Complete Works of Henrik Ibsen (7 page)

LENTULUS. Ah, Catiline, you rave! Nothing of this
Had we in mind.

GABINIUS. What will it profit us
To conjure up again those ancient days
With all their dull simplicity?

SOME. No, no!
Might we demand —

OTHERS. — and means enough to live
A gay and carefree life!

MANY VOICES. That is our aim!

COEPARIUS. Is it for others’ happiness and freedom
We stake our lives upon a throw of dice?

THE WHOLE GROUP. We want the spoils of victory!

CATILINE. Paltry race!
Are you the offspring of those ancient fathers?
To heap dishonor on your country’s name, —
In such a way you would preserve its lustre!

LENTULUS. And you dare taunt us, — you who long since were
A terrifying token —

CATILINE. True, I was;
I was a terror to the good; and yet,
So paltry as you are was never I.

LENTULUS. Restrain your tongue; we brook no ridicule.

MANY. No, no, — we will not —

CATILINE.
[Calmly.]
So? You timid brood, —
You dare to think of doing something, — you?

LENTULUS. Ah, down with him!

MANY VOICES. Yes, down with Catiline!

[They draw their daggers and rush in on him; CATILINE calmly removes the cloak from his breast and regards them with a cold, scornful smile; they lower their daggers.]

CATILINE.
Thrust! Thrust! You dare not? Oh, my friends, my friends, —
I should respect you, if you plunged your daggers
In this uncovered bosom, as you threaten.
Is there no spark of courage in your souls?

SOME. He means our weal!

OTHERS. His taunts we have deserved.

CATILINE. You have, indeed. — Yet, see, — the hour is come
When you can wash away the blot of shame.
All that is of the past we will forget; —
A new existence is in store for us.

CATILINE.
[With bitterness.]
Fool that I am! To stake success on you!
Burns any zeal within this craven mob?

CATILINE.
[Carried away.]
Time was my dreams were glorious; great visions
Rushed through my mind or swept before my gaze.
I dreamed that, winged like Icarus of old,
I flew aloft beneath the vault of heaven;
I dreamed the gods endued my hands with strength
Of giants, offered me the lightning flash.
And this hand seized the lightning in its flight
And hurled it at the city far beneath.
And when the crimson flames lapped all, and rose
As Rome fell crumbling in a heap of ruins, —
Then called I with a loud and mighty voice,
And conjured Cato’s comrades from the grave;
Thousands of spirits heard my call and came, —
Took life again — raised Rome from out her ashes.

[He breaks off.]

CATILINE. These were but dreams! Gods do not conjure up
The by-gone past into the light of day, —
And parted spirits never leave the grave.

CATILINE.
[Wildly.]
Is now this hand unable to restore
The ancient Rome, our Rome it shall destroy.
Where marble colonnades now towering stand,
Pillars of smoke through crackling flames shall whirl;
Then shall the Capitol crumble from its heights,
And palaces and temples sink to ruin!

CATILINE. Swear, comrades, that you dedicate your lives
To this great purpose! I shall take the lead.
Say, — will you follow me?

STATILIUS. We’ll follow you!

[Several seem to be in doubt, and speak in whispers to one another. CATILINE regards them with a scornful smile.]

LENTULUS.
[In an undertone.]
‘Tis best we follow him. In sunken ruins
We’re likeliest to realize our goal.

ALL.
[Shouting.]
Yes, Catiline; we’ll all — all follow you!

CATILINE. Swear to me by the gods of our great sires
That you will heed my every nod!

THE WHOLE GROUP.
[With uplifted hands.]
Yes, yes;
We swear in all things blindly to obey!

CATILINE. Then singly steal your way, by different paths,
Into my house. Weapons you there will find.
I shall come later; you shall then discover
What plan of action I propose. Now go!

[They all go out.]

LENTULUS.
[Detains CATILINE.]
A word! Know you the Allobrogian tribes
Have to the Senate sent ambassadors
With grievances and charges?

CATILINE. Yes, I know.
They came today into the city.

LENTULUS. Good.
What if we should attune them to our plans?
With them all Gaul will rise up in revolt;
And stir up strife against our enemies.

CATILINE.
[Reluctant.]
Ah, we should seek barbarian allies?

LENTULUS. But such a league is a necessity.
With our own strength alone the fight is lost;
Help from without —

CATILINE.
[With a bitter smile.]
Ah, Rome is fallen low!
Her walls no longer harbor men with strength
Enough to overthrow a tottering ruin!

[They go out.]

[A garden to the rear of CATILINE’s house, which is visible through the trees. To the left a side-building.]

[CURIUS, CETHEGUS, and OTHER CONSPIRATORS enter cautiously from the right in whispered conversation.]

CURIUS. But is it really true what you relate?

CETHEGUS. Yes, every word is true. A moment since
It was decided.

CURIUS. He takes charge of all?

CETHEGUS. Of everything. Just speak with him yourself.

[All, except CURIUS, enter the house.]

CURIUS. An eerie night! How all my thoughts are tossed
About in circles! Did I dream perchance?
Ah, real or fancied, — now I am awake, —
Whichever way I turn I see her form.

