Botolf.—­Angels with black wings all, Kolbein!

Kolbein.—­Whatever the hue of their wings, yet they cause me to come out of every fray unscathed and more powerful than other men.

Botolf.—­God has hardened your heart, Kolbein!

Kolbein.—­And you, cease to aid my cousin Brand and Broddi, and never release them from the interdict!

Botolf.—­I have released them.

Kolbein.—­That is an act of open hostility against me.

Botolf.—­Whilst I am bishop I have the power of the keys, and not you.

Kolbein.—­I have undone the gates of death for more men than I wished, and that power of the keys, I know, is not lies and wonders.

Botolf.—­You have but one key, Kolbein, and that leads to hell.  You will have need for it to open its gates when you arrive there; in case the Holy Church has not already opened them up for you.

Kolbein.—­You threaten me with excommunication, bishop!  Do not stir!  Now I have decided what I shall do with you.  Next summer I shall put you bodily in a sack and bring it on a ship and send you thus to the archbishop.[A] (Laughs heartily.)

[Footnote A:  The archbishop of Nidaros (Throndhjem), then primate of Norway.]

Botolf.—­God is my castle.

Kolbein.—­And you shall have both food and your power of the keys on top of you in your bag.  That would teach Kakon and the archbishop to appoint fewer bishops from Norway who are chiefly busy plotting to betray Iceland. (Laughs.)

(KOLBEIN KALDALJOS enters.  The BISHOP breathes relieved.)

Botolf.—­You are an enemy of God, Kolbein the Young!

Kolbein.—­No friend of the king, you meant to say.

Kolbein Kaldaljos.—­Broddi has taken a stand at Vidiness with two hundred men.  It seems he will order his troop there in battle array.

Botolf (to KOLBEIN THE YOUNG).—­Your father’s brother, Kolbein, fell at Vidiness, the same perchance may betide you.

Kolbein Kaldaljos.—­Pledge a truce to me on behalf of my son Brand and his fellows.

Kolbein.—­Brand holds no truce!

Kolbein Kaldaljos.—­If you intend to slay my son you will find that Broddi and his men will stand between you and Brand for this once.

Kolbein.—­Hear you, bishop, will you forbear aiding Brand and Broddi, if I now depart?

Botolf.—­Never!

Kolbein.—­Then shall I make the see at Holar even with the ground, as soon as I return.

Haf (entering hurriedly).—­Broddi Thorleifsson has arranged his men in fighting order at Vidiness, and now they are advancing this way in battle array.  I let our men mount their horses.

Kolbein.—­You will follow me to Flugumyr, bishop.  There are strong fortifications.  But if Broddi’s men pursue us, or make other show of hostility, I shall have you beheaded.