Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Heinemann Volume 1).pdf/434

 Fill up, Lind!—So.—Now in a tea-oration, I'll show of tea and Love the true relation.

[The guests cluster round him.

It has its home in the romantic land; Alas, Love's home is also in Romance, Only the Sun's descendants understand The herb's right cultivation and advance. With Love it is not otherwise than so. Blood of the Sun along the veins must flow If Love indeed therein is to strike root, And burgeon into blossom, into fruit.

But China is an ancient land; you hold In consequence that tea is very old—

Past question antecedent to Jerusalem.

Yes, 'twas already famous when Methusalem His picture-books and rattles tore and flung—

[triumphantly].

And Love is in its very nature young! To find a likeness there is pretty bold.

No; Love, in truth, is also very old; That principle we here no more dispute Than do the folks of Rio or Beyrout.