A NORWEGIAN DANCE

From ‘Gunnar’

They all hurried back to the hall.  Gudrun might well wish to ask questions, but she dared not; for she felt the truth, but was afraid of it.  They could not help seeing, when they entered the hall, that many curious glances were directed toward them.  But this rather roused in both a spirit of defiance.  Therefore, when Gunnar was requested to begin the stev he chose Ragnhild for his partner, and she accepted.  True, he was a houseman’s son, but he was not afraid.  There was a giggling and a whispering all round, as hand in hand they stepped out on the floor.  Young and old, lads and maidens, thronged eagerly about them.  Had she not been so happy, perhaps she would not have been so fair.  But as she stood there in the warm flush of the torchlight, with her rich blond hair waving down over her shoulders, and with that veiled brightness in her eyes, her beauty sprang upon you like a sudden wonder, and her presence was inspiration.  And Gunnar saw her; she loved him:  what cared he for all the world beside?  Proudly he raised his head and sang:—­

Gunnar—­There standeth a birch in the lightsome lea,

Ragnhild—­In the lightsome lea;

Gunnar—­So fair she stands in the sunlight free,

Ragnhild—­In the sunlight free;

Both—­So fair she stands in the sunlight free.

Ragnhild—­High up on the mountain there standeth a pine,

Gunnar—­There standeth a pine;

Ragnhild—­So stanchly grown and so tall and fine,

Gunnar—­So tall and fine;

Both—­So stanchly grown and so tall and fine.

Gunnar—­A maiden I know as fair as the day,

Ragnhild—­As fair as the day;

Gunnar—­She shines like the birch in the sunlight’s play,

Ragnhild—­In the sunlight’s play;

Both—­She shines like the birch in the sunlight’s play.

Ragnhild—­I know a lad in the spring’s glad light,

Gunnar—­In the spring’s glad light;

Ragnhild—­Far-seen as the pine on the mountain-height,

Gunnar—­ On the mountain-height;

Both—­ Far-seen as the pine on the mountain-height.

Gunnar—­So bright and blue are the starry skies,

Ragnhild—­ The starry skies;

Gunnar—­But brighter and bluer that maiden’s eyes,

Ragnhild—­ That maiden’s eyes;

Both—­But brighter and bluer that maiden’s eyes.

Ragnhild—­And his have a depth like the fjord, I know,

Gunnar—­ The fjord, I know;

Ragnhild—­Wherein the heavens their beauty show,

Gunnar—­ Their beauty show;

Both—­Wherein the heavens their beauty show.