Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 5).djvu/470

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And the fleet burnt! What way is this to conduct the war? Oh, why does not the Emperor think more of his friends! How shall I get home again?

Like the rest of us, friend!

Like the rest? Like the rest! That is a fine way to talk. With you it is quite another matter. You are soldiers. 'Tis your calling to endure certain hardships to which I am not at all accustomed. I did not join the Emperor's suite to go through all this. Here am I tortured with gnats and poisonous flies;—look at my hands!

Most certainly we did not come for this. We consented to accompany the army in order to compose panegyrics on the victories the Emperor intended to win. What has come of these victories? What has been achieved during the six toilsome weeks since the fleet was burnt? We have destroyed a few deserted towns of the sorriest kind. A few prisoners have been exhibited in the camp, whom the advance-guard are said to have taken—truly I know not in what battles! The prisoners, methought, looked more like poor kidnapped shepherds and peasants

And to think of burning the fleet! Said I not from the first that it would be a source of disaster?