Cry aloud my crime!Solveig.[Sits down beside him.]Thou hast made all my life as a beautiful song.Blessëd be thou that at last thou hast come!Blessëd, thrice blessëd our Whitsun-morn meeting!Peer.Then I am lost!Solveig.There is one that rules all things.Peer.[Laughs.]Lost! Unless thou canst answer riddles.Solveig.Tell me them.Peer.Tell them! Come on! To be sure!Canst thou tell where Peer Gynt has been since we parted?Solveig.Been?Peer.With his destiny’s seal on his brow;Been, as in God’s thought he first sprang forth!Canst thou tell me? If not, I must get me home,—Go down to the mist-shrouded regions.Solveig.[Smiling.]Oh, that riddle is easy.Peer.Then tell what thou knowest!Where was I, as myself, as the whole man, the true man?Where was I, with God’s sigil upon my brow?Solveig.In my faith, in my hope, and in my love.[146]Peer.[Starts back.]What sayest thou——? Peace! These are juggling words.Thou art mother thyself to the man that’s there.Solveig.Ay, that I am; but who is his father?Surely he that forgives at the mother’s prayer.Peer.[A light shines in his face; he cries:]My mother; my wife; oh, thou innocent woman!—In thy love—oh, there hide me, hide me![Clings to her end hides his face in her lap. A long silence. The sun rises.Solveig.[Sings softly.]Sleep thou, dearest boy of mine!I will cradle thee, I will watch thee——The boy has been sitting on his mother’s lap.They two have been playing all the life-day long.The boy has been resting at his mother’s breastAll the life-day long. God’s blessing on my joy!The boy has been lying close in to my heartAll the life-day long. He is weary now.Sleep thou, dearest boy of mine!I will cradle thee, I will watch thee.The Button-moulder’s voice.[Behind the house.]At the last cross-road we will meet again, Peer;Andthenwe’ll see whether——; I say no more.Solveig.[Sings louder in the full daylight.]I will cradle thee, I will watch thee;Sleep and dream thou, dear my boy!Footnotes:109. Mountains and glaciers.110. Mountains and glaciers.111. So in original.112. “Angst”—literally, “dread” or “terror”—probably means here something like “conviction of sin.” The influence of the Danish theologian, Sören Kierkegård, may be traced in this passage.113. Literally, “Are set on screws.”114. “Tolder,” the biblical “publican.”115. See footnote, p.95.116. A mountain in the Jotunheim. The name means “glittering peak.”117.“Den tid den sorg”—literally, “That time that sorrow” or “care.”118. Literally “the bushel.” See note, p.11.119. See Appendix.120. See footnote, p.114.121. See footnote, p.95.122.“Digter”; means also “poet.”123. See footnotes, pp.29and30.124. In the original,“Personlighed”—personality.125. This and the following line, literally translated, run thus:“Life“Life, as it’s called, has a fox behind its ear. But when one grasps at him, Reynard takes to his heels.” “To have a fox behind the ear” is a proverbial expression for insincerity, double-dealing.126. See footnote, p.171.127. See footnote, p.212.128. See Introduction.129.“Pöl,”otherwise“Svovlpöl”—the sulphur pool of hell.130. See footnote, p.229.131. Literally, “With Peter and Paul.”132. The Royal Mint is at Kongsberg, a town in southern Norway.133. See footnote, p.218.134.“Hun gik nu for koldt vand og lud”—literally, “to live on cold water and lye”—to live wretchedly and be badly treated.135. Literally, “Wrote my motto behind your ear.”136. Clearly the troll-substitute for “in black and white.”137. Literally, “On a naked hill.”138. So in original.139. Literally, “the ashes.”140. So in original.141. So in original.142. Literally, “knock out that tooth.”143. “Bra litet rolig.”144. So in original.145. “Selvejer-Adlen.” “Selvejer” (literally, “self-owner”) means a freeholder, as opposed to a “husmand” or tenant. There is of course a play upon words in the original.146.“I min Tro, i mit Håb og i min Kjærlighed.”We have entirely sacrificed the metre of the line, feeling it impossible to mar its simplicity by any padding.“Kjærlighed”also means “charity,” in the biblical sense.THE END.
