Odin, a Prince who reigned near the Caspian Sea, after a vain resistance to the Roman arms, leads forth his people to the forests north of the Danube, that, serving God in freedom on the limits of the Roman Empire, and being strengthened by an adverse climate, they may one day descend upon that empire in just revenge; which destiny was fulfilled by the sack of Rome, under Alaric, Christian King of the Goths, a race derived, like the Saxon, from that Eastern people.

FORTH with those missives, Chiron, to the Invader !

Hence, and make speed: they scathe mine eyes like fire:
Pompeius, thou hast conquered! What remains ?
Vengeance! Man's race has never dreamed of such ;
So slow, so sure. Pompeius, I depart :

I might have held these mountains yet four days:
The fifth had seen them thine-

B

58

I look beyond the limit of this night :

Four centuries I need; then comes mine hour.

What saith the Accursed One of the Western World?
I hear even now her trumpet! Thus she saith :
'I have enlarged my borders: iron reaped
Earth's field all golden. Strenuous fight we fought :
I left some sweat-drops on that Carthage shore,
Some blood on Gallic javelins. That is past!
My pleasant days are come: my couch is spread
Beside all waters of the Midland Sea;
By whispers lulled of nations kneeling round;
Illumed by light of balmiest climes; refreshed
By winds from Atlas and the Olympian snows:
Henceforth my foot is in delicious ways;
Bathe it, ye Persian fountains! Syrian vales,
All roses, make me sleepy with perfumes !
Caucasian cliffs, with martial echoes faint
Flatter light slumbers; charm a Roman dream!
I send you my Pompeius; let him lead
Odin in chains to Rome!' Odin in chains!
Were Odin chained, or dead, that God he serves
Could raise a thousand Odins-

Rome's Founder-King beside his Augur standing
Noted twelve ravens borne in sequent flight

O'er Alba's crags. They emblem'd centuries twelve,

The term to Rome conceded. Eight are flown;ASITI

Remain but four.

Hail, sacred brood of night!!

Hencefore my standards bear the Raven Sign,

***

The bird that hoarsely haunts the ruined tower ;
The bird sagacious of the field of blood

Albeit far off. Four centuries I need :

Then comes my day. My race and I are one.
O Race beloved and holy! From my youth
Where'er a hungry heart impelled my feet,
Whate'er I found of glorious, have I not
Claimed it for thee, deep-musing? Ignorant, first,
For thee I wished the golden ingots piled
In Susa and Ecbatana :-ah fool!

At Athens next, treading where Plato trod,
For thee all triumphs of the mind of man,

And Phidian hand inspired! Ah fool, that hour
Athens lay bound, a slave! Later to Rome

In secrecy by Mithridates sent

To search the inmost of his hated foe,

For thee I claimed that discipline of Law

Which made her State one camp. Fool, fool once more!

Soon learned I what a heart-pollution lurked

Beneath that mask of Law. As Persia fell,

By softness sapped, so Rome. Behold, this day,
Following the Pole Star of my just revenge,

I lead my people forth to clearer fates

Through cloudier fortunes. They are brave and strong :

'Tis but the rose-breath of their vale that rots
Their destiny's bud unblown. I lead them forth,

A race war-vanquished, not a race of slaves;
Lead them, not southward to Euphrates' bank,
Not Eastward to the realms of rising suns,

Not West to Rome, and bondage. Hail, thou North!
Hail, boundless woods, by nameless oceans girt,
And snow-robed mountain islets, founts of fire!

Four hundred years! I know that awful North :

I sought it when the one flower of my life
Fell to my foot. That anguish set me free :

It dashed me on the iron side of life:

I woke, a man. My people too shall wake :

They shall have icy crags for myrtle banks,

Sharp rocks for couches. Strength ! I must have strength;

Not splenetic sallies of a woman's courage,
But hearts to which self-pity is unknown :
Hard life to them must be as mighty wine
Gladdening the strong: the death on battle fields
Must seem the natural, honest close of life;
Their fear must be to die without a wound
And miss Life's after-banquet. Wooden shield
Whole winter nights shall lie their covering sole:
Thereon the boy shall stem the ocean wave;