Get thee hence!
Get thee hence!
Get thee hence!
Get thee hence!
Gerd.
Gerd.
Gerd.
Shall I not fallLow before thy feet and pray?
Shall I not fallLow before thy feet and pray?
Shall I not fallLow before thy feet and pray?
Shall I not fall
Low before thy feet and pray?
Brand.
Brand.
Brand.
Hence!
Hence!
Hence!
Hence!
Gerd.
Gerd.
Gerd.
Thougavest the blood awayThat hath might to save us all!
Thougavest the blood awayThat hath might to save us all!
Thougavest the blood awayThat hath might to save us all!
Thougavest the blood away
That hath might to save us all!
Brand.
Brand.
Brand.
Oh, no saving plank I see,In my own soul’s agony!
Oh, no saving plank I see,In my own soul’s agony!
Oh, no saving plank I see,In my own soul’s agony!
Oh, no saving plank I see,
In my own soul’s agony!
Gerd.
Gerd.
Gerd.
Take therifle.rifle.Shoot them dead—
Take therifle.rifle.Shoot them dead—
Take therifle.rifle.Shoot them dead—
Take therifle.rifle.Shoot them dead—
Brand.[Shaking his head.]
Brand.[Shaking his head.]
Brand.
[Shaking his head.]
Man must struggle till he falls.
Man must struggle till he falls.
Man must struggle till he falls.
Man must struggle till he falls.
Gerd.
Gerd.
Gerd.
Oh, not thou; thou art the head!By the nails thy hands were gored;—Thou art chosen; thou art Lord.
Oh, not thou; thou art the head!By the nails thy hands were gored;—Thou art chosen; thou art Lord.
Oh, not thou; thou art the head!By the nails thy hands were gored;—Thou art chosen; thou art Lord.
Oh, not thou; thou art the head!
By the nails thy hands were gored;—
Thou art chosen; thou art Lord.
Brand.
Brand.
Brand.
I’m the meanest worm that crawls.
I’m the meanest worm that crawls.
I’m the meanest worm that crawls.
I’m the meanest worm that crawls.
Gerd.[Looks up; the clouds are lifting.]
Gerd.[Looks up; the clouds are lifting.]
Gerd.
[Looks up; the clouds are lifting.]
Know’st thou where thou stand’st?
Know’st thou where thou stand’st?
Know’st thou where thou stand’st?
Know’st thou where thou stand’st?
Brand.[Gazing before him.]
Brand.[Gazing before him.]
Brand.
[Gazing before him.]
BelowThe first step of the ascent;It is far, and I am faint.
BelowThe first step of the ascent;It is far, and I am faint.
BelowThe first step of the ascent;It is far, and I am faint.
Below
The first step of the ascent;
It is far, and I am faint.
Gerd.[More fiercely.]
Gerd.[More fiercely.]
Gerd.
[More fiercely.]
Say! Where art thou, dost thou know?
Say! Where art thou, dost thou know?
Say! Where art thou, dost thou know?
Say! Where art thou, dost thou know?
Brand.
Brand.
Brand.
Yes, now falls the misty shroud.
Yes, now falls the misty shroud.
Yes, now falls the misty shroud.
Yes, now falls the misty shroud.
Gerd.
Gerd.
Gerd.
Yes, it falls: without a cloudSvartetind impales the blue!
Yes, it falls: without a cloudSvartetind impales the blue!
Yes, it falls: without a cloudSvartetind impales the blue!
Yes, it falls: without a cloud
Svartetind impales the blue!
Brand.[Looking up.]
Brand.[Looking up.]
Brand.
[Looking up.]
Svartetind? Theice-church?ice-church?
Svartetind? Theice-church?ice-church?
Svartetind? Theice-church?ice-church?
Svartetind? Theice-church?ice-church?
Gerd.
Gerd.
Gerd.
Yea!Here thou camest churchward, too!
Yea!Here thou camest churchward, too!
Yea!Here thou camest churchward, too!
Yea!
Here thou camest churchward, too!
Brand.
Brand.
Brand.
Hence! a thousand miles away!—How I long to fly afar,Where the sunlight and the balmAnd the holy hush of calm,And Life’s summer-kingdoms are![Bursts into tears.]Jesus, I have cried and pleaded,—From thy bosom still outcast;Thou hast pass’d me by unheededAs a well-worn word is passed;Of salvation’s vesture, stain’dWith the wine of tears unfeign’d,Let me clasp one fold at last!
