White as the orb of the sun, or white as the moon's disk of silver.

Ever and anon went a maid round the board, and filled up the drink-horns,

Ever she cast down her eyes and blushed; in the shield her reflection

Blushed, too, even as she; this gladdened the drink ing champions.

II.

A SLEDGE-RIDE ON THE ICE.

KING RING with his queen to the banquet did fare, On the lake stood the ice so mirror-clear.

"Fare not o'er the ice," the stranger cries; "It will burst, and full deep the cold bath lies."

"The king drowns not easily," Ring outspake; "He who's afraid may go round the lake."

Threatening and dark looked the stranger round, His steel shoes with haste on his feet he bound.

The sledge-horse starts forth strong and free;
He snorteth flames, so glad is he.

"Strike out," screamed the king, "my trotter good, Let us see if thou art of Sleipner's * blood."

They go as a storm goes over the lake,

No heed to his queen doth the old man take.

*The steed of Odin.

But the steel-shod champion standeth not still,
He passeth them by as swift as he will.

He carves many runes in the frozen tide,
Fair Ingeborg o'er her own name doth glide.

III.

FRITHIOF'S TEMPTATION.

SPRING is coming, birds are twittering, forests leaf, and smiles the sun,

And the loosened torrents downward, singing, to

the ocean run;

Growing like the cheek of Freya, peeping rosebuds 'gin to ope,

And in human hearts awaken love of life, and joy, and hope.

Now will hunt the ancient monarch, and the queen shall join the sport:

Swarming in its gorgeous splendor, is assembled all the court;

Bows ring loud, and quivers rattle, stallions paw the ground alway,

And, with hoods upon their eyelids, scream the falcons for their prey.

See, the Queen of the chase advances! Frithiof, gaze not at the sight!

Like a star upon a spring-cloud sits she on her palfrey white.

Half of Freya,* half of Rota,† yet more beauteous than these two,

And from her light hat of purple wave aloft the feathers blue.

Gaze not at her eyes' blue heaven, gaze not at her golden hair!

Oh beware! her waist is slender, full her bosom is, beware!

Look not at the rose and lily on her cheek that shifting play,

List not to the voice beloved, whispering like the wind of May.

Now the huntsman's band is ready. Hurrah! over hill and dale!

Horns ring, and the hawks right upward to the hall of Odin sail.

All the dwellers in the forest seek in fear their cavern homes,

But, with spear outstretched before her, after them the Valkyr comes.

Then threw Frithiof down his mantle, and upon the greensward spread,

And the ancient king so trustful laid on Frithiof's knee his head,

Slept as calmly as the hero sleepeth, after war's alarm,

On his shield, or as an infant sleeps upon its mother's arm.

*The goddess of Love and Beauty; the Venus of the North.

† One of the Valkyrs, or celestial virgins, who bear off the souls of the alain in battle.

As he slumbers, hark! there sings a coal-black bird upon the bough:

"Hasten, Frithiof, slay the old man, end your quarrel at a blow;

Take his queen, for she is thine, and once the bridal kiss she gave,

Now no human eye beholds thee, deep and silent is the grave."

Frithiof listens; hark! there sings a snow-white bird upon the bough:

"Though no human eye beholds thee, Odin's eye beholds thee now.

Coward! wilt thou murder sleep, and a defenceless old man slay!

Whatsoe'er thou winn'st, thou canst not win a hero's fame this way."

Thus the two wood-birds did warble: Frithiof took his war-sword good,

With a shudder hurled it from him, far into the gloomy wood.

Coal-black bird flies down to Nastrand,* but on light, unfolded wings,

Like the tone of harps, the other, sounding towards the sun, upsprings.

Straight the ancient king awakens.

been my sleep," he said;

"Sweet has

"Pleasantly sleeps one in the shadow, guarded by a brave man's blade.

* The Strand of Corpses; a region in the Niffelhem, or Scandinavian hell.

But where is thy sword, O stranger? Lightning's brother, where is he?

Who thus parts you, who should never from each other parted be!"

"It avails not," Frithiof answered; "in the North are other swords:

Sharp, O monarch! is the sword's tongue, and it speaks not peaceful words;

Murky spirits dwell in steel blades, spirits from the Niffelhem;

Slumber is not safe before them, silver locks but anger them."

IV.

FRITHIOF'S FAREWELL.

No more shall I see

In its upward motion

The smoke of the Northland. Man is a slave:

The fates decree.

On the waste of the ocean

There is my fatherland, there is my grave.

Go not to the strand,

Ring, with thy bride,

After the stars spread their light through the sky

Perhaps in the sand,

Washed up by the tide,

The bones of the outlawed Viking may lie.

Then, quoth the king,

""Tis mournful to hear