would have scratched your eyes out. So that is what has happened--how I
can't understand! No, that wasn't very nice!
JEAN. Are you mad at her?
KRISTIN. No, but with you. That was bad of you, very bad. Poor girl. Do
you know what--I don't want to be here in this house any longer where
one cannot respect one's betters.
JEAN. Why should one respect them?
KRISTIN. Yes, you can say that, you are so smart. But I don't want to
serve people who behave so. It reflects on oneself, I think.
JEAN. Yes, but it's a comfort that they're not a bit better than we.
KRISTIN. No, I don't think so, for if they are not better there's no
use in our trying to better ourselves in this world. And to think of the
Count! Think of him who has had so much sorrow all his days? No, I don't
want to stay in this house any longer! And to think of it being with
such as you! If it had been the Lieutenant--
JEAN. What's that?
KRISTIN. Yes! He was good enough, to be sure, but there's a difference
between people just the same. No, this I can never forget. Miss Julie
who was always so proud and indifferent to men! One never would believe
that she would give herself--and to one like you! She who was ready to
have Diana shot because she would run after the gatekeeper's mongrels.
Yes, I say it--and here I won't stay any longer and on the twenty-fourth
of October I go my way.
JEAN. And then?
KRISTIN. Well, as we've come to talk about it, it's high time you looked
around for something else, since we're going to get married.
JEAN. Well, what'll I look for? A married man couldn't get a place like
this.
KRISTIN. No, of course not. But you could take a gatekeeper's job or
look for a watchman's place in some factory. The government's plums are
few, but they are sure. And then the wife and children get a pension--
JEAN [With a grimace]. That's all very fine--all that, but it's not
exactly in my line to think about dying for my wife and children just
now. I must confess that I have slightly different aspirations.
KRISTIN. Aspirations? Aspirations--anyway you have obligations. Think of
those, you.
JEAN. Don't irritate me with talk about my obligations. I know my own
business. [He listens.] We'll have plenty of time for all this some
other day. Go and get ready and we'll be off to church.
KRISTIN [Listening]. Who's that walking upstairs?
JEAN. I don't know--unless it's Clara.
KRISTIN [Starting to go]. It could never be the Count who has come home
without anyone hearing him?
JEAN [Frightened]. The Count! I can't believe that. He would have rung
the bell.
KRISTIN. God help us! Never have I been mixed up in anything like this!
[Exit Kristin. The sun has risen and lights up the scene. Presently the
sunshine comes in through windows at an angle. Jean goes to door and
motions. Enter Julie, dressed for travelling, carrying a small bird cage
covered with a cloth, which she places on a chair.]
JULIE. I am ready!
JEAN. Hush, Kristin is stirring!
[Julie frightened and nervous throughout following scene.]
JULIE. Does she suspect anything?
JEAN. She knows nothing. But, good heavens, how you look!
JULIE. Why?
JEAN. You are pale as a ghost.
JULIE [Sighs]. Am I? Oh, the sun is rising, the sun!
JEAN. And now the troll's spell is broken.
JULIE. The trolls have indeed been at work this night. But, Jean,
listen--come with me, I have money enough.
JEAN. Plenty?
JULIE. Enough to start with. Go with me for I can't go alone--today,
midsummer day. Think of the stuffy train, packed in with the crowds of
people staring at one; the long stops at the stations when one would
be speeding away. No, I cannot, I cannot! And then the memories,
childhood's memories of midsummer day--the church decorated with birch
branches and syringa blossoms; the festive dinner table with relations
and friends, afternoon in the park, music, dancing, flowers and
games--oh, one may fly, fly, but anguish and remorse follow in the pack
wagon.
JEAN. I'll go with you--if we leave instantly--before it's too late.
JULIE. Go and dress then. [She takes up bird cage.]
JEAN. But no baggage! That would betray us.
JULIE. Nothing but what we can take in the coupé.
[Jean has picked up his hat.]
JEAN. What have you there?
JULIE. It's only my canary. I cannot, will not, leave it behind.
JEAN. So we are to lug a bird cage with us. Are you crazy? Let go of it.
JULIE. It is all I take from home. The only living creature that cares
for me. Don't be hard--let me take it with me.
JEAN. Let go the cage and don't talk so loud. Kristin will hear us.
JULIE. No, I will not leave it to strange hands. I would rather see it
dead.
JEAN. Give me the creature. I'll fix it.
JULIE. Yes, but don't hurt it. Don't--no, I cannot.
JEAN. Let go. I can.
JULIE [Takes the canary from cage]. Oh, my little siren. Must your
mistress part with you?
JEAN. Be so good as not to make a scene. Your welfare, your life, is at
stake. So--quickly. [Snatches bird from her and goes to chopping block
and takes up meat chopper]. You should have learned how to chop off a
chicken's head instead of shooting with a revolver. [He chops off the
bird's head]. Then you wouldn't swoon at a drop of blood.
JULIE [Shrieks]. Kill me, too. Kill me! You who can butcher an innocent
bird without a tremble. Oh, how I shrink from you. I curse the moment I
first saw you. I curse the moment I was conceived in my mother's womb.
JEAN. Come now! What good is your cursing, let's be off.
JULIE [Looks toward chopping block as though obsessed by thought of the
slain bird]. No, I cannot. I must see-- --hush, a carriage is passing.
Don't you think I can stand the sight of blood? You think I am weak.
Oh, I should like to see your blood flowing--to see your brain on the
chopping block, all your sex swimming in a sea of blood. I believe I
could drink out of your skull, bathe my feet in your breast and eat your
heart cooked whole. You think I am weak; you believe that I love you
because my life has mingled with yours; you think that I would carry
your offspring under my heart, and nourish it with my blood--give birth
to your child and take your name! Hear, you, what are you called, what
is your family name? But I'm sure you have none. I should be "Mrs.
Gate-Keeper," perhaps, or "Madame Dumpheap." You dog with my collar on,
you lackey with my father's hallmark on your buttons. I play rival to my
cook--oh--oh--oh! You believe that I am cowardly and want to run away.
No, now I shall stay. The thunder may roll. My father will return--and
find his desk broken into--his money gone! Then he will ring--that bell.
A scuffle with his servant--then sends for the police--and then I tell
all--everything! Oh, it will be beautiful to have it all over with--if
only that were the end! And my father--he'll have a shock and die, and
then that will be the end. Then they will place his swords across the
coffin--and the Count's line is extinct. The serf's line will continue
in an orphanage, win honors in the gutter and end in prison.
JEAN. Now it is the king's blood talking. Splendid, Miss Julie! Only
keep the miller in his sack.
[Enter Kristin with prayer-book in hand.]
JULIE [Hastening to Kristin and falls in her arms as though seeking
protection]. Help me, Kristin, help me against this man.
KRISTIN [Cold and unmoved]. What kind of performance is this for a holy
day morning? What does this mean--this noise and fuss?
JULIE. Kristin, you are a woman,--and my friend. Beware of this wretch.
JEAN [A little embarrassed and surprised]. While the ladies are arguing
I'll go and shave myself.
[Jean goes, R.]
JULIE. You must understand me--you must listen to me.
KRISTIN. No--I can't understand all this bosh. Where may you be going in
your traveling dress?--and he had his hat on! Hey?
JULIE. Listen to me, Kristin, listen to me and I'll tell you everything.
KRISTIN. I don't want to know anything--
JULIE. You must listen to me--
KRISTIN. What about? Is it that foolishness with Jean? That doesn't
concern me at all. That I won't be mixed up with, but if you're trying
to lure him to run away with you then we must put a stop to it.
JULIE [Nervously]. Try to be calm now Kristin, and listen to me. I can't
stay here and Jean can't stay here. That being true, we must leave--
--Kristin.
KRISTIN. Hm, hm!
JULIE [Brightening up]. But I have an idea--what if we three should
go--away--to foreign parts. To Switzerland and set up a hotel
together--I have money you see--and Jean and I would back the whole
thing, you could run the kitchen. Won't that be fine? Say yes, now--and
come with us--there everything would be arranged--say yes! [Throws her
arms around Kristin and coaxes her].
KRISTIN [Cold and reflecting]. Hm--hm!
JULIE [Presto tempo]. You have never been out and traveled, Kristin.
