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Love's
Comedy Act One:
FALK (Making himself adopt a jocular tone) : Since the account by your own computation Ends not in plus but minus, why be so bold To invest the capital you have laid by In such an uninviting lottery? You act as if you understand you're fated To be the victim of this bankruptcy.
GULDSTAD (Regarding him, shaking his head and smiling) : My bold young Falk, let go this irony. There are two ways a home may be created. It can be built on the credit of Illusion, On promissory notes of endless bliss, Of permanently sustainable teenage passion, On the impossibility of stiffness, gout and truss. It's guarantee is rose petal complexions, Translucent eyes and long, abundant hair. The certain maintenance of these perfections, That days of wigs and rouge will not appear. It can be built on heartfelt protestations, On flowers bursting though dry desert sand; Of hearts that always feel their palpitations As the day they heard their first ‘I do!' resound. There's a name for all this business – one you know. It's known as humbug – humbug, isn't that so?
FALK: As a tempter you are a formidable foe, A man of substance – even a millionaire. All of the worldly goods I can declare A mere two men could cart off in one go.
GULDSTAD (Sharply): What do you mean by that?
FALK: I think it's clear. For your ‘solid foundation', as I conjecture, Is moneybags – miracle-working dough, Which often lends a Heaven-sanctioned lustre, A golden nimbus to a middle-aged widow.
GULDSTAD: No, friend, it's something much more valuable. It is the quiet, and warm-hearted stream Of loving care, that sees its object as noble And full of worth, just like love's fevered dream. It's assurance of the joy of reverence, Of shared concerns, of home life prospering still, Of each will bowing to the other's will, Of seeing, through a tender vigilance, That on her path of life all will go well. A gentle hand that heals all injuries, A back to bear life's weight with fortitude, An even temper to outlast the years, An arm to give support in time of need – These are the surety, Svanhild, I can offer Your future happiness. How do you respond? (SVANHILD makes great effort to speak' GULDSTAD raises his hand and prevents her) Think carefully, so you won't later suffer. Choose between us with a steady mind.
FALK: What makes you think - ?
GULSTAD: That you're in love with her? It was not hard to read it in your eyes. So tell her, while she's here, where your heart lies. (Presses his hand) Now I'll go in. It's time the game was over. If you can show me in all truthfulness That you can be her friend her whole life through, A firm support, as strong a help in need As I can promise her – (Turning to SVANHILD) then let it go – All that I've offered, and all that I've said. The victory I win will go unheard: Your happiness – that will be my reward. (To FALK) Which leads me to think! You mentioned wealth just now. And what I have is more than just a show. I am alone, have no-one that I love, So everything I have, you too shall have. You shall become my son, and she my daughter. There's a farm by my estate I happen to own; I'll move there. You can have my house in town. We three shall meet again just one year after. You understand me Falk; now know yourself. Remember, as you course the river of life, You'll find it no diversion, no light game. So make you choice most carefully this time.
(He goes into the house. A pause. FALK and SVANHILD look uneasily at each other)
FALK: You look so pale!
SVANHILD: And you're so quiet!
FALK: Yes.
SVANHILD: He was the worst.
FALK (Half to himself) : He left me powerless.
SVANHILD: How hard he struck.
FALK: He knew how to hit home.
SVANHILD: At once, it seemed, all has been overthrown. How rich we were, how rich in one another When the whole world abandoned us, we fought Like waves against the shore; our thoughts together, Were breakers rolling in the silent night. The courage of future victory filled our hearts, Believing love between us would endure. He offered the world's gifts. Where we were sure, He planted doubt – and our faith fell apart.
FALK: (Vehemently) : Rip from your memory every word he spoke Which, true for others, for us does not apply.
SVANHILD (Shaking her head) : No, once the corn has felt the hailstorm's stroke, It cannot raise itself again as high.
