Botolf.—­In order to bring the land under the king’s dominion you would need but to ride to the king with twelve hundred men and let all the assembly swear an oath of allegiance to the king.  Both bishops would stand back of you in that undertaking.

Kolbein.—­Norwegians both!

Botolf.—­The archbishop has written me that the king would raise you to the highest rank among Icelanders if you did that.

Kolbein.—­What I am already I need not become by the grace of Hakon.

Botolf.—­He would give you an earl’s rank and set you over all Iceland.

Kolbein.—­They gave Snorri Sturluson an earl’s name, and the king became the contriver of his death.

Botolf.—­The archbishop writes that the king would make you highest commander among his forces, if you should prefer that.

Kolbein (rejoiced at first, but quickly controls himself).—­Is that written in the archbishop’s letter?

Botolf (taking out a scroll of parchment).—­Here you may read it!

Kolbein.—­Leader of the Birchlegs![A] That is a goodly army!  No, for that my health suffices no more—­they all are brisk men!  Tell the archbishop that even if I were always in good health I would think it a nobler thing to do battle against the Birchlegs than with them.

[Footnote A:  The name of the Norwegian king Sverre’s hardy soldiers.]

Botolf.—­You are the only Icelander who hates Norway and its king, Kolbein!

Kolbein.—­I remember too well that my father died in Norway an enemy of the king and the archbishop.  At that time I was thirteen years and dull it seemed to me in Norway thereafter.

Botolf.—­If such is the case, Gizur and Thord Kakali will stretch out both their hands after the honors you now turn your back upon.  Gizur has already received honors from the king.

Kolbein.—­I recall that Gizur has become his link-boy.  It is strange that he wanted to snuff candles for Kakon.

Botolf.—­Gizur holds lands from the king and is his kinsman.

Kolbein.—­Whatever the king may make of my kinsman Gizur, I know for sure that he will never be able to give him the courage to take up arms against me.

Botolf.—­But he might go so far as to let Thord Kakali have his men, and Thord would dare to fight with you.

Kolbein.—­He does indeed!  I shall have to kill Thord before mid-summer!

Botolf.—­True is the saying that no chieftain in Iceland lays himself down to sleep any day without danger!

Kolbein.—­We are mortal men, we chieftains.

Botolf.—­Will Gizur also have to be made a head shorter before mid-summer, Kolbein, should he come to Iceland?

Kolbein.—­Who can know what the future will bring, sir bishop?

(ASBJORN and HAF enter in headlong haste.)