SSiggy
It is always a strength to know the weaknesses of your friends. Is it not?
All S1
S1 E15Unfinished Business
JBJarl Borg
So, when do we set sail?
Forgive me, Jarl Borg. But we have decided not to seek your help.
JBJarl Borg
I thought we had an agreement.
It is not my desire to break that agreement. Believe me I wish it to remain intact. But on this occasion...
JBJarl Borg
On this occasion?
On this occasion, the silver thread is slit, the golden cup breaks, and the pail is smashed at the spring.
KHKing Horik
Whether you live or die today is already in the hands of the gods. They already know if we sup with them tonight, so fear not. Fight well, and if you fall, surely Odin will take you to Valhalla!
AAll
ODIN!
[On his son's eye defect] It is not a curse. It is blessing.
Who can guess the ways and the plans of the gods?
The eagle is your destiny, Jarl Borg.
Tell me honestly: What do you think of these works?
I find them indescribably beautiful.
But they are clearly pagan! [laughs] You are only a monk, Athelstan, and yet, somehow, I begin to trust you. I feel you... You are a kindred spirit. Who? Who painted these images? What race of man was ever so glorious that they filled our world with such, as you say, indescribable beauty?
I have been told, sire, that you served at the court of the emperor Charlemagne, which I have also visited. I cannot imagine, therefore, that you do not know what I know. That these images were painted by the Romans. They conquered these lands a long time ago. They conquered the whole world. But they were pagans. They worshiped false gods.
Never speak of our conversation to any other man here. Nobody else would understand it; they would fear it! They accept an interpretation that a race of giants once lived here... [chuckles] And that we have nothing to do with them.
[both chuckle]
The fact is, Athelstan, we have lost more knowledge than we ever had! These Romans knew things that we will never know. Their pagan gods allowed them to rule the world. And what is the lesson that we can learn from that?
Come and see. Look around. You thought those paintings were all that there was. But of all Roman things, these are the most precious. Tales of the Caesars. The fall and ruin of Roman Britain. Tales of emperors and empires... It's the stuff of dreams, Athelstan. It's the very fabric of dreams. You can read them, of course.
Yes. Yes, I can read them.
Good. That is why I've chosen you.
What do you mean?
Well, I've chosen you to be the guardian of these books and their secrets. I want you to copy them. You speak Latin; not many do. Your job will be to preserve these works and these... fragments, for all eternity. But if you ever tell anyone about them, I will let them crucify you.
But warriors don't show their heart, until the axe reveals it.
You are so wise, Floki.
I'm not wise at all. I'm just a joker.
KHKing Horik
Floki, you have betrayed the gods.
No, King Horik. I only betrayed you.
What do you see?
Power. The power of a king.
Power is always dangerous. It attracts the worst. And corrupts the best. I never asked for power. Power is only given to those who are prepared to lower themselves to pick it up.
What is it you wish to ask the gods?
Will I ever bear another child, o wise one?
I cannot see another child, no matter how far I look.
Then... what do you see?
I see a harvest celebrated in blood. I see a trickster whose weapon cleaves you. I see a city made of marble. And a burning broiling ocean.
Not one of your prophecies do I understand.
It is the way of the prophecy. Only to be understood when it has happened and it is too late to change it.
A creaking bow, a burning flame,
Tide on the ebb, new ice, a coiled snake,
Sons of a king, an ailing calf, a witch's flattery.
No man should be such a fool as to trust these things.
No man should trust the word of a woman. The hearts of women were turned on a whirling wheel.
To love a fickle woman is like setting out over ice on a three year old colt or sailing a ship without a rudder.
[to Ragnar and Floki who are arguing about why they fight for the Christians and risk losing their own people] Both of you, save your breath. We have a mountain to climb. Some of us will not see a dawn like this again... not here on Midgard, at any rate. So, let us try and speak well of each other... no matter how much we have been through together.
[Grieving over Torstein] This is your fault, Ragnar. Torstein has died for a hill he did not want to own. For something which meant nothing to him. He has died a pointless death. How many more of us must die for your Christians? Or have you, in your heart, already renounced our gods and turned to the Christ God? Is that what your friend Athelstan has persuaded you to do? Look. Here we are... under an English sky... burying our dead... those we have sacrificed for Jesus Christ.
We are all fated to die on a certain day, yes? But, it is our own choice to do as we please until that day comes. I did not force Torstein, or any of you to come for that matter. You all chose to be here. My heart is as heavy for Torstein as anyone's. But, I am sure that I will bump into him again soon. In the meantime, Floki, shut your face.
These quotes come from Wikiquote's Vikings pages and are available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.