FALK (With mounting anxiety) :: We two can, Svanhild –
SVANHILD: Such hope deceives at best. If you sow falsehood, tears are what you harvest. Others, you say? And don't you think that they Opted to fool themselves like you and me? Daring to face the lightning bolt alone. There seemed no storm on earth could overtake them; That the dark clouds massed on the far horizon, Would not become the tempest that would shake them.
FALK: The others set themselves too broad a course, Your love is all I crave, or wish to own. They clamor for life's goods until they're hoarse. While I preserve my strength for you alone.
SVANHILD: But what if it completely falls apart, This love that is to prop up everything? Will anything be standing as support?
FALK: No. When love dies, all dies. There will be nothing.
SVANHILD: And can you promise, by God's holy name, Our love shall never, like a withered flower, Hang lifeless, without perfume, but remain Fresh through our lives.
FALK (After a short pause): For long it will endure.
SVANHILD (Painfully) : ‘For long, for long' – mere phrases without life. What can they do to satisfy love's need. They are the fatal mildew on the seed. “Let us proclaim an everlasting love'? That song is to be silenced now. Instead, We hear: ‘Love, that is what I once could give.' (As if borne up by strong feeling) Our sun of happiness never shall go under To die in mist while clouds form in the west; No, it shall vanish like a thing of wonder, At its bright noon, just when the day is best.
FALK (Horrified) : What are you saying?
SVANHILD: We are children of the Spring, Autumn is not a season we await, When the songbird, silent, leave its old retreat And no more wishes to return to sing. Shall we see winter with its cold canopy, Shrouding the corpses of our former dreams? Our love that exulted in its victory, Shall never sink in sickness; when death comes; It finds love, as we lived it, brave and young.
FALK (Deeply pained): And far from you, how could I go on living?
SVANHILD: And near me, without love, what would it be?
FALK: A home.
SVANHILD: Where happiness fights its own decay? (Emphatically) : To be your wife's beyond my power of giving. I see it now, know it instinctively! I might have shared with you delights of love; For loss of love, there's nothing I could give. (Approaching him with increasing ardor) We two have reveled in such joys of Spring We must not lose it in drugged lethargy! Give our loves wings to fly so they can sing Like the young gods, and in their company! And though our future is a boat capsized One spar remains and on the waves still rides; So Love's strong swimmer can reach paradise! Let happiness to its watery grave subside; Our love shall still endure. God guarantees Against all loss its hard-won victories.
FALK: I understand you! But to part this way! Just when the bright world opened for us wide. Here, in the springtime, under the blue sky And on the day our love was ratified!
SVANHILD: That's why we have to! From this moment on Our path of happiness leads only down. And we, when Judgment Day arrives at last, And God requires we render, as we must, The gift he granted to our term of life, What if we answered, to our eternal cost “We lost it on our pathway to the grave.”
FALK (Firmly resolute) : Throw away the ring!
SVANHILD (Ardently) : Yes!
FALK: For I now understand you! Yes, this is the only way that I will find you! Through the dark grave lies new life's dawning, So love discovers life that's truly free When it forsakes all willing and all yearning, It flies to its spirit-home in memory. So throw the ring away!
SVANHILD (Joyfully) : I've done my duty! I have filled your soul with light and poetry! Go free! Your flight to victory is won Now has your Svanhild sung her final song! (She removes the ring and gives it a kiss) To the fallen world, there in the sea beneath, Sink down, my dream; I make this offering free . (She goes a few steps towards the sea and throes the ring out into the fjord; then approaches FALK with a clear expression) : Now I have lost you to this life on earth; But I have won you for eternity!
FALK (Resolute) : And now for each of us our work's begun; We'll never cross our paths nor meet again. Each goes his way, each without lamenting. We were brought low, made sick with the time's fever; We wanted victory without the fighting. The Sabbath rest without the weekday's labor. But our lot on earth is strife and suffering.
SVANHILD: But never sickness.
