ORNULF (raising his voice). Nay, loudly shall it be spoken! A woman wedded by force has no lawful husband!
GUNNAR (vehemently). Ornulf!
HIORDIS (in a wild outburst). Flouted and shamed! (In a quivering
voice.) This—this shalt thou come to rue!
ORNULF (continuing). A woman wedded by force is lawfully no more
than a leman! Wilt thou regain thine honour, then must thou——
HIORDIS (controlling herself). Nay, Ornulf, I know better what is fitting. If I am to be held as Gunnar's leman—well and good, then must he win me honour by his deeds—by deeds so mighty that my shame shall be shame no more! And thou, Ornulf, beware! Here our ways part, and from this day I shall make war upon thee and thine whensoever and wheresoever it may be; thou shalt know no safety, thou, or any whom thou—— (Looking fiercely at KARE.) Kare! Ornulf has stood thy friend, forsooth, and there is peace between us; but I counsel thee not to seek thy home yet awhile; the man thou slewest has many avengers, and it well might befall—— See, I have shown thee the danger; thou must e'en take what follows. Come, Gunnar, we must gird ourselves for the fight. A famous deed didst thou achieve in Iceland, but greater deeds must here be done, if thou wouldst not have thy— thy leman shrink with shame from thee and from herself!
GUNNAR. Curb thyself, Hiordis; it is unseemly to bear thee thus.
DAGNY (imploringly). Stay, foster-sister—stay; I will appease my father.
HIORDIS (without listening to her). Homewards, homewards! Who could have foretold me that I should wear out my life as a worthless leman? But if I am to bear this life of shame, ay, even a single day longer, then must my husband do such a deed—such a deed as shall make his name more famous than all other names of men.
(Goes out to the right.)
GUNNAR (softly). Sigurd, this thou must promise me, that we shall
have speech together ere thou leave the land.