Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Heinemann Volume 2).djvu/72



[With a cry.] Thou!

When the men left the feast-hall, Gunnar prayed me to come with him alone to our sleeping-place. Then said he: "Hiördis is dearer to me than all women; without her I cannot live." I answered him: "Then go to her bower; thou knowest the vow she hath sworn." But he said: "Life is dear to him that loves; if I should assail the bear, the end were doubtful, and I am loath to lose my life, for then should I lose Hiördis too." Long did we talk, and the end was that Gunnar made ready his ship, while I drew my sword, took Gunnar's harness upon me, and went to the bower.

[With pride and joy.] And thou—thou didst slay the bear!

I slew him. In the bower it was dark as under a raven's wing; Hiördis deemed it was Gunnar that sat by her—she was heated with the mead—she drew a ring from her arm and gave it to me—it is that thou wearest now.

[Hesitating.] And thou wast alone that night with Hiördis in her bower?

My sword lay drawn between us. [''A short pause.''] Ere the dawn, I bore Hiördis to Gunnar's ship; she dreamed not of our guile, and he sailed away with her. Then went I to thy