FALK: No, courage, health and truth. Not guilt nor punishment makes up our faith. The memory we'll keep our whole life through Shall stream in brilliance through the darkest cloud And be our heaven's many-colored bow, The symbol of the pact we made with God. So in this light you start your life of duty –
SVANILD: And you take up your life of poetry.
FALK: As poet, yes. For so does every man, In schoolroom, government office or the church, Each one, however high or low he stands, Who keeps the Ideal active in his work. Yes, my way's upward; Pegasus is harnessed; I know through you my lifework has been blessed. And so farewell
SVANHILD: Farewell!
FALK (Embracing her) : A kiss!
SVANHILD: Our last! (Tears herself free) I can rejoice now for the life we've lost.
FALK: Though every light on earth should be put out, The Idea of light will live: for it is God.
SVANHILD (Withdrawing into the background) : Farewell. (She retreats further)
FALK: Farewell! I say with no regret God's glorious love on earth continues yet!
(The door opens. FALK goes over to the right; the younger ones among the guests come out amidst laughter and celebration)
YOUNG GIRLS: Let's dance in the garden!
ONE GIRL: Life itself is a dance! A dance of spring flowers and of floral garlands.
SOME GIRLS: Yes, keep dancing, dancing.
ALL: Don't stop even once!
(STYVER enters arm in arm with STRÅMAND. MRS. STRÅMAND and the children follow them)
STYVER: Yes, from this day forward, you and I are friends.
STRÅMAND: And you and I will fight for the same ends.
STYVER: When the powers of church and state unite in warfare –
STRÅMAND: The result will always be –
STYVER (Quickly) : Our rights!
STRÅMAND: And welfare!
(MRS. HALM, LIND, ANNA, GULDSTAD and MISS SKJAERE, together with the rest of the guests now come out of the house. The eyes of the whole family seek out FALK and SVANHILD. There is hesitation among them all when they are seen to be apart)
MISS SKJAERE (Among the aunts, clapping her hands) : What's this? Tell me, am I awake or dreaming?
LIND (Who notices nothing) : My brother to be, let me give you greeting. (Together with several of the guests he approaches FALK, but involuntarily steps back when he notices his expression) : What's going on? You appear to have, like Janus Two different faces!
FALK (Smiling) : I could say, with Montanus The earth is flat, Messieurs, and my eyes lied. Flat as a pancake; now are you satisfied? (He leaves quickly to the right)
MISS SKJAERE: A refusal!
THE AUNTS: A refusal?
MRS. HALM Hush, best keep quiet! (She goes over to SVANHILD).
MRS. STRÅMAND (To her husband) : Imagine, a refusal!
STRÅMAND: Really?
MISS SKJAERE : Yes!
THE LADIES (Passing it on) : A refusal! A refusal!
STYVER (Stunned) : Then he proposed!
STRÅMAND: Yes, think of it! He who had laughed at us! (They look perplexed at each other)
ANNA (To LIND): That's a good thing. Uff! He was awful!
LIND (Embracing and kissing her) : Now you are mine, my love. Mine now for real! (They go into the garden)
GULDSTAD (Looking back at SVANHILD): Something\'s been broken deep inside her soul. But what survives, I shall care for and heal.
STRÅMAND (Finding his voice again and embracing STYVER) Now you can safely settle down and bear a Life of loving with your own Miss Skjaere
STYVER: And you, for your part, can as gladly follow, As the multiplying of your brood's completed.
STRÅMAND (Gleefully rubbing his hands as he looks in the direction of FALK) He got what was coming to him, that cocky fellow. And that's how all such charlatans should be treated.
(They move off in conversation while MRS. HALM approaches with SVANHILD)
MRS. HALM ( (Quietly and intensely) : So nothing binds you now?
SVANHILD: No, nothing binds me.
MRS. HALM: Good. You understand a daughter's deference –
SVANHILD: Direct me.
MRS. HALM: Thank you, child. (Indicating GULDSTAD) The excellence Of that man, if there's no other hindrance - ?
SVANHILD: Quite so! I accept with only one condition That we must move –
MRS. HALM: That's also his position.
