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Page 41
_Broddi_.--I am your brother-in-law, Kolbein, and I owed it to you to
avenge insults heaped upon you. Long had he been faithless to you and
cunningly served both you and been a treacherous follower to you both
here and abroad.
_Helga_.--Easy it is to perceive that Thorolf no longer dwells among
the living since he is thus slandered. For this reason you killed him,
because you thought Kolbein to be dead and that Eyafirth had gotten too
brave a leader in him.
_Brand_.--It casts no good light upon you, my lady, to praise Thorolf
Bjarnason thus highly!
_Kolbein_.--And what moved you, Alf, to attack Thorolf, my friend?
_Alf_.--My hatred of the dog!
_Helga_.--Little hope I see of a reconciliation. One of Thorolf's
slayers dried his blood on the fringes of my veil. And you, Alf of Grof,
you reviled me like the worst witch; you wanted to have a sack pulled
over my head.
_Kolbein_ (_furious_).--Boor!--have a sack pulled over her! A sack,--you
devilish fiend! What did you cattle mean? I shall have your skin flayed
off you and pull it over your ears after you are dead! I shall never
make peace with Alf of Grof!
_Helga_.--A loutish rustic should never take part in the dealings of men
of great account!
_Alf_.--I offer all my property as ransom!
_Broddi_.--Silence, you coward--all your property!
_Alf_.--Have I no right to live, if I can?
_Helga_.--I cannot see what use there is in your living, Alf!
_Kolbein_.--Alf of Grof and I shall never be reconciled.
_Brand_.--I journeyed hither with Thorolf's slayers in order to reach an
agreement with you. If it be not your will to accept reconciliation with
us, I demand that you hand over to me possession of all those districts
that are mine by rights, so that I in that manner may obtain sufficient
resources to be able to sustain the fine which you will impose on us for
the slaying.
_Helga_.--Now it is clear that your men have no scruples to kill each
the other, but will by no means be ready to atone for it. With demands
such as these, Brand Kolbeinsson foregoes all chance of reaching an
agreement. You promised me a man's life in this feud, Kolbein. Take
Brand's life, then, and that will take away the inclination for further
rebellion against you. (_Silence_.)
_Botolf_.--And you intend to take Brand's life, when the Peace of God is
at an end?
_Kolbein_.--For the welfare of our Quarter I know no better counsel than
that which Lady Helga has given.
_Helga_.--Less cause even there was against Kalf Guttormsson, and yet
has he been mouldering in his grave these ten years. Asbjorn and Haf,
seize hold of my kinsman Brand!
_Sigurd_.--I have heard that you would spare Brand Kolbeinsson's life if
another man were willing to die for him.
_Helga_.--I did make that condition. (_Laughs_.) Will you fulfill it,
deacon?
_Sigurd_.--No. Because I know you will show no mercy.
_Jorun_ (_leaps up on the dais and lays her head on_ HELGA'S
_knee_).--Take my life instead of Brand Kolbeinsson's life.
_Helga_.--You are out of your senses, lad!
_Jorun_ (_arises, looking at_ LADY HELGA).--You cut close to me ten
years ago; take now my life also!
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