NILS LYKKE. I speak of it only to excuse what I have done; for
no other reason, I swear to you. If my fame has reached you--as
I have too much cause of fear--before I myself set foot in Ostrat,
you must needs know enough of my life not to wonder that in such
things I should go to work something boldly. I have met many
women, Elina Gyldenlove; but not one have I found unyielding. Such
lessons, look you, teach a man to be secure. He loses the habit
of roundabout ways----
ELINA. May be so. I know not of what metal those women can
have been.
For the rest, you err in thinking 'twas your letter to my mother
that aroused my soul's hatred and bitterness against you. It is
of older date.
NILS LYKKE (uneasily). Of older date? What mean you?
ELINA. 'Tis as you guessed:--your fame has gone before you to
Ostrat, even as over all the land. Nils Lykke's name is never
spoken save with the name of some woman whom he has beguiled and
cast off. Some speak it in wrath, others with laughter and wanton
jeering at those weak-souled creatures. But through the wrath
and the laughter and the jeers rings the song they have made of
you, masterful and insolent as an enemy's song of triumph.
'Tis all this that has begotten my hate for you. Your were ever
in my thoughts, and I longed to meet you face to face, that you
might learn that there are women on whom your soft speeches are
lost--if you should think to use them.
NILS LYKKE. You judge me unjustly, if you judge from what rumour
has told of me. Even if there be truth in all you have heard,--
you know not the causes that have made me what I am.--As a boy of
seventeen I began my course of pleasure. I have lived full fifteen
years since then. Light women granted me all that I would--even
before the wish had shaped itself into a prayer; and what I offered
them they seized with eager hands. You are the first woman that
has flung back a gift of mine with scorn at my feet.
Think not I reproach you. Rather I honour you for it, as never
before have I honoured woman. But for this I reproach my fate--
and the thought is a gnawing pain to me--that I did not meet you
sooner---- ----
Elina Gyldenlove! Your mother has told me of you. While far
from Ostrat life ran its restless course, you went your lonely way
in silence, living in your dreams and histories. Therefore you
will understand what I have to tell you.--Know, then, that once I
too lived even such a life as yours. Methought that when I stepped
forth into the great world, a noble and stately woman would come
to meet me, and would beckon me to her and point me the path towards
a lofty goal.--I was deceived, Elina Gyldenlove! Women came to
meet me; but _she_ was not among them. Ere yet I had come to full
manhood, I had learnt to despise them all.
Was it my fault? Why were not the others even as you?--I know
the fate of your fatherland lies heavy on your soul, and you know
the part I have in these affairs---- ---- 'Tis said of me that I
am false as the sea-foam. Mayhap I am; but if I be, it is women
who have made me so. Had I sooner found what I sought,--had I met
a woman proud and noble and high-souled even as you, then had my
path been different indeed. At this moment, maybe, I had been
standing at your side as the champion of all that suffer wrong
in Norway's land. For _this_ I believe: a woman is the mightiest
power in the world, and in her hand it lies to guide a man whither
God Almighty would have him go.
ELINA (to herself). Can it be as he says? Nay nay; there is
falsehood in his eyes and deceit on his lips. And yet--no song
is sweeter than his words.
NILS LYKKE (coming closer, speaks low and more intimately). How
often, when you have been sitting here at Ostrat, alone with your
changeful thoughts, have you felt your bosom stifling; how often
have the roof and walls seemed to shrink together till they crushed
your very soul. Then have your longings taken wing with you; then
have you yearned to fly far from here, you knew not whither.--How
often have you not wandered alone by the fiord; far out a ship
has sailed by in fair array, with knights and ladies on her deck
with song and music of stringed instruments;--a faint, far-off
rumour of great events has reached your ears;--and you have felt
a longing in your breast, an unconquerable craving to know all
that lies beyond the sea. But you have not understood what ailed
you. At times you have thought it was the fate of your fatherland
that filled you with all these restless broodings. You deceived
yourself;--a maiden so young as you has other food for musing----
---- Elina Gyldenlove! Have you never had visions of an unknown
power--a strong mysterious might, that binds together the destinies
of mortals? When you dreamed of knightly jousts and joyous
festivals--saw you never in your dreams a knight, who stood in
the midst of the gayest rout, with a smile on his lips and with
bitterness in his heart,--a knight that had once dreamed a dream
as fair as yours, of a woman noble and stately, for whom he went
ever seeking, and in vain?
ELINA. Who are you, that have power to clothe my most secret
thought in words? How can you tell me what I have borne in my
inmost soul--and knew it not myself? How know you----?
NILS LYKKE. All that I have told you, I have read in your eyes.
ELINA. Never has any man spoken to me as you have. I have
understood you but dimly; and yet--all, all seems changed since----
(To herself.) Now I understand why they said that Nils Lykke was
unlike all other.
NILS LYKKE. There is one thing in the world that might drive
a man to madness, but to think of it; and that is the thought of
what might have been if things had fallen out in this way or that.
Had I met you on my path while the tree of my life was yet green
and budding, at this hour, mayhap, you had been---- ----
But forgive me, noble lady! Our speech of these past few moments
has made me forget how we stand one to another. 'Twas as though a
secret voice had told me from the first that to you I could speak
openly, without flattery or dissimulation.
ELINA. That can you.
NILS LYKKE. 'Tis well;--and it may be that this openness has
already in part reconciled us. Ay--my hope is yet bolder. The time
may yet come when you will think of the stranger knight without hate
or bitterness in your soul. Nay,--mistake me not! I mean not now--
but some time, in the days to come. And that this may be the less
hard for you--and as I have begun once for all to speak to you
plainly and openly--let me tell you----
ELINA. Sir Knight----!
NILS LYKKE (smiling). Ah, I see the thought of my letter still
affrights you. Fear nought on that score. I would from my heart
it were unwritten, for--I know 'twill concern you little enough,
so I may even say it right out--for I love you not, and shall never
come to you. Fear nothing, therefore, as I said before; I shall
in no wise seek to---- ---- But what ails you----?
ELINA. Me? Nothing, nothing.--Tell me but one thing. Why do
you still wear those flowers? What would you with them?
NILS LYKKE. These? Are they not a gage of battle you have
thrown down to the wicked Nils Lykke on behalf of all womankind?
What could I do but take it up?
You asked what I would with them. (Softly.) When I stand again
amidst the fair ladies of Denmark--when the music of the strings
is hushed and there is silence in the hall--then will I bring forth
these flowers and tell a tale of a young maiden sitting alone in
a gloomy black-beamed hall, far to the north in Norway----
(Breaks off and bows respectfully.)
But I fear I keep the noble daughter of the house too long. We
shall meet no more; for before day-break I shall be gone. So now
I bid you farewell.
ELINA. Fare you well, Sir Knight!
(A short silence.)
NILS LYKKE. Again you are deep in thought, Elina Gyldenlove!
Is it the fate of your fatherland that weighs upon you still?
ELINA (shakes her head, absently gazing straight in front of
her). My fatherland?--I think not of my fatherland.
NILS LYKKE. Then 'tis the strife and misery of the time that
cause you dread.
ELINA. The time? I have forgotten time---- ---- You go to
Denmark? Said you not so?
NILS LYKKE. I go to Denmark.
ELINA. Can I see towards Denmark from this hall?
NILS LYKKE (points to the window on the left). Ay, from this
window. Denmark lies there, to the south.
ELINA. And is it far from here? More than a hundred miles?
NILS LYKKE. Much more. The sea lies between you and Denmark.
ELINA (to herself). The sea? Thought has seagull's wings. The
sea cannot stay it.
(Goes out to the left.)
NILS LYKKE (looks after her awhile; then says:) If I could
but spare two days now--or even one--I would have her in my power,
even as the others. And yet is there rare stuff in this maiden.
She is proud. Might I not after all----? No; rather humble
her---- ----
(Paces the room.)
Verily, I believe she has set my blood on fire. Who would have
thought it possible after all these years?--Enough of this! I
must get out of the tangle I am entwined in here.
(Sits in a chair on the right.)
What is the meaning of it? Both Olaf Skaktavl and Inger Gyldenlove
seem blind to the mistrust 'twill waken, when 'tis rumoured that I
am in their league.--Or can Lady Inger have seen through my purpose?
Can she have seen that all my promises were but designed to lure
Nils Sture forth from his hiding-place?
(Springs up.)
Damnation! Is it I that have been fooled? 'Tis like enough that
Count Sture is not at Ostrat at all? It may be the rumour of his
flight was but a feint. He may be safe and sound among his friends
in Sweden, while I----
(Walks restlessly up and down.)
