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. HERDAL: 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! [_The shout is taken up. Then a shriek of horror. A human body, with planks and pieces of wood, is vaguely seen crashing down behind the trees_. HILDA: _My_ Master Builder! A VOICE: Mr. Solness is dead. He fell right into the quarry. RAGNAR: So, after all, he could not do it. HILDA: But he mounted right up to the top. And I heard harps in the air. (_Waves her shawl, and shrieks with wild intensity) My--my_ Master Builder! FOOTNOTES: