Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Heinemann Volume 2).djvu/154

 THE PRETENDERS.

HISTORIC PLAY IN FIVE ACTS.

ACT FIRST.

''The churchyard of Christ Church, Bergen. At the back rises the church, the main portal of which faces the spectators. In front, on the left, stands with  and several other nobles and chieftains. Opposite to him stand and others of the Earl's men. Further back on the same side are seen and his followers, and a little way from him  with several chiefs. Men-at-arms line the approaches to the church; the common people fill the churchyard; many are perched in the trees and seated on the walls; all seem to await, in suspense, the occurrence of some event. All the church bells of the town are ringing far and near.''

[Softly and impatiently, to ] Why tarry they so long in there?