Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 5).djvu/181

] cry of overflowing gladness, the barbarian sprang up, stretched his pinioned hands into the air, and, half ignorant as he is of our language, shouted with a loud voice: "Praise be to thee, Julian, thou mighty Emperor!"

Ah!

My attendants were inclined to laugh; but the barbarian's shout flew like a lightning-flash through the surrounding soldiery, kindling as it went. "Long live the Emperor Julian," those who stood nearest repeated; and the cry spread around in wider and ever wider circles to the furthest distance. 'Twas as though some Titan had hurled a mighty rock far out into the ocean;—oh, my beloved, forgive me the heathen similitude, but

Emperor Julian! He said Emperor Julian!

What did the rude Aleman know of Constantius, whom he had never seen? I, his conqueror, was in his eyes the greatest

Yes, yes; but the soldiers?

I rebuked them sternly; for I saw at a glance how Florentius, Severus, and certain others stood silently by, white with fear and wrath.