Historical & Legendary Ballads & Songs By Walter Thornbury. Illustrated by J. Whistler, F. Walker, John Tenniel, J. D. Watson, W. Small, F. Sandys, G. J. Pinwell, T. Morten, M. J. Lawless, and many others |
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The Two Norse Kings.
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 | Historical & Legendary Ballads & Songs |  |
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The Two Norse Kings.
A YORKSHIRE BALLAD.
Two galleys, each with crimson sail,
Plough fast the green bath of the whale.
Plough fast the green bath of the whale.
A fierce king stands on either prow,
A gold band round his knotty brow.
A gold band round his knotty brow.
A bronze axe and an ivory horn
Are by each wroth king proudly borne.
Are by each wroth king proudly borne.
A torque of twisted gold one wore—
That brooch Jarls from the walrus tore.
That brooch Jarls from the walrus tore.
The raven banner's flowing black,
Their red prows cast a flaming track.
Their red prows cast a flaming track.
Clashing the gold links on his chest,
Each bid his rowers do their best.
Each bid his rowers do their best.
The Saxon land is fair and green—
Broad meadows with a stream between.
Broad meadows with a stream between.
Both galleys, with an equal beak,
Touch at one bound the sandy peak.
Touch at one bound the sandy peak.
Both Norse kings leap at once to land,
Like sunbeams spring forth either brand.
Like sunbeams spring forth either brand.
Gonthron kneels down to kiss the earth,
Bonthron laughs loud with cruel mirth.
Bonthron laughs loud with cruel mirth.
Then helm meets helm, and shield meets shield,
Red grows the sand, and red the field.
Red grows the sand, and red the field.
Gather, ye eagles, on the crag,
Swarm, ravens, on each chalky jag.
Swarm, ravens, on each chalky jag.
Notched splints of steel and shreds of gold
Are scattered on the Saxon mould.
Are scattered on the Saxon mould.
Bright mail is cloven, flags are torn,
Soon are the shouts to Odin borne.
Soon are the shouts to Odin borne.
But all the fight, this narrow verse
May not, if it could, rehearse.
May not, if it could, rehearse.
This I know,—a burial mound
Rises o'er that battle-ground;
Rises o'er that battle-ground;
And to this day the Saxon boor
Calls it in legends “Bonthron's Moor.”
Calls it in legends “Bonthron's Moor.”
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