Ibsen's Terje Viken Michelet & Vowics Will You Review- IBSEN'S TERJE, by Michelet and Vowles. Price $0.35 THE FREE CHURCH BOOK CONCERN, 322 Cedar Avenue, Minneapolis - Minn. Formerly published by us: Michelet's FIRST YEAR NORSE $1.25 Jonas Lie's STORIES AND POEMS, edited with Notes and Vocabulary, by Professor I. Dorrum $0.75 Then we have of other publishers : Bj0rnson's, EN GLAD GUT, edited with Intro- duction, Composition Exercises, Notes and Vocabulary, by Guy Richard Vowles $0.80 Henrik Ibsen, BRAND, edited with Introduc- tion and Notes by Prof. Julius Olson, Univer- sity of Wisconsin. 349 pp. Cloth $1.50 KONGSEMNERNE, edited for schools with Introduction, Notes and Vocabulary, by J. A. Holvik and P. J. Eikeland. 244 pp. Cloth. $0.90 Bj0rnstjerne Bj0rnson's, EN FALLIT. Edited with Introduction, Notes and Vocabulary, by Prof. A. J. Holvik ... $0.90 If you cannot conveniently review TERJE and SYNN0VE in some newspaper or magazine, an expression from you as to the merits of the books, will be greatly appreciated. TERJE VIKEN HENRIK IBSEN HENRIK IBSEN'S TERJE VIKEN Edited with INTRODUCTION, NOTES AND VOCABULARY by Maren Michelet, B. L. Instructor in Norse in the South High School, Minneapolis, Minn., Guy Richard Vowles, M. A. (Oxon.) Professor of Latin Language and Literature at Fargo College MNNEAPOL1S. MINN. The Free Church Book Concern 1918 COPYRIGHT 1918 by THE FREE CHURCH BOOK CONCERN FOREWORD In presenting this little school text of Ibsen's Terje Viken for use in secondary schools, colleges, seminaries and universities the editors sincerely hope to supply a want long felt. Terje Viken is one of the most popular and best known classic poems in the Norse language. Nearly every boy and girl in Norway who is at all versed in Norse literature is familiar with it, just as every English boy and girl knows Tenny- son's Enoch Arden. Owing to the lack of a convenient text it is little known to those who study the Norse lan- guage in this country. It is worthy of far greater recognition than it has hitherto received. May it prove a source of pleasure and profit where it makes its advent. Being a story of the sea, the poem abounds in nautical terms and many poetic turns of fancy, rendering it difficult for students unaided to make a detailed and intelligent study of it. Real- izing this the editors have compiled with care a complete vocabulary, supplemented by ample notes bearing on nautical terms, unusual con- structions and historical data. The text, as far as rime and meter would allow, has been revised in accordance with 2029030 VI TERJE VIKEN S. Juell T0nnessen's Retskrivnings-Ordbok over det norske Riksmaal (1915) ; Brynildsen's Norsk- Engelsk Ordbog (1917) has, however, been fre- quently consulted in compiling the vocabulary. Among the books to which the editors are indebted for valuable suggestions may be men- tioned Digte for Middelskolen* by Kr. Lassen and B. Pauss, Norske Digte** by Nordahl Rolf- sen and Lcesebok i morsmaalet*** by Broch and Seip. MAREN MICHELET GUY RICHARD VOWLES August 28, 1917. * Cammermeyers Boghandel, Christiania, 1899. ** Jacob Dybvads Forlag, Christiania, 1913. *** J. W. Cappelens Forlag, Christiania, 1911. INTRODUCTION Henrik Ibsen was born March 20, 1828, in Skien, Norway. His father was a merchant be- longing to an old Danish skipper family which had immigrated to western Norway about the year 1720. His mother belonged to a German family, which, a few generations back, had come to Norway and settled there. Scotch blood, too, had in the course of time been mingled with the Danish and the German. Norse admixture might possibly be traced back on the mother's side. In spite of his foreign extraction Ibsen was distinctively Norwegian, even characterized as being "peculiarly Norse". He became the torch- bearer of his own little people, and the life of the small fatherland was the one subject on which he wrote. The flame from his torch shone far out over the world and has opened the eyes not only of his own countrymen, but of all literary Europe and even more remote realms across the seas. There was a sharp contrast in the tempera- ments of Ibsen's parents. The father was austere, yet cheerful, vivacious and sociable; the mother was morose, shy, reticent and reserved. The father was witty; his keen wit was of the good- natured sort, but his sarcasm was biting at times. 7 VIII TERJE VIKEN His fellow citizens felt it and feared his cutting remarks. Of the mother one of the children once wrote: "She was a quiet, lovable woman, the soul of the household, and everything to her husband and children. It was not in her to be bitter and reproachful." It is quite certain that Ibsen's satire and wit were deeply rooted in the old merchant. On the other hand we may readily trace the idealism and morose underlying sentiments which per- meate all Ibsen's works to his mother. When Henrik Ibsen was born his father was a prosperous merchant. The two-story corner building facing the town square, and in the heart of the town, was the scene of a thrifty trade and the center of much sociability. When Henrik, the eldest of the children, was in his eighth year there came an abrupt end to all this glory. Merchant Ibsen failed in business and lost everything but a small countryseat near the outskirts of the town. He withdrew with his family to this place and there led a lonely, se- cluded, rural life in the struggle for an existence. The young Henrik seemed to have no play- mates in his country home. He did not join his younger brothers and sisters in their play, but withdrew to his little room near the kitchen and securely fastened the door. There he dwelt in his own little world. He read the old Icelandic INTRODUCTION IX sagas, made sketches, constructed a little theatre and there enacted his childish dramas. His brothers and sisters thought him tedious because he would not join them in their noisy play, and would often disturb him, bombarding his little workshop. A wild chase about the house and yard followed, in which Henrik was the fierce pursuer. But he soon tired of the chase and returned to his little retreat. He went to school at Skien for a while, but as soon as he was confirmed he was obliged to shift for himself. He was sent to a small coast town called Grimstad, where he became an ap- prentice to the sole apothecary of the place. This dwarf hamlet on the rocks out among the breakers, away from the hustle and bustle of the busy outer world, was a tedious, sleepy little place. The only thing which was great, inspir- ing, overwhelming was the ocean which rolled and roared without. It was the one mighty factor which produced powerful impressions on the still slumbering genius of the young Ibsen. "By the sea where the poet Sees imaged his flight," as limned by himself, he undoubtedly formed those impressions of the ocean and seaman's life that later crystalized into the powerful epic poem Terje Viken appearing in 1860. The scenes X TERJE VIKEN pictured in this narrative are all laid in familiar places near and about Grimstad. Ibsen's famil- iarity with these localities may not have been the only reason for choosing them. A personal in- terest may also have been a consideration. His grandfather, like his great-grandfather and his great-great-grandfather, had been a skipper. He commanded and owned his ship. Once in a storm he with every soul on board went down with the ship off Hesnes, near Grimstad. Only fragments, including the name board of the ves- sel, drifted ashore, and told the story of the disaster. The monotonous life of this little out-of-the- way corner of the world, the antiquated indi- viduals who dwelt there, and the trivial affairs about which all their interests centered soon be- came the target for Ibsen's wit and satire. He became a close student of human nature, and the many observations he made gave him rich stores from which he later in life drew many of the characters and scenes for his modern dramas. The young apothecary's apprentice had not been in Grimstad long before he began to create quite a stir and arouse a great deal of bitterness by his satirical verses aimed at certain indi- viduals of the community. While at Grimstad he also wrote his first INTRODUCTION XI drama, Catilina, a feverish outburst of revolu- tionary enthusiasm kindled to a flame by the thrilling events of 1848, the revolution in France, the uprisings of the Magyars and the war in Sles- vig-Holstein. In the preface to this his first drama he writes : "I fell out with many, on account of epigrams and caricature sketches, who deserved better of me, and whose friendship 1 prized at heart. Altogether, while a heavy storm was raging without, I found myself on a war- footing with the little community to which I was bound by circumstances." In March, 1850, Ibsen left Grimstad for Christiania to prepare for his entrance to the University, where he intended to study medicine. Together with Vinje, Bj0rnson, Lie and others who later gained eminence and renown as writers, Ibsen attended for a while Heltberg's "student factory". In the meantime, however, he lost all interest in the study of medicine and began in- stead to delve in literature and write verses. This did not afford him even a scant liveli- hood. He was obliged many a time to go with- out his meals. Finally he was engaged as direc- tor of the Norse theatre at Bergen, where he remained for several