y drink."

Then Groa started forward, and as she did so she seemed to stumble,
so that for a moment her robe covered up the great bride-cup. Then she
gathered herself together slowly, and, smiling, passed up the cup.

Asmund lifted it to his lips and drank deep. Then he turned and gave it
to Unna his wife, but before she drank he kissed her on the lips.

Now while all men shouted such a welcome that the hall shook, and as
Unna, smiling, drank from the cup, the eyes of Asmund fell upon Groa
who stood beneath him, and lo! her eyes seemed to flame and her face was
hideous as the face of a troll.

Asmund grew white and put his hand to his head, as though to think, then
cried aloud:

"Drink not, Unna! the draught is drugged!" and he struck at the vessel
with his hand.

He smote it indeed, and so hard that it flew from her hand far down the
hall.

But Unna had already drunk deep.

"The draught is drugged!" Asmund cried, and pointed to Groa, while all
men stood silent, not knowing what to do.

"The draught is drugged!" he cried a third time, "and that witch has
drugged it!" And he began to tear at his breast.

Then Groa laughed so shrilly that men trembled to hear her.

"Yes, lord," she screamed, "the draught is drugged, and Groa the
Witch-wife hath drugged it! Ay, tear thy heart out, Asmund, and Unna,
grow thou white as snow--soon, if my medicine has virtue, thou shalt be
whiter yet! Hearken all men. Asmund the Priest is Swanhild's father,
and for many a year I have been Asmund's mate. What did I tell thee,
lord?--that I would see the two of you dead ere Unna should take my
place!--ay, and on Gudruda the Fair, thy daughter, and Bjoern thy son,
and Eric Brighteyes, Gudruda's love, and many another man--on them too
shall my curse fall! Tear thy heart out, Asmund! Unna, grow thou
white as snow! The draught is drugged and Groa, Ran's gift! Groa the
Witch-Wife! Groa, Asmund's love! hath drugged it!"

And ere ever a man might lift a hand to stay her Groa glided past the
high seat and was gone.

For a space all stood silent. Asmund ceased clutching at his breast.
Rising he spoke heavily:

"Now I learn that sin is a stone to smite him who hurled it. Gudruda the
Gentle spoke sooth when she warned me against this woman. _New wed, new
dead!_ Unna, fare thee well!"

And straightway Asmund fell down and died there by the high seat in his
own hall.

Unna gazed at him with ashen face. Then, plucking at her bosom she
sp