{"id":1748,"date":"2013-07-13T01:37:01","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:37:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=1748"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:37:01","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:37:01","slug":"05-eric-act-iii-vol-03-04-collected-plays-and-stories","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/01-works-of-sri-aurobindo\/03-cwsa\/03-04-collected-plays-and-stories\/05-eric-act-iii-vol-03-04-collected-plays-and-stories","title":{"rendered":"-05_Eric – Act – III.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\n\n
\n

 <\/td>\n

\n
\n
\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\nAct III<\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tEric’s Chamber.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\t\t\t<\/font><\/p>\n

\nScene
\n 1<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\t\t\t<\/font><\/p>\n

Eric, Harald.<\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

At dawn have all things ready for my march.<\/p>\n

Let none be near tonight. Send here to me<\/p>\n

Aslaug the dancing-girl.<\/p>\n

Harald goes out.<\/i><\/p>\n

I have resumed<\/p>\n

The empire and the knowledge of myself.<\/p>\n

For this strong angel Love, this violent<\/p>\n

And glorious guest, let it possess my heart<\/p>\n

Without a rival, not invade the brain,<\/p>\n

Not with imperious discord cleave my soul<\/p>\n

Jangling its ordered harmonies, nor turn<\/p>\n

The manifold music of humanity<\/p>\n

Into a single and a maddening note.<\/p>\n

Strength in the spirit, wisdom in the mind,<\/p>\n

Love in the heart complete the trinity<\/p>\n

Of glorious manhood. There was the wide flaw, \u2014\n<\/p>\n

The coldness of the radiance that I was.<\/p>\n

This was the vacant space I could not fill.<\/p>\n

It left my soul the torso of a god,<\/p>\n

A great design unfinished, and my works<\/p>\n

Mighty but crude like things admired that pass<\/p>\n

Bare of the immortality which keeps<\/p>\n

The ages. O, the word they spoke was true!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n


\n\t\t\tPage \u2013 579<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n‘Tis Love, ’tis Love fills up the gulfs of Time!<\/p>\n

By Love we find our kinship with the stars,<\/p>\n

The spacious uses of the sky. God’s image<\/p>\n

Lives nobly perfect in the soul he made,<\/p>\n

When Love completes the godhead in a man.<\/p>\n

Aslaug enters.<\/i><\/p>\n

Thou com’st to me! I give thee grace no more.<\/p>\n

What hast thou in thy bosom?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Only a heart.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

A noble heart, though wayward. Give it me,<\/p>\n

Aslaug, to be the secret of the dawns,<\/p>\n

The heart of sweetness housed in Aslaug’s breast<\/p>\n

Delivered from revolt and ruled by love.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Why hast thou sent for me and forced to come?<\/p>\n

Wilt thou have pity on me even yet<\/p>\n

And on thyself?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

I am a warrior, one<\/p>\n

Who have known not mercy. Wilt thou teach it me?<\/p>\n

I have learned, Aslaug, from my soul and Life<\/p>\n

The great wise pitiless calmness of the gods,<\/p>\n

Found for my strength the proud swift blows they deal<\/p>\n

At all resistance to their absolute walk,<\/p>\n

Thor’s hammer-stroke upon the unshaped world.<\/p>\n

Its will is beaten on a dreadful forge,<\/p>\n

Its roads are hewn by violence divine.<\/p>\n

Is there a greater and a sweeter way?<\/p>\n

Knowst thou it? Wilt thou lead me there? Thy step<\/p>\n

Swift and exultant, canst thou tread its flowers?<\/p>\n


\nPage \u2013 580<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

I know not who inspires thy speech; it probes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

My mind tonight is full of Norway’s needs.<\/p>\n

Aslaug, she takes thy image.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Mine! O if<\/p>\n

Tonight I were not Norway!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Thou knowest Swegn?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

I knew and I remember.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Yes, Swegn, \u2014  a soul<\/p>\n

Brilliant and furious, violent and great,<\/p>\n

A storm, a wind-swept ocean, not a man.<\/p>\n

That would seize Norway? that will make it one?<\/p>\n

But Odin gave the work to me. I came<\/p>\n

Into this mortal frame for Odin’s work.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

