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Page 35
_Alf_.--My head she wants, the vixen!
_Helgi_.--I need not guess _whose_ life it will be.
_Sigurd_ (_continues_).--But I fear that the mercy of God will most
readily fall to your share if all the men who were present at the
slaying of Thorolf submit themselves unconditionally to Kolbein before
the 'Peace of God' is at an end; then I would hope that you will be
fortunate enough to pacify Kolbein's mind, so that full reconciliation
may be obtained, of which Kolbein also stands in great need because of
Thord Kakali and the King. Valete!
_Brand_.--The counsel of the bishop will be the best for all of us. The
slayers of Thorolf Bjarnason ought not to jeopardize other men's life to
save their own. Lady Helga has told my wife that she meditated my death,
because of the slaying of Thorolf; and though I have but little incited
you to the deed, so that it may be said to have been done against my
will even, yet will I for the welfare of the district rather give myself
up to Kolbein and suffer death, than that many men should lose their
lives because of us; and rather than that my kinsman Kolbein should be
routed by Thord Kakali through the insurrection which I and Broddi have
raised against him. (_Silence_.)
_Sigurd_.--Spoken like a man, Brand Kolbeinsson! (_Exit_ JORUN.)
_Broddi_.--We have sworn to each other not to separate before that this
our cause was entirely brought to an end; now I see your highmindedness,
Brand Kolbeinsson, as I have seen it before. The bishop has torn from
under me my trust in the fort. Hence I shall take that council to fare
to Flugumyr with you, whilst I maintain that it is entirely doubtful
as yet who is to die, Kolbein the Young, Brand, or I; but that I think
sure, also, that short time will pass between the death of any one of us
three.
_Alf_.--Let all of us go to Flugumyr and surrender to Kolbein. Will you
not go with us, Helgi Skaftason?
_Helgi_.--No one can escape his fate. I shall do what Brand does. But it
is certain death for me!
_Broddi_.--Let us go then! (_Enter_ JORUN _with_ KALF _and_ THORGEIR.)
_Jorun_.--Say farewell to your father, my boys! He intends to start on
the longest journey in this world.
_Kalf_ (_going up to his father_).--Do you mean to go to war now,
father?
_Brand_ (_lifts him up and kisses him_).--Your mother said I intended to
start on the longest journey in this world.
_Kalf_.--Then you intend to start out to Rome. That I do not mean to do,
once I am a chieftain. (BRAND _sets him down on the floor again_.)
_Brand_.--It may be that I come to Rome; but that Rome lies high aloft.
(KALF _goes up to_ BRODDI.) Now you come to me, Thorgeir! (THORGEIR
_goes up to him. He takes him on his lap_.) Don't weep, my little boy,
if I be late returning to-morrow.
_Thorgeir_.--Don't go away from me, father! Let the others go to war,
but you remain at home yourself!
_Brand_.--No, I cannot stay here; if I remain here there will be
fighting here and killing of men; but if I go I shall return with peace.
_Thorgeir_.--Oh yes! Peace is good, let me have it when you return, so I
can put it into my toy box. I will not break it at all.
_Broddi_.--The boy is right. All the peace that now exists in Iceland
may be put into a linen chest.
_Brand_ (_kisses the boy and sets him down_).--Yes, keep it well, my
boy. If you obtain it you will never have to start out on the journey
that I now must take.
_Kalf_.--You are not going to Rome, Broddi?
_Broddi_.--No. Not just now!
_Kalf_.--You are going to war, Broddi! I wish I were grown up, too!
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