Bibliotheca Polyglotta

Gildet på Solhaug (The Feast at Solhaug)

Complete text

MARGIT.
Så vil jeg! Margit er jo bergkongens brud.
Vel! Jeg får at bære mit kongelige skrud.
(hun går ud til venstre.)
(Bengt fører Gudmund Alfsøn ind gennem svalegangen i baggrunden.)

Since Margit the Hill-King’s bride must be,
Well! don we the queenly livery!
[She goes out to the left. [BENGT ushers in GUDMUND ALFSON, through the pent-house passage at the back.]

BENGT.
Og endnu en gang, – hil eder under Solhaugs tag, min hustrus frænde!

BENGT.
And now once more--welcome under Solhoug’s roof, my wife’s kinsman.

GUDMUND.
Jeg takker jer. Og hvordan går det hende? Hun lider dog vel i alle måder, vil jeg tro?

GUDMUND.
I thank you. And how goes it with her? She thrives well in every way, I make no doubt?

BENGT.
Ja, det kan I sværge på, hun gør. Der fattes hende intet. Hele fem terner kan hun byde og råde over; en fuldt sadlet ganger står rede, så snart det kun lyster hende. Nå, snart sagt, så har hun alt, hvad en høvisk kvinde kan begære for at være fornøjet i sine kår.

BENGT.
Aye, you may be sure she does. There is nothing she lacks. She has five handmaidens, no less, at her beck and call; a courser stands ready saddled in the stall when she lists to ride abroad. In one word, she has all that a noble lady can desire to make her happy in her lot.

GUDMUND.
Og Margit, – hun er da vel fornøjet?

GUDMUND.
And Margit--is she then happy?

BENGT.
Gud og hver mand skulde tro, hun måtte være det; men, sælsomt nok –

BENGT.
God and all men would think that she must be; but, strange to say--

GUDMUND.
Hvad mener I?

GUDMUND.
What mean you?

BENGT.
Ja, enten I nu vil tro det eller ikke, så bæres det mig for, at Margit var lystigere til sinde alt imens hun leved i fattige kår, end siden hun blev frue på Solhaug.

BENGT.
Well, believe it or not as you list, but it seems to me that Margit was merrier of heart in the days of her poverty, than since she became the lady of Solhoug.

GUDMUND
(hen for sig).
Jeg vidste det jo nok; sådan måtte det gå.

GUDMUND.
[To himself.]
I knew it; so it must be.

BENGT.
Hvad siger I, frænde?

BENGT.
What say you, kinsman?

GUDMUND.
Jeg siger, højligen undrer mig, hvad I fortæller om eders hustru.

GUDMUND.
I say that I wonder greatly at what you tell me of your wife.

BENGT.
Ja, mener I ikke, det går mig lige så? Jeg vil aldrig gælde for en ærlig herremand mere, dersom jeg skønner, hvad hun yderligere kan ønske sig. Jeg er om hende så lang dagen er; og ingen skal kunne sige mig på, at jeg holder hende strængt; alt tilsyn med hus og gård har jeg taget på mig; og ikke desmindre –. Nå, I var jo altid en lystig svend; jeg tænker nok, I bringer solskin med jer. Hys; der kommer fru Margit! Lad jer ikke mærke med, at jeg –
(Margit kommer i rig dragt fra venstre.)

BENGT.
Aye, you may be sure I wonder at it too. On the faith and troth of an honest gentleman, ’tis beyond me to guess what more she can desire. I am about her all day long; and no one can say of me that I rule her harshly. All the cares of household and husbandry I have taken on myself; yet notwithstanding-- Well, well, you were ever a merry heart; I doubt not you will bring sunshine with you. Hush! here comes Dame Margit! Let her not see that I--
[MARGIT enters from the left, richly dressed.]

GUDMUND
(går hende imøde).
Margit, – kære Margit!

GUDMUND.
[Going to meet her.]
Margit--my dear Margit!

MARGIT
(standser, ser fremmed på ham).
Forlad mig, herr ridder; men –? (som om hun først nu genkendte ham.) For sandt, hvis jeg ikke fejler, så er det Gudmund Alfsøn.
(rækker hånden frem.)

MARGIT.
[Stops, and looks at him without recognition.]
Your pardon, Sir Knight; but--? [As though she only now recognized him.] Surely, if I mistake not, ’tis Gudmund Alfson.
[Holding out her hand to him.]

GUDMUND
(uden at tage den).
Og du kendte mig ikke straks igen?

GUDMUND.
[Without taking it.]
And you did not at once know me again?

BENGT
(leende).
Nej men, Margit, hvad tænker du dog på? Jeg meldte dig jo nylig, at din frænde –

BENGT.
[Laughing.]
Why, Margit, of what are you thinking? I told you but a moment agone that your kinsman--

MARGIT
(går over mod bordet til højre).
Tolv år er en lang tid, Gudmund. Den friskeste urt kan dø i tiende led imens –

MARGIT.
[Crossing to the table on the right.]
Twelve years is a long time, Gudmund. The freshest plant may wither ten times over in that space.

GUDMUND.
Det er syv år siden vi sidst sås.

