Chapter 12

The Mayor.

Hopeless is he that fights alone.

Brand.

Thebestare with me.

The Mayor.[Smiling.]

The Mayor.

[Smiling.]

That may be,But they’re themost, who followme.

That may be,

But they’re themost, who followme.

[Goes.

Brand.[Looking after him.]

Brand.

[Looking after him.]

A people’s champion, thorough-bred!Active, with fair and open hand,Honest of heart and sound of head,But yet a scourge upon the land!No avalanche, no winter-blast,No flood, nor frost, nor famine-fastLeaves half the ruin in its rearThat such a man does, year by year.Life only by a plague is reft;But he——! How many a thought is cleft,How many an eager will made numb,How many a valiant song struck dumbBy such a narrow soul as this!What smiles on simple faces breaking,What fires inlowlybosoms waking,What pangs of joy and anger, seedThat might have ripened into deed,Die by that bloodless blade of his!

A people’s champion, thorough-bred!

Active, with fair and open hand,

Honest of heart and sound of head,

But yet a scourge upon the land!

No avalanche, no winter-blast,

No flood, nor frost, nor famine-fast

Leaves half the ruin in its rear

That such a man does, year by year.

Life only by a plague is reft;

But he——! How many a thought is cleft,

How many an eager will made numb,

How many a valiant song struck dumb

By such a narrow soul as this!

What smiles on simple faces breaking,

What fires inlowlybosoms waking,

What pangs of joy and anger, seed

That might have ripened into deed,

Die by that bloodless blade of his!

[Suddenly, in anxiety.]

But O the summons! the summons—No!It is the Doctor!

But O the summons! the summons—No!

It is the Doctor!

EnterDoctor.[Hurries to meet him.]

EnterDoctor.

[Hurries to meet him.]

Say! say! How——?

The Doctor.

She stands before her Maker now.

Brand.

Dead!—But repentant?

The Doctor.

Scarcely so;She hugg’d Earth’s goods with all her heartTill the Hour struck, and they must part.

Scarcely so;

She hugg’d Earth’s goods with all her heart

Till the Hour struck, and they must part.

Brand.[Looking straight before him in deep emotion.]

Brand.

[Looking straight before him in deep emotion.]

Is here an erring soul undone?

The Doctor.

She will be mildly judged, maybe;—And Law temper’d with equity,

She will be mildly judged, maybe;—

And Law temper’d with equity,

Brand.[In a low tone.]

Brand.

[In a low tone.]

What said she?

The Doctor.

Low she mutter’d:HeIs no hard dealer, like my son.

Low she mutter’d:He

Is no hard dealer, like my son.

Brand.[Sinking in anguish upon the bench.]

Brand.

[Sinking in anguish upon the bench.]

Guilt-wrung or dying, still that lieThat every soul is ruin’d by!

Guilt-wrung or dying, still that lie

That every soul is ruin’d by!

[Hides his face in his hands.

The Doctor.[Goes towards him, looks at him, and shakes his head.]

The Doctor.

[Goes towards him, looks at him, and shakes his head.]

You seek, a day that is no more,In one and all things to restore.You think, God’s venerable pactWith man is still a living fact;—Each Age in its own way will walk;Ours is not scared by nurses’ talkOf hell-bound soul and burning brand;—Humanity’s our first command!

You seek, a day that is no more,

In one and all things to restore.

You think, God’s venerable pact

With man is still a living fact;—

Each Age in its own way will walk;

Ours is not scared by nurses’ talk

Of hell-bound soul and burning brand;—

Humanity’s our first command!

Brand.[Looking up.]

Brand.

[Looking up.]

Humanity!—That sluggard phraseIs the world’s watchword nowadays.With this each bungler hides the factThat he dare not and will not act;With this each weakling masks the lie,That he’ll risk all for victory;With this each dastard dares to cloakVows faintly rued and lightly broke;Your puny spirits will turn ManHimself Humanitarian!Was God “humane” when Jesus died?HadyourGod then his counsel given,Christ at the cross for grace had cried—And the Redemption signifiedA diplomatic note from Heaven.

