Complete Works of Henrik Ibsen (108 page)

ONE OF THE GROUP
Peer, ride through the air a bit!

MANY
Do, dear Peer Gynt — !

PEER
You may spare you the trouble of begging so hard.
I will ride like a hurricane over you all!
Every man in the parish shall fall at my feet!

AN ELDERLY MAN
Now he is clean off his head.

ANOTHER
The dolt!

A THIRD
Braggart!

A FOURTH
Liar!

PEER
[threatening them]
Ay, wait till you see!

A MAN
[half drunk]
Ay, wait; you’ll soon get your jacket dusted!

OTHERS
Your back beaten tender! Your eyes painted blue!
[The crowd disperses, the elder men angry, the younger laughing and jeering.]

THE BRIDEGROOM
[close to PEER GYNT]
Peer, is it true you can ride through the air?

PEER
[shortly]
It’s all true, Mads! You must know I’m a rare one!

THE BRIDEGROOM
Then have you got the Invisible Cloak too?

PEER
The Invisible Hat, do you mean? Yes, I have.
[Turns away from him. SOLVEIG crosses the yard, leading little HELGA.]

PEER
[goes towards them; his face lights up]
Solveig! Oh, it is well you have come!
[Takes hold of her wrist.]
Now will I swing you round fast and fine!

SOLVEIG
Loose me!

PEER
Wherefore?

SOLVEIG
You are so wild.

PEER
The reindeer is wild, too, when summer is dawning.
Come then, lass; do not be wayward now!

SOLVEIG
[withdrawing her arm]
Dare not.

PEER
Wherefore?

SOLVEIG
No, you’ve been drinking.
[Moves off with HELGA.]

PEER
Oh, if I had but my knife-blade driven
clean through the heart of them, — one and all!

THE BRIDEGROOM
[nudging him with his elbow]
Peer, can’t you help me to get at the bride?

PEER
[absently]
The bride? Where is she?

THE BRIDEGROOM
In the store-house.

PEER
Ah.

THE BRIDEGROOM
Oh, dear Peer Gynt, you must try at least!

PEER
No, you must get on without my help.
[A thought strikes him; he says softly but sharply:]
Ingrid! The store-house!
[Goes Up to SOLVEIG.]
Have you thought better on’t?

Peer and Solveig at the Wedding

[SOLVEIG tries to go; he blocks her path.]
You’re ashamed to, because I’ve the look of a tramp.

SOLVEIG
[hastily]
No, that you haven’t; that’s not true at all!

PEER
Yes! And I’ve taken a drop as well;
but that was to spite you, because you had hurt me.
Come then!

SOLVEIG
Even if I would now, I daren’t.

PEER
Who are you frightened of?

SOLVEIG
Father, most.

PEER
Father? Ay, ay; he is one of the quiet ones!
One of the godly, eh? — Answer, come!

SOLVEIG
What shall I say?

PEER
Is your father a psalm-singer?
And you and your mother as well, no doubt?
Come, will you speak?

SOLVEIG
Let me go in peace.

PEER
No!
[In a low but sharp and threatening tone.]
I can turn myself into a troll!
I’ll come to your bedside at midnight to-night.
If you should hear some one hissing and spitting,
you mustn’t imagine it’s only the cat.
It’s me, lass! I’ll drain out your blood in a cup,
and your little sister, I’ll eat her up;
ay, you must know I’m a werewolf at night; —
I’ll bite you all over the loins and the back —
[Suddenly changes his tone, and entreats, as if in dread:]
Dance with me, Solveig!

SOLVEIG
[looking darkly at him]
Then you were grim.
[Goes into the house.]

THE BRIDEGROOM
[comes sidling up again]
I’ll give you an ox if you’ll help me!

PEER
Then come!
[They go out behind the house. At the same moment a crowd of men come up from the dancing-green; most of them
are drunk. Noise and hubbub. SOLVEIG, HELGA, and their PARENTS
appear among a number of elderly people in the doorway.]

THE MASTER-COOK
[to the SMITH, who is the foremost of the crowd]
Keep peace now!

THE SMITH
[pulling off his jacket]
No, we must fight it out here.
Peer Gynt or I must be taught a lesson.

SOME VOICES
Ay, let them fight for it!

OTHERS
No, only wrangle!

THE SMITH
Fists must decide; for the case is past
words.

SOLVEIG’S FATHER
Control yourself, man!

