| |
| LOUD the angry wind was wailing | |
| As King Olaf’s ships came sailing | |
| Northward out of Drontheim haven | |
| To the mouth of Salten Fiord. | |
| |
| Though the flying sea-spray drenches | 5 |
| Fore and aft the rowers’ benches, | |
| Not a single heart is craven | |
| Of the champions there on board. | |
| |
| All without the Fiord was quiet, | |
| But within it storm and riot, | 10 |
| Such as on his Viking cruises | |
| Raud the Strong was wont to ride. | |
| |
| And the sea through all its tide-ways | |
| Swept the reeling vessels sideways, | |
| As the leaves are swept through sluices, | 15 |
| When the flood-gates open wide. | |
| |
| “’T is the warlock! ’t is the demon | |
| Raud!” cried Sigurd to the seamen; | |
| “But the Lord is not affrighted | |
| By the witchcraft of his foes.” | 20 |
| |
| To the ship’s bow he ascended, | |
| By his choristers attended, | |
| Round him were the tapers lighted, | |
| And the sacred incense rose. | |
| |
| On the bow stood Bishop Sigurd, | 25 |
| In his robes, as one transfigured, | |
| And the Crucifix he planted | |
| High amid the rain and mist. | |
| |
| Then with holy water sprinkled | |
| All the ship; the mass-bells tinkled: | 30 |
| Loud the monks around him chanted, | |
| Loud he read the Evangelist. | |
| |
| As into the Fiord they darted, | |
| On each side the water parted; | |
| Down a path like silver molten | 35 |
| Steadily rowed King Olaf’s ships; | |
| |
| Steadily burned all night the tapers, | |
| And the White Christ through the vapors | |
| Gleamed across the Fiord of Salten, | |
| As through John’s Apocalypse,— | 40 |
| |
| Till at last they reached Raud’s dwelling | |
| On the little isle of Gelling; | |
| Not a guard was at the doorway, | |
| Not a glimmer of light was seen. | |
| |
| But at anchor, carved and gilded, | 45 |
| Lay the dragon-ship he builded; | |
| ’T was the grandest ship in Norway, | |
| With its crest and scales of green. | |
| |
| Up the stairway, softly creeping, | |
| To the loft where Raud was sleeping, | 50 |
| With their fists they burst asunder | |
| Bolt and bar that held the door. | |
| |
| Drunken with sleep and ale they found him, | |
| Dragged him from his bed and bound him, | |
| While he stared with stupid wonder | 55 |
| At the look and garb they wore. | |
| |
| Then King Olaf said: “O Sea-King! | |
| Little time have we for speaking, | |
| Choose between the good and evil; | |
| Be baptized! or thou shalt die!” | 60 |
| |
| But in scorn the heathen scoffer | |
| Answered: “I disdain thine offer; | |
| Neither fear I God nor Devil; | |
| Thee and thy Gospel I defy!” | |
| |
| Then between his jaws distended, | 65 |
| When his frantic struggles ended, | |
| Through King Olaf’s horn an adder, | |
| Touched by fire, they forced to glide. | |
| |
| Sharp his tooth was as an arrow, | |
| As he gnawed through bone and marrow; | 70 |
| But without a groan or shudder, | |
| Raud the Strong blaspheming died. | |
| |
| Then baptized they all that region, | |
| Swarthy Lap and fair Norwegian, | |
| Far as swims the salmon, leaping, | 75 |
| Up the streams of Salten Fiord. | |
| |
| In their temples Thor and Odin | |
| Lay in dust and ashes trodden, | |
| As King Olaf, onward sweeping, | |
| Preached the Gospel with his sword. | 80 |
| |
| Then he took the carved and gilded | |
| Dragon-ship that Raud had builded, | |
| And the tiller single-handed | |
| Grasping, steered into the main. | |
| |
| Southward sailed the sea-gulls o’er him, | 85 |
| Southward sailed the ship that bore him, | |
| Till at Drontheim haven landed | |
| Olaf and his crew again. | |
| |
