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Canto I.
HAROLD THE DAUNTLESS.
25
It were dangerous, he deem'd, at the first to restrain
In his wine and his wassail, a half-christen'd Dane.
The mead flow'd around and the ale was drain'd dry,
Wild was the laughter, the song, and the cry;
With Kyrie Eleisen came clamorously in
The war-songs of Danesman, Norweyan, and Finn,
Till man after man the contention gave o'er,
Outstretch'd on the rushes that strew'd the hall floor;
And the tempest within, having ceased its wild rout,
Gave place to the tempest that thunder'd without.
In his wine and his wassail, a half-christen'd Dane.
The mead flow'd around and the ale was drain'd dry,
Wild was the laughter, the song, and the cry;
With Kyrie Eleisen came clamorously in
The war-songs of Danesman, Norweyan, and Finn,
Till man after man the contention gave o'er,
Outstretch'd on the rushes that strew'd the hall floor;
And the tempest within, having ceased its wild rout,
Gave place to the tempest that thunder'd without.
XIV.
Apart from the wassail, in turret alone,
Lay flaxen-hair'd Gunnar, old Ermengarde's son;
Apart from the wassail, in turret alone,
Lay flaxen-hair'd Gunnar, old Ermengarde's son;