years. Later he returned to Christiania and held a similar position at the theatre there. During all these years he con- tinued to write and put forth the one drama after XII TERJE VIKEN the other, meeting opposition and severe criti- cism each time a new play made its advent. In 1864 he went abroad, dissatisfied and dis- couraged because his literary achievements had been accorded so little recognition and apprecia- tion. From that time on, for a period of twenty- seven years, he made but one visit to the father- land. He lived a life of voluntary exile, spend- ing most of the time in Italy and Germany. His longing for the land of his birth, how- ever, manifested itself in many of his poems, and he came to feel that he must see the home land once more. In the poem Burned Sh ips he writes these lines so full of longing: "To the huts of the snowlands Every night of the year, From these sunlit lowlands Speeds a cavalier." (From William Morton Payne's Henrik Ibsen.) In 1872, when Norway commemorated the thousandth anniversary of Harold Fairhaired's victory at Havsfjord, he sent home his great poem "For the Millennial Festival" with this greeting to his people : "My countrymen, who made for me to flow That tonic draught, bitter, but strong to save, That gave the poet, standing by his grave, INTRODUCTION XIII New strength to fight beneath the sun's fierce glow, Who then to me the staff of exile gave, Of fear the sandals, and the pack of woe; Who sent me with such outfit forth to roam, Here from the world I send this greeting home. "I send, and thank you for the griefs that harden And cleanse the soul with flow of bitter tears ; For all the flowers which bloom in life's rich garden Are firmly rooted in those bygone years ; That here in full luxuriant life they grow To chilling blasts sent from afar they owe; Mist-nurtured, in the sun they here expand, For these best gifts I thank my native land." (From William Morton Payne's Henrib Ibsen.) In 1891 Ibsen became suddenly possessed with an intense longing to visit Norway again, and to see once more the mountains, the fjords and the enchanted far north. After a summer's cruise in northern waters he returned to Christiania. He prolonged his stay there week after week, month after month, until Norway one day awoke to the realization that her great and gifted son had come home to stay, to spend in serenity and quietude the eventide of life, beloved and honor- ed by the whole nation. The Norwegian people paid him all possible XIV TERJE VIKEN . homage. If they had formerly shown him a lack of appreciation, he now received so much the more recognition, and each new work from his pen was awaited with intense expectations. Ibsen ranks high as a lyric poet. His songs excel in both form and content. Woven into his dramas are many of the most beautiful lyrics to be found in the Norse tongue. Among them may be mentioned Agnes in Brand, Solveig's Song in Peer Gynt, The Cradle Song in The Pretenders and 0rnulf's Draapa in The War- riors. Other poems worthy of mention here are The Eider Duck, The Miner, Fear of Light, King Haakon's Guild Hall, For the Millennial Festival and his longer epic Terje Viken appear- ing in this text. But it is as a dramatist that Ibsen has reached the highest pinnacle and won the greatest re- nown. His earliest dramas give us grand and powerful pictures of Norway's early history re- vealed in a masterly way in the saga style so characteristic of the people of the saga age. Among these historical dramas may be men- tioned Fru Inger at 0steraat, The Warriors and The Pretenders. Emperor and Galilean is one of the very few of his works which take their themes from universal history ; it portrays the desperate strug- gle of heathendom against Christianity. INTRODUCTION XV Beginning with Love's Comedy, which ap- peared even earlier than The Pretenders, Ibsen presents to his readers his modern dramas of romanticism written in blank verse. Brand and Peer Gynt are the other two dramas of this group and constitute the very essence of his art. Henceforth Ibsen appears as a realist and uses as his medium of expression the simple modern prose form of the Norse language. In creating the problem plays he ventured into greater and broader fields, bringing messages equally vital to all humanity. The League of Youth marks the advent of realism in Ibsen's writings. A long series of dramas follows it, each succeeding one being more eagerly awaited than the preceding. Among them may be mentioned : Pillars of Society, A Doll's House, Ghosts, An Enemy of the People, The Wild Duck, Rosmersholm, The Lady from the Sea, Hedda Gablcr, The Master Builder and others. When We Dead Awake was his last word to the world that he had puzzled with his doubts and his mysterious problems. Ibsen died in Christiania May 23, 1906, and was laid to rest there. Representatives from far and near came to pay him their tribute. In foreign lands memorial tablets mark the homes where he has dwelt and written the great master- pieces which have immortalized his name. XVI INTRODUCTION References: So extensive indeed are the writings about Ibsen and his works that no attempt will be made in this little book to offer even an approximate list of references. Those wishing a more detailed list are refer- red to Jaegers Illustreret Norsk Literaturhisto- rie, Volume III, pages 709 and 710. We wish, however, to make particular mention here of the following : Henrik Jaeger: Henrik Ibsen 18281888. Et litercert livsbillede. (Kbhv. 1888) and Henrik Jaeger : Henrik Ibsen og hans varker. En frem- stilling i grundrids. (Kra. 1892). The first of these two reference works appears in an English translation entitled: Henrik Ibsen, A Critical Biography by Henrik Jazger. From the Nor- rvegian by William Morton Payne. Published by A. C. McClurg and Company, Chicago, 1890. TERJE VIKEN I Der bodde en underlig graaspraengt en paa den ytterste, n0gne ; ban gjorde visst intet menneske men hverken paa land eller sj0; 5 dog stundom gnistret bans 0ine stygt, heist mot urolig veir, og da mente folk at ban var forrykt; og da var der faa som uten frygt kom Terje Viken nser. II 10 Siden jeg saa ham en enkelt gang, ban laa ved bryggen med fisk; bans haar var hvitt, men ban lo og sang og var som en ungdom frisk. Til pikerne hadde ban skjemtsomme ord, 15 ban sp0kte med byens b0rn, ban svinget sydvesten og sprang ombord, saa heiste ban fokken, og hjem ban for i solskin, den gamle 0rn. TERJE VIKEN III Nu skal jeg fortaelle hvad jeg bar h0rt 20 *om Terje fra f0rst til sidst, og skulde det stundom falde litt t0rt, saa er det dog sandt og visst; jeg bar det just ei fra bans egen mund, men vel fra bans naermeste kreds, 25 fra dem som stod bos i bans sidste stund og lukket bans 0ine til fredens blund, da ban d0de holt opp' i de tres. IV Han var i sin ungdom en vild krabat, kom tidlig fra far og mor, 30 og hadde alt d0iet mangen dravat som yngste jungmand ombord. Siden han r^mte i Amsterdam, men laengtes nok hjem tilslut, og kom med "Foreningen", kaptein Pram 35 men hjemme var ingen som kjendte ham der reiste som liten gut. TERJE VIKEN V Xu var ban vokset sig smuk og stor, og var dertil en velklsedt knegt. Men d0de var baade far og mor, 40 og sagtens bans hele slegt. Han sturet en dag, ja kanhaende to, men saa rystet ban sorgen av. Han fandt ei, med landjorden under sig, ro; nei, da var det bedre at bygge og bo 45 paa det store, bplgende hav ! VI Et aar derefter var Terje gift, det kom nok paa i en hast. Folk mente ban angret paa den bedrift, som bandt paa et saet ham fast. 50 Saa levet ban under sit eget tag en vinter i sus og dus, skj0nt ruterne skinnet som klareste dag, med smaa gardiner og blomster bag, i det lille r0dmalte bus. TERJE .VIKBN VII 55 Da isen 10snet for lindveirsbjzfr, gik Terje med briggen paa reis; om hasten, da graagaasen fl0i mot s0r, ban m0tte den underveis. Da faldt som en vegt paa matrosens bryst 60 ban kjendte sig sterk og ung, ban kom fra solskinnets lysende kyst, agter laa verden med liv og lyst, og for baugen en vinter tung. VIII De ankret, og kammeratene gik 65 med landlov til sus og dus. Han sendte dem endnu et Isengselsblik, da ban stod ved sit stille bus. Han glyttet ind bak det hvite gardin, da saa ban i stuen to, 70 bans kone sat stille og hesplet lin, men i vuggen laa, frisk og r0d og fin, en liten pike og lo. TERJE VIKEN IX Der sagdes at Terjes sind med ett fik alvor fra denne stund. 