DAGNY.
Danger? Thinkest thou that Gunnar——?
SIGURD.
Nay, Gunnar is brave and true—yet better had it been that I had
sailed from the isle without crossing his threshold.
DAGNY.
Thou makest me fear! Sigurd, what is amiss?
SIGURD.
First answer me this: the golden ring that I gave thee, where hast
thou it?
DAGNY.
[_Showing it._] Here, on my arm; thou badest me wear it.
SIGURD.
Cast it to the bottom of the sea, so deep that none may ever set
eyes on it again; else may it be the bane of many men!
DAGNY.
The ring!
SIGURD.
[_In a low voice._] That night when we bore away the twain of
you—dost remember?
DAGNY.
Do I remember!
SIGURD.
It is of that I would speak.
DAGNY.
[_In suspense._] What is it? Say on!
SIGURD.
Thou knowest there had been a feast; thou didst seek thy chamber
betimes; but Hiördis still sat among the men in the feast-hall. The
horn went busily round, and many a great vow was sworn. I swore to
bear away a fair maid with me from Iceland; Gunnar swore the same as
I, and passed the cup to Hiördis. She grasped it and stood up, and
vowed this vow, that no warrior should have her to wife, save him
who should go to her bower, slay the white bear that stood bound at
the door, and carry her away in his arms.
DAGNY.
Yes, yes; all this I know!
SIGURD.
All men deemed that it might not be, for the bear was the fiercest
of beasts; none but Hiördis might come near it, and it had the
strength of twenty men.
DAGNY.
But Gunnar slew it, and by that deed won fame throughout all lands.
SIGURD.
[_In a low voice._] He won the fame—but—I did the deed!
DAGNY.
[_With a cry._] Thou!
SIGURD.
When the men left the feast-hall, Gunnar prayed me to come with him
alone to our sleeping-place. Then said he: “Hiördis is dearer to me
than all women; without her I cannot live.” I answered him: “Then go
to her bower; thou knowest the vow she hath sworn.” But he said:
“Life is dear to him that loves; if I should assail the bear, the
end were doubtful, and I am loath to lose my life, for then should I
lose Hiördis too.” Long did we talk, and the end was that Gunnar
made ready his ship, while I drew my sword, took Gunnar’s harness
upon me, and went to the bower.
DAGNY.
[_With pride and joy._] And thou—thou didst slay the bear!
SIGURD.
I slew him. In the bower it was dark as under a raven’s wing;
Hiördis deemed it was Gunnar that sat by her—she was heated with the
mead—she drew a ring from her arm and gave it to me—it is that thou
wearest now.
DAGNY.
[_Hesitating._] And thou wast alone that night with Hiördis in her
bower?
SIGURD.
My sword lay drawn between us. [_A short pause._] Ere the dawn, I
bore Hiördis to Gunnar’s ship; she dreamed not of our guile, and he
sailed away with her. Then went I to thy sleeping-place and found
thee there among thy women;—what followed, thou knowest; I sailed
from Iceland with a fair maid, as I had sworn, and from that day
hast thou stood faithfully at my side whithersoever I have wandered.
DAGNY.
[_Much moved._] My brave husband! And that great deed was thine!—Oh,
I should have known it; it could have been none else! Hiördis, that
proud and stately woman, couldst thou have won, yet didst choose me!
Now wouldst thou be tenfold dearer to me, wert thou not already
dearer than all the world.
SIGURD.
Dagny, my sweet wife, now thou knowest all—that need be known. I
could not but warn thee; for that ring—Hiördis must never see it!
Wouldst thou do my will, then cast it from thee—into the depths of
the sea.
DAGNY.
Nay, Sigurd, it is too dear to me; is it not thy gift? But be at
ease, I will hide it from every eye, and never shall I breathe a
word of what thou hast told me.
THOROLF _comes up from the ships, with_ SIGURD’S _men._
THOROLF.
All is ready for the feast.
