The Collected Works of Henrik Ibesen Author:William Archer General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1906 Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million book... more »s for free. Excerpt: EINAR. Yet a trace Surely there lingers of an old Friend of my school-days -- Brand. School-friends, trii' But now I am no more a boy. Einar. Can it be ? [Cries out suddenly.) Brand ! It is ! O joy ! Brand. From the first moment I knew you. Einar. Well met ! a thousand times well met! Look at me ! -- Ay, the old Brand yet, Still centred on the things within, Whom never any one could win To join our gambols. Brand. You forget That I was homeless and alone. Yet you at least I loved, I own. You children of the southern land Were fashion'd ot another clay Than I, born by a rocky strand In shadow of a barren brae. Einar. Your home is here, I think ? Brand. My way Lies past it. Einar. Past ? What, further ? Brand. Far Beyond, beyond my home. Einar. You are A priest ? Brand. [Smiling.] A mission-preacher, say. I wander like the woodland hare, And where I am, my home is there. Einar. And whither is your last resort ? Brand. [Sternly and quickly.] Inquire not! Einar. Wherefore ? Brand. [ChangIng his tone.] Ah, -- then know, The ship that stays for you below Shall bear me also from the port. Einar. Hurrah ! My bridal-courser true .' Think, Agnes, he is coming too ! Brand. But / am to a burial bound. Agnes. A burial. Einar. You ? Why, who is dead ? Brand. The God who was your God, you said. Agnes. [Shrinking back.] Come, Einar! Einar. Brand ! Brand. With cerements wound The God of each mechanic slave, Of each dull drudger, shall be laid By broad day in his open grave. End of the matter must be made ; And high tim...« less