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 defiant motion and turns half round]
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?
Hm, 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 flies over the green!
Ay, Guttorm, he can make his fiddle speak out!
It gurgles and booms like a foss 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 FIDDLER sits on a table. THE MASTER–COOK is standing in the doorway. COOKMAIDS are going to and fro between the different buildings Groups of ELDERLY PEOPLE sit 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 Master-cook [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 by the hand]
To it now, Guttorm, and don’t spare the fiddlestrings!
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, and the walls wide asunder!
The Bridegroom [comes whimpering up to his FATHER, 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. The BRIDEGROOM drifts 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 Master-cook
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 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]
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?
