{"id":704,"date":"2013-07-13T01:29:50","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:29:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=704"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:29:50","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:29:50","slug":"63-eric-act-one-scene-2-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\/63-eric-act-one-scene-2-vol-06-collected-plays-part-i-volume-06","title":{"rendered":"-63_Eric-Act One-Scene-2.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
\n
\n

\n
\nSCENE<\/b><\/span> II<\/span><\/b><\/font><\/div>\n

\n

\n <\/div>\n

\n

\n <\/div>\n

\nHertha, Aslaug.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nHertha, we dance before the man tonight.,
\nWhy not tonight?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nBecause I do not choose\u00b9
\nMerely to wound and then be stayed.<\/font>\u00b2<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nTo near,
\nTo strike, while all posterity applauds.
\nFor Norway’s poets to the end of time
\nShall sing in praises noble as the theme
\nOf Aslaug’s dance and Aslaug’s dagger.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nYes,
\nIf we succeed; but who will sing the praise
\nOf foiled assassins ? Shall we<\/font>\u00b3<\/font> risk defeat ?
\nShall<\/font>4<\/font><\/sup> Swegn of Norway roam until the end
\nThe desperate snows and forest<\/font>5<\/font><\/sup> silences,
\nOutlawed, proscribed, pursued<\/font>6<\/sup><\/font>?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nNever<\/font>7
\n<\/font><\/sup>defeat!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nThe man we come to slay<\/font>
\n\u2014<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nA mighty man!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\u00b9<\/font>Because I will not strike, <\/font>
\n     \u00b2<\/font>Wound perhaps only and be stayed. <\/font>
\n     \u00b3<\/font> Will you\/If we     
\n4 <\/sup>Must      5<\/sup>mountain     
\n6<\/sup>and poor?     
\n7<\/sup> Not again <\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 483<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nHe has the face and figure of a god, \u2014
\nA marble emperor with brilliant eyes.
\nHow came the usurper by a face like that?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nHis father was an earl of Odin’s stock.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nHis fable since he rose! A pauper house
\nOf one poor vessel and a narrow fiord
\nAnd some pine-trees possessor, \u2014 that was he,
\nThe root he sprang from.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nBut from that to tower
\nIn three short<\/font>\u00b9 <\/font>
\nsummers undisputed<\/font>\u00b2<\/font> lord
\nOf Norway, before years had put their growth
\nUpon his chin! If not of Odin’s race,
\nOdin is for him. Are you not afraid,
\nYou who see Fate even in a sparrow’s flight,
\nWhen Odin is for him?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nAslaug is against.
\nHe has a strength, an iron strength, and Thor
\nStrikes hammerlike in his uplifted sword.
\nHis voice is like a chant of victory.
\nBut Fate alone decides, when all is said,
\nNot Thor, not Odin. I will try my Fate.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nHe is a mere usurper, is he not?
\nNorway’s election made him King, they say.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>SLAUG<\/font><\/p>\n

\nLeft Olaf Thorleikson no heirs behind?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\u00b9<\/font>brief\/swift <\/font>
\n     \u00b2<\/font>the magnificent <\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 484<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nWas the throne empty?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nOf Trondhjem, that’s their cry.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThe inland<\/font>\u00b9<\/font> and the north were free to choose.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nAs rebels are.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nThere was a discord there.
\nThe South exulting in her golden gains
\nCried, "I am Norway," but the northern earls
\nRefused consent or, free auxiliaries,
\nAdmitted only leadership in war.
\nWe chose the arbitration of the sword,
\nThat last appeal of all, \u2014 the sword has judged
\nAgainst our claim.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nThe dagger shall o’erride.<\/font>\u00b2<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nStill you come back to that. Yet think this out.<\/font>\u00b3<\/font><\/p>\n

