SCENE SECOND.

Peer.And tell him thenWhat a rare lad is Peer Gynt.Åse.Truly, you may swear to that!Fine’s the character I’ll give you.Through and through I’ll show you up;All about your devil’s pranksI will tell them straight and plain——Peer.Will you?Åse.[Kicking with rage.]I won’t stay my tongueTill the old man sets his dogAt you, as you were a tramp!Peer.H’m; then I must go alone.Åse.Ay, but I’ll come after you!Peer.Mother dear, you haven’t strength——Åse.Strength? When I’m in such a rage,I could crush the rocks to powder!Hu! I’d make a meal of flints!Put me down!Peer.You’ll promise then——Åse.Nothing! I’ll to Hegstad with you!They shall know you, what you are!Peer.Then you’ll even have to stay here.Åse.Never! To the feast I’m coming!Peer.That you shan’t.Åse.What will you do?Peer.Perch you on the mill-house roof.[He puts her up on the roof.Åsescreams.Åse.Lift me down!Peer.Yes, if you’ll listen—Åse.Rubbish!Peer.Dearest mother, pray——Åse.[Throwing a sod of grass at him.]Lift me down this moment, Peer!Peer.If I dared, be sure I would.[Coming nearer.Now remember, sit quite still.Do not sprawl and kick about;Do not tug and tear the shingles,—Else ’twill be the worse for you;You might topple down.Åse.Youbeast!beast!Peer.Do not kick!Åse.I’d have you blown,Like a changeling, into space![29]Peer.Mother, fie!Åse.Bah!Peer.Rather give yourBlessing on my undertaking.Will you? Eh?Åse.I’ll thrash you soundly,Hulking fellow though you be!Peer.Well, good-bye then, mother dear!Patience; I’ll be back ere long[Is going, but turns, holds up his finger warningly, and says:Careful now, don’t kick and sprawl![Goes.Åse.Peer!—God help me, now he’s off;Reindeer-rider! Liar! Hei!Will you listen!—No, he’s stridingO’er the meadow——! [Shrieks.] Help. I’m dizzy!Two Old Women, with sacks on their backs, come down the path to the mill.First Woman.Christ, who’s screaming?Åse.It is I!Second Woman.Åse! Well, you are exalted!Åse.This won’t be the end of it;—Soon, God help me, I’ll be heavenhigh.high.First Woman.Bless your passing!Åse.Fetch a ladder;I must be down! That devil Peer——Second Woman.Peer! Your son?Åse.Now you can sayYou have seen how he behaves.First Woman.We’ll bear witness.Åse.Only help me;Straight to Hegstad will I hasten——Second Woman.Is he there?First Woman.You’ll be revenged, then;Aslak Smith will be there too.Åse.[Wringing her hands.]Oh, God help me with my boy;They will kill him ere they’re done!First Woman.Oh, that lot has oft been talked of;Comfort you: what must be must be!Second Woman.She is utterly demented.[Calls up the hill.Eivind, Anders! Hei! Come here!A Man’s Voice.What’s amiss?Second Woman.Peer Gynt has perched hisMother on the mill-house roof!SCENE SECOND.A hillock, covered with bushes and heather. The highroad runs behind it; a fence between.Peer Gyntcomes along a footpath, goes quickly up to the fence, stops, and looks out over the distant prospect.Peer.Yonder lies Hegstad. Soon I’ll have reached it.[Puts one leg over the fence; then hesitates.Wonder if Ingrid’s alone in the house now?[Shades his eyes with his hand, and looks out.No; to the farm guests are swarming like midges.—H’m, to turn back now perhaps would be wisest.[Draws back his leg.Still they must titter behind your back,And whisper so that it burns right through you.[Moves a few steps away from the fence, and begins absently plucking leaves.Ah, if I’d only a good strong dram now.Or if I could pass to and fro unseen.—Or were I unknown.—Something proper and strongWere the best thing of all, for the laughter don’t bite then.[Looks around suddenly as though afraid; then hides among the bushes. SomeWedding-guests[30]pass by, going downwards towards the farm.A Man.[In conversation as they pass.]His father was drunken, his mother is weak.A Woman.Ay, then it’s no wonder the lad’s good for nought.[They pass on. PresentlyPeer Gyntcomes forward, his face flushed with shame. He peers after them.Peer.[Softly.]Was it me they were talking of?[With a forced shrug.Oh, let themchatter.chatter.After all, they can’t sneer the life out of my body.[Casts himself down upon the heathery slope; lies for some time flat on his back with his hands under his head, gazing up into the sky.What a strange sort of cloud! It is just like a horse.There’s a man on it too—and a saddle—and bridle.—And after it comes an old crone on a broomstick.[Laughs quietly to himself.It is mother. She’s scolding and screaming: You beast!Hei you, Peer Gynt——[His eyes gradually close.Ay, now she is frightened.—Peer Gynt he rides first, and there follow him many.—His steed it is gold-shod and crested with silver.Himself he has gauntlets and sabre and scabbard.His cloak it is long, and its lining is silken.Full brave is the company riding behind him.None of them, though, sits his charger so stoutly.None of them glitters like him in the sunshine.—Down by the fence stand the people in clusters,Lifting their hats, and agape gazing upwards.Women are curtseying. All the world knows him,Kaiser Peer Gynt, and his thousands of henchmen.Sixpenny pieces and glittering shillingsOver the roadway he scatters like pebbles.Rich as a lord grows each man in the parish.High o’er the ocean Peer Gynt goes a-riding.Engelland’s Prince on the seashore awaits him;There too await him all Engelland’s maidens.Engelland’s nobles and Engelland’s Kaiser,See him come riding and rise from their banquet.Raising his crown, hear the Kaiser address him——Aslak the Smith.