DAGNY.
Come then, Sigurd—my brave, my noble warrior!
SIGURD.
Beware, Dagny—beware! With thee it rests now whether this meeting
shall end in peace or in blood. [_Cheerfully to the others._] Away
then, to the feast in Gunnar’s hall!
[_Goes out with_ DAGNY _to the right; the others follow._
ACT SECOND.
_The feast-room in_ GUNNAR’S _house. The entrance-door is in the
back; smaller doors in the side-walls. In front, on the left,
the greater high-seat; opposite it, on the right, the lesser.
In the middle of the floor, a wood fire is burning on a
built-up hearth. In the background, on both sides of the door,
are daïses for the women of the household. From each of the
high-seats, a long table, with benches, stretches backwards,
parallel with the wall. It is dark outside; the fire lights
the room._
HIÖRDIS _and_ DAGNY _enter from the right._
DAGNY.
Nay, Hiördis, it passes my wit to understand thee. Thou hast shown
me all the house; I know not what thing thou lackest, and all thou
hast is fair and goodly;—then why bemoan thy lot?
HIÖRDIS.
Cage an eagle and it will bite at the wires, be they of iron or of
gold.
DAGNY.
In one thing at least thou art richer than I; thou hast Egil, thy
little son.
HIÖRDIS.
Better no child, than one born in shame.
DAGNY.
In shame?
HIÖRDIS.
Dost thou forget thy father’s saying? Egil is the son of a leman;
that was his word.
DAGNY.
A word spoken in wrath—why wilt thou heed it?
HIÖRDIS.
Nay, nay, Örnulf was right; Egil is weak; one can see he is no
freeborn child.
DAGNY.
Hiördis, how canst thou——?
HIÖRDIS.
[_Unheeding._] Doubt not that shame can be sucked into the blood,
like the venom of a snake-bite. Of another mettle are the freeborn
sons of mighty men. I have heard of a queen that took her son and
sewed his kirtle fast to his flesh, yet he never blinked an eye.
[_With an evil look._] Dagny, that will I try with Egil!
DAGNY.
[_Horrified._] Hiördis, Hiördis!
HIÖRDIS.
[_Laughing._] Ha-ha-ha! Dost thou think I meant my words? [_Changing
her tone._] But, believe me or not as thou wilt, there are times
when such deeds seem to lure me. Doubtless it is in my blood—for I
am of the race of the Jötuns,[10] they say.—Come, sit thou here,
Dagny. Far hast thou wandered in these five long years; tell me,
thou hast ofttimes been a guest in the halls of kings?
DAGNY.
Many a time—and chiefly with Æthelstan of England.
HIÖRDIS.
And everywhere thou hast been held in honour, and hast sat in the
highest seats at the board?
DAGNY.
Doubtless. As Sigurd’s wife——
HIÖRDIS.
Ay, ay—a famous man is Sigurd—though Gunnar stands above him.
DAGNY.
Gunnar?
HIÖRDIS.
One deed did Gunnar do that Sigurd shrank from. But let that be!
Tell me, when Sigurd went a-viking and thou with him, when thou
didst hear the sword-blades sing in the fierce war-game, when the
blood streamed red on the deck—came there not over thee an
untameable longing to plunge into the strife? Didst thou not don
harness and take up arms?
DAGNY.
Never! How canst thou think it? I, a woman!
HIÖRDIS.
A woman, a woman,—who knows what a woman may do!—But one thing thou
canst tell me, Dagny, for that thou surely knowest: when a man
clasps to his breast the woman he loves—is it true that her blood
burns, that her bosom throbs—that she swoons in a strange ecstasy?
DAGNY.
[_Blushing._] Hiördis, how canst thou——!
HIÖRDIS.
Come, tell me——!
DAGNY.
Surely thou thyself hast known it.
HIÖRDIS.
Ay once, and only once; it was that night when Gunnar sat with me in
my bower; he crushed me in his arms till my byrnie[11] burst, and
then, then——!
