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1 " first condition of a happy marriage is the absence of love, and the first condition of an enduring love is the absence of marriage. "
― Henrik Ibsen , Love's Comedy
2 " Both agree in repudiating "marriage for love"; but the idealist repudiates it in the name of love, the critic in the name of marriage. Love, for the idealist Ibsen, is a passion which loses its virtue when it reaches its goal, which inspires only while it aspires, and flags bewildered when it attains. Marriage, for the critic Ibsen, is an institution beset with pitfalls into which those are surest to step who enter it blinded with love. "
3 " To "those about to marry," Ibsen therefore says in effect, "Be sure you are not in love!" And to those who are in love he says, "Part! "
4 " The truth is that there are two men in Ibsen—an idealist, exalted to the verge of sentimentality, and a critic, hard, inexorable, remorseless, to the verge of cynicism. What we call his "social philosophy" is a modus vivendi arrived at between them. Both agree in repudiating "marriage for love"; "
5 " And though I have sailed my boat hard aground,O, it was so grand to be sailing! "
6 " Let others emulate the eagle's flight, Life in the lowly plains may be as bright. "
7 " About the white and shining milky way? Man may not there the milk of fortune skim, Nor is the butter of it meant for him. "
8 " Time was when I was young, like you, and played Like you, the unconquerable Titan's part; Year after year I toiled and moiled for bread, Which hardens a man's hand, but not his heart. For northern fells my lonely home surrounded, And by my parish bounds my world was bounded. "
9 " FALK. I feel myself like God's lost prodigal; I left Him for the world's delusive charms. With mild reproof He wooed me to His arms; And when I come, He lights the vaulted hall, Prepares a banquet for the son restored, And makes His noblest creature my reward. From this time forth I'll never leave that Light,— But stand its armed defender in the fight; Nothing shall part us, and our life shall prove A song of glory to triumphant love! "
10 " You possibly believe I keep the glue Of lies for Happiness's in a broken jar? "
11 " But if you are to die, live first! Come forth With me into the glory of God's earth! Soon, soon the gilded cage will claim its prize. The Lady thrives there, but the Woman dies, And I love nothing but the Woman in you. "
12 " world-comedy of Love's contriving—naive fools of fancy, passionately weaving the cords that are to strangle passion. "
13 " One bird's an eagle born— FALK. And one a hen. "
14 " STRAWMAN. Are you less Intractable than when we parted? FALK. Nay, I go my own inexorable way— STRAWMAN. Even tho' you crush another's happiness? FALK. I plant the flower of knowledge in its place. [Smiling. "
