cultural resources in henrik ibsen's early environment - Ibsen.net

THE COUNT (to the mason).
Listen, man! This is my will and command,
That you immediately wall up this door.
You see that it is sunk into the wall,
So there is exactly room for twenty stones.
Hurry, get busy; your reward will be forthcoming.
(The mason begins his work with the following song.
Meanwhile the duke stands at his side with folded arms, and
looks stiffly at Clara, who in the foreground leans against the table, with
an intense effort at retaining her
composure.)
MASON (sings).
A mason lays stone upon stone
And thinks nothing of it,
And calmly he lowers the marble
Slab over the bones of kings.
He laughs, when on his handiwork
Salty tears fall in haste;
For then the mortar sets doubly strong
And never cracks over the years.
He builds to make a mighty work
With his simple hands,
And when the fortress is displayed
Nobody remembers the mason:
Then he takes his walking stick
To think about his next job.
And finally he lays his bricks
To make his very own tomb
And wearily lays himself down to eternal peace.
(He is finished.)
THE COUNT.
Take this gold; leave the castle immediately,
Your work is not required here any longer.
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