Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 4).djvu/292

 ER
 * There's an old man, though, trudging. Shall we call him here?

PEER
 * No let him go. He is drunk, my dear fellow!

THE BUTTON-MOULDER
 * But perhaps he might-

PEER
 * Hush; no-let him be!

THE BUTTON-MOULDER
 * Well, shall we turn to then?

PEER
 * One question only:
 * What is it, at bottom, this "being oneself"?

THE BUTTON-MOULDER
 * A singular question, most odd in the mouth
 * of a man who just now-

PEER
 * Come, a straightforward answer.

THE BUTTON-MOULDER
 * To be oneself is: to slay oneself.
 * But on you that answer is doubtless lost;
 * and therefore we'll say: to stand forth everywhere
 * with Master's intention displayed like a signboard.