REGINALD. What am I to do? Advise me!
OLAVUS. You, no more than I, will follow the advices given you.
REGINALD. Inform me, then! Tell me: what is life?
OLAVUS. That's more than I know. But I think it must be a punishment or an ordeal. At your years I thought I knew everything and understood everything. Now I know nothing and understand nothing. For that reason I rest satisfied with doing my duty and bearing what comes my way.
REGINALD. But I want to know!
OLAVUS. You want to know what is not allowed to be known. Try to know and you will perish!—However, do you want to go or stay?
REGINALD. I am going to Wittenberg to pull Luther to pieces!
OLAVUS. [Wholly without irony] That's the way to speak! O thou splendid youth with thy Alexandrian regret that there are no more things to pull to pieces!
REGINALD. Are you not a Lutheran?
OLAVUS. I am a Protestant.