Wrapt not in Eastern balms, Why dost thou haunt me?” Then, from those cavernous eyes Came a dull voice of woe From the heart's chamber. "I was a Viking old! My deeds, though manifold, Thou dost the tale rehearse, Else dread a dead man's curse; "Far in the Northern Land, "Oft to his frozen lair While from my path the hare Oft through the forest dark Sang from the meadow. "But when I older grew, Wild was the life we led; "Many a wassail-bout Set the cocks crowing, "Once, as I told in glee Tales of the stormy sea, Soft eyes did gaze on me, And as the white stars shine On the dark Norway pine, On that dark heart of mine "I wooed the blue-eyed maid, Yielding, yet half afraid, And in the forest's shade Our vows were plighted. Under its loosened vest "Bright in her father's hall When of old Hildebrand I asked his daughter's hand, "While the brown ale he quaffed, So the loud laugh of scorn, Out of those lips unshorn, From the deep drinking-horn "She was a Prince's child, I but a Viking wild, And though she blushed and smiled, I was discarded ! "Scarce had I put to sea, Bearing the maid with me, Fairest of all was she Among the Norsemen ! When on the white sea-strand, Saw we old Hildebrand, With twenty horsemen. "Then launched they to the blast, Bent like a reed each mast, Yet we were gaining fast, When the wind failed us; And with a sudden flaw Came round the gusty Skaw, So that our foe we saw "And as to catch the gale Round veered the flapping sail, Death! was the helmsman's hail, Midships with iron keel Struck we her ribs of steel; Down her black hulk did reel Through the black water! "As with his wings aslant, Bore I the maiden. "Three weeks we westward bore, Stands looking seaward. "There lived we many years; Time dried the maiden's tears; She had forgot her fears, She was a mother; Death closed her mild blue eyes, Under that tower she lies; Ne'er shall the sun arise On such another! "Still grew my bosom then, |