Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 4).djvu/118

 AN
 * Nevermore, my friend.

PEER
 * Indeed! In that case, I'll take my leave.

THE OLD MAN
 * What would you without?

PEER
 * I would go my way.

THE OLD MAN
 * No, stop! It's easy to slip in here,
 * but the Dovre-King's gate doesn't open outwards.

PEER
 * You wouldn't detain me by force, I hope?

THE OLD MAN
 * Come now, just listen to reason, Prince Peer!
 * You have gifts for trolldom. He acts, does he not,
 * even now in a passably troll-like fashion?
 * And you'd fain be a troll?

PEER
 * Yes, I would, sure enough.
 * For a bride and a well-managed kingdom to boot,
 * I can put up with losing a good many things.
 * But there is a limit to all things on earth.
 * The tail I've accepted, it's perfectly true;
 * but no doubt I can loose what the Chamberlain tied.
 * My breeches I've dropped; they were old and patched;
 * but no doubt I can button them on agai