[Laughter.]

ALFHILD. [Takes one of the torches.] Yes, yes, I will! As the most humble in the row I shall stand down there, and then, when he sees me, when I ask of him, when I remind him of everything he has promised and sworn,--O, tell me, tell me, do you not think that he will be kind to me again? Do you think so? O, tell me you do! Say that you think so!

THE SERVANTS. Aha,--for certain he will; now come!

[They go out to the right to the rear of the house.]

ALFHILD. [Bursts into tears.]

They mock at me, laugh at me,--one and all!

So harsh is not even the mountain wall; The moss thereon is permitted to grow; There's no one so kind to me here! I--I must go!

[Thunder and lightning.]

ALFHILD. Ah, heaven itself is angry and grim, It pours out its wrath on my wretched head; But flash there is none to annihilate him Who craftily tricked me in all that he said!

[The tones of the organ are heard from within the church.]

ALFHILD. O, listen! I hear G.o.d's angel choir!

'Tis Olaf to the altar they call!

And I must stand here in my ragged attire And suffer outside the church-hall!

[She swings the torch high in the air.]

ALFHILD. No, no, that I will not, thou all-highest G.o.d!

O, tempt me no longer, forswear thee I may!

[She is silent and listens to the organ music.]

ALFHILD. G.o.d's angels are singing! From under the sod The dead they were able to carol away!

O, my bosom is bursting with woe!

[She kneels and faces the church.]

ALFHILD. Cease, cease your melodies tender and sweet!

O, cease your singing; be kind, I entreat!

Or Olaf to the altar will go!

[Whispering and in the greatest apprehension.]

ALFHILD. Be still! O, be still! For a little while yet!

He is lulled in a sleep that will make him forget!

O, waken him not, else straight he will hie To the church--and then, alas, I must die!

[The organ grows louder through the storm. ALFHILD springs up, beside herself with despair.]

The angels of G.o.d have forsaken me quite!

They mock at my anguish and woe!

They conjure him forth;--he is now in their might!

Ah, if here in the dark, dark night I must go, Your bridal chamber at least shall be light!

[She throws the torch in through the opening in the gable and falls down on the ground.--INGEBORG and HEMMING come hurriedly from behind the house.]

HEMMING. Now it is time. The horse stands saddled behind the store house.

INGEBORG. And all the servants are down at the church, are they not?

HEMMING. Aye, rest you a.s.sured; and in the banquet house I have barred every shutter and door with heavy iron rings; no one can get out!

INGEBORG. Away, then! Up to the valley which Alfhild has told of!

HEMMING. Yes, up there! There no one will seek us!

[They rush out to the left.--ALFHILD continues to lie motionless for some time. Suddenly cries and commotion are hear in the bridal house; the flames break out through the roof.]

ALFHILD. [Jumps up in despair.]

It burns!--Aha,--I remember! 'T was here Too dark for my soul--it filled me with fear!

Olaf, before it was you who smiled, Now it is Alfhild, so gay and so wild!-- In the bridal house there is anguish and gloom, The bride is burning on the arm of the groom!

[The HOUSE SERVANTS rush in one by one without torches and stand as if turned to stone. OLAF comes into view up in the opening, which he seeks to widen with desperate efforts.]

OLAF. Alfhild! 'Tis you! So might I have known!

If only from out of this danger you save me, 'T is silver and gold you shall hereafter own!

ALFHILD. [With wild laughter.]

Too well I remember the promise you gave me!

Now ride to the church with minstrel and priest!

Now hold your wedding,--forget all the rest!

Alfhild has honored you as she knew best,-- The torch she has swung at your bridal feast!

[She rushes out at the back. The SERVANTS hasten to lend their help; a part of the roof falls in; OLAF is seen high amidst the flames as the curtain falls.]

THIRD ACT

[A sunny valley, rich in flowers, trees, and vegetation of all kinds, and surrounded by lofty snow-capped mountains. In the center of the background a quiet mountain tarn; on the left side a rocky cliff which drops straight down to the water. On the same side nearer the front of the stage a very old log hut, almost entirely hidden in the dense shrubbery. The glow of dawn shines over the mountains; in the valley itself the day is only half begun; during the following scene's the sun rises.]

SCENE I

[ALFHILD lies sleeping and half concealed among the bushes beside the hut; soft music indicates her shifting dreams. OLAF comes down the hillside to the right. Over his wedding clothes he wears a coa.r.s.e cloak.]

OLAF. Here it was; I know the green there this side of the tarn.

It was yonder beneath the linden tree that I dreamed my strange dream. On the slope of the mountain there I stood when Alfhild for the first time came to meet me; I placed my betrothal ring on the string of my bow and shot;--that shot has proved a magic shot; it struck the huntsman himself.