men should lose.

LADY INGER (evasively). That reckoning is not for me to make.
(Turns to the people).
You know that King Gustav is sure of help from Denmark. King
Frederick is his friend, and will never leave him in the lurch----

EINAR HUK. But if the people were now to rise all over Norway's
land?--if we all rose as one man, nobles and peasants together?--
ay, Lady Inger Gyldenlove, the time we have waited for is surely
come. We have but to rise now to drive the strangers from the land.

THE PEASANTS. Ay, out with the Danish sheriffs! Out with the
foreign masters! Out with the Councillors' lackeys!

LADY INGER (aside). Ah, there is metal in them; and yet, yet----!

BIORN (to himself). She is of two minds. (To ELINA.) What
say you now, Mistress Elina--have you not sinned in misjudging
your mother?

ELINA. Biorn, if my eyes have deceived me, I could tear them out
of my head!

EINAR HUK. See you not, my noble lady, King Gustav must be dealt
with first. Once his power is gone, the Danes cannot long hold
this land----

LADY INGER. And then?

EINAR HUK. Then we shall be free. We shall have no more foreign
masters, and can choose ourselves a king, as the Swedes have done
before us.

LADY INGER (with animation). A king for ourselves. Are you
thinking of the Sture stock?

EINAR HUK. King Christiern and others after him have swept bare
our ancient houses. The best of our nobles are outlaws on the hill-
paths, if so be they still live; nevertheless, it might still be
possible to find one or other shoot of the old stems----

LADY INGER (hastily). Enough, Einar Huk, enough! (To herself.)
Ah, my dearest hope! (Turns to the Peasants and Retainers.)
I have warned you, now, as well as I can. I have told you how
great is the risk you run. But if you are fixed in your purpose,
it were folly of me to forbid what I have no power to prevent.

EINAR HUK. Then we have your leave to----?

LADY INGER. You have your own firm will; take counsel with that.
If it be as you say, that you are daily harassed and oppressed----
---- I know but little of these matters, and would not know more.
What can I, a lonely woman----? Even if you were to plunder the
Banquet Hall--and there's many a good weapon on the walls--you are
the masters at Ostrat to-night. You must do as seems good to you.
Good-night!

(Loud cries of joy from the multitude. Candles are lighted;