Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Heinemann Volume 2).djvu/114

 be hard for me to find the woman that shall be to my mind." Örnulf laughed, and said there was no lack of high-born and well-dowered women in Iceland; but Sigurd answered: "The warrior needs a high-souled wife. She whom I choose must not rest content with a humble lot; no honour must seem too high for her to strive for; gladly must she follow me a-viking; war-weed must she wear; she must egg me on to strife, and never blink her eyes where sword-blades lighten; for if she be faint-hearted, scant honour will befall me." Is it not true, so Sigurd spake?

[Hesitatingly.] True, he did—but

Such was she to be, the woman who could make life fair to him; and then—[With a scornful smile] then he chose thee!

[Starting, as in pain.] Ha, thou wouldst say that?

Doubtless thou hast proved thyself proud and high-souled; hast claimed honour of all, that Sigurd might be honoured in thee—is it not so?

Nay, Hiördis, but

Thou hast egged him on to great deeds, followed him in war-weed, and joyed to be where the strife raged hottest—hast thou not?