{"id":688,"date":"2013-07-13T01:29:43","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:29:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=688"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:29:43","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:29:43","slug":"70-eric-act-four-scene-1-vol-06-collected-plays-part-i-volume-06","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/01-works-of-sri-aurobindo\/01-sabcl\/06-collected-plays-part-i-volume-06\/70-eric-act-four-scene-1-vol-06-collected-plays-part-i-volume-06","title":{"rendered":"-70_Eric-Act Four-Scene-1.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
\n
\n

\n
\nAct Four <\/font><\/p>\n

<\/b> <\/p>\n

\n
\nSCENE I<\/font><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n <\/div>\n

\nSwegn’s fastness in the hills.
\nSwegn, Hardicnut, Ragnar, with soldiers.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nFight on, fight always, till the gods are tired.
\nIn all this dwindling remnant of the past
\nDesires one man to rest from virtue, cease
\nFrom desperate freedom?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nNo man wavers here.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

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

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

\nWhy should he go and whither? To Eric’s sword
\nThat never pardons ? If our hearts were vile,
\nUnworthily impatient of defeat,
\nServing not harassed right but chance and gain,
\nEric himself would keep them true.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nNot thine,
\nMy second soul. Yet could I pardon him
\nWho followed. For the blow transcends! And were
\nKing Eric not in Yara where he dwells,
\nI would have seen his hand in this defeat,
\nWhose stroke is like the lightning’s, silent, straight,
\nNot to be parried.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 538<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

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

\nSigurd smote, perhaps,
\nBut Eric’s brain was master of his stroke.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

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

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

\nAvenging Yarislaf and Hacon slain,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

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

\nRejoicing trampled down the royal head<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nAt my sword’s mercy.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nRagnar, does it come,
\nThe last assault, death’s trumpets ?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nRather peace,
\nIf thou prefer it, Swegn. An envoy comes
\nFrom Eric’s army.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nRagnar, bring him in.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nRagnar goes out.
\n<\/i>He treats victorious? When his kingdom shook,
\nHis party faltered, then he did not treat
\nNor used another envoy than his sword.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nEarl Gunthar, welcome, \u2014 welcome more wert thou
\nWhen loyal.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nRagnar, Swegn and Hardicnut,
\nRevolting earls, I come from Norway’s King
\nWith peace, not menace.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 539<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

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

\nWhere then all these days
\nBehind you lurked the Northerner ?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nThou art
\nIn his dread shadow and in your mountain lair
\nEric surrounds you.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tS<\/font>WEGN
\n\t<\/font>(scornfully)<\/i><\/font>
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nI will hear his words.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

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

\nTo<\/b> Swegn, the Earl of Trondhjem. "I have known<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

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

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

\nMy mother’s brother butchered shamefully<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

\nThy good and ours, prolong thy father’s house."<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nI expect thy answer.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nI return to him
\nHis proffered mercy. Let him keep it safe
\nFor his own later use.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 540<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

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

\nThou speakest high.
\nWhat help hast thou ? what hope ? what god concealed ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

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

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

\nBut not subjection.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nFor their sake thou lov’st,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

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

\nThou art not wise.
\nThis was much better left unsaid.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nBut why
\nAm I astonished if triumphant mud
\nConceives that the pure heavens are of its stuff
\nAnd nature?…<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nStill there are men who hope to purchase<\/font>\u00b9<\/font> Swegn’s
\nAllegiance, to intimidate with death
\nAnd bribe with safety Olaf’s son. It seems
\nYour pastime to insult the seed of Kings.
\nThink’st thou that to the upstart I shall yield,
\nThe fortune-fed adventurer, the boy
\nFavoured by the ironic gods ? Since fell
\nBy Sigurd’s treachery and Eric’s fate
\nIn resonant battle on the narrow seas
\nOlaf, his children had convinced the world,
\nI thought, of their great origin. Men have said,
\n"Their very women have souls too great to cry
\nFor mercy even from the gods." His fates
\nAre strong indeed when they compel our race<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\u00b9<\/font>ask <\/b>for <\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 541<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nTo hear such terms from his! Go, tell thy King,
\nSwegn of the ancient house rejects his boons.
\nNot terms between us stand, but wrath, but blood.
\nI would have flayed him on a golden cross
\nAnd kept his women for my household thralls,
\nHad I prevailed. Can he not do as much
\nThat he must chaffer and market Norway’s crown ?
\nThese are the ways of Kings, strong, terrible
\nAnd arrogant; full of sovereignty and right.
\nForce in a King’s his warrant from the gods.
\nBy force and not by bribes and managements
\nEmpires are founded! But your chief was born
\nOf huckstering earls who lived by prudent gains.
\nHow should he imitate a royal flight
\nOr learn the leap of Kings upon their prey ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nSwegn Olafson, thou speakest fatal words.
\nWhere lodge thy wife and sister? Dost thou know?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tH<\/font>ARDICNUT<\/font><\/p>\n

\nToo far for Eric’s reach.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nEarl, art thou sure ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nWhat means this question ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nThat the gods are strong
\nWhom thou in vain despisest, that they have dragged
\nFrom Sweden into Eric’s dangerous hands
\nHertha and Aslaug, that the evil thou speak’st
\nWas fatally by hostile Powers inspired.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 542<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

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

\nThou liest \u2014 they are safe and with the Swede.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

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

\nEarl Swegn, canst thou not see the dreadful gods<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

\nPossessing Sweden. Sweden once subdued,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThink’st thou the ships that crowd the Northern seas<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

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

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

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

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

\nTo Italian joys attracted amorously<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

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

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

\nConsider then and change thy fierce response.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nDeceives the lie they tell, thy reason, Swegn ?
\nEarl Gunther may believe, who even can think
\nThat Yarislaf begot a god!<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nGunthar,
\nI have my fortune, thou thy answer. Go.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tG<\/font>UNTHAR<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nPage \u2013 543<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nHe goes out.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nAslaug would scorn me yielding, even now
\nAnd even for her. He has unnerved my will,
\nThe subtle tyrant! O,<\/b> if this be true,
\nMy Fate has wandered into Eric’s camp,
\nMy soul is made his prisoner. Friends, prepare
\nResistance; he is the thunderbolt that strikes
\nAnd threatens only afterwards. It is
\nOur ultimate battle.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nOn the difficult rocks
\nWe will oppose King Eric and his gods.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 544<\/font><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Act Four   SCENE I     Swegn’s fastness in the hills. Swegn, Hardicnut, Ragnar, with soldiers. SWEGN Fight on, fight always, till the gods…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-688","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-06-collected-plays-part-i-volume-06","wpcat-15-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/688","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=688"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/688\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=688"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=688"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=688"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}