So deify ambition and desire.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

If one could snap this mortal body, then<\/p>\n

Swegn even might rule, \u2014  not govern himself, yet govern<\/p>\n

All Norway! Aslaug, canst thou rule thyself?<\/p>\n

‘Tis difficult for great and passionate hearts.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Then Swegn must die that Eric still may rule!<\/p>\n

Was there no other way the gods could find?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n


\n\t\t\tPage \u2013 581<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

A deadly duel are the feuds of kings.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

They are so.<\/p>\n

She feels for her dagger.<\/i><\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Aslaug, thou feelest for thy heart?<\/p>\n

Unruled it follows violent impulses<\/p>\n

This way, that way, working calamity<\/p>\n

Dreams that it helps the world. What shall I do,<\/p>\n

Aslaug, with an unruly noble heart?<\/p>\n

Shall I not load it with the chains of love<\/p>\n

And rob it of its treasured pain and wrath<\/p>\n

And bind it to its own supreme desire?<\/p>\n

Richly ‘twould beat beneath an absolute rule<\/p>\n

And sweetly liberated from itself<\/p>\n

By a golden bondage.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

And what of other impulses it holds?<\/p>\n

Shall they not once rebel?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

They shall keep still;<\/p>\n

They shall not cry nor question; they shall trust.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

It cannot be that he reads all my heart!<\/p>\n

The gods play with me in his speech.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Thou knowest<\/p>\n

Why thou art called?<\/p>\n


\nPage \u2013 582<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

I know why I am here.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Few know that, Aslaug, why they have come here,<\/p>\n

For that is heaven’s secret. Sit down beside me<\/p>\n

Nearer my heart. No hesitating! come.<\/p>\n

I do not seize thy hands.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

They yet are free.<\/p>\n

Is it the gods who bid me to strike soon?<\/p>\n

My heart reels down into a flaming gulf.<\/p>\n

If thou wouldst rule with love, must thou not spare<\/p>\n

Thy enemies?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

When they have yielded. Is thy choice made?<\/p>\n

Whatever defence thou hast against me yet<\/p>\n

Use quickly, before I seize these restless hands<\/p>\n

And thy more restless heart that flees from bliss.<\/p>\n

Aslaug rises trembling.<\/i><\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Desiredst thou me not to dance tonight,<\/p>\n

O King, before thee?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

It was my will. Is it thine<\/p>\n

Now? Dance, while yet thy limbs are thine.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

I dance<\/p>\n

The dance of Thiordis with the dagger, taught<\/p>\n

To Hertha in Trondhjem and by her to me.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n


\n\t\t\tPage \u2013 583<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nERIC<\/font> (smiling<\/i>)<\/p>\n

Aslaug, my dancing-girl, thou and thy dance<\/p>\n

Have daring, but too little subtlety.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG
\n<\/font>(moving to a distance<\/i>)<\/p>\n

What use to struggle longer in the net?<\/p>\n

Vain agony! he watches and he knows!<\/p>\n

I’ll strike him suddenly. It cannot be<\/p>\n

The senses will so overtake the will<\/p>\n

As to forbid its godlike motion. If<\/p>\n

I feared not my wild heart, I could lean down<\/p>\n

And lull suspicion with a fatal gift.<\/p>\n

My blood would cleanse what shame was in the touch.<\/p>\n

So would one act who knew her tranquil will<\/p>\n

But none thus in the burning heart sunk down.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Wilt thou play vainly with that fatal toy?<\/p>\n

Dance now.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

My limbs refuse.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

They have no right.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

O Gods, I did not know myself till now,<\/p>\n

Thrown in this furnace. Odin’s irony<\/p>\n

Shaped me from Olaf’s seed! I am in love<\/p>\n

With chains and servitude and my heart desires<\/p>\n

Fluttering like a wild bird within its cage<\/p>\n

A tyrant’s harshness.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Wilt thou dance? or wait<\/p>\n

