The Lady from the Sea Part 25

w.a.n.gel (looking at her). Not freely!

Ellida. No. It was not freely that I went with you.

w.a.n.gel (in subdued tone). Ah! I remember your words of yesterday.

Ellida. It all lies in those words. They have enlightened me; and so I see it all now.

w.a.n.gel. What do you see?

Ellida. I see that the life we two live together--is really no marriage.

w.a.n.gel (bitterly). You have spoken truly there. The life we now live is not a marriage.

Ellida. Nor was it formerly. Never--not from the very first (looks straight in front of her). The first--that might have been a complete and real marriage.

w.a.n.gel. The first--what do you mean?

Ellida. Mine--with him.

w.a.n.gel (looks at her in astonishment). I do not in the least understand you.

Ellida. Ah! dear w.a.n.gel, let us not lie to one another, nor to ourselves.

w.a.n.gel. Well--what more?

Ellida. You see--we can never get away from that one thing--that a freely given promise is fully as binding as a marriage.

w.a.n.gel. But what on earth--

Ellida (rising impetuously). Set me free, w.a.n.gel!

w.a.n.gel. Ellida! Ellida!

Ellida. Yes, yes! Oh! grant me that! Believe me, it will come to that all the same--after the way we two came together.

w.a.n.gel (conquering his pain). It has come to this, then?

Ellida. It has come to this. It could not be otherwise.

w.a.n.gel (looking gloomily at her). So I have not won you by our living together. Never, never possessed you quite.

Ellida. Ah! w.a.n.gel--if only I could love you, how gladly I would--as dearly as you deserve. But I feel it so well--that will never be.

w.a.n.gel. Divorce, then? It is a divorce, a complete, legal divorce that you want?

Ellida. Dear, you understand me so little! I care nothing for such formalities. Such outer things matter nothing, I think. What I want is that we should, of our own free will, release each other.

w.a.n.gel (bitterly, nods slowly). To cry off the bargain again--yes.

Ellida (quickly). Exactly. To cry off the bargain.

w.a.n.gel. And then, Ellida? Afterwards? Have you reflected what life would be to both of us? What life would be to both you and me?

Ellida. No matter. Things must turn out afterwards as they may. What I beg and implore of you, w.a.n.gel, is the most important. Only set me free!

Give me back my complete freedom!

w.a.n.gel. Ellida, it is a fearful thing you ask of me. At least give me time to collect myself before I come to a decision. Let us talk it over more carefully. And you yourself--take time to consider what you are doing.

Ellida. But we have no time to lose with such matters. I must have my freedom again today.

w.a.n.gel. Why today?

Ellida. Because he is coming tonight.

w.a.n.gel (starts). Coming! He! What has this stranger to do with it?

Ellida. I want to face him in perfect freedom.

w.a.n.gel. And what--what else do you intend to do?

Ellida. I will not hide behind the fact that I am the wife of another man; nor make the excuse that I have no choice, for then it would be no decision.

w.a.n.gel, You speak of a choice. Choice, Ellida! A choice in such a matter!

Ellida. Yes, I must be free to choose--to choose for either side. I must be able to let him go away--alone, or to go with him.

w.a.n.gel. Do you know what you are saying? Go with him--give your whole life into his hands!

Ellida. Didn't I give my life into your hands, and without any ado?

w.a.n.gel. Maybe. But he! He! an absolute stranger! A man of whom you know so little!

Ellida. Ah! but after all I knew you even less; and yet I went with you.

w.a.n.gel. Then you knew to some extent what life lay before you. But now?

Think! What do you know? You know absolutely nothing. Not even who or what he is.

Ellida (looking in front of her). That is true; but that is the terror.

w.a.n.gel. Yes, indeed, it is terrible!

Ellida. That is why I feel I must plunge into it.

w.a.n.gel (looking at her). Because it seems terrible?

Ellida. Yes; because of that.

w.a.n.gel (coming closer). Listen, Ellida. What do you really mean by terrible?