THE NORSEMAN
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 A DRAMA IN FOUR ACTS BY 
 ELIZABETH ALDEN CURTIS 
 
 PORTLAND MAINE 
 
 THE MOSHER PRESS 
 
 MDCCCCXII
 
 COPYRIGHT 
 
 ELIZABETH ALDEN CURTIS 
 1912
 
 This tale, that runs not smooth, of two who loved, 
 Of two who loved transcendently, and so 
 Turned the gods eyes upon them, and drew down 
 Hatreds, and obstacles, and plotted woe, 
 E en such as all the great, dead lovers knew, 
 Ere they beheld and reached their final goal, 
 Ere, in the twilight portals of the stars, 
 Rejoined they each his dear, divided soul, 
 Not singly stands this tale ! No perfect thing 
 Earth s envy spares, nor spares fate s black despite ! 
 So V was ordained, for Love s high venturers, 
 To tread the dim abysses of the night, 
 Onward, by Aengus and fair Edain, led ; 
 Maddened by visions, hemmed by phantoms round ; 
 ^et blessed beyond earth s easeful votaries, 
 Love-loosed from all things lesser than the sound 
 Of their own vows, breathed on the moon-bright air; 
 Veiled, as was Forgael, from the blight of time, 
 Enmeshed, at last, in sweet Dectora s hair ! 
 
 February 5, 1912. 
 
 20211CO
 
 PREFATORY NOTE 
 
 THE drama of THE NORSEMAN, adheres as closely as possible 
 to the story of Frithiof and Ingeborg, as it was told in the 
 ancient Frithiof Saga, of which the following is a brief extract: 
 
 " In Sognefylke, near the holy grove of Balder, dwelt King Bele; 
 two sons had he, Helge and Halfdan, and moreover a daughter, 
 Ingeborg the Fair. When he came to die, Bele warned his sons to 
 keep up friendship with the mighty Frithiof, a son of his friend, 
 Thorsten, who was the son of Viking. But the young kings refused 
 scornfully Frithiof s wooing for their sister s hand, and so he vowed 
 revenge, and that he never would come to their assistance. 
 
 " Soon after, it came to pass that when King Ring made war 
 against them, they sent to ask aid from Frithiof : he was playing 
 chess, and let himself not be one whit disturbed by their messenger. 
 
 " Ring conquered, and made the brothers promise Ingeborg s hand 
 to him. 
 
 " Meanwhile Frithiof had gone to see Ingeborg in Balder s temple 
 (which was a forbidden deed) and there he exchanged rings with 
 her; for to him the love of Ingeborg was a far weightier matter than 
 the favor of Balder. 
 
 " To punish him for his contempt of the shrine of Balder, the kings 
 laid upon Frithiof the task of going to the Faroes and demanding a 
 tribute. So Frithiof, with his foster brother, set sail in the ship, 
 Ellida, the best in all the North ; a ship which all said could under 
 stand the voice of men. After suffering shipwreck and enchantment, 
 they reached the Faroes, where Yarl Angantyr let him take the 
 tribute for friendship s sake, and so he departed. 
 
 Vll
 
 PREFATORY NOTE 
 
 " When he came back, he heard that the kings had burned his 
 dwelling, and that they were just then at the midsummer feast in 
 the grove of Balder. Thither he went, and found few folk within. 
 Frithiof flung the purse with the money in Helge s face, so that his 
 very teeth fell out; and then he was going away, when he beheld the 
 ring he had given Ingeborg on the arm of Helge s queen. He 
 dragged it from her with such force that she fell to the ground; 
 Balder s image was thrown into the fire, and the whole temple set 
 in flame. King Helge sought to pursue Frithiof, but his ships had 
 been made useless. 
 
 " Now Frithiof remained an outcast ; so he took to the ocean, and 
 he slew the fierce sea-kings, but let the merchants fare in peace. 
 And so, when he had gained great glory and wealth, he hied him 
 back again to the North, and went disguised as a salt-burner to the 
 court of King Ring. Ring knew him, and pitying his sad tale, com 
 manded that he should be set in the most honourable seat. Queen 
 Ingeborg spake but little with him. One day, Frithiof and the king 
 went out together into a wood, and the king laid him down to sleep ; 
 then Frithiof drew his sword, and threw it away. Then the king 
 told him how that he had known from the first evening who he 
 was." 
 
 There are several endings given, by the mythologists, to this legend. 
 One of the most usually accepted ones has been adapted to the 
 present play. The only decided liberties that have been taken with 
 the story, have been the placing of Ingeborg s ring on the arm of 
 Balder s image, instead of upon that of Helge s queen, for the 
 purpose of dignifying the scene, and heightening the effect of the 
 sacrilege; the turning back of the season of Frithiof s arrival at 
 the court of King Ring, from winter to autumn ; and a general 
 
 Vlll
 
 PREFATORY NOTE 
 
 shortening of the events of that period of the Saga into the possible 
 limits of a single stage act. 
 
 The lyrics, which occur in the drama, should be set to an almost 
 purely recitative music, which will in no sense impair the spoken 
 value of the words. We know little of the art of those earliest 
 skalds, or harpers, who told stories in song to the romance-loving, 
 heroic peoples of the antique world, but this much must be certain; 
 that the words, themselves, with all the thrilling, impassioned power 
 of spoken language, must have been clearly intelligible, and unhamp 
 ered by musical embellishment, or the interest of those long, narrative 
 song-poems could never have been sustained. A vibrant chord a 
 fiery stanza, differing not much from speech, save, perhaps, in its 
 rhythm, and return, on a last word, to music, as if tethered by a 
 golden thread of melody ; a minor plaint, accompanied by an 
 arpeggio undertone; who can suggest or outline the technique of 
 that lost art of story -telling-in-song ! Of the songs in the present 
 play, only one, the last, seems suited to anything like a modern 
 musical treatment, a distinct melody, perhaps, and barcarolle 
 rhythm. The others belong, I am sure, to that far-off day when the 
 singers were the poets, prophets, actors, and historians of the nation, 
 and "a song" must have had an infinitely fuller significance than 
 any that it holds, to-day. 
 
 E. A. C. 
 
 HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 
 February 2, 1912
 
 THE NORSEMAN
 
 THE PERSONS OF THE PLAY 
 
 SIGURD RING, King of Ringric 
 
 HELGE, > Kings of Sognefylke and Brothers of 
 
 HALFDAN, ) Ingeborg 
 
 THE CROWN PRINCE OF RINGRIC, a Child 
 
 A HIGH PRIEST OF BALDER 
 
 FRITHIOF, a Free Norseman, son of Thorsten, a Hero, 
 
 whose death has just occurred 
 BJORN, Comrade of Frithiof 
 HILDING, Foster-father of Frithiof and Ingeborg 
 BLAETAND 
 HALVAR, a Jester 
 
 HEm, } Two Witches 
 A SKALD 
 FIRST WARRIOR 
 SECOND WARRIOR 
 FIRST MARINER 
 SECOND MARINER 
 AN OLD MAN 
 HUNVOR, Queen to Helge 
 
 THE PRINCESS INGEBORG, Sister of Helge and Halfdan 
 KRAKE, Ingeborg s Maid-in-Waiting 
 PRIESTS OF BALDER, WARRIORS, MARINERS, VASSALS 
 and MAIDENS 
 
 The Play is laid in Iceland, in the period covered by the 
 poetic Edda
 
 THE SCENES 
 
 ACT I. SCENE i. Framnas. A Hall in Frithiof s House. 
 ACT II. SCENE i. Sognefylke. The Grove of Balder. 
 
 SCENE 2. The Sea Coast. 
 ACT III. SCENE i. A Road near Sognefylke. 
 
 SCENE 2. The Grove of Balder. 
 ACT IV. SCENE i. Ringric. The Feasting-Hall in King 
 
 Ring s Palace. 
 
 SCENE 2. A Terrace outside the Palace. 
 Four years are supposed to have elapsed between 
 Acts III and IV.
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 A DRAMA IN FOUR ACTS 
 
 ACT I 
 
 SCENE i. FRAMNAS. A Hall in FRITHIOF S house. The 
 walls are hung with weapons and spoils of the chase. 
 Oak benches, upon which armor is scattered. The floor 
 is strewn with rushes. Although it is early summer, a 
 bright fire burns on the hearth. At the back, a door 
 opening on a birch forest, with a glimpse of the sea 
 beyond. 
 
 A SKALD, heard singing, to the accompaniment of a 
 harp, as the curtain rises, and the twelve warriors of 
 THORSTEN, seated, listening, about the benches. A 
 maid, who has been quietly filling up the mead-horns, 
 goes out before the end of the song. 
 
 THE SKALD [Concluding.] 
 
 DEEPLY, in his rounded grave, 
 Thorsten sleeps beside the wave ; 
 Thus it is ye shall relate 
 Thorsten s deeds both good and great. 
 
 Like the snow-kissed Northern pine, 
 Stood he, in his day s decline ;
 
 THE N O R S E M A N 
 
 As the sun, at close of day, 
 Passed his mighty soul away. 
 
 Dim with years his mortal sight, 
 In Valhalla s Hall of Light, 
 There, Jorevermore, shall he 
 Odin s changeless glory see. 
 
 FIRST WARRIOR [ When the music has died away.} 
 
 Twas thus, indeed, great Thorsten lived and died, 
 Wearing his valor like a kingly crown ! 
 
 SECOND WARRIOR 
 Alas, we shall not see his like again ! 
 
 FIRST WARRIOR 
 Unless his spirit wakes in Frithiof. 
 
 That colt has grazed in scented fields too long 
 He needs must feel some strong adversity, 
 To stir the sweet contentment of his blood. 
 
 Mayhap the goad is even now prepared ! 
 I fear me that the temper of the King 
 Will not embrace young Frithiof s overture.
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 THE SKALD 
 
 What s this you speak of ? I am just returned 
 To Sognefylke, and the Kingdom s news 
 Outruns me. What is this of Frithiof ? 
 
 FIRST WARRIOR 
 
 Thou dost recall the life-long covenant 
 Twixt Thorsten and King Bele ? 
 
 THE SKALD 
 
 Aye, full well ! 
 
 FIRST WARRIOR 
 
 It was King Bele s wish that his two sons, 
 Helge and Halfdan, our late-crowned Kings, 
 And his sweet daughter, Princess Ingeborg, 
 Should, at his death, maintain, with Frithiof, 
 The friendship he had shown for Thorsten. So 
 
 SECOND WARRIOR {Interrupting him.] 
 
 So Frithiof has gone, this very day, 
 With young Bjorn, his sworn and chosen friend, 
 To lay his sword before the Kings of Sogn, 
 Offering to take his warlike father s place, 
 And fight the Kingdom s battles.
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 FIRST WARRIOR 
 
 Furthermore, 
 
 He goes, for this was Bele s true desire, 
 To ask her brothers for the Princess hand. 
 Thou knowest they were reared in Hilding s house, 
 Together, with this very end in view. 
 
 THE SKALD 
 
 "As fond as Frithiof and Ingeborg," 
 Was e er a saying in old Hilding s mouth! 
 And have these saplings never grown apart ? 
 
