THE SEA-KING'S BURIAL.

['The old Norse kings, when about to die, had their body laid into a ship; the ship sent forth with sails set, and slow fire burning in it, that, once out at sea, it might blaze up in flame, and in such manner bury worthily the old hero, at once in the sky and in the ocean.' -CARLYLE'S Hero Worship.]

I.

'My strength is failing fast,'

Said the Sea-king to his men ;— 'I shall never sail the seas Like a conqueror again. But while yet a drop remains Of the life-blood in my veins, Raise, oh, raise me from the bed ;Put the crown upon my head ;Put my good sword in my hand; And so lead me to the strand, Where my ship at anchor rides Steadily; If I cannot end my life In the bloody battle-strife, Let me die as I have lived,

II.

On the sea.'

They have borne him to the ship
With a slow and soleinn tread;
They have placed him on the deck

With his crown upon his head,
Where he sat as on a throne;
And have left him there alone,
With his anchor ready weigh'd,
And the snowy sails display'd
To the favouring wind, once more
Blowing freshly from the shore;
And have bidden him farewell
Tenderly;
Saying, 'King of mighty men,
We shall meet thee yet again,
In Valhalla, with the monarchs
Of the sea.'

VI.

Underneath him in the hold

They had placed the lighted brand; And the fire was burning slow

As the vessel from the land, Like a stag-hound from the slips, Darted forth from out the ships;

And the King with sudden strength Started up, and paced the deck, With his good sword for his staff, And his robe around his neck;--Once alone, he waved his hand To the people on the land; And with shout and joyous cry Once again they made reply, Till the loud exulting cheer Sounded faintly on his ear; For the gale was o'er him blowing, Fresh and free; And ere yet an hour had pass'd, He was driven before the blast, And a storm was on his path, On the sea.

easy, Let the slave and coward die! But give me the driving keel, Clang of shields and flashing steel ;Or my foot on foreign ground With my enemies around! Happy, happy, thus I'd yield, On the deck or in the field, My last breath, shouting on

To Victory."

What brings thee here so late alone?'

XIX.

The lady blush'd, and on her tongue--
Timid-the faltering answer hung-
'I have come for thee, dear lord,' she
said,

And on his arm her hand she laid.
XX.

For I have loved thee long and well,
More than a maiden ought to tell,
And I sit beneath this birken-tree
To pass one hour of love with thee.'

XXI.

He sprang from his steed of dapple gray,
And at the lady's feet he lay;
Her lily hand in his he press'd,
And lean'd his head upon her breast.

XXII.

Her long fair tresses o'er him hung,
As round his neck her arm she flung;
Her beauty charm'd both touch and
sight-

His pulse beat quicker with delight :

XXIII.

'Oh, lady dear! these eyes of mine Those loving lips, oh, let me kiss! Never saw beauty like to thine! Never was rapture like to this!'

XXIV.

She smiled upon him as he spoke,
And on his ear these accents broke;
Thou shalt be mine for evermore.
'Deep was the love for thee I bore -

XXV.

'Come to my bower-'tis fair to see, And all prepared, dear lord, for thee; Come!' and such smiles her face suffused,

He had been stone had he refused.

XXVI.

His heart was full, his reeling brain Felt the sharp pleasure prick like pain; And his eyes grew dim with love and joy On the haunted hills of Ballochroy.

XXVII.

On every side-above-belowHe heard a strain of music flow,

Dying in murmurs on his ear, Gentle and plaintive, soft and clear.

XXVIII.

Anon a bolder voice it took,
Till all the air with music shook-
A full, inspiring, martial strain,
Heaving like waves upon the main.

XXIX.

Amid the tangling flowers and grass
The fitful echoes seem'd to pass;
And then it sank, and sweet and slow,
Mingled the notes of joy and woe ;—

XXX.

Then changed again: a jocund lay Rose 'mid the tree-tops far away;

And brisker, merrier, louder still Sounded the music o'er the hill.

XXXVII.

Faint with the joy, he craved delay; But no-his limbs refused to stay, And danced impulsive to the sound, And traced a circle on the ground.

XXXVIII.

There seem'd a film before his eyesHe saw new shapes of beauty rise They seem'd to gather at the tune Between him and the western moon.

XXXIX.

In robes of azure and of green,
Amber and white, and purple sheen-

With sparkling eyes and flowing hair.

XL.

And as before his sight they pass'd, Each maid seem'd lovelier than the last, And smiled upon him as she came, With looks of love, and eyes of flame.

XLI.

Then smoothing back their tresses bright, They join'd their fingers long and white, And lightly shook their sparkling feet To the glad measure as it beat.

XLII.

And as the fairy round they danced, And now retreated, now advanced, Their noiseless footsteps on the sod Left a green circle where they trod.

XLIII.

Like dragon-flies upon a stream,
Or motes upon a slanting beam,
They parted-met-retired-entwined,
Their loose robes waving in the wind.

XLIV.

Transparent as the network light
Spun by the gossamer at night,
Through every fold each rounded limb
Shone warm and beautiful, but dim.

XLV.

Dazzled and reeling with delight, He turn'd away his aching sight, Then fell exhausted in a swoon, In the full radiance of the moon.