Lyngstrand.
Lyngstrand.
Lyngstrand.
Thrilling?
Hilda.
Hilda.
Hilda.
Thrilling to think of, yes. [Points suddenly to the left.] Oh, lookthere!
Lyngstrand.
Lyngstrand.
Lyngstrand.
[Looking in the direction indicated.] The big English steamer! And right in at the pier!
WangelandEllidaappear by the pond.
WangelandEllidaappear by the pond.
WangelandEllidaappear by the pond.
Wangel.
Wangel.
Wangel.
No, I assure you, my dear Ellida, you are mistaken. [Sees the others.] What, are you two here? She is not in sight yet, is she, Mr. Lyngstrand?
Lyngstrand.
Lyngstrand.
Lyngstrand.
The big English boat?
Wangel.
Wangel.
Wangel.
Yes.
Lyngstrand.
Lyngstrand.
Lyngstrand.
[Pointing.] There she lies already, Doctor.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ah—! I knew it.
Wangel.
Wangel.
Wangel.
She is come!
Lyngstrand.
Lyngstrand.
Lyngstrand.
Come like a thief in the night, you might say—softly and noiselessly——
Wangel.
Wangel.
Wangel.
You must take Hilda down to the pier. Make haste! I’m sure she would like to hear the music.
Lyngstrand.
Lyngstrand.
Lyngstrand.
Yes, we were just going, Doctor.
Wangel.
Wangel.
Wangel.
We will perhaps come afterwards. We’ll come presently.
Hilda.
Hilda.
Hilda.
[Whispers toLyngstrand.] Another pair, you see.
[She andLyngstrandgo out through the garden to the left. Distant music of wind instruments is heard out on the fiord during what follows.
[She andLyngstrandgo out through the garden to the left. Distant music of wind instruments is heard out on the fiord during what follows.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
He has come! He is here! Yes, yes—I feel it.
Wangel.
Wangel.
Wangel.
You had better go in, Ellida. Let me see him alone.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Oh—it is impossible! Impossible, I say! [With a cry.] Ah—do you see him Wangel!
The Strangerenters from the left and stops on the footpath, outside the garden fence.
The Strangerenters from the left and stops on the footpath, outside the garden fence.
The Stranger.
The Stranger.
The Stranger.
[Bows.] Good evening. I have come again you see, Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Yes, yes, yes,—the hour has come.
The Stranger.
The Stranger.
The Stranger.
Are you ready to go with me? Or are you not?
Wangel.
Wangel.
Wangel.
You can see for yourself that she is not.
The Stranger.
The Stranger.
The Stranger.
I was not thinking of travelling-clothes and trunks and that sort of thing. I have on board with me everything she requires for the voyage; and I have taken a cabin for her. [ToEllida.] I ask you, then, if you are ready to come with me—to come with me of your own free will?
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
[Imploringly.] Oh, do not ask me! Do not tempt me so!
[A steamer-bell is heard in the distance.
The Stranger.
The Stranger.
The Stranger.
There goes the warning bell. Now you must say yes or no.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
[Wrings her hands.] To have to decide! To decide for all time! To do what can never be undone!
The Stranger.
The Stranger.
The Stranger.
Never. In half an hour it will be too late.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
[Looks timidly and intently at him.] What makes you hold to me so persistently?
The Stranger.
The Stranger.
The Stranger.
Do you not feel, as I do, that we two belong to each other?
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Do you mean because of that promise?
The Stranger.
The Stranger.
The Stranger.
Promises bind no one: neither man nor woman. If I hold to you persistently, it is because I cannot do otherwise.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
[Softly and trembling.] Why did you not come sooner?
Wangel.
Wangel.
Wangel.
Ellida!
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
[With an outburst of emotion.] Oh—what is it that tempts and allures and seems to drag me into the unknown! The whole might of the sea is centred in this one thing!
[The Strangerclimbs over the garden fence.
[The Strangerclimbs over the garden fence.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
[Shrinks behindWangel.] What is it? What do you want?
The Stranger.
The Stranger.
The Stranger.
I see it—I hear it in your voice, Ellida—it is me you will choose in the end.
Wangel.
Wangel.
Wangel.
[Advances towards him.] My wife has no choice in the matter. I am here to choose for her and—to protect her. Yes, protect her! If you do not get away from here—out of the country—and never come back—do you know what you expose yourself to?
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
No, no, Wangel! Not that!
The Stranger.
The Stranger.
The Stranger.
What will you do to me?
Wangel.
Wangel.
Wangel.
I will have you arrested—as a felon! At once! Before you can get on board! I know all about the murder out at Skioldvik.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Oh Wangel,—how can you——?
The Stranger.
The Stranger.
The Stranger.
I was prepared for that move; and therefore,—[Takes a revolver out of his breast pocket],—I have provided myself with this.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
[Throws herself beforeWangel.] No, no—do not kill him! Rather kill me!
The Stranger.
The Stranger.
The Stranger.
Neither you nor him; be easy on that score. This is for myself; I will live and die a free man!
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
[With increasing agitation.] Wangel! Let me tell you this—tell you in his hearing! I know you can keep me here! You have the power, and no doubt you will use it! But my mind—all my thoughts—all my irresistible longings and desires—these you cannot fetter! They will yearn and strain—out into the unknown—that I was created for—and that you have barred against me!
Wangel.
Wangel.
Wangel.
[In quiet grief.] I see it clearly, Ellida! Step by step you are gliding away from me. Your craving for the limitless and the infinite—and forthe unattainable—will drive your mind quite out into the darkness at last.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Oh yes, yes,—I feel it—like black soundless wings hovering over me!
Wangel.
Wangel.
Wangel.
It shall not come to that. There is no other way of deliverance for you; at least I see none. And therefore—therefore I—cancel our bargain on the spot.—Now you can choose your own path—in full—full freedom.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
[Gazes at him awhile as if speechless.] Is this true—true—what you say? Do you mean it—from your inmost heart?
Wangel.
Wangel.
Wangel.
Yes,—from the inmost depths of my tortured heart, I mean it.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Andcanyou do it? Can you carry out your purpose?
Wangel.
Wangel.
Wangel.
Yes, I can. I can—because of my great love for you.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
[Softly and tremblingly.] And I have come to be so near—so dear to you!
Wangel.
Wangel.
Wangel.
The years of our marriage have made you so.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
[Clasps her hands together.] And I,—I have been blind to it!
Wangel.
Wangel.
Wangel.
Your thoughts went in other directions. But now,—now you are set wholly free from me and mine. Now your own true life can return to its—its right grove again. For now you can choose in freedom; and on your own responsibility, Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
[Clasps her head with her hands and gazes fixedly towardsWangel.] In freedom—and on my own responsibility? Responsibility! This—this transforms everything.
[The steamer bell rings again.
The Stranger.
The Stranger.
The Stranger.
Do you hear, Ellida? The bell is ringing for the last time. Come away!
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
[Turns towards him, looks fixedly at him, and says with determination in her voice.] I can never go with you after this.
The Stranger.
The Stranger.
The Stranger.
You will not go?
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
[Clings to Wangel.] Oh—after this I can never leave you!
Wangel.
Wangel.
Wangel.
Ellida,—Ellida.
The Stranger.
The Stranger.
The Stranger.
It is all over then?
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Yes.Yes.Over for all time!
The Stranger.
The Stranger.
The Stranger.
I see it. There is something here that is stronger than my will.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Your will has no longer a feather’s weight with me. For me you are a dead man, who has come home from the sea—and who is returning to it again. But I am no longer in terror of you: you fascinate me no more.
The Stranger.
The Stranger.
The Stranger.
Good-bye, Mrs. Wangel! [He vaults over the fence.] Henceforth you[23]are nothing but—a bygone shipwreck in my life.
[He goes out to the left.
Wangel.
Wangel.
Wangel.
[Looks at her awhile.] Ellida—your mind is like the sea: it has its ebb and flow. What brought the transformation?
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Oh, do you not understand that the transformation came,—that ithadto come—when I could choose in freedom.
Wangel.
Wangel.
Wangel.
And the unknown,—it fascinates you no longer?
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
It neither fascinates nor frightens me. I could have seen into it—gone into it—if I had wished to. I was free to choose it; and therefore I was able to reject it.
Wangel.
Wangel.
Wangel.
