(10.)-CHAP. Xxx. Now bid the steeple rock-she comes, she comes! Speak for us, bells! speak for us, shrill-tongued tuckets! Stand to the linstock, gunner; let thy cannon Play such a peal, as if a Paynim foe Thou the destroyer of herds, thou the scatterer if navies, Amidst the scream of thy rage, Amidst the rushing of thy onward wings, Though thy scream be loud as the cry of a perishing nation, Came stretch'd in turban'd ranks to storm the Though the rushing of thy wings be like the roar of ten thousand waves, Yet hear, in thine ire and thy haste, Hear thou the voice of the Reim-kennar. 2. Thou hast met the pine-trees of Drontheim, Their dark-green heads lie prostrate beside their uprooted stems; Thou hast met the rider of the ocean, The tall, the strong bark of the fearless rover, 3. There are verses that can stop the stag in the forest, Ay, and when the dark-color'd dog is opening on his track; There are verses can make the wild hawk pause on the wing, Like the falcon that wears the hood and the jesses, And the crash of the ravaged forest, When the church hath fallen in the moment of prayer; There are sounds which thou also must list, When they are chanted by the voice of the Reimkennar. 4. Enough of woe hast thou wrought on the ocean, Let the thunderbolt sleep in the armory of Odin; Be thou still at my bidding, viewless racer of the north-western heaven,— Sleep thou at the voice of Norna the Reim-kennar. E T Π 5. Eagle of the far north-western waters, ocean, Rest till destiny shall again awaken thee; Eagle of the north-west, thou hast heard the voice of the Reim-kennar. Chap. vi. (2.)-CLAUD HALCRO'S SONG. MARY. FAREWELL to Northmaven, Gray Hillswicke, farewell! To the calms of thy haven, The storms on thy fellTo each breeze that can vary The mood of thy main, And to thee, bonny Mary! We meet not again! Farewell the wild ferry, Which Hacon could brave, When the peaks of the Skerry Were white in the wave. There's a maid may look over These wild waves in vain,For the skiff of her loverHe comes not again! The vows thou hast broke, On the wild currents fling them; On the quicksand and rock Let the mermaidens sing them. New sweetness they'll give her Bewildering strain; But there's one who will never O were there an island, To poor mortals were given; And the hope would fix there, That should anchor in heaven. (3). THE SONG OF HAROLD HARFAGER. THE sun is rising dimly red, Many a crest on air is streaming, "Halt ye not for food or slumber, "Fatal Choosers of the Slaughter, The joys of wassail and of fight. Headlong forward, foot and horsemen, Charge and fight, and die like Norsemen !"— Chap. XV. (4.)-SONG OF THE MERMAIDS AND MERMEN. MERMAID. FATHOMS deep beneath the wave, Stringing beads of glistering pearl, Chap. xii. Singing the achievements brave Daughters of northern Magnus, hail! Chap. xix (6.)-CLAUD HALCRO AND NORNA. CLAUD HALCRO. MOTHER darksome, Mother dread, Thou canst see what deeds are done Look through sleet, and look through frost, Chasing of the swarthy whale; NORNA. The thought of the aged is ever on gear,— The ship, well-laden as bark need be, Huzza! my brave comrades, give way for the Haaf, We shall sooner come back to the dance and the laugh; For light without mirth is a lamp without oil; Then, mirth and long life to the bold Magnus Troil! Chap. xxii. And you shall deal my lands so wide, And deal my castles nine. But deal not vengeance for the deed, The body to its place, and the soul to Heaven's grace, And the rest in God's own time. Saint Magnus control thee, that martyr of trea son; Saint Ronan rebuke thee, with rhyme and with reason; By the mass of Saint Martin, the might of Saint Mary, Be thou gone, or thy weird shall be worse if thou tarry! If of good, go hence and hallow thee;— If of ill, let the earth swallow thee; If thou'rt of air, let the gray mist fold thee;- Hast eat the bread of toil and strife, |