Complete Works of Henrik Ibsen (73 page)

EARL SKULE.
But the priest — ?

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
Promised to do as I bade.

EARL SKULE.
[Seizing him by the arm,.]
And Håkon is the other child?

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
If the priest kept his promise.

EARL SKULE.
If he kept it?

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
Trond the Priest departed the land the same winter that the child was brought to King Inge. He journeyed to Thomas Becket’s grave, and afterwards abode in England till his death.

EARL SKULE.
He departed the land, say you? Then must he have changed the children and dreaded the vengeance of the Birchlegs.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
Or he did not change the children, and dreaded my vengeance.

EARL SKULE.
Which surmise hold you for the truth?

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
Either may well be true.

EARL SKULE.
But the priest’s sons of whom you spoke?

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
They went with the crusaders to the Holy Land.

EARL SKULE.
And there have since been no tidings of them?

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
Ay, tidings there have been.

EARL SKULE.
Where are they?

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
They were drowned in the Greek Sea on the journey forth.

EARL SKULE.
And Inga — ?

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
Knows nought, either of the priest’s confession or of my counsel.

EARL SKULE.
Her child was but nine days old when she left it, you said?

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
Ay, and the child she next saw was over a year —

EARL SKULE.
Then no living creature can here bring light!
[Paces rapidly to and fro.]
Almighty God, can this be true? Håkon — the King — he who holds sway over all this land, not born of royal blood! — And why should it not be like enough? Has not all fortune miraculously followed him? — Why not this also, to be taken as a child from a poor cottar’s hut and laid in a king’s cradle — ?

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
Whilst the whole people believes that he is the king’s son —

EARL SKULE.
Whilst he himself believes it, Bishop — that is the heart of his fortune, that is the girdle of strength!
[Goes to the window.]
See how bravely he sits his horse! None rides as he does. His eyes are filled with laughing, dancing sunshine; he looks forth into the day as though he knew himself created to go forward, ever forward.
[Turns towards the Bishop.]
I am a king’s arm, mayhap a king’s brain as well; but he is the whole King.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
Yet no king after all, mayhap.

EARL SKULE.
Mayhap no king after all.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
[Lays his hand on the Earl’s shoulder.]
Hearken to me, Earl Skule —

EARL SKULE.
[Still looking out.]
There sits the Queen. Håkon speaks gently to her; she turns red and white with joy. He took her to wife because it was wise to choose the daughter of the mightiest man in the land. There was then no thought of love for her in his heart; — but it will come; Håkon has fortune with him. She will shed light over his life —
[Stops, and cries out in wonder.]
What is this?

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
What?

EARL SKULE.
Dagfinn the Peasant bursts violently through the crowd. Now he is giving the King some tidings.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
[Looking out from behind the Earl.]
Håkon seems angered — does he not? He clenches his fist —

EARL SKULE.
He looks hitherward — what can it be?
[About to go.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
[Holding him back.]
Hearken to me, Earl Skule — there may yet be one means of winning assurance as to Håkon’s right.

EARL SKULE.
One means, you say?

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
Trond the Priest ere he died, wrote a letter telling his whole tale, and took the sacrament in witness of its truth.

EARL SKULE.
And that letter — for God’s pity’s sake — where is it?

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
You must know that —
[Looks towards the door.]
Hush! — here comes the King.

EARL SKULE.
The letter, Bishop — the letter!

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
The King is here. [Håkon
enters, followed by his
Guard
and many guests. Immediately afterwards
, Margrete
appears; she seems anxious and alarmed, and is about to rush up to the
King,
when she is restrained by
Lady Ragnhild,
who, with other ladies, has followed her.
Sigrid
stands somewhat apart, towards the back. The
Earl’s
men appear uneasy, and gather in a group on the right, where
Skule
is standing, but some way behind him.

HÅKON.
[In strung but repressed excitement.]
Earl Skule, who is king in this land?

EARL SKULE.

WHO IS KING?

HÅKON.
That was my question. I bear the kingly title, but who holds the kingly might?

EARL SKULE.
The kingly might should dwell with him who has the kingly right.

HÅKON.
So should it be; but is it so?

EARL SKULE.
Do you summon me to judgment?

HÅKON.
That I do; for that right I have toward every man in the land.

EARL SKULE.
I fear not to answer for my dealings.

HÅKON.
Well for us all if you can.
[Mounts a step of thronedais, and leans upon one arm of the throne.]
Here stand I as your king, and ask: Know you that Jon, Earl of Orkney, has risen against me?

EARL SKULE.
Yes.

HÅKON.
That he denies to pay me tribute?

EARL SKULE.
Yes.

HÅKON.
And is it true that you, Sir Earl, have this day sent him a letter?

EARL SKULE.
Who says so?

IVAR BODDE.
That do I.

DAGFINN.
Jostein Tamb dared not deny to carry it, since it bore the King’s seal.

HÅKON.
You write to the King’s foes under the King’s seal, although the King knows nought of what is written?

EARL SKULE.
So have I done for many a year, with your good will.

