That was why He took my
little children!
little children!
World's Greatest Books - Volume 17 - Poetry and Drama
_ MRS.
SOLNESS, _in an agony of apprehension,
re-enters and sends_ RAGNAR _to fetch her husband
back from the new building. She returns indoors. _
SOLNESS (_re-entering_): Oh, it's _you_, Hilda! I was
afraid it was Aline or the doctor that wanted me.
HILDA: You're easily frightened. They say you're
afraid to climb about scaffoldings. Is it true you're
afraid?
SOLNESS: Not of death--but--of retribution.
HILDA: I don't understand that.
SOLNESS: Sit down, and I'll tell you something. You
know I began by building churches. I'd been piously
brought up. I thought it was the noblest task, pleasing
to Him for Whom churches are built. Then up at Lysanger
I understood that He meant me to have no love
and happiness of my own, but just to be a master builder
for Him all my life long.
That was why He took my
little children! Then, that day, I did the impossible. I
was able to climb up to a great height. As I stood hanging
the wreath on the vane, I cried, "O Mighty One, I
will be a free builder--I, too, in my sphere as Thou in
Thine. I will build no more churches for Thee--only
homes for human beings. " But _that_ is not worth six-pence,
Hilda.
HILDA: Then you will never build anything more?
SOLNESS: On the contrary, I'm just going to begin--the
only possible dwelling-place for human happiness------
HILDA: Our castles in the air.
SOLNESS: Our castles in the air--yes.
HILDA: Then let me see you stand free and high up
(_passionately_). I will have you do it--just once more,
Mr. Solness. Do the _impossible_, once again.
SOLNESS: If I do, I will talk to Him once again up
there--"Mighty Lord, henceforth I will build nothing
but the loveliest thing in the world. "
HILDA (_carried away_): Yes--yes--yes! My lovely,
lovely castle!
re-enters and sends_ RAGNAR _to fetch her husband
back from the new building. She returns indoors. _
SOLNESS (_re-entering_): Oh, it's _you_, Hilda! I was
afraid it was Aline or the doctor that wanted me.
HILDA: You're easily frightened. They say you're
afraid to climb about scaffoldings. Is it true you're
afraid?
SOLNESS: Not of death--but--of retribution.
HILDA: I don't understand that.
SOLNESS: Sit down, and I'll tell you something. You
know I began by building churches. I'd been piously
brought up. I thought it was the noblest task, pleasing
to Him for Whom churches are built. Then up at Lysanger
I understood that He meant me to have no love
and happiness of my own, but just to be a master builder
for Him all my life long.
That was why He took my
little children! Then, that day, I did the impossible. I
was able to climb up to a great height. As I stood hanging
the wreath on the vane, I cried, "O Mighty One, I
will be a free builder--I, too, in my sphere as Thou in
Thine. I will build no more churches for Thee--only
homes for human beings. " But _that_ is not worth six-pence,
Hilda.
HILDA: Then you will never build anything more?
SOLNESS: On the contrary, I'm just going to begin--the
only possible dwelling-place for human happiness------
HILDA: Our castles in the air.
SOLNESS: Our castles in the air--yes.
HILDA: Then let me see you stand free and high up
(_passionately_). I will have you do it--just once more,
Mr. Solness. Do the _impossible_, once again.
SOLNESS: If I do, I will talk to Him once again up
there--"Mighty Lord, henceforth I will build nothing
but the loveliest thing in the world. "
HILDA (_carried away_): Yes--yes--yes! My lovely,
lovely castle!
