Page:The Poetical Works of William Motherwell, 1849.djvu/103

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19


Ay, gaze on its large hilt,
One wedge of red gold;
But doat on its blade, gilt
With blood of the bold.
The hilt is right seemly,
But nobler the blade,
That swart Velint's hammer
With cunning spells made;
I call it the Adder,
Death lurks in its bite,
Through bone and proof-harness
It scatters pale light.
Fair Daughter of Einar,
Deem high of the fate
That makes thee, like this blade,
Proud Egill's loved mate!
So Jarl Egill bore off Torf Einar's bright daughter.