 FIRST WARRIOR 
 
 They are so grafted on each other s lives, 
 I think the natural order is reversed, 
 And that the tree doth live upon the shoot, 
 And all its better parts do spring therefrom. 
 
 THE SKALD 
 
 And what if Helge should refuse this suit ? 
 Men say he has a proud and grudging heart ! 
 
 SECOND WARRIOR [Grimly.] 
 
 Why, then will Thorsten s comrades have a word 
 To say for that which Thorsten held most dear ! 
 
 [Striking his sword-hilt, significantly] 
 A word so sharp that even Kings must hear !
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 [THE WARRIORS assent, hotly. So intent are they, that 
 BJORN enters, and stands in their midst, unnoticed. 
 He is young and golden-haired, and, in spite of his 
 heavy armor, looks like a lad, among the battle-scarred 
 soldiers of T/wrsten] 
 
 BJORN 
 
 An enemy might take you by surprise ! 
 
 Where are your ears, ye greybeards, and your eyes ? 
 
 [THE WARRIORS spring up, startled; upon seeing 
 BJORN, they surround him, eagerly.] 
 
 FIRST WARRIOR 
 
 Bjorn ! What ! Back so soon ? Where s Frithiof ? 
 Come boy, what news? What passed at Helge s court? 
 
 BJORN [Darkly.] 
 
 The foulest insult passed that e er I heard ! 
 
 [To THE WARRIORS.] 
 T was well I went with Frithiof, alone ! 
 Had ye been there, ye would have slain the King, 
 Upon his judging-seat, and thrown the realm 
 Into a revolution ! 
 
 [THE WARRIORS crowd closer about him, murmuring 
 excitedly.] 
 
 SECOND WARRIOR 
 
 Tell us more ! 
 Speak plainly all that thou hast hinted at !
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 BJORN 
 
 Frithiof is close behind me. He but stayed 
 
 To see the boat drawn safe upon the shore. 
 
 See, here he comes ! Now, learn the tale from him ! 
 
 [FRITHIOF is seen approaching, through the wood. THE 
 WARRIORS draw apart, to make way for him, and 
 salute him, with affection and pride, as he enters] 
 
 FRITHIOF [With a show of cheerfulness ] 
 
 Why now, good friends, t is joy to be at home ! 
 
 In this sweet circle should all journeys lead, 
 
 From home, toward home ; that home may shine more fair 
 
 For being glimpsed a-distant, like a star ! 
 
 FIRST WARRIOR [Solemnly.] 
 
 With joy do we behold thee, Frithiof, 
 And do most anxiously await thy news, 
 If it be good, we 11 publish thy success ; 
 If bad, our hungry swords will follow thee, 
 To better it, or be thy liegemen still, 
 In those bright Halls where Thorsten sits, on high ! 
 [THE WARRIORS assent, heartily.] 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 Your loyalty doth touch me to the heart ! 
 The more that, in this hour, my heart is sad, 
 And all my fortunes crossed and hindered. 
 For I have met with grave indignity 
 At hands which I had every right to hope
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 Would be outstretched in love, to clasp my own. 
 
 I will not further try your patiences ; 
 
 It happened thus ; before the Kings of Sogn, 
 
 As we agreed, I laid great Thorsten s sword ; 
 
 Seeking to join my father s far-famed arms 
 
 To Helge s forces ; and I then did sue 
 
 For my sweet Princess ; bade them to recall 
 
 How t was our good King Bele s oft-spoke wish 
 
 To see us wedded ; by their buried sire, 
 
 Did strive to move them to my heart s desire. 
 
 [THE WARRIORS are hushed with attention^ 
 They answered me with pride and insolence. 
 Dark Helge curled his crafty lip with scorn 
 And bade such high presumption be forgot 
 As sought to mate with blood of Odin s line, 
 A royal Princess with a vassal s son. 
 
 [THE WARRIORS murmur, indignantly^ 
 While, as for Iceland s battles, here he smiled 
 Toward the younger King, he doubted not 
 They could be fought without such aid as mine, 
 But, lest it should be said that they forgot 
 My father s service, rendered to the King, 
 I should be welcome to a vassal s place, 
 To serve them in their palace, or their court. 
 
 [Angry outcries from THE WARRIORS.] 
 Whereat, the freeman s blood within my veins 
 Leaped to avenge its insult, and I drew 
 My sword with sudden fury, crying out, 
 " Had I not journeyed hither, O proud King, 
 
 3
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 In such a mind as fits this solemn time, 
 
 Filled with the peace that lingers o er the grave, 
 
 I would have served thee, as I serve this shield ! " 
 
 With which, I struck his golden shield a blow, 
 
 The where it hung, in state, upon an oak, 
 
 That brought it crashing downward, cleft in twain, 
 
 And blanched the hue of royal arrogance ! 
 
 " Henceforth," I cried, " come not within my reach, 
 
 Nor ask my aid, nor further tempt my mood ! " 
 
 Whence, straight, I m come to Framnas, as you see ! 
 
 [Great excitement among THE WARRIORS. He goes on, 
 
 quieting it, by a gesture^ 
 
 My comrades, I have shown you all the truth 
 In this unhappy thing, that you might know 
 To what you pledge yourselves, in following me. 
 If there be any moved to serve the King, 
 1 bid him, with all friendship, to be gone ! 
 Are there, among you, any of this mind? 
 
 THE WARRIORS [Together. } 
 No 1 [Tumult^ 
 
 FR IT H IO F [ Quieting them. ] 
 
 Good friends! But one word more! Good Friends! 
 
 I pray ! 
 
 I am more grieved than I can well make known, 
 Even to you, who knew my hopes so well, 
 And see them here dispersed and set at naught, 
 That hatred should arise where love hath dwelt 
 
 14
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 So long a time, and such a peace give place 
 To such a quarrel ! Hardships, labors, wars, 
 I never would have murmured or turned back ! 
 But now, indeed, I know not where to turn ! 
 These deep affronts will burn into my blood, 
 Till vengeful thoughts infest my nights and days ! 
 Had I but ready means 
 
 THE WARRIORS 
 
 For Frith iof! 
 
 Call on us ! 
 
 We follow thee ! 
 
 FRITHIOF [Above the confusion.} 
 Good comrades, hear me speak ! Have patience, friends 
 
 FIRST WARRIOR 
 He counsels patience ! Is this Thorsten s son? 
 
 SECOND WARRIOR 
 What ! Shall we then be patient of affronts ? 
 
 FRITHIOF [Answering him.] 
 
 Aye, rather than of such untempered zeal ! 
 
 [To the rest.} 
 
 O, Comrades, Warriors, ye are they who fought, 
 With Thorsten, on full many a desperate field ; 
 Worn with the fury of the open seas ; 
 Grown grey in Iceland s vigils ; in her wars,
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 Following the blade that flashed so redly forth, 
 Above the gloom that veiled the battle-front, 
 As Uller s lights array their streaming spears 
 Gainst the thick darkness of the winter skies ! 
 Ye were my father s sinew and his strength ; 
 I am his son, and he doth live in me ! 
 Unto the ways of warfare was I born ; 
 Cradled in courage, schooled to smile on death ; 
 And here I pledge you, on what day we fight, 
 Such cheerful leadership, such joy in arms, 
 That you shall rush to meet the oncoming foe, 
 Like a great band of lovers to your loves ! 
 Ye are but lately come from Thorsten s grave, 
 The solemn dirge still echoes in your ears ; 
 For such a sire, beseech a worthy son ! 
 To gracious Odin let your prayers ascend, 
 To guide the arm that wields this spotless blade, 
 Great Angurvadel, Lightning of the North ! 
 
 [.Drawing his sword, which illumines the Hall like a 
 
 Ugh fn ing-flash . ] 
 
 So shall our land secure her memories, 
 And ye find consolation in your scars ! 
 King Bele was my master and my friend ; 
 He loved his Kingdom, and his sons full well ; 
 More than my life, his daughter do I love. 
 I cannot right, with sudden turbulence, 
 A wrong that of such friendships doth arise ! 
 Be patient, nothing doubting of my zeal, 
 Until I can discover some sure plan 
 
 16
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 Whereby, once more, to come into my own. 
 
 Go feast again ! Share, of these ancient halls, 
 
 The long-familiar hospitality, 
 
 Changed, yet unchanged, and, thinking on the past, 
 
 Leave, for a time, the present s need to me I 
 
 FIRST WARRIOR [Going.} 
 
 Why, so we will ! Thou sayest valiantly ! 
 By this we know thou art thy father s son I 
 
 SECOND WARRIOR 
 Wisdom with courage ! We shall fight for thee ! 
 
 [THE SKALD and WARRIORS go out, murmuring approv~ 
 al, among themselves} 
 
 FRITHIOF [To BJORN, who is going out with the rest} 
 
 Bjorn ! 
 
 BJORN [Coming back} 
 
 Frithiof, thou call st me ? 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 O, Bjorn, Bjorn, 
 
 My heart is lead and ice, within my breast ! 
 Come, give me comfort of thy counsel, friend ! 
 I shall go mad with pondering on this thing ! 
 How shall I mend it! For you know my hope 
 Has ever been that I might come to be 
 That, unto Iceland, which my father was ! 
 How shall I steal my dove from out the nest ?
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 How shall I punish Helge s insolence, 
 Without inflicting on our little Isle, 
 A graver wrong than has been done to me ? 
 O, think, Bjorn, how slighted they the past ! 
 Those happy days of our old Master s reign, 
 That Thorsten s mighty prowess kept secure ! 
 
 BJORN 
 
 They ruled like one, great Thorsten and the King 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 They were like brothers. But King Bele s sons 
 Would have no cousins of such plain complexion! 
 
 BJORN 
 
 Helge is full of dark hypocrisy 
 And cunning priestcraft! He it is that stirs 
 This mischief up, blowing the idle Prince 
 Like chaff before the wind of his intent ! 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 How have I roused this envy in the King ? 
 
 Thou know st well I have no love of place, 
 
 Nor dream of eminence ; that I would hang, 
 
 With scarce a sigh, my sword upon the wall, 
 
 And dwell with peace in these fair-colored fields, 
 
 Could I transplant my lily to their soil. 
 
 Ah, there s the rankle in the wound, Bjorn ! 
 
 Why did they place, my father and the king, 
 
 Their two young children, Ingeborg and me, 
 
 18
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 Beneath one roof, to grow inseparable ? 
 O, my White Rose, my little Ingeborg, 
 The spirit of thy youth is in my blood ! 
 The swift and tender valor of thy soul 
 Is the pure spell that leads me on to bliss ! 
 My life thou art, and he who takes my life, 
 It shall go hard but he shall lose his own ! 
 Thy smiles, the light I never sought in vain, 
 That love lit up within thy fearless eyes ; 
 The pressure of those little arms of thine 
 About my neck, when, in a laughing mood, 
 I bore thee high across the mountain-brook 
 O, father 1 O, King Bele ! Would ye take 
 The treasure from me, ye so freely gave ? 
 O, would ye break the heart ye woke in me ? 
 
