Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 4).djvu/264

 PEER
 * Of the loveliest straw.
 * It will fit whoever first puts it on.
 * Hei, there is more yet! An addled egg!
 * A madman's grey hair! And the Prophet's beard!
 * All these shall be his that will show on the hillside
 * a post that has writ on it: Here lies your path!

THE BAILIFF [who has come up].
 * You're carrying on, my good man, so that almost
 * I think that your path will lead straight to the lock-up.

PEER [hat in hand].
 * Quite likely. But, tell me, who was Peer Gynt?

THE BAILIFF
 * Oh, nonsense-

PEER
 * Your pardon! Most humbly I beg-!

THE BAILIFF
 * Oh, he's said to have been an abominable liar-

PEER
 * A liar-?

THE BAILIFF
 * Yes-all that was strong and great
 * he made believe always that he had done it.
 * But, excuse me, friend-I have other duties-
 * [Goes.]