75 Han traellet og slet og blev aldrig trset av at vugge sit barn i blund. , Om s^ndagskvelden, naar dansen klang vildt fra den nsermeste gaard, sine gladeste viser ban hjemme sang, 80 mens lille Anna laa paa bans fang og drog i bans brune haar. X Saa lakket og led det til krigens aar i attenhundred og ni. Endnu gaar sagn om de traengselskaar 85 som folket da stedtes i. Engelske krydsere staengte hver havn, i landet var misvekst og n0d, den fattige sultet, den rike led savn, to kraftige armer var ingen til gavn, 90 for djzfren stod sott og d0d. TERJE VIKEN XI Da sturet Terje en dag eller to, saa rystet ban sorgen av; han mindtes en kj ending, gammel og tro : det store, bplgende hav. 95 Der vester bar endnu bans gjerning liv i sagnet, som djerveste daad : "Da vinden kulet litt mindre stiv, Terje Viken rodde for barn og viv over havet i aapen baad !" XII 100 Den mindste skjegte der var at faa, blev valgt til bans Skagensfart. Seil og mast lot han hjemme staa, slikt tyktes han bedst bevart. Han mente nok, Terje, at baaten bar, 105 om sj0en kom litt paa tvers; det jydske rev var vel svsert at gaa klar, men vserre den engelske "man of war" med 0rne0ine fra mers. TERJE VIKEN XIII Saa gav ban sig trjztetig lykken i void 110 og tok til aarerne hvast. Til Fladstrand kom ban i god behold og hentet sin dyre last. Gud vet bans faring var ikke stor: tre tender byg, det var alt; 115 men Terje kom fra en fattig jord, nu hadde ban livsens frelse ombord; det var hustru og barn det gjaldt. XIV Tre naetter og dage til toften bandt den sterke, modige mand; 120 den fjerde morgen, da solen randt, ban skimtet en taaket rand. Det var ikke flygtende skyer ban saa, det var fjelde med tinder og skar; men h0it over alle aasene laa 125 Imenes-sadlen bred og blaa. Da kjendte ban hvor ban var. TERJE VIKEN XV Naer hj emmet var ban; en stakket tid ban holder endnu vel ud ! Hans hjerte sig 10ftet i tro og lid, 130 ban var naer ved en b0n til Gud. Da var det som ordet fr0s paa bans mund; ban stirret, ban tok ikke feil, gjennem skodden, som lettet i samme stund, ban saa en korvet i Hesnes-sund 135 at duve for bakkede seil. XVI Baaten var r^bet; der 10d et signal, og det nasrmeste 10p var lukt; men solgangsvinden blafret skral, mot vester gik Terjes flugt. 140 Da firte de jollen fra rselingens kant, ban h0rte matrosenes sang, med f^tterne stemte mot skjegtens spant ban rodde saa sj0en fosset og brandt, og blodet fra neglene sprang. TERJE VIKEN XVII 145 Gjaeslingen kaldes de blinde skjser litt 0stenfor Homborg-sund. Der bryter det stygt i paalandsveir, under to fot vand er der bund. Der sprpiter det hvitt, der glitrer det gult, 150 selv stilleste havbliksdag; men gaar end d^nningen aldrig saa hult, indenfor er det som tiest smult, med braekkede bjzilgedrag. XVIII Ditind Terje Vikens skjegte for 155 lik en pil mellem brott og brand; men bakefter ham, i kj01vandets spor, jog j oil en med femten mand. Da var det ban skrek gjennem brsendingens sus til Gud i sin h^ieste n0d: 160 "Inderst derinde paa strandens grus sitter min viv ved det fattige bus, og venter med barnet paa br0d !" 10 TERJE VIKEN XIX Dog h0iere skrek nok de f emten end ban ; som ved Lyng^r, saa gik det her. 165 Lykken er med den engelske mand paa rov mellem Norges skjaer. Da Terje t0rnet mot baaens top, da skuret og jollen paa grund; fra stavnen b0d of ficeren "stop !" 170 Han haevet en aare med bladet op og hug den i skjegtens bund. XX Spant og planker for hugget brast, sj^en stod ind som en f os ; paa to fot vand sank den dyre last, 175 dog sank ikke Terjes trods. Han slog sig gjennem de vsebnede msend og sprang over sesingen ud, ban dukket og sv^mmet og dukket igjen ; men jollen kom los ; hvor ban vendte sig hen 180 klang sabler og rifleskud. TERJE VIKBN 11 XXT De fisket ham op, ban f0rtes ombord, korvetten gav seierssalut; agter paa hytten stolt og stor stod chefen, en attenaars gut. 185 Hans fjzfrste batalje gjaldt Terjes baad, ti kneiste ban nu saa kjaek; men Terje visste ei Isengere raad, den sterke mand laa med b0n og graad i knse paa korvettens dsek. XXII 190 Han kj0pte med taarer, de solgte ham smil, de aagret ham spot for bjz!n. Det kulet fra 0ster, tilhavs med il stod Englands seirende s0n. Da taug Terje Viken, nu var det gjort, 195 nu tok han sin sorg for sig selv. Men de som ham fanget, fandt ssert hvor fort et noget var likesom veiret bort fra bans pandes skyede hvselv. 12 TERJE VIKEN XXIII Han sat i "prisonen" i lange aar, 200 der siges, i fulde fern; bans nakke bp'ide sig, graat blev bans haar av drjzfmmene om bans hjem. Noget ban bar paa, men gav ei besked, det var som bans eneste skat. 205 Saa kom attenbundred og f jorten med f red ; de norske f anger, og Terje med, fortes hjem paa en svensk fregat. XXIV Hjemme ved bryggen ban steg i land med kongens patent som lods; 210 men faa kun kjendte den graaspraengte mand, der reiste som ting matros. Hans bus var en f remmeds ; hvad der blev av de to, ban derinde erf or : "Da manden forlot dem, og ingen dem gav, 215 saa fik de til slutning en fselles grav av kommunen i fattigfolks jord." TERJE VIKEN 13 XXV Aarene gik, og han rj/Jgtet sin dont som lods paa den ytterste 0; han gjorde visst intet nienneske ondt 220 hverken paa land eller sjjzf; men stundom gnistret bans jzfine stygt, naar det br0t over baaer og skjser, og da mente folk at han var forrykt, og da var der faa som uten frygt 225 kom Terje Viken naer. XXVI En maaneskinskveld meet paalandsvind kom der liv i lodsenes f lok ; en engelsk yacht drev mot kysten ind med revnet storseil og fok. 230 Fra fortoppen sendte det r0de flag et n^dskrik foruten ord. Litt indenfor gik der en baat over stag, den vandt sig mot uveiret slag for slag, og lodsen stod staut ombord. 14 TERJE VIKEN XXVII 235 Han tyktes saa tryg, den graasprsengte mand; lik en kjaempe i rattet han grep: yachten lystret, stod atter fra land, og baaten svam efter paa slasp. Lorden, med lady og barn i arm, 240 kom agter; han tok til sin hat: "Jeg gj0r dig saa rik som du nu er arm, hvis frelste du bser' os av bramdingens larm." Men lodsen slap ror og rat. XXVIII Han hvitnet om kindet, det lo om hans mund, 245 lik et smil cler omsider faar magt. Indover bar det, og h0it paa grand stod lordens praegtige yacht. "Den svigtet kommando! I baatene ned! Mylord og mylady med mig! 250 Den slaar sig i splinter, jeg vet besked men indenfor ligger den trygge led; mit kj^lspor skal vise jer vei !" TERJE VIKEN 15 XXIX Morilden brgendte der skjegten f!0i mot land med sin dyre last. 255 Agter stod lodsen, sterk og h01, bans 0ie var vildt og hvast. Han skottet i lae mot Gjaeslingens top og til luvart mot Hesnes-sund ; da slap ban ror og stagseilstrop, 260 ban. svinget en aare med bladet op og hug den i baatens bund. XXX Ind stod sj0en med skumhvitt spruit der raste paa vraket en strid ; men moderen 10ftet sin datter h0it 265 paa armen, av rsedsel hvid. "Anna, mit barn !" bun skrek i sin ve, da bsevret den graaspraengte mand ; ban fattet om skj^tet, drev roret i lae, og baaten var fast som en fugl at se, 270 slik for den i brott og brand. 16 TERJE VIKEN XXXI Den t^rnet, cle sank; men havet var smult derindenfor braendingens kreds ; opover rak sig en langgrund skjult, der stod de i vandet tilknses. 275 Da ropte lorden: "Kjend, baaens ryg den svigter, det er ingen flu !" Men lodsen srnilte: "Nei, vaer De tryg; en sunken skjegte med tre tender byg er baaen som baer' os nu." XXXII 280 Der jog et minde om halvglemt daad lik et lyn over lordens trsek , ban kjendte matrosen som laa med graad i knae paa korvettens daek ! Da skrek Terje Viken : "Alt mit du holdt 285 i din haand, og du slap det for ros. Et 0ieblik endnu, og gjengjseld er voldt " da var det den engelske stormand stolt bjzfide knse for den norske lods. TERJE VIKEN XXXIII A fen Terje stod st0ttet til aarens skaft, 290 saa rank som i ungdovnmens aar; Jians 0ine brandt i ubsendig kraft, for vinden flommet bans haar. "Du seilet i niak paa din store korvet, jeg rodde min ringe baat; 295 jeg trrellet for mine til d^den traet, clu tok deres br0d, og det faldt dig saa let at haane min bitre graat. XXXIV Din rike lady er lys som en vaar, hendes baand er som silke fin, 300 m i n bustrus baand den var grov og haard men bun var nu allikevel min. D i t barn bar guldbaar og pine blaa, som en liten Vorherres gjest; m i n datter var intet at agte paa, 305 bun var, Gud bedre det, mager og graa, som fattigfolks b0rn er flest. IS TERJB VIKEN XXXV Se, d e t var min rigdom paa denne jord, det var alt hvad jeg kaldte for mit, det tyktes for mig en skat saa stor % , 310 men det veiet for dig saa litt. Nu er det gjengjgeldelsens time slaar, ti nu skal du friste en stund > som vel kommer op mot de lange aar der bo'ide min nakke og blekte mit haar 315 og ssenkte min lykke paa grund." XXXVI Barnet ban grep og svinget det frit, med den venstre om ladyens liv. "Tilbake, mylord ! Et eneste skridt, og det koster dig barn og viv !" 320 Paa sprang stod britten til kamp paa ny ; men armen var vek og mat; hans aande brsendte, bans 0ine var sky, og hans haar saa kjendtes ved f^rste gry blev graat i den eneste nat. TERJE VIKEN XXXVII 325 Men Terjes pande bar klarhet og fred, hans bringe gik frit og stilt. ^rb^dig lj?iftet ban barnet ned og kysset dets haender mildt. Han aandet, som Ip'st fra et fsengsels hvselv, 33C hans stemme 10Y1 rolig og jevn : "Nu er Terje Viken igjen sig selv. Incltil nu gik niit blod som en stenet elv ; for jeg m a a 1 1 e jeg m a a 1 1 e ba bevn ! XXXVIII De lange aar i "prisonens" kvalm, 335 de gjorde mit hjerte sykt. Bakefter laa jeg som heiens halm, og saa i et braadyp stygt. Men nu er det over; vi to er kvit; din skyldner for ei med svik. 340 Jeg gav det jeg hadde, du tok alt mit, og kra?v, om du tror du bar uret licit, Vorherre, som skapte mig slik." 20 TERJE VIKEN XXXIX Da dagningen lyste, var hver mand frelst; yachten laa laengst i havn. 345 Med nattens saga taug de nok heist, men vidt for dog Terjes navn. Dr0mmenes uveirsskyer graa feide en stormnat vaek; og Terje bar atter saa rank, som faa, 350 den nakke der kr^ktes hin dag ban laa i knae paa korvettens daek. XL Lorden kom, og mylady med, og mange, mange med dem ; de rystet hans baand til farvel og Guds fred, 355 der de stod i hans ringe hjem. De takket for frelsen da stormen pep, for frelsen fra sj^gang og skjaer; men Terje str^k over barnets slaep: "Nei, den som frelste, da vserst det knep, 360 det var nok den lille der!" TERJE VIKEN 21 XLI Da yachten dreiet for Hesnes-sund, den heiste det norske flag. Litt Isengere vest er en skumklsedt grund, der gav den det glatte lag. 365 Da tindret en taare i Terjes blik, nan stirret f ra heien ud : "Stort liar jeg mistet, men stort jeg fik. Bedst var det, kanhande, det gik som det gik, og saa faar du ha tak da, Gud!" XLII 370 Slik var det jeg saa ham en enkelt gang, han laa ved bryggen med fisk; hans haar var hvitt, men han lo og sang og var som en ungdom frisk. Til pikerne hadde han skjemtsomme ord, 375 han spefkte med byens btfrn, han svinget s) dvesten og sprang ombord, saa heiste han fokken, og hjem han for i solskin, den gamle 0rn. 2-2 TERJE VIKEN XLlli Yed Fjaere kirke jeg saa en grav, 380 den laa paa en veirhaard plet; den var ikke skjdttet, var sunken og lav, men bar dog sit sorte bret. Der stod "TH^RIE \VIIGHEX" med hvitmalt skrift, samt aaret han hvile fandt. 