Bibliotheca Polyglotta

Fru Inger til Østråt (Lady Inger of Östråt)

Complete text

FRU INGER.
Så hør efter, hvad jeg har at sige dig. – Jeg har, så vidt det stod i min magt, søgt at holde dig uvidende om al den nød og vånde, som vi nu er stædt i. Thi hvad kunde det både, om jeg dryssed sorg og harm i din unge sjæl? Det er ikke gråd og kvindeklynk, som skal fri os ud af trængslerne. Der kræves mod og mandskraft.

LADY INGER.
Then hear what I have to say--I have sought, so far as lay in my power, to keep you in ignorance of all our griefs and miseries. What could it avail to fill your young heart with wrath and care? It is not weeping and wailing of women that can free us from our evil lot; we need the courage and strength of men.

ELINE.
Hvo har sagt jer, at jeg ikke ejer mod og mandskraft, når det gøres behov?

ELINA.
Who has told you that, when courage and strength are indeed needed, I shall be found wanting?

FRU INGER.
Stille, barn; – jeg kunde tage dig på ordet.

LADY INGER.
Hush, child;--I might take you at your word.

ELINE.
Hvordan, min moder?

ELINA.
How mean you, my mother?

FRU INGER.
Jeg kunde kræve begge dele af dig; jeg kunde –; dog, lad mig først få tale til ende. Du må da vide, at den tid tykkes nærme sig, som det danske rigsråd gennem mange år har virket for, – den tid, mener jeg, da de kan give vore rettigheder og vor frihed det sidste stød. Se, derfor gælder det –

LADY INGER.
I might call on you for both; I might----; but let me say my say out first. Know then that the time seems now to be drawing nigh, towards which the Danish Council have been working for many a year--the time for them to strike a final blow at our rights and our freedom. Therefore must we now----

ELINE
(livfuldt).
At slå løs, min moder?

ELINA
(eagerly).
Throw off the yoke, my mother?

FRU INGER.
Nej; det gælder at vinde råderum. I København er rådet nu forsamlet for at overlægge, hvorledes de bedst kan gribe sagen an. De fleste skal være af den mening, at tvistighederne ikke kan bilægges, så længe ikke Norsk og Dansk er ét; thi dersom vi beholder vore rettigheder som et frit rige, når nyt kongevalg engang skal foregå, så er det rimeligt, at fejden bryder åbenbart ud. Se, dette vil de danske herrer forhindre –

LADY INGER.
No; we must gain breathing-time. The Council is now sitting in Copenhagen, considering how best to aim the blow. Most of them are said to hold that there can be no end to dissensions till Norway and Denmark are one; for if we should still have our rights as a free land when the time comes to choose the next king, it is most like that the feud will break out openly. Now the Danish Councillors would hinder this----

ELINE.
Ja, de vil forhindre det, – ja! Men skal vi tåle sligt? Skal vi roligt se til, at –?

ELINA.
Ay, they would hinder it----! But are we to endure such things? Are we to look on quietly while----?

FRU INGER.
Nej, vi skal ikke tåle det. Men at bruge våben, – at træde frem i åben dyst, – hvor vilde det bære hen, så længe vi ikke alle er enige? Og stod det nogen tid værre til med enigheden hertillands, end netop nu? – Nej, skal vi kunne udrette noget, så må det ske i løndom og stilhed. Vi må, som jeg siger dig, få stunder til at område os. I det søndre Norge er en god del af adelen for de Danske; men her nordenfjelds er det endnu tvivlsomt. Derfor har kong Fredrik skikket en af sine højst betroede mænd herop, for med egne øjne at forvisse sig om, hvordan vi er sindede.

LADY INGER.
No, we will not endure it. But to take up arms--to begin open warfare--what would come of that, so long as we are not united? And were we ever less united in this land than we are even now?--No, if aught is to be done, it must be done secretly and in silence. Even as I said, we must have time to draw breath. In the South, a good part of the nobles are for the Dane; but here in the North they are still in doubt. Therefore King Frederick has sent hither one of his most trusted councillors, to assure himself with his own eyes how we stand affected.

ELINE
(spændt).
Nu; – og så –?

ELINA
(anxiously).
Well--and then----?

FRU INGER.
Denne ridder kommer hid til Østråt inat.

LADY INGER.
He is the guest I look for to-night.

ELINE.
Herhid? Og inat?

ELINA.
He comes here? And to-night?

FRU INGER.
Et købmandsskib bragte ham igår til Trondhjem. For nylig fik jeg det budskab, at han vil gæste mig. Inden en time kan han ventes.

LADY INGER.
He reached Trondhiem yesterday by a trading ship. Word has just been brought that he is coming to visit me; he may be here within the hour.

