Near a mountain tarn; the ground is soft and marshy round about. A storm is gathering.
Åse enters, calling and gazing around her despairingly, in every direction. Solveig has difficulty in keeping up with her. Solveig’s Father and Mother, with Helga, are some way behind.
Åse.
[Tossing about her arms, and tearing her hair.]
All things are against me with wrathful might!
Heaven, and the waters, and the grisly mountains!
Fog-scuds from heaven roll down to bewilder him![him!]
The treacherous waters are lurking to murder him!
The mountains would crush him with landslip and rift!—
And the people too! They’re out after his life!