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Page 49
"Sad is the hearing,"
Ring said, replying,
"When a man moans like a weak maiden's sigh.
Valhal is nearing,
E'en now the sighing
Death song I hear. Every mortal must die.
"No one can frighten,
Or by complaining
Change the allotment the norns have set down;
Sorrow thou'lt lighten
O'er the land reigning,--
Take thou my queen, for my son guard the crown.
"True is it spoken,
Loved and respected
Peaceful I've reigned, over mountain and vale;
Yet have I broken
Shields, unprotected,
Landward and seaward, without turning pale.
"Now shall the bleeding
Geirs-odd relieve me,--
Dying in bed ill befits Northland's kings;
Not worth my heeding,
Death shall receive me,--
Life's pain is equal to that which death brings."
Then carved he rightly
Letters all glowing,--
Death runes to Odin on arm and on chest;
Shine now so brightly
Blood-drops o'erflowing,
Dyeing the silvery hair on his breast.
"Bring for my drinking
The horn with wine flowing;
Skoal to thy honor, thou land of my birth!
Minds deeply thinking,
Harvest fields growing,--
Peaceful exploits have I loved on the earth.
"Vain amid slaughter
Bloody and daring,
Sought I for peace,--she fled in dismay.
Now the mild daughter
Of heaven appearing,
Beckons me hence to Valhal away.
"Hail ye immortals!
Sons of high heaven!
Earth disappears; Gjallarhorn to a feast
Opens the portals;
By the gods given,
Blessedness crowns as a helmet the guest!"
Speaking intently,
Ing'borg's hand loyal,
Also his son's, and his friend's, too, he pressed;
Eyelids close gently,--
Spirit so royal
Flies with a sigh to the Allfather's breast.
XXI.
RING'S DRAPA.
Sepultured sits he,
Sovereign descended,
Battle sword by him,
Buckler on arm;
Chafes his good charger
Champing impatient,
Pawing with gold-hoof
The gate of the grave.
Ring, great in riches,
Rideth o'er Bifrost;
Bends with its burden,
Bridge of the gods.
Wide for his welcome
Valhal it opens,
Hands to the hero
Heaven extends.
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