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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/19205.txt b/19205.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3c064cb --- /dev/null +++ b/19205.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3357 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Vikings of Helgeland, by Henrik Ibsen + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Vikings of Helgeland + The Prose Dramas Of Henrik Ibsen, Vol. III. + +Author: Henrik Ibsen + +Release Date: September 8, 2006 [EBook #19205] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE VIKINGS OF HELGELAND *** + + + + +Produced by Douglas Levy + + + + + + +THE PROSE DRAMAS OF HENRIK IBSEN, VOL. III + +THE VIKINGS OF HELGELAND, Translation by William Archer + + + +THE VIKINGS OF HELGELAND. (1858.) + + +CHARACTERS. + +ORNULF OF THE FIORDS, an Icelandic Chieftain. +SIGURD THE STRONG, a Sea-King. +GUNNAR HEADMAN,[1] a rich yeoman of Helgeland. +DAGNY, Ornulf's daughter. +HIORDIS, his foster-daughter. +KARE THE PEASANT, a Helgeland-man. +EGIL, Gunnar's son, four years old. +ORNULF'S SIX OLDER SONS. +ORNULF'S AND SIGURD'S MEN. +Guests, house-carls, serving-maids, outlaws, etc. + + + The action takes place in the time of Erik Blood-axe (about A.D. +933) at, and in the neighbourhood of, Gunnar's house on the island +of Helgeland, in the north of Norway. + + +[PRONUNCIATION OF NAMES.--Helgeland=Helgheland; Ornulf=Ornoolf; +Sigurd=Sigoord; Gunnar=Goonar; Thorolf=Toorolf; Hiordis=Yordeess; +Kare=Koare [e,umlaut]; Egil=Ayghil. The letter o [umlaut] as in German.] + + [1] Failing to find a better equivalent for the Norwegian "Herse," +I have used the word "Headman" wherever it seemed necessary to give +Gunnar a title or designation. He is generally spoken of as "Gunnar +Herse" in the Norwegian text; but where it could be done without +inconvenience, the designation has here been omitted. + + +Producer's Notes: + +1. Diacritical Marks in Characters' names; + Ornulf, umlaut above the "O". + Hiordis, umlaut above the "o". + Kare, ring above the "A". +2. All the text inside parentheses in the original is printed in + italics, save for the characters' names. I've eliminated the + usual markings indicating _italics_ for the sake of readability. + --D. L. + + + +THE VIKINGS OF HELGELAND. + + +PLAY IN FOUR ACTS. + + +ACT FIRST. + + +(A rocky coast, running precipitously down to the sea at the back. + To the left, a boat-house; to the right, rocks and pine-woods. The + masts of two war-ships can be seen down in the cove. Far out to + the right, the ocean, dotted with reefs and rocky islands; the sea + is running high; it is a stormy snow-grey winter day.) + +(SIGURD comes up from the ships; he is clad in a white tunic with a + silver belt, a blue cloak, cross-gartered hose, untanned shoes, and + a steel cap; at his side hangs a short sword. ORNULF comes in sight + immediately afterwards, up among the rocks, clad in a dark lamb-skin + tunic with a breastplate and greaves, woollen stockings, and untanned + shoes; over his shoulders he has a cloak of brown frieze, with the + hood drawn over his steel cap, so that his face is partly hidden. + He is very tall, and massively built, with a long white beard, but + somewhat bowed by age; his weapons are a round shield, sword, and + spear. + + + SIGURD (enters first, looks around, sees the boat-shed, goes quickly +up to it, and tries to burst open the door.) + + ORNULF (appears among the rocks, starts on seeing SIGURD, seems to +recognise him, descends and cries:) Give place, Viking! + + SIGURD (turns, lays his hand on his sword, and answers:) 'Twere the +first time if I did! + + ORNULF. Thou shalt and must! I have need of the shelter for my +stiff-frozen men. + + SIGURD. Then must outlaws be highly prized in Helgeland! + + ORNULF. Dearly shalt thou aby that word! + + SIGURD. Now will it go ill with thee, old man! + + (ORNULF rushes upon him; SIGURD defends himself.) + (DAGNY and some of SIGURD'S men come up from the strand; Ornulf's + six sons appear on the rocks to the right.) + + DAGNY (who is a little in front, clad in a red kirtle, blue cloak, +and fur hood, calls down to the ships:) Up, all Sigurd's men! My +husband is fighting with a stranger! + + ORNULF'S SONS. Help for Ornulf! (They descend.) + + SIGURD (to his men). Hold! I can master him alone! + + ORNULF (to his sons). Let me fight in peace! (Rushes in upon +SIGURD.) I will see thy blood! + + SIGURD. First see thine own! (Wounds him in the arm so that his +spear falls.) + + ORNULF. A stout stroke, Viking! + Swift the sword thou swingest, + keen thy blows and biting; + Sigurd's self, the Stalwart, + stood before thee shame-struck. + + SIGURD (smiling). Then were his shame his glory! + + ORNULF'S SONS (with a cry of wonder). Sigurd himself! Sigurd +the Strong! + + ORNULF. But sharper was thy stroke that night thou didst bear away +Dagny, my daughter. (Casts his hood back.) + + SIGURD AND HIS MEN. Ornulf of the Fiords! + + DAGNY (glad, yet uneasy). My father and my brothers! + + SIGURD. Stand thou behind me. + + ORNULF. Nay, no need. (Approaching SIGURD.) I knew thy face as +soon as I was ware of thee, and therefore I stirred the strife; I +was fain to prove the fame that tells of thee as the stoutest man +of his hands in Norway. Henceforth let peace be between us. + + SIGURD. Best if so it could be. + + ORNULF. Here is my hand. Thou art a warrior indeed; stouter strokes +than these has old Ornulf never given or taken. + + SIGURD (seizes his outstretched hand). Let them be the last strokes +given and taken between us two; and do thou thyself adjudge the matter +between us. Art thou willing? + + ORNULF. That am I, and straightway shall the quarrel be healed. +(To the others.) Be the matter, then, known to all. Five winters +ago came Sigurd and Gunnar Headman as vikings to Iceland; they lay +in harbour close under my homestead. Then Gunnar, by force and craft, +carried away my foster-daughter, Hiordis; but thou, Sigurd, didst take +Dagny, my own child, and sailed with her over the sea. For that thou +art now doomed to pay three hundred pieces of silver, and thereby +shall thy misdeed be atoned. + + SIGURD. Fair is thy judgment, Ornulf; the three hundred pieces will +I pay, and add thereto a silken cloak fringed with gold. It is a gift +from King AEthelstan of England, and better has no Icelander yet borne. + + DAGNY. So be it, my brave husband; and my father, I thank thee. Now +at last is my mind at ease. + + (She presses her father's and brothers' hands, and talks low + to them.) + + ORNULF. Then thus stands the treaty between us; and from this day +shall Dagny be to the full as honourably regarded as though she had +been lawfully betrothed to thee, with the good will of her kin. + + SIGURD. And in me canst thou trust, as in one of thine own blood. + + ORNULF. That doubt I not; and see! I will forthwith prove thy +friendship. + + SIGURD. Ready shalt thou find me; say, what dost thou crave? + + ORNULF. Thy help in rede and deed. I have sailed hither to +Helgeland to seek out Gunnar Headman and draw him to reckoning +for the carrying away of Hiordis. + + SIGURD (surprised). Gunnar! + + DAGNY (in the same tone). And Hiordis--where are they? + + ORNULF. In Gunnar's homestead, I ween. + + SIGURD. And it is----? + + ORNULF. Not many bow-shots hence; did ye not know? + + SIGURD (with suppressed emotion). No, truly. Small tidings have I +had of Gunnar since we sailed from Iceland together. I have wandered +far and wide and served many outland kings, while Gunnar sat at home. +Hither we drive at day-dawn before the storm; I knew, indeed, that +Gunnar's homestead lay here in the north, but---- + + DAGNY (to ORNULF). So _that_ errand has brought thee hither? + + ORNULF. That and no other. (To SIGURD.) Our meeting is the work +of the Mighty Ones above; they willed it so. Had I wished to find +thee, little knew I where to seek. + + SIGURD (thoughtfully). True, true!--But concerning Gunnar--tell me, +Ornulf, art thou minded to go sharply to work, with all thy might, be +it for good or ill? + + ORNULF. That must I. Listen, Sigurd, for thus it stands: Last +summer I rode to the Council where many honourable men were met. +When the Council-days were over, I sat in the hall and drank with +the men of my hundred, and the talk fell upon the carrying-away of +the women; scornful words they gave me, because I had let that wrong +rest unavenged. Then, in my wrath, I swore to sail to Norway, seek +out Gunnar, and crave reckoning or revenge, and never again to set +foot in Iceland till my claim was made good. + + SIGURD. Ay, ay, since so it stands, I see well that if need be the +matter must be pressed home. + + ORNULF. It must; but I shall not crave over much, and Gunnar has +the fame of an honourable man. Glad am I, too, that I set about this +quest; the time lay heavy on me in Iceland; out upon the blue waters +had I grown old and grey, and I longed to fare forth once again before +I----; well well--Bergthora, my good wife, was dead these many years; +my eldest sons sailed on viking-ventures summer by summer; and since +Thorolf was growing up---- + + DAGNY (gladly). Thorolf is with thee? Where is he? + + ORNULF. On board the ship. (Points towards the background, to the +right.) Scarce shalt thou know the boy again, so stout and strong and +fair has he grown. He will be a mighty warrior, Sigurd; one day he +will equal thee. + + DAGNY (smiling). I see it is now as ever; Thorolf stands nearest +thy heart. + + ORNULF. He is the youngest, and like his mother; therefore it is. + + SIGURD. But tell me--thy errand to Gunnar--thinkest thou to-day----? + + ORNULF. Rather to-day than to-morrow. Fair amends will content me; +if Gunnar says me nay, then must he take what comes. + + (KARE THE PEASANT enters hastily from the right; he is clad in a + grey frieze cloak and low-brimmed felt hat; he carries in his + hand a broken fence-rail.) + + KARE. Well met, Vikings! + + ORNULF. Vikings are seldom well met. + + KARE. If ye be honourable men, ye will grant me refuge among you; +Gunnar Headman's house-carls are hunting me to slay me. + + ORNULF. Gunnar's? + + SIGURD. Then has thou done him some wrong! + + KARE. I have done myself right. Our cattle fed together upon an +island, hard by the coast; Gunnar's men carried off my best oxen, and +one of them flouted me for a thrall. Then bare I arms against him and +slew him. + + ORNULF. That was a lawful deed. + + KARE. But this morning his men came in wrath against me. By good +hap I heard of their coming, and