The Master Builder Part 77

The Master Builder Part 77

SOLNESS.


And when I stood there, high over everything, and was hanging the wreath over the vane, I said to him: Hear me now, thou Mighty One! From this day forward I will be a free builder--I too, in my sphere--just as thou in thine. I will never more build churches for thee--only homes for human beings.


HILDA.


[With great sparkling eyes.] That was the song that I heard through the air!


SOLNESS.


But afterwards his turn came.


HILDA.


What do you mean by that?


SOLNESS.


[Looks despondently at her.] Building homes for human beings--is not worth a rap, Hilda.


HILDA.


Do you say that now?


SOLNESS.


Yes, for now I see it. Men have no use for these homes of theirs--to be happy in. And I should not have had any use for such a home, if I had had one. [With a quiet, bitter laugh.] See, that is the upshot of the whole affair, however far back I look. Nothing really built; nor anything sacrificed for the chance of building. Nothing, nothing! the whole is nothing!


HILDA.


Then you will never build anything more?


SOLNESS.


[With animation.] On the contrary, I am just going to begin!


HILDA.


What, then? What will you build? Tell me at once!


SOLNESS.


I believe there is only one possible dwelling-place for human happiness--and that is what I am going to build now.


HILDA.


[Looks fixedly at him.] Mr. Solness--you mean our castles in the air.


SOLNESS.


The castles in the air--yes.


HILDA.


I am afraid you would turn dizzy before we got half-way up.


SOLNESS.


Not if I can mount hand in hand with you, Hilda.


HILDA.


[With an expression of suppressed resentment.] Only with me? Will there be no others of the party?


SOLNESS.


Who else should there be?


HILDA.


Oh--that girl--that Kaia at the desk. Poor thing--dont you want to take her with you too?


SOLNESS.


Oho! Was it about her that Aline was talking to you?


HILDA.


Is it so--or is it not?