385 Han lagdes for solbrand og vindes vift, og derfor blev grsesset saa stridt og stivt, men med vilcle blomster iblandt. NOTES. In 1807 Napoleon and the Russian Czar had a meet- ing at Tilsit, in Prussia. They then agreed that Russia should have Finland ; but Napoleon was to be allowed to take the great Norse-Danish fleet and use it against England. The English caught wind of this and in the greatest haste sent a fleet against Copenhagen. The crown prince Frederick fled to Holstein in company with his mentally unbalanced father and the ruling gov- ernment. The English immediately bombarded the Danish capital, set fire to five hundred buildings and took the entire fleet. Then Frederick joined forces with Napoleon and declared war against both England and Sweden. Norway, being at that time under Danish rule, was drawn into the conflict. In consequence misfortune and distress befell the country. The Norsemen had for a long period of years been carrying on an extensive commerce with Great Britain ; they shipped a large part of their lumber to England and received other wares in return, and besides, Norwegian ships carried con- considerable other freightage from England to other countries. It was at that time, even to a greater extent than now, very difficult for Norway to supply her own population with bread ; she was obliged to import a great deal of grain from Denmark, and especially Jutland. After the bombardment of Copenhagen all this intercourse with Denmark was cut off, and the British controlled all the waterways leading from Nor- way to other countries. Almost unhindered the Eng- lish ruled the North Sea, capturing and destroying all 24 TERJE VIKEN Norwegian merchantmen which they happened to come across. They almost rendered impossible all seafaring and thus also hampered all importation to Norway. This occasioned keen distress in the years following 1807, because crop failures and years of scarcity visited the land. When seafaring, exportation of lumber and for- eign trade ceased, hard times followed. The events which this poem relates happened during these years of hardship and gloom. The main char- acter of this story is scarcely known elsewhere. He is decidedly a Norse type, but many of the happenings of this narrative are related elsewhere, so that the poem in the main is historically true. Already in his youthful productions Ibsen revealed in his poetry a wealth of possibilities which he later developed as a world poet. Many years of struggle and hardship brought a rich harvest of ripe fruitage. He became a great master of style both in prose and poetry and exercised the utmost precision in detail of execution. This is clearly exemplified in Terje Viken. He frequently violates the rules of inverted order, employs unusual constructions and uses many poetic and archaic expressions and forms. All this he does for the sake of the rhythm and rime. The poem is written in the narrative style and follows closely the regular stanza of the old ballads of the four-stress type, with extra light syllables admitted anywhere yet not in great numbers. The long alliterative lines have with studied preciseness four stresses, but in the shorter lines, generally the second and the fourth, etc., the fourth stress is lost. This is often termed the "tumb- ling verse," regular in rhythm and rime, but indifferent to the number of syllables. Where most regular it approximates closely the regular four-stress anapestic, NOTES as exemplified in the scansion of the first verse of the poem, as follows : Der bod'ide en uii|derlig graa|spraengt en paa den yt|terste, n0g\ne 6; - ban gjofjde visst in tet men|neske me"6 hvef|ken paa land"| eller sjo; dog stun'dom gnis^ret bans 0fjne styg't, heist j mot urojlig veif, og da | mente folk' [ at ban vaf | forryk't; og da ' var der faa | som u]ten fryg't kom Tef|je Vfken nser. The story of the poem Terje Viken may properly be divided into two main parts, marking two epochs in the life of the hero. Part I comprises the verses iv to xxv inclusive, and Part II the verses xxvi to xlii inclusive. The first two verses of the poem introduce the read- er to the hero of this narrative and awaken our in- terest in him by the portrayal of a certain period of his earlier life in sharp contrast to a later period when 26 TERJE VIKEN we really learn to know him. Each of the main parts contains recurring lines and passages found in these beginning verses. Note will be made of this as we proceed. The third verse is really the introduction to the story that follows, and which ends with the forty-second verse. The forty-third, the last verse of the poem, is the resume or close, and gives us a picture of Terje's ex- posed and weather-beaten grave which seems to typify the hero himself. ***** Line 6, heist mot urolig veir, especially when there was a forecast of unsettled weather, or when stormy weather was brewing. Line 10, siden jeg saa ham, note the violation of rule for inverted order. See Michelet's First Year Norse, page 47. Line 10, en enkelt gang, once in a while, at rare oc- casions, occasionally. Line 16, sydvest, a southwester (called by the sailors a sou'wester), a sailor's broad-brimmed tarpaulin, or waterproof canvas storm hat. It takes its name from the southwester, a wind, gale, or storm from the south- west which generally brings rain. Line 17, fok (of Dutch origin), the triangular fore- sail before the foremast of a boat. Line 18, t solskin, literally, in sunshine: in good humor. Line 18, 0rn, literally, eagle : the old seaman may well be called an eagle, partly because he sails over the sea, and partly because of his sharp features and his keen glance. Line 24, vel, has many meanings in various con- structions. Might be translated here: to be sure. NOTES 27 Line 25, stod hos, in this phrase ham is understood : were with him, were at his bedside. Line 27, trcs, abbreviated form for tresindstyve (ire ganger tyve), the Danish method of counting which was formerly used in Norway, especially in the Eastland. It is fast becoming obsolete. They now say seksti. See Michelet's First Year Norse, page 67. Translate i de tres, in the sixties. Line 28, krabat, wild, unmanageable fellow, rascal. Terje's childhood and early youth were wild, perhaps more mischievous, foolhardy and daring than really vicious, like many a sailor lad's in the western coast towns of Norway. Often such boys were sent to sea to be disciplined, or the lure of the sea tempted them to stow away on some vessel bound for foreign lands. The term krabat had formerly the disparaging mean- ing, but has come to bear more the jesting, good-na- tured meaning of rascal. It is derived from the word kroat (Croat). The Croats were known in the Thirty Years' War as a band of wild soldiers. Line 30, dravat (derived from the Dutch), eddy- wind followed by thunder and lightning and storm. It is used metaphorically here to symbolize Terje's hard- ships, or adversity. Line 31, jungmand, a sailor who has not yet been rated as an "able" seaman, has not yet served his years of apprenticeship. Line 32, Siden han r0mtc, note the violation of the rule of inverted order. Line 33, nok, like vcl, has many and varied transla- tions. Might be translated here : I dare say. Line 37, var han vokset sig, common usage demands the use of the auxiliary at ha instead of at v&re with reflexive verbs. Ibsen deviates from the rule in this passage. 