Ochlciisclilocger's Hokoii Jarl 43 



Himself in a keg o' wine. 



Bergthor. Husli, children, hush ! 



What noise without ? 



Thorvald. More friends, more guests to the feast ! 



[Stein and a crowd of armed slaves enter.] 



Thori'ald. What men or slaves are these? Your errand, sirs? 

 Stein. We 're slaves of Hakon Jarl and bring withal 

 His latest orders. 



Orni. Hakon then has learned 



0{ our assembling here and so has sent 

 Us word. We '11 hear his wish ; speak freely, sir. 



Stein. That such a numerous throng was gathered here 

 The Jarl did not suspect, although he knew 

 About the nuptial feast. 



Onn. Thine errand, sir, 



Speak out ! 



Stein. In short the Jarl has sent us here 

 To greet thee, Orm, with friendliness. He 's well 

 Acquainted with thee, knows thou art a man, 

 Obedient to thy master, always true. 

 The, Jarl has seen thy bride; she stirred his heart, 

 He cannot live without her. Long he strove 

 -Against his craving, but he could not bear 

 '"o think, that that which he desired, yea longed 

 To have, a subject now possessed. He hopes 

 That thou wilt still tliis yearning of his heart 

 And freely yield to him thy bride. 



Bergthor. \RisingA How's that? 



( );'/;/. You come to steal my bride ? 



Stein. Nay, not to steal, 



If thou, as Hakon thinks thou wilt, dost yield 

 Her willingly. Thou 'It only need to wait 

 A little time, he '11 send tliy Gudrun back, 

 .Along with costly presents, jewels and gold. 



Orm. Depraved thralls, you dare pronounce those words ? 

 And such demand, such of?er, Hakon dares 

 Propose to Norsemen who are proud and free ? 



81 

 6 



