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      Keep quiet now;

       here the bottom’s slippery-slimy.

      Åse

      Ass!

      Peer

      That’s right, don’t spare your tongue;

       that does no one any harm.

       Now it’s shelving up again —

      Åse

      Don’t you drop me!

      Peer

      Heisan! Hop!

       Now we’ll play at Peer and reindeer;—

      [Curvetting.]

      I’m the reindeer, you are Peer!

      Åse

      Oh, I’m going clean distraught!

      Peer

      There see; now we’ve reached the shallows;—

      [Wades ashore.]

      come, a kiss now, for the reindeer;

       just to thank him for the ride —

      Åse [boxing his ears]

      This is how I thank him!

      Peer

      Ow!

       That’s a miserable fare!

      Åse

      Put me down!

      Peer

      First to the wedding.

       Be my spokesman. You’re so clever;

       talk to him, the old curmudgeon;

       say Mads Moen’s good for nothing —

      Åse

      Put me down!

      Peer

      And tell him then

       what a rare lad is Peer Gynt.

      Åse

      Truly, you may swear to that!

       Fine’s the character I’ll give you.

       Through and through I’ll show you up;

       all about your devil’s pranks

       I will tell them straight and plain —

      Peer

      Will you?

      Åse [kicking with rage]

      I won’t stay my tongue

       till the old man sets his dog

       at you, as you were a tramp!

      Peer

      Hm; then I must go alone.

      Åse

      Ay, but I’ll come after you!

      Peer

      Mother dear, you haven’t strength —

      Åse

      Strength? When I’m in such a rage,

       I could crush the rocks to powder!

       Hu! I’d make a meal of flints!

       Put me down!

      Peer

      You’ll promise then —

      Åse

      Nothing! I’ll to Hegstad with you!

       They shall know you, what you are!

      Peer

      Then you’ll even have to stay here.

      Åse

      Never! To the feast I’m coming!

      Peer

      That you shan’t.

      Åse

      What will you do?

      Peer

      Perch you on the mill-house roof.

      [He puts her up on the roof. ÅSE screams.]

      Åse

      Lift me down!

      Peer

      Yes, if you’ll listen —

      Åse

      Rubbish!

      Peer

      Dearest mother, pray —!

      Åse [throwing a sod of grass at him]

      Lift me down this moment, Peer!

      Peer

      If I dared, be sure I would.

      [Coming nearer.]

      Now remember, sit quite still.

       Do not sprawl and kick about;

       do not tug and tear the shingles,—

       else ’twill be the worse for you;

       you might topple down.

      Åse

      You beast!

      Peer

      Do not kick!

      Åse

      I’d have you blown,

       like a changeling, into space!

      Peer

      Mother, fie!

      Åse

      Bah!

      Peer

      Rather give your

       blessing on my undertaking.

       Will you? Eh?

      Åse

      I’ll thrash you soundly,

       hulking fellow though you be!

      Peer

      Well, good-bye then, mother dear!

       Patience; I’ll be back ere long.

      [Is going, but turns, holds up his finger warningly, and says:]

      Careful now, don’t kick and sprawl!

      [Goes.]

      Aase on the Mill-house Roof

      Åse

      Peer!— God help me, now he’s off;

       Reindeer-rider! Liar! Hei!

       Will you listen!— No, he’s striding

       o’er the meadow —! [Shrieks.] Help! I’m dizzy!

      [TWO OLD WOMEN, with sacks on their backs, come down the path to the mill.]

      First Woman

      Christ, who’s screaming?

      Åse

      It is I!

      Second Woman

      Åse! Well, you are exalted!

      Åse

      This won’t be the end of it;—

       soon, God help me, I’ll be heaven-high!

      First Woman

      Bless your passing!

      Åse

      Fetch a ladder;

       I must be

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