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Page 17
_Broddi_.--No; he reached it to Deacon Sigurd, before kneeling down. Why
does Helgi let a brave man wait so long for the blow?
(_A heavy blow on a body is heard without_. BRAND _starts up, pulls_
THOROLF'S _ring from his arm and gives it to_ BRODDI.)
_Brand_.--Give Helgi Skaftason this ring; he will have need of the value
in it. It is the ring Thorolf handed over to me in Flugumyr. I will not
wear it!
_Broddi_.--It shall be as you wish. Now our men have laid a shield over
Thorolf's body.
(_The slayers of_ THOROLF _enter from the left_.)
_Alf_.--Great news abroad!
_Brand_.--We know what has happened, and that Thorolf Bjarnason is dead.
_Alf_.--'Dog-like on crushed bones he fed,
Tan of bark his hide dyed red.'[A]
[Footnote A: Alf's lines are to be understood, so that Thorolf lived
like a beggar in his youth, eating crushed bones (of dried fish;
the dried fish are beaten with a hammer so as to crush the bones
and separate them from the meat), and gnawing the bark of trees.
(H. Hermannsson.) The lines are from a stanza made by one Gudmund
Asbjarnason on Thorolf Sturlunga, ch. 122.]
_Broddi_.--Shame on you, Alf, to make mock at Thorolf, now he is dead.
(_Enter from the right_ LADY HELGA, ASBJORN, _and_ SALVOR. HELGA _in
traveling costume, with a veil with long white tassels. All present are
greatly alarmed as they see her_.)
_Brand_.--Lady Helga! Hail, cousin!
_Helga_.--Hail to all of you! (_They bow to her_.) What are you about,
here, kinsman Brand?
_Brand_.--I am biding for better weather. But what may be the purpose of
your journey?
_Helga_.--I am on a voyage to inspect our building of ships. In the
snowstorm I and Asbjorn lost our way; but a short while ago we saw a
fire or a light and turned that way. Now we are come here.
_Brand_.--How fares Kolbein, your husband?
_Helga_.--Very eager you are now to succeed to him. (_Smiles_. THOROLF'S
_men, weaponless, come running up and stop behind_.) You here!
_First Man_.--They have slain Thorolf Bjarnason. His body lies here!
_Helga_ (_grasps at her heart for a moment_).--Thorolf Bjarnason! Slain!
_Second Man_.--But this moment they beheaded him.
_Helga_.--Oh, pity that I came too late! (_Shoves_ ASBJORN _aside and
fixes her eyes on those present_.) Who of you slew T-h-o-r-o-l-f?
_Helgi Skaftason_ (_advances and dries his axe on the fringes of her
veil; she smiles at him_).--Here you may see the blood of Thorolf, your
friend, my lady. Me you have to thank for it that his locks are bloody.
_Asbjorn_ (_pushing forth between them_).--You wretched knave!
_Broddi_.--Shame upon you, Helgi Skaftason!
_Helga_.--What business of yours is it? (_Smiling, to_ HELGI.) You may
depend upon me for rewarding you for the precious stain you have put on
my veil. Not just now. I shall find you later, Helgi Skaftason!
_Alf_ (_to_ BRODDI).--She will bring a plague upon us all; let us draw a
sack over her head.[A]
[Footnote A: A measure taken against the influence of the 'evil eye' of
witches.]
_Broddi_.--I shall kill you, Alf!
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