To think that you too can find it in your heart to help on the work of
corruption and ruin in this unhappy land.
ROSMER.
It is the work of emancipation I wish to help on.
KROLL.
Oh yes, I know. That is what both the tempters and their victims call
it. But do you think there is any emancipation to be expected from the
spirit that is now poisoning our whole social life?
ROSMER.
I am not in love with the spirit that is in the ascendant, nor with
either of the contending parties. I will try to bring together men from
both sides—as many as I can—and to unite them as closely as possible. I
will devote my life and all my energies to this one thing—the creation
of a true democracy in this country.
KROLL.
So you don’t think we have democracy enough already! For my part it
seems to me we are all in a fair way to be dragged down into the mire,
where hitherto only the mob have been able to thrive.
ROSMER.
That is just why I want to awaken the democracy to its true task.
KROLL.
What task?
ROSMER.
That of making all the people of this country noble-men.
KROLL.
All the people——?
ROSMER.
As many as possible, at any rate.
KROLL.
By what means?
ROSMER.
By freeing their minds and purifying their wills.
KROLL.
You are a dreamer, Rosmer. Will _you_ free them? Will _you_ purify them?
ROSMER.
No, my dear friend—I will only try to arouse them to their task. They
themselves must accomplish it.
KROLL.
And you think they can?
ROSMER.
Yes.
KROLL.
By their own strength?
ROSMER.
Yes, precisely by their own strength. There is no other.
KROLL.
[_Rises._] Is this becoming language for a priest?
ROSMER.
I am no longer a priest.
KROLL.
Well but—the faith of your fathers——?
ROSMER.
It is mine no more.
KROLL.
No more——!
ROSMER.
[_Rises._] I have given it up. I _had_ to give it up, Kroll.
KROLL.
[_Controlling his agitation._] Oh, indeed——Yes, yes, yes. I suppose one
thing goes with another. Was this, then, your reason for leaving the
Church?
ROSMER.
Yes. As soon as my mind was clear—as soon as I was quite certain that
this was no passing attack of scepticism, but a conviction I neither
could nor would shake off—then I at once left the Church.
KROLL.
So this has been your state of mind all this time! And we—your
friends—have heard nothing of it. Rosmer—Rosmer—how could you hide the
miserable truth from us!
ROSMER.
Because it seemed to me a matter that concerned myself alone. And
besides, I did not wish to give you and my other friends any needless
pain. I thought I might live on here, as before, quietly, serenely,
happily. I wanted to read, to bury myself in all the studies that until
then had been sealed books to me. I wanted to make myself thoroughly at
home in the great world of truth and freedom that has been revealed to
me.
KROLL.
Apostate! Every word proves it. But why, then, do you confess your
secret apostasy after all? And why just at this time?
ROSMER.
You yourself have driven me to it, Kroll.
KROLL.
I? Have I driven you——?
ROSMER.
When I heard of your violence on the platform—when I read all the
rancorous speeches you made—your bitter onslaughts on your opponents—the
contemptuous invectives you heaped on them—oh Kroll, to think that
you—_you_—could come to this!—then my duty stood imperatively before me.
Men are growing evil in this struggle. Peace and joy and mutual
forbearance must once more enter into our souls. That is why I now
intend to step forward and openly avow myself for what I am. I, too,
will try my strength. Could not you—from your side—help me in this,
Kroll?
KROLL.
Never so long as I live will I make peace with the subversive forces in
society.
ROSMER.
Then at least let us fight with honourable weapons—since fight we must.
KROLL.
Whoever is not with me in the essential things of life, him I no longer
know. I owe him no consideration.
ROSMER.
Does that apply to me too?
KROLL.
It is you that have broken with me, Rosmer.
ROSMER.
Is this a breach then?
KROLL.
This! It is a breach with all who have hitherto been your friends. You
must take the consequences.
REBECCA WEST _enters from the right, and opens the door wide._
REBECCA.
There now; he is on his way to his great sacrifice. And now we can go to
supper. Will you come in, Rector?
KROLL.
[_Takes up his hat._] Good-night, Miss West. I have nothing more to do
here.