 {Drawing his sword, in a frenzy of bitterness.} 
 Great Angurvadel, by thy living strength, 
 Thou art no vassal ! Thou, at least, hast drunk 
 The blood of Kings, and lain in Valund s hand ! 
 Come, Angurvadel, we will take the North 
 And found an empire and hew out a crown ! 
 Come! Thou and I, together 
 
 BjORN \_Laying a hand upon his shoulder I\ 
 Frithiof ! Pray ! 
 
 FRITHIOF {Recalling himself^ 
 
 Bjorn ! Forgive me ! I grow mad, I think, 
 With all this brooding and perplexity !
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 Speak to me, friend, restore me to myself! 
 
 I thirst for vengeance, but my heart cries out 
 
 That, so, I may prepare my love some hurt ! 
 
 For wisdom ! So to bear my father s sword 
 
 That these sweet valleys and slow-moving herds, 
 
 These wooded hill-tops and bright mountain-lakes, 
 
 May know no other shadow than is cast 
 
 Upon their beauty by the wandering clouds ! 
 
 I seem to feel, upon my soul, Bjorn, 
 
 The weight of some tumultuous destiny 
 
 I must enact, despite my gentler will ! 
 
 Thou saw st, but now, how jealously our men 
 
 Received the mention of this open wrong, 
 
 This public scorn that turns my heart to fire ! 
 
 How shall I cool it ? Counsel me, Bjorn ! 
 
 BJORN 
 
 Thou know st, Frithiof, I would give my life 
 To right thy wrongs, to serve thee anyway ! 
 I m a rough soldier, shy of flattering words ; 
 My loves, for this, lie deeper than my lips ; 
 And thee, O chosen comrade, have I loved 
 Since that first morn, when, like unbridled colts, 
 We ran, together, joyously afield. 
 Believe me, Frithiof, to see thee sad, 
 To see thee taunted by a prouder foe 
 Than I can put to silence with my sword, 
 Goes to my heart, as strong wine to the head ! 
 Let but dark Helge come within my reach, 
 
 20
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 Upon a free-fought field, I ll carve for thee 
 So bright a vengeance on the prostrate King 
 As shall win notice of the bloodiest ground ! 
 Enough of this ! Listen, O Frithiof, 
 To such plain counsel as I have to give, 
 T is taught me by my diligence for thee ! 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 Good friend, I know thy love ! Speak on, Speak on 
 
 BJORN \Beckoning FRITHIOF to the doorl\ 
 
 See yonder captive sea-bird, where she rides 
 The leaping waves that touch her sturdy bow, 
 And race along her shining length of keel ! 
 
 FRITHIOF {Looking seaward^ 
 Ellida, thou best ship in all the North ! 
 
 BJORN 
 
 Loose those black pinions, swifter than the breeze ; 
 Without delay for Sognefylke sail, 
 To-night, the wind and tide will favor thee, 
 See for thyself, the Princess Ingeborg, 
 Recount thy wrongs, and let her counsel thee. 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 O, best of guides ! My pulses leap with joy 
 At thought of it ! But Helge keeps her close 
 
 21
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 Within the temple ! It is held a crime 
 For any man to speak to any maid, 
 Within the shrine of Balder. 
 
 BJORN 
 
 There s the grove ! 
 
 By Krake, Ing borg s maiden, I could send 
 A message, bidding her to meet thee there. 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 And is this maiden to be trusted, so ? 
 
 BJORN 
 I d stake my life upon it ! 
 
 FRITHIOF [Smiling.] 
 
 What, Bjorn ! 
 
 Thou, too, old soldier, cased in triple-mail, 
 Has Freya found a maid to vanquish thee ? 
 
 BJORN 
 
 And if I love, my love must wait on thine ! 
 I ve sworn to share thy fortunes, Frithiof ; 
 As thou dost fare, so Bjorn will fare with thee ! 
 
 FRITHIOF [Moved.] 
 
 O brother, how may I deserve thy love ! 
 To-night, we 11 leave our fears upon the shore !
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 Would night were come! "Inaction" is a word 
 To shake the firmest hero of us all ! 
 Come, let s go bid the seamen to prepare 
 The ship for sailing! 
 
 BJORN 
 
 Why, with all my heart ! 
 \They go toward the door. BJORN, who is in advance, 
 
 halts upon the threshold^ 
 Frithiof, what s this, two strangers, as I see 
 Are coming hither, through the birchen-wood ! 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 Wait ! Let us get a prior look at them ! 
 
 [FRITHIOF and BJORN look, cautiously, around the 
 door. HILDING and BLAETAND are seen climbing 
 the forest-fath. HILDING is old and feeble, and 
 leans for support upon his companion^ 
 
 From Sognefylke ! Hilding, by my faith ! 
 What can this mean, Bjorn ? We must be wise 
 And wary ! Bring the board ! A game of chess 
 Will serve to give our moves serenity ! 
 
 \They hastily set a chess-board, seat themselves, and 
 appear to be absorbed in the game. HILDING and 
 BLAETAND enterJ] 
 
 HILDING 
 
 Greeting, O Frithiof ! 
 
 2 3
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 [FRITHIOF pays no heed. He is disconcerted, but con 
 tinues, suavely.] 
 
 I am come in haste, 
 From Sognefylke, with important news. 
 
 FRITHIOF [ Without looking up.} 
 
 Say st thou ? Can aught from Sognefylke bear 
 Such import ? 
 
 [As HILDING hesitates, in dismay.] 
 
 Well, say on ! Unfold thy news ! 
 
 HILDING [Concealing his annoyance] 
 
 King Ring, of Ringric, doth invade our coast ; 
 
 Hourly the danger grows more imminent ; 
 
 And I am sent, O Frithiof, unto thee, 
 
 To ask that thou wilt bring thy matchless ship, 
 
 The far-renowned Ellida, with thy men, 
 
 And aid us to repulse this enemy, 
 
 Who, though an aged, is a mighty man. 
 
 FRITHIOF [To BJORN; as if intent upon the game] 
 
 Bjorn, thy King s imperiled. Take this pawn, 
 And scruple not ! 
 
 HILDING [Angrify.] 
 
 Thy bearing is too bold ! 
 Is it thy purpose to affront the King ? 
 
 24
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 FRITHIOF [Looking at him, for the first time.} 
 It is my purpose and my fondest wish. 
 
 HILDING [With a change of method.} 
 
 The Princess serves in Balder s holy shrine ; 
 When told of Iceland s great necessity, 
 And peril of approaching war, she said 
 The people s hopes would all be fixed on thee. 
 
 FRITHIOF [To BJORN.] 
 
 My Queen, Bjdrn ! Would st thou involve my Queen ? 
 Come, now I throw myself into the game, 
 And shall prove crafty in defense of her ! 
 
 HILDING [Thoroughly angered.} 
 
 I am too old to bear with mockery ! 
 Shall not my claim to thine affection gain 
 Respect, at least? Some answer to my suit? 
 What, no reply? Then, Frithiof, fare thee well! 
 
 FRITHIOF [Rising, and taking HILDING by both hands.} 
 
 Father, my answer to King Bele s sons 
 I have already made. My disrespect 
 Was for thine enterprise, and not for thee. 
 
 [He leads HILDING to a seat ; they talk, aside} 
 
 BjORN [Approaching BLAETAND.] 
 
 Art thou not Sigurd s son ? And used we not 
 To sport, together, in bright Aegir s wave ? 
 
 25
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 BLAETAND 
 
 I did not think thou would st remember me ! 
 
 BJORN 
 
 I do recall thee well. A saucy boy ! 
 
 BLAETAND [Smiling.] 
 
 Thou wert a bold one ! There were few, indeed, 
 Who dared to bait the little Framnas bear ! 
 
 BJORN 
 Wert thou a friend to Thorsten ? 
 
 BLAETAND 
 
 Who was not ? 
 
 BJORN 
 
 Then thou dost bear his son no hostile will ? 
 
 BLAETAND 
 
 Nay, I have heard but good of Frithiof. 
 
 BJORN 
 
 For old times sake, wilt thou the bearer be 
 Of a brief message from the Framnas bear, 
 To a white swan, in Sogne ? 
 
 26
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 BLAETAND [Smiling.] 
 
 That I will ! - 
 If I can find the lovely creature out ! 
 
 BJORN 
 
 T is Krake, Ing borg s maiden. Know st thou her? 
 
 BLAETAND [Surprised.] 
 I know her well ! 
 
 BJORN 
 
 Then I will write a word. 
 [He goes out.] 
 
 HILDING [To FRITHIOF.] 
 Reflect, O son ! Is there no wiser way ? 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 Father, there seems no other way, at all. 
 
 HILDING [Sorrowfully.] 
 
 So fair a bud to know this early blight ! 
 Four lovely children, playing round my door, 
 I see ye, still ! Helge, a silent boy, 
 And Halfdan, shy and slender as a fawn, 
 Thou, in thine azure mantle, a full head 
 Taller than either, and more kinglike, tool 
 
 27
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 But, ah, the fairest flower of you all 
 Was Ing borg ! Little Ing borg ! Such a child ! 
 A rose, a lily ! Who could paint her face, 
 As then it bloomed upon the sunlit world, 
 A-dance upon its little, snowy stem ! 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 Enough, good father ! Do not wring my heart 
 With the remembrance. T was too sweet a dream 
 To outlast childhood! 
 
 [Including BLAETAND.] 
 
 Will you rest yourselves, 
 Take some refreshment, here, before you go ? 
 
 Nay, son ! Our galley waits upon the shore. 
 Rouse not thine household, for we must be gone 
 As quickly as we came. 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 Your blessing, then, 
 
 O father, for who knows when we shall meet 
 Again, in this all-transitory world. 
 \He kneels :~\ 
 
 HILDING \Laying his hands on FRITHIOF S headJ] 
 
 Odin protect thee, my beloved son ; 
 
 Our Father guide thee to His lasting good. 
 
 28
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 [He raises FRITHIOF, and they go out, together, slowly, 
 by the same door through which HILDING and 
 BLAETAND came, as BJORN re-enters.~\ 
 
 BJORN [To BLAETAND.] 
 Here is the letter ! You 11 deliver it ? 
 
 BLAETAND 
 
 As sure as I set foot upon the shore ! 
 
 [They go out, together, in conversation. From the door- 
 yard, FRITHIOF and BJORN watch HILDING and 
 BLAETAND depart.~\ 
 
 FRITHIOF and BJO RN [Re-entering^ 
 
 Farewell, good Hilding! 
 
 Blaetand, fare thee well 1 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 Now, with what heart shall we set out, Bjorn ! 
 O all ye tides, and all ye favoring gales, 
 Advance my hopes, and fill my eager sails ! 
 
 CURTAIN 
 
 29
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 ACT II 
 
 SCENE i. At Sognefylke. The holy grove of Balder. In 
 the background, the temple. Before it, in a little clear- 
 ingi a g rea t oak, with gnarled trunk and spreading 
 branches. The clearing is surrounded by thick under 
 woods. It is night. HELGE and THE HIGH PRIEST 
 enter. 
 
