PEER. [_Softly._] Was it me they were talking of? [_With a forced shrug._ Oh, let them chatter. After all, they can’t sneer the life out of my body. [_Casts himself down upon the heathery slope; lies for some time flat on his back with his hands under his head, gazing up into the sky._ What a strange sort of cloud! It is just like a horse. There’s a man on it too—and a saddle—and bridle.— And after it comes an old crone on a broomstick. [_Laughs quietly to himself._ It is mother. She’s scolding and screaming: You beast! Hei you, Peer Gynt—— [_His eyes gradually close._ Ay, now she is frightened.— Peer Gynt he rides first, and there follow him many.— His steed it is gold-shod and crested with silver. Himself he has gauntlets and sabre and scabbard. His cloak it is long, and its lining is silken. Full brave is the company riding behind him. None of them, though, sits his charger so stoutly. None of them glitters like him in the sunshine.— Down by the fence stand the people in clusters, Lifting their hats, and agape gazing upwards. Women are curtseying. All the world knows him, Kaiser Peer Gynt, and his thousands of henchmen. Sixpenny pieces and glittering shillings Over the roadway he scatters like pebbles. Rich as a lord grows each man in the parish. High o’er the ocean Peer Gynt goes a-riding. Engelland’s Prince on the seashore awaits him; There too await him all Engelland’s maidens. Engelland’s nobles and Engelland’s Kaiser, See him come riding and rise from their banquet. Raising his crown, hear the Kaiser address him—— ASLAK THE SMITH. [_To some other young men, passing along the road._] Just look at Peer Gynt there, the drunken swine——! PEER. [_Starting half up._] What, Kaiser——! THE SMITH. [_Leaning against the fence and grinning._] Up with you, Peer, my lad. PEER. What the devil? The smith! What do you want here? THE SMITH. [_To the others._] He hasn’t got over the Lundëspree yet PEER. [_Jumping up._] You’d better be off! THE SMITH. I am going, yes. But tell us, where have you dropped from, man? You’ve been gone six weeks. Were you troll-taken, eh? PEER. I have been doing strange deeds, Aslak Smith!