stand, Romans! Today we will free the world!
[_The battle has in the meantime swept forward over the plain
again. JULIAN hurls himself with drawn sword into the
thickest of the fight. General confusion._
ANATOLUS.
[_Calling out to the right._] Help, help! The Emperor is in deadly
peril!
JULIAN.
[_Among the combatants._] I see him; I see him! A longer sword! Who has
a longer sword to lend me?
SOLDIERS.
[_Streaming in from the right._] With Christ for the Emperor!
AGATHON.
[_Among the new-comers._] With Christ for Christ!
[_He throws his spear; it grazes the Emperor’s arm, and plunges
into his side._
JULIAN.
Ah!
[_He grasps the spear-head to draw it out, but gashes his hand,
utters a loud cry and falls._
AGATHON.
[_Calls out in the tumult._] The Roman’s spear from Golgotha!
[_He casts himself weaponless among the Persians, and is seen to
be cut down._
CONFUSED CRIES.
The Emperor! Is the Emperor wounded?
JULIAN.
[_Attempts to rise, but falls back again, and cries_:] Thou hast
conquered, Galilean!
MANY VOICES.
The Emperor has fallen!
ANATOLUS.
The Emperor is wounded! Shield him—shield him, in the name of the gods!
[_He casts himself despairingly against the advancing Persians.
The Emperor is carried away senseless. At that moment,
JOVIAN comes forward upon the plain with fresh troops._
JOVIAN.
On—on, believing brethren; give Caesar what is Caesar’s!
RETREATING SOLDIERS.
[_Calling to him._] He has fallen! The Emperor has fallen!
JOVIAN.
Fallen! Oh mighty God of vengeance! On, on; ’tis God’s will that his
people shall live! I see heaven open; I see the angels with flaming
swords——
THE SOLDIERS.
[_Hurtling forward._] Christ is among us!
AMMIAN’S TROOPS.
The Galileans’ God is among us! Close round him! He is the strongest!
[_A wild tumult of battle. JOVIAN hews his way into the enemy’s
ranks. Sunrise. The Persians flee in all directions._
SCENE FOURTH.
_The Emperor’s tent, with a curtained entrance in the background.
Daylight._
_The EMPEROR JULIAN lies unconscious on his couch. The wounds in his
right side, arm, and hand are bound up. Close to him stand
ORIBASES and MAKRINA, with EUTHERIUS. Further back BASIL OF
CAESAREA, and PRISCUS. At the foot of the bed stands MAXIMUS THE
MYSTIC._
MAKRINA.
He bleeds again. I must bind the bandage tighter.
ORIBASES.
Thanks to you, tender woman; your heedful hands do us good service here.
EUTHERIUS.
Is it possible that he still lives?
ORIBASES.
Certainly he lives.
EUTHERIUS.
But he does not breathe.
ORIBASES.
Yes, he breathes.
_AMMIAN enters softly, with the Emperor’s sword and shield,
which he lays down, and remains standing beside the
curtain._
PRISCUS.
Ah, good captain, how go affairs without?
AMMIAN.
Better than here. Is he already——?
PRISCUS.
No, no, not yet. But is it certain that we have defeated the Persians?
AMMIAN.
Completely. It was Jovian who put them to flight. Three noblemen have
even now arrived as envoys from King Sapor, to beg for a truce.
PRISCUS.
And think you Nevita will accede to it?
AMMIAN.
Nevita has yielded up the command to Jovian. All flock around him. All
see in him our one hope of safety——
ORIBASES.
Speak low; he moves.
AMMIAN.
He moves. Mayhap he is awakening to consciousness! Oh, if he should live
to see this!
EUTHERIUS.
What, Ammian?
AMMIAN.
Both soldiers and leaders are taking counsel as to the choice of the new
Emperor.
PRISCUS.
What say you?
EUTHERIUS.
Oh, what shameful haste!
AMMIAN.
The perilous situation of the army partly excuses it; and yet——
MAKRINA.
He is waking;—he opens his eyes——
[_JULIAN lies for a time quite still, looking kindly at the
bystanders._
ORIBASES.
Sire, do you know me?
JULIAN.
Very well, my Oribases.
ORIBASES.