Cry aloud my crime!
Cry aloud my crime!
Cry aloud my crime!
Cry aloud my crime!
Solveig.[Sits down beside him.]
Solveig.[Sits down beside him.]
Solveig.
[Sits down beside him.]
Thou hast made all my life as a beautiful song.Blessëd be thou that at last thou hast come!Blessëd, thrice blessëd our Whitsun-morn meeting!
Thou hast made all my life as a beautiful song.Blessëd be thou that at last thou hast come!Blessëd, thrice blessëd our Whitsun-morn meeting!
Thou hast made all my life as a beautiful song.Blessëd be thou that at last thou hast come!Blessëd, thrice blessëd our Whitsun-morn meeting!
Thou hast made all my life as a beautiful song.
Blessëd be thou that at last thou hast come!
Blessëd, thrice blessëd our Whitsun-morn meeting!
Peer.
Peer.
Peer.
Then I am lost!
Then I am lost!
Then I am lost!
Then I am lost!
Solveig.
Solveig.
Solveig.
There is one that rules all things.
There is one that rules all things.
There is one that rules all things.
There is one that rules all things.
Peer.[Laughs.]
Peer.[Laughs.]
Peer.
[Laughs.]
Lost! Unless thou canst answer riddles.
Lost! Unless thou canst answer riddles.
Lost! Unless thou canst answer riddles.
Lost! Unless thou canst answer riddles.
Solveig.
Solveig.
Solveig.
Tell me them.
Tell me them.
Tell me them.
Tell me them.
Peer.
Peer.
Peer.
Tell them! Come on! To be sure!Canst thou tell where Peer Gynt has been since we parted?
Tell them! Come on! To be sure!Canst thou tell where Peer Gynt has been since we parted?
Tell them! Come on! To be sure!Canst thou tell where Peer Gynt has been since we parted?
Tell them! Come on! To be sure!
Canst thou tell where Peer Gynt has been since we parted?
Solveig.
Solveig.
Solveig.
Been?
Been?
Been?
Been?
Peer.
Peer.
Peer.
With his destiny’s seal on his brow;Been, as in God’s thought he first sprang forth!Canst thou tell me? If not, I must get me home,—Go down to the mist-shrouded regions.
With his destiny’s seal on his brow;Been, as in God’s thought he first sprang forth!Canst thou tell me? If not, I must get me home,—Go down to the mist-shrouded regions.
With his destiny’s seal on his brow;Been, as in God’s thought he first sprang forth!Canst thou tell me? If not, I must get me home,—Go down to the mist-shrouded regions.
With his destiny’s seal on his brow;
Been, as in God’s thought he first sprang forth!
Canst thou tell me? If not, I must get me home,—
Go down to the mist-shrouded regions.
Solveig.[Smiling.]
Solveig.[Smiling.]
Solveig.
[Smiling.]
Oh, that riddle is easy.
Oh, that riddle is easy.
Oh, that riddle is easy.
Oh, that riddle is easy.
Peer.
Peer.
Peer.
Then tell what thou knowest!Where was I, as myself, as the whole man, the true man?Where was I, with God’s sigil upon my brow?
Then tell what thou knowest!Where was I, as myself, as the whole man, the true man?Where was I, with God’s sigil upon my brow?
Then tell what thou knowest!Where was I, as myself, as the whole man, the true man?Where was I, with God’s sigil upon my brow?
Then tell what thou knowest!
Where was I, as myself, as the whole man, the true man?
Where was I, with God’s sigil upon my brow?
Solveig.
Solveig.
Solveig.
In my faith, in my hope, and in my love.[146]
In my faith, in my hope, and in my love.[146]
In my faith, in my hope, and in my love.[146]
In my faith, in my hope, and in my love.[146]
Peer.[Starts back.]
Peer.[Starts back.]
Peer.
[Starts back.]
What sayest thou——? Peace! These are juggling words.Thou art mother thyself to the man that’s there.
What sayest thou——? Peace! These are juggling words.Thou art mother thyself to the man that’s there.
What sayest thou——? Peace! These are juggling words.Thou art mother thyself to the man that’s there.
What sayest thou——? Peace! These are juggling words.
