Away, away then with nails and planks! No need now for bars against hobgoblin-thoughts. If you dare dwell with the hunter here, I know the hut will be blessed from ill. Solveig! Let me look at you! Not too near! Only look at you! Oh, but you are bright and pure! Let me lift you! Oh, but you are fine and light! Let me carry you, Solveig, and I’ll never be tired! I will not soil you. With outstretched arms I will hold you far out from me, lovely and warm one! Oh, who would have thought I could draw you to me,— Ah, but I have longed for you, daylong and nightlong. Here you may see I’ve been hewing and building;— It must down again, dear; it is ugly and mean—— SOLVEIG. Be it mean or brave,—here is all to my mind. One so lightly draws breath in the teeth of the wind. Down below it was airless; one felt as though choked; That was partly what drove me in fear from the dale. But here, with the fir-branches soughing o’erhead,— What a stillness and song!—I am here in my home. PEER. And know you that surely? For all your days? SOLVEIG. The path I have trodden leads back nevermore. PEER. You are mine then! In! In the room let me see you! Go in! I must go to fetch fir-roots[61] for fuel. Warm shall the fire be and bright shall it shine, You shall sit softly and never be a-cold. [_He opens the door; SOLVEIG goes in. He stands still for a while, then laughs aloud with joy and leaps into the air._ PEER. My king’s daughter! Now I have found her and won her! Hei! Now the palace shall rise, deeply founded! _He seizes his axe and moves away; at the same moment an OLD-LOOKING WOMAN, in a tattered green gown, comes out from the wood; an UGLY BRAT, with an ale-flagon in his hand, limps after, holding on to her skirt._ THE WOMAN. Good evening, Peer Lightfoot! PEER. What is it? Who’s there? THE WOMAN. Old friends of yours, Peer Gynt! My home is near by. We are neighbours. PEER. Indeed! That is more than I know. THE WOMAN. Even as your hut was builded, mine built itself too. PEER. [_Going._] I’m in haste—— THE WOMAN. Yes, that you are always, my lad! But I’ll trudge behind you and catch you at last. PEER. You’re mistaken, good woman! THE WOMAN.