mosphere of the mountains and descends {508} into
"Tiefland", the low valley with its human passions and human tragedies.

The first act takes place in the mill, where three village girls gossip
about Marta's wedding, which is to take place on the very same day.

Nuri, a little girl and Marta's friend, has heard from Tommaso, an
octogenarian, that their rich and mighty master Sebastiano has found a
husband for Marta, and that the latter, being the master's property
like everything else around, has to obey his orders.

Marta herself is in despair; she despises Pedro, her future husband,
suspecting him to have been bribed to consent to this shameful bargain
by her lover and tyrant Sebastiano.

But Pedro is quite ignorant of the true facts as is old Tommaso, who is
only now enlightened by Moruccio, the miller's man, as to Marta's
actual position.

Horrified at having helped to bring about this sinful marriage, Tommaso
tries to dissuade Sebastiano from his evil designs, but the landowner
drives him away and orders the clergyman to marry the young couple at
once.

Pedro is in high glee, but vainly tries to win a smile or a kind word
from his unhappy bride. While the village lads lead him away to be
dressed for the wedding, Sebastiano, taking Marta aside, once more
impresses upon her, that she is still and always will be his, and that
he will come to her chamber on the bridal night.

{509}

Marta shrinks from him in horror, but when Petro returns to fetch her,
she instinctively turns from him to her old master.

Petro has disdained to put on the fine clothes offered him, and goes to
church with his bride in his own old jacket.

When they are gone, Tommaso calls the land-owner once more to account
about Marta, and learns, that everything Moruccio told him is true, for
the young man repeats the story in his master's presence.

Tommaso hastens away, to stop the marriage, but already the church
bells are ringing and the bridal procession returns.

Pedro sends his guests away, and when alone with his wife tries to win
her love by his simple arts and wiles. He shows her the first hard
earned silver coin he gained by killing a wolf, which had made havoc
amongst the master's herds. The coin is still red with Pedro's own
blood.

But Marta, though somewhat softened and interested in spite of herself
only points to the room opposite her own, and is about to leave him,
when suddenly a light is seen in her own room. Ma