He is strong of soul, and proud as thou to boot.
HIORDIS (violently). If that be so--(Collecting herself.) No
matter, no matter! (With a wild outburst.) Gunnar, take Sigurd's
life!
GUNNAR. Never!
HIORDIS. By fraud and falsehood thou mad'st me thy wife--that
shall be forgotten! Five joyless years have I spent in this house--
all shall be forgotten from the day when Sigurd lives no more!
GUNNAR. From my hand he need fear no harm. (Shrinks back
involuntarily.) Hiordis, Hiordis, tempt me not!
HIORDIS. Then must I find another avenger; Sigurd shall not live
long to flout at me and thee! (Clenching her hands in convulsive
rage.) With her--that simpleton--with her mayhap he is even now
sitting alone, dallying, and laughing at us; speaking of the bitter
wrong that was done me when in thy stead he bore me away; telling
how he laughed over his guile as he stood in my dark bower, and I
knew him not!
GUNNAR. Nay, nay, he does not so!
HIORDIS (firmly). Sigurd and Dagny must die! I cannot breathe
till they are gone! (Comes close up to him, with sparkling eyes,
and speaks passionately, but in a whisper.) Would'st thou help
me with _that_, Gunnar, then should I live in love with thee; then
should I clasp thee in such warm and wild embraces as thou hast
never dreamt of!
GUNNAR (wavering). Hiordis! Would'st thou----
HIORDIS.
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