20 James Cliristian Lindherg 



Grib. Thy hands are apt and quick. 



BergtJwr. If thou dost wish to come and blow the bellows, 

 and help me in other ways, thou mayst while thy master stays 

 at Hlade. 



Grib. I have nothing else to do, sir, and time drags slowly 

 on. To live with the other slaves is small enjoyment; and what 

 else is there to do? May Thor bless thee many times since 

 thou dost pity me, a wretched thrall. Is it time to blow the 

 bellows ? 



Bergthor. No, no. Leave it alone,, thou rogue ; hand me my 

 file. 



Grib. Thou knov.-est how to do things. 



BcrgfJior. Do things ! What dost thou know about such ? 

 Thou shouldst have seen me in my youth when I forged for King 

 Hakon Athelstein.-'' Ah, that was workmanship ! A sword 

 indeed that pierced the hardest rock, or living flesh with equal 

 case. This crown moves slowly towards completion, and yet 

 there is time, plenty time ! 



Grib. But why that sigh ? It is almost done. 



Bergthor. Almost done ? Thou speakest like a fool. These 

 precious stones must first be set. [Enter Gudrun.] How now 

 my daughter, what brings thee here thus out of breath. 



Gudrun. My dearest father, Hakon Jarl has seen me. 



Bergthor. Where ? 



Gudrun. In the grove. 



Bergthor. Have I not forbidden thee to enter that grove to 

 gather weeds and flowers ? The blessed gods be praised, thou 

 wilt soon be wed, and I relieved from all this toil of guarding 

 thee. [Hammers on the crown.] Listen boy, I would rather 

 fashion twenty croAvns than guard two simple girls and keep them 

 chaste; believe me boy, such ore is very frail indeed, aye, frail 

 indeed ! 



Gudrun. Father, I am much afraid that Hakon is coming- 

 after me. What then will Orm say? 



Bergthor. Is coming after thee? My Hakon. nothing good 

 will come of this ; I know thee well. Come hither child, down 

 in the celler with thee ! 



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