Humanity!—That sluggard phrase

Is the world’s watchword nowadays.

With this each bungler hides the fact

That he dare not and will not act;

With this each weakling masks the lie,

That he’ll risk all for victory;

With this each dastard dares to cloak

Vows faintly rued and lightly broke;

Your puny spirits will turn Man

Himself Humanitarian!

Was God “humane” when Jesus died?

HadyourGod then his counsel given,

Christ at the cross for grace had cried—

And the Redemption signified

A diplomatic note from Heaven.

[Hides his head, and sits in mute grief.

The Doctor.[Softly.]

The Doctor.

[Softly.]

Rage, rage thy fill, thou soul storm-stress’d;—Best were it for thee to find tears.

Rage, rage thy fill, thou soul storm-stress’d;—

Best were it for thee to find tears.

Agnes.[Comes out on to the steps: pale and terrified she whispers to theDoctor.]

Agnes.

[Comes out on to the steps: pale and terrified she whispers to theDoctor.]

In! Follow me!

The Doctor.

You raise my fears!What is it, child?

You raise my fears!

What is it, child?

Agnes.

Into my breastCreeps cold a serpent of affright——!

Into my breast

Creeps cold a serpent of affright——!

The Doctor.

What is it?

Agnes.[Pulling him away.]

Agnes.

[Pulling him away.]

Come!—Great God of Might.

[They go into the house;Branddoes not notice.

Brand.[To himself.]

Brand.

[To himself.]

Impenitent alive,—and dead!This is the finger of the Lord!Now through my means shall be restoredThe treasure she has forfeited;Else tenfold woe upon my head![Rises.]Henceforth as by my sonship bound,Unflinching, on my native groundI’ll battle, a soldier of the Cross,For Spirit’s gain by Body’s loss.Me with His purging fire the LordHath arm’d, and with His riving Word:Mine is that Will and that strong TrustThat crumbles mountains into dust!

Impenitent alive,—and dead!

This is the finger of the Lord!

Now through my means shall be restored

The treasure she has forfeited;

Else tenfold woe upon my head!

[Rises.]

Henceforth as by my sonship bound,

Unflinching, on my native ground

I’ll battle, a soldier of the Cross,

For Spirit’s gain by Body’s loss.

Me with His purging fire the Lord

Hath arm’d, and with His riving Word:

Mine is that Will and that strong Trust

That crumbles mountains into dust!

The Doctor.[Followed byAgnescomes hastily out, and cries.]

The Doctor.

[Followed byAgnescomes hastily out, and cries.]

Order your house and haste away!

Brand.

Were there an earthquake I would stay!

The Doctor.

Then you have doom’d your child to death.

Brand.[Wildly.]

Brand.

[Wildly.]

The child! Alf! Alf! What phantom wraithOf fear is this! My child!

The child! Alf! Alf! What phantom wraith

Of fear is this! My child!

[Is about to rush into the house.

The Doctor.[Holding him back.]

The Doctor.

[Holding him back.]

Stay, stay.—Here summer sunshine pierces not,Here polar ice-blasts rive and rend,—Here dank and stifling mists descend.Another winter in this spotWill shrivel the tender life away.Go hence, you’ll save him! No delay!To-morrow’sbest.best.

Stay, stay.—

Here summer sunshine pierces not,

Here polar ice-blasts rive and rend,—

Here dank and stifling mists descend.

Another winter in this spot

Will shrivel the tender life away.

Go hence, you’ll save him! No delay!

To-morrow’sbest.best.

Brand.

To-night,—to-day!Now, ere another hour is out!O yet he shall grow strong and stout;—No blast from mountain or from shoreShall chill his baby-bosom more.Come, Agnes, lift him gently in sleep!Away along the winding deep!O Agnes, Agnes, death has spunHis web about our little son!

To-night,—to-day!

Now, ere another hour is out!

O yet he shall grow strong and stout;—

No blast from mountain or from shore

Shall chill his baby-bosom more.

