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Hamsun, Knut, 1859-1952

"Shallow Soil"

And when I
listened I heard a seething sound of voices, and when I looked I saw
many people who talked and gritted their teeth with joy. And I saw a
man who was being bound, a malefactor who was being bound with leather
thongs, and the malefactor's countenance was haughty and proud, and
his eyes shone like stars. But his garment was torn and his feet stood
naked on the ground, and his clothes were almost gone, yes his cloak
was worn to almost nothing.
And I listened and heard a voice, and when I looked I saw that the
malefactor was speaking, and the malefactor spoke proudly and
gloriously. And they bade him be silent, but he spoke, he testified,
he shouted, and when they bade him be silent he did not cease with
fear. And when the malefactor spoke the mob ran up and silenced his
lips, and when he mutely pointed to the sky and to the sun, and when
he pointed to his heart which still beat warmly, the mob ran up and
struck him. And when the mob struck him the malefactor fell to his
knees, and he knelt and clasped his hands and testified mutely,
without words, in spite of the cruel blows.


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