Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-11-05
A BALLAD OF ST. OLAF.

a BALLAD Of ST. OLAE.
Hear q noble Norland storyl
lean tell gallant thing,
How. before the great King Olaf,
Spake Karl M4rske. the Rover king
karl nierske, that ravage In talr Norway wrought
And long King Olaf set, with all his laws, Al
nought-
When the spring birds sang their loudest
In the Drontheim greenwood DER him;
When great Olaf7s heart was proudest
Well fenced By friends, grit BY a brave array.
He held his solemn Thing at Sidaros by the Bay
praised be Heavenl' so spake St. Olaf,
IAN my fathers realms obey me.
Norway and her isles and cutlands
All saving Feroe thence no tolls they bring
Feroe will none of Christ, and mocks at me, the
King.
Fierce men have slain my captains
whom TO claim my dues sent.
Shamed were l, and shamed were Norway,
Save their stubborn wills bent
True leIgemen, who is here dares sail the sea-
And home from Feroe bring my scatt and toll tc
me?"
But the Thing-men on each other
Sitting, looked and nothing spake.
For the noble OIaf's sake
They thought upon their fellows sent before;
All that for Feroe sailed, and came again no more.
Till a young man tall and shapely,
Sit lug in the outer ring,
Tossing back q cloak of scarlet,
Up and spake before the King
u
Whilst round the Thing he flung scornful look
and careless.
s'Old men say that as the master
Ever will the servant be,
It's not SO. Ye serve q lion,
Yet as whimpering wolves are ye-
King Olaf. since none woIthier may fulfill
Thy pleasure, here stand j, ready to work thy
iNay, but who art thou?" said Olaf,
Famous captains. many a score.
Follow me, and well know them;
Not lightly from the memory depart
Presence and voice like thine. Say, who and what
thou art?''
well thou knowest me, nor lightly
"seeog 81 S M sIve saio'
Thou dost offer for my head.
True service i for past Wong FAIR King. Karl
MRrske my name"
Ending. sat, as one that needed
Not the Thing mems mut.ered words,
Nor the clash of half-drawn swords
Only round him drew his scarlet cloak
Ard waited for his doom till noble Olaf spoke.
..Evil-daring deeds are thine,
Hf pessdEe ssP Sane 10 mes anG mipe
Yetnever bold foe at olafs face
Must of his free Will seek, and seek in vain, for
grace.
"If for better fame thou yearnest,
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 0laf's friendship; go, Karl M@rske, and God
thee speed
''For my man this day take thee;
Feast with these, my chiefs this day."
Murmuring rose, and answered, Nay
Not sol We will not eat with such as he.
Some treason he designs, for scath of us and thee"
But great Olaf, looking on him,
ANSWER d, Traitor is he none;
Come thou hituer, Karl the Rover,
Thou and will eat alone.
In trust thou earnest; thou with trust shalt meet,
Equals are all the brave; 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 the mingling of their speech.
All fitting gear is thine Go, and good hap attend
proof and pledge of olaf's friendship
Take thou this the good King said
Drew the silken scarf from off him,
On the robbers shoulders laid.
Down the waters of the WILDLY West
Karl Merske has sailed away upon his perilous
quest.
.
When the leaves were drifting coldly
From the hollow autumn wood,
When no more the Norsemen boldly
Round the noble Olaf stood;
But drifted from him when his need was sorest,
Like the fl kle LEAKAGE from the waning forest.
When the faint in fear forsook him,
When the false for lucre sold,
When the wi es of Knute o'ertook him
Danish guile and English gold;
When his kingly glory fast was heeting,
When his sanity glory neared to its completing:
BY the sullen Drontheim water
All his chiefs in council drew:
All whom evil chance b sd left him.
Oh! but they were faint and fewl
Mid the sad relics of his proud array
He held the latest Thing in Nidaros by the Fay.
Entered shaggy from the seaboard,
Mariners of mien unknown
Bare in heavy bags of silver,
Flung them Down before the throne
Hail 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
Bides my trusty Karl awayT
Sore this day my need OF treasure.
More of steadfast friend this day."
"Olafi this token from Karl Merske we bring,
Unrolled silken scarf and laid before the king.
Cash of sword and blood-stain on 1t
Told of fiercely- foughten strife
This he sent, when in thy quarrel
At the parting of bis life;
Saving, Go tell him, Karl hath striven to prove
He was not all unmeet King Olafs trust OF love- "
From the neYercounted silver
Olaf turned him in his place,
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