King. And if?
Hans Lorbass. If not? He swore,--and here his spleen burst out--that let a single sword be raised against him, a single spear be laid in rest, and he would hang and quarter every living, breathing thing, without mercy. This he calls choking rebellion in the seed.
King. And what was the decision of the people?
Hans Lorbass. The people will fight.
King. Will fight? Will fight? This flock of nestlings, lacking in every sort of strength, inspired by no courage-breeding fire, wanting in power, in discipline,--
Hans Lorbass. Like their King himself.
King. Like their King himself. Quite true. The shadow of a King, set on the throne by woman's love, is not the man to lead a forlorn hope.
Hans Lorbass. Though his people offer themselves to the sword for him.
King. Take care; I have outgrown thy scorn. [Knocking on the door to the right.]
Cölestin[outside]. Open the door for the King's son.
Hans Lorbass. Shall I?
King. Thou must. This house is his; and if he chose to, he could drive me hence.
[Cölestinenters, leading in the youngPrinceby the hand. It is gradually growing light.]
The Young Prince[running toAnna Goldhair]. Anna! Ah, Anna, art thou here? The mother told me thou wast dead. Say. Anna, art thou vexed with me? I eat my supper all alone, I say my prayers and go to bed all alone. I sing alone, I play alone,--and oh, the mother weeps so much! They said my father had been cruel to her,--how sorry he would be to see her weep! Anna, dear Anna, come and help us, for we are so sad!
[Anna Goldhairkneels down before him and sobs on his neck.]
King. What now?
Cölestin. My Prince, my little Prince!
King. Well?
Cölestin. Nay, with her thou canst have no concern. Thou knowest to whom thy mother sent thee, and what she graved so deep upon thy heart.
The Young Prince[timidly approaching theKing]. My mother called me very early, and bid me come to thee before my breakfast with Uncle Cölestin, and kneel down here before thee, and ask thee--something,--I forget.
Cölestin. Then, my lord, according to the measure of my wisdom I must speak here for this child, who in his innocence cannot comprehend how basely thou hast forsaken thy people. I must embolden myself to speak a last warning to thee. I speak not of the sins that now already weigh thee down: eternal God shall judge them, for thou mayst not sin and not atone. But even now thy spirit, corroded with rancorous spite, hast turned the edge of our ancestral sword against thy honor and thy manhood. Lo, there it glistens in thy burning grasp; and to that all-avenging sword I make my prayer: to the arm where still resides our safety: to the eyes from which looks out an unquenched thirst of fighting: that thou wilt lead to victory thy broken people, who surround the tower and call upon thee in their need.
King. The sword that I unthinking raised--led thereto by occasion only--I will lay down still clean. Thou callest it the all-avenging; and it shall win that praise itself. Let the foe mow you down in sheaves, it shall be naught to me,--it comes too late.
Cölestin. Good! Though thou so hatest thy people--
King. I hate ye not.
Cölestin. As to appease thy long-cherished revenge by scornful laughter in their hour of need, yet one thing I shall never think, sir King,--that thou wilt yield without a struggle, and give up thy weaponless body to the slaughter.
King. What can I otherwise? In whose blood shall I dip this body to make it consecrate? With what right shall I plunge this sword into fiery service? He who stands without there serves a righteous cause. So sayest thou. The Chancellor, likewise. You all agree. Therefore I counsel thee: be wise, rescue your country and make clean your house. There is still time ... the storm yet lulls. The Duke has need of me; deliver me to him.
Cölestin. All my strength is broken against this madness, which destroys itself.... And the hour presses.... What can I do? The crowd shrieks lamentations in my ear. Kneel down, my child, stretch out thy arms,--perhaps, that silent picture will reach this heart. [He makes the youngPrincekneel down.]
King. Stand up. . . Come here. . . Thou hast stood in my way, and yet I loved thee. A madness, an absurdity! [Aside.] Suppose: if thou wert not,--if in this coming hour I might but strike a blow for my own throne.... Where now?
The young Prince[clinging toHans]. I am afraid.
Hans Lorbass[gazing at theKing]. There is the pinch. [Going up to him, aside]. And if---
King. If--what?
Hans Lorbass. If through some chance, quite unforseen, this land should all at once become thine own, entirely thine?
King[bewildered]. What dost thou mean?
