Brendel.
Brendel.
Brendel.
The dark night is best. Peace be with you.
[He goes. There is a short silence in the room.
[He goes. There is a short silence in the room.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
[Breathes heavily.] Oh, how close and sultry it is here!
[Goes to the window, opens it, and remains standing by it.
[Goes to the window, opens it, and remains standing by it.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
[Sits down in the arm-chair by the stove.] There is nothing else for it after all, Rebecca. I see it. Youmustgo away.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Yes, I see no choice.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Let us make the most of our last hour. Come here and sit by me.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
[Goes and sits on the sofa.] What do you want to say to me, Rosmer?
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
First, I want to tell you that you need not feel any anxiety about your future.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
[Smiles.] H’m,myfuture.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
I have long ago arranged for everything. Whatever may happen, you are provided for.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
That too, my dear one?
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
You might surely have known that.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
It is many a long day since I have given a thought to such things.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Yes, yes—you thought things would always remain as they were between us.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Yes, I thought so.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
So did I. But if I were to go——
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Oh, Rosmer—you will live longer than I.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Surely my worthless life lies in my own hands.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
What is this? You are never thinking of——!
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Do you think it would be so strange? After this pitiful, lamentable defeat! I, who was to have borne a great cause on to victory—have I not fled from the battle before it was well begun?
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Take up the fight again, Rosmer! Only try—and you shall see, you will conquer. You will ennoble hundreds—thousands of minds. Only try!
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Oh Rebecca—I, who no longer believe in my own mission!
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
But your mission has stood the test already. You have ennobled one human being at least—meyou have ennobled for the rest of my days.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Oh—if I dared believe you.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
[Pressing her hands together.] Oh Rosmer,—do you know of nothing—nothing that could make you believe it?
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
[Starts as if in fear.] Don’t speak of that! Keep away from that, Rebecca! Not a word more.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Yes, this is precisely what wemustspeak about. Do you know of anything that would kill the doubt? ForIknow of nothing in the world.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
It is well for you that you do not know.—It is well for both of us.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
No, no, no.—I will not be put off in this way! If you know of anything that would absolve me in your eyes, I claim as my right to be told of it.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
[As if impelled against his will to speak.] Then let us see. You say that a great love is in you; that through me your mind has been ennobled. Is it so? Is your reckoning just, Rebecca? Shall we try to prove the sum? Say?
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
I am ready.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
At any time?
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Whenever you please. The sooner the better.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Then let me see, Rebecca,—if you for my sake—this very evening——[Breaks off.] Oh, no, no, no!
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Yes, Rosmer! Yes! Tell me, and you shall see.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Have you the courage—have you the will—gladly, as Ulric Brendel said—for my sake, to-night—gladly—to go the same way that Beata went?
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
[Rises slowly from the sofa; almost voiceless.] Rosmer——!
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Yes, Rebecca—that is the question that will for ever haunt me—when you are gone. Every hour in the day it will return upon me. Oh, I seem to see you before my very eyes. You are standing out on the foot-bridge—right in the middle. Now you are bending forward over the railing—drawn dizzily downwards, downwards towards the rushing water! No—you recoil. You have not the heart to do whatshedared.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
But if I had the heart to do it? And the will to do it gladly? What then?
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
I should have to believe you then. I should recover my faith in my mission. Faith in my power to ennoble human souls. Faith in the human soul’s power to attain nobility.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
[Takes up her shawl slowly, and puts it over her head; says with composure.] You shall have your faith again.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Have you the will and the courage—forthis,this,Rebecca?
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
That you shall see to-morrow—or afterwards—when they find my body.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
[Puts his hand to his forehead.] There is a horrible fascination in this——!
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
For I don’t want to remain down there. Not longer than necessary. You must see that they find me.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
[Springs up.] But all this—is nothing but madness. Go—or stay! I will take your bare word this time too.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Phrases, Rosmer! Let us have no more cowardly subterfuges, dear! How can you believe me on my bare word after this day?
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
I shrink from seeing your defeat, Rebecca!
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
It will be no defeat.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Yes, it will. You will never bring yourself to go Beata’s way.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Do you think not?
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Never. You are not like Beata. You are not under the dominion of a distorted view of life.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
But I am under the dominion of the Rosmersholmview of life—now. What I have sinned—it is fit that I should expiate.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
[Looks at her fixedly.] Isthatyour point of view?
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Yes.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
[With resolution.] Well then,Istand firm in our emancipated view of life, Rebecca. There is no judge over us; and therefore we must do justice upon ourselves.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
[Misunderstanding him.] Yes, that is true—that too.Mygoing away will save what is best in you.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Oh, there is nothing left to save in me.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Yes, there is. But I—after to-day, I should only be a sea-troll dragging down the ship that is to carry you forward. I must go overboard. Why should I remain here in the world, trailing after me my own crippled life? Why brood and brood over the happiness that my past has forfeited for ever? I must give up the game, Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
If you go—I go with you.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
[Smiles almost imperceptibly, looks at him, and says more softly.] Yes, come with me—and see——
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
I go with you, I say.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
To the foot-bridge, yes. You know you never dare go out upon it.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Have you noticed that?
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
[Sadly and brokenly.] Yes.—It was that that made my love hopeless.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rebecca,—now I lay my hand on your head—[Does so]—and I wed you as my true wife.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
[Takes both his hands, and bows her head towards his breast.] Thanks, Rosmer. [Lets him go.] And now I will go—gladly.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Man and wife should go together.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Only to the bridge, Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Out on to it too. As far as you go—so far shall I go with you. For now I dare.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Are you absolutely certain—that this way is the best for you?
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
I am certain that it is the only way.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
If you were deceiving yourself? If it were only a delusion? One of those white horses of Rosmersholm.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
It may be so. For we can never escape from them—we of this house.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Then stay, Rosmer!
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
The husband shall go with his wife, as the wife with her husband.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Yes, but first tell methis: Is it you who follow me? Or is it I who follow you?
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
We shall never think that question out.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
But I should like to know.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
We go with each other, Rebecca—I with you, and you with me.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
I almost think that is the truth.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
Rosmer.
For now we two are one.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Yes. We are one. Come! We go gladly.
[They go out hand in hand through the hall, and are seen to turn to the left. The door remains open.
[They go out hand in hand through the hall, and are seen to turn to the left. The door remains open.
[The room stands empty for a little while. Then the door to the right is opened byMadam Helseth.
[The room stands empty for a little while. Then the door to the right is opened byMadam Helseth.
Madam Helseth.
Madam Helseth.
Madam Helseth.
Miss West—the carriage is——[Looks round.] Not here? Out together at this time of night? Well—I must say——! H’m! [Goes out into the hall, looks round, and comes in again.] Not on the garden seat. Ah, well well. [Goes to the window and looks out.] Oh good God! that white thingthere——! My soul! They’re both of them out on the bridge! God forgive the sinful creatures—if they’re not in each other’s arms! [Shrieks aloud.] Oh—down—both of them! Out into the mill race! Help! Help! [Her knees tremble; she holds on to the chair-back, shaking all over; she can scarcely get the words out.] No. No help here.—The dead wife has taken them.
THE END.
THE END.
THE END.