Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Heinemann Volume 2).djvu/295



Ha. [A short pause.] Tell me, Jatgeir, how came you to be a skald? Who taught you skaldcraft?

Skaldcraft cannot be taught, my lord.

Cannot be taught? How came it then?

The gift of sorrow came to me, and I was a skald.

Then 'tis the gift of sorrow the skald has need of?

I needed sorrow; others there may be who need faith, or joy—or doubt

Doubt as well?

Ay; but then must the doubter be strong and sound.

And whom call you the unsound doubter?

He who doubts of his own doubt.

[Slowly.] That, methinks, were death.