Helga (smiling).—The granddaughter of Ion Loftsson of Oddi ought to have sufficient good fortune to reconcile by her sole efforts men who both are her friends.
Brand (aside to BRODDI).—May it never be avenged on Lady Helga to have cowed me by overwhelming force to promise an eternal truce to my worst foe.
Broddi (to BRAND).—But a short while will the hand rejoice over the blow!
(Curtain)
ACT II
(A cave by KOLBEIN's stream. The stage represents a small vale with the cave in the background. The cave is large and deep, opening in the direction of the spectator. Water has been coursing down the vale and has frozen to knolls of ice here and there. A part of the cave-mouth is hidden by icicles formed by the water trickling from the rock above the cave. Snow is falling heavily and drifting. This continues throughout the act.)
(BRAND KOLBEINSSON, BRODDI, ALF, DEACON SIGURD, HELGI SKAFTASON, EINAR
THE RICH, and six others enter.)
Alf.—A cursed ill weather this!
Sigurd.—The great drift-ice must be near!
Brand.—But there is shelter in this cave here, and here we shall stay awhile.