Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Heinemann Volume 2).djvu/109



Yes, Sigurd. Vengeance and hatred blind thee, else wouldst thou prize him better. Had I been like Sigurd, I could have made life glad for thee.

[With strong but suppressed emotion.] That—that deemest thou Sigurd could have done?

He is strong of soul, and proud as thou to boot.

[Violently.] If that be so—[Collecting herself.] No matter, no matter! [With a wild outburst.] Gunnar, take Sigurd's life!

Never!

By fraud and falsehood thou mad'st me thy wife—that shall be forgotten! Five joyless years have I spent in this house—all shall be forgotten from the day when Sigurd lives no more!

No harm shall e'er befall him from my hand. [Shrinks back involuntarily.] Hiördis, Hiördis, tempt me not!

Then must I find another avenger; not long shall Sigurd mock at me and thee! [''Clenching her hands in convulsive rage.''] With her—that simpleton—with her mayhap he is even now sitting alone, dallying, and making sport of us;