28 TERJE V1KEN Line 40, sagtens (an adverb), like the word vel, has man>' and varied meanings. May be translated here: I dare say. Line 42, ryste sorgcn av, to cease to mourn, to cast off his sorrow. Line 49, paa ct s&t (paa sect og vis), in some way, in a way, in a fashion. Line 50, Saa levet han under sit eget tag Terje was not slow in forgetting his sorrow. The same giddiness and thoughtlessness of his earlier youth manifested itself in his hasty marriage. He soon be- gan to live his former free and easy life, although his wife sought to keep him away from the dizzy whirl (sus og dus) by making the home as cheerful, cozy "and attractive as possible. Line 55, lindrcirsbffr, the wind that brings a thaw, or open weather. Line 56, briggen, the brig, a two-masted, square- rigged vessel. The use of the post-positive definite article here is undoubtedly to designate the particular vessel with which Terje was accustomed to sail. Line 58, han mptte den unden'ds, note here the vio- lation of the rule for inverted order. Line 59, vegt, a weight. When he neared home he was weighed down by the thought of the duties that lay upon him as a married man, and which would deprive him of unrestrained freedom and the gay and easy seaman's life, in which he still felt much at home, because he was still full of buoyant spirits (sterk og ung). Line 63, for baugen, literally, before the bow, mean- ing before him, in the near future. Line 65, landlor, furlough, shore leave. When reach- ing port the sailors cannot leave the vessel without being granted a leave of absence. NOTES 29 Line 70, hesple, or hespe, to reel yarn from the spin- dle of the spinning wheel, or to wind yarn or thread into balls from a reel. Lines 73 and 74, Der sagdes at Terjes sind med ett fik alvor fra denne stund. It suddenly dawned upon Terje how domestic and worthy his wife was, and the feeling toward their little child tamed his wild and unyielding nature ; he was transformed as by a leap from boyhood into manhood. Lines 77 to 79, Om sfndagskvelden sine gladestc viser fftin hjemme sang, note the violation of the rule for inverted order for the sake of rhythm. Line 80, lillc Anna (den lille Anna), the pre-positive article may be omitted when the adjective becomes a part of a pet name, e.g., lillemand, lillemor. Line 82, krigens aar, the war had already begun in 1807, but probably the effects of the war were not so keenly felt until a few years later. Line 89, ingen (a dative form), render ingen til gavn, of benefit to no one. Line 92, note the repetition here of line 42. Terje's character and his old habit of shaking off sorrow and grief again manifests itself. Line 97, stiv, literally, stiff, a seaman's term describ- ing a strong wind, or gale. Line 98, da vindcn kulet Terje Viken rodde o. s. v., note the violation of rule for inverted order. Line 98, mv (a poetic form almost obsolete), Old Norse vif, same root as the English wife. Line 100, skjegte, in southern Norway this is the name of a small sailboat, sometimes a four-oared boat. Line 101, Skagensfart, Skagerack journey. The dis- tance from Terje's home around Skagerack Point to Fladstrand, Jutland (now known as Fredrikshavn), where the Norwegian ships used to take on cargoes 30 TERJE VIKEN of grain, is about ninety -three or ninety-four English miles. Line 103, slikt tyktcs ham (han is according to Las- sen and Pauss, Digte for middelskolen, a misprint). It is an impersonal expression with subject omitted: thus it seemed to him the safest way, i. e., he felt safer in this way. Line 106, del jydske rev, the Jutland reef, a long projecting sandbank dangerous in stormy weather. Line 107, "man of war," from the English man-of- war, an armed vessel belonging to the navy or military marine, generally of considerable size. The word is pronounced by Norwegian sailors manorar'. Line 108, mers, a platform of wood some distance up the mast used for a lookout. In the mers, or look- out, on a man-of-war is stationed a lookout man. Line 111, Fladstrand, a harbor located in eastern Jutland. Line 113, faring, from the verb at ffire, to carry, hence a cargo. Line 116, livsens frclse (livsens is an old genitive form for livets), render lirscns frclse, life's salvation, sus- tenance. Lines 118-119, note that mand is nominative case and subject; n&tter and dage are adverbial nouns. Lines 120-121, den fjerde morgen, han skim- tet o. s. v., note the violation of the rule for inverted order. Line 125, Imcncs-sadlcn, usually called Grimstadsalen, a well-known seamark, a high mountain about three English miles from Grimstad ; it can be seen far out at sea. This mountain has a depression in the middle, therefore the name "saddle." The various names of places which occur in this poem can clearly be seen on any map of southern Xor- NOTES 31 way, and may be easily located between Grimstad and Lillesand. Line 128, han holder endiitt vel ud, note the viola- tion of the rule for inverted order. Line 130, han "car nar ved en bfin til Gud, Terje was accustomed to depend upon himself alone, but the pros- pect of bringing his dear ones at home relief from hunger makes him tender-hearted and causes him to turn to God from Whom all blessings flow. Lines 133-134, gjennem skodden han saa en korvet , note violation of rule for inverted order. Line 134, korvet (corvette), an old-fashioned war- ship with three full-rigged masts, and with cannon only on the upper deck; ranks next below a frigate. Line 134, Hesncs-sund, a sound closed in by Hesnes Islands just outside Grimstad. Line 135, at duve, to move up and down in the sea. Render the infinitive at duve by the English participle tossing, or pitching. Line 135, bakkedc (derived from the infinitive at bakke, meaning to place the sails toward the wind in such a way that they do not move the ship forward), may be rendered here windward. Line 138, solgangsi-ind, a wind that begins in the north and east in the morning, and veers with the sun, so that in the course of the day it is westerly. Line 138, skral, literally means poor, or scanty. It describes a wind that blows toward one, so it cannot be used without tacking. Line 140, jolle, a ship's boat, stubby aft. Line 142, spant, the ribs of the boat. Lines 142-143, med fptterne stemte han rodde , note violation of rule for inverted order. 32 TERJE VIKEN Line 145, Gj(esHngen(e) (given in the singular in text for the sake of meter, but generally written in the plural), more commonly known and designated on the map as Gaasungerne (goslings), shoals close by the islet Gaasen about four English miles from Lillesand. Line 146, pstenfor Homborg-sund, this is incorrect; they lie southwest from Homborg Sound. (See Nor- ske Digtc red Nordahl Rolfscn, page 343.) Homborg- sund, or Homborsund, is east of Lillesand. Line 150, havbliksdag, a day when the ocean lies smooth like a mirror. Line 151, dinning, swell, high sea, especially the roll- ing sea which continues after the wind has died down. Line 151, hull (long u), with high, hollow waves. Line 152, smult (long u), calm, still. Line 153, brcekkede bfilgedrag, surf breaking upon the shore. Line 154, Ditind Tcrjc Vikens skjegte for, note the violation of rule for inverted order on account of rime. Line 155, brott og brand, both words mean the foam- ing, frothing whirlpool in the surf; the sea is all feather-white. Line 158, brcendingens sits, the roar of the breakers. Terje seems to doubt now whether the God of love, to whom in verse xv he turns in prayer, will render help in this hour of dire need. Line 164, ved Lyngpr, at this place east of Grim- stad, in 1812, the Norwegian frigate "Xajaden" was destroyed by the English line-of-battle ship "Dictator." Najaden, in order to escape the superior ship of the enemy, had sailed in through a shallow and dangerous waterway among the belt of islands; the English com- mander boldly followed where he saw the top of the masts of "Najaden," and although he did not have a NOTES 33 pilot on board who knew these waters, he luckily got in and overtook the Norwegian frigate, just as it anchored in the harbor, and where it could not lay to in an advantageous position; thus it was soon shot to pieces and totally destroyed. Line 168, og (ogsaa}, translate also, too. Line 177, ccsingen, the gunwale, or lengthwise strip covering the upper end of the framing timbers in a boat. Line 179, los, or loss, (pronounced laass), loose, free. Line 183, paa hytten, the quarter-deck, the part of the after-deck reserved for the officers only. Line 184, en attenaars gut, the British commander who did the daring deed at Lyng0r was only twenty- one; undoubtedly with this in mind Ibsen makes the English commander in his narrative a mere boy of eighteen years. Line 186, ft (derfor), translate here consequently. Line 187, raad, way out of the dilemma or predica- ment. Line 191, at aagre, to practice usury, to charge too high interest for one's money, to seek to gain much for little; in other words they let him beg and implore in vain. Line 1%, men dc som ham fanget, note the unusual position of the direct object ham. Line 1%, fandt scert, fandt (del} scert, found it strange or peculiar. Line 197, et noget, his forehead had had somewhat the stamp of that love which filled his heart; now this changed as if to stone. Line 199, prisonen (pronounce pris'n as in English). Line 203, noget han bar paa, men gav ei bcsked, some- thing he brooded over, but unburdened it to no one. 34 TERJE VIKEN Note the violation of rule for inverted order in han bar paa. Line 207, fortes hjem paa en svensk fregat, the fact that the prisoners were sent home on a Swedish trans- port shows that the fatherland was now helpless, and a new turn of affairs had come about. Line 208, Hjem me ved bryggen han steg i land, note the violation of the rule for inverted order. Line 209, patent, license, patent, letters of creation or appointment, especially a pilot's license. Line 212, en fremmcds (lius). Adjective used sub- stantively. (See Michelet's First Year Norse, page 43). Line 219, note in this line and those following the recurring lines found in verse ii. Line 228, yacht, derived from same root form as jagt and has the same meaning. But when the English form of spelling is retained it means a pleasure yacht. It should then also have the English pronunciation, but in this instance it ought to have the same pronunciation as in verse xxviii where it rimes with magi. Line 230, det r0de flag, at the topmast it is a signal .for pilot wanted. Line 232, stag, the ropes