HADDA PADDA. Now you have spoken the terrible truth. Your love was
not rich enough, and you knew it from the first. You are not
deceiving me to-day. You deceived me the day you made me believe
that you loved me, but you were not strong enough to be sincere.
You felt that the burning love of a devoted woman would give you a
new spirit; that is why you betrayed me. [Sinks bending over the
table, bursting into tears.]

INGOLF. You accuse yourself with these angry words. Why did you
accept this insincerity for so long?

HADDA PADDA. Because I saw it too late. My soul was spirited up
into the mountain, so that no disappointment could take me from
you. But so it was. Often when you were satiated with pleasure,
you failed to show me any regard. What could I do? Nothing but
continue to believe that I would keep your love alive by the
strength of my own. I know now, why you didn't dare to meet my
look openly. Ingolf, you knew from the beginning, that you might
meet a woman you could love more, but meanwhile you took me,
intending to turn from me when that time came. [Weeps.] If only I
had never known you.

INGOLF. I remember a great many times--you said that you didn't
understand how rich life was before you knew me, and that whatever
fate would be, you would never regret having given yourself to me.
Now I know how sincerely you meant those words.

HADDA PADDA. You don't hear how cruel your words are.--I know,
Ingolf, I said it. I said it when I couldn't control my tongue for
gladness. But we never know ourselves until we stand on the edge