HÅKON.
Ay, in the days of your regency.

EARL SKULE.
Never have you had aught but good thereby. Earl Jon wrote to me praying that I would mediate on his behalf; he offered peace, but on terms dishonourable to the King. The war in Vermeland has weighed much upon your mind; had this matter been left to you, Earl Jon had come too lightly off. I can deal better with him.

HÅKON.
‘Twas our will to deal with him ourself. — And what answer made you?

EARL SKULE.

HÅKON.

GIVE IT ME! Read my letter.

EARL SKULE.
I deemed you had it.

DAGFINN.
Nay, you know better than that. Gregorius Jonsson was too swift of foot; when we came on board, the letter was gone.

EARL SKULE.
[Turns to Gregorius Jonsson.]
Sir Baron, give the King the letter.

GREGORIUS JONSSON.
[Coming close to him, uneasily.]
Hearken, Earl — !

EARL SKULE.
What now?

GREGORIUS JONSSON.
[Softly.]
Bethink you, there were sharp words in it concerning the King.

EARL SKULE.
My words I shall answer for. The letter!

GREGORIUS JONSSON.
I have it not.

EARL SKULE.
You have it not?

GREGORIUS JOXSSON.
Dagfinn the Peasant was at our heels. I snatched the letter from Jostein Tamb, tied a stone to it —

EARL SKULE.
Well?

GREGORIUS JOXSSOX.
It lies at the bottom of the fiord.

EARL SKULE.
You have done ill — ill.

HÅKON.
I await the letter, Sir Earl.

EARL SKULE.
I cannot give it you.

HÅKON.
You cannot!

EARL SKULE.
[Advancing a step towards the King.]
My pride brooks not to be put to shifts, as you and your men would call it —

HÅKON.
[Controlling his rising wrath.]
And so — ?
Earl Skule. m one word — I will not give it you!

HÅKON.
Then you defy me?

EARL SKULE.
Since so it must be — yes, I defy you.

IVAR BODDE.
[Forcibly.]
Now, my lord King, I scarce think you or any man can now need further proof!

DAGFINN.
Nay, now I think we know the Earl’s mind.

HÅKON.
[Coldly, to the Earl.]
You will hand the Great Seal to Ivar Bodde.

MARGRETE.
[Rushes with clasped hands towards the dais, where the King is standing.]
Håkon be a kind and gracious husband to me!
[Håkon
makes an imperative gesture towards her; she hides her face in her veil, and goes up towards her mother again.

EARL SKULE.
[To Ivar Bodde.]
Here is the Great Seal.

IVAR BODDE.
This was to be the last evening of the feast. It has ended in a heavy sorrow for the King; but sooner or later it needs must come, and methinks every true man must rejoice that it has come.

EARL SKULE.
And I think every true man must feel bitter wrath to see a priest thus make mischief between us Birchlegs; — ay, Birchlegs, I say; for I am every whit as good a Birchleg as the King or any of his men. I am of the same stock, the stock of Sverre, the kingly stock — but you, Priest, you have built up a wall of distrust around the King, and shut me out from him; that has been your task this many a year.

PAUL FLIDA.
[Enraged, to the bystanders.]
Earl’s men! Shall we abide this longer?

GREGORIUS JOXSSOX.
[Steps forward.]
No, we can and will no more abide it. ‘Tis time to say it plainly — none of the Earl’s men can serve the King in full trust and love, so long as Ivar Bodde comes and goes in the palace, and makes bad blood between us.

PAUL FLIDA.
Priest! I bid you look to life and limb, wheresoever I meet you — in the field, on shipboard, or in any unconsecrated house.

MANY EARL’S MEN.
I too! I too! You are an outlaw to us!

IVAR BODDE.
God forbid that I should stand between the King and so many mighty chieftains. — Håkon, my gracious lord, my soul bears me witness that I have served you in all faithfulness. True, I have warned you against the Earl; but if I have ever done him wrong, I pray God forgive me. Now have I no more to do in the palace; here is your Seal; take it into your own hands; there it should have rested long ago.

HÅKON.
[Who has come down from the dais.]
You shall remain!

IVAR BODDE.
I cannot. If I did, my conscience would gnaw and rend me night and day. Greater evil can no man do in these times than to hold the King and the Earl asunder.

HÅKON.
Ivar Bodde, I command you to remain!

IVAR BODDE.
If the Holy King Olaf should rise from his silver shrine to bid me stay, still I needs must go.
[Places the Seal in the King’s hand.]
Farewell, my noble master! God bless and prosper you in all your work!
[Goes out through the crowd, to the right.

HÅKON.
[Gloomily, to the Earl and his men.]
There have I lost a trusty friend for your sakes; what requital can you offer to make good that loss?

EARL SKULE.
I offer myself and all my friends.

HÅKON.
I almost fear ‘twill not suffice. Now must I gather round me all the men I can fully trust. Dagfinn the Peasant, let a messenger set out forthwith for Halogaland; Vegard Væradal must be recalled.