You shall look about you in the world. You can't believe how pleasant
traveling on a train is--new faces continually, new countries--and
we'll go to Hamburg--and passing through we'll see the zoological
gardens--that you will like--then we'll go to the theatre and hear the
opera--and when we reach Munich there will be the museum--there are
Rubins and Raphaels and all the big painters that you know--you have
heard of Munich--where King Ludwig lived--the King, you know, who went
mad. Then we'll see his palace--a palace like those in the Sagas--and
from there it isn't far to Switzerland--and the Alps, the Alps mind you
with snow in mid-summer. And there oranges grow and laurel--green all
the year round if--[Jean is seen in the doorway R. stropping his razor
on the strop which he holds between his teeth and left hand. He listens
and nods his head favorably now and then. Julie continues, tempo
prestissimo] And there we'll take a hotel and I'll sit taking the cash
while Jean greets the guests--goes out and markets--writes letters--that
will be life, you may believe--then the train whistles--then the omnibus
comes--then a bell rings upstairs, then in the restaurant--and then
I make out the bills--and I can salt them--you can't think how people
tremble when they receive their bill--and you--you can sit like a
lady--of course you won't have to stand over the stove--you can dress
finely and neatly when you show yourself to the people--and you with
your appearance--Oh, I'm not flattering, you can catch a husband some
fine day--a rich Englishman perhaps--they are so easy to--[Slowing up]
to catch-- --Then we'll be rich--and then we'll build a villa by Lake
Como--to be sure it rains sometimes--but [becoming languid] the sun must
shine too sometimes-- -- --although it seems dark-- -- --and if not--we
can at least travel homeward--and come back--here--or some other place.
KRISTIN. Listen now. Does Miss Julie believe in all this?
[Julie going to pieces.]
JULIE. Do I believe in it?
KRISTIN. Yes.
JULIE [Tired]. I don't know. I don't believe in anything any more.
[Sinks down on bench, and takes head in her hand on table.] In
nothing--nothing!
KRISTIN [Turns to R. and looks toward Jean]. So--you intended to run
away?
JEAN [Rather shamefaced comes forward and puts razor on table]. Run
away? That's putting it rather strong. You heard Miss Julie's project, I
think it might be carried out.
KRISTIN. Now listen to that! Was it meant that I should be her cook--
JEAN [Sharply]. Be so good as to use proper language when you speak of
your mistress.
KRISTIN. Mistress?
JEAN. Yes.
KRISTIN. No--hear! Listen to him!
JEAN. Yes, you listen--you need to, and talk less. Miss Julie is your
mistress and for the same reason that you do not respect her now you
should not respect yourself.
KRISTIN. I have always had so much respect for myself--
JEAN. That you never had any left for others!
KRISTIN. I have never lowered my position. Let any one say, if they can,
that the Count's cook has had anything to do with the riding master or
the swineherd. Let them come and say it!
JEAN. Yes, you happened to get a fine fellow. That was your good luck.
KRISTIN. Yes, a fine fellow--who sells the Count's oats from his stable.
JEAN. Is it for you to say anything--you who get a commission on all the
groceries and a bribe from the butcher?
KRISTIN. What's that?
JEAN. And you can't have respect for your master and mistress any
longer--you, you!
KRISTIN [Glad to change the subject]. Are you coming to church with me?
You need a good sermon for your actions.
JEAN. No, I'm not going to church today. You can go alone--and confess
your doings.
KRISTIN. Yes, that I shall do, and I shall return with so much
forgiveness that there will be enough for you too. The Savior suffered
and died on the cross for all our sins, and when we go to Him in faith
and a repentant spirit he takes our sins on Himself.
JULIE. Do you believe that, Kristin?
KRISTIN. That is my life's belief, as true as I stand here. And that was
my childhood's belief that I have kept since my youth, Miss Julie. And
where sin overflows, there mercy overflows also.
JULIE. Oh, if I only had your faith. Oh, if--
KRISTIN. Yes, but you see that is not given without God's particular
grace, and that is not allotted to all, that!
JULIE. Who are the chosen?
KRISTIN. That is the great secret of the Kingdom of Grace, and the Lord
has no respect for persons. But there the last shall be first.
JULIE. But then has he respect for the last--the lowliest person?
KRISTIN [Continuing]. It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye
of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. That's
the way it is, Miss Julie. However--now I am going--alone. And on my
way I shall stop in and tell the stable boy not to let any horses go out
in case any one wants to get away before the Count comes home. Good bye.
[Exit Kristin.]
JEAN. Such a devil. And all this on account of your confounded canary!
JULIE [Tired]. Oh, don't speak of the canary--do you see any way
out--any end to this?
JEAN [Thinking]. No.
JULIE. What would you do in my place?
JEAN. In your place--wait. As a noble lady, as a woman--fallen--I don't
know. Yes, now I know.
JULIE [She takes up razor from table and makes gestures saying] This?
JEAN. Yes. But _I_ should not do it, mark you, for there is a difference
between us.
JULIE. Because you are a man and I am a woman? What other difference is
there?
JEAN. That very difference--of man and woman.
JULIE [Razor in hand]. I want to do it--but I can't. My father couldn't
either that time when he should have done it.
JEAN. No, he was right, not to do it--he had to avenge himself first.
JULIE. And now my mother revenges herself again through me.
JEAN. Haven't you loved your father, Miss Julie?
JULIE. Yes, deeply. But I have probably hated him too, I must
have--without being aware of it. And it is due to my father's training
that I have learned to scorn my own sex. Between them both they
have made me half man, half woman. Whose is the fault for what has
happened--my father's? My mother's? My own? I haven't anything of my
own. I haven't a thought which was not my father's--not a passion that
wasn't my mother's. And last of all from my betrothed the idea that all
people are equal. For that I now call him a wretch. How can it be my
own fault then? Throw the burden on Jesus as Kristin did? No, I am too
proud, too intelligent, thanks to my father's teaching.-- --And that a
rich man cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven--that is a lie, and Kristin,
who has money in the savings bank--she surely cannot enter there. Whose
is the fault? What does it concern us whose fault it is? It is I who
must bear the burden and the consequences.
JEAN. Yes, but-- --
[Two sharp rings on bell are heard. Julie starts to her feet. Jean
changes his coat.]
JEAN. The Count--has returned. Think if Kristin has-- [Goes up to
speaking tube and listens.]
JULIE. Now he has seen the desk!
JEAN [Speaking in the tube]. It is Jean, Excellency. [Listens]. Yes,
Excellency. [Listens].Yes, Excellency,--right away--immediately,
Excellency. Yes--in half an hour.
JULIE [In great agitation]. What did he say? In Heaven's name, what did
he say?
JEAN. He wants his boots and coffee in a half hour.
JULIE. In half an hour then. Oh, I'm so tired--I'm incapable of feeling,
not able to be sorry, not able to go, not able to stay, not able to
live--not able to die. Help me now. Command me--I will obey like a dog.
Do me this last service--save my honor. Save his name. You know what
I have the will to do--but cannot do. You will it and command me to
execute your will.
JEAN. I don't know why--but now I can't either.--I don't understand
myself. It is absolutely as though this coat does it--but I can't
command you now. And since the Count spoke to me-- --I can't account for
it--but oh, it is that damned servant in my back--I believe if the Count
came in here now and told me to cut my throat I would do it on the spot.
JULIE. Make believe you are he--and I you. You could act so well a
little while ago when you knelt at my feet. Then you were a nobleman--or
haven't you ever been at the theatre and seen the hypnotist--[Jean
nods] He says to his subject "Take the broom," and he takes it; he says,
"Sweep," and he sweeps.
JEAN. Then the subject must be asleep!
JULIE [Ecstatically]. I sleep already. The whole room is like smoke
before me--and you are like a tall black stove, like a man clad in black
clothes with a high hat; and your eyes gleam like the hot coals when
the fire is dying; and your face a white spot like fallen ashes. [The
sunshine is coming in through the windows and falls on Jean. Julie
rubs her hands as though warming them before a fire]. It is so warm and
good--and so bright and quiet!
JEAN [Takes razor and puts it in her hand]. There is the broom, go now
while it's bright--out to the hay loft--and--[He whispers in her ear.]
JULIE [Rousing herself]. Thanks. And now I go to rest. But tell me
this--the foremost may receive the gift of Grace? Say it, even if you
don't believe it.
JEAN. The foremost? No, I can't say that. But wait, Miss Julie--you are
no longer among the foremost since you are of the lowliest.