ELINE.
Og I betænker ikke, min moder, hvad I udsætter eders rygte for, ved at tilstede den danske udsending et sligt møde? Er ikke almuen heromkring allerede mistroisk nok imod eder? Hvor kan I håbe, at den engang vil lade sig lede og råde af eder, når det spørges, at –

ELINA.
Have you not thought, my mother, how it will endanger your fame thus to receive the Danish envoy? Do not the people already regard you with distrustful eyes? How can you hope that, when the time comes, they will let you rule and guide them, if it be known----

FRU INGER.
Vær ubekymret. Alt dette har jeg fuldelig betænkt; men det har ingen nød. Hans ærende her i landet er en hemmelighed; derfor er han kommen som fremmed til Trondhjem; og som fremmed og ukendt vil han også gæste Østråt.

LADY INGER.
Fear not. All this I have fully weighed; but there is no danger. His errand in Norway is a secret; he has come unknown to Trondhiem, and unknown shall he be our guest at Östråt.

ELINE.
Og denne danske herres navn –?

ELINA.
And the name of this Danish lord----?

FRU INGER.
Det klinger godt, Eline! Danmarks adel har knapt noget bedre at nævne.

LADY INGER.
It sounds well, Elina; Denmark has scarce a nobler name.

ELINE.
Men hvad har I så isinde? Endnu har jeg ikke fattet eders mening.

ELINA.
But what do you propose then? I cannot yet grasp your meaning.

FRU INGER.
Du vil snart begribe. – Da vi ikke kan søndertræde ormen, så må vi binde den.

LADY INGER.
You will soon understand.--Since we cannot trample on the serpent, we must bind him.

ELINE.
Vogt jer vel, at ikke snoren brister.

ELINA.
Take heed that he burst not your bonds.

FRU INGER.
Det kommer an på dig, hvor fast den skal strammes.

LADY INGER.
It rests with you to tighten them as you will.

ELINE.
På mig?

ELINA.
With me?

FRU INGER.
Længe har jeg mærket, at Østråt er dig et fangebur. Det huger ikke en ung falk at sidde imellem jernstænger.

LADY INGER.
I have long seen that Östråt is as a cage to you. The young falcon chafes behind the iron bars.

ELINE.
Min vinge er stækket. Gav I mig end fri, – det vilde kun lidet både mig.

ELINA.
My wings are clipped. Even if you set me free--it would avail me little.

FRU INGER.
Din vinge er ikke stækket, længer end du selv vil.

LADY INGER.
Your wings are not clipped, except by your own will.

ELINE.
Vil? Min vilje er i eders hænder. Bliv ved at være, hvad I var, så vil også jeg –

ELINA.
Will? My will is in your hands. Be what you once were, and I too----

FRU INGER.
Nok derom. Hør mig videre. – At drage fra Østråt vil neppe være dig meget imod.

LADY INGER.
Enough, enough. Hear what remains---- It would scarce break your heart to leave Östråt?

ELINE.
Kan hænde, min moder!

ELINA.
Maybe not, my mother!

FRU INGER.
Du har engang sagt mig, at du levede dit gladeste liv i dine eventyr og krøniker. Dette liv kunde vende tilbage for dig.

LADY INGER.
You told me once, that you lived your happiest life in tales and histories. What if that life were to be yours once more?

ELINE.
Hvad mener I?

ELINA.
What mean you?

FRU INGER.
Eline, – hvis nu en mægtig riddersmand kom og førte dig til sin borg, hvor du fandt terner og svende, silkeklæder og høje sale?

LADY INGER.
Elina--if a mighty noble were now to come and lead you to his castle, where you should find damsels and pages, silken robes and lofty halls awaiting you?

ELINE.
En ridder, siger I?

ELINA.
A noble, you say?

FRU INGER.
En ridder.

LADY INGER.
A noble.

ELINE
(sagtere).
Og den danske udsending kommer hid inat.

ELINA
(more softly).
And the Danish envoy comes here to-night?

FRU INGER.
Inat.

LADY INGER.
To-night.

ELINE.
Hvis så er, da ræddes jeg for at tyde eders ord.

ELINA.
If so be, then I fear to read the meaning of your words.

FRU INGER.
Der er intet at ræddes for, ifald du ikke vil mistyde dem. Det er visselig ikke min agt at tvinge dig. Efter eget tykke skal du vælge og råde selv i denne sag.

LADY INGER.
There is nought to fear if you misread them not. Be sure it is far from my thought to put force upon you. You shall choose for yourself in this matter, and follow your own counsel.

ELINE
(et skridt nærmere).
Har I hørt om hin moder, der kørte over fjeldet ved nattetid med sine småbørn i slæden? Ulveflokken fulgte hende i sporet; det gjaldt liv eller død; – og hun kasted sine små bagud efter sig, en for en, for at vinde tid og frelse sig selv.

ELINA
(comes a step nearer).
Have you heard the story of the mother that drove across the hills by night with her little children by her in the sledge? The wolves were on her track; it was life or death with her;--and one by one she cast out her little ones, to gain time and save herself.

FRU INGER.
Eventyr! En moder rev hjertet af sit bryst, før hun kasted sit barn for ulvene!

