Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Heinemann Volume 1).pdf/68

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20
LADY INGER OF ÖSTRAT.
[ACT I.

Einar Huk.

See you not, my noble lady, King Gustav must be dealt with first. Were his power once 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[1] stock?

Einar Huk.

King Christiern and others after him have swept bare our ancient houses. The best of our nobles are outlaws on the mountain 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, 'twere folly in me to forbid what I have no power to prevent.

  1. Pronounce Stoorë.