OLAF. Alfhild!
ALFHILD. They lower me under the sod!
They cover me over with earth!
And here must I lie with all my dread,
Must live and suffer although I be dead:
Must know there is nothing now left for me,
Yet cannot forget, nor fight myself free;
Must hear when he whom my love I gave
Rides off to the church right over my grave;
Must hear him forever suffer and languish,
And yet can not lessen his anguish!
O, how my bosom is filled with despair!
The angels of God have forgotten my prayer!
They heed no longer my weeping and woe—
The portal is closed to the heavenly bliss—
Dig me up again! Let me not lie here below!
[She rushes out to the left.]
OLAF. Alfhild! Alfhild! O, Christ,
what is this?
[He follows her quickly.]
* * *
* *
[INGEBORG and HEMMING enter, after a pause, from the
right.]
INGEBORG. Well, here we are up here! How
lovely and bright and peaceful it is!
HEMMING. Yes, here we shall live happily together!
INGEBORG. But mark you well that you are my
servant, and nothing else,—until my father
has given his consent.
HEMMING. That he will never do!
INGEBORG. Never you mind,—we’ll
find some means or other.—But now we must
think about choosing a cabin to live in.
HEMMING. There are plenty of them around here.
Over the whole valley there are deserted huts; everything
is just the same as it was when the last people died
in the terrible plague many years ago.
INGEBORG. Here I like it very much! Over
there, too, there is just such an old hut; the water
is near by, and the forest must surely be alive with
game. You can fish and hunt; aye, we shall live
a wonderful life!
HEMMING. Yea, forsooth, a wonderful life!
I shall fish and hunt the while you gather berries
and keep the house in order.
INGEBORG. Do I? No, that you must take
care of!
HEMMING. Yes, yes, as you please. O, a
delightful life we shall live!
[Stops and adds somewhat dejectedly.]
HEMMING. But when I stop to think a bit;—I
have neither bow nor fishing outfit.
INGEBORG. [Likewise with an expression of despondency.]
And it occurs to me there are no servants here who
can help me.
HEMMING. That shall I willingly do!
INGEBORG. No, thanks.—And all my
good clothes—I didn’t bring anything
along except my bridal gown which I am wearing.
HEMMING. That was thoughtless of you!
INGEBORG. True enough, Hemming! And for
that reason you shall steal down to Guldvik some night
and bring me clothes and other things as much as I
have need of.
HEMMING. And be hanged as a thief!
INGEBORG. No, you shall be careful and cautious,—that
I warn you. But when finally the long winter
comes? There are no people up here,—music
and dancing we shall never have—Hemming!
Shall we stay here or—
