Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 5).djvu/99

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[Amid laughter and noise.] Yes, yes; answer him.

How much of God's property has the Emperor a right to demand?

I will not answer. This is unseemly both towards God and the Emperor. Let me go.

Make a ring round him!

Hold him fast! What, you most luckless of judges, you have bungled the Emperor's cause, and now you seek to escape? You would flee? Whither, whither? To the Scythians? Bring him before me! Tell me you servants that-are-to-be of the Emperor and of wisdom—has he not attempted to elude the Emperor's power?

Yes, yes.

And what punishment do you award to such a misdeed?

Death! Death in a wine-jar!

Let us reflect. Let us answer as though the Emperor himself were present. What limit is there to the Emperor's power?