Gunnar had thee to wife, and I wedded another woman.
Hiördis.
And didst come to love her!
Sigurd.
I learned to prize her; but one woman only has Sigurd loved, and that is she who frowned upon him from the first day they met. [Rises.] Here ends my saga; and now let us part.—Farewell, Gunnar's wife; never shall we meet again. Hiördis. [Springing up.] Stay, stay! Woe to us both; Sigurd, what hast thou done? Sigurd. [Starting.] I, done? What ails thee? Hiördis. And all this dost thou tell me now! But no—it cannot be true! Sigurd. These are my last words to thee, and every word is true. I would not thou shouldst think hardly of me, therefore I needs must speak. Hiördis. [Involuntarily clasps her hands together, and gazes at him in voiceless astonishment.] Loved—loved me—thou! [Vehemently, coming close up to him.] I will not believe thee! [Looks hard at him, and bursts forth in wild grief.] Yes, it is true, and—hateful for us both! [Hides her face in her hands, and turns away from him.
