298 HISTORICAL FOOTPRINTS IN AMERICA. 



grandly designated the " pectoral," or "breastplate," on being sub- 

 mitted to the chemist, Berzelius, was found to bear a marvellous 

 resemblance to modern brass ; and an elaborate account of the " Dis- 

 covery of Antiquities made at Fall River, Massachusetts," with the 

 subsequent investigations, was published in the Memoires de la societe 

 Royale des Antiquaires du Nord, along with a letter from a learned 

 Boston Antiquary on " the famous Dighton Rock, the marvel of this 

 region," with its ancient characters, affording indubitable proof " that 

 the Northmen have been on that spot."* 



Here, at any rate, were ample materials for the poet. No better 

 credentials could be desired for the hero of a genuine Norse Ballad, 

 whatever the severer incredulity of the historical student might de- 

 mand ; and the Norse Viking, resuscitated from the skeleton in armour, 

 speaks accordingly, narrating in his epical lyric, the ballad-legend of 

 the Newport Round Tower. In response to the invocation of the 

 modern Skald, the Viking recounts his passion, when, — like Othello, 

 telling his adventurous tales, — the tender eyes of King Hildebrand's 

 daughter kindled his heart with their soft splendour. But though 

 they shone responsive, the royal father laughed his suit to scorn. 



"Why did they leave, that night, 

 ■' Her nest unguarded ? " 



Bearing from the Norwegian shore in flight with the blue-eyed 

 maiden, the fierce Viking tells how he dashed mid-ships on his pur- 

 suers ; and leaving Hildebrand and his crew to perish in the " black- 

 water," he sweeps fearless before the gale into the unknown West : — 



As with his wings aslant, 

 Sails the fierce cormorant, 

 Seeking some rocky haunt, 



With his prey laden : 

 So towards the open main, 

 Beating to sea again, 

 Through the wild hurricane, 



Bore I the maiden. 



Three weeks we westward bore, " 

 And when the storm was o'er, 

 Cloud-like we saw the shore, 

 Stretching to leeward ; 



* Mem. de la Soc. Royale des .Antiquaires du Nord. 1840-44. P. llT. 