REBECCA.
[_Eagerly._] What is this? [_Shuts the door and comes forward._] Have
you spoken?
ROSMER.
He knows everything.
KROLL.
We will not let you go, Rosmer. We will force you to come back to us.
ROSMER.
I can never stand where I did.
KROLL.
We shall see. You are not the man to endure standing alone.
ROSMER.
I shall not be so completely alone after all.—There are two of us to
bear the loneliness together.
KROLL.
Ah——! [_A suspicion appears in his face._] That too! Beata’s words——!
ROSMER.
Beata’s——?
KROLL.
[_Shaking off the thought._] No, no—that was vile. Forgive me.
ROSMER.
What? What do you mean?
KROLL.
Don’t ask. Bah! Forgive me! Good-bye!
[_Goes towards the entrance door._
ROSMER.
[_Follows him._] Kroll! Our friendship must not end like this. I will
come and see you to-morrow.
KROLL.
[_In the hall, turns._] You shall never cross my threshold again.
[_He takes up his stick and goes out._
[ROSMER _stands for a moment in the doorway; then shuts the door
and walks up to the table._
ROSMER.
It does not matter, Rebecca. We will see it out, we two faithful
friends—you[10] and I.
REBECCA.
What do you think he meant when he said “That was vile”?
ROSMER.
Don’t trouble about that, dear. He himself didn’t believe what was in
his mind. To-morrow I will go and see him. Good-night!
REBECCA.
Are you going upstairs so early to-night? After this?
ROSMER.
To-night as usual. I feel so relieved, now it is over. You see—I am
quite calm, Rebecca. Do you, too, take it calmly. Good-night!
REBECCA.
Good-night, dear friend! Sleep well.
[ROSMER _goes out by the hall door; his steps are heard
ascending the staircase._
[REBECCA _goes and pulls a bell-rope near the stove. Shortly
after,_ MADAM HELSETH _enters from the right._
REBECCA.
You can take away the supper things, Madam Helseth. Mr. Rosmer doesn’t
want anything, and the Rector has gone home.
MADAM HELSETH.
Has the Rector gone? What was the matter with him?
REBECCA.
[_Takes up her crochet work._] He said he thought there was a heavy
storm brewing——
MADAM HELSETH.
What a strange notion! There’s not a cloud in the sky this evening.
REBECCA.
Let us hope he mayn’t meet the White Horse! I’m afraid we shall soon be
hearing something from the bogies now.
MADAM HELSETH.
Lord forgive you, Miss! Don’t say such awful things.
REBECCA.
Well, well, well——
MADAM HELSETH.
[_Softly._] Do you really think some one is to go soon, Miss?
REBECCA.
No; why should I think so? But there are so many sorts of white horses
in this world, Madam Helseth.—Well, good-night. I shall go to my room
now.
MADAM HELSETH.
Good-night, Miss.
[REBECCA _goes out to the right, with her crochet-work._
MADAM HELSETH.
[_Turns the lamp down, shaking her head and muttering to herself._]
Lord—Lord! That Miss West! The things she does say!
-----
Footnote 8:
“Rector” in the Scotch and Continental sense of headmaster of a
school, not in the English sense of a beneficed clergyman.
Footnote 9:
Pronounce _Mortensgore_.
Footnote 10:
From this point, and throughout when alone, Rosmer and Rebecca use the
_du_ of intimate friendship in speaking to each other.
ACT SECOND.
JOHANNES ROSMER’S _study. Entrance door on the left. At the back, a
doorway with a curtain drawn aside, leading into_ ROSMER’S
_bedroom. On the right a window, and in front of it a
writing-table covered with books and papers. Bookshelves and cases
round the room. The furniture is simple. On the left, an
old-fashioned sofa, with a table in front of it._
JOHANNES ROSMER, _in an indoor jacket, is sitting in a high-backed chair
at the writing-table. He is cutting and turning over the leaves of
a pamphlet, and reading a little here and there._
_There is a knock at the door on the left._
ROSMER.
[_Without moving._] Come in.
REBECCA WEST.
