В соответствии с сюжетом, Пер Гюнт соблазнил дочь короля троллей. Во время звучания композиции, свита короля требует расправы над вероломным человеком.

Slay him! The Christian's son has bewitched
The Mountain King's fairest daughter!
Slay him!
Slay him!
May I hack him on the fingers?
May I tug him by the hair?
Hu, hey, let me bite him in the haunches!
Shall he be boiled into broth and bree to me
Shall he roast on a spit or be browned in a stewpan?
Ice to your blood, friends!