Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Heinemann Volume 3).djvu/255

A knot of scatter'd dalesmen, do?
Are high heroic deeds for you?
Can ye give bondsmen liberty?
You have your daily task; pursue it!
Whatever is beyond, eschew it!
What can your prowess brave or baulk?
Ye have your humble homes to keep.
What would you between eagle and hawk?
What would you between wolf and bear?
Ye fall but to the strongest's share.
O my beloved! O my sheep!

The Multitude.

Ay, woe on us,—his words are true!

The Sexton.

And yet, when from the dale we drew,
Upon ourselves we locked the door;
We have no home there, as before.

The Schoolmaster.

No, he has open'd all our eyes,
Laid bare sins, sicknesses, and lies;
The sleepy people sleeps no more;
And deadly to our waking seems
The life that satisfied our dreams.

The Dean.

Ah, trust me, that will soon pass over.
All will return to the old state,
If you will just be still and wait.
These folks, I'll wage, will soon recover
The wonted calm they have foregone.

Brand.

Choose, men and women!