d suffer death, than that many men should lose their
lives because of us; and rather than that my kinsman Kolbein should be
routed by Thord Kakali through the insurrection which I and Broddi have
raised against him. (_Silence_.)

_Sigurd_.--Spoken like a man, Brand Kolbeinsson! (_Exit_ JORUN.)

_Broddi_.--We have sworn to each other not to separate before that this
our cause was entirely brought to an end; now I see your highmindedness,
Brand Kolbeinsson, as I have seen it before. The bishop has torn from
under me my trust in the fort. Hence I shall take that council to fare
to Flugumyr with you, whilst I maintain that it is entirely doubtful
as yet who is to die, Kolbein the Young, Brand, or I; but that I think
sure, also, that short time will pass between the death of any one of us
three.

_Alf_.--Let all of us go to Flugumyr and surrender to Kolbein. Will you
not go with us, Helgi Skaftason?

_Helgi_.--No one can escape his fate. I shall do what Brand does. But it
is certain death for me!

_Broddi_.--Let us go then! (_Enter_ JORUN _with_ KALF _and_ THORGEIR.)

_Jorun_.--Say farewell to your father, my boys! He intends to start on
the longest journey in this world.

_Kalf_ (_going up to his father_).--Do you mean to go to war now,
father?

_Brand_ (_lifts him up and kisses him_).--Your mother said I intended to
start on the longest journey in this world.

_Kalf_.--Then you intend to start out to Rome. That I do not mean to do,
once I am a chieftain. (BRAND _sets him down on the floor again_.)

_Brand_.--It may be that I come to Rome; but that Rome lies high aloft.
(KALF _goes up to_ BRODDI.) Now you come to me, Thorgeir! (THORGEIR
_goes up to him. He takes him on his lap_.) Don't weep, my little boy,
if I be late returning to-morrow.

_Thorgeir_.--Don't go away from me, father! Let the others go to war,
but you remain at home yourself!

_Brand_.--No, I cannot stay here; if I remain here there will be
fighting here and killing of men; but if I go I shall return with peace.

_Thorgeir_.--Oh yes! Peace is good, let me have it when you return, so I
can put it into my toy box. I will not break it at all.

_Broddi_.--The boy is right. All the peace that now exists in Iceland
may be put into a linen chest.

_Brand_ (_kisses the boy and sets him down_).--Yes, keep it well, my
boy. If you obtain it you will never have to start out on the journey
that I now must take.

_Kalf_.--You are not going to Rome, Bro