I will follow Gudmund with shield and bow,
I will share his joys, I will soothe his woe,
Watch o'er him both by night and day.
All that behold shall envy the life
Of the valiant knight and Margit his wife.--
His wife!
[Wrings her hands.
Oh God, what is this I say!
Forgive me, forgive me, and oh! let me feel
The peace that hath power both to soothe and to heal.
[Walks back and forward, brooding silently.
Signe, my sister--? How hateful 'twere
To steal her glad young life from her!
But who can tell? In very sooth
She may love him but with the light love of youth.
[Again silence; she takes out the little phial, looks long
at it and says under her breath:
This phial--were I its powers to try--
My husband would sleep for ever and aye!
[Horror-struck.
No, no! To the river's depths with it straight!
[In the act of throwing it out of the window, stops.
And yet I could--'tis not yet too late.--
[With an expression of mingled horror and rapture, whispers.
With what a magic resistless might
Sin masters us in our own despite!
Doubly alluring methinks is the goal
I must reach through blood, with the wreck of my soul.
[BENGT, with the empty beaker in his hand, comes in from
the passageway; his face is red; he staggers slightly.
BENGT.
[Flinging the beaker upon the table on the left.] My faith,
this has been a feast that will be the talk of the country.
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