The Lady From The Sea | Page 3

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E-Text prepared by Martin Adamson
[email protected]

The Lady From The Sea
by Henrik Ibsen

Translated by Eleanor Marx-Aveling

DRAMATIS PERSONAE
Doctor Wangel. Ellida Wangel, his second wife. Bolette, Hilde (not yet
grown up), his daughters by his first wife. Arnholm (second master at a
college). Lyngstrand. Ballested. A Stranger. Young People of the Town.
Tourists. Visitors.
(The action takes place in small fjord town, Northern Norway.)

The Lady From The Sea

ACT I
(SCENE.--DOCTOR WANGEL'S house, with a large verandah garden
in front of and around the house. Under the verandah a flagstaff. In the
garden an arbour, with table and chairs. Hedge, with small gate at the
back. Beyond, a road along the seashore. An avenue of trees along the
road. Between the trees are seen the fjord, high mountain ranges and
peaks. A warm and brilliantly clear summer morning.

BALLESTED, middle-aged, wearing an old velvet jacket, and a
broad-brimmed artist's hat, stands under the flagstaff, arranging the
ropes. The flag is lying on the ground. A little way from him is an easel,
with an outspread canvas. By the easel on a camp-stool, brushes, a
palette, and box of colours.
BOLETTE WANGEL comes from the room opening on the verandah.
She carries a large vase with flowers, which she puts down on the
table.)
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.
(BOLETTE goes into the room again. A little after LYNGSTRAND
enters from the road and stands still, interested by the easel and
painting gear. He is a slender youth, poorly but carefully dressed, and
looks delicate.)
Lyngstrand (on the other side of the hedge). Good-morning.
Ballested (turning round). Hallo! Good-morning. (Hoists up flag).
That's it! Up goes the balloon. (Fastens the ropes, and then busies
himself about the easel.) 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.