Only lie quiet.
JULIAN.
Lie quiet? You remind me! I must be up!
ORIBASES.
Impossible, sire; I implore you——
JULIAN.
I must up, I say. How can I lie quiet now? I must utterly vanquish
Sapor.
EUTHERIUS.
Sapor is vanquished, sire! He has sent envoys to the camp to beg for a
truce.
JULIAN.
Has he, indeed? That is good news. So him, at least, I have conquered.
But no truce. I will crush him to the earth.—Ah, where is my shield?
Have I lost my shield?
AMMIAN.
No, my Emperor,—here are both your shield and your sword.
JULIAN.
I am very glad of that. My good shield. I should grieve to think of it
in the hands of the barbarians. Give it me, on my arm——
MAKRINA.
Oh, sire, ’tis too heavy for you now!
JULIAN.
Ah, _you_? You are right, pious Makrina; ’tis a little too heavy for
me.—Lay it before me, that I may see it. What? Is that you, Ammian? Are
you on guard here? Where is Anatolus?
AMMIAN.
Sire, he is now in bliss.
JULIAN.
Fallen? My trusty Anatolus fallen for my sake!—In bliss, you say? Ha——
One friend the less. Ah, my Maximus!—I will not receive the Persian
king’s envoys to-day. Their design is merely to waste my time. But I
will grant no terms. I will follow up the victory to the utmost. The
army shall turn against Ctesiphon again.
ORIBASES.
Impossible, sire; think of your wounds.
JULIAN.
My wounds will soon be healed. Will they not, Oribases—do you not
promise me——?
ORIBASES.
Above all things rest, sire!
JULIAN.
What a most untimely chance! Just at this moment, when so many weighty
matters are crowding in upon me. I cannot leave these things in Nevita’s
hands. In such matters I can trust neither him nor others; I must do all
myself.—’Tis true, I feel somewhat weary. How unfortunate!—Tell me,
Ammian, what is the name of that ill-omened place?
AMMIAN.
What place, my gracious Emperor?
JULIAN.
The spot where the Persian javelin struck me?
AMMIAN.
’Tis called after the village of Phrygia——
MAXIMUS.
Ah!
JULIAN.
What is it called——? What say you the region is called?
AMMIAN.
’Tis called from the village over yonder, the Phrygian region.
JULIAN.
Ah, Maximus—Maximus!
MAXIMUS.
Betrayed!
[_He hides his face, and sinks down at the foot of the bed._
ORIBASES.
My Emperor, what alarms you?
JULIAN.
Nothing—nothing——
Phrygia? Is it so? Nevita and the others will have to take the command
after all. Go, tell them——
AMMIAN.
Sire, they have already, on your behalf——
JULIAN.
Have they? Yes, yes, that is well.
The world-will has laid an ambush for me, Maximus!
MAKRINA.
Your wound bleeds afresh, sire!
JULIAN.
Oh, Oribases, why did you seek to hide it from me?
ORIBASES.
What did I seek to hide, my Emperor?
JULIAN.
That I must die. Why not have told me before.
ORIBASES.
Oh, my Emperor!
BASIL.
Julian—Julian!
[_He casts himself down, weeping, beside the bed._
JULIAN.
Basil,—friend, brother,—we two have lived beautiful days together——
You must not weep because I depart from you so young. ’Tis not always a
sign of the Fates’ displeasure when they call a man away in his prime.
What, after all, is death? ’Tis nought but paying our debt to the
ever-changing empire of the dust. No lamentations! Do we not all love
wisdom? And does not wisdom teach us that the highest bliss lies in the
life of the soul, not in that of the body? So far the Galileans are
right, although——; but we will not speak of that. Had the powers of life
and death suffered me to finish a certain treatise, I think I should
have succeeded in——
ORIBASES.
Oh my Emperor, does it not weary you to talk so much?
JULIAN.
No, no, no. I feel very light and free.
BASIL.
Julian, my beloved brother,—is there nought you would recall?
JULIAN.
Truly I know not what it should be.
BASIL.
Nothing to repent of, Julian?
JULIAN.
