Complete Works of Henrik Ibsen (71 page)

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
Before nightfall you will thank me.
[He moves away.

HÅKON.
[Hands the Earl the parchment.]
Read that, Earl Skule.

EARL SKULE.
[Reads, looks in surprise at the King, and says in a low voice.]
You break with Kanga the Young?

HÅKON.
With Kanga whom I have loved more than all the world. From this day forward she must never more cross the King’s path.

EARL SKULE.
This that you do is a great thing, Håkon. Mine own memory tells me what it must cost.

HÅKON.
Whoever is too dear to the King must away. — Tie up the letter. —
[Gives it to
Ivar Bodde.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
[Bending over the chair.]
You have made a great stride towards the Earl’s friendship, my lord King.

HÅKON.
[Holds out his hand to him.]
I thank you, Bishop Nicholas; you counselled me for the best. Ask a grace of me, and I will grant it.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
Will you?

HÅKON.
I promise it on my kingly faith.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
Then make Vegard Væradal thane of Halogaland.

HÅKON.
Vegard? He is well-nigh the trustiest friend I have; I am loath to send him so far from me.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
The King’s friend must be royally rewarded. Bind the Earl’s hands as I have counselled you, and you will be secure for ever and a day.

HÅKON.
[Takes a sheet of parchment.]
Vegard shall bear rule in Halogaland.
[Writing.]
I hereby grant it under my royal hand. —
[The
Bishop
retires.

EARL SKULE.
[Approaches the table.]
What write you now?

HÅKON.
[Hands him the sheet.]
Read.

EARL SKULE.
[Reads, and looks steadily at the King.]
Vegard Væradal? In Halogaland?

HÅKON.
The northern part stands vacant.

EARL SKULE.
Bethink you that Andres Skialdarband has also a charge in the north. They two are bitter foes; — Andres Skialdarband is of my following —

HÅKON.
[Smiling and rising.]
And Vegard Væradal of mine. Therefore they must e’en make friends again, the sooner
 
the better. Henceforth there must be no enmity between the King’s men and the Earl’s.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
Ha! — this may go too far. —
[Approaches, uneasy.

EARL SKULE.
Your thoughts are wise and deep, Håkon.

HÅKON.
[Warmly.]
Earl Skule, to-day have I taken the kingdom from you — let your daughter share it with me!

EARL SKULE.
My daughter!

MARGRETE.
Oh, God!

HÅKON.
Margrete, will you be my Queen? [Margrete
is silent.

HÅKON.
[Takes her hand.]
Answer me.

MARGRETE.
[Softly.]
I will gladly be your wife.

EARL SKULE.
[Pressing Håkon’s hand.]
Peace and friendship from my heart!

HÅKON.
I thank you.

IVAR BODDE.
[To Dagfinn.]
Heaven be praised; here is the dawn.

DAGFINN.
I almost believe it. Never before have I liked the Earl so well.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
[Behind him.]
Ever on your guard, good Dagfinn — ever on your guard.

IVAR BODDE.
[To Vegard.]
Now are you thane in Halogaland; here you have it under the King’s hand.
[Gives him the letter.

VEGARD VÆRADAL.
I will thank the King for his favour another time.
[About to go.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
[Stops him.]
Andres Skialdarband is an ugly neighbour; be not cowed by him.

VEGARD VÆRADAL.
No one has yet cowed Vegard Væradal. —
[Goes.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
[Following.]
be as rock and flint to Andres Skialdarband, — and, while I think on’t, take my blessing with you.

IVAR BODDE.
[Who has been waiting behind the King with the parchments in his hand.]
Here are the letters, my lord.

HÅKON.
Good; give them to the Earl.

IVAR BODDE.
To the Earl? Will you not seal them?

HÅKON.
The Earl is wont to do that; — he holds the seal.

IVAR BODDE.
[Softly.]
Ay, hitherto — while he was regent — but now!

HÅKON.
Now as before; — the Earl holds the seal.
[Moves away.

EARL SKULE.
Give me the letters, Ivar Bodde.
[Goes to the table with them, takes out the Great Seal which he wears under his girdle
,
and seals the letters during the following.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
[Muttering.]
Håkon Håkonsson is King — and the Earl holds the royal seal; — I like that — I like that.

