PEER GYNT (Illustrated Edition). Henrik Ibsen

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СКАЧАТЬ One of the godly, eh?— Answer, come!

      Solveig

      What shall I say?

      Peer

      Is your father a psalm-singer?

       And you and your mother as well, no doubt?

       Come, will you speak?

      Solveig

      Let me go in peace.

      Peer

      No!

      [In a low but sharp and threatening tone.]

      I can turn myself into a troll!

       I’ll come to your bedside at midnight to-night.

       If you should hear some one hissing and spitting,

       you mustn’t imagine it’s only the cat.

       It’s me, lass! I’ll drain out your blood in a cup,

       and your little sister, I’ll eat her up;

       ay, you must know I’m a werewolf at night;—

       I’ll bite you all over the loins and the back —

      [Suddenly changes his tone, and entreats, as if in dread:]

      Dance with me, Solveig!

      Solveig [looking darkly at him]

      Then you were grim.

      [Goes into the house.]

      The Bridegroom [comes sidling up again]

      I’ll give you an ox if you’ll help me!

      Peer

      Then come!

      [They go out behind the house. At the same moment a crowd of men come up from the dancing-green; most of them are drunk. Noise and hubbub. SOLVEIG, HELGA, and their PARENTS appear among a number of elderly people in the doorway.]

      The Master-cook [to the SMITH, who is the foremost of the crowd]

      Keep peace now!

      The Smith [pulling off his jacket]

      No, we must fight it out here.

       Peer Gynt or I must be taught a lesson.

      Some Voices

      Ay, let them fight for it!

      Others

      No, only wrangle!

      The Smith

      Fists must decide; for the case is past words.

      Solveig’s Father

      Control yourself, man!

      Helga

      Will they beat him, mother?

      A Lad

      Let us rather tease him with all his lies!

      Another

      Kick him out of the company!

      A Third

      Spit in his eyes!

      A Fourth [to the SMITH]

      You’re not backing out, smith?

      The Smith [flinging away his jacket]

      The jade shall be slaughtered!

      Solveig’s Mother [to SOLVEIG]

      There, you can see how that windbag is thought of.

      Åse [coming up with a stick in her hand]

      Is that son of mine here? Now he’s in for a drubbing!

       Oh! how heartily I will dang him!

      The Smith [rolling up his shirt-sleeves]

      That switch is too light for a carcass like his.

       The smith will dang him!

      Others

      Bang him!

      The Smith [spits on his hands and nods to ÅSE]

      Hang him!

      Åse

      What? Hang my Peer? Ay, just try if you dare;—

       Åse and I, we have teeth and claws!—

       Where is he? [Calls across the yard:] Peer!

      The Bridegroom [comes running up]

      Oh, God’s death on the cross!

       Come father, come mother, and —!

      His Father

      What is the matter?

      The Bridegroom

      Just fancy, Peer Gynt —!

      Åse [screams]

      Have they taken his life?

      The Bridegroom

      No, but Peer Gynt —! Look, there on the hillside —!

      The Crowd

      With the bride!

      Åse [lets her stick sink]

      Oh, the beast!

      The Smith [as if thunderstruck]

      Where the slope rises sheerest

       he’s clambering upwards, by God, like a goat!

      The Bridegroom [crying]

      He’s shouldered her, mother, as I might a pig!

      Åse [shaking her fist up at him]

      Would God you might fall, and —!

      [Screams out in terror.]

      Take care of your footing!

      The Hegstad Farmer [comes in, bare-headed and white with rage]

      I’ll СКАЧАТЬ