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THE 
 
 Battle of the Scalds. 
 
 BY 
 
 EDWARD BRECK. 
 
 PRIVATELY PRINTED. 
 
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 3 
 
 ©ambriHgc : 
 
 PRINTED BY JOHN WILSON AND SON, 
 UNIVERSITY PRESS. 
 
 
 lAK -- 1211 
 
THE BATTLE OF THE SCALDS. 
 
 Glorious shines the sun on the pleasant fields and 
 
 the highlands ; 
 Gently the breezes of summer breathe on the opening 
 
 flowers ; 
 Gone are the tempests of INIarch and the piercing blasts 
 
 of December ; 
 Songs of the happy birds are heard in the breath of 
 
 the morning. 
 We in our heated abodes, in the sultry air of the 
 
 summer, 
 Long for the coolness of autumn, the freshening breeze 
 
 of the ocean ; 
 And as I sat to-day in the burning sun of the noontide, 
 Thoughts of the sea came to me, forgotten tales of the 
 
 Northland. 
 
 More than all the rest, a tale of the ancient Northmen 
 
 Pleased my wandering fancy and made me forget my 
 
 discomfort. 
 
 I 
 
Hakon, scald of the Jarlland, last of the minstrels of 
 
 Norseland, 
 He of the flaxen beard, and the eye of the bell of the 
 
 heather, 
 Told it to me long ago on a beetling clifif of old 
 
 Norway, — 
 Stood on the storm-beaten rock and declaimed it to me 
 
 and the ocean ; 
 And as he cried it aloud with the old Norse spirit 
 
 within him. 
 Wildly the sea dashed up on the sharp brown rocks 
 
 far below us, 
 Just as if all its old rage and forgotten deeds of its 
 
 vikings 
 Came to remembrance again by the minstrel's story of 
 
 battle. 
 Sea-birds shrieked o'er the blast like the death shouts 
 
 of Eric's bold warriors; 
 While, far away to the north, great Thor shook the 
 
 heavens with thunder. 
 This was the minstrel's tale as he told it to me by the 
 
 ocean. 
 
THE SAGA. 
 
 Busy the day had been in the banquet halls of old 
 
 Jarlland ; 
 Olaf, the master of Jarlland, boldest of Norway's fierce 
 
 warriors, 
 Kept in his ancient home the holy feast of betrothal. 
 All night long would the hearth-stones burn with the 
 
 slain sacrifices ; 
 All night long would the scalds in the midst of the 
 
 festive carousal 
 Sing of Sir Olaf's great deeds, and the wars of the 
 
 gods and the giants, 
 As long ago in Mycenee the -minstrels extolled Aga- 
 memnon. 
 Many an eye that eve in the brilliant glare of the 
 
 torch-light 
 Flashed with a beautiful zeal to honor victorious Olaf; 
 And as they came to the banquet, he and his beautiful 
 
 Sigrid, 
 Quick every guest sprang up and hailed them with 
 
 loud acclamation. 
 Handsome was he as a god, as handsome as glorious 
 
 Balder, 
 
 3 
 
All save his bright blue eye, and that was of Thor, 
 
 god of battle. 
 Lovely was she as a goddess, as lovely as beautiful 
 
 Freyja, 
 Fitted by person and birthright to be the glad mother 
 
 of princes. 
 For in the terrible battle Sir Olaf had won lovely 
 
 Sigrid, 
 Torn her away from her father, the mighty King Hak- 
 
 ron, called Red-beard, 
 Won her and then was forgiven in good old Norse- 
 
 landic fashion. 
 Thus was the bride bravely won, and now, in the 
 
 evening Sir Olaf 
 Kept in his ancient home the holy feast of betrothal. 
 Many a scald was there to sing for the prize of the 
 
 oak-leaves ; 
 Out of the east and the west came they, the minstrels 
 
 of Norway, 
 Eager to join in the battle, the bloodless battle of 
 
 singers. 
 First of the battling scalds arose old Ulric of Upland, 
 Bowed his white head to the earl and struck from his 
 
 harp a wild measure ; 
 Then to the strains of his lyre he chanted this saga of 
 
 Sigurd. 
 
