set,
unless we bethink ourselves of some counsel.

_Brand_.--Give us some counsel, Broddi, or else my kinsman Kolbein will
set our women busy dressing bloody locks also.

_Broddi_.--We have but little choice. Let us collect as many men as
we may. I myself hope to collect two hundred men, for all the men of
Sletthlid and Fljot are at home now, building boats. Yourself ought
to be able to collect one hundred. All this troop we shall let come
together at Holar and occupy the stronghold there, until more men come
together. We would then have three hundred men, while Kolbein has no
more than one hundred, because three hundred of his men have been sent
west to guard Vididal and Vatnsdal. Then we shall march upon Flugumyr
as fast as possible before he has had time to recall these men. There we
shall inform him that we are come to seek composition.

_Brand_.--But, first of all, we must be absolved for the murder of
Thorolf, so that men will not refuse our company and deal with us.

_Broddi_.--A pity that we need to, because it will delay us, and
meanwhile Lady Helga will inform Kolbein about Thorolf's death and egg
him on against us. To Holar, then!

_Einar_ (_aside_).--Thord Kakali ought to know about this in good time.

(_Exeunt all except_ BRODDI _and_ BRAND, _who remain after_.)

_Brand_.--When think you, Broddi, that all this slaughtering and warring
will cease?

_Broddi_.--When all the world has become a wilderness again!

(_Exeunt_.) _Curtain_.

ACT III

(_The Cathedral at Holar. High altar in the center, and over it Christ
on the Cross, an image of white alabaster, with bloody hands and feet
and side, life-size. To either side, in the aisles, altars of the
Virgin, splendid with images. On the floor of the aisle the tombstone
of Bishop Gudmund Arason, surmounted by a statue of the bishop in his
sacerdotal vestments, recumbent. Doors at both sides. The spectator is
supposed to sit in the pews_.)

(BISHOP BOTOLF, _in full pontificals, stands before the altar_.
BRAND KOLBEINSSON, BRODDI, ALF, DEACON SIGURD, EINAR THE RICH, HELGI
SKAFTASON, _and six others kneeling before him weaponless with bared
neck and shoulders. An invisible chorus sings the end of a Miserere. The
music stops as soon as the psalm is finished_.)

_Botolf_.--By that power which God gave to the apostle Peter to bind and
to absolve all in heaven as well as on earth, which power he bestowed
upon the pope, and the pope upon the archbi