{"id":1754,"date":"2013-07-13T01:37:05","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:37:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=1754"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:37:05","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:37:05","slug":"05-eric-act-iv-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-iv-vol-03-04-collected-plays-and-stories","title":{"rendered":"-05_Eric – Act – IV.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"


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

\n\n\n
\n

 <\/td>\n

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

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

 <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSwegn’s fastness in the hills.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

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

\n <\/p>\n

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

Swegn, Hardicnut, with soldiers.<\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

S<\/font>WEGN<\/p>\n

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

Fight on, fight always, till the Gods are tired.<\/p>\n

In all this dwindling remnant of the past<\/p>\n

Desires one man to rest from virtue, cease<\/p>\n

From desperate freedom?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

HARDICNUT<\/p>\n

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

No man wavers here.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

Let him depart unhurt who so desires.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

HARDICNUT<\/p>\n

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

Why should he go and whither? To Eric’s sword<\/p>\n

That never pardoned? If our hearts were vile,<\/p>\n

Unworthily impatient of defeat,<\/p>\n

Serving not harassed right but chance and gain,<\/p>\n

Eric himself would keep them true.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

Not thine,<\/p>\n

My second soul. Yet could I pardon him<\/p>\n

Who faltered, for the blow transcends! And were<\/p>\n

King Eric not in Yara where he dwells,<\/p>\n


\n\t\t\tPage \u2013 595<\/p>\n

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

\n

\nI would have seen his hand in this defeat,<\/p>\n

Whose stroke is like the lightning’s, silent, straight,<\/p>\n

Not to be parried.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

HARDICNUT<\/p>\n

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

Sigurd smote, perhaps,<\/p>\n

But Eric’s brain was master of his stroke.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

The traitor Sigurd! For young Eric’s part<\/p>\n

In Olaf’s death, he did a warrior’s act<\/p>\n

Avenging Yarislaf and Hacon slain,<\/p>\n

And Fate, not Eric slew. But he who, trusted, lured<\/p>\n

Into death’s ambush, when the rebel seas<\/p>\n

Rejoicing trampled down the royal head<\/p>\n

They once obeyed, him I will some day have<\/p>\n

At my sword’s mercy.<\/p>\n

(to Ragnar who enters<\/i>)<\/p>\n

Ragnar, does it come,<\/p>\n

The last assault, death’s trumpets?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

RAGNAR<\/p>\n

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

Rather peace,<\/p>\n

If thou prefer it, Swegn. An envoy comes<\/p>\n

From Eric’s army.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

Ragnar, bring him in.<\/p>\n

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

He treats victorious? When his kingdom shook,<\/p>\n

His party faltered, then he did not treat<\/p>\n

Nor used another envoy than his sword.<\/p>\n

(to Gunthar who enters, escorted by Ragnar<\/i>)<\/p>\n

Earl Gunthar, welcome, \u2014  welcome more wert thou<\/p>\n

When loyal.<\/p>\n


\nPage \u2013 596<\/p>\n

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

\n

GUNTHAR<\/p>\n

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

Ragnar, Swegn and Hardicnut,<\/p>\n

Revolting Earls, I come from Norway’s King<\/p>\n

With peace, not menace.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

Where then all these days<\/p>\n

Behind you lurked the Northerner?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GUNTHAR<\/p>\n

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

Thou art<\/p>\n

In his dread shadow and in your mountain lair<\/p>\n

Eric surrounds you.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

S<\/font>WEGN<\/font> (contemptuously<\/i>)<\/p>\n

I will hear his words.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GUNTHAR<\/p>\n

