Classic Poem

NORNA'S VERSES

For leagues along the watery way,
Through gulf and stream my course has been;
The billows know my Runie lay,
And smooth their crests to silent green.

The billows know my Runic lay,
The gulf grows smooth, the stream is still;
But human hearts, more wild than they,
Know but the rule of wayward will.

One hour is mine, in all the year,
To tell my woes, and one alone;
When gleams this magic lamp, 't is here,
When dies the mystic light, 't is gone.

Daughters of northern Magnus, hail!
The lamp is lit, the flame is clear;
To you I come to tell my tale,
Awake, arise, my tale to hear!

Dwellers of the mountain, rise,
Trolld the powerful, Haims the wise!
Ye who taught weak woman's tongue
Words that sway the wise and strong, —
Ye who taught weak woman's hand
How to wield the magic wand,
And wake the gales on Foulah's steep,
Or lull wild Sumburgh's waves to sleep!
Still are ye yet? Not yours the power
Ye knew in Odin's mightier hour.
What are ye now but empty names,
Powerful Trolld, sagacious Haims,
That, lightly spoken, and lightly heard,
Float on the air like thistle's beard?

A thousand winters dark have flown,
Since o'er the threshold of my stone
A votaress passed, my power to own.
Visitor bold
Of the mansion of Trolld,
Maiden haughty of heart.
Who bast hither presumed,
Ungifted, undoomed,
Thou shalt not depart.
The power thou dost covet
O'er tempest and wave,
Shall be thine, thou proud maiden,
By beach and by cave. —
By stack, and by skerry, by noup, and by voe,
By air, and by wick, and by helyer and gio,
And by every wild shore which the northern winds know,
And the northern tides lave.
But though this shall be given thee, thou desperately brave,
I doom thee that never the gift thou shalt have,
Till thou reave thy life's giver
Of the gift which he gave.

Dark are thy words, and severe,
Thou dweller in the stone;
But trembling and fear
To her are unknown,
Who hath sought thee here,
In thy dwelling lone.
Come what comes soever,
The worst I can endure;
Life is but a short fever,
And Death is the cure.