fled; but my foemen are on my tracks, +and short shrift can I look for at their hands. + + SIGURD. Ill can I believe thee, peasant! In bygone days I knew +Gunnar as I know myself, and this I wot, that never did he wrong +a peaceful man. + + KARE. Gunnar has no part in this wrong-doing; he is in the south- +land; nay, it is Hiordis his wife---- + + DAGNY. Hiordis! + + ORNULF (to himself). Ay, ay, 'tis like her! + + KARE. I offered Gunnar amends for the thrall, and he was willing; +but then came Hiordis, and egged her husband on with scornful words, +and hindered the peace. Since then has Gunnar gone to the south, +and to-day---- + + SIGURD (looking out to the left). Here come wayfarers northward. +Is it not----? + + KARE. It is Gunnar himself! + + ORNULF. Be of good heart; methinks I can make peace between you. + + (GUNNAR HEADMAN, with several men, enters from the left. He is in + a brown tunic, cross-gartered hose, a blue mantle, and a broad + hat; he has no weapon but a small axe.) + + GUNNAR (stops in surprise and uncertainty on seeing the knot of men). +Ornulf of the Fiords! Yes, it is----! + + ORNULF. Thou seest aright. + + GUNNAR (approaching). Then peace and welcome to thee in my land, if +thou come in peace. + + ORNULF. If thy will be as mine, there shall be no strife between us. + + SIGURD (standing forward). Well met, Gunnar! + + GUNNAR (gladly). Sigurd--foster-brother! (Shakes his hand.) Now +truly, since thou art here, I know that Ornulf comes in peace. (To +ORNULF.) Give me thy hand, greybeard! Thy errand here in the north +is lightly guessed: it has to do with Hiordis, thy foster-daughter. + + ORNULF. As thou sayest; great wrong was done me when thou didst bear +her away from Iceland without my will. + + GUNNAR. Thy claim is just; what youth has marred, the man must mend. +Long have I looked for thee, Ornulf, for this cause; and if amends +content thee, we shall soon be at one. + + SIGURD. So deem I too. Ornulf will not press thee hard. + + GUNNAR (warmly). Nay, Ornulf, didst thou crave her full worth, all +my goods would not suffice. + + ORNULF. I shall go by law and usage, be sure of that. But now +another matter. (Pointing to KARE.) Seest thou yonder man? + + GUNNAR. Kare! (To ORNULF.) Thou knowest, then, that there is a +strife between us? + + ORNULF. Thy men have stolen his cattle, and theft must be atoned. + + GUNNAR. Murder no less; he has slain my thrall. + + KARE. Because he flouted me. + + GUNNAR. I have offered thee terms of peace. + + KARE. But that had Hiordis no mind to, and this morning, whilst thou +wert gone, she fell upon me and hunts me now to my death. + + GUNNAR (angrily). Is it true what thou sayest? Has she----? + + KARE. True, every word. + + ORNULF. Therefore the peasant besought me to stand by him, and that +will I do. + + GUNNAR (after a moment's thought). Honourably hast thou dealt with +me, Ornulf; therefore is it fit that I should yield to thy will. Hear +then, Kare: I am willing to let the slaying of the thrall and the +wrongs done toward thee quit each other. + + KARE (gives GUNNAR his hand). It is a good offer; I am content. + + ORNULF. And he shall have peace for thee and thine? + + GUNNAR. Peace shall he have, here and overall. + + SIGURD (pointing to the right). See yonder! + + GUNNAR (disturbed). It is Hiordis! + + ORNULF. With armed men! + + KARE. She is seeking me! + + (HIORDIS enters, with a troop of house-carls. She is clad in + black, wearing a kirtle, cloak, and hood; the men are armed + with swords and axes; she herself carries a light spear.) + + HIORDIS (stops on entering). A meeting of many, meseems. + + DAGNY (rushes to meet her). Peace and joy to thee, Hiordis! + + HIORDIS (coldly). Thanks. It was told me that thou wast not far +off. (Comes forward, looking sharply at those assembled.) Gunnar, +and--Kare, my foeman--Ornulf and his sons and---- (As she catches +sight of SIGURD, she starts almost imperceptibly, is silent a moment, +but collects herself and says:) Many I see here who are known to me-- +but little I know who is best minded towards me. + + ORNULF. We are all well-minded towards thee. + + HIORDIS. If so be, thou wilt not deny to give Kare into my +husband's hands. + + ORNULF. There is no need. + + GUNNAR. There is peace and friendship between us. + + HIORDIS (with suppressed scorn). Friendship? Well well, I know thou +art a wise man, Gunnar! Kare has met mighty friends, and well I woth +thou deem'st it safest---- + + GUNNAR. Thy taunts avail not! (With dignity.) Kare is at peace +with us! + + HIORDIS (restraining herself). Well and good; if thou hast sworn +him peace, the vow must be held. + + GUNNAR (forcibly, but without anger). It must and it shall. + + ORNULF (to HIORDIS). Another pact had been well-nigh made ere +thy coming. + + HIORDIS (sharply). Between thee and Gunnar. + + ORNULF (nods). It had to do with thee. + + HIORDIS. Well can I guess what it had to do with; but this I tell +thee, foster-father, never shall it be said that Gunnar let himself +be cowed because thou camest in arms to the isle. Hadst thou come +alone, a single wayfarer, to our hall, the quarrel had more easily +been healed. + + GUNNAR. Ornulf and his sons come in peace. + + HIORDIS. Mayhap; but otherwise will it sound in the mouths of +men; and thou thyself, Gunnar, didst show scant trust in the peace +yesterday, in sending our son Egil to the southland so soon as it +was known that Ornulf's warship lay in the fiord. + + SIGURD (to GUNNAR). Didst thou send thy sons to the south? + + HIORDIS. Ay, that he might be in safety should Ornulf fall upon us. + + ORNULF. Scoff not at that, Hiordis; what Gunnar has done may prove +wise in the end, if so be thou hinderest the pact. + + HIORDIS. Life must take its chance; come what will, I had liever +die than save my life by a shameful pact. + + DAGNY. Sigurd makes atonement, and will not be deemed the lesser +man for that. + + HIORDIS. Sigurd best knows what his own honour can bear. + + SIGURD. On that score shall I never need reminding. + + HIORDIS. Sigurd has done famous deeds, but the boldest deed of all +was Gunnar's, when he slew the white bear that guarded my bower. + + GUNNAR (with an embarrassed glance at SIGURD). Nay nay, no more +of that! + + ORNULF. In truth it was the boldest deed that e'er was seen in +Iceland; and therefore---- + + SIGURD. The more easily can Gunnar yield, and not be deemed +a coward. + + HIORDIS. If amends are to be made, amends shall also be craved. +Bethink thee, Gunnar, of thy vow! + + GUNNAR. That vow was ill bethought; wilt thou hold me to it? + + HIORDIS. That will I, if we two are to dwell under one roof after +this day. Know then, Ornulf, that if atonement is to be made for the +carrying away of thy foster-daughter, thou, too, must atone for the +slaying of Jokul my father, and the seizure of his goods and gear. + + ORNULF. Jokul was slain in fair fight;[1] thy kinsmen did me a +worse wrong when they sent thee to Iceland and entrapped me into +adopting[2] thee, unwitting who thou wast. + + [1] "I aerling holmgang." The established form of duel in the + viking times was to land the combatants on one of the rocky islets + or "holms" that stud the Norwegian coast, and there let them fight + it out. Hence "holmgang"=duel. + [2] "At knaessette"=to knee-set a child, to take it on one's knee, + an irrevocable form of adoption. + + HIORDIS. Honour, and now wrong, befell thee in adopting +Jokul's daughter. + + ORNULF. Nought but strife hast thou brought me, that I know. + + HIORDIS. Sterner strife may be at hand, if---- + + ORNULF. I came not hither to bandy words with women!--Gunnar, hear +my last word: art willing to make atonement? + + HIORDIS (to GUNNAR). Think of thy vow! + + GUNNAR (to ORNULF). Thou hearest, I have sworn a vow, and that +must I---- + + ORNULF (irritated). Enough, enough! Never shall it be said that I +made atonement for slaying in fair fight. + + HIORDIS (forcibly). Then we bid defiance to thee and thine. + + ORNULF (in rising wrath). And who has the right to crave atonement +for Jokul? Where are his kinsmen? There is none alive! Where is his +lawful avenger? + + HIORDIS. That is Gunnar, on my behalf. + + ORNULF. Gunnar! Ay, hadst thou been betrothed to him with thy +foster-father's good-will, or had he made atonement for carrying +thee away, then were he thy father's lawful avenger; but---- + + DAGNY (apprehensive and imploring). Father, father! + + SIGURD (quickly). Do not speak it! + + ORNULF (raising his voice). Nay, loudly shall it be spoken! A +woman wedded by force has no lawful husband! + + GUNNAR (vehemently). Ornulf! + + HIORDIS (in a wild outburst). Flouted and shamed! (In a quivering +voice.) This--this shalt thou come to rue! + + ORNULF (continuing). A woman wedded by force is lawfully no more +than a leman! Wilt thou regain thine honour, then must thou---- + + HIORDIS (controlling herself). Nay, Ornulf, I know better what is +fitting. If I am to be held as Gunnar's leman--well and good, then +must he win me honour by his deeds--by deeds so mighty that my shame +shall be shame no more! And thou, Ornulf, beware! Here our ways part, +and from this day I shall make war upon thee and thine whensoever and +wheresoever it may be; thou shalt know no safety, thou, or any whom +thou---- (Looking fiercely at KARE.) Kare! Ornulf has stood thy +friend, forsooth, and there is peace between us; but I counsel thee +not to seek thy home yet awhile; the man thou slewest has many +avengers, and it well might befall---- See, I have shown thee the +danger; thou must e'en take what follows. Come, Gunnar, we must gird +ourselves for the fight. A famous deed didst thou achieve in Iceland, +but greater deeds must here be done, if thou wouldst not have thy-- +thy leman shrink with shame from thee and from herself! + + GUNNAR. Curb thyself, Hiordis; it is unseemly to bear thee thus. + + DAGNY (imploringly). Stay, foster-sister--stay; I will appease +my father. + + HIORDIS (without listening to her). Homewards, homewards! Who could +have foretold me that I should wear out my life as a worthless leman? +But if I am to bear this life of shame, ay, even a single day longer, +then must my husband do such a deed--such a deed as shall make his name +more famous than all other names of men. + + (Goes out to the right.) + + GUNNAR (softly). Sigurd, this thou must promise me, that we shall +have speech together ere thou leave the land. + + (Goes out with his men to the right.) + (The storm has meanwhile ceased; the mid-day sun is now visible, + like a red disc, low upon the rim of the sea.) + + ORNULF (threateningly). Dearly shalt thou aby this day's work, +foster-daughter! + + DAGNY. Father, father! Surely thou wilt not harm her! + + ORNULF. Let me be! Now, Sigurd, now can no amends avail between +Gunnar and me. + + SIGURD. What thinkest thou to do? + + ORNULF. That I know not; but far and wide shall the tale be told +how Ornulf of the Fiords came to Gunnar's hall. + + SIGURD (with quiet determination). That may be; but this I tell +thee, Ornulf, that thou shalt never bear arms against him so long +as I am alive. + + ORNULF. So, so! And what if it be my will to? + + SIGURD. It shall not be--let thy will be never so strong. + + ORNULF (angrily). Go then; join thou with my foes; I can match the +twain of you! + + SIGURD. Hear me out, Ornulf; the day shall never dawn that shall +see thee and me at strife. There is honourable peace between us, +Dagny is dearer to me than weapons or gold, and never shall I forget +that thou art her nearest kinsman. + + ORNULF. There I know thee again, brave Sigurd! + + SIGURD. But Gunnar is my foster-brother; faith and friendship have +we sworn each other. Both in war and peace have we faced fortune +together, and of all men he is dearest to me. Stout though he be, he +loves not war;--but as for me, ye know, all of you, that I shrink not +from strife; yet here I stand forth, Ornulf, and pray for peace on +Gunnar's behalf. Let me have my will! + + ORNULF. I cannot; I should be a scoff to all brave men, were I to +fare empty-handed back to Iceland. + + SIGURD. Empty-handed shalt thou not fare. Here in the cove my two +long-ships are lying, with all the wealth I have won in my viking- +ventures. There are many costly gifts from outland kings, good +weapons by the chestful, and other priceless chattels. Take thou one +of the ships; choose which thou wilt, and it shall be thine with all +it contains--be that the atonement for Hiordis, and let Gunnar be +at peace. + + ORNULF. Brave Sigurd, wilt thou do this for Gunnar? + + SIGURD. For a faithful friend, no man can do too much. + + ORNULF. Give half thy goods and gear! + + SIGURD (urgently). Take the whole, take both my ships, take all +that is mine, and let me fare with thee to Iceland as the poorest +man in thy train. What I give, I can win once more; but if thou and +Gunnar come to strife, I shall never see a glad day again. Now Ornulf, +thy answer? + + ORNULF (reflecting). Two good long-ships, weapons and other chattels +--too much gear can no man have; but---- (vehemently) no, no!-- +Hiordis has threatened me; I will not! It were shameful for me to +take thy goods! + + SIGURD. Yet listen---- + + ORNULF. No, I say! I must fight my own battle, be my fortune what +it may. + + KARE (approaching). Right friendly is Sigurd's rede, but if thou +wilt indeed fight thine own battle with all thy might, I can counsel +thee better. Dream not of atonement so long as Hiordis has aught to +say; but revenge can be thine if thou wilt hearken to me. + + ORNULF. Revenge? What dost thou counsel? + + SIGURD. Evil, I can well see. + + DAGNY (to ORNULF). Oh, do not hear him! + + KARE. Hiordis has declared me an outlaw; with cunning will she seek +to take my life; do thou swear to see me scatheless, and this night +will I burn Gunnar's hall and all within it. Is that to thy mind? + + SIGURD. Dastard! + + ORNULF (quietly). To my mind? Knowest thou, Kare, what were more +to my mind? (In a voice of thunder.) To hew off thy nose and ears, +thou vile thrall. Little dost thou know old Ornulf if thou thinkest +to have his help in such a deed of shame! + + KARE (who has shrunk backwards). If thou fall not upon Gunnar he +will surely fall upon thee. + + ORNULF. Have I not weapons, and strength to wield them? + + SIGURD (to KARE). And now away with thee! Thy presence is a shame +to honourable men! + + KARE (going off). Well well, I must shield myself as best I can. +But this I tell you: if ye think to deal gently with Hiordis, ye will +come to rue it; I know her--and I know where to strike her sorest! + + (Goes down towards the shore.) + + DAGNY. He is plotting revenge. Sigurd, it must be hindered! + + ORNULF (with annoyance). Nay, let him do as he will; she is worth +no better! + + DAGNY. That meanest thou not; bethink thee she is thy foster-child. + + ORNULF. Woe worth the day when I took her under my roof! Jokul's +words are coming true. + + SIGURD. Jokul's? + + ORNULF. Ay, her father's. When I gave him his death-wound he fell +back upon the sward, and fixed his eyes on on me and sang:-- + + Jokul's kin for Jokul's slayer + many a woe shall still be weaving; + Jokul's hoard whoe'er shall harry + heartily shall rue his rashness. + +When he had sung that, he was silent a while, and laughed; and thereupon +he died. + + SIGURD. Why should'st thou heed his words? + + ORNULF. Who knows? The story goes, and many believe it, that Jokul +gave his children a wolf's heart to eat, that they might be fierce and +fell; and Hiordis has surely had her share, that one can well see. +(Breaks off, on looking out towards the right.) Gunnar!--Are we two +to meet again! + + GUNNAR (enters). Ay, Ornulf, think of me what thou wilt, but I +cannot part from thee as thy foe. + + ORNULF. What is thy purpose? + + GUNNAR. To hold out the hand of fellowship to thee ere thou depart. +Hear me all of you: go with me to my homestead, and be my guests as +long as ye will. We lack not meat or drink or sleeping-room, and there +shall be no talk of our quarrel either to-day or to-morrow. + + SIGURD. But Hiordis----? + + GUNNAR. Yields to my will; she changed her thought on the homeward +way, and deemed, as I did, that we would soon be at one if ye would +but be our guests. + + DAGNY. Yes, yes; let it be so. + + SIGURD (doubtfully). But I know not whether---- + + DAGNY. Gunnar is thy foster-brother; little I know thee if thou +say him nay. + + GUNNAR (to SIGURD). Thou hast been my friend where'er we fared; +thou wilt not stand against me now. + + DAGNY. And to depart from the land, leaving Hiordis with hate in +her heart--no, no, that must we not! + + GUNNAR. I have done Ornulf a great wrong; until it is made good, I +cannot be at peace with myself. + + SIGURD (vehemently). All else will I do for thee, Gunnar, but not +stay here! (Mastering himself.) I am in King AEthelstan's service, +and I must be with him in England ere the winter is out. + + DAGNY. But that thou canst be, nevertheless. + + GUNNAR. No man can know what lot awaits him; mayhap this is our +last meeting, Sigurd, and thou wilt repent that thou didst not stand +by me to the end. + + DAGNY. And long will it be ere thou see me glad again, if thou set +sail to-day. + + SIGURD (determined). Well, be it so! It shall be as ye will, +although---- But no more of that; here is my hand; I will stay +to feast with thee and Hiordis. + + GUNNAR (shakes his hand). Thanks, Sigurd, I never doubted thee.--And +thou, Ornulf, dost thou say likewise? + + ORNULF (unappeased). I shall think upon it. Bitterly has Hiordis +wounded me;--I will not answer to-day. + + GUNNAR. It is well, old warrior; Sigurd and Dagny will know how to +soothe thy brow. Now must I prepare the feast; peace be with you the +while, and well met in my hall! (Goes out by the right.) + + SIGURD (to himself). Hiordis has changed her thought, said he? +Little he knows her; I rather deem that she is plotting---- +(interrupting himself and turning to his men.) Come, follow me all +to the ships; good gifts will I choose for Gunnar and his household. + + DAGNY. Gifts of the best we have. And thou, father--thou shalt +have no peace for me until thou yield thee. (She goes with SIGURD +and his men down towards the shore at the back.) + + ORNULF. Yield me? Ay, if there were no women-folk in Gunnar's house, +then---- Oh, if I but knew how to pierce her armour!--Thorolf, thou +here! + + THOROLF (who has entered hastily). As thou seest. Is it true that +thou hast met with Gunnar? + + ORNULF. Yes. + + THOROLF. And art at enmity with him? + + ORNULF. Hm--at least with Hiordis. + + THOROLF. Then be of good cheer; soon shalt thou be avenged! + + ORNULF. Avenged? Who shall avenge me? + + THOROLF. Listen: as I stood on board the ship, there came a man +running, with a staff in his hand, and called to me: "If thou be of +Ornulf's shipfolk, then greet him from Kare the Peasant, and say that +now am I avenging the twain of us." Thereupon he took a boat and +rowed away, saying as he passed: "Twenty outlaws are at haven in the +fiord; with them I fare southward, and ere eventide shall Hiordis +be childless." + + ORNULF. He said that! Ha, now I understand; Gunnar has sent his +son away; Kare is at feud with him---- + + THOROLF. And now he is rowing southward to slay the boy! + + ORNULF (with sudden resolution). Up all! That booty will we +fight for! + + THOROLF. What wilt thou do? + + ORNULF. Ask me not; it shall be I, and not Kare, that will take +revenge! + + THOROLF. I will go with thee! + + ORNULF. Nay, do thou follow with Sigurd and thy sister to Gunnar's +hall. + + THOROLF. Sigurd? Is he in the isle? + + ORNULF. There may'st thou see his warships; we are at one--do thou +go with him. + + THOROLF. Among thy foes? + + ORNULF. Go thou to the feast. Now shall Hiordis learn to know old +Ornulf! But hark thee, Thorolf, to no one must thou speak of what I +purpose; dost hear? to no one! + + THOROLF. I promise. + + ORNULF (takes his hand and looks at him affectionately). Farewell +then, my fair boy; bear thee in courtly wise at the feast-house, that +I may have honour of thee. Beware of idle babbling; but what thou +sayest, let it be keen as a sword. Be friendly to those that deal +with thee in friendly wise; but if thou be taunted, hold not thy peace. +Drink not more than thou canst bear; but put not the horn aside when +it is offered thee in measure, lest thou be deemed womanish. + + THOROLF. Nay, be at ease. + + ORNULF. Then away to the feast at Gunnar's hall. I too will come +to the feast, and that in the guise they least think of. (Blithely +to the rest.) Come, my wolf-cubs; be your fangs keen;--now shall ye +have blood to drink. + + (He goes off with his elder sons to the right, at the back.) + (SIGURD and DAGNY come up from the ships, richly dressed for the + banquet. They are followed by two men, carrying a chest, who + lay it down and return as they came.) + + THOROLF (looking out after his father). Now fare they all forth to +fight, and I must stay behind; it is hard to be the youngest of the +house.--Dagny! all hail and greetings to thee, sister mine! + + DAGNY. Thorolf! All good powers!