Jatgeir.
[Enters from the back.] Forgive my coming, lord King
King Skule.
You come to my wish, Skald!
Jatgeir.
I overheard some townsfolk at my lodging talking darkly of
King Skule.
Let that wait. Tell me, Skald: you who have fared far abroad in strange lands, have you ever seen a woman love another's child? Not only have kindness for it—'tis not that I mean; but <g>love</g> it, love it with the warmest passion of her soul.
Jatgeir.
That do only those women who have no child of their own to love.
King Skule.
Only those women?
Jatgeir.
And chiefly women who are barren.
King Skule.
Chiefly the barren? They love the children of others with all their warmest passions?
Jatgeir.
That will oftentimes befall.
King Skule.
And does it not sometimes befall that such a
