Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Heinemann Volume 4).djvu/167

 My fame flew wide from port to port, And fortune sailed on board my vessels

What did you trade in?

I did most In negro slaves for Carolina, And idol-images for China.

Fi donc!

The devil, Uncle Gynt!

You think, no doubt, the business hovered On the outer verge of the allowable? Myself I felt the same thing keenly. It struck me even as odious. But, trust me, when you've once begun, It's hard to break away again. At any rate it's no light thing, In such a vast trade-enterprise, That keeps whole thousands in employ, To break off wholly, once for all. That "once for all" I can't abide, But own, upon the other side, That I have always felt respect For what are known as consequences; And that to overstep the bounds Has ever somewhat daunted me. Besides, I had begun to age.