70 Jaiiics Clin'stian Liiidbcrg 



Grif^n. We 'd gathered at the feast of Whitsuntide. 

 King Olaf seemed as gay as anyone 

 Vronnd the festive board, when in there stepped 

 This aged one-eyed man. He placed himself 

 Beside the door. But Olaf, who is kind 

 To all, invited him to feast with us ; 

 They talked of many things. The old man knew 

 Of all the wondrous happenings. In ways 

 Peculiar to himself, he joked and railed 

 At things wherein they differed. Tims he said : 

 'T see you celebrate Confusion's feast ! 

 You call to mind that night when pious men 

 Received strange tongues and prated each to suit 

 Himself, nor since have imderstood each other." 

 At length the sultry chamber stifled him ; 

 The summer night was clear and cool, and so 

 He begged the King to take a friendly stroll 

 Through forest paths. At length the King complied. 

 I followed close upon them, and alas. 

 They wandered far and wide. And once he led 

 The King to the mountain top and while he spoke 

 His finger moved through all the land. The moon 

 Shone clear. 'T was passing strange ! When one beheld 

 flim in the distance, wrapped in bushy furs. 

 The stranger looked as if a ghost. I wished 

 The King would seek his couch ; the night is damp. 



Tongbrand. Where is he? Bring. me to the king, my Grif. 

 Long since, the sun went down behind the sea ; 

 Tomorrow when it rises it will greet 

 The holy day of Pentecost, and still 

 Our evening's mass has not been sung. I fear 

 For Olaf ; never yet has he postponed 

 His pious dues. Come, haste ; let 's seek the King. [ExeiDit. 



[Olaf enters from, the other side ivitJi Auden.*"'® The latter 

 7vears a black cloak and a hood coirrs his head.] 



Auden. I understand thee well, my tender lad. 

 Inspiring songs within the vaulted church — 



io8 



