{"id":1769,"date":"2013-07-13T01:37:16","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:37:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=1769"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:37:16","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:37:16","slug":"05-eric-act-v-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-v-vol-03-04-collected-plays-and-stories","title":{"rendered":"-05_Eric – Act – V.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 V<\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tEric’s Palace.<\/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<\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

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

Not by love only, but by force and love.<\/p>\n

This man must lower his fierceness to the fierce,<\/p>\n

He must be beggared of the thing left, his pride,<\/p>\n

And know himself for clay, before he will consent<\/p>\n

To value my gift. He would not honour nor revere<\/p>\n

This unfamiliar movement of my soul<\/p>\n

But would contemn and think my seated strength<\/p>\n

Had changed to trembling. Strike the audience-bell,<\/p>\n

Harald. The master of my stars is he<\/p>\n

Who owns no master. Odin, what is this play,<\/p>\n

Thou playest with thy world, of fall and rise,<\/p>\n

Of death, birth, greatness, ruin? The time may come<\/p>\n

When Eric shall not be remembered! Yes,<\/p>\n

But there’s a script, there are archives that endure.<\/p>\n

Before a throne in some superior world<\/p>\n

Bards with undying lips and eyes still young<\/p>\n

After the ages sing of all the past<\/p>\n

And the immortal Children hear. Somewhere<\/p>\n

In this gigantic world of which one grain of dust<\/p>\n

Is all our field, Eternal Memory keeps<\/p>\n

Our great things and our trivial equally<\/p>\n

To whom the peasant’s moans above his dead<\/p>\n

Are tragic as a prince’s fall. Some say<\/p>\n

Atomic Chance put Eric here, Swegn there,<\/p>\n

Aslaug between. O you revealing Gods,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n


\nPage \u2013 603<\/p>\n

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

\n

\nBut I have seen myself and know though veiled<\/p>\n

The immortality that thinks in me,<\/p>\n

That plans and reasons. Masters of Norway, hail!<\/p>\n

For all are masters here, not I alone<\/p>\n

Who am my country’s brain of unity,<\/p>\n

Your oneness. Swegn’s at last in Norway’s hands,<\/p>\n

Who shook our fates. And what shall Norway do with Swegn,<\/p>\n

One of her mightiest?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GUNTHAR<\/p>\n

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

If his might submits<\/p>\n

Then, Eric, let him live. We cannot brook<\/p>\n

These discords always.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

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

Norway cannot brook.<\/p>\n

Therefore he must submit. Bring him within.<\/p>\n

We’ll see if this strong iron can be bent,<\/p>\n

This crudeness bear the fire. Swegn Olafson,<\/p>\n

Hast thou considered yet thy state? hast thou<\/p>\n

Submitted to the gods; or must we, Swegn,<\/p>\n

Consider now thy sentence?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

I have seen<\/p>\n

My dire misfortunes, I have seen myself<\/p>\n

And know that I am greater. Do thy will,<\/p>\n

Since what the son of Yarislaf commands,<\/p>\n

The son of Olaf bears!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

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

Thou wilt not yield?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

My father taught me not the word.<\/p>\n


\nPage \u2013 604<\/p>\n

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

\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

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

Shall I?<\/p>\n

Thou hast forgotten, Swegn, thy desperate words.<\/p>\n

Or were they meant only for the free snows,<\/p>\n

And here retracted?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

Son of Yarislaf, they stand.<\/p>\n

I claim the cross I would have nailed thee on,<\/p>\n

I claim the flayer’s knife.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

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

These for thyself.<\/p>\n

And for thy wife and sister, Swegn?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

Alas!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

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

I think thy father taught thee not that word,<\/p>\n

But I have taught thee. Since thou lovest yet, \u2014\n<\/p>\n

No man who says that he will stand alone,<\/p>\n

Swegn, can afford to love, \u2014  thou then art mine<\/p>\n

Inevitably. He must be half a god<\/p>\n

Who can oppose Thor’s anger, Odin’s will<\/p>\n

Nor dream of breaking. Such the gods delight in,<\/p>\n

Raising or smiting; such in the gods delight,<\/p>\n

Raised up or smitten. But thou wast always man<\/p>\n

And canst not now be more. Thou vauntst thy blood,<\/p>\n

Thy strength? Thou art much stronger, so thou sayst,<\/p>\n

Than thy misfortunes. Art thou stronger, Swegn,<\/p>\n

Than theirs? Can all thy haughty pride of race<\/p>\n

Or thy heart’s mightiness undo my will<\/p>\n

In whose strong hands they lie? Swegn Olafson,<\/p>\n

The gods are mightier than thy race and blood,<\/p>\n

The gods are mightier than thy arrogant heart.<\/p>\n

They will not have one violent man oppose<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n


