Master Olaf .  (From the German .)

A knight with his arm resting on a horse. He is holding a shield. A second man is hunched over and is cleaning one of the horse’s hoofs. 1/2 page.

Master Olaf, the smith of Heligoland, At midnight layeth his hammer by ; Along the sea-shore the tempest howls, When a knock at the door comes heavily. “ Come out, come out, and shoe me my horse! I must yet far, and the day is at hand !” Master Olaf opens the door, and sees A stately Ritter before him stand. Black is his mail shirt, helm, and shield, A broad sword hangeth upon his thigh, His black horse tosses his mane so wild, And paws the ground impatiently. “ Whence so late ! Whither so fast ?” “ I yesterday lighted in Nordernie ; My steed is swift, the night is clear, Ere sunrise I must in Norway be.” “ Haddest thou wings, that might I believe.” “ My horse with the wind right well hath raced, Yet already a star pales here and there, So the iron bring hither, and make thou haste.” Master Olaf taketh the shoe in hand, It is too small, but it spread and spread : And as it grew to the edge of the hoof, There seized the master fear and dread. The Ritter mounts, and his broad sword clangs : “ Master Olaf, I bid thee now good night ! Know, thou hast the horse of Odin shod ; I hasten across to the bloody fight.” The black horse shoots forward o’er land and sea, Round Odin’s head a splendour shone ; Twelve eagles are straining in flight behind, Swiftly they fly,—he rides foremost on. L. B.