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Strindberg, August, 1849-1912

"Married"


"Dear William!"--"H'm! William! No longer Pal!"--"Life is a struggle"
--"What the deuce does she mean? What has that to do with us?"--"from
beginning to end. Gently as a river in Kedron"--"Kedron! she's quoting
the Bible!"--"our life has glided along. Like sleepwalkers we have been
walking on the edge of precipices without being aware of them"--"The
seminary, oh! the seminary!"--"Suddenly we find ourselves face to face
with the ethical"--"The ethical? Ablative!"--"asserting itself in its
higher potencies!"--"Potencies?"--"Now that I am awake from my long sleep
and ask myself: has our marriage been a marriage in the true sense of the
word? I must admit with shame and remorse that this has not been the case.
For love is of divine origin. (St. Matthew xi. 22, 24.)"
The captain had to mix himself a glass of rum and water before he felt
able to continue his reading.--"How earthly, how material our love has
been! Have our souls lived in that harmony of which Plato speaks?
(Phaidon, Book vi. Chap. ii. Par. 9). Our answer is bound to be in the
negative. What have I been to you? A housekeeper and, oh! The disgrace!
your mistress! Have our souls understood one another? Again we are bound
to answer 'No.'"--"To Hell with all Ottilias and seminaries!
Has she been my housekeeper? She has been my wife and the mother of my
children!"--"Read the book I have sent you! It will answer all your
questions.


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