Ay, trust to your fists, lad, trust to your body. Hee-hee, Peer Gynt, so you’ll reach the summit. PEER. [_Falling back again._] Forward or back, and it’s just as far;— Out or in, and it’s just as strait![56] He is _there_! And _there_! And he’s round the bend! No sooner I’m out than I’m back in the ring.— Name who you are! Let me see you! What are you? THE VOICE. The Boyg. PEER. [_Groping around._] Not dead, not living; all slimy; misty. Not so much as a shape! It’s as bad as to battle In a cluster of snarling, half-wakened bears! [_Screams._ Strike back at me, can’t you! THE VOICE. The Boyg isn’t mad. PEER. Strike! THE VOICE. The Boyg strikes not. PEER. Fight! You shall! THE VOICE. The great Boyg conquers, but does not fight. PEER. Were there only a nixie here that could prick me! Were there only as much as a year-old troll! Only something to fight with. But here there is nothing.— Now he’s snoring! Boyg! THE VOICE. What’s your will? PEER. Use force! THE VOICE. The great Boyg conquers in all things without it.[57] PEER. [_Biting his own arms and hands._] Claws and ravening teeth in my flesh! I must feel the drip of my own warm blood. [_A sound is heard like the wing-strokes of great birds._ BIRD-CRIES. Comes he now, Boyg? THE VOICE. Ay, step by step. BIRD-CRIES. All our sisters far off! Gather here to the tryst! PEER. If you’d save me now, lass, you must do it quick! Gaze not adown so, lowly and bending.— Your clasp-book! Hurl it straight into his eyes! BIRD-CRIES. He totters! THE VOICE. We have him. BIRD-CRIES. Sisters! Make haste! PEER. Too dear the purchase one pays for life In such a heart-wasting hour of strife. [_Sinks down._ BIRD-CRIES. Boyg, there he’s fallen! Seize him! Seize him!