HÅKON.
What says my lord Bishop?

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
I say that God and St. Olaf watch over their holy church. —
[Goes into the King’s Hall.

HÅKON.
[Approaching Margrete.]
A wise queen can do great things in the land: I chose you fearlessly, for I know you are wise.

MARGRETE.
Only that?

HÅKON.
What mean you?

MARGRETE.
Nothing, my lord, nothing.

HÅKON.
And you will bear me no grudge if for my sake you have had to forgo fair hopes?

MARGRETE.
I have forgone no fair hopes for your sake.

HÅKON.
And you will stand ever near me, and give me good counsel?

MARGRETE.
I would fain stand near to you.

HÅKON.
And give me good counsel. I thank you for that; a woman’s counsel profits every man, and henceforth I have none but you — my mother I had to send away —

MARGRETE.
Ay, she was too dear to you —

HÅKON.
And I am King. Farewell then, Margrete! You are so young yet; but next summer shall our bridal be, — and from that hour I swear to keep you by my side in all seemly faith and honour.

MARGRETE.
[Smiles sadly.]
Ay, ‘twill be long, I know, ere you send me away.

HÅKON.
[Brightly.]
Send you away? That will I never do.

MARGRETE.
[With tears in her eyes.]
No, that Håkon does only to those who are too dear to him.
[She goes towards the entrance door.
Håkon
gazes thoughtfully after her.

LADY RAGNHILD.
[From the right.]
The King and the Earl tarry here so long! My fears are killing me; — Margrete, what has the King said and done?

MARGRETE.
Oh, much, much! Last of all, he chose a thane and a Queen.

LADY RAGNHILD.
You, Margrete?

MARGRETE.
[Throws her arms round her mother’s neck.]
Yes!

LADY RAGNHILD.
You are to be Queen!

MARGRETE.
Queen only; — but I think I am glad even of that. [She
and her mother go out to the right.

EARL SKULE.
[To Ivar Bodde.]
Here are our letters; bear them to the King’s mother and to Kanga. [Ivar Bodde
bows and goes.

DAGFINN.
[In the doorway of the had.]
The Archbishop of Nidaros craves leave to offer King Håkon Håkonsson his homage.

HÅKON.
[Draws a deep breath.]
At last, then, I am King of Norway.

EARL SKULE.
[Places the Great Seal in his girdle.]
But
I
rule the realm.

ACT SECON
D

Banquet Hall in the Palace at Bergen. A large baywindow in the middle of the back wall, along which there is a daïs with seats for the ladies. Against the left wall stands the throne, raised some steps above the floor; in the centre of the opposite wall is the great entrance door. Banners, standards, shields and weapons, with many-coloured draperies, hang from the wall-timbers and from the carven rafters. Around the hall stand drinking-tables, with flagons, horns, and beakers. King Håkon sits upon the dais, with Margrete, Sigrid, Lady Ragnhild, and many noble ladies. Ivar Bodde stands behind the King’s chair. Round the drinking-tables are seated the King’s and the Earl’s men, with guests. At the foremost table on the right sit, among others, Dagfinn the Peasant, Gregorius Jonsson, and Paul Flida. Earl Skule and Bishop Nicholas are playing chess at a table on the left. The Earl’s house-folk go to and fro, bearing cans of liquor. From an adjoining room, music is heard during the following scene.

DAGFINN.
The fifth day now wears on, yet the henchmen are none the less nimble at setting forth the brimming flagons.

PAUL FLIDA.
It was never the Earl’s wont to stint his guests.

DAGFINN.
No, so it would seem. So royal a bridal-feast was never seen in Norway before.

PAUL FLIDA.
Earl Skule has never before given a daughter in marriage.

DAGFINN.
True, true; the Earl is a mighty man.

A MAN-AT-ARMS.
He holds a third part of the kingdom. That is more than any earl has held heretofore.

PAUL FLIDA.
But the King’s part is larger.

DAGFINN.
We talk not of that here; we are friends now, and fully at one.
[Drinks to Paul.]
So let King be King and Earl be Earl.

PAUL FLIDA.
[Laughs.]
’Tis easy to hear that you are a King’s man.

