And you think he will—?
Take her? Aye, since he cannot have you. But had you been free,—then— Ha, ha, ha! Gudmund is like the rest. He envies me my wife. That is why I set such store by you, Margit. Here with the goblet again. And let it be full to the brim!
[Goes unwillingly across to the right.] You shall have it straightway.
Knut Gesling is a suitor for Signe, too, but him I am resolved to slay. Gudmund is an honourable man; he shall have her. Think, Margit, what good days we shall have with them for neighbours. We will go a-visiting each other, and then will we sit the live-long day, each with his wife on his knee, drinking and talking of this and that.
[Whose mental struggle is visibly becoming more severe, involuntarily takes out the phial as she says:] No doubt no doubt!
Ha, ha, ha! it may be that at first Gudmund will look askance at me when I take you in my arms; but that, I doubt not, he will soon get over.
This is more than woman can bear! [Pours the contents of the phial into the goblet, goes to the window and throws out the phial, then says, without looking at him.] Your beaker is full.
Then bring it hither!
[Battling in an agony of indecision, at last says.] I pray you drink no more to-night!
[Leans back in his chair and laughs.] Oho! You are impatient for my coming? Get you in; I will follow you soon.
[Suddenly decided.] Your beaker is full. [Points.] There it is.
[She goes quickly out to the left.
[Rising.] I like her well. It repents me not a whit that I took her to wife, though of heritage she owned no more than yonder goblet and the brooches of her wedding gown.
[He goes to the table at the window and takes the goblet.[A HOUSE-CARL enters hurriedly and with scared looks, fromthe back.
[Calls.] Sir Bengt, Sir Bengt! haste forth with all the speed you can! Knut Gesling with an armed train is drawing near the house.
[Putting down the goblet.] Knut Gesling? Who brings the tidings?
Some of your guests espied him on the road beneath, and hastened back to warn you.
E'en so. Then will I—! Fetch me my grandfather's battle-axe!
[He and the HOUSE-CARL go out at the back.[Soon after, GUDMUND and SIGNE enter quietly and cautiouslyby the door at the back.
SIGNE. [In muffled tones.]
It must then, be so!
GUDMUND. [Also softly.]
Necessity's mightConstrains us.
Oh! thus under cover of nightTo steal from the valley where I was born?[Dries her eyes.
Yet shalt thou hear no plaint forlorn.'Tis for thy sake my home I flee;Wert thou not outlawed, Gudmund dear,I'd stay with my sister.
Only to beTa'en by Knut Gesling, with bow and spear,Swung on the croup of his battle-horse,And made his wife by force.
Quick, let us flee. But whither go?
Down by the fiord a friend I know;He'll find us a ship. O'er the salt sea foamWe'll sail away south to Denmark's bowers.There waits you there a happy home;Right joyously will fleet the hours;The fairest of flowers they bloom in the shadeOf the beech-tree glade.
SIGNE. [Bursts into tears.]
Farewell, my poor sister! Like my mother tenderThou hast guarded the ways my feet have trod,Hast guided my footsteps, aye praying to God,The Almighty, to be my defender.—Gudmund—here is a goblet filled with mead;Let us drink to her; let us wish that ere longHer soul may again be calm and strong,And that God may be good to her need.
[She takes the goblet into her hands.
Aye, let us drain it, naming her name![Starts.
Stop![Takes the goblet from her.
For meseems it is the same—
'Tis Margit's beaker.
GUDMUND. [Examining it carefully.]
By Heaven, 'tis so!I mind me still of the red wine's glowAs she drank from it on the day we partedTo our meeting again in health and glad-hearted.To herself that draught betided woe.No, Signe, ne'er drink wine or meadFrom that goblet.[Pours its contents out at the window.
We must away with all speed.
[Tumult and calls without, at the back.
List, Gudmund! Voices and trampling feet!
Knut Gesling's voice!
O save us, Lord!
GUDMUND. [Places himself in front of her.]
Nay, nay, fear nothing, Signe sweet—I am here, and my good sword.
[MARGIT comes in in haste from the left.
[Listening to the noise.] What means this? Is my husband—?
Margit!
[Catches sight of them.] Gudmund! And Signe! Are you here?
[Going towards her.] Margit—dear sister!
[Appalled, having seen the goblet which GUDMUND still holds in his hand.] The goblet! Who has drunk from it?
[Confused.] Drunk—? I and Signe—we meant—
[Screams.] O God, have mercy! Help! Help! They will die!
[Setting down the goblet.] Margit—!
What ails you, sister?
