Henrik Ibsens Prose Dramas, Vol III. | Page 5

LADY INGER (with a sudden change of tone). No man shall leave my
house to-night!
EINAR HUK. But the wind is fair, noble lady; we can sail up the fiord,
and----
LADY INGER. It shall be as I have said.
EINAR HUK. Are we to wait till to-morrow, then?

LADY INGER. Till to-morrow, and longer still. No armed man shall
go forth from Ostrat yet awhile.
(Signs of displeasure from the crowd.)
SOME OF THE PEASANTS. We will go all the same, Lady Inger!
THE CRY SPREADS. Yes, yes; we will go!
LADY INGER (advancing a step towards them). Who dares to move?
(A silence. After a moment's pause, she adds:) I have thought for you.
What do you common folk know of the country's needs? How dare you
judge of such things? You must even bear your oppressions and
burdens yet awhile. Why murmur at that, when you see that we, your
leaders, are as ill bested as you?---- ---- Take all the weapons back to
the hall. You shall know my further will hereafter. Go!
(The Retainers take back the arms, and the whole crowd then
withdraws by the door on the right.)
ELINA (softly to BIORN). Do you still think I have sinned in
misjudging--the Lady of Ostrat?
LADY INGER (beckons to BIORN, and says). Have a guest chamber
ready.
BIORN. It is well, Lady Inger!
LADY INGER. And let the gate stand open to all that knock.
BIORN. But----?
LADY INGER. The gate open!
BIORN. The gate open. (Goes out to the right.)
LADY INGER (to ELINA, who has already reached the door on the
left). Stay here!---- ---- Elina--my child--I have something to say to you
alone.

ELINA. I hear you.
LADY INGER. Elina---- ----you think evil of your mother.
ELINA. I think, to my sorrow, what your deeds have forced me to
think.
LADY INGER. You answer out of the bitterness of your heart.
ELINA. Who has filled my heart with bitterness? From my childhood I
have been wont to look up to you as a great and high-souled woman. It
was in your likeness I pictured the women we read of in the chronicles
and the Book of Heroes. I thought the Lord God himself had set his
seal on your brow, and marked you out as the leader of the helpless and
the oppressed. Knights and nobles sang your praise in the feast-hall,
and the peasants, far and near, called you the country's pillar and its
hope. All thought that through you the good times were to come again!
All thought that through you a new day was to dawn over the land! The
night is still here; and I no longer know if I dare look for any morning
to come through you.
LADY INGER. It is easy to see whence you have learnt such
venomous words. You have let yourself give ear to what the
thoughtless rabble mutters and murmurs about things it can little judge
of.
ELINA. "Truth is in the people's mouth," was your word when they
praised you in speech and song.
LADY INGER. May be so. But if indeed I had chosen to sit here idle,
though it was my part to act--do you not think that such a choice were
burden enough for me, without your adding to its weight?
ELINA. The weight I add to your burden bears on me as heavily as on
you. Lightly and freely I drew the breath of life, so long as I had you to
believe in. For my pride is my life; and well had it become me, if you
had remained what once you were.

LADY INGER. And what proves to you I have not? Elina, how can
you know so surely that you are not doing your mother wrong?
ELINA (vehemently). Oh, that I were!
LADY INGER. Peace! You have no right to call your mother to
account---- With a single word I could---- ----; but it would be an ill
word for you to hear; you must await what time shall bring; may be
that----
ELINA (turns to go). Sleep well, my mother!
LADY INGER (hesitates). Nay, stay with me; I have still somewhat--
Come nearer;--you must hear me, Elina!
(Sits down by the table in front of the window.)
ELINA. I am listening.
LADY INGER. For as silent as you are, I know well that you often
long to be gone from here. Ostrat is too lonely and lifeless for you.
ELINA. Do you wonder at that, my mother?
LADY INGER. It rests with you whether all this shall henceforth be
changed.
ELINA. How so?
LADY INGER. Listen.--I look for a guest to-night.
ELINA (comes nearer). A guest?
LADY INGER. A stranger, who must remain a stranger to all. None
must know whence he comes or