Broddi.—­We have sworn to each other not to separate before that this our cause was entirely brought to an end; now I see your highmindedness, Brand Kolbeinsson, as I have seen it before.  The bishop has torn from under me my trust in the fort.  Hence I shall take that council to fare to Flugumyr with you, whilst I maintain that it is entirely doubtful as yet who is to die, Kolbein the Young, Brand, or I; but that I think sure, also, that short time will pass between the death of any one of us three.

Alf.—­Let all of us go to Flugumyr and surrender to Kolbein.  Will you not go with us, Helgi Skaftason?

Helgi.—­No one can escape his fate.  I shall do what Brand does.  But it is certain death for me!

Broddi.—­Let us go then! (Enter JORUN with KALF and THORGEIR.)

Jorun.—­Say farewell to your father, my boys!  He intends to start on the longest journey in this world.

Kalf (going up to his father).—­Do you mean to go to war now, father?

Brand (lifts him up and kisses him).—­Your mother said I intended to start on the longest journey in this world.

Kalf.—­Then you intend to start out to Rome.  That I do not mean to do, once I am a chieftain. (BRAND sets him down on the floor again.)

Brand.—­It may be that I come to Rome; but that Rome lies high aloft.  (KALF goes up to BRODDI.) Now you come to me, Thorgeir! (THORGEIR goes up to him.  He takes him on his lap.) Don’t weep, my little boy, if I be late returning to-morrow.

Thorgeir.—­Don’t go away from me, father!  Let the others go to war, but you remain at home yourself!

Brand.—­No, I cannot stay here; if I remain here there will be fighting here and killing of men; but if I go I shall return with peace.

Thorgeir.—­Oh yes!  Peace is good, let me have it when you return, so I can put it into my toy box.  I will not break it at all.

Broddi.—­The boy is right.  All the peace that now exists in Iceland may be put into a linen chest.

Brand (kisses the boy and sets him down).—­Yes, keep it well, my boy.  If you obtain it you will never have to start out on the journey that I now must take.

Kalf.—­You are not going to Rome, Broddi?

Broddi.—­No.  Not just now!

Kalf.—­You are going to war, Broddi!  I wish I were grown up, too!

Broddi.—­I should like, if I might, strike one great blow, before going to Rome with your father.

Kalf.—­And let that blow become far famed, Broddi!

(JORUN leads the boys out.  They go to the door.  Some depart.)

Jorun.—­Have you nothing to say to me, my husband, before going?

Brand.—­Do not weep when I am gone. (They embrace each other closely.) Make our sons love peace!  And always think that I have said that to you which you most wish I had said to you.