 HELGE [In. a low voice.} 
 How came you by this news ? 
 
 THE HIGH PRIEST 
 
 Why, t was by chance ! 
 
 Some of our younger brothers went to bathe, 
 At daylight, in the sea. Returning home, 
 They passed before the temple, and beheld 
 Blaetand, the son of Sigurd, in close talk 
 With Krake, as she spread the Princess robes 
 To bleach upon the grass ; and saw her take 
 A letter from his hand. Thereafter, came 
 The Princess unto me, and begged to keep 
 The altar-vigil quite alone, to-night, 
 Save for her maiden. Viewing all these things 
 With great suspicion, I have sent to thee 
 Thrice, before now, but found thee not at court. 
 
 3
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 HELGE 
 
 Thou hast done well ! T is most significant ! 
 This Blaetand went with Hilding, yesterday, 
 To Frithiof s house. If I could trap them, here ! 
 Hast thou, say, half a score of stalwart men 
 Who will, to-night, keep watch upon this wood ? 
 
 THE HIGH PRIEST 
 
 Yes, Sire ! Such as proudly will obey 
 Thy royal bidding ! 
 
 HELGE 
 
 Then assemble them 
 With all despatch ! The night wears on apace ! 
 
 THE HIGH PRIEST 
 
 Sire, at once ! I pray thee, come this way! 
 
 [HELGE and THE HIGH PRIEST go out. Enter 
 FRITHIOF and BJORN, cautiously^ 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 This is the hour when they should meet us here ! 
 
 How still the grove and darkened temple lie ! 
 
 Thou dost not think that Blaetand could have failed ? 
 
 BJORN [Interrupting him. ] 
 
 Nay, look ! Is that a light within the shrine ? 
 [A faint light appears within the temple.~\ 
 
 3 1
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 We 11 hide ourselves ! Some priest may be astir ! 
 
 \They conceal themselves. KRAKE comes, cautiously, 
 out of the temple .] 
 
 KRAKE [ In a whisper.} 
 Bjorn ? 
 
 [BJORN and FRITHIOF show themselves.} 
 
 BJORN 
 Krake, we re here ! Is all the world asleep ? 
 
 KRAKE 
 
 As sound as Rinda ! \To BJORN.] Blaetand brought thy 
 
 word 
 
 At morning, and the Princess made request 
 That she and I might tend the altar-fire, 
 To-night, together, offering special prayer 
 For Iceland s safe deliverance from her foe. 
 
 [They smile. To FRITHIOF.] 
 Sir, I will go and bring the Princess hither ! 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 Do so, with every caution and despatch ! 
 Thou art a faithful maiden ! 
 
 [KRAKE goes into the temple and returns with INGE- 
 BORG, who hastens to FRITHIOF.] 
 
 32
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 INGEBORG {Holding FRITHIOF by the hand; to BJORN.] 
 
 Good Bjorn, 
 Art thou a friend to us in this, as ever ? 
 
 BJORN 
 
 Madam, till death and after ! 
 
 INGEBORG 
 
 Staunchly said ! 
 Do thou and Krake watch without the wood ! 
 
 BJORN 
 
 We go, at once ! [To FRITHIOF.] If any come this way 
 Krake will warn thee. 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 Good 1 Be vigilant ! 
 [BJORN and KRAKE go out.~\ 
 
 INGEBORG 
 
 O Best Beloved, art thou come at last ? 
 
 FRITHIOF [Taking her in his arms.] 
 Think what "at last" to thee, must seem to me ! 
 
 INGEBORG [Smiling tenderly.] 
 Vain Heart, dost thou lay claim to loving most ? 
 33
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 I have loved longer! Thou can st not deny 
 I dreamed of thee, ere thou did st dream of me ! 
 
 INGEBORG 
 
 Ah, Love, but I did dream myself awake, 
 Hearing thy voice, that called me, in my sleep ! 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 So love is born, the hour that gave him birth 
 Shall not concern us ! O, my Life and Breath, 
 So we are one, what matters all the rest ? 
 
 \_After a moment ; leading her to a seat among the roots 
 of the oak-tree, on the side concealed from the tempi e.~\ 
 Sit here, my Princess, on this lowly throne, 
 And listen to thy least of worshippers, 
 Who has a weight of words upon his heart, 
 That must be uttered in a winged hour! 
 
 INGEBORG 
 
 O Sweet, say on ! For time runs furiously 
 Away, when thou and I but look on him ! 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 Hast thou heard aught of how thy brothers met 
 The offer of my aid, and scorned my suit 
 For thy dear hand ? 
 
 34
 
 THE N O R S E M A N 
 
 INGEBORG 
 
 Oh, I have heard ! And, Love, 
 My heart so burned to venge thy treacherous hurt, 
 That half I feared it would consume itself ! 
 I would have sent to thee, but have no friend, 
 Save Krake, I would dare to trust so far. 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 O thou most blessed, generous champion ! 
 
 Ingeborg, I fear no fate in all the world, 
 
 Save that some fate may part us ! I have had, 
 
 Of late, a cruel vision, in my sleep, 
 
 Of being sundered from thee, hopelessly, 
 
 By some rude trick of baleful destiny, 
 
 And, from my separate exile, I have waked 
 
 With tear-blind eyes, and clenched, despoiled hands ! 
 
 INGEBORG [/ alarm, soothing him.] 
 
 Nay, dearest, speak not so ! The gods may hear ! 
 Yet t is not strange that, twixt these stressful days, 
 You should have dreamed so, for your daytime thoughts 
 Were filled with pondering on our unfixed fate, 
 And sleep, that drugs the will, did but unleash 
 The fears your waking self was master of. 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 O little hand, O little, starry hand, 
 
 To bear such certain soothing in a touch ! 
 
 35
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 Yet for this very purpose am I come, 
 
 That this small hand may put great fears to rest ! 
 
 Bravest and truest, wilt thou come away, 
 
 Before the sun shall wake this fitful world 
 
 To one more day of our uncertainty ? 
 
 Our good ship frets at anchor, in the bay ; 
 
 The tide s at flood, and she will bear us far 
 
 From all pursuers, to bright, southern shores, 
 
 Where I shall found a kingdom, for my Queen, 
 
 More rich and rare than any Northern throne, 
 
 We are beset by desperate circumstance, 
 
 Grave war impends, and threatens our escape ; 
 
 To halt in our design, may mean to lose 
 
 All that makes man and woman godlike, free, 
 
 Yea, all life s hope of best and tenderest. 
 
 Dear, thou wilt come ? Thou wilt adventure so, 
 
 With one whose life doth hang upon thy love ? 
 
 INGEBORG 
 To-day and now, Beloved of my Soul ! 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 Seems, then, "to-day" a day too soon for love? 
 
 INGEBORG 
 
 Nay, dear my lord, to love s impatient sense, 
 
 Seconds seem ages that delay our bliss ! 
 
 Yet, were we leaving any way untried 
 
 That seems less headlong! Frithiof, thinkest thou 
 
 My brothers wills might ever softened be ? 
 
 36
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 Never to give consent to thee and me. 
 
 INGE BO RG [Rising.] 
 
 Then come, bright day, and smile upon a love 
 Too strong for fate to sunder or compel ! [To FRITHIOF.] 
 Through all the world, beyond the farthest sea, 
 Whither thou goest, I will go with thee ! 
 
 FRITHIOF [Embracing her, rapturously.] 
 Now am I made of all Earth s sons most blest! 
 
 [Taking from his arm a ring of massive and antique 
 pattern, surmounted by a cluster of rubies ^\ 
 
 Dear Bride, Pure Soul, put on this golden ring. 
 Long has it been an heirloom in my race ; 
 T is said that Valund forged and fashioned it ; 
 Heroes have worn it, magic is its power. 
 T will serve as pledge and symbol of our love, 
 The shining circle of our minds and souls, 
 Lit with the fiery jewels of our blood ! 
 [He places the ring on her arm. ] 
 
 INGEBORG 
 
 When I part from it may my frame be cold, 
 
 And blind my vision to this mortal scene ! 
 
 [The first ; faint light begins to appear in the East. A 
 bird twitters^] 
 
 37
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 FRITHIOF [Startled.] 
 
 Day dawns ! Make haste, O Sunlight of my Soul ! 
 Thy faithful Krake 11 go with thee ! 
 
 INGEBORG [Smiling.} 
 It is most certain, for she loves Bjorn ! 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 Scarce more than thee, I d swear ! I 11 fetch them both. 
 Hast thou a heavy mantle ? It is cold 
 Within the galley, on the morning sea. 
 
 INGEBORG [Going.} 
 I 11 get a few necessities together. 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 Dearest, make haste ! The light grows all too fast ! 
 
 INGEBORG 
 
 I shall be ready when you come again ! 
 
 [She goes into the temple. FRITHIOF runs off in the 
 direction BJORN and KRAKE have taken. A com 
 pany of THE PRIESTS of Balder, led by HELGE and 
 THE HIGH PRIEST, silently enter, and surround the 
 clearing} 
 
 THE HIGH PRIEST [To HELGE.] 
 Sire, they are returning, hide thyself ! 
 
 38
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 HELGE [To THE PRIESTS.] 
 
 Remember to disarm them suddenly ! 
 
 [All conceal themselves in ambush. FRITHIOF, BJORN, 
 and KRAKE re-enter. ] 
 
 KRAKE [Anxiously.] 
 Did you not hear a sound within the wood ? 
 
 BJORN \Re-assuringly ^ 
 Why, waking woods are full of rustling sound ! 
 
 KRAKE 
 
 Nay, this was different ! It grows too light ! 
 Conceal yourselves within the temple-gate, 
 While I go fetch my mistress ! Come this way ! 
 
 BJORN 
 
 T is sacrilege for us to enter there ! 
 
 FRITHIOE 
 
 We 11 take thy maid s good counsel ! Come, Bjorn ! 
 Great Balder is the god of human joy, 
 And pure loves will not offend his shrine. 
 
 [FRITHIOF, BJORN, and KRAKE, enter the temple. THE 
 PRIESTS draw closer, in waiting. It grows lighter^ 
 
 39
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 THE HIGH PRIEST [In a low voice.] 
 
 Be ready, now ! The King will give the sign ! 
 
 [FRITHIOF and INGEBORG, BJORN and KRAKE re-enter, 
 ready for flight ; the women are closely veiled, and 
 wrapped in dark mantles.] 
 
 INGEBORG [Turning, for a last look at the temple.} 
 
 Farewell, Bright Balder, may thy blessing fall 
 On us, thy homeless children, faring forth 
 To love s divine adventure ! 
 
 [ They all turn, reverently, toward the temple. As they 
 do so, HELGE steps out, behind them, giving the 
 signal to THE PRIESTS. They throw themselves upon 
 FRITHIOF and BJORN, who struggle fiercely, but are 
 overcome by numbers, and the suddenness of the at 
 tack, and bound, before they can draw their swords. 
 As THE PRIESTS form a circle around their prisoners, 
 and the two women, who cling to them, panic-stricken, 
 the sun rises in full splendour, and the birds begin to 
 sing, in the forest] 
 
 HELGE [To FRITHIOF, tauntingly] 
 
 How now, young braggart, thou who would st defend 
 Our Kingdom with the might of thy strong arm ? 
 Had st thou not wit enough to steal a maid 
 From these unwarlike zealots, holy men, 
 Whose lives are spent in quietude and prayer ? 
 
