conducted them to Valkalla, the hall of Odin, or paradise of the brave: where they attended the banquet, and served the departed heroes with horns of mead and ale. Now the storm begins to lower, Glittering lances are the loom, Mista, black terrific maid, Ere the ruddy sun be set, Pikes must shiver, javelins sing, Blade with clattering buckler meet, Hauberk crash, and helmet ring. ODES. (Weave the crimson web of war) Where they triumph, where they die. As the paths of Fate we tread, We the reigns to slaughter give, They, whom once the desert beach Low the dauntless earl is laid, Soon a king shall bite the ground. Long his loss shall Eirin weep, Horror covers all the heath, Clouds of carnage blot the sun. Sisters, weave the web of death. Sisters, cease; the work is done. Hail the task, and hail the hands! Mortal, thou that hearest the tale, Sisters, hence with spurs of speed : |