--thou art a man, grown! + + THOROLF. That may I well be, forsooth, in five years---- + + DAGNY. Ay, true, true. + + SIGURD (giving his his hand). In thee will Ornulf find a stout +carl, or I mistake me. + + THOROLF. Would he but prove me----! + + DAGNY (smiling). He spares thee more than thou hast a mind to? Thou +wast ever well-nigh too dear to him. + + SIGURD. Whither has he gone? + + THOROLF. Down to his ships;--he will return ere long. + + SIGURD. I await my men; they are mooring my ships and bringing +ashore wares. + + THOROLF. There must I lend a hand! + + (Goes down towards the shore.) + + SIGURD (after a moment's reflection). Dagny, my wife, we are alone; +I have that to tell thee which must no longer be hidden. + + DAGNY (surprised). What meanest thou? + + SIGURD. There may be danger in this faring to Gunnar's hall. + + 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 evening when we carried away thy +father's daughters--dost remember it? + + DAGNY. Do I remember it! + + 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 Hiordis 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 Hiordis. She grasped it and stood up, and +vowed this vow, that no warrior should have her to wife, save he 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 Hiordis 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: "Hiordis 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 Hiordis too." Long did we talk, and the end was that Gunnar +made ready his ship, while I drew my sword, donned Gunnar's harness, +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; Hiordis 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 didst pass the night with Hiordis in +her bower? + + SIGURD. My sword lay drawn between us. (A short pause.) Ere the +dawn, I bore Hiordis to Gunnar's ship; she dreamed not or our wiles, +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 might wander. + + DAGNY (much moved). My brave husband! And that great deed was +thine!--Oh, I should have known it; none but thou would have dared! +Hiordis, 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 is needful. +I could not but warn thee; for that ring--Hiordis must never set eyes +on 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 thou at ease, I shall 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! It rests with thee now whether this +meeting shall end peacefully or in bloodshed. (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 daises 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.) + + + (HIORDIS and DAGNY enter from the right.) + + DAGNY. Nay, Hiordis, I cannot 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? + + HIORDIS. 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. + + HIORDIS. Better no child, than one born in shame. + + DAGNY. In shame? + + HIORDIS. Dost thou forgot 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? + + HIORDIS. Nay, nay, Ornulf was right; Egil is weak; one can see he +is no freeborn child. + + DAGNY. Hiordis, how canst thou----? + + HIORDIS (unheeding). Thus is shame 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 a look +of cruelty.) Dagny, that will I try with Egil! + + DAGNY (horrified). Hiordis, Hiordis! + + HIORDIS (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; it must run in the blood,-- +for I am of the race of the Jotuns,[1] 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? + + [1] The giants or Titans of Scandinavian mythology. + + DAGNY. Many a time--and chiefly with AEthelstan of England. + + HIORDIS. And everywhere thou hast been held in honour, and hast sat +in the highest seats at the board? + + DAGNY. Doubtless. As Sigurd's wife---- + + HIORDIS. Ay, ay--a famous man is Sigurd--though Gunnar stands +above him. + + DAGNY. Gunnar? + + HIORDIS. One deed did Gunnar do that Sigurd shrank from. But let +that be! Tell me, when thou didst go a-viking with Sigurd, 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! + + HIORDIS. 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 shuddering ecstasy? + + DAGNY (blushing). Hiordis, how canst thou----! + + HIORDIS. Come, tell me----! + + DAGNY. Surely thou thyself hast known it. + + HIORDIS. Ay once, and only once; it was that night when Gunnar sat +with me in my bower; he crushed me in his arms till his byrnie burst, +and then, then----! + + DAGNY (exclaiming). What! Sigurd----! + + HIORDIS. 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---- + + HIORDIS. That was the only time; never, never again! I deemed I was +bewitched; for that Gunnar could clasp a woman---- (Stops and looks +at DAGNY.) What ails thee? Methinks thou turnest pale and red! + + DARNY. Nay, nay! + + HIORDIS (without noticing her). 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? +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 affected). Come--let us go--to the others. + + HIORDIS (seizing her by the arm). No, stay! Seems it not strange +to thee, Dagny, that any woman can yet live after five such nights? + + DAGNY. Five nights? + + HIORDIS. 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 begins once more; thou shalt see the billows rushing upon +the land like wild, white-maned horses--and then the whales far out +in the offing! They dash one against another like steel-clad knights! +Ha, what joy to be a witching-wife and ride on the whale's back--to +speed before the skiff, and wake the storm, and lure men to the deeps +with lovely songs of sorcery! + + DAGNY. Fie, Hiordis, how canst thou talk so! + + HIORDIS. Canst thou sing sorceries, Dagny? + + DAGNY (with horror). I! + + HIORDIS. I trow thou canst; how else didst thou lure Sigurd to thee? + + DAGNY. Thou speakest shameful things; let me go! + + HIORDIS (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[1] 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 storm-night 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! + + [1] "Draugen," a vague and horrible sea-monster. + + DAGNY (struggling to escape). Hiordis, Hiordis! Let me go! I will +not hear thee! + + HIORDIS (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 Ornulf'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. + + HIORDIS. But no warrior. + + GUNNAR. Nay--that thou must not say. + + SIGURD. I marvel thou didst send him from thee---- + + GUNNAR. Would that I had not! (Half aside.) 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 Ornulf lay in the cove with a ship of war. + + HIORDIS. One thing I know that ought first to be made safe, life +afterwards. + + THOROLF. And that is----? + + HIORDIS. Honour and fame among men. + + GUNNAR. Hiordis! + + SIGURD. It shall not be said of Gunnar that he has risked his honour +by doing this. + + GUNNAR (sternly). None shall make strife between me and Ornulf's +kinsfolk! + + HIORDIS (smiling). Hm; tell me, Sigurd--can thy ship sail with +any wind? + + SIGURD. Ay, when it is cunningly steered. + + HIORDIS. 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; it was thou that---- + + 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! + + + +ACT THIRD. + + +(The hall in GUNNAR'S house. It is day.) +(HIORDIS sits on the bench in front of the smaller high-seat busy + weaving a bow-string; on the table lie a bow and some arrows.) + + + HIORDIS (pulling at the bow-string). It is tough and strong; (with +a glance at the arrows) the shaft is both keen and well-weighted-- +(lets her hands fall in her lap) but where is the hand that----! +(Vehemently.) Befooled, befooled by him--by Sigurd! I must hate him +more than others, that can I well mark; but ere many days have passed +I will---- (Meditating.) Ay, but the arm, the arm that shall do the +deed----? + + (GUNNAR enters, silent and thoughtful, from the back.) + + HIORDIS (after a short pause). How goes it with thee, my husband? + + GUNNAR. Ill, Hiordis; I cannot away with that deed of yesterday; it +lies heavy on my heart. + + HIORDIS. Do as I do; get thee some work to busy thee. + + GUNNAR. Doubtless I must. + + (A pause; GUNNAR paces up and down the hall, notices what HIORDIS + is doing, and approaches her.) + + GUNNAR. What dost thou there? + + HIORDIS (without looking up). I am weaving a bow-string; canst +thou not see? + + GUNNAR. A bow-string--of thine own hair? + + HIORDIS (smiling). Great deeds are born with every hour in these +times; yesterday thou didst slay my foster-brother, and I have woven +this since day-break. + + GUNNAR. Hiordis, Hiordis! + + HIORDIS (looking up). What is amiss? + + GUNNAR. Where wast thou last night? + + HIORDIS. Last night? + + GUNNAR. Thou wast not in the sleeping-room. + + HIORDIS. Know'st thou that? + + GUNNAR. I could not sleep; I tossed in restless dreams of that-- +that which befell Thorolf. I dreamt that he came---- No matter; I +awakened. Then meseemed I heard a strange, fair song through all the +house; I arose; I stole hither to the door; here I saw thee sitting +by the log-fire--it burned blue and red--fixing arrow-heads, and +singing sorceries over them. + + HIORDIS. The work was not wasted; for strong is the breast that +must be pierced this day. + + GUNNAR. I understand thee well; thou wouldst have Sigurd slain. + + HIORDIS. Hm, mayhap. + + GUNNAR. Thou shalt never have thy will. I shall keep peace with +Sigurd, howe'er thou goad me. + + HIORDIS (smiling). Dost think so? + + SIGURD. I know it! + + HIORDIS (hands him the bow-string). Tell me, Gunnar--canst loose +this knot? + + GUNNAR (tries it). Nay it is too cunningly and firmly woven. + + HIORDIS (rising). The Norns[1] weave yet more cunningly; their web +is still harder to unravel. + + [1] The "Nornir" were the Fates of northern mythology. + + GUNNAR. Dark are the ways of the Mighty Ones;--neither thou nor I +know aught of them. + + HIORDIS. Yet one thing I know surely: that to both of us must +Sigurd's life be baleful. + + (A pause; GUNNAR stands lost in thought.) + + HIORDIS (who has been silently watching him). Of what thinkest thou? + + GUNNAR. Of a dream I had of late. Methought I had done the deed +thou cravest; Sigurd lay slain on the earth; thou didst stand beside +him, and thy face was wondrous pale. Then said I: "Art thou glad, +now that I have done thy will?" But thou didst laugh and answer: +"Blither were I didst thou, Gunnar, lie there in Sigurd's stead." + + HIORDIS (with forced laughter). Ill must thou know me if such a +senseless dream can make thee hold thy hand. + + GUNNAR. Hm!