DAGNY.
[_Exclaiming._] What! Sigurd——!
HIÖRDIS.
Sigurd? What of Sigurd? I spoke of Gunnar—that night when he bore me
away——
DAGNY.
[_Collecting herself._] Yes, yes, I remember.—I know well——
HIÖRDIS.
That was the only time; never, never again! I deemed I was
bewitched; for that Gunnar could so clasp a woman——[_Stops and looks
at_ DAGNY.] What ails thee? Methinks thou turnest pale and red!
DAGNY.
Nay, nay!
HIÖRDIS.
[_Without heeding her._] Aye, the merry viking-raid should have been
_my_ lot; it had been better for me, and—mayhap for all of us. That
were life, full and rich life! Dost thou not wonder, Dagny, to find
me here alive? Art not afraid to be alone with me in the hall, thus
in the dark? Deem’st thou not that I must have died in all these
years, and that it is my ghost that stands at thy side?
DAGNY.
[_Painfully ill at ease._] Come—let us go—to the others.
HIÖRDIS.
[_Seizing her by the arm._] No, stay! Seems it not strange to thee,
Dagny, that any woman can yet live who has spent here five such
nights?
DAGNY.
Five nights?
HIÖRDIS.
Here in the north each night is a whole winter long. [_Quickly and
with an altered expression._] Yet the place is fair enough, doubt it
not! Thou shalt see sights here such as thou hast not seen in the
halls of the English king. We shall be together as sisters whilst
thou bidest with me; we shall go down to the sea when the storm
blows up afresh; thou shalt see the billows racing to the land like
wild, white-maned horses. And then the whales far out in the offing!
They dash one against another like steel-clad warriors! Ha, what joy
to be a witch-wife and ride on a whale’s back—to speed before the
bark, and wake the storm, and lure men to the deeps with lovely
songs of sorcery!
DAGNY.
Fie, Hiördis, how canst thou speak such things!
HIÖRDIS.
Canst _thou_ sing sorceries, Dagny?
DAGNY.
[_With horror._] I!
HIÖRDIS.
I trow thou canst; how else didst thou lure Sigurd to thee?
DAGNY.
Thy speech is shameful; let me go!
HIÖRDIS.
[_Holding her back._] Because I jest! Nay, hear me to the end!
Think, Dagny, what it is to sit by the window in the eventide and
hear the kelpie[12] wailing in the boat-house; to sit waiting and
listening for the dead men’s ride to Valhal; for their way lies past
us here in the north. They are the brave men that fell in fight, the
strong women that did not drag out their lives tamely, like thee and
me; they sweep through the air in cloud-rack and storm, on their
black horses, with jangling bells! [_Embraces_ DAGNY, _and presses
her wildly in her arms._] Ha, Dagny! think of riding the last ride
on so rare a steed!
DAGNY.
[_Struggling to escape._] Hiördis, Hiördis! Let me go! I will not
hear thee!
HIÖRDIS.
[_Laughing._] Weak art thou of heart, and easily affrighted.
GUNNAR _enters from the back, with_ SIGURD _and_ THOROLF.
GUNNAR.
Now, truly, are all things to my very mind! I have found thee again,
Sigurd, my brave brother, as kind and true as of old. I have
Örnulf’s son under my roof, and the old man himself follows speedily
after; is it not so?
THOROLF.
So he promised.
GUNNAR.
Then all I lack is that Egil should be here.
THOROLF.
’Tis plain thou lovest the boy, thou namest him so oft.
GUNNAR.
Truly I love him; he is my only child; and he is like to grow up
fair and kindly.
HIÖRDIS.
But no warrior.
GUNNAR.
Nay—that thou must not say.
SIGURD.
How couldst thou send him from thee——
GUNNAR.
Would that I had not! [_In an undertone._] But thou knowest, Sigurd,
he who loves overmuch, takes not always the manliest part.
