StoryTitle("caps", "Earl Sigurd's Christmas Eve") ?>
StoryOrigin("center", SmallCapsText("Hjalmar Hjorth Boyesen") ) ?>
PoemStart() ?>
PagePoem(160, "L0", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Earl Sigurd, he rides o'er the foam-crested brine,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " And he heeds not the billowy brawl,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "For he yearns to behold gentle Swanwhite, the maid", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " Who abides in Sir Burislav's hall.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0DQ", "", "\"Earl Sigurd, the viking, he comes, he is near!", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " Earl Sigurd, the scourge of the sea;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Among the wild rovers who dwell on the deep,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " There is none that is dreaded as he.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0DQ", "", "\"Oh, hie ye, ye maidens, and hide where ye can,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " Ere the clang of his war-ax ye hear,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "For the wolf of the woods has more pity than he,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " And his heart is as grim as his spear.\"", "") ?>
PagePoem(161, "L0", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Thus rang the dread tidings, from castle to hut,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " Through the length of Sir Burislav's land,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "As they spied the red pennon unfurled to the breeze,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " And the galleys that steered for the strand.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But with menacing brow, looming high in his prow", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " Stood Earl Sigurd, and fair to behold", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Was his bright, yellow hair, as it waved in the air,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " 'Neath the glittering helmet of gold.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0DQ", "", "\"Up, my comrades, and stand with your broadswords in hand,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " For the war is great Odin's delight;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And the Thunderer proud, how he laughs in his cloud", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " When the Norsemen prepare for the fight!\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And the light galleys bore the fierce crew to the shore,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " And naught good did their coming forebode,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And a wail rose on high to the storm-riven sky", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " As to Burislav's castle they strode.", "") ?>
PagePoem(162, "L0", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Then the stout-hearted men of Sir Burislav's train", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " To the gate-way came thronging full fast", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And the battle-blade rang with a murderous clang,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " Borne aloft on the wings of the blast.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And they hewed and they thrust, till each man bit the dust,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " Their fierce valor availing them naught.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But the Thunderer proud, how he laughed in his cloud,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " When he saw how the Norsemen had fought!", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Then came Burislav forth; to the men of the North", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " Thus in quivering accents spake he:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0DQ", "", "\"O, ye warriors, name me the ransom ye claim,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " Or in gold, or in robes, or in fee.\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0DQ", "", "\"Oh, what reck I thy gold?\" quoth Earl Sigurd, the bold;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2DQ", "", " \"Has not Thor laid it all in my hand?", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Give me Swanwhite, the fair, and by Balder I swear", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "I shall never revisit thy land.", "") ?>
PagePoem(163, "L0", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0DQ", "", "\"For my vengeance speeds fast, and I come like the blast", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " Of the night o'er the billowy brine;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "I forget not thy scorn and thy laugh on that morn", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " When I wooed me the maid that was mine.\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Then the chief, sore afraid, brought the lily-white maid", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " To the edge of the blood-sprinkled field,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And they bore her aloft o'er the sward of the croft", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " On the vault of the glittering shield.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But amain in their path, in a whirlwind of wrath", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " Came young Harold, Sir Burislav's son;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "With a great voice he cried, while the echoes replied:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2DQ", "", " \"Lo, my vengeance, it cometh anon!\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0DQ", "", "Hark ye, Norsemen, hear great tidings:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " Odin, Thor, and Frey are dead,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And white Christ, the strong and gentle,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2DQ", "", " standeth peace-crowned in their stead.", "") ?>
PagePoem(164, "L0", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0DQ", "", "Lo, the blood-stained day of vengeance to the", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " ancient night is hurled,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And the dawn of Christ is beaming blessings", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " o'er the new-born world.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0DQ", "", "\"See the Cross in splendor gleaming far and", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " wide o'er pine-clad heath,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "While the flaming blade of battle slumbers in", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " its golden sheath.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And before the lowly Savior, e'en the rider of", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " the sea,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Sigurd, tamer of the billow, he hath bent the", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " stubborn knee.\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Now at Yule-tide sat he feasting on the shore", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " of Drontheim fiord,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And his stalwart swains about him watched", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " the bidding of their lord.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Huge his strength was, but his visage, it was", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " mild and fair to see;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Ne'er old Norway, heroes' mother, bore a", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " mightier son than he.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "With her maids sat gentle Swanwhite 'neath a", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " roof of gleaming shields,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "As the rarer lily blossoms 'mid the green herbs", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " of the fields;", "") ?>
PagePoem(165, "L0", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "To and fro their merry words flew lightly", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " through the torch-lit room,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Like a shuttle deftly skipping through the", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " mazes of the loom.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And the scalds with nimble fingers o'er the", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " sounding harp-strings swept;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Now the strain in laughter rippled, now with", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " hidden woe it wept,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "For they sang of Time's beginning, ere the sun", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " the day brought forth—", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Sang as sing the ocean breezes through the", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " pine-woods of the North.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Bolder beat the breasts of Norsemen—when", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " amid the tuneful din", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Open sprang the heavy hall-doors, and a", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " stranger entered in.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Tall his growth, though low he bended o'er a", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " twisted staff of oak,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And his stalwart shape was folded in a dun,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " unseemly cloak.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Straight the Earl his voice uplifted: \"Hail", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " to thee, my guest austere!", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Drain with me this cup of welcome: thou shalt", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " share our Yule-tide cheer.", "") ?>