\n\t\t\tPage \u2013 605<\/p>\n

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

\n

\nHis egoism, his pride and his desire<\/p>\n

Against a country’s fate. Use then thy eyes<\/p>\n

And learn thy strength.<\/p>\n

At a sign of his hand Aslaug and<\/i><\/p>\n

Hertha are brought in.<\/i><\/p>\n

Thou hast no strength,<\/p>\n

For thou and these are only Eric’s slaves<\/p>\n

Who have been his stubborn hinderers. Therefore Fate,<\/p>\n

Whose favourite and brother I have grown,<\/p>\n

Turned wroth with you and dragged you all into my grasp.<\/p>\n

I will that you should live and yield. These yield,<\/p>\n

But thou withstandest wisdom, Fate and love<\/p>\n

Allied against thee. Swegn Olafson, submit,<\/p>\n

Stand by my side and share thy father’s throne.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

S<\/font>WEGN<\/font> (after a silence<\/i>)<\/p>\n

Yes, thou art fierce and subtle! Let them pronounce<\/p>\n

My duty’s preference if not my heart’s,<\/p>\n

To them or Right.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

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

O narrow obstinate heart!<\/p>\n

Had this been for thy country or a cause<\/p>\n

Men worship, then it would indeed have been<\/p>\n

A noble blindness, but thou serv’st thy pride,<\/p>\n

Swegn, son of Olaf, not the noble cause<\/p>\n

Of God or man or country. Look now on these.<\/p>\n

I give thee the selection of their fate.<\/p>\n

If these remain my slaves, an upstart’s, Swegn,<\/p>\n

Who yet are Olaf’s blood and Norway’s pride,<\/p>\n

I swear ’tis thou that mak’st them so. Now choose.<\/p>\n

(Swegn is silent<\/i>)<\/p>\n

How sayst thou,<\/p>\n

Swegn Olafson, shall these be Eric’s thralls?<\/p>\n

Wilt thou abide by their pronouncement, Swegn?<\/p>\n

Aslaug and Hertha, see your brother and lord,<\/p>\n

This mighty captive, royal once, now fallen<\/p>\n


\nPage \u2013 606<\/p>\n

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

\n

And helpless in my hands. I wish to spare<\/p>\n

His mightiness, his race, his royal heart;<\/p>\n

But he prefers the cross instead, prefers<\/p>\n

Your shame \u2014  thy brother, Aslaug, \u2014  Hertha, he.<\/p>\n

Thy spouse consents to utmost shame for both<\/p>\n

If from the ages he can buy this word,<\/p>\n

“Swegn still was stubborn.” That to him is all.<\/p>\n

He who forgot to value Norway’s will,<\/p>\n

Forgets to value now your pride, your love.<\/p>\n

This was not royal, nor like Olaf’s son!<\/p>\n

Come, will you speak to him, will you persuade?<\/p>\n

Walk there aside awhile; aim at his heart.<\/p>\n

Hertha, my subject, Aslaug, thou my thrall,<\/p>\n

Save, if he will, this life.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

‘Tis thus we meet, \u2014 <\/p>\n

Were not the snows of Norway preferable,<\/p>\n

Daughter of Olaf?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

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

They were high, but cold.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

HERTHA<\/p>\n

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

Wilt thou not speak to Hertha, Swegn, my lord?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

Hertha, alas, thy crooked scheming brain<\/p>\n

That brought us here.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

HERTHA<\/p>\n

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

The gods use instruments,<\/p>\n

Not ask their counsel. O Swegn, accept the gods<\/p>\n

And their decision.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

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

Must we live always cold?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n


\n\t\t\tPage \u2013 607<\/p>\n

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

\n

\nO brother, cast the snows out of thy heart.<\/p>\n

Let there be summer.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

HERTHA<\/p>\n

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

Yield, husband, to the sun.<\/p>\n

There is no shame in yielding to the gods.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

