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Read Ebook: Lucky Pehr by Strindberg August Howard Velma Swanston Translator
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Ebook has 873 lines and 19389 words, and 18 pages
Translator: Velma Swanston Howard
LUCKY PEHR
Author Of "Easter," Etc.
Authorized Edition
CHARACTERS
OLD MAN IN THE TOWER. PEHR. LISA. FAIRY. ELF. RATS . BUTLER. ASSESSOR. PETITIONER. FIRST FRIEND. SECOND FRIEND. A WOMAN. PILLORY. STATUE. WAGONMAKER. SHOEMAKER. CHIROPODIST. STREET-PAVER. RELATIVE. BURGOMASTER. ONE OF THE PEOPLE. CHAMBERLAIN OF THE CALIPH. AMEER. COURT HISTORIAN. COURT MULLAH. GRAND VIZIER. POET LAUREATE. BRIDE. SINGER. DEATH. WISE MAN. SAINT BARTHOLOMEW. SAINT LAURENCE. BROOM. PALL. A VOICE.
Townspeople, Dancers, Viziers, Courtiers, Court Attendants, etc.
LUCKY PEHR
SYNOPSIS OF SCENES
TIME: Middle Ages.
ACT ONE
SCENE: A Room in the Church Tower.
Window shutters at back wide open, starlit sky is seen through windows. Background: Snow covered house-roofs; gable windows in the distance brilliantly illuminated. In room an old chair, a fire-pan and a picture of the Virgin, with a lighted candle before it. Room is divided by posts--two in centre thick enough to conceal an adult.
Chant, in unison, from the church below:
A Solis ortus cardine Et usque terrae limitem Christum canamus principem Natum Maria Virgini.
OLD MAN. Now the elf shall have his Christmas porridge. And this year he has earned it honestly--twice he awakened me when I fell asleep and forgot the tower shutters; once he rang the bell when fire broke loose. Merry Christmas, Elf! and many of them. Here's your Christmas mess, Satan's rats!
A VOICE. Curse not Christmas!
OLD MAN. I believe there are spirits about to-night--Ugh! it's the cold increasing; then the beams always creak, like an old ship. Here's your Christmas supper. Now perhaps you'll quit gnawing the bell-rope and eating up the tallow, you accursed pest!
A VOICE. Curse not Christmas!
OLD MAN. The spooks are at it again! Christmas eve--yes, yes! There! Now they have their portion. And now comes the turn of the feathered wretches. They must have grain, of course, so they can soil the tin roof for me. Such is life! The church wardens pay for it, so it's not my affair. But if I were to ask for an extra shilling two in wages--that they couldn't afford. That wouldn't be seen! But when one sticks out a grain-sheaf on a pole once a year, it looks generous. Ah, that one is a fine fellow!--and generosity is a virtue. Now, if we were to share and share alike, I should get back my porridge, which I gave to the elf.
A VOICE. He robs Christmas! He robs Christmas!
OLD MAN. Now I'll put this thing on the pole so that it will look like a symbol, and as a symbol it will also be of service--for it shows what is not to be found within. Oh, you old human pit down there! I spit on you! This must be the boy's doings! The times are not such that one burns up candles needlessly.
A VOICE. Woe! Woe!
OLD MAN. Is hell let loose to-night?
A VOICE. Heaven!
OLD MAN. Pehr, Pehr! Where are you? My eyes! Light the candles--My son, my son!
OLD MAN. My eyes! Hell-fire!
NISSE. I say, it smells like roast pig!
NILLA. Oh, I promise you! Be careful, Nisse! I see the trap over there. 'Twas in that very trap that our little ones were lost! O dear, dear, dear!
NISSE. If we could only hit upon some trick to play on the bad old man it would do my bowels good! Can you see if he has left anything about which he values?
NILLA. Suppose we gnaw the ropes so the bells will tumble down on his head--
NISSE. Why, Nilla! you know that I have only one poor tooth left in my head.
NILLA. But I have two--and where there's a will there's--but you, you have no feeling for your children!
NISSE. Come now! we shan't quarrel on Christmas Eve.
NILLA. Hush! What have we here?
NISSE. A dish of porridge--
NILLA. Which the old man has left--
NISSE. For the elf. He's afraid of him!
NILLA. Now I know! We'll eat up the porridge so--
NISSE. The elf will get after him--
NILLA. And he can raise the mischief when he gets angry.
NISSE. Oh, move along and make room for me!
NILLA. Hush! It creaks in the stairs.
NISSE. Now I see the bottom of the dish; there's the lump of butter!
NILLA. Help me with this corner.
NISSE. Ah!--now we'll wipe our mouths and run.
FAIRY. Good evening, lad.
ELF. Good evening, old lady. Can you corrupt a young man?--Oh! understand me aright.
FAIRY. That depends--
ELF. It won't go in that costume! You see, it's a question of the old man's son.
FAIRY. Our Pehr?
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