Hans Lorbass. Well then, if that should disappear that stands in thy way? [Bursting out.] Then wouldst thou take thy sword in both thy hands and storm exulting on the foe?... Well?
King. I understand thee not.
Hans Lorbass. Then--
King. Silence, silence! Thou knowest I have quenched the last embers of my desires. Thinkest thou to kindle a new blaze thereon by victory and sin? A fire must run from heaven, must mount from hell, to light a new life in my fading course. A thing of horror must first come to pass; whence it came would be as naught to me, if it could but rise wonder-like upon my sight. Alas, from out these ashes no miracle can rise for me! I can no longer hope and struggle.... The door stands open to the upper room.... Once more I mount up to the height, once more behold the gray dawn turn to gold in rosy glory--
Hans Lorbass. Wilt thou come back?
King. Nay, didst thou not think so? I--[As Cölestin with the young Prince puts himself in the way.] Away with the child!--I must die! [Goes out.]
Hans Lorbass[to himself]. "A thing of horror must first come to pass." And then, "If I might strike a blow for my own throne." "If thou wert not." And looked at him with such eyes!--Cölestin, if I had something to ask--thou knowest, perhaps, the King will yield to me--more than--in short, I am beloved by him--
Cölestin. Good reason for it.
Hans Lorbass. Yes. Then what if I knew how to goad him into harness, so that even before the hour had struck, he had the Bastard by the throat with your all-avenging sword?
Cölestin. It would be possible? Thou couldst?
Hans Lorbass. Yes. But I need the Prince.
Cölestin. The Princeling,--why?
Hans Lorbass. With him by the hand I would sit there on the landing and hold watch till he came down.
Cölestin. And then?
Hans Lorbass. Then, Major-domo,--that is my affair.
Cölestin. The Queen left him in my care. But I know, Hans Lorbass that thou lovest him. Wilt thou, my little Prince?
The Young Prince. Dost thou ask me? I love to stay with him,--he teaches me to fight. [He runs to him.]
Cölestin. And may God bless thee in thy task.
Hans Lorbass. Much thanks. [Turning toAnna Goldhair.] I do not want her. Take her with thee.
Cölestin. Come, poor wench.
The Young Prince. May Anna stay here, too?
[Hans Lorbasshushes him.]
Anna Goldhair. Oh, Cölestin, if I could hide somewhere, and see my dear Queen pass by just once!
Cölestin. Spare me thy plaints.... Well, wait, I will hide thee here behind the curtains of the door; stay there, and do not move, and when she goes to the cathedral--come, come!
[CölestinandAnna Goldhairgo out.]
Hans Lorbass[grimly]. My Prince!
The Young Prince[tenderly]. My Hans!
Hans Lorbass. And still it grips me cruelly hard.
The Young Prince. What is it thou grumblest in thy beard? Come, let us fight.
Hans Lorbass. Let us fight, child! If thou knewest how to fight indeed!
The Young Prince. How strange thou art to-day? Say, Hans, is it true that a cruel enemy stands before the gate?
Hans Lorbass. Quite true.
The Young Prince. Will he come inside?
Hans Lorbass. Not yet. Before long.
The Young Prince. How long?
Hans Lorbass. Until the drums sound the attack.
The Young Prince. Soon?
Hans Lorbass. Very soon.
The Young Prince. Oh, that is splendid! And why did the father go up to his tower?
Hans Lorbass. Because ... If I knew whether this young blood would be poured out in vain. To every foulness God created he has given a tongue to shriek: "Behold my purpose!" And such a deed as this to-day ... but no! "If thou wert not!"
The Young Prince. If I were not,--what then?
Hans Lorbass. Wha--? Why? His sick desires, his failing deeds, the dreams that mock his brain, that make the right seem wrong,--if he might see a wish of his become a fact, as if by magic power, perhaps that knowledge of renewed strength might scatter his gloom to its accursed source and set him free. Now show thy worth and bleed here quietly on my breast--what dost thou there!
The Young Prince[playing about meanwhile has drawn the sword from its sheath]. I am learning to carry the King's sword. Forward! Hasten, the foe will come! Very well. Then I shall be the victor.
Hans Lorbass. Put it down!
The Young Prince. Ah, no!
Hans Lorbass. Put it down!
The Young Prince. Oh-oo! That is sharp!