Till the enamoured motion of thy limbs<\/p>\n


\nPage \u2013 584<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

Remember joy of me? So would I have<\/p>\n

Thy perfect motion grow a dream of love.<\/p>\n

Tomorrow at the dawning will I march<\/p>\n

To violent battle and the sword of Swegn<\/p>\n

Bring back to be thy plaything, a support<\/p>\n

Appropriate to thy action in the dance.<\/p>\n

Aslaug, it shall replace thy dagger.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Fate<\/p>\n

Still drives me with his speech and Eric calls<\/p>\n

My weakness on to slaughter Eric. Yes,<\/p>\n

But he suspects, he knows! Yet will I strike,<\/p>\n

Yet will I tread down my rebellious heart,<\/p>\n

And then I too can die and end remorse.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Where is thy chain<\/p>\n

I gave thee, Aslaug? I would watch it rise,<\/p>\n

Rubies of passion on a bosom of snow,<\/p>\n

And climb for ever on thy breast aheave<\/p>\n

With the sea’s rhythm as thou dancest. Dance<\/p>\n

Weaving my life a measure with thy feet<\/p>\n

And of thy dancing I will weave the stroke<\/p>\n

That conquers Swegn.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

The necklace? I will bring it.<\/p>\n

Rubies of passion! Blood-drops still of death!<\/p>\n

She goes out.<\/i><\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

The power to strike has gone out of her arm<\/p>\n

And only in her stubborn thought survives.<\/p>\n

She thinks that she will strike. Let it be tried!<\/p>\n

He lies back and feigns to<\/i><\/p>\n

sleep. Aslaug returns.<\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n


\n\t\t\tPage \u2013 585<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Now I could slay him. But he will open his eyes<\/p>\n

Appalling with the beauty of his gaze.<\/p>\n

He did not know of peril! All he has said<\/p>\n

Was only at a venture thought and spoken, \u2014\n<\/p>\n

Or spoken by Fate? Sleeps he his latest sleep?<\/p>\n

Might I not touch him only once in love<\/p>\n

And no one know of it but death and I,<\/p>\n

Whom I must slay like one who hates? Not hate,<\/p>\n

O Eric, but the hard necessity<\/p>\n

The gods have sent upon our lives, \u2014  two flames<\/p>\n

That meet to quench each other. Once, Eric! then<\/p>\n

The cruel rest. Why did I touch him? I am faint!<\/p>\n

My strength ebbs from me. O thou glorious god,<\/p>\n

Why wast thou Swegn’s and Aslaug’s enemy?<\/p>\n

We might so utterly have loved. But death<\/p>\n

Now intervenes and claims thee at my hands \u2014\n<\/p>\n

And this alone he leaves to me, to slay thee<\/p>\n

And die with thee, our only wedlock. Death!<\/p>\n

Whose death? Eric’s or Swegn’s? For one I kill.<\/p>\n

Dreadful necessity of choice! His breath<\/p>\n

Comes quietly and with a happy rhythm,<\/p>\n

His eyes are closed like Odin’s in heaven’s sleep.<\/p>\n

I must strike blindly out or not at all<\/p>\n

Screening out with my lashes love, \u2014  as now \u2014  or now!<\/p>\n

For Time is like a sapper mining still<\/p>\n

The little resolution that I keep.<\/p>\n

Swegn’s death or life upon that little stands.<\/p>\n

Swegn’s death or life and such an easy stroke,<\/p>\n

Yet so impossible to lift my hand!<\/p>\n

To wait? To watch more moments these closed lids,<\/p>\n

This quiet face and try to dream that all<\/p>\n

Is different! But the moments are Fate’s thoughts<\/p>\n

Watching me. While I pause, my brother’s slain,<\/p>\n

Myself am doomed his concubine and slave.<\/p>\n

I must not think of him! Close, mind, close, eyes.<\/p>\n

Free the unthinking hand to its harsh work.<\/p>\n


\nPage \u2013 586<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

She lifts twice the dagger, lowers it twice,<\/i><\/p>\n

then flings it on the ground.<\/i><\/p>\n

Eric of Norway, live and do thy will<\/p>\n

With Aslaug, sister of Swegn and Olaf’s child,<\/p>\n

Aslaug of Trondhjem. For her thought is now<\/p>\n

A harlot and her heart a concubine,<\/p>\n

Her hand her brother’s murderess.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Thou hast broken<\/p>\n

At last.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Ah, I am broken by my weak<\/p>\n

And evil nature. Spare me not, O King,<\/p>\n

One vileness, one humiliation known<\/p>\n

To tyranny. Be not unjustly merciful!<\/p>\n

For I deserve and I consent to all.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Aslaug!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

No, I deny my name and parentage.<\/p>\n

I am not she who lived in Trondhjem: she<\/p>\n

Would not have failed, but slain even though she loved.<\/p>\n

Let no voice call me Aslaug any more.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Sister of Swegn, thou knowest that I love.<\/p>\n

Daughter of Olaf, shouldst thou not aspire<\/p>\n

To sit by me on Norway’s throne?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Desist!<\/p>\n

Thou shalt not utterly pollute the seat<\/p>\n

Where Olaf sat. If I had struck and slain,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n


\n\t\t\tPage \u2013 587<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nI would deserve a more than regal chair.<\/p>\n

But not on such must Norway’s diadem rest,<\/p>\n

A weakling with a hand as impotent<\/p>\n

And faltering as her heart, a sensual slave<\/p>\n

Whose passionate body overcomes her high<\/p>\n

Intention. Rather do thy tyrant will.<\/p>\n

King, if thou spare me, I will slay thee yet.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Recoil not from thy heart, but strongly see<\/p>\n

And let its choice be absolute over thy soul.<\/p>\n

Its way once taken thou shalt find thy heart<\/p>\n

Rapid; for absolute and extreme in all,<\/p>\n

In yielding as in slaying thou must be,<\/p>\n

Sweet violent spirit whom thy gods surprise.<\/p>\n

Submit thyself without ashamed reserve.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

What more canst thou demand than I have given?<\/p>\n

I am prone to thee, prostrate, yielded.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Throw from thee<\/p>\n

The bitterness of thy self-abasement. Find<\/p>\n

That thou hast only joy in being mine.<\/p>\n

Thou tremblest?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Yes, with shame and grief and love.<\/p>\n

Thou art my Fate and I am in thy grasp.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

And shall it spare thee?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Spare Swegn. I am in thy hands.<\/p>\n


\n\t\t\tPage \u2013 588<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\t\t\t<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tE<\/span>RIC<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tIs’t a condition? I am lord of thee<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd lord of Swegn to slay him or to spare.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nA<\/span>SLAUG<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tNo, an entreaty. I am fallen here,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMy head is at thy feet, my life is in thy hands:<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe luxury of fall is in my heart.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nE<\/span>RIC<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRise up then, Aslaug, and obey thy lord.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nA<\/span>SLAUG<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWhat is thy will with me?<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nE<\/span>RIC<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThis, Aslaug, first.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTake up thy dagger, Aslaug, dance thy dance<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf Thiordis with the dagger. See thou near me;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFor I shall sit, nor shouldst thou strike, defend.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhat thy passion chose, let thy freed heart confirm;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMy life and kingdom twice are in thy hands<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd I will keep them only as thy gift.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nA<\/span>SLAUG<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSo are they thine already; but I obey.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nShe dances and then lays the dagger at his feet.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\nEric, my king and Norway’s, my life is mine<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNo longer, but for thee to keep or break.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nE<\/span>RIC<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSwegn’s life I hold. Thou gavest it to me<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWith the dagger.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nA<\/span>SLAUG<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tIt is thine to save.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n


\n\t\t\tPage \u2013 589<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\tE<\/span>RIC<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tNorway<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThou hast given, casting it for ever away<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFrom Olaf’s line.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nA<\/span>SLAUG<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWhat thou hast taken, I give.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nE<\/span>RIC<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAnd last thyself without one covering left<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAgainst my passionate, strong, devouring love.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThou seest I leave thee nothing.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nA<\/span>SLAUG<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tI am thine.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDo what thou wilt with me.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nE<\/span>RIC<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tBecause thou hast no help?<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nA<\/span>SLAUG<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tI have no help. My gods have brought me here<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd given me into thy dreadful hands.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nE<\/span>RIC<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThou art content at last that they have breathed<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThy plot into thy mind to snare thy soul<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIn its own violence, bring to me a slave,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nA bright-limbed prisoner and thee to thy lord?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSee Odin’s sign to thee.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nA<\/span>SLAUG<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tI know it now.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI recognise with prostrate heart my fate<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd I will quietly put on my chains<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNor ever strive nor wish to break them more.<\/span><\/p>\n