[_Aloud._] I had few men in my house, and none could be sure of his
life when it was known that Örnulf lay in the cove with a ship of
war.
HIÖRDIS.
One thing I know that ought first to be made safe, life afterwards.
THOROLF.
And that is——?
HIÖRDIS.
Honour and fame among men.
GUNNAR.
Hiördis!
SIGURD.
It shall not be said of Gunnar that he has tainted his honour by
doing this.
GUNNAR.
[_Sternly._] No one shall make strife between me and Örnulf’s
kinsfolk!
HIÖRDIS.
[_Smiling._] Tell me, Sigurd—can thy ship sail with any wind?
SIGURD.
Ay, when ’tis cunningly steered.
HIÖRDIS.
Good! I too will steer my ship cunningly, and make my way whither I
will.
[_Retires towards the back._
DAGNY.
[_Whispers, uneasily._] Sigurd, let us hence—this very night!
SIGURD.
It is too late now; ’twas thou that——
DAGNY.
Then I held Hiördis dear; but now——; I have heard her speak words I
shudder to think of.
SIGURD’S _men, with other guests, men and women, house-carls and
handmaidens, enter from the back._
GUNNAR.
[_After a short pause, in which greetings and the like are
exchanged._] Now to the board! My chief guest, Örnulf of the Fiords,
comes later; so Thorolf promises.
HIÖRDIS.
[_To the house-folk._] Pass the ale and mead around, that hearts may
wax merry and tongues may be loosed.
[GUNNAR _leads_ SIGURD _to the high-seat on the right._
DAGNY _seats herself on_ SIGURD’S _right,_ HIÖRDIS
_opposite him, at the other side of the same table._
THOROLF _is in like manner ushered to a place at the
other table, and thus sits opposite_ GUNNAR, _who
occupies the greater high-seat. The others take their
seats further back._
HIÖRDIS.
[_After a pause in which they drink with each other and converse
quietly across the tables._] It seldom chances that so many brave
men are seated together, as I see to-night in our hall. It were
fitting, then, that we should essay the old pastime: Let each man
name the chief of his deeds, that all may judge which is the
mightiest.
GUNNAR.
That is an ill custom at a drinking-feast; ’twill oft breed strife.
HIÖRDIS.
Little did I deem that Gunnar was afraid.
SIGURD.
That no one deems; but it were long ere we came to an end, were we
all to tell of our deeds, so many as we be. Do thou rather tell us,
Gunnar, of thy journey to Biarmeland; ’tis no small exploit to fare
so far to the north, and gladly would we hear of it.
HIÖRDIS.
The journey to Biarmeland is chapman’s work, and little worthy to be
named among warriors. Nay, do thou begin, Sigurd, if thou wouldst
not have me deem that thou canst ill endure to hear my husband’s
praise! Say on; name that one of thy deeds which thou dost prize the
highest.
SIGURD.
Well, since thou wilt have it so, so must it be. Let it be told,
then, that I lay a-viking among the Orkneys; there came foemen
against us, but we swept them from their ships, and I fought alone
against eight men.
HIÖRDIS.
Good was that deed; but wert thou fully armed?
SIGURD.
Fully armed, with axe, spear, and sword.
HIÖRDIS.
Still the deed was good. Now must thou, my husband, name that which
thou deemest the chief among thy exploits.
GUNNAR.
[_Unwillingly._] I slew two berserkers who had seized a
merchant-ship; and thereupon I sent the captive chapmen home, giving
them their ship freely, without ransom. The King of England deemed
well of that deed; he said that I had done honourably, and gave me
thanks and good gifts.
HIÖRDIS.
Nay truly, Gunnar, a better deed than that couldst thou name.
GUNNAR.
[_Vehemently._] I will take praise for no other deed! Since last I
fared from Iceland I have lived at peace and traded in merchandise.
No word more on this matter!
HIÖRDIS.
If thou thyself wilt hide thy renown, thy wife shall speak.
