 | The Poetical Works of Robert Story |  |
XV.
Then, with the bard's accustomed tact and skill,Who knows to change his flatteries at will,
The Minstrel added: “While, without a peer,
The valiant Guthrum ran his bright career
The first to combat, and the last to yield!”
He paused. The harp of Anlave loudly rung,
And thus that scald his ready answer sung:
Song.
“I dreamed a solemn dream!The song which Anlave is here represented as singing, was suggested to me by a genuine Danish lyric, thus given by Thierry.
“I dreamt a dream. Methought I was at day-break in the hall of Walhalla, preparing all things for the reception of the men killed in battles.
“I awakened the heroes from their sleep; I asked them to rise, to arrange the seats and the drinking cups, as for the coming of a king.
“‘What means all this noise?’ cried Braghi; ‘why are so many men in motion, and why all this ordering of seats?’
“‘It is because Erik is on his way to join us,’ replied Odin; ‘I await him with joy. Let some go forth to meet him.’
“‘How is it that his coming pleases thee more than the coming of any other king?’
“Because in more battle fields has his sword been red with blood; because in more places has his ensanguined spear diffused terror.”
Methought I stood among his warriors all!
All stood in ordered ranks, and all stood dumb,
As if they waited great event to come!
Th' immortal Damsels who on heroes tend,
Had heaped the glittering boards from end to end
With store of richest viands. On his throne
The god—majestic Woden—sat alone.
After a space, ‘What King,’ aloud he cried,
‘Expect ye in Valhalla's mansion wide?’
One answered him: ‘Brave Aymund comes—the Dane.’
‘Then,’ said the god, ‘ye wait for him in vain.
That hero still survives, and long shall be
A faithful Champion of my creed and me.
A hundred warriors yet, in fight, shall feel
The deadly point of Aymund's conquering steel!’”
Rung on their hollow-sounding shields applause.
| The Poetical Works of Robert Story | |