|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 37
_Helga_.--That would amount to humbling my husband! (_Seats herself on
her chair on the dais_.) Bishop Botolf has promised to sit with us in
the hall here to-night; have two tapers, large and thick, placed on the
table in front of the high seat.
(EINAR THE RICH _enters hurriedly and runs up on the dais. He lays his
head on the knees of_ LADY HELGA. SALVOR _shrieks in fright_.)
_Einar_.--I am bringing you my head, lady!
_Helga_.--Why shriek so, Salvor?--Who are you?
_Einar_.--I am Einar of Vik.
_Helga_.--Good is your gift, and I shall gladly accept it! Salvor! Ask
Asbjorn Illugason to come here. I desire that he shall behead Einar the
Rich. (_Exit_ SALVOR.)
_Einar_ (_quickly takes_ THOROLF'S _ring from his arm_).--Spare my life;
for God's sake, mercy, mercy, mercy!
_Helga_.--You shall obtain the same mercy as did Thorolf Bjarnason!
_Einar_.--Do you know this ring, lady?
_Helga_ (_attentively looking at the ring_).--That ring I know; did you
steal it from the body of Thorolf?
_Einar_.--Steal? As rich a man as I am? No, Thorolf bade me give you
this ring, lady, with this message----
_Helga_ (_approaching him, eagerly_).--What message? What message? Was
that just before he was slain?
_Einar_.--Yes, just before that!
_Helga_.--And the message? Are you tongue-tied?
_Einar_.--That I should be spared, life and limb, although I had been
among his assailants.
_Helga_.--Did Thorolf mention any others to be spared beside you?
_Einar_.--No, none!
_Helga_.--The ring is the right sign. If Thorolf has forgiven you, why
should I not do likewise? (_Leads him out_.) Wait here in that corner; I
shall spare you.
_Asbjorn_ (_comes in hurriedly_).--Are you in danger, lady?
_Helga_.--No. A man's life was given me which I did not wish to take,
though.
_Asbjorn_.--I feared it might be some attack by Broddi and his men.
_Helga_.--Broddi will soon become peacefully inclined. (_Enter_ KOLBEIN
THE YOUNG, BISHOP BOTOLF _in his pontifical robes_, HAF, _and_ SALVOR,
_bearing two big, stout tapers which are lit. The hall becomes half
filled with armed men_.)
_Botolf_.--Pax tecum, filia!
_Helga_ (_bows before the bishop and leads him to the higher seat of
honor_).--Be seated on this higher seat of honor this evening, my
lord. To-morrow an army of my husband's will accompany you to Holar
and re-establish you in your see, as soon as we shall have driven from
thence Broddi's and Brand's troop of rebels.
_Botolf_.--A captive bishop is content to be seated on the lower high
seat, my daughter!
_Helga_.--As you wish, my lord. (_Leads him to the lower seat of honor,
where he is seated_. SALVOR _moves the table to the lower high seat and
puts the tapers upon it. Most of the men are sitting; drink-horns and
ale are brought in_.)
_Kolbein_ (_is given a drinking-horn_, BOTOLF _another, from whom they
are passed on from man to man_. KOLBEIN _seats himself on the higher
seat of honor_).--There is courage in our men; they all are minded to do
battle in order to be rid of that horde of rebels.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|