FROM THE Book OF T ALIESIN .

The Elements pass'd,
Rent and shaken at last,
Like night into day
Waned away,
When Ercwlf the free,
The gloriously free,
In a splendour like flame,
Shone and came.
On the Mordei shield broke
His spear's battle-stroke:
Equal columns, he spread,
With helms all blood-red,
In the field, where no threat
Of dark death-terrors yet
Daunted Ercwlf the free, —
" Not the death-pains," cried he,
" Give me fear, —
Far or near!"
Till he went — with the sun,
Of his men fell not one!
None other was slain
Till came the death-pain
On Ercwlf, the piercer
Of walls; and the fiercer
He fought as he fell; —
Who had dared even Hell,
And the Elements' grown dark
With the Shadows that hark
To the Earth-quake, and feel
The World shake like a wheel!
He would pass if he must,
Unafraid, back to dust;
And beyond thee, oh Death,
And beneath,
To Uffern's last deep!
For the fiends that keep
Watch, hideous, there,
Could bring not a fear
To Ercwlf the free.