Early Plays by Henrik Ibsen (best novels in english txt) 📕

ARNE.  Indeed I do.  She is pretty!

HEMMING.  [Rises.]  So thinks Olaf, too.

ARNE.  What does that mean?

HEMMING.  Olaf loves her!  'Tis many a time he visited her up

there;--what Lady Kirsten has told you, you must never believe.

ARNE.  And what you blab about I believe still less.  You are

provoked with Ingeborg because at times she makes fun of you, and

therefore you begrudge her this attractive marriage; yes, yes, I

know you too well.

HEMMING.  Why, master! you could believe that--

ARNE.  Make me believe that Olaf Liljekrans loves that beggar

woman!  A noble, high-born lord such as he!  It is almost as if

one were to say that Ingeborg, my daughter, had a fancy for you.

HEMMING.  [Embarrassed.]  For me--how could you ever imagine--

ARNE.  No, I don't imagine!  But the one is as unreasonable as

the other.  Come, drink! and don't talk any more such nonsense.

ARNE.  [Rises.]  There is Lady Kirsten with the guests.  What's

going to happen now?

HEMMING.  They are all to assemble out here; they will then

follow the bride and bridegroom to the banquet-table and thence

to the church.

ARNE.  Aye, what a cursed custom!  To the church at night!  Is

then marriage a work of darkness?

[The Preceding.  LADY KIRSTEN, OLAF, INGEBORG,

GUESTS, and SERVANTS and MAIDS enter gradually

from the several sides.]

LADY KIRSTEN.  [To herself.]  I have not seen Olaf alone; but

when I think it over, it is probably best that he know nothing

about it until it is all over.

LADY KIRSTEN.  [Softly, to HEMMING, who has been whispering with

INGEBORG.]  Well, Hemming!  How do you think your master is

disposed?

HEMMING.  Alas, Lady Kirsten!  I have but little hope unless you

lend your aid.

LADY KIRSTEN.  Aye, we'll manage it all right.

[She mingles with the GUESTS.]

INGEBORG.  [Softly, to HEMMING.]  What do you mean?  What blessed

hope is it you are speaking of?

HEMMING.  Alas, I hardly dare believe it myself; but Lady Kirsten

means well by us.  She will soon show you that--

INGEBORG.  Hush! they are approaching.

OLAF.  [In an undertone.]  Tell me, mother! how goes it with her?

LADY KIRSTEN.  Well enough, as I knew before.

OLAF.  Then she knows how to comfort herself?

LADY KIRSTEN.  [Smiling.]  It seems so.  Only wait!  This very

evening you shall know for certain.

OLAF.  What do you mean?

LADY KIRSTEN.  I mean that she is a sly witch.  All her fair

words have been deceitful wiles.

OLAF.  No, no, mother!

LADY KIRSTEN.  That we shall see!  Alfhild is happy and gay,--so

much I know.

OLAF.  It were well for me if she were!

LADY KIRSTEN.  [Loudly and clearly.]  Lord Arne of Guldvik!  Now

is the hour come at length which we have all, I imagine, been

looking forward to.

HEMMING.  [Aside.]  Now it begins!

LADY KIRSTEN.  Soon will the church bestow its blessing on our

children and unite them in a long and loving union.

HEMMING.  [Aside, startled.]  What now?

LADY KIRSTEN.  The terms we have already agreed upon.  But I

suggest that we here once again seal them with hand and word.

HEMMING.  [As before.]  Heaven and earth!  Is she trying to

deceive me?

ARNE.  That is not necessary; I stand by my word like an

honorable man.

LADY KIRSTEN.  That I well know, Lord Arne! but it will take but

a moment.  First of all, there shall be an end for all time to

every quarrel and dispute between our families,--and as for the

damages and injuries which our old disagreements have caused on

either side, no one shall demand compensation for them; each must

manage them as best he knows how.  We promise that, do we not?

ARNE.  That we promise!

[General shaking of hands among the relatives of the bridal

couple.]

HEMMING.  [Softly.]  Curses upon you; you lied to me shamefully!

LADY KIRSTEN.  Then we mention again, what we are already agreed

upon, that the boundary line between Lord Arne's domains and mine

shall be moved as far in upon his land as good and impartial men

may judge to be fitting and just.

