DAGNY. Then I held Hiordis 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 for the exchange of greetings and so
forth). Now to the board! My chief guest, Ornulf of the Fiords, comes
later; so Thorolf promises.
HIORDIS (to the house-folk). Pass ale and mead around, that hearts
may wax merry and tongues may be loosened.
(GUNNAR leads SIGURD to the high-seat on the right. DAGNY seats
herself on SIGURD'S right, HIORDIS 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.)
HIORDIS (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 his chief exploit, that all may judge which is the mightiest.
GUNNAR. That is an ill custom at a drinking-feast; it will oft
breed strife.
HIORDIS. 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 exploits, 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.
HIORDIS. The journey to Biarmeland is chapman's work, and little
worth to be named among warriors. Nay, do thou begin, Sigurd, if
thou would'st not have me deem that thou shrinkest from hearing my
husband's praise! Say on; name that one of thy deeds which thou
dost prize the highest.
SIGURD. Well, since thou will 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.
HIORDIS. Good was that deed; but wast thou fully armed?
SIGURD. Fully armed, with axe, spear, and sword.
HIORDIS. Still the deed was good. Now must thou, my husband, name
that which thou deemest the greatest 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 there ship freely, without ransom. The King of England deemed
well of that deed; he said that I had done hounourably, and gave me
thanks and good gifts.
HIORDIS. Nay truly, Gunnar, a better deed than that couldst thou
name.
GUNNAR (vehemently). I will boast of no other deed! Since last I
fared from Iceland I have lived at peace and traded in merchandise.
No more word on this matter!
HIORDIS. If thou thyself wilt hide thy renown, thy wife shall speak.
GUNNAR. Peace, Hiordis--I command thee!
HIORDIS. 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 bear----?
SIGURD (likewise). Be still!
HIORDIS (to the company). And now, ye brave men--which is the
mightier, Sigurd or Gunnar?
GUNNAR. Silence!
HIORDIS (loudly). Speak out; I have the right to crave your judgement.
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). This is too much--even for a friend!
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.
HIORDIS. There speaks thy envy, Sigurd Viking!
SIGURD (smiling). Mightily art thou mistaken. (Kindly, to GUNNAR,
drinking to him across the table.) Hail, noble Gunnar; our friendship
shall stand fast, whosoever may seek to break it.
HIORDIS. No one, that I wot of, has such a thought.
SIGURD. Say not that; I could almost find it in me to think that
thou hadst bidden us hither to stir up strife.
HIORDIS. That is like thee, Sigurd; now art thou wroth that thou
may'st not be held the mightiest man at the feast-board.
SIGURD. I have ever esteemed Gunnar more highly than myself.
HIORDIS. Well, well--second to Gunnar is still a good place, and----
(with a side-glance at THOROLF) had Ornulf been here, he could have
had the third seat.
THOROLF. Then would Jokul, thy father, find a low place indeed; for
he fell before Ornulf.
(The following dispute is carried on, by both parties, with rising
and yet repressed irritation.)
HIORDIS. That shalt thou never say! Ornulf 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!
HIORDIS (with a smile of provocation). Wouldst thou avenge it?
THOROLF. Ay, so that my vengeance should be told of far and wide.
HIORDIS. 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.
HIORDIS. 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 Iceland a dishonoured woman.
GUNNAR AND SIGURD. Thorolf!
DAGNY (simultaneously). Brother!
HIORDIS (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 egged me!
DAGNY (softly and imploringly). Foster-sister, by any love thou
hast ever borne me, stir not up strife!
HIORDIS (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.
HIORDIS. Beware how thou givest away thy weapons, Gunnar; for 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.
HIORDIS. If thou wilt keep that promise, then do thou never lend
the sword to thy brothers.
GUNNAR. Hiordis!
HIORDIS (continuing). Neither let it hang on thy father's wall; for
there it would hang with base men's weapons.
THOROLF. True enough, Hiordis--for there thy father's axe and shield
have hung this many a year.
HIORDIS (mastering herself). That Ornulf slew my father,--that deed
is ever on thy tongue; but if report speak true, it was scarce so
honourable a deed as thou deemest.
THOROLF. Of what report dost thou speak?
HIORDIS. I dare not name it, for it would make thee wroth.
THOROLF. Then hold thy peace--I ask no better.
(Turns from her.)
HIORDIS. 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 Jokul in fight.
(All rise; violent excitement among the guests.)
GUNNAR, SIGURD, AND DAGNY. Hiordis!
THOROLF (bitterly exasperated). So base a lie has no man spoken of
Ornulf 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 the
house wherein my father is reviled.