--Tell me, Hiordis, what thinkest thou of this hall? + + HIORDIS. To speak truly, Gunnar,--it sometimes seems to me to be +straitened. + + GUNNAR. Ay, ay, so I have thought; we are one too many. + + HIORDIS. Two, mayhap. + + GUNNAR (who has not heard her last words). But that shall be +remedied. + + HIORDIS (looks at him interrogatively). Remedied? Then thou art +minded to----? + + GUNNAR. To fit out my warships and put to sea; I will win back the +honour I have lost because thou wast dearer to me than all beside. + + HIORDIS (thoughtfully). Thou wilt put to sea? Ay, so it may be +best for us both. + + GUNNAR. Even from the day we sailed from Iceland, I saw that it +would go ill with us. Thy soul is strong and proud; there are times +when I well nigh fear thee; yet, it is strange--chiefly for that do +I hold thee so dear. Dread enwraps thee like a spell; methinks thou +could'st lure me to the blackest deeds, and all would seem good to +me that thou didst crave. (Shaking his head reflectively.) +Unfathomable is the Norn's rede; Sigurd should have been thy husband. + + HIORDIS (vehemently). Sigurd! + + GUNNAR. Yes, Sigurd. Vengefulness and hatred blind thee, else +would'st thou prize him better. Had I been like Sigurd, I could +have made life bright for thee. + + HIORDIS (with strong but suppressed emotion). That--that deemest +thou Sigurd could have done? + + GUNNAR. He is strong of soul, and proud as thou to boot. + + HIORDIS (violently). If that be so--(Collecting herself.) No +matter, no matter! (With a wild outburst.) Gunnar, take Sigurd's +life! + + GUNNAR. Never! + + HIORDIS. By fraud and falsehood thou mad'st me thy wife--that +shall be forgotten! Five joyless years have I spent in this house-- +all shall be forgotten from the day when Sigurd lives no more! + + GUNNAR. From my hand he need fear no harm. (Shrinks back +involuntarily.) Hiordis, Hiordis, tempt me not! + + HIORDIS. Then must I find another avenger; Sigurd shall not live +long to flout at me and thee! (Clenching her hands in convulsive +rage.) With her--that simpleton--with her mayhap he is even now +sitting alone, dallying, and laughing at us; speaking of the bitter +wrong that was done me when in thy stead he bore me away; telling +how he laughed over his guile as he stood in my dark bower, and I +knew him not! + + GUNNAR. Nay, nay, he does not so! + + HIORDIS (firmly). Sigurd and Dagny must die! I cannot breathe +till they are gone! (Comes close up to him, with sparkling eyes, +and speaks passionately, but in a whisper.) Would'st thou help +me with _that_, Gunnar, then should I live in love with thee; then +should I clasp thee in such warm and wild embraces as thou hast +never dreamt of! + + GUNNAR (wavering). Hiordis! Would'st thou---- + + HIORDIS. Do the deed, Gunnar--and the heavy days shall be past. I +will no longer quit the hall when thou comest, no longer speak harsh +things and quench thy smile when thou art glad. I will clothe me in +furs and costly silken robes. When thou goest to war, I will ride +by thy side. At the feast I will sit by thee and fill thy horn, and +drink to thee and sing fair songs to make glad thy heart! + + GUNNAR (almost overcome). Is it true? Thou wouldst----! + + HIORDIS. More than that, trust me, ten times more! Give me revenge! +Revenge on Sigurd and Dagny, and I will---- (Stops as she sees the +door open.) Dagny--comest thou here! + + DAGNY (from the back). Haste thee, Gunnar! Call thy men to arms! + + GUNNAR. To arms! Against whom? + + DAGNY. Kare the Peasant is coming, and many outlaws with him; he +means thee no good; Sigurd has barred his way for the time; but who +can tell---- + + GUNNAR (moved). Sigurd has done this for me! + + DAGNY. Sigurd is ever thy faithful friend. + + GUNNAR. And we, Hiordis--we, who thought to----! It is as I say-- +there is a spell in all thy speech; no deed but seemeth fair to me, +when thou dost name it. + + DAGNY (astonished). What meanest thou? + + GUNNAR. Nothing, nothing! Thanks for thy tidings, Dagny; I go to +gather my men together. (Turns towards the door, but stops and comes +forward again.) Tell me--how goes it with Ornulf? + + DAGNY (bowing her head). Ask me not. Yesterday he bore Thorolf's +body to the ships; now he is raising a grave-mound on the shore;-- +there shall his son be laid. + + (GUNNAR says nothing and goes out by the back.) + + DAGNY. Until evening there is no danger. (Coming nearer.) Hiordis, +I have another errand in thy house; it is to thee I come. + + HIORDIS. To me? After all that befell yesterday? + + DAGNY. Just because of that. Hiordis, foster-sister, do not hate +me; forget the words that sorrow and evil spirits placed in my mouth; +forgive me all the wrong I have done thee; for, trust me, I am tenfold +more hapless than thou! + + HIORDIS. Hapless--thou! Sigurd's wife! + + DAGNY. It was _my_ doing, all that befell--the stirring up of +strife, and Thorolf's death, and all the scorn that fell upon Gunnar +and thee. Mine is all the guilt! Woe upon me!--I have lived so +happily; but after this day I shall never know joy again. + + HIORDIS (as if seized by a sudden thought). But before--in these +five long years--all that time hast thou been happy? + + DAGNY. Canst thou doubt it? + + HIORDIS. Hm; yesterday I doubted it not; but---- + + DAGNY. What meanest thou? + + HIORDIS. Nay, 'tis nought; let us speak of other matters. + + DAGNY. No truly. Hiordis, tell me----! + + HIORDIS. It will profit thee little; but since thou wilt have it +so---- (With a malignant expression.) Canst thou remember once, over +in Iceland--we had followed with Ornulf thy father to the Council, +and we sat with our playmates in the Council Hall, as is the manner +of women. Then came two strangers into the hall. + + DAGNY. Sigurd and Gunnar. + + HIORDIS. They greeted us in courteous fashion, and sat on the +bench beside us; and there passed between us much merry talk. There +were some who must needs know why these two vikings came thither, and +if they were not minded to take them wives there in the island. Then +said Sigurd: "It will be hard for me to find the woman that shall be +to my mind." Ornulf laughed, and said there was no lack of high-born +and well-dowered women in Iceland; but Sigurd answered: "The warrior +needs a high-souled wife. She whom I choose must not rest content +with a humble lot; no honour must seem to high for her to strive for; +she must go with me gladly a-viking; war-weed must she wear; she must +egg me on to strife, and never wink her eyes where sword-blades +lighten; for if she be faint-hearted, scant honour will befall me." +Is it not true, so Sigurd spake? + + DAGNY (hesitatingly). True, he did--but---- + + HIORDIS. _Such_ was she to be, the woman who could make life fair +to him; and then--(with a scornful smile) then he chose thee! + + DAGNY (starting, as in pain). Ha, thou wouldst say that----? + + HIORDIS. Doubtless thou has proved thyself proud and high-souled; +hast claimed honour of all, that Sigurd might be honoured in thee-- +is it not so? + + DAGNY. Nay, Hiordis, but---- + + HIORDIS. Thou hast egged him on to great deeds, followed him in war- +weed, and joyed to be where the strife raged hottest--hast thou not? + + DAGNY (deeply moved). No, no! + + HIORDIS. Hast thou, then, been faint of heart, so that Sigurd has +been put to shame? + + DAGNY (overpowered). Hiordis, Hiordis! + + HIORDIS (smiling scornfully). Yet thy lot has been a happy one all +these years;--think'st thou that Sigurd can say the same? + + DAGNY. Torture me not. Woe is me! thou hast made me see myself +too clearly. + + HIORDIS. A jesting word, and at once thou art in tears! Think no +more of it. Look what I have done to-day. (Takes some arrows from +the table.) Are they not keen and biting--feel! I know well how to +sharpen arrows, do I not? + + DAGNY. And to use them too; thou strikest surely, Hiordis! All +that thou hast said to me--I have never thought of before. (More +vehemently.) But that Sigurd----! That for all these years I should +have made his life heavy and unhonoured;--no, no, it cannot be true! + + HIORDIS. Nay now, comfort thee, Dagny; indeed it is not true. Were +Sigurd of the same mind as in former days, it might be true enough; +for then was his whole soul bent on being the foremost man in the +land;--now he is content with a lowlier lot. + + DAGNY. No, Hiordis; Sigurd is high-minded now as ever; I see it +well, I am not the right mate for him. He has hidden it from me; +but it shall be so no longer. + + HIORDIS. What wilt thou do? + + DAGNY. I will no longer hang like a clog upon his feet; I will be +a hindrance to him no longer. + + HIORDIS. Then thou wilt----? + + DAGNY. Peace; some one comes! + + (A House-carl enters from the back.) + + THE CARL. Sigurd Viking is coming to the hall. + + HIORDIS. Sigurd! Then call Gunnar hither. + + THE CARL. Gunnar has ridden forth to gather his neighbours +together; for Kare the Peasant would---- + + HIORDIS. Good, good, I know it; go! (The Carl goes. To DAGNY, who +is also going.) Whither wilt thou? + + DAGNY. I will not meet Sigurd. Too well I feel that we must part; +but to meet him now--no, no, I cannot! + + (Goes out to the left.) + + HIORDIS (looks after her in silence for a moment). And it was she +I would have---- (completes her thought by a glance at the bow-string). +That would have been a poor revenge;--nay, I have cut deeper now! Hm; +it is hard to die, but sometimes it is harder still to live! + + (SIGURD enters from the back.) + + HIORDIS. Doubtless thou seekest Gunnar; be seated, he will be here +even now. + + (Is going.) + + SIGURD. Nay, stay; it is thee I seek, rather than him. + + HIORDIS. Me? + + SIGURD. And 'tis well I find thee alone. + + HIORDIS. If thou comest to mock me, it would sure be no hindrance +to thee though the hall were full of men and women. + + SIGURD. Ay, ay, well I know what thoughts thou hast of me. + + HIORDIS (bitterly). I do thee wrong mayhap! Nay, nay, Sigurd, thou +hast been as a poison to all my days. Bethink thee who it was that +wrought that shameful guile; who it was that lay by my side in the +bower, feigning love with the laugh of cunning in his heart; who it +was that flung me forth to Gunnar, since for him I was good enough, +forsooth--and then sailed away with the woman he held dear! + + SIGURD. Man's will can do this and that; but fate rules in the deeds +that shape our lives--so has it gone with us twain. + + HIORDIS. True enough; evil Norns hold sway over the world; but their +might is little if they find not helpers in our own heart. Happy is +he who has strength to battle with the Norn--and it is that I have +now in hand. + + SIGURD. What mean'st thou? + + HIORDIS. I will essay a trial of strength against those--those who +are over me. But let