52 Jollies Christian Lindbcrg 



Olaf. I fear not hell itself, 



Far less the Jarl. Stand up ! Wherefore this kneeling ? 

 If ye have sinned, then kneel before high God, 

 And tremble, quake, at heaven's avenging hand. 



Carlshovcd. My noble Olaf ! Thorer Klake lied ; 

 Yet every word he uttered was the truth. 



J ostein. What first was mere invention, Hakon's acts 

 Of tyranny have changed to truth, 



Olaf. Is 't true 



The land revolts against him ? 



Carlshoved. Aye, my lord. 



Olaf. And Hakon ? 



J ostein. He is here. 



Olaf. Here? 



Carlshozed. With a force 



Not half as strong as rhine, my lord. 



Olaf. Dost know 



His plans ? 



Jostein. To play his tricks beneath the board 

 Where openly he failed. Our Thorer proves 

 Himself a traitor ; secret plans are laid 

 To lure thee 'twixt those shady firs, and there 

 Administer thy mortal wound. 



Olaf. ' Is Hakon 



r the woods ? Doth Thorer come alone ? How large 

 A force is Hakon's ? 



Jostein. Not so large as thine. 



The utmost silence hovers round the scheme. 

 For Hakon fears his own sworn warriors, more 

 Than any foreign foe. The people nmst 

 Not know thy presence here, for that might cause 

 A festering sore to break. Earl Flakon hides 

 Within a peasant's hut ; thou "It meet with Thorer 

 In yonder woods. To make the seizure sure 

 Let all thy warriors follow thee, for then 

 Thou 'rt strong enough to cope with Hakon's force. 



Olaf. What credence should be giv'n such doubtful words ? 

 How know, that here ye speak the truth, since ye 



90 



