New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-11
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TIE BROTHER-FEUD.


l.
Northward far where Handicapped glaciers in
the midnight's spendOr glow,
With their ample shoulders folded in far
cleaning shrOuds of snow;
Where wide lakes reflect the glory of the
flaming NOrthland skies,
Lived in oiden time a cheftain whom the
people named The be Wise
Two fair sons the gods had brought him, each
unto his heart most dear,
And when age his strength had broken and
the hour Of death drew near,
Both unto his couch he summoned, and, while
life was cbbing low
Babe them stand each by the other, sharing
JOY and sharing voc
"Lo, leave you wide possessions and the
wealth my fathers won,
Which descended undivided through long years
from sire TO son
Guard this heritage united, as We guard your
ancient name,
And transmit II TO yOu children WIN iair
and spotesS fame
1.
And each son, he swore with fervor to obey
his sire's behest,
And ere long the aged chlettan IN his mound
was laid to rest.
And his kinsmen and retainers, gathered at the
brothers call,
Praised in song and speech the hero as he
rose to Odm's hall.
Cudmund Strong and Ar the Dauntcss $50
were hight those brothers twain
At each Others side stood bravely, fought their
foes and rcaped their grain.
And God Thor, whose JOY Is battle, with re-
nown made bright their shields,
And the gcntlcr Frey his blessings shOwcred
DER their fruitful fields
Yet ere Winters three their silyem arnor cast
DER N0rway'S shore
Thought each son with vague forebodng of
Che oath that once he sWore;
For each felt ioul germs Oh dlsCGId lurking
meath his forced rcpOse,
Like the hidden thorn that lurketh meath the
velvet OF the rose.
Gudmund Strong was grave and patient, toll
ing early, toiilng late,
their fair estate,
While young Ali, The mclry-healtcd, for his
proves far renowned,
Loved good wine and benny martens and the
chase with hawk and hound.
Both were brave and both tue-healted, each
the other loved full well,
Each believed his fathers spirit in the deeds
he wrought 10 dwell.
Yet from each new strife, though tTifing,
ranking bitterness survives,
As a darksome prck!y thistle on moIderlng
ruin thilyes.
And at length, where bodeful silence long had
brocded DER their path,
Burst with braWl and >ee,hinS fOam-crests one
HIGH towering wave OF wrath, e..u,.,.
Dauntlcss All ms voice uphtted and full hotly
came his breath,
And he called his SWANS together and his
sword ledpt from its sheath.
10.
Then beneath the roof of heaven screamed
the hungry birds OF prey,
AS the two whom gods united, sundcred stood
at dawn OF day..
When their SWainS with wary finger proved
the edges OF their swords,
And the peasants througed around the stand
ards of their WTathful lords.
IL.
Faith and love and OathS forgotten and the
bonds OF blood forgot
Zen the sun half shrank in sorrow from that
hapless sight, ! wOt-
Shrank from sound of angry war-crics, clash
of blades and blare, of horn,
As their war-hOstS rushed together IN the
cleaning OF the morn.
Swarms of spears in kissing spintcrs cloud
ward sped IN arrows fleet,
And the green sod shook with hOOf-beats and
the weight OF steel-Ciad feet
And in fearless flight the NOTsemen upward
rose to Odin's throne:
LO! ere night stood All victorious on the field
OF Death alone.
Softly down the pald moonbcams through the
Summer twilight sped,
With fierce CLEANS from eyes that saw not and
the falchions of the dead.
And the night thirds swiftly da1ted through
, the air on nOisclcss wing,
Round abOul the solemn plne-wOods, stepped
in gloom, aud iisteTng.
II,
Dauntless Aft stood darby brOodIng, ali his
joy had come 10 nOught,
And his heart waxcd hot within him at the
d. ed that he had wrought.
And his mighty soul was shaken with unutter-
able dread:
All the world grew lone about him. as though
God Himself were dead.
10.
For amid the misty mOonbeams rose form
OF visage bright,
And Il cloak its shape EMBODIED as the gloom
cnfOlds the night.
StooDing now DER some dead warrior, drifting
through the dusky space
Onward moving -pitying heavens All beheld
his fathers lace.
1G.
And a voice like rushing waters through the
midnight stiffness broke,