Hiördis.
That will I do!
Sigurd.
Then must I know thee ill; high-souled have I ever deemed thee.
Hiördis.
Evil days breed evil thoughts; too great has been thy trust in me. I will, I must, go forth by thy side—forth to face life and strife; Gunnar's roof-tree is too low for me.
Sigurd.
[With emphasis.] But honour between man and man hast thou highly prized. There lack not grounds for strife between me and Gunnar; say, now, that he fell by my hand—wouldst thou still make all known and follow me?
Hiördis.
[Starting.] Wherefore askest thou?
Sigurd.
Answer me first: what wouldst thou do, were I to give thy husband his bane.
Hiördis.
[Looks hard at him.] Then must I keep silence and never rest until I had seen thee dead.
Sigurd.
[With a smile.] It is well, Hiördis—I knew it.
Hiördis.
[Hastily.] But it can never come to pass!
