Oehlenschlaegcr's Hakon Jarl 91 



The brothers were his deadliest foes. 



Griffin. A search 



Can do no harm. They say, "Old love rusts not." ' 



Olaf. I^ook, yonder comes the sun. To horse ! Away ! 



[Exeunt. 



Scene III. 



A Rocky Cavern. 



Enter Hakon and Karker; the latter hearing a lamp and a 



basin of food. 



Karker. So this is the cave where we must hide? There is 

 none too much room. Where shall I set the lamp? 



Hakon. Hang it in the corner on the wall. 



Karker. Aye, that I can. And here are seats hewn out of the 

 rock, so that one can rest. My lord, wilt have some breakfast 

 now? All the blessed day no food has passed thy lips. 



Hakon. No! No food for me! But, Karker, thou mayst 

 cat. 



Karker. Then I will with thy permission. [Seats himself 

 and begins to eat. Hakon -ivalks back and forth taking long 

 strides.] My lord! I say, this is a gloomy hole. Didst see 

 that coffin, that black coffin, inside the door where we entered? 



Hakon. Hush, I tell thee, and eat! [Aside] In this dark 

 cave hath Thora walked, spent many a sleepless night, alone. 

 It was made to be her grave. That sombre coffin she ordered 

 made secretly. It was here she planned her lovely body should 

 waste away and decay. [Looks at Karker.] Slave, why dost 

 thou not eat ? At other times thou hast a greedy appetite. What 

 ails thee now? 



Karker. Ah, my lord ; I have no least desire for food. 



Hakon. No desire ? Why so ? Eat, my lad ! Be glad, re- 

 joice, trust in me, thy master. 



Karker. Ah, but sir! Thou thyself art downcast, sick at 

 heart. 



Hakon. .Sick at heart? Slave! How darest thou? I say. 

 be merry! If there is no desire to eat, just now, then sing! 

 Sing me a ballad ! 



129 



