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diff --git a/7172-8.txt b/7172-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e07ac21 --- /dev/null +++ b/7172-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10235 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Early Plays, by Henrik Ibsen + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Early Plays + Catiline, The Warrior's Barrow, Olaf Liljekrans + +Author: Henrik Ibsen + + +Release Date: December, 2004 [EBook #7172] +This file was first posted on March 20, 2003 +Last Updated: May 4, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EARLY PLAYS *** + + + + +Produced by David Starner, Michael Kaelbling, and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + + + + +This series of SCANDINAVIAN CLASSICS was published by the +American-Scandinavian Foundation in the belief that greater +familiarity with the chief literary monuments of the North will +help Americans to a better understanding of Scandinavians, and +thus serve to stimulate their sympathetic co-operation to good +ends. + + * * * * * + + SCANDINAVIAN CLASSICS + + VOLUME XVII + + + + EARLY PLAYS + + by + + + HENRIK IBSEN + + * * * * * + + EARLY PLAYS + + + CATILINE, THE WARRIOR'S BARROW, + OLAF LILJEKRANS + + + by + + HENRIK IBSEN + + + TRANSLATED FROM THE NORWEGIAN BY + ANDERS ORBECK, A. M. + + _Assistant Professor of English in the University + of Montana_ + + * * * * * + + _To + + O. W. Firkins + + Teacher and Friend + and Inspirer of + these Translations._ + + * * * * * + + + CONTENTS + + + INTRODUCTION + + CATILINE + + THE WARRIOR'S BARROW + + OLAF LILJEKRANS + + LIST OF FOUNDATION PUBLICATIONS + + * * * * * + + + INTRODUCTION + + +One of the most remarkable facts about Ibsen is the orderly +development of his genius. He himself repeatedly maintained that +his dramas were not mere isolated accidents. In the foreword to +the readers in the popular edition of 1898 he urges the public to +read his dramas in the same order in which he had written them, +deplores the fact that his earlier works are less known and less +understood than his later works, and insists that his writings +taken as a whole constitute an organic unity. The three of his +plays offered here for the first time in English translation will +afford those not familiar with the original Norwegian some light +on the early stages of his development. + +_Catiline_, the earliest of Ibsen's plays, was written in +1849, while Ibsen was an apothecary's apprentice in Grimstad. It +appeared in Christiania in the following spring under the +pseudonym Brynjolf Bjarme. The revolutionary atmosphere of +1848-49, the reading of the story of Catiline in Sallust and +Cicero in preparation for the university examinations, the +hostility which existed between the apprentice and his immediate +social environment, the fate which the play met at the hands of +the theatrical management and the publishers, his own struggles +at the time,--are all set forth clearly enough in the preface to +the second edition. The play was written in the blank verse of +Oehlenschlaeger's romantic dramas. Ibsen's portrayal of the +Roman politician is not in accord with tradition; Catiline is not +an out-and-out reprobate, but an unfortunate and highly sensitive +individual in whom idealism and licentiousness struggle for +mastery. Vasenius, in his study of the poet (_Ibsens +Dramatiska Diktning in dess Första Skede_, Helsingfors, 1879), +insists that Ibsen thus intuitively hit upon the real Catiline +revealed by later nineteenth century research. The poet seems +not to have heard of Duma's _Catiline_, which appeared about +the same time, nor of earlier plays on the subject by Ben Jonson +and others. The struggle in Ibsen's play is centered in the soul +of Catiline; not once do his political opponents appear on the +scene. Only one critic raised his voice in behalf of the play at +the time of its appearance, and only a few copies of the original +edition survive. Ibsen issued in 1875 a revised edition in +celebration of his twenty-fifth anniversary as an author. Since +then a third edition has been issued in 1891, and a fourth in +1913. + +_The Warrior's Barrow_, Ibsen's second play, was finished in +1850 shortly after the publication of _Catiline_. Ibsen +entered upon his literary career with a gusto he seems soon to +have lost; he wrote to his friend Ole Schulerud in January, 1850, +that he was working on a play about Olaf Trygvesson, an +historical novel, and a longer poem. He had begun _The +Warrior's Barrow_ while he was still at Grimstad, but this +early version, called _The Normans_, he revised on reaching +Christiania. In style and manner and even in subject-matter the +play echoes Oehlenschlaeger. Ibsen's vikings are, however, of a +fiercer type than Oehlenschlaeger's, and this treatment of viking +character was one of the things the critics, bred to +Oehlenschlaeger's romantic conception of more civilized vikings, +found fault with in Ibsen's play. The sketch fared better than +_Catiline_: it was thrice presented on the stage in +Christiania and was on the whole favorably reviewed. When Ibsen +became associated with the Bergen theater he undertook another +revision of the play, and in this version the play was presented +on the stage in 1854 and 1856. The final version was published +in the _Bergenske Blad_ in 1854, but no copy of this issue +has survived; the play remained inaccessible to the public until +1902, when it was included in a supplementary volume (Volume X) +to Ibsen's collected works. The earlier version remained in +manuscript form until it was printed in 1917 in _Scandinavian +Studies and Notes_ (Vol. IV, pp. 309-337). + +_Olaf Liljekrans_, which was presented on the Bergen stage +in 1857, marks the end of Ibsen's early romantic interest. The +original idea for this play, which he had begun in 1850, he found +in the folk-tale "The Grouse in Justedal," about a girl who alone +had survived the Black Death in an isolated village. Ibsen had +with many others become interested in popular folk-tales and +ballads. It was from Faye's _Norwegian Folk-Tales_ (1844) +that he took the story of "The Grouse in Justedal." His interest +was so great that he even turned collector. Twice during this +period he petitioned for and received small university grants to +enable him to travel and "collect songs and legends still current +among the people." Of the seventy or eighty "hitherto +unpublished legends" which he collected on the first of these +trips only a few have ever appeared in print; the results of his +second trip are unknown. Ibsen had great faith in the +availability of this medieval material for dramatic purposes; he +even wrote an essay, "The Heroic Ballad and Its Significance for +Artistic Poetry," urging its superior claims in contrast to that +of the saga material, to which he was himself shortly to turn. +The original play based on "The Grouse in Justedal" was left +unfinished. After the completion of _Lady Inger of Östråt_ +and _The Feast at Solhoug_ he came back to it, and taking a +suggestion from the ballad in Landstad's collection (1852-3) he +recast the whole play, substituted the ballad meter for the +iambic pentameters, and called the new version _Olaf +Liljekrans_. _Olaf Liljekrans_ indicates clearly a +decline in Ibsen's interest in pure romance. It is much more +satirical than _The Feast at Solhoug_, and marks a step in +the direction of those superb masterpieces of satire and romance, +_Brand_ and _Peer Gynt_. The play was twice presented +on the stage in Bergen with considerable success, but the critics +treated it harshly. + +The relationship of the revised versions to the original versions +of Ibsen's early plays is interesting, and might, if +satisfactorily elucidated, throw considerable light on the +development of his genius. It is evident that he was in this +early period experimenting in metrical forms. He employed blank +verse in _Catiline_, in the original version of _The +Grouse in Justedal_, and even as late as 1853 in the revision +of _The Warrior's Barrow_. There can be no question but +that he was here following the Ochlenschlaeger tradition. +Unrhymed pentameter, however, did not seem to satisfy him. He +could with difficulty keep from falling into rhyme in +_Catiline_, and in the early version of _The Warrior's +Barrow_ he used rhymed pentameters. After the revision of +this play he threw aside blank verse altogether. "Iambic +pentameter," he says in the essay on the heroic ballad, "is by no +means the most suitable form for the treatment of ancient +Scandinavian material; this form of verse is altogether foreign +to our national meters, and it is surely through a national form +that the national material can find its fullest expression." The +folk-tale and the ballad gave him the suggestion he needed. In +_The Feast at Solhoug_ and the final version of _Olaf +Liljekrans_ he employed the ballad meter, and this form became +the basis for the verse in all his later metrical plays. + +Six years intervened between _The Grouse in Justedal_ and +_Olaf Liljekrans_, and the revision in this case amounted +almost to the writing of a new play. Fredrik Paasche in his +study (_Olaf Liljekrans_, Christiania, 1909) discusses the +relation of _Olaf Liljekrans_ to the earlier form of the +play. Three years intervened between the first and final +versions of _The Warrior's Barrow_. Professor +A. M. Sturtevant maintains (_Journal of English and Germanic +Philology_, XII, 407 ff.) that although "the influence of +Ochlenschlaeger upon both versions of _The Warrior's Barrow_ +is unmistakable," yet "the two versions differ so widely from +each other ... that it may be assumed that ... Ibsen had begun to +free himself from the thraldom of Ochlenschlaeger's romantic +conception of the viking character." He points out the influence +of Welhaven and Heiberg on the second version, elaborates upon +the superior character-delineation, and shows in considerable +detail the "inner necessity ... which brings about the change of +heart in Gandalf and his warriors." + +The revision of _Catiline_ came twenty-five years after the +original version, and consisted largely of linguistic changes. +Ibsen seems never to have completely disowned this play; it has +been included in all the complete editions, whereas _The +Warrior's Barrow_ and _Olaf Liljekrans_ appear only in +the first complete edition, and were even then relegated to a +supplementary volume. In suggesting the revision of +_Catiline_, Ibsen proposed "to make no change in the thought +and ideas, but only in the language in which these are expressed; +for the verses are, as Brandes has somewhere remarked, bad,--one +reason being that the book was printed from my first rough +uncorrected draft." He had at that time not developed his +careful craftsmanship, and sought in the revision merely to put +the drama into the form which he had originally had in mind, but +which at that time he had been unable to achieve. The changes +that were actually made are summarized by D. A. Seip (Ibsen, +_Samlede Digter Verker_, 1918, VII, 114) who quotes Halvdan +Koht and Julius Elias (Ibsen, _Efterladte Skrifter_, III): +"The two editions 'agree in the sequence of tenses, with a few +exceptions also in the sequence of speeches, and on the whole +even in the sequence of lines. The changes involve principally +the poetic expression itself; after the second act they become +more and more extensive, and the last two acts have been +augmented with 100 lines.' ... Not infrequently there appear +words and expressions which are suggestive of Ibsen's later +works." + +These plays now appear for the first time in English translation. +A. Johnstone published in _Translations from the Norse, by a +B. S. S._ (Gloucester, about 1876), an English rendering of +the first act of _Catiline_ and a synopsis of the last two +acts. William Archer explains at length his omission of +_Catiline_ from his edition of Ibsen. "A great part of the +interest lies in the very crudities of its style, which it would +be a thankless task to reproduce in translation. Moreover, the +poet impaired even its biographical value by largely rewriting it +before publication. He did not make it, or attempt to make it, a +better play, but he in some measure corrected its juvenility of +expression. Which version, then, should a translator choose? To +go back to the original would seem a deliberate disregard of the +poet's wishes; while, on the other hand, the retouched version is +clearly of far inferior interest. It seems advisable, therefore, +to leave the play alone, as far as this edition is concerned." +_Olaf Liljekrans_ and _The Warrior's Barrow_ were acted +in English in London in 1911 and 1912 respectively, but the +English renderings used in these presentations have never +appeared in print. + +The text of _Catiline_ in the present translation is that of +the revised version as given in the edition of 1906-07; the text +of the other two plays is that of the edition of 1898-1902. The +meters of the original have been carefully reproduced. The great +difficulty of rendering the ballad and lyrical meters of Ibsen +into adequate English verse has made some stylistic changes +necessary, such as the substitution of masculine for feminine +rhymes, and the occasional alteration of the sense in slight +measure. + +I take this opportunity to acknowledge my gratitude to Professor +O. W. Firkins, now of _The Weekly Review_, who suggested the +translating of these plays and who offered from time to time +invaluable criticisms; to Professor Howard M. Jones, of the +University of Texas, Professor S. B. Hustvedt, of the University +of Minnesota, and Professor W. W. Lawrence, of Columbia +University, who read all or parts of these translations and made +many helpful suggestions; and to Professor G. P. Krapp, of +Columbia University, and my wife, who were of assistance in +various ways. + + ANDERS ORBECK. + +_New York, January 3, 1921._ + + * * * * * + + + + + CATILINE + + + + A Drama in Three Acts + + + + 185O + + * * * * * + + + PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION + + +The drama _Catiline_, with which I entered upon my literary +career, was written during the winter of 1848-49, that is in my +twenty-first year. + +I was at the time in Grimstad, under the necessity of earning +with my hands the wherewithal of life and the means for +instruction preparatory to my taking the entrance examinations to +the university. The age was one of great stress. The February +revolution, the uprisings in Hungary and elsewhere, the Slesvig +war,--all this had a great effect upon and hastened my +development, however immature it may have remained for some time +after. I wrote ringing poems of encouragement to the Magyars, +urging them for the sake of liberty and humanity to hold out in +the righteous struggle against the "tyrants"; I wrote a long +series of sonnets to King Oscar, containing particularly, as far +as I can remember, an appeal to set aside all petty +considerations and to march forthwith at the head of his army to +the aid of our brothers on the outermost borders of Slesvig. +Inasmuch as I now, in contrast to those times, doubt that my +winged appeals would in any material degree have helped the cause +of the Magyars or the Scandinavians, I consider it fortunate that +they remained within the more private sphere of the manuscript. +I could not, however, on more formal occasions keep from +expressing myself in the impassioned spirit of my poetic +effusions, which meanwhile brought me nothing--from friends or +non-friends--but a questionable reward; the former greeted me as +peculiarly fitted for the unintentionally droll, and the latter +thought it in the highest degree strange that a young person in +my subordinate position could undertake to inquire into affairs +concerning which not even they themselves dared to entertain an +opinion. I owe it to truth to add that my conduct at various +times did not justify any great hope that society might count on +an increase in me of civic virtue, inasmuch as I also, with +epigrams and caricatures, fell out with many who had deserved +better of me and whose friendship I in reality prized. +Altogether,--while a great struggle raged on the outside, I +found myself on a war-footing with the little society where I +lived cramped by conditions and circumstances of life. + +Such was the situation when amid the preparations for my +examinations I read through Sallust's _Catiline_ together +with Cicero's Catilinarian orations. I swallowed these +documents, and a few months later my drama was complete. As will +be seen from my book, I did not share at that time the conception +of the two ancient Roman writers respecting the character and +conduct of Catiline, and I am even now prone to believe that +there must after all have been something great and consequential +in a man whom Cicero, the assiduous counsel of the majority, did +not find it expedient to engage until affairs had taken such a +turn that there was no longer any danger involved in the attack. +It should also be remembered that there are few individuals in +history whose renown has been more completely in the hands of +enemies than that of Catiline. + +My drama was written during the hours of the night. The leisure +hours for my study I practically had to steal from my employer, a +good and respectable man, occupied however heart and soul with +his business, and from those stolen study hours I again stole +moments for writing verse. There was consequently scarcely +anything else to resort to but the night. I believe this is the +unconscious reason that almost the entire action of the piece +transpires at night. + +Naturally a fact so incomprehensible to my associates as that I +busied myself with the writing of plays had to be kept secret; +but a twenty-year old poet can hardly continue thus without +anybody being privy to it, and I confided therefore to two +friends of my own age what I was secretly engaged upon. + +The three of us pinned great expectations on _Catiline_ when +it had been completed. First and foremost it was now to be +copied in order to be submitted under an assumed name to the +theater in Christiania, and furthermore it was of course to be +published. One of my faithful and trusting friends undertook to +prepare a handsome and legible copy of my uncorrected draft, a +task which he performed with such a degree of conscientiousness +that he did not omit even a single one of the innumerable dashes +which I in the heat of composition had liberally interspersed +throughout wherever the exact phrase did not for the moment occur +to me. The second of my friends, whose name I here mention since +he is no longer among the living, Ole C. Schulerud, at that time +a student, later a lawyer, went to Christiania with the +transcript. I still remember one of his letters in which he +informed me that _Catiline_ had now been submitted to the +theater; that it would soon be given a performance,--about that +there could naturally be no doubt inasmuch as the management +consisted of very discriminating men; and that there could be as +little doubt that the booksellers of the town would one and all +gladly pay a round fee for the first edition, the main point +being, he thought, only to discover the one who would make the +highest bid. + +After a long and tense period of waiting there began to appear in +the meantime a few difficulties. My friend had the piece +returned from the management with a particularly polite but +equally peremptory rejection. He now took the manuscript from +bookseller to bookseller; but all to a man expressed themselves +to the same effect as the theatrical management. The highest +bidder demanded so and so much to publish the piece without any +fee. + +All this, however, was far from lessening my friend's belief in +victory. He wrote to the contrary that it was best even so; I +should come forward myself as the publisher of my drama; the +necessary funds he would advance me; the profits we should divide +in consideration of his undertaking the business end of the deal, +except the proof-reading, which he regarded as superfluous in +view of the handsome and legible manuscript the printers had to +follow. In a later letter he declared that, considering these +promising prospects for the future, he contemplated abandoning +his studies in order to consecrate himself completely to the +publishing of my works; two or three plays a year, he thought, I +should with ease be able to write, and according to a calculation +of probabilities he had made he had discovered that with our +surplus we should at no distant time be able to undertake the +journey so often agreed upon or discussed, through Europe and the +Orient. + +My journey was for the time being limited to Christiania. I +arrived there in the beginning of the spring of 1850 and just +previous to my arrival _Catiline_ had appeared in the +bookstalls. The drama created a stir and awakened considerable +interest among the students, but the critics dwelt largely on the +faulty verses and thought the book in other respects immature. A +more appreciative judgment was uttered from but one single +quarter, but this expression came from a man whose appreciation +has always been dear to me and weighty and whom I herewith offer +my renewed gratitude. Not very many copies of the limited +edition were sold; my friend had a good share of them in his +custody, and I remember that one evening when our domestic +arrangements heaped up for us insurmountable difficulties, this +pile of printed matter was fortunately disposed of as waste paper +to a huckster. During the days immediately following we lacked +none of the prime necessities of life. + +During my sojourn at home last summer and particularly since my +return here there loomed up before me more clearly and more +sharply than ever before the kaleidoscopic scenes of my literary +life. Among other things I also brought out _Catiline_. +The contents of the book as regards details I had almost +forgotten; but by reading it through anew I found that it +nevertheless contained a great deal which I could still +acknowledge, particularly if it be remembered that it is my first +undertaking. Much, around which my later writings center, the +contradiction between ability and desire, between will and +possibility, the intermingled tragedy and comedy in humanity and +in the individual,--appeared already here in vague +foreshadowings, and I conceived therefore the plan of preparing a +new edition, a kind of jubilee-edition,--a plan to which my +publisher with his usual readiness gave his approval. + +But it was naturally not enough simply to reprint without further +ado the old original edition, for this is, as already pointed +out, nothing but a copy of my imperfect and uncorrected concept +or of the very first rough draft. In the rereading of it I +remembered clearly what I originally had had in mind, and I saw +moreover that the form practically nowhere gave a satisfactory +rendering of what I had wished. + +I determined therefore to revise this drama of my youth in a way +in which I believe even at that time I should have been able to +do it had the time been at my disposal and the circumstances more +favorable for me. The ideas, the conceptions, and the +development of the whole, I have not on the other hand altered. +The book has remained the original; only now it appears in a +complete form. + +With this in mind I pray that my friends in Scandinavia and +elsewhere will receive it; I pray that they will receive it as a +greeting from me at the close of a period which to me has been +full of changes and rich in contradictions. Much of what I +twenty-five years ago dreamed has been realized, even though not +in the manner nor as soon as I then hoped. Yet I believe now +that it was best for me thus; I do not wish that any of that +which lies between should have been untried, and if I look back +upon what I have lived through I do so with thanks for everything +and thanks to all. + + HENRIK IBSEN. + +_Dresden, February, 1875._ + + * * * * * + + + DRAMATIS PERSONÆ + + +LUCIUS CATILINE A noble Roman. + +AURELIA His wife. + +FURIA A vestal. + +CURIUS A youth related to Catiline. + +MANLIUS An old warrior. + +LENTULUS Young and noble Roman. + +GABINIUS " " " " + +STATILIUS " " " " + +COEPARIUS " " " " + +CETHEGUS " " " " + +AMBIORIX Ambassador of the Allobroges. + +OLLOVICO " " " " + + An old MAN. + + PRIESTESSES and SERVANTS in the Temple of + Vesta. + + GLADIATORS and WARRIORS. + + ESCORT of the Allobroges. + + Sulla's GHOST. + + * * * * * + + + SETTING + +The first and second acts are laid in and near Rome, the third +act in Etruria. + + * * * * * + + + + +FIRST ACT + +[The Flaminian Way outside of Rome. Off the road a +wooded hillside. In the background loom the walls and +the heights of the city. It is evening.] + +[CATILINE stands on the hill among the bushes, leaning +against a tree.] + +CATILINE. I must! I must! A voice deep in my soul +Urges me on,--and I will heed its call. +Courage I have and strength for something better, +Something far nobler than this present life,-- +A series of unbridled dissipations--! +No, no; they do not satisfy the yearning soul. + +CATILINE. I rave and rave,--long only to forget. +'Tis past now,--all is past! Life has no aim. + +CATILINE. [After a pause.] +And what became of all my youthful dreams? +Like flitting summer clouds they disappeared, +Left naught behind but sorrow and remorse;-- +Each daring hope in turn fate robbed me of. + +[He strikes his forehead.] + +CATILINE. Despise yourself! Catiline, scorn yourself! +You feel exalted powers in your soul;-- +And yet what is the goal of all your struggle? +The surfeiting of sensual desires. + +CATILINE. [More calmly.] +But there are times, such as the present hour, +When secret longings kindle in my breast. +Ah, when I gaze on yonder city, Rome, +The proud, the rich,--and when I see that ruin +And wretchedness to which it now is sunk +Loom up before me like the flaming sun,-- +Then loudly calls a voice within my soul: +Up, Catiline;--awake and be a man! + +CATILINE. [Abruptly.] Ah, these are but delusions of the night, +Mere dreaming phantoms born of solitude. +At the slightest sound from grim reality,-- +They flee into the silent depths within. + +[The ambassadors of the Allobroges, AMBIORIX and OLLOVICO, with +their Escort, come down the highway without noticing CATILINE.] + +AMBIORIX. Behold our journey's end! The walls of Rome! +To heaven aspires the lofty Capitol. + +OLLOVICO. So that is Rome? Italy's overlord, +Germany's soon,--and Gaul's as well, perchance. + +AMBIORIX. Ah, yes, alas;--so it may prove betimes; +The sovereign power of Rome is merciless; +It crushes all it conquers, down to earth. +Now shall we see what lot we may expect: +If here be help against the wrongs at home, +And peace and justice for our native land. + +OLLOVICO. It will be granted us. + +AMBIORIX. So let us hope; +For we know nothing yet with certainty. + +OLLOVICO. You fear somewhat, it seems? + +AMBIORIX. And with good reason. +Jealous was ever Rome of her great power. +And bear in mind, this proud and haughty realm +Is not by chieftains ruled, as is our land. +At home the wise man or the warrior reigns,-- +The first in wisdom and in war the foremost; +Him choose we as the leader of our people, +As arbiter and ruler of our tribe. +But here-- + +CATILINE. [Calls down to them.] +--Here might and selfishness hold sway;-- +Intrigue and craft are here the keys to power. + +OLLOVICO. Woe to us, brethren, woe! He spies upon us. + +AMBIORIX. [To CATILINE.] +Is such the practice of the high-born Roman? +A woman's trick we hold it in our nation. + +CATILINE. [comes down on the road.] +Ah, have no fear;--spying is not my business; +By chance it was I heard your conversation.-- +Come you from Allobrogia far away? +Justice you think to find in Rome? Ah, never! +Turn home again! Here tyranny holds sway, +And rank injustice lords it more than ever. +Republic to be sure it is in name; +And yet all men are slaves who cringe and cower, +Vassals involved in debt, who must acclaim +A venal senate--ruled by greed and power. +Gone is the social consciousness of old, +The magnanimity of former ages;-- +Security and life are favors sold, +Which must be bargained for with hire and wages. +Not righteousness, but power here holds sway; +The noble man is lost among the gilded-- + +AMBIORIX. But say,--who then are you to tear away +The pillars of the hope on which we builded? + +CATILINE. A man who burns in freedom's holy zeal; +An enemy of all unrighteous power; +Friend of the helpless trodden under heel,-- +Eager to hurl the mighty from their tower. + +AMBIORIX. The noble race of Rome--? Ah, Roman, speak-- +Since we are strangers here you would deceive us? +Is Rome no more the guardian of the weak, +The dread of tyrants,--ready to relieve us? + +CATILINE. [Points towards the city and speaks.] +Behold the mighty Capitol that towers +On yonder heights in haughty majesty. +See, in the glow of evening how it lowers, +Tinged with the last rays of the western sky.-- +So too Rome's evening glow is fast declining, +Her freedom now is thraldom, dark as night.-- +Yet in her sky a sun will soon be shining, +Before which darkness quick will take its flight. + +[He goes.] + + * * * * * + +[A colonnade in Rome.] + +[LENTULUS, STATILIUS, COEPARIUS, and CETHEGUS enter, +in eager conversation.] + +COEPARIUS. Yes, you are right; things go from bad to worse; +And what the end will be I do not know. + +CETHEGUS. Bah! I am not concerned about the end. +The fleeting moment I enjoy; each cup +Of pleasure as it comes I empty,--letting +All else go on to ruin as it will. + +LENTULUS. Happy is he who can. I am not blessed +With your indifference, that can outface +The day when nothing shall be left us more, +Nothing with which to pay the final score. + +STATILIUS. And not the faintest glimpse of better things! +Yet it is true: a mode of life like ours-- + +CETHEGUS. Enough of that! + +LENTULUS. Today because of debt +The last of my inheritance was seized. + +CETHEGUS. Enough of sorrow and complaint! Come, friends! +We'll drown them in a merry drinking bout! + +COEPARIUS. Yes, let us drink. Come, come, my merry comrades! + +LENTULUS. A moment, friends; I see old Manlius yonder,-- +Seeking us out, I think, as is his wont. + +MANLIUS. [Enters impetuously.] +Confound the shabby dogs, the paltry scoundrels! +Justice and fairness they no longer know! + +LENTULUS. Come, what has happened? Wherefore so embittered? + +STATILIUS. Have usurers been plaguing you as well? + +MANLIUS. Something quite different. As you all know, +I served with honor among Sulla's troops; +A bit of meadow land was my reward. +And when the war was at an end, I lived +Thereon; it furnished me my daily bread. +Now is it taken from me! Laws decree-- +State property shall to the state revert +For equal distribution. Theft, I say,-- +It is rank robbery and nothing else! +Their greed is all they seek to satisfy. + +COEPARIUS. Thus with our rights they sport to please themselves. +The mighty always dare do what they will. + +CETHEGUS. [Gaily.] Hard luck for Manlius! Yet, a worse mishap +Has come to me, as I shall now relate. +Listen,--you know my pretty mistress, Livia,-- +The little wretch has broken faith with me, +Just now when I had squandered for her sake +The slender wealth that still remained to me. + +STATILIUS. Extravagance--the cause of your undoing. + +CETHEGUS. Well, as you please; but I will not forego +My own desires; these, while the day is fair, +To their full measure I will satisfy. + +MANLIUS. And I who fought so bravely for the glory +And might which now the vaunting tyrants boast! +I shall--! If but the brave old band were here, +My comrades of the battlefield! But no; +The greater part of them, alas, is dead; +The rest live scattering in many lands.-- + +MANLIUS. Oh, what are you, the younger blood, to them? +You bend and cringe before authority; +You dare not break the chains that bind you fast; +You suffer patiently this life of bondage! + +LENTULUS. By all the Gods,--although indeed he taunts us, +Yet, Romans, is there truth in what he says. + +CETHEGUS. Oh, well,--what of it? He is right, we grant, +But where shall we begin? Ay, there's the rub. + +LENTULUS. Yes, it is true. Too long have we endured +This great oppression. Now--now is the time +To break the bonds asunder that injustice +And vain ambition have about us forged. + +STATILIUS. Ah, Lentulus, I understand. Yet hold; +For such a thing we need a mighty leader,-- +With pluck and vision. Where can he be found? + +LENTULUS. I know a man who has the power to lead us. + +MANLIUS. Ah, you mean Catiline? + +LENTULUS. The very man. + +CETHEGUS. Yes, Catiline perchance is just the man. + +MANLIUS. I know him well. I was his father's friend; +Many a battle side by side we fought. +Often his young son went with him to war. +Even his early years were wild and headstrong; +Yet he gave open proof of rare endowments,-- +His mind was noble, dauntless was his courage. + +LENTULUS. We'll find him, as I think, most prompt and willing. +I met him late this evening much depressed; +He meditates in secret some bold plan;-- +Some desperate scheme he long has had in mind. + +STATILIUS. No doubt; the consulate he long has sought. + +LENTULUS. His efforts are in vain; his enemies +Have madly raged against him in the senate;-- +He was himself among them; full of wrath +He left the council--brooding on revenge. + +STATILIUS. Then will he surely welcome our proposal. + +LENTULUS. I hope so. Yet must we in secret weigh +Our enterprise. The time is opportune. + +[They go.] + + * * * * * + +[In the Temple of Vesta in Rome. On an altar in the +background burns a lamp with the sacred fire.] + +[CATILINE, followed by CURIUS, comes stealing in +between the pillars.] + +CURIUS. What, Catiline,--you mean to bring me here? +In Vesta's temple! + +CATILINE. [Laughing.] Well, yes; so you see! + +CURIUS. Ye gods,--what folly! On this very day +Has Cicero denounced you in the council; +And yet you dare-- + +CATILINE. Oh, let that be forgotten! + +CURIUS. You are in danger, and forget it thus-- +By rushing blindly into some new peril. + +CATILINE. [Gaily.] Well, change is my delight. I never knew +Ere now a vestal's love,--forbidden fruit;-- +Wherefore I came to try my fortune here. + +CURIUS. What,--here, you say? Impossible! A jest! + +CATILINE. A jest? Why, yes,--as all my loving is. +And yet I was in earnest when I spoke. +During the recent games I chanced to see +The priestesses in long and pompous train. +By accident I cast my roving eye +On one of them,--and with a hasty glance +She met my gaze. It pierced me to the soul. +Ah, the expression in those midnight eyes +I never saw before in any woman. + +CURIUS. Yes, yes, I know. But speak--what followed +then? + +CATILINE. A way into the temple I have found, +And more than once I've seen and spoken to her. +Oh, what a difference between this woman +And my Aurelia! + +CURIUS. And you love them both +At once? No,--that I cannot understand. + +CATILINE. Yes, strange, indeed; I scarcely understand myself. +And yet--I love them both, as you have said. +But oh, how vastly different is this love! +The one is kind: Aurelia often lulls +With soothing words my soul to peace and rest;-- +But Furia--. Come, away; some one approaches. + +[They hide themselves among the pillars.] + +FURIA. [Enters from the opposite side.] +Oh, hated walls,--witnesses of my anguish. +Home of the torment I must suffer still! +My hopes and cherished aspirations languish +Within my bosom,--now with feverish chill +Pervaded, now with all the heat of passion, +More hot and burning than yon vestal fire. + +FURIA. Ah, what a fate! And what was my transgression +That chained me to this temple-prison dire,-- +That robbed my life of every youthful pleasure,-- +In life's warm spring each innocent delight? + +FURIA. Yet tears I shall not shed in undue measure; +Hatred and vengeance shall my heart excite. + +CATILINE. [Comes forward.] +Not even for me, my Furia, do you cherish +Another feeling,--one more mild than this? + +FURIA. Ye gods! you, reckless man,--you here again? +Do you not fear to come--? + +CATILINE. I know no fear. +'Twas always my delight to mock at danger. + +FURIA. Oh, splendid! Such is also my delight;-- +This peaceful temple here I hate the more, +Because I live in everlasting calm, +And danger never lurks within its walls. + +FURIA. Oh, this monotonous, inactive life, +A life faint as the flicker of the lamp--! +How cramped a field it is for all my sum +Of fervid longings and far-reaching plans! +Oh, to be crushed between these narrow walls;-- +Life here grows stagnant; every hope is quenched; +The day creeps slowly on in drowsiness,-- +And not one single thought is turned to deeds. + +CATILINE. O Furia, strange, in truth, is your complaint! +It seems an echo out of my own soul,-- +As if with flaming script you sought to paint +My every longing towards a worthy goal. +Rancour and hate in my soul likewise flourish; +My heart--as yours--hate tempers into steel; +I too was robbed of hopes I used to nourish; +An aim in life I now no longer feel. + +CATILINE. In silence still I mask my grief, my want; +And none can guess what smoulders in my breast. +They scoff and sneer at me,--these paltry things; +They can not grasp how high my bosom beats +For right and freedom, all the noble thoughts +That ever stirred within a Roman mind. + +FURIA. I knew it! Ah, your soul, and yours alone, +Is born for me,--thus clearly speaks a voice +That never fails and never plays me false. +Then come! Oh, come--and let us heed the call. + +CATILINE. What do you mean, my sweet enthusiast? + +FURIA. Come,--let us leave this place, flee far away, +And seek a new and better fatherland. +Here is the spirit's lofty pride repressed; +Here baseness smothers each auspicious spark +Ere it can break into a burning flame. +Come, let us fly;--lo, to the free-born mind +The world's wide compass is a fatherland! + +CATILINE. Oh, irresistibly you lure me on-- + +FURIA. Come, let us use the present moment then! +High o'er the hills, beyond the sea's expanse,-- +Far, far from Rome we first will stay our journey. +Thousands of friends will follow you outright; +In foreign lands we shall a home design; +There shall we rule; 'twill there be brought to light +That no hearts ever beat as yours and mine. + +CATILINE. Oh, wonderful!--But flee? Why must we flee? +Here too our love for freedom can be nourished; +Here also is a field for thought and action, +As vast as any that your soul desires. + +FURIA. Here, do you say? Here, in this paltry Rome, +Where naught exists but thraldom and oppression? +Ah, Lucius, are you likewise one of those +Who can Rome's past recall without confession +Of shame? Who ruled here then? Who rule to-day? +Then an heroic race--and now a rabble, +The slaves of other slaves-- + +CATILINE. Mock me you may;-- +Yet know,--to save Rome's freedom from this babble, +To see yet once again her vanished splendor, +Gladly I should, like Curtius, throw myself +Into the abyss-- + +FURIA. I trust you, you alone; +Your eyes glow bright; I know you speak the truth. +Yet go; the priestesses will soon appear; +Their wont it is to meet here at this hour. + +CATILINE. I go; but only to return again. +A magic power binds me to your side;-- +So proud a woman have I never seen. + +FURIA. [With a wild smile.] Then pledge me this; and +swear that you will keep +Whatever you may promise. Will you, Lucius? + +CATILINE. I will do aught my Furia may require; +Command me,--tell me what am I to promise. + +FURIA. Then listen. Though I dwell a captive here, +I know there lives a man somewhere in Rome +Whom I have sworn deep enmity to death-- +And hatred even beyond the gloomy grave. + +CATILINE. And then--? + +FURIA. Then swear, my enemy shall be +Your enemy till death. Will you, my Lucius? + +CATILINE. I swear it here by all the mighty gods! +I swear it by my father's honored name +And by my mother's memory--! But, Furia,-- +What troubles you? Your eyes are wildly flaming,-- +And white as marble, deathlike, are your cheeks. + +FURIA. I do not know myself. A fiery stream +Flows through my veins. Swear to the end your oath! + +CATILINE. Oh, mighty powers, pour out upon this head +Your boundless fury, let your lightning wrath +Annihilate me, if I break my oath; +Aye, like a demon I shall follow him! + +FURIA. Enough! I trust you. Ah, my heart is eased. +In your hand now indeed rests my revenge. + +CATILINE. It shall be carried out. But tell me this,-- +Who is your foe? And what was his transgression? + +FURIA. Close by the Tiber, far from the city's tumult, +My cradle stood; it was a quiet home! +A sister much beloved lived with me there, +A chosen vestal from her childhood days.