Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 5).djvu/275

] East—call by the name of the Sun-King, because thou bringest and renewest that light, wherein life has its source and its fountain-head.—To thee, too, I have made offering, oh Dionysus, god of ecstasy, who dost lift up the souls of mortals out of abasement, and exaltest them to an ennobling communion with higher spirits.—And, although I name thee last, I have not been least mindful of thee, oh Fortuna! Without thine aid, should I have stood here? I know indeed that thou dost no longer visibly manifest thyself, as in the golden age, of which the peerless blind singer has told us. But this I know, too,—and herein all other philosophers are at one with me—that it is thou who hast the decisive share in the choice of the guardian spirit, good or evil, that is to accompany every man on his path through life. I have no cause to chide thee, oh Fortuna! Rather have I the strongest reason to yield thee all thanks and praise. This duty, precious to my heart, have I this day fulfilled. I have not shrunk from even the humblest office. Here I stand in open day; the eyes of all Greece are upon me; I expect the voice of all Greece to unite with mine in acclaiming you, oh ye immortal gods!

[''During the sacrificial service, most of the Christian onlookers have gradually stolen away; only a little knot remains behind. When ceases speaking, there arise only faint sounds of approval mingled with subdued laughter, and whispers of astonishment''

[Looking round.] What is this? What has become of them all? Are they slinking away?