JULIE. That's true, I am the lowliest--the lowliest of the lowly. Oh,
now I can't go. Tell me once more that I must go.
JEAN. No, now I cannot either--I cannot.
JULIE. And the first shall be last-- -- --
JEAN. Don't think. You take my strength from me, too, so that I become
cowardly.--What-- --I thought I heard the bell!-- -- No! To be afraid
of the sound of a bell! But it's not the bell--it's someone behind the
bell, the hand that sets the bell in motion--and something else that
sets the hand in motion. But stop your ears, stop your ears. Then he
will only ring louder and keep on ringing until it's answered--and then
it is too late! Then come the police and then--[Two loud rings on
bell are heard, Jean falls in a heap for a moment, but straightens up
immediately.] It is horrible! But there is no other way. Go!
[Countess Julie goes out resolutely.]
CURTAIN.
*****
THE OUTLAW
CHARACTERS
THORFINN, Erl of Iceland
VALGERD, his wife
GUNLÖD, their daughter
GUNNAR, a Crusader
ORM, a minstrel, foster brother to Thorfinn
A THRALL
A MESSENGER
Action takes place in Iceland.
[SCENE--A hut, door at back, window-holes, right and, left, closed by
big heavy wooden shutters. Wooden benches against walls, the high bench,
a sort of rude throne, at left. The uprights of this high beach are
carved with images of the gods Odin and Thor. From the wall beams hang
swords, battle axes and shields. Near the high bench stands a harp.
Gunlöd stands at an open window-hole peering out; through the opening
one gets a glimpse of the sea lighted by the aurora borealis. Valgerd
sits by the fire, which is in the middle of the room, spinning.]
VALGERD. Close the window-hole.
[Gunlöd is silent.]
VALGERD. Gunlöd!
GUNLÖD. Did you speak, mother?
VALGERD. What are you doing?
GUNLÖD. I am watching the sea.
VALGERD. When will you learn to forget?
GUNLÖD. Take everything away from me but memories!
VALGERD. Look forward--not back.
GUNLÖD. Who reproaches the strong viking who looks back when he is
quitting his native strand?
VALGERD. You have had three winters to make your farewell.
GUNLÖD. You speak truly--three winters! For here never came a summer!
VALGERD. When the floating ice melts, then shall spring be here.
GUNLÖD. The Northern Lights melt no ice.
VALGERD. Nor your tears.
GUNLÖD. You never saw me weep.
VALGERD. But I have heard you. As long as you do that, you are a child.
GUNLÖD. I am not a child.
VALGERD. If you would be a woman, suffer in silence.
GUNLÖD. I'll cast sorrow from me, mother.
VALGERD. No, no--bury it, as your deepest treasure. The seed must not
lie on top of the earth if it would sprout and ripen. You have a deep
sorrow. It should bear great gladness--and great peace.
GUNLÖD [After a pause]. I shall forget.
VALGERD. Everything?
GUNLÖD. I shall try.
VALGERD. Can you forget your father's hardness?
GUNLÖD. That I have forgotten.
VALGERD. Can you forget that there was a time when your fore-fathers'
dwelling stood on Brövikens' strand? Where the south wind sang in the
oak wood when the ice-bound seas ran free--where the hemlocks gave forth
their fragrance and the finches twittered among the linden trees--and
Balder, the God of spring and joy, lulled you to sleep on the green
meadows? Can you forget all this, while you listen to the sea gulls'
plaints on these bare rocks and cliffs, and the cold storms out of the
north howl through the stunted birches?
GUNLÖD. Yes!
VALGERD. Can you forget the friend of your childhood from whom your
father tore you to save you from the white Christ?
GUNLÖD [in desperation]. Yes, yes!
VALGERD. You are weeping.
GUNLÖD [Disturbed]. Some one is walking out there. Perhaps father is
coming home.
VALGERD. Will you bear in mind every day without tears that we now dwell
in the land of ice--fugitives from the kingdom of Svea and hated here by
the Christ-men? But we have suffered no loss of greatness, although
we have not been baptized and kissed the bishop's hand. Have you ever
spoken to any of the Christians since we have been here?
GUNLÖD [After a pause]. No. Tell me, mother, is it true that father is
to be Erl here in Iceland, too?
VALGERD. Don't let that trouble you, child.
GUNLÖD. Then I'm afraid he will fare badly with the Christians.
VALGERD. You fear that?
GUNLÖD. Some one is out there.
VALGERD [Anxiously]. Did you see the ship lying in the inlet this
morning?
GUNLÖD. With heart-felt gladness!
VALGERD. Bore it the figure-head of Thorfinn?
GUNLÖD. That I could not make out.
VALGERD. Have a care, girl.
GUNLÖD. Is it tonight that I may go out?
VALGERD. Tomorrow--that you know well.
GUNLÖD Mother!
VALGERD [Going]. Mind the fire. [Valgerd goes.]
[Gunlöd looks after her mother, then cautiously takes from her breast a
crucifix, puts it on the high bench and falls on her knees.]
GUNLÖD. Christ, Christ, forgive me the lie I told. [Springs up noticing
the images of the gods on the high bench.] No, I cannot pray before
these wicked images. [She looks for another place.] Holy St. Olof,
holy--oh, I can't remember how the bishop named her! God! God! Cast me
not into purgatory for this sin! I will repeat the whole long prayer
of the monks--credo, credo--in patrem--oh, I have forgotten that too. I
shall give five tall candles for the altar of the mother of God the next
time I go to the chapel--Credo, in patrem omnipotentem--[Kissing the
crucifix eagerly.]
[A song is heard outside the hut accompanied by a lyre.]
A crusader went out to the Holy Land,
O, Christ, take the maiden's soul in hand,
And to your kingdom bring her!
I'll return, mayhap, when the spruce trees bloom.
Summers three he wanders far from thee,
Where nightingales sing their delight,
And masses he holds both day and night,
At the holy sepulchre's chapel.
I'll return, mayhap, when the spruce trees bloom.
When the palm trees bud on Jordan's strand,
Then makes he a prayer to God,
That he may return to his native land,
And press to his heart his love.
I'll return, my love, when the spruce trees bloom.
GUNLÖD [At beginning of song springs up and then listens with more and
more agitation and eagerness. When the song is over she goes toward door
to bolt it, but so slowly that Gunnar is able to enter before she slips
the bolt. Gunnar is clad in the costume of a crusader with a lyre swung
across his shoulder.]
GUNNAR. Gunlöd! [They embrace. Gunlöd pulls away and goes toward door.]
You are afraid of me? What is it, Gunlöd?
GUNLÖD. You never took me in your arms before!
GUNNAR. We were children then!
GUNLÖD You are right--we were children then. What means that silver
falcon on your shield? I saw it on your ship's bow this morning, too.
GUNNAR. You saw my ship--you knew my song, and you would have barred the
door against me! What am I to understand, Gunlöd?
GUNLÖD. Oh, ask me nothing! I am so unquiet of spirit but sit and let me
talk to you.
GUNNAR [Sits]. You are silent.
GUNLÖD. You are silent, too.
GUNNAR [Pulls her to his side]. Gunlöd, Gunlöd--has the snow fallen so
heavily that memories have been chilled even the mountains here burst
forth with fire--and you are cold as a snow wind--but speak--speak! Why
are you here in Iceland--and what has happened?
GUNLÖD. Terrible things--and more may follow if you stay here
longer.--[Springs up]. Go, before my father comes.
GUNNAR. Do you think I would leave you now--I, who have sought you for
long years? When I could not find you in the home land I went to the
wars against the Saracens to seek you the other side of the grave. But
my time had not yet come; when the fourth spring came, I heard through
wandering merchants that you were to be found here. Now I have found
you--and you wish me to leave you in this heathen darkness.
GUNLÖD. I am not alone!
GUNNAR. Your father does not love you--your mother does not understand
you, and they are both heathen.
GUNLÖD. I have friends among the Christians.
GUNNAR. Then you have become a Christian, Gunlöd!--the holy virgin has
heard my prayer.
GUNLÖD. Yes, yes! Oh, let me kiss the cross you bear on your
shoulder--that you got at the holy sepulchre!
GUNNAR. Now I give you a brother Christian's kiss--the first, Gunlöd,
you have from me.
GUNLÖD. You must never kiss me again.
GUNNAR. But tell me, how did you become a Christian?