[_Enters, dressed in a morning gown._] Good morning.
ROSMER.
[_Turning the leaves of the pamphlet._] Good morning, dear. Do you want
anything?
REBECCA.
I only wanted to hear if you had slept well.
ROSMER.
Oh I have had a beautiful, peaceful night. [_Turns._] And you?
REBECCA.
Oh yes, thanks—towards morning——
ROSMER.
I don’t know when I have felt so light-hearted as I do now. I am so glad
I managed to speak out at last.
REBECCA.
Yes, it is a pity you remained silent so long, Rosmer.
ROSMER.
I don’t understand myself how I could be such a coward.
REBECCA.
It wasn’t precisely cowardice——
ROSMER.
Oh yes, dear—when I think the thing out, I can see there was a touch of
cowardice at the bottom of it.
REBECCA.
All the braver, then, to make the plunge at last. [_Sits on a chair at
the writing-table, close to him._] But now I want to tell you of
something I have done—and you mustn’t be vexed with me about it.
ROSMER.
Vexed? How can you think——?
REBECCA.
Well, it was perhaps rather indiscreet of me, but——
ROSMER.
Let me hear what it was.
REBECCA.
Yesterday evening, when Ulric Brendel was leaving—I gave him a note to
Peter Mortensgård.
ROSMER.
[_A little doubtful._] Why, my dear Rebecca——Well, what did you say?
REBECCA.
I said that he would be doing you a service if he would look after that
unfortunate creature a little, and help him in any way he could.
ROSMER.
Dear, you shouldn’t have done that. You have only done Brendel harm. And
Mortensgård is not a man I care to have anything to do with. You know of
that old episode between us.
REBECCA.
But don’t you think it would be as well to make it up with him again?
ROSMER.
I? With Mortensgård? In what way do you mean?
REBECCA.
Well, you know you can’t feel absolutely secure now—after this breach
with your old friends.
ROSMER.
[_Looks at her and shakes his head._] Can you really believe that Kroll
or any of the others would try to take revenge on me? That they would be
capable of——?
REBECCA.
In the first heat of anger, dear——. No one can be sure. I think—after
the way the Rector took it——
ROSMER.
Oh, you ought surely to know him better than that. Kroll is a gentleman,
to the backbone. I am going into town this afternoon to talk to him. I
will talk to them all. Oh you shall see how easily it will all go——
MADAM HELSETH _appears at the door on the left._
REBECCA.
[_Rises._] What is it, Madam Helseth?
MADAM HELSETH.
Rector Kroll is downstairs in the hall.
ROSMER.
[_Rises hastily._] Kroll!
REBECCA.
The Rector! Is it possible——
MADAM HELSETH.
He wants to know if he may come up and see Mr. Rosmer.
ROSMER.
[_To_ REBECCA.] What did I tell you?—Of course he may. [_Goes to the
door and calls down the stairs._] Come up, dear friend! I am delighted
to see you.
[ROMER _stands holding the door open._ MADAM HELSETH _goes out._
REBECCA _draws the curtain before the doorway at the back,
and then begins arranging things in the room._
RECTOR KROLL _enters, with his hat in his hand._
ROSMER.
[_With quiet emotion._] I knew it couldn’t be the last time——
KROLL.
I see things to-day in quite a different light from yesterday.
ROSMER.
Ah yes, Kroll; I was sure you would, now that you have had time to
reflect.
KROLL.
You misunderstand me completely. [_Lays his hat on the table beside the
sofa._] It is of the utmost importance that I should speak to you,
alone.
ROSMER.
Why may not Miss West——?
REBECCA.
No no, Mr. Rosmer. I will go.
KROLL.
[_Looks at her from head to foot._] And I must ask Miss West to excuse
my coming at such an untimely hour—taking her unawares before she has
had time to——
REBECCA.
[_Surprised._] What do you mean? Do you see any harm in my wearing a
morning gown about the house?
KROLL.
Heaven forbid! I know nothing of what may now be customary at
Rosmersholm.
ROSMER.
Why, Kroll—you are not yourself to-day!
REBECCA.
