Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 5).djvu/94

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ACT SECOND

In Athens. An open place surrounded by colonnades. In the square, statues and a fountain. A narrow street debouches in the left-hand corner. Sunset.

Basil of Caesarea, a delicately-built young man, sits reading beside a pillar. Gregory of Nazianzus and other scholars of the University stroll in scattered groups up and down the colonnades. A larger band runs shouting across the square, and out to the right; noise in the distance.


Basil.

[Looks up from his book.] What mean these wild cries?

Gregory.

A ship has come in from Ephesus.

Basil.

With new scholars?

Gregory.

Yes.

Basil.

[Rising.] Then we shall have a night of tumult. Come, Gregory; let us not witness all this unseemliness.