Hence! a thousand miles away!—How I long to fly afar,Where the sunlight and the balmAnd the holy hush of calm,And Life’s summer-kingdoms are![Bursts into tears.]Jesus, I have cried and pleaded,—From thy bosom still outcast;Thou hast pass’d me by unheededAs a well-worn word is passed;Of salvation’s vesture, stain’dWith the wine of tears unfeign’d,Let me clasp one fold at last!
Hence! a thousand miles away!—How I long to fly afar,Where the sunlight and the balmAnd the holy hush of calm,And Life’s summer-kingdoms are![Bursts into tears.]Jesus, I have cried and pleaded,—From thy bosom still outcast;Thou hast pass’d me by unheededAs a well-worn word is passed;Of salvation’s vesture, stain’dWith the wine of tears unfeign’d,Let me clasp one fold at last!
Hence! a thousand miles away!—
How I long to fly afar,
Where the sunlight and the balm
And the holy hush of calm,
And Life’s summer-kingdoms are!
[Bursts into tears.]
Jesus, I have cried and pleaded,—
From thy bosom still outcast;
Thou hast pass’d me by unheeded
As a well-worn word is passed;
Of salvation’s vesture, stain’d
With the wine of tears unfeign’d,
Let me clasp one fold at last!
Gerd.[Pale.]
Gerd.[Pale.]
Gerd.
[Pale.]
What is this? Then weepest, thou,Hot tears, till thy cheek is steaming,—And the glacier’s death-shroud streamingSilently from crag and crest,—And my memory’s frozen tidesMelt to weeping in my breast,—And the snowy surplice glidesDown the Ice-priest’s giant sides—[Trembling.]Man, why wept’st thou not till now?
What is this? Then weepest, thou,Hot tears, till thy cheek is steaming,—And the glacier’s death-shroud streamingSilently from crag and crest,—And my memory’s frozen tidesMelt to weeping in my breast,—And the snowy surplice glidesDown the Ice-priest’s giant sides—[Trembling.]Man, why wept’st thou not till now?
What is this? Then weepest, thou,Hot tears, till thy cheek is steaming,—And the glacier’s death-shroud streamingSilently from crag and crest,—And my memory’s frozen tidesMelt to weeping in my breast,—And the snowy surplice glidesDown the Ice-priest’s giant sides—[Trembling.]Man, why wept’st thou not till now?
What is this? Then weepest, thou,
Hot tears, till thy cheek is steaming,—
And the glacier’s death-shroud streaming
Silently from crag and crest,—
And my memory’s frozen tides
Melt to weeping in my breast,—
And the snowy surplice glides
Down the Ice-priest’s giant sides—
[Trembling.]
Man, why wept’st thou not till now?
Brand.[Radiant, clear, and with an air of renewed youth.]
Brand.[Radiant, clear, and with an air of renewed youth.]
Brand.
[Radiant, clear, and with an air of renewed youth.]
Through the Law an ice-track led,—Then broke summer overhead!Till to-day I strove aloneTo be God’s pure tablet-stone;—From to-day my life shall streamLambent, glowing, as a dream.The ice-fetters break away,I can weep,—and kneel,—and pray!
Through the Law an ice-track led,—Then broke summer overhead!Till to-day I strove aloneTo be God’s pure tablet-stone;—From to-day my life shall streamLambent, glowing, as a dream.The ice-fetters break away,I can weep,—and kneel,—and pray!
Through the Law an ice-track led,—Then broke summer overhead!Till to-day I strove aloneTo be God’s pure tablet-stone;—From to-day my life shall streamLambent, glowing, as a dream.The ice-fetters break away,I can weep,—and kneel,—and pray!
Through the Law an ice-track led,—
Then broke summer overhead!
Till to-day I strove alone
To be God’s pure tablet-stone;—
From to-day my life shall stream
Lambent, glowing, as a dream.
The ice-fetters break away,
I can weep,—and kneel,—and pray!
[Sinks upon his knees.
Gerd.[Looks askance upwards, and then, softly and timidly.]
Gerd.[Looks askance upwards, and then, softly and timidly.]
Gerd.
[Looks askance upwards, and then, softly and timidly.]
