Author: John Keegan Casey

Publisher: Theclassics.Us

Published: 2013-09

Total Pages: 24

ISBN-13: 9781230410166

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1867 edition. Excerpt: ... ballads, songs, and legends. the lay of njal the viking. A norse legend. The spring moon looked on our open sails As westward away we bore, And dim in its light paled the rocky face Of the gray-browed Nordland shore. The spectre of midnight wrapped our barque For we heard his iow-breathed moan, And like to a cloud, on the shining deck, Our Viking walked alone. He had laid aside the glittering spear, Which led on our battle path; And his loosened armour creaked like the wind That circles the demon's rath. We knew that a gloom rested on his brow, As he paced thus silently; We knew that his bosom was seething wild, As the breakers on the sea. For Gundolf the seer had read him his fate, By the far off hills of snow; And the prophet's words, by our monarch's looks, Were brimmed with a coming woe. The white stars arose, and in azure sank, Full many a time again, And still we wandered away, away, Over the green-lipped main; Till at length we saw, on the far sea-rim, The dark beach of Inisfail, And our banner fluttered in warlike joy As we rushed from the ocean gale. We brightened our blades, our armour donned, And thought of the kine and gold That our fathers won with their purple blood On that rugged coast of old. Then down to our bark came a minstrel hoar, With hair like the wild swan's wing---" The chieftain, my master, has bid me ask, What bringeth thee here, 0 king? u If your words speak peace, he has rest to giveFood, wassail, and song has he: If you come in war, he hath shining spears And a deadly grasp for thee." Thus answered our monarch: "Go, tell your chief, I want neither food nor rest; But I want fair Una, the golden haired, The maid with the snowy brea