\nRather than by our blood to call<\/font>4<\/sup><\/font> for his<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nIs not a gentle peace still possible ?<\/font>5<\/sup><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nSwegn might have<\/font>6<\/sup><\/font> Trondhjem, Eric all<\/font>7<\/sup><\/font> the north<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThe suzerainty ? It is his. We fought for it.<\/font>8<\/sup><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWe have lost it.<\/font>9<\/sup><\/font> Think of this before we strike.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nBetter our barren empire of the snows!
\nNobler<\/font>10<\/font><\/sup> with reindeer herding to survive,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\u00b9<\/font>centre      <\/font>
\n\u00b2<\/font>The dagger overrides.      <\/font>
\n\u00b3<\/font> (i) Now think it out.    (ii) But think a little.
\n     4<\/sup>pay       5<\/sup> Is not a composition possible?
\n     6<\/sup>rule      7<\/sup> <\/b>in         
\n8<\/sup> (i) The suzerainty his: we fought for it.      (ii) The suzerainty ? Is it not his? We fought,
\n     9<\/sup>And lost it.     
\n10<\/sup>Better <\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 485<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nOr else a free and miserable death
\nTogether.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nBetter is a tried resolve.<\/font>\u00b9<\/font>
\nTherefore I cast the doubt before your mind.
\nBe sure in striking.<\/font>\u00b2<\/font>  Aslaug, did you see
\nThe eyes of Eric on you  ?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>SLAUG
\n\t<\/font>(indifferently)<\/i><\/font>
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nI am fair.
\nMen look upon me.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nIt gives us the great chance.
\nAt ease, alone with us, absorbed, suddenly
\nYou strike, I leap in seconding the blow.<\/font>\u00b3<\/font>
\nCan he escape then? Swegn shall have his <\/b>throne.<\/font>4<\/font><\/sup>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nArrange it as you will. You have a swift
\nContriving careful brain I cannot match.
\nTo dare, to act was always Aslaug’s part.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nYou will not shrink?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nI am not of the earth,
\nTo bound my actions by the common rule.
\nI claim my kin with those whom Heaven’s gaze
\nMoulded supreme, \u2014 Swegn’s sister, Olaf’s child,
\nAslaug of Norway.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\u00b9<\/font>It is good to be resolved.
\n     <\/i><\/font>\u00b2<\/font> One strikes more (out) surely. <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\u00b3<\/font> Suddenly you strike, I come in, widen the blow. <\/font><\/p>\n

\n4<\/sup> Shall not Swegn have the throne?
\n<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 486<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

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

\nThen it must be done.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nHertha, I will not know the plots you weave;<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nBut when I see your signal, I will strike.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\n\tH<\/font>ERTHA
\n\t<\/font>(alone)<\/i><\/font>
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nPride violent! loftiness intolerable!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThe grandiose kingdom-breaking blow is hers,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThe baseness, the deception are for me.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThis, the assumption, the magnificence,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nMade Swegn her tool. To me, his lover, counsellor,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWife, worshipper, his ears were coldly deaf.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nBut, lioness of Norway, thy loud bruit<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd leap gigantic are ensnared at last<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nIn my compelling toils. She must be trapped!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nShe is the fuel for my husband’s soul<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nTo burn itself on a disastrous pyre.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nRemove its cause, the flame will sink to rest;<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThen we in Trondhjem shall live peacefully
\nTill Eric dies, as some day die he must
\nIn battle or by a revolting sword,
\nAnd leaves the spacious world unoccupied;<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThen other men may feel the sun once more.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAlways she talks of Fate; does she not see<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThis man was born beneath exultant stars,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nHad gods to rock his cradle ? He must possess<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nHis date, his strong resistless time, \u2014 then comes, \u2014,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAll things too great end soon, \u2014 death, overthrow,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd our late summer when cold spring is past.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 487<\/font><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SCENE II     Hertha, Aslaug. ASLAUG Hertha, we dance before the man tonight., Why not tonight? HERTHA Because I do not choose\u00b9 Merely to…<\/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-704","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\/704","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=704"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/704\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=704"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=704"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=704"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}