And every night with yellow- Survive in song for yet a little while To vex, like us, the dreams of later bearded kings His sleep was haunted,-mighty men of old, Once young as he, now ancient like the gods, And safe as stars in all men's memories. Strange sagas read he in their sea blue eyes men, Ourselves a dream, and dreamlike all we did.' II THORWALD'S LAY 40 Cold as the sea, grandly compas- So Biörn went comfortless but for his thought, sionless; Like life, they made him eager and And by his thought the more dis then mocked. Nay, broad awake, they would not let him be; 20 They shaped themselves gigantic in the mist, comforted, Till Eric Thurlson kept his Yuletide feast: And thither came he, called among the rest, They rose far-beckoning in the Silent, lone-minded, a church-door lamps of heaven, to mirth: They whispered invitation in the But, ere deep draughts forbade winds, such serious song And breath came from them, As the grave Skald might chant 'What helpeth lightness of the So rode their thrones upon the feet?' they said, thronging seas!' 'Oblivion runs with swifter foot Then the old man arose; white But something triumphed in his Nor 'gainst the sun her haste, brow and eye, Which whoso saw it could not see and crouch: Loud rang the emptied beakers as he mused, snatched arrow sings, For sun and wind have plighted faith to her: Ere men have heard the sinew twang, behold Brooding his eyried thoughts; In the butt's heart her trembling 'The song is old and simple that I sing; But old and simple are despised as cheap, Though hardest to achieve of human things: Good were the days of yore, when men were tried By ring of shields, as now by ring of words; But while the gods are left, and hearts of men, And wide-doored ocean, still the days are good. Still o'er the earth hastes Opportunity, Seeking the hardy soul that seeks for her. Be not abroad, nor deaf with household cares 100 That chatter loudest as they mean the least; Swift-willed is thrice-willed; late means nevermore; Impatient is her foot, nor turns again.' Such answer household ends; but He ceased; upon his bosom sank his beard Souls straight and clear, of tough- Sadly, as one who oft had seen her she will have That leadeth every way to man's desire, And ocean the wide gate to manful luck.' But Biörn was silent, such strange loss there is Between the dream's fulfilment and the dream, And then with that resolve his Such sad abatement in the goal heart was bent, Which, like a humming shaft, through many a stripe attained. Then Gudrida, that was a prophetess, Of day and night, across the un- Rapt with strange influence from |