PEER GYNT (Illustrated Edition). Henrik Ibsen
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Keep quiet now;
here the bottom’s slippery-slimy.
Åse
Ass!
Peer
That’s right, don’t spare your tongue;
that does no one any harm.
Now it’s shelving up again —
Åse
Don’t you drop me!
Peer
Heisan! Hop!
Now we’ll play at Peer and reindeer;—
[Curvetting.]
I’m the reindeer, you are Peer!
Åse
Oh, I’m going clean distraught!
Peer
There see; now we’ve reached the shallows;—
[Wades ashore.]
come, a kiss now, for the reindeer;
just to thank him for the ride —
Åse [boxing his ears]
This is how I thank him!
Peer
Ow!
That’s a miserable fare!
Åse
Put me down!
Peer
First to the wedding.
Be my spokesman. You’re so clever;
talk to him, the old curmudgeon;
say Mads Moen’s good for nothing —
Åse
Put me down!
Peer
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 pranks
I will tell them straight and plain —
Peer
Will you?
Åse [kicking with rage]
I won’t stay my tongue
till the old man sets his dog
at you, as you were a tramp!
Peer
Hm; 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. ÅSE screams.]
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
You beast!
Peer
Do not kick!
Åse
I’d have you blown,
like a changeling, into space!
Peer
Mother, fie!
Åse
Bah!
Peer
Rather give your
blessing 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.]
Aase on the Mill-house Roof
Åse
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 heaven-high!
First Woman
Bless your passing!
Åse
Fetch a ladder;
I must be