GUNNAR.
Peace, Hiördis—I command thee!
HIÖRDIS.
Sigurd fought with eight men, being fully armed; Gunnar came to my
bower in the black night, slew the bear that had twenty men’s
strength, and yet had but a short sword in his hand.
GUNNAR.
[_Violently agitated._] Woman, not a word more!
DAGNY.
[_Softly._] Sigurd, wilt thou endure——?
SIGURD.
[_Likewise._] Be still!
HIÖRDIS.
[_To the company._] And now, ye brave men—which is the mightier,
Sigurd or Gunnar?
GUNNAR.
Silence!
HIÖRDIS.
[_Loudly._] Speak out; I have the right to crave judgment.
AN OLD MAN.
[_Among the guests._] If the truth be told, then is Gunnar’s deed
greater than all other deeds of men; Gunnar is the mightiest
warrior, and Sigurd is second to him.
GUNNAR.
[_With a glance across the table._] Ah, Sigurd, Sigurd, didst thou
but know——!
DAGNY.
[_Softly._] It is too much—friend though he be!
SIGURD.
Peace, wife! [_Aloud, to the others._] Ay truly, Gunnar is the most
honourable of all men; so would I esteem him to my dying day, even
had he never done that deed; for that I hold more lightly than ye.
HIÖRDIS.
There speaks thy envy, Sigurd Viking!
SIGURD.
[_Smiling._] Mightily dost thou mistake. [_Kindly, to_ GUNNAR,
_drinking to him across the table._] Hail, noble Gunnar; our
friendship shall stand fast, whosoever may seek to break it.
HIÖRDIS.
No one, that I wot of, has such a thought.
SIGURD.
Say not so; I could almost think thou hadst bidden us to the feast
in the hope to stir up strife.
HIÖRDIS.
That is like thee, Sigurd; now art thou wroth that thou may’st not
be held the mightiest man at the board.
SIGURD.
I have ever esteemed Gunnar more highly than myself.
HIÖRDIS.
Well, well—second to Gunnar is still a good place, and——[_with a
side glance at_ THOROLF] had Örnulf been here, he could have had the
third seat.
THOROLF.
Then would Jökul, thy father, find a low place indeed; for he fell
before Örnulf.
[_The following dispute is carried on, by both parties, with
rising and yet repressed irritation._
HIÖRDIS.
That shalt thou never say! Örnulf is a skald, and men whisper that
he has praised himself for greater deeds than he has done.
THOROLF.
Then woe to him who whispers so loudly that it comes to my ear!
HIÖRDIS.
[_With a smile of provocation._] Wouldst thou avenge it?
THOROLF.
Ay, so that my vengeance should be told of far and wide.
HIÖRDIS.
Then here I pledge a cup to this, that thou may’st first have a
beard on thy chin.
THOROLF.
Even a beardless lad is too good to wrangle with women.
HIÖRDIS.
But too weak to fight with men; therefore thy father let thee lie by
the hearth at home in Iceland, whilst thy brothers went a-viking.
THOROLF.
It had been well had he kept as good an eye on thee; for then hadst
thou not left the land an unwedded woman.
GUNNAR AND SIGURD.
Thorolf!
DAGNY.
[_Simultaneously._] Brother!
HIÖRDIS.
[_Softly, and quivering with rage._] Ha! wait—wait!
THOROLF.
[_Gives_ GUNNAR _his hand._] Be not wroth, Gunnar;—evil words came
to my tongue; but thy wife goaded me!
DAGNY.
[_Softly and imploringly._] Foster-sister, by any love thou hast
ever borne me, stir not up strife!
HIÖRDIS.
[_Laughing._] Jests must pass at the feast-board, if the merriment
is to thrive.
GUNNAR.
[_Who has been talking softly to_ THOROLF.] Thou art a brave lad!
[_Hands him a sword which hangs beside the high-seat._] Here,
Thorolf, here is a good gift for thee. Wield it well, and let us be
friends.