-- +Then came a coward to our distant valley;-- +He saw the fair, young priestess of the future-- + +CATILINE. [Surprised.] A priestess? Tell me--! Speak--! + +FURIA. He ravished her. +She sought a grave beneath the Tiber's stream. + +CATILINE. [Uneasy.] You know him? + +FURIA. I have never seen the man. +When first I heard the tidings, all was past. +His name is all I know. + +CATILINE. Then speak it out! + +FURIA. Now is it famed. His name is Catiline. + +CATILINE. [Taken aback.] +What do you say? Oh, horrors! Furia, speak--! + +FURIA. Calm yourself! What perturbs you? You grow pale. +My Lucius,--is this man perhaps your friend? + +CATILINE. My friend? Ah, Furia, no;--no longer now. +For I have cursed,--and sworn eternal hate +Against myself. + +FURIA. You--you are Catiline? + +CATILINE. Yes, I am he. + +FURIA. My Sylvia you disgraced? +Nemesis then indeed has heard my prayer;-- +Vengeance you have invoked on your own head! +Woe on you, man of violence! Woe! + +CATILINE. How blank +The stare is in your eye. Like Sylvia's shade +You seem to me in this dim candle light. + +[He rushes out; the lamp with the sacred fire goes out.] + +FURIA. [After a pause.] Yes, now I understand it. From my eyes +The veil is fallen,--in the dark I see. +Hatred it was that settled in my breast, +When first I spied him in the market-place. +A strange emotion; like a crimson flame! +Ah, he shall know what such a hate as mine, +Constantly brewing, never satisfied, +Can fashion out in ruin and revenge! + +A VESTAL. [Enters.] Go, Furia, go; your watch is at an end; +Therefore I came--. Yet, sacred goddess, here-- +Woe unto you! The vestal fire is dead! + +FURIA. [Bewildered.] +Dead, did you say? So bright it never burned;-- +'Twill never, never die! + +THE VESTAL. Great heavens,--what is this? + +FURIA. The fires of hate are not thus lightly quenched! +Behold, love bursts forth of a sudden,--dies +Within the hour; but hate-- + +THE VESTAL. By all the gods,-- +This is sheer madness! + +[Calls out.] + +THE VESTAL. Come! Oh, help! Come, help! + +[VESTALS and temple SERVANTS rush in.] + +SOME. What is amiss? + +OTHERS. The vestal fire is dead! + +FURIA. But hate burns on; revenge still blazes high! + +THE VESTALS. Away with her to trial and punishment! + +[They carry her out between them.] + +CURIUS. [Comes forward.] +To prison now they take her. Thence to death.-- +No, no, by all the gods, this shall not be! +Must she, most glorious of womankind, +Thus perish in disgrace, entombed alive?-- +Oh, never have I felt so strangely moved. +Is this then love? Yes, love it is indeed.-- +Then shall I set her free!--But Catiline? +With hate and vengeance will she follow him. +Has he maligners not enough already? +Dare I still others to their number add? +He was to me as were an elder brother; +And gratitude now bids me that I shield him.-- +But what of love? Ah, what does it command? +And should he quake, the fearless Catiline, +Before the intrigues of a woman? No;-- +Then to the rescue work this very hour! +Wait, Furia;--I shall drag you from your grave +To life again,--though at the risk of death! + +[He goes away quickly.] + + * * * * * + +[A room in CATILINE's house.] + +CATILINE. [Enters impetuous and uneasy.] +"Nemesis then indeed has heard my prayer, +Vengeance you have invoked on your own head!" +Such were the words from the enchantress' lips. +Remarkable! Perchance it was a sign,-- +A warning of what time will bring to me. + +CATILINE. Now therefore I have pledged myself on oath +The blood avenger of my own misdeed. +Ah, Furia,--still I seem to see your eye, +Wildly aflame like that of death's own goddess! +Your words still echo hollow in my ears;-- +The oath I shall remember all my life. + +[During the following AURELIA enters and approaches him +unnoticed.] + +CATILINE. Yet, it is folly now to go on brooding +Upon this nonsense; it is nothing else. +Far better things there are to think upon; +A greater work awaits my energies. +The restless age is urgent with its plea; +Toward this I must direct my thought in season; +Of hope and doubt I am a stormy sea-- + +AURELIA. [Seizes his hand.] +And may not your Aurelia know the reason? +May she not know what moves within your breast, +What stirs therein and rages with such madness? +May she not cheer and soothe your soul to rest, +And banish from your brow its cloud of sadness? + +CATILINE. [Tenderly.] O, my Aurelia,--O, how kind and tender--. +Yet why should I embitter all your life? +Why should I share with you my many sorrows? +For my sake you have borne enough of anguish. +Henceforth upon my own head I shall bear +What ill-designing fate allotted me,-- +The curse that lies in such a soul as mine, +Full of great spiritual energies, +Of fervent longings for a life of deeds, +Yet dwarfed in all its work by sordid cares.-- +Must you, too, sharing in my wretched life, +Bitter with blasted hopes, then with me perish? + +AURELIA. To comfort is the role of every wife, +Though dreams of greatness she may never cherish. +When the man, struggling for his lofty dream, +Reaps nothing but adversity and sorrow,-- +Her words to him then sweet and tender seem, +And give him strength sufficient for the morrow; +And then he sees that even the quiet life +Has pleasures which the most tumultuous lacks. + +CATILINE. Yes, you are right; I know it all too well. +And yet I cannot tear myself away. +A ceaseless yearning surges in my breast,-- +Which only life's great tumult now can quiet. + +AURELIA. Though your Aurelia be not all to you,-- +Though she can never still your restless soul,-- +Your heart yet open to a gentle word, +A word of comfort from your loving wife. +Though she may never slake your fiery thirst, +Nor follow in their flight your noble thoughts,-- +Know this, that she can share your every sorrow, +Has strength and fortitude to ease your burden. + +CATILINE. Then listen, dear Aurelia; you shall hear +What has of late depressed so deep my spirits. +You know, I long have sought the consulate-- +Without avail. You know the whole affair-- +How to increase the votes for my election, +I have expended-- + +AURELIA. Catiline, no more; +You torture me-- + +CATILINE. Do you too blame my course? +What better means therefor had I to choose?-- +In vain I lavished all that I possessed; +My one reward was mockery and shame. +Now in the senate has my adversary, +The crafty Cicero, trampled me to earth. +His speech was a portrayal of my life, +So glaring that I, even I, must gasp. +In every look I read dismay and fear; +With loathing people speak of Catiline; +To races yet unborn my name will be +A symbol of a low and dreadful union +Of sensuality and wretchedness, +Of scorn and ridicule for what is noble.-- +And there will be no deed to purge this name +And crush to earth the lies that have been told! +Each will believe whatever rumor tells-- + +AURELIA. But I, dear husband, trust no such reports. +Let the whole world condemn you if it will; +And let it heap disgrace upon your head;-- +I know you hide within your inmost soul +A seed that still can blossom and bear fruit. +Only it cannot burst forth here in Rome; +Poisonous weeds would quickly prove the stronger. +Let us forsake this degradation's home;-- +What binds you here? Why should we dwell here longer? + +CATILINE. I should forsake the field,--and go away? +I should my greatest dreams in life surrender? +The drowning man still clutches firm and fast +The broken spars--though hope is frail and slender; +And should the wreck be swallowed in the deep, +And the last hope of rescue fail forever,-- +Still clings he to the lone remaining spar, +And sinks with it in one last vain endeavor. + +AURELIA. But should a kindly seacoast smile on him, +With groves all green along the rolling billows, +Hope then awakens in his heart again,-- +He struggles inward, toward the silvery willows. +There reigns a quiet peace; 'tis beautiful; +There roll the waves, in silence, without number; +His heated brow sweet evening breezes cool, +As weary-limbed he rests himself in slumber; +Each sorrow-laden cloud they drive away; +A restful calm his weary mind assuages;-- +There he finds shelter and prolongs his stay +And soon forgets the sorry by-gone ages. +The distant echo of the world's unrest +Alone can reach his dwelling unfrequented. +It does not break the calm within his breast;-- +It makes his soul more happy and contented; +It calls to mind the by-gone time of strife, +Its shattered hopes and its unbridled pleasures; +He finds twice beautiful this quiet life-- +And would not change it for the greatest treasures. + +CATILINE. You speak the truth; and in this very hour +From strife and tumult I could go with you. +But can you name me some such quiet spot, +Where we can live in shelter and in peace? + +AURELIA. [Joyful.] You will go, Catiline? What happiness,-- +Oh, richer than my bosom can contain! +Let it be so, then! Come! This very night +We'll go away-- + +CATILINE. But whither shall we go? +Name me the spot where I may dare to rest +My head in homely peace! + +AURELIA. How can you ask? +Have you forgot our villa in the country, +Wherein I passed my childhood days, where since, +Enraptured during love's first happy dawn, +We two spent many a blithesome summer day? +Where was the grass indeed so green as there? +Where else the groves so shady and sweet-smelling? +The snow-white villa from its wooded lair +Peeps forth and bids us there to make our dwelling. +There let us flee and dedicate our life +To rural duties and to sweet contentment;-- +You will find comfort in a loving wife, +And through her kisses banish all resentment. + +[Smiling.] + +AURELIA. And when with all the flowers of the land +You come to me, your sovereign, in my bowers, +Then shall I crown you with the laurel band, +And cry, All hail to you, my king of flowers!-- +But why do you grow pale? Wildly you press +My hand,--and strangely now your eyes are glowing-- + +CATILINE. Aurelia, alas, past is your happiness;-- +There we can never, never think of going. +There we can never go! + +AURELIA. You frighten me! +Yet, surely,--you are jesting, Catiline? + +CATILINE. I jest! Would only that it were a jest! +Each word you speak, like the avenging dart +Of Nemesis, pierces my heavy heart, +Which fate will never grant a moment's rest. + +AURELIA. O gods! speak, speak! What do you mean? + +CATILINE. See here! +Here is your villa,--here your future joys! + +[He draws out a purse filled with gold and throws it on the +table.] + +AURELIA. Oh, you have sold--? + +CATILINE. Yes,--all I sold today;-- +And to what end? In order to corrupt-- + +AURELIA. O Catiline, no more! Let us not think +On this affair; sorrow is all it brings. + +CATILINE. Your quiet-patience wounds me tenfold more +Than would a cry of anguish from your lips! + +[An old SOLDIER enters and approaches CATILINE.] + +THE SOLDIER. Forgive me, master, that thus unannounced +I enter your abode at this late hour. +Ah, be not wroth-- + +CATILINE. What is your errand here? + +THE SOLDIER. My errand here is but a humble prayer, +Which you will hear. I am a needy man, +One who has sacrificed his strength for Rome. +Now I am feeble, can no longer serve; +Unused my weapons rust away at home. +The hope of my old age was in a son, +Who labored hard and was my one support. +Alas,--in prison now he's held for debt. +And not a ray of hope--. Oh, help me, master! + +[Kneeling.] + +THE SOLDIER. If but a penny! I have gone on foot +From house to house; each door is long since closed. +I know not what to do-- + +CATILINE. The paltry knaves! +A picture this is of the many's want. +Thus they reward the old brave company. +No longer gratitude is found in Rome! +Time was I might have wished in righteous wrath +To punish them with sword and crimson flames; +But tender words have just been spoken here; +My soul is moved; I do not wish to punish;-- +To ease misfortune likewise is a deed.-- +Take this, old warrior;--clear with this your debt. + +[He hands him the purse with the gold.] + +THE SOLDIER. [Rising.] +O gracious lord,--dare I believe your words? + +CATILINE. Yes; but be quick, old man; go free your son. + +[The SOLDIER goes hurriedly out.] + +CATILINE. A better use,--not so, Aurelia dear?-- +Than bribery and purchasing of votes? +Noble it is to crush the tyrant's might; +Yet quiet solace too has its reward. + +AURELIA. [Throws herself in his arms.] +Oh, rich and noble is your spirit still. +Yes,--now I know my Catiline again. + + * * * * * + +[An underground tomb with a freshly walled-in passage +high on the rear wall. A lamp burns faintly.] + +[FURIA, in long black robes, is standing in the tomb +as if listening.] + +FURIA. A hollow sound. 'Tis thunder rolls above. +I hear its rumble even in the tomb. +Yet is the tomb itself so still--so still! +Am I forever damned to drowsy rest? +Never again am I to wander forth +By winding paths, as ever was my wish? + +FURIA. [After a pause.] +A strange, strange life it was;--as strange a fate. +Meteor-like all came--and disappeared. +He met me. A mysterious magic force, +An inner harmony, together drew us. +I was his Nemesis;--and he my victim;-- +Yet punishment soon followed the avenger. + +FURIA. [Another pause.] +Now daylight rules the earth.--Am I perchance +To slip--unknowing--from the realm of light? +'Tis well, if so it be,--if this delay +Within the tomb be nothing but a flight +Upon the wings of lightning into Hades,-- +If I be nearing even now the Styx! +There roll the leaden billows on the shore; +There silently old Charon plies his boat. +Soon am I there! Then shall I seat myself +Beside the ferry,--question every spirit, +Each fleeting shadow from the land of life, +As light of foot he nears the river of death,-- +Shall ask each one in turn how Catiline +Fares now among the mortals of the earth,-- +Shall ask each one how he has kept his oath. +I shall illumine with blue sulphur light +Each spectral countenance and hollow eye,-- +To ascertain if it be Catiline. +And when he comes, then shall I follow him;-- +Together we shall make the journey hence, +Together enter Pluto's silent hall. +I too a shadow shall his shade pursue;-- +Where Catiline is, must Furia also be! + +FURIA. [After a pause, more faintly.] +The air is growing close and clammy here,-- +And every breath in turn more difficult.-- +Thus am I drawing near the gloomy swamps, +Where creep the rivers of the underworld. + +FURIA. [She listens; a dull noise is heard.] +A muffled sound? 'Tis like the stroke of oars. +It is the ferryman of shades who comes +To take me hence. No, here--here will I wait! + +[The stones in the freshly walled-in passage are broken asunder. +CURIUS comes into view on the outside; he beckons to her.] + +FURIA. Ah, greetings, Charon! Are you ready now +To lead me hence, a guest among the spirits? +Here will I wait! + +CURIUS. [Whispering.] I come to set you free! + + * * * * * + + + + +SECOND ACT + +[A room in CATILINE's house with a colonnade in the +rear; a lamp lights up the room.] + +[CATILINE paces the floor back and forth; LENTULUS and +CETHEGUS are with him.] + +CATILINE. No, no! I say, you do not understand +Yourselves what you demand of me. Should I +Turn traitor and incite a civil war,-- +Besmear my hand with Roman blood? No, no! +I'll never do it! Let the entire state +Condemn me if-- + +LENTULUS. You will not, Catiline? + +CATILINE. No. + +LENTULUS. Tell me,--have you nothing to avenge? +No insult? No one here you fain would strike? + +CATILINE. Let him who will avenge; I shall not stir. +Yet silent scorn is likewise a revenge;-- +And that alone shall be enough. + +CETHEGUS. Aha,-- +Our visit was, I see, inopportune. +Yet doubtless will the morrow bring you back +To other thoughts. + +CATILINE. But why the morrow? + +CETHEGUS. There are mysterious rumors in the air. +A vestal recently was led to death-- + +CATILINE. [Surprised.] +A vestal,--say you? Ah, what do you mean? + +LENTULUS. Why, yes, a vestal. Many people murmur-- + +CATILINE. What do they murmur? + +CETHEGUS. That in this dark affair +You are not altogether innocent. + +CATILINE. This they believe of me? + +LENTULUS. Such is the rumor; +Of course,--to us, to all your good old friends, +Such talk is trifling and of no account;-- +The world, however, judges more severely. + +CATILINE. [Deep in thought.] And is she dead? + +CETHEGUS. Undoubtedly she is. +An hour's confinement in the convict tomb +Is quite enough-- + +LENTULUS. That is not our affair. +It was not therefore that we spoke of her. +But hear me, Catiline! Bethink yourself. +You sought the consulate; and all your welfare +Hung on that single fragile thread of hope. +Now is it sundered; everything is lost. + +CATILINE. [Still deep in thought.] +"Vengeance you have invoked on your own head!" + +CETHEGUS. Shake off these useless thoughts; they profit naught; +Act like a man; still can this fight be won; +A bold resolve now--; you have friends enough; +Speak but the word, and we shall follow you.-- +You are not tempted? Answer! + +CATILINE. No, I say! +And why are you so eager to conspire? +Be honest! Are you driven by thirst for freedom? +Is it in order to renew Rome's splendor +That you would ruin all? + +LENTULUS. Indeed, 'tis not; +Yet surely is the hope of personal greatness +Sufficient motive for our enterprise! + +CETHEGUS. And means enough to taste the joys of life +Are not, in truth, to be so lightly scorned. +That is my motive;--I am not ambitious. + +CATILINE. I knew it. Only mean and paltry motives, +The hope of private vantage, urge you on. +No, no, my friends; I aimed at nobler things! +True, I have sought with bribes and promises +To seize ere now the consulate, and yet +My plan was greater and comprised much more +Than means like these would point to. Civic freedom, +The welfare of the state,--these were my aims. +Men have misjudged, appearances belied me; +My fate has willed it so. It must so be! + +CETHEGUS. True; but the thought of all your many friends +Whom you can save from ruin and disgrace--? +You know, we shall ere long be driven to take +The beggars' staff because of our wild living. + +CATILINE. Then stop in season; that is my resolve. + +LENTULUS. What, Catiline,--now you intend to change +Your mode of life? Ha, ha! you surely jest? + +CATILINE. I am in earnest,--by the mighty gods! + +CETHEGUS. Then there is nothing we can do with him. +Come, Lentulus, the others we'll inform +What answer he has given. We shall find +The merry company with Bibulus. + +CATILINE. With Bibulus? How many a merry night +We have caroused at Bibulus' table! +Now is the tempest of my wild life ended; +Ere dawns the day I shall have left the city. + +LENTULUS. What is all this? + +CETHEGUS. You mean to go away? + +CATILINE. This very night my wife and I together +Shall bid farewell to Rome forevermore. +In quiet Gaul we two shall found a home;-- +The land I cultivate shall nourish us. + +CETHEGUS. You will forsake the city, Catiline? + +CATILINE. I will; I must! Disgrace here weighs me down. +Courage I have to bear my poverty, +But in each Roman face to read disdain +And frank contempt--! No, no; that is too much! +In Gaul I'll live in quiet solitude; +There shall I soon forget my former self, +Dull all my longings for the greater things, +And as the vaguest dream recall the past. + +LENTULUS. Then fare you well; may fortune follow you! + +CETHEGUS. Remember us with kindness, Catiline, +As we shall you remember! To our brothers +We will relate this new and strange resolve. + +CATILINE. Then give them all a brother's hearty greeting! + +[LENTULUS and CETHEGUS leave.] + +[AURELIA has entered from the side, hut-stops frightened at the +sight of those who are leaving; when they are gone she +approaches CATILINE.] + +AURELIA. [Gently reprimanding.] +Again these stormy comrades in your house? +O Catiline--! + +CATILINE. This was their final visit. +I bade them all farewell. Now every bond +Forevermore is broken that bound me fast +And fettered me to Rome. + +AURELIA. I've gathered up +Our bit of property. Not much perhaps;-- +Yet, Catiline, enough for our contentment. + +CATILINE. [Engrossed in thought.] +More than enough for me who squandered all. + +AURELIA. Oh, brood no more on things we can not change;-- +Forget what-- + +CATILINE. Happy he who could forget,-- +Who could the memory tear from out his soul, +The many hopes, the goal of all desires. +Ah, time is needed ere I reach that state; +But I shall struggle-- + +AURELIA. I shall help you strive; +You shall be comforted for all your loss. +Yet we must leave as soon as possible. +Here life calls to you with a tempter's voice. +Is it not so,--we go this very night? + +CATILINE. Yes, yes,--we leave this very night, Aurelia! + +AURELIA. The little money left I've gathered up; +And for the journey it will be enough. + +CATILINE. Good! I shall sell my sword and buy a spade. +What value henceforth is a sword to me? + +AURELIA. You clear the land, and I shall till the soil. +Around our home will grow in floral splendor +A hedge of roses, sweet forget-me-nots, +The silent tokens of a chastened soul, +When as some youthful comrade you can greet +Each memory recurrent of the past. + +CATILINE. That time, Aurelia? Ah, beloved, I fear-- +That hour lies in a distant future's keeping. + +CATILINE. [In a milder tone.] +But go, dear wife, and, while you may, repose. +Soon after midnight we shall start our journey. +The city then is lapped in deepest slumber, +And none shall guess our hidden destination. +The first glow in the morning sky shall find us +Far--far away; there in the laurel grove +We'll rest ourselves upon the velvet grass. + +AURELIA. A new life opens up before us both-- +Richer in happiness than this that's ended. +Now will I go. An hour's quiet rest +Will give me strength--. Good-night, my Catiline! + +[She embraces him and goes out.] + +CATILINE. [Gazes after her.] +Now is she gone! And I--what a relief! +Now can I cast away this wearisome +Hypocrisy, this show of cheerfulness, +Which least of all is found within my heart. +She is my better spirit. She would grieve +Were she to sense my doubt. I must dissemble. +Yet shall I consecrate this silent hour +To contemplation of my wasted life.-- +This lamp,--ah, it disturbs my very thoughts;-- +Dark it must be here,--dark as is my soul! + +[He puts out the light; the moon shines through the pillars in +the rear.] + +CATILINE. +Too light,--yes, still too light! And yet, no matter;-- +The pallid moonlight here does well befit +The twilight and the gloom that shroud my soul,-- +Have ever shrouded all my earthly ways. + +CATILINE. Hm, Catiline, then is this day your last; +Tomorrow morning you will be no longer +The Catiline you hitherto have been. +Distant in barren Gaul my life shall run +Its course, unknown as is a forest stream.-- +Now am I wakened from those many visions +Of power, of greatness, of a life of deeds;-- +They vanished like the dew; in my dark soul +They struggled long and died,--unseen of men. + +CATILINE. Ah, it is not this dull and drowsy life, +Far from all mundane tumult, that affrights me. +If only for a moment I could shine, +And blaze in splendor like a shooting star,-- +If only by a glorious deed I could +Immortalize the name of Catiline +With everlasting glory and renown,-- +Then gladly should I, in the hour of triumph, +Forsake all things,--flee to a foreign strand;-- +I'd plunge the dagger in my exiled heart, +Die free and happy; for I should have lived! + +CATILINE. But oh,--to die without first having lived. +Can that be possible? Shall I so die? + +[With uplifted hands.] + +CATILINE. A hint, oh angry powers,--that it is +My fate to disappear from life forgotten, +Without a trace! + +FURIA. [Outside behind the pillars.] It is not, Catiline! + +CATILINE. [Taken aback.] +Who speaks? What warning voice is this I hear? +A spirit voice from out the underworld! + +FURIA. [Comes forward in the moonlight.] I am your shadow. + +CATILINE. [Terrified.] What,--the vestal's ghost! + +FURIA. Deep must your soul have sunk if you recoil +From me! + +CATILINE. Speak! Have you risen from the grave +With hatred and with vengeance to pursue me? + +FURIA. Pursue you,--did you say? I am your shadow. +I must be with you wheresoe'er you go. + +[She comes nearer.] + +CATILINE. She lives! O gods,--then it is she,--no other, +No disembodied ghost. + +FURIA. Or ghost or not,-- +It matters little; I must follow you. + +CATILINE. With mortal hate! + +FURIA. Hate ceases in the grave, +As love and all the passions do that flourish +Within an earthly soul. One thing alone +In life and death remains unchangeable. + +CATILINE. And what? Say forth! + +FURIA. Your fate, my Catiline! + +CATILINE. Only the gods of wisdom know my fate,-- +No human being. + +FURIA. Yet I know your fate. +I am your shadow;--strange, mysterious ties +Bind us together. + +CATILINE. Bonds of hatred. + +FURIA. No! +Rose ever spirit from the dankest grave +For hate and vengeance? Listen, Catiline! +The rivers of the underworld have quenched +Each earthly flame that raged within my breast. +As you behold me here, I am no longer +The stormy Furia,--wild and passionate,-- +Whom once you loved-- + +CATILINE. You do not hate me then? + +FURIA. Ah, now no more. When in the tomb I stood,-- +And faltered on the path that separates +This life from death, at any moment ready +To greet the underworld,--lo, seized me then +An eerie shuddering; I know not what--; +I felt in me a mystic transformation;-- +Away flowed hate, revenge, my very soul; +Each memory vanished and each earthly longing;-- +Only the name of "Catiline" remains +Written in fiery letters on my heart. + +CATILINE. Ah, wonderful! No matter who you are,-- +A human form, a shadow from the dead,-- +There lies withal a dreadful fascination +In your dark eyes, in every word you speak. + +FURIA. Your mind is strong as mine; yet you give up, +Disheartened and irresolute, each hope +Of triumph and dominion. You forsake +The battlefield, where all your inmost plans +Could grow and blossom forth into achievement. + +CATILINE. I must! Inexorable fate decrees it! + +FURIA. Your fate? Why were you given a hero's strength,-- +If not to struggle with what you call fate? + +CATILINE. Oh, I have fought enough! Was not my life +A constant battle? What are my rewards? +Disgrace and scorn--! + +FURIA. Ah, you are fallen low! +You struggle towards a high and daring goal, +Are eager to attain it; yet you fear +Each trifling hindrance. + +CATILINE. Fear is not the reason. +The goal I sought is unattainable;-- +The whole was but a fleeting dream of youth. + +FURIA. Now you deceive yourself, my Catiline! +You hover still about that single project;-- +Your soul is noble,--worthy of a ruler,-- +And you have friends--. Ah, wherefore hesitate? + +CATILINE. [Meditating.] +I shall--? What do you mean--? With civil blood--? + +FURIA. Are you a man,--yet lack a woman's courage? +Have you forgot that nimble dame of Rome, +Who sought the throne straight over a father's corpse? +I feel myself a Tullia now; but you--? +Scorn and despise yourself, O Catiline! + +CATILINE. Must I despise myself because my soul +No longer harbors selfish aspirations? + +FURIA. You stand here at a cross-road in your life; +Yonder a dull, inactive course awaits you,-- +A half-way something, neither sleep nor death;-- +Before you, on the other hand, you see +A sovereign's throne. Then choose, my Catiline! + +CATILINE. You tempt me and allure me to destruction. + +FURIA. Cast but the die,--and in your hand is placed +Forevermore the welfare of proud Rome. +Glory and might your silent fate conceals, +And yet you falter,--dare not lift a hand! +You journey yonder to the forests, where +Each longing that you cherished will be quenched. +Ah, tell me, Catiline, is there no trace +Of thirst for glory left within your heart? +And must this princely soul, for triumphs born, +Vanish unknown in yonder nameless desert? +Hence, then! But know that thus you lose forever +What here you could by daring deeds attain. + +CATILINE. Go on, go on! + +FURIA. With trembling and with fear +The future generations will recall +Your fate. Your life was all a daring game;-- +Yet in the lustre of atonement it would shine, +Known to all men, if with a mighty hand +You fought your way straight through this surging +throng,-- +If the dark night of thraldom through your rule +Gave way before a new-born day of freedom,-- +If at some time you-- + +CATILINE. Hold! Ah, you have touched +The string that quivers deepest in my soul. +Your every word sounds like a ringing echo +Of what my heart has whispered day and night. + +FURIA. Now, Catiline, I know you once again! + +CATILINE. I shall not go! You have recalled to life +My youthful zeal, my manhood's full-grown longings. +Yes, I shall be a light to fallen Rome,-- +Daze them with fear like some erratic star! +You haughty wretches,--you shall soon discover +You have not humbled me, though for a time +I weakened in the heat of battle! + +FURIA. Listen! +Whatever be the will of fate,--whatever +The mighty gods decree, we must obey. +Just so! My hate is gone;--fate thus decreed, +And so it had to be! Give me your hand +In solemn compact!--Ah, you hesitate? +You will not? + +CATILINE. Will--? I gaze upon your eyes: +They flash,--like lightning in the gloom of night. +Now did you smile! Just so I've often pictured +Nemesis-- + +FURIA. What? Herself you wish to see,-- +Then look within. Have you forgot your oath? + +CATILINE. No, I remember;--yet you seem to me +A Nemesis-- + +FURIA. I am an image born +From your own soul. + +CATILINE. [Meditating.] What is all this you say? +I sense but vaguely what I fail to grasp; +I glimpse mysterious, strangely clouded visions,-- +But can not understand. I grope in darkness! + +FURIA. It must be dark here. Darkness is our realm;-- +In darkness is our rule. Give me your hand +In solemn pledge! + +CATILINE. [Wildly.] O lovely Nemesis,-- +My shadow,--image of my very soul,-- +Here is my hand in everlasting compact. + +[He seizes her hand violently; she looks at him with a stern +smile.] + +FURIA. Now we can never part! + +CATILINE. Ah, like a stream +Of fire your touch went coursing through my veins! +'Tis blood no more that flows, but fiery flames;-- +My breast now cabins and confines my heart; +My sight grows dull. Soon shall a flaming sea +Illumine with its light the Roman state! + +[He draws his sword and brandishes it.] + +CATILINE. My sword! My sword! Do you see how it flashes? +Soon will it redden in their tepid blood!-- +What change is this in me? My brow burns hot; +A multitude of visions flit before me.-- +Vengeance it is,--triumph for all those dreams +Of greatness, regal power, and lasting fame. +My watch-word shall be: livid flames and death! +The capitol! Now first I am myself! + +[He rushes out; FURIA follows him.] + + * * * * * + +[The inside of a dimly illumined tavern.] + +[STATILIUS, GABINIUS, COEPARIUS, and other young +ROMANS enter.] + +STATILIUS. Here, comrades, we can while away the night; +Here we are safe; no one will overhear us. + +GABINIUS. Ah, yes; now let us drink, carouse, enjoy! +Who knows how long it will be granted us? + +STATILIUS. No, let us first await whatever tidings +Lentulus and Cethegus have for us. + +GABINIUS. Bah, let them bring whatever news they will! +Meanwhile the wine is here; come, let us taste. +Quick, brothers, quick,--let's have a merry song! + +[SERVANTS bring in wine and glasses.] + +THE ASSEMBLED FRIENDS. (Sing.) + + Bacchus, all praise to thee! + Joyful we raise to thee + Brimful the beaker! + Hail to thee, hail! + Wine, red and glowing, + Merrily flowing, + Drink of the wine-god,-- + This be our song. + + Gracious and friendly + Smiles father Liber; + Drunkenness waits us; + Clear is the wine. + Come, do not tarry! + Wine will make merry, + Joyful and airy, + Body and soul. + + Thou above all the + Glittering bubbles, + Sparkling Falernian, + Glorious drink! + Courage and power, + These are your dower. + Gladsome the gift you + Bring to the soul. + + Bacchus, all praise to thee! + Joyful we raise to thee + Brimful the beaker! + Hail to thee, hail! + Wine, red and glowing, + Merrily flowing, + Drink of the wine-god,-- + This be our song. + +[LENTULUS and CETHEGUS enter.] + +LENTULUS. Cease all your song and merriment! + +STATILIUS. What now? +Is Catiline not in your company? + +GABINIUS. Surely he was quite willing? + +COEPARIUS. Come, say forth! +What was his answer? + +CETHEGUS. Ah, quite otherwise +Than we expected was his answer. + +GABINIUS. Well? + +LENTULUS. Well, all of our proposals he declined;-- +He would not even hearken to our counsels. + +STATILIUS. Is this the truth? + +COEPARIUS. And wherefore would he not? + +LENTULUS. In short, he will not. He forsakes his friends,-- +Abandons us,--and leaves the city. + +STATILIUS. What? +He leaves, you say? + +CETHEGUS. 'Tis true;--he goes away +This very night. Yet,--blamed he can not be; +His ground was valid-- + +LENTULUS. Fear was his excuse! +In danger he forsakes us faithlessly. + +GABINIUS. That is the friendship of our Catiline! + +COEPARIUS. Never was Catiline faithless or afraid! + +LENTULUS. And yet he leaves us now. + +STATILIUS. Our hopes go with him. +Where's now the man to take the leadership? + +COEPARIUS. He'll not be found; our plan we must forego. + +LENTULUS. Not yet, not yet, my friends! First you shall hear +What I will say. Now what have we resolved? +That we should win at last by force of arms +What an unrighteous destiny denied. +Tyrants oppress us;--yet we wish to rule. +We suffer want;--yet wealth is our desire. + +MANY VOICES. Yes, wealth and power! Wealth and power we want! + +LENTULUS. Yes, yes; we chose a comrade as our chief, +On whom there was no doubt we could rely. +Our trust he fails and turns his back to danger. +Ah, brothers,--be not daunted. He shall learn +We can succeed without him. What we need +Is some one man, fearless and resolute, +To take the lead-- + +SOME. Well, name us such a man! + +LENTULUS. And should I name him, and should he comeforth,-- +Will you then straightway choose him as your leader? + +SOME. Yes, we will choose him! + +OTHERS. Yes, we will, we will! + +STATILIUS. Then name him, friend! + +LENTULUS. Suppose it were myself? + +GABINIUS. Yourself? + +COEPARIUS. You, Lentulus--! + +SEVERAL. [In doubt.] You wish to lead us? + +LENTULUS. I do. + +CETHEGUS. But can you? Such a task requires +The strength and courage of a Catiline. + +LENTULUS. I do not lack the courage, nor the strength. +Each to his task! Or will you now turn back, +Now when the moment seems most opportune? +'Tis now or never! All things prophesy +Success for us-- + +STATILIUS. Good;--we will follow you! + +OTHERS. We'll follow you! + +GABINIUS. Well, now that Catiline +Forsakes our cause, you are no doubt the man +To lead us in our enterprise. + +LENTULUS. Then hear +What plan of action I have outlined. First-- + +[CATILINE enters hastily.] + +CATILINE. Here, comrades, here I am! + +ALL. Catiline! + +LENTULUS. He? +Oh, damned-- + +CATILINE. Speak out,--what do you ask of me? +Yet stay; I know already what it is. +I'll lead you on. Say--will you follow me? + +ALL (EXCEPT LENTULUS). Yes, Catiline,--we follow if you lead! + +STATILIUS. They have deceived us-- + +GABINIUS. --and belied your name! + +COEPARIUS. They said you did intend to leave the city +And wash your hands completely of our cause. + +CATILINE. Yes, so I did. Yet now no more; henceforth +Only for this great purpose do I live. + +LENTULUS. What is this mighty purpose you proclaim? + +CATILINE. My purpose here is higher than you think-- +Perhaps than any thinks. Ah, hear me, friends! +First will I win to us each citizen +Who prizes liberty and values most +The public honor and his country's weal. +The spirit of ancient Rome is yet alive;-- +The last faint spark is not yet wholly dead. +Now into brilliant flames it shall be fanned, +More glorious than ever flames before! +Alas, too long the stifling gloom of thraldom, +Dark as the night, lay blanketed on Rome. +Behold,--this realm--though proud and powerful +It seems--totters upon the edge of doom. +Therefore the stoutest hand must seize the helm. +Rome must be cleansed,--cleansed to the very roots; +The sluggish we must waken from their slumber,-- +And crush to earth the power of these wretches +Who sow their poison in the mind and stifle +The slightest promise of a better life. +Look you,--'tis civic freedom I would further,-- +The civic spirit that in former times +Was regnant here. Friends, I shall conjure back +The golden age, when Romans gladly gave +Their lives to guard the honor of the nation, +And all their riches for the public weal! + +LENTULUS. Ah, Catiline, you rave! Nothing of this +Had we in mind. + +GABINIUS. What will it profit us +To conjure up again those ancient days +With all their dull simplicity? + +SOME. No, no! +Might we demand-- + +OTHERS. --and means enough to live +A gay and carefree life! + +MANY VOICES. That is our aim! + +COEPARIUS. Is it for others' happiness and freedom +We stake our lives upon a throw of dice? + +THE WHOLE GROUP. We want the spoils of victory! + +CATILINE. Paltry race! +Are you the offspring of those ancient fathers? +To heap dishonor on your country's name,-- +In such a way you would preserve its lustre! + +LENTULUS. And you dare taunt us,--you who long since were +A terrifying token-- + +CATILINE. True, I was; +I was a terror to the good; and yet, +So paltry as you are was never I. + +LENTULUS. Restrain your tongue; we brook no ridicule. + +MANY. No, no,--we will not-- + +CATILINE. [Calmly.] So? You timid brood,-- +You dare to think of doing something,--you? + +LENTULUS. Ah, down with him! + +MANY VOICES. Yes, down with Catiline! + +[They draw their daggers and rush in on him; CATILINE calmly +removes the cloak from his breast and regards them with a cold, +scornful smile; they lower their daggers.] + +CATILINE. +Thrust! Thrust! You dare not? Oh, my friends, my friends,-- +I should respect you, if you plunged your daggers +In this uncovered bosom, as you threaten. +Is there no spark of courage in your souls? + +SOME. He means our weal! + +OTHERS. His taunts we have deserved. + +CATILINE. You have, indeed.--Yet, see,--the hour is come +When you can wash away the blot of shame. +All that is of the past we will forget;-- +A new existence is in store for us. + +CATILINE. [With bitterness.] +Fool that I am! To stake success on you! +Burns any zeal within this craven mob? + +CATILINE. [Carried away.] +Time was my dreams were glorious; great visions +Rushed through my mind or swept before my gaze. +I dreamed that, winged like Icarus of old, +I flew aloft beneath the vault of heaven; +I dreamed the gods endued my hands with strength +Of giants, offered me the lightning flash. +And this hand seized the lightning in its flight +And hurled it at the city far beneath. +And when the crimson flames lapped all, and rose +As Rome fell crumbling in a heap of ruins,-- +Then called I with a loud and mighty voice, +And conjured Cato's comrades from the grave; +Thousands of spirits heard my call and came,-- +Took life again--raised Rome from out her ashes. + +[He breaks off.] + +CATILINE. These were but dreams! Gods do not conjure up +The by-gone past into the light of day,-- +And parted spirits never leave the grave. + +CATILINE. [Wildly.] Is now this hand unable to restore +The ancient Rome, our Rome it shall destroy. +Where marble colonnades now towering stand, +Pillars of smoke through crackling flames shall whirl; +Then shall the Capitol crumble from its heights, +And palaces and temples sink to ruin! + +CATILINE. Swear, comrades, that you dedicate your lives +To this great purpose! I shall take the lead. +Say,--will you follow me? + +STATILIUS. We'll follow you! + +[Several seem to be in doubt, and speak in whispers to one +another. CATILINE regards them with a scornful smile.] + +LENTULUS. [In an undertone.] +'Tis best we follow him. In sunken ruins +We're likeliest to realize our goal. + +ALL. [Shouting.] Yes, Catiline; we'll all--all follow you! + +CATILINE. Swear to me by the gods of our great sires +That you will heed my every nod! + +THE WHOLE GROUP. [With uplifted hands.] Yes, yes; +We swear in all things blindly to obey! + +CATILINE. Then singly steal your way, by different paths, +Into my house. Weapons you there will find. +I shall come later; you shall then discover +What plan of action I propose. Now go! + +[They all go out.] + +LENTULUS. [Detains CATILINE.] +A word! Know you the Allobrogian tribes +Have to the Senate sent ambassadors +With grievances and charges? + +CATILINE. Yes, I know. +They came today into the city. + +LENTULUS. Good. +What if we should attune them to our plans? +With them all Gaul will rise up in revolt; +And stir up strife against our enemies. + +CATILINE. [Reluctant.] +Ah, we should seek barbarian allies? + +LENTULUS. But such a league is a necessity. +With our own strength alone the fight is lost; +Help from without-- + +CATILINE. [With a bitter smile.] Ah, Rome is fallen low! +Her walls no longer harbor men with strength +Enough to overthrow a tottering ruin! + +[They go out.] + + * * * * * + +[A garden to the rear of CATILINE's house, which is +visible through the trees. To the left a +side-building.] + +[CURIUS, CETHEGUS, and OTHER CONSPIRATORS enter +cautiously from the right in whispered conversation.] + +CURIUS. But is it really true what you relate? + +CETHEGUS. Yes, every word is true. A moment since +It was decided. + +CURIUS. He takes charge of all? + +CETHEGUS. Of everything. Just speak with him yourself. + +[All, except CURIUS, enter the house.] + +CURIUS. An eerie night! How all my thoughts are tossed +About in circles! Did I dream perchance? +Ah, real or fancied,--now I am awake,-- +Whichever way I turn I see her form. + +[CATILINE enters from the right.] + +CATILINE. [Goes toward him.] +You here, my Curius? I have missed you much.