Come, Agnes, lift him gently in sleep!

Away along the winding deep!

O Agnes, Agnes, death has spun

His web about our little son!

Agnes.

Foreboding trembled in my heart,—And yet I only knew a part.

Foreboding trembled in my heart,—

And yet I only knew a part.

Brand.[To theDoctor.]

Brand.

[To theDoctor.]

But flight will save him? That is sure?

The Doctor.

The life a father day and nightWatches, all perils can endure.Be all to him! and healthy, bright,You soon shall see him, be secure!

The life a father day and night

Watches, all perils can endure.

Be all to him! and healthy, bright,

You soon shall see him, be secure!

Brand.

Thanks, thanks![ToAgnes.]In down enclose him well;Chill sweeps the night-wind from the fell.

Thanks, thanks!

[ToAgnes.]

In down enclose him well;

Chill sweeps the night-wind from the fell.

[Agnesgoes in.

TheDoctorsilently watchesBrand, who gazes fixedly through the door; then goes to him, and lays his hand on his shoulder.

The Doctor.

So tender to his own distress.And to the world so merciless!For them avails notmorenorless!Only Law’s absoluteNoughtorAll,But now—no sooner sees he fallThe dooming lot,—his valour’s flown;—The sacrificial lamb’s his own!

So tender to his own distress.

And to the world so merciless!

For them avails notmorenorless!

Only Law’s absoluteNoughtorAll,

But now—no sooner sees he fall

The dooming lot,—his valour’s flown;

—The sacrificial lamb’s his own!

Brand.

What mean you?

The Doctor.

In the dying earYou thunder’d the decree of fear:To perish, unless All she gave,And went down naked to her grave!And that cry rang again, again,When need was direst among men!You’re now the shipwreckt sailor, cleavingTo swamp’d boat through the storms of doom,And from its upturned bottom heavingTo see your tracts on Wrath to Come,To sea, to sea, the bulky tomeThat struck your Brothers’ bosoms home;Now you ask only wind and waveTo waft your infant from death’s reach.Fly, only fly, by bay and beach,Fly from your very mother’s grave,—from the souls you’re sent to save;—“The Parson does not mean to preach!”

In the dying ear

You thunder’d the decree of fear:

To perish, unless All she gave,

And went down naked to her grave!

And that cry rang again, again,

When need was direst among men!

You’re now the shipwreckt sailor, cleaving

To swamp’d boat through the storms of doom,

And from its upturned bottom heaving

To see your tracts on Wrath to Come,

To sea, to sea, the bulky tome

That struck your Brothers’ bosoms home;

Now you ask only wind and wave

To waft your infant from death’s reach.

Fly, only fly, by bay and beach,

Fly from your very mother’s grave,—

from the souls you’re sent to save;—

“The Parson does not mean to preach!”

Brand.[Wildly clutching his head as if to gather his thoughts.]

Brand.

[Wildly clutching his head as if to gather his thoughts.]

Am Inowblind? OrwasI?

The Doctor.

Nay,A father has no other way;Don’t fancy that your act I blame;I hold you greater, clipt and tame,Than in your giant strength secure.—Farewell! I’ve held you up a glass;Use it and sigh: “Alas, alas,Is this a Titan’s portraiture?”[Goes.

Nay,

A father has no other way;

Don’t fancy that your act I blame;

I hold you greater, clipt and tame,

Than in your giant strength secure.—

Farewell! I’ve held you up a glass;

Use it and sigh: “Alas, alas,

Is this a Titan’s portraiture?”

[Goes.

Brand.Gazing a while before him: then bursts out.]

Brand.

Gazing a while before him: then bursts out.]

Before—or now,—when did I stray?

Agnescomes out with a cloak over her shoulders and the child in her arms;Branddoes not see her; she is about to speak, but stands petrified with terror at the look in his face. At the same momentA Mancomes in hastily through the garden-gate. The sun is setting.

The Man.

Hark, priest, you have a foe!

Brand.[Clenching his hand against his breast.]

