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

23 The Greek muse of dancing and choral song.
The ball's pleasant scene presents
All its lovely enchantments!
While every face expresses delight,
Many in the heat of fever,
Under passion's struggle
Throw themselves into the waltz's wild
Whirl to quiet their torment
Even if only for a short time;
Many breasts,--yet no, I will
No longer coldly paint
This terrible wild game
In those rapture-filled halls,
Even to make a pilgrimage there oneself
To see you around in the scenery,
Consecrated like Terpsichore! 23
What a sea of light billows forth
From those long rows of windows
With a radiance that teases the darkness
There on the street under them,
There where the many uninvited
Leaned up against the door,
Gazing longingly towards the hall
And its splendor behind the frame,
Yet what a picture of life,
One of the two is given to you,
Either you go like a guest
Invited to life's feast,
Or, like a spectator
Shivered-through by the night's wind,
You gaze in from the street
Towards those shining windows!
But what a crowd in there!
Like stars from a winter sky,
Or as clear as crystal
Glitter candles without number,
While in an intricate flow
Groups rising and groups descending
Floating with graceful steps
Smile courteously to one another.
See, how far your glance reaches,
Pure beauty you have before your eyes;
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