Love's Comedy

by Henrik Ibsen

AUNTS [delighted].
Yes, that's the way!

MRS HALM.
Agreed!

MISS JAY.
That cuts the knot.

[SVANHILD and the maids have meantime laid the tea-table beside the verandah steps. At MRS. HALM's invitation the ladies sit down. The rest of the company take their places, partly on the verandah and in the summer-house, partly in the garden. FALK sits on the verandah. During the following scene they drink tea.

MRS. HALM [smiling].
And so our little storm is overblown.
Such summer showers do good when they are gone;
The sunshine greets us with a double boon,
And promises a cloudless afternoon.

MISS JAY.
Ah yes, Love's blossom without rainy skies
Would never thrive according to our wishes.

FALK.
In dry land set it, and it forthwith dies;
For in so far the flowers are like the fishes—

SVANHILD.
Nay, for Love lives, you know, upon the air—

MISS JAY.
Which is the death of fishes—

FALK.
So I say.