INGOLF. We saw you walking up the mountain.

HADDA PADDA. I lay down on the edge of the cliff and looked down
into the depth from which I had seen you come up. "Little heart,"
I said, "try to be calm while I am tormenting you: Here it was
that he raised himself up on the rope _I_ held. Here it was that
he showed me how well he loved me." But instead of feeling pain,
my whole frame quivered with trembling joy. Here, too, I had
conquered. Tears of gratitude came into my eyes, I stretched
myself farther out on the edge to make my tears of joy fall into
the chasm, down to the very bottom.--Do you see now that I am not
going to make a sacrifice. Now tell all this to Runa, for she
should know it too.

INGOLF [very much moved, throws himself at her feet]. When you
have risen I will kiss the ground your feet have marked.

HADDA PADDA. Then I shall never rise. ... Don't lie down like
that. Get up, Ingolf, INGOLF. I will lie down and forget. Let me
dream of death for one moment.

HADDA PADDA. Death! You who are happy!

INGOLF. Death is not unhappiness.

HADDA PADDA. Come, sit down again. I will tell you what death is.
Last night I was only a hair's breadth away from it.

INGOLF [starts, terror stricken, he half arises]. What are you
saying?