Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 5).djvu/483

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the emperor julian.
447

Maximus.

Now I can tell you. Last night I studied the aspect of the stars. They told me nothing, Julian.

Julian.

Nothing.—Silence—silence, as though in an eclipse. Alone! No longer any bridge between me and the spirits.

Where are you now, oh white-sailed fleet, that sped to and fro in the sunlight and carried tidings between earth and heaven?

The fleet is burnt. That fleet too is burnt. Oh all my shining ships.

Tell me, Maximus—what do you believe as to this?

Maximus.

I believe in you.

Julian.

Yes, yes—believe!

Maximus.

The world-will has resigned its power into your hands; therefore it is silent.

Julian.

So will we read it. And we must act accordingly,—although we might have preferred that——This silence! To stand so utterly alone.

But there are others who may also be said to stand almost alone. The Galileans. They have but one god; and one god is next thing to no god.

How is it, then, that we daily see these men——?