HIORDIS. Sigurd, in that thou liest! So much at least am I worth,
that if thou hast loved me once, thou canst never forget it.
SIGURD (vehemently). I must; and now I will.
HIORDIS. So be it; but thou _canst_ not. Thou wilt seek to hinder
me, but in vain; ere evening falls, Gunnar and Dagny shall know all.
SIGURD. Ha, that wilt thou never do!
HIORDIS. That will I do!
SIGURD. Then must I know thee ill; high-souled have I ever deemed
thee.
HIORDIS. Evil days breed evil thoughts; too great has been thy
trust in me. I will, I must, go forth by thy side--forth to face
life and strife; Gunnar's roof-tree is too low for me.
SIGURD (with emphasis). But honour between man and man hast thou
highly prized. There lack not grounds for strife between me and
Gunnar; say, now, that he fell by my hand, wouldst thou still make
all known and follow me?
HIORDIS (starting). Wherefore askest thou?
SIGURD. Answer me first: what wouldst thou do, were I to thy husband
his bane.
HIORDIS (looks hard at him). Then must I keep silence and never rest
until I had seen thee slain.
SIGURD (with a smile). It is well, Hiordis--I knew it.
HIORDIS (hastily). But it can never come to pass!
SIGURD. It must come to pass; thou thyself hast cast the die for
Gunnar's life and mine.
(GUNNAR, with some House-carls, enters from the back.
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