-- +My visit with the vestal took a turn +Quite unexpected-- + +CURIUS. [Confused.] So? Yes, you are right! + +CATILINE. I shall no longer think of this affair. +It was a visit fraught with fate for me. + +CATILINE. [Meditating.] +The furies, we are told, return at times +From the dark underworld to follow us +Through life forever.--Ah, if it were so! + +CURIUS. [Uneasy.] What? Have you seen her--? + +CATILINE. She was here tonight.-- +Yet let this be forgotten. Curius, listen,-- +A weighty undertaking is on foot-- + +CURIUS. I know it all. Cethegus told me here-- + +CATILINE. Who knows what issue for this work the gods +Have set? Perchance it is my destiny +To perish now, crushed by malignant forces,-- +And never reach my goal. Well, be it so! +But you, dear Curius, you whom I have loved +Since childhood,--you shall not be drawn within +This fateful maelstrom. Promise me,--remain +Within the city if I elsewhere choose +To open my attack,--which is quite likely; +Nor aid us till success has crowned our work. + +CURIUS. [Moved.] +Oh, what a friend and father! All this care--! + +CATILINE. You promise this? Then here we say farewell; +Wait but a moment; I shall soon return. + +[He goes into the house.] + +CURIUS. [Gazing after him.] +He loves me still. Of naught is he distrustful. + +[LENTULUS and OTHER CONSPIRATORS enter from the right.] + +LENTULUS. Ah, Curius, did not Catiline just now +Pass through the garden? + +CURIUS. Yes, he is within. + +[They go into the house.] + +CURIUS. [Paces about uneasy.] +How shall I curb this longing in my soul? +There is a restless turmoil in my blood. +Ah, Furia,--what a strange, mysterious woman! +Where are you? When shall I see your face again? + +CURIUS. Where has she fled? Ah, shadow-like she slipped +Away, when I had freed her from the grave. +And those mysterious, prophetic words,-- +And more, her eyes, gleaming at once and dimmed--! +What if it were but madness? Has the grave +With all its terror darkened--? + +FURIA. [Behind him among the trees.] No, pale youth! + +CURIUS. [With a cry.] My Furia! You--? + +FURIA. [Comes nearer.] Here dwells Catiline. +Where he is,--there must Furia also be. + +CURIUS. Oh, come with me, beloved. I shall lead +You into safety. Think--if some one saw you! + +FURIA. The dead need have no fear. Have you forgotten-- +You took my corpse and brought it from the grave? + +CURIUS. Again those terrifying words! Oh, hear me;-- +Come to your senses,--come with me away! + +[He tries to seize her hand.] + +FURIA. [Thrusts him wildly back.] +You reckless fool,--do you not shrink with fear +Before this child of death, but risen up +A fleeting moment from the underworld? + +CURIUS. Before you now I fear. And yet this fear, +This strange, mysterious dread, is my delight. + +FURIA. What would you me? In vain is all your pleading. +I'm of the grave, and yonder is my home;-- +With dawn's approach I must again be speeding +Back to the vale of shadows whence I come. +You doubt me,--do not think that I have sat +Among the pallid shades in Pluto's hall? +I tell you, I was even now below,-- +Beyond the river and the gloomy marshes. + +CURIUS. Then lead me there! + +FURIA. You? + +CURIUS. I shall gladly follow, +Though you should lead me through the jaws of death! + +FURIA. It cannot be! On earth we two must part;-- +Yonder the dead and living dare not meet.-- + +FURIA. Why do you rob me of my fleeting moments? +I've but the hours of night in which to work; +My task is of the night; I am its herald. +But where is Catiline? + +CURIUS. Ah, him you seek? + +FURIA. Yes, him I seek. + +CURIUS. Then him you still pursue? + +FURIA. Why rose I from the spirit underworld +Tonight, if not because of Catiline? + +CURIUS. Alas, this fury that has seized your soul--! +Yet you are lovely even in your madness. +Oh, Furia, think no more of Catiline! +Come, flee with me! Command me,--I shall serve you! + +[He prostrates himself before her.] + +CURIUS. A prostrate slave I here entreat of you +One single look. Oh, hear me, Furia, hear me! +I love but you! A sweet and lethal fire +Consumes my soul, and you--ah, you alone-- +Can ease my suffering.-- + +FURIA. [Looks towards the house.] Yonder there's a light-- +And many men. What now is going on +Within the house of Catiline? + +CURIUS. [Jumps up.] Again +This name! Around him hover all your thoughts. +Oh, I could hate him--! + +FURIA. Has he then resolved +To launch at last the daring enterprise +He long has cherished? + +CURIUS. Then you know--? + +FURIA. Yes, all. + +CURIUS. Ah, then you doubtless know, too, he himself +Is foremost in this daring enterprise? +Yet, I adjure you, beg you, think no more +Of Catiline! + +FURIA. Answer me this alone; +'Tis all I ask of you. Do you go with him? + +CURIUS. He is to me a tender father-- + +FURIA. [Smiling.] He? +My Catiline? + +CURIUS. Ah! + +FURIA. He,--round whom my thoughts +Course without rest? + +CURIUS. My brain is in a tumult-- +I hate this man--! Oh, I could murder him! + +FURIA. Did you not lately swear you were prepared +To do my bidding? + +CURIUS. Ask me what you will; +In everything I serve you and obey! +I only beg,--forget this Catiline. + +FURIA. I shall forget him first--when he has stepped +Into his grave. + +CURIUS. [Draws back.] Ah, you demand that I--? + +FURIA. You need not use the steel; you can betray +His enterprise-- + +CURIUS. Murder and treachery +At once! Remember, Furia, he is still +My foster-father and-- + +FURIA. --My aim in life! +Ah, timid fool,--so you dare speak of love,-- +Who lack the fortitude to strike him down +That stands across your path? Away from me! + +[She turns her back on him.] + +CURIUS. [Holding her back.] +No;--do not leave me! I am in all things willing! +A shudder chills me as I look on you; +And yet I cannot break this net asunder +Wherein you trapped my soul. + +FURIA. Then you are willing? + +CURIUS. Why do you mock me with such questioning? +If I am willing? Have I any will? +Your gaze is like the serpent's when 'tis fixed +With magic power upon the bird, that circles +Wildly about in terror-stricken awe, +Drawn ever nearer to the dreadful fangs. + +FURIA. Then to your task! + +CURIUS. And when I've sacrificed +My friendship to my love for you,--what then? + +FURIA. I shall forget that Catiline existed. +Then will my task be ended. Ask no more! + +CURIUS. For this reward I should--? + +FURIA. You hesitate? +Is then your hope so faint that you forget +What gifts a grateful woman can bestow, +When first the time--? + +CURIUS. By all the powers of night,-- +I'll not delay! He only stands between us. +Then let him perish! Quenched is every spark +Of feeling for him; every bond is sundered!-- +Who are you, lovely vision of the night? +Near you I'm turned to marble, burned to ashes. +My longing chills me,--terror fires the soul; +My love is blended hate and sorcery. +Who am I now? I know myself no more; +One thing I know; I am not he I was, +Ere you I saw. I'll plunge into the deep +To follow you! Doomed--doomed is Catiline! +I'll to the Capitol. This very night +The senate is assembled. Then farewell! +A written note betrays his enterprise. + +[He goes out hastily.] + +FURIA. [To herself.] +The heavens grow dark; soon will the lightning play. +The end is fast approaching, Catiline;-- +With measured steps you journey to your grave! + +[The Allobrogian ambassadors, AMBIORIX and OLLOVICO, come out of +the house without noticing FURIA, who stands half concealed in +the shade between the trees.] + +AMBIORIX. So then it is decided! Venturesome +It was to enter into such a compact. + +OLLOVICO. True; +Yet their refusal of each righteous claim +Opens no other way to liberty. +The prize of victory,--should our friends succeed,-- +Outweighs indeed the perils of the conflict +That now awaits us. + +AMBIORIX. Brother, so it is! + +OLLOVICO. Emancipation from the rule of Rome,-- +Freedom long lost is surely worth a struggle. + +AMBIORIX. Now we must hasten homeward with all speed, +Kindling through Gaul the flames of insurrection. +It will be easy to persuade the tribes +To 'rise up in revolt; they'll follow us +And join the partisans of Catiline. + +OLLOVICO. Hard will the fight be; mighty still is Rome. + +AMBIORIX. It must be risked. Come, Ollovico, come! + +FURIA. [Calls warningly to them.] Woe unto you! + +AMBIORIX. [Startled.] By all the gods! + +OLLOVICO. [Terrified.] Ah, hear! +A voice cries warning to us in the dark! + +FURIA. Woe to your people! + +OLLOVICO. Yonder stands she, brother,-- +The pale and ill-foreboding shadow. See! + +FURIA. Woe unto all who follow Catiline! + +AMBIORIX. Home, home! Away! We'll break all promises! + +OLLOVICO. A voice has warned us, and we shall obey. + +[They go out hurriedly to the right.] + +[CATILINE comes out of the house in the background.] + +CATILINE. Ah, desperate hope--to think of crushing Rome +With such a host of cowards and poltroons! +What spurs them on? With frankness they confess-- +Their only motive is their want and greed. +Is it then worth the trouble for such aims +To shed men's blood? And what have I to win? +What can I gain? + +FURIA. [Invisible among the trees.] Revenge, my Catiline! + +CATILINE. [Startled.] +Who speaks! Who wakes the spirit of revenge +From slumber? Came this voice then from the deep +Within my soul? Revenge? Yes, that's the word,-- +My watch-word and my battle-cry. Revenge! +Revenge for all the hopes and all the dreams +Which ever a vindictive fate destroyed! +Revenge for all my years of wasted life! + +[The CONSPIRATORS come armed out of the house.] + +LENTULUS. Still rest the shades of darkness on the city. +Now is it time to break away. + +SEVERAL. [Whispering.] Away! + +[AURELIA comes out of the side-building without noticing the +CONSPIRATORS.] + +AURELIA. Beloved,--are you here? + +CATILINE. [With a cry.] Aurelia! + +AURELIA. Say,-- +Have you been waiting for me? + +[She becomes aware of the Conspirators and rushes to him.] + +AURELIA. Gracious gods! + +CATILINE. [Thrusts her aside.] Woman, away from me! + +AURELIA. Speak, Catiline! +These many men in arms--? And you as well--? +Oh, you will go-- + +CATILINE. [Wildly.] Yes, by the spirits of night,-- +A merry journey! See--this flashing sword! +It thirsts for blood! I go--to quench its thirst. + +AURELIA. My hope,--my dream! Ah, blissful was my dream! +Thus am I wakened from my dreaming-- + +CATILINE. Silence! +Stay here,--or follow! But my heart is cold +To tears and lamentations.--Friends, behold +How bright the full moon in the west declines! +When next that full moon in its orient shines, +An avalanche of fire shall sweep the state +And all its golden glory terminate. +A thousand years from now, when it shall light +Mere crumbling ruins in the desert night,-- +One pillar in the dust of yonder dome +Shall tell the weary wanderer: Here stood Rome! + +[He rushes out to the right; all follow him.] + + * * * * * + + + + +THIRD ACT + +[CATILINE's camp in a wooded field in Etruria. To the +right is seen CATILINE's tent and close by it an old +oak tree. A camp fire is burning outside the tent; +similar fires are to be seen among the trees in the +background. It is night. At intervals the moon breaks +through the clouds.] + +[STATILIUS lies stretched out asleep by the camp fire. +MANLIUS paces back and forth in front of the tent.] + +MANLIUS. Such is the way of young and buoyant souls. +They slumber on as peaceful and secure +As though embosomed in their mothers' arms, +Instead of in a forest wilderness. +They rest as though they dream some merry game +Were held in store for them when they awake, +Instead of battle,--the last one, perchance, +That will be theirs to fight. + +STATILIUS. [Awakes and rises.] Still standing guard? +You must be weary? I'll relieve you now. + +MANLIUS. Go rest yourself instead. Youth needs his sleep; +His untamed passions tax his native strength. +'Tis otherwise when once the hair turns gray, +When in our veins the blood flows lazily, +And age weighs heavily upon our shoulders. + +STATILIUS. Yes, you are right. Thus I too shall in time, +An old and hardened warrior-- + +MANLIUS. Are you sure +The fates decreed you such a destiny? + +STATILIUS. And pray, why not? Why all these apprehensions? +Has some misfortune chanced? + +MANLIUS. You think no doubt +That we have naught to fear, foolhardy youth? + +STATILIUS. Our troops are strongly reenforced-- + +MANLIUS. Indeed,-- +With fugitive slaves and gladiators-- + +STATILIUS. Well,-- +Grant that they are; together they may prove +No little aid, and all the tribes of Gaul +Will send us help-- + +MANLIUS. --Which has not yet arrived. + +STATILIUS. You doubt that the Allobroges will keep +Their promised word? + +MANLIUS. I know these people well +From days gone by. However, let that pass. +The day that dawns will doubtless bring to light +What destinies the gods have set for us. + +MANLIUS. But go the rounds, my friend, and ascertain +If all the guards perform their proper tasks. +For we must fend against a night attack; +We know not where the enemy makes his stand. + +[STATILIUS goes into the forest.] + +MANLIUS. [Alone by the camp fire.] +The clouds begin to gather thick and fast; +It is a dark and storm-presaging night;-- +A misty fog hangs heavy on my breast, +As though foreboding mishap to us all. +Where is it now, that easy carefree spirit +With which in former times I went to war? +Ah, can it be the weight of years alone +That now I feel? Strange--strange, indeed,--last night +Even the young seemed sorely out of heart. + +MANLIUS. [After a pause.] +The gods shall know revenge was not the aim +For which I joined and followed Catiline. +My wrath flared up within me for a space +When first I felt I had been wronged, insulted;-- +The old blood is not yet entirely cold; +Now and again it courses warmly through my veins. +But the humiliation is forgotten. +I followed Catiline for his own sake; +And I shall watch o'er him with zealous care. +Here stands he all alone amidst these hosts +Of paltry knaves and dissolute companions. +They cannot comprehend him,--he in turn +Is far too proud to wish to fathom them. + +[He throws some branches on the fire and remains standing in +silence. CATILINE comes out of the tent.] + +CATILINE. [To himself.] +Midnight approaches. Everything is hushed;-- +Only to my poor eyes sleep fails to come. +Cold is the night wind; 'twill refresh my soul +And give me strength anew--. I sorely need it! + +[He becomes aware of MANLIUS.] + +CATILINE. 'Tis you, old Manlius? And do you stand guard +Alone on such a night? + +MANLIUS. Oft have I stood +Guard over you in childhood's early days. +Say, do you not recall? + +CATILINE. Those days are gone; +With them, my peace; wherever now I go, +I'm haunted by a multitude of visions. +All things find shelter in my bosom, Manlius;-- +Save peace alone. That--that is far away. + +MANLIUS. Cast off these gloomy thoughts and take your rest! +Remember that the morrow may require +Your utmost strength for our deliverance. + +CATILINE. I cannot rest. If I but close my eyes +One fleeting moment in forgetful slumber, +I'm tossed about in strange, fantastic dreams. +Here on my couch I lay now, half asleep, +When these same visions reappeared again, +More strange than ever,--more mysterious +And puzzling--. Ah, if I could only know +What this forebodes! But no-- + +MANLIUS. Confide your dream +To me. Perhaps I can expound its meaning. + +CATILINE. [After a pause.] +If I slept or if I waked, scarcely can I say; +Visions fast pursued each other in a mad array. +Soon a deepening twilight settles over everything; +And a night swoops down upon me on her wide-spread wing, +Terrible and dark, unpierced, save by the lightning's flare; +I am in a grave-like dungeon, filled with clammy air. +Lofty is the ceiling and with thunderclouds o'ercast; +Multitudes of shadow forms go racing wildly past, +Whirl around in roaring eddies, as the ocean wave +Draws the raging storm and breaks against a rocky cave. +Yet amid this frenzied tumult children often come, +Decked in flowers, singing of a half-forgotten home. +Soon the darkness round them changes to a vivid glare,-- +Dimly in the center I descry a lonely pair; +Ah, two women,--stern the one and gloomy as the night,-- +And the other gentle, like the evening in its flight. +How familiar to my eyes the two lone figures seemed! +With her smiling countenance the one upon me beamed; +Like the zigzag lightning flashed the other's piercing eye; +Terror seized my soul,--yet on I gazed in ecstasy. +Proudly upright stands the one, the other leans in weariness +On the solitary table, where they play a game of chess. +Pawns they barter, or they move them now from place to place;-- +Then the game is lost and won,--she fades away in space,-- +She who radiantly smiled, ah, she who lost the game; +Instantly the bands of children vanish whence they came. +Tumult rises; darkness deepens; but from out the night +Two eyes fix upon me, in a victor's gloating right; +Then my brain reels; I see nothing but those baleful eyes. +But what else I dreamed of in that frenzied slumber lies +Far within me hidden, buried deep beyond recall. +Could I but remember. Gone forever is it all. + +MANLIUS. Remarkable, indeed, my Catiline, +Is this your dream. + +CATILINE. [Meditating.] If I could but remember-- +But no; my memory fails me-- + +MANLIUS. Brood no longer +Upon these thoughts. For what are dreams, indeed, +But pale chimeras only, darkling visions, +On nothing founded, and by naught explained? + +CATILINE. Yes, you are right; I will no longer brood;-- +Already I am calm. But go your way; +You need some rest. The meanwhile I shall walk +In privacy and meditate my plans. + +[MANLIUS goes into the forest.] + +CATILINE. [Paces for some time back and forth by the +camp fire, which is about to go out; then he stops and +speaks thoughtfully.] If I could only--. Ah, it is unmanly +To brood and be distressed by thoughts like these. +And yet,--here in the stillness of the night, +This lonely solitude, again I see +Rising before me life-like all I dreamed. + +[A SHADOW, attired like an old warrior in armor and toga, stems +to rise from the earth among the trees a short distance from +him.] + +CATILINE. [Recoils before THE SHADOW.] +Great powers of heaven--! + +THE SHADOW. Greetings, Catiline! + +CATILINE. What will you have? Who are you, pallid shade? + +THE SHADOW. One moment! It is here my right to question,-- +And you shall answer. Do you no longer know +This voice from ages long since passed away? + +CATILINE. Methinks I do; yet certain I am not--. +But speak, whom seek you at this midnight hour? + +THE SHADOW. 'Tis you I seek. Know that this hour alone +Is granted me as respite here on earth. + +CATILINE. By all the gods! Who are you? Speak! + +THE SHADOW. Be calm! +Hither I come to call you to account. +Why do you envy me the peace of death? +Why do you drive me from my earthy dwelling? +Why do you mar my rest with memories, +That I must seek you, whisper menaces, +To guard the honor I so dearly bought? + +CATILINE. Alas! this voice--! Somehow I seem to know-- + +THE SHADOW. What is there left of my imperial power? +A shadow like myself; yes, scarcely that. +Both sank into the grave--and came to naught. +'Twas dearly bought; dear, dear was it attained. +For it I sacrificed all peace in life, +And waived all claims to peace beyond the grave. +And now you come and want to wrest from me +With daring hands what little I have left. +Are there not paths enough to noble deeds? +Why must you choose the one that I have chosen? +I gave up everything in life to power; +My name--so dreamed I--should forever stand, +Not beaming like a star with friendly lustre,-- +No, like a flash against the midnight sky! +I did not covet fame, the goal of hundreds, +For magnanimity and noble deeds; +Nor admiration;--far too many share +That fate already: so will many more +Until the end of time. Of blood and horror +I wished to build me my renown and fame. +With silent dread, as on some meteor +That now appears in mystery and is gone +Again,--men should gaze back upon my life, +And look askance on me, whom no one ever, +Before or since then, dared to emulate. +Yes, thus I dreamed and dreamed,--and was deceived. +Why did I not surmise, when you stood near me, +The secret thoughts then growing in your soul. +Yet, Catiline, beware; know that I see +Beyond the veil that hides from you the future. +Written among the stars--I read your fate! + +CATILINE. You read my fate? Expound it then to me! + +THE SHADOW. No, first beyond death's gloomy gate + Shall fade away the mists that hide + The gruesome and the nobly great, + Borne ever on by time and tide. + This from thy book of fate alone + A liberated soul may tell thee: + Perish thou shalt by deed thine own, + And yet a stranger's hand shall fell thee. + +[THE SHADOW glides away as in a mist.] + +CATILINE. [After a pause.] +Ah, he has vanished. Was it but a dream? +No, no; even here he stood; the moonbeams played +Upon his sallow visage. Yes, I knew him! +It was the man of blood, the old dictator, +Who sallied from his grave to frighten me. +He feared lest he should lose the victor's crown,-- +Not the reward of honor, but the terror +Whereby his memory lives. Are bloodless shades +Spurred onward also by the thought of glory? + +[Paces to and fro uneasily.] + +CATILINE. All things storm in upon me. Now Aurelia +In gentle admonition speaks,--and now +In me reëchoes Furia's warning cry. +Nay, more than that;--out of the grave appear +The pallid shadows of a by-gone age. +They threaten me. I should now stop and pause? +I should turn back? No. I shall venture on +Unfaltering;--the victory soon is mine! + +[CURIUS comes through the forest in great agitation.] + +CURIUS. O Catiline--! + +CATILINE. [Surprised.] What, you,--you here, my friend! + +CURIUS. I had to-- + +CATILINE. Wherefore staid you not in town? + +CURIUS. Fear prompted me; I had to seek you here. + +CATILINE. You rush for my sake blindly into danger. +You thoughtless lad! Yet, come into my arms! + +[Moves to embrace him.] + +CURIUS. [Draws back.] +No! Do not touch me! Do not even come near me! + +CATILINE. What ails you, my dear Curius? + +CURIUS. Up! Break camp! +Flee, if you can, even this very hour! +On every highway come the enemy troops; +Your camp is being surrounded. + +CATILINE. Calm yourself; +You rave. Speak, has the journey shaken you--? + +CURIUS. Oh no; but save yourself while there is time! +You are betrayed-- + +[Prostrates himself before him.] + +CATILINE. [Starts back.] Betrayed! What are you saying? + +CURIUS. Betrayed by one in friendly guise! + +CATILINE. You err; +These stormy friends are loyal even as you. + +CURIUS. Then woe to you for all their loyalty! + +CATILINE. Compose yourself! It is your love for me, +Your interest in my safety, that has wakened +Imaginary dangers in your mind. + +CURIUS. Oh, do you know these words do murder me? +But flee! I do entreat you earnestly-- + +CATILINE. Be calm and speak your mind. Why should I flee? +The enemy knows not where I make my stand. + +CURIUS. Indeed he does,--he knows your every plan! + +CATILINE. What, are you mad? He knows--? Impossible! + +CURIUS. Oh, were it so! But use the hour remaining; +Still you may save yourself perhaps in flight! + +CATILINE. Betrayed? No,--ten times no; impossible! + +CURIUS. [Seizes his dagger and holds it out to him.] +Catiline, plunge this dagger in my bosom;-- +Straight through the heart! 'Twas I betrayed your plans! + +CATILINE. You? What madness! + +CURIUS. Yes, it was in madness! +Ask not the reason; scarce I know myself; +I say,--I have revealed your every counsel. + +CATILINE. [In bitter grief.] +Now have you killed my faith in sacred friendship! + +CURIUS. Oh, send the dagger home, and torture me +No longer with forbearance--! + +CATILINE. [Kindly.] Live, my Curius! +Arise! You erred;--but I forgive you all. + +CURIUS. [Overcome.] +O Catiline, my heart is crushed with grief--! +But hasten; flee! There is no time to tarry. +Soon will the Roman troops invade your camp; +They're under way; on every side they come. + +CATILINE. Our comrades in the city--? + +CURIUS. They are captured;-- +Some were imprisoned, most of them were killed! + +CATILINE. [To himself.] What fate--what fate! + +CURIUS. [Again holds out the dagger to him.] +Then plunge it in my heart! + +CATILINE. [Looks at him calmly.] No, you were but a tool. +You acted well-- + +CURIUS. Oh, let me die and expiate my sin! + +CATILINE. I have forgiven you. + +CATILINE. [As he goes.] But one thing now +Is there to choose! + +CURIUS. [Jumps up.] Yes, flight! + +CATILINE. Heroic death! + +[He goes away through the forest.] + +CURIUS. 'Tis all in vain! Ruin awaits him here. +This mildness is a tenfold punishment! +I'll follow him; one thing I shall be granted:-- +To perish fighting by the hero's side! + +[He rushes out. LENTULUS and TWO GLADIATORS come stealing among +the trees.] + +LENTULUS. [Softly.] Some one was speaking-- + +ONE OF THE GLADIATORS. Aye, but now all's quiet. + +THE OTHER GLADIATOR. Perchance it was the sentinel relieved +Of duty. + +LENTULUS. That may be. This is the place; +Here shall you wait. Are both your weapons sharp, +Ground for their purpose? + +THE FIRST GLADIATOR. Bright as is the lightning! + +THE SECOND GLADIATOR. +Mine, too, cuts well. In the last Roman games +Two gladiators died beneath this sword. + +LENTULUS. Then stand you ready in this thicket here. +And when a man, whom I shall designate, +Goes toward the tent, then shall you rush out quick +And strike him from behind. + +THE FIRST GLADIATOR. It shall be done! + +[Both GLADIATORS conceal themselves; LENTULUS goes spying +around.] + +LENTULUS. [To himself.] +It is a daring game I here attempt;-- +Yet must it be performed this very night, +If done at all.--If Catiline should fall, +No one can lead them on except myself; +I'll purchase them with golden promises, +And march without delay upon the city, +Where still the senate, struck with panic fear, +Neglects to arm itself against the danger. + +[He goes in among the trees.] + +THE FIRST GLADIATOR. [Softly to the other.] +Who is this stranger we must fall upon? + +THE SECOND GLADIATOR. What matters it to us who he may be? +Lentulus pays our hire; the blame is his: +He must himself defend the act we do. + +LENTULUS. [Returns quickly.] +Stand ready now; the man we wait is coming! + +[LENTULUS and the GLADIATORS lie in wait among the bushes.] + +[Soon after, CATILINE comes through the forest and goes toward +the tent.] + +LENTULUS. [Whispering.] +Out! Fall upon him! Strike him from behind! + +[All three rush on CATILINE.] + +CATILINE. [Draws his sword and defends himself.] +Ah, scoundrels,--do you dare to--? + +LENTULUS. [To the GLADIATORS.] Cut him down! + +CATILINE. [Recognizes him.] +You, Lentulus, would murder Catiline? + +THE FIRST GLADIATOR. [Terrified.] He it is! + +THE SECOND GLADIATOR. [Draws back.] Catiline! I'll never use +The sword on him. Come flee! + +[Both GLADIATORS make their escape.] + +LENTULUS. Then die by mine! + +[They fight; CATILINE strikes the sword from the hand of +Lentulus; the latter tries to escape, but CATILINE holds him +fast.] + +CATILINE. Murderer! Traitor! + +LENTULUS. [Entreating.] Mercy, Catiline! + +CATILINE. I spell your plans upon your countenance. +You wished to murder me, and put yourself +Into the chieftain's place. Was it not so? + +LENTULUS. Yes, Catiline, it was even so! + +CATILINE. [Looks at him with repressed scorn.] What then? +If 'tis the power you want,--so let it be! + +LENTULUS. Explain,--what do you mean? + +CATILINE. I shall resign; +And you may lead the army-- + +LENTULUS. [Surprised.] You resign? + +CATILINE. I shall. But be prepared for all events; +Know this--our undertaking is revealed: +The senate is informed of every plan; +Its troops hem us about-- + +LENTULUS. What do you say? + +CATILINE. Now shall I call a council of our friends; +Do you come too,--announce your leadership; +I shall resign. + +LENTULUS. [Detains him.] One moment, Catiline! + +CATILINE. Your time is precious; ere the dawn of day +You may expect an onslaught-- + +LENTULUS. [Anxiously.] Hear me, friend! +Surely you jest? It is impossible-- + +CATILINE. Our project, I have told you, is betrayed. +Show now your firmness and sagacity! + +LENTULUS. Betrayed? Then woe to us! + +CATILINE. [Smiles scornfully.] You paltry coward! +You tremble _now_;--yet _you_ would murder _me_; +You think a man like you is called to rule? + +LENTULUS. Forgive me, Catiline! + +CATILINE. Make your escape +By hurried flight, if still it can be done. + +LENTULUS. Ah, you permit me then--? + +CATILINE. And did you think +It was my purpose to forsake this post +In such an hour as this? You little know me. + +LENTULUS. O, Catiline--! + +CATILINE. [Coldly.] Waste not your moments here! +Seek your own safety;--I know how to die. + +[He turns away from him.] + +LENTULUS. [To himself.] +I thank you for these tidings, Catiline;-- +I shall make use of them to serve my end. +'Twill stand me in good stead now that I know +This region well; I'll seek the hostile army +And guide it hitherward by secret paths, +To your destruction and to my salvation.-- +The serpent that you trample in the dust +So arrogantly still retains its sting! + +[He goes.] + +CATILINE. [After a pause.] +This is the trust I built my hopes upon! +Thus one by one they leave me. Oh ye gods! +Treason and cowardice alone stir up +The sullen currents of their slavish souls. +Oh, what a fool am I with all my hopes! +I would destroy yon viper's nest, that Rome,-- +Which is long since a heap of sunken ruins. + +[The sound of arms is heard approaching; he listens.] + +CATILINE. They come, they come! Still are there valiant men +Among them. Ah, the joyous clang of steel! +The merry clash of shields against each other! +Anew the fire kindles in my breast; +The reckoning is near,--the mighty hour +That settles every doubt. I hail the day! + +[MANLIUS, STATILIUS, GABINIUS, and many OTHER CONSPIRATORS come +through the forest.] + +MANLIUS. Here, Catiline, come your friends and comrades true; +In camp I spread the alarm, as you commanded-- + +CATILINE. And have you told them--? + +MANLIUS. Yes,--they know our plight. + +STATILIUS. We know it well, and we shall follow you +With sword in hand to fight for life and death. + +CATILINE. I thank you all, my comrades brave in arms! +But do not think, my friends, that life or death +Is ours to choose;--our only choice is this: +Death in heroic battle with the foe, +Or death by torture when like savage beasts +We shall be hounded down relentlessly. +Ah, which do you prefer? To risk in flight +A wretched life prolonged in misery, +Or like your proud and worthy sires of old +To perish nobly on the battlefield? + +GABINIUS. We choose to fight and die! + +MANY VOICES. Lead us to death! + +CATILINE. Then let us be off! Through death we shall achieve +The glorious life of immortality. +Our fall, our name, through distant generations +Shall be proclaimed with lofty pride-- + +FURIA. [Calls out behind him among the trees.] --O terror! + +SOME VOICES. Behold,--a woman--! + +CATILINE. [Startled.] Furia! You--you here? +What brought you here? + +FURIA. Ah, I must lead you on +To your great goal. + +CATILINE. Where is my goal, then? Speak! + +FURIA. Each mortal seeks his goal in his own way. +And you seek yours through ever hopeless strife; +The struggle yields defeat and certain death. + +CATILINE. Yet also honor and immortal fame! +Go, woman! Great and noble is this hour! +My heart is closed against your raucous cries. + +[AURELIA appears in the door of the tent.] + +AURELIA. My Catiline--! + +[She stops, terrified at the sight of the throng.] + +CATILINE. [Painfully.] Aurelia,--oh, Aurelia! + +AURELIA. What is the trouble? All this stir in camp-- +What is on foot here? + +CATILINE. You I could forget! +What will your fate be now--? + +FURIA. [Whispers scornfully, unnoticed by AURELIA.] +Ah, Catiline, +Already wavering in your high resolve? +Is this your death defiance? + +CATILINE. [Flaring up.] No, by the gods! + +AURELIA. [Comes nearer.] +Oh, speak, beloved! Keep me in doubt no longer-- + +FURIA. [In an undertone behind him.] +Flee with your wife--the while your comrades die! + +MANLIUS. Tarry no longer; lead us out to battle-- + +CATILINE. Oh, what a choice! And yet,--here is no choice;-- +I must go on,--I dare not stop midway. + +CATILINE. [Calls out.] Then follow me to battle on the plain! + +AURELIA. [Throws herself in his arms.] +Catiline,--do not leave me,--take me with you! + +CATILINE. No, stay, Aurelia! + +FURIA. [As before.] Take her, Catiline! +Worthy your death will be, as was your life, +When you are vanquished--in a woman's arms! + +CATILINE. [Thrusts AURELIA aside.] +Away, you who would rob me of my fame! +Death shall o'ertake me in the midst of men. +I have a life to atone, a name to clear-- + +FURIA. Just so; just so, my gallant Catiline! + +CATILINE. All things I will uproot from out my soul +That bind me to my life of empty dreams! +All that is of the past shall henceforth be +As if 'twere not-- + +AURELIA. Oh, cast me not away! +By all the love I bear you, Catiline,-- +I beg you, I adjure,--let us not part! + +CATILINE. My heart is dead, my sight is blind to love. +From life's great mockery I turn my eyes; +And gaze but on the dim, yet mighty star +Of fame that is to be! + +AURELIA. O gods of mercy! + +[She leans faint against the tree outside the tent.] + +CATILINE. [To the Warriors.] And now away! + +MANLIUS. The din of arms I hear! + +SEVERAL VOICES. They come, they come. + +CATILINE. Good! We will heed their warning. +Long was our night of shame; our dawn is near--. +To battle in the crimson sky of morning! +By Roman sword, with Roman fortitude, +The last of Romans perish in their blood! + +[They rush out through the forest; a great alarm, rent with +battle-cries, is heard from within the camp.] + +FURIA. He is gone forever. My great task in life is done. +Cold and rigid we shall find him in the morning sun. + +AURELIA. [Aside.] +In his passion-glutted bosom then should love no longer dwell? +Was it nothing but a dream? His angry words I heard full well. + +FURIA. Hark, the weapons clash; already at the brink +of death he stands; +Soon a noiseless shadow he will hasten toward the spirit +lands. + +AURELIA. [Startled.] +Who are you, prophetic voice, that yonder comes to me, +Like the night-owl's cry of warning from some far-off tree! +Are you from the clammy underworld of spirits come +Hence to lead my Catiline into your gloomy home? + +FURIA. Home is ay the journey's goal, and all his wanderings lay +Through the reeking swamps of life-- + +AURELIA. But only for a day. +Free and noble was his heart, his spirit strong and true, +Till around it serpent-like a poisoned seedling grew. + +FURIA. +So the plane-tree, too, keeps fresh and green its leafy dress, +Till its trunk is smothered in a clinging vine's caress. + +AURELIA. +Now did you betray your source. For time and time again +Echoed from the lips of Catiline this one refrain. +You the serpent are, who poisoned all my joy in life, +Steeled his heart against my kindness through your deadly strife. +From those waking night-dreams well I know your infamy, +Like a threat I see you stand between my love and me. +With my husband at my side I cherished in my breast +Longings for a tranquil life, a home of peace and rest. +Ah, a garden-bed I planted in his weary heart; +As its fairest ornament our love I hedged apart. +Flower and all have you uprooted with malignant hand; +In the dust it lies where thriving it did lately stand. + +FURIA. Foolish weakling; you would guide the steps of Catiline? +Do you not perceive his heart was never wholly thine? +Think you that in such a soil your flower can survive? +In the sunny springtime only violets can thrive, +While the henbane grows in strength beneath a clouded grey; +And his soul was long ago a clouded autumn day. +All is lost to you. Soon dies the spark within his breast; +As a victim of revenge he shall go to his rest. + +AURELIA. [With increasing vehemence.] +Thus he shall not perish; no, by all the gods of day! +To his weary heart my tears will somehow force a way. +If I find him pale and gory on the battlefield, +I shall throw my arms about him and his bosom shield, +Breathe upon his speechless lips the love within my soul, +Ease the pain within him and his suffering mind console. +Herald of revenge, your victim from you I shall wrest, +Bind him to the land of sunshine, to a home of rest; +If his eyes be dimmed already, stilled his beating heart, +Linked together arm in arm we shall this life depart. +Grant me, gods of mercy, in return for what I gave, +By the side of him I love, the stillness of the grave. + +[She goes.] + +FURIA. [Gazes after her.] +Seek him, deluded soul;--I have no fear; +I hold the victory safe within my hands. + +FURIA. The roar of battle grows; its rumble blends +With death-cries and the crash of broken shields. +Is he perchance now dying? Still alive? +Oh, blessed is this hour! The sinking moon +Secludes herself in massive thunderclouds. +One moment more it will be night anew +Ere comes the day;--and with the coming day +All will be over. In the dark he dies, +As in the dark he lived. O blessed hour! + +[She listens.] + +FURIA. Now sweeps the wind by, like an autumn gust, +And lapses slowly in the far-off distance. +The ponderous armies slowly sweep the plain. +Like angry ocean billows on they roll, +Unyielding, trampling down the fallen dead. +Out yonder I hear whines and moans and sighs,-- +The final lullaby,--wherewith they lull +Themselves to rest and all their pallid brothers. +Now speaks the night-owl forth to welcome them +Into the kingdom of the gloomy shadows. + +FURIA. [After a pause.] +How still it is. Now is he mine at last,-- +Aye, mine alone, and mine forevermore. +Now we can journey toward the river Lethe-- +And far beyond where never dawns the day. +Yet first I'll seek his bleeding body yonder, +And freely glut my eyes upon those features, +Hated and yet so fair, ere they be marred +By rising sunshine and by watchful vultures. + +[She starts to go, but is suddenly startled at something.] + +FURIA. What is that gliding o'er the meadow yonder? +Is it the misty vapors of the moor +That form a picture in the morning chill? +Now it draws near.