More　than　helmets　and　swords　the　shields　in　the　hall　were
  resplendent；
  White　as　the　orb　of　the　sun；　or　white　as　the　moon's　disk　of
  silver。
  Ever　and　anon　went　a　maid　round　the　hoard；　and　filled　up　the
  drink…horns；
  Ever　she　cast　down　her　eyes　and　blushed；　in　the　shield　her
  reflection
  Blushed；　too；　even　as　she；　this　gladdened　the　drinking　champions。
  II
  A　SLEDGE…RIDE　ON　THE　ICE
  King　Ring　with　his　queen　to　the　banquet　did　fare；
  On　the　lake　stood　the　ice　so　mirror…clear；
  〃Fare　not　o'er　the　ice；〃　the　stranger　cries；
  〃It　will　burst；　and　full　deep　the　cold　bath　lies。〃
  The　king　drowns　not　easily；〃　Ring　outspake；
  〃He　who's　afraid　may　go　round　the　lake。〃
  Threatening　and　dark　looked　the　stranger　round；
  His　steel　shoes　with　haste　on　his　feet　he　bound；
  The　sledge…horse　starts　forth　strong　and　free；
  He　snorteth　flames；　so　glad　is　he。
  〃Strike　out；〃　screamed　the　king；　〃my　trotter　good；
  Let　us　see　if　thou　art　of　Sleipner's　blood。〃
  They　go　as　a　storm　goes　over　the　lake。
  No　heed　to　his　queen　doth　the　old　man　take。
  But　the　steel…shod　champion　standeth　not　still；
  He　passeth　them　by　as　swift　as　he　will。
  He　carves　many　runes　in　the　frozen　tide；
  Fair　Ingeborg　o'er　her　own　name　doth　glide。
  III
  FRITHIOF'S　TEMPTATION
  Spring　is　coming；　birds　are　twittering；　forests　leaf；　and　smiles
  the　sun；
  And　the　loosened　torrents　downward；　singing；　to　the　ocean　run；
  Glowing　like　the　cheek　of　Freya；　peeping　rosebuds　'gin　to　ope；
  And　in　human　hearts　awaken　love　of　life；　and　joy；　and　hope。
  Now　will　hunt　the　ancient　monarch；　and　the　queen　shall　join　the
  sport：
  Swarming　in　its　gorgeous　splendor；　is　assembled　all　the　Court；
  Bows　ring　loud；　and　quivers　rattle；　stallions　paw　the　ground
  alway；
  And；　with　hoods　upon　their　eyelids；　scream　the　falcons　for　their
  prey。
  See；　the　Queen　of　the　Chase　advances！　　Frithiof；　gaze　not　at　the
  sight！
  Like　a　star　upon　a　spring…cloud　sits　she　on　her　palfrey　white。
  Half　of　Freya；　half　of　Rota；　yet　more　beauteous　than　these　two；
  And　from　her　light　hat　of　purple　wave　aloft　the　feathers　blue。
  Gaze　not　at　her　eyes'　blue　heaven；　gaze　not　at　her　golden　hair！
  Oh　beware！　her　waist　is　slender；　full　her　bosom　is；　beware！
  Look　not　at　the　rose　and　lily　on　her　cheek　that　shifting　play；
  List　not　to　the　voice　beloved；　whispering　like　the　wind　of　May。
  Now　the　huntsman's　band　is　ready。　　Hurrah！　over　hill　and　dale！
  Horns　ring；　and　the　hawks　right　upward　to　the　hall　of　Odin　sail。
  All　the　dwellers　in　the　forest　seek　in　fear　their　cavern　homes；
  But；　with　spear　outstretched　before　her；　after　them　the　Valkyr
  comes。
  。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。
  Then　threw　Frithiof　down　his　mantle；　and　upon　the　greensward
  spread；
  And　the　ancient　king　so　trustful　laid　on　Frithiof's　knee　his
  head；
  Slept　as　calmly　as　the　hero　sleepeth；　after　war's　alarm；
  On　his　shield；　or　as　an　infant　sleeps　upon　its　mother's　arm。
