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j FRITHIOF’S SAGA 92
Short, pithy pleas, which rang like strokes of swords.
And Halfdan, rising from the royal seat,
Himself besought, with many a word and sign.
All was in vain, and bootless every prayer!
So beaming sunshine, on the barren rock,
No fruit enticeth from its stony heart;
And Helge’s dark, unchanging visage spake
To all entreaties still a ghastly Nay.
"A yeoman’s son," said he, at length, in scorn,
"Might wed with Ingborg; but to Valhall’s daughter
Becometh ill a sacrilegious mate.
Hast thou not, Frithiof, broken Balder’s peace?
Hast thou not seen my sister in his shrine,
When Day had hid itself before the crime ?
Answer me, Yea or Nay!" Loud rose a cry
Amidst the crowd of men:—"Say Nay, say only Nay,
Thou Thorsten’s mighty son, almost a king;
Thy word we trust, and we for thee will sue:
Only say Nay, and Ingeborg is thine."
" My joy of life hangs on a single word,"
I said; "yet fear not therefore thou, O King!
I would not lie for all Valhalla’s bliss,
Then scarce for earthly joy; I saw thy sister,
And spake with her at night-time in the temple,
Yet thus I never broke the peace of Balder." Here
I had to cease. A scream of horrid fear
Spread through the Ting; those who beside me stood
Fell off as from a plague-besmitten man.
Where’er I looked, their superstitious fear
Had hushed each tongue, and every face was pale,
Which just before had flushed with joyous hope.
There conquered Helge: then, in ghastly tones,
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