Oclilci!scIiiac<^cr's Hakon Jarl 37 



Karker. \ Calls the other slm'cs. 'I' hey come] 



Lady Thora went home just now. and so there is to be a moving. 

 Now bear yourselves discreetly. She is a little cross-grained. 

 In case you act as if something Ijroke, it 's likely she will strike 

 you in the face. That "s the way I fared. < ), it tickled my soul. 

 Slie has two of the daintiest, softest, whitest hands you ever felt ; 

 why, it seemed to me as if she buried my nose in a silken pillow. 



Lcif. Aye ! ' 



Karker. You see she would like to have stayed longer. I 

 am sure she would, but that woidd never do. It won't do to 

 make the others stepchildren. This morning a crowd of our 

 thralls went to Lunde, to bring Gudrun, Bergthor's daughter ; 

 she steps into Thora's place. 



Lcif. Again a new one ? 



Karker. Again ? One sees that you are a novice at Hlade. 

 otherwise you had said, "At last another ?"' For two long- 

 months was Thora here; this won't do as you yourself can see. 

 if it must go the round of all the land. 



Lcif. The round of all the land ? 



Karker. [Demoiistratiz-e.\ Indeed, it must be so. Our Jarl 

 who carries so many things in his head, and who must look after 

 us all and who must always be where there is trouble, and who 

 must look after us all. and who carries so many things in his 

 head, you see ? We can't exactly blame him for this, him, who 

 carries so many things in his head, who must always be where 

 there is trouble, that he 



Lcif. Yes, yes, I imderstand you so far. 



Karker. Besides, tell nie this dear friend, upon your con- 

 science, if you were an earl, and might have whatever you 

 found good, would n't you have all the good you found ? 



Lcif. Indeed, whatever I found good, l)ut not what I 

 found bad. 



Karker. Bad? Thor defend us! Bad? One sees that 

 you are a novice and never heard the speeches of wise lords. 

 Otherwise vou would know that such a man who carries so 

 man v. manv things in his head, and who must always, always 

 be where there is trouble, and who must look after us all, 



that he 



75 