--The shade of Catiline! +His spectre--! I can see his misty eye, +His broken shield, his sword bereft of blade. +Ah, he is surely dead; one thing alone,-- +Remarkable,--his wound I do not see. + +[CATILINE comes through the forest, pale and weary, with +drooping head and troubled countenance.] + +CATILINE. [To himself.] "Perish thou shalt by deed thine own, +And yet a stranger's hand shall fell thee." +Such was his prophecy. Now am I fallen-- +Though struck by no one. Who will solve the riddle? + +FURIA. I greet you after battle, Catiline! + +CATILINE. Ah, who are you? + +FURIA. I am a shadow's shadow. + +CATILINE. You, Furia,--you it is! You welcome me? + +FURIA. Welcome at last into our common home! +Now we can go--two shades--to Charon's bark. +Yet first--accept the wreath of victory. + +[She picks some flowers, which she weaves into a wreath during +the following.] + +CATILINE. What make you there? + +FURIA. Your brow I shall adorn. +But wherefore come you hither all alone? +A chieftain's ghost ten thousand dead should follow. +Then where are all your comrades, Catiline? + +CATILINE. They slumber, Furia! + +FURIA. Ah, they slumber still? + +CATILINE. They slumber still,--and they will slumber long. +They slumber all. Steal softly through the forest, +Peer out across the plain,--disturb them not! +There will you find them in extended ranks. +They fell asleep lulled by the clang of steel; +They fell asleep,--and wakened not, as I did, +When in the distant hills the echoes died. +A shadow now you called me. True, I am +A shadow of myself. But do not think +Their slumber yonder is so undisturbed +And void of dreams. Oh, do not think so! + +FURIA. Speak! +What may your comrades dream? + +CATILINE. Ah, you shall hear.-- +I led the battle with despairing heart, +And sought my death beneath the play of swords. +To right and left I saw my comrades fall; +Statilius first,--then one by one the rest; +My Curius fell trying to shield my breast; +All perished there beneath Rome's flaming sword,-- +The sword that me alone passed by untouched. +Yes, Catiline was spared by the sword of Rome. +Half-stunned I stood there with my broken shield, +Aware of nothing as the waves of battle +Swept o'er me. I recovered first my senses +When all grew still again, and I looked up +And saw the struggle seething--far behind me! +How long I stood there? Only this I know,-- +I stood alone among my fallen comrades. +But there was life within those misty eyes; +The corners of their mouths betrayed a smile; +And they addressed their smile and gaze to me, +Who stood alone erect among the dead,-- +Who had for ages fought for them and Rome,-- +Who stood there lonely and disgraced, untouched +By Roman sword. Then perished Catiline. + +FURIA. False have you read your fallen comrades' dreams; +False have you judged the reason of your fall. +Their smiles and glances were but invitations +To sleep with them-- + +CATILINE. Yes, if I only could! + +FURIA. Have courage,--spectre of a former hero; +Your hour of rest is near. Come, bend your head;-- +I shall adorn you with the victor's crown. + +[She offers the wreath to him.] + +CATILINE. Bah,--what is that? A poppy-wreath--! + +FURIA. [With wild glee.] Well, yes; +Are not such poppies pretty? They will glow +Around your forehead like a fringe of blood. + +CATILINE. No, cast the wreath away! I hate this crimson. + +FURIA. [Laughs aloud.] +Ah, you prefer the pale and feeble shades? +Good! I shall bring the garland of green rushes +That Sylvia carried in her dripping locks, +The day she came afloat upon the Tiber? + +CATILINE. Alas, what visions--! + +FURIA. Shall I bring you rather +The thorny brambles from the market-place, +With crimson-spots, the stain of civic blood, +That flowed at your behest, my Catiline? + +CATILINE. Enough! + +FURIA. Or would you like a crown of leaves +From the old winter oak near mother's home, +That withered when a young dishonored woman +With piercing cries distraught leaped in the river? + +CATILINE. Pour out at once your measures of revenge +Upon my head-- + +FURIA. I am your very eye,-- +Your very memory, your very doom. + +CATILINE. But wherefore now? + +FURIA. His goal at length attained, +The traveller spent looks back from whence he came. + +CATILINE. Have I then reached my goal? Is this the goal? +I am no longer living,--nor yet buried. +Where lies the goal? + +FURIA. In sight,--if you but will. + +CATILINE. A will I have no longer; my will perished +When all the things I willed once, came to naught. + +CATILINE. [Waves his arms.] +Away,--away from me, ye sallow shades! +What claim you here of me, ye men and women? +I cannot give you--! Oh, this multitude--! + +FURIA. To earth your spirit still is closely bound! +These thousand-threaded nets asunder tear! +Come, let me press this wreath upon your locks,-- +'Tis gifted with a strong and soothing virtue; +It kills the memory, lulls the soul to rest! + +CATILINE. [Huskily.] +It kills the memory? Dare I trust your word? +Then press your poison-wreath upon my forehead. + +FURIA. [Puts the wreath on his head.] +Now it is yours! Thus decked you shall appear +Before the prince of darkness, Catiline! + +CATILINE. Away! away! I yearn to go below;-- +I long to pass into the spirit lands. +Let us together go! What holds me here? +What stays my steps? Behind me here I feel +Upon the morning sky a misty star;-- +It holds me in the land of living men; +It draws me as the moon attracts the sea. + +FURIA. Away! Away! + +CATILINE. It beckons and it twinkles. +I cannot follow you until this light +Is quenched entirely, or by clouds obscured,-- +I see it clearly now; 'tis not a star; +It is a human heart, throbbing and warm; +It binds me here; it fascinates and draws me +As draws the evening star the eye of children. + +FURIA. Then stop this beating heart! + +CATILINE. What do you mean? + +FURIA. The dagger in your belt--. A single thrust,-- +The star will vanish and the heart will die +That stand between us like an enemy. + +CATILINE. Ah, I should--? Sharp and shining is the +dagger-- + +CATILINE. [With a cry.] +Aurelia! O Aurelia, where--where are you? +Were you but here--! No, no,--I will not see you! +And yet methinks all would be well again, +And peace would come, if I could lay my head +Upon your bosom and repent--repent! + +FURIA. And what would you repent? + +CATILINE. Oh, everything! +That I have been, that I have ever lived. + +FURIA. 'Tis now too late--too late! Whence now you stand +No path leads back again.--Go try it, fool! +Now am I going home. Place you your head +Upon her breast and see if there you find +The blessed peace your weary soul desires. + +FURIA. [With increasing wildness.] +Soon will the thousand dead rise up again; +Dishonored women will their numbers join; +And all,--aye, they will all demand of you +The life, the blood, the honor you destroyed. +In terror you will flee into the night,-- +Will roam about the earth on every strand, +Like old Actean, hounded by his dogs,-- +A shadow hounded by a thousand shades! + +CATILINE. I see it, Furia. Here I have no peace. +I am an exile in the world of light! +I'll go with you into the spirit realms;-- +The bond that binds me I will tear asunder. + +FURIA. Why grope you with the dagger? + +CATILINE. She shall die. + +[The lightning strikes and the thunder rolls.] + +FURIA. The mighty powers rejoice at your resolve!-- +See, Catiline,--see, yonder comes your wife. + +[AURELIA comes through the forest in an anxious search.] + +AURELIA. Where shall I find him? Where--where can he be! +I've searched in vain among the dead-- + +[Discovers him.] + +AURELIA. Great heavens,-- +My Catiline! + +[She rushes toward him.] + +CATILINE. [Bewildered.] Speak not that name again! + +AURELIA. You are alive? + +[Is about to throw herself in his arms.] + +CATILINE. [Thrusting her aside.] Away! I'm not alive. + +AURELIA. Oh, hear me, dearest--! + +CATILINE. No, I will not hear! +I hate you. I see through your cunning wiles. +You wish to chain me to a living death. +Cease staring at me! Ah, your eyes torment me,-- +They pierce like daggers through my very soul! +Ah, yes, the dagger! Die! Come, close your eyes-- + +[He draws the dagger and seizes her by the hand.] + +AURELIA. Keep guard, oh gracious gods, o'er him and me! + +CATILINE. Quick, close your eyes; close them, I say;--in them +I see the starlight and the morning sky--. +Now shall I quench the heavenly star of dawn! + +[The thunder rolls again.] + +CATILINE. Your heart; your blood! Now speak the gods of life +Their last farewell to you and Catiline! + +[He lifts the dagger toward her bosom; she escapes into the +tent; he pursues her.] + +FURIA. [Listens.] She stretches out her hand imploringly. +She pleads with him for life. He hears her not. +He strikes her down! She reels in her own blood! + +[CATILINE comes slowly out of the tent with the dagger in his +hand.] + +CATILINE. Now am I free. Soon I shall cease to be. +Now sinks my soul in vague oblivion. +My eyes are growing dim, my hearing faint, +As if through rushing waters. Ah, do you know +What I have slain with this my little dagger? +Not her alone,--but all the hearts on earth,-- +All living things, all things that grow and bloom;-- +The starlight have I dimmed, the crescent moon, +The flaming sun. Ah, see,--it fails to rise; +'Twill never rise again; the sun is dead. +Now is the whole wide realm of earth transformed +Into a huge and clammy sepulchre, +Its vault of leaden grey;--beneath this vault +Stand you and I, bereft of light and darkness, +Of death and life,--two restless exiled shadows. + +FURIA. Now stand we, Catiline, before our goal! + +CATILINE. No, one step more--before I reach my goal. +Relieve me of my burden! Do you not see, +I bend beneath the corpse of Catiline? +A dagger through the corpse of Catiline! + +[He shows her the dagger.] + +CATILINE. Come, Furia, set me free! Come, take this dagger;-- +On it the star of morning I impaled;-- +Take it--and plunge it straightway through the corpse; +Then it will loose its hold, and I am free. + +FURIA. [Takes the dagger.] +Your will be done, whom I have loved in hate! +Shake off your dust and come with me to rest. + +[She buries the dagger deep in his heart; he sinks down at the +foot of the tree.] + +CATILINE. [After a moment comes to consciousness +again, passes his hand across his forehead, and speaks +faintly.] Now, mysterious voice, your prophecy I understand! +I shall perish by my own, yet by a stranger's hand. +Nemesis has wrought her end. Shroud me, gloom of night! +Raise your billows, murky Styx, roll on in all your might! +Ferry me across in safety; speed the vessel on +Toward the silent prince's realm, the land of shadows wan. +Two roads there are running yonder; I shall journey dumb +Toward the left-- + +AURELIA. [From the tent, pale and faltering, her +bosom bloody.] --no, toward the right! Oh, toward Elysium! + +CATILINE. [Startled.] +How this bright and lurid picture fills my soul with dread! +She herself it is! Aurelia, speak,--are you not dead? + +AURELIA. [Kneels before him.] +No, I live that I may still your agonizing cry,-- +Live that I may lean my bosom on your breast and die. + +CATILINE. Oh, you live! + +AURELIA. I did but swoon; though my two eyes grew blurred, +Dimly yet I followed you and heard your every word. +And my love a spouse's strength again unto me gave;-- +Breast to breast, my Catiline, we go into the grave! + +CATILINE. Oh, how gladly would I go! Yet all in vain you sigh. +We must part. Revenge compels me with a hollow cry. +You can hasten, free and blithesome, forth to peace and light; +I must cross the river Lethe down into the night. + +[The day dawns in the background.] + +AURELIA. [Points toward the increasing light.] +No, the terrors and the gloom of death love scatters far. +See, the storm-clouds vanish; faintly gleams the morning star. + +AURELIA. [With uplifted arms.] +Light is victor! Grand and full of freshness dawns the day! +Follow me, then! Death already speeds me on his way. + +[She sinks down over him.] + +CATILINE. [Presses her to himself and speaks with his last +strength.] Oh, how sweet! Now I remember my forgotten dream, +How the darkness was dispersed before a radiant beam, +How the song of children ushered in the new-born day. +Ah, my eye grows dim, my strength is fading fast away; +But my mind is clearer now than ever it has been: +All the wanderings of my life loom plainly up within. +Yes, my life a tempest was beneath the lightning blaze; +But my death is like the morning's rosy-tinted haze. + +[Bends over her.] + +CATILINE. +You have driven the gloom away; peace dwells within my breast. +I shall seek with you the dwelling place of light and rest! + +CATILINE. [He tears the dagger quickly out of his breast and +speaks with dying voice.] +The gods of dawn are smiling in atonement from above; +All the powers of darkness you have conquered with your love! + +[During the last scene FURIA has withdrawn farther and farther +into the background and disappears at last among the trees. +CATILINE's head sinks down on AURELIA's breast; they die.] + + * * * * * + + THE WARRIOR'S BARROW + + [Kaempehojen] + + A Dramatic Poem in One Act + + 1854 + + * * * * * + + DRAMATIS PERSONÆ + +RODERIK An old recluse. + +BLANKA His foster-daughter. + +GANDALF A sea-king from Norway. + +ASGAUT An old viking. + +HROLLOUG " " " + +JOSTEJN " " " + +Several VIKINGS + +HEMMING A young scald in Gandalf's service. + + * * * * * + + SETTING + +The action takes place on a small island off the coast of Sicily +shortly before the introduction of Christianity into Norway. + +An open place surrounded by trees near the shore. To the left +in the background the ruins of an old temple. In the center of +the scene a huge barrow upon which is a monument decked with +flower wreaths. + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE I + +[At the right of the stage sits RODERIK writing. To +the left BLANKA in a half reclining position.] + +BLANKA. Lo! the sky in dying glory + Surges like a sea ablaze,-- + It is all so still before me, + Still as in a sylvan maze. + Summer evening's mellow power + Settles round us like a dove, + Hovers like a swan above + Ocean wave and forest flower. + In the orange thicket slumber + Gods and goddesses of yore, + Stone reminders in great number + Of a world that is no more. + Virtue, valor, trust are gone, + Rich in memory alone; + Could there be a more complete + Picture of the South effete? + +[Rises.] + +BLANKA. But my father has related + Stories of a distant land, + Of a life, fresh, unabated, + Neither carved nor wrought by hand! + Here the spirit has forever + Vanished into stone and wave,-- + There it breathes as free as ever, + Like a warrior strong and brave! + When the evening's crystallizing + Vapors settle on my breast, + Lo! I see before me rising + Norway's snow-illumined crest! + Here is life decayed and dying, + Sunk in torpor, still, forlorn,-- + There go avalanches flying, + Life anew in death is born! + If I had the white swan's coat-- + +RODERIK. [After a pause writing.] +"Then, it is said, will Ragnarök have stilled +The wilder powers, brought forth a chastened life; +All-Father, Balder, and the gentle Freya +Will rule again the race of man in peace!"-- + +[After having watched her for a moment.] + +RODERIK. But, Blanka, now you dream away again; +You stare through space completely lost in thought,-- +What is it that you seek? + +BLANKA. [Draws near.] Forgive me, father! +I merely followed for a space the swan, +That sailed on snowy wings across the sea. + +RODERIK. And if I had not stopped you in your flight, +My young and pretty little swan! who knows +How far you might have flown away from me,-- +Perchance to Thule? + +BLANKA. And indeed why not? +To Thule flies the swan in early spring, +If only to return again each fall. + +[Seats herself at his feet.] + +BLANKA. Yet I--I am no swan,--no, call me rather +A captured falcon, sitting tame and true, +A golden ring about his foot. + +RODERIK. Well,--and the ring? + +BLANKA. The ring? That is my love for you, dear father! +With that you have your youthful falcon bound, +I cannot fly,--not even though I wished to. + +[Rises.] + +BLANKA. But when I see the swan sail o'er the wave, +Light as a cloud before the summer wind, +Then I remember all that you have told +Of the heroic life in distant Thule; +Then, as it seems, the bird is like a bark +With dragon head and wings of burnished gold; +I see the youthful hero in the prow, +A copper helmet on his yellow locks, +With eyes of blue, a manly, heaving breast, +His sword held firmly in his mighty hand. +I follow him upon his rapid course, +And all my dreams run riot round his bark, +And frolic sportively like merry dolphins +In fancy's deep and cooling sea! + +RODERIK. O you,-- +You are an ardent dreamer, my good child,-- +I almost fear your thoughts too often dwell +Upon the people in the rugged North. + +BLANKA. And, father, whose the fault, if it were so? + +RODERIK. You mean that I--? + +BLANKA. Yes, what else could I mean; +You live yourself but in the memory +Of early days among these mighty Norsemen; +Do not deny that often as you speak +Of warlike forays, combats, fights, +Your cheek begins to flush, your eye to glow; +It seems to me that you grow young again. + +RODERIK. Yes, yes, but I have reason so to do; +For I have lived among them in the North, +And every bit that memory calls to mind +Is like a page to me from my own saga. +But you, however, fostered in the South, +Who never saw the silver-tinted mountains, +Who never heard the trumpet's echoing song,-- +Ah, how could you be moved by what I tell? + +BLANKA. Oh, must a human being see and hear +All things but with his outer senses then? +Has not the inner soul, too, eye and ear, +With which it can both see and hearken well? +'Tis true it is with eyes of flesh I see +The richly glowing color of the rose; +But with the spirit's eye I see within +A lovely elf, a fairy butterfly, +Who archly hides behind the crimson leaves, +And singeth of a secret power from heaven +That gave the flower brightness and perfume. + +RODERIK. True, true, my child! + +BLANKA. I almost do believe +That just because I do not really see, +The whole looms up more beautiful in thought; +That, father, is the way with you at least! +The ancient sagas and heroic lays,-- +These you remember, speak of with delight, +And scratch in runic script upon your parchment; +But if I ask about your youthful life +In Norway's distant realm, your eyes grow dark, +Your lips are silent, and it seems at times +Your bosom houses gloomy memories. + +RODERIK. [Rises.] +Come, speak no more, good child, about the past. +Who is there then whose youthful memories +Are altogether free from self-reproach; +You know, the Norsemen are a savage lot. + +BLANKA. But are the warriors of the South less fierce? +Have you forgot that night, now ten years past, +The time the strangers landed on the coast, +And plundered--? + +RODERIK. [Visibly ill at ease.] Say no more now,--let us hence; +The sundown soon will be upon us;--come! + +BLANKA. [As they go.] Give me your hand! + +[Stops.] + +BLANKA. No, wait! + +RODERIK. What is the matter? + +BLANKA. I have today for the first time forgot-- + +RODERIK. And what have you forgot? + +BLANKA. [Points to the barrow.] Behold the wreath! + +RODERIK. It is-- + +BLANKA. The withered one of yesterday; +I have forgot today to make the change; +Yet, let me take you to the cabin first, +Then shall I venture out in search of flowers; +The violet never is so sweet and rare +As when the dew has bathed its silver lining; +The budding rose is never quite so fair +As when 'tis plucked in child-like sleep reclining! + +[They go out at the back to the right.] + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE II + +[GANDALF and the VIKINGS enter from the right.] + +ASGAUT. Now we shall soon be there. + +GANDALF. Point out the place! + +ASGAUT. No, wait till we have gone beyond the wood. +There was still standing on the rocky cliff +Against the sea a remnant of the wall,-- +I dare say it is standing there to-day. + +JOSTEJN. But tell us, king, what can it profit us +To tramp about here on the isle like fools? + +HROLLOUG. Yes, tell us what shall-- + +GANDALF. You shall hold your tongues! +And blindly follow where your king commands! + +GANDALF. [To ASGAUT.] +It seems to me, however, you cleaned house +Too well when you were last here on the isle; +You might have left a little, I should think, +For me and my revenge! + +HROLLOUG. You are the king, +And loyalty we pledged you at the thing, +But when we followed you upon the war path, +It was to win our share of fame and glory. + +JOSTEJN. And golden treasures, Hrolloug, golden treasures. + +SEVERAL. That, Gandalf, is the law, and heed it well! + +GANDALF. I know the law perhaps as well as you; +But is there not since days of old a law +And covenant with us that when a kinsman +Falls slain before the enemy and his corpse +Unburied lies a prey unto the raven, +Blood vengeance must be had? + +SOME. Yes, so it is! + +GANDALF. Then stand you ready with your sword and shield,-- +You have a king to avenge and I a father! + +[Commotion among the VIKINGS.] + +JOSTEJN. A king? + +HROLLOUG. A father? + +GANDALF. Wait,--I shall relate +How all this stands. You know, my father was +A mighty viking. Twelve years gone it is +Since he the last time sallied forth one spring +With Asgaut there and all his old time warriors. +Two years he roamed about from strand to strand, +Visiting Bratland, Valland, even Blaaland; +At length he went and harried Sicily, +And there heard stories of a wealthy chief, +Who lived upon this island in a castle +With sturdy walls built on a rocky base, +And in it there were costly treasures hid. +At night he took his men and went ashore, +And razed the castle walls with fire and sword. +Himself went foremost like an angry bear, +And in the fury of the fight saw not +How all his warriors fell about him dead; +And when the morning sun rose in the east, +There lay the castle smouldering in ruin. +Asgaut alone survived with one or two,-- +My father and the hundred others there +Had ridden to Valhalla through the flames. + +ASGAUT. I hoisted every sail upon the bark, +And turned the prow straight homeward to the North; +There sought I all in vain for Gandalf king; +The youthful eagle, I was told, had flown +Across the sea to Iceland or the Faroes. +I hastened after him but found no trace,- +Yet everywhere I went his name was known; +For though his bark sped cloud-like in the storm, +Yet flew his fame on even swifter wings. +At last this spring I found him, as you know; +It was in Italy; I told him then +What things had happened, how his father died, +And Gandalf swore by all Valhalla's gods +Blood-vengeance he would take with fire and sword. + +JOSTEJN. It is an ancient law and should be honored! +But had I been in your place, Gandalf king, +I should have lingered on in Italy,-- +For there was gold to win. + +HROLLOUG. And honor too. + +GANDALF. That is your loyalty to your dead king. + +JOSTEJN. Come, come now; no offence; I merely meant +The dead could wait perhaps. + +ASGAUT. [With suppressed rage.] You paltry race! + +JOSTEJN. But now that we are here-- + +HROLLOUG. Yes; let us raise +Unto the king a worthy monument! + +SOME. Yes, yes! + +OTHERS. With bloodshed and with fire! + +ASGAUT. Now that I like! + +GANDALF. And now away to spy around the island; +For even tonight blood-vengeance shall be mine; +If not, I must myself fall. + +ASGAUT. So he swore. + +GANDALF. I swore it solemnly by all the gods! +And once again I swear it-- + +HEMMING. [With a harp on his shoulder has during the +preceding emerged from among the WARRIORS and cries +out imploringly.] Swear not, Gandalf! + +GANDALF. What troubles you? + +HEMMING. Swear not here in this wood! +Here in the South our gods can never hear; +Out on your bark, up North among the hills, +There they still hearken to you, but not here! + +ASGAUT. Have you too breathed the poison of the South? + +HEMMING. In Italy I heard the pious monks +Tell lovely stories of the holy Christ, +And what they told still lingers in my mind +Through night and day and will no more be gone. + +GANDALF. I had you brought with me because in youth +You showed great promise of poetic gifts. +You were to see my bold and warlike deeds, +So that when I, King Gandalf, old and gray, +Sat with my warriors round the oaken table, +The king's young scald might while away +Long winter evenings with heroic lays, +And sing at last a saga of my deeds; +The hero's fame voiced in the poet's song +Outlives the monument upon his grave. +But now, be off, and if you choose go cast +Your harp aside and don the monkish cowl. +Aha! King Gandalf has a mighty scald! + +[The VIKINGS go into the forest to the left; HEMMING follows +them.] + +ASGAUT. It is a mouldy time we live in now; +Our faith and customs from the olden days +Are everywhere upon the downward path. +Lucky it is that I am growing old; +My eyes shall never see the North decay. +But you, King Gandalf, you are young and strong; +And wheresoe'er you roam in distant lands, +Remember that it is a royal task +To guard the people and defend the gods! + +[He follows the rest.] + +GANDALF. [After a pause.] Hm, he has no great confidence in me. +'Tis well he went! Whenever he is near, +It is as if a burden weighed me down. +The grim old viking with his rugged face,-- +He looks like Asathor, who with his belt +Of strength and Mjölnir stood within the grove, +Carved out in marble, near my father's home. +My father's home! Who knows, alas! how things +Around the ancient landmarks now may look!-- +Mountains and fields are doubtless still the same; +The people--? Have they still the same old heart? +No, there is fallen mildew o'er the age, +And it is that which saps the Northern life +And eats away like poison what is best. +Well, I will homeward,--save what still is left +To save before it falls to utter ruin. + +GANDALF. [After a pause during which he looks around.] +How lovely in these Southern groves it is; +My pine groves can not boast such sweet perfume. + +[He perceives the mound.] + +GANDALF. What now? A warrior's grave? No doubt it hides +A countryman from those more stirring days. +A warrior's barrow in the South!--'Tis only just; +It was the South gave us our mortal wound. +How lovely it is here! It brings to mind +One winter night when as a lad I sat +Upon my father's knee before the hearth, +The while he told me stories of the gods, +Of Odin, Balder, and the mighty Thor; +And when I mentioned Freya's grove to him, +He pictured it exactly like this grove,-- +But when I asked him something more of Freya, +What she herself was like, the old man laughed +And answered as he placed me on my feet, +"A woman will in due time tell you that!" + +GANDALF. [Listening.] +Hush! Footsteps in the forest! Quiet, Gandalf,- +They bring the first fruits of your blood-revenge! + +[He steps aside so that he is half concealed among the bushes to +the right.] + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE III + +[GANDALF. BLANKA with oak leaves in her hair and a +basket of flowers enters from the left.] + +BLANKA. [Seated at the left busily weaving a flower wreath.] +Fountains may murmur in the sunny vales, +Resplendent billows roll beneath the shore; +Nor fountain's murmur, nor the billow's song +Has half the magic of those flowers there, +That stand in clusters round the barrow's edge +And nod at one another lovingly; +They draw me hither during night and day,-- +And it is here I long to come and dream. +The wreath is done. The hero's monument, +So hard and cold, shall under it be hid. +Yes, it is beautiful! + +[Pointing to the mound.] + +BLANKA. A vanished life, +Of giant strength, lies mouldering in the ground,-- +And the memorial which should speak to men,-- +A cold unyielding stone like yonder one! +But then comes art, and with a friendly hand +She gathers flowers from the breast of nature +And hides the ugly, unresponsive stone +With snow-white lilies, sweet forget-me-nots. + +[She ascends the barrow, hangs the wreath over the monument, and +speaks after a pause.] + +BLANKA. Again my dreams go sailing to the North +Like birds of passage o'er the ocean waves; +I feel an urging where I long to go, +And willingly I heed the secret power, +Which has its royal seat within the soul. +I stand in Norway, am a hero's bride, +And from the mountain peak watch eagle-like. +O'er shining waves the vessel heaves in sight.-- +Oh, like the gull fly to your fatherland! +I am a Southern child, I cannot wait; +I tear the oaken wreath out of my hair,-- +Take this, my hero! 'Tis the second message +I greet you with,--my yearning was the first. + +[She throws the wreath. GANDALF steps forth and seizes it.] + +BLANKA. What's this? There stands a-- + +[She rubs her eyes and stares amazed at him.] + +No, it is no dream. +Who are you, stranger? What is it you seek +Here on the shore? + +GANDALF. Step first from off the mound,-- +Then we can talk at ease. + +BLANKA. [Comes down.] Well, here I am! + +BLANKA. [Aside as she looks him over.] +The chain mail o'er his breast, the copper helmet,-- +Exactly as my father has related. + +BLANKA. [Aloud.] Take off your helmet! + +GANDALF. Why? + +BLANKA. Well, take it off! + +BLANKA. [Aside.] +Two sparkling eyes, locks like a field of grain,-- +Exactly as I saw him in my dream. + +GANDALF. Who are you, woman? + +BLANKA. I? A poor, poor child! + +GANDALF. Yet certainly the fairest on the isle. + +BLANKA. The fairest? That indeed is possible, +For here there's no one else. + +GANDALF. What,--no one else? + +BLANKA. Unless my father be,--but he is old +And has a silver beard, as long as this; +No, after all I think I win the prize. + +GANDALF. You have a merry spirit. + +BLANKA. Not always now! + +GANDALF. But tell me, pray, how this is possible; +You say you live alone here with your father, +Yet I have heard men say most certainly +The island here is thickly populated? + +BLANKA. It was so once, three years ago or more; +But,--well, it is a sad and mournful tale-- +Yet you shall hear it if you wish. + +GANDALF. Yes, certainly! + +BLANKA. You see, three years ago-- + +[Seats herself.] + +BLANKA. Come, seat yourself! + +GANDALF. [Steps back a pace.] No, sit you down, I'll stand. + +BLANKA. Three years ago there came, God knows from whence, +A warlike band of robbers to the isle; +They plundered madly as they went about, +And murdered everything they found alive. +A few escaped as best they could by flight +And sought protection in my father's castle, +Which stood upon the cliff right near the sea. + +GANDALF. Your father's, did you say? + +BLANKA. My father's, yes.-- +It was a cloudy evening when they burst +Upon the castle gate, tore through the wall, +Rushed in the court, and murdered right and left. +I fled into the darkness terrified, +And sought a place of refuge in the forest. +I saw our home go whirling up in flames, +I heard the clang of shields, the cries of death.-- +Then everything grew still; for all were dead.-- +The savage band proceeded to the shore +And sailed away.--I sat upon the cliff +The morning after, near the smouldering ruins. +I was the only one whom they had spared. + +GANDALF. But you just told me that your father lives. + +BLANKA. My foster-father; wait, and you shall hear! +I sat upon the cliff oppressed and sad, +And listened to the awful stillness round; +There issued forth a faint and feeble cry, +As from beneath the rocky cleft beneath my feet; +I listened full of fear, then went below, +And found a stranger, pale with loss of blood. +I ventured nearer, frightened as I was, +Bound up his wounds and tended him,-- + +GANDALF. And he? + +BLANKA. Told me as he recovered from his wounds, +That he had come aboard a merchantman, +Had reached the island on the very day +The castle was destroyed,--took refuge there +And fought the robber band with all his might +Until he fell, faint with the loss of blood, +Into the rocky cleft wherein I found him. +And ever since we two have lived together; +He built for us a cabin in the wood, +I grew to love him more than any one. +But you must see him,--come! + +GANDALF. No, wait,--not now! +We meet in ample time, I have no doubt. + +BLANKA. Well, all right, as you please; but rest assured +He would be glad to greet you 'neath his roof; +For you must know that hospitality +Is found not only in the North. + +GANDALF. The North? +You know then-- + +BLANKA. Whence you come, you mean? Oh, yes! +My father has so often told of you +That I the moment that I saw you-- + +GANDALF. Yet you +Were not afraid! + +BLANKA. Afraid? And why afraid? + +GANDALF. Has he not told you then,--of course if not-- + +BLANKA. Told me that you were fearless heroes? Yes! +But pray, why should that frighten me? +I know you seek your fame on distant shores, +In manly combat with all doughty warriors; +But I have neither sword nor coat of mail, +Then why should I fear-- + +GANDALF. No, of course, of course! +But still, those strangers who destroyed the castle? + +BLANKA. And what of them? + +GANDALF. Only,--has not your father +Told you from whence they came? + +BLANKA. Never! How could he! +Strangers they were alike to him and us. +But if you wish I'll ask him right away. + +GANDALF. [Quickly.] No, let it be. + +BLANKA. Ah, now I understand! +You wish to know where you can seek them now, +And take blood-vengeance, as you call it. + +GANDALF. Ah, +Blood-vengeance! Thanks! The word I had forgot; +You bring me back-- + +BLANKA. But do you know, it is +An ugly practice. + +GANDALF. [Going toward the background.] Farewell! + +BLANKA. O, you are going? + +GANDALF. We meet in time. + +[Stops.] + +GANDALF. Tell me this one thing more: +What warrior is it rests beneath the mound? + +BLANKA. I do not know. + +GANDALF. You do not know, and still +You scatter flowers on the hero's grave. + +BLANKA. My father led me here one morning early +And pointed out to me the fresh-made mound, +Which I had never seen upon the strand. +He bade me say my morning prayers out here, +And in my supplications to remember +Those who had harried us with sword and fire. + +GANDALF. And you? + +BLANKA. Each morning from that day to this +I sent a prayer to heaven for their salvation; +And every evening flowers afresh I wove +Into a garland for the grave. + +GANDALF. Yes, strange! +How can you pray thus for your enemy? + +BLANKA. My faith commands me. + +GANDALF. [Vehemently.] Such a faith is craven; +It is the faith which saps the hero's strength; +'Twas therefore that the great, heroic life +Died feebly in the South! + +BLANKA. But now suppose +My craven faith, as you see fit to call it, +Could be transplanted to your virgin soil,-- +I know full well, there would spring forth a mass +Of flowers so luxuriant as to hide +The naked mountain. + +GANDALF. Let the mountain stand +In nakedness until the end of time! + +BLANKA. O! Take me with you! + +GANDALF. What do you mean? +I sail for home-- + +BLANKA. Well, I shall sail with you; +For I have often traveled in my dreams +To far-off Norway, where you live mid snow +And ice and sombre woods of towering pines. +There should come mirth and laughter in the hall, +If I could have my say, I promise you; +For I am merry;--have you any scald? + +GANDALF. I had one, but the sultry Southern air +Has loosened all the strings upon his harp,-- +They sing no longer-- + +BLANKA. Good! Then shall I be +Your scald. + +GANDALF. And you?--You could go with us there, +And leave your father and your home? + +BLANKA. [Laughing.] Aha! +You think I meant it seriously? + +GANDALF. Was it +Only a jest? + +BLANKA. Alas! a foolish dream +I often used to dream before we met,-- +Which often I no doubt shall dream again, +When you-- + +[Suddenly breaking off.] + +BLANKA. You stare so fixedly. + +GANDALF. Do I? + +BLANKA. Why, yes! What are you thinking of? + +GANDALF. I? Nothing! + +BLANKA. Nothing? + +GANDALF. That is, I scarcely know myself; +And yet I do--and you shall hear it now: +I thought of you and how you would transplant +Your flowers in the North, when suddenly +My own faith came as if by chance to mind. +One word therein I never understood +Before; now have you taught me what it means. + +BLANKA. And that is what? + +GANDALF. Valfader, it is said, +Receives but half the warriors slain in battle; +The other half to Freya goes by right. +That I could never fully comprehend; +But--now I understand,--I am myself +A fallen warrior, and to Freya goes +The better part of me. + +BLANKA. [Amazed.] What does this mean? + +GANDALF. Well, in a word, then know-- + +BLANKA. [Quickly.] No, say it not! +I dare not tarry longer here to-night,-- +My father waits, and I must go; farewell! + +GANDALF. O, you are going? + +BLANKA. [Takes the wreath of oak leaves which he has +let fall and throws it around his helmet.] You can keep it now. +Lo, what I hitherto bestowed on you +In dreams, I grant you now awake. + +GANDALF. Farewell! + +[He goes quickly out to the right.] + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE IV + +BLANKA. [Alone.] + He is gone! Ah, perfect stillness + Rules upon the barren strand. + Perfect stillness, grave-like stillness + Rules my heart with heavy hand. + Came he then to vanish only + Through the mist, a ray of light? + Soon he flies, a sea-gull lonely, + Far away into the night! + What is left me of this lover? + But a flower in the dark: + In my loneliness to hover + Like a petrel round his bark! + +[The war trumpet of the Vikings is heard from the left.] + +BLANKA. Ah! What was that! A trumpet from the wood! + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE V + +[BLANKA, GANDALF from the right.] + +GANDALF. [Aside.] It is too late! + +BLANKA. O, there he is again! +What do you want? + +GANDALF. Quick,--quick, away from here! + +BLANKA. What do you mean? + +GANDALF. Away! There's danger here! + +BLANKA. What danger? + +GANDALF. Death! + +BLANKA. I do not understand you. + +GANDALF. I thought to hide it from you,--hence I went +To call my people to the ship again +And sail away; you never should have known,-- +The trumpet warns me that it is too late,-- +That they are coming. + +BLANKA. Who are coming? + +GANDALF. Then know,-- +The strangers who once harried on the isle +Were vikings like myself. + +BLANKA. From Norway? + +GANDALF. Yes. +My father, who was chief among them, fell,-- +Hence must he be avenged. + +BLANKA. Avenged? + +GANDALF. Such is +The custom. + +BLANKA. Ah, I see now! + +GANDALF. Here they come! +Stand close behind me! + +BLANKA. Man of blood,--away! + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE VI + +[The Preceding.] + +[ASGAUT, HEMMING and the VIKINGS, who lead RODERIK +between them.] + +ASGAUT. [To GANDALF.] A meagre find, yet something, to be sure. + +BLANKA. My father! + +[She throws herself in his arms.] + +RODERIK. Blanka! O, my child! + +JOSTEJN. A woman! +He will have company. + +ASGAUT. Yes, straight to Hell! + +BLANKA. O father, wherefore have you never told me-- + +RODERIK. Hush! Hush! my child! + +[Points to GANDALF.] + +RODERIK. Is this your chieftain? + +ASGAUT. Yes. + +ASGAUT. [To GANDALF.] +This man can tell you how your father died; +For he was in the thick of it, he says, +The only one to get away alive. + +GANDALF. Hush! I will nothing hear. + +ASGAUT. Good; let us then +Begin the task. + +BLANKA. O God! what will they do? + +GANDALF. [In an undertone.] I cannot, Asgaut! + +ASGAUT. [Likewise.] Is our king afraid? +Has woman's flattering tongue beguiled his mind? + +GANDALF. No matter,--I have said-- + +ASGAUT. Bethink yourself,-- +Your standing with your warriors is at stake. +Your word you pledged Valhalla's mighty gods, +And if you fail a dastard you'll be judged. +Do not forget our faith is insecure-- +And wavering; one blow can strike its root, +And if the blow comes from the king above, +It will have had a mortal wound. + +GANDALF. Ah me! +That was a most unhappy oath I swore. + +ASGAUT. [To the VIKINGS.] Now ready, warriors! + +BLANKA. Will you murder him, +An old, defenseless man? + +ASGAUT. Down with them both! + +BLANKA. O God! + +HROLLOUG. The woman is too fair! Let her +Return with us. + +JOSTEJN. [Laughing.] Yes, as a warrior maid. + +GANDALF. Stand back! + +RODERIK. O spare,--O spare at least my child! +The slayer of your chieftain I will bring you, +If you will only spare her! + +GANDALF. [Quickly.] Bring him here, +And she is free. What say you? + +THE VIKINGS. She is free! + +BLANKA. [To RODERIK.] You promise that? + +ASGAUT. Then fetch him! + +RODERIK. Here he stands! + +SOME. Ha, that old man! + +GANDALF. O woe! + +BLANKA. No, no, you shall not-- + +RODERIK. Struck by this hand the viking found his death, +Now rests he peacefully in yonder mound! + +GANDALF. My father's barrow! + +RODERIK. He was strong and brave; +Wherefore I laid him here in viking style. + +GANDALF. Since he is buried, then,-- + +ASGAUT. Though he be buried, +The fallen king cries for revenge,--strike, strike! + +BLANKA. He is deceiving you! + +BLANKA. [To GANDALF.] Do you not see +It is alone his daughter he would save? +Yet, how should your kind understand a soul +That sacrifices all-- + +GANDALF. I do not understand? +You do not think I can? + +GANDALF. [To the VIKINGS.] He shall not die! + +ASGAUT. How so? + +BLANKA. O father! He is good like you. + +ASGAUT. You mean to break your oath? + +GANDALF. No, I shall keep it! + +JOSTEJN. Then what have you in mind? + +HROLLOUG. Explain! + +GANDALF. I swore +To take revenge or else to die myself. +Well, he is free,--I to Valhalla go. + +BLANKA. [To RODERIK.] What does he mean? + +ASGAUT. Your honor you would save?