) To hew off thy nose and ears,
thou vile thrall. Little dost thou know old Ornulf if thou thinkest
to have his help in such a deed of shame!
KARE (who has shrunk backwards). If thou fall not upon Gunnar he
will surely fall upon thee.
ORNULF. Have I not weapons, and strength to wield them?
SIGURD (to KARE). And now away with thee! Thy presence is a shame
to honourable men!
KARE (going off). Well well, I must shield myself as best I can.
But this I tell you: if ye think to deal gently with Hiordis, ye will
come to rue it; I know her--and I know where to strike her sorest!
(Goes down towards the shore.)
DAGNY. He is plotting revenge. Sigurd, it must be hindered!
ORNULF (with annoyance). Nay, let him do as he will; she is worth
no better!
DAGNY. That meanest thou not; bethink thee she is thy foster-child.
ORNULF. Woe worth the day when I took her under my roof! Jokul's
words are coming true.
SIGURD. Jokul's?
ORNULF. Ay, her father's. When I gave him his death-wound he fell
back upon the sward, and fixed his eyes on on me and sang:--
Jokul's kin for Jokul's slayer
many a woe shall still be weaving;
Jokul's hoard whoe'er shall harry
heartily shall rue his rashness.
When he had sung that, he was silent a while, and laughed; and thereupon
he died.
SIGURD.
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