which go from the mast forward to the prow and bear the foresails ; at gaa over stag, to tack in order to turn the boat windward, to beat up against the wind. Line 233, slag for slag., by tacking, by cruising back and forth against the wind. Line 234, ombord, on the English boat ; hence it did not take long before he reached the yacht. Line 235, Han tyktes (tyktes is a deponent verb), he seemed, he appeared. Line 236, rat (pronounced rait}, steering wheel which turns the rudder by means of ropes, or chains. NOTES 35 Line 238, svam (archaic past tense form of the verb at svtfmme) ; corresponds to the English swam. Line 243, ror og rat, in this case both words mean one and the same thing: the steering wheel. Line 245, snril, Terje recognizes the lord, and is filled with malicious glee when he finally can wreak the vengeance for which he has been waiting so long. Line 248, den svigtet kommando, it did not obey the rudder. While the crew seeks rescue in the life boats, Terje takes the lord, the lady and their child into his own boat which is close at hand; for rescue in it seems safest. Thus Terje gets him entirely in his power. Line 252, kjplspor, wake, a track left by a vessel pass- ing through the water. Line 253, morild, the giving out of light from the sea caused by phosphorescent animalcules in the water. Line 254, sin dyre last, note the repetition of this from verses xiii and xx. Line 255, agter stod lodscn, the pilot stood aft. While the boat was moving Terje undoubtedly was sitting; but just before he wanted to carry out his plans of revenge he arose and steeled himself for the deed by looking toward the places which reminded him so viv- idly of his own loss and shipwreck. See verses xv and xvii. Line 257, Ice, opposite of luvart, which has been taken up in the seaman's vernacular from the Dutch loef, meaning the helping rudder on the ship's wind side (luv), hence the side opposite to that from which the wind blows. Line 259, stagscilstrop, the rope fastened to the loose corner of the sail whereby it can be brought from the one side of the boat to the other. Line 263, zraket, the boat with the hole in the bottom. 36 TERJE VIKEN Line 266, "Anna, mit barn!" him skrek , note violation of rule for inverted order. Line 267, bcevre (b&ve svakt), to tremble slightly, to quiver. Compare this passage with verse xxii, line 197, "el noget" that changed suddenly his expression when he was so vividly reminded of his own little child bearing the same name. He changed his plans of re- venge by trying to partially stop the leakage of his boat, perhaps by placing his heel in the hole. Line 268, drcv roret i lee, turned the rudder so that the boat could go directly with the wind. Line 269, fast, (nasten), almost. Line 271, Den tfirnet, it went aground, it struck rock bottom. Line 271, havet var smult, see verse xvii, line 152. Line 276, flu, a flat reef which at flood time is washed over by the waves; baae (line 275) seems to be used in this instance in contrast to flu, to designate a sandbank, which it usually does not; flu is generally a flatter reef than a baae. Line 278, "en sunken skjegte med Ire tender byg er baaen so in beer' os mi." This passage is somewhat ambiguous. It may mean that the cargo of grain Terje lost still lies on the reef, or perhaps it simply means that the place marks the exact spot where Terje's precious cargo of grain sank, and in his imagination still lies on this very spot. In other words Terje wishes to remind the lord of what took place at that spot on a certain occasion many years before. Line 288, bpide kna, gave up to, submitted to, hum- bled his pride. Line 293, Du seilct i inak jeg roddc, Line 298, Din rike lady win hustni. Line 302, Dit barn mm datter. NOTES 37 Note in these passages Ibsen's mastery in the use of antitheses. Line 301, nu allikcvel, nevertheless. Line 312, friste en stund, to suffer a while, undergo torture a brief period of time. Line 313, vel, translate here, fully, in full measure. Line 315, og scenktc min lykke paa grund, destroyed my happiness. Line 316, Barnet han grep, note violation of rule of inverted order because of meter. Line 317, lady, there are no exact Norse equivalents for English titles of rank and nobility. Note the use, however, of the post-positive article with the foreign word. This is only permissible when the foreign word has no Norse equivalent. Line 318, mylord (pronounced mi-lord'), note in the Norse the compounding of my lord. These com- pounds are used more freely in Norse than in English. Line 320, Paa sprang, ready to leap forward. Line 322, hans aandc brandte, compare with hans ffine brandt in line 291. Line 329, Han aandet, som Ipst fro, et fcengsels hvcelv, he breathed as if freed from a prison, because now he was rid of his brooding thoughts of revenge that had hovered over him so heavily for many, many years like a dark thunder cloud, a heavy prison vault. Line 332, stenet, stony, rocky, so that the river flowed over it turbulently. Line 334, kvalm, suffocating, foul air, stuffy air. Line 336, heiens halm, far out on the edge of the steep mountain side, there often grow tufts of grass that overhang the precipitous edge. It seemed to Terje that during these years he had stared down into the dark abyss of revenge. 38 NOTES Line 338, vi to er kvit, we two are quits, we have settled our scores, we are even. Line 339, din skyldner, compare with verse xxxv. Terje had the old Norse conception of law latent with- in him ; he would mete out punishment by his own hands. He felt it was his duty to pay back to the lord like for like. This he feels he has done by letting him suffer torture and agony for a brief period of time in the open boat (friste en stund, som vel kommcr op mot de lange aar). Line 340, Jeg gav del jeg hadde, du tok alt init,. compare this with line 284, alt mil du holdt i din haand, og du slap det for ros. The idea is not clear, but probably means I lost everything, and you sacri- ficed it all to win glory. Line 341, og krcev and give God the blame if you think that I have made you suffer too great a torture, for He has given me such a nature that I had to have revenge. Line 354, til farvel og Cuds frcd, in bidding him farewell, wishing him Godspeed. Line 358, sleep, literally meaning train, or trail. Here it must mean the child's flowing locks. Line 364, det glatte lag, all the cannon are fired at once as a salute. Compare with verse xxi, line 182, korvetten gav seierssalut. Line 366, heien, the desolate rocky island where Terje lived. Line 379, Ved Fj&re kirke jeg saa , note viola- tion of rule for inverted order for sake of meter. A parish church not far from Grimstad. Line 383, "Theerie Wiighcn," an older, antiquated form of the name Terje Viken. Sometimes also writ- ten "Taerje Vigen". NOTES 39 Line 385, vindes vift (archaic expression, vindes, possessive plural without the post-positive article; vift, . same root as English waft, hard storms, exposure. EXPLANATIONS. The following abbreviations are used in the vocabu- lary: adj adjective per person (al) adv adverb pi plural c common gender pass possessive case comp comparative pron pronoun conj conjunction r regular def definite refl reflexive fain familiar, popular rel relative pronoun form sing singular n neuter gender supl superlative / Class 1 of the weak verbs: t -/. // Class II of the weak verbs : tc -t. Ill Class /// of the weak verbs : .-ddc -dd. The principal parts of strong verbs are given. If an adjective is inflected by the addition of -t in the neuter and -e in the definite and plural forms, it is followed by r (regular). Otherwise the inflectional endings are given. The plural of nouns is given. A dash indicates that the plural form does not differ from the singular. The dash ( ) is further used to avoid repeating the main word in supplementary phrases. Words are accented on the first syllable unless mark- ed otherwise. Compound words have an accented syllable in each component element marked. VOCABULARY aagre I practice usury aande c breath aande / breathe, draw breath aapen -t aapne open aar -year aare c -r oar aas c -er ridge, crest agte (paa) / heed, notice, pay attention to, look upon agter astern, behind al alt alle all; alt every- thing; alt already aldrig never; saa ever so allikevel nevertheless, for all that alvor n earnestness, seri- ousness; faa become serious, take on serious- ness of purpose angre / regret; -- paa regret, repent of ankre 7 anchor, cast an- chor arm c -er arm arm r poor at con; that; to (sign of the infinitive) att'enaars eighteen year(s) old aftenhuridred 1800 atter again, once more av of, off, from, because of B baad (old) see baat baade both; baade og both and baae c -r sunken rock or islet baat c -er boat bag see bak bak behind, back of, (1. 53) within, inside bak'effer after, behind, afterwards, later bakke / reverse; for bak- kede seil with sails re- versed, placed windward barn u barn or b0rn child, baby batal'je c -r battle, action, engagement baug c -er bow (of a shipj ; for baugen ahead bedre, bedst see god bedre / better, improve; Gud det alas bedrift c -er deed, exploit behold c; \ god in safety besked c information, ink- ling, hint; vite know- positively, be positive bevare II keep, preserve; bevart kept, safe (see note on 1. 