Part 34 (1/2)
”It is not like Gudruda to speak thus,” said Eric: ”she had ever a stout heart and these are craven words Koll, I hold that thou liest; and, if indeed I find it so, I'll wring the head from off thee!”
”Nay, Eric, I lie not Wherefore should I lie? Hearken: thou hast not heard allshe drew so: 'Give this to Eric, in witness of my words'”
”Show o, when they were yet boy and girl, it chanced that Eric had given to Gudruda the half of an ancient gold piece that he had found upon the shore He had given her half, and half he had kept, wearing it next his heart But he knew not this, for she feared to tell him, that Gudruda had lost her half Nor indeed had she lost it, for Swanhild had taken the love-token and hidden it away Now she brought it forth for Koll to build his lies upon
Then Koll drew out the half-piece froed his hand into his breast and found his half He placed the two side by side, while Swanhild watched hihed aloud, a hard and bitter laugh ”There will be slaying,” he cried, ”before all this tale is told Take thy fee and begone, thou er of ill,” and he cast the broken piece at Koll
”For once thou hast spoken the truth”
Koll stooped, found the gold and went, leaving Brighteyes and Swanhild face to face
He hid his brow in his arroaned aloud Softly Swanhild crept up to hi thes, Eric,” she said, ”heavy tidings for thee and ave me birth and she has slain my own father--my father and thy cousin Unna also Gudruda is a traitress, a traitress fair and false I did ill to be born of such a woether let us weep, for our woe is equal”
”Ay, let us weep together,” Eric answered ”Nay, why should eep?
Together let us be merry, for we know the worst All words are said--all hopes are sped! Let us be s to fear”
”Ay,” Swanhild answered, looking on hih our sorron Ah! thou foolish Eric, under what unlucky star wast thou born that thou knewest not true fro food and wine
Now Eric sat alone with Swanhild in her bower and h he drank deep of the southern wine
Close beside hi his cup She ondrous fair that night, and it seeleamed like stars
Sweetly she spoke also and wisely She told strange tales and she sang strange songs, and ever her eyes shone more and more, and ever she crept closer to hih his heart was cold and dead He laughed loud and rowing boastful in his folly, and still Swanhild's eyes shonehiht of his friend, Earl Atli, and his rew clear
”This may not be, Swanhild,” he said ”Yet I would that I had loved thee from the first, and not the false Gudruda: for, with all thy dark ways, at least thou art better than she”
”Thou speakest wisely, Eric,” Swanhild answered, though she o ”The Norns have appointed us an evil fate, giving me as wife to an old man whom I do not love, and thee for a lover to a wohteyes, thou foolish Eric! why knewest thou not the false from the true while yet there was tis done--nor can they be undone Go hence, Eric, ere ill co, and then farewell”
And she slipped fro in it a certain love-portion that she had made ready
”Give it me that I ave hi him
”Hearken,” he said: ”I swear this, that before snow falls again in Iceland I will see Ospakar dead at my feet or lie dead at the feet of Ospakar”
”Well spoken, Eric,” Swanhild answered ”Now, before thou drinkest, grant me one little boon It is but a woman's fancy, and thou canst scarce deny one, for froht it is best that we shouldof thee to call back thy memory and the row old”
”What wouldst have then, Swanhild? I have nothing left to give, except Whitefire alone”
”I do not ask Whitefire, Eric, though Whitefire shall kiss the gift I ask nothing but one tress of that golden hair of thine”