{"id":726,"date":"2013-07-13T01:30:00","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=726"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:30:00","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:30:00","slug":"62-eric-act-one-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\/62-eric-act-one-scene-1-vol-06-collected-plays-part-i-volume-06","title":{"rendered":"-62_Eric-Act One-Scene-1.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
\n

\nAct One
\n<\/a> <\/b><\/font><\/p>\n

\n  Eric’s palace.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nEric, Aslaug, Hertha, Harold, Gunthar.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nEric of Norway, first whom these cold
\nfiords,
\nDeep havens of disunion, from their jagged
\nAnd fissured crevices at last obey,
\nThe monarch of a thousand Vikings! Yes,
\nBut only by the swiftness of his sword
\nThat monarchy’s assured,<\/font>\u00b9<\/font>
\nheadlong, athirst,
\nMy iron hound pursues its panting prey.<\/font>\u00b2<\/font>
\nAnd when the sword is broken ? or when death
\nProves swifter ? All this realm with labour built,
\nDissolving like a transitory cloud,
\nBecomes the thing it was, cleft, parcelled out
\nBy discord. I have found the way to join, \u2014
\nThe warrior’s sword, builder of unity;<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nBut where’s the way to solder? where? O
\nThor
\nAnd Odin, masters of the northern world,
\nWisdom and force I have; one<\/font>\u00b3<\/font>
\nstrength’s behind
\nI have not; I would search<\/font>4<\/font><\/sup>
\nit out. Help me,
\nWhatever Power thou art that mov’st the world,
\nTo Eric unrevealed. Some sign I ask.<\/font> <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>SLAUG
\n\t<\/font>(outside, singing)<\/i><\/font>
\n\t<\/font><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\nLove is the hoop of the gods<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nHearts to combine.
\nIron is broken, the sword
\nSleeps in the grave of its lord;<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nLove is divine.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\u00b9secured      <\/font>\u00b2Ineffugably
\nthat pursues its prey.      <\/font>\u00b3some      <\/font>
\n4<\/font><\/sup> must find <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013
\n477<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nLove is the hoop of the gods<\/font><\/p>\n

\nHearts to combine.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tE<\/font>RIC
\n\t<\/font>(rising from his seat)<\/i><\/font>
\n\t<\/font><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\nIs that your answer? Freya, Mother of
\nHeaven,
\nThou wast forgotten. The heart! the seat is there;<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nFor unity is substance of the heart
\nAnd not a chain that binds, not iron, gold
\nNor any helpless thought that<\/font>\u00b9<\/font>
\nreason knows.
\nHow shall I seize it ? where ? Give me a net
\nBy which the fugitive can be snared. It is
\nToo unsubstantial for my iron mind.<\/font> <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>SLAUG
\n\t<\/font>(outside, singing)<\/i><\/font>
\n\t<\/font><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\nWhen Love desires Love,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThen Love is born;<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nNor golden gifts compel,
\nNor even beauty’s spell<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nEscapes his scorn.
\nWhen Love desires Love,<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nThen Love is born.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tE<\/font>RIC
\n\t<\/font>(calling)<\/i><\/font>
\n\t<\/font><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\nWho sings outside?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n(to Harald, as he enters)<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nHarald, who sings outside?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nTwo dancing girls from Gothberg. Shall
\nthey come?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nAdmit them.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nFrom light lips and casual thoughts
\nThe gods speak best, as if by chance, nor knows
\nThe speaker that he is an instrument<\/font> <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

 \n<\/p>\n

\n\u00b9our\/the <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013
\n478<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nBut thinks his mind the mover of his
\nwords.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nHarald returns with Aslaug and Hertha.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nKing Eric, these are they who sang.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nWomen,
\nWho are you ? or what god directed you ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nThe god that rules all men. Necessity.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\n‘Twas thou that sang’st!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nMy lips at least were used.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tE<\/font>RIC<\/font><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\nThou sayest. Dost thou know by whom?<\/font>\u00b9<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nBy Fate.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nFor she alone is prompter on our stage,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThings seen and unforeseen move by a doom,<\/font>\u00b2
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nNot freely. Eric’s sword and Aslaug’s
\nsong,<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nMusic and thunder are but petty chords<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nOf one majestic harp. She builds, she
\nbreaks,<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nShe thrones, she slays, as needed for her
\nharmony.<\/font>\u00b3<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nI think the soul is master.<\/font><\/p>\n