Allow me to wish you good morning, Rector Kroll.
[_She goes out to the left._
KROLL.
By your leave—— [_Sits on the sofa._
ROSMER.
Yes, Kroll, sit down, and let us talk things out amicably.
[_He seats himself in a chair directly opposite to the_ RECTOR.
KROLL.
I haven’t closed an eye since yesterday. I have been lying thinking and
thinking all night.
ROSMER.
And what do you say to things to-day?
KROLL.
It will be a long story, Rosmer. Let me begin with a sort of
introduction. I can give you news of Ulric Brendel.
ROSMER.
Has he called on you?
KROLL.
No. He took up his quarters in a low public-house—in the lowest company
of course—and drank and stood treat as long as he had any money. Then he
began abusing the whole company as a set of disreputable blackguards—and
so far he was quite right—whereupon they thrashed him and pitched him
out into the gutter.
ROSMER.
So he is incorrigible after all.
KROLL.
He had pawned the coat too; but I am told that has been redeemed for
him. Can you guess by whom?
ROSMER.
Perhaps by you?
KROLL.
No; by the distinguished Mr. Mortensgård.
ROSMER.
Ah, indeed.
KROLL.
I understand that Mr. Brendel’s first visit was to the “idiot” and
“plebeian.”
ROSMER.
Well, it was lucky for him——
KROLL.
To be sure it was. [_Leans over the table towards_ ROSMER.] And that
brings me to a matter it is my duty to warn you about, for our old—for
our former friendship’s sake.
ROSMER.
My dear Kroll, what can _that_ be?
KROLL.
It is this: there are things going on behind your back in this house.
ROSMER.
How can you think so? Is it Reb—is it Miss West you are aiming at?
KROLL.
Precisely. I can quite understand it on her part. She has so long been
accustomed to have everything her own way here. But nevertheless——
ROSMER.
My dear Kroll, you are utterly mistaken. She and I—we have no
concealments from each other on any subject whatever.
KROLL.
Has she told you, then, that she has entered into correspondence with
the editor of the “Beacon”?
ROSMER.
Oh, you are thinking of the few lines she sent by Ulric Brendel?
KROLL.
Then you _have_ found it out. And do you approve of her entering into
relations with a scurrilous scribbler, who never lets a week pass
without holding me up to ridicule, both as a schoolmaster and as a
public man?
ROSMER.
My dear Kroll, I don’t suppose that side of the matter ever entered her
head. And besides, of course she has full liberty of action, just as I
have.
KROLL.
Indeed? Ah, no doubt that follows from your new line of thought. For
Miss West presumably shares your present standpoint?
ROSMER.
Yes, she does. We two have worked our way forward in faithful
comradeship.
KROLL.
[_Looks at him and slowly shakes his head._] Oh, you blind, deluded
being!
ROSMER.
I? Why do you say that?
KROLL.
Because I dare not—I will not think the worst. No no, let me say my say
out.—You really do value my friendship, Rosmer? And my respect too? Do
you not?
ROSMER.
I surely need not answer that question.
KROLL.
Well, but there are other questions that do require an answer—a full
explanation on your part.—Will you submit to a sort of investigation——?
ROSMER.
Investigation?
KROLL.
Yes; will you let me question you about certain things it may pain you
to be reminded of? You see—this apostasy of yours—well, this
emancipation, as you call it—is bound up with many other things that for
your own sake you must explain to me.
ROSMER.
My dear Kroll, ask what questions you please. I have nothing to conceal.
KROLL.
Then tell me—what do you think was the real, the ultimate reason why
Beata put an end to her life?
ROSMER.
Can you have any doubt on the subject? Or, rather, can you ask for
reasons for what an unhappy, irresponsible invalid may do?
KROLL.
Are you certain that Beata was completely irresponsible for her actions?
The doctors, at any rate, were by no means convinced of it.
ROSMER.
If the doctors had ever seen her as I have so often seen her, for days
and nights together, they would have had no doubts.
KROLL.
I had no doubts either—then.
ROSMER.
