[She goes quickly out to the left.
BENGT.
[Rising.] I like her well. It repents me not a whit that I
took her to wife, though of heritage she owned no more than yonder
goblet and the brooches of her wedding gown.
[He goes to the table at the window and takes the goblet.
[A HOUSE-CARL enters hurriedly and with scared looks, from
the back.
HOUSE-CARL.
[Calls.] Sir Bengt, Sir Bengt! haste forth with all the speed
you can! Knut Gesling with an armed train is drawing near the house.
BENGT.
[Putting down the goblet.] Knut Gesling? Who brings the tidings?
HOUSE-CARL.
Some of your guests espied him on the road beneath, and hastened
back to warn you.
BENGT.
E'en so. Then will I--! Fetch me my grandfather's battle-axe!
[He and the HOUSE-CARL go out at the back.
[Soon after, GUDMUND and SIGNE enter quietly and cautiously
by the door at the back.
SIGNE. [In muffled tones.]
It must then, be so!
GUDMUND. [Also softly.]
Necessity's might
Constrains us.
SIGNE.
Oh! thus under cover of night
To steal from the valley where I was born?
[Dries her eyes.
Yet shalt thou hear no plaint forlorn.
'Tis for thy sake my home I flee;
Wert thou not outlawed, Gudmund dear,
I'd stay with my sister.
GUDMUND.
Only to be
Ta'en by Knut Gesling, with bow and spear,
Swung on the croup of his battle-horse,
And made his wife by force.
SIGNE.
Quick, let us flee. But whither go?
GUDMUND.
Down by the fiord a friend I know;
He'll find us a ship. O'er the salt sea foam
We'll sail away south to Denmark's bowers.
There waits you there a happy home;
Right joyously will fleet the hours;
The fairest of flowers they bloom in the shade
Of the beech-tree glade.
SIGNE. [Bursts into tears.]
Farewell, my poor sister! Like my mother tender
Thou hast guarded the ways my feet have trod,
Hast guided my footsteps, aye praying to God,
The Almighty, to be my defender.--
Gudmund--here is a goblet filled with mead;
Let us drink to her; let us wish that ere long
Her soul may again be calm and strong,
And that God may be good to her need.
[She takes the goblet into her hands.
GUDMUND.
Aye, let us drain it, naming her name!
[Starts.
Stop!
[Takes the goblet from her.
For meseems it is the same--
SIGNE.
'Tis Margit's be
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