-- + +GANDALF. Go,--hold a ship in readiness for me, +With hoisted sail, the pyre light in the prow; +In ancient fashion I shall go aboard! +Behold, the evening breeze blows from the strand,-- +On crimson wings I sail into Valhalla! + +[JOSTEJN goes out to the right.] + +ASGAUT. Ah, 'tis the woman who has cast her spell on you! + +BLANKA. No, you must live! + +GANDALF. I live? No, to the gods +I must be true, I cannot break with them. + +BLANKA. Your oath is bloody, Balder hates it. + +GANDALF. Yes, +But Balder lives no longer with us now! + +BLANKA. For you he lives; your soul is gentleness. + +GANDALF. Yes, to my ruin! It became my task +As king to keep intact our great ideal,-- +But I lack strength enough! Come, Asgaut, you +Shall take the kingly sceptre from my hand; +You are a warrior of the truest steel; +On me the Southern plague has been at work. +But if I cannot for my people live, +I now can die for them. + +ASGAUT. Well said, King Gandalf! + +BLANKA. Then need no more be said! Die like a hero, +Faithful and true unto the very end! +But now that we must part forever,--know, +That when you die yourself to keep your oath +You are then likewise marking me for death! + +GANDALF. What! You for death? + +BLANKA. My life was like a flower, +Transplanted in an unfamiliar soil, +Which therefore slumbered in its prison folds: +Then came a sunbeam from the distant home,-- +O, that was you, my Gandalf! Opened then +The flower its calyx. In another hour, +Alas! the sunbeam paled,--the flower died! + +GANDALF. O, have I understood you right? You could? +Then is my promise thrice unfortunate! + +BLANKA. But we shall meet again! + +GANDALF. O, nevermore! +You go to heaven and the holy Christ, +I to Valhalla; silent I shall take +My place among the rest,--but near the door; +Valhalla's merriment is not for me. + +JOSTEJN. [Returns with a banner in his hand.] +See, now the bark is ready, as you bade. + +ASGAUT. O, what a glorious end! Many a man +Will envy you, indeed. + +GANDALF. [To BLANKA.] Farewell! + +BLANKA. Farewell! +Farewell for life and for eternity! + +RODERIK. [Struggling with himself.] Wait! Wait! + +[Prostrates himself before BLANKA.] + +RODERIK. Mercy, I cry! Forgive, forgive me! + +BLANKA. O God! + +GANDALF. What means he? + +RODERIK. All will I confess: +My whole life here with you has been deceit! + +BLANKA. Ah, terror has unhinged his mind! + +RODERIK. No, no! + +RODERIK. [To GANDALF, after he has risen.] +You are released forever from your vow; +Your father's shadow needs no blood revenge! + +GANDALF. Ah, then explain! + +BLANKA. Oh, speak! + +RODERIK. Here stands King Rorek! + +SOME. The fallen king? + +BLANKA. O heavens! + +GANDALF. [In doubt.] You,--my father? + +RODERIK. See, Asgaut! Do you still recall the scratch +You gave me on our earliest viking trip, +The time we fought about the booty? + +[He uncovers his arm and shows it to ASGAUT.] + +ASGAUT. Yes, +By Thor, it is King Rorek! + +GANDALF. [Throws himself in his arms.] Father! Father! +A second time now have you given me life. +My humble thanks! + +RODERIK. [Downcast; to BLANKA.] And you now--what will you +Grant the old robber? + +BLANKA. Love as hitherto! +I am your daughter! Has not three years' care +Wiped off each spot of blood upon your shield? + +ASGAUT. Yet now explain,--how comes it that you live! + +GANDALF. She saved his life. + +RODERIK. Yes, like a friendly elf +She healed my wounds and cared for me, +And all the while she told me of the faith +These quiet people in the South believe, +Until my rugged heart itself was moved. +And day by day I kept the truth from her; +I did not dare to tell her-- + +GANDALF. But the mound there? + +RODERIK. I laid therein my armor and my sword, +It seemed to me the grim old savage viking +Was buried then and there. Each day my child +Sent up a prayer for him beside the mound. + +ASGAUT. Farewell! + +GANDALF. Where do you go? + +ASGAUT. Northward again! +I now see clearly that my time is past-- +So likewise is the viking life. I go +To Iceland; there the plague has not yet come. + +ASGAUT. [To BLANKA.] You, woman, take my place beside the king! +For Thor is gone--and Mjölnir out of gear; +Through you now Balder rules.--Farewell! + +[He goes.] + +GANDALF. Yes, Balder ruleth now, through you, my Blanka! +I see the meaning of my viking life! +'Twas not alone desire for fame and wealth +That drove me hence from my forefathers' home; +No, that which called me was a secret longing, +A quiet yearning after Balder. See, +Now is the longing stilled, now go we home; +There will I live in peace among my people. + +GANDALF. [To the VIKINGS.] And will you follow? + +ALL. We will follow you! + +GANDALF. And you, my Blanka? + +BLANKA. I? I too am born +A Northern child; for on your mountain sides +The choicest flowers of my heart took root. +To you it was I journeyed in my dreams, +From you it was that I received my love. + +RODERIK. And now away! + +GANDALF. But you? + +BLANKA. He comes with us! + +RODERIK. I shall remain. + +[He points to the mound.] + +RODERIK. My barrow waits for me. + +BLANKA. And should I leave you here alone? + +HEMMING. No, no! +Be not afraid! For I shall close his eyes +And sing to him a saga from the mound; +My last song it will be. + +HEMMING. [Moved as he seizes GANDALF's hand.] +Farewell, my king! +Now have you found a better scald than I. + +RODERIK. [With firmness.] +It must be so, my Gandalf; you are king, +And you have sacred duties to discharge. + +[He puts their hands together.] + +RODERIK. You are the children of the coming dawn,-- +Go yonder where the royal throne awaits you; +I am the last one of the by-gone age, +My throne--it is the barrow--grant me that! + +[GANDALF and BLANKA throw themselves silently into his arms. +RODERIK ascends the burial mound.--HEMMING with his harp seats +himself at his feet.] + +GANDALF. [With resolution.] And now to Norway! + +HROLLOUG. Home! + +ALL. To Norway! Home! + +BLANKA. [Fired as she seizes the banner from JOSTEJN's hand.] +Yes, now away! Our course shall northward run +O'er ocean billow on through storm and sun. +Soon fades the daylight o'er the glacier's peak, +Soon is the viking life a memory bleak! +Already sits the hero on his mound; +The time is past when he could sail around +With sword and battle cry from strand to strand. +Thor's hammer will no longer rule the land, +The North will be itself a giant grave. +But bear in mind the pledge All-Fader gave: +When moss and flowers shall the barrow hide, +To Idavold the hero's ghost shall ride,-- +Then Norway too shall from the grave be brought +To chastened deeds within the realm of thought! + + * * * * * + + OLAF LILJEKRANS + + A Play in Three Acts + + 1857 + + * * * * * + + DRAMATIS PERSONÆ + +LADY KIRSTEN LILJEKRANS. + +OLAF LILJEKRANS Her son. + +ARNE OF GULDVIK. + +INGEBORG His daughter. + +HEMMING His page. + +THORGJERD An old fiddler. + +ALFHILD. + +Wedding GUESTS. + +RELATIVES of Arne of Guldvik. + +MAIDS and SERVANTS of Lady Kirsten. + + * * * * * + + SETTING + +The action takes place in the middle ages, in a mountain, +district. + + * * * * * + + + + +FIRST ACT + +[A thickly wooded hillside which leads up to higher +mountain regions; in a deep ravine a swift river runs +from the background out to the right; over the river +lie some old logs and other remnants of a dilapidated +bridge. Huge rocks lie scattered in the foreground; +far away can be seen the summits of snow-capped +mountain peaks. Evening twilight rests over the +landscape; later on the moon appears.] + + + +SCENE I + +[THORGJERD stands on a rocky projection near the river +and listens to the various choruses which are heard +off the stage.] + +CHORUS OF LADY KIRSTEN'S RETINUE. [Deep in the wood to the +right.] +With ringing of bells we hurry along, +We wander in field and in dell; +O Christian, come, give heed to our song, +Awake from your magic spell. + +RELATIVES OF ARNE OF GULDVIK. [Far away to the right.] +Now hasten we all +To the wedding hall; +The foal runneth light and gay! +The hoofs resound +On the grassy ground +As the merry swains gallop away! + +LADY KIRSTEN'S RETINUE. [A little nearer than before.] +We conjure you forth from mountain and hill, +From the places which hold you bound. +Awake to our call, come, free your will +From elves that hover around! + +[THORGJERD disappears in the ravine where the river runs; after +a rapid interplay the choruses are heard much nearer.] + +ARNE'S RELATIVES. Our way we shorten with jest and with song, +And all of the bridal night. + +LADY KIRSTEN'S RETINUE. With tears we wander the whole day long, +We search to the left and the right. + +ARNE'S RELATIVES. [In close proximity, yet still outside the +scene.] To wedding and banquet, to song and dance, +Both servants and hand-maidens throng. + +LADY KIRSTEN'S RETINUE. [Nearer than before.] +Olaf Liljekrans! Olaf Liljekrans! +Why sleep you so deep and so long? + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE II + +[ARNE of Guldvik appears with his relatives, men and +women, minstrels, etc., in the background to the right +on the other side of the river; they are all in +festive attire. Shortly afterwards HEMMING from the +same side.] + +ONE OF THE RETINUE. See, here goes the way. + +ANOTHER. No, here! + +A THIRD. Not at all, it must be here. + +ARNE OF GULDVIK. Well, well, are we now astray again! + +ARNE OF GULDVIK. [Calls.] Hemming! Where is Hemming? + +HEMMING. [Enters.] Here! + +ARNE. Have I not told you to keep yourself close so as to be of +some service to me? + +HEMMING. It was Mistress Ingeborg--she wanted,--and so-- + +ARNE. [Annoyed.] Mistress Ingeborg! Mistress Ingeborg! Are +you Mistress Ingeborg's maid? You are my page; it is me you +shall serve. Do you not get your keep and wage therefor? Come, +tell us where the way goes,--we are stuck. + +HEMMING. [Uncertain.] The way? Well now, I am little +acquainted up here, but-- + +ARNE. I might have known it,--that is always the service you +give me! Well, we shall have to spend the night in the +wilderness, as sure as I am Arne of Guldvik. + +HEMMING. [Who has in the meantime spied the remnants of the +bridge.] Aha, no need of that; here we can get across. + +ARNE. Why didn't you tell us so in the first place? + +[All cross the river and come forward on the stage.] + +ARNE. [Looks about.] Yes, now I have my bearings again. The +river there is the boundary between Lady Kirsten's dominions and +mine. + +ARNE. [Points to the left.] Down there lies her estate; in +another hour or two we can sit cozily in the bridal house, but +then we must hurry along. + +ARNE. [Calls.] Ingeborg!--Hemming! Now where's Ingeborg? + +HEMMING. In the rear, up on the hillside. + +HEMMING. [Points to the right.] She is playing with her +bridesmaids; they gather green twigs from the cherry trees and +run about with joy and laughter. + +ARNE. [Bitterly but in subdued voice.] Hemming! this wedding +makes me sick; there are so many vexations about it. + +ARNE. [Gazes out to the right.] There they run,--just look at +them! It was she who hit upon the idea of going over the +mountain instead of following the highway; we should reach our +goal the sooner, she thought;--and yet notwithstanding--hm! I +could go mad over it; tomorrow is she to go to the altar. Are +these the decorous customs she ought to observe! What will Lady +Kirsten say when she finds my daughter so ill disciplined? + +ARNE. [As HEMMING starts to speak.] Yes, for that she is; she +is ill disciplined, I say. + +HEMMING. Master! You should never have married your daughter +into Lady Kirsten's family; Lady Kirsten and her kinsmen are +high-born people-- + +ARNE. You art stupid, Hemming! High-born, high-born! Much good +that will do,--it neither feeds nor enriches a man. If Lady +Kirsten is high-born, then I am rich; I have gold in my chests +and silver in my coffers. + +HEMMING. Yes, but your neighbors make merry over the agreement +you have concluded with her. + +ARNE. Ah, let them, let them; it is all because they wish me +ill. + +HEMMING. They say that you have surrendered your legal right in +order to have Ingeborg married to Olaf Liljekrans; I shouldn't +mention it, I suppose,--but a lampoon about you is going the +rounds, master! + +ARNE. You lie in your throat; there is no one dares make a +lampoon about Arne of Guldvik. I have power; I can oust him from +house and home whenever I please. Lampoon! And what do you know +about lampoons!--If they have composed any songs, it is to the +honor of the bride and her father! + +ARNE. [Flaring up.] But it is a wretched bit of verse +nevertheless, really a wretched bit of verse, I tell you. It is +no man skilled in the art of poetry who has put it together, and +if I once get hold of him, then-- + +HEMMING. Aha, master! then you know it too? Is there some one +who has dared sing it to you? + +ARNE. Sing, sing! Now don't stand there and delay me with your +twaddle. + +ARNE. [To the others.] Away, my kinsmen; little must we delay +if we are to reach the bridal house before midnight. You should +have heard what Hemming is telling. He says there is a rumor +around that Lady Kirsten has baked and brewed for five whole days +in honor of our coming. Is it not so, Hemming? + +HEMMING. Aye, master! + +ARNE. He says she owns not the beaker of silver so costly but +she places it on the table shining and polished; so splendid a +feast she has not prepared since the king came to visit her +blessed lord twenty years ago. Is it not true, Hemming? + +HEMMING. Aye, master! + +HEMMING. [Whispering.] But, master, it is ill-thought to say +such things; Lady Kirsten is proud of her birth; she thinks this +marriage is somewhat of an honor to you; little you know how she +intends to show herself to her guests. + +ARNE. [Softly.] Ah, what nonsense! + +ARNE. [To the others.] He says Lady Kirsten gives herself no +rest; both day and night she is busy in pantry and cellar. Is it +not--? + +ARNE. [Startled as he looks out to the right.] Hemming! what is +that? See here, who is that coming? + +HEMMING. [With a cry.] Lady Kirsten Liljekrans! + +ALL. [Astonished.] Lady Kirsten! + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE III + +[The Preceding. LADY KIRSTEN comes with her HOUSE +CARLS from the left.] + +LADY KIRSTEN. [To her followers, without noticing the others.] +Now just a little farther and I am sure we shall find him. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Taken aback, aside.] Arne of Guldvik! Heaven +help me! + +ARNE. [As he goes to meet her.] The peace of God, Lady Kirsten +Liljekrans! + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Composes herself and gives him her hand.] The +peace of God to you! + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Aside.] Does he then know nothing? + +ARNE. [Contentedly.] And well met at the boundary! Indeed, +this pleases me; yet almost too great is the honor you show me. + +LADY KIRSTEN. What mean you? + +ARNE. I mean too great is the honor you show me, when you travel +miles over fields and wildernesses in order to bid me welcome on +your land. + +LADY KIRSTEN. Ah, Lord Arne-- + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Aside.] He knows nothing as yet! + +ARNE. And that on a day like this, when you have enough things +to attend to; 'tis at your house we celebrate the wedding of our +children, since my estate lies too far from the church, and yet +you come here to meet me with all your servants. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Embarrassed.] I beg you, say no more about that. + +ARNE. Aye, I will speak of it loudly; the village people have +said that you pride yourself on your noble birth, that you look +down upon me and mine, and that you entered into the agreement +only in order to put an end to the long-standing disputes which +grew troublesome now that you have become a widow and begin to +grow old; and if that had not been the case, you would never-- + +LADY KIRSTEN. How can you listen to what evil tongues invent? +No more will we think of our differences which have lasted since +the days of your ancestors. I think our families have suffered +enough these years, yours as well as mine. Look around you, Lord +Arne! Is not the hillside here like the wildest of upland +pastures? And yet in our fathers' days it was a region much +frequented and rich. A bridge there was across the river, and a +highway from Guldvik to my father's house. But with fire and +sword they sallied forth from both sides; they laid everything +waste that they came upon, for it seemed to them that they were +too near neighbors. Now all sorts of weeds grow in the highway, +the bridge is broken, and it is only the bear and the wolf that +make their homes here. + +ARNE. Yes, they ran the road around the mountain below; it is a +good deal longer and they could thus better keep an eye on one +another; but there is little need of that now,--which is well and +good for both of us. + +LADY KIRSTEN. To be sure, to be sure! But Ingeborg, the bride, +where is she? I do not see her, and the bridesmaids likewise are +lacking; surely she is not-- + +ARNE. She follows in the rear; she must shortly be here. +But--listen, Lady Kirsten! One thing I will tell you, as well +first as last, although, I should think, you know it. Ingeborg +has at times whims and moods,--I swear to you she has them, +however well disciplined she may be. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Expectant.] Well, what then? + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Aside.] Is she too-- + +ARNE. Such things you must tame; I, as her father, will never +succeed, but you will no doubt find ways and means. + +LADY KIRSTEN. Aye, rest you assured. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Aside.] And Olaf, who is nowhere to be seen! + +HEMMING. [Who has looked out to the right.] There comes +Mistress Ingeborg. + +HEMMING. [Aside.] How fair she is advancing foremost in the +group! + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Slowly to her servants.] You will keep silent +about your errand up here. + +A SERVANT. You may be sure of that. + +HEMMING. [Aside, sighing, as he continues to look out +to the right.] Ah, happy is Olaf, who will have her! + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE IV + +[The Preceding. INGEBORG and the Bridesmaids come over +the bridge.] + +INGEBORG. [Still in the background.] Why do you run away from +me? What good will that do? There can be no wedding anyway +before I come. + +INGEBORG. [Notices LADY KIRSTEN and her retinue.] Lady Kirsten! +you here? Well, I am glad of that. + +[Casually to the retinue.] + +[To LADY KIRSTEN as she looks about.] + +LADY KIRSTEN. Olaf! + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Aside.] Woe is me! now it will out. + +ARNE. Yes, Olaf, indeed! Ha, ha, ha! I must have been blind; +'tis well the bride sees better than I; for I have not noticed +that the bridegroom is lacking; but now I understand very well +how it comes that we meet here,--it is he who is causing-- + +LADY KIRSTEN. He--you mean--you know, that-- + +ARNE. I mean it has grown tedious for him down there in the +festive hall. Aye, aye, I remember now my own wedding day; at +that time I also was young. He has had a great desire to meet +the bride, and accordingly he prevailed upon you to go with him. + +LADY KIRSTEN. He greatly desired, to be sure, to meet the bride, +but-- + +INGEBORG. But what? + +LADY KIRSTEN. Olaf is not here with us. + +HEMMING. [Approaches.] Not with you! + +ARNE. And why not? + +INGEBORG. Speak, I beg you! + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Embarrassed and jestingly.] Truly, it appears +the bride also is anxious! Come along, come along with me down +to the bridal hall; there, I imagine he will be found. + +HEMMING. [Whispering to ARNE.] Master! remember I gave you +warning. + +ARNE. [Suspiciously to LADY KIRSTEN.] First answer me; then +shall we follow. + +LADY KIRSTEN. Well then,--he is ridden out to the hunt. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [As she is about to go.] Come, 'tis fast growing +dark. + +INGEBORG. To the hunt? + +LADY KIRSTEN. Aye! Does that surprise you? You know the song +of course: + "The knight likes to ride in the forest around, + To test his horse and his hound!" + +INGEBORG. Does he think so little of his young bride that he +uses the wedding days to go hunting wild animals? + +LADY KIRSTEN. Now you are jesting. Come along, come along! + +ARNE. [Who has in the meantime kept his eye on LADY KIRSTEN and +her retinue.] No, wait, Lady Kirsten! I hardly dare measure +myself in wisdom with you, but one thing clearly I see, and that +is that you are concealing your real errand up here. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Confused.] I? How can you think that? + +ARNE. From one thing and another I can see you are concealing +something. You are strangely downcast, and yet you pretend to be +playful in spirit; but it won't do-- + +LADY KIRSTEN. 'Tis nothing new for you to think ill of me and +mine. + +ARNE. Perhaps; but never did I do so without just cause. + +ARNE. [Bursting out.] As sure as I live, there is something you +are hiding from me. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Aside.] What will be the end of this? + +ARNE. I let myself be fooled by you, but now I see clearly +enough. You said you came to greet me at the boundary. How did +you know we took the way over the mountain? It was Ingeborg who +suggested this way just as we left Guldvik, and no one could have +informed you about it. + +ARNE. [When LADY KIRSTEN does not answer.] You are silent, as I +might have known. + +HEMMING. [In an undertone.] You see, master! Will you now +believe what I said? + +ARNE. [Likewise.] Hush! + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Who has in the meantime composed herself.] Well +and good, Lord Arne! I will be honest with you; let chance take +care of the rest. + +ARNE. Then tell us-- + +INGEBORG. What mean you? + +LADY KIRSTEN. The agreement between us is sealed with word and +with hand,--many honorable men whom I see here can bear witness +to that: Olaf, my son, was to wed your daughter; tomorrow at my +house the wedding was to be held-- + +ARNE. [Impatiently.] Yes, yes! + +LADY KIRSTEN. Dishonor to him who breaks his word, but-- + +ARNE AND THE GUESTS.. What then! Speak out! + +LADY KIRSTEN. There can be no wedding tomorrow as we had agreed. + +ARNE. No wedding? + +LADY KIRSTEN. It must be postponed. + +HEMMING. Ah, shame and disgrace! + +INGEBORG. No wedding! + +ARNE. Cursed be you that you play me false! + +THE GUESTS. [Threatening, as several of them draw their knives +and rush in on Lady Kirsten's people.] Revenge! Revenge on the +house of Liljekrans! + +LADY KIRSTEN'S MEN. [Raise their axes and prepare to defend +themselves.] Strike too! Down with the men of Guldvik! + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Throws herself between the contending parties.] +Stop, stop; I pray you, stop! Lord Arne! hear me to the end ere +you judge my conduct. + +ARNE. [Who has tried to quiet his kinsmen, approaches LADY +KIRSTEN and speaks in a low tone as he tries to overcome his +inner agitation, which is nevertheless apparent.] Forgive me, +Lady Kirsten! I was too quick in my wrath. Had I stopped to +think I might surely have known the whole was a jest on your +part; I beg you, do not contradict me, it must be so! No wedding +tomorrow,--how could such a thing happen! If it is ale and mead +you lack, or if you need silver or embroidered linens, then come +you to me. + +LADY KIRSTEN. It is no poor man's house that your daughter is +marrying into, Lord Arne! Do you but come to the wedding with +all your kinsmen and friends, aye, come with three times as many +if you wish,--in my home you shall find plenty of room and +banquet fare, as much as you may desire. Think not for a moment +that such an inglorious reason could stand in my way. + +ARNE. You have changed your mind, perchance? + +LADY KIRSTEN. Nor that either! If I have given my word, then am +I likewise ready to keep it, today just as well as tomorrow; for +such was ever the custom and rule in my family. But in this +instance it is not in my power; one there is lacking-- + +INGEBORG. One! Whom? Surely I should think that when the bride +is ready,-- + +LADY KIRSTEN. For a wedding two people are needed, the groom as +well as the bride-- + +ARNE AND THE GUESTS. Olaf! + +INGEBORG. My betrothed! + +LADY KIRSTEN. Yes, he, my son--this night he is fled from his +home and his bride. + +GUESTS. Fled! + +ARNE. Fled! He! + +LADY KIRSTEN. As I hope for the grace of heaven, I have no hand +therein. + +ARNE. [With suppressed exasperation.] And the wedding was to be +tomorrow! My daughter has put on her golden attire; invitations +I have sent around in the district; my kinsmen and friends come +from far away to attend the festive day. + +ARNE. [Flaring up.] Ah, take you good care, if Arne of Guldvik +is held up to scorn before his neighbors; it shall profit you +little,--that I solemnly swear! + +LADY KIRSTEN. You reason unjustly, if you think-- + +ARNE. 'Tis not, Lady Kirsten, for you to say so! We two have an +old account to settle; it is not the first time that you set your +cunning traps for me and mine. The race of Guldvik has long had +to suffer, when you and your kinsmen plotted deception and guile. +Power we had,--we had wealth and property too; but you were too +crafty for us. You knew how to lure us with wily words and ready +speech,--those are wares I am little able to reckon as I should. + +LADY KIRSTEN. Lord Arne! Hear me, I pray! + +ARNE. [Continuing.] Now I see clearly that I have behaved like +the man who built his house on the ice-floe: a thaw came on and +down he went to the bottom. But you shall have little joy of +this. I shall hold you to account, Lady Kirsten! You must +answer for your son; you it was who made love for him, and your +affair it will be to keep the word you have given me! A fool I +was, aye, tenfold a fool, that I put my faith in your glib +tongue. Those who wished me well gave me warning; my enemies +made me an object of scorn; but little heed gave I to either. I +put on my gala attire; kinsmen and friends I gathered together; +with song and laughter we set out for the festive hall, and +then,--the bridegroom has fled. + +INGEBORG. Never will I marry one who holds me so lightly. + +ARNE. Be still! + +HEMMING. [Softly to ARNE.] Mistress Ingeborg is right; best it +is you break the agreement. + +ARNE. Be still, I say! + +LADY KIRSTEN. [To ARNE.] You may well be rilled with wrath and +resentment; but if you think I meant to deceive you, you do me +the greatest injustice. You think we are playing a game of +deception with you. But tell me,--what would tempt me and my son +to such a thing? Does he not love Ingeborg? Where could he +choose him a better bride? Is she not fair and lithe? Is her +father not rich and mighty? Is not her family mentioned with +honor as far as it is known? + +ARNE. But how then could Olaf-- + +LADY KIRSTEN. The lot I have suffered is worse than you think. +You will pity me instead of growing angry when you have +heard.--Since the sun rose this morning I have wandered up here +to find him again. + +ARNE. Up here? + +LADY KIRSTEN. Yes, up here; I must tell you--you'll be +frightened--but nevertheless,--Olaf is bewitched in the mountain! + +GUESTS. Bewitched in the mountain! + +INGEBORG. [At the same time.] Deliver me, God! + +ARNE. What say you, Lady Kirsten? + +LADY KIRSTEN. He is bewitched in the mountain! Nothing else can +it be.--Three weeks ago, after the betrothal feast at Guldvik, he +did not come home till far into the next day. Pale he was and +moody and quiet as I had never seen him before. And thus the +days went by; he spoke but little; he lay in his bed most of the +time and turned his face to the wall; but when evening came on, +it seemed a strange uneasiness seized him; he saddled his horse +and rode away, far up the mountain side; but no one dared follow +him, and no one knew where he went beyond that. Believe me, 'tis +evil spirits that have charmed his mind; great is the power they +wield in here; from the time the terrible plague overran the +country it has never been quite safe in the mountain here; there +is scarcely a day goes by but the chalet girls hear strange +playing and music, although there is no living soul in the place +whence it comes. + +ARNE. Bewitched in the mountain! Could such a thing be +possible? + +LADY KIRSTEN. Would to God it were not; but I can no longer +doubt it. Three days is it now since he last was at home. + +ARNE. And you have seen none who knows where he is? + +LADY KIRSTEN. Alas, no, it is not so easy. Up here a hunter +yesterday saw him; but he was wild and shy as the deer; he had +picked all sorts of flowers, and these he scattered before him +wherever he went, and all the while he whispered strange words. +As soon as I heard of this, I set out with my people, but we have +found nothing. + +INGEBORG. You met none who could tell you-- + +LADY KIRSTEN. You know of course the mountain-side is desolate. + +ARNE. [As he spies THORGJERD, who rises from the river.] Here +comes one will I ask. + +HEMMING. [Apprehensively.] Master! Master! + +ARNE. What now? + +HEMMING. Let him go! Do you not see who it is? + +THE GUESTS AND LADY KIRSTEN'S PEOPLE. [Whispering among +themselves.] Thorgjerd the fiddler! The crazy Thorgjerd! + +INGEBORG. He has learned the nixie's songs. + +HEMMING. Let him go, let him go! + +ARNE. No,--not even were he the nixie himself-- + + * * * * * + +SCENE V + +[The Preceding.] + +[THORGJERD has in the meantime gone to the edge of the +stage to the left; at ARNE's last words he turns about +suddenly as if he had been addressed.] + +THORGJERD. [As he draws a step or two nearer.] What do you want +of me? + +ARNE. [Startled.] What's that? + +HEMMING. Now see! + +ARNE. Let me manage this. + +ARNE. [To THORGJERD.] We seek Olaf Liljekrans. Have you met +him about here today? + +THORGJERD. Olaf Liljekrans? + +LADY KIRSTEN. Why, yes,--you know him well. + +THORGJERD. Is he not one of the evil men from the villages? + +LADY KIRSTEN. Evil? + +THORGJERD. They are all evil there! Olaf Liljekrans curses the +little bird when it sings on his mother's roof. + +LADY KIRSTEN. You lie, you fiddler! + +THORGJERD. [With an artful smile.] So much the better for him. + +ARNE. How so? + +THORGJERD. You ask about Olaf Liljekrans? Has he gone astray in +here? You seek him and cannot find him? + +LADY KIRSTEN. Yes, yes! + +THORGJERD. So much the better for him;--if it were a lie that I +told, he will suffer no want. + +INGEBORG. Speak out what you know! + +THORGJERD. Then I should never be done! + +THORGJERD. [Mischievously.] Elves and sprites hold sway here. +Be you of good cheer! If you find him not he is at play with the +elves; they are fond of all who love little birds, and Olaf, you +said.... Go home,--go home again. Olaf is up in the mountain; +he suffers no want. + +LADY KIRSTEN. Curse you for saying such things! + +ARNE. [To LADY KIRSTEN.] Do not heed what he says. + +THORGJERD. [Approaches again.] I go hence now to tune my harp; +Olaf Liljekrans is up in the mountain,--there shall his wedding +be held.--Mad Thorgjerd must also be there; he can make tables +and benches dance, so stirring is the music he plays. But you, +take you heed; go you home again; it is not safe for you here. +Have you not heard the old saying: + Beware of the elves when they frolic around, + They may draw you into their play; + And all that you see and all that you hear + Will stay with your mind alway. + +THORGJERD. [Suddenly breaking out with wild joy.] But here +there are wedding guests,--ah! Each lady has on her very best +gown, each man his very best coat,--now I see. Olaf Liljekrans +is likewise a groom in the village,--there also he has a +betrothed! Well, you have heard of such things before! I know +that at any rate once, --it is years ago--but well I remember.... + +THORGJERD. [He continues after a moment's pause, more and more +wildly.] + Sir Alvar and Ingrid had plighted their troth, + She was a sprightly maiden; + Three blessed long days they feasted and sang, + With jolly good wine they were laden. + The bride was fair and the bride was gay, + The dance of the guests she led, + When in came the nixie, the evil wight, + And sat on the edge of the bed. + Like a fiddler he sat on the edge of the bed, + And music bewitchingly played. + Around danced the benches and tables and all, + As lightly as servant and maid!-- + The nixie he went through the open door,-- + The truth it boots not to hide!-- + And while he played on the harpstrings sweet, + There followed him ever--the bride! + +THORGJERD. [Wildly, triumphantly.] + Fast in a spell lay knight and page, + The groom knew not whither to go, + The nixie made ready the bridal bed, + Little Ingrid's bed in the river below. + +THORGJERD. [Suddenly becomes quiet and says softly.] That song +I shall never forget!--But go you home, night is coming on, and +when the sun is down the forest belongs to the others. Farewell! +I shall take greetings to Olaf where he sits--in the mountain! + +[Goes out to the left.] + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE VI + +[The Preceding except THORGJERD.] + +ARNE. [To LADY KIRSTEN.] He lies! Do not believe him! + +HEMMING. But it is nevertheless true,--the tale of the bride who +disappeared on the eve of her wedding. + +ARNE. Aye, that was many years ago; nowadays such things never +happen. But we'll all help to find him. + +INGEBORG. It was not sung at my cradle that I should run about +in forest and field to find my bridegroom. + +ARNE. Be still! + +INGEBORG. If he is enthralled in the mountain, then let her take +him who has done it; I don't propose to share my betrothed's +heart and soul. + +HEMMING. [Softly and feelingly.] The Lord bless you for those +words! + +INGEBORG. [With a haughty look of dismissal.] What? + +ARNE. Will you be silent, I say! + +ARNE. [To the Guests.] Now quick, my good men! Spread out and +search for him on every ridge and in every hillock! Away! Quite +so! Tomorrow we drink to the wedding! + +[The Guests and LADY KIRSTEN's People go out in different groups +to the right and the left.] + +ARNE. [Softly, to LADY KIRSTEN.] We must find him! It would +cause me eternal shame if the wedding-- + +LADY KIRSTEN. Come, then, come! + +INGEBORG. [Softly, to HEMMING, who stands downcast.] Why do you +not go with the rest? Better it were that you brought me again +my betrothed than stand here thus and bless me for words I really +don't mean. + +ARNE. [At the exit.] Come, come! + +INGEBORG. [To HEMMING, who starts to go.] Wait, Hemming! +Fasten my shoe buckle! + +[LADY KIRSTEN and ARNE go out to the left.] + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE VII + +[INGEBORG. HEMMING.] + +INGEBORG. [Puts her foot forward.] See there,--fasten it tight! + +[HEMMING kneels and does her bidding.] + +INGEBORG. [As she puts the other foot forward.] There,--buckle +this one too! Well, why do you bow your head? Has something +gone wrong? + +HEMMING. Do you demand that I shall speak honestly? + +INGEBORG. Certainly I do. + +HEMMING. Well, then you must know-- + +INGEBORG. [Quickly.] O no, it isn't necessary. + +[She moves away a few steps; HEMMING rises.] + +HEMMING. Alas, Lady Ingeborg! Once you were so kind to me; but +now since you have become a real grown-up lady--and especially, I +imagine, since you gave your betrothal vow-- + +INGEBORG. What then? + +HEMMING. O nothing!-- + +[A pause.] + +HEMMING. Can you remember,--we have been up here once before? + +INGEBORG. [Curtly.] I don't remember! + +HEMMING. You had run after your spotted goat, and I followed +you, as was always my custom,--yes, that was a long time ago, but +I remember it as if it happened today; right down there lies the +swamp, which-- + +INGEBORG. [Comes nearer.] Was it the time we heard the bear? + +HEMMING. Yes, the very time. + +INGEBORG. [Constantly becoming more animated.] I found the goat +again. + +HEMMING. No, it was I who first discovered it. + +INGEBORG. Yes, yes, you are right; up there on the slope-- + +HEMMING. And then you took your garter. + +INGEBORG. And bound it. + +HEMMING. Yes, for we had come to pick strawberries. + +INGEBORG. Over there on the hill, yes! And you had made me a +birch-bark scrip. + +HEMMING. But then it was we heard-- + +INGEBORG. The bear, ha, ha, ha! We had to cross the swamp just +where it was the wettest,-- + +HEMMING. And then I took you in my arms. + +INGEBORG. And jumped with me from tuft to tuft. + +INGEBORG. [Laughing.] How frightened we were, the two of us! + +HEMMING. Of course I was most frightened for your sake. + +INGEBORG. And I for yours-- + +[Stops suddenly and as she continues to look at him her face +assumes an imperious and wounded expression.] + +INGEBORG. What is it you stand here and say? Why don't you go? +Is it fitting to speak thus to your master's daughter? Go, go; +you were to find my betrothed! + +HEMMING. Alas, I forgot your betrothed; I forgot that you are my +master's daughter. + +INGEBORG. If you find him, I promise you an embroidered jacket +for Christmas,--so pleased shall I be. + +HEMMING. I don't want any jacket; I serve you neither for gold +nor silver, neither for keep nor for knightly dress. But now I +am off; what lies in my power I shall do, if I know it pleases +you. + +INGEBORG. [Who has climbed up on a stone and is picking some +blossoming cherry twigs.] Hemming! how rich is my betrothed? + +HEMMING. How rich he is I really can't say; but it is said of +his grandsire in the song: + With golden attire he can provide + A hundred maids or more for his bride! +So mighty perhaps is not Olaf Liljekrans, but still he owns +both forest and field. + +INGEBORG. [Still occupied.] And you, what do you possess? + +HEMMING. [Sighing.] My poverty--is all I have. + +INGEBORG. That isn't very much, Hemming! + +HEMMING. No, it isn't very much, Mistress Ingeborg! + +INGEBORG. [Hums, turned away from him, without changing her +position, and still occupied as before.] + 'Tis little my heart is attracted indeed + To him who has all the wealth he may need! + Much more I fancy the humble swain, + The friend of my heart he will ever remain! + +HEMMING. [In the greatest joy.] Ingeborg! O, if what you say +is true, I must tenfold bless my poverty. + +INGEBORG. [Turns her head and speaks coldly.] I don't +understand you; the song was only an ancient ballad. + +[Comes down from the rock with the cherry twigs in her hand, and +approaches him as she looks at him fixedly.] + +INGEBORG. But I know another song too, and that I will sing for +you: + The king's court within stand the steeds so fair; + The suitor who lacks not the courage to dare,-- + He shoes the yellow, he shoes the gray, + The swiftest he saddles before it is day! + He places his bride on the steed behind, + She follows him safe, she follows him blind. + He rides with her off, to the sea they hie, + With him she would willingly live and die! + +HEMMING. [As though beside himself.] Ingeborg! Ingeborg! then +nothing shall henceforth terrify me! Not that you have a +betrothed, not that you are my master's daughter;--yea, as sure +as I live, I shall steal you tonight! + +INGEBORG. [Vehemently, as she constantly struggles to suppress a +smile.] Help me, God! what is amiss with you? What is it you +are thinking of? Will you steal your master's daughter? You +must be sick or mad to conceive such a thing! Yet, it shall be +forgotten--for this once. Go, now! and thank heaven you escape +so lightly; for you have certainly earned a blow-- + +INGEBORG. [Raises the twigs, but lets them fall, and says in a +changed tone.] --and my red golden ring--see there, take it! + +[Throws him a ring, which she has removed from her arm, and +rushes out quickly to the left.] + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE VIII + +[HEMMING. Shortly afterwards OLAF Liljekrans from the, +background. The moon rises.] + +HEMMING. The golden ring unto me she has granted, +Then still is she true, I am not deceived! +'Twas only in jest that she scolded and ranted +As though she were bitterly grieved. +All will I venture, no more will I dread! + +HEMMING. [Despondent.] And yet, I am only a penniless swain, +And early tomorrow is she to be wed! + +HEMMING. [Quickly.] But into the forest the bridegroom is fled; +O, if he should never come home again! + +HEMMING. [Starts to rush out, but stops with a cry.] +Olaf! there is he! + +[OLAF comes slowly forward between the rocks in the background. +He walks dreaming, his head uncovered, and his hands full of +flowers which he tears to pieces and scatters on the way; his +whole behavior during the following indicates an unsettled +mind.] + +OLAF. [Without noticing HEMMING.] +If only I knew What she meant, could somehow the riddle unravel! + +[Starts to go out to the left.] + +HEMMING. Lord Olaf! Lord Olaf! O where do you travel? +O hear me, Lord Olaf! + +OLAF. [Half awakening.] +Hemming! Is it you? Stand not in my way! + +HEMMING. What is it that weighs +On your mind, that you wander in here for three days? + +[Observes him more closely.] + +HEMMING. And what is the game that here you do play,-- +Your cheek is white, and your forehead is gray! + +OLAF. Be not so amazed that my cheek is white, +Three nights have I fought so strange a fight; +Be not so amazed that my forehead is gray, +Three nights have I been in the elfen play. + +HEMMING. Heaven protect us! + +OLAF. I am ill, I am faint! +I remember neither devil nor saint! + +HEMMING. [Apprehensively.] +Come, Olaf, with me to your mother's estate! + +OLAF. My mother's estate! Where stood it of late? +'Tis here, as it seems, that I have my home! +The wood has become my ancestral hall, +The river's roaring, the pine-trees' moan, +Is sweeter to me than my mother's call. + +OLAF. [With increasing rapture.] +Aye, here it is quiet! Aye, here it is fair! +Behold, my hall for the feast I prepare. + +HEMMING. [Aside.] O what has come o'er him? + +OLAF. Soon comes my bride! + +HEMMING. Your bride! Then you know--? + +OLAF. [Continuing.] When the day has died, +When slumber the birds, when fades the cloud, +Then here will she come so young and so proud! + +HEMMING. [Crosses himself.] +All heavenly saints! I fear the worst! + +OLAF. Know you when it was that I saw her here first? +I rode late one evening from Guldvik hall, +Some kind of feast I seem to recall. +My spirit was heavy, my heart full of woe! +That something had grieved me is all that I know. +I rode all alone up the mountain side, +At midnight I passed by the river so wide; +Then heard I beyond a melodious wail, +That rang like a song over mountain and dale. +It seemed a plaintive, bewitching lay; +I folded my hands, I tried to pray, +But tied was my tongue and my thoughts went astray; +The strains did beguile and lure me away. +'Twas now like weeping and now like laughter, +'Twas now full of mirth, and now ever after +As were it the cry of a perishing man, +As were it a soul in the anguish of death, +That I heard in the song so beguiling, that ran +Like a stream around me!