GUNLÖD. First I believed in my father--he was so strong; then I believed
in my mother--she was so good; last I believed in you--you were so
strong and good--and so beautiful; and when you went away--I stood
alone--myself I could never believe in--I was so weak; then I thought of
your God, whom you so often begged me to love--and I prayed to Him.
GUNNAR. And the old gods--
GUNLÖD. I have never been able to believe in them--although my father
commanded me to do so--they are wicked.
GUNNAR. Who has taught you to pray? Who gave you the crucifix?
GUNLÖD. The bishop.
GUNNAR. And that no one knows?
GUNLÖD. No--I have had to lie to my mother and that troubles me.
GUNNAR. And your father hid you here so that the Christians should not
get you?
GUNLÖD. Yes--and now he is expected home from Norway with followers as
he is to be Erl of the island.
GUNNAR. God forbid!
GUNLÖD. Yes--yes--but you must not delay. He is expected home tonight.
GUNNAR. Good--there beyond Hjärleif's headland lies my ship.--Out to
sea! There is a land wind, and before the first cock's crow we shall be
beyond pursuit.
GUNLÖD. Yes! Yes!
GUNNAR. Soon we should be at Ostergötland--where the summer is still
green--and there you shall live in my castle which I have built where
your father's house stood.
GUNLÖD. Does not that still stand?
GUNNAR. No--it was burned.
GUNLÖD. By the Christians?
GUNNAR. You are so passionate, Gunlöd!
GUNLÖD. I suffer to say I would rather be a heathen.
GUNNAR. What are you saying, girl!
GUNLÖD. [After a pause]. Forgive me, forgive me--I am in such a wild
mood--and when I see the Christians, who should be examples, commit such
deeds--
GUNNAR. Crush out that thought, Gunlöd--it is ungodly. Do you see this
wreath?
GUNLÖD. Where did you gather it?
GUNNAR. You recognize the flowers, Gunlöd?
GUNLÖD. They grew in my father's garden--may I keep them?
GUNNAR. Gladly--but, why do you care to have them when we are going to
journey there ourselves?
GUNLÖD. I shall look at them the long winter through--the hemlock shall
remind me of the green woods and the anemones of the blue sky.
GUNNAR. And when they are withered--
GUNLÖD. Of that I do not think.
GUNNAR. Then go with me from this drear land--far away, and there where
our childhood was spent we will live as free as the birds among the
flowers and sunshine. There you shall not go in stealth to the temple of
the Lord when the bells tell you of the Sabbath. Oh, you shall see the
new chapel with its vaulted roof and high pillared aisles. And hear the
acolytes singing when the bishop lights the incense on the high altar.
There shall you solemnize the God service with those of Christ and you
shall feel you heart cleansed of sin.
GUNLÖD. Shall I fly--leave my mother?
GUNNAR. She will forgive you some time.
GUNLÖD. But my father would call me cowardly and that I would never
allow.
GUNNAR. That you must endure for the sake of your belief.
GUNLÖD. Thorfinn's daughter was never cowardly.
GUNNAR. Your father does not love you, and he will hate you when he
knows of your conversion.
GUNLÖD. That he may do--but he shall never despise me.
GUNNAR. You surrender your love, Gunlöd.
GUNLÖD. Love!--I remember--there was a maiden--she had a friend who
went away--after, she was never again glad--she only sat sewing silk and
gold--what she was making no one knew--and when they asked her she
would only weep. And when they asked her why she wept, she never
answered--only wept. She grew pale of cheek and her mother made ready
her shroud.--Then there came an old woman and she said it was love.
Gunnar,--I never wept when you went away as father says it is weak to
shed tears; I never sewed silk and gold for that my mother has never
taught me to do--then had I not love?
GUNNAR. You have often thought of me during these years?
GUNLÖD. I have dreamed so often of you, and this morning when I stood by
the window where I linger so willingly and, gazing over the sea, I saw
your ship come up out of the east, I became unquiet although I did not
know it was your ship.
GUNNAR. Why do you gaze so willingly over the sea?
GUNLÖD. You ask many questions!
GUNNAR. Why did you want to close the door against me?
GUNLÖD. [Silent].
GUNNAR. Why didn't you close it?
GUNLÖD. [Silent].
GUNNAR. Why are you silent?
[Gunlöd bursts into tears.]
GUNNAR. You weep, Gunlöd, and you know why? I know,--you love! [Takes
her in his arms and kisses her.]
GUNLÖD. [Tearing herself away]. You must not kiss me! Go!
GUNNAR. Yes--and you shall go with me.
GUNLÖD. I do not care to be commanded by you--and I shall not obey.
GUNNAR. The volcano gives forth fire--and burns itself out!
GUNLÖD. You have destroyed my peace--forever! Go and let me forget you.
GUNNAR. Do you know what the silver falcon with the ribbon stands for?
It is the symbol of the wild girl I shall tame.
GUNLÖD. [With force]. You! Go before I hate you!--No one yet has bent my
will!
GUNNAR. The wild fire of the viking's blood still burns in your veins,
but it shall be quenched. A day and a night shall I wait for you. And
you will come--mild as a dove seeking shelter, although you now would
fly above the clouds like a wild falcon. But I still hold the ribbon in
my hand--that is your love, which you cannot tear away. When twilight
falls again you will come. Till then, farewell. [Goes to the door and
stops.]
GUNLÖD. [Silent.]
GUNNAR. [Going.] Farewell.
GUNLÖD. We shall see, proud knight, who comes first. When this garland
shall bloom again, then shall I come. [Throws garland in fire. She
watches it burn in a thoughtful mood. When it is quite burnt she breaks
into tears again and falls on her knees.] God! God! Soften my proud
spirit! Oh, that he should leave me! [Hastens to door. At same moment
Valgerd enters, passes Gunlöd, and goes to fire.]
VALGERD. Why did you not tend the fire?
GUNLÖD. [Silent.]
VALGERD [Putting her hand against Gunlöd's heart]. You have a secret!
GUNLÖD. Yes, mother, yes.
VALGERD. Hide it well.
GUNLÖD. Oh, I must speak--I can't bear it any longer.
VALGERD. When saw you a mother who did not know a daughter's secrets?
GUNLÖD. Who told you mine?
VALGERD [Harshly]. Dry your tears.
[A pause.]
GUNLÖD. Oh, let me go out--on the mountains--on the strand. It is so
stifling here.
VALGERD. Go up to the loft--and you can be alone. [Enter a thrall.] What
would you?
THRALL. The Erl's trumpets are heard beyond the rocks and the storm is
growing.
VALGERD. Has darkness fallen?
THRALL. Yes, and a terrible darkness it is.
[A pause.]
GUNLÖD. Send out a boat--two--as many as can be found.
THRALL. All the boats are out for the hunt.
GUNLÖD. Light beacon fires.
THRALL. All the fuel is so rain-soaked that we haven't had so much as a
twig on the hearth all the evening.
VALGERD. Away!
THRALL. How will it go with the Erl?
VALGERD. Does that concern you?
[Thrall goes.]
GUNLÖD. You have not forgotten your wrong!
VALGERD. Nor my revenge! One should not lay hands on the daughter of an
Erl!
GUNLÖD. So be it. Now your moment has come--take your revenge--I'll
show you how--like this. [Takes a lighted torch.] Put this torch in the
window-hole on the right and you wreck him. Put it in the left and you
save him--
VALGERD [Interrupts]. Give me the torch and leave me.
GUNLÖD. There is a sacrifice which can pacify your god's. Sacrifice your
revenge.
VALGERD. [Takes torch, hesitates, and goes quickly to left window-hole
and places it there. Trumpets are heard]. You struck me, Thorfinn--I
swore revenge--I shall humble you with a kind deed.
GUNLÖD [Unseen by Valgerd has entered and falls on her mother's neck].
Thanks, mother.
VALGERD [Disconcerted]. Haven't you gone--
GUNLÖD. Now I shall go. [Gunlöd goes.]
VALGERD [Alone by the window-hole]. You shout for help, you mighty man,
who always helped yourself. [Trumpets are heard.] Where is now your
might--where is your kingdom--[A gust of wind blows out the lighted
torch. Valgerd, terribly frightened, takes torch and lights it.] Oh, he
will perish! What shall I do? Pray? To whom? Odin? Njard? Ogir? I have
called to them for four times ten years, but never have they answered. I
have sacrificed, but never have they helped. Thou, God, however you
may be called--Thou mighty one, who bids the sun to rise and set, thou
tremendous one who rules over the winds and water--to you will I pray,
to you will I sacrifice my revenge if you will save him.
