Unaw’d by fear the courteous hero stood,
    And near the shady confines of the wood
    Now met the youth.  “Whoe’er thou art,” he cried,
    “Beneath our roof the tranquil morn abide: 
    For see, the red stars rise, and all around
    The dew falls heavy on the silent ground.”

      “Hear, gallant guardian of an injured state!”
    (Replied the certain messenger of fate)
    “For well I know thee, once in battle seen: 
    No length of years can change a hero’s mien,
    Unalter’d as his soul; since in his lines
    The stamp of Heaven’s own hand distinguish’d shines.”—­

      On him, in speechless wonder, Vasa gazed: 
    New feelings, by uncertain memory raised,
    Rose indistinct:  now rage, he knew not why,
    Fired all his spirit; now the half-felt sigh
    Of ancient friendship in his breast renew’d,
    Urged its slow course, whilst thus the youth pursu’d: 

      “Ask not my name—­lest rising wrath prevent
    My hurried speech, and hinder Heaven’s intent.—­
    Confined by Christiern’s doom, I saw, with dread,
    The axe hang glaring o’er my fated head: 
    Escaped, thro’ nightly seas I held my way,
    ’Till starry midnight verged on purple day;
    When instant at my prow a form appear’d,
    Array’d in splendours, and the darkness cheer’d. 
    Genius of Sweden (such his sacred name)
    From heaven’s high arch the lucid herald came. 
    He bade me instant cross the watery road, }
    And seek Gustavus in his dark abode, }
    Where swift Dal-Elbe thro’ rocky mountains flow’d. }
    Then thus:  “To him, Ernestus! is decreed
    To govern nations by his valour freed,
    Oppression’s fiercest efforts to subdue,
    And at his feet contending factions view. 
    Indignant Denmark mourns her laws o’erthrown,
    And spurns her monarch from his iron throne. 
    Soon as Gustavus blows the loud alarms,
    Each town, each province will arise to arms;
    With Wermeland’s tribes Westmania’s shall unite,
    And Gothland’s answering shouts provoke the fight. 
    Bid him, who now in sluggish languor lies,
    Nor knows the favour of the indulgent skies,
    Rise and avenge! for him Heaven’s laws ordain }
    The lengthen’d blessings of a peaceful reign, }
    And sons succeeding sons, his glory to maintain.” }
    He spoke, and swifter than the falcon’s flight
    The ship shot instant thro’ the seas of night. 
    The vision vanish’d from my earnest view,
    And o’er me sleep his drowsy mantle threw: 
    ’Till, roused by morning’s beam, my bark I steer’d
    Where full in sight your mountain-land appear’d,
    Cut thro’ the bordering groves my rapid way,
    And reach’d your rural dome by close of day,
    Propitious Heaven my guide.”  While yet he spoke,