[To some other young men, passing along the road.]Just look at Peer Gynt there, the drunken swine——!Peer.[Starting half up.]What, Kaiser——!The Smith.[Leaning against the fence and grinning.]Up with you, Peer, mylad.lad.Peer.What the devil? The smith! What do you want here?The Smith.[To the others.]He hasn’t got over the Lundëspree yetPeer.[Jumping up.]You’d better be off!The Smith.I am going, yes.But tell us, where have you dropped from, man?You’ve been gone six weeks. Were you troll-taken, eh?Peer.I have been doing strange deeds, Aslak Smith!The Smith.[Winking to the others.]Let us hear them, Peer!Peer.They are nought to you.The Smith.[After a pause.]You’re going to Hegstad?Peer.No.The Smith.Time wasThey said that the girl there was fond of you.Peer.You grimy crow——!The Smith.[Falling back a little.]Keep your temper, PeerThough Ingrid has jilted you, others are left;—Think—son of Jon Gynt! Come on to the feast;You’ll find there both lambkins and well-seasoned widows——Peer.To hell——The Smith.You will surely find one that will have you.—Good evening! I’ll give your respects to the bride.—[They go off, laughing and whispering.Peer.[Looks after them a while, then makes a defiantmotion and turns half round.]For my part, may Ingrid of Hegstad go marryWhoever she pleases. It’s all one to me.[Looks down at his clothes.My breeches are torn. I am ragged and grim.—If only I had something new to put on now.[Stamps on the ground.If only I could, with a butcher-grip,Tear out the scorn from their very vitals![Looks round suddenly.What was that? Who was it that tittered behind there?H’m, I certainly thought—— No no, it was no one.—I’ll go home to mother.[Begins to go upwards, but stops again and listens towards Hegstad.They’re playing a dance![Gazes and listens; moves downwards step by step, his eyes glisten; he rubs his hands down his thighs.How the lasses do swarm! Six or eight to a man!Oh, galloping death,—I must join in the frolic!—But how about mother, perched up on the mill-house——[His eyes are drawn downwards again; he leaps and laughs.Hei, how the Halling[31]flies over the green!Ay, Guttorm, he can make his fiddle speak out!It gurgles and booms like a foss[32]o’er a scaur.And then all that glittering bevy of girls!—Yes, galloping death, I must join in the frolic![Leaps over the fence and goes down the road.SCENE THIRD.The farm-place at Hegstad. In the background, the dwelling-house.A Throng of Guests.A lively dance in progress on the green.The Fiddlersits on a table.The Kitchen-master[33]is standing in the doorway.Cookmaidsare going to and fro between the different buildings. Groups ofElderly Peoplesit here and there, talking.A Woman.[Joins a group that is seated on some logs of wood.]The bride? Oh yes, she is crying a bit;But that, you know, isn’t worth heeding.The Kitchen-master.[In another group.]Now then, good folk, you must empty the barrel.A Man.Thanks to you, friend; but you fill up too quick.A Lad.[To the Fiddler, as he flies past, holding a Girl bythe hand.]To it now, Guttorm, and don’t spare the fiddle-strings!The Girl.Scrape till it echoes out over the meadows!Other Girls.[Standing in a ring round a lad who is dancing.]That’s a rare fling!A Girl.He has legs that can lift him!The Lad.[Dancing.]The roof here is high,[34]and the walls wide asunder!The Bridegroom.[Comes whimpering up to hisFather, who is standing talking with some other men, and twitches his jacket.]Father, she will not; she is so proud!His Father.What won’t she do?The Bridegroom.She has locked herself in.His Father.Well, you must manage to find the key.The Bridegroom.I don’t know how.His Father.You’re a nincompoop![Turns away to the others. TheBridegroomdrifts across the yard.A Lad.[Comes from behind the house.]Wait a bit, girls! Things’ll soon be lively!Here comes Peer Gynt.The Smith.[Who has just come up.]Who invited him?The Kitchen-master.No one.[Goes towards the house.The Smith.[To the girls.]If he should speak to you, never take notice!A Girl.[To the others.]No, we’ll pretend that we don’t even see him.Peer Gynt.[Comes in heated and full of animation, stops rightin front of the group, and claps his hands.]Which is the liveliest girl of the lot of you?A Girl.[As he approaches her.]I am not.Another.[Similarly.]I am not.A Third.No; nor I either.Peer.[To a fourth.]You come along, then, for want of a better.The Girl.Haven’t got time.Peer.[To a fifth.]Well then, you!The Girl.[Going.]I’m for home.Peer.To-night? are you utterly out of your senses?[35]The Smith.[After a moment, in a low voice.]See, Peer, she’s taken a greybeard for partner.Peer.[Turns sharply to an elderly man.]Where are the unbespoke girls?The Man.Find them out.[Goes away from him.Peer Gynthas suddenly become subdued. He glances shyly and furtively at the group. All look at him, but no one speaks. He approaches other groups. Wherever he goes there issilence;silence;when he moves away they look after him and smile.Peer.[To himself.]

