_Thorolf_.--Give me absolution, priest, the same as if you were in my place! My soul is in danger. I have spoken with Woden, but a short while ago. He said the ale was ready which we were to drink together to-night. For God's sake absolve me well of my sins! _Sigurd_.--So shall it be. _Thorolf_ (_to_ BRODDI).--What will you have for my life? (BRODDI _remains silent_.) _Thorolf_.--I offer you to leave the country and never come back to Iceland. _Broddi_.--You must know, Thorolf, that you are to die. There is no other condition. _Thorolf_.--Each of you would consider himself too young to die already, if he were in my place now. You are keeping long your vow of everlasting truce, Brand Kolbeinsson! (BRAND _remains silent_.) _Thorolf_.--Those that keep it as you do 'shall shun churches and Christian people, the house of God and the houses of men and every home but hell!' A great wonder it would be if you obtain the absolution of a priest in the hour of your death. I summon you before God, Brand Kolbeinsson! _Broddi_.--Lead the man away to be executed, Helgi Skaftason, you have a good axe. _Helgi_.--That I have; nor shall I refuse its service. _Thorolf_.--Helgi Skaftason is then to--! (_Quickly takes his ring off his wrist and comes close to_ SIGURD. EINAR _happens to stand near so that he can discern their speech_.) Can you keep a secret, priest? _Sigurd_.--That can every one who is in holy office. _Thorolf_ (_gives him the ring and says in low voice_).--Quickly hide this ring and bring it to Lady Helga. _Sigurd_ (_do_).--With what message? _Thorolf_.--That you shall be spared life and limb, though you have been participant in this onslaught on me. (EINAR _gives a start_.) _Sigurd_.--And any others? _Thorolf_.--Little I care. _Einar_ (_aside_).--That ring must I try to get hold of. (THOROLF _is led out to the left; all the others follow, excepting_ BRODDI _and_ BRAND.) _Broddi_.--You must not be present at it, Brand! I shall tell you what is happening. Now Thorolf is shriven; he has but few sins to confess; he has been absolved but recently. _Brand_.--If they had not lit the fire we would never have found them. Better had it been they had not lit it! _Broddi_.--A pity that brave men such as Thorolf was should not be good men to work together with, likewise. Now Thorolf kneels down for the blow. Do not look that way, Brand! _Brand_.--Has he the crucifix in his hand? _Broddi_.--No; he reached it to Deacon Sigurd, before kneeling down. Why does Helgi let a brave man wait so long for the blow? (_A heavy blow on a body is heard without_. BRAND _starts up, pulls_ THOROLF'S _ring from his arm and gives it to_ BRODDI.) _Brand_.--Give Helgi Skaftason this ring; he will have need of the value in it. It is the ring Thorolf handed over to me in Flugumyr. I will not wear it! _Broddi_.--It shall be as you wish. Now our men have laid a shield over Thorolf's body. (_The slayers of_ THOROLF _enter from the left_.)