Brand.

[Clenching his hand against his breast.]

Yes,here!

The Man.

Watch well the Mayor. The seed you sowSprang ever bravely into ear,Till blighting slanders laid it low.With meaning hints he has impliedThat by-and-by this house would lackA tenant, and you’d turn your back,The day your wealthy mother died.

Watch well the Mayor. The seed you sow

Sprang ever bravely into ear,

Till blighting slanders laid it low.

With meaning hints he has implied

That by-and-by this house would lack

A tenant, and you’d turn your back,

The day your wealthy mother died.

Brand.

And if it were so——

The Man.

Priest, I know you;Know, why these poisonous tales are rife;You stood against him still at strife;He could not bend your purpose;—lo, you,That’s what these slanders signified——

Priest, I know you;

Know, why these poisonous tales are rife;

You stood against him still at strife;

He could not bend your purpose;—lo, you,

That’s what these slanders signified——

Brand.[Hesitating.]

Brand.

[Hesitating.]

Suppose the case—that he spoke true?

The Man.

Then to us all you’ve basely lied.

Brand.

Have I——?

The Man.

How oft you’ve told us, you,That God has call’d you to the strife,That here you’ve made your home for life,Thathereyou’ll bear the battle through,That none may shirk the call to serve,That all must fight and never swerve,Youhave the Call! How flames and flashesIn many a heart the fire you’ve fed!

How oft you’ve told us, you,

That God has call’d you to the strife,

That here you’ve made your home for life,

Thathereyou’ll bear the battle through,

That none may shirk the call to serve,

That all must fight and never swerve,

Youhave the Call! How flames and flashes

In many a heart the fire you’ve fed!

Brand.

This people’s heart is hard and dead!Their ear is deaf, their fire is ashes!

This people’s heart is hard and dead!

Their ear is deaf, their fire is ashes!

The Man.

O, you know better;—radiant dayTo many a heart has found its way.

O, you know better;—radiant day

To many a heart has found its way.

Brand.

In tenfold others all is night.

The Man.

You’re sent to be their beacon-lightBut be the numbers as you choose,Here is no need to closely scan;For here I stand, one only Man,And bid you: Leave us, if you can!I have a soul I would not lose,Like others; books I cannot use,You bore me from the depths below,—Try if you now can let me go!You cannot,—I so closely grip,My soul were lost if I should slip.Farewell; I look to learn at last:My priest by me—and God—stands fast.[Goes.

You’re sent to be their beacon-light

But be the numbers as you choose,

Here is no need to closely scan;

For here I stand, one only Man,

And bid you: Leave us, if you can!

I have a soul I would not lose,

Like others; books I cannot use,

You bore me from the depths below,—

Try if you now can let me go!

You cannot,—I so closely grip,

My soul were lost if I should slip.

Farewell; I look to learn at last:

My priest by me—and God—stands fast.

[Goes.

Agnes.[Timidly.]

Agnes.

[Timidly.]

Your lips are blanch’d, and white your cheek;You seem to utter an inward shriek!

Your lips are blanch’d, and white your cheek;

You seem to utter an inward shriek!

Brand.

Each strong word flung at yonder rockThrills back with tenfold echo’s shock.

Each strong word flung at yonder rock

Thrills back with tenfold echo’s shock.

Agnes.[Advancing a step.]

Agnes.

[Advancing a step.]

I’m ready!

Brand.

Ready? Whereunto?

Agnes.[Vehemently.]

Agnes.

[Vehemently.]

For what a mother needs must do!

Gerd.[Runs by outside and stops at the garden-gate; claps her hands and cries in wild joy.]

Gerd.

[Runs by outside and stops at the garden-gate; claps her hands and cries in wild joy.]

Have you heard? The priest’s flown off.—Up from hillocks, out of howes,Swarm the demons and the Drows,Black and ugly, big and little—Ugh, how fierce they cut and cuff—!Half my eye away they whittle;Half my soul they’ve carried off;With the stump I’ll e’en make shift,It will serve me well enough!