Peer.

And tell him thenWhat a rare lad is Peer Gynt.

And tell him then

What a rare lad is Peer Gynt.

Åse.

Truly, you may swear to that!Fine’s the character I’ll give you.Through and through I’ll show you up;All about your devil’s pranksI will tell them straight and plain——

Truly, you may swear to that!

Fine’s the character I’ll give you.

Through and through I’ll show you up;

All about your devil’s pranks

I will tell them straight and plain——

Peer.

Will you?

Åse.[Kicking with rage.]

Åse.

[Kicking with rage.]

I won’t stay my tongueTill the old man sets his dogAt you, as you were a tramp!

I won’t stay my tongue

Till the old man sets his dog

At you, as you were a tramp!

Peer.

H’m; then I must go alone.

Åse.

Ay, but I’ll come after you!

Peer.

Mother dear, you haven’t strength——

Åse.

Strength? When I’m in such a rage,I could crush the rocks to powder!Hu! I’d make a meal of flints!Put me down!

Strength? When I’m in such a rage,

I could crush the rocks to powder!

Hu! I’d make a meal of flints!

Put me down!

Peer.

You’ll promise then——

Åse.

Nothing! I’ll to Hegstad with you!They shall know you, what you are!

Nothing! I’ll to Hegstad with you!

They shall know you, what you are!

Peer.

Then you’ll even have to stay here.

Åse.

Never! To the feast I’m coming!

Peer.

That you shan’t.

Åse.

What will you do?

Peer.

Perch you on the mill-house roof.

[He puts her up on the roof.Åsescreams.

Åse.

