ORNULF (after a short pause). It is hard for a many-branching pine to be stripped in a single storm. But men die and men live;—I will drink to my sons' memory. (One of SIGURD'S men hands him a horn.) Hail to you where now ye ride, my bold sons! Close upon your heels shall the copper-gates not clang, for ye come to the hall with a great following. (Drinks, and hands back the horn.) And now home to Iceland! Ornulf has fought his last fight; the old tree has but one green branch left, and it must be shielded warily. Where is Thorolf?
EGIL (to his father). Ay, show me Thorolf! Ornulf told me he would carve me a ship with many, many warriors on board.
ORNULF. I praise all good wights that Thorolf came not with us; for if he too—nay, strong though I be, that had been too heavy for me to bear. But why comes he not? He was ever the first to meet his father; for both of us it seemed we could not live without each other a single day.
GUNNAR. Ornulf, Ornulf!
ORNULF (with growing uneasiness). Ye stand all silent, I mark it now. What ails you? Where is Thorolf?
DAGNY. Sigurd, Sigurd—this will be the direst blow to him!
GUNNAR (struggling with himself). Old man!—No—— —— and yet, it cannot be hid——
ORNULF (vehemently). My son! Where is he!
GUNNAR. Thorolf is slain!
ORNULF. Slain! Thorolf? Thorolf? Ha, thou liest!