HELGA
Will they beat him, mother?

A LAD
Let us rather tease him with all his lies!

ANOTHER
Kick him out of the company!

A THIRD
Spit in his eyes!

A FOURTH
[to the SMITH]
You’re not backing out, smith?

THE SMITH
[flinging away his jacket]
The jade shall be slaughtered!

SOLVEIG’S MOTHER
[to SOLVEIG]
There, you can see how that windbag is thought of.

ÅSE
[coming up with a stick in her hand]
Is that son of mine here? Now he’s in for a drubbing!
Oh! how heartily I will dang him!

THE SMITH
[rolling up his shirt-sleeves]
That switch is too light for a carcass like his.
The smith will dang him!

OTHERS
Bang him!

THE SMITH
[spits on his hands and nods to ÅSE]
Hang him!

ÅSE
What? Hang my Peer? Ay, just try if you dare; —
Åse and I, we have teeth and claws! —
Where is he?
[Calls across the yard:]
Peer!

THE BRIDEGROOM
[comes running up]
Oh, God’s death on the cross!
Come father, come mother, and — !

HIS FATHER
What is the matter?

THE BRIDEGROOM
Just fancy, Peer Gynt — !

ÅSE
[screams]
Have they taken his life?

THE BRIDEGROOM
No, but Peer Gynt — ! Look, there on the
hillside — !

THE CROWD
With the bride!

ÅSE
[lets her stick sink]
Oh, the beast!

THE SMITH
[as if thunderstruck]
Where the slope rises sheerest
he’s clambering upwards, by God, like a goat!

THE BRIDEGROOM
[crying]
He’s shouldered her, mother, as I might a pig!

ÅSE
[shaking her fist up at him]
Would God you might fall, and — !
[Screams out in terror.]
Take care of your footing!

THE HEGSTAD FARMER
[comes in, bare-headed and white with rage]
I’ll have his life for this bride-rape yet!

ÅSE
Oh no, God punish me if I let you!
* * * * *

ACT SECON
D

SCENE FIRS
T

[A narrow path, high up in the mountains. Early morning.]
[PEER GYNT comes hastily and sullenly along the path. INGRID, Still wearing some of her bridal ornaments, is
trying to hold him back.]

PEER
Get you from me!

INGRID
[weeping]
After this, Peer?
Whither?

PEER
Where you will for me.

INGRID
[wringing her hands]
Oh, what falsehood!

PEER
Useless railing.
Each alone must go his way.

INGRID
Sin — and sin again unites us!

PEER
Devil take all recollections!
Devil take the tribe of women —
all but one — !

INGRID
Who is that one, pray?

PEER
‘Tis not you.

INGRID
Who is it then?

PEER
Go! Go thither whence you came!
Off! To your father!

INGRID
Dearest, sweetest —

PEER
Peace!

INGRID
You cannot mean it, surely,
what you’re saying?

PEER
Can and do.

INGRID
First to lure — and then forsake me!

PEER
And what terms have you to offer?

INGRID
Hegstad Farm, and more besides.

PEER
Is your psalm-book in your kerchief?
Where’s the gold-mane on your shoulders?
Do you glance adown your apron?
Do you hold your mother’s skirt-fold?
Speak!

INGRID
No, but —

PEER
Went you to the pastor
this last spring-tide?

INGRID
No, but Peer —

PEER
Is there shyness in your glances?
When I beg, can you deny?

INGRID
Heaven! I think his wits are going!

PEER
Does your presence sanctify?
Speak!

INGRID
No, but —

PEER
What’s all the rest then?
[Going.]

INGRID
[blocking his way]
Know you it will cost your neck
should you fail me?

PEER
What do I care?

INGRID
You may win both wealth and honour
if you take me —

PEER
Can’t afford.

INGRID
[bursting into tears]
Oh, you lured me — !

PEER
You were willing.

INGRID
I was desperate!

PEER
Frantic I.

INGRID
[threatening]
Dearly shall you pay for this!

PEER
Dearest payment cheap I’ll reckon.

INGRID
Is your purpose set?

PEER
Like flint.

INGRID
Good! we’ll see, then, who’s the winner!
[Goes downwards.]

PEER
[stands silent a moment, then cries:]
Devil take all recollections!
Devil take the tribe of women!

INGRID
[turning her head, and calling mockingly upwards:]
All but one!

PEER
Yes, all but one.
[They go their several ways.]