DAGFINN.
That should the Earl’s men also be.

PAUL FLIDA.
Never. We have sworn fealty to the Earl, not to the King.

DAGFINN.
That may yet have to be done.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
[To the Earl, under cover of the game.]
Hear you what Dagfinn the Peasant says?

EARL SKULE.
[Without looking up.]
 
I hear.

GREGORIUS JONSSON.
[Looking steadily at Dagfinn.]
Has the King thoughts of that?

DAGFINN.
Nay, nay, — let be; — no wrangling to-day.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
The King would force your men to swear him fealty, Earl.

GREGORIUS JONSSON.
[Louder.]
Has the King thoughts of that, I ask?

DAGFINN.
I will not answer. Let us drink to peace and friendship between the King and the Earl. The ale is good.

PAUL FLIDA.
It has had time enough to mellow.

GREGORIUS JONSSON.
Three times has the Earl prepared the bridal — three times the King promised to come — three times he came not.

DAGFINN.
Blame the Earl for that: he gave us plenty to do in Viken.

PAUL FLIDA.
‘Tis said Sigurd Ribbung gave you still more to do in Vermeland.

DAGFINN.
[Flaring up.]
Ay, and who was it that let Sigurd Ribbung slip through their fingers?

GREGORIUS JONSSON.
Sigurd Ribbung fled from us at Nidaros, that all men know.

DAGFINN.
But no man knows that you did aught to hinder him.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
[To the EARL, who is pondering on a move.]
Hear you, Earl? It was you who let Sigurd Ribbung escape.

EARL SKULE.
[Makes a move.]
That is an old story.

GREGORIUS JONSSON.
Have you not heard, then, of the Icelander Andres Torsteinsson, Sigurd Ribbung’s friend —

DAGFINN.
Ay; when Sigurd had escaped, you hanged the Icelander — that I know.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
[Makes a move and says laughingly to the Earl.]
I take the pawn, Sir Earl.

EARL SKULE.
[Aloud.]
Take him; a pawn is of small account.
[Makes a move.

DAGFINN.
Ay; that the Icelander found to his cost, when Sigurd Ribbung escaped to Vermeland.
[Suppressed laughter amongst the King’s men; the conversation is continued in a low tone; presently a man comes in and whispers to
Gregorius Jonsson.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
Then I move here, and you have lost.

EARL SKULE.
So it would seem.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
[Leaning back in his chair.]
You did not guard the king well at the last.

EARL SKULE.
[Strews the pieces topsy-turvy and rises.]
I have long been weary of guarding kings.

GREGORIUS JONSSON.
[Approaches and says in a low tone.]
Sir Earl, Jostein
 
Tamb sends word that the ship now lies ready for sea.

EARL SKULE.
[Softly.]
Good.
[Takes out a sealed parchment.]
Here is the letter.

GREGORIUS JONSSON.
[Shaking his head.]
Earl, Earl, — is this well bethought?

EARL SKULE.
What?

GREGORIUS JONSSON.
It bears the King’s seal.

EARL SKULE.
I am acting for the King’s good.

GREGORIUS JONSSON.
Then let the King himself reject the offer.

EARL SKULE.
That he will not, if he has his own way. His whole heart is bent on cowing the Ribbungs, therefore he is fain to secure himself on other sides.

GREGORIUS JONSSON.
Your way may be wise, — but it is dangerous.

EARL SKULE.
Leave that to me. Take the letter, and bid Jostein sail forthwith.

GREGORIUS JONSSON.
It shall be as you command.
[Goes out to the right, and presently comes in again.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
[To the Earl.]
You have much to see to, it would seem.

EARL SKULE.
But small thanks for it.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
The King has risen. [Håkon
comes down; all the men rise from the tables.

HÅKON.
[To the Bishop.]
We are rejoiced to see you bear up so bravely and well through all these days of merriment.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
There comes a flicker now and again, my lord King; but ‘twill scarce last long. I have Iain sick all the winter through.

HÅKON.
Ay, ay, — you have lived a strong life, rich in deeds of fame.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
[Shakes his head.]
Ah, ‘tis little enough I have done, and I have much still left to do. If I but knew whether I should have time for it all!