HIÖRDIS.
Beware how thou givest away thy weapons, Gunnar; men may say thou
dost part with things thou canst not use!
THOROLF.
[_Who has meanwhile examined the sword._] Thanks for the gift,
Gunnar; it shall never be drawn in an unworthy cause.
HIÖRDIS.
If thou wilt keep that promise, then do thou never lend the sword to
thy brothers.
GUNNAR.
Hiördis!
HIÖRDIS.
[_Continuing._] Neither let it hang on thy father’s wall; for there
it would hang with base men’s weapons.
THOROLF.
True enough, Hiördis—for there thy father’s axe and shield have hung
this many a year.
HIÖRDIS.
[_Mastering herself._] That Örnulf slew my father—that deed is ever
on thy tongue; but if report speak true, ’twas scarce so honourable
a deed as thou deemest.
THOROLF.
Of what report dost thou speak?
HIÖRDIS.
[_Smiling._] I dare not name it, for it would make thee wroth.
THOROLF.
Then hold thy peace—I ask no better.
[_Turns from her._
HIÖRDIS.
Nay, why should I not tell it? Is it true, Thorolf, that for three
nights thy father sat in woman’s weed, doing sorceries with the
witch of Smalserhorn, ere he dared face Jökul in fight?
[_All rise; violent excitement among the guests._
GUNNAR, SIGURD, AND DAGNY.
Hiördis!
THOROLF.
[_Bitterly exasperated._] So base a lie has no man spoken of Örnulf
of the Fiords! Thou thyself hast made it, for no one less venomous
than thou could dream of such a thing. The blackest crime a man can
do hast thou laid at my father’s door. [_Throwing the sword away._]
There, Gunnar, take thy gift again; I can take nought from that
house wherein my father is reviled.
GUNNAR.
Thorolf, hear me——!
THOROLF.
Let me go! But beware both thou and Hiördis; for my father has now
in his power one whom ye hold dearest of all!
HIÖRDIS.
[_Starting._] Thy father has——!
GUNNAR.
[_With a cry._] What sayest thou?
SIGURD.
[_Vehemently._] Where is Örnulf?
THOROLF.
[_With mocking laughter._] Gone southward—with my brothers.
GUNNAR.
Southward!
HIÖRDIS.
[_Shrieking_.] Gunnar! Örnulf has slain Egil, our son.
GUNNAR.
Slain!—Egil slain! Then woe to Örnulf and all his race! Thorolf,
speak out;—is this true?
SIGURD.
Gunnar, Gunnar—hear me!
GUNNAR.
Speak out, if thou care for thy life!
THOROLF.
Thou canst not fright me! Wait till my father comes, he shall plant
a mark of shame over against Gunnar’s house! And meanwhile, Hiördis,
do thou cheer thee with these words I heard to-day: “Ere eventide
shall Gunnar and his wife be childless.”
[_Goes out by the back._
GUNNAR.
[_In agony._] Slain—slain! My little Egil slain.
HIÖRDIS.
[_Wildly._] And thou—dost thou let him go? Let Egil, thy child, lie
unavenged! Then wert thou the dastard of dastards——!
GUNNAR.
[_As if beside himself._] A sword—an axe! ’Tis the last tidings he
shall ever bring!
[_Seizes an axe from one of the bystanders and rushes out._
SIGURD.
[_About to follow._] Gunnar, hold thy hand!
HIÖRDIS.
[_Holding him back._] Stay, stay! The men will part them; I know
Gunnar!
[_A cry from the crowd, which has flocked together at the
main door._
SIGURD AND DAGNY.
What is it?
A VOICE AMONG THE CROWD.
Thorolf has fallen.
SIGURD.
Thorolf! Ha, let me go!
DAGNY.
My brother! Oh, my brother!
[SIGURD _is on the point of rushing out. At the same moment,
the crowd parts,_ GUNNAR _enters, and throws down the
axe at the door._
GUNNAR.
