| Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882). Complete Poetical Works. 1893. | | | | Tales of a Wayside Inn | Part First.
The Musician’s Tale: The Saga of King Olaf.
XVII. King Svend of the Forked Beard |
| | | LOUDLY the sailors cheered | |
| Svend of the Forked Beard, | |
| As with his fleet he steered | |
| Southward to Vendland; | |
| Where with their courses hauled | 5 |
| All were together called, | |
| Under the Isle of Svald | |
| Near to the mainland. | |
| |
| After Queen Gunhild’s death, | |
| So the old Saga saith, | 10 |
| Plighted King Svend his faith | |
| To Sigrid the Haughty; | |
| And to avenge his bride, | |
| Soothing her wounded pride, | |
| Over the waters wide | 15 |
| King Olaf sought he. | |
| |
| Still on her scornful face, | |
| Blushing with deep disgrace, | |
| Bore she the crimson trace | |
| Of Olaf’s gauntlet; | 20 |
| Like a malignant star, | |
| Blazing in heaven afar, | |
| Red shone the angry scar | |
| Under her frontlet. | |
| |
| Oft to King Svend she spake, | 25 |
| “For thine own honor’s sake | |
| Shalt thou swift vengeance take | |
| On the vile coward!” | |
| Until the King at last, | |
| Gusty and overcast, | 30 |
| Like a tempestuous blast | |
| Threatened and lowered. | |
| |
| Soon as the Spring appeared, | |
| Svend of the Forked Beard | |
| High his red standard reared, | 35 |
| Eager for battle; | |
| While every warlike Dane, | |
| Seizing his arms again, | |
| Left all unsown the grain, | |
| Unhoused the cattle. | 40 |
| |
| Likewise the Swedish King | |
| Summoned in haste a Thing, | |
| Weapons and men to bring | |
| In aid of Denmark; | |
| Eric the Norseman, too, | 45 |
| As the war-tidings flew, | |
| Sailed with a chosen crew | |
| From Lapland and Finmark. | |
| |
| So upon Easter day | |
| Sailed the three kings away, | 50 |
| Out of the sheltered bay, | |
| In the bright season; | |
| With them Earl Sigvald came, | |
| Eager for spoil and fame; | |
| Pity that such a name | 55 |
| Stooped to such treason! | |
| |
| Safe under Svald at last, | |
| Now were their anchors cast, | |
| Safe from the sea and blast, | |
| Plotted the three kings; | 60 |
| While, with a base intent, | |
| Southward Earl Sigvald went, | |
| On a foul errand bent, | |
| Unto the Sea-kings. | |
| |
| Thence to hold on his course | 65 |
| Unto King Olaf’s force, | |
| Lying within the hoarse | |
| Mouths of Stet-haven; | |
| Him to ensnare and bring | |
| Unto the Danish king, | 70 |
| Who his dead corse would fling | |
| Forth to the raven! | | | | |
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