SOLNESS (tosses his hat on the table). You know that
I first started out with building churches.
HILDA (nods). I know that, of course.
SOLNESS. Because, you see, as a boy I came from a pious home
out in the country. That’s why the building of churches seemed to me the
noblest thing I could do with my life.
HILDA. Go on.
SOLNESS. And I think I can say that I built those poor
country churches in so honest and warm and fervent a spirit that—that—
HILDA. That—what?
SOLNESS. Well, that I felt He should have been pleased with
me.
HILDA. He? Who’s “He”?
SOLNESS. He who was to have the churches, of course. He
whose honor and glory they served.
HILDA. I see! But are you sure that—that He wasn’t—well,
pleased with you?
SOLNESS (scoffingly). He pleased with me! What are
you saying, Hilda? He who turned the troll in me loose to stuff its pockets. He
who put on call, right around the clock for me, all these—these—
HILDA. Devils—
SOLNESS. Yes—both kinds. Oh no, I pretty well got the idea
that He wasn’t pleased with me. (Mysteriously.) Actually, that’s why He
had the old house burn.
HILDA. That was why—?
SOLNESS. Yes, don’t you see? He wanted me to have the chance
to become a complete master in my own realm—and enhance His glory with still
greater churches. At first I didn’t understand what He was after—but then, all
at once, it dawned on me.
HILDA. When was that?
SOLNESS. When I was building the church tower in Lysanger.
HILDA. I thought so.
SOLNESS. For you see, Hilda, up in those strange
surroundings I used to go around musing and pondering inside myself. And I saw
then, clearly, why He’d taken my children from me. It was to keep me from
becoming attached to anything else. I was only to be a master builder, nothing
else. And all my life through, I was to go on building for Him. (Laughs.)
But that never got very far.
HILDA. What did you do then?
SOLNESS. First, I searched my heart—tested myself—
HILDA. And then?
SOLNESS. Then I did the impossible. I no less than He.
HILDA. The impossible?
SOLNESS. I’d never in my life been able to climb straight up
to a great height. But that day I could.
HILDA (jumping up). Yes, yes, you could!
SOLNESS. And when I stood right up at the very top, hanging
the wreath, I said to Him: Hear me, Thou Almighty! From this day on, I’ll be a
free creator—free in my own realm, as you are in yours.
HILDA (with great, luminous eyes). That was the
singing I heard in the air!
SOLNESS. Yes—but His mill went right on grinding.
HILDA. What do you mean by that?
SOLNESS (looking despondently at her). This building
homes for human beings—it’s not worth a bent pin, Hilda!
HILDA. You really feel that now?
SOLNESS. Yes, because now I see it. Human beings don’t know
how to use these homes of theirs. Not for being happy in. and I couldn’t have
found use for a home like that either—if I’d had one. (With a quiet, bitter
laugh.) So that’s the sum total, as far back as I can see. Nothing really
built. And nothing sacrificed for the chance to build, either. Nothing,
nothing—it all comes to nothing.
HILDA. Then will you never build anything again?
SOLNESS (animated). Why, I’m just now beginning!
HILDA. With what? What’ll you build? Tell me now!
SOLNESS. The one thing human beings can be happy in—that’s
what I’m building now.
HILDA (looking intently at him). Master builder—you
mean our castles in the air.
SOLNESS. Castles in the air, yes.
[translated by Rolf Fjelde]