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

Eric, the King, the son of Yarislaf,<\/p>\n

To Swegn, the Earl of Trondhjem. “I have known<\/p>\n

The causes and the griefs that raise thee still<\/p>\n

Against my monarchy. Thou knowest mine<\/p>\n

That raised me against thy father, \u2014  Hacon’s death, <\/p>\n

My mother’s brother, butchered shamefully<\/p>\n

And Yarislaf by secret sentence slain.<\/p>\n

Elected by our peers I seized his throne.<\/p>\n

But thou, against thy country’s ancient laws<\/p>\n

Rebelling, hast preferred for judge the sword.<\/p>\n

Respect then the tribunal of thy choice<\/p>\n

And its decision. Why electest thou<\/p>\n

In thy drear fastness on the wintry hills<\/p>\n

To perish? Trondhjem’s earldom shall be thine,<\/p>\n

And honours and wealth and state, if thou accept<\/p>\n

The offer of thy lenient gods. Consider,<\/p>\n

O Swegn, thy country’s wounds, perceive at last<\/p>\n

Thy good and ours, prolong thy father’s house.”<\/p>\n

I expect thy answer.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n


\n\t\t\tPage \u2013 597<\/p>\n

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

\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

I return to him<\/p>\n

His proffered mercy. Let him keep it safe<\/p>\n

For his own later use.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GUNTHAR<\/p>\n

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

Thou speakest high.<\/p>\n

What help hast thou? what hope? what god concealed?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

I have the snow for friend and, if it fails,<\/p>\n

The arms of death are broad enough for Swegn,<\/p>\n

But not subjection.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GUNTHAR<\/p>\n

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

For their sake thou lov’st,<\/p>\n

Thy wife’s and sister’s, yield.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

RAGNAR<\/p>\n

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

Thou art not wise.<\/p>\n

This was much better left unsaid.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

It seems<\/p>\n

Your pastime to insult the seed of Kings. Yet why<\/p>\n

Am I astonished if triumphant mud<\/p>\n

Conceives that the pure heavens are of its stuff<\/p>\n

And nature? To the upstart I shall yield,<\/p>\n

The fortune-fed adventurer, the boy<\/p>\n

Favoured by the ironic Gods? Since fell<\/p>\n

By Sigurd’s treachery and Eric’s fate<\/p>\n

In resonant battle on the narrow seas<\/p>\n

Olaf, his children had convinced the world,<\/p>\n

I thought, of their great origin. Men have said,<\/p>\n

“Their very women have souls too great to cry<\/p>\n

For mercy even from the Gods.” His Fates<\/p>\n

Are strong indeed when they compel our race<\/p>\n


\nPage \u2013 598<\/p>\n

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

\n

To hear such terms from his! Go, tell thy King,<\/p>\n

Swegn of the ancient house rejects his boons.<\/p>\n

Not terms between us stand, but wrath, but blood.<\/p>\n

I would have flayed him on a golden cross<\/p>\n

And kept his women for my household thralls,<\/p>\n

Had I prevailed. Can he not do as much<\/p>\n

That he must chaffer and market Norway’s crown?<\/p>\n

These are the ways of Kings, strong, terrible<\/p>\n

And arrogant, full of sovereignty and might.<\/p>\n

Force in a King’s his warrant from the Gods.<\/p>\n

By force and not by bribes and managements<\/p>\n

Empires are founded! But your chief was born<\/p>\n

Of huckstering earls who lived by prudent gains.<\/p>\n

How should he imitate a royal flight<\/p>\n

Or learn the leap of Kings upon their prey?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GUNTHAR<\/p>\n

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

Swegn Olafson, thou speakest fatal words.<\/p>\n

Where lodge thy wife and sister? Dost thou know?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

HARDICNUT<\/p>\n

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

Too far for Eric’s reach.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GUNTHAR<\/p>\n

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

Earl, art thou sure?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

What means this question?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GUNTHAR<\/p>\n

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

That the Gods are strong<\/p>\n

Whom thou in vain despisest, that they have dragged<\/p>\n

From Sweden into Eric’s dangerous hands<\/p>\n

Hertha and Aslaug, that the evil thou speakst<\/p>\n

Was fatally by hostile Powers inspired.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n


