Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - The Frithiof-Saga - XXIV. Reconciliation
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
224
FRITHIOF’S SAGA
Twelve temple-maidens fair, in silver raiment clad,
With roses blooming on their cheeks, and roses, too,
Within their guileless hearts: before the image dread
They danced around the altar newly consecrate,
As spring-time’s breezes dance above the rivulets,
As forest elves dance lightly o’er the tall-grown grass,
While still the morning dew lies glittering around.
And midst their dancing sang they, too, an holy song,
Of Balder, the all-pious; how beloved was he
Of all creation: how by Hoder’s dart he fell;
How earth, and sea, and sky lamented;—such a song
It seemed as ne’er from out a mortal bosom sprung,
But like a tone from Breidablick, the Bright One’s hall;
Like dream of loved one which a lonely maiden dreams,
When in the peace of silent night deep pipes the quail,
And moonlight beameth o’er the birch-woods of the
North.—
Delighted Frithiof, leaning on his sword, beheld
The dance; and many a scene of childhood’s gladness
sped
Before his sense, a merry race and innocent.
With eyes of heavenly blue, and lovely heads, adorned
With curling locks of floating gold, they nodded forth
A loving greeting to the comrade of their youth.
Then like a bloody shadow sank his Viking’s life,
With all its battles fierce, its past adventures wild,
Down into darkness, and unto himself he seemed
To stand, a flower-decked Bauta-stone, upon its grave.
And ever as the song swelled high, his spirit rose
From lowly vales of earth on high to Valaskjalf;
And earthly rage and earthly hate were melted down,
As Winter’s icy mail from breast of Earth dissolves,
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
