NILS LYKKE. O, 'tis nought,--nought! Elina,--now will I confess
all to you. I have have beguiled many with both words and glances;
I have said to many a one what I whispered to you this night. But
trust me----
ELINA. Hush! No more of that. My love is no exchange for that
you give me. No, no; I love you because your every glance commands
it like a king's decree.
(Lies down at his feet.)
Oh, let me once more stamp that kingly message deep into my soul,
though well I know it stands imprinted there for all time and
eternity.
Dear God--how little I have known myself! 'Twas but to-night I
said to my mother: "My pride is my life." And what is my pride?
Is it to know that my countrymen are free, or that my house is
held in honour throughout the lands? Oh, no, no! My love is my
pride. The little dog is proud when he may sit by his master's
feet and eat bread-crumbs from his hand. Even so am I proud, so
long as I may sit at your feet, while your looks and your words
nourish me with the bread of life. See, therefore, I say to you,
even as I said but now to my mother: "My love is my life;" for
therein lies all my pride, now and evermore.
NILS LYKKE (raises her up on his lap). Nay, nay--not at my feet,
but at my side is your place,--should fate set me never so high.
Ay, Elina--you have led me into a better path; and if it be granted
me some day to atone by a deed of fame for the sins of my reckless
youth, the honour shall be yours as well as mine.
ELINA. Ah, you speak as though I were still the Elina that but
this evening flung down the flowers at your feet.
I have read in my books of the many-coloured life in far-off lands.
To the winding of horns the knight rides forth into the greenwood,
with his falcon on his wrist. Even so do you go your way through
life;--your name rings out before you whithersoever you fare.--All
that I desire of your glory, is to rest like the falcon on your
arm. I too was blind as he to light and life, till you loosed
the hood from my eyes and set me soaring high over the leafy tree-
tops;--But, trust me--bold as my flight may be, yet shall I ever
turn back to my cage.
NILS LYKKE (rises). Then I bid defiance to the past! See now;--
take this ring, and be _mine_ before God and men--_mine_, ay,though
it should trouble the dreams of the dead.
ELINA. You make me afraid. What is it that----?
NILS LYKKE. It is nought. Come, let me place the ring on your
finger.--Even so--now are you my betrothed!
ELINA. _I_ Nils Lykke's bride! It seems but a dream, all that
has befallen this night. Oh, but so fair a dream! My breast is
so light. No longer is there bitterness and hatred in my soul.
I will atone to all whom I have wronged. I have been unloving to
my mother. To-morrow will I go to her; she must forgive me my
offence.
NILS LYKKE. And give her consent to our bond.
ELINA. That will she. Oh, I am sure she will. My mother is
kind; all the world is kind;--I can feel hatred no more for any
living soul--save _one_.