The Complete Poetical Works of Robert Buchanan In Two Volumes. With a Portrait |
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The Complete Poetical Works of Robert Buchanan | ||
HAKON.
Hakon of Thule, ere he died,
Summoned a Priest to his bed-side.
Summoned a Priest to his bed-side.
‘Ho, Priest!’ with blackening brow quoth he,
‘What comfort canst thou cast to me?’
‘What comfort canst thou cast to me?’
The young Priest, with a timorous mouth,
Told of the new gods of the South,—
Told of the new gods of the South,—
Of Mary Mother and her Child,
And holy Saints with features mild;
And holy Saints with features mild;
Of those who hate and those who love,
Of Hell beneath and Heaven above.
Of Hell beneath and Heaven above.
Then Hakon laughed full loud and shrill—
‘Serve thy puny gods who will!’
‘Serve thy puny gods who will!’
Then, roaring to his henchman red,
‘Slit me the throat o' the Priest,’ he said;
‘Slit me the throat o' the Priest,’ he said;
‘His red heart's blood shall flow before,
As steaming sacrifice to Thor!
As steaming sacrifice to Thor!
‘Bring me my mighty drinking-cup:
With fiery wine now fill it up!’
With fiery wine now fill it up!’
Then, though so faint his life's blood ran,
‘Let me die standing, like a man!’
‘Let me die standing, like a man!’
He swore, and staggered to his legs,
And drained the goblet to the dregs.
And drained the goblet to the dregs.
‘Skaal be to the gods!’ he said—
His great heart burst, and he was dead!
His great heart burst, and he was dead!
The Complete Poetical Works of Robert Buchanan | ||