Lift me down!

Peer.

Yes, if you’ll listen—

Åse.

Rubbish!

Peer.

Dearest mother, pray——

Åse.[Throwing a sod of grass at him.]

Åse.

[Throwing a sod of grass at him.]

Lift me down this moment, Peer!

Peer.

If I dared, be sure I would.[Coming nearer.Now remember, sit quite still.Do not sprawl and kick about;Do not tug and tear the shingles,—Else ’twill be the worse for you;You might topple down.

If I dared, be sure I would.

[Coming nearer.

Now remember, sit quite still.

Do not sprawl and kick about;

Do not tug and tear the shingles,—

Else ’twill be the worse for you;

You might topple down.

Åse.

Youbeast!beast!

Peer.

Do not kick!

Åse.

I’d have you blown,Like a changeling, into space![29]

I’d have you blown,

Like a changeling, into space![29]

Peer.

Mother, fie!

Åse.

Bah!

Peer.

Rather give yourBlessing on my undertaking.Will you? Eh?

Rather give your

Blessing on my undertaking.

Will you? Eh?

Åse.

I’ll thrash you soundly,Hulking fellow though you be!

I’ll thrash you soundly,

Hulking fellow though you be!

Peer.

Well, good-bye then, mother dear!Patience; I’ll be back ere long

Well, good-bye then, mother dear!

Patience; I’ll be back ere long

[Is going, but turns, holds up his finger warningly, and says:

Careful now, don’t kick and sprawl![Goes.

Careful now, don’t kick and sprawl!

[Goes.

Åse.

Peer!—God help me, now he’s off;Reindeer-rider! Liar! Hei!Will you listen!—No, he’s stridingO’er the meadow——! [Shrieks.] Help. I’m dizzy!

Peer!—God help me, now he’s off;

Reindeer-rider! Liar! Hei!

Will you listen!—No, he’s striding

O’er the meadow——! [Shrieks.] Help. I’m dizzy!

Two Old Women, with sacks on their backs, come down the path to the mill.

First Woman.

Christ, who’s screaming?

Åse.

It is I!

Second Woman.

Åse! Well, you are exalted!

Åse.

This won’t be the end of it;—Soon, God help me, I’ll be heavenhigh.high.

This won’t be the end of it;—

Soon, God help me, I’ll be heavenhigh.high.

First Woman.

Bless your passing!

Åse.

Fetch a ladder;I must be down! That devil Peer——

Fetch a ladder;

I must be down! That devil Peer——

Second Woman.

Peer! Your son?

Åse.

Now you can sayYou have seen how he behaves.

Now you can say

You have seen how he behaves.

First Woman.

We’ll bear witness.

Åse.

Only help me;Straight to Hegstad will I hasten——

Only help me;

Straight to Hegstad will I hasten——

Second Woman.

Is he there?

First Woman.

You’ll be revenged, then;Aslak Smith will be there too.

You’ll be revenged, then;

Aslak Smith will be there too.

Åse.[Wringing her hands.]

Åse.

[Wringing her hands.]

Oh, God help me with my boy;They will kill him ere they’re done!

Oh, God help me with my boy;

They will kill him ere they’re done!

First Woman.

Oh, that lot has oft been talked of;Comfort you: what must be must be!

Oh, that lot has oft been talked of;

Comfort you: what must be must be!

Second Woman.

She is utterly demented.[Calls up the hill.Eivind, Anders! Hei! Come here!

She is utterly demented.

[Calls up the hill.

Eivind, Anders! Hei! Come here!

A Man’s Voice.

What’s amiss?

Second Woman.

Peer Gynt has perched hisMother on the mill-house roof!

Peer Gynt has perched his

Mother on the mill-house roof!

SCENE SECOND.

A hillock, covered with bushes and heather. The highroad runs behind it; a fence between.

Peer Gyntcomes along a footpath, goes quickly up to the fence, stops, and looks out over the distant prospect.

Peer.

Yonder lies Hegstad. Soon I’ll have reached it.[Puts one leg over the fence; then hesitates.Wonder if Ingrid’s alone in the house now?[Shades his eyes with his hand, and looks out.No; to the farm guests are swarming like midges.—H’m, to turn back now perhaps would be wisest.[Draws back his leg.Still they must titter behind your back,And whisper so that it burns right through you.

