) Hail, noble Gunnar; our friendship
shall stand fast, whosoever may seek to break it.
HIORDIS. No one, that I wot of, has such a thought.
SIGURD. Say not that; I could almost find it in me to think that
thou hadst bidden us hither to stir up strife.
HIORDIS. That is like thee, Sigurd; now art thou wroth that thou
may'st not be held the mightiest man at the feast-board.
SIGURD. I have ever esteemed Gunnar more highly than myself.
HIORDIS. Well, well--second to Gunnar is still a good place, and----
(with a side-glance at THOROLF) had Ornulf been here, he could have
had the third seat.
THOROLF. Then would Jokul, thy father, find a low place indeed; for
he fell before Ornulf.
(The following dispute is carried on, by both parties, with rising
and yet repressed irritation.)
HIORDIS. That shalt thou never say! Ornulf is a skald, and men
whisper that he has praised himself for greater deeds than he has
done.
THOROLF. Then woe to him who whispers so loudly that it comes to
my ear!
HIORDIS (with a smile of provocation). Wouldst thou avenge it?
THOROLF. Ay, so that my vengeance should be told of far and wide.
HIORDIS. Then here I pledge a cup to this, that thou may'st first
have a beard on thy chin.
THOROLF. Even a beardless lad is too good to wrangle with women.
HIORDIS.
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