SVANHILD: The deadline –
MS. HALM: Yes, how soon? Happiness waits, remember!
SVANHILD: (Quietly, smiling) : Not long. When the leaves fall in September. (She moves over to the veranda. MRS. HALM seeks out GULDSTAD)
STRÅMAND (Among the guests) : Dear friends, there's one thing we have learnt today. Though, throughout life, we are besieged by doubt And the Serpent threatens, yet truth will find a way And Love always win out!
THE GUESTS: Love will win out! (The couples embrace and kiss each other. Outside to the left, laughter and singing is heard)
MRS. SKJAERE: Now what is that?
ANNA: The students!
LIND : The quartet Preparing for the mountains. I forgot To send them greetings. (The students come in from the left, and remain standing by the entrance).
A STUDENT (To LIND): Here we are, all set!
MRS. HALM: Is it Lind you're looking for.
MISS SKJAERE: You're way too late; He's just got engaged –
AN AUNT: So you have to allow There's no more forest adventures for him, now.
THE STUDENT: Engaged!
ALL THE STUDENTS: Congratulations, Lind!.
LIND: I thank you.
THE STUDENT: But this now sets us back. What shall we do? Our group is incomplete – we lack a tenor.
FALK (Entering from the right, in summer clothes, with a student's cap, backpack And staff) : But I'm prepared to join Young Norway's choir!
THE STUDENTS: You, Falk! Hurrah!
FALK: Through nature to the heights, As the bee breaks free from its long winter nights! I have a double soundboard in my breast, A zither with another layer of strings, A twofold note; one high, for happiness, And one, below, with sorrow answering. (To several of the students in turn) You have the stand? You have the music paper? Fine. Now, my bee-swarm, fly to the green leaves. We will return, bearing pollen, to our hives. Where our queen waits: our patient, waiting mother. (Turning to the assembled company while the students leave, and the chorus from the first Act is heard faintly outside.) Forgive all that I've done, the great and small. I'll recall nothing. (Quietly) Yet will remember all.
STRÅMAND (With uncontainable joy) : Who cares! My cornucopia is full! My wife now has the hope – no it is certain (Draws FALK to one side) She's just informed me – she, my dearest soul – (A few words can be heard) If all goes well .. September …number thirteen!
STYVER (With MISS SKJAERE on his arm, turns to FALK while he points to the pastor) : I'll get my hundred dollars and set up house.
MISS SKJAERE (Curtsying ironically) : At Christmas I'll reset my maiden curls.
ANNA (Similarly, while she captures LIND's arm) : Faith or no faith, it's here Lind's staying close.
LIND (Hiding his embarrassment) : I'll seek a teaching post at a school for girls.
MRS. HALM: I'll teach Anna all kinds of proprieties –
GULDTAD (Seriously) : I'll set to work creating a poem of life Of modest beauty for my future wife.
FALK (With a smile to them all) : And I go forward, whatever the future is. Farewell! (Quietly, to SVANHILD) God's blessing follow, bride of spring! Though I go far, don't let your thoughts forsake me. (He waves his cap and follows the students)
SVANHILD: My life of freedom now has reached its ending. The leaves are falling. So, let the world take me!
(At this moment dance music is played on the piano, and champagne corks pop in the background. The men move around together with their ladies on their arms; GULDSTAD approaches SVANHILD and bows to her; for a moment, she starts, but composes herself and offers him her hand. MRS. HALM and the close relatives of the family, who have watched this scene anxiously, now rush towards them with great glee; their voices are smothered by the music and the merriment among the dancers further away in the garden. But higher up, inland, mingling with the dance music, can be heard loud and clear) :
CHORUS OF FALK AND STUDENTS: And if I capsize, well here's my reward: In sailing, the joy is the journey.
MOST OF THE COMPANY: Hurrah!
(Dancing and celebration; the curtain falls.)
END OF ACT III AND OF THE PLAY.
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