There he sits, the ugly sprite!’Tis his shadow sweeps the land,Where he flogs the mountain heightWith his flapping vans in flight.Now Redemption is at hand——If the silver will but bite!
There he sits, the ugly sprite!’Tis his shadow sweeps the land,Where he flogs the mountain heightWith his flapping vans in flight.Now Redemption is at hand——If the silver will but bite!
There he sits, the ugly sprite!’Tis his shadow sweeps the land,Where he flogs the mountain heightWith his flapping vans in flight.Now Redemption is at hand——If the silver will but bite!
There he sits, the ugly sprite!
’Tis his shadow sweeps the land,
Where he flogs the mountain height
With his flapping vans in flight.
Now Redemption is at hand——
If the silver will but bite!
[Puts the rifle to her cheek and shoots. A hollow roar, as of distant thunder, is heard far up the precipice.
[Puts the rifle to her cheek and shoots. A hollow roar, as of distant thunder, is heard far up the precipice.
Brand.[Starting up.]
Brand.[Starting up.]
Brand.
[Starting up.]
Ha, what dost thou?
Ha, what dost thou?
Ha, what dost thou?
Ha, what dost thou?
Gerd.
Gerd.
Gerd.
Down he slides!I have hit him;—down he swings,—Shrieking, till the echo rings;Plumes in thousand from his sidesFlutter down the beetling brae;—See how large he looms, how white—!Ha, he’s rolling down this way!
Down he slides!I have hit him;—down he swings,—Shrieking, till the echo rings;Plumes in thousand from his sidesFlutter down the beetling brae;—See how large he looms, how white—!Ha, he’s rolling down this way!
Down he slides!I have hit him;—down he swings,—Shrieking, till the echo rings;Plumes in thousand from his sidesFlutter down the beetling brae;—See how large he looms, how white—!Ha, he’s rolling down this way!
Down he slides!
I have hit him;—down he swings,—
Shrieking, till the echo rings;
Plumes in thousand from his sides
Flutter down the beetling brae;—
See how large he looms, how white—!
Ha, he’s rolling down this way!
Brand.[Sinking down.]
Brand.[Sinking down.]
Brand.
[Sinking down.]
Blood of children must be spiltTo atone the parent’s guilt!
Blood of children must be spiltTo atone the parent’s guilt!
Blood of children must be spiltTo atone the parent’s guilt!
Blood of children must be spilt
To atone the parent’s guilt!
Gerd.
Gerd.
Gerd.
Tenfold vaster at his fallGrew the tent of Heaven above!See him tumble; see him sprawl—!Ah, I will not shudder more;He is white, see, as a dove—![Shrieks in terror.]Hu, the horrible thunder-roar!
Tenfold vaster at his fallGrew the tent of Heaven above!See him tumble; see him sprawl—!Ah, I will not shudder more;He is white, see, as a dove—![Shrieks in terror.]Hu, the horrible thunder-roar!
Tenfold vaster at his fallGrew the tent of Heaven above!See him tumble; see him sprawl—!Ah, I will not shudder more;He is white, see, as a dove—![Shrieks in terror.]Hu, the horrible thunder-roar!
Tenfold vaster at his fall
Grew the tent of Heaven above!
See him tumble; see him sprawl—!
Ah, I will not shudder more;
He is white, see, as a dove—!
[Shrieks in terror.]
Hu, the horrible thunder-roar!
[Throws herself down in the snow.
Brand.[Crouches under the descending avalanche, and, looking up, speaks.]
Brand.[Crouches under the descending avalanche, and, looking up, speaks.]
Brand.
[Crouches under the descending avalanche, and, looking up, speaks.]
God, I plunge into death’s night,—Shall they wholly miss thy LightWho unto man’s utmost mightWill’d—?
God, I plunge into death’s night,—Shall they wholly miss thy LightWho unto man’s utmost mightWill’d—?
God, I plunge into death’s night,—Shall they wholly miss thy LightWho unto man’s utmost mightWill’d—?
God, I plunge into death’s night,—
Shall they wholly miss thy Light
Who unto man’s utmost might
Will’d—?
[The avalanche buries him; the whole valley is swallowed up.
[The avalanche buries him; the whole valley is swallowed up.
A Voice.[Calls through the crashing thunder.]
A Voice.[Calls through the crashing thunder.]