\nPage \u2013 590<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\t\t\t<\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Yield up to me the burden of thy fate<\/p>\n

And treasure of thy limbs and priceless life.<\/p>\n

I will be careful of the golden trust.<\/p>\n

It was unsafe with thee. And now submit<\/p>\n

Gladly at last. Surrender body and soul,<\/p>\n

O Aslaug, to thy lover and thy lord.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Compel me, they cannot resist thy will.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

I will have thy heart’s heart’s surrender, not<\/p>\n

Its body only. Give me up thy heart.<\/p>\n

Open its secret chambers, yield their keys.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

O Eric, is not my heart already thine,<\/p>\n

My body thine, my soul into thy grasp<\/p>\n

Delivered? I rejoice that God has played<\/p>\n

The grand comedian with my tragedy<\/p>\n

And trapped me in the snare of thy delight.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Aslaug, the world’s sole woman! thou cam’st here<\/p>\n

To save for us our hidden hope of joy<\/p>\n

Parted by old confusion. Some day surely<\/p>\n

The world too shall be saved from death by love.<\/p>\n

Thou hast saved Swegn, helped Norway. Aslaug, see,<\/p>\n

Freya within her niche commands this room<\/p>\n

And incense burns to her. Not Thor for thee,<\/p>\n

But Freya.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Thou for me! not other gods.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n


\n\t\t\tPage \u2013 591<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Aslaug, thou hast a ring upon thy hand.<\/p>\n

Before Freya give it me and wear instead<\/p>\n

This ancient circle of Norwegian rites.<\/p>\n

The thing this means shall bind thee to our joy,<\/p>\n

Beloved, while the upbuilded worlds endure.<\/p>\n

Then if thy spirit wander from its home,<\/p>\n

Freya shall find her thrall and lead her back<\/p>\n

A million years from now.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

A million lives!<\/p>\n


\nPage \u2013 592<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

<\/span><\/font>
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\nScene
\n 2<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\n <\/font><\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

The world has changed for me within one night.<\/p>\n

O surely, surely all shall yet go well,<\/p>\n

Since Love is crowned.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/font> (entering<\/i>)<\/p>\n

Aslaug, the hour arrives<\/p>\n

When I must leave thee. For the dawn looks pale<\/p>\n

Into our chamber and these first rare sounds<\/p>\n

Expect the arising sun, the daylight world.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Eric, thou goest hence to war with Swegn,<\/p>\n

My brother?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

What knows thy heart?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

That Swegn shall live.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Thou knowst his safety from deliberate swords.<\/p>\n

None shall dare touch the head that Aslaug loves.<\/p>\n

But if some evil chance came edged with doom,<\/p>\n

Which Odin and my will shall not allow,<\/p>\n

Thou wouldst not hold me guilty of his death,<\/p>\n

Aslaug?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Fate orders all and Fate I now<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n


\n\t\t\tPage \u2013 593<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nHave recognised as the world’s mystic Will<\/p>\n

That loves and labours.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Because it knows and loves,<\/p>\n

Our hearts, our wills are counted, are indulged.<\/p>\n

Aslaug, for a few days in love and trust<\/p>\n

Anchor thy mind. I shall bring back thy joy.<\/p>\n

For now I go with mercy and from love.<\/p>\n

He embraces her and goes.<\/i><\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Swegn lives. A Mind, not iron gods with laws<\/p>\n

Deaf and inevitable, overrules.<\/p>\n


\nPage \u2013 594<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font><\/span><\/td>\n

\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Act III   Eric’s Chamber.   Scene 1 Eric, Harald.   ERIC At dawn have all things ready for my march. Let none be…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1748","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-03-04-collected-plays-and-stories","wpcat-39-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1748","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1748"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1748\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1748"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1748"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1748"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}