ACT III


(_The Cathedral at Holar. High altar in the center, and over it Christ
on the Cross, an image of white alabaster, with bloody hands and feet
and side, life-size. To either side, in the aisles, altars of the
Virgin, splendid with images. On the floor of the aisle the tombstone
of Bishop Gudmund Arason, surmounted by a statue of the bishop in his
sacerdotal vestments, recumbent. Doors at both sides. The spectator is
supposed to sit in the pews_.)

(BISHOP BOTOLF, _in full pontificals, stands before the altar_.
BRAND KOLBEINSSON, BRODDI, ALF, DEACON SIGURD, EINAR THE RICH, HELGI
SKAFTASON, _and six others kneeling before him weaponless with bared
neck and shoulders. An invisible chorus sings the end of a Miserere. The
music stops as soon as the psalm is finished_.)

_Botolf_.--By that power which God gave to the apostle Peter to bind and
to absolve all in heaven as well as on earth, which power he bestowed
upon the pope, and the pope upon the archbishop, and the archbishop upon
me, by this power I absolve you: Brand Kolbeinsson, Broddi Thorleifsson,
Alf Gudmundsson, Deacon Sigurd Thjodolfsson, Helgi Skaftason, Einar the
Rich, and you six other men, from the sin of your having been present
at and caused the death of Thorolf Bjarnason; I absolve you from the
excommunication of the Holy Church and permit to you church-going, and
the association of Christian men.

_Brand_.--In return for our being freed from the excommunication of the
Holy Church I and Broddi Thorleifsson each will give the value of five
hundred in land, to the see of Holar; and two hundred for each of