8o James Christian Lindherg 



Hakon. Behind god Odin lies 



The offering. 



Einar. This will doubtless aid us greatly! 



[Goes to see tJie offering. 



Hakon. 'T is done ; now courage, strong determination ! 



Einar. [Returns amazed and fiill of ivrath.] Thou wrinkled 

 sorcerer! What hast thou done? 



Hakon. Sought Odin's favor; offered him my joy, 

 My own last hope and Norway's only fortune. 



Einar. In hell may Nither'^* grind me 'twixt his stones, 

 Or crush" me with his hanmier, should T stretch 

 The bow to save thee from thy fate, although 

 I dearly love sweet Berglioth. 



[Tears a gold chain from his iicck.] 

 See ! There 's 

 Thy chain I And thus I sunder every link 

 That hitherto has bound me to thy cause, 

 Thou pale, thou bloody man ! From this time forth 

 I serve King Olaf ! Ha, thine hour has come! 

 Thou 'st taught me, sir, to shudder 'fore thy gods, 

 King Olaf's God shall win. What hinders me 

 From straightway, by my sword, to thrust thee down 

 To hell? But no! More public, more debased 

 Shall be thy fall ; I '11 seize thee, seize thee, aye, 

 And help King Olaf hang thee, like a thief, 

 Upon the topmost gallows. [Exit. 



Hakon. This must I, 



I, Hakon hear! [At a distance horns are heard; also cries of 

 "Hakon!" ''Hakon r] 



Hakon. [Drazving his sv'ord,.] 



Ah, now the hour has come. 

 The hour that must decide for Christ or Odin. 

 Hark! How the cries resound! -Mere Amazons,'^^ 

 Mere Valkyrs, Odin's battle nymphs, who fill 

 The air with frightful cries and call to battle. 

 How swollen the veins of Heimdal's'" temples, whilst 

 With all his strength he blows the battle horn ! 



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