(Drinks, and hands back the horn.) And now home
to Iceland! Ornulf has fought his last fight; the old tree has but
one green branch left, and it must be shielded warily. Where is
Thorolf?
EGIL (to his father). Ay, show me Thorolf! Ornulf told me he would
carve me a ship with many, many warriors on board.
ORNULF. I praise all good wights that Thorolf came not with us; for
if he too--nay, strong though I be, that had been too heavy for me to
bear. But why comes he not? He was ever the first to meet his father;
for both of us it seemed we could not live without each other a single
day.
GUNNAR. Ornulf, Ornulf!
ORNULF (with growing uneasiness). Ye stand all silent, I mark it
now. What ails you? Where is Thorolf?
DAGNY. Sigurd, Sigurd--this will be the direst blow to him!
GUNNAR (struggling with himself). Old man!--No---- ---- and yet, it
cannot be hid----
ORNULF (vehemently). My son! Where is he!
GUNNAR. Thorolf is slain!
ORNULF. Slain! Thorolf? Thorolf? Ha, thou liest!
GUNNAR. I would give my warmest heart-blood to know him alive!
HIORDIS (to ORNULF). Thorolf was himself to blame for what befell;
with dark sayings he gave us to wit that thou hadst fallen upon Egil
and slain him;--we had parted half in wrath, and thou hast ere now
brought death among my kindred. And moreover--Thorolf bore himself
at the feast like a wanton boy; he brooked not our jesting, and spoke
many evil things.
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