The King Is Harald Haarfager, "Of The Fair Hair," The
Woman Is Proud And Beautiful Gyda, Whose Former Scorn
For
Him, in the days when he was nothing but the petty
chief of a few barren mountains, provoked that strange
Wild vow of his, "That he would never clip or comb his
locks till he could woo her as sole king of Norway."
Among the crowd are those who have bartered, for ease,
and wealth, and empty titles born of the king's
breath - their ancient Udal rights, their Bonder privileges;
others have sunk their proud hearts to bear the yoke of
the stronger hand, yet gaze with yearning looks on the
misty horizon that opens between the hills. A dark speck
mars that shadowy line. Thought follows across the space.
It is a ship. Its sides are long, and black, and low;
but high in front rises the prow, fashioned into the
semblance of a gigantic golden dragon, against whose
gleaming breast the divided waters angrily flash and
gurgle. Along the top sides of the deck are hung a row
of shining shields, in alternate breadths of red and
white, like the variegated scales of a sea-monster, whilst
its gilded tail curls aft over the head of the steersman.
From either flank projects a bank of some thirty oars,
that look, as they smite the ocean with even beat, like
the legs on which the reptile crawls over its surface.
One stately mast of pine serves to carry a square sail
made of cloth, brilliant with stripes of red, white, and
blue.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 248 of 286
Words from 69003 to 69265
of 79667
