Early Plays - Catiline, the Warrior's Barrow, Olaf Liljekrans Part 60

ALFHILD. First to my father farewell I shall say!

Then into the mountains I make my way!

Down here I see Olaf wherever I go; I must up in the heights to steel my mind!

I must deaden my grief, forget what I know, And leave all the memories dear behind!

ALFHILD. The life in my dream had so rosy a hue!

'Tis nothing but fiction, nothing is true,-- 'Tis nothing but nonsense and s.h.i.+fting lies; Naught can be seized and held in the hand.

Naught must be looked at with open eyes, Nothing stands proof when we understand!

[The sound of trumpets is heard from the wood.]

ALFHILD. My mother's heirlooms I take with me; I shall bury them deep in the ground!

I shall bury them deep 'neath the tall birch tree, Over yonder where Olaf I found!

[She opens her bundle and takes out a bridal crown and other ornaments.]

ALFHILD. This crown did my mother once wear on her head; She too by the world then was tricked and misled, She too then in love and its power believed.

Was she too so rudely deceived?

Was it only in jest that my father did sing The pleasures that gladden the human breast?

Ah, then he should never have said anything; His songs have robbed me of earthly rest; His songs built a home for the ecstasies Of life in my heart,--now in ruin it lies!

[The trumpets are heard again.]

ALFHILD. Silver indeed is a metal of worth, 'Twill never crumble like autumn hay.

Were it hid for a thousand years in the earth, It would still glitter bright, it would never decay!

The pleasures of life are like autumn hay, And sorrow like silver that glitters alway!

[Ties the ornaments together in the bundle.]

ALFHILD. A magic treasure I often recall, From which dropped nine glorious pearls every night; But no matter how many the pearls it let fall, The treasure remained just as big and as bright!

ALFHILD. A treasure of magic, this sorrow of mine, And from it shall drip by night and by day, Not nine,--but ten thousand pearls that s.h.i.+ne,-- Yet the treasure shall never decay!-- Yes, the world has made me so wise,--so wise!

Once I followed the clouds in their flight, Flew dreaming with them on their path in the skies, And called them the swans of the light!

I thought that the trees spread their branches so wide, That I might walk in the shade; I thought there was life in the mountain side.

A sorry mistake I have made.

Now I know better;--for man alone Can revel in joy, can suffer despair.

In tree and in flower, friend there is none,-- My sorrow alone I must bear.

[She rises.]

ALFHILD. Away then! Up midst the ice and the snow,-- The grave is the only shelter below!

[She starts to leave.]

SCENE VIII

[ALFHILD, LADY KIRSTEN, ARNE, WEDDING GUESTS, PEASANTS and SERVANTS from various sides. Later OLAF LILJEKRANS.]

LADY KIRSTEN. There she is! Stand still, Alfhild! Do not try to escape,--else we shall shoot you.

ALFHILD. What do you want of me?

LADY KIRSTEN. That you shall learn soon enough.

LADY KIRSTEN. [Points to her bundle.] What is this you are carrying?

ALFHILD. My mother's treasures!

LADY KIRSTEN. Give it here! See, see! A crown of silver!

Indeed, Alfhild! If you are your mother's only daughter I am very much afraid the bridal crown will nevermore be needed in her family.

LADY KIRSTEN. [To the Servants.] Bind her! She stands there and pretends to be sad; no one can know what she is scheming.

[ALFHILD is bound.]

LADY KIRSTEN. [Aloud and with suppressed pa.s.sion.] The court is ready. As you all know, I have a legal and prescriptive right to protect my dominions, to pa.s.s judgment in accordance with the law of the realm on every one who does me harm on my own lands. This is what you, Alfhild, have presumed to do, and it is therefore that you now stand here accused before your judge. Defend yourself if you can, but do not forget it is a matter of life and death.

ARNE. But listen, Lady Kirsten!

LADY KIRSTEN. Excuse me, Lord Arne! I am within my rights here, and I intend to insist on them.

LADY KIRSTEN. [To ALFHILD.] Come forward and answer me!

ALFHILD. Do you but question me,--I shall answer!

LADY KIRSTEN. Many and grievous are the charges that are directed against you. First and foremost I charge you here with having beguiled my son, Olaf Liljekrans, with your unholy arts, so that he turned heart and soul away from his betrothed to whom he was pledged,--so that he, sick in heart, never at any time found peace in his home, but came up here to this unknown valley where you have had your home. All this could not have happened in any ordinary way; you are therefore accused of witchcraft,--defend yourself if you can.

ALFHILD. I have little to say in answer to this. Witchcraft you call that strange power that drew Olaf up here. Perhaps you are right; but this witchcraft was not of evil;--every hour that Olaf has been here G.o.d must surely have witnessed! Each thought that I have had of Olaf the angels of G.o.d must have known! And they had no occasion to blush.

LADY KIRSTEN. Enough, enough! You would add blasphemy to your transgression! Woe upon you, Alfhild! Your every word only adds weight to the scales. Yet, that is your affair!

LADY KIRSTEN. [To the rest.] I crave you all as witnesses to her answer.

[Turns to ALFHILD.]

LADY KIRSTEN. I charge you next with having again, this very night, with the aid of these same secret powers, met Olaf up here, and furthermore that you keep him concealed in here!

ALFHILD. There you are right! Secretly is he hidden here!

LADY KIRSTEN. You admit it?

ALFHILD. Yes, but however powerful you are, you will never be able to set him free. Perhaps it would be best for me if you were able; but neither you nor the whole wide world have the power to set him free!

LADY KIRSTEN. [In a violent outburst.] Now death will certainly be your punishment! Out with it,--where have you got him?

ALFHILD. [Presses her hands to her bosom.] In here--in my heart! If you can tear him out from it you can practice witchcraft better than I!