Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 4).djvu/201

 folk with o'erfed souls on earth
 * who shall scarce attain to clearness.
 * Once I met with such a fellow,
 * of the flock the very flower;
 * and even he mistook his goal,
 * losing sense in blatant sound.-
 * See the waste round this oasis.
 * Were I but to swing my turban,
 * I could force the ocean-flood
 * to fill up the whole concern.
 * But I were a blockhead, truly,
 * seas and lands to go creating.
 * Know you what it is to live?

ANITRA
 * Teach me!

PEER
 * It is to be wafted
 * dry-shod down the stream of time,
 * wholly, solely as oneself.
 * Only in full manhood can I
 * be the man I am, dear child!
 * Aged eagle moults his plumage,
 * aged fogey lags declining,
 * aged dame has ne'er a tooth left,
 * aged churl gets withered hands,-
 * one and all get souls.
 * Youth! Ah, youth! I mean to reign,
 * as a sultan, whole and fiery,-
 * not on Gyntiana's shores,
 * under trellised vines and palm-leaves,-
 * but enthroned in the freshness
 * of a woman's virgin thoughts.-
 * See you now, my little maiden,
 * why I've graciously bewitched you,-