GUNNAR. Thorolf, hear me----!
THOROLF. Let me go! But beware both thou and Hiordis; for my father
has now in his power one whom ye hold dearest of all!
HIORDIS (starting). Thy father has----!
GUNNAR (with a cry). What sayst thou!
SIGURD (vehemently). Where is Ornulf?
THOROLF (with mocking laughter). Gone southward--with my brothers.
GUNNAR. Southward!
HIORDIS (shrieking). Gunnar! Ornulf has slain Egil, our son.
GUNNAR. Slain!--Egil slain! Then woe to Ornulf 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, Hiordis, 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 the deepest pain). Slain--slain! My little Egil slain!
HIORDIS (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! It is the last
message he shall bring!
(Seizes an axe from the bystanders and rushes out.)
SIGURD (about to follow). Gunnar, hold thy hand!
HIORDIS (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 sweet boy!
HIORDIS. 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 haunt
me night and day.
HIORDIS. 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.
HIORDIS. This first night[1] is ever the worst;--Ornulf has sought
his revenge by shameful wiles; 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 Ornulf was evil-minded and false; I had good cause to egg thee
on against him and all his faithless tribe!
[1] Literally the "blood-night."
GUNNAR (fiercely). That hadst thou! My vengeance is poor beside
Ornulf'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). Ornulf of the Fiords
is at hand!
GUNNAR. Ornulf!
HIORDIS AND SEVERAL MEN. To arms! to arms!
DAGNY (simultaneously). My father!
SIGURD (as if seized by a foreboding). Ornulf----! Ah, Gunnar, Gunnar!
GUNNAR (draws his sword). Up all my men! Vengeance for Egil's death!
(ORNULF enters, with EGIL in his arms.)
GUNNAR (with a shriek). Egil!
ORNULF. Here I bring thee 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!
ORNULF (setting EGIL down). There, Gunnar, hast thou thy pretty
boy again.
EGIL. Father! Old Ornulf would not do me ill, as thou saidst when
I went away.
ORNULF (to HIORDIS). Now have I atoned for thy father; now surely
there may be peace between us.
HIORDIS (with repressed emotion). Mayhap!
GUNNAR (as if waking up). Is it a ghastly dream that maddens me!
Thou--thou bringest Egil home!
ORNULF. As thou seest; but in truth he has been near his death.
GUNNAR. That I know.
ORNULF. And hast no more joy in his return?
GUNNAR. Had he come sooner, I had been glad indeed. But tell me
all that has befallen!
ORNULF. That is soon done. Kare the Peasant was plotting evil
against you; with other caitiffs he fared southward after Egil.
GUNNAR. Kare! (To himself.) Ha, now I understand Thorolf's words!
ORNULF. His purpose came to my ears; I needs must thwart so black
a deed. I would not give atonement for Jokul, and, had things so
befallen, I had willingly slain thee, Gunnar, in single combat--yet
I could not but protect thy child. With my sons, I hasted after Kare.
SIGURD (softly). An accursed deed has here been done.
ORNULF. When I came up with him, Egil's guards lay bound; thy son
was already in thy foemen's hand, and they would not long have spared
him. Hot was the fight! Seldom have I given and taken keener strokes;
Kare and two men fled inland; the rest sleep safely, and will be hard
to waken.
GUNNAR (in eager suspense). But thou--thou, Ornulf----?
ORNULF (gloomily). Six sons followed me into the fight.
GUNNAR (breathlessly). But homewards----?
ORNULF. None.
GUNNAR (appalled). None! (Softly.) And Thorolf, Thorolf!
(Deep emotion among the bystanders. HIORDIS shows signs of a
violent mental struggle; DAGNY weeps silently by the high-seat
on the right. SIGURD stands beside her, painfully agitated.)
ORNULF (after a short pause). It is hard for a many-branching pine
to be stripped in a single storm. But men die and men live;--I will
drink to my sons' memory. (One of SIGURD'S men hands him a horn.)
Hail to you where now ye ride, my bold sons! Close upon your heels
shall the copper-gates not clang, for ye come to the hall with a
great following. (Drinks, and hands back the horn.) And now home
to Iceland! Ornulf has fought his last fight; the old tree has but
one green branch left, and it must be shielded warily. Where is
Thorolf?
EGIL (to his father). Ay, show me Thorolf! Ornulf told me he would
carve me a ship with many, many warriors on board.
ORNULF. I praise all good wights that Thorolf came not with us; for
if he too--nay, strong though I be, that had been too heavy for me to
bear. But why comes he not? He was ever the first to meet his father;
for both of us it seemed we could not live without each other a single
day.
