Here's too much water; it will never boil,
And if it did the mess would be too thin.
She pours water from the pot upon the floor, then hangs the pot over the fire again.
Set out the bowls, and finger not their lips.
Blanid goes again to the outhouse, and, returning, sets three bowls with spoons on the table, and a jar of meal by the hearth.
Though porridge needs meal you shall not think for me;
Do nought until I bid you—once. The grain.
Blanid goes yet again to the outhouse and returns with a bag of grain.
You know what grain is for; why do you stand?
Your feet are mine. Down to the quern. Get down.
Blanid.
There's meal in plenty for to-morrow.
Thorgerd, laying down her distaff to make porridge.
Ay,
But is there meal in plenty for next month?
You may be dead then; therefore you must toil,
That I may need to do no aching tasks
Until my man can buy another drudge
From the next herd; for so we shall forget you.
Blanid, kneeling by the quern between the window and the door, and commencing to grind grain.
You hate me far too subtly to forget me;
There is not enough kindness in your heart
To let you thus forego your joy of hate.
Then, too, despite the accident of death,
I cannot go from here against my will.
Thorgerd.
You shall not die ere I have done with you;
And death shall only come by suffering
Until you are too feeble even to suffer.
Blanid.
The sound of death is ever in mine ears,
Monotonous as the night's infinity
Wherein I was once born where salt winds sweep
The wailing of the waters of the West.
I die, but you can ne'er have done with me.
Thorgerd, the porridge being made.
Come, drudge, lift off the pot and fill the bowls.
Blanid, having filled two bowls.
The pot is empty.
Thorgerd. But the bowls are full.
Hialti.
Now give the lass some supper; fill her bowl.
Thorgerd, pouring milk over the porridge.
There's but enough for two; I'll make no more.
Here, take the pot and scrape it at the quern.
Hialti and Thorgerd draw stools to the table; Blanid carries the pot to the outhouse and returns to the quern; supper proceeds in silence for a few moments, then Hialti rises and offers his bowl to Blanid.
Hialti.
Share with me, lass; I need no more to-night.