Chapter VIII: Part 8

The “Birkebeiner” or Birchlegs were at this period a political
faction. They were so called because, at the time of their first
appearance, when they seem to have been little more than bandits,
they eked out their scanty attire by making themselves leggings of
birch-bark. Norway at this time swarmed with factions, such as the
“Bagler” or Croziers (Latin, baculus), so called because Bishop
Nicholas was their chief, the Ribbungs, the Slittungs, etc.,
devoted, for the most part, to one or other of the many Pretenders
to the crown.

Footnote 25:

A “thing,” or assembly, held from time to time on the “öre” or
foreshore at the mouth of the river Nid, at Trondhiem.

Footnote 26:

The word _hird_ is very difficult to render. It meant something
between “court,” “household,” and “guard.” I have never translated
it “court,” as that word seemed to convey an idea of peaceful
civilisation foreign to the country and period; but I have used
either “guard” or “household” as the context seemed to demand.
_Hirdmand_ I have generally rendered “man-at-arms.” _Lendermand_ I
have represented by “baron”; _lagmand_ and _sysselmand_ by
“thane”; and _stallare_ by “marshal”—all mere rough
approximations.

Footnote 27:

See note, p. 125.

Footnote 28:

Pronounce _Shaldarband_.

Footnote 29:

Bishop Nicholas’s speech, “Nu slår jeg bonden, herre jarl,” means
literally, “Now I strike (or slay) the peasant”; the pawn being
called in Norwegian “bonde,” peasant, as in German “Bauer.” Thus
in this speech and the next the Bishop and the Earl are girding at
Dagfinn the Peasant. [Our own word “pawn” comes from the Spanish
peon = a foot-soldier or day-labourer.]

Footnote 30:

Pronounce _Yostein_.

Footnote 31:

_Den lykkeligste mand._ The word _lykke_ means not only luck or
fortune, but happiness. To render _lykkeligste_ completely, we
should require a word in which the ideas “fortunate” and “happy”
should be blent.

Footnote 32:

See note, p. 125.

Footnote 33:

An ancient city close to the present Christiania.

Footnote 34:

Men of the Trondheim district.

Footnote 35:

_Skibreder_, districts each of which furnished a ship to the
fleet.

Footnote 36:

The metre of this song is very rugged in the original, and the
wording purposely uncouth.

Footnote 37:

See note, p. 127.

Footnote 38:

The derivation of this word is doubtful. In the form _Vargbælg_ it
means Wolf-skin, from Icelandic _Vargr_ = a wolf, and _Belgr_—the
skin of an animal taken off whole. The more common form, however,
is _Varbelg,_ which, as P. A. Munch suggests (“Det Norske Folks
Historie,” iii. 219), may possibly come from _var_ (our word
“ware”), a covering, and may be an allusion to the falsity and
cunning of the faction. What Ibsen understands by the form
_Vårbælg_ I cannot discover. _Vår_ (Icelandic _Vâr_) means the
springtide. The nick-name had been applied to a political faction
as early as 1190, and was merely revived as a designation for
Skule’s adherents.

Footnote 39:

_Knœsœtte_, see note, p. 19.

Footnote 40:

_Varger_, the first part of the word _Vargbælg_.

Footnote 41:

As to the earlier text of this scene, see Brandes’ _Ibsen and
Björnson_ (Heinemann, 1899), p. 29.

Footnote 42:

_Lur_, the long wooden horn still used among the mountains in
Norway.

Footnote 43:

The arms of Norway consist of a lion rampant, holding an axe.

Footnote 44:

_Et nyt kongs-emne._

Footnote 45:

_Elgesæter_—Elk-châlet.

Footnote 46:

_Et kongs-emne._

-----

Printed by BALLANTYNE & CO. LIMITED
Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Transcriber’s Note

There are quite a few instances of missing punctuation. The
conventional period following the character’s name is sometimes
missing and has been added for consistency’s sake without further
comment. Those missing from setting and stage direction are also
added without comment, since there is no obvious purpose to be
served by the omission. However, the restoration of punctuation
missing from dialogue is noted below, since the punctuation is
frequently expressive.

Volume I of this series included errata for each succeeding volume.
Some, but not all of the corrections indicated there had been made
before this printing. Those that remained unchanged have been
corrected here, and noted as such.

Other errors deemed most likely to be the printer’s have been
corrected, and are noted here. The references are to the page and
line in the original. The following issues should be noted, along
with the resolutions.

63.16 If Thorol[d/f] is slain Replaced,
per Errata.

63.18 If Thorol[d/f] is slain Replaced,
per Errata.

82.29 Whither wilt thou[?] Added.

118.12 _H[a/å]kon’s marshal._ Replaced.

123.32 The old name for Trondh[ie/ei]m. Transposed.

161.27 the full strength of my youth[;/.] Replaced.

279.13 what have you done[?] Added.

329.1 [_Softly_ [to] SKULE.] Farewell, Skule Added.
Bårdsson

341.4 And the church-robber must come too[!] Added.