Hjalmar

“ At one moment Hjalmar was sailing through forests, at another through great halls, or straight through the middle of a town.
Ole Luk-Oie had taken Hjalmar for a wonderful journey that night.
And another night Ole Luk-Oie said to Hjalmar, "Don't be afraid. I will show you a little mouse," and he held out his hand with the pretty little creature. "It has come to invite you to a wedding. Two little Mice are going to be married to-night. They live under the floor of your mother's pantry; it is said to be such a nice place to live in." ”

“ Hjalmar and the foster-brothers had gone ashore also, and walked over the island to see if Bui and his brothers had come. When they reached a hillock from which they could see their own ships, they saw men coming out of them with bloody weapons and swords, and recognized the sons of Hervard.
When Hjalmar perceived them, he said to his foster-brothers: “Our men are slain; and they were so brave and so skilful in the handling of weapons, that it seems to me most likely that we shall all lodge with Odin in Valhalla to-night.” ”

“ Never laugh at a hoary wise man, for often it is good and wise what old men say: ‘Skilled words come often out of a shrivelled skin.’ Remember that love is the door that is open to all that are in need. Give and be generous; if not, every kind of evil will be wished to you.”
That same evening Gudbrand sent for his son Hjalmar, and said to him: “What gladdens me is, that no man will have thy head at his feet, although thou wilt have narrow escapes. Here is a sword, kinsman Hjalmar, which I wish to give thee; its name is Dragvandil, and victory has always followed it. ”

“ At night the peace-shield was raised, and Hjalmar asked Odd how he liked the fight of that day; Odd answered: ‘Well.’ ‘Wilt thou play this game oftener?’ said Hjalmar. ‘No other intention have I,’ answered Odd, ‘for I never found better or hardier champions; we will begin the battle again in full daylight.’ This was done; the men went to their war-booths and dressed their wounds. Next morning both arrayed their men for battle and fought all that day; when it began to grow dark a peace-shield was raised. Odd asked how Hjalmar liked the fighting of that day ”

“ We are born, we grow, we love, we die. Love is the best of gifts that has been given to us; then friendship, the foster-brother of love. Astrid has gone to live with the virgin goddess Gefjon, upon whom all those who die maidens wait. Hjalmar went to Valhalla, and from there he sees his beloved every day.
Ivar, Sigurd, and Sigmund mourned greatly the death of Hjalmar, and there have never been within the memory of man four men more attached to one another. ”

“ Gregers. So you too have turned hunter; you too, Hjalmar?
Hjalmar. Only a little rabbit shooting now and again. Chiefly for father’s sake, you understand.
Gina. Men folk are such queer creatures; they must always have something to divide themselves with.
Hjalmar (angrily) . Yes, yes, of course, we must always have something to divide ourselves with.
Gina. Why that’s exactly what I’m saying.
Hjalmar. Well, h’m! (To Gregers.) And then luckily you see the loft is so situated that no one can hear us shooting. (Putting the pistol on the top shelf of the case.) Don’t touch the pistol, Hedvig! ”

“ Her Don Quixote, Hjalmar, is no genuine, convinced idealist, but merely a miserable self-deluding burlesquer of the ideal. None the less, no poet since the illustrious Spanish master has succeeded in creating such an embodiment of plain, jolly, healthy common-sense, of practical tact without anxiety as to things eternal, and of honest fulfilment of all proximate, obvious duties, without a suspicion of higher moral obligations, as this Gina, e.g., in the scene where Hjalmar returns home after having spent the night out. ”

“ Hjorvard replied: “You are young men, yet you seem to think that no man can withstand you. But I will tell you of two Vikings of whom I know. They are called Sigurd and Sigmund; they are skilled in many things, and very great warriors.”
“How many ships have they?” asked Ivar.
“They have thirty ships,” replied Hjorvard, “and one hundred and twenty men on each ship.”
“Where have they land?” inquired Hjalmar. ”

“ The points in which the story of Hjalmar, Odd and Anganty [61] is like 'King Estmere,' in contrast with the Orm ballad, are that the hero does not fight single-handed with the giant, but has the help of Odd (Adler) ; that the king's daughter chooses her husband for herself; that the bride is not won by a sword taken from a father's grave. ”

