hear it, Haf!

_Haf_.--Hither I see the ravens winging,
They steer their flight to Holar's steeple
On their errand bent death bringing;
Hard the bishop's bells are ringing:
Longest peals great Likabong:[A]
'The Peace of God shall save the people.'

[Footnote A: 'Lyke-knell,' name of the great bell of the Holar Cathedral.]

Heroes head their warlike forces,
Mailed fists 'gainst shields are clashing,
Over Herad's water-courses
Thunder thousand hoofs of horses,
Over fords and bridges dashing.
Long afar moans Likabong.

Death foretells the cock's dawn-greeting:
Many a fey man's fair limbs mangles
Soon the sword and spear in meeting.
Hot the Northland blood is beating!
Low and dull weeps Likabong.
The shiv'ring Southron sea-cod angles.

_Helga_.--Excellent! That's aimed at Hjalti, the son of the bishop,--the
cod-biter!

_Haf_.--Peace,--how many a foe will crave her!
In Woden's spoor the sward is bloody--
Many a head the swords dissever;
Be our host victorious ever!
Silent lastly Likabong--
Women weep for men once ruddy.

_Botolf_.--Little your skald's song contributes to the honor of the
Church as it seems to me, Lady Helga.

_Helga_ (_lifts the drinking-horn to her lips; the bishop responds in
silence_).--To your health, sir bishop! When at Oddi I listened to the
opinions of Snorri Sturluson and of Saemund, my father, about poetics,
but I doubt whether they would have thought that Haf had said ought
derogatory to the Holy Church, in particularly mentioning in the burthen
what Likabong does.

_Botolf_.--I shall not discuss the more hidden meanings; but in the last
stanza Likabong certainly is silent with shame.

_Helga_.--Far from it, sir bishop! Likabong is Moses, who is praying
with outstretched arms whilst Josua is giving battle. When the battle is
won his hands drop with weariness.

_Botolf_ (_to_ KOLBEIN THE YOUNG).--Likabong did not weep when you fled
from Broddi and the Holy Church at Holar, which was preparing to resist
worldly insolence.

_Kolbein_.--No, excepting it shed tears at having to part with its
bishop in such headlong haste!

_Helga_.--I had heard before that the 'Peace of God' which the bishop
let be pealed over the land had saved us from complete rout at the
beginning of the feud. But now I hear for the first time that my husband
fled before Broddi and the Holy Church of Holar.

_Kolbein_.--Never did I flee, but at th