Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Heinemann Volume 2).djvu/136



But needs must thou; honourable men were thy sons, one and all; a song must be made of them, and that can none of our kin but thou.

[Looks inquiringly at ] To sing? What thinkest thou, Sigurd? Meseems it is but meet; thou must e'en do as she says. Thy neighbours in Iceland will deem it ill done when the grave-ale is drunk over Örnulf's children, and there is no song to sing with it. Thou hast ever time enough to follow thy sons. Well well, I will try it; and thou, Dagny, give heed, that afterwards thou mayst carve the song on staves. The men approach with the torches, forming a group around him; he is silent for a time, reflecting; then he says:

Bragi's gift is bitter when the heart is broken; sorrow-laden singer, singing, suffers sorely.

Natheless, since the Skald-god gave me skill in song-craft, in a lay loud-ringing be my loss lamented!

[Rises.