Complete Works of Henrik Ibsen (80 page)

KING SKULE.
Give up your calling in life; sing no more songs, and then will I believe you!

JATGEIR.
No, lord — that were to buy the crown too dear.

KING SKULE.
Bethink you well—’tis greater to be a king than a skald.

JATGEIR.
Not always.

KING SKULE.
‘Tis but your unsung songs you must sacrifice!

JATGEIR.
Songs unsung are ever the fairest.

KING SKULE.
But I must — I must have one who can trust in me! Only one! I feel it — had I that one, I were saved!

JATGEIR.
Trust in yourself and you will be saved!

PAUL FLIDA.
[Enters hastily.]
King Skule, look to yourself! Håkon Håkonsson lies off Elgjarness with all his fleet!

KING SKULE.
Off Elgjarness — ! Then he is close at hand.

JATGEIR.
Get we to arms then! If there be bloodshed to-night, I will gladly be the first to die for you!

KING SKULE.
You, who would not live for me!

JATGEIR.
A man can die for another’s life-work; but if he go on living, he must live for his own. —
[Goes.

PAUL FLIDA.
[Impatiently.]
Your commands, my lord! The Birchlegs may be in Oslo this very hour.

KING SKULE.
‘Twere best if we could fare to St. Thomas Beckett’s grave; he has helped so many a sorrowful and penitent soul.

PAUL FLIDA.
[More forcibly.]
My lord, speak not so wildly now; I tell you, the Birchlegs are upon us!

KING SKULE.
Let all the churches be opened, that we may betake us thither and find grace.

PAUL FLIDA.
You can crush all your foemen at one stroke, and yet would betake you to the churches!

KING SKULE.
Yes, yes, keep all the churches open!

PAUL FLIDA.
Be sure Håkon will break sanctuary, when ‘tis Varbælgs he pursues.

KING SKULE.
That will he not; God will shield him from such a sin; — God always shields Håkon.

PAUL FLIDA.
[In deep and sorrowful wrath.]
To hear you speak thus, a man could not but ask: Who is king in this land?

KING SKULE.
[Smiling mournfully.]
Ay, Paul Flida, that is the great question: Who is king in this land?

PAUL FLIDA.
[Imploringly.]
You are soul-sick to-night, my lord; let me act for you.

KING SKULE.
Ay, ay, do so.

PAUL FLIDA.
[Going.]
First will I break down all the bridges.

KING SKULE.
Madman! Stay! — Break down all the bridges! Know you what that means?
I
have assayed it; — beware of that!

PAUL FLIDA.
What would you then, my lord?

KING SKULE.
I will talk with Håkon.

PAUL FLIDA.
He will answer you with a tongue of steel.

KING SKULE.
Go, go; — you shall learn my will anon.

PAUL FLIDA.
Every moment is precious!
[Seizes his hand.]
King Skule, let us break down all the bridges, fight like Wolves, and trust in Heaven!

KING SKULE.
[Softly.]
Heaven trusts not in me; I dare not trust in Heaven.

PAUL FLIDA.
Short has been the saga of the Varbaelgs.
[Goes out by the back.

KING SKULE.
A hundred cunning heads, a thousand mighty arms, are at my beck; but not a single loving, trusting heart. That is kingly beggary; no more, no less.

BÅRD BRATTE.
[From the back.]
Two wayfarers from afar stand without, praying to have speech with you my lord.

KING SKULE.
Who are they?

BÅRD BRATTE.
A woman and a priest. —

KING SKULE.
Let the woman and the priest approach. [Bård
goes;
King Skule
seats himself, musing, on the right; presently there enters a black-robed woman; she wears a long cloak, a hood, and a thick veil, which conceals her face; a priest follows her, and remains standing by the door.

KING SKULE.
Who are you?

THE WOMAN.
One you have loved.

KING SKULE.
[Shaking his head.]
There lives no one who remembers that I have loved. Who are you, I ask?

THE WOMAN.
One who loves you.

KING SKULE.
Then are you surely one of the dead.

THE WOMAN.
[Comes close to him and says softly and passionately.]
Skule Bårdsson!

KING SKULE.
[Rises with a cry.]
Ingeborg!

INGEBORG.
Do you know me now, Skule?

KING SKULE.
Ingeborg, — Ingeborg!

INGEBORG.
Oh, let me look at you — look long at you, so long!
[Seizes his hands; a pause.]
You fair, you deeply loved, you faithless man!

KING SKULE.
Take off that veil; look at me with the eyes that once were as clear and blue as the sky.

INGEBORG.
These eves have been but a rain-clouded sky for twenty years; you would not know them again, and you shall never see them more.

KING SKULE.
But your voice is fresh and soft and young as ever!

INGEBORG.
I have used it only to whisper your name, to imprint your greatness in a young heart, and to pray to the sinners’ God for grace toward us twain, who have loved in sin.

KING SKULE.
You have done that?

INGEBORG.
I have been silent save to speak loving words of you; — therefore has my voice remained fresh and soft and young.

KING SKULE.
There lies a life-time between. Every fair memory from those days have I wasted and let slip —

INGEBORG.
It was your right.

