Plays: the Father; Countess Julie; the Outlaw; the Stronger Part 32

VALGERD [Harshly]. Dry your tears.

[A pause.]

GUNLoD. Oh, let me go out--on the mountains--on the strand. It is so stifling here.

VALGERD. Go up to the loft--and you can be alone. [Enter a thrall.] What would you?

THRALL. The Erl's trumpets are heard beyond the rocks and the storm is growing.

VALGERD. Has darkness fallen?

THRALL. Yes, and a terrible darkness it is.

[A pause.]

GUNLoD. Send out a boat--two--as many as can be found.

THRALL. All the boats are out for the hunt.

GUNLoD. Light beacon fires.

THRALL. All the fuel is so rain-soaked that we haven't had so much as a twig on the hearth all the evening.

VALGERD. Away!

THRALL. How will it go with the Erl?

VALGERD. Does that concern you?

[Thrall goes.]

GUNLoD. You have not forgotten your wrong!

VALGERD. Nor my revenge! One should not lay hands on the daughter of an Erl!

GUNLoD. So be it. Now your moment has come--take your revenge--I'll show you how--like this. [Takes a lighted torch.] Put this torch in the window-hole on the right and you wreck him. Put it in the left and you save him--

VALGERD [Interrupts]. Give me the torch and leave me.

GUNLoD. There is a sacrifice which can pacify your G.o.d's. Sacrifice your revenge.

VALGERD. [Takes torch, hesitates, and goes quickly to left window-hole and places it there. Trumpets are heard]. You struck me, Thorfinn--I swore revenge--I shall humble you with a kind deed.

GUNLoD [Unseen by Valgerd has entered and falls on her mother's neck].

Thanks, mother.

VALGERD [Disconcerted]. Haven't you gone--

GUNLoD. Now I shall go. [Gunlod goes.]

VALGERD [Alone by the window-hole]. You shout for help, you mighty man, who always helped yourself. [Trumpets are heard.] Where is now your might--where is your kingdom--[A gust of wind blows out the lighted torch. Valgerd, terribly frightened, takes torch and lights it.] Oh, he will peris.h.!.+ What shall I do? Pray? To whom? Odin? Njard? Ogir? I have called to them for four times ten years, but never have they answered. I have sacrificed, but never have they helped. Thou, G.o.d, however you may be called--Thou mighty one, who bids the sun to rise and set, thou tremendous one who rules over the winds and water--to you will I pray, to you will I sacrifice my revenge if you will save him.

[Orm enters unnoticed.]

ORM. Good evening to you, Valgerd. Put on your cloak--the wind is sharp.

VALGERD [Disconcerted, takes down torch and closes window-hole.]

Welcome, Orm.

ORM. Thanks.

VALGERD. How is it with you, Orm?

ORM. Tolerable enough---when one gets near the big logs.

VALGERD [Irritated]. How went the journey I mean?

ORM. That is a long saga.

VALGERD. Make it short.

ORM. Well, as you know, we fared to Norway, seeking men and timber.

VALGERD. Orm!

ORM. Valgerd!

VALGERD. You have not spoken a word of the Erl.

ORM. Have you asked a word about your mate?

VALGERD. Where is he? Lives he?

ORM. I know not.

VALGERD. You know not!--you, his foster brother? Where did you part from him?

ORM. Far out in the gulf. It was merry out there you may believe. You should have seen him swimming with my lyre in his hand. The sea-weed was so tangled in his beard and hair that one was tempted to believe that it was Neptune himself. Just then came a wave as big as a house--

VALGERD. And then?

ORM. And then--I saw my lyre no more.

VALGERD. Orm! You jest while your lord and brother is perhaps peris.h.i.+ng out there! I command you--go at once and seek him! Do you hear?

ORM. Why, what is the matter? You were never before so concerned about your mate! You might find time to give me a drink of ale before I go.

VALGERD. Warm your knees by the hearth. I shall go--and defy wind and storm.