Oclilcnschlacgcr's Hakon Jarl 79 



Hakon. Come, follow me behind the statue ! 



llrling. Behind that wicked man ? 



Hakoit. Come, come, my boy ' 



There roses bloom behind the statue yonder. 

 Xo white ones thoui^h, the roses there are red, 

 Klood-red and ])urple roses ! It 's a great 

 Delij::;"ht to see how thriftily they grow. 

 Come, come, I say ; oliey me I 



Erling. [Crying.] Father mine, 



1 have a fear for roscs^ that are red ! 



Hako)i. Away! Hark! Heimdal's'-' cock is crowing loud. 

 The hour has come, my son, the Imur has come! 



[They disappear bc/iiiid the sfalue. Einak Tamueskielver 

 enters hastily, armed ivith sf^ear and bozv.] 



Einar. Where is he then ? They told me he was here 

 In (Jdin's grove; and yet I find him not. 

 Where can he be? What does he here? Xo time 

 For prayer when battle calls. 



[He listens. The ehild's sereains are heard from behind 

 the statues. \ 



Ye gods! How now? [Calls.] 

 Jarl Hakon ! Hakon ! 



Hakon. [Enters zcith bloody hands.] 



Here, who calls for Hakon ? 



Einar. [Amazed.] \\'hat means all this? 



Hakon. Thine errand sir? 



Einar. I came 



To summon thee to l^attle. Olaf quickly 

 Has joined his army with the peasants' force. 

 They hasten toward the court. Thy men are all 

 In readiness to strike. , T joined them. Come ! 

 We sought tiiee everywhere. Again an offering? 



Hakon. Aye ! 



Einar. This time what? 



117 