PagePoem(166, "L0", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Thou shalt sit next to my high-seat e'en", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "though lowly be thy birth,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "For to-night our Lord, the Savior, came a", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "stranger to his earth.\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Up then rose the gentle Swanwhite, and her", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " eyes with fear grew bright;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Down the dusky hall she drifted, as a shadow", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " drifts by night.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0DQ", "", "\"If my lord would hold me worthy,\" low she", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " spake, \"then grant me leave", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "To abide between the stranger and my lord,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " this Christmas eve.\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0DQ", "", "\"Strange, O guest, is women's counsel, still", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " their folly is the staff", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Upon which our wisdom leaneth,\" and he", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " laughed a burly laugh;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Lifted up her lissome body with a husband's", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " tender pride,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Kissed her brow, and placed her gently in the", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " high-seat at his side.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But the guest stood pale and quivered, where", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " the red flames roofward rose,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And he clenched the brimming goblet in his", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " fingers, fierce and close,", "") ?>
PagePoem(167, "L0", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Then he spake: \"All hail, Earl Sigurd,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " mightiest of the Norsemen, hail!", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Ere I name to thee my tidings, I will taste thy", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " flesh and ale.\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Quoth the merry Earl with fervor: \"Courteous", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " is thy speech and free:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "While thy worn soul thou refreshest, I will", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " sing a song to thee;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "For beneath that dusky garment thou mayst", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " hide a hero's heart,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And my hand, though stiff, hath scarcely yet", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " unlearned the singer's art.\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Then the arms so tightly folded round his neck", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " the Earl unclasped,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And his heart was stirred within him as the", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " silvern strings he grasped,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But with eyes of meek entreaty, closely to his", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " side she clung,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "While his mighty soul rose upward on the", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " billows of the song.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "For he sang, in tones impassioned, of the death", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " of Æsir bright,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Sang the song of Christ the glorious, who was", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " born a babe to-night,", "") ?>
PagePoem(168, "L0", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "How the hosts of heaven victorious joined the", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " anthem of his birth,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Of the kings the starlight guided from the far", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " lands of the earth.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And anon, with bodeful glamour fraught, the", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " hurrying strain sped on,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "As he sang the law of vengeance and the wrath", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " forever gone,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Sang of gods with murder sated, who had laid", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " the fair earth waste,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Who had whetted swords of Norsemen,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " plunged them into Norsemen's breast.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But he shook a shower of music, rippling from", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " the silver strings,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And bright visions rose of angels and of fair", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " and shining things", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "As he sang of heaven's rejoicing at the mild", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " and bloodless reign", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Of the gentle Christ who bringeth peace and", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " good-will unto men!", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But the guest sat dumb and hearkened, staring", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " at the brimming bowl,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "While the lay with mighty wing-beats swept", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " the darkness of his soul.", "") ?>
PagePoem(169, "L0", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "For the Christ who worketh wonders as of old,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " so e'en to-day", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Sent his angel downward gliding on the ladder", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " of the lay.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "As the host his song had ended with a last", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " resounding twang,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And within the harp's dumb chambers", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " murmurous echoes faintly rang,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Up then sprang the guest, and straightway", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " downward rolled his garment dun—", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "There stood Harold, the avenger, Burislav's", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " undaunted son.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "High he loomed above the feasters in the", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " torchlight dim and weird,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "From his eyes hot tears were streaming,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " sparkling in his tawny beard;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Shining in his sea-blue mantle stood he, 'mid", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " that wondering throng,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And each maiden thought him fairest, and each", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " warrior vowed him strong.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Swift he bared his blade of battle, flung it", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " quivering on the board:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0DQ", "", "\"Lo!\" he cried, \"I came to bid thee baleful", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " greeting with my sword;", "") ?>
PagePoem(170, "L0", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Thou hast dulled the edge that never shrank", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " from battle's fiercest test—", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Now I come, as comes a brother, swordless unto", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " brother's breast.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0DQ", "", "\"With three hundred men I landed in the", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " gloaming at thy shore—", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Dost thou hear their axes clanking on their", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " shields without thy door?", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But a yearning woke within me my sweet sister's", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " voice to hear,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "To behold her face and whisper words of", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " warning in her ear.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0DQ", "", "\"But I knew not of the new-born king, who", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " holds the earth in sway,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And whose voice like fragrance blended in the", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " soarings of thy lay.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "This my vengeance now, O brother: foes as", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " friends shall hands unite;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Teach me, thou, the wondrous tidings, and the", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " law of Christ the white.\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Touched as by an angel's glory, strangely", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " shone Earl Sigurd's face,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "As he locked his foe, his brother, in a brotherly", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " embrace;", "") ?>
PagePoem(171, "L0", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And each warrior upward leaping, swung his", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " horn with gold bedight:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0DQ", "", "\"Hail to Sigurd, hail to Harold, three times", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", " hail to Christ the white!\"", "") ?>
PoemEnd() ?>