Oh no, unhappily, there wasn’t the smallest room for doubt. I have told
you of her wild frenzies of passion—which she expected me to return. Oh,
how they appalled me! And then her causeless, consuming self-reproaches
during the last few years.
KROLL.
Yes, when she had learnt that she must remain childless all her life.
ROSMER.
Yes, just think of that! Such terrible, haunting agony of mind about a
thing utterly beyond her control——! How could you call her responsible
for her actions?
KROLL.
H’m———. Can you remember whether you had any books in the house at that
time treating of the rationale of marriage—according to the “advanced”
ideas of the day.
ROSMER.
I remember Miss West lending me a work of the kind. The Doctor left her
his library, you know. But, my dear Kroll, you surely cannot suppose we
were so reckless as to let my poor sick wife get hold of any such ideas?
I can solemnly assure you that the fault was not ours. It was her own
distempered brain that drove her into these wild aberrations.
KROLL.
One thing at any rate I can tell you; and that is, that poor,
overstrung, tortured Beata put an end to her life in order that you
might live happily—live freely, and—after your own heart.
ROSMER.
[_Starts half up from his chair._] What do you mean by that?
KROLL.
Listen to me quietly, Rosmer; for now I can speak of it. In the last
year of her life she came to me twice to pour forth all her anguish and
despair.
ROSMER.
On this same subject?
KROLL.
No. The first time she came, it was to declare that you were on the road
to perversion—that you were going to break with the faith of your
fathers.
ROSMER.
[_Eagerly._] What you say is impossible, Kroll! Absolutely impossible!
You must be mistaken.
KROLL.
And why?
ROSMER.
Because while Beata was alive I was still wrestling with myself in
doubt. And that fight I fought out alone and in utter silence, I don’t
think even Rebecca——
KROLL.
Rebecca?
ROSMER.
Oh well—Miss West. I call her Rebecca for convenience’ sake.
KROLL.
So I have remarked.
ROSMER.
So it is inconceivable to me how Beata could have got hold of the idea.
And why did she not speak to me myself about it? She never did—she never
said a single word.
KROLL.
Poor creature—she begged and implored _me_ to talk to you.
ROSMER.
And why did you not?
KROLL.
At that time I never for a moment doubted that she was out of her mind.
Such an accusation against a man like you!—And then she came again—about
a month later. This time she seemed outwardly calmer; but as she was
going she said: “They may soon expect the White Horse at Rosmersholm
now.”
ROSMER.
Yes, yes. The White Horse—she often spoke of it.
KROLL.
And when I tried to divert her mind from such melancholy fancies, she
only answered: “I have not long to live; for Johannes must marry Rebecca
at once.”
ROSMER.
[_Almost speechless._] What do you say? I marry——?
KROLL.
That was on a Thursday afternoon——. On the Saturday evening she threw
herself from the bridge into the mill-race.
ROSMER.
And you never warned us——!
KROLL.
You know very well how often she used to say that she felt her end was
near.
ROSMER.
Yes, I know. But nevertheless—you _should_ have warned us!
KROLL.
I did think of it; but not till too late.
ROSMER.
But afterwards, why did you not——? Why have you said nothing about all
this?
KROLL.
What good would it have done for me to come torturing and harassing you
still further? I took all she said for mere wild, empty ravings—until
yesterday evening.
ROSMER.
Then you have now changed your opinion?
KROLL.
Did not Beata see quite clearly when she declared you were about to
desert the faith of your fathers?
ROSMER.
[_Looks fixedly, straight before him._] I cannot understand it. It is
the most incomprehensible thing in the world.
KROLL.
Incomprehensible or not—there it is. And now I ask you, Rosmer,—how much
truth is there in her other accusation? The last one, I mean.
ROSMER.
Accusation? Was _that_ an accusation?
KROLL.
Perhaps you did not notice the way she worded it. She had to go, she
said—why?
ROSMER.
In order that I might marry Rebecca——
KROLL.
These were not precisely her words. Beata used a different expression.
She said: “I have not long to live; for Johannes _must_ marry Rebecca
_at once_.”
ROSMER.
[_Looks at him for a moment; then rises._] Now I understand you, Kroll.