Thou art mother thyself to the man that’s there.
Solveig.
Solveig.
Solveig.
Ay, that I am; but who is his father?Surely he that forgives at the mother’s prayer.
Ay, that I am; but who is his father?Surely he that forgives at the mother’s prayer.
Ay, that I am; but who is his father?Surely he that forgives at the mother’s prayer.
Ay, that I am; but who is his father?
Surely he that forgives at the mother’s prayer.
Peer.[A light shines in his face; he cries:]
Peer.[A light shines in his face; he cries:]
Peer.
[A light shines in his face; he cries:]
My mother; my wife; oh, thou innocent woman!—In thy love—oh, there hide me, hide me!
My mother; my wife; oh, thou innocent woman!—In thy love—oh, there hide me, hide me!
My mother; my wife; oh, thou innocent woman!—In thy love—oh, there hide me, hide me!
My mother; my wife; oh, thou innocent woman!—
In thy love—oh, there hide me, hide me!
[Clings to her end hides his face in her lap. A long silence. The sun rises.
[Clings to her end hides his face in her lap. A long silence. The sun rises.
Solveig.[Sings softly.]
Solveig.[Sings softly.]
Solveig.
[Sings softly.]
Sleep thou, dearest boy of mine!I will cradle thee, I will watch thee——The boy has been sitting on his mother’s lap.They two have been playing all the life-day long.The boy has been resting at his mother’s breastAll the life-day long. God’s blessing on my joy!The boy has been lying close in to my heartAll the life-day long. He is weary now.Sleep thou, dearest boy of mine!I will cradle thee, I will watch thee.
Sleep thou, dearest boy of mine!I will cradle thee, I will watch thee——The boy has been sitting on his mother’s lap.They two have been playing all the life-day long.The boy has been resting at his mother’s breastAll the life-day long. God’s blessing on my joy!The boy has been lying close in to my heartAll the life-day long. He is weary now.Sleep thou, dearest boy of mine!I will cradle thee, I will watch thee.
Sleep thou, dearest boy of mine!I will cradle thee, I will watch thee——The boy has been sitting on his mother’s lap.They two have been playing all the life-day long.
Sleep thou, dearest boy of mine!
I will cradle thee, I will watch thee——
The boy has been sitting on his mother’s lap.
They two have been playing all the life-day long.
The boy has been resting at his mother’s breastAll the life-day long. God’s blessing on my joy!
The boy has been resting at his mother’s breast
All the life-day long. God’s blessing on my joy!
The boy has been lying close in to my heartAll the life-day long. He is weary now.
The boy has been lying close in to my heart
All the life-day long. He is weary now.
Sleep thou, dearest boy of mine!I will cradle thee, I will watch thee.
Sleep thou, dearest boy of mine!
I will cradle thee, I will watch thee.
The Button-moulder’s voice.[Behind the house.]
The Button-moulder’s voice.[Behind the house.]
The Button-moulder’s voice.
[Behind the house.]
At the last cross-road we will meet again, Peer;Andthenwe’ll see whether——; I say no more.
At the last cross-road we will meet again, Peer;Andthenwe’ll see whether——; I say no more.
At the last cross-road we will meet again, Peer;Andthenwe’ll see whether——; I say no more.
At the last cross-road we will meet again, Peer;
Andthenwe’ll see whether——; I say no more.
Solveig.[Sings louder in the full daylight.]
Solveig.[Sings louder in the full daylight.]
Solveig.
[Sings louder in the full daylight.]
I will cradle thee, I will watch thee;Sleep and dream thou, dear my boy!
I will cradle thee, I will watch thee;Sleep and dream thou, dear my boy!
I will cradle thee, I will watch thee;Sleep and dream thou, dear my boy!
I will cradle thee, I will watch thee;
Sleep and dream thou, dear my boy!
Footnotes:
109. Mountains and glaciers.
109. Mountains and glaciers.
110. Mountains and glaciers.
110. Mountains and glaciers.
111. So in original.
111. So in original.
112. “Angst”—literally, “dread” or “terror”—probably means here something like “conviction of sin.” The influence of the Danish theologian, Sören Kierkegård, may be traced in this passage.
