Poems By the Way Part 6

O worser waxeth thy story far, For these drew upon me bolt and bar.

Fly south, O fowl, to the field of death For nothing sweet thy grey neb saith.

_The Raven_.

O, there was Olaf the lily-rose, As fair as any oak that grows.

_The King's Daughter_.

O sweet bird, what did he then Among the spears of my father's men?

_The Raven_.

'Twixt ashen plank and dark blue sea, He sang: My true love waiteth me.

_The King's Daughter_.

As well as this dull floor knows my feet, I am not weary yet, my sweet.

_The Raven_.

He sang: As once her hand I had, Her lips at last shall make me glad.

_The King's Daughter_.

As once our fingers met, O love, So shall our lips be fain thereof.

_The Raven_.

He sang: Come wrack and iron and flame, For what shall breach the wall but fame?

_The King's Daughter_.

Be swift to rise and set, O Sun, Lest life 'twixt hope and death be done.

_The Raven_.

King's daughter sitting in tower so high, A gift for my tale ere forth I fly, The gold from thy finger fair and fine, Thou hadst it from no love of thine.

_The King's Daughter_.

By my father's ring another there is, I had it with my mother's kiss.

Fly forth, O fowl, across the sea To win another gift of me.

Fly south to bring me tidings true, _Fair summer is on many a s.h.i.+eld_.

Of the eve grown red with the battle-dew, _Fair sing the swans 'twixt firth and field_.

_The Raven_.

King's daughter sitting in tower so high, _Fair summer is on many a s.h.i.+eld_.

Tidings to hearken ere thou die, _Fair sing the swans 'twixt firth and field_.

In the Frankish land the spear points met, And wide about the field was wet.

And high ere the cold moon quenched the sun, Blew Steingrim's horn for battle won.

_The King's Daughter_.

Fair fall thee fowl! Tell tidings true Of deeds that men that day did do.

_The Raven_.

Steingrim before his banner went, And helms were broke and byrnies rent.

_The King's Daughter_.

A doughty man and good at need; Tell men of any other's deed?

_The Raven_.

Where Steingrim through the battle bore Still Olaf went a foot before.

_The King's Daughter_.

O fair with deeds the world doth grow!

Where is my true-love gotten now?

_The Raven_.

Upon the deck beside the mast He lieth now, and sleepeth fast.

_The King's Daughter_.

Heard'st thou before his sleep began That he spake word of any man?

_The Raven_.

Methought of thee he sang a song, But nothing now he saith for long.

_The King's Daughter_.

And wottest thou where he will wend With the world before him from end to end?

_The Raven_.

Before the battle joined that day Steingrim a word to him did say: "If we bring the banner back in peace, In the King's house much shall my fame increase; Till there no guarded door shall be But it shall open straight to me.

Then to the bower we twain shall go Where thy love the golden seam doth sew.

I shall bring thee in and lay thine hand About the neck of that lily-wand.

And let the King be lief or loth One bed that night shall hold you both."

Now north belike runs Steingrim's prow, And the rain and the wind from the south do blow.

_The King's Daughter_.