My ship is strong, nor likely to meet with damage,"
the Hollande, answers, as drearily as mysteriously; "Driven by
storms and adverse winds I have been wandering over the face of the
waters--how long? I hardly could tell. I have long ceased to count
the years. I hardly could name all the lands I have approached. One
land alone, the one which of all I long for, I can never find,--the
land of home! Grant me for a short period the hospitality of your
house, and you shall not rue the act of friendliness. My ship is
richly laden with treasures from every region and latitude. If you
will traffic with me, you may be sure of your advantage."--"How
wonderful!" says Daland, impressed; "Am I to take you at your word?
An evil star, it would seem, has so far pursued you. I am ready to
do what I can to serve you. But--may I ask what is the cargo of
your ship?" The Hollander makes a sign to the watch. His sailors
bring ashore a chest. "The rarest treasures you shall see, precious
pearls and noblest gems," the stranger speaks to the wide-eyed
Daland. "See for yourself, and be convinced of the value of the
price I offer for the hospitality of your roof." The lid of the
chest is lifted. Daland stares amazed at the contents. "What? Is
it possible? These treasures?--But who is so rich as to have an
equivalent to tender?"--"Equivalent? I have told you--I offer this for
a single night's lodging. What you see, however, is an insignificant
portion of that which the hold of my ship contains. Of what avail to
me is the treasure? I have neither wife nor child, and my home I
can never find. All my riches I will give you, if you will afford
me a home with you and yours." Daland cannot believe that he hears
aright. "Have you a daughter?" inquires the Hollander. "I have,
indeed, a most dear child."--"Let her be my wife!" Again Daland
cannot believe his ears, cannot be sure whether he is asleep or
awake. It is suggested later that he cares unduly for wealth; but,
without supposing him avaricious, we can realise how what is offered
at this moment should seem such to his simple sailor mind that a
man must be outright mad not to grasp at it for the inconceivable
happiness and splendour of himself and house. No flesh-and-blood
girl, no daughter of the common fellow he is, can to his mind be a
reasonable equivalent, really, for the mass of riches proposed in
exchange for her. Daland nor she had probably in all their lives
owned a precious stone. And this c