us not talk more of this; I have much to do to- +day. (She seats herself at the table.) + + SIGURD (after a pause). Thou makest good weapons for Gunnar. + + HIORDIS (with a quiet smile). Not for Gunnar, but against thee. + + SIGURD. Most like it is the same thing. + + HIORDIS. Ay, most like it is; for if I be a match for the Norn, +then sooner or later shalt thou and Gunnar---- (breaks off, leans +backwards against the table, and says with an altered ring in her +voice:) Hm; knowest thou what I sometimes dream? I have often made +it my pastime to limn pleasant pictures in my mind; I sit and close +my eyes and think: Now comes Sigurd the Strong to the isle;--he will +burn us in our house, me and my husband. All Gunnar's men have +fallen; only he and I are left; they set light to the roof from +without:--"A bow-shot," cries Gunnar, "one bow-shot may save us;"-- +then the bow-string breaks--"Hiordis, cut a tress of thy hair and +make a bow-string of it,--our life is at stake." But then I laugh-- +"Let it burn, let it burn--to me, life is not worth a handful of hair!" + + SIGURD. There is a strange might in all thy speech. (Approaches her.) + + HIORDIS (looks coldly at him). Wouldst sit beside me? + + SIGURD. Thou deemest my heart is bitter towards thee. Hiordis, this +is the last time we shall have speech together; there is something +that gnaws me like a sore sickness, and thus I cannot part from thee; +thou must know me better. + + HIORDIS. What wouldst thou? + + SIGURD. Tell thee a saga. + + HIORDIS. Is it sad? + + SIGURD. Sad, as life itself. + + HIORDIS (bitterly). What knowest thou of the sadness of life? + + SIGURD. Judge when my saga is over. + + HIORDIS. Then tell it me; I shall work the while. + + (He sits on a low stool to her right.) + + SIGURD. Once upon a time there were two young vikings, who set +forth from Norway to win wealth and honour; they had sworn each other +friendship; and held truly together, how far soever thy might fare. + + HIORDIS. And the two young vikings hight Sigurd and Gunnar? + + SIGURD. Ay, we may call them so. At last they came to Iceland; and +there dwelt an old chieftain, who had come forth from Norway in King +Harald's days. He had two fair women in his house; but one, his +foster-daughter, was the noblest, for she was wise and strong of +soul; and the vikings spoke of her between themselves, and never +had they seen a fairer woman, so deemed they both. + + HIORDIS (in suspense). Both? Wilt thou mock me? + + SIGURD. Gunnar thought of her night and day, and that did Sigurd no +less; but both held their peace, and no man could say from her bearing +whether Gunnar found favour in her eyes; but that Sigurd misliked her, +that was easy to discern. + + HIORDIS (breathlessly). Go on, go on----! + + SIGURD. Yet ever the more must Sigurd dream of her; but of that wist +no man. Now it befell one evening that there was a drinking-feast; +and then swore that proud woman that no man should possess her save +he who wrought a mighty deed, which she named. High beat Sigurd's +heart for joy; for he felt within him the strength to do that deed; +but Gunnar took him apart and told him of his love;--Sigurd said +naught of his, but went to the---- + + HIORDIS (vehemently). Sigurd, Sigurd! (Controlling herself.) And +this saga--is it true? + + SIGURD. True it is. One of us had to yield; Gunnar was my friend; +I could do aught else. So thou becamest Gunnar's wife, and I wedded +another woman. + + HIORDIS. And came to love her! + + SIGURD. I learned to prize her; but one woman only has Sigurd +loved, and that is she who frowned upon him from the first day they +met. Here ends my saga; and now let us part.--Farewell, Gunnar's +wife; never shall we meet again. + + HIORDIS (springing up). Stay, stay! Woe to us both; Sigurd, what +hast thou done? + + SIGURD (starting). I, done? What ails thee? + + HIORDIS. And all this dost thou tell me now! But no--it cannot +be true! + + SIGURD. These are my last words to thee, and every word is true. +I would not thou shouldst think hardly of me, therefore I needs +must speak. + + HIORDIS (involuntarily clasps her hands together and gazes at him +in voiceless astonishment). Loved--loved me--thou! (Vehemently, +coming close up to him.) I will not believe thee! (Looks hard at +him.) Yes, it is true, and--baleful for us both! + + (Hides her face in her hands, and turns away from him.) + + SIGURD (terror-stricken). Hiordis! + + HIORDIS (softly, struggling with tears and laughter). Nay, heed +me not! This was all I meant, that---- (Lays her hand on his arm.) +Sigurd, thou hast not told thy saga to the end; that proud woman +thou didst tell of--she returned thy love! + + SIGURD (starts backwards). Thou? + + HIORDIS (with composure). Yes, Sigurd, I have loved thee, at last +I understand it. Thou sayest I was ungentle and short of speech +towards thee; what wouldst thou have a woman do? I could not offer +thee my love, for then had I been little worthy of thee. I deemed +thee ever the noblest man of men; and then to know thee another's +husband--'twas that caused me the bitter pain, that myself I could +not understand! + + SIGURD (much moved). A baleful web has the Norn woven around us +twain. + + HIORDIS. The blame is thine own; bravely and firmly it becomes a +man to act. When I set that hard proof for him who should win me, +my thought was of thee;--yet could'st thou----! + + SIGURD. I knew Gunnar's soul-sickness; I alone could heal it;--was +there aught for me to choose? And yet, had I known what I now know, I +scarce dare answer for myself; for great is the might of love. + + HIORDIS (with animation). But now, Sigurd!--A baleful hap has held +us apart all these years; now the knot is loosed; the days to come +shall make good the past to us. + + SIGURD (shaking his head). It cannot be; we must part again. + + HIORDIS. Nay, we must not. I love thee, that may I now say unashamed; +for my love is no mere dalliance, like a weak woman's; were I a man-- +by all the Mighty Ones, I could still love thee, even as now I do! Up +then, Sigurd! Happiness is worth a daring deed; we are both free if +we but will it, and then the game is won. + + SIGURD. Free? What meanest thou? + + HIORDIS. What is Dagny to thee? What can she be to thee? No more +than I count Gunnar in my secret heart. What matters it though two +worthless lives be wrecked? + + SIGURD. Hiordis, Hiordis! + + HIORDIS. Let Gunnar stay where he is; let Dagny fare with her father +to Iceland; I will follow thee in harness of steel, withersoever thou +wendest. (SIGURD makes a movement.) Not as thy wife will I follow +thee; for I have belonged to another, and the woman lives that has +lain by thy side. No, Sigurd, not as they wife, but like those mighty +women, like Hilde's sisters,[1] will I follow thee, and fire thee to +strife and to manly deeds, so that thy name shall be heard over every +land. In the sword-game will I stand by thy side; I will fare forth +among thy warriors on the stormy viking-raids; and when the death- +song is sung, it shall tell of Sigurd and Hiordis in one! + + [1] The Valkyries. + + SIGURD. Once was that my fairest dream; now, it is too late. Gunnar +and Dagny stand between us, and that by right. I crushed my love for +Gunnar's sake;--how great soever my suffering, I cannot undo my deed. +And Dagny--full of faith and trust she left her home and kindred; +never must she dream that I longed for Hiordis as often as she took +me to her breast. + + HIORDIS. And for such a cause wilt thou lay a burden on thy life! +To what end hast thou strength and might, and therewith all noble gifts +of the mind? And deemest thou it can now beseem me to dwell beneath +Gunnar's roof? Nay, Sigurd, trust me, there are many tasks awaiting +such a man as thou. Erik is king of Norway--do thou rise against him! +Many goodly warriors will join thee and swear thee fealty; with +unconquerable might will we press onward, and fight and toil unresting +until thou art seated on the throne of Harfager! + + SIGURD. Hiordis, Hiordis, so have I dreamt in my wild youth; let +it be forgotten--tempt me not! + + HIORDIS (impressively). It is the Norn's will that we two shall +hold together; it cannot be altered. Plainly now I see my task in +life: to make thee famous over all the world. Thou hast stood before +me every day, every hour of my life; I sought to tear thee out of +my mind, but I lacked the might; now it is needless, now that I know +thou lovest me. + + SIGURD (with forced coldness). If that be so--then know--I _have_ +loved thee; it is past now;--I have forgot those days. + + HIORDIS. Sigurd, in that thou liest! So much at least am I worth, +that if thou hast loved me once, thou canst never forget it. + + SIGURD (vehemently). I must; and now I will. + + HIORDIS. So be it; but thou _canst_ not. Thou wilt seek to hinder +me, but in vain; ere evening falls, Gunnar and Dagny shall know all. + + SIGURD. Ha, that wilt thou never do! + + HIORDIS. That will I do! + + SIGURD. Then must I know thee ill; high-souled have I ever deemed +thee. + + HIORDIS. Evil days breed evil thoughts; too great has been thy +trust in me. I will, I must, go forth by thy side--forth to face +life and strife; Gunnar's roof-tree is too low for me. + + SIGURD (with emphasis). But honour between man and man hast thou +highly prized. There lack not grounds for strife between me and +Gunnar; say, now, that he fell by my hand, wouldst thou still make +all known and follow me? + + HIORDIS (starting). Wherefore askest thou? + + SIGURD. Answer me first: what wouldst thou do, were I to thy husband +his bane. + + HIORDIS (looks hard at him). Then must I keep silence and never rest +until I had seen thee slain. + + SIGURD (with a smile). It is well, Hiordis--I knew it. + + HIORDIS (hastily). But it can never come to pass! + + SIGURD. It must come to pass; thou thyself hast cast the die for +Gunnar's life and mine. + + (GUNNAR, with some House-carls, enters from the back.) + + GUNNAR (gloomily, to HIORDIS). See now; the seed thou hast sown is +shooting bravely! + + SIGURD (approaching). What is amiss with thee? + + GUNNAR. Sigurd, is it thou? What is amiss? Nought but what I might +well have foreseen. As soon as Dagny, thy wife, had brought tidings +of Kare the Peasant, I took horse and rode to my neighbours to crave +help against him. + + HIORDIS (eagerly). Well? + + GUNNAR. I was answered awry where'er I came: my dealings with Kare +had been little to my honour, it was said;--hm, other things were said +to boot, that I will not utter.