“Oft to his frozen lair
    Tracked I the grizzly bear,
    While from my path the hare
      Fled like a shadow;
    Oft through the forest dark
    Followed the were-wolf’s bark,
    Until the soaring lark
      Sang from the meadow.

   “But when I older grew,
    Joining a corsair’s crew,
    O’er the dark sea I flew
      With the marauders. 
    Wild was the life we led;
    Many the souls that sped,
    Many the hearts that bled,
      By our stern orders.

   “Many a wassail-bout
    Wore the long Winter out;
    Often our midnight shout
      Set the cocks crowing,
    As we the Berserk’s tale
    Measured in cups of ale,
    Draining the oaken pail
      Filled to overflowing.

   “Once as I told in glee
    Tales of the stormy sea,
    Soft eyes did gaze on me,
      Burning yet tender;
    And as the white stars shine
    On the dark Norway pine,
    On that dark heart of mine
      Fell their soft splendour.

   “I wooed the blue-eyed maid,
    Yielding, yet half afraid,
    And in the forest’s shade
      Our vows were plighted. 
    Under its loosened vest
    Fluttered her little breast,
    Like birds within their nest
      By the hawk frighted.

   “Bright in her father’s hall
    Shields gleamed upon the wall,
    Loud sang the minstrels all,
      Chanting his glory;
    When of old Hildebrand
    I asked his daughter’s hand,
    Mute did the minstrels stand
      To hear my story.

   “While the brown ale he quaffed,
    Loud then the champion laughed,
    And as the wind-gusts waft
      The sea-foam brightly,
    So the loud laugh of scorn,
    Out of those lips unshorn,
    From the deep drinking-horn
      Blew the foam lightly.

   “She was a Prince’s child,
    I but a Viking wild,
    And though she blushed and smiled,
      I was discarded! 
    Should not the dove so white
    Follow the sea-mew’s flight? 
    Why did they leave that night
      Her nest unguarded?

   “Scarce had I put to sea,
    Bearing the maid with me,—­
    Fairest of all was she
      Among the Norsemen!—­
    When on the white sea-strand,
    Waving his armed hand,
    Saw we old Hildebrand,
      With twenty horsemen.

   “Then launched they to the blast,
    Bent like a reed each mast,
    Yet we were gaining fast,
      When the wind failed us;
    And with a sudden flaw
    Came round the gusty Skaw,
    So that our foe we saw
      Laugh as he hailed us.

   “And as to catch the gale
    Round veered the flapping sail,
   ‘Death!’ was the helmsman’s hail,
     ‘Death without quarter!’
    Midships with iron keel
    Struck we her ribs of steel;
    Down her black hulk did reel
      Through the black water!