And to think I was so sure of success! If I should effect nothing?
If Lady Inger should penetrate my designs--and publish my
discomfiture---- To be a laughing-stock both here and in Denmark!
To have sought to lure Lady Inger into a trap--and given her cause
the help it most needed--strengthened her in the people's favour----!
Ah, I could well-nigh sell myself to the Evil One, would he but
help me to lay hands on Count Sture.
(The window in the background is pushed open. NILS STENSSON
is seen outside.)
NILS LYKKE (clutches at his sword). What now?
NILS STENSSON (jumps down on to the floor). Ah; here I am at
last then!
NILS LYKKE (aside). What means this?
NILS STENSSON. God's peace, master!
NILS LYKKE. Thanks, good Sir! Methinks yo have chosen a strange
mode of entrance.
NILS STENSSON. Ay, what the devil was I to do? The gate was
shut. Folk must sleep in this house like bears at Yuletide.
NILS LYKKE. God be thanked! Know you not that a good conscience
is the best pillow?
NILS STENSSON. Ay, it must be even so; for all my rattling and
thundering, I----
NILS LYKKE. ----You won not in?
NILS STENSSON. You have hit it. So I said to myself: As you
are bidden to be in Ostrat to-night, if you have to go through
fire and water, you may surely make free to creep through a window.
NILS LYKKE (aside). Ah, if it should be----!
(Moves a step or two nearer.)
Was it, then, of the last necessity that you should reach Ostrat
to-night?
NILS STENSSON. Was it? Ay, faith but it was. I love not to
keep folk waiting, I can tell you.
NILS LYKKE. Aha,--then Lady Inger Gyldenlove looks for your
coming?
NILS STENSSON. Lady Inger Gyldenlove? Nay, that I can scarce
say for certain; (with a sly smile) but there might be some one
else----
NILS LYKKE (smiles in answer). Ah, so there might be some one
else?
NILS STENSSON. Tell me--are you of the house?
NILS LYKKE. I? Well, in so far that I am Lady Inger's guest
this evening.
NILS STENSSON. A guest?--Is not to-night the third night after
Martinmas?
NILS LYKKE. The third night after----? Ay, right enough.--Would
you seek the lady of the house at once? I think she is not yet
gone to rest. But might you not sit down and rest awhile, dear
young Sir? See, here is yet a flagon of wine remaining, and
doubtless you will find some food. Come, fall to; you will do
wisely to refresh your strength.
NILS STENSSON. You are right, Sir; 'twere not amiss.
(Sits down by the table and eats and drinks.)
Both roast meat and sweet cakes! Why, you live like lords here!
When one has slept, as I have, on the naked ground, and lived on
bread and water for four or five days----
NILS LYKKE (looks at him with a smile). Ay, such a life must
be hard for one that is wont to sit at the high-table in noble
halls----
NILS STENSSON. Noble halls----?
NILS LYKKE. But now can you take your rest at Ostrat, as long
as it likes you.
NILS STENSSON (pleased). Ay? Can I truly? Then I am not to
begone again so soon?
NILS LYKKE. Nay, that I know not. Sure you yourself can best
say that.
NILS STENSSON (softly). Oh, the devil! (Stretches himself in
the chair.) Well, you see--'tis not yet certain. I, for my part,
were nothing loath to stay quiet here awhile; but----
NILS LYKKE. ----But you are not in all points your own master?
There be other duties and other circumstances----?
NILS STENSSON. Ay, that is just the rub. Were I to choose, I
would rest me at Ostrat at least the winter through; I have seldom
led aught but a soldier's life----
(Interrupts himself suddenly, fills a goblet, and drinks.)
Your health, Sir!
NILS LYKKE. A soldier's life? Hm!
NILS STENSSON. Nay, what I would have said is this: I have
been eager to see Lady Inger Gyldenlove, whose fame has spread
so wide. She must be a queenly woman,--is't not so?--The one
thing I like not in her, is that she shrinks so cursedly from
open action.
NILS LYKKE. From open action?
NILS STENSSON. Ay ay, you understand me; I mean she is so loath
to take a hand in driving the foreign rulers out of the land.
NILS LYKKE. Ay, you are right. But if you do your best now,
you will doubtless work her to your will.