 4 
 
SIGURDS LAST BATTLE. 
 
 Loud roared the wind that day, 
 High dashed the silver spray, 
 As, in his fierce array. 
 
 King Sigurd wandered. 
 Shrieking, the angry blast 
 Bent back the yielding mast, 
 Huge piles the billows cast 
 
 Over the vessel. 
 And as they forward pressed 
 Lito the crimson west. 
 Over a breaker's crest 
 
 Saw they the foeman. 
 Blood-red his straining sail, 
 Red as the heaven's veil, 
 Blood-red the shining mail 
 
 Of each bold yeoman. 
 Bravely the shout arose ; 
 Quick their undaunted foes 
 Sent back the echoes' blows, 
 
 In wild defiance. 
 5 
 
Up rose King Sigurd then, 
 
 Gazing upon his men 
 
 Who, more than five times ten, 
 
 Shared his alliance; 
 Shook his huge spear on high, 
 Smote the red gleaming sky. 
 While from his keen blue eye 
 
 Leaped the forked lightning. 
 " Sons of the northern land. 
 Braver than Eric's band. 
 See ye the- foe at hand, 
 
 In the sea whitening?" 
 Sure you have ne'er forgot 
 What is the warrior's lot 
 Spear-thrust or arrow-shot 
 
 Ends the life story ! 
 Death in the strife to behold, 
 That for a viking bold. 
 For more than love or gold 
 
 Is highest glory. 
 Now for the bloody fight, 
 Give us, O Thor, thy might! 
 Triumph, or else this night 
 
 Sup we in heaven. 
 Let all the clarions ring, 
 ' Long live the ocean king ! ' 
 6 
 
Death and defiance fling 
 
 To the base craven," 
 Down came the hostile Dane, 
 Down o'er the angry main 
 Swift as a hurricane 
 
 'Gainst Sigurd crushing. 
 Five ships to one they brouglit, 
 Yet nobly Sigurd fought. 
 Dear was the victory bought 
 
 In the wild rushing. 
 High on the vessel's bow 
 Stood old King Sigurd now, 
 Gazing from o'er the prow 
 
 Into the heaven. 
 Blood-red in stalwart grace 
 All but his grizzled face; 
 White that as foamy lace 
 
 On the sea driven. 
 " Gods of Valhalla high 
 Since we this hour must die, 
 Unto ye all I cry : 
 
 Grant my last prayer ! 
 Gather each thunder stroke 
 And let your fire and smoke 
 Here in tJiese ships of oak 
 
 Scatter and tear ! 
 7 
 
Leave not one man alive ! 
 With all your bolts arrive ! 
 Let not these ships survive 
 
 To mock your power ! 
 Into Valhalla blest 
 Take us to sacred rest, 
 Fulfil ye my request 
 
 Within this hour ! " 
 E'en at his wild desire 
 Downward the bolts of fire 
 Swept as in awful ire 
 
 On man and brother ! 
 Thus died the old sea-king 
 To the loud thunder's ring. 
 When shall the minstrels sing 
 
 Of such another? 
 
 Then as the minstrel ceased, broke forth the tumultuous 
 
 plaudits, 
 " Hail to old Ulric of Upland, and honor the song he 
 
 has sung us ! " 
 Then said Sir Olaf to Ulric, "Thy saga has wonderfully 
 
 pleased me. 
 Dear to my heart are the talcs that tell of the deeds of 
 
 my fathers." 
 
Then crc the plaudits had ceased he turned to young 
 
 Aeger of Haafen, 
 " Now, young man, it is thy turn ; come, sing us a 
 
 beautiful love-song ! 
 Fain on the eve of my marriage I 'd list not alone to 
 
 fierce battle." 
 Aeger of Haafen arose and bowed to the master of 
 
 Jarlland : 
 " Even of loving. Sir Olaf, and short is the song I will 
 
 sine thee." 
 
 THE FALCON. 
 