\n(Turning to Hertha)<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

 \n<\/p>\n

\n\u00b9<\/font>Thou
\nknowest. Know’st thou too by whom? <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\u00b2<\/font>And
\nall things move by an established doom, <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\u00b3<\/font> for
\nthe balance of her harmonies. <\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013
\n479<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nWho art thou?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nExpelled from Gothberg with displeasure
\nfierce,
\nNorwegians by the wrathful Swede constrained
\nTo Norway we return.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nWhy went you forth ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nFrom a bleak country rich by spoil alone<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nOf kinder populations, far too wild,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nToo rough to love the sweetness of a song,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nThe rhythm of a dance, by need coerced<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWe passed to an entire and cultured race<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWhose hearts, come apt and liberal from
\nthe Gods,<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nAre steel to steel but flowers to a
\nflower.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nAnd wherefore war they upon women now ?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nBy thy aggressions moved.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nA nobler choice
\nOf vengeance I will give them, though more hard!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nGunthar, thou comest from the front?<\/font>\u00b9<\/font>
\nWhat news?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nSwegn, Earl of Trondhjem, lifts his
\noutlawed head.
\nBy desperate churls and broken nobles joined
\nHe moves towards the Swede.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\u00b9<\/font>host
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013
\n480<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

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

\nLet Sigurd’s force
\nFrom Sweden and his lairs cut off the rude<\/font>\u00b9<\/font>
\nRevolted lord. He only now resists,
\nChampion of discord, ruthless, fell and fierce<\/font>\u00b2<\/font>
\nThis partisan and pattern of the past. .
\nSuch men are better with the Gods than here
\nTo trouble earth. Let him not live, if taken.<\/font>\u00b3<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nNot live?<\/font>4
\n<\/font><\/sup><\/p>\n

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

\nWill you be silent?<\/font>5<\/sup><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/sup><\/p>\n

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

\nBlame my heart;<\/font>6<\/sup><\/font>
\nFor<\/font>7<\/sup><\/font>
\nit remembered too<\/font>8<\/sup><\/font>
\nunseasonably
\nThat Olaf Thorleikson ruled Norway once,<\/font>9<\/sup><\/font>
\nSwegn was his heir.<\/font>10<\/font><\/sup>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nWill you remain with me,
\nForgetting Gothberg and your golden<\/font>11<\/sup><\/font>
\ngains ?
\nSince I have been the fount of your distress,<\/font>12<\/font><\/sup>
\nMake me the source of your great plenty too.<\/font>13
\n<\/font><\/sup><\/p>\n

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

\nA kingly<\/font>14
\n<\/sup><\/font>bounty shall atone for much.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tA<\/font>SLAUG
\n\t<\/font>(low to herself)<\/i><\/font><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\nNobler atonement’s asked for.<\/font>15<\/sup><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/sup><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\u00b9<\/font>fierce   
\n<\/font>\u00b2<\/font>bold    
\n<\/font>\u00b3<\/font>(i)
\nLet him not live, o’ercome.    (ii) Let him not live, if seized.   (iii) Taken,
\nlet him not live.    4 <\/sup>(i) And yet.. . (ii) Taken, who shall live?
\n     5<\/sup> Be silent.    6<\/sup> (i) ‘Twas my heart (ii) It was my
\nheart    7<\/sup>And    8 <\/sup>though    9<\/sup>was Norway’s Lord
\n   10<\/sup>And Swegn his son       11<\/sup> Swedish    12<\/sup>Since
\nI was reason that you are distressed, 13<\/sup> Let me be reason of your
\nplenty too. 14<\/sup>The royal l5<\/sup> needed.<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013
\n481<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

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

\nIt is yours.
\nHarald, make room for them within my house.
\nGo, Gunthar, we will soon converse; now rest.<\/font>\u00b9<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAll go out except Eric.
\n<\/i>Love! If it were this girl with antelope eyes
\nAnd the high head so proudly lifted up
\nUpon a neck as white as any swan’s!
\nBut how to sway men’s hearts, rugged and hard
\nAs Norway’s mountains, as her glaciers cold
\nTo all but interest and power and pride ?
\nPerhaps this stag-eyed woman comes for that, \u2014
\nTo teach me.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\n                                                
\n<\/font>\u00b9<\/font>Gunthar,
\nwe will converse    {ere they depart.<\/font><\/p>\n

\n                                     
\n{within the
\n<\/b>hour. <\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013
\n482<\/font><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Act One   Eric’s palace.    SCENE I   Eric, Aslaug, Hertha, Harold, Gunthar. ERIC Eric of Norway, first whom these cold fiords, Deep havens…<\/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-726","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\/726","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=726"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/726\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=726"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=726"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=726"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}