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.)