GUDMUND.
’Tis seven years since last we met.

MARGIT.
Tilvisse, det må være længere siden.

MARGIT.
Surely it must be more than that.

GUDMUND
(ser på hende).
Jeg kunde fristes til at tro det; men det er dog som jeg siger.

GUDMUND.
[Looking at her.]
I could almost think so. But ’tis as I say.

MARGIT.
Hel sælsomt. Jeg var dog visst et barn dengang; og det tykkes mig en evig lang tid siden jeg var barn. (kaster sig ned i en stol.) Nå, sæt eder, min frænde! Hvil eder ud; ikveld skal I forlyste os med eders sang. (med et tvungent smil.) Ja, I véd vel, vi er glade her på gården idag, – vi holder gilde.

MARGIT.
How strange! I must have been but a child then; and it seems to me a whole eternity since I was a child. [Throws herself down on a chair.] Well, sit you down, my kinsman! Rest you, for to-night you shall dance, and rejoice us with your singing. [With a forced smile.] Doubtless you know we are merry here to-day--we are holding a feast.

GUDMUND.
Det blev mig sagt, ret som jeg gik ind på tunet.

GUDMUND.
’Twas told me as I entered your homestead.

BENGT.
Ja, idag for tre år siden blev jeg –

BENGT.
Aye, ’tis three years to-day since I became--

MARGIT
(afbrydende).
Min frænde har alt hørt det. (til Gudmund.) Vil I ikke lægge eders kappe bort?

MARGIT.
[Interrupting.]
My kinsman has already heard it. [To GUDMUND.] Will you not lay aside your cloak?

GUDMUND.
Jeg takker eder, fru Margit; men det bæres mig for, som her er koldt, – koldere, end jeg havde ventet.

GUDMUND.
I thank you, Dame Margit; but it seems to me cold here--colder than I had foreseen.

BENGT.
Da er jeg både sved og varm; men jeg har også fuldt op at tage vare på. (til Margit.) Lad nu ikke tiden falde lang for vor gæst, mens jeg er ude. I kan jo snakke sammen om gamle dage.
(vil gå.)

BENGT.
For my part, I am warm enough; but then I have a hundred things to do and to take order for. [To MARGIT.] Let not the time seem long to our guest while I am absent. You can talk together of the old days.
[Going.]

MARGIT
(tvilrådig).
Går du? Vil du ikke heller –?

MARGIT.
[Hesitating.]
Are you going? Will you not rather--?

BENGT
(leende, til Gudmund, idet han kommer tilbage.)
Ser I vel; herr Bengt til Solhaug er manden, som forstår at færdes mellem kvindfolk. Der er ikke den stund så kort, at min hustru kan være mig foruden. (til Margit, idet han tager hende under hagen.) Vær du trøstig; jeg skal snart være hos dig.

BENGT.
[Laughing, to GUDMUND, as he comes forward again.]
See you well-- Sir Bengt of Solhoug is the man to make the women fain of him. How short so e’er the space, my wife cannot abide to be without me. [To MARGIT, caressing her.] Content you; I shall soon be with you again.
[He goes out to the back.]

MARGIT
(hen for sig).
Å, kval og harm at måtte lide alt dette.
(kort taushed.)

MARGIT.
[To herself.]
Oh, torture, to have to endure it all.
[A short silence.]

GUDMUND.
Hvorlunde lever eders søster kære?

GUDMUND.
How goes it, I pray, with your sister dear?

MARGIT.
Jeg takker; hel vel.

MARGIT.
Right well, I thank you.

GUDMUND.
Det blev sagt, hun skulde
være hos eder.

GUDMUND.
They said she was here With you.

MARGIT.
Her har hun været siden jeg –
(slår om.)
For tre år siden kom hun til Solhaug med mig.
(lidt efter.)
Hun træder visst snart i stuen herind.

MARGIT.
She has been here ever since we-- [Breaks off.]
She came, now three years since, to Solhoug with me. [After a pause.]
Ere long she’ll be here, her friend to greet.

GUDMUND.
Signe havde fordum så vennesælt sind;
hun kendte ej list eller rænke;
når jeg kommer ihu hendes øjne blå,
jeg må på guds engle tænke.
Dog, mangt kan i syv års tid forgå.
Sig mig, – mens fjernt fra bygden jeg vandred,
har også hun sig så stærkt forandret?

GUDMUND.
Well I mind me of Signe’s nature sweet.
No guile she dreamed of, no evil knew.
When I call to remembrance her eyes so blue
I must think of the angels in heaven.
But of years there have passed no fewer than seven;
In that time much may have altered. Oh, say
If she, too, has changed so while I’ve been away?

MARGIT
(tvungent spøgende).
Hun også? Er det i kongens gård
slig høvisk tale man lærer?
I minder mig om, hvordan tiden lærer –

MARGIT.
She too? Is it, pray, in the halls of kings
That you learn such courtly ways, Sir Knight?
To remind me thus of the change time brings--

GUDMUND.
Margit, hel vel mine ord I forstår.
Engang var I mig begge så blide;
I græd, da jeg skulde fra bygden ride;
vi loved at holde som søskende sammen
i fryd og i ve, i nød og i gammen.
I lyste som en sol mellem jomfruer små;
så viden om land eders ry monne gå; –
fuldt vel er I endnu så fager en kvinde.
Men Solhaugs frue, kan jeg mærke, har glemt
den fattige frænde. Så umildt er I stemt,
I, der engang var så vennesæl til sinde.

