Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 7, 2025
When you sit amid the household at the merry feast, you draw cloak and hood over all your thoughts; when one is alone with you, sometimes you seem to be of those among whom one were fain to choose his friend. How comes it? Jatgeir When you go to swim in the river, my lord, you would scarce strip you where the people pass by to church: you seek a sheltered privacy. King Skule True, true.
Jatgeir My soul has a like shyness; therefore I do not strip me when there are many in the hall. Who taught you skaldcraft? Jatgeir Skaldcraft can not be taught, my lord. King Skule Can not be taught? How came it then? Jatgeir I got the gift of sorrow, and I was a skald. King Skule Then 'tis the gift of sorrow the skald has need of?
Jatgeir You would have to search long for such a man. Will you be a son to me? You shall have Norway's crown to your heritage the whole land shall be yours, if you will be a son to me, and live for my life work, and believe in me. Jatgeir And what should be my warranty that I did not feign ? King Skule Give up your calling in life, sing no more songs, and then will I believe you!
The action passes in the first half of the Thirteenth Century. Present: Skule; Jatgeir the Skald, an Icelander; Paul Flida, a nobleman. King Skule You come to my wish, Skald! Jatgeir I overheard some townsfolk at my lodging talking darkly of King Skule Let that wait. Tell me, Skald, you who have fared far abroad in strange lands have you ever seen a woman love another's child?
Jatgeir They scoff because King Olaf's shrine could not be brought out to the mote-stead when we did you homage; they say it boded ill. King Skule When next I come to Nidaros the shrine shall out! It shall stand under the open sky, tho I should have to tear down St. Olaf's church and widen the mote-stead over the spot where it stood.
Jatgeir That were a strong deed; but I shall make a song of it as strong as the deed itself. King Skule Have you many unmade songs within you, Jatgeir? Jatgeir Nay, but many unborn; they are conceived one after the other, come to life, and are brought forth.
Jatgeir I needed sorrow; others there may be who need faith, or joy or doubt King Skule Doubt, as well? Jatgeir Ay; but then must the doubter be strong and sound. King Skule And whom call you the unsound doubter? Jatgeir He who doubts his own doubt. Jatgeir 'Tis worse; 'tis neither day nor night. I will fight and act, not think. What was it you would have told me when you came?
King Skule Have you at all times full faith that you are a skald? King Skule Yes, once burningly, blissfully, and in sin. Jatgeir You have a wife. King Skule Her I took to bear me sons. Jatgeir But you have a daughter, my lord a gracious and noble daughter. Give me counsel, Jatgeir Skald! Jatgeir Buy yourself a dog, my lord. King Skule Would no man suffice?
Hakon Hakonsson lies off Elgjarness with all his fleet! King Skule Off Elgjarness! Then he is close at hand. Jatgeir Get we to arms then! If there be bloodshed to-night, I will gladly be the first to die for you! King Skule You, who would not live for me!
Word Of The Day
Others Looking