Vengeance? Who speaks of vengeance?
Can vengeance the dead awaken,

Or cover me warm from the cold?
Find I in it a widow's seat sheltered,
Solace to cheer a childless mother?

Away with your vengeance! Let me alone! Lay him on the wagon, him and our son! Come, we will follow them home.

That God in Gimle, new and fearful, who all

has taken,

Let Him now also take vengeance! Well He
knows how!

Drive slowly! For so drove Einar always;
-Soon enough we shall come home.

The dogs to-day will not greet us gladly, But drearily howl with drooping tails. And lifting their heads the horses will listen; Neighing they stand, the stable-door watching, Eindride's voice awaiting.

In vain for his voice will they hearken,Nor hears the hall the step of Einar,

That called before him for all to arise and stand, For now came their chieftain.

Too large the house is; I will lock it;

Workmen, servants send away;

Sell the cattle and the horses,

Move far hence and live alone.
Drive slowly!

-Soon enough we shall come home.

TO MY WIFE

(WITH A SET OF ROMAN PEARLS)

PRAY, take these pearls!—and my thanks for them
You lavished, the home of my youth to gem!
The thousands of hours of peaceful luster
Your spirit has filled, are pearls that cluster
With beauty blest

On my happy breast,
And softly shining

My brow are entwining

With thoughts whence the truth gleams: Thus gave

his wife,

Who jeweled with tenderest love his life!

IN A HEAVY HOUR

Be glad when danger presses
Each power your soul possesses!
In greater strain

Your strength shall gain,
Till greater vict'ry blesses!

Supports may break in pieces,
Your friends may have caprices,

But you shall see,

The end will be,

Your need of crutches ceases.
-'T is clear,

Whom God makes lonely,

To him He comes more near.

KAARE'S SONG

(FROM SIGURD SLEMBE)

KAARE

WHAT wakens the billows, while sleeps the wind?

What looms in the west released?

What kindles the stars, ere day's declined,
Like fires for death's dark feast?

ALL

God aid thee here, our earl,

God aid thee here, our earl,

It is Helga, who comes unto Orkney.

KAARE

What drives the fierce dragon to ride the foam,
While billows with blood are red?

The sea-fowl are shrieking, they seek their home,
And hover around my head.

ALL

God aid thee here, our earl,

God aid thee here, our earl,

It is Helga, who comes unto Orkney.

KAARE

What maiden so strange to the strand draws nigh,

In light with soft music nears?

What is it that makes all the flowers die,

What fills all your eyes with tears?

ALL

God aid thee here, our earl,

God aid thee here, our earl,

It is Helga, who comes unto Orkney.

IVAR INGEMUNDSON'S LAY

(FROM SIGURD SLEMBE)

WHEREFORE have I longings,

When to live them strength is lacking?
And wherefore see I,

If I see but sorrow?

Flight of my eye to the great and distant
Dooms it to gales of darkening doubt;
But fleeing backward to the present,
It's prisoned in pain and pity.

For I see a land with no leader,

I see a leader with no land.
The land how heavy-laden!
The leader how high his longing!

Might the men but know it,
That he is here among them!

But they see a man in fetters,
And leave him to lie there.

Round the ship a storm is raging,

At the rudder stands a fool. Who can save it?

He, who below the deck is longing,
Half-dead and in fetters.

(Looking upward)

Hear how they call Thee
And come with arms uplifted!
They have their savior at hand,
And Thou sayest it never?

Shall they, then, all thus perish,
Because the one seems absent?
Wilt Thou not let the fool die,
That life may endure in many?

What means that solemn saying:
One shall suffer for many?