Hans Lorbass. Thou knowest who alone may carry that?
The Young Prince. The King.
Hans Lorbass. Well then.
The Young Prince. But he left it there!
Hans Lorbass[sternly]. To take it up again. [Draws his sword.]
The Young Prince. Wait! I will kill thee! [He has grasped the sword in both hands, and thrusting at Hans, who does not see him, he wounds him on the hand.]
Hans Lorbass[laughing grimly]. The fiend torment--
The Young Prince. Thou bleedest--O me!
Hans Lorbass. The very weakness of this child avenges itself in death.
The Young Prince. Wilt thou not scold me! [Unfastening his neckerchief] Take my kerchief,--ah, please! Wrap it about thy hand. Quick!
Hans Lorbass. Is it intended for a sign to me to turn back in my path? The wish was there, but who knows when he cherished it, whether he was not so rent by torment, so quite unmanned as to harbor a thought that sprang therefrom? He must ... Yea, and I must. The hour will slip away.... [Drums sound in the distance.] Hark, hark! There it is,--the time has come. [Drums.] Again!
The Young Prince. Is that the signal?
Hans Lorbass. What signal?
The Young Prince. For the attack?
Hans Lorbass. Yes. For the attack and--
The Young Prince. What happiness! Is it not, Hans! If I were grown! If I were a man!
Hans Lorbass. Come here!
The Young Prince. Why dost thou look at me so sternly? Just like the father.... Wouldst thou strike me? No, thou shalt not.... I am a king's son.
Hans Lorbass. Come here!
The Young Prince. I am not afraid. [Goes to him.] Just think, the people say the father hates me. I believe it not. Whatever he should do, I know right well he loves me,--even as much as thou, my Hans. [Throws his arms around him.]
Hans Lorbass. How dost thou know?
The Young Prince. What, Hans?
Hans Lorbass. About the father.
The Young Prince. Listen! One night, quite lately, when I had been a little while in my bed, and was all alone, only think!--he came very softly within my chamber. I was afraid, because I had not seen him in so long, and all the people said: "The King is wicked." But he stood there before my bed and looked at me,--Hans, what is all that noise?
Hans Lorbass. Hasten,--thou knowest not what it means to thee!
The Young Prince. And looked at me so stern and wild that I was frightened and pretended that I slept. Then he leaned over me, so low that I had nearly died of fright, and then,--only think, my Hansel,--he kissed me. Here on my forehead, on my hair and both my cheeks, and then very softly went away.
Hans Lorbass. Thy good angel put the words into thy mouth! Could he do so, my little man, then 'twas a fever in his blood that spoke to-day,--no hate of thee!... It seems as though thou wert even dearer to me now,--and yet my thoughts have scarce deserved it. [Clasps him to him.] Now let me, let ... There below they call upon thy father, and he ... I have it! I will take thee in my arms and show thee to the leaderless throng below, him who shall lead them when his form rears itself kinglike and his brow darkens. Come then! Friend, if thy King fights not for thee to-day, then fight thou for thy King! [He raises him in his arms and hurries with him down the steps.]
Anna Goldhaircomes timidly from the right, pushed into the room. After her, theChancellor,Cölestin,nobles and ladies, who stand so as to form a passage. Then, theQueen.After her, other ladies.Anna Goldhairin a shrinking attempt to hide herself, crouches near the door, behind those coming in.
Chancellor. Away, lest the Queen see thee! Out of the way, wench!
Queen[observing that someone is concealed from her]. Who--? [She motions them to let her see. The group separates. She looks silently down upon the kneelingAnna,whose face is bowed to the earth, and strokes her hair.] Much evil has come upon us both; therefore be it unto thee according to thy sorrow, not according to thy deed. [She raises her and gives her over to her women.]
Chancellor[meanwhile aside toCölestin]. Send above to the King straightway. I cannot yet forbear to hope that when he--dost thou hear?
Cölestin[who is looking in anxious search toward the background]. Where is the Prince?
Murmur of Voices. The King comes.
[TheKingcomes down the steps.]
King[startled, bewildered]. Why do ye stand there so amazed? Do ye not know me? I am he, your King, your much-loved King, he with whose hero-tread treason has entered in your flock, into your hearts.
Queen[coming forward]. My King!
