blood; Ah think of a human and sensible breast Enclosed with the hideous shapes of the flood; Still, still did I linger, but far from the reach Of those that I knew would await on the beach.

p. 15

“Methought that a serpent towards me did creep, And trailing behind him whole fathoms of length, He open’d his jaws; and I dropp’d from the steep Round which I had clung with expiring strength: ’Twas well that I did so, the stream bore me up, And here is thy servant, and there is the cup.”

He then was retiring, a look from the King Detain’d him: “My hero, the cup is thine own, ’Tis richly thy meed, but I’ll give thee this ring, Beset with a diamond and chrysolite stone, If again thou wilt dive, and discover to me What’s hid in the deepest abyss of the sea.”

p. 16The daughter heard that with compassionate thought, Quick, quick to the feet of the monarch she flew: “O father, desist from this horrible sport, He has done what no other would venture to do, If the life of a creature thou fain must destroy, Let a noble take place of this generous boy.”

p. 16

The monarch has taken the cup in his hand, And tumbled it down in the bellowing sea: “And if thou canst bring it again to the strand, The first, and the best of my knights thou shalt be; If that will not tempt thee, this maid thou shalt wed, And share as a husband the joys of her bed.”

Then the pride of old Eirin arose in his look, And it flash’d from his eye-balls courageously keen, One glance on the beautiful vision he took, And he saw her change colour, and sink on the green. “By the stool of Saint Peter the prize I’ll obtain;” He shouted, and instantly dived in the main.

p. 17The waters sunk down, and a thundering peal Announced that the time of their sojourn was o’er; Each eye is cast downward in terrified zeal, As forth from the tunnel the cataracts pour. The waters rush up, and the waters subside; But ah! the bold diver remains in the tide.

p. 17

p. 18KING BYRGE AND HIS BROTHERS

p. 18

Dame Ingeborg three brave brothers could boast, For the crown of Sweden their lives they lost.

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