The Vikings of Helgeland: The Prose Dramas Of Henrik Ibsen, Vol. III.

Produced by Douglas Levy
THE VIKINGS OF HELGELAND, Translation by William Archer
The action takes place in the time of Erik Blood-axe (about A.D. 933) at, and in the neighbourhood of, Gunnar's house on the island of Helgeland, in the north of Norway.
Producer's Notes:
1. Diacritical Marks in Characters' names; Ornulf, umlaut above the O . Hiordis, umlaut above the o . Kare, ring above the A . 2. All the text inside parentheses in the original is printed in italics, save for the characters' names. I've eliminated the usual markings indicating italics for the sake of readability. —D. L.
(A rocky coast, running precipitously down to the sea at the back. To the left, a boat-house; to the right, rocks and pine-woods. The masts of two war-ships can be seen down in the cove. Far out to the right, the ocean, dotted with reefs and rocky islands; the sea is running high; it is a stormy snow-grey winter day.)
(SIGURD comes up from the ships; he is clad in a white tunic with a silver belt, a blue cloak, cross-gartered hose, untanned shoes, and a steel cap; at his side hangs a short sword. ORNULF comes in sight immediately afterwards, up among the rocks, clad in a dark lamb-skin tunic with a breastplate and greaves, woollen stockings, and untanned shoes; over his shoulders he has a cloak of brown frieze, with the hood drawn over his steel cap, so that his face is partly hidden. He is very tall, and massively built, with a long white beard, but somewhat bowed by age; his weapons are a round shield, sword, and spear.
SIGURD (enters first, looks around, sees the boat-shed, goes quickly up to it, and tries to burst open the door.)
ORNULF (appears among the rocks, starts on seeing SIGURD, seems to recognise him, descends and cries:) Give place, Viking!
SIGURD (turns, lays his hand on his sword, and answers:) 'Twere the first time if I did!
ORNULF. Thou shalt and must! I have need of the shelter for my stiff-frozen men.
SIGURD. Then must outlaws be highly prized in Helgeland!