Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 4).djvu/164

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 * Yes, yes; there is a ruling Fate!
 * On that we mortals may rely;
 * and 'tis a comfortable knowledge.

MONSIEUR BALLON
 * And so the matter ended, eh?

PEER
 * Oh no, far otherwise I found it;
 * for busy-bodies mixed themselves,
 * with furious outcries, in the business.
 * The juniors of the clan were worst;
 * with seven of them I fought a duel.
 * That time I never shall forget,
 * though I came through it all in safety.
 * It cost me blood; but that same blood
 * attests the value of my person,
 * and points encouragingly towards
 * the wise control of Fate aforesaid.

VON EBERKOPF
 * Your outlook on the course of life
 * exalts you to the rank of thinker.
 * Whilst the mere commonplace empiric
 * sees separately the scattered scenes,
 * and to the last goes groping on,
 * you in one glance can focus all things.
 * One norm to all things you apply.
 * You point each random rule of life,
 * till one and all diverge like rays
 * from one full-orbed philosophy.-
 * And you have never been to college?

PEER
 * I am, as I've already said,
 * exclusi