A Voice.
[Calls through the crashing thunder.]
He is the God of Love.
He is the God of Love.
He is the God of Love.
He is the God of Love.
THE END.
THE END.
THE END.
Printed byBALLANTYNE & COMPANY LTDAT THE BALLANTYNE PRESSTavistock Street Covent GardenLondon
Printed byBALLANTYNE & COMPANY LTDAT THE BALLANTYNE PRESSTavistock Street Covent GardenLondon
Printed by
BALLANTYNE & COMPANY LTD
AT THE BALLANTYNE PRESS
Tavistock Street Covent Garden
London
Transcriber’s NoteThere are quite a few instances of missing punctuation. The conventional period following the character’s name is sometimes missing and has been added for consistency’s sake without further comment. Those missing from setting and stage direction are also added without comment, since there is no obvious purpose to be served by the omission. However, the restoration of punctuation missing from dialogue is noted below, since the punctuation is frequently expressive.Volume I of this series included errata for each succeeding volume. Some, but not all, of the corrections indicated there had been made before the printing employed here. Those that remained unchanged have been corrected here, and noted as such.Other errors deemed most likely to be the printer’s have been corrected, and are noted here. The references are to the page and line in the original.vii.7sense of national disgrace[.]Added.3.4and nearly dark[.]Added.4.19is where it’s trod[.]Added.7.8Then come[.]Added.8.20come back[!]Added.10.4he calls serving God[.]Added.32.39And red-and-yellow circled eye[.]Added.37.12Brandcomes forward, unnoticed[,]Added.38.6You don’t know just how many, e[n/h?]41.33The purblind sight takes falcon-wing[s]Added, per Errata.44.19Great God on high[!]Added.46.16and to the grave[.]Added.47.26you see your part[.]Added.71.3[’]Twere best I tookRestored.75.31and hard to bear[.]Added.84.19calls by that name “Love,[”]Added.88.9to wash her soul from sin.Added.88.20Yes, in you[r] ledgerAdded.90.29what sees he now[.]Added.91.2No summons, no[.]Added.94.21or else send her a God-speed[.]Added.113.22To-morrow’s best[.]Added.134.32meaning half-express[’]dInserted.136.17But unbroken i[n/s] her Will.Replaced, per Errata.139.31“Black as snow[.”]Added.148.5And has not room therein to soar[.]Added.150.13No, Brand, I’m utterly dumbfounded[.]Added.152.25by death and hell[.]Added.154.8B[l/r]and.Replaced.158.13No[!]Added.161.15thou’lt nothing find[.]Added.177.2At the cross-way stand’st thou: choose[!]Added.177.34At the cross-way stand’st thou: choose[!]Added.172.28By the child to Death’s Font[.]Added.175.26Thou hast conquered now[.]Added.178.18Good-night[.]Added.179.23in a gold field[.]Added.182.27Never[!]Added.184.12Hark[!]Added.191.34Will be ringing with “the priest[”]Added.192.21I’m suffocated[.]Added.193.18They’ve higher standards, I’m aware[?/.]Replaced.204.1At that projected Tower of Babe[l]Added, per Errata.213.22That[’s] unimportant, I preferAdded.226.14Hark! your women cry in chorus[!]Added.229.17He’s prophesying! He’s prophesying[!]Added.235.8O lucky chance I caught you up[.]Added.235.10Ah, dear kind master, don’t be stern[.]Added.254.17I must[.]Added.255.5For a race that walks entomb’d[.]Added.255.18But the path ofyearning’sleft[.]Added.258.30Take the rifle[.]Added.259.28Svartetind? The ice-church[?]Added.
Transcriber’s Note
Transcriber’s Note
Transcriber’s Note
There are quite a few instances of missing punctuation. The conventional period following the character’s name is sometimes missing and has been added for consistency’s sake without further comment. Those missing from setting and stage direction are also added without comment, since there is no obvious purpose to be served by the omission. However, the restoration of punctuation missing from dialogue is noted below, since the punctuation is frequently expressive.
Volume I of this series included errata for each succeeding volume. Some, but not all, of the corrections indicated there had been made before the printing employed here. Those that remained unchanged have been corrected here, and noted as such.
Other errors deemed most likely to be the printer’s have been corrected, and are noted here. The references are to the page and line in the original.