Modern Icelandic Plays Part 25

_Kari (cuts off the feet of the swan)._

You would like these, wouldn't you?

_Tota._

Yes.

_Kari._

Some day when I have time I will skin them and make little bags for you to keep your pebbles in.

_Halla._

You've got lovely playthings there! (_Squats down on the ground._) Where are mother's eyes? (_Hiding her eyes with the swan's feet._)

_Tota (takes them away from her eyes)._

Here!

_Halla (rising)._

Did you eat all your food?

_Kari._

Every bite.

_Halla._

Then you can't be hungry.

_Kari._

No.

_Halla._

And it is too early for the evening meal, but I can make you some tea.

_Kari._

Yes, do. (_To Arnes._) Let us carry the swan to the cave. [_Exeunt Kari and Arnes._

_Halla._

Now Tota must be tied, so the waterfall can't take her, while mother is making tea. (_Takes a rope that is fastened to a rock and ties it around Tota's waist. Brings some of her playthings._) Here are all your horses.

(_Puts a kettle of water over the fire; places some earthenware cups on the rocks by the hearth; takes a handful of dried herbs from a bag, rinses them in cold water, and portions them out in the cups. The f.a.ggots Arnes has brought, she throws on the fire. As she works, she sings._)

Have you seen a brave young lad?

'Tis my friend, Dearest friend; 'Mongst all men in byrnie clad The bonniest is he.

I have smiled my teeth all white and shining, I have smiled my teeth all white and shining with glee.

Have you heard his voice's call, Call of love, Song of love?

O'er my heart the sound did fall And hushed its quick desire.

He has kissed my lips all red and glowing, He has kissed my lips all red and glowing as fire.

There! Now we must get the water to boil. (_Picks up the tufts of bearberry and goes to Tota._) See what Arnes brought you!

_Tota._

They are berries.

_Halla._

Yes, but you must not eat them or you will get a pain in your little stomach. (_Rises and finds a long, stiff straw._) Now I'll show you what you can do. (_Threading the berries on the straw, she counts._) One, two-- four-- six, seven-- so many years your father and mother have been in the hills. (_Strokes Tota's hair._) When you are sixteen, we shall have lived here for twenty years, and then we shall be free again.

On that day, Tota shall wear snow-white clothes and shoes of colored leather, and mother will clasp her silver girdle around your waist. And when we come down to the lowlands, the first one we meet is a young man with silver b.u.t.tons in his coat. He stops and turns his horse and stands looking after you ever so long. Then your mother has grown old and wrinkled, and her hair is almost as white as snow. Your father, too, has grown old. But you are straight as a silver-weed, and when you run, you lift your feet high!

_Enter Kari and Arnes._

_Kari (laughing)._

Ah, now it's steaming. I nearly fell headlong into the cave, when we lifted the cover from the entrance.

_Halla._

Did you? (_Gives the straw to Tota._) Now you can go on by yourself.

(_Rises._) Is there any need of closing the cave every time? When it's not raining, it might be left open.

_Kari._

No harm in being careful. If they should come upon us suddenly, we surely should not have time to close the entrance, and they would find the cave and destroy all our stores, as they did five years ago. Do you remember when we came back to the old place and found nothing but ashes?-- and winter setting in. Not a single piece of mutton did they leave us.

_Halla._

I don't easily forget.

_Kari._

Whenever I think of it, I feel like doing something wicked. After all, we are human too.

_Halla (laughing coldly)._

We're only the foxes who take their sheep.

_Kari (to Arnes)._

How did you hide your stores when you were alone?