Brand_.--What would men say if my followers broke a pledged truce?

_Alf_.--A truce under compulsion it was, with sixty men, but a few steps
away.

_Einar_.--Slight is your recollection concerning the murder of Kalf the
son of Guttorm!

_Brand_.--It is better to suffer than to do ill.

_Broddi_.--It is seeming to a chieftain to commit deeds of injustice and
highhandedness, so soon as need be for them; but not to suffer them of
others.

_Brand_.--What need is there that we kill Thorolf Bjarnason now rather
than before?

_Broddi_.--He is now set as lord over Eyafirth. He is our enemy, and as
it is the Eyafirthings have grievances against us.

_Alf_.--For their shameful defeat at Orlygsstad and the fall of their
chieftains.

_Broddi_.--The Eyafirthings will assail us from the east under Thorolf,
and Thord Kakali from the west. The henchmen of Lady Helga will stand by
Thorolf, and not by you, Brand.

_Brand_.--But Gissur Thorvaldsson will come to my help over the
mountains from the south.

_Broddi_.--An ill thing, to have Gissur as one's only friend. He is no
warrior, keeps no promise, and dares not to fight.

_Sigurd_.--Never rely on Gissur's valor!

_Alf_.--He is a coward!

_Einar_.--None of you mentions what is of most importance. Lady Helga it
was, and not Kolbein the Young, who assigned Eyafirth to Thorolf.

_Broddi_.--That is a lie, Einar!

_Einar_.--Kolbein had become delirious when Helga asserted Eyafirth was
given to Thorolf.

_Alf_.--That, indeed, is the truth.

_Several_.--Yes, that indeed is the truth.

_Broddi_.--Does _she_ mean to arrange the districts? If so, we mean
to make away with Thorolf. You shall have no hand in this, Brand
Kolbeinsson, but your men shall follow me.

_Brand_.--And who is to follow me?

_Broddi_.--No one!

_Brand_.--That was the cause of my kinsman Kolbein's greatness that all
his men obeyed him without a murmur. No one obeys me now!

_Einar_.--But this obedience came first about after the fall of Kalf
Guttormsson.

_Brand_.--No need to remind me again that Thorolf was the foremost
instigator to the killing of him.

_Broddi_.--Let us then seize Thorolf, wherever we may find him, and slay
him.

_All_ (_except_ BRAND).--Yes, let us slay him!

_Broddi_.--Or else let us surround his house and lead him out to be put
to death.

_Alf_.--Oh, let him perish in the flames of his own house.

_Sigurd_--For shame, Alf! I do not care to share the torments of hel