Poems by the Way Love Is Enough | Page 3

and the nights are long,?And sweet and fair was Sn?biorn's song.?Many a time he talked with her,?Till they deemed the summer-tide was there.?And they forgat the wind-swept ways?And angry fords of the flitting-days.?While the north wind swept the hillside there?They forgat the other Whitewater.?While nights at Deildar-Tongue were long,?They clean forgat the Brothers'-Tongue.?But whatso falleth 'twixt Hell and Home,?So many times over comes summer again,?Full surely again shall summer come.?What healing in summer if winter be vain?
To Odd spake Hallbiorn on a day?So many times over comes summer again,?"Gone is the snow from everyway."?What healing in summer if winter be vain??"Now green is grown Whitewater-side,?And I to Whitewater will ride."?Quoth Odd, "Well fare thou winter-guest,?May thine own Whitewater be best?Well is a man's purse better at home?Than open where folk go and come."?"Come ye carles of the south country,?Now shall we go our kin to see!?For the lambs are bleating in the south,?And the salmon swims towards Olfus mouth,?Girth and graithe and gather your gear!?And ho for the other Whitewater!"?Bright was the moon as bright might be,?And Sn?biorn rode to the north country.?And Odd to Reykholt is gone forth,?To see if his mares be ought of worth.?But Hallbiorn into the bower is gone?And there sat Hallgerd all alone.?She was not dight to go nor ride,?She had no joy of the summer-tide.?Silent she sat and combed her hair,?That fell all round about her there.?The slant beam lay upon her head,?And gilt her golden locks to red.?He gazed at her with hungry eyes?And fluttering did his heart arise.?"Full hot," he said, "is the sun to-day,?And the snow is gone from the mountain-way?The king-cup grows above the grass,?And through the wood do the thrushes pass."?Of all his words she hearkened none,?But combed her hair amidst the sun.?"The laden beasts stand in the garth?And their heads are turned to Helliskarth."?The sun was falling on her knee,?And she combed her gold hair silently.?"To-morrow great will be the cheer?At the Brothers'-Tongue by Whitewater."?From her folded lap the sunbeam slid;?She combed her hair, and the word she hid.?"Come, love; is the way so long and drear?From Whitewater to Whitewater?"?The sunbeam lay upon the floor;?She combed her hair and spake no more.?He drew her by the lily hand:?"I love thee better than all the land."?He drew her by the shoulders sweet:?"My threshold is but for thy feet."?He drew her by the yellow hair:?"O why wert thou so deadly fair??O am I wedded to death?" he cried,?"Is the Dead-strand come to Whitewater side?"?And the sun was fading from the room,?But her eyes were bright in the change and the gloom.?"Sharp sword," she sang, "and death is sure,?But over all doth love endure."?She stood up shining in her place?And laughed beneath his deadly face.?Instead of the sunbeam gleamed a brand,?The hilts were hard in Hallbiorn's hand:?The bitter point was in Hallgerd's breast?That Sn?biorn's lips of love had pressed.?Morn and noon, and nones passed o'er,?And the sun is far from the bower door.?To-morrow morn shall the sun come back,?So many times over comes summer again,?But Hallgerd's feet the floor shall lack.?What healing in summer if winter be vain?
Now Hallbiorn's house-carles ride full fast,?So many times over comes summer again,?Till many a mile of way is past.?What healing in summer if winter be vain??But when they came over Oxridges,?'Twas, "Where shall we give our horses ease?"?When Shieldbroad-side was well in sight,?'Twas, "Where shall we lay our heads to-night?"?Hallbiorn turned and raised his head;?"Under the stones of the waste," he said.?Quoth one, "The clatter of hoofs anigh."?Quoth the other, "Spears against the sky!"?"Hither ride men from the Wells apace;?Spur we fast to a kindlier place."?Down from his horse leapt Hallbiorn straight:?"Why should the supper of Odin wait??Weary and chased I will not come?To the table of my fathers' home."?With that came Sn?biorn, who but he,?And twelve in all was his company.?Sn?biorn's folk were on their feet;?He spake no word as they did meet.?They fought upon the northern hill:?Five are the howes men see there still.?Three men of Sn?biorn's fell to earth?And Hallbiorn's twain that were of worth.?And never a word did Sn?biorn say,?Till Hallbiorn's foot he smote away.?Then Hallbiorn cried: "Come, fellow of mine,?To the southern bent where the sun doth shine."?Tottering into the sun he went,?And slew two more upon the bent.?And on the bent where dead he lay?Three howes do men behold to-day.?And never a word spake Sn?biorn yet,?Till in his saddle he was set.?Nor was there any heard his voice,?So many times over comes summer again?Till he came to his ship in Grimsar-oyce.?What healing in summer if winter be vain?
On so fair a day they hoisted sail,?So many times over comes summer again,?And for Norway well did the wind avail.?What healing in summer if winter be vain??But Sn?biorn looked aloft and said:?"I see in the sail a stripe of red:?Murder,