[Seizes her pa.s.sionately in his arms.]

OLAF. Farewell to the village below I say!

'Tis here that my bridal-bed I shall prepare; Farewell to the world forever and ay,-- For here I shall hold my beautiful bride!

ALFHILD. [Moves away apprehensively.] Olaf!

OLAF. [Stops suddenly, as if seized with a vague and painful remembrance.] My bride! What is it I say!

Tell me--when first--I happened this way-- Can you still remember the very first night?

What was it I sought?--No longer I know!

Did I come to fetch you--to--the village below?

Did I come the wedding guests to invite?

ALFHILD. What mean you? Wedding? I can't understand--?

OLAF. Our betrothal at Guldvik was held, you remember!

For three weeks thereafter our wedding was planned-- But it seems to me that,--no, my brow like an ember Burns hot! I will try no more to remember!

CHORUS. [Softly and far in the forest.]

Olaf Liljekrans! Olaf Liljekrans!

Why sleep you so deep and so long?

ALFHILD. Hush, Olaf! do you hear?

OLAF. Did you hear it too?

ALFHILD. What was it?

OLAF. A memory of long ago, Which often comes back when I wander with you!

'Tis evil,--it calls from the village below.

LADY KIRSTEN. [Aside, as she enters from the rear of the stage un.o.bserved by the others.]

Ah, there! He speaks; could I understand--!

[Approaches listening.]

OLAF. [With increasing vehemence.]

Yes, yes, I come; not alone will I ride!

For ladies and knights shall heed my command, And come hither with song to greet my bride!

For you shall be saddled my swiftest steed, The poet and minstrel shall ride in the lead, Thereafter shall follow the steward and priest, The people shall all be bid to the feast!

Pages so courtly shall guide your steed, And beautiful flowers be strewn at your feet, The peasant shall bow to the ground like a weed, His wife shall curtsy to you as is meet!

The church bell shall ring to the countryside: Now rides Olaf Liljekrans home with his bride!

CHORUS OF WEDDING GUESTS. [Animated, yet softly, in the forest to the left.]

Now hasten we all To the wedding hall!

The foal runneth light and gay!

The hoofs resound On the gra.s.sy ground, As the merry swains gallop away!

LADY KIRSTEN. [Aside during the chorus.]

Heaven he praised then! Hemming has told--!

ALFHILD. [Jubilant.]

They come, they come, their voices I hear!

How sweetly it sounds! O Olaf, behold!

LADY KIRSTEN. Olaf, my son!

[Rushes to him un.o.bserved by ALFHILD, who continues to look out to the left.]

OLAF. G.o.d help me! What's here!

My mother!

LADY KIRSTEN. My poor unfortunate son!

Now are you saved from the evil one!

There comes Lord Arne with Ingeborg, your wife!

OLAF. [With a cry and as if suddenly awakening.]

Ingeborg!--With that have you shattered my life!

My happiness then was not what it seemed!

Alas, that you had to inform me of this!

OLAF. [In despair.]

Dear mother! a beautiful dream I have dreamed; You waken me now,--there's an end to my bliss!

SCENE XIII

[The Preceding. ARNE, INGEBORG, HEMMING, WEDDING GUESTS, and LADY KIRSTEN from the left.]

ARNE. Good luck, Lady Kirsten, to you! You have found him again, I am told.

LADY KIRSTEN. Of course I have found him.--And now for home!

ARNE. [To OLAF.] And no harm has been done you?

OLAF. [Absent-minded.] Me! What do you mean?

LADY KIRSTEN. [Interrupting.] Of course not, Lord Arne! He went astray on the hunt and--

INGEBORG. [Pointing to ALFHILD.] But this young woman--?

LADY KIRSTEN. A poor child! She has given him lodging and shelter.

ARNE. But there is no one who lives up here.

LADY KIRSTEN. Yet a stray one here and there! There is many a solitary family still dwells among the mountains since the time of the plague.