| Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882). Complete Poetical Works. 1893. | | | | Tales of a Wayside Inn | Part First.
The Musician’s Tale: The Saga of King Olaf.
XX. Einar Tamberskelver |
| | | IT was Einar Tamberskelver | |
| Stood beside the mast; | |
| From his yew-bow, tipped with silver, | |
| Flew the arrows fast; | |
| Aimed at Eric unavailing, | 5 |
| As he sat concealed, | |
| Half behind the quarter-railing, | |
| Half behind his shield. | |
| |
| First an arrow struck the tiller, | |
| Just above his head; | 10 |
| “Sing, O Eyvind Skaldaspiller,” | |
| Then Earl Eric said. | |
| “Sing the song of Hakon dying, | |
| Sing his funeral wail!” | |
| And another arrow flying | 15 |
| Grazed his coat of mail. | |
| |
| Turning to a Lapland yeoman, | |
| As the arrow passed, | |
| Said Earl Eric, “Shoot that bowman | |
| Standing by the mast.” | 20 |
| Sooner than the word was spoken | |
| Flew the yeoman’s shaft; | |
| Einar’s bow in twain was broken, | |
| Einar only laughed. | |
| |
| “What was that?” said Olaf, standing | 25 |
| On the quarter-deck. | |
| “Something heard I like the stranding | |
| Of a shattered wreck.” | |
| Einar then, the arrow taking | |
| From the loosened string, | 30 |
| Answered, “That was Norway breaking | |
| From thy hand, O King!” | |
| |
| “Thou art but a poor diviner,” | |
| Straightway Olaf said; | |
| “Take my bow, and swifter, Einar, | 35 |
| Let thy shafts be sped.” | |
| Of his bows the fairest choosing, | |
| Reached he from above; | |
| Einar saw the blood-drops oozing | |
| Through his iron glove. | 40 |
| |
| But the bow was thin and narrow; | |
| At the first assay, | |
| O’er its head he drew the arrow, | |
| Flung the bow away; | |
| Said, with hot and angry temper | 45 |
| Flushing in his cheek, | |
| “Olaf! for so great a Kämper | |
| Are thy bows too weak!” | |
| |
| Then, with smile of joy defiant | |
| On his beardless lip, | 50 |
| Scaled he, light and self-reliant, | |
| Eric’s dragon-ship. | |
| Loose his golden locks were flowing, | |
| Bright his armor gleamed; | |
| Like Saint Michael overthrowing | 55 |
| Lucifer he seemed. | | | | |
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