“ Yngvi was overcome with anger, for if Thorgrim had drowned Hjalmar by hurting him, it was murder; but Thorgrim declared that if Hjalmar was drowned, it was from exhaustion, and he was ready to take his oath on the temple ring that he was innocent of any foul deed. Lights were kindled, and the second high seat reserved for Hjalmar was empty. Suddenly the door of the hall opened. Hjalmar entered, greeted by great shouts of joy, and, advancing towards the seat of Thorgrim, he placed on his knee the knife Thorgrim had worn in his belt when swimming ”

“ Ekdal (staring at him in astonishment) . I’ve absolutely nothing.
Gregers. Yes, you have Hjalmar; but he has his own family. And a man like you who has always felt drawn to all that is free and wild——
Ekdal (striking the table) . Hjalmar, now he shall see it!
Hjalmar. No, father, is it worth while now? Why, it’s dark——
Ekdal. Nonsense; the moon shining. (Rising.) He shall see it, I say. Let me pass. Come and help me, Hjalmar.
Hedvig. Oh, yes; do, father.
Hjalmar (rising) . All right then.
Gregers (to Gina) . What is it?
Gina. Oh! You really mustn’t fancy it’s anything very wonderful. ”

“ Hjalmar. You have never had any sense for the claims of the ideal, Relling.
Relling. Stuff and nonsense, my good fellow! With your permission, Mr. Werle—how many—approximately—how many true marriages have you seen in your life?
Gregers. I hardly think I’ve seen a single one.
Relling. Nor have I.
Gregers. But I have seen such numberless marriages of the opposite kind. And I have had occasions to see, [100] from personal observation, how such marriages can demoralize two human beings.
Hjalmar. The whole moral foundation of a man may give way beneath his feet; that is the terrible part of it. ”

“ Hjalmar. H’m, one can hardly call it portly, but I daresay I look rather more manly than I did then.
Gregers. Indeed you do; your outer man hasn’t suffered.
Hjalmar (gloomily) . But the inner man! Believe me, that is very different. You know what terrible trouble has come to me and mine since we two met.
Gregers (in a lower tone) . How is your father getting on now?
Hjalmar. Dear friend, don’t let us speak of that. My poor, unhappy father of course lives at home with me. Why, he has no one else on earth to cling to. ”

“ Hjalmar. It’s between the two; besides he hasn’t so many hairs left on his head.
Relling. Well; you can get through life with false hair. Yes, at the bottom you’re a happy man, Ekdal; you have that great life-mission to toil for——
Hjalmar. And I do toil, believe me.
Relling. And then you have your active wife, trotting in and out so nicely, in her felt shoes, and pottering about, looking after you and serving you.
Hjalmar. Yes, Gina (nodding to her) , you are an excellent helpmate to have on life’s path.
Gina. Oh! don’t sit there a-criticising me.
Relling. And then your Hedvig, Ekdal. ”

“ She replied: "If you want to marry me to anyone, then I would rather have a man whose good qualities I know already than one of whom I have only known by hearsay, and nothing but evil at that."
Angantyr said: "I will not bandy words with you; for I can see that you love Hjalmar. But as for you, Hjalmar, come south to Samsø and meet me in single combat. If you do not appear next midsummer you will be a coward in the eyes of all men."
Hjalmar said that he would not fail to come and fight, and the sons of Arngrim went home to their [pg 92] father and told him what had happened. ”

“ But keep in the scabbard Hjalmar’s bane.
Touch not the edges, with venom dight,
Worse than a plague to living wight.
Daughter, farewell! The power and pith
Fain would I endue thee with
Of us twelve men, the life and breath
The sons of Arngrim lost in death!
Herwor:
All is accomplished ”

“ Gregers sits on the sofa, Hjalmar on a chair by the table.
Gregers (looking round) . So this is your place, Hjalmar. This is where you live.
Hjalmar. This is the studio, as you can see——
Gina. But it’s roomy; and so we prefer sitting here.
Hjalmar. We used to have better rooms, but this flat has one great advantage; there are such capital outer rooms.
Gina. And then we’ve a room on the other side of the passage that we can let.
Gregers (to Hjalmar) . Really—then you’ve lodgers, too.
Hjalmar. No, not yet. That’s not so easy, you see; one has to keep on the look out. (To Hedvig.) ”

