Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 5).djvu/297

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sc. iii.]
the emperor julian.
261

The Dancers.

[Singing.]

Potions of fire drain from goblets o'erflowing!
                Potions of fire!
                Lips deeply sipping,
                Locks unguent-dripping,
                Goat-haunches tripping,
Wine-God, we hail thee in rapturous quire!

The Women.

[Singing.]

Come, Bacchanalians, while noontide is glowing—
                Come, do not flee us—
Plunge we in love-sports night blushes at knowing!
                There rides Lyaeus,
                Pard-borne, delivering!
                Come, do not flee us;
Know, we are passionate; feel, we are quivering!
                Leaping all, playing all,
                Staggering and swaying all—
                Come, do not flee us!

Julian.

Make room! Stand aside, citizens! Reverently make way; not for us, but for him to whom we do honour!

A Voice in the Crowd.

The Emperor in the company of mummers and harlots!

Julian.

The shame is yours, that I must content myself with such as these. Do you not blush to find more piety and zeal among these than among yourselves?