LADY KIRSTEN. Heaven protect us!
OLAF. Cursed be my soul! She is put to shame!
INGEBORG. Yes, loudly I proclaim it: she is another man"s darling. Let him gainsay it who dares.
ARNE. Ingeborg!
ARNE. [Aside.] What is the matter with her?
LADY KIRSTEN. [Softly.] So that"s the way it is! She then,--she it is who cares for Hemming!
LADY KIRSTEN. [Softly and clearly, to ARNE.] Do you now intend to break the agreement? You can now see for yourself from your daughter"s conduct what reason I had to get Hemming married!
ARNE. [Disconcerted.] My daughter! Could you imagine that she--
LADY KIRSTEN. You need not pretend! Ingeborg has a fancy for your house-carl; now I should think I had good reason to break our agreement.
ARNE. Break, break--! What are you thinking of! To bring on me such disgrace!
LADY KIRSTEN. [Mocking.] Yes,--otherwise you would do it!
ARNE. [Quickly.] No, no, I have reconsidered; it is best we both keep still!
LADY KIRSTEN. [To herself.] See, now have I won! I know Olaf; a woman so scorned will never tempt him!
SCENE X
[The Preceding. ALFHILD comes unnoticed out of the storehouse in glittering bridal dress with a crown on her head and her hair flowing.]
ARNE. [Aside.] This has been a cursed day for me! O, he is a cunning dog, this Hemming! He knew that Ingeborg had a fancy for him; it was therefore so galling to him that Olaf should have her.
LADY KIRSTEN. [Who has in the meantime regained her composure.]
And now to the festive hall! Hemming we can think of later.--Olaf, take your bride by the hand!
ARNE. [Reluctantly, as he sees INGEBORG whisper to HEMMING.]
Where is the bride? Come, come!
ALFHILD AND INGEBORG. [At the same time, as they each seize one of OLAF"s hands.] Here I am!
THE GUESTS. How,--she takes Olaf?
[General amazement.]
LADY KIRSTEN. [Aside.] So far has he gone, then!
LADY KIRSTEN. [Aloud, to ALFHILD.] You are mistaken! That is not your bridegroom!
ALFHILD. Why, certainly, it is Olaf!
INGEBORG. [Lets go his hand.] If then he has promised her--!
LADY KIRSTEN. [In great agitation.] Olaf is not your bridegroom, I say! Tell her it yourself, my son!
[OLAF is silent. LADY KIRSTEN"s Kinsmen look at each other embarra.s.sed. ARNE"s Relatives draw nearer, angry and threatening.]
LADY KIRSTEN. [With raised voice.] Olaf Liljekrans! Answer loudly and clearly! You owe it to yourself and to us.
OLAF. [In despair, struggling with himself.] Let it be as you wish then, mother! Yes, by all the saints! I shall answer.
Alfhild! you are mistaken! I am not your bridegroom.
OLAF. [Pointing to INGEBORG.] There--there stands my bride!
ALFHILD. [Withdraws a step or two dumfounded and stares at him.]
She--your--
OLAF. [With rising irritation.] Alfhild! go hence! Go, go, far into the mountain again; "twill be best for you. I was sick and bewildered in mind when I wandered up there! What I have told you I little remember! I do not know and I do not want to know!
Do you hear,--I do not want to!--The golden crown you can keep!
Keep all, both the silver and gold, that you there stand dressed in. More,--yea, tenfold more you shall have.--Well! why do you stare at me so?
[ALFHILD takes off the crown and the other adornments and places them at OLAF"s feet as she continues uninterruptedly to stare at him.]
OLAF. Perhaps I pretended to you that you were to be my bride tonight, perhaps you believed me! Perhaps you thought that Olaf Liljekrans would marry a--a--what was it you called her?
OLAF. [Stamps with his foot.] Do not stare at me so, I say! I know you well enough; you have bewitched me. I forgot my family; I forgot my bride, my betrothed, she who stands there.
OLAF. [Seizes ALFHILD violently by the arm.] Look at her, Alfhild! Aha, it is she that I love!
[ALFHILD sinks down on her knees and covers her face with her hands.]
OLAF. Rise, Alfhild! rise, I say! If you dare to grieve in this way, I shall kill you!--Why are you not happy? Be merry and wild as I am!--And the rest of you! Why do you stand so silently, looking at one another? Laugh,--laugh loudly, so that it may echo around!--Alfhild! Why don"t you answer? Have I not told you enough! Aha! Then add, you others, a word to what I have said! Come, say something, you too; Lady Kirsten would like it!
Laugh at her, mock her, trample her under your feet!
OLAF. [With ringing laughter.] Ha, ha, ha! She is Olaf"s darling!
[ALFHILD sinks down to the ground in such a way that she rests prostrate against the stone bench at the left. A flash of lightning illuminates the scene and the thunder rolls; during the following to the close of the act the darkness and the storm increase.]
OLAF. See, see! That I like; now do the powers above join in!
Right now will I ride to the church with my bride! Come, Mistress Ingeborg! But first will we drink,--yes, drink, drink!
Bring here the beaker and horn,--not in there--! Light the candles in the church! Let the organ resound; prepare for a dance--not mournful psalms--fie, fie, no, a dance!
[Thunder and lightning.]
OLAF. Ah, it is rumored in heaven that Olaf Liljekrans is celebrating his wedding!