--I scarce got my breath! +So sorely bewildered was I in my soul; +It was as if powers both gentle and strong +Enticed me and lured me away from my goal, +I needs must come up, I was carried along. +And ever rang out the mysterious call; +How far I rode on I no longer recall. + +HEMMING. [Aside.] And the bride, of whom the minstrel +sang,--she too had to follow-- + +OLAF. My foal stopped short, I awoke in a maze, +I looked around with a wondering gaze; +'Twas all so pleasant and fair! But what land +I was in I could not understand! +I stood in a valley;--a deep peace lay +Over all like dew in the night! +The moon on the edge of the tarn did play; +It seemed to laugh as it vanished away +In the rolling billows so bright! +My head was heavy, my spirit oppressed, +I yearned for nothing but sleep; +I laid me down 'neath a linden to rest +In the whispering forest so sweet! + +HEMMING. Lord Olaf! Lord Olaf! How dared you do it? + +OLAF. [Continuing.] +I ventured then into the elf-maidens' play; +The fairest of maidens gave me a bouquet +Of snow-drops blue and of lilies white; +She pierced my soul with her glances so bright, +And whispered to me what nobody knows,-- +A word I'll keep ever in mind: +"Olaf Liljekrans! know you where happiness grows, +Know you the hour when peace you will find? +Of all the flowers on the hill over yonder +Must you the fairest one find, +And bit by bit you must tear it asunder +And scatter it far to the wind, +Then--only then will you happiness find!" + +HEMMING. You have slumbered and dreamed! + +OLAF. That very same day +My mother's estate grew cramped and narrow! +Through thicket, o'er highway, I hastened away +To the grove so pleasant with bow and with arrow! +There met I again the elf-maiden fair. + +HEMMING. [Steps back amazed.] When then,--have you wakened and +found--? + +OLAF. I took my betrothal ring, shot with it there +Right over her head, far into the air; +Now is she evermore bound! + +HEMMING. And it is the bride you are waiting for here? + +OLAF. Yes, yes, the bride; soon will she be near! + +HEMMING. [Aside.] His soul is enthralled, his mind is ill; +All this Lady Kirsten shall know! + +HEMMING. [Aloud.] And dare you go wandering fearless up here +In the hills? + +OLAF. It is here so still, +'Tis sweetly I dream as I go! + +[Goes slowly in between the huge rocks in front on the right.] + +HEMMING. His wedding tomorrow his people prepare; +Yet for his betrothed he seems little to care; +'Tis little he knows that she is so near, +And less that she holds another one dear!-- +He wanders around in the forest astray, +And Ingeborg gave me the golden ring! +His mother I'll seek without further delay; +The saints only know what the morrow will bring! + +[Goes out to the left.] + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE IX + +[OLAF LILJEKRANS enters again from the right.] + +OLAF. [As he tears to pieces some flowers he has gathered off +the stage.] "Of all the flowers on the hill over yonder +Must you the fairest one find; +And bit by bit you must tear it asunder, +And scatter it far to the wind,-- +Then--only then will you happiness find!" +These mysterious words give my spirit no rest. +The fairest of flowers? And what is the test? +Where will it be found? Is its beauty revealed +In the fragrance or deep in the blossom concealed? +Or hid in some magic power that I never +Can possibly find if I search forever? +So may there be virtue in many a spear +Whose steel is rusty and out of gear; +So too may a harp that no longer sings +But hangs forgotten in the halls of mirth, +Hide in its forsaken and dusty strings +The strangest magic on earth. + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE X + +[OLAF LILJEKRANS. ALFHILD from the back of the stage. +She is fantastically dressed and adorned with flowers +and garlands of leaves; she looks about anxiously +until she discovers OLAF and runs joyfully to meet +him.] + +ALFHILD. O, stay, stay! Do not go away from me! + +OLAF. [As if suddenly awakened to life.] Alfhild! my young and +beautiful bride! + +ALFHILD. Olaf! my handsome knight! I grew tired of waiting; I +had to come here to meet you! + +OLAF. But tell me, why are you always afraid to come here? + +ALFHILD. I have so often told you that I never went beyond this +valley until you visited me. My father has said that evil powers +hold sway out there; only here among the mountains could I fare +safely and without harm! O, let whatever power will hold sway; +you are here, and that is enough for me! Come, let me look into +your eyes! Truly, I have you again! + +OLAF. Have me! Alas, Alfhild! You artful, you beautiful woman, +indeed you have me again! My soul you have charmed so deeply, so +deeply. Lead me whither and as far as you will, into the +mountain, under the hill, to the grassy meadow, where song and +refrain echo sweetly in the evening, on the bottom of the river, +down under the rapids, where there are harps for powerful +plaintive lays; wherever your home is, there I am ready to +wander! + +ALFHILD. Why speak you thus? You must surely know better than +what you are saying.--Spirits and elves hold sway in mountain and +hillock, and on the bottom of the river lives the nixie,--so +father has said. Think you that I am an elf or-- + +OLAF. You are the fairest in the world; be you what you please, +so long as you are mine! + +ALFHILD. Were I an elfen maid, then truly, say I, it would fare +with you ill! + +OLAF. Me! + +ALFHILD. Yes, you! When you rode on your lonely path, I should +go out to meet you and give you the drink of forgetfulness from +the golden horn. I should mix therein my magic and charm so that +you would forget both heaven and earth, forget where you were +born and reared, what name you answered to, and where your +kinsmen fared,--one thing alone should you remember, one thing +alone should fill your mind and soul. + +OLAF. Forsooth, then are you the elfen maid! For from the first +hour you have practiced your magic on me. + +ALFHILD. Have I? + +OLAF. Through the meadow I rode, below where the river runs,--it +was night and the songs and the plaintive lays echoed strangely +around me.... + +OLAF. Bewildered I grew and lost my path; I wandered far, far in +among the mountains; I discovered the beautiful valley, where no +foot has trod, where no eye has feasted ere mine.... + +OLAF. A heavy slumber fell upon me in there; the elf maidens +played in the meantime, and they drew me into their play.... + +OLAF. But when I awoke, there was affliction in my soul; +homeward I rode, but down there I could no more be content; it +seemed as if I had left behind me the richest and best in life, +as if a wonderful treasure were held in store for me, if only I +sought and found it.... + +OLAF. Up to the valley I had to go before I could find peace.... + +OLAF. You came to meet me, fair and glowing as in this hour; I +seized your hand, I looked you in the eye--heaven and earth, the +beauty of all creation, was in your eye!.... + +OLAF. Then I forgot both kinsmen and friends!.... + +OLAF. I came there the next night, I embraced you, I pressed you +to my bosom,--the glory of heaven was in your embrace.... + +OLAF. --Then I forgot my Christian name and my forefathers' +home.... + +OLAF. And I came the third night; I had to come; I kissed your +red lips; my eyes burned their way into your soul.--More than the +glory of creation was therein! I forgot more than God and home, +more than heaven and earth. I forgot myself. + +[Prostrates himself before her.] + +OLAF. Alfhild! Alfhild! + +ALFHILD. If it be a drink of forgetfulness which you speak of, +then have I also charmed myself with it. I have fared as the +minstrel who learned the nixie's songs in order to charm his +sweetheart;--he charmed and charmed so long that at length the +magic wove itself round his own soul too, and he could never win +himself free therefrom. + +[Stops and continues standing thoughtfully.] + +OLAF. [As he rises.] What are you brooding over? + +ALFHILD. High in the mountain there is a rocky ledge so steep +that not even the eagle can fasten his claws thereon; there +stands a lonely birch,--ill does it thrive, it is poor in leaves; +but downward it bends its branches to the valley which lies far +away; it is as though it longed for its sisters in the fresh and +luxuriant grove, as though it yearned to be transplanted in the +warm sunny life down below.... + +ALFHILD. Like the birch in the mountain was also my life; I +longed to get away; I longed for you through the long, long +years, even before I knew you existed. The valley became too +cramped for me, but I did not know that beyond the mountains +there was another valley like this one in here. The knights and +the ladies that visited me every evening were not enough for me, +and they told me nothing of the life beyond! + +OLAF. Knights and ladies? You told me you never met any one +there. + +ALFHILD. No one like you! But every evening my father +sang songs to me, and when the night came and my eyes +were closed, they came to visit me, all those that live +in my father's songs. Merry knights and beautiful ladies +there were among them; they came with falcons on their +hands, riding on stately steeds. They danced in the field, +and laughter and merriment reechoed wherever they fared; +the elves listened silently from behind each flower and the +birds from the trees where they had fallen asleep. But +with the coming of dawn they again disappeared; lonely +I wandered; I decked myself with flowers and with green +leaves, for I knew the next night they would come again. +Alas, that life was after all not sufficient for me; a mighty +longing rilled my bosom; it would never have been stilled +if you had not come! + +OLAF. You speak of your father; at no time did I see him in +there! + +ALFHILD. But seldom he comes now; he has never been there since +the night we first met. + +OLAF. But tell me, where is he? + +ALFHILD. You have told me you rode late one summer night in the +meadow where the river flows; there you heard strange songs which +you only half understood, but which haunt and haunt you so that +you will never forget them. + +OLAF. Yes, yes! + +ALFHILD. You once heard my father's songs! It is on them that I +have been nourished. In truth, neither have I fully understood +them; they seemed to me to be the most precious treasure, to be +life itself; now they mean little to me; they are to me but a +token of all the glory that was to come. In all of them was +there a handsome knight; I imagined him to be the best and most +glorious thing in all the valleys, the best and most glorious as +far as bird can fly, as far as clouds can sail. Olaf! it was +you,--I know you again! Oh, you must tell me of your home, of +the distant valley whence you come; life out there must be rich +and glorious; there it must be that my birds all fly with the +falling of the leaves; for when they again come to visit me, they +have so much to tell that is strange, so many a marvel to sing +about, that all the flowers begin to bud and to blossom, the +trees to grow green, and the big and glorious sun to rise early +and go tardily to rest, in order to listen to all the stories and +songs. But little grasp I of all that they tell; you must +interpret it for me, you must make everything clear that inwardly +craves an answer. + +OLAF. Little am I able to answer what you ask of my home. My +home? If I have had a home other than this, then I remember but +little about it. It is all to me like a misty dream which is +forgotten in the hour we waken. Yet, come! far below us there +lies a village; there it seems I remember I wandered before I saw +you; there it seems to me that my kinsmen live. Do you hear how +the river conjures and rushes; let us follow it; out on the ledge +near the waterfall we can overlook the village where I--once had +my home. Come, come! + +ALFHILD. But dare I-- + +OLAF. Follow and trust me, I shall protect you! + +ALFHILD. I am ready; I know it well enough; whether I wished to +or not, I must follow you wherever you go. + +[They go out to the right.] + +CHORUS OF WEDDING GUESTS AND LADY. KIRSTEN'S PEOPLE + (From the forest to the left.) + Awake to our call, come free your will + From elves that hover around! + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE XI + +[LADY KIRSTEN and HEMMING enter from the left.] + +HEMMING. Here he was;--why--now he is gone! + +LADY KIRSTEN. And he said he was waiting for the bride who was +to come? + +HEMMING. Yes, but whom he had in mind I could not quite make +out; for his speech was strangely incoherent. Ingeborg he did +not mean,--that is certain. + +LADY KIRSTEN. Say nothing, good Hemming! say nothing of what he +just said! You did well to let me alone know he was here. You +shall be richly rewarded for this, but first we must find him +again-- + +HEMMING. [As he looks out to the right.] See,--see there, in +the moonlight, on the hill near the river,--yes, surely I think-- + +LADY KIRSTEN. Hush, hush, it is Olaf! + +HEMMING. There are two; a woman is with him-- + +LADY KIRSTEN. Heavenly saints! + +HEMMING. He is pointing out the village as if--there they go! + +LADY KIRSTEN. Call Lord Arne and our people! We will meet again +here; I bring Olaf with me! + +HEMMING. But dare you then--? + +LADY KIRSTEN. Do as I say; but say nothing of what you have +heard and seen. You can say that Olaf came up here to hunt deer +and bear, and that he went astray in the mountain. + +HEMMING. You can rely on me, Lady Kirsten! + +[Goes out to the left.] + +LADY KIRSTEN. Is it true, then? Have evil sprites gained +control over him? Yes, so I can pretend to Arne of Guldvik, but +little I believe it myself;--and yet it is said it happened often +enough in the days gone by. But it is elfen maids no doubt of +flesh and blood that--. There he goes down to the river,--I must +hasten! + +[Goes out to the right in the background.] + +CHORUS. [From the forest to the left.] + With ringing of bells we hurry along, + We wander in field and in dell! + O Christian, come, give heed to our song, + Wake up from your magic spell! + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE XII + +[OLAF and ALFHILD come in from the right in the +background. Later LADY KIRSTEN.] + +ALFHILD. O, you must tell me still more of the world! +Your words to my soul are refreshing indeed; +It seems as if here in the wonders you tell +My innermost longings you read!.... + +Did you ne'er on a summer night sit by a tarn, +So deep that no one could fathom it quite, +And see in the water the stars so bright, +Those knowing eyes that express with their flickering light +Much more than a thousand tongues could possibly say? + + * * * * * + +I often sat thus; I sought with my hands to capture +The sparkling riddles below in the deep-- +I snatched after them, I would see them close, +Then they grew blurred like eyes that weep,-- +It is idle to search and to seek-- + + * * * * * + +So too in my soul there was many a riddle +I yearned to solve in the days that are gone! +They tricked me as did all the stars in the deep, +Grew stranger and stranger the more I brooded thereon! + +OLAF. Am I not to myself a mysterious riddle? +Am I Olaf Liljekrans, the nobly born, +The knight so proud, who vaunted his race, +Who laughed the singing of birds to scorn! +And yet, from my heart I tear what I was! +Happy I am,--and that can I understand-- +Your prophecy failed,--I should happiness find, +When the fairest of flowers I had found in the land. +Ah! happiness here I have found! + +ALFHILD. I prophesied nothing. +But--tell me more of the life that is yonder! + +OLAF. The life that is yonder may go its own way; +Here is my home; with you will I wander, +My lovely wife! Alfhild, behold! +Is it not as if here in the mountainous fold +Were built for us two a bower so fair! +The snowdrops in splendor stand garbed everywhere; +In here there is feasting, there is joy, there is mirth, +More real than any I have found on this earth! +The song rings out from the river so deep; +It is that which makes me both laugh and weep! +The song of magic, the mysterious lay, +Has made me so free, so happy and gay! + +[Seizes her passionately in his arms.] + +OLAF. Farewell to the village below I say! +'Tis here that my bridal-bed I shall prepare; +Farewell to the world forever and ay,-- +For here I shall hold my beautiful bride! + +ALFHILD. [Moves away apprehensively.] Olaf! + +OLAF. [Stops suddenly, as if seized with a vague and painful +remembrance.] My bride! What is it I say! +Tell me--when first--I happened this way-- +Can you still remember the very first night? +What was it I sought?--No longer I know! +Did I come to fetch you--to--the village below? +Did I come the wedding guests to invite? + +ALFHILD. What mean you? Wedding? I can't understand--? + +OLAF. Our betrothal at Guldvik was held, you remember! +For three weeks thereafter our wedding was planned-- +But it seems to me that,--no, my brow like an ember +Burns hot! I will try no more to remember! + +CHORUS. [Softly and far in the forest.] +Olaf Liljekrans! Olaf Liljekrans! +Why sleep you so deep and so long? + +ALFHILD. Hush, Olaf! do you hear? + +OLAF. Did you hear it too? + +ALFHILD. What was it? + +OLAF. A memory of long ago, +Which often comes back when I wander with you! +'Tis evil,--it calls from the village below. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Aside, as she enters from the rear of the stage +unobserved by the others.] +Ah, there! He speaks; could I understand--! + +[Approaches listening.] + +OLAF. [With increasing vehemence.] +Yes, yes, I come; not alone will I ride! +For ladies and knights shall heed my command, +And come hither with song to greet my bride! +For you shall be saddled my swiftest steed, +The poet and minstrel shall ride in the lead, +Thereafter shall follow the steward and priest, +The people shall all be bid to the feast! +Pages so courtly shall guide your steed, +And beautiful flowers be strewn at your feet, +The peasant shall bow to the ground like a weed, +His wife shall curtsy to you as is meet! +The church bell shall ring to the countryside: +Now rides Olaf Liljekrans home with his bride! + +CHORUS OF WEDDING GUESTS. [Animated, yet softly, in the forest +to the left.] + Now hasten we all + To the wedding hall! + The foal runneth light and gay! + The hoofs resound + On the grassy ground, + As the merry swains gallop away! + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Aside during the chorus.] +Heaven he praised then! Hemming has told--! + +ALFHILD. [Jubilant.] +They come, they come, their voices I hear! +How sweetly it sounds! O Olaf, behold! + +LADY KIRSTEN. Olaf, my son! + +[Rushes to him unobserved by ALFHILD, who continues to look out +to the left.] + +OLAF. God help me! What's here! +My mother! + +LADY KIRSTEN. My poor unfortunate son! +Now are you saved from the evil one! +There comes Lord Arne with Ingeborg, your wife! + +OLAF. [With a cry and as if suddenly awakening.] +Ingeborg!--With that have you shattered my life! +My happiness then was not what it seemed! +Alas, that you had to inform me of this! + +OLAF. [In despair.] +Dear mother! a beautiful dream I have dreamed; +You waken me now,--there's an end to my bliss! + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE XIII + +[The Preceding. ARNE, INGEBORG, HEMMING, WEDDING +GUESTS, and LADY KIRSTEN from the left.] + +ARNE. Good luck, Lady Kirsten, to you! You have found him +again, I am told. + +LADY KIRSTEN. Of course I have found him.--And now for home! + +ARNE. [To OLAF.] And no harm has been done you? + +OLAF. [Absent-minded.] Me! What do you mean? + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Interrupting.] Of course not, Lord Arne! He +went astray on the hunt and-- + +INGEBORG. [Pointing to ALFHILD.] But this young woman--? + +LADY KIRSTEN. A poor child! She has given him lodging and +shelter. + +ARNE. But there is no one who lives up here. + +LADY KIRSTEN. Yet a stray one here and there! There is many a +solitary family still dwells among the mountains since the time +of the plague. + +ARNE. Then come, come! The horses are waiting below on the +hill. + +OLAF. [Painfully, as he glances at ALFHILD.] O mother! I +cannot! + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Softly and resolute.] You must! It will be your +eternal shame if you-- + +ARNE. What does he mean? + +LADY KIRSTEN. He is sick and tired as yet, but it will pass off. +Come! + +LADY KIRSTEN. [With a significant look at OLAF.] The young +woman comes too! + +INGEBORG. You mean that she--! + +LADY KIRSTEN. Faithfully has she nursed him; it is only fitting +that she be rewarded. + +ARNE. And tomorrow the wedding is held! + +LADY KIRSTEN. Tomorrow,--that I solemnly swear! + +ARNE. I have your word! + +HEMMING. [Softly and triumphant, as he brings forth the ring.] +And I have Ingeborg's golden ring! + +INGEBORG. [Takes the ring from him and says carelessly.] +My ring! Aha,--so you have my ring, Hemming! Thanks, I shall +now take care of it myself! + +[HEMMING stands a moment dumfounded and then follows very slowly +the rest, who all except ALFHILD go out to the left.] + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE XIV + +[ALFHILD. Shortly afterwards THORGJERD from the +background.] + +ALFHILD. (Has observed in silent and childlike amazement + the preceding scene without however heeding the + action; when they are gone she suddenly comes to + herself as from a dream.) + +They are gone! Can I trust my eyes;--is it true? +Yes, here in the moonlight they stood in full view! +There I see them again down the mountain side, +And I must go with them, for I am the bride! + +[Starts as if to rush out to the left.] + +THORGJERD. [In the background.] +Alfhild! my child! And how come you here? +I have told you before-- + +ALFHILD. O my father dear! +Now must I be free--as free as the wind, +No longer can I in the hills be confined! + +THORGJERD. [Comes nearer.] What has befallen you? + +ALFHILD. [In ecstasy.] Now is he come! + +THORGJERD. But who? + +ALFHILD. The fair knight! He will carry me home! +Now first do I grasp all the restless desire, +That long has been smouldering in me like fire! +We often have sat, as the river rushed by, +While you sang of the princess enthralled in the hill! +The princess, my father! the princess am I; +But he, the fair knight, bent the troll to his will!-- +And now I am free to do what I may; +I will hence into life and its motley affray! +His words were like song! I am free as the wind; +No power can stay me or hold me behind! + +THORGJERD. Poor child! You would down to the village below; +It will cost you your happiness; stay, do not go! + +ALFHILD. But, father, I must! Your sweetest lays +Will seem to me now like a misty haze! + +THORGJERD. Then go, my Alfhild! and dream while you may, +Your father will guard you alway! +But look you take care of the crafty young swains +With words so cunning and free! + +ALFHILD. Away in the distant and sunny domains,-- +Where Olaf is, there must I be! +There stands his castle with golden hall! +From the ballads you sang his face I recall; +The king's son is he, the knight who can ride, +And I, the poor Alfhild,--I am his bride! +Poor, did I say,--no, the princess on high, +O, more than the princess,--his sweetheart am I! + +[The wedding chorus is heard far down the mountain side.] + +ALFHILD. Listen, he calls with his trumpet and horn! +Farewell now, forest and flower and thorn! +Farewell, my valley; you have cramped me too long, +The whole world is calling with laughter and song! +Tomorrow attired in gold I shall ride +Away to the church as Olaf's bride! +We shall sit on the throne of honor within-- +Ah, now shall my life in its fulness begin! + +[She rushes out to the left. THORGJERD gazes after her +thoughtfully. The chorus dies away in the distance as the +curtain falls.] + + * * * * * + + + + +SECOND ACT + +[The enclosure on Lady Kirsten's estate. To the right +is seen the main building with an opening in the +gable; neither windows nor doors are visible. Further +towards the back of the stage on the same side a small +log church and a churchyard. On the left side a +storehouse and other out-buildings. On both sides in +the foreground simple benches of stone. It is +afternoon.] + + + +SCENE I + +[LADY KIRSTEN. Servants and Maids occupied with preparations for +the wedding.] + +LADY KIRSTEN. Let there be no lack of food or drink. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [To herself.] Hard have I labored and struggled +to bring things to this point; but now I shall give a feast that +shall be heralded far and wide. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [To the servants.] Be sure to see that on the +banquet table--yet no, I shall attend to that myself. The wine +shall be poured into the silver flagons; the large drinking horns +shall be filled with the Italian cider; the ale is for the +servants only, and likewise the homebrewed mead;--and listen, be +sure to see that there are enough yellow candles in the church; +the bridal party are not to go to the altar until late in the +evening, and with red lights shall they be escorted on their way +from the banquet hall to the church. Go now, all of you, and see +that you remember, every one of you, the things I have told you. + +[The people go.] + +LADY KIRSTEN. God knows this wedding is costing me more than I +well can bear; but Ingeborg brings with her a good dowry and +besides--Oh, well, Arne I shall no doubt be able to manage and +rule as I see fit, if he is first-- + +[Looks out to the right.] + +LADY KIRSTEN. There comes Olaf! If only I knew that he-- + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE II + +[LADY KIRSTEN. OLAF comes from the house in festive +garb; he is pale and thoughtful.] + +OLAF. [To himself.] Yesterday and today! There is but a +midsummer night between the two, and yet it seems to me that both +autumn and winter have overtaken my soul since the time I +wandered up there on the mountain side--with her, with Alfhild! + +OLAF. [Notices Lady Kirsten.] Alas, my dear mother, are you +there? + +LADY KIRSTEN. Quite so, my son! I like to see you dressed in +gold and in silk. Now one can see by your dress who it is that +is bridegroom tonight. I see you have rested. + +OLAF. I have slept, but little have I rested; for all the while +I was dreaming. + +LADY KIRSTEN. A bridegroom must dream,--that is an ancient +custom. + +OLAF. My fairest dream is ended; let us not think any longer +about that. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Changing the subject.] We shall have a merry +time today, I think. + +OLAF. It does not appear that heaven is pleased with my wedding +day. + +LADY KIRSTEN. How so? + +OLAF. There are indications of a storm. Do you see how heavily +the clouds are gathering in the west? + +LADY KIRSTEN. The brighter the festive candles will shine when +you go to the church tonight. + +OLAF. [Paces back and forth a few times; at length he stops +before his mother and says.] If I had married a poor man's +daughter, without family or wealth,--tell me, mother, what would +you have done? + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Looks at him sharply.] Why do you ask? + +OLAF. Answer me first. What would you have done? + +LADY KIRSTEN. Cursed you and gone to my grave in sorrow!--But +tell me, why do you ask? + +OLAF. Ah, it was only a jest; I little thought of doing so. + +LADY KIRSTEN. That I can believe; for you have always held your +family in high honor. But be merry and gay; tomorrow Ingeborg +will sit in there as your wife, and then you will find both peace +and happiness. + +OLAF. Peace and happiness. One thing there is lacking. + +LADY KIRSTEN. What do you mean? + +OLAF. The fairest of flowers which I was to pick asunder and +scatter far to the winds. + +LADY KIRSTEN. The silly dream;--think no longer about it. + +OLAF. Perhaps it would be best for me if I could forget. + +LADY KIRSTEN. In the ladies' room your betrothed sits with all +her maids; little have you talked with her today. Do you not +want to go in? + +OLAF. [In thought.] Yes, yes! Where is she? + +LADY KIRSTEN. In the ladies' room, as I said. + +OLAF. [Lively.] Nothing shall be lacking to her from this day. +Shoes with silver buckles I shall give her; she shall wear +brooches and rings. The withered twigs shall be put away; I +shall give her a golden necklace to wear. + +LADY KIRSTEN. Of whom do you speak? + +OLAF. Of Alfhild! + +LADY KIRSTEN. I was speaking of Ingeborg, your betrothed. Olaf! +Olaf! You make me anxious and worried,--so strange are you. I +could really almost believe that she had bewitched you. + +OLAF. That she has! Yes, forsooth, mother, I have been +bewitched. I have been in the elf maidens' play; happy and gay I +was as long as it lasted, but now--. Through long, long years I +shall be weighed down with woe as often as I call it to mind. + +LADY KIRSTEN. If she were a witch, the stake would surely be +hers; but she is a crafty and wily woman who has lured you on +with her fair speech. + +OLAF. She is pure as the mother of God herself! + +LADY KIRSTEN. Yes, yes, but beware! Remember, whatever she is, +tomorrow you are wed; it would be both sin and shame to you if +you longer took notice of her. + +OLAF. I realize it, mother, full well! + +LADY KIRSTEN. And Ingeborg, whom you have betrothed and who +loves you, yes, Olaf! loves you with all her heart--the +punishment of heaven would be visited on you, in case you-- + +OLAF. True, true! + +LADY KIRSTEN. I will not speak of our own circumstances; but you +can easily see that Arne's daughter can help us greatly in one +thing or another; our affairs have been going from bad to worse, +and if the harvest should fail this year I should not in the +least be surprised if we had to take up the beggar's staff. + +OLAF. Yes, I know it. + +LADY KIRSTEN. With Arne's money we can mend everything; an +honorable place you will win for yourself among the king's men. +Think this carefully over; if you have promised Alfhild more than +you can fulfil--and I seem to notice in her something like that +in spite of her quiet demeanor--why, speak with her about it. +Tell her,--well, tell her anything you please; empty-handed she +shall not go away from here,--that you can freely promise. See, +here she comes! Olaf, my son! think of your betrothed and your +noble race, think of your old mother who would have to go to her +grave in shame, in case--be a man, Olaf! Now I go in to look +after the banqueting table. + +[Goes into the house.] + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE III + +[OLAF alone.] + +OLAF. [Gazes out to the right.] +As merry she is as the youthful roe, +As it plays with no thought of the morrow; +But soon will she wring her small hands in woe, +And suffer in anguish and sorrow! +Soon must I destroy the faith in her heart, +And waken her out of her dreams. +And then--yes, then we forever must part. +Poor Alfhild! So bitter your fate to me seems! + +OLAF. [Brooding.] +What cared I for honor, what cared I for power, +What mattered my race when I wandered with you! +It seemed in your eyes was reflected a flower, +More precious than any the world ever knew! +Forgotten I had both struggle and strife, +But since I again came home to this life, +Since at table I sat in my father's hall, +Since I went to answer my mother's call-- + +OLAF. [Abruptly.] 'Tis true from a noble race I am born, +And Alfhild lives up in the mountains forlorn. +In her I should find but a constant sorrow. +I must tell her--yet, no, I can't let her know! +Yet truly--I must--I must ere the morrow, +She must hear what to me is the bitterest woe! + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE IV + +[OLAF. ALFHILD from the church.] + +ALFHILD. [Runs eagerly to meet him.] +Olaf! Olaf! You have led me to the land +Where I walk amid flowers, where before I trod on sand. +In truth you have here so pleasant an isle, +O here I can live without worry or guile! +So much I would question, so little I know, +The riddles must you explain as we go.-- +Is it green here always in summer and spring? + +OLAF. Alfhild! + +ALFHILD. Your answer delay! +You see yon house with its spire and wing? +There went I this morning to play; +Without there was joy, there was laughter and mirth; +Within it was still as nowhere on earth. +I stepped through the door, I saw a great hall, +Within was a peace that was fair; +A dawn softly breaking pervaded it all, +And people were kneeling in prayer. +But high from above them a virgin looked down, +She sailed upon clouds of white, +Her head shone forth like a crimson crown, +Like heaven when dawns the light. +Calm was her face, a blue dress she wore, +A beautiful elf in her arms she bore, +And round about her played angels of love, +That laughed when they saw me below in the door +From their place in the heavens above! + +OLAF. [Aside.] Alas! I have wrought so woeful a play, +Soon will her sorrow begin! + +ALFHILD. O, tell me, Olaf! what people are they +Who live in the house I was in? + +OLAF. Each one who like you is good and kind, +Each one who is child-like in spirit and mind. +'Tis the church, God's house,--it belongs to him. + +ALFHILD. The mighty father! 'Tis only your whim! +His house is high over the stars in the sky, +Where the white swan sails undefiled, +So high 'tis beyond any mortal eye +Save that of the dreaming child!-- +The church that you spoke of! So then it is there +We shall ride in festal procession, +As bridegroom and bride! + +OLAF. [Aside.] No longer I dare +Delay my wretched confession! + +ALFHILD. Ah, each of your words has burned like a coal, +And deep its mark it has left on my soul! +My bosom is filled with joy and with song; +Wherever I wander in field or at home, +They shine on my path, they light me along,-- +Like stars at night in the heavenly dome! +You said the whole world would be asked to the feast, +And foremost should ride the minstrel and priest, +Knights should go forward and guide my steed, +And roses should blossom on every side, +Each lily we met should bow like a weed, +The flowers should curtsy before the bride! + +OLAF. Have I said-- + + ALFHILD. Olaf, you surely recall! +All things have followed your every desire; +The lindens stand yonder so green and so tall; +The roses are decked in their festive attire +And dance like elves at an elfen ball. +Never did heaven's illumining eye +So radiantly shine as here from the sky; +Never before sang the birds so sweet! +They sing the bride and the bridegroom to greet!-- +O, you--you make me so happy and blessed, +Both heaven and earth could I hold to my breast! +Nowhere can so humble a weed be found +Which under my feet I could crush and destroy, +Nowhere a creature so deep in the ground, +But I would share in its sorrow and joy! +My bosom is filled with the glory of spring; +It surges and roars like a wood in a storm! + +OLAF. [Aside.] And soon this youthful and lovely form +Shall writhe beneath sorrow's tormenting sting! + +ALFHILD. O, glorious life! + +[She kneels with upstretched arms.] + +ALFHILD. O father of love, +In the distant heaven! Had I but the power, +The tongues of the angels above, +Thy praise I should sing every hour; +I cannot, for I am of little worth, +I can only bow down before you to the earth-- +O thanks, thou unspeakable! Glory and praise +For all I can here understand of thy ways! + +[She rises.] + +ALFHILD. Yes, lovely is life in its every breath, +As lovely almost as the journey to death! + +OLAF. In the grave you think it is pleasant to lie? + +ALFHILD. I know not your meaning, but I brooded long. +And asked of my father "What means it to die?" +In answer thereto he sang me a song: + + "When the child of man is weighted with grief + And longs to be rocked to rest, + Then comes there an elf with wings of white + And frees its spirit oppressed. + + "The little elf with his wings of white + Makes ready a downy bed, + Of lilies he weaves the linen sheets + And pillows of roses red. + + "Away on the pillows he carries the child, + He carries it safe on his arm, + He takes it to heaven aloft on a cloud + Away from all earthly harm. + + "And cherubs there are in the heaven above + (I tell what is true to you); + They strew the pillows of rosy red + With pearls of white and of blue. + + "Then wakens the little earthly child, + It wakens to heavenly mirth,-- + But all that happiness, all that joy + There's no one that knows here on earth." + +OLAF. 'Twere better, alas! had you never come here, +Had you lived in the mountain your peaceful life. +Your joy like a weed will wither and sear, +Your faith will be killed-- + +ALFHILD. But as Olaf's wife +I am strong as the torrent and have no fear! +With you by my side let happen what may, +With you I will laugh and suffer and languish. + +ALFHILD. [Listening.] Hush, Olaf! You hear that mournful lay, +It sounds like a song of the bitterest anguish! + +CHORUS OF PALLBEARERS. [Softly outside to the right.] + The little child we carry + With sorrow to the grave, + Beneath the mould we bury + What soon the worms will crave. + + Hard is this lot and dreary: + With mournful dirge and sigh + To carry sad and weary + The child where it shall lie! + +ALFHILD. [Uncertain and anxious.] +What is it, Olaf? What is it, I say? + +OLAF. A child that death is bearing away, +A mother and children weep on the way. + +ALFHILD. Death! Then where are the pillows of red, +The lily-white linen, and where is the dead? + +OLAF. I see no pillows of red or of gray, +But only the dark black boards of the bier; +And thereon the dead sleeps on shavings and hay. + +ALFHILD. On shavings and hay? + +OLAF. That is all there is here! + +ALFHILD. And where is the elf who bears on his arm +The child far away from all earthly harm? + +OLAF. I see but a mother whose heart will break, +And little children who follow the wake. + +ALFHILD. And where are the pearls of blue and of white, +That the angels strew in the heaven of light? + +OLAF. I see only this,--they weep many a tear +As they stand at the side of the bier. + +ALFHILD. And where is the home, the house of God, +Where the dead dream only of mirth? + +OLAF. Behold! Now they place him beneath the sod +And cover him over with earth. + +ALFHILD. [Quiet and thoughtful, after a pause.] +Not so was death in the song--not so. + +OLAF. 