Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 5).djvu/280

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the emperor julian.
[act i.

Julian.

Aha! No more than that?

Ursulus.

Yes, sire; latterly he has had free stabling in the imperial stables, together with a certain yearly allowance of money, and a gold piece for every time he——

Julian.

And all this for a barber! What, then, must the others——? This shall not last a day longer.——Admit the foreign envoys!

[Nevita goes out by the back.

I will receive them with uncut hair. Better so; for although I know well that it is not the unkempt hair, nor the tattered cloak, that makes the true philosopher, yet surely the example given by both Antisthenes and Diogenes may well be respected by one who—even on the throne—desires to follow in such great teachers' footsteps. He ascends the daïs on which stands the throne. The court ranges itself below. The Envoys, introduced by Nevita and the Chamberlain Eutherius, enter in magnificent procession, accompanied by slaves, who bear gifts of all sorts.


Nevita.

Most gracious Lord and Emperor! Not being possessed of the noble idiom which so many eloquent men, and you yourself not the least, have perfected beyond all other tongues,—and therewith fearful of letting barbarous sounds offend your ear,—these envoys from the princes of the East have deputed me to be their spokesman.