LADY INGER. Well, speak out!
EINAR HUK. Why, we are not ashamed of our errand. In one word,
we come to pray you for weapons and leave----
LADY INGER. Weapons and leave----? And for what?
EINAR HUK. There has come a rumour from Sweden that the people
of the Dales have risen against King Gustav----
LADY INGER. The people of the Dales?
EINAR HUK. Ay, so the tidings run, and they seem sure enough.
LADY INGER. Well, if it were so, what have you to do with the
Dale-folk's rising?
THE PEASANTS. We will join them! We will help! We will free
ourselves!
LADY INGER (aside). Can the time be come?
EINAR HUK. From all our borderlands the peasants are pouring
across to the Dales. Even outlaws that have wandered for years
in the mountains are venturing down to the homesteads again, and
drawing men together, and whetting their rusty swords.
LADY INGER (after a pause). Tell me, men, have you thought
well of this? Have you counted the cost, if King Gustav's men
should win?
BIORN (softly and imploringly to LADY INGER). Count the cost
to the Danes if King Gustav's men should lose.
LADY INGER (evasively). That reckoning is not for me to make.
(Turns to the people).
You know that King Gustav is sure of help from Denmark. King
Frederick is his friend, and will never leave him in the lurch----
EINAR HUK. But if the people were now to rise all over Norway's
land?--if we all rose as one man, nobles and peasants together?--
ay, Lady Inger Gyldenlove, the time we have waited for is surely
come. We have but to rise now to drive the strangers from the land.
THE PEASANTS. Ay, out with the Danish sheriffs! Out with the
foreign masters! Out with the Councillors' lackeys!
LADY INGER (aside). Ah, there is metal in them; and yet, yet----!
BIORN (to himself). She is of two minds. (To ELINA.) What
say you now, Mistress Elina--have you not sinned in misjudging
your mother?
ELINA. Biorn, if my eyes have deceived me, I could tear them out
of my head!
EINAR HUK. See you not, my noble lady, King Gustav must be dealt
with first. Once his power is gone, the Danes cannot long hold
this land----
LADY INGER. And then?
EINAR HUK. Then we shall be free. We shall have no more foreign
masters, and can choose ourselves a king, as the Swedes have done
before us.
LADY INGER (with animation). A king for ourselves. Are you
thinking of the Sture stock?
EINAR HUK. King Christiern and others after him have swept bare
our ancient houses. The best of our nobles are outlaws on the hill-
paths, if so be they still live; nevertheless, it might still be
possible to find one or other shoot of the old stems----
LADY INGER (hastily). Enough, Einar Huk, enough! (To herself.)
Ah, my dearest hope! (Turns to the Peasants and Retainers.)
I have warned you, now, as well as I can. I have told you how
great is the risk you run. But if you are fixed in your purpose,
it were folly of me to forbid what I have no power to prevent.
EINAR HUK. Then we have your leave to----?
LADY INGER. You have your own firm will; take counsel with that.
If it be as you say, that you are daily harassed and oppressed----
---- I know but little of these matters, and would not know more.
What can I, a lonely woman----? Even if you were to plunder the
Banquet Hall--and there's many a good weapon on the walls--you are
the masters at Ostrat to-night. You must do as seems good to you.
Good-night!
(Loud cries of joy from the multitude. Candles are lighted;
the retainers bring weapons of different kinds from the hall.)
BIORN (seizes LADY INGER'S hand as she is going). Thanks, my
noble and high-souled mistress! I, that have known you from
childhood up--I have never doubted you.
LADY INGER. Hush, Biorn. It is a dangerous game that I have
ventured this night. The others stake only their lives; but I,
trust me, a thousandfold more!
BIORN. How mean you? Do you fear for your power and your favour
with----?
LADY INGER. My power? O God in Heaven!
A RETAINER (comes from the hall with a large sword). See, here's
a real good wolf's-tooth to flay the blood-suckers' lackeys with!
EINAR HUK. 'Tis too good for such as you. Look, here is the
shaft of Sten Sture's* lance; hang the breastplate upon it, and
we shall have the noblest standard heart can desire.
* Pronounce _Stayn Stoore_ [umlaut above "e"--D. L.].
FINN (comes from the door on the left, with a letter in his hand,
and goes towards LADY INGER). I have sought you through all the
house.
LADY INGER. What do you want?
FINN (hands her the letter). A messenger is come from Trondhiem
with a letter for you.
LADY INGER. Let me see! (opening the letter). From Trondhiem?
What can it be? (Runs through the letter.) Help, Christ! From
him! and here in Norway----
(Reads on with strong emotion, while the men go on bringing out
arms from the hall.)
LADY INGER (to herself). He is coming here. He is coming to-
night!--Ay, then 'tis with our wits we must fight, not with the
sword.
EINAR HUK. Enough, enough, good fellows; we are well armed now,
and can set forth on our way.
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!