Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Scotland: Vols. VI–VIII. 1876–79.
King Oluf the Saint
By AnonymousK
’Bout Norroway’s rocks a parley hold.
Shall rule o’er Norroway’s hill and dale.
O’er all the region shall king be crowned.”
“Ay, let it be done as thou hast said.
Thou shalt change thy vessel, I swear, with me.
I shall make with the Ox a poor figure indeed.
The Ox, he moveth in lazy pace.”
What thou hast proposed well pleaseth me.
I ’ll readily, cheerfully, lend thee mine.
And I with the Ox will the journey make.
Ere our hand on sail or on oar we lay.”
His beautiful hair like the bright gold glowed.
“Thy brother is sailing off fast as he can.”
The word of our Lord we will not lose.
Take water, ye swains, for our table board.
Then unto the sea-shore quietly haste.”
Where the Ox lay rocking before the land.
The anchor, and cable, and sail, and oar.
“Now forward, thou Ox, in the name of the Lord!”
“Hie now, as if thou went clover to bite!”
In his wake stood the billows boisterously.
“Do we the Dragon of Harald draw nigh?”
Than the uppermost top of the good oak-tree.
Bright silken sails with a golden rim.
The Dragon bearing of sail a cloud.
The Dragon gallantly forward stride.”
“Now faster, now faster, over the wave!”
“To the haven much speedier thou must course.”
No sailor on deck his stand could keep.
He tied to the vessel’s rigging and mast.
“But who shall now the vessel guide?”
And to stand himself by the rudder he goes.
The nearest way, like a line of light!”
To them they became like water clear.
Then out came running the Elfin crew.
Our ancient father who dares annoy?”
Till I by this path return again!”
And stones became the little Elves all.
“Saint Oluf! why sailest thou us to mock?
Through my chamber wall thy ship hath passed.”
“Stand there a flint-rock forever and aye.”
Before them yielded both stock and stone.
That no man upon them could fasten his eyes.
Behind the sail dropped the shaft that he sent.
Behind the Ox fell the shaft in the sea.
And therefore first home by three days he won.
Of a laidly dragon he took the form.
And the Saint got Norroway’s land to rule.
He thanked the Saviour in fervent mood.
There shone a glory his ringlets out.
His enemies win both shame and dismay.