KING SKULE.
And meantime you, Ingeborg, loving, faithful woman, have dwelt there in the north, guarding and treasuring your memories, in ice-cold loneliness!

INGEBORG.
It was my happiness.

KING SKULE.
And I could give you up to win might and riches! With you at my side, as my wife, I had found it easier to be a king.

INGEBORG.
God has been good to me in willing it otherwise. A soul like mine had need of a great sin, to arouse it to remorse and expiation.

KING SKULE.
And now you come-= — ?

INGEBORG.
As Andres Skialdarband’s widow.

KING SKULE.
Your husband is dead!

INGEBORG.
On the way from Jerusalem.

KING SKULE.
Then has he atoned for the slaying of Vegard.

INGEBORG.
‘Twas not therefore that my noble husband took the Cross.

KING SKULE.
Not therefore?

INGEBORG.
No; it was my sin he took upon his strong, loving shoulders; ‘twas that he went to wash away in Jordan stream; ‘twas for that he bled.

KING SKULE.
[Softly.]
Then he knew all.

INGEBORG.
From the first. And Bishop Nicholas knew it, for to him I confessed. And there was one other man that came to know it, though how I cannot guess.

KING SKULE.
Who?

INGEBORG.
Vegard Væradal.

KING SKULE.
Vegard!

INGEBORG.
He whispered a mocking word of me into my husband’s ear; and thereupon Andres Skialdarband drew his sword, and slew him on the spot.

KING SKULE.
He kept ward over her whom
I
betrayed and forgot. — And wherefore seek you me now?

INGEBORG.
To bring you the last sacrifice.

KING SKULE.
What mean you?

INGEBORG.
[Points to the Priest who stands by the door.]
Look at him! — Peter, my son, come hither!

KING SKULE.
Your son — !

INGEBORG.
And yours, King Skule!

KING SKULE.
[Half bewildered.]
Ingeborg!
[Peter
approaches in silent emotion, and throws himself before
King Skule.

INGEBORG.
Take him! For twenty years has he been the light and comfort of my life. — Now are you King of Norway; the King s son must enter on his heritage; I have no longer any right to him.

KING SKULE.
[Raises him up, in a storm of joy.]
Here, to my heart, you whom I have yearned for so burningly!
[Presses him in Jus arms, lets him, go, looks at him, and embraces him again.]
My son! My son! I have a son! Ha-haha! who can stand against me now?
[Goes over to Ingeborg and seizes her hand.]
And you, you give him to me, Ingeborg! You take not back your word? You give him to me indeed?

INGEBORG.
Heavy is the sacrifice, and scarce had I strength to make it, but that Bishop Nicholas sent him to me, bearing a letter with tidings of Andres Skialdarband’s death. Twas the Bishop that laid on me the heavy sacrifice, to atone for all my sin.

KING SKULE.
Then is the sin blotted out, and henceforth he is mine alone; is it not so, mine alone?

INGEBORG.
Yes; but one promise I crave of you.

KING SKULE.
Heaven and earth, crave all you will!

INGEBORG.
He is pure as a lamb of God, as I now give him into your hands. ‘Tis a perilous path that leads up to the throne; let him not take hurt to his soul. Hear you, King Skule: let not my child take hurt to his soul!

KING SKULE.
That I promise and swear to you!

INGEBORG.
[Seizes his arm.]
From the moment you mark that his soul suffers harm, let him rather die!

KING SKULE.
Rather die! I promise and swear it!

INGEBORG.
Then shall I be of good cheer as I go back to Halogaland.

KING SKULE.
Ay, you may be of good cheer.

INGEBORG.
There will I repent and pray, till the Lord calls me. And when we meet before God, he shall come back to me pure and blameless.

KING SKULE.
Pure and blameless!
[Turning to Peter.]
Let me look at you! Ay, your mother’s features and mine; you are he for whom I have longed so sorely.

PETER.
My father, my great, noble father! Let me live and fight for you! Let your cause be mine; and be your cause what it may — I know that I am fighting for the right!

KING SKULE.
[With a cry of joy.]
You trust in me! You trust in me!

PETER.
Immovably!

KING SKULE.
Then all is well; then am I surely saved! Listen: you shall cast off the cowl; the Archbishop shall loose you from your vows; the King’s son shall wield the sword, shall go forward unwavering to might and honour.

PETER.
Together with you, my noble father! We will go together!

KING SKULE.
[Drawing the youth close up to himself]
Ay, together, we two alone!

INGEBORG.
[To herself.]
To love, to sacrifice all and be forgotten, that is my saga.
[Goes quietly out by the back.

KING SKULE.
Now shall a great king’s-work be done in Norway! Listen, Peter, my son! We will awaken the whole people, and gather it into one; the man of Viken and the Tronder, the Halogalander and the Agdeman, the Uplander and the Sogndaleman, all shall be o n e great family! Then shall you see how the land will come to flourish!

PETER.
What a great and dizzy thought ——
 
—

KING SKULE.
Do you grasp it?

PETER.
Yes — yes! — Clearly — !

KING SKULE.
And have you faith in it?

PETER.
Yes, yes; for I have faith in you!