HEMMING. Well, where else is there we can go?
INGEBORG. [Impatiently.] Yes, but human beings cannot
live here!
HEMMING. Why, surely, they can!
INGEBORG. Well, you see yourself they are all
of them dead!
Hemming! I think it best I go home to my father.
HEMMING. But what will become of me?
INGEBORG. You shall go to war!
HEMMING. To war! And be killed!
INGEBORG. Not at all! You shall perform
some illustrious deed, and then will you be made a
knight, and then will my father no longer be opposed
to you.
HEMMING. Yes, but what if they kill me in the
meantime?
INGEBORG. Well, we’ll have plenty of time
to think about that. Today and tomorrow we shall
have to remain here, I suppose; so long will the guests
sit in the festive house and celebrate,—if
they look for us, it will probably be about in the
village; up here we can be safe and—
[She stops and listens.]
CHORUS. [Far away off the stage to the right.]
Away,—away to find
Alfhild, the false, unkind;
For all our woe and strife
She must pay with her life!
HEMMING. Ingeborg! Ingeborg! They
are after us!
INGEBORG. Where shall we find refuge?
HEMMING. Well, how can I know—
INGEBORG. Go into the hut; lock the door so
that it can be bolted from within.
HEMMING. Yes, but—
INGEBORG. Do as I say! I shall go up on
the hill the meanwhile and see if they are far away.
[She goes out to the right.]
HEMMING. Yes, yes! Alas, if only they
don’t get us!
[He goes into the house.]
* * *
* *
[OLAF comes from the forest to the left. Immediately
afterwards INGEBORG from the right.]
OLAF. [Looks about and calls softly.] Alfhild!
Alfhild! She is nowhere to be seen! Like
a bird she disappeared from my view into the wood
and I—
INGEBORG. They are right close and—
[Stops, frightened.]
INGEBORG. Olaf Liljekrans!
OLAF. Ingeborg!
HEMMING. [Sticks his head out of the door and spies
OLAF.]
Lord Olaf! So! Now is it surely all up
with me!
[Withdraws hastily.]
INGEBORG. [Aside.] He must have ridden in advance
of the rest.
OLAF. [Aside.] She must have come up here with her
father to look for me.
INGEBORG. [Aside.] But I will not go with him!
OLAF. [Aside.] I will not stir from here!
INGEBORG. [Aloud, as she draws nearer.] Olaf Liljekrans!
Now you have me; but you will do ill if you try to
compel me.
OLAF. That is furthest from my mind!
INGEBORG. Why then come you here in company
with my kinsmen?
