Ochloischlacgcr's Ilakoii Jar! 83 



T/wra. But sir, my brothers? Aye, 



"Sly Ijrothers? Thou hast 'come, most noble sir, 

 A strai\q:er ; hither, and at nii^ht — I fear — 

 My l)rothers? 



Einar. They were hindered,— ^could not come 



Themselves. Rejoice my noble Thora! Skialm 

 And Alf rode out beneath the rising stm 

 And entered Valhal ; long' ago they sat 

 At Odin's side. 



Thora. Oh I'^reia. gods ! 



Einar . Rejoice, 



I\[ost nol)le Thora! Aye, be glad. The gods 

 Do not decree to every man at birth, 

 So grand a death. ■ They ever took their stand 

 Where thickest raged the battle. Side by side 

 W'Q fought. Tarl Hakon chafed and foamed as doth 

 A maddened bear. The fight was fierce ; for hosts 

 Of men, embittered, met like angry waves. 

 The half of Norway fought for Hakon Jarl, 

 The other half for Norway's king ; his fame 

 Had spread abroad from town to town, like flames 

 In sun-burnt grass. Thy lirothers, b> their choice. 

 Were constantly opposed to Hakon Jarl. 

 They swore his death : they swore to avenge thy wrong, — 

 Then sank they each before his deadly sword ; 

 Tie strikes a heavy blow and doubly hard 

 When energized by wrath, .\ught more? The Jarl's 

 A wortliy executioner ; say what 

 They will, one finds not Hakon's equal here 

 In the North. He proved a hero in the fight. 



Thora. My Alf! ]\Ty Skialm! My dearest brothers! Oh 

 My brothers ! 



Einar. I am jealous of their lot! 

 I envy them, for now they 're Odin's j)riests ; 

 They shine in burnished coats of mail and round 

 Their loins hath Vauland forged the fiery sword. — 

 Tomorrow we shall lav them 'nealh a mound 



121 



