Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 5).djvu/395

] *wardness and ingratitude you display both towards the gods and towards me. You are offended because I allot the gods their due offerings. You mock at my modest attire and my untrimmed beard. This beard is a very thorn in your eyes! You call it, irreverently, a goat's beard. But I tell you, oh fools, it is a wise man's beard. I am not ashamed to let you know that this beard harbours vermin, as willow copses harbour game—and yet this despised beard is more honourable to me than your smooth-shaven chins to you!

[Half aloud.] What foolishness; most unreasonable!

But think you I will leave your mockeries unanswered? No, no, you will find yourselves mistaken. Only wait; you shall hear from me sooner than you think. I am at this moment preparing a treatise, entitled "The Beard-Hater." And would you know against whom it is directed? It is directed against you, citizens of Antioch—against you, whom I describe in it as "those ignorant hounds." You will find in it my reasons for many things that now seem strange to you in my behaviour.

[Entering from the right.] Great Emperor, I bring you good news. Cyrillus has already given way

Ah, I thought so.