 40
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 A poor accounting for a hero ! Come ! 
 
 Could st thou not keep thy booty with that sword 
 
 Which, in thy speech, was so invincible ? 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 This hour is thine, O Helge ! It may be, 
 
 An hour will dawn when I shall answer thee ! \_Furious ly.~\ 
 
 Loose but these bonds, and I will drive thy crew 
 
 Of hangdog priests, before thee, to the sea, 
 
 To drown like rats ! Yea, with this single sword ! 
 
 \In a frenzy of helpless anger J] 
 Thou dar st not, Helge ! Dar st not set me free ! 
 
 HELGE 
 
 Peace, ruffian ! \To INGEBORG, grimly.~\ 
 Now, fair sister, come with me ! 
 
 [Zfe pulls her away from FRITHIOF, and THE PRIESTS 
 close in around the prisoners, as the curtain falls :] 
 
 CURTAIN
 
 THE N O R S E M A N 
 
 SCENE 2. The sea-coast near Sognefylke ; a stormy sunset, 
 at the end of the same day. A twelve-oared galley is 
 drawn up on the beach. The Ellida is not seen. 
 
 HELGE and HALFDAN enter. HALFDAN, a slender 
 youth, carries a falcon on his wrist. 
 
 HALFDAN {Petulantly^ 
 
 I 11 have no words with these malignant hags ! 
 HELGE 
 
 I will instruct them. Be more satisfied ! 
 Statescraft does not absorb thee overmuch ! 
 I would thy sports were sterner ! 
 
 HALFDAN [Impatiently^ 
 
 Dost thou so ? 
 
 And I that thine were less mischievous ! Come ! 
 I do not like this mixture of thy brew, 
 Witchcraft, and spying priests in ambuscade 1 
 Frithiof was e er an honest lad, enow, 
 Why not pronounce him banished, honestly ? 
 
 HELGE [Sternly.} 
 
 And loose the foremost foeman in the North 
 Against our Kingdom ? Folly sits most plain 
 In lofty places ! Why, thou silly boy, 
 Iceland would be in arms for Frithiof, 
 
 42
 
 THE NORSE M A N 
 
 Ere Halfdan could exchange his hunting-spear 
 For stouter weapons ! Thorsten was the source 
 Of Iceland s valor ; Frithiof bears his bow ; 
 Ere he can bend it, we must vanquish him ! 
 
 HALFDAN 
 He would have cast his vantage in thy scale. 
 
 HELGE 
 
 And robbed me, after, of pre-eminence ! 
 Of such pretensions will I strip him bare, 
 And cast him forth like scum upon the tide ! 
 
 HALFDAN 
 
 I would not be my brother s enemy ! 
 
 HELGE [ With meaning.^ 
 
 See to it, then, that thou remain st his friend ! 
 
 Keep to thy falcon-flying ! I will steer 
 
 Our ship of state among these transient shoals. 
 
 HALFDAN 
 
 T would take small wit to presage for the barque 
 A tortuous passage! 
 
 HELGE 
 
 Peace ! Who comes this way ? 
 
 43
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 HALFDAN \ReeonnoiteringI\ 
 
 Methinks they are the beauteous maids with whom 
 We have an assignation. Now, Sir King ! 
 
 \_He throws himself on the shingle, and gives his atten 
 tion to teasing the falcon. HELGE turns away, with 
 an angry gesture, to meet HAM and HEID, who enter. 
 HAM is gaunt and tall, with streaming hair and 
 fluttering rags. HEID is squat, and hoary with age, 
 gnarled and bent into grot<sque postures.] 
 
 HELGE 
 
 How now, good dames ? Are you inclined to serve 
 Your King, discreetly, with your magic arts ? 
 
 HAM 
 
 Sire, an we may. 
 
 HEID 
 
 An it should be a case 
 Wherein our arts may serve thee. 
 
 HELGE 
 
 Such it is. 
 
 You know how Frithiof, Thorsten s lawless son, 
 Was found, at morn, in Balder s holy grove, 
 Wooing the Princess at the very shrine. 
 
 44
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 He has been sentenced, for this sacrilege, 
 To sail, to-night, bound for the Faroe Isles, 
 There to collect a tribute, from their Earl, 
 That formerly was paid to Iceland s King. 
 
 [Pointing off stage. ] 
 His ship lies in the offing, rigged to sail ! 
 
 THE WITCHES 
 
 Ho, Ho! A wily King! 
 
 A crafty Prince ! 
 [They distort themselves with laughter,] 
 
 HALFDAN [From his couch, on the sand ; with 
 feigned humility.] 
 
 Nay, worthy charmers ! Softly, by your leaves ! 
 It was our brother s plan ! I would not seem 
 To deck myself in borrowed artifice. 
 
 HELGE [Sternly.] 
 
 Peace, trifler ! [To THE WITCHES.] Prithee, save your 
 
 merriment 
 For some more sportive and more fit occasion. 
 
 HAM [Fawning.] 
 
 Sire, if we were merry, t was to think 
 
 How soundly thou had st dealt with this young knave. 
 
 45
 
 THE NORSE M A N 
 
 HEID [Chuckling.} 
 
 To take, with twenty men, from the proud Yarl, 
 Angantyr, tribute which has not been paid 
 Since antique times ! There 11 not be left so much 
 As hide or hair of any of his crew ! 
 
 HELGE [Darkly.] 
 
 Of that I would make surer ! Frithiof bears 
 A magic sword, and steers a charmed ship ! 
 Warfare is full of fortunes and escapes 
 Miraculous, attended by the gods ! 
 
 [To HEID ; fiercely} 
 
 Hast thou a spell to raise the ocean-bed, 
 And bid it sink again, sucking all things 
 Less than itself into a maelstrom dark 
 Of sure annihilation ? 
 
 HEID [Gloating.} 
 
 Such a storm, 
 My arts can summon up ! 
 
 HELGE [To HAM.] 
 
 Can st thou array 
 All the relentless forces of the air 
 Against the strength of man, till ships are strewn 
 Upon the hungry waters, horribly ? 
 
 46
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 HAM [Exulting.] 
 Such havoc can I loose upon the void ! 
 
 HELGE {Dropping his voice.] 
 
 Frithiof, but now, has promised to set sail 
 At sundown, be the weather foul or fair ; 
 Call up a storm that shall make sure his death, 
 And I 11 reward your cunning, liberally. 
 
 THE WITCHES [Greedily.] 
 
 What shall we have ? 
 
 What shall our payment be? 
 
 HELGE 
 
 Gold, gold, and gold again, and yet more gold ! 
 
 [Aside.] 
 Hate makes a spendthrift of a frugal man ! 
 
 THE WITCHES 
 
 Sire, t is done ! 
 
 We 11 do thy royal will ! 
 
 HALFDAN [Rising with a shudder^ 
 
 I have no mind or temper for such means 
 To dire ends ! The gods be merciful ! 
 
 47
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 [HELGE and HALFDAN stand aside. THE WITCHES, 
 after a glance at the sky, grimace at each other, and 
 draw two circles in the sand, within which they carve 
 runes, with their staffs. They begin a weird dance. 
 It grows darker^ 
 
 HAM [Chanting.} 
 
 Gust, and squall, and biting gale 
 Fret and tear the Norseman s sail ; 
 Tempest fierce and hurricane, 
 Dive into the pallid main, 
 And with dreadful pinions sweep 
 Billows high as hell is deep ; 
 Powers of death, bestride the wave, 
 To his dim, unfathomed grave 
 Draw the luckless seaman down, 
 Like a trap-held rat to drown. 
 
 [Threatening masses of cloud begin to drive across the 
 sky.] 
 
 [HEID Chanting. ] 
 
 Gloom and horrid darkness spread 
 O er the Norseman s fated head ; 
 Numbing cold and stinging hail 
 Freeze his blood and tear his sail ; 
 Ashen mists obscure his way ; 
 Thunder roll and lightning play ; 
 Demons fright his desperate crew 
 
 48
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 With phantom shapes and terrors new ; 
 Cast his barque, with fatal shock 
 On the sharp and rending rock, 
 Whelmed and done, to fill and sink, 
 O er the whirlpool s yawning brink. 
 
 [The sea rises. Lightning and distant thunder. HALF- 
 DAN buries his face in his doak.~\ 
 
 HELGE 
 
 How now, thou craven Prince? Hold up thy head! 
 
 T is not thy knell these ghostly sibyls sound ! 
 
 Here comes the Court ! Now, show thyself a man ! 
 
 [HALFDAN recovers himself. THE WITCHES go out. 
 FRITHIOF, BJORN, and MARINERS, led by THE 
 PRIESTS of Balder, enter, followed by HUNVOR, 
 INGEBORG, KRAKE, HILDING, BLAETAND, and 
 COURTIERS. FRITHIOF and BJORN are still bound. 
 The sun sets, as the procession approaches, and the 
 storm begins to increase in violence. HALFDAN gives 
 the falcon to a pagc.~\ 
 
 THE HIGH PRIEST 
 
 Sire, the prisoner has agreed to pay 
 The penalty thy mercy doth impose. 
 
 HELGE [To FRITHIOF.] 
 
 Wilt thou embark, at once, upon this quest, 
 Pledging thine oath that thou wilt not return 
 To Iceland, till this tribute is secured ? 
 
 49
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 Shall I be freely pardoned, if I do 
 Succeed in this ? 
 
 HELGE 
 
 All will be pardoned thee. 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 Loose, then, these bonds, and we 11 essay the task ! 
 [THE PRIESTS release FRITHIOF and BJORN.] 
 
 FIRST MARINER [To FRITHIOF ; aside.} 
 
 We shall take death aboard, if we embark 
 In such a gale ! 
 
 SECOND MARINER [Aside.] 
 
 Good master, be advised ! 
 
 FRITHIOF [To THE MARINERS.] 
 
 My word is pledged. Our Warriors are on board. 
 If ye fear death, withdraw from this emprise, 
 If not, go launch the galley with all speed. 
 
 [THE MARINERS go down to the shore, and prepare to 
 launch the galley. The storm increases in fury} 
 
 5
 
 INGEBORG [Throwing herself, suddenly, on her knees, 
 before HELGE.] 
 
 Brother, a little mercy ! In this sky ? 
 Delay them till to-morrow ! Be implored ! 
 Sweet brother, till to-morrow ! I 11 engage 
 My life upon their going ! 
 
 HELGE [Dragging her, roughly, to her feet .] 
 
 Wayward girl ! 
 
 Thou frail betrayer of thy sacred trust, 
 And queenly office, get thee from my sight ! 
 Lest I withdraw, in looking on thy shame, 
 The mercy I have shown ! 
 
 \_He pushes her from him. She is received into the 
 arms of KRAKE. FRITHIOF is restrained, by 
 BJORN, from drawing his sword against HELGE. 
 To FRITHIOF.] 
 
