Yes, he would go and
see his mother: he would be kind if she was kind; if she were not, he
would boast and swagger, as he was but too apt to do. That he should go
back at the risk of his life; that any one who found him on English ground
might kill him; and that many would certainly try to kill him, he knew
very well. But that only gave special zest to the adventure.
Martin Lightfoot heard this news with joy.
"I have no more to do here," said he. "I have searched and asked far and
wide for the man I want, and he is not on the Irish shores. Some say he is
gone to the Orkneys, some to Denmark. Never mind; I shall find him before
I die."
"And for whom art looking?"
"For one Thord Gunlaugsson, my father."
"And what wantest with him?"
"To put this through his brain." And he showed his axe.
"Thy father's brain?"
"Look you, lord. A man owes his father naught, and his mother all. At
least so hold I. 'Man that is of woman born,' say all the world; and they
say right. Now, if any man hang up that mother by hands and feet, and flog
her to death, is not he that is of that mother born bound to revenge her
upon any man, and all the more if that man had first his wicked will of
that poor mother? Considering that last, lord, I do not know but what I am
bound to avenge my mother's shame upon the man, even if he had never
killed her.
Pages:
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149