Gclilcnschlacger's Hakon Jarl 53 



But now confessed your treachery ? 



/ostein. That we 



Confessed, should prove our innocence. The Jarl 

 Expressed the wish to meet thee openly 

 And bade us follow Thorer Klake, help 

 Detain thee here till he himself should come. 

 To seek adventure on the battle field 

 Is northern morals. Hakon was our lord. 

 His shrewdness his deception did not fail 

 Cunningly to ensnare our youth. Thou art 

 Oiir kin, but once we saw in thee a mere 

 Enthusiast, disturber of the peace. 

 We came. But since, the tide of things has changed, 

 And with it Hakon's plan. When this we learned 

 We quickly bore the intelligence to thee. 

 For silence meant betrayal. Former acts. 

 Adherence to a villain, these deserve 

 Just punishment ; I offered thee my head, — ■ 

 Take it, but ne'er mistrust me. 



Olaf. Valiant lad. 



Retain thy head ; thou needst it more than I. 



CarhhoTcd. Our king ! 



J ostein. Then trust my word and follow me ; 



Or quickly leave with all thy ships. But see, 

 Is not that Thorer slinking through the trees 

 With Grib ? 



Olaf. My men, in part have reached the land; 



T "11 go instruct them, safely to invest 

 The isle, and then 't will be a simple task 

 To capture Hakon and his brood. [To his men] Attend 

 iMe through the forest : draw your swords, and keep 

 Yourselves in readiness to strike a blow. [E.veunt. 



[Thorer Klakk and Grip, enter hastily from the other side, 

 the first zvith a basket and a dagger in his hand.] 



Thorer. See, there he went, accompanied by his troops. 

 They go to rest in Norway's summer grass. 

 Stop, Olaf ! hurry not so fast ! It comes, 