HÅKON.
The living must take up the tasks of those who go before, honoured lord; we all have the welfare of the land at heart.
[Turns to the Earl.]
I marvel much at one thing: that neither of our thanes from Halogaland has come to the bridal.

EARL SKULE.
True; I doubted not that Andres Skialdarband would be here.

HÅKON.
[Smiling.]
And Vegard Væradal too.

EARL SKULE.
Ay, Vegard too.

HÅKON.
[In jest.]
And I trust you would now have received my old friend better than you did seven years ago on Oslo wharf, when you stabbed him in the cheek so that the blade cut its way out.

EARL SKULE.
[With a forced laugh.]
Ay, the time that Gunnulf, your mother’s brother, cut off the right hand of Sira Eiliv, my best friend and counsellor.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
[Merrily.]
And when Dagfinn the Peasant and the men-at-arms set a strong night-watch on the King’s ship, saying that the King was unsafe in the Earl’s ward?

HÅKON.
[Seriously.]
Those days are old and forgotten.

DAGFINN.
[Approaching.]
Now may we sound the call to the weapon-sports on the green, if so please you, my lord.

HÅKON.
Good. To-day will we give up to nought but merriment; to-morrow we must turn our thoughts again to the Ribbungs and the Earl of Orkney.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
Ay, he denies to pay tribute, is it not so?

HÅKON.
Were I once well rid of the Ribbungs, I would myself fare westward. [Håkon
goes towards the dais, gives his hand to
Margrete,
and leads her out to the right; the others gradually follow.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
[To Ivar Bodde.]
Who is the man called Jostcin Tamb?

IVAR BODDE.
There is a trader from Orkney who bears that name.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
From Orkney? So, so! And now he sails home again?

IVAR BODDE.
So I think.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
[Softly.]
With a precious freight, Ivar Bodde.

IVAR BODDE.
Corn and raiment, most like.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
And a letter from Earl Skule.

IVAR BODDE.
[Starting]
To whom?

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
I know not; it bore the King’s seal —

IVAR BODDE.
[Seizes him by the arm.]
Lord Bishop, — is it as you say?

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
Hush! Do not mix me up in the matter.
[Retires.

IVAR BODDE.
Then must I straightway — Dagfinn the Peasant! Dagfinn! Dagfinn — !
[Pushes through the crowd towards the door.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
[In a tone of commiseration, to Gregorius Jonsson.]
Never a day but one or another must suffer in goods or freedom.

GREGORIUS JONSSON.
Who is it now?

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
A poor trader, — Jostein Tamb methinks they called him.

GREGORIUS JONSSON.
Jostein — ?

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
Dagfinn the Peasant would forbid him to set sail.

GREGORIUS JONSSON.
Dagfinn would forbid him, say you?

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
He went even now.

GREGORIUS JONSSON.
Pardon, my lord; I must make speed —

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
Ay, do even so, my dear lord; — Dagfinn the Peasant is so hasty. [Gregorius Jonsson
hastens out to the right along with the remainder of the company; only
Earl Skule
and
Bishop Nicholas
are left behind in the hall.

EARL SKULE.
[Walks up and down in deep thought; he seems suddenly to awaken; looks round him, and says:]
How still it has become here of a sudden!

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
The King has gone.

EARL SKULE.
And every one has followed him.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
All, save us.

EARL SKULE.
It is a great thing to be King.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
[Tentatively.]
Are you fain to try it, Earl?

EARL SKULE.
[With a serious smile.]
I have tried it; every night that brings me sleep makes me King of Norway.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
Dreams forbode.

EARL SKULE.
Ay, and tempt.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
Not you, surely. In bygone days, that I could understand — but now, when you hold a third part of the kingdom, rule as the first man in the land, and are the Queen’s father —

EARL SKULE.
Now most of all — now most of all.

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
Hide nothing! Confess; for verily I can see a great pain is gnawing you.

EARL SKULE.
Now most of all, I say. This is the great curse that lies upon my whole life: to stand so near to the highest, — with an abyss between. One leap, and on the other side are the kingship, and the purple robe, the throne, the might, and all! I have it daily before my eyes — but can never reach it.