I begin to understand you—by degrees. You think and conceive in images—in visible pictures. Your longing and yearning for the sea—the fascination that he—the stranger—possessed for you—must have been the expression of an awakening and growing need for freedom within you—nothing else.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Oh, I don’t know what to say to that. But you have been a good physician for me. Youfound,—and you had the courage touse,—the right remedy—theonlyone that could help me.
Wangel.
Wangel.
Wangel.
Yes, in the last extremity of danger, we physicians have courage for much.—But now you will come to me again, will you not, Ellida?
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Yes, my dear, faithful Wangel—now I will come to you again. I can now, for now I come to you in freedom—of my own will—and on my own responsibility.
Wangel.
Wangel.
Wangel.
[Looks tenderly at her.] Ellida! Ellida! Oh,—to think that we two can now live wholly for each other——
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
——and with all our memories in common. Yours—as well as mine.
Wangel.
Wangel.
Wangel.
Yes, all in common, dearest!
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
And our two children, Wangel——
Wangel.
Wangel.
Wangel.
Oursyou call them!
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
They are not mine yet—but I shall win them.
Wangel.
Wangel.
Wangel.
Ours——! [Kisses her hands joyfully and quickly.] Oh, I thank you for that word more than I can tell.
Hilda,Ballested,Lyngstrand,Arnholm,andBolettacome from the left into the garden. At the same time a number of young townspeople and summer visitors pass along the footpath.
Hilda,Ballested,Lyngstrand,Arnholm,andBolettacome from the left into the garden. At the same time a number of young townspeople and summer visitors pass along the footpath.
Hilda.
Hilda.
Hilda.
[Half aloud, toLyngstrand.] Just look,—don’t she and father look like an engaged couple!
Ballested.
Ballested.
Ballested.
[Who has overheard.] It is summer time, little miss.
Arnholm.
Arnholm.
Arnholm.
[Looks towardsWangelandEllida.] The English steamer is under way.
Boletta.
Boletta.
Boletta.
[Goes to the fence.] You can see her best from here.
Lyngstrand.
Lyngstrand.
Lyngstrand.
The last trip of the season.
Ballested.
Ballested.
Ballested.
“Soon will all the straits be ice-bound,” as the poet says. It is sad, Mrs. Wangel! And I hear we are to lose you too for a time: you go out to Skioldvik to-morrow, I am told.
Wangel.
Wangel.
Wangel.
No—that plan has come to nothing; this evening we two have changed our minds.
Arnholm.
Arnholm.
Arnholm.
[Looking from one to the other.] Ah,—really!
Boletta.
Boletta.
Boletta.
[Coming forward.] Father—is this true?
Hilda.
Hilda.
Hilda.
[Going toEllida.] Are you going to stay with us after all?
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Yes, dear Hilda—if you will have me.
Hilda.
Hilda.
Hilda.
[Struggling between tears and joy.] Oh,—can you ask—if I will——!
Arnholm.
Arnholm.
Arnholm.
[ToEllida.] This is really quite a surprise!
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
[With a grave smile.] Well, you see, Mr. Arnholm——. Do you remember what we were speaking of yesterday? When you have once for all become a land-animal—you can never find the way back again—out to the sea. Nor to the sea-life either.
Ballested.
Ballested.
Ballested.
Why, that’s just the case of my mermaid!
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Very like it, yes.
Ballested.
Ballested.
Ballested.
Only with this difference, that the mermaid—shedies of it. Human beings, on the contrary—they can acclam—accli—matise themselves. Yes, I assure you, Mrs. Wangel, theycanac-cli-matise themselves.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Yes, in freedom they can, Mr. Ballested.
Wangel.
Wangel.
Wangel.
And under full responsibility, dear Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
Ellida.
[Quickly, holding out her hand to him.]Thatis the secret.
[The great steamer glides noiselessly down the fiord. The music is heard closer inshore.
[The great steamer glides noiselessly down the fiord. The music is heard closer inshore.
8. “Rector” in the Scotch and Continental sense of headmaster of a school, not in the English sense of a beneficed clergyman.
8. “Rector” in the Scotch and Continental sense of headmaster of a school, not in the English sense of a beneficed clergyman.
9. PronounceMortensgore.
9. PronounceMortensgore.
10. From this point, and throughout when alone, Rosmer and Rebecca use theduof intimate friendship in speaking to each other.
