Thou, without whose genial breath The North would sleep the sleep of death; Who deign'st to warm the cottage hearth, Yet hurls proud palaces to earth,— Brightest, keenest of the Powers, Which form and rule this world of ours, With my rhyme of Runic, I Thank thee for thy agency. Old Reimkennar, to thy art Disinhumed my charms to aid Mother Earth, my thanks are paid. Girdle of our islands dear, Thou whose power can overwhelm On the lowly Belgian strand; From our rock-defended land; Play then gently thou thy part, To assist old Norna's art. Elements, each other greeting, Thou, that over billows dark Through the wide expanse of sky, She who sits by haunted well, She who walks on lonely beach, To the Mermaid's charmed speech; And she who takes rest in the Dwarfie's cave, A By ring, by spring, by cave, by shore, Minna Troil has braved all this and more; Thou art within a demon's hold, More wise than Heims, more strong than Trolld; No elfin power hath half the art To soothe, to move, to wring the heart, Life-blood from the cheek to drain, Drench the eye, and dry the vein. Maiden, ere we farther go, Dost thou note me, ay or no? MINNA. I mark thee, my mother, both word, look, and sign; Speak on with thy riddle-to read it be mine. NORNA. Mark me! for the word I speak Shall bring the colour to thy cheek. This leaden heart, so light of cost, The symbol of a treasure lost, Thou shalt wear in hope and in peace, That the cause of your sickness and sorrow may cease, When crimson foot meets crimson hand In the Martyrs' Aisle, and in Orkney land. In a chain of fairy gold; The chain and the gift are each a true token, That not without warrant old Norna hath spoken; But thy nearest and dearest must never behold them, Till time shall accomplish the truths I have told them. Chap. xxviii. (11.) BRYCE SNAILSFOOT'S ADVERTISE MENT. POOR sinners whom the snake deceives, Ye gallanty Lambmas lads appear, Chap. xxxii. (12.) MOTTOES. CHAP. II. 'Tis not alone the scene- -the man, Anselmo, The man finds sympathies in these wild wastes, And roughly tumbling seas, which fairer views. And smoother waves deny him. Ancient Drama. CHAP. IV. This is no pilgrim's morning-yon gray mist CHAP. VII. The Double Nuptials. She does no work by halves, yon raving ocean ; Engulphing those she strangles, her wild womb. |