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

Nor to a god, although his room be earth<\/p>\n

And his body mortal.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

There was an Aslaug once<\/p>\n

Whose speech had other grandeurs. Can it find<\/p>\n

In all its sweet and lofty harmonies<\/p>\n

The word or argument that can excuse thy fall,<\/p>\n

O not to me, but to that worshipped self<\/p>\n

Thou wast, my sister?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

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

I have no argument except my heart<\/p>\n

Nor need excuse for what I glory in.<\/p>\n

Brother, were we not always one? ‘Tis strange<\/p>\n

That I must reason with thee.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

O, thou knewest.<\/p>\n

Therefore I fell, therefore my strength is gone,<\/p>\n

And where a god’s magnificence lived once,<\/p>\n

Here, here ’tis empty. O inconstant heart,<\/p>\n

Thou wast my Fate, my courage, and at last<\/p>\n

Thou hast gone over to my enemy,<\/p>\n

Taking my Fate, my courage. I will hear<\/p>\n

No words from such. Thou wouldst betray what’s left,<\/p>\n

Until not even Swegn is left to Swegn,<\/p>\n

But only a coward’s shadow.<\/p>\n


\nPage \u2013 608<\/p>\n

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

\n

HERTHA<\/p>\n

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

Hear me, Swegn.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

Ah, Hertha! what hast thou to say to me?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

HERTHA<\/p>\n

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

Save me, my lord, from my own punishment,<\/p>\n

Forgetting my deserts.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

Alas! thy love,<\/p>\n

Though great, was never wise, and must it ask<\/p>\n

So huge a recompense? Thou hadst myself.<\/p>\n

Thou askst my honour.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

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

Will this persuade thee? I have nothing else.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

Thou only and so only couldst prevail.<\/p>\n

O thou hast overcome my strength at last.<\/p>\n

King, thou hast conquered. Not to thee I yield,<\/p>\n

But those I loved are thy allies. From these<\/p>\n

Recall thy wrath and on my head pronounce<\/p>\n

What doom thou wilt, though yielding is doom enough<\/p>\n

For Swegn of Norway.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

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

Abjure rebellion then; receive my boons,<\/p>\n

Receive my mercy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

Mercy. It is received.<\/p>\n

Let all the world hear Olaf’s son abjure<\/p>\n

His birth and greatness. I accept \u2014  accept!<\/p>\n

King Eric’s boons, King Eric’s mercy. O torture!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n


\n\t\t\tPage \u2013 609<\/p>\n

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

\n

\nThe spirit of Olaf will no more sit still<\/p>\n

Within me. O though thou slaughter these with pangs,<\/p>\n

I will not yield. Take, take thy mercy back.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

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

I take it back. What wouldst thou in its stead?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

Do what thou wilt with these and me. I have done!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

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

Thou castst thy die, thou weak and violent man, I will cast mine<\/p>\n

And conquer.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

I have endured the worst.<\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

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

Not so.<\/p>\n

Thou thinkest I will help thee to thy death,<\/p>\n

Allowing the blind grave to seal thy eyes<\/p>\n

To all that I shall do to these. Learn, Swegn,<\/p>\n

I am more cruel! Thou shalt live and see<\/p>\n

On these my vengeance. Go, Aslaug, and return<\/p>\n

Robed as thou wast upon the night thou knowest<\/p>\n

Wearing thy dagger, wearing too thy ring.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

What wilt thou do with her? God! what wilt thou do?<\/p>\n

O wherefore have I seen and taken back love<\/p>\n

Into a heart had shut itself to all<\/p>\n

But death and greatness?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

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

I will inflict on them<\/p>\n

What thou canst not endure to gaze upon \u2014\n<\/p>\n

Or if thou canst, then with that hardness live<\/p>\n


\nPage \u2013 610<\/p>\n

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

\n

For die thou shalt not. I have ways for that.<\/p>\n

Thou thoughtst to take thy refuge in a grave<\/p>\n

And let these bear thy punishment for thee,<\/p>\n

Thy heart being spared. It was no valiant thought,<\/p>\n

No worthy escape for Swegn. Aslaug and Hertha,<\/p>\n

Remove your outer robes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

What must I see?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

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

As dancing-girls these women came to me.<\/p>\n

As dancing-girls I keep them. Thou shalt see<\/p>\n

Aslaug of Norway at her trade \u2014  to dance<\/p>\n

Before me and my courtiers. That begins,<\/p>\n

There’s more behind, unless thou change thy mood.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

