 | Dirge for Aoine and other poems |  |
xxii
THE ROWING-SONG OF KING ATLI
Row, row, through the darkling sea—
One king's daughter is waiting me:
Her hair is unbound till I come to land,
And gather her hair in my conqueror's hand,
And set my crown on her shining head
And bear her, crowned, to our wedding-bed.
One king's daughter is waiting me:
Her hair is unbound till I come to land,
And gather her hair in my conqueror's hand,
And set my crown on her shining head
And bear her, crowned, to our wedding-bed.
Row, row, under skies of gray—
Two kings' sisters I carried away.
They sleep in my byre and they milk my kine,
And the dreams they dream are servants of mine.
Two kings' sisters I carried away.
They sleep in my byre and they milk my kine,
And the dreams they dream are servants of mine.
Row, row, through the threshing waves—
Red cocks crow over three kings' graves.
Their wives at my will they saw and knew;
Then my mercy spoke and my henchmen slew.
Red cocks crow over three kings' graves.
Their wives at my will they saw and knew;
Then my mercy spoke and my henchmen slew.
Row, row, while the oar-blades hold—
Four kings' children I bought and sold:
Two that had sucked at the same kind breast
I sundered as far as East from West.
Four kings' children I bought and sold:
Two that had sucked at the same kind breast
I sundered as far as East from West.
One that had cursed me I clothed in gold,
And into the hand of a sultan sold;
One that had silently ta'en my yoke
I gave for a slave to my fisher-folk.
And into the hand of a sultan sold;
One that had silently ta'en my yoke
I gave for a slave to my fisher-folk.
xxiii
Row, row, through the sea-fires' flare—
Five kings' women gave me their hair;
Soft was the flaxen and long the brown,
Worthy the black hair to bear a crown,
But Gudrun's gold hair shines them all down.
Five kings' women gave me their hair;
Soft was the flaxen and long the brown,
Worthy the black hair to bear a crown,
But Gudrun's gold hair shines them all down.
Row, row, while the wind holds fair,
Six kings' brothers my banner bear:
On a golden field black swoops the raven
With fear on its wings from haven to haven.
Six kings' brothers my banner bear:
On a golden field black swoops the raven
With fear on its wings from haven to haven.
Row, row, while the shore-winds blow!
Seven queens with my herd-girls go:
Fierce and shy are my cattle all,
Far must my herds go, long must they call.
Seven queens with my herd-girls go:
Fierce and shy are my cattle all,
Far must my herds go, long must they call.
Row, row, lest the good winds fail!
Eight queens shall pour me my wedding-ale,
Light the torches and smoothly spread
The covers of sendal sewn with red.
Eight queens shall pour me my wedding-ale,
Light the torches and smoothly spread
The covers of sendal sewn with red.
Row, row, for the shore is nigh;
Nine kings I've made; and the tenth am I,
And I am little and swart to see,
And white is the woman that waits for me.
Nine kings I've made; and the tenth am I,
And I am little and swart to see,
And white is the woman that waits for me.
Atli the Hun, I come a-land
With the strength of ten kings in my hand;
And she that I seek is deadly fair
With the beauty of ten in her eyes and hair.
With the strength of ten kings in my hand;
And she that I seek is deadly fair
With the beauty of ten in her eyes and hair.
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