God will lend His aid in this matter, I have nothing against it, for
Marit is most charming to young men, as plainly can be seen, and she
has abundance of earthly goods, and the heavenly ones she has too, with
all her fickleness. For the fear of God in her mind is like water in a
shallow pond: it is there when it rains, but it is gone when the sun
shines.
My eyes can endure no more at present, for they see well at a
distance, but pain me and fill with tears when I look at small objects.
In conclusion, I will advise you, Oyvind, to have your God with you in
all your desires and undertakings, for it is written: "Better is an
handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and
vexation of spirit." Ecclesiastes, iv. 6. Your old school-master,
BAARD ANDERSEN OPDAL.



TO THE MOST HONORED MAIDEN, MARIT KNUDSDATTER HEIDEGARDS:--
You have my thanks for your letter, which I have read and burned,
as you requested. You write of many things, but not at all concerning
that of which I wanted you to write. Nor do I dare write anything
definite before I know how you are in _every respect_. The
school-master's letter says nothing that one can depend on, but he
praises you and he says you are fickle. That, indeed, you were before.
Now I do not know what to think, and so you must write, for it will not
be well with me until you do. Just now I remember best about your
coming to the cliff that last evening and what you said then. I will
say no more this time, and so farewell.
Most respectfully,
OYVIND PLADSEN.