Ibsen and Hauptman 13 



" Geh ! habe Mitleid ! denn Vernunft erstickt 

 und jede Macht der Majestat vor dir 

 und in dem Lacheln deines dunnen Mundes ! " 



In all of Kaiser und Galilacr Ibsen did not once bring into such 

 dramatic and telling conflict the essence of Christian ideals, which 

 is self-denial and self-control, and the essence of paganism, which 

 acknowledges neither, but gives free rein to individual impulse 

 and desire. 



Karl conquers in that he does not yield, does not consent to give 

 up his own standards of living. But he is very far from con- 

 quering in his attempt to impose the same standards upon Ger- 

 suind. He sets up a new hypothesis to account for her : 



" Noch blinzelt deine Seele, halb erwacht 

 erst, und du tappst im Zwielicht." 



His new plan for her reveals the fineness and magnanimity of 

 his nature : 



" Hier dieser Edelsitz ist dein, Gersuind ! 

 In diesem Garten sollst du wurzeln, du 

 Entwurzelte ! . . . Frohlich magst du sein 

 im Schutze deiner Mauern, unbetriibt ! " 



In reality, however, it imposes Christian ideals hateful to Ger- 

 suind, who does not wish protection and shelter but freedom from 

 all restraint. She accepts the plan perforce but she is very far 

 from accepting the ideals. She does not remain wholly unrespon- 

 sive, however, to Karl's largeness of nature, as she reveals by 

 kissing his hand. 



For Karl the situation is complicated by a dozen conflicting 

 elements. Gersuind's glowing youth makes him feel and resent 

 his own age. For the first time in years his mind has turned from 

 the affairs of state to the concerns of his own personal happiness 

 and he feels half-defiant, half-guilty. The forces of tradition are 

 strong in him and Gersuind outrages them at every turn. The 

 greatest complication of all is his growing love for her. He will 

 not cast her out for refusing to accept his standards, yet he can- 

 not lay them down for hers. 



This harassed state of mind prompts him to send for Alcuin, 



255 



