_Sigurd_--Pledged to the blind king I took from the cloister; pledged to the men I have led hither.
_The Nun_--And these pledges thou shalt redeem--how?
_Sigurd_--By fighting and falling at their head.
_The Nun [springs to her feet. Sigurd also rises_.]--No! No! No! Shall I now, after a lifetime of sorrow, behold thy death?
_Sigurd_--Yes, mother. The Lord of life and death will have it so.
_The Nun_--Ah! what sufferings a moment's sin may bring! [_She falls upon his breast, then sinks, with outstretched arms_.] O my son, spare me!
_The Nun_--Hast thou taken thought of what may follow? Hast thou thought of capture, of mutilation?
_Sigurd_--I have some hymns left me from childhood. I can sing them.
_Sigurd_--Make not to me this hour more bitter than death itself.
_The Nun_--But why now die? We have found one another.
_Sigurd_--We two have nothing more to live for.
_Sigurd_--Till the morning sun appear we will sit together. Let me lift thee upon this rock. [_He does so, and casts himself at her feet_.] It was fair that thou shouldst come to me. All my life is now blotted out, and I am a child with thee once more. And now we will seek out together the land of our inheritance. I must away for a moment to take my leave, and then I shall be ready, and I think that thou too art ready.
_Ivar Ingemundson [falling on his knee_]--My lord, now let me be your friend.
_Sigurd [extending his hand_]--Ivar, thou wilt not leave her to-morrow?
_Ivar Ingemundson_--Not until she is set free.
_Sigurd_--And now sing me the Crusader's song. I may joyfully go hence after that.
Fair is the earth, Fair is God's heaven; Fair is the pilgrim-path of the soul. Singing we go Through the fair realms of earth, Seeking the way to our heavenly goal.
Races shall come, And shall pass away: And the world from age to age shall roll; But the heavenly tones Of our pilgrim song Shall echo still in the joyous soul.
First heard of shepherds, By angels sung, Wide it has spread since that glad morn: Peace upon earth! Rejoice all men, For unto us is a Savior born[1].
[_The mother places both her hands on Sigurd's head, and they look into one another's eyes; he then rests his head upon her breast._]
[Footnote 1: This song is borrowed by Björnson from the Danish poet B.S. Ingemann, although it is slightly altered for its present use.]