Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Heinemann Volume 2).djvu/147



The White God is mine; King Æthelstan taught me to know him; it is to him I go.

[In despair.] And I! [Drops her bow.] Woe! woe! Heavy has my life been from the hour I tore thee out of my own heart and gave thee to Gunnar. I thank thee, Hiördis;—now am I so light and free. [Dies.

[Quietly.] Dead! Then truly have I brought my soul to wreck! [The storm increases; she breaks forth wildly.] They come! I have bewitched them hither! No, no! I will not go with you! I will not ride without Sigurd! It avails not—they see me; they laugh and beckon to me; they spur their horses! [Rushes out to the edge of the cliff at the back.] They are upon me;—and no shelter, no hiding-place! Ay, mayhap at the bottom of the sea! [She casts herself over.

[,, , with , gradually followed by and  men, enter from the right.

[Turning towards the grave-mound.] Now may ye sleep in peace; for ye lie not unavenged.

[Entering.] Father, father—I die of fear—all that blood and strife—and the storm;—hark, hark!