103) binde bandt bundet bind, hold; fast tie down, keep at VOCABULARY bitter -t bitre bitter blaa -t blaa blue blad n -e blade (of an oar) blafre / waver, be fitful bleke blekte bleket make pale, whiten bli blev blit become, turn, be (auxiliary of pas- sive) ; av become of blik // look, eye blind r blind, sunken blod // blood blomst c -er flower, blos- som, plant blund c -er sleep, nap; i to sleep bo /// live, dwell, reside bort(e) away braadyp' n precipice brand c -er surf, breaker (s) bred r broad, expansive bret // -ter board, marker, headboard, wooden cross brig c -ger brig bringe c -r breast briste brast brustet break, burst, crack britte c -r Briton, English- man brott n breaker (s), surf brun / brown brygge c -r wharf, dock, pier, jetty bryst n breast, bosom bryte br0t brutt break; (impersonal with re- ference to water) break, beat, pound braekke / break braende braendte (or brandt) braendt burn, flash, gleam, glow, foam, froth, (of breath) come hot branding c breakers, surf, whitecaps br0d t bread, loaf of bread, sustenance bund c -er bottom by c -er city, town byde b0d budt command, order byg n (and c) barley bygge / (or bygde, bygd) build baer' abbr. for baerer, see baere baere bar baaret bear, car- ry, bring, exhibit, en- dure, (of a boat) weather the sea, be seaworthy; det bar they moved, were borne; - paa have something on one's mind, brood over something baevre / tremble slightly, quiver b0ie b0ide b0id bend, turn, bow down; sig bend, stoop, droop o0lge / billow, heave, surge, toss; b0lgende surging b0l'gedrag' n surf, swell b0n c -ner prayer; med , in prayer, in entreaty C chef c -er (French, pro- nounced sheff), chief, commander D da then, when, at the time -12 TERJE VIKEN when, at that time, (1. 44) surely daad c -er act, deed, sig- nal deed dag c -e day, daylight dagning c dawn dans c -er dance, dancing datter c d0tre daughter de deres dem they, those, the ones De Deres Dem you (for- mal sing and pi) den det de puss sing dets the, it, that, that which, what denne dette pi disse this der there, where, imper- sonal it, 1. 73 der rel who, which der'ef'ter thereafter, after that der'for' therefore, for that reason der'in'd(e) in there derindenfor there inside, there within der'til' to it, besides, fur- thermore din dit dine thy, thine, your(s) dit'lnd' thither, in there djerv r brave, bold, auda- cious dog, yet, still, however, nevertheless, for all that, but dont c business, task, work dra drog drat pull, tiraw; i pull at dravat c -er (sudden) gale (see note on 1. 30) dreie / turn; for turn toward drive drev drevet drive, drift, jam; ind drift in dr0m c -me(r) dream, vi- sion du din dig you; the archa- ic form jer is used as the dative pi dukke / dive, duck dus see sus duve / toss, pitch dyr r precious daek n deck d0 d0de (er) dpd die d0d r dead d0d c death; til d0den to death, unto death d0ie / endure, weather d0nning c -er swell, wave d0r c -er door efter- after, behind egen eget egne own, pe- culiar ei (old) se ikke eller or; hverken eller neither nor elv o -er river en et a, an, one; as nu- meral and indefinite pronoun, en, ett; en in 1. 1 means person, fel- low, chap; med ett sud- denly, all at once end though, even though, than endnu yet, still, to this day, further, more; - et (still) another eneste (supl of en) only, single VOCABULARY 43 engelsk -e English enkelt single, solitary, oc- casional erfare erfor erfaret learn, experience, find out faa few faa fik faat get, receive, acquire; vaere at to be gotten, to be had, to be available; du faar ha tak thanks are due you, thanks falde faldt faldt fall, ap- pear, seem, strike as, be; let be easy fang H lap fange c -r prisoner fange 7 capture, catch, take prisoner far e faedre father fare for faret go, fare, travel, sail, fly, behave, act farvel' n farewell fast almost fast -e fast, secure, fixed, firm fatte 7 seize, grasp; om seize fattig -e poor, humble, lowly faftigfolk' n poor folks, the poor; fattigfolks jord potter's field feie feide feiet (feid) sweep feil n mistake; ta be mistaken fern five femten fifteen fin r fine, dainty, delicate finde fandt fundet find, discover, think, deem fire firte fir(e)t let down, lower fisk c -er fish (sometimes used in a . collective sense as in 1. 11) fiske 7 fish; op fish up, fish out fjeld u fjeld(e) mountain fjerde fourth fjorten fourteen flag n flag flest (sitpl of mange) som - - - er like the com- mon run I flok c -ker group, crowd, troop, band, company f lorn me 7 stream flu c -er half-tide rock flugt c flight flygtende fleeting, scud- ding flyve f!0i f!0iet fly, fly along fok c -ker foresail folk n people, "folks" for conj for, because for for, before, with, to, on account of, because of, through the influence of, exposed to foreriing c union; Forenin- gen name of a ship | forlate forlot forlatt leave, desert | forrykf -e crazy, crack- brained, "off", un- balanced fort quickly, soon fortop c -per fore mast- head, fore 44 TERJE VIKEN fortsel'le fortalte fortalt tell, relate foruten without fos c -ser waterfall, catar- act fosse / foam, boil fot c f0tter foot (pi fot used as unit of measure in lines 148 and 174) fra from fred c peace, repose fregat c -ter frigate frelse c rescue, saving, (means of) preservation frelse // save, rescue frelst -e rescued, saved fremmed -e strange; fremmed c -e stranger fri r free, clear; frit freely, calmly frisk / fresh, well, in good health, fit, hearty, hale, strong friste / experience, suffer frygt c fear, dread, alarm, apprehension fryse fr0s frosset freeze fugl c -er bird fuld r full; i fulde fern for fully five faelles common faengsel n faengsler prison, jail f0re // lead, carry, bring f0ring c -er cargo, load f0rst first, earliest gaa gik gaat go, leave, set out, pass, move, run, flow, happen, turn out, be current gaard c -er farm, farm- house, building gammel -t gamle old gang c -er time gardiri n -er curtain, shade gavn n use, benefit; til of (any) use gi gav git give; sig give oneself, trust oneself gift -e married gjengjaeld c (and n) retri- bution, revenge, neme- sis gjengjael'delse r retribu- tion, revenge, nemesis gjennem through gjerning c -er deed, act gjest c -er guest gjaelde gjaldt gjseldt con- cern, involve gj0re gjorde gjort do, make glad e glad, happy, joy- ous glat te smooth glitre / glitter glytte / peep gnistre / sparkle, shine, gleam, flash god r good, (romp and *HI>I bed re, bedst, as adjectives or adverbs) graa -t graa gray, pale, lowering graad (old) see graat graagaas c -gjaes graylag, wild goose graasprsengt' -e mixed with gray, gray-streaked, grizzled, grayhaired graat c weeping; i , med in tears grav c -er grave gripe grep grepet grasp, VOCABULARY seize; i seize, take hold of grov r coarse, rough grund c -e(r) ground, bot- tom, shoal grus H gravel, sand, rocks gry n dawn graes n grass Gud c God gul r yellow, golden guldhaar H golden hair, flaxen hair gut c -ter boy H ha hadde hat have haand c haender hand haane haante haanet scoff (at), sneer (at), taunt haar n hair haard / hard halm c straw, tuft of grass halv'glemt -e half-for- gotten ban hans ham he hast c haste, hurry; i en in a hurry, on short notice hat c -ter hat; ta til hat- ten, touch one's hat, lift the hat hav // sea, ocean, the deep hav'blik'sdag' c day of dead calm havn c -er haven, harbor hei c -er upland, ridge, mountain side heise // hoist, run up hel r whole, entire heist (s n pi of gjerne) espe- cially, preferably, partic- ularly hen away; hvor hen in whatever direc- tion i hente / fetch, bring away, carry off, get ' her here hesple 7 reel, wind up (see note on 1. 70) hevn c revenge hin hint nine yon(der), that hjem home; adv hjem homeward, home; hjem- me at home; staa hjem- me stay at home, re- main at home hjerte n -r heart holde holdt holdt hold; ut hold out, endure hos near, by, at, with, be- side, at the house of hugg n thrust, blow, stroke hugge 7 (pant sometimes hug) hew, slash, jab, thrust, drive into hul r hollow, deep hun hendes hende she hus H house, cottage hustru c -er wife hvad rel what, that which, which, that hvas -t -se sharp, piercing; hvast valiantly, keenly, with determination hver -t each, every; - mand everybody, every one hverken neither; hverken - eller neither nor hvid (old) see hvit hvile c rest, repose TERJE VIKEN hvis if, in case hvit r white, pale hvitmalt e white-paint- ed, white hvitne 7 become white, turn pale hvor where, how; hvor hen wherever, whithersoever, which- ever way, whither hvaelv arch, vault, vaulted room hytte c -r cabin haeve I lift, raise, take up h0i r high, tall; h0it camp h0iere, loud(er); h0it high; h0it oppe far ad- vanced, well along; h0iest highest, deepest, dire(st)" h0re II hear h0st c -er fall, autumn; om h0sten in the autumn i in, into, at, at the time of, throughout, for, dur- ing, on, upon iblandt among, intermin- gled, scattered among igjen again, once more igjennem through ikke not il c haste; med in haste ind into, in In'denfor' within, inside, ' further in, nearer shore inderst (sitpl of ind) in- nermost; derinde far- thest within, at the furthermost point in the bay indover in, inward(s), in- shore, toward land indtil' until ingen intet ingen adj no; pron no one, nobody; intet nothing is c -e(r) ice ja yes, indeed jage jog jaget chase, pur- sue, speed, flash jeg min mig I jer see du jevn r even, steady jolle c -r yawl, jolly-boat, a kind of rowboat jord c earth, soil, land, ground jungmand c (Jung is Ger- man) ordinary seaman, apprentice on shipboard just just, exactly; ei not exactly jy(d)sk e Jutland (ish) K kalde II call, name; - for call kammeraf c -er