THE BUILDING OF THE LONG SERPENT.
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horberg Skafting, master-builder,In his ship-yard by the sea,Whistled, saying, "'Twould bewilderAny man but Thorberg Skafting,Any man but me!" Near him lay the Dragon stranded,Built of old by Raud the Strong,And King Olaf had commandedHe should build another Dragon,Twice as large and long. Therefore whistled Thorberg Skafting,As he sat with half-closed eyes,And his head turned sideways, draftingThat new vessel for King OlafTwice the Dragon's size. Round him busily hewed and hammeredMallet huge and heavy axe;Workmen laughed and sang and clamored;Whirred the wheels, that into riggingSpun the shining flax! All this tumult heard the master,--It was music to his ear;Fancy whispered all the faster,"Men shall hear of Thorberg SkaftingFor a hundred year!" Workmen sweating at the forgesFashioned iron bolt and bar,Like a warlock's midnight orgiesSmoked and bubbled the black caldronWith the boiling tar. Did the warlocks mingle in it,Thorberg Skafting, any curse?Could you not be gone a minuteBut some mischief must be doing,Turning bad to worse? 'Twas an ill wind that came wafting,From his homestead words of woe;To his farm went Thorberg Skafting,Oft repeating to his workmen,Build ye thus and so. After long delays returningCame the master back by night;To his ship-yard longing, yearning,Hurried he, and did not leave itTill the morning's light. "Come and see my ship, my darling!"On the morrow said the King;"Finished now from keel to carling;Never yet was seen in NorwaySuch a wondrous thing!" In the ship-yard, idly talking,At the ship the workmen stared:Some one, all their labor balking,Down her sides had cut deep gashes,Not a plank was spared! "Death be to the evil-doer!"With an oath King Olaf spoke;"But rewards to his pursuer!"And with wrath his face grew redderThan his scarlet cloak. Straight the master-builder, smiling,Answered thus the angry King:"Cease blaspheming and reviling,Olaf, it was Thorberg SkaftingWho has done this thing!" Then he chipped and smoothed the planking,Till the King, delighted, swore,With much lauding and much thanking,"Handsomer is now my DragonThan she was before!" Seventy ells and four extendedOn the grass the vessel's keel;High above it, gilt and splendid,Rose the figure-head ferociousWith its crest of steel. Then they launched her from the tressels,In the ship-yard by the sea;She was the grandest of all vessels,Never ship was built in NorwayHalf so fine as she! The Long Serpent was she christened,'Mid the roar of cheer on cheer!They who to the Saga listenedHeard the name of Thorberg SkaftingFor a hundred year!
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