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Read Ebook: Modern Icelandic Plays Eyvind of the Hills; The Hraun Farm by Sigurj Nsson J Hann Schanche Henninge Margrethe Krohn Translator
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Introduction vii Eyvind Of The Hills 1 The Hraun Farm 81
INTRODUCTION
Let Sigurj?nsson tell his life story in his own words: "I was born June 19, 1880, on a large farm in the northern part of Iceland. Our household numbered about twenty people. A broad stream, well stocked with salmon; on both sides of the river, rocks where thousands of eider-ducks had their nests; a view out over the Atlantic with high cliffs where sea-birds lived; lava-fields with unusual flowers; and in the distance blue mountains; such was the theatre where I acted my childhood pieces and where I wrote my first poems.
"When fourteen years old, I was sent to school at Reykjavik; but after pocketing the diploma of the upper class, my longing led me down to Copenhagen, where I chose the study of veterinary science. For three years I worked zealously at my studies and took all the preliminary examinations required, until suddenly I burned my ships and resolutely threw myself into the work of a playwright. At first one difficulty piled up after another. To begin with, I had to write in a language not my own. And then, what knowledge I had of human nature was limited to a most incomplete knowledge of myself and of a few college chums of my own age. Besides, it was not long before I had to concern myself about mere bread and butter.
"In order to give as much actuality as possible to this drama, I traversed Iceland on foot from north to south and saw the places high up in the wild mountain waste where Eyvind lived with his wife. In my little garret in Copenhagen I had learned by my own experience the agony of loneliness."
In addition to these four plays, Sigurj?nsson has also written some beautiful verse.
In Mrs. Schanche, Sigurj?nsson has a translator well fitted by artistic family traditions for the task. Herself of Norwegian descent, she has been for upward of thirty years a resident of Philadelphia. She has interpreted the pure idiom of Sigurj?nsson's dialogue with real dramatic perception. In editing the volume the Publication Committee has had the valuable assistance of Hanna Astrup Larsen.
Written by the author in a language not his by birth, this rock-ribbed tragedy of the strong and simple passions of Iceland lends itself peculiarly to international interpretation. It is with some curiosity, therefore, as well as satisfaction, that we introduce to English readers a young representative of the renaissance of Icelandic literature. How will he be judged by our countrymen, and what will be his place, if any, upon the American stage?
H. G. L.
EYVIND OF THE HILLS
A DRAMA IN FOUR ACTS
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
HALLA , a well-to-do widow. KARI , overseer on Halla's farm. BJ?RN, Halla's brother-in-law, farmer and bailiff. ARNES, a vagrant laborer. GUDFINNA, an elderly, unmarried relative of the family. MAGNUS } ODDNY } Halla's servants. SIGRID } A Shepherd Boy } ARNGRIM, a leper. A District Judge. TOTA, a child of three years. Peasants, peasant women, and farm-hands.
ACT I
Ho! ho! I came pretty near hitting her that time!
Hitting whom?
Can't you see the little spider hanging down from the beam? I mean to shoot and break her thread.
You are always up to some tomfoolery.
Leave the poor creature in peace! It has done you no harm.
Do you think she'd break her legs if she should happen to fall down on the floor?
I won't have it! Destroying a spider's web is sure to bring bad luck, and you'll end by tearing the window-pane with your dart.
Kari has told me of a man who broke a bow-string with one shot, and that from way off.
If you don't stop, you shall wear your shoes with the holes in them.
Would you rather have me shoot your ear-locks?
Are you crazy, lad? You might hit my eyes.
I must have some kind of fun. I think I'll have a shot at Oddny's plaits.
If you dare!
If I have bad luck, you will look at Kari with only one eye.
You need a good spanking.
Kari ought not to have given you that dart.
Up, old spinning-woman, if you bode good! Down, if you bode ill! Up, if you bode good! Down, if you bode ill!
You are awfully hard on your shoes, worse than a grown man. I hope you don't walk on the sharpest stones just for fun?
Of course he does!
The sheep were so restless to-day. Some of them came near slipping away from me.
If they had, you wouldn't be riding such a high horse now!
Have they been bad to you, laddie? Do you never feel timid when you are alone so much?
Sometimes I keep thinking what I should do if a mad bull came tearing down the mountains.
Don't speak of them! They are the worst monsters in the world-- except, perhaps, the skoffin.
What is a skoffin?
Don't you know that? When a rooster gets to be very old, he lays an egg, and if that's hatched, it becomes a skoffin. It kills a man by just looking at him, and the only thing that can slay it is a church-blessed silver bullet. Indeed, there are many things you have to be careful of, my child. Are you not afraid of the outlaws? They're not good, those fellows; they go about in skins with the wool on them and carry long sticks with ice-spurs, and that at midsummer. Have you ever seen anything of them?
No, but yesterday I pretty near got scared. There came a man with a big bag under his arm. I didn't know him at first, but it was only Arnes.
And what did he want of you?
He asked me to show him the way to a spring. He was thirsty.
You had better not have too much talk with him. There! Now they will last till to-morrow anyway.
It is time for the sheep to be milked.
I am going now to drive them home. I was waiting for my shoes.
Have you seen anything of the cows to-day?
No. When I get rich I'll give you a cow's tail to tie up your plaits with.
Hold your tongue!
A PLAY IN THREE ACTS
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
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