Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Heinemann Volume 2).djvu/120



What wouldst thou?

Tell thee a saga.

Is it sad?

Sad, as life itself.

[Bitterly.] What knowest thou of the sadness of life? Judge when my saga is over. Then tell it me; I will work the while. [He sits on a low stool to her right.

Once upon a time there were two young vikings, who set forth from Norway to win wealth and honour; they had sworn each other friendship, and held truly together, how far soever they might fare.

And the two young vikings hight Sigurd and Gunnar?

Ay, we may call them so. At last they came to Iceland; and there dwelt an old chieftain, who had come forth from Norway in King Harald's days. He had two fair women in his house; but one, his foster-daughter, was the noblest, for she