Gunlöd monologue (Act 3) — The Father

No! I won't go. I must speak that you, my father, may not go to the grave with a lie--for your whole life has been a lie! I shall sacrifice the child's respect--love I have never felt--and prove to you what terrible guilt you have gathered on your head. Know then, you have taught me to hate--for when did you ever give me love--you taught me to fear the great Erl Thorfinn and you have succeeded, because I tremble before your harshness. I respect your many scars and great deeds, but you never taught me to love my father. You always thrust me away when I wanted to come to you--you poisoned my soul and now you see God's punishment. You have made me a criminal--for such I am at this moment, but it cannot be otherwise. Why do you hate my belief? Because it is love and yours is hate! Oh, father, father, I want to kiss the clouds from your brow. I wanted to caress your white locks and make you forget the sorrows that whitened them. I wanted to support you when your steps began to falter--Oh! forget what I have said--open your arms [falls on her knees] and take me to your heart. Look at me tenderly--just once before it is too late. Speak one word--[springs to her feet] Oh, your glance freezes me! You will not! I shall pray for power to love you. [Bursts into tears and goes out, followed by Valgerd, Orm goes forward to Thorfinn.]