Part 4 (1/2)
Then people go to rest; but Swanhild seeks her mother, and tells her all that has befallen her, nor does Groa fail to listen
”Noill s have chanced well and Asmund is in a ripe huone hence, led by Ospakar Blacktooth”
”And if Eric does not co for the sight of it”
”That is thy matter, thou lovesick fool Know this: that if Eric coets speech with Gudruda, there is an end of thy hopes; for, fair as thou art, she is too fair for thee, and, strong as thou art, in a way she is too strong Thou hast heard how these two love, and such loves mock at the will of fathers Eric in his desire or die beneath the swords of Asht Nay, the wolf Eric ry Then let him search the fold and one, he will desire the good”
”So be it, mother As I sat crouched behind Gudruda in the snow at Coldback, I had half a mind to end her love-words with this knife, for so I should have been free of her”
”Yes, and fast in the doo, thou wildcat The Gods help this Eric, if thou winnest him Nay, choose thy time and, if thou must strike, strike secretly and hoth, that lies pierce further than swords, and that witchcraft here honesty ry man before to-morrow comes”
Then Groa went to the shut bed where As on the bed and asked her why she cah thou dost treat ht Say noilt thou that this daughter of thine, Gudruda the Fair, should be the light May of yonder long-legged yeo his beard
”Knowest thou, then, that this very day your white Gudruda sat on Eric's lap in the snohile he fondled her to his heart's content?”
”Most likely it was for warmth Men do not dream on love in the hour of death Who saw this?”
”Swanhild, as behind, and hid herself for shame, and therefore she held that these two must soon be wed! Ah, thou art foolish now, Asht of cold or death Art thou blind, or dost thou not see that these two turn on each other like birds at nesting-tiht do worse,” said Asmund, ”for they are a proper pair, and it seeoes well Still, it is a pity to see so fair a maid cast like rotten bait upon the waters to hook this troutlet of a yeoman Thou hast enemies, Asmund; thou art too prosperous, and there are many who hate thee for thy state and wealth Were it not wise to use this girl of thine to build a wall about thee against the evil day?”
”I have been ht friends But tell , how hly to hihteyes take Gudruda I have always loved the lad, and he will go far”
”Listen, Asmund! Surely thou hast heard of Ospakar Blacktooth--the priest ells in the north?”
”Ay, I have heard of hiliness, or strength, or wealth and power We sailed together on a viking cruise s at which my blood turned, and in those days I had no chicken heart”
”With tie their temper Unless I am mistaken, this Ospakar wishes above all to have Gudruda inis his, this alone is left for him to ask--the fairest woman in Iceland as a housewife Think then, with Ospakar for a son-in-laho is there that can stand against thee?”
”I aether trust thee, Groa
Of a truth it seems to me that thou hast some stake upon the race This Ospakar is evil and hideous It were a shaive Gudruda over to him when she looks elsewhere Knowest thou that I swore to love and cherish her, and how runs this with ood birth and kin, and, ood will come of it”
”It is like thee, Asmund, always tofor thy weal Do as thou wilt: let Eric take this treasure of thine--for whoive their state--and live to rue it But I say this: if he have thy leave to roarow, for these two sicken each to each, and young blood is hot and ill at waiting, and it is not always snow-tio And now I have said”
”Thy tongue runs too fast The man is quite unproved and I will try his shall go as they are fated And now peace, for I weary of thy talk, and, --a little honesty to season all thy craft What fee has Ospakar paid thee, I wonder Thou at least hadst never refused the gold ring to-night, for thou wouldst do old”
”And hed aloud; nor did they speak ht
Now, early in theto the hall, awoke Eric, who slept by the centre hearth, saying that he would talk with him without Then Eric followed him to the back of the hall
”Say now, Eric,” he said, when they stood in the grey light outside the house, ”as it taught thee that kisses keep out the cold on snowy days?”