Page:The poetical works of Matthew Arnold, 1897.djvu/159

Rh The wood to Balder's ship, and built a pile,

Full the deck's breadth, and lofty; then the corpse

Of Balder on the highest top they laid,

With Nanna on his right, and on his left

Hoder, his brother, whom his own hand slew.

And they set jars of wine and oil to lean

Against the bodies, and stuck torches near,

Splinters of pine-wood, soaked with turpentine;

And brought his arms and gold, and all his stuff,

And slew the dogs who at his table fed,

And his horse, Balder's horse, whom most he loved,

And threw them on the pyre; and Odin threw

A last choice gift thereon, his golden ring.

The mast they fixed, and hoisted up the sails;

Then they put fire to the wood; and Thor

Set his stout shoulder hard against the stern

To push the ship through the thick sand; sparks flew

From the deep trench she ploughed, so strong a god

Furrowed it; and the water gurgled in.

And the ship floated on the waves, and rocked.

But in the hills a strong east-wind arose,

And came down moaning to the sea; first squalls

Ran black o'er the sea's face, then steady rushed

The breeze, and filled the sails, and blew the fire.

And wreathed in smoke the ship stood out to sea.

Soon with a roaring rose the mighty fire,

And the pile crackled; and between the logs

Sharp quivering tongues of flame shot out, and leapt,

Curling and darting, higher, until they licked

The summit of the pile, the dead, the mast,

And ate the shrivelling sails; but still the ship

Drove on, ablaze above her hull with fire.

And the gods stood upon the beach, and gazed.

And while they gazed, the sun went lurid down