Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Heinemann Volume 3).djvu/106



None knows on whom the doom shall fall; But God in flaming speech hath said: "Be faithful through the hour of strife: Haggling wins not the crown of life!" Anguish'd repentance scales not heaven, The martyr's doom you must fulfil. That you lack'd strength may be forgiven,— But never that you wanted will.

Yes, it shall be as you have said; O lift me to those heights you tread; To your high heaven lead me forth, My spirit is strong, my flesh is frail; Oft, anguish-struck, I faint, I fail,— My clogg'd foot drags upon the earth.

See, child; of all men God makes one Demand: No coward compromise! Whose work's half done or falsely done, Condemn'd with God his whole word lies. We must give sanction to this teaching By living it and not by preaching.

[Throws herself on his neck.]

Lead where you will; I follow you!

No precipice is too steep for two.

''Enter the ; he has come down the road, and stops outside the garden fence''