Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

magic sword " Greysteel," giving vent to regrets that his state of slavery prevents him from using
it in battle, and resenting the fact that his master, Ari, scorns to use it either, because of its magic
qualities. His mistress, Ingebjorga, talks with him; and from this conversation it is soon gathered
that she is not happy with her husband, and that she has conceived a passion for his younger
brother, Gisli, who returns her love, though they have never yet declared their feelings for one
another. When Ari appears, Kol informs him that raids are being made in the neighbourhood by
the Bearsarks, led by their famous chief, Bjorn the Black. The Bearsarks are wild, lawless,
wandering tribes, who spend their time making raids on the peaceful farmer folk, and robbing
them of their cattle, goods, and women, and committing many deeds of cruelty and violence; and
their leader, Bjorn, is specially dreaded, on account of his gigantic size and of certain magic
powers he is said to possess, being the son of a witch-woman. Ari, however, is not scared at the
approach of the wild robbers, but declares he will give Bjorn a warm welcome should he dare to
attack him. Even as he speaks, the war cry of the Bearsark is heard as they approach : " Bring out
your wives and daughters! "The dreaded Bjorn now appears with his rough horde of raiders, and
he insolently offers to engage in single combat with Ari for his wife and other chattels, the fight to
take place on the Combat Isle in the next fjord. Ari fearlessly accepts the challenge, and call his
carls to follow him to behold the fight. Kol implores his master to use his sword " Greysteel " in
the combat; but Ari scornfully refuses to make use of magic, and hastens away, thinking more of
adding to his own glory than of ensuring the safety of his wife. When he has departed, his brother
Gisli appears, and gives utterance to his tender thoughts of Ingebjorga, which he has hitherto kept
hidden in his own heart. When, however, Ingebjorga presently joins him, and he learns of her
danger and of his brother's coldness to her, he can no longer control his feelings; and he pours
forth a passionate avowal of his love, to which Ingebjorga at first gladly responds. Then, suddenly
realising their position, she withdraws from his embrace, and scornfully reproaches him for
disloyalty to his brother. At this moment, Kol rushes forward, bidding Gisli hasten to the scene of
combat if he desires to see his brother again alive. Full of con-trition for having delayed so long,
Gisli rushes off; but ere he reaches the spot loud cries are heard : " Ari is killed! " Soon after, to
the sound of a sombre funeral dirge, the carls bring home the body of their dead master; and then
Gisli, forgetting all thought of jealousy and resentment against his brother, and only remembering
his fearless bravery, calls pas-sionately upon the dead man to forgive him, vowing to avenge his
death. Ingebjorga, hearing this sincere outburst, realises that Gisli is worthy of her love, and has
redeemed his recent lapse from rectitude; and she no longer withholds her tender feeling from him.
According to the custom of the times, she now belongs to Gisli, who, as the next-of-kin, takes
possession of the head man's goods and chattels, his wife and bondsmen being regarded as part of
these; and Ingebjorga resigns herself very willingly in this case, since Gisli is the man she loves.
Gisli, however, has still to do combat for her with the bloodthirsty Bearsark; and Ingebjorga
entreats him to make use of Kol's magic sword, since Bjorn's magic must be met with magic, if he
is to be defeated, and mere brute courage and strength will never suffice in such an unequal
contest, as has been proved by the quick defeat of Ari. In order to save the woman he loves from
falling into the hands of the spoiler, therefore, Gisli takes " Greysteel " in his hand, and rushes off
to fight with the Bearsark, whom he is thus enabled to slay. He returns victorious to the loving
arms of Ingebjorga, who receives him with joy; and the bondsman, Kol, is also made happy by
receiving his freedom in return for the service rendered by his magic sword "Grey-steel," which he
is now enabled to use once more in open battle.