Nothing. That power which circumstances placed in my hands, and which is
an emanation of divinity, I am conscious of having used to the best of
my skill. I have never wittingly wronged any one. For this campaign
there were good and sufficient reasons; and if some should think that I
have not fulfilled all expectations, they ought in justice to reflect
that there is a mysterious power without us, which in a great measure
governs the issue of human undertakings.
MAKRINA.
[_Softly to ORIBASES._] Oh listen—listen how heavily he breathes.
ORIBASES.
His voice will soon fail him.
JULIAN.
As to the choice of my successor, I presume not to give any advice.—You,
Eutherius, will divide my possessions among those who have stood nearest
to me. I do not leave much; for I have always held that a true
philosopher——
What is _this_? Is the sun already setting?
ORIBASES.
Not so, my Emperor; ’tis still broad day.
JULIAN.
Strange! It seemed to me to turn quite dark——
Ah, wisdom—wisdom. Hold fast to wisdom, good Priscus! But be always
armed against an unfathomable something without us, which——
Is Maximus gone?
MAXIMUS.
No, my brother!
JULIAN.
My throat is burning. Can you not cool it?
MAKRINA.
A draught of water, sire?
[_She holds a cup to his lips._
ORIBASES.
[_Whispers to MAKRINA._] His wound bleeds inwardly.
JULIAN.
Do not weep. Let no Greek weep for me; I am ascending to the stars——
Beautiful temples—— Pictures—— But so far away.
MAKRINA.
Of what is he talking?
ORIBASES.
I know not; I think his mind is wandering.
JULIAN.
[_With closed eyes._] ’Twas given to Alexander to enter in triumph—into
Babylon.—I too will—— Beautiful wreath—crown’d youths—dancing
maidens,—but so far away.
Beautiful earth,—beautiful life——
[_He opens his eyes wide._
Oh, Helios, Helios—why didst thou betray me?
[_He dies._
ORIBASES.
[_After a pause._] That was death.
THE BYSTANDERS.
Dead—dead!
ORIBASES.
Yes, now he is dead.
[_BASIL and MAKRINA kneel in prayer. EUTHERIUS veils his head. A
sound of drums and trumpets is heard in the distance._
SHOUTS FROM THE CAMP.
Long live the Emperor Jovian!
ORIBASES.
Oh, heard you that shout?
AMMIAN.
Jovian is proclaimed Emperor.
MAXIMUS.
[_Laughing._] The Galilean Jovian! Yes—yes—yes!
ORIBASES.
Shameful haste! Before they knew that——
PRISCUS.
Jovian,—the victorious hero who has saved us all! The Emperor Jovian
assuredly deserves a panegyric. I trust that crafty Kytron has not
already——
[_He hastens out._
BASIL.
Forgotten, ere your hand is cold. And for this pitiful splendour you
sold your immortal soul!
MAXIMUS.
[_Rising._] The world-will shall answer for Julian’s soul!
MAKRINA.
Blaspheme not; though surely you have loved this dead man——
MAXIMUS.
[_Approaching the body._] Loved, and led him astray—Nay, not _I_!
Led astray like Cain. Led astray like Judas.—Your God is a spendthrift
God, Galileans! He wears out many souls.
Wast thou not then, this time either, the chosen one—thou victim on the
altar of necessity?
What is it worth to live? All is sport and mockery.—To _will_ is to
_have to will_.
Oh my beloved—all signs deceived me, all auguries spoke with a double
tongue, so that I saw in thee the mediator between the two empires.
The third empire shall come! The spirit of man shall re-enter on its
heritage—and then shall offerings of atonement[13] be made to thee, and
to thy two guests in the symposium.
[_He goes out._
MAKRINA.
[_Rising, pale._] Basil—did you understand the heathen’s speech?
BASIL.
No,—but it dawns on me like a great and radiant light, that here lies a
noble, shattered instrument of God.
MAKRINA.
Ay, truly, a dear and dear-bought instrument.
BASIL.
Christ, Christ—how came it that thy people saw not thy manifest design?
The Emperor Julian was a rod of chastisement,—not unto death, but unto
resurrection.
MAKRINA.
Terrible is the mystery of election. How know we——?
BASIL.
Is it not written: “Some vessels are fashioned to honour, and some to
dishonour”?