LADY INGER.
Nursery tales! A mother would tear the heart from her breast, before she would cast her child to the wolves!

ELINE.
Hvis jeg ikke var min moders datter, så skulde jeg give eder ret. Men I er som hin moder; og eders døtre har I kastet ud for ulvene, en for en. Først kasted I den ældste. For fem år siden drog Merete fra Østråt; nu sidder hun i Bergen som Vinzents Lunges hustru. Men tror I, hun er lykkelig som den danske ridders frue? Vinzents Lunge er mægtig, fast som en konge; Merete har terner og svende, silkeklæder og høje sale; men dagen har ingen sol for hende, og natten ingen hvile; thi hun har aldrig været ham god. Han kom hid, han bejled til hende, fordi hun var Norges rigeste arving, og fordi han dengang trængte til at få fast fod i landet. Jeg véd det; jeg véd det tilfulde! Merete var eder hørig; hun fulgte den fremmede herre. Men hvad har det kostet hende? Flere tårer, end en moder skulde ønske at svare til på dommens dag!

ELINA.
Were I not my mother’s daughter, I would say you were right. But you are like that mother; one by one you have cast out your daughters to the wolves. The eldest went first. Five years ago Merete¹ went forth from Östråt; now she dwells in Bergen and is Vinzents Lunge’s² wife. But think you she is happy as the Danish noble’s lady? Vinzents Lunge is mighty, well-nigh as a king; Merete has damsels and pages, silken robes and lofty halls; but the day has no sunshine for her, and the night no rest; for she has never loved him. He came hither and he wooed her; for she was the greatest heiress in Norway, and he needed to gain a footing in the land. I know it; I know it well! Merete bowed to your will; she went with the stranger lord.--But what has it cost her? More tears than a mother should wish to answer for at the day of reckoning.

FRU INGER.
Jeg kender mit regnskab, og det skrækker mig ikke.

LADY INGER.
I know my reckoning, and I fear it not.

ELINE.
Eders regnskab er ikke hermed tilende. Hvor er Lucia, eders andet barn?

ELINA.
Your reckoning ends not here. Where is Lucia, your second child?

FRU INGER.
Spørg Gud, som tog hende.

LADY INGER.
Ask God, who took her.

ELINE.
Eder spørger jeg; thi det er eder, som skal svare for, at hun måtte lade sit unge liv. Glad var hun som en fugl om våren, da hun sejled fra Østråt for at gæste Merete i Bergen. Et år efter stod hun atter her i stuen; men da var hendes kinder hvide, og døden havde ædt sig ind i hendes bryst. Ja, I undres, min moder! I mente nok, at denne stygge hemmelighed var begraven med hende; – men hun har sagt mig alt. En høvisk ridder havde vundet hendes hjerte. Han vilde ægte hende. I vidste, at det gældte hendes ære. Men I blev ubøjelig, – og eders barn måtte dø. I ser, jeg véd det alt!

ELINA.
It is you I ask; it is you that must answer for her young life. She was glad as a bird in spring when she sailed from Östråt to be Merete’s guest. A year passed, and she stood in this room once more; but her cheeks were white, and death had gnawed deep into her breast. Ah, you wonder at me, my mother! You thought that the ugly secret was buried with her;--but she told me all. A courtly knight had won her heart. He would have wedded her. You knew that her honour was at stake; yet your will never bent--and your child had to die. You see, I know all!

FRU INGER.
Alt? Så har hun vel også sagt dig hans navn?

LADY INGER.
All? Then she told you his name?

ELINE.
Hans navn? Nej; hans navn har hun ikke sagt mig. Hun havde ligesom en stingende rædsel for hans navn; – hun nævnte det aldrig.

ELINA.
His name? No; his name she did not tell me. His name was a torturing horror to her;--she never uttered it.

FRU INGER
(lettet, hen for sig).
Ah, så véd du dog ikke alt. – – Eline; – den sag, du nu har rørt ved, var mig fuldt ud vitterlig. Men der er noget ved sagen, hvad du kanske ikke har givet agt på: Hin herremand, som Lucia traf i Bergen, var en Dansk –

LADY INGER
(relieved, to herself).
Ah, then you do not know all---- ---- Elina--it is true that the whole of this matter was well known to me. But there is one thing about it you seem not to have noted. The lord whom Lucia met in Bergen was a Dane----

ELINE.
Også det véd jeg.

ELINA.
That too I know.

FRU INGER.
Og hans kærlighed var en løgn. Ved list og glatte ord havde han besnæret hende.

LADY INGER.
And his love was a lie. With guile and soft speeches he had ensnared her.

ELINE.
Jeg véd det; men hun havde ham kær alligevel; og havde I havt en moders hjerte, så var eders barns ære gået for alt.

ELINA.
I know it; but nevertheless she loved him; and had you had a mother’s heart, your daughter’s honour had been more to you than all.

1. Pronounce Mayrayte
2. Pronounce Loonghe.

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