The Feast at Solhoug 1856

Gildet på Solhaug
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From Act I.
GUDMUND(sings).
As I walked down the hill, so lonely, sadly
the birds in the trees were all singing gladly
so cunning the birdies were whispering of
the sources of love, ah!, the sources of love!

Transl. by Bent Kvalvik.

Margit, the lady of Solhaug, is unhappily married and still dreams of her first love, Gudmund Alfsøn. Her sister, Signe, has a suitor in Knut Gjæsling, but he is not steady, and Margit wants to protect her sister from an equally bad alliance. When Gudmund appears at the feast at Solhaug, he has been involved in dangerous intrigues and prevented the murder of the King. The meeting between Margit and Gudmund feels forced, and she admits to having married in pure resignation. Now Gudmund falls in love with Signe, but Knut Gjæsling is jealous and claims Signe for himself, or else he will reveal Gudmund's whereabouts to the King's enemies. Margit has obtained a poison that Gudmund brought with him, originally meant for the King. In desperation she pours the poison into the chalice of her husband, Bengt. He does not empty it, because when Knut Gjærsling returns, he kills Bengt in a struggle. Gudmund receives news of the death of the King's evil chancellor, which means he can walk freely again. He and Signe get each other, and Margit becomes a nun, relieved not to have the loss of a life weighing on her conscience.

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