Solveig, a Norwegian maiden of Peer’s own village, the earliest and only
worthy love of his life, whom he has deserted in a spasm of virtue,
feeling himself unfit to remain with her, sits spinning at the door of a
log hut, in a forest far up in the North. She is now a middle-aged
woman, fair and comely, and as she spins she sings of her unfailing
faith in Peer’s return, her own ever-constant love, and her prayers to
God to strengthen and gladden her lover on earth or in heaven. In the
music to this song Grieg has admirably depicted the character of
Solveig: beautiful, tender, joyous, and full of hope. The English
translation of the words, which is but a poor and inadequate
representation of the original, runs as follows:
“Though winter departeth,
And fadeth the May;
Though summer, too, may vanish,
The year pass away;
Yet thou’lt return, my darling,
For thou, love, art mine.
I gave thee my promise,
Forever I am thine.
“God help thee, my darling,
If living art thou;
God bless thee, O my darling,
If dead thou art now.
I will wait thy coming
Till thou drawest near;
Or tarry thou in heaven,
Till I can meet thee, dear.”