Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Heinemann Volume 2).djvu/64



Gunnar is thy foster-brother; little I know thee if thou say him nay.

[To ] Thou hast been my friend where'er we fared; thou wilt not thwart me now!

And to depart from the land, leaving Hiördis with hate in her heart—no, no, that must we not!

I have done Örnulf a great wrong; until it is made good, I cannot be at peace with myself.

[Vehemently.] All else will I do for thee, Gunnar, but not stay here! [Mastering himself.] I am King Æthelstan's sworn henchman, and I must be with him in England ere the winter is out.

But that thou canst be, none the less!

No man can know what lot awaits him; mayhap this is our last meeting, Sigurd, and thou wilt repent that thou didst not stand by me to the end.

And long will it be ere thou see me glad again, if thou set sail to-day.