The Lovers of Gudrun Author:William Morris Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: Unto the hidden hills, 'neath which alone Sat Gudrun — sat his love — and therewithal Down did the bows into the black trough fall, Up rose the oar-song, through... more » the waters gray, Unto the south the good ship took her way. The Dealings of King Olaf Tryggvison with the Icelanders. OW tells the tale that safe to Drontheim came Kiartan with all his folk, and the great fame Of Olaf Tryggvison then first they knew, When thereof spake the townsmen to the crew, But therewithal yet other news they heard, Which seemed to one and all a heavy word ; How that the king, from the old customs turned, Now with such zeal toward his new faith burned, That thereby nothing else to him was good But that all folk should bow before the Rood. When Kiartan's coming thitherward betid Three ships of Iceland lay there in the Nid, Manned by stout men enow ; downcast were these Who had been glad enow the king to please; And save their goods, and lives, perchance, withal, But knew not how their forefathers to call Souls damned forever and ever ; yet they said That matters drew so swiftly to a head, That when they met the king he passed them by With head turned round, or else-with threatening eye Scowled on them; " And when Yule-tide comes," said they, " We look to have from him a settled day When we must change our faith or bide the worst." " Well," Kiartan said, " this king is not the first To think the world is made for him akme, Who knows how things will go ere all is done ? God wot, I wish my will done even as he; I hate him not." And therewith merrily From out the ship the men of Herdholt went; A bright eve was it, and the good town sent Thin smoke and blue straight upward through the air, For it had rained of late, and he...« less