And then the blue-eyed Norseman told br A Saga of the days of old. br 'There is,' said he, 'a wondrous book br Of Legends in the old Norse tongue, br Of the dead kings of Norroway,-- br Legends that once were told or sung br In many a smoky fireside nook br Of Iceland, in the ancient day, br By wandering Saga-man or Scald; br Heimskringla is the volume called; br And he who looks may find therein br The story that I now begin.' br br And in each pause the story made br Upon his violin he played, br As an appropriate interlude, br Fragments of old Norwegian tunes br That bound in one the separate runes, br And held the mind in perfect mood, br Entwining and encircling all br The strange and antiquated rhymes br with melodies of olden times; br As over some half-ruined wall, br Disjointed and about to fall, br Fresh woodbines climb and interlace, br And keep the loosened stones in place.