 The lady rode out through the forest old 
 On her palfrey gray, with his trappings of gold; 
 And her favorite falcon sat perched on her glove, 
 His eye boldly flashing and proud of her love. 
 And there in' the green-wood her lover she found ; 
 Their steeds knew each other and neared with a bound ; 
 To the death was the love of this beautiful twain, 
 The love that aye waxes, but never can wane. 
 " O Elsa, I love thee ! " the gallant youth said, 
 " O Ronald, I love thee ! " half whispered the maid. 
 The falcon had risen and hovered o'erhead, 
 With jealousy rueful his haughty heart bled, 
 
 9 
 
And screaming he swooped on the youth from the skies, 
 And with beak and with talon he dashed out his eyes. 
 The gaUant youth died, the lady's heart broke, 
 But the falcon lived gay in the heart of an oak. 
 
 All for a moment were silent, and then the chorus of 
 
 praises 
 Burst once again from the lips of the noble assemblage 
 
 that listened ; 
 But for an instant, and then with troubled impatience 
 Silenced Sir Olaf the crowd, and thus he addressed the 
 
 young minstrel: 
 " Aeger of Haafcn, how dar'st thou break in on my 
 
 happy assembly — 
 Cast down the hearts of my bride and my guests with 
 
 thy tale of ill-omen? 
 Hence, ere I charge them to kill thee and cast out thy 
 
 bones to the foxes ! " 
 Thus was poor Aeger cast out and left to his bitter 
 
 reflections. 
 Then from the scalds came forward one who to all was 
 
 a stranger. 
 Strange was his garb and betokened a home in the far 
 
 distant Southland. 
 Strange and unknown was he, yet all listened with eager 
 
 attention. 
 
 lO 
 
THE ROYAL ALCHEMIST. 
 
 In ancient Italy once there lived a king; 
 Ellano he was called ; a mighty prince 
 Whose kingdom spread abroad from sea to sea; 
 Who conquered twenty nations by his sword. 
 A man of blood and pride ; the cursed of God. 
 All gods he had defied. His heart was hard. 
 Now sixty years this sinful king had reigned, 
 And, looking o'er the history of his line, 
 He saw that all the kings before had died 
 At seventy years, according to a word 
 Which long ago a learned seer had spoke ; 
 And as on this he thought, the haughty king 
 Much troubled was, and frightened in his heart. 
 " I cannot die ! " he said. " Full surely now 
 There is some remedy for horrid death ! " 
 And then he made a feast and summoned there 
 The wisest seers and alchemists and clerks. 
 And thus he spoke unto the learned band: 
 " Ye stand before me here, the wisest host 
 In my broad land ; now let us quickly see 
 How wise ye are, for unto you this day 
 
I shall propound a question, which, mcthinks, 
 
 Requires the subtlest wit that lives in man. 
 
 This day my course of sixty years is done, 
 
 And though this hand is still of iron might, 
 
 Yet do I mark the signs of weakening. 
 
 I do perceive that ere a score of years 
 
 Have passed in flight, this royal frame 
 
 But so much royal carrion will be ! 
 
 But unto you I say: the king would live! 
 
 Would never die until five hundred years 
 
 And more be flown, — now can ye answer this : 
 
 What shall I do to gain eternal life? 
 
 Sure now to wise men such as ye 'tis nought; 
 
 But if ye answer wrong your lives are lost ! " 
 
 Aghast the wise men started trembling back 
 
 And could not speak, or dared not if they could. 
 
 " Speak, seers ! for him who this day answers right 
 
 I will exalt e'en to the very crown ! " 
 
 Again an awful silence held the hall 
 
 Till forth from out the crowd the eldest stepped 
 
 And thus with humble mien addressed the king: 
 
 " Great king, before whose throne whole nations bow. 
 
 Who can expound the riddle thou hast put? 
 
 To tell how one may live eternally 
 
 Is vain indeed for man to undertake ! 
 
 Have mercy, sire, upon thy subjects true ! 
 