'Tis true; but no such joy and pleasure +Has any one felt here below.-- +Have you never heard of the mountain king's treasure, +Which night after night like gold would glow; +But if you would seize the gold in your hand, +You nothing would find save gravel and sand; +And listen, Alfhild! it often is true +That life turns out in the selfsame way; +Approach not too near, it may happen to you, +That you burn your fingers some day. +'Tis true it may shine like a heavenly star, +But only when seen from afar. + +[He becomes aware of Lady Kirsten off the stage to the right.] + +OLAF. My mother--she'll tell you--I shall depart. +The angels above send their peace to your heart! + +[He goes towards the house but is stopped by LADY KIRSTEN.--The +sky becomes overcast with dark clouds; the wind begins to howl +in the tree-tops.--ALFHILD stands absorbed in deep thought.] + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE V + +[The Preceding. LADY KIRSTEN.] + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Softly.] Not so, my son, you have told her--? + +OLAF. All I was able to say I have said. Now you tell her the +rest, and then, mother, let me never, never see her again. + +[He casts a glance at ALFHILD and goes out past the house.] + +LADY KIRSTEN. That folly will soon be burned out of his +soul, if-- + +LADY KIRSTEN. [As if she suddenly has an idea.] But in case +I--Ah, if that could succeed, then would he be cured,--that I can +promise. But Alfhild--? Well, nevertheless, it must be +attempted. + +ALFHILD. [To herself.] + So then there is here too anguish and woe; + Well, so let it be; I shall never despair. + The sorrow of earth I never need know, + Still Olaf is good and fair! + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Approaches.] It seems to me that gloomy thoughts +are weighing upon your mind. + +ALFHILD. Yes, yes, the result of things I have recently heard. + +LADY KIRSTEN. From Olaf? + +ALFHILD. Certainly from Olaf; he has told me-- + +LADY KIRSTEN. I know, Alfhild. I know what he has said. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Aside.] He has mentioned to her his wedding, I +see. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Aloud.] This very night it is to be held. + +ALFHILD. What is to be held? + +LADY KIRSTEN. The wedding! + +ALFHILD. [Eagerly.] Oh, yes, that I know! + +LADY KIRSTEN. You know it and do not take it more to your heart +than this? + +ALFHILD. No. Why should I take it to heart? + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Aside.] There is something she is meditating,--I +see that clearly. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Aloud.] Well, so much the better for all of us. +But tell me, when the wedding is over, what then will you do? + +ALFHILD. I? I have little thought of that. + +LADY KIRSTEN. I mean, have you in mind to remain here or to go +home? + +ALFHILD. [Looks at her, surprised.] I have in mind to remain! + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Aside.] There we have it; she thinks to hold him +in her wiles even after he is wed. Well, we shall see about +that. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Aloud.] Alfhild! I wish you every possible +good, and if you dared rely on my-- + +ALFHILD. Yes, that I certainly dare! + +LADY KIRSTEN. Well and good; then you will let me take upon +myself your happiness. I shall take charge of you as best I know +how, and if you but give me your word you shall this very night +go to the church as a bride. + +ALFHILD. Yes, I know that. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Surprised.] You know that! Who has told you? + +ALFHILD. Olaf himself said so. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Aside.] Has Olaf--? Yes, forsooth, he has had +the same idea that I had, to marry her off in order to be rid of +her. Or perhaps in order to--well, no matter,--when she is +finally married, when Olaf on his side is a married man, then-- + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Aloud.] Well and good, Alfhild! If Olaf has +told you our intention for you, then it is not necessary for me +to--But do you now hasten, go in there in the store house; there +you will find my own wedding gown; that you shall wear! + +ALFHILD. [With childlike joy.] Shall I! Your own wedding gown! + +LADY KIRSTEN. Do as I say. Go in there and dress yourself as +splendidly as you please. + +ALFHILD. And do I also get a bridal crown? + +LADY KIRSTEN. Certainly! A bridal crown and silver rings and +golden bracelet. You will find plenty of them in the coffers and +chests. + +ALFHILD. Silver rings and golden bracelets! + +LADY KIRSTEN. Go, go, and hurry as fast as you can. + +ALFHILD. O, I shall not be long about it. + +[Claps her hands.] + +ALFHILD. I shall have silver rings and golden bracelets! + +[She runs out to the left.] + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE VI + +[LADY KIRSTEN alone.] + +LADY KIRSTEN. The evil and cursed woman! Happy and gay she is +though she knows that Olaf is to wed another. But that very fact +will serve me well; it will go easier than I had thought. She +looks as innocent as a child, and yet she can agree to take him +as a husband whom I first pick out for her. And I who thought +that she truly loved Olaf! If he is still ignorant of her real +spirit, he shall soon learn. He shall know her to the core, he +shall know how she has bewitched and lured him, and then, well, +then she is no longer dangerous. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Smiling.] Well, well! Olaf thought of the same +way of saving himself that I did; so good-natured I had never +imagined him.--But where shall we find the man who is willing +to--well, she is pretty, and I shall not mind a little silver and +even a bit of land. Has Olaf already spoken to some one? That +is hardly thinkable!--Well, then I shall see to that. I have +servants enough on the estate and-- + +[Looks out to the right.] + +LADY KIRSTEN. Hemming! what if I should try him! But he saw +them together in the mountain yesterday; he must surely know +there is something between the two. But none the less--he is a +humble serving-man, and poor besides, and weak of mind--we shall +see, we shall see! + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE VII + +[LADY KIRSTEN. HEMMING from the right.] + +HEMMING. [To himself.] Nowhere is Ingeborg to be found; she +will bring me to my grave,--that is certain. Yesterday she was +gracious to me; she gave me her ring; but then she took it away +from me again; and today she will not so much as look at me as I +pass. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Slowly, as she approaches.] A little cautious I +must be. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Aloud.] Ah, Hemming, is it you? You prefer to +wander alone, I see; you keep yourself away from the servants and +maids; when I see such things I realize very well that you do so +not without reason. + +HEMMING. Why, my noble lady! what should-- + +LADY KIRSTEN. Yes, Hemming! there is something that you keep all +to yourself as you go about; you are not very cheerful! + +HEMMING. [Disconcerted.] Not cheerful? I? + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Smiling.] There is here today a young and +beautiful girl whom you fancy very much. + + HEMMING. All saints! + +LADY KIRSTEN. And she in turn has a fancy for you. + + HEMMING. Me--Whom? I do not know whom you mean. + +LADY KIRSTEN. Come, Hemming, do not speak so; before me you need +not feel ashamed. Yes, yes, I see clearly, I tell you. + +HEMMING. [Aside.] Heaven! she must have noticed by Ingeborg's +manner that-- + +LADY KIRSTEN. I have seen that the wedding is but little joy to +you. The trip to the church you care little about, since you +would yourself like to go as a groom, yet cannot see your way +clear. + +HEMMING. [In the greatest agitation.] Alas, Lady Kirsten! my +noble, august lady! be not offended! + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Surprised.] I? And why should I be offended? + +HEMMING. [Continuing.] I have struggled and fought against this +unhappy love as long as I have been able, and I honestly believe +she has done the same. + +LADY KIRSTEN. She? Has she then told you that she cares for +you? + +HEMMING. Yes, almost! + +LADY KIRSTEN. Well and good; then you talked about it together? + +HEMMING. Yes,--but only once, only one single time, I swear. + +LADY KIRSTEN. Once or ten times, it is all the same to me. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Aside.] Then they are already agreed; it was +certainly a stroke of luck that I came upon Hemming; now I am not +at all surprised that Alfhild was so willing to go to the altar. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Aloud.] Hemming! I am much indebted to you for +finding my son again and for otherwise being of help to me; now I +shall make requital,--I shall to the limit of my power stand by +you in the matter we just spoke of. + +HEMMING. [Overcome with joy.] You! You will! Lady Kirsten! +Alas, great God and holy saints! I hardly dare believe it. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Stops.] But Lord Olaf, your son! What do you +think he will say? + +LADY KIRSTEN. He will not interpose any objection,--I shall see +to that. + +HEMMING. [Unsuspecting.] Yes, truly, it would be best for him +too, for I know she cares little for him. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Smiling.] That I have noticed, Hemming! + +HEMMING. Have you! Well, you are so clever, Lady Kirsten! And +I who thought that I was the only one who had noticed it. + +HEMMING. [Doubtfully.] Do you think that Lord Arne will give +his consent? + +LADY KIRSTEN. Your master? I shall know how to talk him into +it,--that will not be so difficult. + +HEMMING. You think so? Alas, but I am so poor a man. + +LADY KIRSTEN. I shall remedy that all right, in case Lord Arne +is not prepared to do so. + +HEMMING. Thanks, thanks, Lady Kirsten! Heaven reward you for +your kindness! + +LADY KIRSTEN. But you will keep this that we have been speaking +of to yourself. + +HEMMING. That I promise. + +LADY KIRSTEN. Then hold yourself in readiness; the guests will +assemble out here in a little while now, and do you be on hand. + +[She goes over to the door of the store house and looks for +ALFHILD.] + +HEMMING. [To himself.] No, this is to me like a strange +illusive dream. Ingeborg and I,--we are to belong to +each other! Ah, can it be true? So high I never dared let +my thoughts ascend;--it seemed to me in the morning that +I had been guilty of the greatest presumption if during +the night I had dreamed about it.--Hm! I know very +well of course that it is not for my sake that Lady Kirsten +goes to all this trouble. She has something up her sleeve; +she thinks it necessary to break the agreement with Lord +Arne, and now that she has noticed that Ingeborg cares for +me she will use that as an excuse. Well, I have so often +given my master warning, but he will never believe me. + +ARNE. [Calls outside to the left.] Hemming! Hemming! + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Comes forward.] Your master calls! Go now! +After a while I shall speak to him; he will agree. Believe me, +he shall follow his page to the church in the same hour that he +leads his daughter thither. + +HEMMING. Thanks, thanks, Lady Kirsten! Truly, you confer a +blessing on us all. + +[He goes out to the left.] + +LADY KIRSTEN. [To herself.] So young she is and yet so cunning; +she has been coquetting with Hemming all the while she made my +son believe that--Well and good, he shall soon learn to know her +arts. But first I must see Lord Arne; he thinks highly of +Hemming and would reluctantly part with him; it seemed too that +Hemming feared that something like that might stand in the way; +but they can easily remain as they are even if Hemming +marries.--Hemming sees more clearly in the affair than I had +expected. What will Olaf say, he asked; he has evidently noticed +that my son still thinks of Alfhild. Well, let him; if he takes +her he will say nothing, and when Alfhild is married,--I know +Olaf; he has always wanted to stand in high honor among the men +of the village, and for that reason he will certainly--yes, yes, +it must, it shall succeed. + +[She goes out to the right.] + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE VIII + +[HEMMING comes from the left with a bowl of ale hidden +under his coat. ARNE follows him cautiously, looking +about.] + +ARNE. Is there anyone? + +HEMMING. No, come along, master. + +ARNE. But it seemed to me I heard Lady Kirsten. + +HEMMING. She is gone now, come along! + +ARNE. [Sits down on the bench to the left.] Hemming! it is +well that the wedding is to be held tonight. Tomorrow I go home; +yes, that I will. Not a day longer will I remain in Lady +Kirsten's house. + +HEMMING. Why, master! is there enmity again between you? + +ARNE. Is it not enough, do you think, that she and all her +superior relatives look down on me; at supper they laughed and +jested among themselves because I could not bring myself to eat +of all those ungodly, outlandish dishes. And what was it that we +got to drink? Sweet wine and cider that will stay in my stomach +for eight days. No, the good old homebrewed ale for me. + +[Drinks and adds softly and bitterly.] + +ARNE. Of this I had sent the wretched woman three full barrels. +And what has she done? Thrown it to her servants, and here I +must steal myself a drink,--yes, Hemming! steal myself a drink of +my own ale, that they may not revile me as a coarse peasant, who +doesn't understand the more refined drinks. + +HEMMING. Well, master! I gave you warning. + +ARNE. Ah--gave me warning! You are stupid, Hemming! You think +I haven't noticed it myself; but wait, just wait! + +ARNE. [Flaring up.] To place my good nourishing ale before the +house servants, as though it were not worthy to be put on the +table of a lord.-- + +HEMMING. Yes, Lady Kirsten treats you ill, that is certain. + +ARNE. [Hands him the bowl.] Come, sit down and drink! + +ARNE. [HEMMING sits down.] Listen, Hemming! I could wish we +were home again. + +HEMMING. Well, I have no fancy for this festive home. + +ARNE. No, my old room at Guldvik for me;--when we sat there of +an evening and played chess with the ale jug between us-- + +HEMMING. The while Mistress Ingeborg sat at the loom and +embroidered roses and all sorts of flowers in the linen-- + +ARNE. And sang all the time so merrily that it seemed to me that +I became young and active again. Yes, Hemming! when the wedding +is over, we shall go back and live our old ways again. + +HEMMING. But then there will be no one who works the loom and +sings merry lays the while. + +ARNE. No, that is true enough; Ingeborg will then be gone. It +will be a little hard on me; she is wild and self-willed, but I +shall miss her nevertheless,--miss her greatly. + +ARNE. [Considers.] Now and then I suppose I could visit her +here--But no, that I will not! Here they laugh at me, they +whisper behind my back,--I see it well enough. + +HEMMING. But in case you wished, it could still be changed. + +ARNE. Changed! You are stupid, Hemming! Always you talk about +changing. + +ARNE. [Hands him the bowl.] Come, drink, it will do you good. +Changed; no, no, it shall never be changed! It was evil spirits +who put into my head the idea of marrying into Lady Kirsten's +family. But now it is done; the superior kinsmen will have to +behave as they please, but my own relatives and friends shall not +laugh at me,--if I have given my word, I shall keep it too. + +ARNE. [Disheartened.] If I only knew that Olaf would be kind to +her; I shall ask him to--. + +ARNE. [Vehemently.] He _shall_ be kind, else I shall come +and beat him with my old fists. + +HEMMING. Yes, it is well that you keep your eye on her, for Olaf +cares little for her, I do believe. + +ARNE. So, you think so? + +HEMMING. Do you remember Alfhild, the poor girl, who yesterday +followed us down from the mountain? + +ARNE. Indeed I do. She is pretty! + +HEMMING. [Rises.] So thinks Olaf, too. + +ARNE. What does that mean? + +HEMMING. Olaf loves her! 'Tis many a time he visited her up +there;--what Lady Kirsten has told you, you must never believe. + +ARNE. And what you blab about I believe still less. You are +provoked with Ingeborg because at times she makes fun of you, and +therefore you begrudge her this attractive marriage; yes, yes, I +know you too well. + +HEMMING. Why, master! you could believe that-- + +ARNE. Make me believe that Olaf Liljekrans loves that beggar +woman! A noble, high-born lord such as he! It is almost as if +one were to say that Ingeborg, my daughter, had a fancy for you. + +HEMMING. [Embarrassed.] For me--how could you ever imagine-- + +ARNE. No, I don't imagine! But the one is as unreasonable as +the other. Come, drink! and don't talk any more such nonsense. + +ARNE. [Rises.] There is Lady Kirsten with the guests. What's +going to happen now? + +HEMMING. They are all to assemble out here; they will then +follow the bride and bridegroom to the banquet-table and thence +to the church. + +ARNE. Aye, what a cursed custom! To the church at night! Is +then marriage a work of darkness? + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE IX + +[The Preceding. LADY KIRSTEN, OLAF, INGEBORG, +GUESTS, and SERVANTS and MAIDS enter gradually +from the several sides.] + +LADY KIRSTEN. [To herself.] I have not seen Olaf alone; but +when I think it over, it is probably best that he know nothing +about it until it is all over. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Softly, to HEMMING, who has been whispering with +INGEBORG.] Well, Hemming! How do you think your master is +disposed? + +HEMMING. Alas, Lady Kirsten! I have but little hope unless you +lend your aid. + +LADY KIRSTEN. Aye, we'll manage it all right. + +[She mingles with the GUESTS.] + +INGEBORG. [Softly, to HEMMING.] What do you mean? What blessed +hope is it you are speaking of? + +HEMMING. Alas, I hardly dare believe it myself; but Lady Kirsten +means well by us. She will soon show you that-- + +INGEBORG. Hush! they are approaching. + +OLAF. [In an undertone.] Tell me, mother! how goes it with her? + +LADY KIRSTEN. Well enough, as I knew before. + +OLAF. Then she knows how to comfort herself? + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Smiling.] It seems so. Only wait! This very +evening you shall know for certain. + +OLAF. What do you mean? + +LADY KIRSTEN. I mean that she is a sly witch. All her fair +words have been deceitful wiles. + +OLAF. No, no, mother! + +LADY KIRSTEN. That we shall see! Alfhild is happy and gay,--so +much I know. + +OLAF. It were well for me if she were! + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Loudly and clearly.] Lord Arne of Guldvik! Now +is the hour come at length which we have all, I imagine, been +looking forward to. + +HEMMING. [Aside.] Now it begins! + +LADY KIRSTEN. Soon will the church bestow its blessing on our +children and unite them in a long and loving union. + +HEMMING. [Aside, startled.] What now? + +LADY KIRSTEN. The terms we have already agreed upon. But I +suggest that we here once again seal them with hand and word. + +HEMMING. [As before.] Heaven and earth! Is she trying to +deceive me? + +ARNE. That is not necessary; I stand by my word like an +honorable man. + +LADY KIRSTEN. That I well know, Lord Arne! but it will take but +a moment. First of all, there shall be an end for all time to +every quarrel and dispute between our families,--and as for the +damages and injuries which our old disagreements have caused on +either side, no one shall demand compensation for them; each must +manage them as best he knows how. We promise that, do we not? + +ARNE. That we promise! + +[General shaking of hands among the relatives of the bridal +couple.] + +HEMMING. [Softly.] Curses upon you; you lied to me shamefully! + +LADY KIRSTEN. Then we mention again, what we are already agreed +upon, that the boundary line between Lord Arne's domains and mine +shall be moved as far in upon his land as good and impartial men +may judge to be fitting and just. + +ARNE. Yes, yes, I suppose it must be so! + +LADY KIRSTEN. That we promise, then? + +THE GUESTS. That we promise! + +[Shaking of hands as before.] + +LADY KIRSTEN. Finally, Lord Arne shall give in the form of a +dowry to his daughter as much silver, linen, and other +furnishings as were named and agreed upon at the betrothal feast, +all of which shall here be placed in my home from the day +Mistress Ingeborg moves herein as my son's lawful wife, which is +tonight. On that we are agreed? + +THE GUESTS. That we solemnly promise! + +[Shaking of hands.] + +LADY KIRSTEN. Then let the bride and bridegroom clasp hands and +go to the banquet-table and thence to the church. + +ARNE. [Aside.] Ah, Hemming can now see whether Lady Kirsten +deceives me. + +HEMMING. [Softly.] O, then it is all over for me; a fool I was +to depend on her. + +LADY KIRSTEN. But on this joyful day it is fitting that we make +as many as possible happy. And therefore I have a request to +make, Lord Arne! + +ARNE. Speak forth! If I can I shall gladly comply. + +HEMMING. [Aside.] What does she purpose now? + +LADY KIRSTEN. There is still a young couple who would like to go +to the altar this evening; from what I hear, they are agreed +between themselves. The bride I shall take care of, but the +bridegroom you must assist; it is Hemming, your page, and +Alfhild! + +INGEBORG. [With a cry.] Hemming! + +OLAF. [Likewise.] Alfhild! + +HEMMING. O, woe is me! Now I understand-- + +THE GUESTS. [At the same time.] Hemming and Alfhild! The +mountain girl! + +[Laughter and whispering.] + +OLAF. Alfhild! You will marry her off to--No, no, it shall not +be! Never, never! + +LADY KIRSTEN. Be still!--Olaf, my son; be still, I beg you! + +ARNE. [To himself.] What's this! Yes, truly, then Hemming was +right; there is something between Olaf and Alfhild. + +ARNE. [Whispering.] Aye, Lady Kirsten! I see your scheme. Now +I know why Olaf wandered three days in the mountain, and now you +intend to make use of Hemming to be rid of her. Ha, ha! + +LADY KIRSTEN. [With forced composure.] Lord Arne! how can you +believe such a thing? + +ARNE. [In a low tone.] O, I see clearly! Now I should think I +had very good reason to break the agreement. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Softly and frightened.] Break the agreement! I +beg of you! Will you put us all to shame? + +[They talk together softly.] + +HEMMING. [To INGEBORG, with whom he has in the meantime been +whispering.] That is all there is to it, I swear. Lady Kirsten +and I have not understood each other. + +INGEBORG. Well, then decline! You shall! I command you. + +HEMMING. No, no! I dare not; she will then see that it was you +I was thinking of. + +INGEBORG. Good; then I shall. + +INGEBORG. [Aloud.] Hemming shall not go to the altar with +Alfhild;--he is too good to marry another man's darling! + +OLAF. [With a cry.] For shame! + +THE GUESTS. Darling! + +ARNE. [To INGEBORG.] What are you saying? + +LADY KIRSTEN. Heaven protect us! + +OLAF. Cursed be my soul! She is put to shame! + +INGEBORG. Yes, loudly I proclaim it: she is another man's +darling. Let him gainsay it who dares. + +ARNE. Ingeborg! + +ARNE. [Aside.] What is the matter with her? + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Softly.] So that's the way it is! She +then,--she it is who cares for Hemming! + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Softly and clearly, to ARNE.] Do you now intend +to break the agreement? You can now see for yourself from your +daughter's conduct what reason I had to get Hemming married! + +ARNE. [Disconcerted.] My daughter! Could you imagine that +she-- + +LADY KIRSTEN. You need not pretend! Ingeborg has a fancy for +your house-carl; now I should think I had good reason to break +our agreement. + +ARNE. Break, break--! What are you thinking of! To bring on me +such disgrace! + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Mocking.] Yes,--otherwise you would do it! + +ARNE. [Quickly.] No, no, I have reconsidered; it is best we +both keep still! + +LADY KIRSTEN. [To herself.] See, now have I won! I know Olaf; +a woman so scorned will never tempt him! + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE X + +[The Preceding. ALFHILD comes unnoticed out of the +storehouse in glittering bridal dress with a crown on +her head and her hair flowing.] + +ARNE. [Aside.] This has been a cursed day for me! O, he is a +cunning dog, this Hemming! He knew that Ingeborg had a fancy for +him; it was therefore so galling to him that Olaf should have +her. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Who has in the meantime regained her composure.] +And now to the festive hall! Hemming we can think of +later.--Olaf, take your bride by the hand! + +ARNE. [Reluctantly, as he sees INGEBORG whisper to HEMMING.] +Where is the bride? Come, come! + +ALFHILD AND INGEBORG. [At the same time, as they each seize one +of OLAF's hands.] Here I am! + +THE GUESTS. How,--she takes Olaf? + +[General amazement.] + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Aside.] So far has he gone, then! + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Aloud, to ALFHILD.] You are mistaken! That is +not your bridegroom! + +ALFHILD. Why, certainly, it is Olaf! + +INGEBORG. [Lets go his hand.] If then he has promised her--! + +LADY KIRSTEN. [In great agitation.] Olaf is not your +bridegroom, I say! Tell her it yourself, my son! + +[OLAF is silent. LADY KIRSTEN's Kinsmen look at each other +embarrassed. ARNE's Relatives draw nearer, angry and +threatening.] + +LADY KIRSTEN. [With raised voice.] Olaf Liljekrans! Answer +loudly and clearly! You owe it to yourself and to us. + +OLAF. [In despair, struggling with himself.] Let it be as you +wish then, mother! Yes, by all the saints! I shall answer. +Alfhild! you are mistaken! I am not your bridegroom. + +OLAF. [Pointing to INGEBORG.] There--there stands my bride! + +ALFHILD. [Withdraws a step or two dumfounded and stares at him.] +She--your-- + +OLAF. [With rising irritation.] Alfhild! go hence! Go, go, far +into the mountain again; 'twill be best for you. I was sick and +bewildered in mind when I wandered up there! What I have told +you I little remember! I do not know and I do not want to know! +Do you hear,--I do not want to!--The golden crown you can keep! +Keep all, both the silver and gold, that you there stand dressed +in. More,--yea, tenfold more you shall have.--Well! why do you +stare at me so? + +[ALFHILD takes off the crown and the other adornments and places +them at OLAF's feet as she continues uninterruptedly to stare at +him.] + +OLAF. Perhaps I pretended to you that you were to be my bride +tonight, perhaps you believed me! Perhaps you thought that Olaf +Liljekrans would marry a--a--what was it you called her? + +OLAF. [Stamps with his foot.] Do not stare at me so, I say! I +know you well enough; you have bewitched me. I forgot my family; +I forgot my bride, my betrothed, she who stands there. + +OLAF. [Seizes ALFHILD violently by the arm.] Look at her, +Alfhild! Aha, it is she that I love! + +[ALFHILD sinks down on her knees and covers her face with her +hands.] + +OLAF. Rise, Alfhild! rise, I say! If you dare to grieve in this +way, I shall kill you!--Why are you not happy? Be merry and wild +as I am!--And the rest of you! Why do you stand so silently, +looking at one another? Laugh,--laugh loudly, so that it may +echo around!--Alfhild! Why don't you answer? Have I not told +you enough! Aha! Then add, you others, a word to what I have +said! Come, say something, you too; Lady Kirsten would like it! +Laugh at her, mock her, trample her under your feet! + +OLAF. [With ringing laughter.] Ha, ha, ha! She is Olaf's +darling! + +[ALFHILD sinks down to the ground in such a way that she rests +prostrate against the stone bench at the left. A flash of +lightning illuminates the scene and the thunder rolls; during +the following to the close of the act the darkness and the storm +increase.] + +OLAF. See, see! That I like; now do the powers above join in! +Right now will I ride to the church with my bride! Come, +Mistress Ingeborg! But first will we drink,--yes, drink, drink! +Bring here the beaker and horn,--not in there--! Light the +candles in the church! Let the organ resound; prepare for a +dance--not mournful psalms--fie, fie, no, a dance! + +[Thunder and lightning.] + +OLAF. Ah, it is rumored in heaven that Olaf Liljekrans is +celebrating his wedding! + +[Rushes out to the right.] + +ARNE. Christ save me! his reason is gone! + +LADY KIRSTEN. Ah, have no fear; it will soon pass,--I know him. + +[Draws ARNE aside with her.] + +ARNE. [Gently threatening HEMMING in passing.] O, Hemming, +Hemming! You are a sly dog! + +[The GUESTS go quietly and gloomily out to the right; the +SERVANTS to the left.] + +INGEBORG. [Detains HEMMING.] Hemming! I will not go to church +with Olaf Liljekrans! + +HEMMING. Alas, what will prevent it? + +INGEBORG. If it comes to that, I shall say no,--no before the +very altar itself, in the presence of all! + +HEMMING. Ingeborg! + +INGEBORG. Hold my horse saddled and ready! + +HEMMING. What! You will--! + +INGEBORG. I will! Now I know for the first time how dear you +are to me,--now when I stand in danger of losing you. Go,--do as +I say, and let me know when it is time. + +[She goes out to the right.] + +HEMMING. Yes, now am I strong; now I dare venture whatever it +be! + +[He goes out to the left.] + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE XI + +[ALFHILD. Later HEMMING, INGEBORG, and others at +various times.] + +ALFHILD. [Remains lying motionless for a long time with her face +concealed in her hands. At length she half raises herself, looks +about bewildered, rises, and speaks with quiet broken laughter.] +One falcon the heavens with plenty may bless, +Another must suffer great want and distress! +One bird wears a coat of feathers so gay, +Another must live contented with gray! +I have known that tears are a balm to the soul, +When the world is nothing but gall; +But now I have suffered such sorrow and dole, +I could laugh myself dead at the thought of it all! + +[It is now quite dark. The windows of the church are being +lighted up. ALFHILD goes over to the house and listens while the +following song is heard faintly within.] + +CHORUS OF WEDDING GUESTS. +Hail to the bridegroom and hail to the bride! +There's feasting and joy everywhere. +Lord Olaf, all hail! a knight who can ride, +And Ingeborg a lady so fair! + +HEMMING. [Steals in from the left during the song.] The horse +stands saddled and ready! Now a secret sign to Ingeborg and then +away! + +[He goes out to the right to the rear of the house.] + +ALFHILD. His health from the silvery cup they drink, +The bride sits proudly enthroned at his side; +The candles of wax on the altar now wink, +Soon out to the church they will ride! +Within at the banquet sit host and guest +And laugh as they bandy the merry jest! +But here I must wander alone in the night, +Alas, they have all forsaken me quite! +Olaf! The storm is rending my hair! +The rain beats against me wherever I fare! +Olaf, Olaf! Can you see me thus languish +Beneath this unspeakable torture and anguish? + +[She laughs.] + +ALFHILD. But rain or storm is a trifling thing, +'Tis as nothing beside the poignant sting +I suffer within my breast.-- +My home and my father and all the rest +I left for Olaf, the friend I loved best! +He swore to me then I should be his bride! +And I came--God's love I felt in my soul; +But he drove me away, he thrust me aside; +So loudly he laughed when I writhed in dole! +While they banquet within, like a dog I must stay +Out here in the storm. Hence,--hence I will go! + +[Starts to go, but stops.] + +ALFHILD. But I have not the power, I cannot go away; +Here must I stay and suffer my woe! +'Tis little the flowers out there in the wood +Can tear themselves up from the ground! +And Olaf, whether he be false or good,-- +About him my roots I have wound. + +[Pause.--The HOUSE SERVANTS come with torches from the left.] + +ALFHILD. [As if seized by an uneasy presentiment.] Whither do +you go? Whither, whither? What is going to happen? + +A SERVANT. Why, see, see! It is Alfhild; she is still here! + +ALFHILD. O, tell me this! What is going to happen,--why all +these preparations? + +THE SERVANT. The wedding! Wouldn't you care to see it? + +ALFHILD. [In feverish anxiety.] The wedding! O, no, no! Put +it off, only till tomorrow! If the wedding is held, then is +everything over with me, I well know! + +THE SERVANT. Postpone it! No, Alfhild! 'Tis not, I'm afraid, +the wish of bridegroom or bride! + +ANOTHER. Think for a moment! Were you yourself but the bride, +you surely would not want to wait. + +[Laughter.] + +THE FIRST SERVANT. Now we go down to the gate at the church to +light the way with red bridal lights when the procession starts +from the house. + +THE SECOND SERVANT. Come along with us, Alfhild! You shall also +have a torch to carry! + +SEVERAL. Yes, yes, you must come! It is Lord Olaf's day of +glory! + +[Laughter.] + +ALFHILD. [Takes one of the torches.] Yes, yes, I will! As the +most humble in the row I shall stand down there, and then, when +he sees me, when I ask of him, when I remind him of everything he +has promised and sworn,--O, tell me, tell me, do you not think +that he will be kind to me again? Do you think so? O, tell me +you do! Say that you think so! + +THE SERVANTS. Aha,--for certain he will; now come! + +[They go out to the right to the rear of the house.] + +ALFHILD. [Bursts into tears.] +They mock at me, laugh at me,--one and all! +So harsh is not even the mountain wall; +The moss thereon is permitted to grow; +There's no one so kind to me here! I--I must go! + +[Thunder and lightning.] + +ALFHILD. Ah, heaven itself is angry and grim, +It pours out its wrath on my wretched head; +But flash there is none to annihilate him +Who craftily tricked me in all that he said! + +[The tones of the organ are heard from within the church.] + +ALFHILD. O, listen! I hear God's angel choir! +'Tis Olaf to the altar they call! +And I must stand here in my ragged attire +And suffer outside the church-hall! + +[She swings the torch high in the air.] + +ALFHILD. No, no, that I will not, thou all-highest God! +O, tempt me no longer, forswear thee I may! + +[She is silent and listens to the organ music.] + +ALFHILD. God's angels are singing! From under the sod +The dead they were able to carol away! +O, my bosom is bursting with woe! + +[She kneels and faces the church.] + +ALFHILD. Cease, cease your melodies tender and sweet! +O, cease your singing; be kind, I entreat! +Or Olaf to the altar will go! + +[Whispering and in the greatest apprehension.] + +ALFHILD. Be still! O, be still! For a little while yet! +He is lulled in a sleep that will make him forget! +O, waken him not, else straight he will hie +To the church--and then, alas, I must die! + +[The organ grows louder through the storm. ALFHILD springs up, +beside herself with despair.] + +The angels of God have forsaken me quite! +They mock at my anguish and woe! +They conjure him forth;--he is now in their might! +Ah, if here in the dark, dark night I must go, +Your bridal chamber at least shall be light! + +[She throws the torch in through the opening in the gable and +falls down on the ground.--INGEBORG and HEMMING come hurriedly +from behind the house.] + +HEMMING. Now it is time. The horse stands saddled behind the +store house. + +INGEBORG. And all the servants are down at the church, are they +not? + +HEMMING. Aye, rest you assured; and in the banquet house I have +barred every shutter and door with heavy iron rings; no one can +get out! + +INGEBORG. Away, then! Up to the valley which Alfhild has told +of! + +HEMMING. Yes, up there! There no one will seek us! + +[They rush out to the left.--ALFHILD continues to lie motionless +for some time. Suddenly cries and commotion are hear in the +bridal house; the flames break out through the roof.] + +ALFHILD. [Jumps up in despair.] +It burns!--Aha,--I remember! 'T was here +Too dark for my soul--it filled me with fear! +Olaf, before it was you who smiled, +Now it is Alfhild, so gay and so wild!-- +In the bridal house there is anguish and gloom, +The bride is burning on the arm of the groom! + +[The HOUSE SERVANTS rush in one by one without torches and stand +as if turned to stone. OLAF comes into view up in the opening, +which he seeks to widen with desperate efforts.] + +OLAF. Alfhild! 'Tis you! So might I have known! +If only from out of this danger you save me, +'T is silver and gold you shall hereafter own! + +ALFHILD. [With wild laughter.] +Too well I remember the promise you gave me! +Now ride to the church with minstrel and priest! +Now hold your wedding,--forget all the rest! +Alfhild has honored you as she knew best,-- +The torch she has swung at your bridal feast! + +[She rushes out at the back. The SERVANTS hasten to lend their +help; a part of the roof falls in; OLAF is seen high amidst the +flames as the curtain falls.] + + * * * * * + + + + +THIRD ACT + +[A sunny valley, rich in flowers, trees, and +vegetation of all kinds, and surrounded by lofty +snow-capped mountains. In the center of the background +a quiet mountain tarn; on the left side a rocky cliff +which drops straight down to the water. On the same +side nearer the front of the stage a very old log hut, +almost entirely hidden in the dense shrubbery. The +glow of dawn shines over the mountains; in the valley +itself the day is only half begun; during the +following scene's the sun rises.] + + + +SCENE I + +[ALFHILD lies sleeping and half concealed among the +bushes beside the hut; soft music indicates her +shifting dreams. OLAF comes down the hillside to the +right. Over his wedding clothes he wears a coarse +cloak.] + +OLAF. Here it was; I know the green there this side of the tarn. +It was yonder beneath the linden tree that I dreamed my strange +dream. On the slope of the mountain there I stood when Alfhild +for the first time came to meet me; I placed my betrothal ring on +the string of my bow and shot;--that shot has proved a magic +shot; it struck the huntsman himself. + +OLAF. It is strange that when I wander up here, far from the +village below, it seems as if another atmosphere played around +me, as if a more vigorous blood flowed in my veins, as if I had +another mind, another soul. + +OLAF. Where is she now? + +OLAF. I shall,--I will find her again! Up here she must come; +she has no home out there in the cold wide world. And I--am I +not also a homeless fugitive? Did I not become a stranger in my +mother's house, a stranger among my kinsmen, the very first hour +I met her? + +OLAF. Is she then a witch,--has she power over secret arts as--? + +OLAF. My mother! Hm! It seems to me it would scarcely be well +for me to allow her to manage my life; she insinuates thoughts +into my heart which do not belong there. No, no, I will find +Alfhild again and ask forgiveness for the wrong I have done, and +then-- + +[He stops and looks out to the left.] + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE II + +OLAF. (Alfhild still sleeping. Thorgjerd comes from + behind the hut on the left.) + +OLAF. Well met, stranger! + +THORGJERD. Thanks, the same to you. You are early about! + +OLAF. Or late; early in the morning, but late in the night. + +THORGJERD. You belong in the village below, I take it. + +OLAF. My family lives there. And you? + +THORGJERD. Wherever the mind is at rest, there is one at home; +that is why I like best to wander in here;--my neighbors shall +not do me any injustice. + +OLAF. That I have noticed. + +THORGJERD. Then you have been here before? + +OLAF. I chased a hind this summer in here; but when I look +closely I see 'tis a royal child that has been bewitched. + +THORGJERD. [Looks at him sharply.] That hunt is dangerous! + +OLAF. For the hunter? + +[THORGJERD nods.] + +OLAF. I was sitting and thinking the same thing myself; it seems +to me that I was bewitched on that hunt. + +THORGJERD. Farewell and good luck to you! + +OLAF. Out upon you! If you wish a huntsman good luck he will +never come within shot of the prey. + +THORGJERD. If the shot should strike the hunter himself, the +best luck that could happen to him would be to have no luck at +all. + +OLAF. You speak wisely. + +THORGJERD. Yes, yes; there is many a thing to be learned in +here. + +OLAF. Too true! I have learned here the best that I know. + +THORGJERD. Farewell! I'll take greetings from you to your +kinsmen. + +OLAF. You mean to go down? + +THORGJERD. Such was my purpose. These are merry days down +there, I am told. A mighty knight is celebrating his wedding-- + +OLAF. Then you should have been there last night; now I fear the +best part of the fun is past. + +THORGJERD. I dare say I'll come in time even yet. + +OLAF. Perhaps! But still you should have been there last night; +so bright and so warm a festive hall you never have seen before. + +THORGJERD. It was well for him who was within. + +OLAF. I know one who had to stand outside. + +THORGJERD. Yes, yes, outside,--that is the poor man's place. + +OLAF. I know one who had to stand outside and who nevertheless +was both worse off and better off than those within. + +THORGJERD. I must go down,--I see that clearly; I shall play for +the guests. Now I shall fetch my harp, and then-- + +OLAF. You are a minstrel? + +THORGJERD. And not among the worst. Now shall I fetch my harp +from where it lies hidden near the waterfall; those strings you +should hear. With them I sat once on the edge of the bed and +played the bride out of the festive hall over ridge and +field.