Then over the waste of snows

The noonday sun uprose,

Through the driving mists revealed,

Like the lifting of the Host,

By incense-clouds almost

Concealed.

On the shining wall a vast

And shadowy cross was cast

From the hilt of the lifted sword,

And in foaming cups of ale

The Berserks drank "Was-hael!

To the Lord!"

XIII.

THE BUILDING OF THE LONG SERPENT.

THORBERG SKAFTING, master-builder,

In his ship-yard by the sea, Whistling, said," It would bewilder Any man but Thorberg Skafting, Any man but me!"

Near him lay the Dragon stranded, Built of old by Raud the Strong,

And King Olaf had commanded

He should build another Dragon,
Twice as large and long.

Therefore whistled Thorberg Skafting,

As he sat with half-closed eyes,

And his head turned sideways, drafting

That new vessel for King Olaf

Twice the Dragon's size.

Round him busily hewed and hammered

Mallet huge and heavy axe;

Workmen laughed and sang and clamored; Whirred the wheels, that into rigging

Spun the shining flax!

All this tumult heard the master,

It was music to his ear;

Fancy whispered all the faster,

"Men shall hear of Thorberg Skafting For a hundred year!"

Workmen sweating at the forges

Fashioned iron bolt and bar,

Like a warlock's midnight orgies

Smoked and bubbled the black caldron
With the boiling tar.

Did the warlocks mingle in it,

Thorberg Skafting, any curse?

Could you not be gone a minute

But some mischief must be doing,
Turning bad to worse?

"T was an ill wind that came wafting, From his homestead words of woe;

To his farm went Thorberg Skafting, Oft repeating to his workmen,

Build ye thus and so.

After long delays returning

Came the master back by night;

To his ship-yard longing, yearning,
Hurried he, and did not leave it
Till the morning's light.

"Come and see my ship, my darling! On the morrow said the King;

"Finished now from keel to carling;

Never yet was seen in Norway

Such a wondrous thing!

In the ship-yard, idly talking,

At the ship the workmen stared:

Some one, all their labor balking,
Down her sides had cut deep gashes,
Not a plank was spared!

"Death be to the evil-doer!"

With an oath King Olaf spoke ;

"But rewards to his pursuer!"

And with wrath his face grew redder
Than his scarlet cloak.

Straight the master-builder, smiling,
Answered thus the angry King:
"Cease blaspheming and reviling,
Olaf, it was Thorberg Skafting

Who has done this thing!"

Then he chipped and smoothed the planking, Till the King, delighted, swore,

With much lauding and much thanking,