--I am spurned at by all; I am thought +to have done a dastard deed; men hold it a shame to make common cause +with me. + + SIGURD. It shall not long be held a shame; ere evening comes, thou +shalt have men enough to face Kare. + + GUNNAR. Sigurd! + + HIORDIS (in a low voice, triumphantly). Ha, I knew it well! + + SIGURD (with forced resolution). But then is there an end to the +peace between us; for hearken to my words, Gunnar--thou hast slain +Thorolf, my wife's kinsman, and therefore do I challenge thee to +single combat[1] to-morrow at break of day. + + [1] _Holmgang_--see note, p. 138 [_Holmgang_=duel.] + + (HIORDIS, in violent inward emotion, makes a stride towards SIGURD, + but collects herself and remains standing motionless during the + following.) + + GUNNAR (in extreme astonishment). To single combat----! Me!--Thou +art jesting, Sigurd! + + SIGURD. Thou art lawfully challenged to single combat; 'twill be a +game for life or death; one of us must fall! + + GUNNAR (bitterly). Ha, I understand it well. When I came, thou +didst talk with Hiordis alone; she has goaded thee afresh! + + SIGURD. May hap. (Half towards HIORDIS.) A high-souled woman must +ever guard her husband's honour. (To the men in the background.) And +do ye, house-carls, now go to Gunnar's neighbours, and say to them +that to-morrow he is to ply sword-strokes with me; none dare call +that man a dastard who bears arms against Sigurd Viking! + + (The House-carls go out by the back.) + + GUNNAR (goes quickly up to SIGURD and presses his hands, in strong +emotion). Sigurd, my brave brother, now I understand thee! Thou +venturest thy life for my honour, as of old for my happiness! + + SIGURD. Thank thy wife; she has the largest part in what I do. To- +morrow at break of day---- + + GUNNAR. I will meet thee. (Tenderly.) Foster-brother, wilt thou +have a good blade of me? It is a gift of price. + + SIGURD. I thank thee; but let it hang.--Who knows if next evening +I may have any use for it. + + GUNNAR (shakes his hand). Farewell, Sigurd! + + SIGURD. Again farewell, and fortune befriend thee this night! + + (They part. GUNNAR goes out to the right. SIGURD casts a glance + at HIORDIS, and goes out by the back.) + + HIORDIS (after a pause, softly and thoughtfully). To-morrow they +fight! Which will fall? (After a moment's silence, she bursts forth +as if seized by a strong resolution.) Let fall who will--Sigurd and +I shall still be together! + + + +ACT FOURTH. + + +(By the coast. It is evening; the moon breaks forth now and again, + from among dark and ragged storm-clouds. At the back, a black + grave-mound, newly heaped up.) +(ORNULF sits on a stone, in front on the right, his head bare, his + elbows resting on his knees, and his face buried in his hands. His + men are digging at the mound; some give light with pine-knot torches. + After a short pause, SIGURD and DAGNY enter from the boat-house, + where a wood fire is burning.) + + + DAGNY (in a low voice). There sits he still. (Holding SIGURD back.) +Nay, speak not to him! + + SIGURD. Thou say'st well; it is too soon; best leave him! + + DAGNY (goes over to the right, and gazes at her father in quiet +sorrow). So strong was he yesterday when he bore Thorolf's body on +his back; strong was he as he helped to heap the grave-mound; but +when they were all laid to rest, and earth and stones piled over +them--then the sorrow seized him; then seemed it of a sudden as +though his fire were quenched. (Dries her tears.) Tell me, Sigurd, +when thinkest thou to fare homeward to Iceland? + + SIGURD. So soon as the storm abates, and my quarrel with Gunnar +is ended. + + DAGNY. And then wilt thou buy land and build thee a homestead, and +go a-viking no more? + + SIGURD. Yes, yes,--that have I promised. + + DAGNY. And I may believe without doubt that Hiordis spoke falsely +when she said that I was unworthy to be thy wife? + + SIGURD. Yes yes, Dagny, trust thou to my word. + + DAGNY. Then am I glad again, and will try to forget all the evil +that here has been wrought. In the long winter evenings we will talk +together of Gunnar and Hiordis, and---- + + SIGURD. Nay, Dagny, wouldst thou have things go well with us, do +thou never speak Hiordis' name when we sit together in Iceland. + + DAGNY (mildly upbraiding him). Unjust is thy hatred towards her. +Sigurd, Sigurd, it is unlike thee. + + ONE OF THE MEN (approaching). There now, the mound is finished. + + ORNULF (as if awaking). The mound? Is it--ay, ay---- + + SIGURD. Now speak to him, Dagny. + + DAGNY (approaching). Father, it is cold out here; a storm is +gathering to-night. + + ORNULF. Hm; heed it not; the mound is close-heaped and crannyless; +they lie warm in there. + + DAGNY. Ay, but thou---- + + ORNULF. I? I am not cold. + + DAGNY. Nought hast thou eaten today; wilt thou not go in? The +supper-board stands ready. + + ORNULF. Let the supper-board stand; I have no hunger. + + DAGNY. But to sit here so still--trust me, thou wilt take hurt of +it; thou art ever wont to be stirring. + + ORNULF. True, true; there is somewhat that crushes my breast; I +cannot draw breath. + + (He hides his face in his hands. A pause. DAGNY seats herself + beside him.) + + DAGNY. To-morrow wilt thou make ready thy ship and set forth for +Iceland? + + ORNULF (without looking up). What should I do there? Nay, I will +to my sons. + + DAGNY (with pain). Father! + + ORNULF (raises his head). Go in and let me sit here; when the storm +has played with me for a night or two, the game will be over, I ween. + + SIGURD. Thou canst not think to deal thus with thyself. + + ORNULF. Dost marvel that I fain would rest? My day's work is done; +I have laid my sons in their grave. (Vehemently.) Go from me!--Go, go! + + (He hides his face.) + + SIGURD (softly, to DAGNY, who rises). Let him sit yet a while. + + DAGNY. Nay, I have one rede yet untried;--I know him. (To Ornulf.) +Thy day's work done, say'st thou? Nay, that it is not. Thou hast laid +thy sons in the grave;--but art thou not a skald? It is meet that thou +should'st sing their memory. + + ORNULF (shaking his head). Sing? Nay, nay; yesterday I could sing; +I am too old to-day. + + DAGNY. But needs must thou; honourable men were thy sons, one and +all; a song must be made of them, and that can none of our kin but +thou. + + ORNULF (looks inquiringly at SIGURD). To sing? What thinkest +_thou_, Sigurd? + + SIGURD. Meseems it is but meet; thou must e'en do as she says. + + DAGNY. Thy neighbours in Iceland will deem it ill done when the +grave-ale is drunk over Ornulf's children, and there is no song +to sing with it. Thou hast ever time enough to follow thy sons. + + ORNULF. Well well, I will try it; and thou, Dagny, give heed, that +afterwards thou may'st carve the song on staves. + + (The men approach with the torches, forming a group around him; + he is silent for a time, reflecting; then he says:) + + Bragi's[1] gift is bitter + when the heart is broken; + sorrow-laden singer, + singing, suffers sorely. + + Natheless, since the Skald-god + gave me skill in song-craft, + in a lay loud-ringing + be my loss lamented! + + (Rises.) + + Ruthless Norn[2] and wrathful + wrecked my life and ravaged, + wiled away my welfare, + wasted Ornulf's treasure. + + Sons had Ornulf seven, + by the great gods granted;-- + lonely now and life-sick + goes the greybeard, sonless. + + Seven sons so stately, + bred among the sword-blades, + made a mighty bulwark + round the snow-locked sea-king. + + Levelled lies the bulwark, + dead my swordsmen seven; + gone the greybeard's gladness, + desolate his dwelling. + + Thorolf,--thou my last-born! + Of the bold the boldest! + Soon were spent my sorrow + so but thou wert left me! + + Fair thou wast as springtide, + fond towards thy father, + waxing straight and stalwart + to so wight a warrior. + + Dark and drear his death-wound + leaves my life's lone evening; + grief hath gripped my bosom + as 'twixt hurtling targes. + + Nought the Norn denied me + of her rueful riches, + showering woes unstinted + over Ornulf's world-way. + + Weak are now my weapons. + But, were god-might given me, + then, oh Norn, I swear it, + scarce should'st thou go scatheless! + + Dire were then my vengeance; + then had dawned thy doomsday, + Norn, that now hast left me + nought but yonder grave-mound. + + Nought, I said? Nay, truly, + somewhat still is Ornulf's, + since of Suttung's[3] mead-horn + he betimes drank deeply. + + (With rising enthusiasm.) + + Though she stripped me sonless, + one great gift she gave me-- + songcraft's mighty secret, + skill to sing my sorrows. + + On my lips she laid it, + goodly gift of songcraft; + loud, then, let my lay sound, + e'en where they are lying! + + Hail, my stout sons seven! + Hail, as homeward ride ye! + Songcraft's glorious god-gift + stauncheth woe and wailing. + + [1] Bragi, the god of poetry and eloquence. + [2] See note, p. 175 [The "Nornir" were the Fates of northern + mythology.] + [3] Suttung was a giant who kept guard over the magic mead of + poetical inspiration. + + (He draws a deep breath, throws back the hair from his brow, and + says calmly:) + + So--so; now is Ornulf sound and strong again. (To the men.) Follow +me to the supper-board, lads; we have had a heavy day's work! + + (Goes with the men into the boat-house.) + + DAGNY. Praised be the Mighty Ones on high that gave me so good a +rede. (To SIGURD.) Wilt thou not go in? + + SIGURD. Nay, I list not to. Tell me, are all things ready for +to-morrow? + + DAGNY. They are; a silk-sewn shroud lies on the bench; but I know +full surely that thou wilt hold thee against Gunnar, so I have not +wept over it. + + SIGURD. Grant all good powers, that thou may'st never weep for my +sake. (He stops and looks out.) + + DAGNY. What art thou listening to? + + SIGURD. Hear'st thou nought--_there?_ + + (Points towards the left.) + + DAGNY. Ay, there goes a fearsome storm over the sea! + + SIGURD (going up a little towards the background). Hm, there will +fall hard hailstones in that storm. (Shouts.) Who comes? + + KARE THE PEASANT (without on the left). Folk thou wot'st of, Sigurd +Viking! + + (KARE THE PEASANT, with a band of armed men, enters from the left.) + + SIGURD. Whither would ye? + + KARE. To Gunnar's hall. + + SIGURD. As foemen? + + KARE. Ay, trust me for that! Thou didst hinder me before; but now +I ween thou wilt scarce do the like. + + SIGURD. Maybe not. + + KARE. I have heard of thy challenge to Gunnar; but if things go to +my mind, weak will be his weapons when the time comes for your meeting. + + SIGURD. 