King[reeling back]. Thou! Thou hast come here,--into this den where lust holds sway? Burst open all the windows wide! Perfume the air with fine resin! Fetch sage and thyme and peppermint, that the fumes of this place may not attaint her breath! Hasten! Faded and withered, let them--
Cölestin[whispers]. My lord, where hast thou left the Prince?
King. What? Who? The--the--am I the Prince's keeper?
Queen. My King, the battle rages now already about the castle walls. The door still holds. The people wait, counting their heart-throbs till thou comest, trusting in thee still. There is yet time. There lies the kingly sword and waits for thee.
King[to himself]. If Hans understood me rightly--
Queen. Stoop to it. It is worth the stooping for.
King. Thinkest thou?... Still?... And that this hand is worthy, too, to raise it?
Queen. I trust in it as in immortal life.
King. Believest thou also that miracles still come to pass?
Queen. I believe in thee.
King. Then--[he stoops, but starts back with a shriek.] Blood! There is blood on it! Cölestine! Approach, lean down. Nearer. Thou hast asked me just now, only in pretence, where I ... I ask thee, with whom hastthouleft the Prince?
Cölestin. Hans Lorbass was with him.
King. Alone?
Cölestin. Alone.
King. Yes?... It is well.... See how the red shines bright on the gray steel! The life that coursed within this blade cannot die--it lives--it lives and drags me down, a death-devoted man, unto a doubly shameful end.
Chancellor[to theQueen]. Speak again before this madness gains upon him!
Queen. My King.
King. Ha! The angel of destruction broods over us.... Where is thy child? Where is thy child?
Queen. I know that he is safe, for the most faithful of the faithful guards him. Think of thyself and of thy sword.
King. An hour since was this blade still clean.... I seemed too great--nay, nay, too small--to wield it; doubted and cursed myself and you and all the world. And yet defiance still blazed high in me; I could be a warrior, perhaps a hero, and knew it not ... ah, cursed fool!... Now I gaze in envy at that man, could even kiss his feet, who with accusing conscience and hand yet free from blood-guiltiness, stood a transgressor here within this hall. O were this sword still clean, how might I wield it! What miracles exultingly perform! But for me now no saving miracle can come to pass ...
[The smothered tumult in the court becomes suddenly louder.]
Two Nobles[at the window]. God be merciful! Fly!--Save yourselves!
[Hans Lorbass,the youngPrincein his arms, rushes up the steps.]
Hans Lorbass[breathless]. Here--take the child! The foe is close at hand--within the court!
King[in frenzied joy throwing himself upon thePrince]. My miracle!
Hans Lorbass. If you would save yourself, barricade this door, strengthen it ten-fold with beams, break off stones from the roof, roll them down and heap them up--
King. Thou art wrong, my friend. The door--fling open!
[Hans Lorbasstears open the door with a joyous shout. They hear the approaching battle-cry of the enemy.]
King[who has seized the sword and shield]. To me, man of the righteous cause!
[TheDukerushes on theKingwith a shout of laughter, behind him his men, among themSköll,Ottar,Gylf,held in check byHanswith upraised sword, stand crowded together at the door. Short conflict. TheDukefalls.]
King[to the crowd, his foot upon the prostrate body]. On your knees. [The foremost sink upon their knees, the rest shrink back.]
King[during a long silence looks furtively at theQueen,and the councillors. Then to the crowd]. Carry this man's body outside the door.... Let everyone submit himself unto the peace of God, which henceforth only he who courts his death will violate. Before we part, I will come down to you, and under the free air of heaven I, your Duke, will receive your oath and your allegiance. Away!
[TheDuke'smen seize the body and hurry out.]
Hans Lorbass[ticklingSköllunder the nose with his sword-blade]. Who has it now, thou clown?
Chancellor[approaching hesitatingly]. My gracious Lord and King, I would say: Forgive us, but the strength of all our words must break against thy glorious victory. I only say: We are returned to thee. No reproaches or regrets shall cheapen our return; we only ask [with a glance at theQueen] that honor be spared, and once again, after the cruel conflict of to-day, we offer thee our country's throne in faith and loyalty.
King. I thank you noble lords, and put it from me.
Chancellor. A second time thou turnest thy happiness and ours to lamentation.
