Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 4).djvu/290

 y;
 * I'm myself, as the saying goes, fairly cleaned out-

THE OLD MAN
 * You surely can't mean it? His Highness a beggar?

PEER
 * Completely. His Highness's ego's in pawn.
 * And it's all your fault, you accursed trolls!
 * That's what comes of keeping bad company.

THE OLD MAN
 * So there came my hope toppling down from its perch again!
 * Good-bye! I had best struggle on to the town-

PEER
 * What would you do there?

THE OLD MAN
 * I will go to the theatre.
 * The papers are clamouring for national talents-

PEER
 * Good luck on your journey; and greet them from me.
 * If I can but get free, I will go the same way.
 * A farce I will write them, a mad and profound one;
 * its name shall be: "Sic transit gloria mundi."
 * [He runs off along the road; the OLD MAN shouts after him.]