Yonder lies Hegstad. Soon I’ll have reached it.

[Puts one leg over the fence; then hesitates.

Wonder if Ingrid’s alone in the house now?

[Shades his eyes with his hand, and looks out.

No; to the farm guests are swarming like midges.—

H’m, to turn back now perhaps would be wisest.

[Draws back his leg.

Still they must titter behind your back,

And whisper so that it burns right through you.

[Moves a few steps away from the fence, and begins absently plucking leaves.

Ah, if I’d only a good strong dram now.Or if I could pass to and fro unseen.—Or were I unknown.—Something proper and strongWere the best thing of all, for the laughter don’t bite then.

Ah, if I’d only a good strong dram now.

Or if I could pass to and fro unseen.—

Or were I unknown.—Something proper and strong

Were the best thing of all, for the laughter don’t bite then.

[Looks around suddenly as though afraid; then hides among the bushes. SomeWedding-guests[30]pass by, going downwards towards the farm.

A Man.[In conversation as they pass.]

A Man.

[In conversation as they pass.]

His father was drunken, his mother is weak.

A Woman.

Ay, then it’s no wonder the lad’s good for nought.

[They pass on. PresentlyPeer Gyntcomes forward, his face flushed with shame. He peers after them.

Peer.[Softly.]

Peer.

[Softly.]

Was it me they were talking of?[With a forced shrug.Oh, let themchatter.chatter.After all, they can’t sneer the life out of my body.

Was it me they were talking of?

[With a forced shrug.

Oh, let themchatter.chatter.

After all, they can’t sneer the life out of my body.

[Casts himself down upon the heathery slope; lies for some time flat on his back with his hands under his head, gazing up into the sky.

What a strange sort of cloud! It is just like a horse.There’s a man on it too—and a saddle—and bridle.—And after it comes an old crone on a broomstick.[Laughs quietly to himself.It is mother. She’s scolding and screaming: You beast!Hei you, Peer Gynt——[His eyes gradually close.Ay, now she is frightened.—Peer Gynt he rides first, and there follow him many.—His steed it is gold-shod and crested with silver.Himself he has gauntlets and sabre and scabbard.His cloak it is long, and its lining is silken.Full brave is the company riding behind him.None of them, though, sits his charger so stoutly.None of them glitters like him in the sunshine.—Down by the fence stand the people in clusters,Lifting their hats, and agape gazing upwards.Women are curtseying. All the world knows him,Kaiser Peer Gynt, and his thousands of henchmen.Sixpenny pieces and glittering shillingsOver the roadway he scatters like pebbles.Rich as a lord grows each man in the parish.High o’er the ocean Peer Gynt goes a-riding.Engelland’s Prince on the seashore awaits him;There too await him all Engelland’s maidens.Engelland’s nobles and Engelland’s Kaiser,See him come riding and rise from their banquet.Raising his crown, hear the Kaiser address him——

What a strange sort of cloud! It is just like a horse.

There’s a man on it too—and a saddle—and bridle.—

And after it comes an old crone on a broomstick.

[Laughs quietly to himself.

It is mother. She’s scolding and screaming: You beast!

Hei you, Peer Gynt——

[His eyes gradually close.

Ay, now she is frightened.—

Peer Gynt he rides first, and there follow him many.—

His steed it is gold-shod and crested with silver.

Himself he has gauntlets and sabre and scabbard.

His cloak it is long, and its lining is silken.

Full brave is the company riding behind him.

None of them, though, sits his charger so stoutly.

None of them glitters like him in the sunshine.—

Down by the fence stand the people in clusters,

Lifting their hats, and agape gazing upwards.

Women are curtseying. All the world knows him,

Kaiser Peer Gynt, and his thousands of henchmen.

Sixpenny pieces and glittering shillings

Over the roadway he scatters like pebbles.

Rich as a lord grows each man in the parish.

High o’er the ocean Peer Gynt goes a-riding.

Engelland’s Prince on the seashore awaits him;

There too await him all Engelland’s maidens.