 And now, begone, 
 
 Thou ravisher of shrines ! Thou plotter thou ! 
 Thou foul blasphemer of the most high gods ! 
 
 FRITHIOF [Proudly^ 
 I have blasphemed no god, nor wronged no shrine. 
 
 HELGE 
 
 Why, now, thou lay st a lie upon thy sin ! 
 We took thee in the very temple-gate ! 
 
 5 1
 
 T HE NORSEMAN 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 Temples are man-made stuff! The gods do dwell 
 In honest hearts, in fields, and tranquil air ; 
 Where er good actions are, the gods are there ! 
 
 [To INGEBORG.] 
 
 Farewell, dear love, dear life, dear bride, dear friend i 
 Nay, grieve not so ! I shall behold again 
 Thy face illumed with joy ! Faith tells rne so ! 
 
 \To HILDING, putting INGEBORG into his arms.] 
 Father, thy child ! Good Krake, fare thee well ! 
 
 \He runs down to the shore, and leaps into the galley .] 
 
 BJORN \To KRAKE.] 
 Sweet girl, keep faith ! Think on thy rough Bjorn ! 
 
 KRAKE 
 
 As I do live, I 11 never love but thee ! 
 
 [BjORN follows FRITHIOF. The galley is launched, 
 through the surf, with great difficulty. KRAKE 
 waves them a farewell, and tries to encourage INGE 
 BORG, who is weeping, bitterly, in HILDING S arms. 
 As the boat disappears, the company follow, to the 
 water s edge. The storm reaches its height^\ 
 
 HALFDAN 
 
 How do they live, at all, in such a sea ? 
 52
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 HUNVOR 
 
 They will not reach the ship ! 
 
 [A blinding and terrible thunder-bolt .] 
 
 Great Thor defend ! 
 
 A CONFUSION OF VOICES 
 
 The boat is gone ! 
 
 The ship is swallowed up ! 
 They re lost ! 
 
 God s mercy on them ! 
 
 Woeful fate ! 
 
 [A blinding mist settles down over the sea. The storm 
 begins to subside^ 
 
 INGEBORG {Confronting HEI.GE.] 
 
 Now curses be upon thee and thy house ! 
 Be thou undone, as thou hast dealt with me ! 
 Make me thy bride, O Aegir ! 
 
 [She attempts to throiv herself into the sea, but is 
 deterred by HILDING and HALFDAN, who lay her 
 down, in a swoon, at the feet of HELGE.] 
 
 HELGE \Lifting INGEBORG S arm, which has become 
 bared, in the struggle^ 
 
 Hunvor, see ! 
 
 What ring is this ? Yon dead man s lover s pledge ? 
 Here, keep it safe ! 
 
 S3
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 [ffe takes the ring from INGERORG S arm, and gives it 
 to HUNVOR. To HALFDAN and HILDING.] 
 Come, bear the maid away ! 
 
 [HALFDAN and HILDING bear out the insensible body of 
 INGEBORG, followed by KRAKE, weeping, and THE 
 PRIESTS and COURTIERS.] 
 
 CURTAIN 
 
 54
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 ACT III 
 
 SCENE i. A road near Sognefylkc. Midsummer. Enter 
 a procession of THE PRIESTS of Balder, in festal robes, 
 and carrying garlands, on their way to the grove of 
 Balder, to hold the midsummer feast. They arc led 
 by THE HIGH PRIEST and HELGE. 
 
 THE HIGH PRIEST {Halting the procession. } 
 
 Here, are the woods well grown with underbrush 1 
 Disperse, I pray, and gather what you can 
 To feed great Balder s bale-fire, for its flame 
 Must leap as high as the midsummer heaven, 
 To show His glory, and declare His praise ! 
 
 [THE PRIESTS scatter, obediently, through the woods, to 
 cut fagots. HELGE and THE HIGH PRIEST talk, 
 aside. ] 
 
 HELGE 
 
 What was this sail thou did st report to me, 
 Having been sighted by some fishermen, 
 Without the bay, at sunrise ? 
 
 THE HIGH PRIEST 
 
 Why, t was said 
 
 To be a dragon-ship of monstrous size, 
 Veiled in the mists of morning, phantom-wise. 
 
 55
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 But, Sire, thou knowest that our simple folk 
 
 Are filled with superstition, and do set 
 
 A demon-shape astride of every whale ! 
 
 I doubt me not that t was some merchant-ship, 
 
 That loomed mysterious, in the dawning light, 
 
 Above their little prows, a-frighting them ! 
 
 HELGE [In a low voice. ] 
 
 Answer me truly. Saw st thou Frithiof s ship 
 Go down at sea ? 
 
 THE HIGH PRIEST 
 
 Why, so it seemed to do ! 
 The mist so thickly walled it all about, 
 I saw it in the lightning s sudden glare, 
 And then I saw it not ! The people cried 
 The ship was lost! Sire, what thinkest thou? 
 
 HELGE [Grimly.] 
 
 I think that it was lost, and must remain 
 Within the deepest hollows of the sea ! 
 Less do I dread that Frithiof s ghost should walk, 
 Than that this brawling fellow should return, 
 To find his mistress wedded to King Ring, 
 And that our flames had eaten up his house ! 
 For then would he bring down upon our realm 
 Such dire retaliation and revolt, 
 
 56
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 As, weakened by this ill-starred war with Ring, 
 Our royal forces scarce could cope withal. 
 
 THE HIGH PRIEST 
 
 King Ring is now thine ally, and would send 
 Thee aid, in such a threatening circumstance ! 
 
 HELGE 
 
 I cannot trust our sister to fulfil 
 A wifely part that will content him, long ! 
 That maiden hath a strong, continuous will 
 Toward what she loves. From childhood was it so 
 And I do sometimes wake and sweat, at night, 
 Thinking I hear the trumpets of King Ring 
 Announce, in her, some contumacious act, 
 Or sudden rashness, that shall end our truce ! 
 
 THE HIGH PRIEST 
 
 Nay, Sire, think not so ! Take heart, I pray 1 
 We 11 raise a chant, and be upon our way ! 
 He who doth serve the gods, the gods serve well, 
 And shall cast down his enemies to hell. 
 
 HELGE 
 
 Thy wise and holy council I 11 obey. 
 
 [To himself^ 
 Yet I do feel a cloud upon this day I 
 
 57
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 THE HIGH PRIEST {Calling to THE PRIESTS ; who 
 return, laden with fagots.] 
 
 Brothers ! Good brothers ! We 11 upon our way ! 
 
 [As they re-form, in a procession^ 
 Come, raise a chant to Him whom we adore ! 
 
 THE PRIESTS [Chanting.-] 
 
 Brightness of the risen sun, 
 
 Thee we worship, Thee we praise, 
 
 Glory of the day that s done, 
 Songs to Thee we II raise I 
 
 Master, Maker, Warmth, and foy, 
 
 Giver of all Life, we pray, 
 Weave Thy garland, and Thy crown, 
 
 Of our souls, this day ! 
 
 [They go out, chanting. HILDING^TZ^BLAETAND enter. 
 HILDING has aged, visibly. He holds FRITHIOF S 
 dog, Bran, a deerhound, in leashJ] 
 
 I knew his sail when yet it was far off, 
 
 No man those sombre pinions might mistake ! 
 
 But, first, I thought it was a phantom ship, 
 
 A spectral craft, manned by a ghostly crew, 
 
 Whose helmsman was arisen from the dead, 
 
 To wreak some frightful vengeance on the King ! 
 
 58
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 You say t is Frithiof ? Frithiof, in the flesh ? 
 My little lad come back ? Speak certainly ! 
 
 BLAETAND 
 
 T is Frithiof in the flesh ! I saw his crew 
 Debark, and watched them, from a vantage point, 
 As thou did st bid me. Not a man is lost, 
 And all seem most exultant in their mood. 
 Bjorn and Frithiof like two schoolboys played, 
 Their men-at-arms seemed no less jubilant. 
 I tarried till I saw them take the road, 
 And then I crossed before them, through the wood, 
 To warn thee they 11 be here immediately. 
 
 HILDING 
 
 Some miracle befell them ! We shall hear ! 
 O Frithiof, O my dear-beloved son, 
 Death had been kinder than this coming home ! 
 How can I put an end to all thy hopes ? 
 The Norns are cruel, I have lived too long ! 
 
 BLAETAND 
 
 Courage, good Hilding ! E en the bitterest woe 
 Is softened by the voice of one we love. 
 Frithiof, indeed, were friendless, wanting thee ! 
 Let us be thankful that the townsfolk flock 
 Toward the groves, and so desert the shore, 
 And give us time to fix upon some plan 
 For Frithiof s safety. 
 
 59
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 HILDING {Tremulously.} 
 
 Thou rt a kindly lad ! 
 
 \Song, laughter, men s voices, and the tramping of feet 
 are heard, without. The dog strains wildly on his 
 leash, breaks from HILDING, and bounds off, to meet 
 his master} 
 
 BLAETAND 
 
 Good Bran, I slandered thee ! Thou art a friend 
 Whom Frithiof will find faithful to the end ! 
 
 [FRITHIOF, with the dog leaping around him, BJORN, 
 WARRIORS, and MARINERS, enter, in high spirits} 
 
 FRITHIOF {Catching sight 0/" HILDING and BLAETAND.] 
 
 Father ! What joy is this ! To meet thee so, 
 The first of all ! 
 
 \Embracing him ; BLAETAND greets BJORN.] 
 Nay, Bran was first of all I 
 
 [ Caressing the dog} 
 Good Bran ! [To HILDING.] How comes he here, so far 
 
 from all 
 The household gods he guards so jealously ? 
 
 [As HILDING does not answer} 
 Father, I came on thee too suddenly, 
 And have alarmed thee, like a heedless boy ! 
 
 60
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 BLAETAND 
 
 We thought thee shipwrecked, lost, with all thy crew. 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 Why, that is strange ! Who brought such doleful news ? 
 
 BLAETAND 
 
 We watched you, from the shore, the night you sailed, 
 In the great storm ; your boat was swallowed up, 
 After a blinding bolt ; your ship went down, 
 Or so it seemed, whelmed by a dreadful wave. 
 You have been mourned as dead, among us all. 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 What tale is this? Our galley reached the ship 
 In safety ; then a heavy mist shut down 
 And hid the coast from view ; the storm grew less, 
 And we got safe to sea, and met no more 
 Adventures till we reached the Faroe Isles. 
 
 [To HILDING ; joyfully^ 
 Hear, father, how our further fortunes ran ! 
 They will revive thee with their excellence ! 
 
 [To HILDING and BLAETAND.] 
 When we did touch upon Angantyr s Isle, 
 And came on shore, down-rushing to the strand, 
 The Viking Atle, with twelve armed men, 
 To learn our business and condition, came. 
 
 61
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 I gave my errand, measuring his men, 
 
 For, swift, a plan of action smote my mind ! 
 
