The Lady from the Sea by Henrik Ibsen

Author:Henrik Ibsen [Ibsen, Henrik]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781840022070
Publisher: OBERON BOOKS Ltd
Published: 2012-04-15T04:00:00+00:00

ACT FOUR

The conservatory, the garden in view. BOLETTE sits on the sofa, embroidering. LYNGSTRAND sits at the round table. In the garden BALLESTED paints, watched by HILDE.

LYNGSTRAND: That looks very complicated, the edging.

BOLETTE: Not really, not so long as you keep count of the stitches.

LYNGSTRAND: Is it your own design?

BOLETTE: No, no, I need something to copy.

LYNGSTRAND: So it’s not really an art.

BOLETTE: More of a handicraft.

LYNGSTRAND: You might, perhaps, become more artistic.

BOLETTE: I don’t have the talent.

LYNGSTRAND: But if you were influenced, say, by an artist…

BOLETTE: You mean I could learn from him?

LYNGSTRAND: It could happen. By degrees.

BOLETTE: That would be a wonder.

LYNGSTRAND: Miss Wangel – have you ever – I mean, did it ever occur to you – have you ever thought about marriage?

BOLETTE: I beg your pardon?

LYNGSTRAND: I have.

BOLETTE: Oh?

LYNGSTRAND: Yes. I think about it a lot. A woman could be transformed –

BOLETTE: Transformed?

LYNGSTRAND: – by her husband’s influence.

BOLETTE: Why would she want that?

LYNGSTRAND: In order to…so that she…

BOLETTE: Could share his interests, you mean?

LYNGSTRAND: Exactly.

BOLETTE: And acquire his abilities.

LYNGSTRAND: Absolutely. It could happen. Gradually. In a happy marriage.

BOLETTE: What about the other way round?

LYNGSTRAND: I’m sorry?

BOLETTE: He might get to grow like her.

LYNGSTRAND: Oh, no!

BOLETTE: Why not?

LYNGSTRAND: A man has his work, his vocation. It gives him a higher purpose in life, a calling.

BOLETTE: And that’s true of all men? Every single one?

LYNGSTRAND: Well, artists in particular.

BOLETTE: You think they should marry? That an artist should be married?

LYNGSTRAND: Oh, yes. If there is someone he really loves.

BOLETTE: He shouldn’t just live for his art?

LYNGSTRAND: Of course. But he can still get married.

BOLETTE: What about her?

LYNGSTRAND: Who?

BOLETTE: The woman, the wife. What is she to live for?

LYNGSTRAND: Him! She’ll live for his art, then she’ll be happy too. Believe me, Miss Wangel, there’s the honour of being the wife of an artist – she can help him, inspire him, make his life easier by looking after him, seeing that he’s comfortable. What a wonderful destiny for a woman!

BOLETTE: Do you know… I don’t think I’ve ever heard such a barrel of conceit in all my life.

LYNGSTRAND: Conceit? No – no, not if you know me, Miss Wangel. When I’m gone – I shall be gone soon –

BOLETTE: Stop it, don’t say such dreadful things!

LYNGSTRAND: Dreadful? What do you mean? I shall be going away, to the Mediterranean.

BOLETTE: Yes, of course, of course.

LYNGSTRAND: Will you promise me something?

BOLETTE: What?

LYNGSTRAND: To think of me after I’ve gone?

BOLETTE: Very well.

LYNGSTRAND: Would you promise?

BOLETTE: I promise.

LYNGSTRAND: Cross your heart?

BOLETTE: Cross my heart. (Her mood changes.) For what it’s worth.

LYNGSTRAND: Don’t say that. You don’t know what it means to me. To know that you’ll be sitting here, thinking of me.

BOLETTE: But then what?

LYNGSTRAND: I don’t know.

BOLETTE: There’s everything in the way.

LYNGSTRAND: You never know. Miracles can happen. I’m lucky, I’m convinced of it.

BOLETTE: (Eagerly.) Are you? Are you?

LYNGSTRAND: Yes! In a year or two I’ll be back. I’ll have made my name, I’ll have money, I’ll be well –

BOLETTE: Of course you will.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.