The Parson's Widow (Prästänkan)

THE PARSON'S WIDOW

Now, as a thousand years ago, the waterfall sings by the old Norwegian village.

If we listen closely, it tells a lot about the days gone by.

Hear, O hear my voice proclaim. Come all ye from far and near. I summon you to elect a parson. For we have no good shepherd here.

These two had wandered over the mountain from a neighboring parish...

Sofren had struggled through long student days and now he was applying for the vacant post.

Mari had waited faithfully during all the hard years.

Mari reminds Sofren that her father will not allow them to marry until Sofren is truly a parson.

Sofren's two rivals to the post had faith in their handsome clothes and the fine learning that was crammed into them in Copenhagen.

Each of the three candidates wished heartily for the Devil himself to take away the others.

"In the beginning, Man, unlike others creatures, was made in the image of God."

"But we must consider why it was that God made Man so perfect and magnificent..."

"I am going to speak to you about Balaam's ass and God's strange power --- by which He was able to open the jaws of a dumb animal so that it might speak like a man!"

"Now, two learned applicants have appeared here before me."

"One of them took us to Eden. And that is as far back as we can go."

"Let him stay there!"

"The other one chose the text: Am I Not An Ass? But what has an ass to do on the pulpit?"

"My friends, I will not take you to Eden --- you are too clever. But I will take you to the bowels of the Earth, deep in the roaring jaws of Hell!"

"And so, my friends, beware that you are not swallowed up by the roaring jaws of Hell!"

The congregation had appointed five wise and trusted men to pass verdicts on the applicants.

When the two theologians from Copenhagen saw they could not reach their goal by words alone, they joined forces to invite everyone to a feast that evening.

Out of common decency, they were obliged to invite Sofren too.

At last, the verdict was Sofren.

"According to the law of our parish, the late parson's widow, Dame Margarete, claims the right to demand that his successor marry her."

"Since Dame Margarete insists on her right, we have asked her to come here tonight so the candidate may have a look at her."

"Night has fallen already. Will you do me the honor to accompany me to the parsonage?"

Sofren had heard that Dame Margarete might be a witch. But he did not feel it would do him any harm just to enter the house.

"My lot is not an easy one. This the fourth time I must be handed over like a piece of furniture to whomever claims me..."

"But I am attached to this place, to every chair and candlestick..."

"...and if you part with what has become so important to your life, your innermost heart gets torn open. And you die..."

"You are not engaged to any young maiden, are you?"

"I hope that you will accept my hospitality. It is dark and long way to the Inn."

The next morning, Sofren woke up late.

Never in his life had he been so well dressed! He wore a black coat and breeches that had been put beside his bed.

"I had the most wonderful sleep last night. I felt I was resting in Abraham's bosom."

"Indeed... there I have never slept."

In front of him lay a gleaming white herring. He was drawn to it as if by a magic power.

Dame Margarete's two old servants had been with her as long as anyone could remember.

After Sofren had eaten the fat herring and emptied the bottle of schnapps, he felt very strange.

As if in a fog, he saw Dame Margarete, not old and ugly, but as a young smiling girl.

"Dame Margarete, I love you! Let me stay here with you always."

"Isn't it so, Master Sofren, that you offered me your heart and hand and asked me to be your wife?"

"Of course you will have your freedom. You have your room and I have mine. I only wish to stay and manage everything as before."

"Sofren, how could you!"

"How did the widow bewitch you?"

"With a herring she gave me."

"It made me so dizzy that I proposed to her."

"I cannot get you if I do not get the post, and I will not get that unless I wed the old woman."

"But after she dies, I inherit everything. Then we can marry."

"Can Dame Margarete really not see who it is?

"Why, it is my sister Mari."

"She is so unhappy at having to leave me! I beg you to let Mari live at the parsonage in return for help around the house."

"Do you think the old woman will be done for soon?"