cultural resources in henrik ibsen's early environment - Ibsen.net

Causing inconvenience? Good Bjørn? Well, I am a good Bjørn (Bjørn = bear), a gentle,
domesticated good Bjørn, who has too much breeding to speak discourteously to my
noble young mistress.
ELISABETH.
I do not consider it a discourtesy. But you are as secretive as the Sybil, and I cannot tell
whether my arrival at this moment interrupts you in some plot, perhaps.
BJØRN.
Gracious mistress! I am secretive, but it is not my fault if I have been deemed worthy of
being entrusted with secrets. I know my duty and the importance of my post; never will
any rose sink down at having gotten me to run in fear ("løbe in fælden"). (?)
ELISABETH.
No, certainly not. Actually, to tell you the truth, you are simply an annoying person that
one can never learn anything about. These days I see you and my guardian all the time
putting your heads together, and talking in riddles about the king's presence at or
absence from my wedding. You are afraid that either he will come or he will not come. I
cannot be sensible about it while I am infuriated by watching your secretive gestures.
BJØRN.
But, gracious mistress! Do not take it amiss, but you are rather hotheaded. I have never
dared to make gestures to Mr. Walkendorff, and he has never honored me by making
gestures to me. We have talked about the king's coming here, that is true, and we have
been anxious at not knowing whether his royal grace will enhance the party with his
presence, or whether we dare expect this happiness. That is true, but that is all.
ELISABETH.
You are lying, you are deceiving me. Your anxiety betrays a more significant reason than
you give. You are trying to hide some important secret from me, but you cannot control
your face and your expressions.
BJØRN.
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