Ochlciischlacgcr's Hakon Jarl 45 



Orui. My bride, my Gudrun, bring me back my liride ! 

 Why stand ye there and weep, ye women ? Whore ■ 



where is now your art ? My bride, my bride ! 

 Thorvald. By that All-father Odin, seated high 



On his exalted throne, I lift my sword 



Besmeared with blood of slaves, with blood that streamed • 

 From Hakon's friends. I hereby swear an oath 

 Of vengeance ! Yes, by all the Aesir, all • 



That 's holy, not to rest before I mix 

 With Hakon's blood, the blood of slaves, and thus 

 Revenge the shame he thought to bring my brother. 

 Bcvi^thor. Although I arh old and wrinkled, bent with years, 



1 swear by the hammer's molten tooth, that far 

 _\nd wide I '11 seek revenge for this disgrace. 

 He wished to have us forge a crown, — aye, first 

 Let 's forge the man ! I am the oldest here, 

 The father of the girl ! Look, where she lies, 

 A hapless maid, a drooping flower, death pale, 

 Within her lover's arms. Come, peasants, come, 

 Surround me, swear upon this hammer, swear. 

 That Hakon Jarl, the evil one, must die ! 



Orm. My Gudrun, life again looks through thine eye ! 

 All the Peasants. [About the hammer.'] 



'T is sworn! The tyrant, Hakon Jarl, must die! 



ACT HI 



Scene I 



The Island Moster 



{Enter Jostein, Carlsiioved and Grib.] 



Grib. As I have told you, worthy lords, the Earl 

 Has landed here at Moster, and lies with all 

 His crew in the woods, behind the isle. 



Carlshoved. And chanced 



There no encounter 'twixt the two when Olaf 



83 



