Broad-axe in his right, shield in his left.
Loud sang the skalds:

"Through the fury

Of the western tempest
Seest thou Norway's

Sun uprising.
Blood-red falling

Its light on the mountain,

As of yore blood-red

Peace fell from heaven.

Lofty the claim

Of the cross, O King,

Be thou leader,

Thee we follow!"

Forward the host marched, jubilant, gleaming, Flanked on either side by the tempest,

Dark walling it round.

But on the singing and milk-white bridge Hair was not lifted, and lights did not flicker. Onward it passed, far over the mountains, Like a star it came, like a star it vanished.

Long he stood there.-Then lay he down Upon his face, and awe-struck whispered: "Was it only a dream that passed before me, Yet was it more than all my waking;

It was life itself. . . .

The life I will henceforth live!

Olaf Haraldsson, King of Norway,
He it was;-him have I chosen!

He has strength that is not his own,

A higher goal than aught I have aimed at. Him must I cleave to."

NINTH SONG

THE SUMMER MARCH

Now it was Olaf Digre

Came through the forest down toward Tröndelag, The host its way slowly winding

In the sun.

Onward, down toward the valley

It made whether o'er marsh or mead-its way.

The King rode all the live-long

Day alone.

Already the season drew

Near to autumn.

None to approach him ventured;

Though every heart was o'erflowing, they silence kept. Gently sloping, the homeland

Before them lay.

Birds rose up from the meadows,

The mid-day smoke over the forest swept;
The bishop was bade to sing praises
To the Lord.

Joyous the sight of home

After absence.

Rode then Bishop Sigurd

Forward the King to question; but made halt
While at some distance from him,

And waited.

The King's august countenance

Shone with the light of a distant glory seen, Nothing his gaze now visioned

On earth.

"Wondrous must be what thou seest,
Lord King!"

Slowly the King then answered:

"First saw I the land, here before me lying, In the light of the days so joyous

It gave me.

But saw I ever farther.

Tröndelag saw I, blue and yellow it lay;

Yes, saw I the summer over

All Norway,

Fjords with meadows and woods
Among the mountains.

"Pierced then my gaze yet farther

Out o'er the sea to distant foreign shores,
All that in my life's springtime

I visited.

Raised in my soul the vision,

With laughter and gladness it filled my heart: The world entire I lastly

Then beheld.

My spirit it seemed to invoke

As in farewell."

"Lord," the bishop then answered:

“Rather thou seest how far the light of Christ,
As thou in this land hast borne it,
Shall shine.

The whole world in coming ages

Shall grow through the warm summer-tide in that

light;

The Lord hath vouchsafed thee the vision

For thy strengthening."

The twain rode farther on

In silence.

Stood there an aged bonder

Before his house on the road of their march,
In the King's presence bowing:

"Be welcome!

Now is fulfilled my saying:

Within a year's space shall the King come again; Ne'er will he leave his faithful

In distress.

Sore was the need of thy ward,
Lord King."

"Thanks for thy greeting, bonder,

The first I receive on my fatherland's soil.

Why standest thou alone now

By the way?"

"All the others followed

When thy enemies round the people gathered;