Modern Icelandic Plays - LightNovelsOnl.com
You're reading novel online at LightNovelsOnl.com. Please use the follow button to get notifications about your favorite novels and its latest chapters so you can come back anytime and won't miss anything.
_Helgi._
No, the others will bring it to me. [_Exit to the left._
_Enter Sveinungi._
_Sveinungi._
Are you here? Won't you come in and talk to your father? (_Patting her shoulder._) This is the happiest day in my life since the time I got your mother. [_They go in._
_Enter Jakobina with a plate of chicken-feed in her hand; goes to the door of the smithy._
_Jakobina._
Is Frida there? Can you spare her while she runs over to the chickens for me with their food?
_Einar._
Yes, indeed. [_Frida goes with the chicken-feed._
_Jakobina_ (_sits down on the horse-block_). I had such a queer dream last night. I thought I was standing out there in the yard, and I saw a giant come striding across the _hraun_. I saw him stop right there-- he stood with arms stretched out and bent down over the house.
ACT II
_A gra.s.s-grown yard, some rocks partly sunk in the ground. In the foreground, farthest to the right, a tent. In the background, to the left, the farm-house. In the outskirts of the yard a sheep-house with the roof and part of the walls in ruins. Beyond it, the "hraun,"
a lava-field stretching for miles, studded with jutting rocks and lava formations._
_It is evening of the same day._
_The Servants_ (_seated, singing_).
G.o.d the power unending Rests with Thee alone.
Cherubim are bending, Low before Thy throne.
From Thy Heaven hear me!
Weak and soiled am I, Wounds and sorrows sear me, Fainting I draw nigh.
Is there then another way?
Sorrow's rising hills may they Not reach up to heaven, pray?
Help me-- lest I die.
(_They cover their eyes in prayer. Silence._)
_Jorunn (uncovers her eyes)._
The peace of G.o.d be with us.
(_The Servants rise and shake hands._)
_Jorunn_ (_patting Frida's cheek_). Now you must not be afraid of the earthquake any more. When we trust in Him, no harm can befall us.
(_Gathers the hymn-books._) Please take the books back to the tent, Ljot; it's a little too early yet to go in. (_Ljot goes with the books._) And you may fetch the shoes I was sewing. I left them in there.
(_Some sit on the rocks, others squat in the gra.s.s. Only Sveinungi remains standing._)
_Ljot (coming from the tent)._
Here are the shoes, mother.
_Jorunn._
Thank you, daughter.
(_Ljot lies down in the gra.s.s, gazing out over the "hraun."_)
_Indridi._
Did you hear the church-bells ringing?
_Einar._
I did not hear them.
_Jorunn._
I did. They rang of themselves.
(_Silence._)
_Indridi._
Where were you, Thora, when the shock came?
_Thora._
In the kitchen.
_Indridi._
It's your week, isn't it?
_Thora._
I don't know how I ever got out, for the whole floor heaved under me, so that I was thrown right against the wall, and you should have seen me when I came out-- all black from the falling soot.
_Jon._
