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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.
If precedents decide; Go on.
LIND.
And so we really are--engaged?
FALK.
I should conclude so; but the only way To be quite certain, is to ask Miss Jay.
LIND.
O no, I feel so confident, so clear!
So perfectly a.s.sured, and void of fear.
[Radiantly, in a mysterious tone.
Hark! I had leave her fingers to caress When from the coffee-board she drew the cover.
FALK [lifting and emptying his gla.s.s].
Well, flowers of spring your wedding garland dress!
LIND [doing the same].
And here I swear by heaven that I will love her Until I die, with love as infinite As now glows in me,--for she is so sweet!
FALK.
Engaged! Aha, so that was why you flung The Holy Law and Prophets on the shelf!
LIND [laughing].
And you believed it was the song you sung--!
FALK.
A poet believes all things of himself.
LIND [seriously].
Don't think, however, Falk, that I dismiss The theologian from my hour of bliss.
Only, I find the Book will not suffice As Jacob's ladder unto Paradise.
I must into G.o.d's world, and seek Him there.
A boundless kindness in my heart upsprings, I love the straw, I love the creeping things; They also in my joy shall have a share.
FALK.
Yes, only tell me this, though--
LIND.
I have told it,-- My precious secret, and our three hearts hold it!
FALK.
But have you thought about the future?
LIND.
Thought?
I?--thought about the future? No, from this Time forth I live but in the hour that is.
In home shall all my happiness be sought; We hold Fate's reins, we drive her hither, thither, And neither friend nor mother shall have right To say unto my budding blossom: Wither!
For I am earnest and her eyes are bright, And so it must unfold into the light!
FALK.
Yes, Fortune likes you, you will serve her turn!
LIND.
My spirits like wild music glow and burn; I feel myself a t.i.tan: though a foss Opened before me--I would leap across!
FALK.
Your love, you mean to say, in simple prose, Has made a reindeer of you.
LIND.
Well, suppose; But in my wildest flight, I know the nest In which my heart's dove longs to be at rest!
FALK.
Well then, to-morrow it may fly _con brio_, You're off into the hills with the quartette.
I'll guarantee you against cold and wet--
LIND.
Pooh, the quartette may go and climb in _trio_, The lowly dale has mountain air for me; Here I've the immeasurable fjord, the flowers, Here I have warbling birds and choral bowers, And lady fortune's self,--for here is she!
FALK.
Ah, lady Fortune by our Northern water caught her!
[With a glance towards the house.
Hist--Svanhild--
LIND.
