Oclilciischlaeger's Ilakoji Jarl 69 



Then flames of joy ascend from earth to heaven, 



And Odin smiles down from his royal stool. 



The other offering burns to expiate ; 



Its biaze but smothers Valhal's wrath ; and then 



The heart must bleed, because the offering bleeds. 



The scene is still, there 's neither song nor dance ; 



It is a punishment that turns the gods 



From wrath to mere}-. [Looks at the horn.'\ 



Carved in plainest words 

 It reads : Give them the best ! And wherefore brought 

 Me even now. this moment when I swore 

 The gods to work for them alone, just when 

 I promised — Hakon, fie ; no weakness now ! 

 Thorgierdur Horgabrud !''•'* Thou amazon. 

 Who ridest to battle on a snow-white steed. 

 Thy broadened shoulders covered with a cloak 

 Once dipped in steaming blood, the glaive of death 

 Within thy monstrous hand ; thy bloody eye 

 Is all aglow for prey, thou reachest out 

 Thy hand, — thy dagger shines — enough ! enough ! 

 See, Hakon Jarl obeys ! He trembles not. 



[Goes out fryiiii^i f<^ gf'osp the iiiioginary dagger. 



Scene H 



A Wood 

 Tangbrand and Griffin. 



Tangbrand. "T is well I found thee, Gritlfin. Where 's the 

 King? 

 Tm much in doubt about this matter. Where 's 

 The aged man ? 



GriiHn. They walk together, up 

 And down the forest, talking now of this 

 And now of that. The old man often speaks. 

 In terms ambigiious, of Olaf's deeds. 



Tani^brand'. Tell all; from whence he came, and what he said. 



107 



