Ibsen, No taste for glory

From Peer Gynt

Page 4

VON EBERKOPF
Witty, but a jest!

PEER [after a short silence, leaning on a chair and assuming a dignified mien].
Come, gentlemen, I think it best we part before the last remains of friendship melt away like smoke.
Who nothing owns will lightly risk it.
When in the world one scarce commands the strip of earth one's shadow covers, one's born to serve as food for powder.
But when a man stands safely landed, as I do, then his stake is greater.
Go you to Hellas. I will put you ashore, and arm you gratis too.
The more you eke the flames of strife, the better will it serve my purpose.
Strike home for freedom and for right!
Fight! storm! make hell hot for the Turks;- and gloriously end your days upon the Janissaries' lances.-
But I-excuse me-

[Slaps his pocket.]

I have cash, and am myself, Sir Peter Gynt.

[Puts up his sunshade, and goes into the grove, where the hammocks are partly visible.]

TRUMPETERSTRALE
The swinish cur!

MONSIEUR BALLON
No taste for glory-!

MR. COTTON
Oh, glory's neither here nor there; but think of the enormous profits we'd reap if Greece should free herself.

MONSIEUR BALLON
I saw myself a conqueror, by lovely Grecian maids encircled.

TRUMPETERSTRALE
Grasped in my Swedish hands, I saw the great, heroic spur-strap-buckles!

VON EBERKOPF
I my gigantic Fatherland's culture saw spread o'er earth and sea-!

MR. COTTON
The worst's the loss in solid cash.
God dam! I scarce can keep from weeping! I saw me owner of Olympus.
If to its fame the mountain answers, there must be veins of copper in it, that could be opened up again.
And furthermore, that stream Castalia, which people talk so much about, with fall on fall, at lowest reckoning, must mean a thousand horse-power good-!

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