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Page 19
(BISHOP BOTOLF, _in full pontificals, stands before the altar_.
BRAND KOLBEINSSON, BRODDI, ALF, DEACON SIGURD, EINAR THE RICH, HELGI
SKAFTASON, _and six others kneeling before him weaponless with bared
neck and shoulders. An invisible chorus sings the end of a Miserere. The
music stops as soon as the psalm is finished_.)
_Botolf_.--By that power which God gave to the apostle Peter to bind and
to absolve all in heaven as well as on earth, which power he bestowed
upon the pope, and the pope upon the archbishop, and the archbishop upon
me, by this power I absolve you: Brand Kolbeinsson, Broddi Thorleifsson,
Alf Gudmundsson, Deacon Sigurd Thjodolfsson, Helgi Skaftason, Einar the
Rich, and you six other men, from the sin of your having been present
at and caused the death of Thorolf Bjarnason; I absolve you from the
excommunication of the Holy Church and permit to you church-going, and
the association of Christian men.
_Brand_.--In return for our being freed from the excommunication of the
Holy Church I and Broddi Thorleifsson each will give the value of five
hundred in land, to the see of Holar; and two hundred for each of
those who were present at the slaying of Thorolf, as is set forth more
explicitly in the deed of gift which I now deliver into your hands and
which Deacon Sigurd worded. (_Gives the bishop a scroll of parchment_.
BRAND _and his men rearrange their garments_.)
_Botolf_.--Exceeding bold have you become, Deacon Sigurd, to carry
weapons and to shed blood.
_Broddi_.--A weaponless man is but a wretch, my lord!
_Sigurd_.--Armed priests went to war with Bishop Gudmund Arason, my
lord!
_Botolf_.--Because of his visitations with armed men, his battlings, and
his unruliness Bishop Gudmund was declared to have forfeited his office.
_Brand_.--Yet retained his office as bishop till his dying day, through
the good services of Kolbein the Young.
_Botolf_.--Kolbein is king over you all, yet archbishop, I know, he is
not. Over my clerics I mean to rule so long as I am in power.
_Sigurd_.--I did not urge on to Thorolf's execution, and no sacraments
would he have received had I not been one of the company.
_Botolf_.--For that reason I shall let pass by your transgression, this
once, but leave your weapons here, when you depart, and never more carry
weapons henceforth.
_Sigurd_.--I shall obey, my lord!
_Kolbein Kaldaljos_ (_enters_).--Now I would pray you, sir bishop, that
you assist my son and his men to obtain a becoming reconciliation in the
action about Thorolf's death; because my namesake Kolbein was a stanch
friend of his.
_Botolf_.--Those who are reconciled with the Holy Church ought also to
be reconciled with all Christian men.
_Alf_.--They ought certainly; but Kolbein the Young is but little of a
Christian when he means to take revenge for one of his men.
_Broddi_.--He will perhaps call the slaying of Thorolf an act of
insurrection against himself.
_Botolf_.--It is an ill matter to assist rebels.
_Kolbein Kaldaljos_.--Thorolf insulted my son by giving him a nickname,
and he took revenge for that.
_Botolf_.--You Icelanders must be more deliberate in your words than are
we Norwegians, if every nickname shall cost a man's life. The slaying of
Thorolf was a wicked deed, because Brand swore him an eternal truce. But
in this land every one seems hardened in the ways of Kain.
_Kolbein Kaldaljos_.--My son Brand will succeed to Kolbein the Young!
_Botolf_.--He will succeed Kolbein? Then shall I seek to bring about a
reconciliation between you and Kolbein the Young!
_Broddi_.--And for the purpose that it come about in the smoothest
manner possible I need the fortifications of your see a day or two for
my men.
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