LADY INGER OTTISDAUGHTER RÖMER, _widow of High Steward Nils Gyldenlöve._ ELINA GYLDENLÖVE, _her daughter._ NILS LYKKE, _Danish knight and councillor._ OLAF SKAKTAVL, _an outlawed Norwegian noble._ NILS STENSSON. JENS BIELKE, _Swedish commander._ BIÖRN, _majordomo at Östråt._ FINN, _a servant._ EINAR HUK, _bailiff at Östråt._ _Servants, peasants, and Swedish men-at-arms._ ------- _The action takes place at Östråt Manor, on the Trondhiem Fiord, in the year 1528._ [PRONUNCIATION OF NAMES.—Östråt = _Östrot_; Elina (Norwegian, Eline) = _Eleena_; Stensson = _Staynson_; Biörn = _Byörn_; Jens Bielke = _Yens Byelke_; Huk = _Hook_. The _g_'s in “Inger” and in “Gyldenlöve” are, of course, hard. The final _e_'s and the _ö_'s pronounced much as in German.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ LADY INGER OF ÖSTRÅT | DRAMA IN FIVE ACTS ---------- ACT FIRST _A room at Östråt. Through an open door in the back, the Banquet Hall is seen in faint moonlight, which shines fitfully through a deep bow-window in the opposite wall. To the right, an entrance-door; further forward, a curtained window. On the left, a door leading to the inner rooms; further forward a large open fireplace, which casts a glow over the room. It is a stormy evening._ BIÖRN _and_ FINN _are sitting by the fireplace. The latter is occupied in polishing a helmet. Several pieces of armour lie near them, along with a sword and shield._ FINN. [_After a pause._] Who was Knut[12] Alfson? BIÖRN. My Lady says he was the last of Norway’s knighthood. FINN. And the Danes killed him at Oslo-fiord? BIÖRN. If you know not that, ask any child of five. FINN. So Knut Alfson was the last of our knighthood? And now he’s dead and gone! [_Holds up the helmet._] Well, thou must e’en be content to hang scoured and bright in the Banquet Hall; for what art thou now but an empty nut-shell? The kernel—the worms have eaten that many a winter agone. What say you, Biörn—may not one call Norway’s land an empty nut-shell, even like the helmet here; bright without, worm-eaten within? BIÖRN. Hold your peace, and mind your task!—Is the helmet ready? FINN. It shines like silver in the moonlight. BIÖRN.