You shall have ten, but if you ever tell of it--I'll take
your life.
THRALL. It would not help even if you gave me a hundred. You must
pray yourself.
THORFINN. I cannot, but. I command you to pray.
THRALL. I will obey--but you will see that it does not help.
[Praying.] Jesus Christ, have pity on this poor sinner who begs for
mercy.
THORFINN. That's a lie. I never begged for anything!
THRALL. You see now that it doesn't help.
THORFINN. Give me my armor and help me buckle.
THRALL [Helping]. You are not keeping still. I can't fasten the
buckles.
THORFINN. Wretch!
THRALL. But your whole body is shaking.
THORFINN. That's a lie!
[Valgerd and Gunloed enter.]
THRALL. May I go now?
THORFINN. Go.
VALGERD [Coming forward]. You called me.
THORFINN. That's not true.
VALGERD. Your enemies are upon you.
THORFINN. What does that concern you?
VALGRED. Make ready. I have heard what has come to pass.
THORFINN. Then it is best that you [indicating both Valgerd and
Gunloed] hide yourselves in the cellar passage.
[Another messenger enters.]
MESSENGER. Erl Thorfinn, we are here. Will you surrender to our
superior strength?
THORFINN [Silent.]
MESSENGER. You do not answer. Let the women go as we shall burn
your home. [Thorfinn is silent.] Your answer!
[Gunloed who has been standing by the door, comes forward and takes
a battle axe from wall.]
GUNLOED. I give you your answer! Ill must Erl Thorfinn have brought
up his daughter and little would his wife have loved him if they
should desert him now.
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