noon
The shore , with bold , strange , grotesque slab , and peak , and splinter , curved into a large creek ; and close under the cliff were moored seven warships , high and tall , with prows and sterns all gorgeous with gilding in the light of the splendid moon . And that rude timber house , which seemed but a chain of barbarian huts linked into one , was a land palace of Hardrada of Norway ; but the true halls of his royalty , the true seats of his empire , were the decks of those lofty war-ships . Through the small lattice-work of the windows of the loghouse , lights blazed ; from the roof-top smoke curled ; from the hall on the other side of the dwelling , came the din of tumultuous wassail , but the intense stillness of the outer air , hushed in frost , and luminous with stars , contrasted and seemed to rebuke the gross sounds of human revel . And that northern night seemed almost as bright as -LRB- but how much more augustly calm , than -RRB- the noon of the golden south ! On a table within the ample porch was an immense bowl of birchwood , mounted in silver , and filled with potent drink , and two huge horns , of size suiting the mighty wassailers of the age . The two men seemed to care nought for the stern air of the cold night -- true that they were wrapped in furs reft from the Polar bear . But each had hot thoughts within , that gave greater warmth to the veins than the bowl or the bearskin .