 He, like a maddened Berserk heard me out, 
 
 Then cried " T is said that Frithiof never prays 
 
 For quarter ! Draw thy spell-protected blade, 
 
 And, by the gods, prepare to ask it, now ! " 
 
 I answered him, " If, with my comrades twelve, 
 
 I can outfight and conquer thine and thee, 
 
 Wilt thou, with me, to Yarl Angantyr go, 
 
 And plead my mission ? " Boastful, he replied, 
 
 " That will I ! And do still allow thee choice 
 
 Of combat or of flight ! " I laughed aloud ! 
 
 Then clashing weapons showered fast a hail 
 
 Of mighty strokes around us, and the glee 
 
 Of battle in our veins ran rapturously ! 
 
 Oh, these brave comrades, fast and firm they stood, 
 
 Each vying to be foremost ! Till, at length, 
 
 Keen Angurvadel bit the Viking s blade, 
 
 And down I bore him to the earth, and cried, 
 
 Kneeling upon his heaving breast, " Who prays 
 
 For quarter now ? " And raised my sword on high, 
 
 As if to strike, but Atle trembled not, 
 
 As he replied " Not I, O Frithiof ! 
 
 To-morrow, I shall see thee, mid the joys 
 
 That, in Valhalla, I shall taste, to-day ! " 
 
 I raised him up, and, reconciled, we came 
 
 Before Angantyr, where I told my tale 
 
 Without concealment, laying bare the whole 
 
 Of Helge s malice and foul treachery, 
 
 62
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 And spoke of my dear Lady. Then the Yarl 
 Poured out a cup, and said " Full welcome be 
 To these our halls, in friendship s honoured name 1 
 Since many a creaming horn, with Thorsten, we 
 Have emptied here, his son shall be denied 
 No boon that, by our hand, may be supplied." 
 Wherewith, he called his daughter, and she went 
 Forth from the hall, in haste, and soon returned, 
 Bearing this silken purse, with ruby clasp, 
 And golden tassels, 
 
 [Holding the purse before them.~\ 
 
 which her father filled, 
 Quite to the brim, with gold from foreign lands, 
 
 [Jingling it, boyishly^ 
 
 And gave to me, and said "O welcome guest, 
 I pay no tribute for my race is free; 
 Let Bele s sons come take it with their swords, 
 If they demand it ! Thorsten I held dear ; 
 Take, in his name, this gift, as thou wilt 
 Do with it." Whereupon he made us free 
 Of his great house, and entertained us all, 
 Full royally, till we embarked again, 
 And safely voyaged homeward with light hearts. 
 
 [Pausing; then, astonished, as HILDING does not speak, ,] 
 Father, no word of praise, no smile of joy 
 For these good fortunes? \_Alarmed.~] Hast thou some 
 
 dark news, 
 
 That doth extinguish so, and overspread 
 Our bright adventures? Let me know the whole ! 
 
 63
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 HILDING [ With a great effort.} 
 
 Frithiof the dog thou did st exclaim to see 
 Him here, so far from Framnas and his home. 
 He has no home. I found him mournfully 
 Howling about the ashes of thy house, 
 The sole remaining tenant of those halls 
 We loved so well O son, I can no more ! 
 
 [He covers his face with his hands. A furious outcry 
 from THE WARRIORS.] 
 
 FRITHIOF \Half-stupified^ 
 
 My house in ashes ! [To BLAETAND.] Who has done this 
 thing ? 
 
 BLAETAND 
 
 Twas Helge. Wreaking malice on thy goods, 
 That nothing might remain to speak of thee. 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 Rage burns me up ! But this can wait awhile 1 
 
 [To HILDING, grimly. ,] 
 
 There s more behind thy grief than blackened fields 
 And ruined homesteads ! Where is Ingeborg? 
 
 Frithiof, be patient ! Try to bear this thing ! 
 King Ring attacked. His shields were five to one. 
 
 64
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 In Disar s vale, beside the brook, they fought, 
 And dyed its waters red, where she and thou 
 So oft have played ! Halfdan fought valiantly, 
 I was full proud ! but we were vanquished. 
 Ing borg was made the price 
 
 [FRITHIOF utters a terrible cry.~\ 
 
 They gave her up ! 
 
 Ring would have seized the crown. She was more dead, 
 Than living, in that hour! Now Ring hath led 
 Her home, his bride. 
 
 FRITHIOF [Drawing his sword ; with the Berserker 
 rage upon him ; in a trumpet-like voiceJ\ 
 
 Now, comrades, follow me ! 
 [THE WARRIORS gather, tumultuously, around him. 
 
 To BLAETAND.] 
 
 Where may the King be found ? Is not to-night 
 Balder s midsummer feast ? 
 
 BLAETAND {Reluctantly^ 
 
 Yea, in the grove, 
 
 Thou It find the King preparing for the rite, 
 But go not thither in so rash a mood 
 
 FRITHIOF {Interrupting him ; to his comrades^ 
 
 Come! 
 65
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 BJORN 
 
 Mine is the right to venge thee, Frithiof ! 
 
 \They rush out, leaving HILDING and BLAETAND. The 
 dog follows FRITHIOF.] 
 
 HILDING 
 
 Where will this madness lead ? My son ! my son ! 
 This outworn frame how gladly would I give, 
 That those I love might be restored to joy ! 
 
 \To BLAETAND.] 
 Give me thine arm, for I must follow him ! 
 
 \They go out ; HILDING leaning heavily upon BLAE 
 TAND.] 
 
 CURTAIN 
 
 66
 
 THE NORSE M A N 
 
 SCENE 2. The grove of Balder. A sacrificial altar is 
 arranged under the great oak. A golden image of 
 Balder, wearing FRITHIOFV ring upon its arm. 
 
 THE PRIESTS go busily in and out of the temple. Sev 
 eral aged seers, with flint-stone knives in their hands, 
 are preparing the sacrifice. HELGE, crowned, and richly 
 appareled, is serving by the altar, with THE HIGH 
 PRIEST. An alarm is heard without. FRITHIOF, 
 BJORN, WARRIORS, and SEAMEN enter, furiously. THE 
 PRIESTS throng out of the temple. 
 
 FRITHIOF [To HELGE.] 
 
 Here is the tribute I was sent to fetch 
 
 From overseas ! Thou It stoop to gather it, 
 
 Thou and thy moonshine prophets! Take it thus ! 
 
 \He tears the purse from his girdle, and throws it in 
 HELGE S /#<:<?, the coin is scattered in every direction. 
 HELGE, for the moment, is half-stunned, and THE 
 PRIESTS too startled to act. FRITHIOF catches sight 
 of the ring, on the arm of Balder s image J\ 
 
 Why, now, bright god, who has arrayed thee thus, 
 
 In splendor stolen from a helpless maid ? 
 
 Spare me thine anger, but I take mine own ! 
 
 \_He tries boldly to pull the ring from the arm of the 
 god. It sticks fast, and becoming loosened, suddenly, 
 the image is thrown down upon the altar, extinguish 
 ing the sacred flame. In the horror and confusion 
 
 67
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 which ensue, THE PRIESTS attack FRITHIOF, with 
 their knives, in fanatical frenzy , FRITH IOF S men, in 
 turn, attacking THE PRIESTS.] 
 
 FRITHIOF [Slipping the ring on his arm, and 
 drawing his swordJ] 
 
 T is shame for Angurvadel to dispatch 
 Such pallid semblances of men as you ! 
 Betake yourselves to flight, and, while you may, 
 Save such poor sap as in your veins doth flow ! 
 
 [HELGE steals up behind FRITHIOF, as he speaks, and is 
 about to stab him, but is discovered by BJORX, who 
 steals upon HELGE.] 
 
 HELGE [Raising his knife to strike FRITHIOF.] 
 So are the mouths of foul blasphemers stopped ! 
 
 BjORN [Stabbing HELGE.] 
 
 And so die traitors, in their treachery ! 
 
 [HELGE _/tf//JV BJORIST kneels upon his body ; stabbing 
 
 him.~\ 
 
 This blow for Framnas ! [Stabbing him.] 
 
 This, for Ingeborg ! 
 
 HELGE [Faintly.] 
 
 I am undone ! T is even as she prayed ! 
 [He dies.} 
 
 68
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 BjORN [Shouting to FRITHIOF.] 
 The King is dead, and men may breathe again ! 
 
 THE PRIESTS [Terrified,- taking up the cry.} 
 
 The King is dead ! 
 
 The King! 
 
 The King is slain ! 
 
 [FRITHIOF and his men drive out the panic-stricken 
 Priests, before them; FRITH IOF S magic sword, An- 
 gurvadel, filming redly, in the thick of the onset. 
 THE HIGH PRIEST, with several others, is cut off, 
 and pursued by a WARRIOR into the temple. HILD 
 ING and BLAETAND enter] 
 
 HILDING 
 
 What scene is this! Great Balder s self pulled down 
 Upon his altar, and its flame put out ! 
 
 BLAETAND [Stooping over the body of HELGE ; with 
 a cry.] 
 
 The King is slain ! 
 
 [HILDING falls on his knees before the altar. THE 
 HIGH PRIEST rushes out of the temple, pursued by 
 THE WARRIOR.] 
 
 THE HIGH PRIEST [Fleeing; to BLAETAND.] 
 
 The temple burns ! Pour water water! Pour 
 [BLAETAND hastens into the temple.] 
 
 69
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 HILDING 
 
 What can /right, an old man, of this wrong ? 
 
 [ With sudden determination^ 
 I can replace the god upon his throne ! 
 
 [ With an access of superhuman strength, he lifts the 
 fallen image, and replaces it upon its pedestal ; then 
 gropes blindly, and falls dead before it. FRITHIOF 
 re-enters, hot from the pursuit^ 
 
 FRITHIOF [Seeing HILDING.] 
 
 Father ! What doest thou here ? 
 
 [Trying to raise him. ] 
 
 Nay dead ? Not dead ? 
 
 \_He is overcome with grief. .] 
 The last of all my kindred ! Shall I fall 
 Upon this faithful blade, and make an end 
 Of this dark riddle of unanswered hope ? 
 O Ing borg, Ing borg, wilt thou need again, 
 This sword to shield thee, free thee, it may hap, 
 From life s imprisonment, too bitter grown ? 
 Ye Fates make answer 
 
 BLAETAND [Rushing out of the temple^ 
 
 T is in vain ! In vain ! 
 
 The flames take all ! The grove is summer-dried, 
 And soon must follow ! 
 
 70
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 [Seeing FRITHIOF.] 
 
 See, the temple burns ! 
 
 \The flames begin to glow, within the temple^ 
 Some priests sought sanctuary, in the shrine, 
 Thy Warrior caught and slew them ruthlessly, 
 And strewed the altar-embers all about 
 
 [Catching sight of HILDING S body.~\ 
 Now, what is this! Good Hilding, speak, I pray! 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 Hilding will speak no more. I found him dead, 
 Before the feet of Balder. He had raised, 
 I think, the image, to its former place, 
 And his great heart, that urged him to the task, 
 Had burst in its performance. Thou wilt bear 
 His body safely hence ? 
 
 BLAETAND 
 
 Yea, Frithiof, yea ! 
 
