The World's Greatest Books [Volumes 1-15, 17-20]

Hilda: Mr. Solness, I will stand here and look at you.

[Solness takes the wreath and goes down through the garden. Mrs. Solness, in an agony of apprehension, re-enters and sends Ragnar to fetch her husband back from the new building. She returns indoors.

Solness (re-entering): Oh, it's you, Hilda! I was afraid it was Aline or the doctor that wanted me.

Hilda: You're easily frightened. They say you're afraid to climb about scaffoldings. Is it true you're afraid?

Solness: Not of death—but—of retribution.

Hilda: I don't understand that.

Solness: Sit down, and I'll tell you something. You know I began by building churches. I'd been piously brought up. I thought it was the noblest task, pleasing to Him for Whom churches are built. Then up at Lysanger I understood that He meant me to have no love and happiness of my own, but just to be a master builder for Him all my life long. That was why He took my little children! Then, that day, I did the impossible. I was able to climb up to a great height. As I stood hanging the wreath on the vane, I cried, "O Mighty One, I will be a free builder—I, too, in my sphere as Thou in Thine. I will build no more churches for Thee—only homes for human beings." But that is not worth six-pence, Hilda.

Hilda: Then you will never build anything more?

Solness: On the contrary, I'm just going to begin—the only possible dwelling-place for human happiness———

Hilda: Our castles in the air.

Solness: Our castles in the air—yes.

Hilda: Then let me see you stand free and high up (passionately). I will have you do it—just once more, Mr. Solness. Do the impossible, once again.

Solness: If I do, I will talk to Him once again up there—"Mighty Lord, henceforth I will build nothing but the loveliest thing in the world."

Hilda (carried away): Yes—yes—yes! My lovely, lovely castle! My castle in the air!

[The others go out upon the verandah. The band of the Masons' Union is heard. Ragnar tells Solness that the foreman is ready to go up with the wreath. Solness goes out. The others watch eagerly.

Dr. Herdaclass="underline" There goes the foreman up the ladder.

Ragnar: Why, but it's———

Hilda (jubilant): It's the master builder himself.

Mrs. Solness: Oh, my God! Halvard, Halvard! I must go to him!

Dr. Herdal (holding her): Don't move, any of you. Not a sound.

Ragnar: I feel as if I were looking at something utterly impossible.

Hilda (ecstatically): It is the impossible that he is doing now. Can you see anyone else up there with him? There is One he is striving with. I hear a song—a mighty song. He is waving to us. Oh, wave back. Hurrah for Master Builder Solness!