10. From this point, and throughout when alone, Rosmer and Rebecca use theduof intimate friendship in speaking to each other.
11. In the original, Rebecca here addresses Rosmer as “du” for the first time in Kroll’s presence.
11. In the original, Rebecca here addresses Rosmer as “du” for the first time in Kroll’s presence.
12. PronounceVangl.
12. PronounceVangl.
13. PronounceEl-lee-da, with accent on the second syllable.
13. PronounceEl-lee-da, with accent on the second syllable.
14. PronounceBal-le-staid.
14. PronounceBal-le-staid.
15. PronounceSheevë’s
15. PronounceSheevë’s
16. PronounceYensen.
16. PronounceYensen.
17. PronounceSholdveek.
17. PronounceSholdveek.
18. PronounceFreeman.
18. PronounceFreeman.
19. PronounceBratt-hammer.
19. PronounceBratt-hammer.
20. He has addressed her, as he does throughout, by the familiardu—“thou.” She always uses the formalDein speaking to him.
20. He has addressed her, as he does throughout, by the familiardu—“thou.” She always uses the formalDein speaking to him.
21. For another rendering of the foregoing very difficult passage—especially difficult because of the frequent occurrence of “det grufulde” “the terrible” in other contexts—the reader who is curious in such matters may consult the five-volume edition of Ibsen’sProse Dramas(vol. v. p. 210), where he will find it discussed in a footnote.
21. For another rendering of the foregoing very difficult passage—especially difficult because of the frequent occurrence of “det grufulde” “the terrible” in other contexts—the reader who is curious in such matters may consult the five-volume edition of Ibsen’sProse Dramas(vol. v. p. 210), where he will find it discussed in a footnote.
22. “Snart er alle sunde lukket.”—Oehlenschläger’sHakon Jarl.
22. “Snart er alle sunde lukket.”—Oehlenschläger’sHakon Jarl.
23. Here, for the first time, he uses the formalDe.
23. Here, for the first time, he uses the formalDe.
THE END.
THE END.
THE END.
Printed byBallantyne & Co. LimitedTavistock Street, Covent Garden, London
Printed byBallantyne & Co. LimitedTavistock Street, Covent Garden, London
Printed byBallantyne & Co. Limited
Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London
Transcriber’s NoteThere 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. Several instances of dubious ‘?’ marks have been corrected, based on context.As noted below, on p.62, there is apparently a missing word in the phrase ‘And even it were so...’, most likely ‘if’.Volume I of this series included errata for each succeeding volume, and noted the following for Volume IX. Each of these was corrected in printing.The words ‘stepmother’ and ‘footpath’ both appear hyphenated once, midline. Both have been retained.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.xix.13I can least reconcile myself.[’/”]Replaced.4.25Madam Hels[te/et]h.Inverted.13.26makes him well over forty-three[.]Added.31.21it belongs to a plebeian[:/?]Replaced.49.6[Re[c/b]eccagoes outReplaced.51.23to make the plunge at last[.]Added.67.29to get out o[f] a false and equivocal positionRestored.81.23from li[z/v]ing his life outReplaced.118.30not a word about it[.]Added.124.13seats himself on the [s]ofa.Restored.129.14by the window[]] AndBracket added.159.27for this this[,] Rebecca?Added.178.16Bollet[o/a].Replaced.242.16My poor unhappy Ellida[!]Added254.2a long sea-vo[g/y]ageReplaced.255.29so bright and cheerful [a ]moment agoRestored.258.14look at me like that[?/!]Replaced.280.25Surely [y]ou think so!Restored.298.3He was quite differently dressed too[.]Added.304.25give me back my freedom this very day[.]Added.325.10and your future [f]ully and fearlesslyRestored.345.2Yes[.] Over for all time!Added.
Transcriber’s Note
Transcriber’s Note
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. Several instances of dubious ‘?’ marks have been corrected, based on context.
As noted below, on p.62, there is apparently a missing word in the phrase ‘And even it were so...’, most likely ‘if’.
Volume I of this series included errata for each succeeding volume, and noted the following for Volume IX. Each of these was corrected in printing.
The words ‘stepmother’ and ‘footpath’ both appear hyphenated once, midline. Both have been retained.
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.