cultural resources in henrik ibsen's early environment - Ibsen.net

FIRST ACT.
A region in Tryggevæld Township. In the background Stevns Township. The border
between the two is a stream, which flows across the stage. A plain wooden bridge
crosses the stream. On the other side of the stream a large thicket is visible. KAREN's
farmhouse lies in the foreground to the right of the audience. A table and bench stand
outside the house. It is early morning before sunrise; gradually the day dawns.
MELODRAMA,
during which KAREN opens the door to her house and steps out. She leaves the door
standing open; a lively fire can be seen burning in the hearth. She carries out several
kitchen utensils, while seeing to the fire, adding firewood and blowing on it. From the
left in the background a hunter's horn is heard; in the distance, trumpets. A little later
MOGENS enters from the background over the bridge. Then from the left side the KING
and FLEMMING enter, both in travelling clothes. In the meanwhile KAREN has seated
herself outside the house and begun to polish some kitchen utensils. MOGENS carries
his collecting box on his back; he walks slowly across the bridge, turning often and
looking back. After he has crossed the bridge, he notices KAREN, stands and listens to
her sing the following ballad. The KING and FLEMMING do not especially notice the
other characters. They can be seen in conversation, FLEMMING pointing in different
directions in the background and to the sides, as if to inform the KING about the vicinity.
SCENE ONE.
The KING. FLEMMING. MOGENS. KAREN.
KAREN (sings at her work).
1.
I went into the forest late one summer evening,
And drank a beaker from a gushing spring.
But beware, o my girl, for the elf-king sees you!
2.
The bubbling wave sprang up from a green hill;
All-at-once it grew still; it flowed without a sound.
Now beware, o my girl, for the elf-king sees you!
3.
Then the air echoed with songs and strings,
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