\n\t\t\tPage \u2013 599<\/p>\n

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

\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

Thou liest! They are safe and with the Swede.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GUNTHAR<\/p>\n

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

I pardon thy alarm the violent word.<\/p>\n

Earl Swegn, canst thou not see the dreadful Gods<\/p>\n

Have chosen earth’s mightiest man to do their will?<\/p>\n

What is that will but Norway’s unity<\/p>\n

And Norway’s greatness? Canst thou do the work?<\/p>\n

Look round on Norway by a boy subdued,<\/p>\n

The steed that even Olaf could not tame<\/p>\n

See turn obedient to an unripe hand.<\/p>\n

Behold him with a single petty pace<\/p>\n

Possessing Sweden. Sweden once subdued,<\/p>\n

Thinkst thou the ships that crowd the Northern seas<\/p>\n

Will stay there? Shall not Britain shake, Erin<\/p>\n

Pray loudly that the tempest rather choose<\/p>\n

The fields of Gaul? Scythia shall own our yoke,<\/p>\n

The Volga’s frozen waves endure our march,<\/p>\n

Unless the young god’s fancy rose-ensnared<\/p>\n

To Italian joys attracted amorously<\/p>\n

Should long for sunnier realms or lead his high<\/p>\n

Exultant mind to lord in eastern Rome.<\/p>\n

What art thou but a pebble in his march?<\/p>\n

Consider, then, and change thy fierce response.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

HARDICNUT<\/p>\n

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

Deceives the lie they tell, thy reason, Swegn?<\/p>\n

Earl Gunthar may believe, who even can think<\/p>\n

That Yarislaf begot a god!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

Gunthar,<\/p>\n

I have my fortune, thou thy answer. Go.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GUNTHAR<\/p>\n

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

I pity, Swegn, thy rash and obstinate soul.<\/p>\n

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


\nPage \u2013 600<\/p>\n

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

\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

Aslaug would scorn me yielding, even now<\/p>\n

And even for her. He has unnerved my will,<\/p>\n

The subtle tyrant! O, if this be true,<\/p>\n

My Fate has wandered into Eric’s camp,<\/p>\n

My soul is made his prisoner. Friends, prepare<\/p>\n

Resistance; he’s the thunderbolt that strikes<\/p>\n

And threatens only afterwards. It is<\/p>\n

Our ultimate battle.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

HARDICNUT<\/p>\n

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

On the difficult rocks<\/p>\n

We will oppose King Eric and his gods.<\/p>\n


\nPage \u2013 601<\/p>\n

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

\n

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

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

\n <\/font><\/p>\n

Swegn with his earls and followers in flight.<\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

Swift, swift into the higher snows, where Winter<\/p>\n

Eternal can alone of universal things<\/p>\n

Take courage against Eric to defend<\/p>\n

His enemies. O you little remnant left<\/p>\n

Of many heroes, save yourselves for Fate.<\/p>\n

She yet may need you when she finds the man<\/p>\n

She lifts perpetually, too great at last<\/p>\n

Even for her handling.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

HARDICNUT<\/p>\n

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

Ragnar, go with him,<\/p>\n

While I stand here to hinder the pursuit<\/p>\n

Or warn in time. Fear not for me, assailed.<\/p>\n

Leave, Ragnar, leave me; I am tired at last.<\/p>\n

All go out upward except Hardicnut.<\/i><\/p>\n

Here then you reach me on these snows. O if my death<\/p>\n

Could yet persuade indignant Heaven to change<\/p>\n

[Scene incomplete<\/i>]<\/p>\n


\nPage \u2013 602<\/p>\n

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

\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

<\/span><\/a><\/font><\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Act IV   Swegn’s fastness in the hills.   Scene 1   Swegn, Hardicnut, with soldiers.   SWEGN Fight on, fight always, till the…<\/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-1754","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\/1754","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=1754"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1754\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1754"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1754"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1754"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}