United States or Kenya ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
The extent to which this is done may be seen from the way in which Hamsun lets a character in one book enter upon a theme which later becomes the subject of an independent work by the author himself. Thus Glahn is haunted by visions of Diderik and Iselin; Johannes writes fragments supposed to be spoken by one Vendt the Monk.
Five years after Victoria, Hamsun gives us the romantic drama of Munken Vendt, in which Diderik and Iselin appear.
I had never before known what it was to be so alone as on the first of those days. Now and again I took a couple of coins from my pocket and rattled them, to break the loneliness. I thought to myself: "What if Diderik and Iselin were to appear!" Night was coming on again; the sun just dipped into the sea and rose again, red, refreshed, as if it had been down to drink.
And again she turns and waves to me. But Diderik steps out from under the tree and says: "Iselin, what have you done? I saw you." She answers: "Diderik, what did you see? I have done nothing." "Iselin, I saw what you did," he says again; "I saw you." And then her rich, glad laughter rings through the wood, and she goes off with him, full of rejoicing from top to toe. And whither does she go?
And have you Diderik there? ... But my head grew heavier still, and I floated off on the waves of sleep. Lul! lul! A voice speaking, as if the Seven Stars themselves were singing through my blood; Iselin's voice: "Sleep, sleep! I will tell you of my love while you sleep. I was sixteen, and it was springtime, with warm winds; Dundas came. It was like the rushing of an eagle's flight.
And it was flying year for the Maybug; its humming mingled with the buzz of the night moths, sounded like a whispering here and a whispering there, all about in the woods. So much there was to hear! For three nights I did not sleep; I thought of Diderik and Iselin. "See now," I thought, "they might come."
And Iselin would lead Diderik away to a tree and say: "Stand here, Diderik, and keep guard; keep watch; I will let this huntsman tie my shoestring." And the huntsman is myself, and she will give me a glance of her eyes that I may understand. And when she comes, my heart knows all, and no longer beats like a heart, but rings as a bell. I lay my hand on her.
Word Of The Day