Monologue

Borkman Monologue from John Gabriel Borkman

From John Gabriel Borkman by Henrik Ibsen

male · anguished · 1:59 min

My kingdom, of course! The kingdom I was on the point of conquering when I--when I died. (ELLA RENTHEIM: Oh, John, John!) And now there it lies--defenceless, masterless--exposed to all the robbers and plunderers. Ella, do you see the mountain chains there--far away? They soar, they tower aloft, one behind the other! That is my vast, my infinite, inexhaustible kingdom! (ELLA RENTHEIM: Oh, but there comes an icy blast from that kingdom, John!) That blast is the breath of life to me. That blast comes to me like a greeting from subject spirits. I seem to touch them, the prisoned millions; I can see the veins of metal stretch out their winding, branching, luring arms to me. I saw them before my eyes like living shapes, that night when I stood in the strong-room with the candle in my hand. You begged to be liberated, and I tried to free you. But my strength failed me; and the treasure sank back into the deep again. (With outstretched hands.) But I will whisper it to you here in the stillness of the night: I love you, as you lie there spellbound in the deeps and the darkness! I love you, unborn treasures, yearning for the light! I love you, with all your shining train of power and glory! I love you, love you, love you!

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