KROLL.
And what then? What is your answer?
ROSMER.
[_Still quiet and self-restrained._] To such an unheard-of——? The only
fitting answer would be to point to the door.
KROLL.
[_Rises._] Well and good.
ROSMER.
[_Stands in front of him._] Listen to me. For more than a year—ever
since Beata left us—Rebecca West and I have lived alone here at
Rosmersholm. During all that time you have known of Beata’s accusation
against us. But I have never for a moment noticed that you disapproved
of Rebecca’s living in my house.
KROLL.
I did not know till yesterday evening that it was an unbelieving man who
was living with an—emancipated woman.
ROSMER.
Ah——! Then you do not believe that purity of mind is to be found among
the unbelieving and the emancipated? You do not believe that morality
may be an instinctive law of their nature!
KROLL.
I have no great faith in the morality that is not founded on the
teachings of the Church.
ROSMER.
And you mean this to apply to Rebecca and me? To the relation between us
two——?
KROLL.
Not even out of consideration for you two can I depart from my opinion
that there is no unfathomable gulf between free thought and—h’m——
ROSMER.
And what?
KROLL.
——and free love,—since you _will_ have it.
ROSMER.
[_In a low voice._] And you are not ashamed to say this to me! You, who
have known me from my earliest youth!
KROLL.
For that very reason. I know how easily you are influenced by the people
you associate with. And this Rebecca of yours—well, Miss West then—we
really know little or nothing about her. In short, Rosmer—I will not
give you up. And you—you must try to save yourself in time.
ROSMER.
Save myself? How——?
MADAM HELSETH _peeps in at the door on the left._
ROSMER.
What do you want?
MADAM HELSETH.
I wanted to ask Miss West to step downstairs.
ROSMER.
Miss West is not up here.
MADAM HELSETH.
Isn’t she? [_Looks round the room._] Well, that’s strange.
[_She goes._
ROSMER.
You were saying——?
KROLL.
Listen to me. I am not going to inquire too closely into the secret
history of what went on here in Beata’s lifetime—and may still be going
on. I know that your marriage was a most unhappy one; and I suppose that
must be taken as some sort of excuse——
ROSMER.
Oh, how little you really know me——!
KROLL.
Don’t interrupt me. What I mean is this: if your present mode of life
with Miss West is to continue, it is absolutely necessary that the
change of views—the unhappy backsliding—brought about by her evil
influence, should be hushed up. Let me speak! Let me speak! I say, if
the worst comes to the worst, in Heaven’s name think and believe
whatever you like about everything under the sun. But you must keep your
views to yourself. These things are purely personal matters, after all.
There is no need to proclaim them from the housetops.
ROSMER.
I feel it an absolute necessity to get out of a false and equivocal
position.
KROLL.
But you have a duty towards the traditions of your race, Rosmer!
Remember that! Rosmersholm has, so to speak, radiated morality and order
from time immemorial—yes, and respectful conformity to all that is
accepted and sanctioned by the best people. The whole district has taken
its stamp from Rosmersholm. It would lead to deplorable, irremediable
confusion if it were known that you had broken with what I may call the
hereditary idea of the house of Rosmer.
ROSMER.
My dear Kroll, I cannot see the matter in that light. I look upon it as
my imperative duty to spread a little light and gladness here, where the
Rosmer family has from generation to generation been a centre of
darkness and oppression.
KROLL.
[_Looks at him severely._] Yes, that would be a worthy life-work for the
last of your race! No, Rosmer; let such things alone; you are the last
man for such a task. You were born to be a quiet student.
ROSMER.
Perhaps so. But for once in a way I mean to bear my part in the battle
of life.
KROLL.
And do you know what that battle of life will mean for you? It will mean
a life-and-death struggle with all your friends.
ROSMER.
[_Quietly._] They cannot all be such fanatics as you.
KROLL.
You are a credulous creature, Rosmer. An inexperienced creature too. You
have no conception of the overwhelming storm that will burst upon you.
MADAM HELSETH _looks in at the door on the left._
MADAM HELSETH.