Åse
Spare your pains.
They are to be wed to-morrow —
Peer
Pooh; this evening I’ll be there!
Åse
Fie now! Would you crown our miseries
with a load of all men’s scorn?
Peer
Never fear; ’twill all go well.
[Shouting and laughing at the same time.]
Mother, jump! We’ll spare the waggon;
’twould take time to fetch the mare up —
[Lifts her up in his arms.]
Åse
Put me down!
Peer
No, in my arms
I will bear you to the wedding!
[Wades out into the stream.]
Åse
Help! The Lord have mercy on us!
Peer! We’re drowning —
Peer
I was born
for a braver death —
Åse
Ay, true;
sure enough you’ll hang at last!
[Tugging at his hair.]
Oh, you brute!
Peer
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?