King. Stay! Let not a poisoned word pollute this moment, for now at last the riddling clouds of fate prepare to fall. I may slip the fetters from my body, which weakness, shame, unwilling gratitude, sorrow, and mistaken kindnesses, combined to weave about me. I dare to speak, for now the sword has freed me.... For that I have shrunk from thee, my wife, forgive me. Didst thou know how shudderingly I sent myself into an exile of inexpiable guilt! From thence I now return, love-empty; and still the harmony of thy grace, the breath of thy self-forgetful love, wafts like a summer breeze about my head, heavy with blessings. Yes, if I dared to stay, how much of all I have ... Hush!... I know not the path that I must choose. I only know the end. I only know that faint and far away there sounds a voice reproaching my delay. It calls me back into the eternal gray,--that boundless country where thy blessing ends, where no guiding star rises to lead me on. Farewell. Forgive me if thou canst. If not ... I know no word to say that can lift the load of guilt from off my soul.... I must endure and bear it with me silently.
Queen. Nay, my friend.... If thou hast laden thy life with guilt so heavily, then must thou give me of thy burden a share to bear. I think that all we leave unspoken to-day will burn our souls forever; and therefore I make free confession: I have failed thee sorely. I saw thy misery, I saw the torture growing on thy pale brow, and yet I had but one thought; one alone; how to beguile him from that path on which his soul delays and hesitates, but whither his stumbling feet turn of themselves,--that he might leave me never again, whether in love or hate ... this was my thought ... and as a bridal pair stand at the altar and exchange their rings, while the deep church-bells lull them into a smiling dream, so we in parting near each other, and offer, smiling, guilt for guilt. [She reaches out her hand to him with a faint smile, and sinks back into the arms of her women.]
King[kissing her hand, overcome with feeling]. I thank thee.
The Young Prince[timidly]. Papa!
King[recovering himself]. Thou too, my son! Come here! I made thee poor return--and had he not [motioning towardHans] known me better than I myself ... give him thy hand; for thanks to him, I lay down undefiled this borrowed sword. [Gives the sword over to theChancellor.] Hans!
Hans Lorbass. Here, master! [He hands theKinghis old sword, which he seizes eagerly.]
King. Farewell.
The scene of the first act. Early spring. March. The trees and bushes are still bare, but tipped with the delicate red of young leaf-buds. In the background, upon the slopes, is still snow, in the foreground fresh young grass. The church-yard has grown larger. The crosses and headboards reach back to the sand-hills. Sun-set. A blue haze hangs over the sea.
Out of a freshly dug grave on the right an invisible hand throws clods of earth, but stops asCölestinenters on the right, led by two young men. Behind them,Miklasand an oldFisherman.
Fisherman. This is the place, my lord.
Cölestin[much aged and broken]. I thank thee, friend! That is the tower?
Fisherman[nodding]. And above it cross on cross.
Cölestin. Let me rest a little, I am dizzy. The way hither was hard. Yet I rejoice to know that worn-out as I am, I still may serve our young Prince. And more than him, our dear and holy lady, our Queen. Else surely I had--remained at home.
Fisherman[has meantime shaken the door of the tower]. The tower seems empty. The door is barred. There was a storm quite late.... Who knows where she wanders now, scouting for new graves.
Cölestin. Who speaks of graves? Fie! The hour will ripen all too soon for us to yield our withered sinful bodies to the worms. Build a fire for me, since we must wait. The evening lowers and this March wind blows cold on me. Make haste. [To the oldFisherman.] Run thou to our sovereign Lady, who so honored thee as to share thy hut, and tell her I beg her wait therein until we come to fetch her as she said.
Fisherman. Yes, my lord. [Goes out.]
Cölestin[toMiklaswhile the young men build the fire]. And thou, Miklas, tell us thy story again and on thy faith. It was last night the strangers knocked at thy door?
Miklas. Yes, my lord.
Cölestin. How many?
Miklas. Two.
Cölestin. And thou didst open it?
Miklas. Yes. I had lain a long time in bed, but I arose. The moonlight fell bright through the window-bars. I saw them and was afraid.
Cölestin. Why?
Miklas. The first had long white hair hanging all wild and shaggy about a gloomy brow. One leg was hacked off, and a wooden one replaced it.
Cölestin. Thou will still--?
Miklas. Whoever looked into that eye, must know, my lord: Hans Lorbass stood before me.
Cölestin. And the other?