Oelilcnschlacgcr's Hakon Jaii 73 



"Boy spare my trees ! Thy southern sensual weeds 

 Can never thrive on mountain air.' Pray, sir; 

 What callest thou him ? 



Olaf. As thou art called ! 



Auden. [Looking him straight in the eye.'\ And who 

 Am I ? 



Olaf. Thou 'st said that Auden is thy name. 

 But who art thou ? 



Auden. Aye, who am I? Wise lad! 



Who knoweth all things, surely knoweth me! 



Olaf. A single eye is thine ! 



Auden. What need of more ? 



The night is clear, and with a single eye; 

 Tomorrow shines the sun ; it hath no more. 

 Remember well what thou hast heard ! Forget 

 Not soon the thoughts this moonlit night has sown 

 Within thy soul! 



Olaf. Ah, Jesus, grant me strength ! 



Strange doubts and fears are tightening round my heart. 



[As Ot.AF turns away from Auden the latter quickly leaves and 

 disappears among the trees. Tangbrand and Griffin enter.] 



Tangbrand. At length I find thee, Olaf ! I have sought 

 Thee everywhere. How comes it, gentle sir, 

 Thou hast forgot the evening prayer ? This was 

 Not so before; then too at such a time 

 As this. 



Olaf. [Turns about.] 



My Tangbrand ! Where 's that strange old man ? 



Tangbrand. I know not where. Forget the stranger, who 

 Hath filled thy mind with heathen thoughts. 



Olaf. My friend, 



Hath evening mass been sung ? 



Tangbrand. Long since the sun 



Did seek his rest ; 't was then the time, but thou 

 Didst not attend my call. The stranger's words 

 Held fast thine ear, as if the Siren's .song. "** 



III 