Have you heard? The priest’s flown off.—

Up from hillocks, out of howes,

Swarm the demons and the Drows,

Black and ugly, big and little—

Ugh, how fierce they cut and cuff—!

Half my eye away they whittle;

Half my soul they’ve carried off;

With the stump I’ll e’en make shift,

It will serve me well enough!

Brand.

Girl, your thoughts are all adrift;See, I stand before you.

Girl, your thoughts are all adrift;

See, I stand before you.

Gerd.

You?Ay, but not the parson? SwiftFrom the peak my falcon flew,Fiercely down the fells he hied him,He was bitted and saddled too,Through the nightfall blast he hiss’d,And a man was set astride him,—’Twas the parson, ’twas the priest!Now the valley church is bare,Lock and bar are bolted there;Ugly-church’s day is past;Mineshall get its due at last.There the priest stands, tall and strongSnowy surplice swathes his flank,Woven of winter’s drip and dank,If you’d see him, come along;Parish-church is bare and blank;Mypriest has so brave a song,That the whole earth rings to hear it.

You?

Ay, but not the parson? Swift

From the peak my falcon flew,

Fiercely down the fells he hied him,

He was bitted and saddled too,

Through the nightfall blast he hiss’d,

And a man was set astride him,—

’Twas the parson, ’twas the priest!

Now the valley church is bare,

Lock and bar are bolted there;

Ugly-church’s day is past;

Mineshall get its due at last.

There the priest stands, tall and strong

Snowy surplice swathes his flank,

Woven of winter’s drip and dank,

If you’d see him, come along;

Parish-church is bare and blank;

Mypriest has so brave a song,

That the whole earth rings to hear it.

Brand.

Who has bidden thee, shattered spirit,Lure me with this idol-lay?

Who has bidden thee, shattered spirit,

Lure me with this idol-lay?

Gerd.[Coming into the garden.]

Gerd.

[Coming into the garden.]

Idols, idols? What are they?Oho! That is what you mean:Giant or pigmy, large or lean,Always gilded, always gay.Idols! Look you where she stands!See you ’neath her mantle strayBaby-feet and baby-hands?See you how those robes are gay,That close-folded something keepLike a little child asleep?Back she shudders! Hides her son!Idols?—Man, I show youone!

Idols, idols? What are they?

Oho! That is what you mean:

Giant or pigmy, large or lean,

Always gilded, always gay.

Idols! Look you where she stands!

See you ’neath her mantle stray

Baby-feet and baby-hands?

See you how those robes are gay,

That close-folded something keep

Like a little child asleep?

Back she shudders! Hides her son!

Idols?—Man, I show youone!

Agnes.

Have you tears, Brand? Can you pray?Terror scorches mine away!

Have you tears, Brand? Can you pray?

Terror scorches mine away!

Brand.

Woe’s me, Agnes—I forbodeIn her words the voice of God.

Woe’s me, Agnes—I forbode

In her words the voice of God.

Gerd.

Hark; now all the bells are loud,Clanging down the savage fells!See, what moving masses crowdUpwards to those bidding bells!See the thousand trolls uprisenFrom the ocean-caves, their prison;See the thousand dwarfs up-leapingFrom the graves where they were sleepingWith the priest’s seal on them set:Grave and ocean cannot bind them,Out they’re swarming, chill and wet;—Troll-babes that but shammed to die,Grinning roll the rocks behind them:“Mother, father!” hark, they cry;Goodman, Goodwife, make reply;Then, as fathers among sons,Move among their buried ones;Women lay their risen deadAt their bosoms to be fed,Strutted scarce with prouder frontWhen they bore them to the font.Life begins! The parson’s fled!

Hark; now all the bells are loud,

Clanging down the savage fells!

See, what moving masses crowd

Upwards to those bidding bells!

