Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 5).djvu/264

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228
the emperor julian.
[act i.

should have drawn his last breath in such distant regions! Alas that, in spite of all my haste, I should not have had the sweet consolation of embracing my kinsman for the last time! A bitter lot for both of us!—

Where is the ship with the body?

Nevita.

There it comes.

Julian.

That long boat?

Nevita.

Yes, most gracious Emperor.

Julian.

My poor kinsman! So great in life; and now to have to content you with so low a roof! Now you will not strike your forehead against the coffin-lid, you who bowed your head in riding through the Arch of Constantine.

A Citizen among the Spectators.

[To the Goldsmith Potamon.] How young he looks, our new Emperor!

Potamon.

But he has grown more stalwart. When I last saw him he was a lean stripling; that is now nine or ten years ago.

Another Citizen.

Ay, he has done great things in those years.

A Woman.

And all the dangers he has passed through, ever since his childhood!