SECOND GIRL. We have mead! PEER. Let it flow! THIRD GIRL. No cot shall stand empty this Saturday night! SECOND GIRL. [_Kissing him._] He sparkles and glisters like white-heated iron. THIRD GIRL. [_Doing likewise._] Like a baby’s eyes from the blackest tarn. PEER. [_Dancing in the midst of them._] Heavy of heart and wanton of mind. The eyes full of laughter, the throat of tears! THE GIRLS. [_Making mocking gestures towards the mountain-tops, screaming and singing._] Trond of the Valfjeld! Bård and Kårë! Troll-pack!—To-night who shall sleep in our arms? [_They dance away over the heights, with PEER GYNT in their midst._ SCENE FOURTH. _Among the Rondë mountains. Sunset. Shining snow-peaks all around._ _PEER GYNT enters, dizzy and bewildered._ PEER. Tower over tower arises! Hei, what a glittering gate! Stand! Will you stand! It’s drifting Further and further away! High on the vane the wind-cock Arches his wings for flight;— Blue spread the rifts and bluer, Locked is the fell and barred.— What are those trunks and tree-roots, That grow from the ridge’s clefts? They are warriors heron-footed! Now they, too, are fading away. A shimmering like rainbow-streamers Goes shooting through eyes and brain. What is it, that far-off chiming? What’s weighing my eyebrows down? Hu, how my forehead’s throbbing— A tightening red-hot ring——! I cannot think who the devil as bound it around my head! [_Sinks down._ Flight o’er the Edge of Gendin— Stuff and accursed lies! Up o’er the steepest hill-wall With the bride,—and a whole day drunk; Hunted by hawks and falcons, Threatened by trolls and such, Sporting with crazy wenches:— and accursed stuff! [_Gazes long upwards._ Yonder sail two brown eagles. Southward the wild geese fly. And here I must splash and stumble In quagmire and filth knee-deep! [_Springs up._ I’ll fly too! I will wash myself clean in The bath of the keenest winds! I’ll fly high! I will plunge myself fair in The glorious christening-font! I will soar far over the sæter; I will ride myself pure of soul; I will forth o’er the salt sea waters, And high over Engelland’s prince! Ay, gaze as ye may, young maidens; My ride is for none of you;