Ibsen, Henrik, 1828-1906 / 2008-11-30 00:00:00
FALK [as if completing her statement].
And with those words his Life's Romance concluded.
MRS. HALM [rising].
How if we should go out upon the lawn,
And see if there's no prospect of them yet?
MISS JAY [drawing on her mantle].
It's cool already.
MRS. HALM.
Svanhild, will you get
My woollen shawl?--Come ladies, pray!
LIND [to ANNA, unobserved by the others].
Go on!
[SVANHILD goes into the house; the others, except
FALK, go towards the back and out to the left.
LIND, who has followed, stops and returns.
LIND.
My friend!
FALK.
Ah, ditto.
LIND.
Falk, your hand! The tide
Of joy's so vehement, it will perforce
Break out--
FALK.
Hullo there; you must first be tried;
Sentence and hanging follow in due course.
Now, what on earth's the matter? To conceal
From me, your friend, this treasure of your finding;
For you'll confess the inference is binding:
You've come into a prize off Fortune's wheel!
LIND.
I've snared and taken Fortune's blessed bird!
FALK.
How? Living,--and undamaged by the steel?
LIND.
Patience; I'll tell the matter in one word.
I am engaged! Conceive--!
FALK [quickly].
Engaged!
LIND.
It's true!
To-day,--with unimagined courage swelling,
I said,--ahem, it will not bear re-telling;--
But only think,--the sweet young maiden grew
Quite rosy-red,--but not at all enraged!
You see, Falk, what I ventured for a bride!
She listened,--and I rather think she cried;
That, sure, means "Yes"?
FALK.
Read more
Parts:
1
2
3
4
5
6