| |
| SAFE at anchor in Drontheim bay | |
| King Olaf’s fleet assembled lay, | |
| And, striped with white and blue, | |
| Downward fluttered sail and banner, | |
| As alights the screaming lanner;— | 5 |
| Lustily cheered, in their wild manner, | |
| The Long Serpent’s crew. | |
| |
| Her forecastle man was Ulf the Red; | |
| Like a wolf’s was his shaggy head, | |
| His teeth as large and white; | 10 |
| His beard, of gray and russet blended, | |
| Round as a swallow’s nest descended; | |
| As standard-bearer he defended | |
| Olaf’s flag in the fight. | |
| |
| Near him Kolbiorn had his place, | 15 |
| Like the King in garb and face, | |
| So gallant and so hale; | |
| Every cabin-boy and varlet | |
| Wondered at his cloak of scarlet; | |
| Like a river, frozen and star-lit, | 20 |
| Gleamed his coat of mail. | |
| |
| By the bulkhead, tall and dark, | |
| Stood Thrand Rame of Thelemark, | |
| A figure gaunt and grand; | |
| On his hairy arm imprinted | 25 |
| Was an anchor azure-tinted; | |
| Like Thor’s hammer, huge and dinted | |
| Was his brawny hand. | |
| |
| Einar Tamberskelver, bare | |
| To the winds his golden hair, | 30 |
| By the mainmast stood; | |
| Graceful was his form, and slender, | |
| And his eyes were deep and tender | |
| As a woman’s in the splendor | |
| Of her maidenhood. | 35 |
| |
| In the fore-hold Biorn and Bork | |
| Watched the sailors at their work: | |
| Heavens! how they swore! | |
| Thirty men they each commanded, | |
| Iron-sinewed, horny-handed, | 40 |
| Shoulders broad, and chests expanded, | |
| Tugging at the oar. | |
| |
| These, and many more like these, | |
| With King Olaf sailed the seas, | |
| Till the waters vast | 45 |
| Filled them with a vague devotion, | |
| With the freedom and the motion, | |
| With the roll and roar of ocean | |
| And the sounding blast. | |
| |
| When they landed from the fleet, | 50 |
| How they roared through Drontheim’s street, | |
| Boisterous as the gale! | |
| How they laughed and stamped and pounded, | |
| Till the tavern roof resounded, | |
| And the host looked on astounded | 55 |
| As they drank the ale! | |
| |
| Never saw the wild North Sea | |
| Such a gallant company | |
| Sail its billows blue! | |
| Never, while they cruised and quarrelled, | 60 |
| Old King Gorm, or Blue-Tooth Harald, | |
| Owned a ship so well apparelled, | |
| Boasted such a crew! | |
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