| |
| “ALL the old gods are dead, | |
| All the wild warlocks fled; | |
| But the White Christ lives and reigns, | |
| And throughout my wide domains | |
| His Gospel shall be spread!” | 5 |
| On the Evangelists | |
| Thus swore King Olaf. | |
| |
| But still in dreams of the night | |
| Beheld he the crimson light, | |
| And heard the voice that defied | 10 |
| Him who was crucified, | |
| And challenged him to the fight. | |
| To Sigurd the Bishop | |
| King Olaf confessed it. | |
| |
| And Sigurd the Bishop said, | 15 |
| “The old gods are not dead, | |
| For the great Thor still reigns, | |
| And among the Jarls and Thanes | |
| The old witchcraft still is spread.” | |
| Thus to King Olaf | 20 |
| Said Sigurd the Bishop. | |
| |
| “Far north in the Salten Fiord, | |
| By rapine, fire, and sword, | |
| Lives the Viking, Raud the Strong; | |
| All the Godoe Isles belong | 25 |
| To him and his heathen horde.” | |
| Thus went on speaking | |
| Sigurd the Bishop. | |
| |
| “A warlock, a wizard is he, | |
| And the lord of the wind and the sea; | 30 |
| And whichever way he sails, | |
| He has ever favoring gales, | |
| By his craft in sorcery.” | |
| Here the sign of the cross | |
| Made devoutly King Olaf. | 35 |
| |
| “With rites that we both abhor, | |
| He worships Odin and Thor; | |
| So it cannot yet be said, | |
| That all the old gods are dead, | |
| And the warlocks are no more,” | 40 |
| Flushing with anger | |
| Said Sigurd the Bishop. | |
| |
| Then King Olaf cried aloud: | |
| “I will talk with this mighty Raud, | |
| And along the Salten Fiord | 45 |
| Preach the Gospel with my sword, | |
| Or be brought back in my shroud!” | |
| So northward from Drontheim | |
| Sailed King Olaf! | |
| |
