Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Heinemann Volume 4).djvu/265

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Peer.

                       Of the loveliest straw.
It will fit whoever first puts it on.
Hei, there is more yet! An addled egg!
A madman's grey hair! And the Prophet's beard!
All these shall be his that will show on the hillside
A post that has writ on it; Here lies your path!

The Bailiff.[1]


[Who has come up.]


You're carrying on, my good man, so that almost
I think that your path will lead straight to the lock-up.

Peer.


[Hat in hand.]


Quite likely. But, tell me, who was Peer Gynt?

The Bailiff.

Oh, nonsense——

Peer.

                 Your pardon! Most humbly I beg——!

The Bailiff.

Oh, he's said to have been an abominable liar——[2]

Peer.

A liar——?

The Bailiff.

            Yes—all that was strong and great
He made believe always that he had done it.
But, excuse me, friend—I have other duties——

[Goes.

  1. See footnote, p. 95.
  2. "Digter"; means also "poet."