Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Heinemann Volume 3).djvu/164

 He who would grow a bed of crime, Let him with poverty manure it: I'll set a dam to this manure!

How?

Do you take me? I can cure A want, of long and bitter proof, By building, for the Town's behoof, A Pest-house for the afflicted Poor. Pest-house I call a thing projected To rid us of the crime-infected. And, I reflected, to the Pest-house Might well be added an Arrest-house, The cause with its effect confined The selfsame bars and bolts behind, And nothing but a wall between. And, while my hand is in, I mean In the same block to build withal A wing for balls and ballotings, Social and business gatherings, With platform and Assembly-Hall; In short, a half-political, Half-social, smart and festive Guest-house.

Sorely required; this most of all; But yet there's one thing needed more.

You mean a Mad-house? Yes, indeed; A very peremptory need; That was my own idea before. But now, by friendly counsel wrought, I've utterly renounced the thought;