ALFHILD
(bliver en tid lang ubevægelig liggende med ansigtet skjult i hænderne. Endelig hæver hun sig halvt i vejret; ser sig forvildet om, rejser sig og siger med stille, afbrudt latter:)
Én falk kan hvile sig på dronningens arm,
en anden må lide stor nød og harm!
Én fugl fik fjære både røde og blå,
en anden må nøjes med hammen grå!
Jeg har vidst, at tårernes varme flod
husvaler, når verden går tungt imod;
men nu har jeg fristet så vild en ve,
at jeg kunde mig derover tildøde le!
(Det er nu ganske mørkt. Kirkens vinduer bliver oplyste. Alfhild går hen til huset og lytter, medens det følgende kor høres dæmpet indenfor.)
ALFHILD.
[Remains lying motionless for a long time with her face concealed in her hands. At length she half raises herself, looks about bewildered, rises, and speaks with quiet broken laughter.]
One falcon the heavens with plenty may bless,
Another must suffer great want and distress!
One bird wears a coat of feathers so gay,
Another must live contented with gray!
I have known that tears are a balm to the soul,
When the world is nothing but gall;
But now I have suffered such sorrow and dole,
I could laugh myself dead at the thought of it all!
[It is now quite dark. The windows of the church are being lighted up. ALFHILD goes over to the house and listens while the following song is heard faintly within.]
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