Engelland’s nobles and Engelland’s Kaiser,

See him come riding and rise from their banquet.

Raising his crown, hear the Kaiser address him——

Aslak the Smith.[To some other young men, passing along the road.]

Aslak the Smith.

[To some other young men, passing along the road.]

Just look at Peer Gynt there, the drunken swine——!

Peer.[Starting half up.]

Peer.

[Starting half up.]

What, Kaiser——!

The Smith.[Leaning against the fence and grinning.]

The Smith.

[Leaning against the fence and grinning.]

Up with you, Peer, mylad.lad.

Peer.

What the devil? The smith! What do you want here?

The Smith.[To the others.]

The Smith.

[To the others.]

He hasn’t got over the Lundëspree yet

Peer.[Jumping up.]

Peer.

[Jumping up.]

You’d better be off!

The Smith.

I am going, yes.But tell us, where have you dropped from, man?You’ve been gone six weeks. Were you troll-taken, eh?

I am going, yes.

But tell us, where have you dropped from, man?

You’ve been gone six weeks. Were you troll-taken, eh?

Peer.

I have been doing strange deeds, Aslak Smith!

The Smith.[Winking to the others.]

The Smith.

[Winking to the others.]

Let us hear them, Peer!

Peer.

They are nought to you.

The Smith.[After a pause.]

The Smith.

[After a pause.]

You’re going to Hegstad?

Peer.

No.

The Smith.

Time wasThey said that the girl there was fond of you.

Time was

They said that the girl there was fond of you.

Peer.

You grimy crow——!

The Smith.[Falling back a little.]

The Smith.

[Falling back a little.]

Keep your temper, PeerThough Ingrid has jilted you, others are left;—Think—son of Jon Gynt! Come on to the feast;You’ll find there both lambkins and well-seasoned widows——

Keep your temper, Peer

Though Ingrid has jilted you, others are left;—

Think—son of Jon Gynt! Come on to the feast;

You’ll find there both lambkins and well-seasoned widows——

Peer.

To hell——

The Smith.

You will surely find one that will have you.—Good evening! I’ll give your respects to the bride.—

You will surely find one that will have you.—

Good evening! I’ll give your respects to the bride.—

[They go off, laughing and whispering.

Peer.[Looks after them a while, then makes a defiantmotion and turns half round.]

Peer.

[Looks after them a while, then makes a defiant

motion and turns half round.]

For my part, may Ingrid of Hegstad go marryWhoever she pleases. It’s all one to me.[Looks down at his clothes.My breeches are torn. I am ragged and grim.—If only I had something new to put on now.[Stamps on the ground.If only I could, with a butcher-grip,Tear out the scorn from their very vitals!

For my part, may Ingrid of Hegstad go marry

Whoever she pleases. It’s all one to me.

[Looks down at his clothes.

My breeches are torn. I am ragged and grim.—

If only I had something new to put on now.

[Stamps on the ground.

If only I could, with a butcher-grip,

Tear out the scorn from their very vitals!

[Looks round suddenly.

What was that? Who was it that tittered behind there?H’m, I certainly thought—— No no, it was no one.—I’ll go home to mother.

What was that? Who was it that tittered behind there?

H’m, I certainly thought—— No no, it was no one.—

I’ll go home to mother.

[Begins to go upwards, but stops again and listens towards Hegstad.

They’re playing a dance!

[Gazes and listens; moves downwards step by step, his eyes glisten; he rubs his hands down his thighs.

How the lasses do swarm! Six or eight to a man!Oh, galloping death,—I must join in the frolic!—But how about mother, perched up on the mill-house——

How the lasses do swarm! Six or eight to a man!

Oh, galloping death,—I must join in the frolic!—

But how about mother, perched up on the mill-house——

[His eyes are drawn downwards again; he leaps and laughs.

Hei, how the Halling[31]flies over the green!Ay, Guttorm, he can make his fiddle speak out!It gurgles and booms like a foss[32]o’er a scaur.And then all that glittering bevy of girls!—Yes, galloping death, I must join in the frolic!

Hei, how the Halling[31]flies over the green!