--Have you never heard little Ingrid's lay? He who could +play the bride out of the bridegroom's arms can surely play his +child home to her father again. Farewell! If you linger here we +may meet again when I get down there. + +[He goes out to the right by the tarn.] + + * * * * * + +SCENE III + +[OLAF. ALFHILD.] + +OLAF. Ah, if it were--for certain I cannot doubt it. Alfhild +herself said that her father played such music that no one who +heard it could ever forget. He mentioned Lady Ingrid who +disappeared on the eve of her wedding many years ago,--there was +a young minstrel named Thorgjerd who loved her, so went the +story. Many a strange tale was afterwards current about him; at +times he stood right in the midst of the village and played so +beautifully that all who heard it had to weep; but no one knew +where he made his home. Alfhild--yes, she is his child! Here +she has grown up, here in this desolate valley, which no one has +known of by name for many a year; and Ingrid, who +disappeared--indeed, he said-- + +[Becomes aware of ALFHILD.] + +OLAF. Alfhild! There she is! In her wedding garments she has +fled up here. Here then shall you awaken after the bridal night; +so sorry a day to you was my day of honor. You wished to go out +into life, you said; you wanted to learn to know all the love in +the world. So sorry a journey you had, but I swear it shall all +be well again. She moves; it is as if she were writhing in +sorrow and anguish;--when you awaken, it shall be to joy and +delight! + +ALFHILD. [Still half in dreams.] +It burns! Oh, save him,--he is within! +He must not die! Life anew he must win! + +[She jumps up in fright; the music ceases.] + +ALFHILD. Where am I! He stands here before me, it seems! + +Olaf Liljekrans! save me from my dreams! + +OLAF. Alfhild! take heart, here you need fear no harm! + +ALFHILD. [Moves away, fearfully and apprehensively.] +You think with sweet words my soul to beguile? +In your heart there is evil, though with lips you may smile, +On me you shall nevermore practice your charm! + +OLAF. Alfhild! be calm, do not start; +'Tis Olaf I am, the friend of your heart! +Unkind I have been, I have treated you ill; +But deep in my heart I was faithful to you! +I was blind and deluded and weak of will,-- +And thus I did wound you far more than I knew! +O, can you forgive me? Alfhild, you must,-- +I swear to you I shall be worthy your trust! +I shall bear you aloft and smooth your way, +And kiss from your cheek the tears of dole, +The grief in your heart I shall try to allay, +And heal the wound that burns in your soul! + +ALFHILD. I know you too well and your cunning disguise. +Since last I did see you I too have grown wise. +You would have me believe with your wily speech +It is you for whom I now suffer and languish. +You would have me believe it was you that did teach +Me to revel in joy and to writhe in anguish. +'Twill profit you little, I know you too well, +Whether early or late you come to my dell. +I know you too well; for deceit on your brow +I can read. Not so was the other, I vow! + +OLAF. The other? Whom mean you? + +ALFHILD. He that is dead! +'Tis therefore I suffer so bitter a dread. +You don't understand? You must know there were two; +And that is why peace I shall nevermore find! +The one was all love, so good and so true, +The other was evil, faithless, unkind; +The one to me came on a late summer day, +When my heart burst in flower and bloom; +The other led me in the mountain astray, +Where all things are shrouded in gloom! +'Tis the evil one, you, that has come again; +The other who loved me, so good and so kind, +The one who will never be out of my mind,-- +Ah, him have I slain! + +[She sinks down on a stone near the house and busts into tears.] + +OLAF. Has he stolen your peace, has he robbed you of rest, +Then why let him longer dwell there in your breast! + +ALFHILD. Alas, were I laid in the grave far below, +With me, I am sure, my sorrow would go! +I knew it not then,--to you do I swear, +I thought it was little for him I did care; +Now I see I must die of a grief-broken heart, +Yet his image will never depart! + +[A short pause.] + +ALFHILD. Have you chords in your bosom that you can command? +It seems so; your voice sounds so pleasant and sweet; +Pleasant--though blended it is with deceit. +Have you chords in your breast, then go round in the land +And sing of Alfhild a plaintive lay +To the village girls you meet on the way: + + Only yesterday I was so little a roe, + I roamed in the green groves around; + They came to the forest with arrow and bow, + And chased me with falcon and hound! + + Only yesterday I was a bird so forlorn, + I sat 'neath the linden alone; + They drove me away from the place I was born, + And threw at me stone after stone. + + Only yesterday I was an untamed dove, + Which nowhere finds peace or rest; + They came from below, they came from above, + And pierced with an arrow my breast! + +OLAF. [Deeply moved.] + Alas, that I lay in the grave below. + Lulled in eternal rest! + Your every word is a steel-made bow + That strikes with an arrow my breast! + +ALFHILD. [Jumps up with childlike joy.] +Just so it shall be,--'tis rightfully so! +Yes, truly, indeed, have you chords in your breast! +So let it be sung; they easily show +That you are yourself by my sorrow oppressed. +They show that your own grief is just as strong +As the one that you voice in your plaintive song! + +[She stops and looks sorrowfully at him.] + +ALFHILD. Yet no,--you shall not sing of Alfhild's lament; +What stranger is there whom my sorrow will move! +From whence I came, and whither I went +There is no one out there who shall question or prove! +Sing rather of Olaf Liljekrans, +Who wandered astray in the elf-maidens' dance! +Sing of Alfhild, the false and unkind, +Who drove his betrothed quite out of his mind; +And sing of all the sorrow and fear, +When dead Olaf Liljekrans lay on the bier. +Sing of all the weeping below, +When away they carried the three who had died! +The one was Olaf, the other his bride! +The third was his mother who perished of woe. + +OLAF. Yes, Olaf is dead; it is just as you say; +But I shall be now so faithful a friend; +Wherever you dwell, wherever you wend, +From your side I shall nevermore stray! +May I suffer in full for the sin I committed,-- +Atonement to me shall be sweet. +'Twill comfort me much if I be permitted +To roam with you here in some far-off retreat! +From early dawn till the end of day, +Like a faithful hound I shall follow your lead! +I shall clothe my remorse in so plaintive a lay +Till finally you shall believe me indeed. +Each moment we spent here in ecstasy +I shall call up again to your memory! +Each flower that blooms shall speak it anew, +The cuckoo and swallow shall sing it to you! +The trees that grow here in the forest so green +Shall whisper thereof both soft and serene! + +ALFHILD. Enough! You would only beguile me anew; +Far better were it for you now to depart! +So fair is the falsehood I see within you, +So faithless the thoughts that dwell in your heart! +What would you up here? What is it you want? +You think that you know the place that you haunt? +So pleasant a spot was this valley of yore, +A curse lies upon it forevermore! +In the past, when lone in the forest I went, +The leaves on the trees had so fragrant a scent! +The flowers bloomed forth on my every side, +When you pressed me to you and called me your bride! +But now--the whole valley is burned in the night; +The trees are burned to the left and the right; +The straw and the leaves are withered away, +Each flower is turned to a dusty gray!-- + +ALFHILD. Yes, clearly I see,--in a single night +Is the world become old!--When I wandered below +All alone, and sank down 'neath my shame and my woe, +Then faded the world and its golden delight. +All things but deceit have vanished away; +So much have I learned on my bridal day! +My father lied; he was wrong when he said +The dead are borne to the dwelling of God; +But Olaf knew better the fate of the dead: +The dead sink below, far under the sod! + +ALFHILD. [She breaks out in deepest agony.] +Ah, well do I see now you knew what you did; +For low in the grave my body is hid. + +OLAF. Alfhild! Your words deal so crushing a blow! +O, God! was your heart once so young and so bold-- +Forgive me my sin and forget all your woe! + +ALFHILD. [With marked and increasing bewilderment.] +Hush, do not speak to me! Olaf, behold! +A corpse they carry, to the grave they creep; +But no mother is there, no children who weep, +No pillows are there of blue or of red,-- +Alfhild on shavings and straw lies dead! +I shall never ride now to the heaven above, +And awake in the arms of the God of love. +No mother have I whose heart will break, +No one who follows and weeps for my sake; +No person have I in the world so wide, +Who weeps for me at the bier,-- +No angels to scatter on every side +Blue pearls in the heavenly sphere; +And ne'er shall I reach the dwelling of God, +Where the dead dream only of mirth! + +OLAF. Alfhild! + +ALFHILD. They lower me under the sod! +They cover me over with earth! +And here must I lie with all my dread, +Must live and suffer although I be dead: +Must know there is nothing now left for me, +Yet cannot forget, nor fight myself free; +Must hear when he whom my love I gave +Rides off to the church right over my grave; +Must hear him forever suffer and languish, +And yet can not lessen his anguish! +O, how my bosom is filled with despair! +The angels of God have forgotten my prayer! +They heed no longer my weeping and woe-- +The portal is closed to the heavenly bliss-- +Dig me up again! Let me not lie here below! + +[She rushes out to the left.] + +OLAF. Alfhild! Alfhild! O, Christ, what is this? + +[He follows her quickly.] + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE IV + +[INGEBORG and HEMMING enter, after a pause, from the +right.] + +INGEBORG. Well, here we are up here! How lovely and bright and +peaceful it is! + +HEMMING. Yes, here we shall live happily together! + +INGEBORG. But mark you well that you are my servant, and nothing +else,--until my father has given his consent. + +HEMMING. That he will never do! + +INGEBORG. Never you mind,--we'll find some means or other.--But +now we must think about choosing a cabin to live in. + +HEMMING. There are plenty of them around here. Over the whole +valley there are deserted huts; everything is just the same as it +was when the last people died in the terrible plague many years +ago. + +INGEBORG. Here I like it very much! Over there, too, there is +just such an old hut; the water is near by, and the forest must +surely be alive with game. You can fish and hunt; aye, we shall +live a wonderful life! + +HEMMING. Yea, forsooth, a wonderful life! I shall fish and hunt +the while you gather berries and keep the house in order. + +INGEBORG. Do I? No, that you must take care of! + +HEMMING. Yes, yes, as you please. O, a delightful life we shall +live! + +[Stops and adds somewhat dejectedly.] + +HEMMING. But when I stop to think a bit;--I have neither bow nor +fishing outfit. + +INGEBORG. [Likewise with an expression of despondency.] And it +occurs to me there are no servants here who can help me. + +HEMMING. That shall I willingly do! + +INGEBORG. No, thanks.--And all my good clothes--I didn't bring +anything along except my bridal gown which I am wearing. + +HEMMING. That was thoughtless of you! + +INGEBORG. True enough, Hemming! And for that reason you shall +steal down to Guldvik some night and bring me clothes and other +things as much as I have need of. + +HEMMING. And be hanged as a thief! + +INGEBORG. No, you shall be careful and cautious,--that I warn +you. But when finally the long winter comes? There are no +people up here,--music and dancing we shall never have--Hemming! +Shall we stay here or-- + +HEMMING. Well, where else is there we can go? + +INGEBORG. [Impatiently.] Yes, but human beings cannot live +here! + +HEMMING. Why, surely, they can! + +INGEBORG. Well, you see yourself they are all of them dead! +Hemming! I think it best I go home to my father. + +HEMMING. But what will become of me? + +INGEBORG. You shall go to war! + +HEMMING. To war! And be killed! + +INGEBORG. Not at all! You shall perform some illustrious deed, +and then will you be made a knight, and then will my father no +longer be opposed to you. + +HEMMING. Yes, but what if they kill me in the meantime? + +INGEBORG. Well, we'll have plenty of time to think about that. +Today and tomorrow we shall have to remain here, I suppose; so +long will the guests sit in the festive house and celebrate,--if +they look for us, it will probably be about in the village; up +here we can be safe and-- + +[She stops and listens.] + +CHORUS. [Far away off the stage to the right.] + Away,--away to find + Alfhild, the false, unkind; + For all our woe and strife + She must pay with her life! + +HEMMING. Ingeborg! Ingeborg! They are after us! + +INGEBORG. Where shall we find refuge? + +HEMMING. Well, how can I know-- + +INGEBORG. Go into the hut; lock the door so that it can be +bolted from within. + +HEMMING. Yes, but-- + +INGEBORG. Do as I say! I shall go up on the hill the meanwhile +and see if they are far away. + +[She goes out to the right.] + +HEMMING. Yes, yes! Alas, if only they don't get us! + +[He goes into the house.] + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE V + +[OLAF comes from the forest to the left. Immediately +afterwards INGEBORG from the right.] + +OLAF. [Looks about and calls softly.] Alfhild! Alfhild! She +is nowhere to be seen! Like a bird she disappeared from my view +into the wood and I-- + +INGEBORG. They are right close and-- + +[Stops, frightened.] + +INGEBORG. Olaf Liljekrans! + +OLAF. Ingeborg! + +HEMMING. [Sticks his head out of the door and spies OLAF.] +Lord Olaf! So! Now is it surely all up with me! + +[Withdraws hastily.] + +INGEBORG. [Aside.] He must have ridden in advance of the rest. + +OLAF. [Aside.] She must have come up here with her father to +look for me. + +INGEBORG. [Aside.] But I will not go with him! + +OLAF. [Aside.] I will not stir from here! + +INGEBORG. [Aloud, as she draws nearer.] Olaf Liljekrans! Now +you have me; but you will do ill if you try to compel me. + +OLAF. That is furthest from my mind! + +INGEBORG. Why then come you here in company with my kinsmen? + +OLAF. Do I? On the contrary, it is you who-- + +INGEBORG. That invention won't fool me; only a moment ago I saw +the whole crowd-- + +OLAF. Who? Who? + +INGEBORG. My father and our relatives! + +OLAF. Up here? + +INGEBORG. Why, yes, right close at hand! + +OLAF. Ah, then is my mother with them. + +INGEBORG. Of course, she is with them. But how can that +frighten you? + +OLAF. You see,--it is I they seek! + +INGEBORG. No, it is I! + +OLAF. [Astonished.] You! + +INGEBORG. [Begins to grasp the connection.] Or--wait a +moment--Ha, ha, ha! What an idea! Come, shall we two be honest +with each other? + +OLAF. Yes, that is exactly what I had in mind! + +INGEBORG. Well, then, tell me, at what hour came you up here? + +OLAF. During the night! + +INGEBORG. I, too! + +OLAF. You! + +INGEBORG. Yes, yes! And you went away without any one's knowing +it? + +OLAF. Yes! + +INGEBORG. I, too! + +OLAF. But tell me-- + +INGEBORG. Hush, we have only a moment or two! And you fled up +here because you had but little desire to go to the altar with +me? + +OLAF. Aye, how can you think-- + +INGEBORG. Yes, that I can easily think. Answer me now; we were +to speak honestly. + +OLAF. Well, then, it was therefore that I-- + +INGEBORG. Well and good, I did likewise! + +OLAF. You, Ingeborg! + +INGEBORG. And now you would rather not have any one come upon +your tracks? + +OLAF. Well, it can't be denied! + +INGEBORG. I, too! Aha,--'tis a jolly coincidence; I fled from +you, and you from me! We both fled up here, and now just as our +relatives are after us we meet again! Listen, Olaf Liljekrans! +Say we promise not to betray one another! + +OLAF. I promise. + +INGEBORG. But now we must part! + +OLAF. I understand! + +INGEBORG. For, if they found us together, then-- + +OLAF. Yes, then it would be still more difficult for you to be +rid of me! + +INGEBORG. Farewell! If ever I come to have a wedding you shall +be my bride's man. + +OLAF. And if anything like that should happen to me, you will, I +am sure, accommodate me in the same way. + +INGEBORG. Of course! Farewell! Farewell! And do not think +unkindly of me. + +OLAF. Indeed not; I shall give you my hand wherever we meet! + +INGEBORG. I, too! Wherever we meet--only not at the altar. + +[She goes into the house. OLAF goes into the forest on the right +at the back.] + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE VI + +[LADY KIRSTEN, ARNE of Guldvik, WEDDING GUESTS, +PEASANTS and SERVANTS from the right.] + +LADY KIRSTEN. See, here will we begin the hunt. Our people must +spread about and search all around the tarn;--she shall come +forth and then--woe upon her! no mercy or pity is there in my +soul. + +ARNE. What will you do then? + +LADY KIRSTEN. Hold judgment upon her--right on the spot where +she is found! All the damage she has done on my dominions I have +power and authority to punish in accordance with reason and +justice. + +ARNE. Yes, but what good is that? What is lost can not thereby +be won back again. + +LADY KIRSTEN. No, but I shall get revenge, and that is no little +gain. Revenge,--revenge I must have, if I am to bear and live +down my loss and all the shame she has brought upon me. The +storm last night ruined the whole of my year's crop; not a single +uninjured straw is left in my fields; and in here, where she +herself has said she has her home, here everything thrives and +blossoms more luxuriantly than I have ever seen! Is not that the +operation of secret arts? Olaf she has snared so securely in her +devilish net that he fled out of the village in the wildest storm +to follow her. My house she burned clear to the ground; all the +openings and doors she barred on the outside;--it was a miracle +of God that the servants brought their timely help! + +ARNE. Alas, alas; I am afraid if has cost two lives that I +thought much of,--Ingeborg and my man Hemming! + +LADY KIRSTEN. Come, come, Lord Arne! You must not completely +despair of them yet. Ingeborg may have escaped after all; the +rest of us came out of it untouched in spite of the cunning of +the cursed witch;--Ingeborg has been bewildered with fright and +has sought refuge somewhere. + +ARNE. Yes, yes, that may be the case with Ingeborg; but Hemming +is past all hope,--of that I am sure! + +LADY KIRSTEN. How so? + +ARNE. O, he had become such a sly and contriving devil of late! +He has let himself be shut in and burnt merely to get revenge +over me; he knows I can't get along for a single day without him. +O, I know him! + +LADY KIRSTEN. Well, however it is, Alfhild we must capture; she +shall be tried, condemned, and punished; I have misdeeds a plenty +to charge her with. + +ARNE. And I can mention a few in case it is necessary; she has +stolen my dapple-gray horse from the stable; this morning it was +gone with saddle and bridle. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Aside.] Ingeborg and Hemming gone, and his horse +likewise; were I in his place I should know what to think. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Aloud.] Now let us divide and go about in small +groups; he who first gets his eye on Alfhild shall blow the +trumpet or horn; let the rest listen and follow the sound till we +are assembled again. + +[They go out at different sides.] + +ARNE. [Who alone has remained.] And I, who am not acquainted +here,--how am I to find my way. + +ARNE. [Calls.] Hemming! Hemming! + +[Stops.] + +ARNE. I forgot,--he is-- + +ARNE. [Shaking his head.] Hm! It was a shameful trick he +played. + +[He goes out to the right.] + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE VII + +[ALFHILD appears near the tarn to the left; she +carries a little bundle.] + +ALFHILD. I have wailed, I have wept, till my heart is sore; +I am weary and tired, I can weep no more! + +[Sinks down on a stone in the foreground.] + +ALFHILD. First to my father farewell I shall say! +Then into the mountains I make my way! +Down here I see Olaf wherever I go; +I must up in the heights to steel my mind! +I must deaden my grief, forget what I know, +And leave all the memories dear behind! + +ALFHILD. The life in my dream had so rosy a hue! +'Tis nothing but fiction, nothing is true,-- +'Tis nothing but nonsense and shifting lies; +Naught can be seized and held in the hand. +Naught must be looked at with open eyes, +Nothing stands proof when we understand! + +[The sound of trumpets is heard from the wood.] + +ALFHILD. My mother's heirlooms I take with me; +I shall bury them deep in the ground! +I shall bury them deep 'neath the tall birch tree, +Over yonder where Olaf I found! + +[She opens her bundle and takes out a bridal crown and other +ornaments.] + +ALFHILD. This crown did my mother once wear on her head; +She too by the world then was tricked and misled, +She too then in love and its power believed. +Was she too so rudely deceived? +Was it only in jest that my father did sing +The pleasures that gladden the human breast? +Ah, then he should never have said anything; +His songs have robbed me of earthly rest; +His songs built a home for the ecstasies +Of life in my heart,--now in ruin it lies! + +[The trumpets are heard again.] + +ALFHILD. Silver indeed is a metal of worth, +'Twill never crumble like autumn hay. +Were it hid for a thousand years in the earth, +It would still glitter bright, it would never decay! +The pleasures of life are like autumn hay, +And sorrow like silver that glitters alway! + +[Ties the ornaments together in the bundle.] + +ALFHILD. A magic treasure I often recall, +From which dropped nine glorious pearls every night; +But no matter how many the pearls it let fall, +The treasure remained just as big and as bright! + +ALFHILD. A treasure of magic, this sorrow of mine, +And from it shall drip by night and by day, +Not nine,--but ten thousand pearls that shine,-- +Yet the treasure shall never decay!-- +Yes, the world has made me so wise,--so wise! +Once I followed the clouds in their flight, +Flew dreaming with them on their path in the skies, +And called them the swans of the light! +I thought that the trees spread their branches so wide, +That I might walk in the shade; +I thought there was life in the mountain side. +A sorry mistake I have made. +Now I know better;--for man alone +Can revel in joy, can suffer despair. +In tree and in flower, friend there is none,-- +My sorrow alone I must bear. + +[She rises.] + +ALFHILD. Away then! Up midst the ice and the snow,-- +The grave is the only shelter below! + +[She starts to leave.] + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE VIII + +[ALFHILD, LADY KIRSTEN, ARNE, WEDDING GUESTS, PEASANTS +and SERVANTS from various sides. Later OLAF +LILJEKRANS.] + +LADY KIRSTEN. There she is! Stand still, Alfhild! Do not try +to escape,--else we shall shoot you. + +ALFHILD. What do you want of me? + +LADY KIRSTEN. That you shall learn soon enough. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Points to her bundle.] What is this you are +carrying? + +ALFHILD. My mother's treasures! + +LADY KIRSTEN. Give it here! See, see! A crown of silver! +Indeed, Alfhild! If you are your mother's only daughter I am +very much afraid the bridal crown will nevermore be needed in her +family. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [To the Servants.] Bind her! She stands there +and pretends to be sad; no one can know what she is scheming. + +[ALFHILD is bound.] + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Aloud and with suppressed passion.] The court is +ready. As you all know, I have a legal and prescriptive right to +protect my dominions, to pass judgment in accordance with the law +of the realm on every one who does me harm on my own lands. This +is what you, Alfhild, have presumed to do, and it is therefore +that you now stand here accused before your judge. Defend +yourself if you can, but do not forget it is a matter of life and +death. + +ARNE. But listen, Lady Kirsten! + +LADY KIRSTEN. Excuse me, Lord Arne! I am within my rights here, +and I intend to insist on them. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [To ALFHILD.] Come forward and answer me! + +ALFHILD. Do you but question me,--I shall answer! + +LADY KIRSTEN. Many and grievous are the charges that are +directed against you. First and foremost I charge you here with +having beguiled my son, Olaf Liljekrans, with your unholy arts, +so that he turned heart and soul away from his betrothed to whom +he was pledged,--so that he, sick in heart, never at any time +found peace in his home, but came up here to this unknown valley +where you have had your home. All this could not have happened +in any ordinary way; you are therefore accused of +witchcraft,--defend yourself if you can. + +ALFHILD. I have little to say in answer to this. Witchcraft you +call that strange power that drew Olaf up here. Perhaps you are +right; but this witchcraft was not of evil;--every hour that Olaf +has been here God must surely have witnessed! Each thought that +I have had of Olaf the angels of God must have known! And they +had no occasion to blush. + +LADY KIRSTEN. Enough, enough! You would add blasphemy to your +transgression! Woe upon you, Alfhild! Your every word only adds +weight to the scales. Yet, that is your affair! + +LADY KIRSTEN. [To the rest.] I crave you all as witnesses to +her answer. + +[Turns to ALFHILD.] + +LADY KIRSTEN. I charge you next with having again, this very +night, with the aid of these same secret powers, met Olaf up +here, and furthermore that you keep him concealed in here! + +ALFHILD. There you are right! Secretly is he hidden here! + +LADY KIRSTEN. You admit it? + +ALFHILD. Yes, but however powerful you are, you will never be +able to set him free. Perhaps it would be best for me if you +were able; but neither you nor the whole wide world have the +power to set him free! + +LADY KIRSTEN. [In a violent outburst.] Now death will certainly +be your punishment! Out with it,--where have you got him? + +ALFHILD. [Presses her hands to her bosom.] In here--in my +heart! If you can tear him out from it you can practice +witchcraft better than I! + +LADY KIRSTEN. That answer is nothing. Out with it,--where is +he? + +ALFHILD. I have answered! + +LADY KIRSTEN. [With repressed irritation.] Good! + +ARNE. [To the spectators.] Were Hemming alive he would have +been able to get the truth out of her; he had become so crafty of +late. + +LADY KIRSTEN. Now the third charge against you: last night you +set fire to my house and burned it clear to the ground. Perhaps +human life has been lost,--that we not know as yet,--but whether +or no, it will neither harm nor help your cause; for your +intention to burn all of us is as clear as day. Do you deny my +charge that you set fire to my home last night? + +ALFHILD. I do not deny it; I have destroyed your house! + +LADY KIRSTEN. And how will you extenuate your action? + +LADY KIRSTEN. [With bitter mockery.] You shall not be able to +say that you acted over hastily. Good opportunity you had, so +far as I can remember, to stop and consider; you stood outside +there, no one came near you, no one prevented you from +deliberating as calmly as you could. Nor shall you say that the +merriment of the festive occasion went to your head, nor that the +wine distracted you; for you were not on the inside at all; you +stood on the outside, and it was cool enough there,--the biting +wind should have made you sober. + +ALFHILD. Yes, I destroyed your house last night; but you and +Olaf and all the rest of you out there have done me a greater +wrong. The world was to me a festive hall which belonged to the +Great Father. The blue heaven was its roof, the stars were the +lamps that shone from its ceiling. I wandered happy and rich in +all this; but you, you threw a brand right in the midst of this +golden splendor; now is everything withered and dead! + +LADY KIRSTEN. Such talk will profit you little! Still once more +I ask, where is Olaf Liljekrans, my son? + +ALFHILD. I have answered! + +LADY KIRSTEN. Then you have also passed your own sentence, and I +shall confirm it. + +[OLAF appears on the rocky cliff among the trees, unnoticed by +the rest.] + +OLAF. [Aside.] Alfhild! God help me! What is that? + +[Withdraws unseen.] + +LADY KIRSTEN. You have, in accordance with the law of the land, +incurred the penalty of death as guilty of witchcraft and arson. +This sentence is herewith pronounced upon you, and forthwith +right here on the spot it shall be executed. + +ARNE. But listen, Lady Kirsten! + +LADY KIRSTEN. Judgment is pronounced! Alfhild shall die! + +ALFHILD. Do as you please; little shall I be of hindrance to +you. When Olaf denied his love, then ceased my life,--I live no +longer. + +LADY KIRSTEN. Take her up on the rocky ledge over there. + +[Two Servants take ALFHILD up.] + +LADY KIRSTEN. For the last time, Alfhild! Give me back my son! + +ALFHILD. I will answer no more! + +LADY KIRSTEN. Just as you please! + +LADY KIRSTEN. [To the Servants.] Cast her down! No, wait! I +have an idea! + +LADY KIRSTEN. [To ALFHILD.] As you stand there, I remember you +again as you yesterday came forward with the golden crown and +thought you were worthy to be Olaf Liljekrans' bride. Now we +soon shall see how much you are worth; there are present here +peasants and servants and many humble men;--perhaps your life can +still be saved! Yes, Alfhild! You stare at me, but so it is; I +will be merciful to you! + + LADY KIRSTEN + (Turns to the rest.) +You all know the old custom, that when a woman is sentenced to +death for a capital offence, as she is, her life will be saved +and she will be free if an irreproachable man comes forth and +upholds her innocence and declares himself ready and willing to +marry her. That custom you know? + +ALL. Yes, yes! + +ALFHILD. [Bursting into tears.] O, to be mocked,--mocked so +terribly in my last hour! + +LADY KIRSTEN. Well then, Alfhild! This custom you shall have +the benefit of. If the most humble man in my company comes forth +and declares himself willing to marry you, then are you free. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Looks about.] Is there no one who applies? + +[All are silent.] + +LADY KIRSTEN. Give her the silver crown; that shall go in the +bargain; perhaps, Alfhild, you will then rise in value! + +[The crown is placed on ALFHILD's head.] + +LADY KIRSTEN. For the second time I ask,--is any one willing to +save her? + +[She looks about. All are silent.] + +LADY KIRSTEN. Now for it; I am afraid your moments are numbered. +Hear me well, you servants up there! Should no one answer my +third call, then do you watch for a sign from me and cast her +into the lake! Use now your arts, Alfhild! See if you can +conjure yourself free from death. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [With a loud voice.] For the last time! There +stands the witch and incendiary! Who will save and marry her? + +[She looks about. All are silent.--LADY KIRSTEN raises her hand +quickly as a signal, the Servants seize ALFHILD; in the same +moment OLAF rushes out on the ledge in full wedding garb.] + +OLAF. I will save and marry her! + +[He thrusts the SERVANTS aside and unbinds her. ALFHILD sinks +with a cry on his bosom; he puts his left arm around her and +raises his right arm threateningly in the air.] + +ALL. [Stand as if turned to stone.] Olaf Liljekrans! + +LADY KIRSTEN. Olaf Liljekrans, my son! What have you done? +Disgraced yourself for all time! + +OLAF. No, I blot out the shame and disgrace which I brought on +myself by my treatment of her! My sin I shall expiate and make +myself happy the while! + +OLAF. [Brings ALFHILD forward.] Yes, before all of you I +solemnly proclaim this young woman my bride! She is innocent of +all that has been charged against her; I only have transgressed. + +[Kneels before her.] + +OLAF. And at your feet I beg you to forget and forgive-- + +ALFHILD. [Raises him.] Ah, Olaf! You have given me back all +the glory of the world! + +LADY KIRSTEN. You will marry her! Well and good; then am I no +longer a mother to you! + +OLAF. You will cause me great sorrow, although it is now long +since that you were a real mother to me. You used me merely to +build aloft your own pride, and I was weak and acquiesced. But +now have I won power and will; now I stand firmly on my own feet +and lay the foundation of my own happiness! + +LADY KIRSTEN. But do you stop to consider-- + +OLAF. Nothing will I now consider,--I know what I want. Now +first I understand my strange dream. It was prophesied of me +that I was to find the fairest of flowers,--that I was to tear it +asunder and strew it to all the winds. O, thus it has happened! +A woman's heart is the fairest flower in the world; all its rich +and golden leaves I have torn asunder and scattered to the winds. +But be of good cheer, my Alfhild! Many a seed has gone too, and +sorrow has ripened it, and from it shall grow a rich life for us +here in the valley; for here shall we live and be happy! + +ALFHILD. O, now I am happy as in the first hour we met. + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Aside.] Ingeborg is gone; this rich valley +belongs to Alfhild,--no one else has a claim to it-- + +LADY KIRSTEN. [Aloud.] Well, Olaf! I shall not stand in the +way of your happiness. If you think you will find it in this +way, then--well, then you have my consent! + +OLAF. Thanks, mother, thanks! Now I lack nothing more! + +ALFHILD. [To LADY KIRSTEN.] And me you forgive all my sin? + +LADY KIRSTEN. Yes, yes! Perhaps I too was wrong,--let us not +say any more of that! + +ARNE. But I, then? And my daughter, whom Olaf had pledged--Yet, +it is true, perhaps she is no longer alive! + +OLAF. Of course she's alive! + +ARNE. She lives! Where is she? Where? + +OLAF. That I can not say; but I may say that we both in all +friendliness have broken our pledge. + +LADY KIRSTEN. You see, Lord Arne! that I-- + +ARNE. Well, my daughter shall not be forced upon any one. +Alfhild was fated to marry a knight; the same may happen to +Ingeborg. + +ARNE. [With dignity.] Noble lords and honorable men, hear me! +It has come to my ear that many of you hold me to be little +skilled in courtly manners and customs. I will show you now you +are completely mistaken. In the old chronicles it is frequently +told that when a noble king loses his daughter he promises her +hand and half his kingdom to him who may find her; he who finds +Ingeborg shall receive her hand in marriage and in addition half +of all that I own and possess. Are you with me on that? + +THE YOUNG MEN. Yes, yes! + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE IX + +[The Preceding. INGEBORG comes hurriedly out of the +hut and pulls HEMMING behind her.] + +INGEBORG. Here I am! Hemming has found me! + +ALL. [ASTONISHED] Ingeborg and Hemming! Up here! + +ARNE. [Irritated.] Ah, then shall-- + +INGEBORG. [Throws herself about his neck.] O father, father! +It will not avail you; you have given your word! + +ARNE. But that did not apply to him! Now I see it all right; he +has taken you away himself. + +INGEBORG. No, to the contrary, father! It was I who took him +away! + +ARNE. [Frightened.] Will you be silent with such words! Are +you out of your head? + +INGEBORG. [Softly.] Then say "yes" right here on the spot! +Otherwise I shall proclaim to all people that it was I who-- + +ARNE. Hush, hush! I am saying "yes"! + +[Steps between them and looks sternly at HEMMING.] + +ARNE. It was you then who stole my dapple-gray horse with saddle +and bridle? + +HEMMING. Alas, Lord Arne!-- + +ARNE. O Hemming! Hemming! You are a-- + +[Stops to consider.] + +ARNE. Well, you are my daughter's betrothed; let it all be +forgotten. + +HEMMING AND INGEBORG. O, thanks, thanks! + + * * * * * + + + +SCENE X + +[The Preceding. THORGJERD with a harp in his hand has +during the foregoing mingled with the people.] + +THORGJERD. Aye, see, see! A multitude of people in the valley +today! + +THE PEASANTS. Thorgjerd, the fiddler! + +ALFHILD. [Throws herself in his arms.] My father! + +ALL. Her father! + +OLAF. Yes, yes, old man! There are people and merriment in here +today, and hereafter it shall always be thus. It is your +daughter's wedding we are celebrating; for love has she chosen +her betrothed, of love have you sung for her,--you will not stand +in our way! + +THORGJERD. May all good spirits guard you well! + +ALFHILD. And you will remain with us! + +THORGJERD. No, no, Alfhild! +A minstrel has never a place to rest, +His soul fares afar, he forever must roam! +For he who has music deep down in his breast, +Is never in mountains or lowlands at home; +In the meadows green, in the sheltering bower, +He must touch the strings and sing every hour, +He must watch for the life that lives in the shower, +Beneath the wild fjord, in the rushing stream, +Must watch for the life that beats in the soul, +And clothe in music what people but dream, +And give voice to its sorrow and dole! + +OLAF. But sometime you will surely visit us here! +Now shall 'mid the birches a hall be erected; +Here, my Alfhild! shall you be protected. +I and my love will always be near, +No more shall your eye be dimmed with a tear! + +ALFHILD. Yes, now I see,--life is precious and kind! +Rich as the fairest dream of the mind! +So dreary and black is never our sorrow,-- +'Tis followed sometime by a bright sunny morrow! + +ALFHILD. [Kneels.] O angels of God! you have led me aright, +Again you have granted me solace and bliss! +You guided my wandering past the abyss, +You steadied my foot that was weak and slight! +O, if with my mind I cannot understand,-- +With my heart I'll believe to the last! +Yes, heavenly powers! You still watch o'er the land! +Clear is the sun when the dark storm is passed;-- +From death and destruction my love did you save: +So now then let happen what may! +For now I am cheerful, now am I brave, +Ready for life and its motley affray! + +ALFHILD. [With a glance at OLAF.] And when we at length-- + +[She pauses and stretches her arms above her head.] + +ALFHILD. by the angels of love +Are borne to our home in the heavens above! + +[The rest have formed a group around her; the curtain falls.] + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Early Plays, by Henrik Ibsen + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EARLY PLAYS *** + +***** This file should be named 7172-8.txt or 7172-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/1/7/7172/ + +Produced by David Starner, Michael Kaelbling, and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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