[Orm enters unnoticed.]
ORM. Good evening to you, Valgerd. Put on your cloak--the wind is sharp.
VALGERD [Disconcerted, takes down torch and closes window-hole.]
Welcome, Orm.
ORM. Thanks.
VALGERD. How is it with you, Orm?
ORM. Tolerable enough---when one gets near the big logs.
VALGERD [Irritated]. How went the journey I mean?
ORM. That is a long saga.
VALGERD. Make it short.
ORM. Well, as you know, we fared to Norway, seeking men and timber.
VALGERD. Orm!
ORM. Valgerd!
VALGERD. You have not spoken a word of the Erl.
ORM. Have you asked a word about your mate?
VALGERD. Where is he? Lives he?
ORM. I know not.
VALGERD. You know not!--you, his foster brother? Where did you part from
him?
ORM. Far out in the gulf. It was merry out there you may believe. You
should have seen him swimming with my lyre in his hand. The sea-weed was
so tangled in his beard and hair that one was tempted to believe that it
was Neptune himself. Just then came a wave as big as a house--
VALGERD. And then?
ORM. And then--I saw my lyre no more.
VALGERD. Orm! You jest while your lord and brother is perhaps perishing
out there! I command you--go at once and seek him! Do you hear?
ORM. Why, what is the matter? You were never before so concerned about
your mate! You might find time to give me a drink of ale before I go.
VALGERD. Warm your knees by the hearth. I shall go--and defy wind and
storm.
ORM. [Taking her hounds]. Woman, woman--after all, you are a woman!
VALGERD [Angry]. Let go my hand.
ORM. Now the Erl is saved!
VALGERD. Saved?
ORM. Yes, you have been given back to him--and that is his voice now.
[Goes.]
[Voices of Thorfinn and Orm are heard outside, Thorfinn laughing
loudly.]
VALGERD. The Erl comes--he laughs--that I have never heard before--oh,
there is something terrible approaching! [Wrings her hands.]
[Enter Thorfinn and Orm.]
THORFINN [Laughing]. That was a murderous sight--
ORM. Yes, I promise you!
VALGERD. Welcome home, mate.
THORFINN. Thanks, wife. Have you been out in the rain? Your eyes are
wet.
VALGERD. You are so merry!
THORFINN. Merry? Yes--yes.
VALGERD. What became of your ships?
ORM. They went to the bottom--all but one.
VALGERD [To Thorfinn]. And you can nevertheless be so gay?
THORFINN. Ho! Ho! Timber grows in plenty in the north!
ORM. Now perhaps we might have something life-giving.
THORFINN. Well said! Fetch some ale, wife, and let's be merry.
ORM. And we'll thank the gods who saved us.
THORFINN. When will you ever outgrow those sagas, Orm?
ORM. Why do you force your wife and daughter to believe in them?
THORFINN. Women folk should have gods.
ORM. Whom do you believe helped you out there in the storm?
THORFINN. I helped myself.
ORM. And yet you cried out to Ake-Thor when the big wave swallowed you.
THORFINN. There you lie.
ORM. Orm never lies.
THORFINN. Orm is a poet!
ORM. Thorfinn must have swallowed too much sea water when he cried for
help to have such a bitter tongue.
THORFINN. Take care of your own tongue, Orm.
[Valgerd with drinking horns.]
VALGERD. Here, foster brothers, I drink to your oath of friendship and
better luck for your next voyage.
THORFINN. I forbid you to speak of that again. [They drink. Thorfinn
takes horn hastily from mouth and asks] Where is the child?
VALGERD [Troubled]. She is in the loft.
THORFINN. Call her hither.
VALGERD. She's not well.
THORFINN [Looks sharply at Valgerd]. She shall--come!
VALGERD. You don't mean that.
THORFINN. Did you hear the word?
VALGERD. It is not your last.
THORFINN. A man has but one, though woman must always have the last.
VALGERD [Weakly]. You mock me.
THORFINN. You are angry I believe.
VALGERD. You laugh so much tonight.
[Goes out.]
THORFINN. Orm! A thought comes to me.
ORM. If it's a great one you had better hide it. Great thoughts are
scarce these days.
THORFINN. Did you notice my wife?
ORM. I never notice other men's wives.
THORFINN. How kindly and mild she was.
ORM. She pitied you.
THORFINN. Pitied me?
ORM. Yes, because sorrow that laughs is the laughter of death, she
thought.
THORFINN. Woman cannot think.
ORM. No, not with her head, but with her heart. That's why she has a
smaller head but a bigger breast than we.
THORFINN. Forebodings of evil torture me.
ORM. Poor Thorfinn.
THORFINN. My child! Orm! When she comes do you bid her drink from the
horn to Asa-Odin.
ORM. The fox scents against, the wind. I understand.
THORFINN. Be ready--they come.
ORM. Be not hard with the child, Thorfinn, or you will have me to reckon
with.
[Valgerd and Gunlöd enter. The latter heavy with sleepiness.]
GUNLÖD. Welcome home, father.
THORFINN. Do you speak truthfully?
GUNLÖD. [Silent.]
THORFINN. You are ill, are you not?
GUNLÖD. I am not quite myself.
THORFINN. I fear so.
ORM [Waning a drinking horn over the fire]. Come, Gunlöd, and empty this
sacred horn to Odin who saved your father from shipwreck.
[All empty their horns except Gunlöd.]
THORFINN [Tremblingly]. Drink, Gunlöd.
[Gunlöd throws the horn on floor and goes to Thorfinn and buries her
head in his lap.]
GUNLÖD. Hear me, father. I am a Christian. Do with me what you will--my
soul you cannot destroy. God and the Saints will protect it.
[Thorfinn is beside himself with grief and rage. Rises and pushes Gunlöd
away from him and tries to speak, but words fail him. Sits on his high
bench again in silence. Orm goes to the women and speaks quietly to
them. They go toward door. Suddenly Gunlöd turns.]
GUNLÖD. No! I won't go. I must speak that you, my father, may not go
to the grave with a lie--for your whole life has been a lie! I shall
sacrifice the child's respect--love I have never felt--and prove to you
what terrible guilt you have gathered on your head. Know then, you have
taught me to hate--for when did you ever give me love--you taught me to
fear the great Erl Thorfinn and you have succeeded, because I tremble
before your harshness. I respect your many scars and great deeds, but
you never taught me to love my father. You always thrust me away when
I wanted to come to you--you poisoned my soul and now you see God's
punishment. You have made me a criminal--for such I am at this moment,
but it cannot be otherwise. Why do you hate my belief? Because it is
love and yours is hate! Oh, father, father, I want to kiss the clouds
from your brow. I wanted to caress your white locks and make you forget
the sorrows that whitened them. I wanted to support you when your steps
began to falter--Oh! forget what I have said--open your arms [falls on
her knees] and take me to your heart. Look at me tenderly--just once
before it is too late. Speak one word--[springs to her feet] Oh, your
glance freezes me! You will not! I shall pray for power to love you.
[Bursts into tears and goes out, followed by Valgerd, Orm goes forward
to Thorfinn.]
THORFINN. Sing for me, Orm.
ORM. Orm sings nothing but lies.
THORFINN. Lie then.
ORM. Was the truth so bitter?
THORFINN. What do you say?
ORM. Never mind. You shall hear more from me later.
THORFINN. Orm, you are my friend!
ORM. H'm--of course!
THORFINN. I lack peace.
ORM. There are two ways to gain peace: one is never to do anything one
regrets--the other never to regret anything one does!
THORFINN. But if one has already done what one regrets?
ORM. Thorfinn! That is to say, you regret your harshness toward your
child?
THORFINN [Angry]. I regret nothing. And as far as the child is concerned
you had better hold your tongue!
ORM. Hear you, Thorfinn--have you ever thought about what your life has
been?
THORFINN. Thinking is for old women--doing has been my life.
ORM. What do you intend to do now?
THORFINN. What do I intend to do now?
ORM. Yes.
THORFINN [Shaken, is silent.]
ORM. You see how even a little thought struck you--think then if a big
thought should come. Why don't you dare to look back? Because you are
afraid of the sights you would see.