comrade, companion, shipmate, friend kamp c -e(r) contest, fight, struggle kanhaeride perhaps, may- be, possibly kant c -er edge kapteih c -er captain kind -er cheek kirke c -r church kjende If know, be ac- quainted with, recog- nize, feel; sig feel, VOCABULARY 47 feel oneself to be; kjen- des be seen, be apparent kjending c -er acquaint- ance, friend kjaek -t -ke brave, proud, haughty, arrogant kjaempe c -r giant kj0rspor n wake kj0rvanrf n wake; kj0lvan- dets spor, wake kj0pe // buy, purchase klar r clear, bright, fair; at gaa to clear, to get around, to steer clear of klarhet c clearness, clarity klinge klang klinget sound, resound, ring (out), clank, clang, clash knegt c -er rascal, rogue, fellow, chap kneise kneiste kneiset strut, carry the head high knipe knep knepet pinch; da vaerst det knep when the crisis was at its worst, in the worst pinch knae n -r knee; i on one's knees, kneeling kommarido c command; svigte fail to respond to the wheel, become unmanageable, get out of hand, get beyond con- trol komme kom kommet come, arrive; fra leave, go away from; op mot compare with; paa come about, come to pass, happen kommune c -r community, parish, associated char- ities, poorhouse kone c -r woman, wife konge c -r king korvef c -ter corvet, sloop (of war) koste / cost krabat c -er fellow, chap, wild fellow kraft c krasfter power, might, strength kraftig -e strong, powerful, able kreds c -er circle, ring, circle of friends, as- sociates or acquaint- ances krig c -e war krydser c -e cruiser kraeve krasvde kraevd (or 7) demand, demand re- stitution (of) kr0ke II bend, bow down kule / blow kun only kvalm c suffocating air kvit -e (see note on 1. 338) kysse kysset (or kyste) kys(se)t kiss kyst c -er coast, shore, strand la(te) lot latt let, leave, allow lag H ; gi det glatte give a broadside, fire a salute lakke I (impersonal) ap- ' proach, draw nigh TERJE VIKEN land // land(e) land, coun- try landjorcf c land, dry land landlov shore leave, fur- lough lang r long; laengere far- ther, further; ei laenge- re no further, no other; laa laengst i havn had been long in the harbor, had been at anchor in the harbor for some time lang'gruncf c ' long sand bank or reef larm c noise, roar, rush last c -er burden, load, cargo lav r low le lo ledd laugh, smile; det lo there was a laugh led c fairway, inshore channel, still water be- tween sunken rocks and shore let te easy; falde be easy lette / lift leve 7 (or levde levd) live, exist lid (old) see lit lide led ledet (of time) wear on, approach lide led lidt suffer, endure ligge laa ligget lie, be situated, rest; med fisk be at the wharf with fish for sale lik ; like likesom as it were, so to speak, as though Mile see liten lin flax, yarn Imrfveirsb0r c mild weath- er breeze(s), soft . wind(s) lit c confidence, faith, trust liten litet l< f Mile) /,' smaa little, small, tiny; litt a little litt ad i- (a) little, a trifle, a little way, a short dis- tance liv n life, excitement, animation, waist; ha live lods o -er pilot los(s) lost losse loose, free; komme get free, push off lukke / close, shut; lukt closed luvart; til , to windward lyde I0d lydt sound lykke c chance, luck, hap- piness lyn n flash of lightning lys / light, fair lyse // shine, (of the dawn) break; lysende bright, sunny lyst c -er pleasure, delight, joy lyst re / obey, answer the helm lae lee; i (to) leeward laegge la lagt lay, place; lagdes, was buried, wa? laid to rest laenges laengtes (bar) laen- ges long, long for, pine; hjem long for home, be homesick VOCABULARY laeng'selsblik' n longing look I0fte I lift; hans hjerte Ipftet sig his heart grew light I0p n course, approach, channel, fairway Ipse // loose, free I0sne / loosen, melt, break up M maaneskiriskvelcf c -er moonlit evening maatte maa maatte maat- tet must, have to, be obliged mager -t magre thin, ema- ciated magt r power, force, strength, upper hand mak r ease; i at ease, in a leisurely manner mand c msend d>l mand when used of groups of men in a military or naval sense, as in 1. 157) man mange many mangen mangt mange many a mast c -er mast mat -te faint, feeble matros c -er sailor, mariner med with, together with, too, regarding, in mellem between, among men but men c and H harm, hurt, injury, damage mene II mean, think, be- lieve, be of the opinion ] menneske n -r person, man, human being mens while mers n ; fra from, on the lookout (see note on 1. 108) mig see jeg mildt gently min mit mine my, mine; alt mit, everything of mine, everything I pos- sess(ed) minde n -r memory, recol- lection, remembrance | mindes mindtes (har) min- des remember, recollect mindre, mindst conip and xii pi of liten; mindre nflr less miste I lose, miss misvekst c bad harvest, crop failure moder (old) see mor modig -e brave, cour- ageous, plucky mor (older moder) c m0- dre mother morgen r -er morning morild c phosphorescence, sea fire mot toward, against, at, (just) before mund f -e(r) mouth, lips m0te If meet N naar when, whenever nakke c -r neck, shoul- der(s); bsere nakken carry one's head nat e nagtter night navn name, fame 50 TERJE VIKEN ned(e) down negl c -er nail, finger nail nei no, well ni nine nogen noget nogen some, any; (et) noget. some- thing nok probably, undoubtedly, no doubt, I suppose, I dare say, apparently, to be sure Norge Norway norsk -e Norse, Norwe- gian nu now, by now, by this time ny r new; paa anew, once more naer near, near to; naer ved, near to; nasrmest, nearest, closest, most intimate n0d c need, want, distress ndd'skrik' n cry of dis- tress n0gen -t n0gne naked, bare, barren, bleak O officer c -er officer, com- mander og and, also, likewise om about, around, of, re- garding, in, during, on om if, in case ombord' on board, aboard omsider at length, even- tually, at last ond r bad. evil, trouble- some; ondt evil, harm; ondt badly op(pe) up, upon opover upward (s) ord n word os see vi over over, across, above, past p paa on, upon, for, in paalandsveir n sea breeze; i when the sea breeze blows pande c -r forehead, brow patent n -er certificate, license pike c -r girl pi I c -er arrow pipe pep pepet whistle, shriek, howl, rage planke c -r plank, board plet c -ter place, spot praegtig -e magnificent, splendid, fine raad c and H or -er plan, expedient, re- course, way, means rand c -er edge, ridge, line, stripe rank r straight, erect rase raste raset rage rat n wheel, steering wheel reis c (fam) trip, voyage reise // travel, go, go away, leave rev n reef revne / tear rev net -de riven rif'leskud' n rifle shot. report of a rifle rigdom r riches, wealth rik ? rich, well-to-do, for- tunate, favored VOCABULARY 51 rinde randt rundet run, rise ringe poor, insignifi- cant, little ro c rest, repose, peace, contentment ro 777 row rolig -e quiet, calm rope II call, cry, shout ror /; rudder, helm ros c praise, glory, renown rov n pillage, robbery; paa in search of prey, plundering rute c -er pane, window- pane ryg c -ger back, ridge, top ryste 7 shake; - av shake off, throw off raedsel c terror, fright raekke rak rukket reach, extend; sig reach, ex- tend raeling c -er gunwale, gun- nel, rail r0be r0bte r0bet betray, discover r0d r red, ruddy r0d'malt' e painted red, red r0gte 7 care for, attend to, mind r0mme r0mte r0mt de- camp, run away, flee, desert (a ship) S saa so, then, thus, as, so that; (sometimes a mere connective which need not be translated) sabel c sabler sword, saber sadel (def sadlen) sadler saddle; Imenes-sadlen, name of a peak (see note on 1. 125) saga c -er story, tale sagn H tradition, story sagtens no doubt, I dare say, to be sure samme same; i stund at that instant samt together with sand r true sang c -er song, singing savn n privation, want, shortage se saa set see, look, look upon seierssalut c -ter salute of victory seil M sail seile 7 or 77 sail seirende conquering selv adr even selv pron self, himself; for sig for, to himself sende II send, cast, give forth, utter si(e) sa (sagde) sagt say, tell; der siges it is said; der sagdes it was said siden since, later, after- wards, by and by; sidst last sig (3rd per refl) oneself, itself, himself, herself, themselves signal' n -er signal silke c silk sin sit sine his, her(s), its, their(s) sind n mind, spirit, purpose 52 TERJE VIKEN sitte sat sittet sit, remain, stay, be sj0 t- -er sea, ocean, water sj0'gang' c heavy sea, surge, waves skaft n or -er shaft, handle skape // make, create skar n cleft, gap, notch skat c -te(r) treasure skimte / see dimly, catch a glimpse of skinne / shine, be light skjegte c -r small, light sailboat, skiff skjemtsom -t -me jesting, joking, playful skjule // hide, conceal skjaer n rock, shelf, ledge of rock, skerry, rocky isle skj0nt (al)though skj0t ii -er sheet, the rope which holds the sail firmly aft skj0tte / care for, attend to skodde c -r fog, mist skotte / glance skral r scant (y), weak skridt H step skrift c script, writing, letters, inscription skrike skrek skreket cry, cry out, shout skulle skal skulde skullet be about to, be going to; skal shall, is to, are to; skulde (1. 21) if it should skum'hvit' r white as foam. foamy white skum'klaedt' -e covered with foam, foamy skure / scour, scrape, grate sky c -er cloud sky - (e) frightened, terrified skyet de cloudy, cloud- flecked, overcast skyldner c -e debtor slaa slog slaat strike; sig gjennem fight one's way through; sig i splinter dash itself to pieces slag n blow, stroke; for by tacking slegt c -er family, kin, kindred, relatives slik r such; slik (