Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Heinemann Volume 2).djvu/89



Ay, so that my vengeance should be told of far and wide.

Then here I pledge a cup to this, that thou may'st first have a beard on thy chin.

Even a beardless lad is too good to wrangle with women.

But too weak to fight with men; therefore thy father let thee lie by the hearth at home in Iceland, whilst thy brothers went a-viking.

It had been well had he kept as good an eye on thee; for then hadst thou not left the land an unwedded woman.

Thorolf!

[Simultaneously.] Brother!

[Softly, and quivering with rage.] Ha! wait—wait!

[Gives his hand.] Be not wroth, Gunnar;—evil words came to my tongue; but thy wife goaded me!

[Softly and imploringly.] Foster-sister, by any love thou hast ever borne me, stir not up strife!