Thou knowest how to torture.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

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

And to break.<\/p>\n

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

Thou seest, Swegn. Shall I command the dance?<\/p>\n

Shall this be the result of Olaf’s house?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

Daughter of Olaf, wilt thou then obey?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

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

Yes, since thou lov’st me not, my brother Swegn,<\/p>\n

Whom else should I obey, save him I love?<\/p>\n

If thou hadst loved me still, I should not need.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

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

Dance.<\/p>\n


\n\t\t\tPage \u2013 611<\/p>\n

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

\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

No. Stay, Aslaug. Since thou bad’st me love<\/p>\n

Thee, not my glory, as indeed I must<\/p>\n

To save the house of Olaf from this shame, \u2014 <\/p>\n

Whose treacherous weakness works for him and thee, \u2014\n<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

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

Pause not again \u2014  for pause is fatal now.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

King, I have yielded, I accept thy boons.<\/p>\n

Heir of a starveling Earl, I bow my head<\/p>\n

Even to thy mercies. I am Olaf’s son,<\/p>\n

Yet yield \u2014  that name remember, speak this word \u2014 <\/p>\n

I shall be faithful to my own disgrace.<\/p>\n

O fear not, King, I can be great again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

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

Without conditions hast thou yielded?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

No.<\/p>\n

Let these be spared all shame \u2014  for that I yield.<\/p>\n

My honour has a price \u2014  and O ’tis small.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

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

That’s given. Without terms besides?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

One prayer.<\/p>\n

Give me a dungeon deep enough, O King,<\/p>\n

To hide my face from all these eyes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

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

Swear then,<\/p>\n

Whatever prison I assign thee, be it wide<\/p>\n

Or narrow, to observe its state, its bounds<\/p>\n


\nPage \u2013 612<\/p>\n

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

\n

And do even there my will.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

S<\/font>WEGN<\/font> (with a gesture<\/i>)<\/p>\n

That too is sworn!<\/p>\n

Let Thor and Odin witness to my oath.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

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

Four prisons I assign to Olaf’s son.<\/p>\n

Thy palace first in Trondhjem, Olaf’s roof \u2014\n<\/p>\n

This house in Yara, Eric’s court \u2014  thy country<\/p>\n

To whom thou yieldest, Norway \u2014  and at last<\/p>\n

My army’s head when I invade the world.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

S<\/font>WEGN<\/font> (amazed and doubtful<\/i>)<\/p>\n

Thou hast surprised me, Eric, with an oath<\/p>\n

And circumvented.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

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

Hertha, to thy lord<\/p>\n

Return unharmed \u2014  thou seest thou wast safe<\/p>\n

As in his dearest keeping. Take, Hertha,<\/p>\n

Trondhjem with thee and Olaf’s treasures; sit<\/p>\n

The second in the land, beneath our throne.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

Eric, enough. Have I not yielded? Here<\/p>\n

Let thy boons rest.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

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

‘Tis truth. For my next boon<\/p>\n

Is to myself. Look not upon this hand<\/p>\n

I clasp in mine, although the fairest hand<\/p>\n

That God has made. Observe this ring instead<\/p>\n

And recognise it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GUNTHAR<\/p>\n

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

It is Freya’s ring<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n


\n\t\t\tPage \u2013 613<\/p>\n

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

\n

\nOn Aslaug’s hand; she who once wears it sits<\/p>\n

Thenceforth on Norway’s throne.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

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

Possess thy father’s chair<\/p>\n

Intended for thee always from the first,<\/p>\n

Nor be amazed that in these dancing robes<\/p>\n

I seat her here, for they increase its pomp<\/p>\n

More than imperial purple. Think not, Swegn,<\/p>\n

Thy sister shamed or false who came to me,<\/p>\n

Spilling my blood and hers to give thee back thy crown,<\/p>\n

A violent and mighty purpose such<\/p>\n

As only noble hearts conceive; and only<\/p>\n

She yielded to that noble heart at last<\/p>\n

Because of Odin’s pressure.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

So they came.<\/p>\n

Aslaug, thou soughtst my throne, but findst it thine.<\/p>\n

I grudge it not to thee \u2014  for thy great heart<\/p>\n

Deserved it. Eric, thou hast won at last,<\/p>\n

Now only.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

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

I could not shame thy sister, Swegn,<\/p>\n

Save by my wife’s disgrace, and this was none<\/p>\n

But only a deceit to prove thy heart<\/p>\n

And now thou seest thou couldst not have rebelled<\/p>\n

Except by violence to Olaf’s seed<\/p>\n

That must again rule Norway.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