THORFINN. Let the past remain buried.
ORM. No, I shall tear the corpses from their graves and they shall
stare at you with their empty orbits until you quake with anguish and
fear--and you shall see that with all your strength you were not a man.
THORFINN. What are you saying, madman?
ORM. Yes, shout--you are still a boy. Yes, you--I have seen big, tall
children with bushy beards and gray hairs and crooked backs as well.
THORFINN. Hold your tongue, Orm.
ORM. Shout until the hut trembles--the truth you cannot shout down.
THORFINN. Silence, before I strike you!
ORM. Strike! Strike me to death--tear the tongue out of my mouth--with
copper trumpets shall the truth be blasted into your ears, "Your life
has been a lie."
THORFINN [With repressed anger and pain]. Orm, I beg of you--speak no
more.
ORM. Yes, Thorfinn, I shall speak. Feel how the earth trembles under
you. That means an earthquake! The whole earth trembles these days,
for she is about to give birth. She is to bring forth in dire pain a
glorious hero. Open your eyes and look. Do you see how the east wars
with the west? It is love's first conflict--the new bride trembles under
the elder's embraces, she struggles and suffers--but soon she shall
rejoice, and thousands of torches shall be lighted and radiate peace and
gladness, because he shall be born, the young, the strong, the beautiful
princeling, who shall rule over all peoples and whose sceptre is called
love and whose crown is called light and whose name is the new age!
Thorfinn! do you remember the saga about Thor at Utgorda Loake? He
lifted the cat so high that the trolls turned pale; he drank so deep
from the horn that the trolls trembled--but when the old woman felled
him to his knees then the trolls laughed. It was the age that vanquished
him, and it is the age that you have warred against, and which has slain
you--it is the lord of the age, it is God who has crushed you.
THORFINN. I have never known any god but my own strength, and that god I
believe in!
ORM. You don't know him--you who have so long been lying at feud with
him. It was he who drove you from your native land, and you thought
you were escaping him. It was he who struck your ships to splinters and
swallowed up your treasures and ended your power. It was he who
tore your child from you--and you said you lacked peace! It was
he--[Messenger enters.]
MESSENGER. Are you the Erl Thorfinn.
THORFINN. I am.
MESSENGER. You committed the coast massacre at Reyd-fiord last spring?
THORFINN [Undisturbed]. I did.
MESSENGER. You plundered and burned Hallfred at Thorvalla?
THORFINN. Yes.
MESSENGER. And then you disappeared.
THORFINN [Silent.]
MESSENGER. The Allting has now declared you an outlaw and pronounced you
a felon. Your house is to be burned to the ground, and whomsoever will
may take your life. Your enemies are at hand, therefore fly while there
is yet time--make your escape this night.
[Messenger goes out and there is a long pause.]
ORM. Do you know who that was?
THORFINN. You may well ask that.
ORM. It--was a messenger from that old woman who felled Thor--the age!
THORFINN. You talk like an old woman.
ORM. This age does not want to use force, but you have violated it and
it strikes you.
THORFINN. This age cannot suffer strength, therefore it worships
weakness.
ORM. When you came to this island you swore peace. You have broken your
oath, you have violated your honor, therefore you must die like a felon.
THORFINN. Do you too call me a felon?
ORM. Yes.
THORFINN. Would you dare to break an oath? Would you dare to in called a
felon?
ORM [Silent.]
THORFINN. Poor wretch! It is you who put shackles on me when I want to
fly! Like a snake you coil yourself around my legs. Let go of me!
ORM. We have sworn the oath of foster-brothers.
THORFINN. I break it!
ORM. You cannot.
THORFINN. Then I'll kick you out of the way.
ORM. That will be our death.
THORFINN. Are you a man, Orm?
ORM. I've become a poet only.
THORFINN. Therefore you have become nothing.
ORM. I knew what I wanted, but I could not attain it. You could attain
anything, but did not know what you wanted.
THORFINN. Thanks for your song. Farewell.
ORM. Who will sing your death song?
THORFINN. The ravens no doubt.
ORM. Do you dare to die, Thorfinn?
THORFINN. I dare more! I dare to be forgotten!
ORM. You were always stronger than I. Farewell. We'll meet again. [Orm
goes out.]
THORFINN. Alone! Alone! Alone! [Pause.] I remember one autumn when the
equinoctial storm raged over England's sun my dragon ship was wrecked
and I was tossed up on the rocks alone. Afterward everything grew
calm. Oh, what long days and nights! Only the cloudless sky above
and endlessly the deep blue sea around me. Not a sound of any living
creature! Not even the gulls to wake me with their screeching! Not even
a breeze stirred the waves to lap against the stones. It seemed as if I
myself were dead! Loudly I talked and shouted, but the sound of my voice
frightened me, and thirst bound my tongue. Only the even beat of my
heart in my breast told me that I was alive! But after a moment's
listening I heard it no longer and, trembling, I rose to my feet, and so
it was each time until, senseless, I swooned. When at last I revived I
heard the slow beats of a heart beside me and a deep breathing that was
not mine, and courage revived in my soul. I looked about--it was a
seal seeking rest; it gazed at me with its moist eyes as if filled with
compassion for me. Now I was no longer alone! I stretched out my hand to
caress its rough body; then it fled and I was doubly alone. Again I am
on the rocks! What do I fear? Yes, loneliness! What is loneliness? It
is I, myself! Who am I then to fear myself? Am I not Erl Thorfinn, the
strong, who has bowed thousands of wills to his? Who never asked for
friendship or love but himself bore his own sorrows! No! No! I am
another! And therefore Thorfinn the strong fears Thorfinn the weak!
Who stole my strength? Who struck me down? Was it the sea? Have I not
vanquished the sea three times ten voyages? And it, has defeated me but
once--but then to the death! It was the stronger. It was a God. But who
subdued the sea that lately raged? Who? Who? Who? It was the stronger!
Who are you then, the stronger! Oh, answer, that I may believe! He does
not answer!--All is silent!--Again I hear my heart beating. Oh, help,
help! I am cold, I freeze--[Goes to door and calls Valgerd.]
[Enter a thrall.]
THRALL. You called, Master Erl?
THORFINN [Recovering himself]. You were mistaken.
THRALL. Yes, master.
THORFINN. How many men are we?
THRALL. Oh--half three score I think.
THORFINN. Are you afraid to die, thrall?
THRALL. How can I be when I believe that I shall be saved?
[Crosses himself.]
THORFINN. What does that mean?
THRALL. The bishop has taught us to do that.
THORFINN. I forgot that you are a Christian.
THRALL. Do you wish me to stay in your service when you are a heathen?
THORFINN. I want to prove how little I respect their belief. We must put
double bolts on the north gate!
THRALL. Yes, Master, but the belief is stronger than a hundred bolts.
THORFINN. Who questioned you? [Pause.] What happened when you became
Christians here on the island?
THRALL. Oh, it was easier than any one would think. They only poured
water on us and the bishop read from a big book and then they gave us
each a white shirt.
THORFINN. Tell the twelve strongest to take their new axes--do you hear?
THRALL [Starting to go]. Yes, Master.
THORFINN. Wait. [Pause.] Do you remember what was written in that big
book?
THRALL. I don't remember much of it, but there was something about two
thieves who were hanged on crosses along with the Son of God. But one of
them went to heaven.
THORFINN. Did they pour water on him, too?
THRALL. The bishop didn't say.
THORFINN. Do you know whether there are any horses in the stable?
THRALL. They must be out at pasture--but I'll see. [Starts to go.]
THORFINN. You mustn't leave me--Stay. [Pause.] Could you die in peace
this night?
THRALL. Yes, if I only had time for a prayer first.
THORFINN. Does that bring peace to one?
THRALL. Oh, yes, Master.
THORFINN [Rises, takes up a goblet]. This you shall have if you will
pray for me.
THRALL. That's not enough.
THORFINN. You shall have ten, but if you ever tell of it--I'll take your
life.
THRALL. It would not help even if you gave me a hundred. You must pray
yourself.
THORFINN. I cannot, but I command you to pray.
THRALL. I will obey--but you will see that it does not help. [Praying.]
Jesus Christ, have pity on this poor sinner who begs for mercy.
THORFINN. That's a lie. I never begged for anything!
THRALL. You see now that it doesn't help.
THORFINN. Give me my armor and help me buckle.
