Chapter 20

Signë.

List, Gudmund! Voices and trampling feet!

Gudmund.

Knut Gesling’s voice!

Signë.

O save us, Lord!

Gudmund.[Places himself in front of her.]

Gudmund.

[Places himself in front of her.]

Nay, nay, fear nothing, Signë sweet—I am here, and my good sword.

Nay, nay, fear nothing, Signë sweet—

I am here, and my good sword.

[Margitcomes in in haste from the left.

Margit.

[Listening to the noise.] What means this? Is my husband—?

Gudmund and Signë.

Margit!

Margit.

[Catches sight of them.] Gudmund! And Signë! Are you here?

Signë.

[Going towards her.] Margit—dear sister!

Margit.

[Appalled, having seen the goblet whichGudmundstill holds in his hand.] The goblet! Who has drunk from it?

Gudmund.

[Confused.] Drunk—? I and Signë—we meant—

Margit.

[Screams.] O God, have mercy! Help! Help! They will die.

Gudmund.

[Setting down the goblet.] Margit—!

Signë.

What ails you, sister?

Margit.

[Towards the back.] Help, help! Will no one help?

[AHouse-Carlrushes in from the passage-way.

House-Carl.

[Calls in a terrified voice.] Lady Margit! Your husband—!

Margit.

He—has he, too, drunk—!

Gudmund.

[To himself.] Ah! now I understand—

House-Carl.

Knut Gesling has slain him.

Signë.

Slain!

Gudmund.

[Drawing his sword.] Not yet, I hope. [Whispers toMargit.] Fear not. No one has drunk from your goblet.

Margit.

Then thanks be to God, who has saved us all!

[She sinks down on a chair to the left.Gudmundhastens towards the door at the back.

Another House-Carl.

[Enters, stopping him.] You come too late. Sir Bengt is dead.

Gudmund.

Too late, then, too late.

House-Carl.

The guests and your men have prevailed against the murderous crew. Knut Gesling and his men are prisoners. Here they come.

[Gudmund’smen, and a number ofGuestsandHouse-Carls,lead inKnut Gesling,Erik of Heggë,and several ofKnut’smen, bound.

Knut.

[Who is pale, says in a low voice.] Manslayer, Gudmund. What say you to that?

Gudmund.

Knut, Knut, what have you done?

Erik.

’Twas a mischance, of that I can take my oath.

Knut.

He ran at me swinging his axe; I meant but to defend myself, and struck the death-blow unawares.

Erik.

Many here saw all that befell.

Knut.

Lady Margit, crave what fine you will. I am ready to pay it.

Margit.

I crave naught. God will judge us all. Yet stay—one thing I require. Forgo your evil design upon my sister.

Knut.

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. [ToGudmund.] Should you be restored to favour and place again, say a good word for me to the King!

Gudmund.

I? Ere the sun sets, I must have left the country.

[Astonishment amongst theGuests.Erik,in whispers, explains the situation.

Margit.

[ToGudmund.] You go? And Signë with you?

Signë.

[Beseechingly.] Margit!

Margit.

Good fortune follow you both!

Signë.

[Flinging her arms roundMargit’sneck.]

Dear sister!

Gudmund.

Margit, I thank you. And now farewell. [Listening.] Hush! I hear the tramp of hoofs in the court-yard.

Signë.

[Apprehensively.] Strangers have arrived.

[AHouse-Carlappears in the doorway at the back.

House-Carl.

The King’s men are without. They seek Gudmund Alfson.

Signë.

Oh God!

Margit.

[In great alarm.] The King’s men!

Gudmund.

All is at an end, then. Oh Signë, to lose you now—could there be a harder fate?

Knut.

Nay, Gudmund; sell your life dearly, man! Unbind us; we are ready to fight for you, one and all.

Erik.

[Looks out.] ’Twould be in vain; they are too many for us.

Signë.

Here they come. Oh Gudmund, Gudmund!

[TheKing’s Messengerenters from the back, with his escort.

Messenger.

In the King’s name I seek you, Gudmund Alfson, and bring you his behests.

Gudmund.

Be it so. Yet am I guiltless; I swear it by all that is holy!

Messenger.

We know it.

Gudmund.

What say you?

[Agitation amongst those present.

Messenger.

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.

Gudmund.

Signë!

Signë.

Gudmund!

Gudmund.

But tell me—?

Messenger.

Your enemy, the Chancellor Audun Hugleikson, has fallen.

Gudmund.

The Chancellor!

Guests.

[To each other, in a half-whisper.] Fallen!

Messenger.

Three days ago he was beheaded at Bergen. [Lowering his voice.] His offence was against Norway’s Queen.

Margit.[Placing herself betweenGudmundandSignë.]

Margit.

[Placing herself betweenGudmundandSignë.]

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.—[BeforeGudmundandSignëcan speak.Nay: think not to move me or control.[PlacesSignë’shand inGudmund’s.Take her then, Gudmund, and make her your bride.Your union is holy; God’s on your side.

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 treasure

Is 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.—

[BeforeGudmundandSignëcan speak.

Nay: think not to move me or control.

[PlacesSignë’shand inGudmund’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.GudmundandSignëfollow 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 into the hall.

Gudmund.

Signë—my wife! See, the morning glow!’Tis the morning of our young love. Rejoice!

Signë—my wife! See, the morning glow!

’Tis the morning of our young love. Rejoice!

Signë.

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.

All my fairest of dreams and of memories I owe

To the strains of thy harp and the sound of thy voice.

My noble minstrel, to joy or sadness

Tune thou that harp as seems thee best;

There are chords, believe me, within my breast

To answer to thine, or of woe or of gladness.

Chorus of Men and Women.

Over 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!

Over 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!

24. This no doubt means a sort of arcaded veranda running along the outer wall of the house.

25. A contest in impromptu verse-making.

Back to Index Next