Eric, for thy boons,<\/p>\n

They hurt not now, take what return thou wilt,<\/p>\n

For I am thine. Thou hast found out the way<\/p>\n

To save from me thy future. It is secured<\/p>\n

Even with my heart’s strings.<\/p>\n


\nPage \u2013 614<\/p>\n

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

\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

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

Swegn, I too have boons<\/p>\n

To ask of thee.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

Let them be difficult then,<\/p>\n

If thou wouldst have me grant them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

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

Swegn, excuse and love<\/p>\n

Thy comrade Hardicnut, for he intended<\/p>\n

A kind betrayal.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

This is nothing, King.<\/p>\n

His act my heart had come to understand<\/p>\n

And it has pardoned.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

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

Forgive then Swegn, dearest,<\/p>\n

Sigurd, thy foe, as I have pardoned first<\/p>\n

My father’s slaughterer. This thing is hard.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

He’s pardoned, not forgiven. Let him not come<\/p>\n

Too often in my sight.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

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

The gods have won.<\/p>\n

Let this embrace engulf our ended strife,<\/p>\n

Brother of Aslaug.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SWEGN<\/p>\n

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

Husband of my sister,<\/p>\n

Thou assum’st our blood and it ennobles thee<\/p>\n

To the height of thy great victories \u2014  this thy last<\/p>\n

And greatest. Thou hast dealt with me as a King,<\/p>\n


\n\t\t\tPage \u2013 615<\/p>\n

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

\n

\nThen as a brother. Thou adornst thy throne.<\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

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

Rest, brother, from thy hardships, toils and wars<\/p>\n

Until I need the sword that matched with mine,<\/p>\n

To smite my foemen.<\/p>\n

Aslaug, what thinkst thou?<\/p>\n

If thou art satisfied, all was well done.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ASLAUG<\/p>\n

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

Thou hast the tyrant in thy nature still,<\/p>\n

And so I love thee best, for then I recognise<\/p>\n

My conqueror. O what canst thou do but well?<\/p>\n

For in thy every act and word I see<\/p>\n

The gods compel thee.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

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

O thou hast changed me with thy starry eyes,<\/p>\n

Daughter of Olaf, and hast made me a man<\/p>\n

Where was but height and iron; all my roots<\/p>\n

Of action, mercy, greatness, enterprise,<\/p>\n

Sit now transplanted to thy breast, O charm,<\/p>\n

O noble marvel! From thy bosom my strength<\/p>\n

Comes out to me. Mighty indeed is love,<\/p>\n

Thou sangst of, Aslaug, once, the golden hoop<\/p>\n

Mightier, swifter than the warrior’s sword.<\/p>\n

Dost thou remember what thou cam’st to do,<\/p>\n

Aslaug, from Gothberg?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A<\/font>SLAUG<\/font> (wondering<\/i>)<\/p>\n

Only ten days ago<\/p>\n

I came from Gothberg!<\/p>\n

She turns with a laugh<\/i><\/p>\n

and embraces Eric.<\/i><\/p>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

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

The gods have spoken since and shown their hand.<\/p>\n


\nPage \u2013 616<\/p>\n

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

\n

They seal our eyes and drive us, but at last<\/p>\n

Our souls remember when the act is done,<\/p>\n

That it was fated. Aslaug, now for us<\/p>\n

The world begins again, \u2014  our world, beloved,<\/p>\n

Since once more we \u2014  who since the stars were formed<\/p>\n

Playing the game of games by Odin’s will<\/p>\n

Have met and parted \u2014  parted, meet again<\/p>\n

For ever.<\/p>\n


\nPage \u2013 617<\/p>\n

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\n

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<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/a><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

\n

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

  Act V   Eric’s Palace.   Scene 1   ERIC Not by love only, but by force and love. This man must lower his…<\/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-1769","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\/1769","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=1769"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1769\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1769"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1769"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1769"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}