THRALL [Helping]. You are not keeping still. I can't fasten the buckles.
THORFINN. Wretch!
THRALL. But your whole body is shaking.
THORFINN. That's a lie!
[Valgerd and Gunlöd enter.]
THRALL. May I go now?
THORFINN. Go.
VALGERD [Coming forward]. You called me.
THORFINN. That's not true.
VALGERD. Your enemies are upon you.
THORFINN. What does that concern you?
VALGRED. Make ready. I have heard what has come to pass.
THORFINN. Then it is best that you [indicating both Valgerd and Gunlöd]
hide yourselves in the cellar passage.
[Another messenger enters.]
MESSENGER. Erl Thorfinn, we are here. Will you surrender to our superior
strength?
THORFINN [Silent.]
MESSENGER. You do not answer. Let the women go as we shall burn your
home. [Thorfinn is silent.] Your answer!
[Gunlöd who has been standing by the door, comes forward and takes a
battle axe from wall.]
GUNLÖD. I give you your answer! Ill must Erl Thorfinn have brought up
his daughter and little would his wife have loved him if they should
desert him now. Here is your answer. [Throws battle axe at messenger's
feet.]
MESSENGER. You are stronger than I thought, Thorfinn. For your
daughter's sake you shall have a chance to fall like a hero and not as a
felon. Make ready for open conflict--out on the field. [Goes out.]
THORFINN [to Valgerd]. Out on you, cowardly, faithless woman, to guard
my treasure so ill! To make my child mine enemy.
GUNLÖD. O, my father, am I your enemy?
THORFINN. You are a Christian; but it is not too late yet. Will you deny
the white Christ?
GUNLÖD. Never! But I will follow you to death.
VALGERD. Thorfinn, you call me cowardly. I can suffer that, but
faithless--there you wrong me. I have not loved you as warmly as
the southern women are said to love, yet have I been faithful to you
throughout life and I have sworn to go with you in death--as is the
ancient custom. [Opens a trap door in floor.] Look, here have I prepared
my grave, here would I die under these smoky beams that have witnessed
my sorrows--and with those [points to the carved images of Thor and Odin
on uprights of high bench] who guided us here. I want to go with the
flames, and in the smoke shall my spirit rise to Ginde to receive
charity and peace.
GUNLÖD. And I to be alone afterward! Oh, let me follow you.
VALGERD. No, child, you are young. You may yet flourish in a milder
clime. But the old fir tree dies on its roots.
GUNLÖD. Father, father, you must not die. I will save you!
THORFINN. You?
GUNLÖD. Your kinsman Gunnar lies off Hjärleif's headland with his men.
Send one of the thralls to him by a roundabout route and he will come.
THORFINN. So! It wax out of that well that you drew your courage. Keep
your help and go if you will.
GUNLÖD. You shall not think me a coward. I go with you, mother. You
cannot hinder me.
[Thorfinn goes to the door, trying to conceal his emotion.]
VALGERD. No! Stay, Thorfinn, and for once bare your big soul that I may
read its dim runics.
THORFINN. If you cannot interpret them now then may this runic stone
crumble to air unread.
VALGERD. You are not the hard stone you would seem. You have feelings.
Show them. Let them flow forth and you shall know peace!
THORFINN. My feelings are my heart's blood. Would you see it?
[The clatter of arms is heard outside which continues until Thorfinn
returns. Thorfinn starts to go out when he hears the chatter.]
VALGERD. Oh, stay and say a word of farewell!
THORFINN. Woman, you tear down my strength with your feelings. Let me
go! The play has begun!
VALGERD. Say farewell, at least.
THORNFINN [Restraining his feelings with effort]. Farewell, child. [Goes
out.]
VALGERD. That man no one will bend.
GUNLÖD. God will!
VALGERD. His hardness is great.
GUNLÖD. God's mercy is greater!
VALGERD. Farewell, my child.
GUNLÖD. Do you dare leave me behind, alone?
VALGERD [Embracing Gunlöd]. Are you prepared?
GUNLÖD. The holy virgin prays for me.
VALGERD. I trust in the God of love.
GUNLÖD. And in the mother of God.
VALGERD. I know her not.
GUNLÖD. You must believe in her.
VALGERD. My belief is not your belief.
GUNLÖD [Embracing Valgerd]. Forgive me.
VALGERD. Now to your place.
[Gunlöd opens the wooden shutter at window-hole and looks out. Valgerd
takes it torch and places herself by the trap door in floor.]
GUNLÖD. The strife is sharp.
VALGERD. Do you see the Erl?
GUNLÖD. He stands at the gate.
VALGERD. How fares he?
GUNLÖD. Everything falls before him.
VALGERD. Does he weary?
GUNLÖD. Still is he straight-- -- --See what terrible northern lights.
VALGERD. Have many fallen?
GUNLÖD. I cannot tell. They are drawing away from the threshing yard.
Oh, the heavens are red as blood!
[Pause.]
VALGERD. Speak! What do you see?
GUNLÖD [With joy]. The silver falcon!
VALGERD. It's an ill-omen.
GUNLÖD. Father comes.
VALGERD. Is he wounded?
GUNLÖD. Oh, now he is falling!
VALGERD. Close the window-hole and trust in God.
GUNLÖD. No, not yet. A moment.
VALGRED. Are you afraid?
GUNLÖD [Going toward door]. No! No!
[The sounds of the conflict gradually die away.]
THORFINN [Comes in pale and wounded.] Stay!
[Valgerd goes towards him. Pause.]
THORFINN [On high bench]. Come here.
[Valgerd and Gunlöd go to him. Thorfinn caresses Gunlöd's hair, kisses
her forehead, then presses Valgerd's hand.]
THORFINN [Kissing Valgerd]. Now you see my heart's blood.
[Valgerd rises to get torch.]
VALGERD. Now is our parting over.
THORFINN. Stay and live with your child.
VALGERD. My oath!
THORFINN. My whole life has been a broken oath and yet I hope-- -- --It
is better to live-- -- --
[Orm comes in wounded. Stops at door.]
ORM. May I come?
THORFINN. Come.
ORM. Have you found peace now?
THORFINN [Caressing the woman]. Soon, soon!
ORM. Then we are ready for the journey.
THORFINN [Looks at Valgerd and Gunlöd]. Not yet.
ORM [Sits on bench]. Hurry if you want company.
THORFINN. Orm, are you a Christian?
ORM. You may ask indeed.
THORFINN. What are you then, riddle?
ORM. I was everything. I was nothing. I was a poet.
THORFINN. Do you believe in anything?
ORM. I've come to have a belief.
THORFINN. What gave it to you?
ORM. Doubt, misfortune, sorrow.
THORFINN [To Valgerd]. Valgerd, give me your hand, so. Hold
fast--tighter--you must not let go until--the end.
[Gunnar comes in and stops by door.]
THORFINN. Who comes?
GUNNAR. You know me!
THORFINN. I know your voice, but my eyes see you not.
GUNNAR. I am your kinsman, Gunnar.
THORFINN [After a pause]. Step forth.
[Gunnar remains where he is, looking questioningly at Gunlöd.]
THORFINN. Is he here?
[Gunlöd rises, goes with slow steps and bowed head to Gunnar. Takes his
hand and leads him to Thorfinn. They kneel.]
THORFINN [Putting hands on their heads]. Eternal -- -- -- Creating -- --
-- God--[Dies.]
CURTAIN.
*****
THE STRONGER
CHARACTERS
MME. X., an actress, married
MLLE. Y., an actress, unmarried
A WAITRESS
[SCENE--The corner of a ladies' cafe. Two little iron tables, a red
velvet sofa, several chairs. Enter Mme. X., dressed in winter clothes,
carrying a Japanese basket on her arm.]
[MLLE. Y. sits with a half empty beer bottle before her, reading an
illustrated paper, which she changes later for another.]
MME. X. Good afternoon, Amelie. You're sitting here alone on Christmas
eve like a poor bachelor!
MLLE. Y. [Looks up, nods, and resumes her reading.]
MME. X. Do you know it really hurts me to see you like this, alone, in a
cafe, and on Christmas eve, too. It makes me feel as I did one time when
I saw a bridal party in a Paris restaurant, and the bride sat reading a
comic paper, while the groom played billiards with the witnesses. Huh,
thought I, with such a beginning, what will follow, and what will be the
end? He played billiards on his wedding eve! [Mlle. Y. starts to speak].