MAKRINA.
Oh brother, let us not seek to fathom that abyss.
[_She bends over the body and covers the face._
Erring soul of man—if thou wast indeed forced to err, it shall surely be
accounted to thee for good on that great day when the Mighty One shall
descend in the clouds to judge the living dead and the dead who are yet
alive!—— ——
THE END.
-----
Footnote 9:
The name “Caesar” was at this period used as the title of the heir to
the throne, the Emperor himself being entitled “Augustus.”
Footnote 10:
See Ibsen’s _Correspondence_, Letter 115, to George Brandes.
Footnote 11:
The original edition here reads “benådet,” and this reading is
followed in the translation. In the collected edition of Ibsen’s works
(Copenhagen 1899) the word becomes “beåndet,” which is probably a
misprint, but may, on the other hand, be a correction. In that case,
for “highly-favoured” we should have to read “specially inspired.”
Ibsen uses the word “beåndet” several times in “Hedda Gabler.”
Footnote 12:
In the collected edition (1899) the word “sejre” (to conquer) of
earlier editions is replaced by “rejse” (journey). This is almost
certainly a misprint.
Footnote 13:
Here occurs the one clear case I have observed of a revision of the
text. In earlier editions the phrase ran “da skal der tændes
rögoffer,” meaning literally “then shall burnt-offerings
(smoke-offerings) be lighted.” In the collected edition (1899)
“sonoffer” (offerings of atonement) is substituted for “rögoffer.”
This can scarcely be a printer’s error; and as one deliberate
alteration has been made, it would seem that the alterations noted on
pp. 382 and 417 (especially the former) may also be due, not to the
printer, but to the poet.
-----
Printed by BALLANTYNE & CO. LIMITED
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transcriber’s Note
There are quite a few instances of missing punctuation. The conventional
period following the character’s name is sometimes missing and has been
added for consistency’s sake without further comment. Those missing from
setting and stage direction are also added without comment, since there
is no obvious purpose to be served by the omission. However, the
restoration of punctuation missing from dialogue is noted below, since
the punctuation is frequently expressive.
Volume I of this series included errata for each succeeding volume, but
noted none in this Volume V.
Errors deemed most likely to be the printer’s have been corrected, and
are noted here. The references are to the page and line in the original.
xiii.14 not the actual composition[:] Restored.
4.11 I had it from Memnon himself[.] Added.
7.2 give it him, dear brother[.] Added.
7.22 Oh, you abandoned hound[!] Added.
14.19 Stand, stand;—I am armed[.] Added.
17.13 [I ]am sure my old Mardonius Restored.
23.19 fire rained from heaven night by night[.] Added.
31.15 along with the[ the] stranger. Removed.
48.27 I know it[,] my Hekebolius! Added.
66.34 once more arisen in our midst[.] Added.
70.28 calling him my great brother[.] Added.
75.20 in the midst of a great city[!] Added.
79.2 To the bacchanal, friends[!] Added.
82.19 and living in the wilderness[?] Added.
86.31 dizzy with its sweetness[;] Added.
147.2 By-and-by[,/.] Replaced.
158.26 has done too much, good Decentius[!] Added.
171.23 what have you given the Princess[?] Added.
179.2 noble Caesar[,/.] But my Replaced.
182.7 auxiliaries, and other allies[,] climb Removed.
182.14 Caesar, Caesar[!] Added.
182.18 Down with the faithless [Cæsar. Caesar!] Inconsistent.
188.19 Caesar, do you take[ take] the helm! Removed.
209.19 Think[?/.] Replaced.
210.32 [“]Either with us or against us”? Added.
243.28 to sp[r]ead terror to the ends of the earth. Inserted.
300.7 cry their wares[.] Added.
300.9 talking eagerly[.] Added.
308.1 sanctuary, the very house of Apollo[,] which Added.
322.17 [t/T]here you are not far wrong. Replaced.
326.29 No, no, it needs more than that[.] Added.
408.29 Ah, sire, you may well marvel[?/!] Replaced.
428.21 Woe, woe, woe[!] Added.
352.24 Arise, friend[?/!] Replaced.
461.4 _To FROMENTI[N]US_ Inserted.