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

The moment is fleeting; like your greatness! Your force has vanished, then you sink
down! See, a grave awaits you in a break in the cliffs. Ha, wave! So ended your dream
of achievement!
Your lament merely blends with the breakers' song! What is left behind? Not even the
memory! Because while in its heaven 12 your dreams preserve you, in the tumult of the
waves you are long since forgotten!
DOUBT AND HOPE
What a night, so frightful, dark! A gale is blowing out there! Like the lion's roar in a
desolate wilderness, hear the storm's breathing! Do you come from death's valley, you
shadows yonder, you gray-shrouded spirits who walk like ghosts across a battlefield at
night?
These thunderous voices sound in this midnight hour like the darkness' wild victory song,
like doomsday's bassoon! Many times I have scoffed at the terror of doomsday; the fruit
this insult bore is wild despair now!
Long, long ago, when I was a child, I made my evening prayer to God in heaven so
happily for mother and father and siblings small: but that was over long ago, I have
forgotten my prayer, I no longer seek consolation there, I am not disposed to piety!
Tossing soul! do you tremble so at these thunderclaps? In the terror of this stormy night
you believe you will see doomsday, that day that never will come, thus your words often
ran; and it has been a long time since you believed in that God you are praying to!
Demon, 13 are you awakened again? Depart from me, horrid tempter! Like the hurricane's
wild chase it storms in my soul, and no guide, no path in this sea of doubt! God! I would
give all worldly cunning for a childlike prayer to you!
But I am a child no more, nor have a child's mind! I am blind to the path the innocent eye
sees in faith! This night is terrifying, illuminated only by the lightning, and yet it is as
bright as day compared to the darkness in my breast!
Yet I shall not despair, but follow the heart's command: I shall cling to hope, to faith in
my God! Let the hurricane's song howl, I slumber in peace; certain I shall awaken again
reborn with childlike faith.
12 i.e., the heaven of memory.
13 i.e., the demon of doubt.
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