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Read Ebook: The Lady from the Sea by Ibsen Henrik Aveling Eleanor Marx Translator
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Translator: Eleanor Marx-Aveling
THE LADY FROM THE SEA
Translated by Eleanor Marx-Aveling
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
Doctor Wangel. Ellida Wangel, his second wife. Bolette, Hilde , his daughters by his first wife. Arnholm . Lyngstrand. Ballested. A Stranger. Young People of the Town. Tourists. Visitors.
THE LADY FROM THE SEA
ACT I
Bolette. Well, Ballested, does it work smoothly?
Ballested. Certainly, Miss Bolette, that's easy enough. May I ask--do you expect any visitors today?
Bolette. Yes, we're expecting Mr. Arnholm this morning. He got to town in the night.
Ballested. Arnholm? Wait a minute--wasn't Arnholm the man who was tutor here several years ago?
Bolette. Yes, it is he.
Ballested. Oh, really! Is he coming into these parts again?
Bolette. That's why we want to have the flag up.
Ballested. Well, that's reasonable enough.
Lyngstrand . Good-morning.
Ballested . Hallo! Good-morning. . That's it! Up goes the balloon. Good-morning, my dear sir. I really don't think I've the pleasure of--Lyngstrand. I'm sure you're a painter.
Ballested. Of course I am. Why shouldn't I be?
Lyngstrand. Yes, I can see you are. May I take the liberty of coming in a moment?
Ballested. Would you like to come in and see?
Lyngstrand. I should like to immensely.
Ballested. Oh! there's nothing much to see yet. But come in. Come a little closer.
Lyngstrand. Many thanks.
Ballested . It's the fjord there between the islands I'm working at.
Lyngstrand. So I see.
Ballested. But the figure is still wanting. There's not a model to be got in this town.
Lyngstrand. Is there to be a figure, too?
Ballested. Yes. Here by the rocks in the foreground a mermaid is to lie, half-dead.
Lyngstrand. Why is she to be half-dead?
Ballested. She has wandered hither from the sea, and can't find her way out again. And so, you see, she lies there dying in the brackish water.
Lyngstrand. Ah, I see.
Ballested. The mistress of this house put it into my head to do something of the kind.
Lyngstrand. What shall you call the picture when it's finished?
Ballested. I think of calling it "The Mermaid's End."
Lyngstrand. That's capital! You're sure to make something fine of it.
Ballested . In the profession too, perhaps?
Lyngstrand. Do you mean a painter?
Ballested. Yes.
Lyngstrand. No, I'm not that; but I'm going to be a sculptor. My name is Hans Lyngstrand.
Ballested. So you're to be a sculptor? Yes, yes; the art of sculpture is a nice, pretty art in its way. I fancy I've seen you in the street once or twice. Have you been staying here long?
Lyngstrand. No; I've only been here a fortnight. But I shall try to stop till the end of the summer.
Ballested. For the bathing?
Lyngstrand. Yes; I wanted to see if I could get a little stronger.
Ballested. Not delicate, surely?
Lyngstrand. Yes, perhaps I am a little delicate; but it's nothing dangerous. Just a little tightness on the chest.
Ballested. Tush!--a bagatelle! You should consult a good doctor.
Lyngstrand. Yes, I thought of speaking to Doctor Wangel one of these times.
Ballested. You should. There's another steamer, crowded with passengers. It's really marvellous how travelling has increased here of late years.
Lyngstrand. Yes, there's a good deal of traffic here, I think.
Ballested. And lots of summer visitors come here too. I often hear our good town will lose its individuality with all these foreign goings on.
Lyngstrand. Were you born in the town?
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