and dwarfed, sits with his ear close to a harp,

which he thrums softly.

[Pg 34]

From the right background, beneath the pine, enters,

singing, a procession of the folk, escorting an ark

on wheels, drawn by oxen, whose flanks are wreathed

with flowers, and whose horns are adorned with gold.

Following the ark, which passes on into the temple,

horses and sheep are led to the sacrifice. These, as

they pass before him, Ingimund marks with the sign of a

spear, while the altar priests sprinkle them with blood

from the silver bowl.

At the entrance of the temple stand Thordis and her

Thordis

Virgins, who take from the beasts their garlands

Virgins

and hang them on the doors and outer walls. The

men and women of the throng, chanting to a barbaric

cadence, lift up their arms and faces to the sky.

THE FOLK

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