Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1906 edition. Excerpt: ... wouldn't I give for a pickled herring! (Spits again, and at the same moment catches sight of Helga, who appears carrying a basket of food.) Ha, child, are you there? What is it you want? It is Solveig HELGA. PEER (jumping up). Where is she? HELGA. Behind the saeter. SOLVEIG (unseen). If you come nearer, I'll run away! PEER (stopping short). Perhaps you're afraid I might take you in my arms? SOLVEIG. For shame! PEER. Do you know where I was last night?--Like a horse-fly the Dovre-King's daughter is after me. SOLVEIG. Then it was well that the bells were set ringing. PEER. Peer Gynt's not the lad they can lure astray.--What do you say? HELGA (crying). Oh, she's running away! (Running after her.) Wait! PEER (catches her by the arm). Look here, what I have in my pocket! A silver button, child! You shall have it, --only speak for me! HELGA. Let me be; let me go! PEER. There you have it. HELGA. Let go; there's the basket of food. PEER. God pity you if you don't! HELGA. Uf, how you scare me! PEER (gently; letting her go). No, I only meant: beg her not to iorget me! (Helga runs off.) (end Of Act Second.) ACT THIRD. SCENE FIRST. (In front of a settler s newly-built hut in the forest. A reindeer's horns over the door. The snow is lying deep around. It is dusk.) (peer Gynt is standing outside the door, fastening a large wooden bar to it.) PEER (laughing between whiles). Bars I must fix me; bars that can fasten the door against troll-folk, and men, and women. Bars I must fix me; bars that can shut out all the cantankerous little hobgoblins.--They come with the darkness, they knock and they rattle: Open, Peer Gynt, we're as nimble as thoughts are! 'Neath the bedstead we bustle, we rake in the ashes, down the chimney we hustle like fiery-eyed dragons...
