Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Heinemann Volume 1).pdf/453



Did I frequent them then? And there lies duty. No, that time's gone by,— My solitary compact with the sky. My four-wall-chamber poetry is done; My verse shall live in forest and in field, I'll fight under the splendour of the sun;— I or the Lie—one of us two must yield!

Then forth with God from Verse to Derringdoe! I did you wrong: you have a feeling heart; Forgive me,—and as good friends let us part—

Nay, in my future there is room for two! We part not. Svanhild, if you dare decide, We'll battle on together side by side.

We battle?

See, I have no friend, no mate, By all abandoned, I make war on all: At me they aim the piercing shafts of hate; Say, do you dare with me to stand or fall? Henceforth along the beaten walks I'll move Heedful of each constraining etiquette; Spread, like the rest of men, my board, and set The ring upon the finger of my love!

[Takes a ring from his finger and holds it up.