Chapter 3
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?