Peer.
What motto?
The Old Man.
The potent and sundering word.
Peer.
The word?
The Old Man.
That which severs the whole race of men
From the troll-folk: <g>Troll! To thyself be enough!</g>
Peer.
[Recoils a step.]
<g>Enough!</g>
The Old Man.
And with every nerve in your body,
You've been living up to it ever since.
Peer.
What, I? Peer Gynt?
The Old Man.
[Weeps.]
It's ungrateful of you!
You've lived as a troll, but have still kept it secret.
The word I taught you has shown you the way
To swing yourself up as a man of substance;—
And now you must needs come and turn up your nose
At me and the word you've to thank for it all.
Peer.
<g>Enough!</g> A hill-troll! An egoist!
This must be all rubbish; that's perfectly certain!