GUDMUND.
Nay, Margit, my meaning you read aright!
You were kind to me, both, in those far-away years--
Your eyes, when we parted were wet with tears.
We swore like brother and sister still
To hold together in good hap or ill.
’Mid the other maids like a sun you shone,
Far, far and wide was your beauty known.
You are no less fair than you were, I wot;
But Solhoug’s mistress, I see, has forgot
The penniless kinsman. So hard is your mind
That ever of old was gentle and kind.

MARGIT
(næsten tårekvalt).
Ja engang –!

MARGIT.
[Choking back her tears.]
Aye, of old--!

GUDMUND
(ser deltagende på hende, tier lidt og siger med dæmpet stemme):
Eders husbond bød os at korte
tiden med at melde om gammelt og kært.

GUDMUND.
[Looks compassionately at her, is silent for a little,then says in a subdued voice.]
Shall we do as your husband said?
Pass the time with talk of the dear old days?

MARGIT
(heftigt).
Nej, nej; ikke derom!
(roligere.)
Det falder mig så svært
at mindes; den ting har jeg aldrig lært.
Meld heller om de år, I var borte; –
den tid er vel ej på bedrift så arm;
meget må I kunne mig berette;
derude er jo verden både vid og varm, –
der er sindet og tankerne lette.

MARGIT.
[Vehemently.]
No, no, not of them!
Their memory’s dead.
My mind unwillingly backward strays.
Tell rather of what your life has been,
Of what in the wide world you’ve done and seen.
Adventures you’ve lacked not, well I ween--
In all the warmth and the space out yonder,
That heart and mind should be light, what wonder?

GUDMUND.
I kongens hal var jeg aldrig så fro,
som dengang jeg var smådreng i den fattige bo.

GUDMUND.
In the King’s high hall I found not the joy
That I knew by my own poor hearth as a boy.

MARGIT
(uden at se på ham).
Og jeg – hver dag, jeg på Solhaug bode,
takked himlen, at den gjorde mine kår så gode.

MARGIT.
[Without looking at him.]
While I, as at Solhoug each day flits past,
Thank Heaven that here has my lot been cast.

GUDMUND.
Vel eder, dersom I kan takke fordi –

GUDMUND.
’Tis well if for this you can thankful be--

MARGIT
(heftigt).
Og er jeg da ikke hædret og fri?
Kan jeg ikke byde, som det huer mig bedst?
Kan jeg ikke, alt som det lyster mig, råde?
Her er jeg den første; ingen sidder mig næst;
Og det, véd I, var mig altid til måde.
I tænkte nok at finde mig kummerlig og træt;
men I ser, jeg er fro, mit sind er let.
Se, derfor kunde I sparet jert komme
til Solhaug; det vil jer kun lidet fromme.

MARGIT.
[Vehemently.]
Why not? For am I not honoured and free?
Must not all folk here obey my hest?
Rule I not all things as seemeth me best?
Here I am first, with no second beside me;
And that, as you know, from of old satisfied me.
Did you think you would find me weary and sad?
Nay, my mind is at peace and my heart is glad.
You might, then, have spared your journey here
To Solhoug; ’twill profit you little, I fear.

GUDMUND.
Hvad mener I, fru Margit?

GUDMUND.
What, mean you, Dame Margit?

MARGIT
(rejser sig).
Tilfulde jeg véd,
hvad der fører jer ind i min enlige stue.

MARGIT.
[Rising.]
I understand all--
I know why you come to my lonely hall.

GUDMUND.
I véd, hvi jeg kommer? Og det er jer ikke med?
(hilser og vil gå.)
Guds fred og farvel da, min ædle frue!

GUDMUND.
And you welcome me not, though you know why I came?
[Bowing and about to go.]
God’s peace and farewell, then, my noble dame!

MARGIT.
Det var eder mere til ære, ifald
I var bleven, hvor I var, i kongens hal.

MARGIT.
To have stayed in the royal hall, indeed,
Sir Knight, had better become your fame.

GUDMUND
(standser).
I kongens hal? Kan I spotte min nød?

GUDMUND.
[Stops.]
In the royal hall? Do you scoff at my need?

MARGIT.
Eders nød? Nu, højt må I hige, frænde;
jeg gad vide, hvor I tænker at ende!
I kan eder klæde i fløjel rød,
er kongens mand, ejer gods og guld –

MARGIT.
Your need? You are ill to content, my friend;
Where, I would know, do you think to end?
You can dress you in velvet and cramoisie,
You stand by the throne, and have lands in fee--

GUDMUND.
Bedst må I vide, om lykken er mig huld.
I sagde fornylig, fuldt vel I vidste
mit ærend på Solhaug –

GUDMUND.
Do you deem, then, that fortune is kind to me?
You said but now that full well you knew
What brought me to Solhoug--

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