OclilcuscJilacgcr's Hokon Jarl 8i 



Thorgierdur Horgabrud!" Give time! I come. 



I offered thee my Erling, yea, my son ; 



A countless host of foes shall follow him. \Exit. 



ACT V 



Scene I 



Ritnol 



A Hall 



Night. Thora and Inger are discovered, sewing, sitting by a table. 

 A candle almost burnt to the socket lights the scene. 



Thora. Thou 'rt sleepy, Inger. 



Jngcr. Alidnight comes apace. 



But lady, there 's a knocking at the portal. 

 Perhaps 't is they. 



Thorn. 'T is but the clamoring storm. 



The house doth shake as if a fever held it. 

 A gruesome night! A constant flood of rain 

 And hail ! A winter darkness cloaks the earth ! 

 Hark, how it beats upon the gate ! 



Inger. Dost think 



Thy brothers come to-night in such a storm ? 

 They '11 sure await the morning. Have no fear. 



Thora. If thou art sleepy, Inger, go, retire. 

 No sleep for me! I know the battle raged 

 At early mom. My brothers promised me 

 In sooth, they 'd come as soon as they were free, 

 To tell me how the battle stood. Go thou 

 To bed. 



Inger. Well, then I '11 rest awhile since thou 

 Dost urge. But hark ! I hear that knocking still 

 Upon the gate. 'T is not the storm. 



Thora. Thou 'rt right ! 



Let Hadding open it. I hear the tramp 

 Of footsteps on the stones. 



119 