ARNE.  Yes, yes, I suppose it must be so!

LADY KIRSTEN.  That we promise, then?

THE GUESTS.  That we promise!

[Shaking of hands as before.]

LADY KIRSTEN.  Finally, Lord Arne shall give in the form of a

dowry to his daughter as much silver, linen, and other

furnishings as were named and agreed upon at the betrothal feast,

all of which shall here be placed in my home from the day

Mistress Ingeborg moves herein as my son's lawful wife, which is

tonight.  On that we are agreed?

THE GUESTS.  That we solemnly promise!

[Shaking of hands.]

LADY KIRSTEN.  Then let the bride and bridegroom clasp hands and

go to the banquet-table and thence to the church.

ARNE.  [Aside.]  Ah, Hemming can now see whether Lady Kirsten

deceives me.

HEMMING.  [Softly.]  O, then it is all over for me; a fool I was

to depend on her.

LADY KIRSTEN.  But on this joyful day it is fitting that we make

as many as possible happy.  And therefore I have a request to

make, Lord Arne!

ARNE.  Speak forth!  If I can I shall gladly comply.

HEMMING.  [Aside.]  What does she purpose now?

LADY KIRSTEN.  There is still a young couple who would like to go

to the altar this evening; from what I hear, they are agreed

between themselves.  The bride I shall take care of, but the

bridegroom you must assist; it is Hemming, your page, and

Alfhild!

INGEBORG.  [With a cry.]  Hemming!

OLAF.  [Likewise.]  Alfhild!

HEMMING.  O, woe is me!  Now I understand--

THE GUESTS.  [At the same time.]  Hemming and Alfhild!  The

mountain girl!

[Laughter and whispering.]

OLAF.  Alfhild!  You will marry her off to--No, no, it shall not

be!  Never, never!

LADY KIRSTEN.  Be still!--Olaf, my son; be still, I beg you!

ARNE.  [To himself.]  What's this!  Yes, truly, then Hemming was

right; there is something between Olaf and Alfhild.

ARNE.  [Whispering.]  Aye, Lady Kirsten!  I see your scheme.  Now

I know why Olaf wandered three days in the mountain, and now you

intend to make use of Hemming to be rid of her.  Ha, ha!

LADY KIRSTEN.  [With forced composure.]  Lord Arne!  how can you

believe such a thing?

ARNE.  [In a low tone.]  O, I see clearly!  Now I should think I

had very good reason to break the agreement.

LADY KIRSTEN.  [Softly and frightened.]  Break the agreement!  I

beg of you!  Will you put us all to shame?

[They talk together softly.]

HEMMING.  [To INGEBORG, with whom he has in the meantime been

whispering.]  That is all there is to it, I swear.  Lady Kirsten

and I have not understood each other.

INGEBORG.  Well, then decline!  You shall!  I command you.

HEMMING.  No, no!  I dare not; she will then see that it was you

I was thinking of.

INGEBORG.  Good; then I shall.

INGEBORG.  [Aloud.]  Hemming shall not go to the altar with

Alfhild;--he is too good to marry another man's darling!

OLAF.  [With a cry.]  For shame!

THE GUESTS.  Darling!

ARNE.  [To INGEBORG.]  What are you saying?

LADY KIRSTEN.  Heaven protect us!

OLAF.  Cursed be my soul!  She is put to shame!

INGEBORG.  Yes, loudly I proclaim it: she is another man's

darling.  Let him gainsay it who dares.

ARNE.  Ingeborg!

ARNE.  [Aside.]  What is the matter with her?

LADY KIRSTEN.  [Softly.]  So that's the way it is!  She

then,--she it is who cares for Hemming!

LADY KIRSTEN.  [Softly and clearly, to ARNE.]  Do you now intend

to break the agreement?  You can now see for yourself from your

daughter's conduct what reason I had to get Hemming married!

ARNE.  [Disconcerted.]  My daughter!  Could you imagine that

she--

LADY KIRSTEN.  You need not pretend!  Ingeborg has a fancy for

your house-carl; now I should think I had good reason to break

our agreement.

