Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Heinemann Volume 2).djvu/260



Think you I would slay him to-night?

[Goes out to the right.

[Looks after him, shaking his head, while the house-folk bear the body out to the left.] Seven more masses, the Bishop said; I think 'twere safest we should say fourteen. [Follows the others. ''A room in the Palace. In the back is the entrance door; in each of the side walls a smaller door; in front, on the right, a window. Hung from the roof, a lamp is burning. Close to the door on the left stands a bench, and further back a cradle, in which the King-child is sleeping; is kneeling beside the child.''

[Rocks the cradle and sings.]

Now roof and rafters blend with the starry vault on high; now flieth little Håkon on dream-wings through the sky.

There mounts a mighty stairway from earth to God's own land; there Håkon with the angels goes climbing, hand in hand.

God's angel-babes are watching thy cot, the still night through; God bless thee, little Håkon, thy mother watcheth too.