112. “Angst”—literally, “dread” or “terror”—probably means here something like “conviction of sin.” The influence of the Danish theologian, Sören Kierkegård, may be traced in this passage.
113. Literally, “Are set on screws.”
113. Literally, “Are set on screws.”
114. “Tolder,” the biblical “publican.”
114. “Tolder,” the biblical “publican.”
115. See footnote, p.95.
115. See footnote, p.95.
116. A mountain in the Jotunheim. The name means “glittering peak.”
116. A mountain in the Jotunheim. The name means “glittering peak.”
117.“Den tid den sorg”—literally, “That time that sorrow” or “care.”
117.“Den tid den sorg”—literally, “That time that sorrow” or “care.”
118. Literally “the bushel.” See note, p.11.
118. Literally “the bushel.” See note, p.11.
119. See Appendix.
119. See Appendix.
120. See footnote, p.114.
120. See footnote, p.114.
121. See footnote, p.95.
121. See footnote, p.95.
122.“Digter”; means also “poet.”
122.“Digter”; means also “poet.”
123. See footnotes, pp.29and30.
123. See footnotes, pp.29and30.
124. In the original,“Personlighed”—personality.
124. In the original,“Personlighed”—personality.
125. This and the following line, literally translated, run thus:“Life“Life, as it’s called, has a fox behind its ear. But when one grasps at him, Reynard takes to his heels.” “To have a fox behind the ear” is a proverbial expression for insincerity, double-dealing.
125. This and the following line, literally translated, run thus:“Life“Life, as it’s called, has a fox behind its ear. But when one grasps at him, Reynard takes to his heels.” “To have a fox behind the ear” is a proverbial expression for insincerity, double-dealing.
126. See footnote, p.171.
126. See footnote, p.171.
127. See footnote, p.212.
127. See footnote, p.212.
128. See Introduction.
128. See Introduction.
129.“Pöl,”otherwise“Svovlpöl”—the sulphur pool of hell.
129.“Pöl,”otherwise“Svovlpöl”—the sulphur pool of hell.
130. See footnote, p.229.
130. See footnote, p.229.
131. Literally, “With Peter and Paul.”
131. Literally, “With Peter and Paul.”
132. The Royal Mint is at Kongsberg, a town in southern Norway.
132. The Royal Mint is at Kongsberg, a town in southern Norway.
133. See footnote, p.218.
133. See footnote, p.218.
134.“Hun gik nu for koldt vand og lud”—literally, “to live on cold water and lye”—to live wretchedly and be badly treated.
134.“Hun gik nu for koldt vand og lud”—literally, “to live on cold water and lye”—to live wretchedly and be badly treated.
135. Literally, “Wrote my motto behind your ear.”
135. Literally, “Wrote my motto behind your ear.”
136. Clearly the troll-substitute for “in black and white.”
136. Clearly the troll-substitute for “in black and white.”
137. Literally, “On a naked hill.”
137. Literally, “On a naked hill.”
138. So in original.
138. So in original.
139. Literally, “the ashes.”
139. Literally, “the ashes.”
140. So in original.
140. So in original.
141. So in original.
141. So in original.
142. Literally, “knock out that tooth.”
142. Literally, “knock out that tooth.”
143. “Bra litet rolig.”
143. “Bra litet rolig.”
144. So in original.
144. So in original.
145. “Selvejer-Adlen.” “Selvejer” (literally, “self-owner”) means a freeholder, as opposed to a “husmand” or tenant. There is of course a play upon words in the original.
145. “Selvejer-Adlen.” “Selvejer” (literally, “self-owner”) means a freeholder, as opposed to a “husmand” or tenant. There is of course a play upon words in the original.
146.“I min Tro, i mit Håb og i min Kjærlighed.”We have entirely sacrificed the metre of the line, feeling it impossible to mar its simplicity by any padding.“Kjærlighed”also means “charity,” in the biblical sense.
146.“I min Tro, i mit Håb og i min Kjærlighed.”
We have entirely sacrificed the metre of the line, feeling it impossible to mar its simplicity by any padding.“Kjærlighed”also means “charity,” in the biblical sense.
THE END.
THE END.
THE END.