 | Idyls of Norway and other poems |  |
109
INTRODUCTION.
Where under the pine-clothed mountain-side
The glittering fiord lies dreaming,—
Where the sunlight plays with the sparkling tide,
From the distant glaciers beaming,—
The glittering fiord lies dreaming,—
Where the sunlight plays with the sparkling tide,
From the distant glaciers beaming,—
Where the midnight sun pours its flaming gold
O'er the Yokul's airy steeple,
There lingers an echo from Saga old
In the hearts of the Norseland people.
O'er the Yokul's airy steeple,
There lingers an echo from Saga old
In the hearts of the Norseland people.
At the wedding-feast, when the home-brewed ale
Has made its round of the table,
And the healthful mirth of a jocund tale
Shakes the house from cellar to gable,
Has made its round of the table,
And the healthful mirth of a jocund tale
Shakes the house from cellar to gable,
Then waketh again what hath slumbered so long,—
The fire of the ancient Saga;
And the Norseman's heart flows over in song,
As of old, at the goblet of Braga.
The fire of the ancient Saga;
And the Norseman's heart flows over in song,
As of old, at the goblet of Braga.
110
Full oft then a youth leaps forth from the crowd
'Mid the dance and the music and laughter,—
Leaps forth with a shout so free and loud
That it rings from rafter to rafter,—
'Mid the dance and the music and laughter,—
Leaps forth with a shout so free and loud
That it rings from rafter to rafter,—
And calleth a maiden out of the throng,
And round them the revellers and dancers
Are hushed, while his heart pours forth its song,
And the heart of the maiden answers.
And round them the revellers and dancers
Are hushed, while his heart pours forth its song,
And the heart of the maiden answers.
| Idyls of Norway and other poems | |