See the thousand trolls uprisen

From the ocean-caves, their prison;

See the thousand dwarfs up-leaping

From the graves where they were sleeping

With the priest’s seal on them set:

Grave and ocean cannot bind them,

Out they’re swarming, chill and wet;—

Troll-babes that but shammed to die,

Grinning roll the rocks behind them:

“Mother, father!” hark, they cry;

Goodman, Goodwife, make reply;

Then, as fathers among sons,

Move among their buried ones;

Women lay their risen dead

At their bosoms to be fed,

Strutted scarce with prouder front

When they bore them to the font.

Life begins! The parson’s fled!

Brand.

Get thee from me! Direr stillGrows the vision——

Get thee from me! Direr still

Grows the vision——

Gerd.

Hark, he’s mocking!He that sits by yon way-border,Where it rears to scale the hill,All their names as they go flockingIn his book he writes in order;—Ho! he’s wellnigh all the pack;For the parish-church is bare,Lock and bar are bolted there,—And parson’s off on falcon-back!

Hark, he’s mocking!

He that sits by yon way-border,

Where it rears to scale the hill,

All their names as they go flocking

In his book he writes in order;—

Ho! he’s wellnigh all the pack;

For the parish-church is bare,

Lock and bar are bolted there,—

And parson’s off on falcon-back!

[Leaps over the garden-fence and is lost in the moraine. Stillness.

Agnes.[Approaches, and says in a low voice.]

Agnes.

[Approaches, and says in a low voice.]

Late we linger: let us go.

Brand.[Looking fixedly at her.]

Brand.

[Looking fixedly at her.]

Shall our way be——

[Points first to the garden-gate, then to the house-door.]

So?—or so?

Agnes.[Starts back shuddering.]

Agnes.

[Starts back shuddering.]

Brand, your child,—your child!

Brand.[Following her.]

Brand.

[Following her.]

Say rather:Was I priest ere I was father?

Say rather:

Was I priest ere I was father?

Agnes.[Drawing further back.]

Agnes.

[Drawing further back.]

Though in thunder-crash it peal’d,Unto that my lips are seal’d.

Though in thunder-crash it peal’d,

Unto that my lips are seal’d.

Brand.[Following.]

Brand.

[Following.]

You are Mother: it is dueThat the last word come from you.

You are Mother: it is due

That the last word come from you.

Agnes.

I am Wife: I shall fulfilAll that you have heart to will.

I am Wife: I shall fulfil

All that you have heart to will.

Brand.[Trying to grasp her arm.]

Brand.

[Trying to grasp her arm.]

Take the Cup of Choice from me!

Agnes.[Retreating behind the tree.]

Agnes.

[Retreating behind the tree.]

Mother then I should not be!

Brand.

There a Judgment is let fall!

Agnes.[Vehemently.]

Agnes.

[Vehemently.]

Haveyou any choice at all!

Brand.

Still the Judgment, gathering force!

Agnes.

Trust you wholly in God’s Call?

Brand.

Yes![Grasps her hand firmly.]And now ’tis yours to giveFinal sentence: Die or live!

Yes!

[Grasps her hand firmly.]

And now ’tis yours to give

Final sentence: Die or live!

Agnes.

Go where God has fix’d your course[Pause.

Go where God has fix’d your course

[Pause.

Brand.

Late we linger: let us go.

Agnes.[Voiceless.]

Agnes.

[Voiceless.]

Shall our way be——?

Brand.[Silent.]

Brand.

[Silent.]

Agnes.[Pointing to the garden-gate.]

Agnes.

[Pointing to the garden-gate.]

So?

Brand.[Pointing to the house-door.]

Brand.

[Pointing to the house-door.]

Nay,—so!

Agnes.[Raising the child aloft in her arms.]

Agnes.

[Raising the child aloft in her arms.]

God! The gift Thou canst requireI can lift it to thy sight!Guide me through life’s martyr-fire![Goes in.

God! The gift Thou canst require

I can lift it to thy sight!

Guide me through life’s martyr-fire!

[Goes in.

Brand.

[Gazes a while before him, bursts into tears, clasps his hands over his head, throws himself down on the steps and cries:]

Jesus, Jesus give me light!

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