Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 5).djvu/408

372

Ah Maximus, years have passed since then. Speak!

You know I have never approved the course you have taken as Emperor. You have striven to make the youth a child again. The empire of the flesh is swallowed up in the empire of the spirit. But the empire of the spirit is not final, any more than the youth is. You have striven to hinder the growth of the youth,—to hinder him from becoming a man. Oh fool, who have drawn your sword against that which is to be—against the third empire, in which the twin-natured shall reign!

And he?

The Jews have a name for him. They call him Messiah, and they await him.

[Slowly and thoughtfully.] Messiah?—Neither Emperor nor Redeemer?

Both in one, and one in both.

Emperor-God—God-Emperor. Emperor in the kingdom of the spirit,—and God in that of the flesh.

That is the third empire, Julian!