High beat Sigurd's
heart for joy; for he felt within him the strength to do that deed;
but Gunnar took him apart and told him of his love;--Sigurd said
naught of his, but went to the----
HIORDIS (vehemently). Sigurd, Sigurd! (Controlling herself.) And
this saga--is it true?
SIGURD. True it is. One of us had to yield; Gunnar was my friend;
I could do aught else. So thou becamest Gunnar's wife, and I wedded
another woman.
HIORDIS. And came to love her!
SIGURD. I learned to prize her; but one woman only has Sigurd
loved, and that is she who frowned upon him from the first day they
met. Here ends my saga; and now let us part.--Farewell, Gunnar's
wife; never shall we meet again.
HIORDIS (springing up). Stay, stay! Woe to us both; Sigurd, what
hast thou done?
SIGURD (starting). I, done? What ails thee?
HIORDIS. And all this dost thou tell me now! But no--it cannot
be true!
SIGURD. These are my last words to thee, and every word is true.
I would not thou shouldst think hardly of me, therefore I needs
must speak.
HIORDIS (involuntarily clasps her hands together and gazes at him
in voiceless astonishment). Loved--loved me--thou! (Vehemently,
coming close up to him.) I will not believe thee! (Looks hard at
him.) Yes, it is true, and--baleful for us both!
(Hides her face in her hands, and turns away from him.
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