Modern Icelandic Plays

The Boy (going to the spider, makes a fanning motion with his hand).

Up, old spinning-woman, if you bode good! Down, if you bode ill! Up, if you bode good! Down, if you bode ill!

Gudfinna.

You are awfully hard on your shoes, worse than a grown man. I hope you don't walk on the sharpest stones just for fun?

Oddny.

Of course he does!

The Boy.

The sheep were so restless to-day. Some of them came near slipping away from me.

Oddny.

If they had, you wouldn't be riding such a high horse now!

Gudfinna.

Have they been bad to you, laddie? Do you never feel timid when you are alone so much?

The Boy.

Sometimes I keep thinking what I should do if a mad bull came tearing down the mountains.

Gudfinna.

Don't speak of them! They are the worst monsters in the world-- except, perhaps, the skoffin.

The Boy.

What is a skoffin?