'Tis venturesome work thou goest about; take heed for +thyself, Peasant! + + KARE (with defiant laughter). Leave that to me; if thou wilt tackle +thy ship to-night, we will give thee light for the task!--Come, all +my men; here goes the way. + + (They go off to the right, at the back.) + + DAGNY. Sigurd, Sigurd, this misdeed must thou hinder. + + SIGURD (goes quickly to the door of the hut, and calls in). Up from +the board, Ornulf; take vengeance on Kare the Peasant. + + ORNULF (comes out, with the rest). Kare the Peasant--where is he? + + SIGURD. He is making for Gunnar's hall to burn it over their heads. + + ORNULF. Ha-ha--let him do as he will; so shall I be avenged on +Gunnar and Hiordis, and afterwards I can deal with Kare. + + SIGURD. Ay, that rede avails not; wouldst thou strike at Kare, +thou must seek him out to-night; for when his misdeed is done, he +will take to the mountains. I have challenged Gunnar to single +combat; him thou hast safely enough, unless I myself--but no matter.-- +To-night he must be shielded from his foes; it would ill befit thee +to let such a dastard as Kare rob thee of thy revenge. + + ORNULF. Thou say'st truly. To-night will I shield the slayer of +Thorolf; but to-morrow he must die. + + SIGURD. He or I--doubt not of that! + + ORNULF. Come then, to take vengeance for Ornulf's sons. + + (He goes out with his men by the back, to the right.) + + SIGURD. Dagny, do thou follow them;--I must bide here; for the +rumour of the combat is already abroad, and I may not meet Gunnar +ere the time comes. But thou--do thou keep rein on thy father; he +must go honourably to work; in Gunnar's hall there are many women; +no harm must befall Hiordis or the rest. + + DAGNY. Yes, I will follow them. Thou hast a kind thought even for +Hiordis; I thank thee. + + SIGURD. Go, go, Dagny! + + DAGNY. I go; but be thou at ease as to Hiordis; she has gilded +armour in her bower, and will know how to shield herself. + + SIGURD. That deem I too; but go thou nevertheless; guide thy +father's course; watch over all--and over Gunnar's wife! + + DAGNY. Trust to me. Farewell, till we meet again. + + (She follows the others.) + + SIGURD. 'Tis the first time, foster-brother, that I stand weaponless +whilst thou art in danger. (Listens.) I hear shouts and sword-strokes; +--they are already at the hall. (Goes towards the right, but stops and +recoils in astonishment.) Hiordis! Comes she hither! + + (HIORDIS enters, clad in a short scarlet kirtle, with gilded armour: + helmet, hauberk, arm-plates, and greaves. Her hair is flying + loose; at her back hangs a quiver, and at her belt a small shield. + She has in her hand the bow strung with her hair.) + + HIORDIS (hastily looking behind her, as though in dread of something +pursuing her, goes close up to SIGURD, seizes him by the arm, and +whispers:) Sigurd, Sigurd, canst thou see it? + + SIGURD. What? Where ? + + HIORDIS. The wolf there--close behind me; it does not move; it +glares at me with its two red eyes. It is my wraith,[1], Sigurd! +Three times has it appeared to me; that bodes that I shall surely +die to-night! + + [1] The word "wraith" is here used in an obviously inexact sense; + but the wraith seemed to be the nearest equivalent in English + mythology to the Scandinavian "fylgie," an attendant spirit, often + regarded as a sort of emanation from the person it accompanied, and + sometimes (as in this case) typifying that person's moral attributes. + + SIGURD. Hiordis, Hiordis! + + HIORDIS. It has sunk into the earth! Yes, yes, now it has warned me. + + SIGURD. Thou art sick; come, go in with me. + + HIORDIS. Nay, here will I bide; I have but little time left. + + SIGURD. What has befallen thee? + + HIORDIS. What has befallen? That know I not; but true was it what +thou said'st to-day, that Gunnar and Dagny stand between us; we must +away from them and from life: then can we be together! + + SIGURD. We? Ha, thou meanest----! + + HIORDIS (with dignity). I have been homeless in this world from that +day thou didst take another to wife. That was ill done of thee! All +good gifts may a man give his faithful friend--all, save the woman he +loves; for if he do that, he rends the Norn's secret web, and two lives +are wrecked. An unerring voice within me tells me I came into the +world that my strong soul might cheer and sustain thee through heavy +days, and that thou wast born to the end I might find in _one_ man +all that seemed to me great and noble; for this I know Sigurd--had we +two held together, thou hadst become more famous than all others, and +I happier. + + SIGURD. It avails not now to mourn. Thinkest thou it is a merry +life that awaits me? To be by Dagny's side day be day, and feign a +love my heart shrinks from? Yet so it must be; it cannot be altered. + + HIORDIS (in a growing frenzy). It _shall_ be altered! We must out +of this life, both of us! Seest thou this bow-string? With it can I +surely hit my mark; for I have crooned fair sorceries over it! (Places +an arrow in the bow, which is strung.) Hark! hearest thou that rushing +in the air? It is the dead men's ride to Nalhal: I have bewitched +them hither;--we two will join them in their ride! + + SIGURD (shrinking back). Hiordis, Hiordis--I fear thee! + + HIORDIS (not heeding him). Our fate no power can alter now! Oh, 'tis +better so than if thou hadst wedded me here in this life--if I had +sat in thy homestead weaving linen and wool for thee and bearing thee +children--pah! + + SIGURD. Hold, hold! Thy sorcery has been too strong for thee; thou +art soul-sick, Hiordis! (Horror-struck.) Ha, see--see! Gunnar's hall-- +it is burning! + + HIORDIS. Let it burn, let it burn! The cloud-hall up yonder is +loftier than Gunnar's rafter-roof! + + SIGURD. But Egil, thy son--they are slaying him! + + HIORDIS. Let him die--my shame dies with him! + + SIGURD. And Gunnar--they are taking thy husband's life! + + HIORDIS. What care I! A better husband shall I follow home this +night! Ay, Sigurd, so must it be; here on this earth is no happiness +for me. The White God is coming northward; him will I not meet; the +old gods are strong no longer;--they sleep, they sit half shadow- +high;--with them will we strive! Out of this life, Sigurd; I will +enthrone thee king in heaven, and I will sit at thy side. (The storm +bursts wildly.) Hark, hark, here comes our company! Canst see the +black steeds galloping?--one is for me and one for thee. (Draws the +arrow to her ear and shoots.) Away, then, on thy last ride home! + + SIGURD. Well aimed, Hiordis! + + (He falls.) + + HIORDIS (jubilant, rushes up to him). Sigurd, my brother,--now art +thou mine at last! + + SIGURD. Now less than ever. Here our ways part; for I am a +Christian man. + + HIORDIS (appalled). Thou----! Ha, no, no! + + SIGURD. The White God is mine; King AEthelstan taught me to know +him; it is to him I go. + + HIORDIS (in despair). And I----! (Drops her bow.) Woe! woe! + + SIGURD. Heavy has my life been from the hour I tore thee out of my +own heart and gave thee to Gunnar. Thanks, Hiordis;--now am I so light +and free. + + (Dies.) + + HIORDIS (quietly). Dead! Then truly have I brought my soul to wreck! +(The storm increases; she breaks forth wildly.) They come! I have +bewitched them hither! No, no! I will not go with you! I will not ride +without Sigurd! It avails not--they see me; they laugh and beckon to +me; they spur their horses! (Rushes out to the edge of the cliff at +the back.) They are upon me;--and no shelter no hiding- place! Ay, +mayhap at the bottom of the sea! + + (She casts herself over.) + (ORNULF, DAGNY, GUNNAR, with EGIL, followed by SIGURD'S and + ORNULF'S men, gradually enter from the right.) + + ORNULF (turning towards the grave-mound). Now may ye sleep in peace; +for ye lie not unavenged. + + DAGNY (entering). Father, father--I die of fear--all that bloody +strife--and the storm;--hark, hark! + + GUNNAR (carrying EGIL). Peace, and shelter for my child! + + ORNULF. Gunnar! + + GUNNAR. Ay, Ornulf, my homestead is burnt and my men are slain; I +am in thy power; do with me what thou wilt! + + ORNULF. That Sigurd must look to. But in, under roof! It is not +safe out here. + + DAGNY. Ay, in, in! (Goes towards the boat-house, catches sight of +SIGURD'S body, and shrieks.) Sigurd, my husband!--They have slain him! +(Throwing herself upon him.) + + ORNULF (rushes up). Sigurd! + + GUNNAR (sets EGIL down). Sigurd dead! + + DAGNY (looks despairingly at the men, who surround the body). No, +no, it is not so;--he must be alive! (Catches sight of the bow.) Ha, +what is that? (Rises.) + + ORNULF. Daughter, it is as first thou saidst--Sigurd is slain. + + GUNNAR (as if seized by a sudden thought). And Hiordis!--Has Hiordis +been here? + + DAGNY (softly and with self-control). I know not; but this I know, +that her bow has been here. + + GUNNAR. Ay, I thought as much! + + DAGNY. Hush, hush! (To herself.) So bitterly did she hate him! + + GUNNAR (aside). She has slain him--the night before the combat; then +she loved me after all. + + (A thrill of dread runs through the whole group; ASGARDSREIEN--the + ride of the fallen heroes to Valhal--hurtles through the air.) + + EGIL (in terror). Father! See, see! + + GUNNAR. What is it? + + EGIL. Up there--all the black horses----! + + GUNNAR. It is the clouds that---- + + ORNULF. Nay, it is the dead men's home-faring. + + EGIL (with a shriek). Mother is with them! + + DAGNY. All good spirits! + + GUNNAR. Child, what say'st thou? + + EGIL. There--in front--on the black horse! Father, father! + + (EGIL clings in terror to his father; a short pause; the storm + passes over, the clouds part, the moon shines peacefully on + the scene.) + + GUNNAR (in quiet sorrow). Now is Hiordis surely dead! + + ORNULF. So it must be, Gunnar;--and my vengeance was rather against +her than thee. Dear has this meeting been to both of us;---- ---- +there is my hand; be there peace between us! + + GUNNAR. Thanks, Ornulf! And now aboard; I sail with thee to Iceland. + + ORNULF. Ay, to Iceland! Long will it be ere our forth-faring is +forgotten. + + Weapon wielding warrior's meeting, + woeful by the northern seaboard, + still shall live in song and saga + while our stem endure in Iceland. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Vikings of Helgeland, by Henrik Ibsen + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE VIKINGS OF HELGELAND *** + +***** This file should be named 19205.txt or 19205.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/2/0/19205/ + +Produced by Douglas Levy + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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