ge in that, when he gets him a wife in
his hall.

KNUT.

And this I would have you mark, Dame Margit: it may be a week
since, I was at a feast at Hegge, at Erik's bidding, whom here
you see. I vowed a vow that Signe, your fair sister, should be
my wife, and that before the year was out. Never shall it be said
of Knut Gesling that he brake any vow. You can see, then, that
you must e'en choose me for your sister's husband--be it with your
will or against it.

MARGIT.

Ere that may be, I must tell you plain,
You must rid yourself of your ravening train.
You must scour no longer with yell and shout
O'er the country-side in a galloping rout;
You must still the shudder that spreads around
When Knut Gesling is to a bride-ale bound.
Courteous must your mien be when a-feasting you ride;
Let your battle-axe hang at home at the chimney-side--
It ever sits loose in your hand, well you know,
When the mead has gone round and your brain is aglow.
From no man his rightful gear shall you wrest,
You shall harm no harmless maiden;
You shall send no man the shameless hest
That when his path crosses yours, he were best
Come with his grave-clothes laden.
And if you will so bear you till the year be past,
You may win my sister for your bride at last.

KNUT.

[With suppressed rage.] You know how to order your words
cunningly, Dame Margit. Truly, you should have been a priest,
and not your husbands wife.

BENGT.

Oh, for that matter, I too could--

KNUT.

[Paying no heed to him.] But I would have you take note that
had a sword-bearing man spoken to me in such wise--

BENGT.

Nay, but listen, Knut Gesling--you must understand us!

KNUT.

[As before.] Well, briefly, he should have learnt that the axe
sits loose in my hand, as you said but now.

BENGT.

[Softly.] There we have it! Margit, Margit, this will never
end well.

MARGIT.

[To KNUT.] You asked for a forthright answer, and that I have
given you.

KNUT.

Well, well; I will not reckon too closely with you, Dame Margit.
You have more wit than all the rest of us together. Here is my
hand;--it may be there was somewhat of reason in the keen-edged
words you spoke to me.

MARGIT.

This I like well; now are you already on the right way to
amendment. Yet one word more--to-day we hold a feast at Solhoug.

KNUT.

A feast?

BENGT.

Yes, Knut Gesling: you must know that it is our wedding day;