Take her then, Gudmund, and make her your bride. Your union is holy; God’s on your side. [_Waving farewell, she goes towards the doorway on the left._ GUDMUND _and_ SIGNË _follow her, she stops them with a motion of her hand, goes out, and shuts the door behind her. At this moment the sun rises and sheds its light into the hall._ GUDMUND. Signë—my wife! See, the morning glow! ’Tis the morning of our young love. Rejoice! SIGNË. All my fairest of dreams and of memories I owe To the strains of thy harp and the sound of thy voice. My noble minstrel, to joy or sadness Tune thou that harp as seems thee best; There are chords, believe me, within my breast To answer to thine, or of woe or of gladness. CHORUS OF MEN AND WOMEN. Over earth keeps watch the eye of light, Guardeth lovingly the good man’s ways, Sheddeth round him its consoling rays;— Praise be to the Lord in heaven’s height! ----- Footnote 24: This no doubt means a sort of arcaded veranda running along the outer wall of the house. Footnote 25: A contest in impromptu verse-making. ----- LOVE’S COMEDY PERSONS OF THE COMEDY MRS. HALM, _widow of a government official._ SVANHILD, } _her daughters._ ANNA, } FALK, _a young author_, } _her boarders._ LIND, _a divinity student_,} GULDSTAD, _a wholesale merchant._ STIVER, _a law-clerk._ MISS JAY, _his fiancée._ STRAWMAN, _a country clergyman._ MRS. STRAWMAN, _his wife._ STUDENTS, GUESTS, MARRIED AND PLIGHTED PAIRS. THE STRAWMANS’ EIGHT LITTLE GIRLS. FOUR AUNTS, A PORTER, DOMESTIC SERVANTS. ------- SCENE.—_Mrs. Halm’s Villa on the Drammensvejen at Christiania._ LOVE’S COMEDY PLAY IN THREE ACTS ACT FIRST _The_ SCENE _represents a pretty garden irregularly but tastefully laid out; in the background are seen the fjord and the islands. To the left is the house, with a verandah and an open dormer window above; to the right in the foreground an open summer-house with a table and benches. The landscape lies in bright afternoon sunshine. It is early summer; the fruit-trees are in flower_.