And she read a comic paper, you mean? Well, they are not altogether the
same thing.
[A waitress enters, places a cup of chocolate before Mme. X. and goes
out.]
MME. X. You know what, Amelie! I believe you would have done better to
have kept him! Do you remember, I was the first to say "Forgive him?"
Do you remember that? You would be married now and have a home. Remember
that Christmas when you went out to visit your fiance's parents in the
country? How you gloried in the happiness of home life and really longed
to quit the theatre forever? Yes, Amelie dear, home is the best of all,
the theatre next and children--well, you don't understand that.
MLLE. Y. [Looks up scornfully.]
[Mme. X. sips a few spoonfuls out of the cup, then opens her basket and
shows Christmas presents.]
MME. X. Now you shall see what I bought for my piggywigs. [Takes up a
doll.] Look at this! This is for Lisa, ha! Do you see how she can roll
her eyes and turn her head, eh? And here is Maja's popgun. [Loads it and
shoots at Mlle. Y.]
MLLE. Y. [Makes a startled gesture.]
MME. X. Did I frighten you? Do you think I would like to shoot you, eh?
On my soul, if I don't think you did! If you wanted to shoot _me_ it
wouldn't be so surprising, because I stood in your way--and I know you
can never forget that--although I was absolutely innocent. You still
believe I intrigued and got you out of the Stora theatre, but I didn't.
I didn't do that, although you think so. Well, it doesn't make any
difference what I say to you. You still believe I did it. [Takes up
a pair of embroidered slippers.] And these are for my better half. I
embroidered them myself--I can't bear tulips, but he wants tulips on
everything.
MLLE. Y. [Looks up ironically and curiously.]
MME. X. [Putting a hand in each slipper.] What little feet Bob has!
What? And you should see what a splendid stride he has! You've never
seen him in slippers! [Mlle. Y. laughs aloud.] Look! [She makes the
slippers walk on the table. Mlle. Y. laughs loudly.] And when he is
grumpy he stamps like this with his foot. "What! damn those servants who
can never learn to make coffee. Oh, now those creatures haven't trimmed
the lamp wick properly!" And then there are draughts on the floor and
his feet are cold. "Ugh, how cold it is; the stupid idiots can never
keep the fire going." [She rubs the slippers together, one sole over the
other.]
MLLE. Y. [Shrieks with laughter.]
MME. X. And then he comes home and has to hunt for his slippers which
Marie has stuck under the chiffonier--oh, but it's sinful to sit here
and make fun of one's husband this way when he is kind and a good little
man. You ought to have had such a husband, Amelie. What are you laughing
at? What? What? And you see he's true to me. Yes, I'm sure of that,
because he told me himself--what are you laughing at?--that when I was
touring in Norway that that brazen Frêdêrique came and wanted to seduce
him! Can you fancy anything so infamous? [Pause.] I'd have torn her eyes
out if she had come to see him when I was at home. [Pause.] It was lucky
that Bob told me about it himself and that it didn't reach me through
gossip. [Pause.] But would you believe it, Frêdêrique wasn't the only
one! I don't know why, but the women are crazy about my husband. They
must think he has influence about getting them theatrical engagements,
because he is connected with the government. Perhaps you were after
him yourself. I didn't use to trust you any too much. But now I know
he never bothered his head about you, and you always seemed to have a
grudge against him someway.
[Pause. They look at each other in a puzzled way.]
MME. X. Come and see us this evening, Amelie, and show us that you're
not put out with us,--not put out with me at any rate. I don't know, but
I think it would be uncomfortable to have you for an enemy. Perhaps
it's because I stood in your way [rallentando] or--I really--don't know
why--in particular.
[Pause. Mlle. Y. stares at Mme. X curiously.]
MME. X [Thoughtfully]. Our acquaintance has been so queer. When I saw
you for the first time I was afraid of you, so afraid that I didn't dare
let you out of my sight; no matter when or where, I always found myself
near you--I didn't dare have you for an enemy, so I became your friend.
But there was always discord when you came to our house, because I saw
that my husband couldn't endure you, and the whole thing seemed as awry
to me as an ill-fitting gown--and I did all I could to make him friendly
toward you, but with no success until you became engaged. Then came a
violent friendship between you, so that it looked all at once as though
you both dared show your real feelings only when you were secure--and
then--how was it later? I didn't get jealous--strange to say! And I
remember at the christening, when you acted as godmother, I made him
kiss you--he did so, and you became so confused--as it were; I didn't
notice it then--didn't think about it later, either--have never thought
about it until--now! [Rises suddenly.] Why are you silent? You haven't
said a word this whole time, but you have let me go on talking! You have
sat there, and your eyes have reeled out of me all these thoughts which
lay like raw silk in its cocoon--thoughts--suspicious thoughts, perhaps.
Let me see--why did you break your engagement? Why do you never come to
our house any more? Why won't you come to see us tonight?
[Mlle. Y. appears as if about to speak.]
MME. X. Hush, you needn't speak--I understand it all! It was
because--and because--and because! Yes, yes! Now all the accounts
balance. That's it. Fie, I won't sit at the same table with you. [Moves
her things to another table.] That's the reason I had to embroider
tulips--which I hate--on his slippers, because you are fond of tulips;
that's why [Throws slippers on the floor] we go to Lake Mälarn in the
summer, because you don't like salt water; that's why my boy is named
Eskil--because it's your father's name; that's why I wear your
colors, read your authors, eat your favorite dishes, drink your
drinks--chocolate, for instance; that's why--oh--my God--it's terrible,
when I think about it; it's terrible. Everything, everything came from
you to me, even your passions. Your soul crept into mine, like a worm
into an apple, ate and ate, bored and bored, until nothing was left but
the rind and a little black dust within. I wanted to get away from you,
but I couldn't; you lay like a snake and charmed me with your black
eyes; I felt that when I lifted my wings they only dragged me down; I
lay in the water with bound feet, and the stronger I strove to keep up
the deeper I worked myself down, down, until I sank to the bottom, where
you lay like a giant crab to clutch me in your claws--and there I am
lying now.
I hate you, hate you, hate you! And you only sit there silent--silent
and indifferent; indifferent whether it's new moon or waning moon,
Christmas or New Year's, whether others are happy or unhappy; without
power to hate or to love; as quiet as a stork by a rat hole--you
couldn't scent your prey and capture it, but you could lie in wait for
it! You sit here in your corner of the cafê--did you know it's called
"The Rat Trap" for you?--and read the papers to see if misfortune hasn't
befallen some one, to see if some one hasn't been given notice at the
theatre, perhaps; you sit here and calculate about your next victim and
reckon on your chances of recompense like a pilot in a shipwreck.
Poor Amelie, I pity you, nevertheless, because I know you are unhappy,
unhappy like one who has been wounded, and angry because you are
wounded. I can't be angry with you, no matter how much I want to
be--because you come out the weaker one. Yes, all that with Bob doesn't
trouble me. What is that to me, after all? And what difference does it
make whether I learned to drink chocolate from you or some one else.
[Sips a spoonful from her cup.]
Besides, chocolate is very healthful. And if you taught me how to
dress--tant mieux!--that has only made me more attractive to my husband;
so you lost and I won there. Well, judging by certain signs, I believe
you have already lost him; and you certainly intended that I should
leave him--do as you did with your fiancê and regret as you now regret;
but, you see, I don't do that--we mustn't be too exacting. And why
should I take only what no one else wants?
Perhaps, take it all in all, I am at this moment the stronger one. You
received nothing from me, but you gave me much. And now I seem like a
thief since you have awakened and find I possess what is your loss. How
could it be otherwise when everything is worthless and sterile in
your hands? You can never keep a man's love with your tulips and your
passions--but I can keep it. You can't learn how to live from your
authors, as I have learned. You have no little Eskil to cherish, even
if your father's name was Eskil. And why are you always silent, silent,
silent? I thought that was strength, but perhaps it is because you have
nothing to say! Because you never think about anything! [Rises and picks
up slippers.]
Now I'm going home--and take the tulips with me--_your_ tulips! You are
unable to learn from another; you can't bend--therefore, you broke like
a dry stalk. But I won't break! Thank you, Amelie, for all your good
lessons. Thanks for teaching my husband how to love. Now I'm going home
to love him. [Goes.]