Page:The Forest Sanctuary.pdf/127

But the dreams of rest were still on earth,
    And the silent stars on high,
And there wav'd not the smoke of one cabin-hearth
    'Midst the quiet of the sky;
        And along the twilight bay
        In their sleep the hamlets lay,
    For they knew not the Norse were nigh!

The Sea-king look'd o'er the brooding wave:
    He turn'd to the dusky shore,
And there seem'd, through the arch of a tide-worn cave,
    A gleam, as of snow, to pour;
        And forth, in watery light,
        Mov'd phantoms, dimly white,
    Which the garb of woman bore.

Slowly they mov'd to the billow side;
    And the forms, as they grew more clear,
Seem'd each on a tall pale steed to ride,
    And a shadowy crest to rear,
        And to beckon with faint hand
        From the dark and rocky strand,
    And to point a gleaming spear.