Now it is done. Egil is avenged!
SIGURD.
Well for thee if thy hand has not been too hasty.
GUNNAR.
Mayhap, mayhap; but Egil, Egil, my fair boy!
HIÖRDIS.
Now must we arm us, and seek help among our friends; for Thorolf has
many avengers.
GUNNAR.
[_Gloomily._] He will be his own worst avenger; he will be with me
night and day.
HIÖRDIS.
Thorolf got his reward. Kinsmen must suffer for kinsmen’s deeds.
GUNNAR.
True, true; but this I know, my mind was lighter ere this befell.
HIÖRDIS.
The first night[13] is ever the worst;—when that is over, thou wilt
heed it no more. Örnulf has sought his revenge by shameful guile; he
would not come against us in open strife; he feigned to be
peacefully minded; and then he falls upon our defenceless child! Ha,
I saw more clearly than ye; well I deemed that Örnulf was
evil-minded and false; good cause had I to egg thee on against him
and all his faithless tribe.
GUNNAR.
[_Fiercely._] That hadst thou! My vengeance is poor beside Örnulf’s
crime. He has lost Thorolf, but he has six sons left—and I have
none—none!
A HOUSE-CARL.
[_Enters hastily from the back._] Örnulf of the Fiords is at hand!
GUNNAR.
Örnulf!
HIÖRDIS AND SEVERAL MEN.
To arms! to arms!
DAGNY.
[_Simultaneously._] My father!
SIGURD.
[_As if seized by a foreboding._] Örnulf——! Ah, Gunnar, Gunnar!
GUNNAR.
[_Draws his sword._] Up, all my men! Vengeance for Egil’s death!
ÖRNULF _enters, with_ EGIL _in his arms._
GUNNAR.
[_With a shriek._] Egil!
ÖRNULF.
I bring you back little Egil.
ALL.
[_One to another._] Egil! Egil alive!
GUNNAR.
[_Letting his sword fall._] Woe is me! what have I done?
DAGNY.
Oh, Thorolf, my brother!
SIGURD.
I knew it! I knew it!
ÖRNULF.
[_Setting Egil down._] There, Gunnar, hast thou thy pretty boy
again.
EGIL.
Father! Old Örnulf would not do me ill, as thou saidst when I went
away.
ÖRNULF.
[_To_ HIÖRDIS.] Now have I atoned for thy father; now surely there
may be peace between us.
HIÖRDIS.
[_With repressed emotion._] Mayhap!
GUNNAR.
[_As if waking up._] Is it a hideous dream that maddens me!
Thou—thou bringest Egil home!
ÖRNULF.
As thou seest; but in truth he has been near his death.
GUNNAR.
That I know.
ÖRNULF.
And hast no more joy in his return?
GUNNAR.
Had he come sooner, I had been more glad. But tell me all that has
befallen!
ÖRNULF.
That is soon done. Kåre the Peasant was plotting evil against you;
with other caitiffs he fared southward after Egil.
GUNNAR.
Kåre! [_To himself._] Ha, now I understand Thorolf’s words!
ÖRNULF.
His purpose came to my ears; I needs must thwart so black a deed. I
would not give atonement for Jökul, and, had things so befallen, I
had willingly slain thee, Gunnar, in single combat—yet I could not
but save thy child. With my sons, I hasted after Kåre.
SIGURD.
[_Softly._] An accursed deed has here been done.
ÖRNULF.
When I came up with him, Egil’s guards lay bound; thy son was
already in thy foemen’s hands, and they would not long have spared
him. Hot was the fight! Seldom have I given and taken keener
strokes; Kåre and two men fled inland; the rest sleep safely, and
will be hard to waken.
GUNNAR.
[_In eager suspense._] But thou—thou, Örnulf——?
ÖRNULF.
[_Darkly._] Six sons followed me into the fight.
GUNNAR.