[Towards the back.] Help, help! Will no one help?
[A HOUSE-CARL rushes in from the passage-way.
[Calls in a terrified voice.] Lady Margit! Your husband—!
He—has he, too, drunk—!
[To himself.] Ah! now I understand—
Knut Gesling has slain him.
Slain!
[Drawing his sword.] Not yet, I hope. [Whispers to MARGIT.]Fear not. No one has drunk from your goblet.
Then thanks be to God, who has saved us all!
[She sinks down on a chair to the left. Gudmund hastens towards the door at the back.
[Enters, stopping him.] You come too late. Sir Bengt is dead.
Too late, then, too late.
The guests and your men have prevailed against the murderous crew. Knut Gesling and his men are prisoners. Here they come.
[GUDMUND's men, and a number of GUESTS and HOUSE-CARLS, lead in KNUT GESLING, ERIK OF HEGGE, and several of KNUT's men, bound.
[Who is pale, says in a low voice.] Man-slayer, Gudmund. What say you to that?
Knut, Knut, what have you done?
'Twas a mischance, of that I can take my oath.
He ran at me swinging his axe; I meant but to defend myself, and struck the death-blow unawares.
Many here saw all that befell.
Lady Margit, crave what fine you will. I am ready to pay it.
I crave naught. God will judge us all. Yet stay—one thing I require. Forgo your evil design upon my sister.
Never again shall I essay to redeem my baleful pledge. From this day onward I am a better man. Yet would I fain escape dishonourable punishment for my deed. [To GUDMUND.] Should you be restored to favour and place again, say a good word for me to the King!
I? Ere the sun sets, I must have left the country.
[Astonishment amongst the GUESTS. ERIK in whispers, explains the situation.
[To GUDMUND.] You go? And Signe with you?
[Beseechingly.] Margit!
Good fortune follow you both!
[Flinging her arms round MARGIT's neck.] Dear sister!
Margit, I thank you. And now farewell. [Listening.] Hush!I hear the tramp of hoofs in the court-yard.
[Apprehensively.] Strangers have arrived.
[A HOUSE-CARL appears in the doorway at the back.
The King's men are without. They seek Gudmund Alfson.
Oh God!
[In great alarm.] The King's men!
All is at an end, then. Oh Signe, to lose you now—could there be a harder fate?
Nay, Gudmund; sell your life dearly, man! Unbind us; we are ready to fight for you, one and all.
[Looks out.] 'Twould be in vain; they are too many for us.
Here they come. Oh Gudmund, Gudmund!
[The KING's MESSENGER enters from the back, with his escort.
In the King's name I seek you, Gudmund Alfson, and bring you his behests.
Be it so. Yet am I guiltless; I swear it by all that is holy!
We know it.
What say you?
[Agitation amongst those present.
I am ordered to bid you as a guest to the King's house. His friendship is yours as it was before, and along with it he bestows on you rich fiefs.
Signe!
Gudmund!
But tell me—?
Your enemy, the Chancellor Audun Hugleikson, has fallen.
The Chancellor!
[To each other, in half-whisper.] Fallen!
Three days ago he was beheaded at Bergen. [Lowering his voice.]His offence was against Norway's Queen.
MARGIT. [Placing herself between GUDMUND and SIGNE.]
Thus punishment treads on the heels of crime!Protecting angels, loving and bright,Have looked down in mercy on me to-night,And come to my rescue while yet it was time.Now know I that life's most precious treasureIs nor worldly wealth nor earthly pleasure,I have felt the remorse, the terror I know,Of those who wantonly peril their soul,To St. Sunniva's cloister forthwith I go.—[Before GUDMUND and SIGNE can speak.
Nay: think not to move me or control.[Places SIGNE's hand in GUDMUND's.
Take her then Gudmund, and make her your bride.Your union is holy; God's on your side.
[Waving farewell, she goes towards the doorway on the left. GUDMUND and SIGNE follow her, she stops them with a motion of her hand, goes out, and shuts the door behind her. At this moment the sun rises and sheds its light in the hall.
Signe—my wife! See, the morning glow!'Tis the morning of our young love. Rejoice!
All my fairest of dreams and of memories I oweTo the strains of thy harp and the sound of thy voice.My noble minstrel, to joy or sadnessTune thou that harp as seems thee best;There are chords, believe me, within my breastTo answer to thine, or of woe or of gladness.
Over the earth keeps watch the eye of light,Guardeth lovingly the good man's ways,Sheddeth round him its consoling rays;—Praise be to the Lord in heaven's height!