondest dream that lioped cahii evening's sun 



Might crown the evening of my day, before 



It sank, is gone, aye, gone ; a storm has broken 



Witli rain and sleet; it wraps the sun in mists, 



And ere the sky again is blue, the stars 



Will shine on Hakon's grave. Ran*^'- took my son, 



My Erland ; Erling still is left. But how 



Can I believe this tender shoot will e'er 



Defy these vicious times? — Then, Odin, hear 



My oath, T swear by all those precious stones, 



The stars that gild thy crown, by Auk-thor's wain,"''' 



From this hour on I live for Valhal's gods. 



If pride ensnared my thoug-hts, forgive, forgive. 



Thou beauteous Saga,"^ it was thou who charmed me ; 



And Odin, if displeasure at my deeds 



Hath vexed thy brow, require thy offering, ask 



Whate'er thou Avilt and thou shalt have thy wish. 



Stei^t enters heariui:; a golden horn. 



Hakon. What hast thou there ? 



Stein. Booty, sir, taken from the enemy. Thou knowest that 

 Olaf sent a group of workmen to erect in the woods near the 

 strand, a house, a church they call it, for their new gods. Thou 

 didst command, as just, to go and hinder them in this work. 

 We did as thou didst bid. But before we came, Olaf's men. by 

 digging deep into the earth, had found this horn. We seized it, 

 sir, and bring it hither. 



Hakon. 'T is well. Stein ! Are there others than thyself who 

 brought it ? 



Stein. A crowd of us. 



Hakon. For this deed a feast shall be provided at the ser- 

 vant's quarters. Each one shall have for himself a horn of wine 

 as large as this. 



Stein. j\nd all, sir, shall be drunk to thy health. [Exit. 



Hakon. An ancient sacrificial drinking horn, 

 Of gold, enchased gold ; a rare, old horn. 

 Upon this spot has doubtless stood, long since, 



