180
THE DEAD PROPHET.
XVIII.
She crouch'd, she tore him part from part,
And out of his body she drew
The red 'Blood-eagle'[1] of liver and heart;
She held them up to the view;
She crouch'd, she tore him part from part,
And out of his body she drew
The red 'Blood-eagle'[1] of liver and heart;
She held them up to the view;
XIX.
She gabbled, as she groped in the dead,
And all the people were pleased;
'See, what a little heart,' she said,
'And the liver is half-diseased!'
She gabbled, as she groped in the dead,
And all the people were pleased;
'See, what a little heart,' she said,
'And the liver is half-diseased!'
XX.
She tore the Prophet after death,
And the people paid her well.
Lightnings flicker'd along the heath;
One shriek'd 'The fires of Hell!
She tore the Prophet after death,
And the people paid her well.
Lightnings flicker'd along the heath;
One shriek'd 'The fires of Hell!
- ↑ Old Viking term for the lungs, liver, etc., when torn by the conqueror out of the body of the conquered.