“ Gina. I think so, too. But now it’s not worth while for us to go and wake him too soon. Thank you, anyhow, Relling. I must first tidy up the rooms and then—— Come and help me, Hedvig.
Gina and Hedvig go into the sitting-room.
Gregers (turning to Relling) . Can you explain to me the spiritual turmoil now going on in Hjalmar Ekdal?
Relling. Upon my soul I’ve not noticed any spiritual turmoil going on in him.
Gregers. What! At such a juncture, when a new foundation is being laid for his whole life. Now, can you imagine that a man of Hjalmar’s individuality——
Relling. Oh! Individuality—he! ”

“ Hedvig (choking back her tears) . Thanks. (She sits down, but does not read. Gina makes signs to her; Hjalmar notices it.)
Hjalmar (walking up and down) . It is really most extraordinary what things the bread-winner of a family is expected to remember, and if he forgets the least of them—he’s sure to be treated to black looks. Well, one gets used to that, too. (Stops near the stove, by the old man.) Have you peeped in there this evening, father?
Ekdal. Yes, you may be sure I did. She’s got into the basket.
Hjalmar. No! She’s gone into the basket? She’s beginning to get used to it. ”

“ Our degenerate race has scarcely a conception of the strength which made the men of past times find a pleasure even in pains, since they spurred their courageous souls to the highest pitch of heroism; since in such moments they felt themselves able to be more than men. Therefore sung heroes amid the very pains of death. Thus died the Swedish Hjalmar, in the arms of his friend Odd, the Norwegian, while he greeted the eagles which came to drink his blood. ”

“ And when Ingibjörg the King's daughter saw Hjalmar's body, she fell down dead and they were both laid together in one barrow at Upsala.
IV.° The story goes on to say that a girl was born to the daughter of Earl Bjartmar. Everyone advised exposing the child, saying that if she resembled her father's kinsmen she would not have a womanly disposition. The Earl, however, had her sprinkled with water; and he brought her up, and called her Hervör, saying that the line of Arngrim's sons would not be extinguished if she were left alive.
She grew up to be a beautiful girl. ”

“ In the morning he brought together the bodies of all the berserks and then set about building barrows. The islanders built chambers of great oaks as Odd directed them, and then piled up stones and sand on the top. They were strongly constructed, and it was a great achievement. Odd was busy at this work for a fortnight. Then he placed the berserks in with their weapons and closed the barrows. After this Odd took Hjalmar's body and carried it to a ship and conveyed it to Sweden. ”

“ Every year when June returns, its soft and fragrant breezes, passing over fields, meadows, and pine forests, blow over them. Butterflies and bees, rejoicing in the sunshine that brings new life, flit over the flowers growing upon their graves, and birds sing their love-songs by their side, just as in the days of old Hjalmar and Astrid sang theirs. ”

“ And there was no one who loved Germany more ardently than he, even though he did say severe things about it."
"That is a thing about which you can have no opinion, Hildegard," said Pfeifer, with paternal decision; and he blew a dense cloud of smoke toward the ceiling.
Miss Hildegard looked rebellious for an instant, but accepted the verdict of superior wisdom with submissive silence. The old man gave me a little confidential wink as if to say:
"There is a model girl for you. She knows that women should not speak in meeting." ”

“ When his brother-in-law, the Swedish king, Valdemar, begged him for help against his brother Magnus, who had deprived him of the greater part of his kingdom, preparations were indeed made for a grand campaign, but after several futile meetings and much talk, the Norwegian fleet was ordered home again and the Swedish king was left to his fate. To a proud and adventurous people like the Norsemen, jealous of their dignity at home and abroad, this unconquerable reluctance to draw the sword must have appeared humiliating. ”

“ Hahn and his son were holding a solemn consultation. The news of the fall of Düppel, and the consequent conquest of all Schleswig, had just been received, and the capital was in a fever of warlike enthusiasm. That two great nations like the Prussians and the Austrians, counting together more than fifty millions, could conquer poor little Denmark, with its two millions, seemed at that time a great and glorious feat, and the conquerors have never ceased to be proud of it. ”

“ The aggressive and declamatory patriotism of Wergeland, and the æsthetic and more cosmopolitan patriotism of his opponent, Welhaven, seem equally alien to the Norsemen of to-day. The frank national self-assertion of the present poets is that of a people, proud of its past, and secure in its national existence. The Norseman, having obtained what is his due, has cause for jealousy neither of Sweden nor of Denmark. ”