William Brook Bridges Stevens

“ And unhurt their Viking tells them [2] —“Well forbodes a trav’ller’s fall!”
“Knights!” quoth stout English Harold to his Saxons standing by,
“Who is that giant Viking whose downfall we espy,
That man of giant sinews—his like are none in height?”
“⁠’Tis Norway’s king, stern Halfagàr”—outspeaks an English knight.⁠
“A truce!” ”

“ Shouts hardy Harold Halfagàr—“the Norsemen never fail!”
*⁠*⁠*⁠*⁠*⁠*⁠*⁠*
Alas! alas! bold Halfagàr! the English Harold’s won!
Thou’lt never see the rising of to-morrow’s golden sun;
Tosti in death is sleeping, with an arrow in his brain;
Thou with thy stout Vœringers wilt never charge again!
Ha! liest thou there, stern Halfagàr? That arrow sped too well;
There’ll be curses deep in Norway when our Viking’s death they tell. ”

“ My brother’s banded with them [3] —we were dear in days of yore;
There’s blood upon my hands enow—I would not make it more.”
“Rides Earl Tosti with ye, Norsemen? ’Gainst his brother makes he war?” ”