Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-11-10
A BALLAD OF ST. OLAF.

MARI Mefske that ravage in fair Norway wrought
ana long hing Olaf set, with all his laws at
nought
when the spring birds sang their loudest
IN the Drontheip gree wood Ger him;
When great olafs heart was proudest
For the Norland, quelled before him
well ienced by friends girt by brave array,
lie held his solemn Thing at Nidaros by the Bay.
Praised be Heaven :, so spake ST. Olaf,
All my fathers realms obey me-
Norway and her isles and outlands
Serve the Christ, and homage pay me;
All saving Feroe thence no tolls they bring
feroe VIII none of Christ, and moeks at me- the
King
Feroe men have slain my captains
Whom to claim my dues | sent.
Shamed were /, and shamed were Norway
Save their stubborn wills / bent
True legemen, who is here dares sail the sea,
And home from Feroe bring my scatt and toll to
me-?
But the Thing men on each other
Sitting, looked and nothing spake.
None arose to claim that peril
For the noble 0lafs sake
They thought upon their fellows sent before;
All that for Feroe sailed, and came again no more.
Til a young man tall and shapely,
Sitting in the outer ring,
Tossing back a cleak Of scarlet,
Up and spake before the King
up and spake. with ready words and fearless,
Whilst round the Thing he flung seorrfu look and
careless.
cod men say that as the master
Ever will the servant be.
lis not so. Ye serve lion,
Yet as Whispering wolves are ye-
Ming Olaf, Since none worthier may fulfill
Thy pleasure, here stand ready to work thy will
Nay, but who art thou p said Olaf,
Famous captains, many a score
Follow me- and well 1 know them:
Never saw thee before.
| Not lightly from the memory depart
Presence and voice like thine. Say, who and what
| thou art p
| "Well thou knowest me- nor lightly
Countst my worth" the stranger said,
| "Seeing four-score marks of silver
Thou dost offer for my head.
| TIC seek thy grace, and proifer thee, / came,
True service for past wrong. Fair King, Kar
| Marske my name"
| Ending, sat, as one that needed
| Not the Thing mems muttered words,
| He ded not their threatening whispers,
Nor the clash of half-drawn swords
Only round him drew his scarlet cloak
| And waited for his doom till noble Olaf spoke
Looked tie King awhile upon him.
" Evil daring deeds are thire,
| Naughty rebel, ruthless reiver,
Deadliest bane TO me and niue
Yet never bold foe at Clai's face
| Must OF his free will seek, and seek in vain, fol
| grace.
ST for better fame thou yesrnest,
| AS thy coming should bespeak,
If to better deeds thou turnest
II my favor thou would'st seek
By loyal service, thou shalt never need
| King Olafs friendship go, Karl Marske, and Goo
thee speed
| ''For my man this day / take thee;
| Feast with these, my chiefs, this day."
| Thus the King. But all the Thing men,
| Murmuring rose, and answered, May
| Not so We will not eat with such as he;
Some treason he designs, for scath OF us and thee
But great Olaf looking IN him,
Answered, Traitor is he none;
! Come thou hither, Karl the Rover,
thou and will eat alone.
In trust thou earnest: thou with trust shall meet
Equals all the braves; sit thou with me to eat.
Like as brother met with brother
Sat they to the board, and each
| Knew the true soul of his fellow
| Ia he mingling OF their speech.
- Go" said the King "to Feroeand | send thee
All fitting gear is thine. Go, and good hap sttenC
thee.
proof and pledge OF Olais friendship
Take thou this, the good King said
Irew the siken scarf from of HIM,
| On the robbers shoulders laid
| Down the waters Of the windy West
Karl Mae ske has sailed away upon his peri Oh,
| quest
When the leaves were drifting coldy
| From the hollow autumn wool;
When more the Norsemen boldly
| Round the noble Olaf stood
| out drifted from him when his need sorest,
Like the tickle LEAKAGE from the waning forest
| When the faint in fear forsook him,
When the false for lucre sold,
| When the wiles of Knute oertooh him
| Danish guile and English gold
When his kingly glory fast was fleeting,
| When his sanity glory neared to its completing
| Rv the snIlen Drontheiu water
| All his oh ef5 il council drew;
| All whom evil chance had left him.
| Oh but they were fa;nt and few
| Mid the sad relics OF his pronisIray
He held his latest Thing in Es..
Entered, shaggy frop
! Mariners of mien u g@n;
Bare in heavy bags OF silver,
I Flung them down before the throne
| Hal, Olaf Karl the Rover bids thee hail
And sends thee scatt from Feroe, full in weight and
| tale /"
| Thanks be his and yours. Yet wherefore
| Bdes my trusty Kari away?
| Sore this day my need of treasure,
| More Of steadfast friend this day"
7" Olaf this token from Karl MRrske We bring"
| Unroed a silken scarf and laid before the King.
Cash of sword and blood. stain on it
Told of fiercely. foughten strife
| This he sent, when In thy quarrel
Az the parting of his life;
Saying, Go, tell HIM, Karl hath striven to prove
He was not all unmeet King olais trust or love-
From the never counted silver
| Olaf turned him in his rlace,
| Bowed his stately head and covered
With his knotted hands his face,
Whilst from between trickled the hot tears forth
Tears Of the stoutest King that ever ruled the
| North IF, S. Potter