  As　he　slumbers；　hark！　there　sings　a　coal…black　bird　upon　the
  bough；
  〃Hasten；　Frithiof；　slay　the　old　man；　end　your　quarrel　at　a　blow：
  Take　his　queen；　for　she　is　thine；　and　once　the　bridal　kiss　she
  gave；
  Now　no　human　eye　beholds　thee；　deep　and　silent　is　the　grave；〃
  Frithiof　listens；　hark！　there　sings　a　snow…white　bird　upon　the
  bough：
  〃Though　no　human　eye　beholds　thee；　Odin's　eye　beholds　thee　now。
  Coward！　wilt　thou　murder　sleep；　and　a　defenceless　old　man　slay！
  Whatsoe'er　thou　winn'st；　thou　canst　not　win　a　hero's　fame　this
  way。〃
  Thus　the　two　wood…birds　did　warble：　Frithiof　took　his　war…sword
  good；
  With　a　shudder　hurled　it　from　him；　far　into　the　gloomy　wood。
  Coal…black　bird　flies　down　to　Nastrand；　but　on　light；　unfolded
  wings；
  Like　the　tone　of　harps；　the　other；　sounding　towards　the　sun；
  upsprings。
  Straight　the　ancient　king　awakens。　　〃Sweet　has　been　my　sleep；〃　he
  said；
  〃Pleasantly　sleeps　one　in　the　shadow；　guarded　by　a　brave　man's
  blade。
  But　where　is　thy　sword；　O　stranger？　　Lightning's　brother；　where
  is　he？
  Who　thus　parts　you；　who　should　never　from　each　other　parted　be？〃
  〃It　avails　not；〃　Frithiof　answered；　〃in　the　North　are　other
  swords：
  Sharp；　O　monarch！　is　the　sword's　tongue；　and　it　speaks　not
  peaceful　words；
  Murky　spirits　dwell　in　steel　blades；　spirits　from　the　Niffelhem；
  Slumber　is　not　safe　before　them；　silver　locks　but　anger　them。〃
  IV
  FRITHIOF'S　FAREWELL
  No　more　shall　I　see
  In　its　upward　motion
  The　smoke　of　the　Northland。　　Man　is　a　slave：
  The　fates　decree。
  On　the　waste　of　the　ocean
  There　is　my　fatherland；　there　is　my　grave。
  Go　not　to　the　strand；
  Ring；　with　thy　bride；
  After　the　stars　spread　their　light　through　the　sky。
  Perhaps　in　the　sand；
  Washed　up　by　the　tide；
  The　bones　of　the　outlawed　Viking　may　lie。
  Then；　quoth　the　king；
  〃'T　is　mournful　to　hear
  A　man　like　a　whimpering　maiden　cry。
  The　death…song　they　sing
  Even　now　in　mine　ear；
  What　avails　it？　　He　who　is　born　must　die。〃
  *****
  THE　CHILDREN　OF　THE　LORD'S　SUPPER
  BY　ESAIAS　TEGNER
  Pentecost；　day　of　rejoicing；　had　come。　The　church　of　the　village
  Gleaming　stood　in　the　morning's　sheen。
  On　the　spire　of　the　bell
  Decked　with　a　brazen　cock；　the　friendly　flames　of　the　Spring…sun
  Glanced　like　the　tongues　of　fire；　beheld　by　Apostles　aforetime。
  Clear　was　the　heaven　and　blue；　and　May；　with　her　cap　crowned　with
  roses；
  Stood　in　her　holiday　dress　in　the　fields；　and　the　wind　and　the
  brooklet
  Murmured　gladness　and　peace；　God's…peace！　with　lips　rosy…tinted
  Whispered　the　race　of　the　flowers；　and　merry　on　balancing
  branches
  Birds　were　singing　their　carol；　a　jubilant　hymn　to　the　Highest。
  Swept　and　clean　was　the　churchyard。　Adorned　like　a　leaf…woven
  arbor
  Stood　its　old…fashioned　gate；　and　within　upon　each　cross　of　iron
  Hung　was　a　fragrant　garland；　new　twined　by　the　hands　of
  affection。
  Even　the　dial；　that　stood　on　a　mound　among　the　departed；
  （There　full　a　hundred　years　had　it　stood；）　was　embellished　with
