|
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 9
_Salvor_.--Carry your chieftain into his bed!
_Kolbein_.--Woden owns all the slain men! Neither Thord Kakali nor one
of his men will return alive over Blanda. Another battle won. A great
and glorious victory. Carry away the fallen, I will not see them. Woden
owns all the slain men.
_Botolf_.--So much devilish magic yet living in a Christian country! And
this man have I shriven but a short while ago! Woden owns all the slain
men! (KOLBEIN'S _men surround him to bear him out on their shields_.
HELGA _speaks fast and in a low voice to_ ASBJORN ILLUGASON.)
_Helga_.--Place our armed servants before all doors. And let them stay
there. And leave the doors open after you when you come in again.
_Kolbein_.--Woden owns all the slain men. You bleed, Thorolf Bjarnason.
Put on your head, Thorolf! Put on your head! Beware of the cave by the
Kolbeinstream!
(ASBJORN ILLUGASON, HAF, _and others carry_ KOLBEIN _out_. SALVOR
_follows them_. HELGA _leads_ BISHOP BOTOLF _to the high seat_.)
_Helga_.--I have neglected to show you those marks of esteem which
I ought to have shown you, my lord! But my situation has been a
troublesome one for a while.
_Botolf_.--I have been thinking in my mind the while, my lady, how much
you resemble in mien and carriage the women of the ancient race of the
kings of Norway.
_Helga_ (_laughs_).--I am a descendant in the fourth generation of King
Magnus Bareleg, and were I a man and not a woman I would be nearer to
the throne of Norway than your King Hakon. This relationship cost my
brother Paul his life, when he was in Norway.
_Botolf_.--That story I have heard! But his death was not the wish of
the Norwegians.
(ASBJORN _and_ HAF, _and the men who carried out_ KOLBEIN, _come
in again, leaving the door stand open. One sees armed men standing
outside_. LADY HELGA _seats herself on the dais_.)
_Helga_.--How long shall my husband wait until you swear the truce to
each other, Thorolf and Brand?
_Botolf_.--The Holy Church cannot confirm the apportionment of the
districts which you have made, excepting the chieftains swear each other
an everlasting truce.
_Broddi_.--The Holy Church owns not the Northland Quarter!
_Botolf_.--But God does; and do you for his sake as Kolbein and the lady
bid you, because that promises best for peace.
_Helga_ (_very loud_).--Close the door! (_All look to the door and
perceive the armed men; it is closed_.) Haf Bjarnason will pronounce
for you the words of the truce. The truce which his namesake established
between the men of Skagafirth and Grettir Asmundarson was well kept, and
it redounded to their honor.
_Broddi_ (_aside to_ BRAND).--Agree to the truce! Sixty armed men are
standing but a few feet away!
(BRAND KOLBEINSSON _places himself in the left foreground, with six
of his men behind him_. HAF _behind him in the middle ground_. THOROLF
_advances to the right foreground, posturing himself opposite_ BRAND.)
_Asbjorn_.--Are we to be witnesses, Thorolf?
_Thorolf_.--All those present shall be witnesses!
(ASBJORN _and five others arrange themselves behind him_.)
_Helga_.--In Oddi, at my father S�mund's, I heard that those oaths were
void which were made against one's free will.
_Thorolf_.--I shall swear a truce to Brand Kolbeinsson of my own free
will.
_Helga_.--And you, kinsman Brand?
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|