Ay, Guttorm, he can make his fiddle speak out!

It gurgles and booms like a foss[32]o’er a scaur.

And then all that glittering bevy of girls!—

Yes, galloping death, I must join in the frolic!

[Leaps over the fence and goes down the road.

The farm-place at Hegstad. In the background, the dwelling-house.A Throng of Guests.A lively dance in progress on the green.The Fiddlersits on a table.The Kitchen-master[33]is standing in the doorway.Cookmaidsare going to and fro between the different buildings. Groups ofElderly Peoplesit here and there, talking.

A Woman.[Joins a group that is seated on some logs of wood.]

A Woman.

[Joins a group that is seated on some logs of wood.]

The bride? Oh yes, she is crying a bit;But that, you know, isn’t worth heeding.

The bride? Oh yes, she is crying a bit;

But that, you know, isn’t worth heeding.

The Kitchen-master.[In another group.]

The Kitchen-master.

[In another group.]

Now then, good folk, you must empty the barrel.

A Man.

Thanks to you, friend; but you fill up too quick.

A Lad.[To the Fiddler, as he flies past, holding a Girl bythe hand.]

A Lad.

[To the Fiddler, as he flies past, holding a Girl by

the hand.]

To it now, Guttorm, and don’t spare the fiddle-strings!

The Girl.

Scrape till it echoes out over the meadows!

Other Girls.[Standing in a ring round a lad who is dancing.]

Other Girls.

[Standing in a ring round a lad who is dancing.]

That’s a rare fling!

A Girl.

He has legs that can lift him!

The Lad.[Dancing.]

The Lad.

[Dancing.]

The roof here is high,[34]and the walls wide asunder!

The Bridegroom.

[Comes whimpering up to hisFather, who is standing talking with some other men, and twitches his jacket.]

Father, she will not; she is so proud!

His Father.

What won’t she do?

The Bridegroom.

She has locked herself in.

His Father.

Well, you must manage to find the key.

The Bridegroom.

I don’t know how.

His Father.

You’re a nincompoop!

[Turns away to the others. TheBridegroomdrifts across the yard.

A Lad.[Comes from behind the house.]

A Lad.

[Comes from behind the house.]

Wait a bit, girls! Things’ll soon be lively!Here comes Peer Gynt.

Wait a bit, girls! Things’ll soon be lively!

Here comes Peer Gynt.

The Smith.[Who has just come up.]

The Smith.

[Who has just come up.]

Who invited him?

The Kitchen-master.

No one.

[Goes towards the house.

The Smith.[To the girls.]

The Smith.

[To the girls.]

If he should speak to you, never take notice!

A Girl.[To the others.]

A Girl.

[To the others.]

No, we’ll pretend that we don’t even see him.

Peer Gynt.[Comes in heated and full of animation, stops rightin front of the group, and claps his hands.]

Peer Gynt.

[Comes in heated and full of animation, stops right

in front of the group, and claps his hands.]

Which is the liveliest girl of the lot of you?

A Girl.[As he approaches her.]

A Girl.

[As he approaches her.]

I am not.

Another.[Similarly.]

Another.

[Similarly.]

I am not.

A Third.

No; nor I either.

Peer.[To a fourth.]

Peer.

[To a fourth.]

You come along, then, for want of a better.

The Girl.

Haven’t got time.

Peer.[To a fifth.]

Peer.

[To a fifth.]

Well then, you!

The Girl.[Going.]

The Girl.

[Going.]

I’m for home.

Peer.

To-night? are you utterly out of your senses?[35]

The Smith.[After a moment, in a low voice.]

The Smith.

[After a moment, in a low voice.]

See, Peer, she’s taken a greybeard for partner.

Peer.[Turns sharply to an elderly man.]

Peer.

[Turns sharply to an elderly man.]

Where are the unbespoke girls?

The Man.

Find them out.

[Goes away from him.

Peer Gynthas suddenly become subdued. He glances shyly and furtively at the group. All look at him, but no one speaks. He approaches other groups. Wherever he goes there issilence;silence;when he moves away they look after him and smile.

Peer.[To himself.]

Peer.

[To himself.]

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