ORNULF. In truth it was the boldest deed that e'er was seen in
Iceland; and therefore——
SIGURD. The more easily can Gunnar yield, and not be deemed
a coward.
HIORDIS. If amends are to be made, amends shall also be craved.
Bethink thee, Gunnar, of thy vow!
GUNNAR. That vow was ill bethought; wilt thou hold me to it?
HIORDIS. That will I, if we two are to dwell under one roof after this day. Know then, Ornulf, that if atonement is to be made for the carrying away of thy foster-daughter, thou, too, must atone for the slaying of Jokul my father, and the seizure of his goods and gear.
ORNULF. Jokul was slain in fair fight;[1] thy kinsmen did me a worse wrong when they sent thee to Iceland and entrapped me into adopting[2] thee, unwitting who thou wast.
[1] "I aerling holmgang." The established form of duel in the viking times was to land the combatants on one of the rocky islets or "holms" that stud the Norwegian coast, and there let them fight it out. Hence "holmgang"=duel. [2] "At knaessette"=to knee-set a child, to take it on one's knee, an irrevocable form of adoption.
HIORDIS. Honour, and now wrong, befell thee in adopting
Jokul's daughter.
ORNULF. Nought but strife hast thou brought me, that I know.
HIORDIS. Sterner strife may be at hand, if——