XV.

A LITTLE BIRD IN THE AIR.

A LITTLE bird in the air

Is singing of Thyri the fair,

The sister of Svend the Dane;

And the song of the garrulous bird In the streets of the town is heard, And repeated again and again. Hoist up your sails of silk,

And flee away from each other.

To King Burislaf, it is said,

Was the beautiful Thyri wed,

And a sorrowful bride went she;

And after a week and a day,

She has fled away and away,

From his town by the stormy sea.

Hoist up your sails of silk,

And flee away from each other.

They say, that through heat and through cold, Through weald, they say, and through wold,

By day and by night, they say,

She has fled; and the gossips report
She has come to King Olaf's court,

And the town is all in dismay.
Hoist up your sails of silk,

And flee away from each other.

It is whispered King Olaf has seen,
Has talked with the beautiful Queen;
And they wonder how it will end;
For surely, if here she remain,

It is war with King Svend the Dane,
And King Burislaf the Vend!
Hoist up your sails of silk,

And flee away from each other.

O, greatest wonder of all!

It is published in hamlet and hall,

It roars like a flame that is fanned!

The King—yes, Olaf the King —
Has wedded her with his ring,

And Thyri is Queen in the land!
Hoist up your sails of silk,

And flee away from each other.

XVI.

QUEEN THYRI AND THE ANGELICA STALKS.

NORTHWARD Over Drontheim,

Flew the clamorous sea-gulls,

Sang the lark and linnet

From the meadows green;

Weeping in her chamber,

Lonely and unhappy,

Sat the Drottning Thyri,

Sat King Olaf's Queen.

In at all the windows

Streamed the pleasant sunshine,

On the roof above her

Softly cooed the dove;

But the sound she heard not,

Nor the sunshine heeded,

For the thoughts of Thyri

Were not thoughts of love.

Then King Olaf entered,
Beautiful as morning,

Like the sun at Easter

Shone his happy face;

In his hand he carried

Angelicas uprooted,

With delicious fragrance

Filling all the place.

Like a rainy midnight

Sat the Drottning Thyri,

Even the smile of Olaf

Could not cheer her gloom;