The Skeleton in Armor
Who， with thy hollow breast
Still in rude armor drest，
Comest to daunt me！
Wrapt not in Eastern balms，
But with thy fleshless palms
Stretched， as if asking alms，
Why dost thou haunt me？
Then from those cavernous eyes
Pale flashes seemed to rise
As when the Northern skies
Gleam in December；
And like the water's flow
Under December's snow
Came a dull voice of woe
From the heart's chamber.
I was a Viking old！
My deeds， though manifold，
No Skald in song has told，
No Saga taught thee！
Take heed， that in thy verse
Thou dost the tale rehearse，
Else dread a dead man's curse；
For this I sought thee.
Far in the Northern Land
By the wild Baltic's strand
I with my childish hand
Tamed the gerfalcon；
And with my skates fast-bound
Skimmed the half-frozen Sound
That the poor whimpering hound
Trembled to walk on.
Oft to his frozen lair
Tracked I the grisly bear，
While from my path the hare
Fled like a shadow；
Oft through the forest dark
Followed the were-wolf's bark，
Until the soaring lark
Sang from the meadow.
But when I older grew
Joining a corsair's crew
O'er the dark sea I flew
With the marauders.
Wild was the life we led；
Many the souls that sped
Many the hearts that bled
By our stern orders.
Many a wassail-bout
Wore the long Winter out；
Often our midnight shout
Set the cocks crowing，
As we the Berserk's tale
Measured in cups of ale，
Draining the oaken pail，
Filled to o'erflowing.
Once as I told in glee
Tales of the stormy sea
Soft eyes did gaze on me
Burning yet tender；
And as the #CCCCFF stars shine
On the dark Norway pine
On that dark heart of mine
Fell their soft splendor.
I wooed the blue-eyed maid，
Yielding， yet half afraid，
And in the forest's shade
Our vows were plighted.
Under its loosened vest
Fluttered her little breast，
Like birds within their nest
By the hawk frighted.
Bright in her father's hall
Shields gleamed upon the wall
Loud sang the minstrels all
Chanting his glory；
When of old Hildebrand
I asked his daughter's hand
Mute did the minstrels stand
To hear my story.
While the brown ale he quaffed，
Loud then the champion laughed，
And as the wind-gusts waft
The sea-foam brightly，
So the loud laugh of scorn，
Out of those lips unshorn，
From the deep drinking-horn
Blew the foam lightly.
She was a Prince's child
I but a Viking wild
And though she blushed and smiled
I was discarded！
Should not the dove so #CCCCFF
Follow the sea-mew's flight
Why did they leave that night
Her nest unguarded？
Scarce had I put to sea，
Bearing the maid with me，
Fairest of all was she
Among the Norsemen！
When on the #CCCCFF sea-strand，
Waving his armèd hand，
Saw we old Hildebrand，
With twenty horsemen.
Then launched they to the blast
Bent like a reed each mast
Yet we were gaining fast
When the wind failed us；
And with a sudden flaw
Came round the gusty Skaw
So that our foe we saw
Laugh as he hailed us.
And as to catch the gale
Round veered the flapping sail，
'Death！' was the helmsman's hail，
'Death without quarter！'
Mid-ships with iron keel
Struck we her ribs of steel；
Down her #CCCCFF hulk did reel
Through the #CCCCFF water！
As with his wings aslant
Sails the fierce cormorant
Seeking some rocky haunt
With his prey laden
So toward the open main
Beating to sea again
Through the wild hurricane
Bore I the maiden.
Three weeks we westward bore，
And when the storm was o'er，
Cloud-like we saw the shore
Stretching to leeward；
There for my lady's bower
Built I the lofty tower，
Which， to this very hour，
Stands looking seaward.
There lived we many years；
Time dried the maiden's tears；
She had forgot her fears
She was a mother；
Death closed her mild blue eyes
Under that tower she lies；
Ne'er shall the sun arise
On such another！
Still grew my bosom then，
Still as a stagnant fen！
Hateful to me were men，
The sunlight hateful！
In the vast forest here，
Clad in my warlike gear，
Fell I upon my spear，
Oh， death was grateful！
Thus seamed with many scars
Bursting these prison bars
Up to its native stars
My soul ascended！
There from the flowing bowl
Deep drinks the warrior's soul
Skoal！ to the Northland！ skoal！"
Thus the tale ended.