Page:The Story of Egil Skallagrimsson.djvu/195



'He, who so blameless Bore him in life, O'erborne by billows With boat was whelmed. Sea-wavesflood that whilom Welled from giant's wound Smite upon the grave-gate Of my sire and son.

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'Dwindling now my kindred Draw near to their end, Ev'n as forest-saplings Felled or tempest-strown. Not gay or gladsome Goes he who beareth Body of kinsman On funeral bier.

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'Of father fallen First I may tell; Of much-loved mother Must mourn the loss. Sad store hath memory For minstrel skill, A wood to bloom leafy With words of song.

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'Most woful the breach, Where the wave in-brake On the fenced hold Of my father's kin. Unfilled, as I wot, And open doth stand The gap of son rent By the greedy surge.

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'Me Ran, the sea-queen, Roughly hath shaken: I stand of beloved ones Stript and all bare. Cut hath the billow The cord of my kin, Strand of mine own twisting So stout and strong.

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'Sure, if sword could venge Such cruel wrong, Evil times would wait Ægir, ocean-god. That wind-giant's brother Were I strong to slay, 'Gainst him and his sea-brood Battling would I go.

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'But I in no wise Boast, as I ween, Strength that may strive With the stout ships' Bane. For to eyes of all Easy now 'tis seen How the old man's lot Helpless is and lone.

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'Me hath the main Of much bereaved; Dire is the tale, The deaths of kin: Since he the shelter And shield of my house Hied him from life To heaven's glad realm.

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'Full surely I know, In my son was waxing The stuff and the strength Of a stout-limbed wight: Had he reached but ripeness To raise his shield, And Odin laid hand On his liegeman true.

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'Willing he followed His father's word, Though all opposing Should thwart my rede: He in mine household Mine honour upheld, Of my power and rule The prop and the stay.

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