Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Heinemann Volume 2).djvu/285

 St. Olaf's shrine out to the mote-stead, as they did in the autumn, when we swore allegiance.

The shrine shall out; I will bear my kingship in all ways lawfully.

And I promise you to sing a great death-song, when you have slain the Sleeper.

[An outburst of laughter among the men.

The Sleeper?

Know you not, my lord, that King Håkon is called "Håkon the Sleeper," because he sits as though benumbed ever since you came to the throne?

They say he lies ever with his eyes closed. Doubtless he dreams that he is still king.

Let him dream; he shall never dream himself back into the kingship.

Let his sleep be long and dreamless, then shall I have stuff for songs.

Ay, ay, do as the skald says!

When so many good men counsel as one, the