[CATILINE enters from the right.]

CATILINE.
[Goes toward him.]
You here, my Curius? I have missed you much. —
My visit with the vestal took a turn
Quite unexpected —

CURIUS.
[Confused.]
So? Yes, you are right!

CATILINE. I shall no longer think of this affair.
It was a visit fraught with fate for me.

CATILINE.
[Meditating.]
The furies, we are told, return at times
From the dark underworld to follow us
Through life forever. — Ah, if it were so!

CURIUS.
[Uneasy.]
What? Have you seen her — ?

CATILINE. She was here tonight. —
Yet let this be forgotten. Curius, listen, —
A weighty undertaking is on foot —

CURIUS. I know it all. Cethegus told me here —

CATILINE. Who knows what issue for this work the gods
Have set? Perchance it is my destiny
To perish now, crushed by malignant forces, —
And never reach my goal. Well, be it so!
But you, dear Curius, you whom I have loved
Since childhood, — you shall not be drawn within
This fateful maelstrom. Promise me, — remain
Within the city if I elsewhere choose
To open my attack, — which is quite likely;
Nor aid us till success has crowned our work.

CURIUS.
[Moved.]
Oh, what a friend and father! All this care — !

CATILINE. You promise this? Then here we say farewell;
Wait but a moment; I shall soon return.

[He goes into the house.]

CURIUS.
[Gazing after him.]
He loves me still. Of naught is he distrustful.

[LENTULUS and OTHER CONSPIRATORS enter from the right.]

LENTULUS. Ah, Curius, did not Catiline just now
Pass through the garden?

CURIUS. Yes, he is within.

[They go into the house.]

CURIUS.
[Paces about uneasy.]
How shall I curb this longing in my soul?
There is a restless turmoil in my blood.
Ah, Furia, — what a strange, mysterious woman!
Where are you? When shall I see your face again?

CURIUS. Where has she fled? Ah, shadow-like she slipped
Away, when I had freed her from the grave.
And those mysterious, prophetic words, —
And more, her eyes, gleaming at once and dimmed — !
What if it were but madness? Has the grave
With all its terror darkened — ?

FURIA.
[Behind him among the trees.]
No, pale youth!

CURIUS.
[With a cry.]
My Furia! You — ?

FURIA.
[Comes nearer.]
Here dwells Catiline.
Where he is, — there must Furia also be.

CURIUS. Oh, come with me, beloved. I shall lead
You into safety. Think — if some one saw you!

FURIA. The dead need have no fear. Have you forgotten —
You took my corpse and brought it from the grave?

CURIUS. Again those terrifying words! Oh, hear me; —
Come to your senses, — come with me away!

[He tries to seize her hand.]

FURIA.
[Thrusts him wildly back.]
You reckless fool, — do you not shrink with fear
Before this child of death, but risen up
A fleeting moment from the underworld?

CURIUS. Before you now I fear. And yet this fear,
This strange, mysterious dread, is my delight.

FURIA. What would you me? In vain is all your pleading.
I’m of the grave, and yonder is my home; —
With dawn’s approach I must again be speeding
Back to the vale of shadows whence I come.
You doubt me, — do not think that I have sat
Among the pallid shades in Pluto’s hall?
I tell you, I was even now below, —
Beyond the river and the gloomy marshes.

CURIUS. Then lead me there!

FURIA. You?

CURIUS. I shall gladly follow,
Though you should lead me through the jaws of death!

FURIA. It cannot be! On earth we two must part; —
Yonder the dead and living dare not meet. —

FURIA. Why do you rob me of my fleeting moments?
I’ve but the hours of night in which to work;
My task is of the night; I am its herald.
But where is Catiline?

CURIUS. Ah, him you seek?

FURIA. Yes, him I seek.

CURIUS. Then him you still pursue?

FURIA. Why rose I from the spirit underworld
Tonight, if not because of Catiline?

CURIUS. Alas, this fury that has seized your soul — !
Yet you are lovely even in your madness.
Oh, Furia, think no more of Catiline!
Come, flee with me! Command me, — I shall serve you!

[He prostrates himself before her.]

CURIUS. A prostrate slave I here entreat of you
One single look. Oh, hear me, Furia, hear me!
I love but you! A sweet and lethal fire
Consumes my soul, and you — ah, you alone —
Can ease my suffering. —

FURIA.
[Looks towards the house.]
Yonder there’s a light —
And many men. What now is going on
Within the house of Catiline?

CURIUS.
[Jumps up.]
Again
This name! Around him hover all your thoughts.
Oh, I could hate him — !

FURIA. Has he then resolved
To launch at last the daring enterprise
He long has cherished?

CURIUS. Then you know — ?

FURIA. Yes, all.

CURIUS. Ah, then you doubtless know, too, he himself
Is foremost in this daring enterprise?
Yet, I adjure you, beg you, think no more
Of Catiline!

FURIA. Answer me this alone;
‘Tis all I ask of you. Do you go with him?

CURIUS. He is to me a tender father —

FURIA.
[Smiling.]
He?
My Catiline?

CURIUS. Ah!