Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882). Complete Poetical Works. 1893.
Tales of a Wayside InnPart First. The Musicians Tale: The Saga of King Olaf. IV. Queen Sigrid the Haughty
Q
In her chamber, that looked over meadow and croft.
Heart’s dearest,
Why dost thou sorrow so?
Filling the room with their fragrant scent.
The air of summer was sweeter than wine.
Between her own kingdom and Norroway.
The sword would be sheathed, the river be spanned.
Working bright figures in tapestry.
Of Brynhilda’s love and the wrath of Gudrun.
Sounded incessant the waterfall.
From the door of Ladé’s Temple old.
But her thoughts as arrows were keen and swift.
Who smiled, as they handed it back again.
Said, “Why do you smile, my goldsmiths, say?”
The ring is of copper, and not of gold!”
She only murmured, she did not speak:
There will be no gold in his love to me.”
And in strode King Olaf with royal air.
And swore to be true as the stars are above.
Will you swear it, as Odin once swore, on the ring?”
The wife of King Olaf a Christian must be.”
She said, “I keep true to my faith and my vows.”
He rose in his anger and strode through the room.
“A faded old woman, a heathenish jade!”
And he struck the Queen in the face with his glove.
And the wooden stairway shook with his tread.
“This insult, King Olaf, shall be thy death!”
Heart’s dearest,
Why dost thou sorrow so?