or at least Nora. - That I no longer believe. I think that before all else I am a human being, just as much as you are I will try to become one. I know that most people agree with you, Torvald, and that they say so in books. But henceforth I can't be satisfied with what most people say, and what is in books. I must think things out for myself, and try to get clear about them. Helmer. Are you not clear about your place in your own home? Have you not an infallible guide in questions like these? Have you not religion? Nora.- O Torvald, I don't know properly what religion is. Nora. I know nothing but what our clergyman told me when I was confirmed. He explained that religion was this and that. When I get away from here and stand alone, I will look into that matter too. I will see whether what he taught me is true, or at any rate whether it is true for me. Helmer. Oh, this is unheard of! But if religion cannot keep you right, let me appeal to your conscience-for I suppose you have some moral feeling? Or, answer me: perhaps you have none? Nora. Well, Torvald, it's not easy to say. I really don't know I am all at sea about these things. I only know that I think quite differently from you about them. I hear too that the laws are different from what I thought; but I can't believe that they are right. It appears that a woman has no right to spare her dying father, or to save her husband's life. I don't believe that. Helmer. You talk like a child. You don't understand the society in which you live. Nora. No, I don't. But I shall try to. I must make up my mind which is right—society or I. Helmer. Nora, you are ill, you are feverish. I almost think you are out of your senses. Nora. I have never felt so much clearness and certainty as to-night. Helmer. You are clear and certain enough to forsake husband and children? Helmer. Then there is only one explanation possible. Helmer. You no longer love me. Nora.- Oh, I'm so sorry, Torvald; for you've always been so kind to me. But I can't help it. I do not love you any longer. Helmer [keeping his composure with difficulty]. — Are you clear and certain on this point too? Nora. — Yes, quite. That is why I won't stay here any longer. Helmer. forfeited your love? Nora. Yes, I can. It was this evening, when the miracle did not happen; for then I saw you were not the man I had taken you for. Helmer. Explain yourself more clearly: I don't understand. Nora.—I have waited so patiently all these eight years; for of course I saw clearly enough that miracles do not happen every day. When the crushing blow threatened me, I said to myself confidently, "Now comes the miracle!" When Krogstad's letter lay in the box, it never occurred to me that you would think of submitting to that man's conditions. I was convinced that you would say to him, "Make it known to all the world"; and that then Helmer. Well? When I had given my own wife's name up to disgrace and shame-? Nora. Then I firmly believed that you would come forward, take everything upon yourself, and say, "I am the guilty one." Helmer. Nora! Nora. You mean I would never have accepted such a sacrifice? No, certainly not. But what would my assertions have been worth in opposition to yours? That was the miracle that I hoped for and dreaded. And it was to hinder that that I wanted to die. Helmer. I would gladly work for you day and night, Nora, bear sorrow and want for your sake,—but no man sacrifices his honor, even for one he loves. Nora. Helmer. Millions of women have done so. Oh, you think and talk like a silly child. Nora. Very likely. But you neither think nor talk like the man I can share my life with. When your terror was over, not for me, but for yourself, — when there was nothing more to fear, then it was to you as though nothing had happened. I was your lark again, your doll — whom you would take twice as much care of in the future, because she was so weak and fragile. Helmer [sadly].-I see it, I see it; an abyss has opened between us. But, Nora, can it never be filled up? Nora. - As I now am, I am no wife for you. Helmer. I have strength to become another man. Nora. Perhaps - when your doll is taken away from you. Helmer. To part-to part from you! No, Nora, no; I can't grasp the thought. - Nora [going into room at the right]. The more reason for the thing to happen. [She comes back with outdoor things and a small traveling-bag, which she puts on a chair.] Helmer.-Nora, Nora, not now! Wait till to-morrow. Nora [putting on cloak]. I can't spend the night in a strange man's house. Helmer. But can't we live here as brother and sister? --- -- Nora [fastening her hat]. You know very well that would not last long. Good-by, Torvald. No, I won't go to the children. I know they are in better hands than mine. As I now am, I can be nothing to them. Helmer. But sometime, Nora-sometime Nora. of me. How can I tell? I have no idea what will become Helmer. But you are my wife, now and always? Nora. Listen, Torvald: when a wife leaves her husband's house, as I am doing, I have heard that in the eyes of the law he is free from all duties toward her. At any rate I release you from all duties. You must not feel yourself bound any more than I shall. There must be perfect freedom on both sides. There, there is your ring back. Give me mine. Helmer. That too? Nora. - Very well. Now it is all over. Here are the keys. The servants know about everything in the house better than I do. To-morrow when I have started, Christina will come to pack up my things. I will have them sent after me. - Helmer. All over! All over! Nora, will you never think of me again? Nora. Oh, I shall often think of you, and the children — and this house. Helmer. May I write to you, Nora? But I must send you Nora. Nothing, nothing. Helmer. I must help you if you need it. Nora. No, I say. I take nothing from strangers. Helmer. Nora, can I never be more than a stranger to you? Nora [taking her traveling-bag]. - O Torvald, then the miracle of miracles would have to happen. Helmer. What is the miracle of miracles? Nora. Both of us would have to change so that- O Tor vald, I no longer believe in miracles. Helmer. But I will believe. We must so change thatNora. That communion between us shall be a marriage. Good-by. [She goes out.] Helmer [sinks in a chair by the door with his face in his hands].-Nora! Nora! [He looks around and stands up.] Empty. She's gone! [A hope inspires him.] Ah! The miracle of mira? [From below is heard the reverberation of a heavy door cles closing.] FROM "PEER GYNT." SCENE: In front of a settler's newly built hut in the forest. A reindeer's horns over the door. The snow is lying deep around. It is dusk. PEER GYNT is standing outside the door, fastening a large wooden bar to it. Peer [laughing between whiles]. Bars I must fix me; bars that can fasten The door against troll-folk, and men, and women. Bars I must fix me; bars that can shut out All the cantankerous little hobgoblins. They come with the darkness, they knock and they rattle: SOLVEIG comes on snowshoes over the heath; she has a shawl over her head and a bundle in her hand. Solveig - God prosper your labor. You must not reject me. All that your mother told bore me a message, That brought forth others when dreams sank upon me. Brought me the message that now I must come. It seemed as though life had been quenched down there; I knew but for sure what I should do and must do. Peer In all of God's wide earth I have none I can call either father or mother, Solveig Solveig, you fair one Ay, to you alone; You must be all to me, friend and consoler. [In tears.] The worst was leaving my little sister; But parting from father was worse, still worse; And worst to leave her at whose breast I was borne; The sorrow of leaving them all, ay, all! Peer And you know the doom that was passed in spring? It forfeits my farm and my heritage. Solveig Think you for heritage, goods, and gear, Peer I forsook the paths all my dear ones tread? And know you the compact? Outside the forest Solveig I ran upon snowshoes; I asked my way on; They said, "Whither go you?" I answered, "I go home." Peer Away, away then with nails and planks! No need now for bars against hobgoblin thoughts. If you dare dwell with the hunter here, I know the hut will be blessed from ill. Solveig! Let me look at you! Not too near! Only look at you! Let me lift you! Oh, but you are bright and pure! I will not soil you. With outstretched arms I will hold you out far from me, lovely and warm one! |