“Nought betters the deed thy word unsaid. 
Tell me that Knut my son is dead!”

She said:  “The doom on thee, O King! 
For thine own lips have said the thing.”

Men looked to see the King arise,
The death of men within his eyes.

Men looked to see his bitter sword
That once cleared ships from board to board.

But in the hall no sword gleamed wide,
His hand fell down along his side.

No red there came into his cheek,
He fell aback as one made weak.

His wan cheek brushed the high-seat’s side,
And in the noon of day he died.

So lieth King Gorm beneath the grass,
But from mouth to mouth this tale did pass.

And Harald reigned and went his way, So fair upriseth the rim of the sun. And still is the story told to-day, So grey is the sea when day is done.

ON THE EDGE OF THE WILDERNESS

PUELLÆ

Whence comest thou, and whither goest thou? 
Abide! abide! longer the shadows grow;
What hopest thou the dark to thee will show?

Abide! abide! for we are happy here.

AMANS

Why should I name the land across the sea
Wherein I first took hold on misery? 
Why should I name the land that flees from me?

Let me depart, since ye are happy here.

PUELLÆ

What wilt thou do within the desert place
Whereto thou turnest now thy careful face? 
Stay but a while to tell us of thy case.

Abide! abide! for we are happy here.

AMANS

What, nigh the journey’s end shall I abide,
When in the waste mine own love wanders wide,
When from all men for me she still doth hide?

Let me depart, since ye are happy here.

PUELLÆ

Nay, nay; but rather she forgetteth thee,
To sit upon the shore of some warm sea,
Or in green gardens where sweet fountains be.

Abide! abide! for we are happy here.

AMANS

Will ye then keep me from the wilderness,
Where I at least, alone with my distress,
The quiet land of changing dreams may bless?

Let me depart, since ye are happy here.

PUELLÆ

Forget the false forgetter and be wise,
And ’mid these clinging hands and loving eyes,
Dream, not in vain, thou knowest paradise.

Abide! abide! for we are happy here.

AMANS

Ah! with your sweet eyes shorten not the day,
Nor let your gentle hands my journey stay! 
Perchance love is not wholly cast away.