HILDA (very serious). It was inside me, something
goading and driving me here. Coaxing and luring me, too.
SOLNESS (eagerly). That’s it! That’s it, Hilda!
There’s a troll in you—same as in me. It’s that troll in us, don’t you
see—that’s what calls on the powers out there. And then we have to give
in—whether we want to or not.
HILDA. I almost believe you’re right, Mr. Solness.
SOLNESS (walking about the room). Oh, Hilda, there
are so many devils one can’t see loose in the world!
HILDA. Devils, too?
SOLNESS (stops). Good devils and bad devils. Blond
devils and black-haired ones. And if only you always knew if the light or the
dark ones had you! (Pacing about; with a laugh.) Wouldn’t it be simple
then!
HILDA (her eyes following him). Or if you had a
really strong conscience, brimming with health—so you could dare what you most
wanted.
SOLNESS (stopping by the console table). Still, I
think most people, in this respect, are just as weak as I am.
HILDA. Probably.
SOLNESS (leaning against the table). In the sagas—
Ever done any reading in the old sagas?
HILDA. Oh yes! In the days when I used to read books—
SOLNESS. In the sagas it tells about Vikings that sailed to
foreign countries and plundered and burned and killed the men—
HILDA. And captured the women—
SOLNESS. And carried them off—
HILDA. Took them home in their ships—
SOLNESS. And treated them like—like the worst of trolls.
HILDA (looking straight ahead with half-veiled eyes).
I think that must have been thrilling.
SOLNESS (with a short, deep laugh). Capturing women,
hm?
HILDA. Being captured.
SOLNESS (studying her a moment). I see.
HILDA (as if breaking the train of thought). But what
are you getting at with all these Vikings, Mr. Solness?
SOLNESS. Just that there’s your robust conscience—in those
boys! When they got back home, they went on eating and drinking and living
lighthearted as children. And the women as well! They soon had no urge, most of
them, ever to give up their men. Does that make sense to you, Hilda?
HILDA. Those women make perfect sense to me.
SOLNESS. Aha! Perhaps you could go and do likewise?
HILDA. Why not?
SOLNESS. Live, of your own free will, with a barbarian like
that?
HILDA. If it was a barbarian that I really loved—
SOLNESS. But could you ever love one?
HILDA. My Lord, you don’t just plan whom you’re going to
love.
SOLNESS (gazing thoughtfully at her). No—I suppose
it’s the troll within that decides.
HILDA (half laughing). Yes, and all those enchanting
little devils—your friends. The blond and the black-haired both.
SOLNESS (with quiet warmth). Then I’ll ask that the
devils choose tenderly for you, Hilda.
HILDA. For me they’ve already chosen. Now and forever.