Up sprang the maddened king in furious wrath. 
 " Have m.ercy on a pack of knavish fools ! 
 Upon them, guards, and leave not one alive ! 
 Ho ! people, is there one among you all 
 Can answer me this question I have asked? 
 If one there be, advance and have no fear ! " 
 But no one spoke. Another frightened pause, 
 Then through the crowd a trembling maiden came, 
 Advanced in fearless beauty to the throne, 
 And stood with eyes cast down, — a lovely sight. 
 " Ha, pretty one! What wouldst thou have of us?" 
 " Great king, 't is not to win the guerdon rich 
 Which thou hast promised, that has led me here. 
 I come to tell thee, as my Master prompts. 
 What thou must do to gain eternal life." 
 A fevered murmur ran through all the court. 
 The king astounded forthwith bade her speak. 
 " Then hear, O king, and give me leave awhile. 
 Christ Jesus said these words that I shall say: 
 * For God so loved the world, that he did give 
 His only gotten son, that whosoe'er 
 Believes on him should have eternal life.' 
 Depart, O king, from these thy sinful ways ; 
 Turn thou to Christ, and thou shalt never die ! " 
 " Enough ! thy beauty, girl, saves thee alone 
 From death. Depart and come not here again ! " 
 13 
 
And then the tender girl was roughly hustled off. 
 A firmer purpose now the king conceived : 
 To study alchemy, and for himself search out 
 An easy path to endless life. 
 To alchemy he gave his every hour 
 To make some strong elixir, magic drink. 
 Unto his son he left his crown, and down 
 Beneath the earth in blackest of deep caves 
 Which opened upward to the sky, he toiled, 
 But all in vain ! Ten toilsome years in vain ! 
 And now one night from off his wretched couch 
 He dragged himself, but, all too weak, his limbs 
 Refused to bear him up ; he groaned and sank 
 Upon the stones, and stretched out helpless lay. 
 He knew that he was dying; all the fancied forms 
 Of hideous death rose up before his eyes, 
 And he was going mad with terror wild, 
 When suddenly from far above the sky. 
 He heard the sound of heavenly music swell ; 
 Far, far away, and sweet as heaven's love ! 
 His guilty spirit quaked as at a knell. 
 And louder rose the glorious anthem's sound 
 Till heaven rang with music and with praise; 
 Then died away into a distant chant, 
 Sweet wafted through the air from heaven's gates : 
 14 
 
" Christ is risen ! Christ is risen ! 
 Glory to the Lord on high ! 
 He has left the awful prison ! 
 Soars all glorious to the sky ! " 
 
 Thus sang they, and he, listening, felt his hopes 
 Flash once again into his burning heart ; 
 Remembered what the Christian maid had said, 
 And throwing up his hands, he cried aloud, 
 " Oh, save me, Christ, thou man of Nazareth ! 
 Look, Lord, I fall before Thee in my sin ! 
 Oh, make me pure as Thou ! In pity look ! 
 Oh, save me from this death and awful doom ! " 
 And then he seemed to see a glorious light, 
 And one who said, "'Tis I, -Be not afraid! " 
 A perfect peace filled all his fearful heart. 
 And, turning to the seer who entered then. 
 He said, as dying to the floor he sank, 
 " Go, tell them I have found eternal life ! " 
 
 Silent was every guest intent on watching Sir Olaf 
 Who with his head on his hand sat wrapped in his 
 
 deep meditations. 
 Finally raised he his head, and smiled at his beautiful 
 
 Sigrid. 
 
 15 
 
" Minstrel, thy stoi^' has pleased me and filled all my 
 
 heart with strange longing. 
 Surely to thee alone is due the chaplet of oak-leaves. 
 Fain would I hear again of this wonderful god of the 
 
 Southland. 
 Warriors, my spirits are hea\y, leave me and go with 
 
 my blessing." 
 Thus was the saga ended, but now in the prosperous 
 
 Xorseland, 
 Reigns o'er the vikings' descendants the mar\-ellous god 
 
 of the Southland. 
 
 i6 
 
LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 
 
 016 115 861 6 ^