Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Sidor ...
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
A BIOGRAPHY
243
ration. I believe in it because it is S<5nya’s idea, for naturally
it is much easier for me to believe that she is inspired, than to
believe such a thing of myself. She, on the other hand, admires
my work, the spirit and artistic form which I give to the design.
It would be impossible to have a better arrangement. It is
delightful to be able to admire one’s own work without conceit. I
have never felt so much confidence or such little misgiving. If
we fail, I think we must commit suicide! . . . You wish to know
Madame Kovalévsky’s share in the work. It is quite true that
she has not written a single sentence. But she has not only
originated the whole, but has also thought out the contents of each
act. She has given me besides several psychological traits for
the building up of the characters. We read daily what I have
done, and she makes remarks and offers suggestions. She asks
to hear it over and over again, as children ask for their
favorite tales. She thinks nothing in all the world could be more
interesting.
On March 9th we read the play aloud for the first
time to our intimate friends. Up to that moment our
illusion and joy had been continually rising higher
and higher. Sonya had such overwhelming fits of
exultation that she was obliged to go out into the
forest to shout out her delight under the open sky.
Every day, when we had finished our work, we took
long walks in Till Jans’ wood, close to our houses in
town. There Sönya jumped over stones and hillocks,
took me in her arms and danced about, shouting that
life was beautiful, the future fascinating and full of
promise. She cherished the most exaggerated hopes
of the success of our drama. She fancied it would
march in triumph from capital to capital in Europe.
Such a new and original idea could not but prove a
triumph in literature. "This is how it might have
been." It is a dream actually experienced by every
one; and seen in the objective light lent by the stage,
it could not fail to prove entrancing. The very essence
of the plot was the glorification of love as the only im-
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
