Ones, I could still love thee, even as now I do! Up
then, Sigurd! Happiness is worth a daring deed; we are both free if
we but will it, and then the game is won.

SIGURD. Free? What meanest thou?

HIORDIS. What is Dagny to thee? What can she be to thee? No more
than I count Gunnar in my secret heart. What matters it though two
worthless lives be wrecked?

SIGURD. Hiordis, Hiordis!

HIORDIS. Let Gunnar stay where he is; let Dagny fare with her father
to Iceland; I will follow thee in harness of steel, withersoever thou
wendest. (SIGURD makes a movement.) Not as thy wife will I follow
thee; for I have belonged to another, and the woman lives that has
lain by thy side. No, Sigurd, not as they wife, but like those mighty
women, like Hilde's sisters,[1] will I follow thee, and fire thee to
strife and to manly deeds, so that thy name shall be heard over every
land. In the sword-game will I stand by thy side; I will fare forth
among thy warriors on the stormy viking-raids; and when the death-
song is sung, it shall tell of Sigurd and Hiordis in one!

[1] The Valkyries.

SIGURD. Once was that my fairest dream; now, it is too late. Gunnar
and Dagny stand between us, and that by right. I crushed my love for
Gunnar's sake;--how great soever my suffering, I cannot undo my deed.
And Dagny--full of faith and trust she left her home and kindred;
never must she dream that I longed for Hiordis as often as she took
me to her breast.

HIORDIS. And for such a cause wilt thou lay a burden on thy life!
To what end hast thou strength and might, and therewith all noble gifts
of the mind? And deemest thou it can now beseem me to dwell beneath
Gunnar's roof? Nay, Sigurd, trust me, there are many tasks awaiting
such a man as thou. Erik is king of Norway--do thou rise against him!
Many goodly warriors will join thee and swear thee fealty; with
unconquerable might will we press onward, and fight and toil unresting
until thou art seated on the throne of Harfager!

SIGURD. Hiordis, Hiordis, so have I dreamt in my wild youth; let
it be forgotten--tempt me not!

HIORDIS (impressively). It is the Norn's will that we two shall
hold together; it cannot be altered. Plainly now I see my task in
life: to make thee famous over all the world. Thou hast stood before
me every day, every hour of my life; I sought to tear thee out of
my mind, but I lacked the might; now it is needless, now that I know
thou lovest me.

SIGURD (w