RANNVEIG (_intercepting him_) Nay, let me take him. It is not safe--there may be men who hide.... Hallgerd, look up; call Gunnar to you there: (HALLGERD _is motionless._) Lad, she beckons. I say you shall not come. GUNNAR (_laughing_) Fierce woman, teach me to be brave in age, And let us see if it is safe for you. (_Leads_ RANNVEIG _out, his hand on her shoulder; the hound goes with them._) STEINVOR Mistress, my heart is big with mutinies For your proud sake: does not your heart mount up? He is an outlaw now and could not hold you If you should choose to leave him. Is it not law? Is it not law that you could loose this marriage-- Nay, that he loosed it shamefully years ago By a hard blow that bruised your innocent cheek, Dishonouring you to lesser women and chiefs? See, it burns up again at the stroke of thought. Come, leave him, mistress; we will go with you. There is no woman in the country now Whose name can kindle men as yours can do-- Ay, many would pile for you the silks he grudges; And if you did withdraw your potent presence Fire would not spare this house so reverently. HALLGERD Am I a wandering flame that sears and passes? We must bide here, good Steinvor, and be quiet. Without a man a woman cannot rule, Nor kill without a knife; and where's the man That I shall put before this goodly Gunnar? I will not be made less by a less man. There is no man so great as my man Gunnar: I have set men at him to show forth his might; I have planned thefts and breakings of his word When my pent heart grew sore with fermentation Of malice too long undone, yet could not stir him. Oh, I will make a battle of the Thing, Where men vow holy peace, to magnify him. Is it not rare to sit and wait o' nights, Knowing that murderousness may even now Be coming down outside like second darkness Because my man is greater? STEINVOR (_shuddering_) Is it not rare. HALLGERD That blow upon the face So long ago is best not spoken of. I drave a thrall to steal and burn at Otkell's Who would not sell to us in famine time But denied Gunnar as if he were suppliant: Then at our feast when men rode from the Thing I spread the stolen food and Gunnar knew. He smote me upon the face--indeed he smote me. Oh, Gunnar smote me and had shame of me And said he'd not partake with any thief; Although I stole to injure his despiser.... But if he had abandoned me as well 'Tis I who should have been unmated now; For many men would soon have judged me thief And shut me from this land until I died-- And then I should have lost him. Yet he smote me--