  blossoms
  Like　to　the　patriarch　hoary；　the　sage　of　his　kith　and　the　hamlet；
  Who　on　his　birthday　is　crowned　by　children　and　children's
  children；
  So　stood　the　ancient　prophet；　and　mute　with　his　pencil　of
  iron
  Marked　on　the　tablet　of　stone；　and　measured　the　time　and　its
  changes；
  While　all　around　at　his　feet；　an　eternity　slumbered　in　quiet。
  Also　the　church　within　was　adorned；　for　this　was　the　season
  When　the　young；　their　parents'　hope；　and　the　loved…ones　of
  heaven；
  Should　at　the　foot　of　the　altar　renew　the　vows　of　their
  baptism。
  Therefore　each　nook　and　corner　was　swept　and　cleaned；　and　the
  dust　was
  Blown　from　the　walls　and　ceiling；　and　from　the　oil…painted
  benches。
  There　stood　the　church　like　a　garden；　the　Feast　of　the　Leafy
  Pavilions
  Saw　we　in　living　presentment。　From　noble　arms　on　the　church
  wall
  Grew　forth　a　cluster　of　leaves；　and　the　preacher's　pulpit　of
  oak…wood
  Budded　once　more　anew；　as　aforetime　the　rod　before　Aaron。
  Wreathed　thereon　was　the　Bible　with　leaves；　and　the　dove；
  washed　with　silver
  Under　its　canopy　fastened；　had　on　it　a　necklace　of　wind…
  flowers。
  But　in　front　of　the　choir；　round　the　altar…piece　painted　by
  Horberg；
  Crept　a　garland　gigantic；　and　bright…curling　tresses　of
  angels
  Peeped；　like　the　sun　from　a　cloud；　from　out　of　the　shadowy
  leaf…work。
  Likewise　the　lustre　of　brass；　new…polished；　blinked　from　the
  ceiling；
  And　for　lights　there　were　lilies　of　Pentecost　set　in　the
  sockets。
  Loud　rang　the　bells　already；　the　thronging　crowd　was
  assembled
  Far　from　valleys　and　hills；　to　list　to　the　holy　preaching。
  Hark！　then　roll　forth　at　once　the　mighty　tones　of　the　organ；
  Hover　like　voices　from　God；　aloft　like　invisible　spirits。
  Like　as　Elias　in　heaven；　when　he　cast　from　off　him　his
  mantle；
  So　cast　off　the　soul　its　garments　of　earth；　and　with　one
  voice
  Chimed　in　the　congregation；　and　sang　an　anthem　immortal
  Of　the　sublime　Wallin；　of　David's　harp　in　the　North…land
  Tuned　to　the　choral　of　Luther；　the　song　on　its　mighty　pinions
  Took　every　living　soul；　and　lifted　it　gently　to　heaven；
  And　each　face　did　shine　like　the　Holy　One's　face　upon　Tabor。
  Lo！　there　entered　then　into　the　church　the　Reverend　Teacher。
  Father　he　hight　and　he　was　in　the　parish；　a　Christianly
  plainness
  Clothed　from　his　head　to　his　feet　the　old　man　of　seventy
  winters。
  Friendly　was　he　to　behold；　and　glad　as　the　heralding　angel
  Walked　he　among　the　crowds；　but　still　a　contemplative
  grandeur
  Lay　on　his　forehead　as　clear　as　on　moss…covered　gravestone　a
  sunbeam。
  As　in　his　inspiration　（an　evening　twilight　that　faintly
  Gleams　in　the　human　soul；　even　now；　from　the　day　of　creation）
  Th'　Artist；　the　friend　of　heaven；　imagines　Saint　John　when
  in　Patmos；
  Gray；　with　his　eyes　uplifted　to　heaven；　so　seemed　then　the
  old　man：
  Such　was　the　glance　of　his　eye；　and　such　were　his　tresses　of
  silver。
  All　the　congregation　arose　in　the　pews　t