ARNE.  Break, break--!  What are you thinking of!  To bring on me

such disgrace!

LADY KIRSTEN.  [Mocking.]  Yes,--otherwise you would do it!

ARNE.  [Quickly.]  No, no, I have reconsidered; it is best we

both keep still!

LADY KIRSTEN.  [To herself.]  See, now have I won!  I know Olaf;

a woman so scorned will never tempt him!

[The Preceding.  ALFHILD comes unnoticed out of the

storehouse in glittering bridal dress with a crown on

her head and her hair flowing.]

ARNE.  [Aside.]  This has been a cursed day for me!  O, he is a

cunning dog, this Hemming!  He knew that Ingeborg had a fancy for

him; it was therefore so galling to him that Olaf should have

her.

LADY KIRSTEN.  [Who has in the meantime regained her composure.]

And now to the festive hall!  Hemming we can think of

later.--Olaf, take your bride by the hand!

ARNE.  [Reluctantly, as he sees INGEBORG whisper to HEMMING.]

Where is the bride?  Come, come!

ALFHILD AND INGEBORG.  [At the same time, as they each seize one

of OLAF's hands.]  Here I am!

THE GUESTS.  How,--she takes Olaf?

[General amazement.]

LADY KIRSTEN.  [Aside.]  So far has he gone, then!

LADY KIRSTEN.  [Aloud, to ALFHILD.]  You are mistaken!  That is

not your bridegroom!

ALFHILD.  Why, certainly, it is Olaf!

INGEBORG.  [Lets go his hand.]  If then he has promised her--!

LADY KIRSTEN.  [In great agitation.]  Olaf is not your

bridegroom, I say!  Tell her it yourself, my son!

[OLAF is silent.  LADY KIRSTEN's Kinsmen look at each other

embarrassed.  ARNE's Relatives draw nearer, angry and

threatening.]

LADY KIRSTEN.  [With raised voice.]  Olaf Liljekrans!  Answer

loudly and clearly!  You owe it to yourself and to us.

OLAF.  [In despair, struggling with himself.]  Let it be as you

wish then, mother!  Yes, by all the saints!  I shall answer.

Alfhild! you are mistaken!  I am not your bridegroom.

OLAF.  [Pointing to INGEBORG.]  There--there stands my bride!

ALFHILD.  [Withdraws a step or two dumfounded and stares at him.]

She--your--

OLAF.  [With rising irritation.]  Alfhild! go hence!  Go, go, far

into the mountain again; 'twill be best for you.  I was sick and

bewildered in mind when I wandered up there!  What I have told

you I little remember!  I do not know and I do not want to know!

Do you hear,--I do not want to!--The golden crown you can keep!

Keep all, both the silver and gold, that you there stand dressed

stare at me so?

[ALFHILD takes off the crown and the other adornments and places

them at OLAF's feet as she continues uninterruptedly to stare at

him.]

OLAF.  Perhaps I pretended to you that you were to be my bride

tonight, perhaps you believed me!  Perhaps you thought that Olaf

Liljekrans would marry a--a--what was it you called her?

OLAF.  [Stamps with his foot.]  Do not stare at me so, I say!  I

know you well enough; you have bewitched me.  I forgot my family;

I forgot my bride, my betrothed, she who stands there.

OLAF.  [Seizes ALFHILD violently by the arm.]  Look at her,

Alfhild!  Aha, it is she that I love!

[ALFHILD sinks down on her knees and covers her face with her

hands.]

OLAF.  Rise, Alfhild! rise, I say!  If you dare to grieve in this

way, I shall kill you!--Why are you not happy?  Be merry and wild

as I am!--And the rest of you!  Why do you stand so silently,

looking at one another?  Laugh,--laugh loudly, so that it may

echo around!--Alfhild!  Why don't you answer?  Have I not told

you enough!  Aha!  Then add, you others, a word to what I have

said!  Come, say something, you too; Lady Kirsten would like it!

Laugh at her, mock her, trample her under your feet!

OLAF.  [With ringing laughter.]  Ha, ha, ha!  She is Olaf's

darling!

[ALFHILD sinks down to the ground in such a way that she