GUNNAR. Ornulf, Ornulf!
ORNULF (with growing uneasiness). Ye stand all silent, I mark it
now. What ails you? Where is Thorolf?
DAGNY. Sigurd, Sigurd--this will be the direst blow to him!
GUNNAR (struggling with himself). Old man!--No---- ---- and yet, it
cannot be hid----
ORNULF (vehemently). My son! Where is he!
GUNNAR. Thorolf is slain!
ORNULF. Slain! Thorolf? Thorolf? Ha, thou liest!
GUNNAR. I would give my warmest heart-blood to know him alive!
HIORDIS (to ORNULF). Thorolf was himself to blame for what befell;
with dark sayings he gave us to wit that thou hadst fallen upon Egil
and slain him;--we had parted half in wrath, and thou hast ere now
brought death among my kindred. And moreover--Thorolf bore himself
at the feast like a wanton boy; he brooked not our jesting, and spoke
many evil things. Not till then did Gunnar wax wroth; not till then
did he raise his hand upon thy son; and well I wot that he had good
and lawful ground for that deed.
ORNULF (calmly). Well may we see that thou art a woman, for thou
usest many words. To what end? If Thorolf is slain, then is his
saga over.
EGIL. If Thorolf is slain, I shall have no warriors.
ORNULF. Nay, Egil--we have lost our warriors, but thou and I. (To
HIORDIS.) Thy father sang:
Jokul's kin for Jokul's slayer
many a woe shall still be weaving.
Well has thou wrought that his words should come true. (Pauses a
moment, then turns to one of the men.) Where got he his death-wound?
THE MAN. Right across his brow.
ORNULF (pleased). Hm; that is an honourable spot; he did not turn
his back. But fell he sideways, or in towards Gunnar's feet?
THE MAN. Half sideways and half towards Gunnar.
ORNULF. That bodes but half vengeance; well well,--we shall see!
GUNNAR (approaching). Ornulf, I know well that all my goods were
naught against thy loss; but crave of me what thou wilt----
ORNULF (sternly interrupting him). Give me Thorolf's body, and let
me go! Where lies he?
(GUNNAR points silently to the back.)
ORNULF (takes a step or two, but turns and says in a voice of
thunder to SIGURD, DAGNY, and others who are preparing to follow
him, sorrowing). Stay! Think ye Ornulf will be followed by a train
of mourners, like a whimpering woman? Stay, I say!--I can bear my
Thorolf alone. (With calm strength.) Sonless I go; but none shall
say that he saw me bowed. (He goes slowly out.)
HIORDIS (with forced laughter). Ay, let him go as he will; we
shall scarce need many men to face him should he come with strife
again! Now, Dagny--I wot it is the last time thy father shall sail
from Iceland on such a quest!
SIGURD (indignant). Oh, shame!
DAGNY (likewise). And thou canst scoff at him--scoff at him, after
all that has befallen?
HIORDIS. A deed once done, 'tis wise to praise it. This morning
I swore hate and vengeance against Ornulf;--the slaying of Jokul I
might have forgotten--all, save that he cast shame upon my lot. He
called me a leman; if it _be_ so, it shames me not; for Gunnar is
mightier now than thy father; he is greater and more famous than
Sigurd, thine own husband!
DAGNY (in wild indignation). There thou errest, Hiordis--and even
now shall all men know that thou dwellest under a weakling's roof!
SIGURD (vehemently). Dagny, beware!
GUNNAR. A weakling!
DAGNY. It shall no longer be hidden; I held my peace till thou
didst scoff at my father and my dead brothers; I held my peace while
Ornulf was here, lest he should learn that Thorolf fell by a dastard's
hand. But now--praise Gunnar nevermore for that deed in Iceland; for
Gunnar is a weakling! The sword that lay drawn between thee and the
bear-slayer hangs at my husband's side--and the ring thou didst take
from thy arm thou gavest to Sigurd. (Takes it off and holds if aloft.)
Behold it!
HIORDIS (wildly). Sigurd!
THE CROWD. Sigurd! Sigurd did the deed!
HIORDIS (quivering with agitation). He! he!--Gunnar, is this true?
GUNNAR (with lofty calm). It is all true save only that I am a
weakling; I am neither a weakling nor a coward.
SIGURD (moved). That art thou not, Gunnar! That hast thou never
been! (To the rest.) Away, my men! Away from here!
DAGNY (at the door, to HIORDIS). Who is now the mightiest man at
the board--my husband or thine?
HIORDIS (to herself). Now have I but one thing left to do--but one
deed to brood upon: Sigurd or I must die!