 I never should have left him ! Woeful day ! 
 [BjORN re-enters, in haste.} 
 
 BJORN 
 
 Brother, away, away ! The priests recruit 
 The nobles and the townsfolk, and will soon 
 Cut off escape ! Our men are on the shore ; 
 We 11 through the wood, and join them instantly !
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 \_Aghast ; as he sees the body of HILDING, and the 
 
 flames devouring the temple] 
 Good Hilding dead ! The temple set on fire ! 
 Come 1 For each moment here is perilous ! 
 
 [Grimly.] 
 A fearful bale-fire this, for Balder s feast ! 
 
 \_He goes out.] 
 
 FRITHIOF [Going.] 
 
 Blaetand my dog when we approached the wood, 
 I drove him back. Thou It find and shelter him ? 
 
 [Smiling faintly] 
 
 A Viking s life, upon the rolling sea, 
 Would poorly suit a rangey, land-bred hound ! 
 
 BLAETAND 
 
 It shall be done ! For Hilding s sake, and thine ! 
 
 [They clasp hands, and FRITHIOF hastens out, after 
 BJORN. BLAETAND raises the body of HILDING in 
 his arms, and bears it out. HELGE S body lies before 
 the darkened altar. The flames begin to roar and 
 crackle. They cast a lurid light through the grove, 
 and play upon the image of Balder, which seems to 
 blink and smile] 
 
 CURTAIN 
 
 72
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 ACT IV 
 
 SCENE i. RINGRIC. The feasting-hall in KING RING S 
 Palace. On a golden high-seat, at the head of the board, 
 KING RING and INGEBORG are seated. The little 
 PRINCE stands, sturdily, by his mother s knee. Around 
 the board sit the COURTIERS and WARRIORS of RING. 
 At the lower benches, the PAGES and poor retainers. As 
 the curtain rises, all are feasting and merry-making, 
 save INGEBORG, who is quiet and unsmiling, except with 
 the little PRINCE, for whom her sadness lightens. 
 
 RING [71? INGEBORG, aside. ~\ 
 
 A goodly feast ! 
 
 [INGEBORG rests her head on her hand, and sighs, 
 absently. Observing her, angrily.] 
 
 What ! sighing, evermore ! 
 Will nothing serve to shake thy discontent ? 
 
 INGEBORG [In a low voice.] 
 
 Have I not striven to be dutiful ? 
 What do I leave undone ? 
 
 RING 
 
 No special thing 1 
 Yet thou dost nothing in the name of love, 
 
 73
 
 THE N O R S E M A N 
 
 That perfumes all life s meanest usages, 
 And, being absent, turns to very dross 
 A King s possessions ! 
 
 INGEBORG [Coldly.] 
 
 That thou may st not have ! 
 Did I not freely show thee all my heart, 
 Before my brothers gave me unto thee ? 
 I have no love to give to any man, 
 Save Frith iof, son of Thorsten, who doth keep 
 The pledge and single passion of my life. 
 
 RING 
 
 This man destroyed the temple of thy god, 
 And slew thy brother ! Wilt thou love him still ? 
 In these four years, his face has not been seen ! 
 He may be dead ! 
 
 INGEBORG [Quietly.] 
 
 He is not dead to me ! 
 
 RING [JBitterly] 
 
 So be it, then ! His ghost shall evermore 
 Extinguish all the brightness of my house ; 
 Sit at my feasts; outweigh my benefits; 
 And quaff the subtle wine of my content ! 
 
 [A disturbance is heard, without. FRITHIOF enters, in 
 the disguise of an aged salt-burner. He is enveloped, 
 
 74
 
 T H E NORSEMAN 
 
 from head to foot, in a shaggy bear-skin, and walks 
 bent and wearily, leaning upon a heavy staff, not 
 withstanding which, his unusual height is apparent. 
 He seats himself at the lowest bench, beside the door. 
 The underlings, headed by HALVAR, the KING S 
 
 jester, begin to tease and mock him.] 
 
 HALVAR 
 
 Come to the baiting ! Ho, an aged bear ! 
 
 \The underlings laugh boisterously, and jostle FRITHIOF. 
 A PAGE attempts to trip his staffl\ 
 
 FRITH IOF [ Catching the PAGE by the waist, and tlumght- 
 fully turning him on his head, with one hand] 
 
 This fellow s wit lies not within his head ! 
 Perchance his heels are nimbler ! Heels o er head, 
 Take thy wit hence, young master ! 
 
 [Sends him sprawling. He gets up ruefully. The rest 
 fall back, in astonishment.] 
 
 THE CROWN PRINCE 
 
 Mother ! Oh ! 
 
 What noise is that ? Why do they tease a bear ? 
 [INGEBORG quiets him. ] 
 
 RING [Rising to his feet, angrily.] 
 
 What means this uproar? Who disturbs our peace, 
 With common brawling ? 
 
 75
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 HALVAR 
 
 Sire, /would say 
 
 That t was uncommon brawling. This old man 
 Has more strength left, in one of his old hands, 
 Than half these youngsters have in both of theirs ! 
 
 RING [To FRITHIOF.] 
 
 Greybeard, come hither. Answer when I speak. 
 What is thy name, and where thy fatherland ? 
 Why com st thou here ? 
 
 FRITHIOF [Approaching.] 
 
 O King, thou askest much 
 [At his first words, INGEBORG listens intently .] 
 Grief is my name. I dwell in Sorrow s land, 
 To thee I come, to learn my further fate. 
 In bygone days, I rode the ocean free; 
 A mighty ship, with sombre sails, I had ; 
 I lost her in the frozen seas, and now, 
 Grown old and weak, I get my daily bread 
 By burning salt. I came to thee from far, 
 Hearing thy fame and wisdom widely spread, 
 Yon grinning fools did mock me, and I paid 
 Their insults back. I m grown too old for scorn 1 
 
 RING 
 
 Thy bold words do not sit upon thee ill ! 
 76
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 All men should honour age. Come here, by me. 
 
 Throw off thy heavy cloak, and be at ease. 
 
 [FRITH IOF lets the bear s hide fall from him, and stands 
 fort h, gorgeously arrayed in a mantle of azure velvet, 
 belted with a great silver girdle. He displays INGE- 
 BORG S ring on his bare arm ; his sword hangs at 
 his side. INGEBORG utters a cry of recognition, and 
 recovers herself with difficulty I\ 
 
 THE CROWN PRINCE 
 
 Mother, the shining one ! Is t Balder s self ? 
 
 [/ the smile that runs round the board, the COURTIERS 
 recover from their astonishment. FRITHIOF beams 
 upon the little PRINCE, who returns his look, en 
 thralled.] 
 
 RING 
 What prince art thou, that cometh so disguised ? 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 I am a nameless and a banished man, 
 Unless thy portals can embrace me, so, 
 Unknown, conditionless, I must go forth, 
 Once more to roam about the pathless sea. 
 
 RING 
 
 Preserve what mask thou wilt. Be welcome here. 
 
 [Motioning FRITHIOF to a seat, beside him. To the 
 Court.] 
 
 77
 
 T HE N O R S E M A N 
 
 Now let the horn be blown, and I will make 
 
 My vow to Frey, this coming has delayed. 
 
 [A horn is blown, for silence, and a boards head, decked 
 with flowers, and holding a golden apple in its 
 month, is borne in, on a great silver dish, by four 
 PAGES. RING touches the forehead of the boar, and 
 raises his eyes, solemnly, to heaven} 
 
 That Viking bold, by whom, of late, the seas 
 
 Are ravaged, and our merchant-ships despoiled, 
 
 By Frey, Thor, and Almighty Odin, I 
 
 Do swear to conquer ! 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 [Leaping up, and striking the board a ringing blow, 
 with his sword, that makes the startled COURTIERS 
 jump, in their places .] 
 
 Hear my vow, O King ! 
 \_He touches the boar s head} 
 I swear to shield that Viking, with this blade, 
 From any foeman in the North arrayed. 
 For that he is my kinsman and my friend. 
 Frey, Thor, and Odin to this vow attend ! 
 
 \_The frightened PAGES place the boar s head on the 
 table.} 
 
 RING [/ amazement.} 
 
 Thy words are bold ! But while thou art my guest, 
 Thou may st with perfect freedom speak thy mind ! 
 
 78
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 [To INGEBORG.] 
 
 Fill, for this stranger, now, a horn of wine ; 
 We 11 drink to his long tarrying, in our midst. 
 
 [INGEBORG Jills the mead-horn which stands before her, 
 and carries it to FRITHIOF. As she offers it to him, 
 she spills a little of the wine, as if through awkward 
 ness, and looks him in the face, for the first time] 
 
 INGEBORG 
 
 Forgive me ! It was past my help I 
 
 FRITHIOF [Tenderly; in a low voice.] 
 
 I know / 
 
 [Aloud.] 
 I drink the health of this most gentle Queen ! 
 
 \He empties the horn] 
 And to requite her hospitality, 
 So freely, to a doubtful stranger shown, 
 I humbly pray her to accept this ring, 
 In token of my deepest fealty. 
 
 [ffe takes the ring from his arm, and puts it upon 
 INGEBORG S.] 
 
 INGEBORG [Blushing with joy ; pressing the ring 
 to her arm.] 
 
 She doth receive and wear it, thankfully ! 
 
 [FRITHIOF leads her, again, to her place.] 
 
 79
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 RING \_2o FRITHIOF, observing him intently^ 
 
 Wilt thou not tell some tale of that far land, 
 From whence thou comest ? Or recount some deed 
 Of hero-valor, to thy forbears known, 
 For our diversion ? 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 Gladly, O King Ring ! 
 I will relate the story of the gem 
 By wearing which, the Queen doth honor me. 
 
 [He seafs himself on the steps of the high-seat, at the 
 
 feet 0/"lNGEBORG.] 
 
 Back, through my mother s line, the ring is said 
 To trace its source unto the halting god, Valunder, 
 Who did forge and fashion it. 
 By plundering Sote, once, twas stolen away, 
 Who, in the olden times, did cruise the sea, 
 Widely, through all the North ; then vanished ; 
 And rumor whispered that, on Britain s coast, 
 He had interred, within a lofty tomb, 
 Himself, his ship, and treasure. 
 
 \The curtain falls on the moving tableau?^ 
 
 Still he found 
 No rest, but ever, round and round his grave 
 
 CURTAIN 
 
 80
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 SCENE 2. A terrace outside the Palace; late afternoon. 
 Three days have elapsed, since FRITHIOF S arrival. It 
 is autumn, and the golden leaves are slowly falling 
 from the linden trees, by which the terrace is shaded. 
 A stone seat ; and the rough, stone basin of a fotmtain. 
 The front of the Palace is visible, on the right. A great 
 bell, with a bell-rope, hangs over the Palace gate. The 
 sea may be seen, in the distance, as if from above. 
 Enter KING RING and FRITHIOF, conversing. 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 Birch forests crown the summits of the hills, 
 And on their slopes lie waving fields of rye, 
 And golden barley. Many a tranquil lake 
 Doth hold a shining mirror to the sky. 
 
 RING 
 
 A goodly country, which, from thy account, 
 I should adjudge more fertile than our own. 
 The day is sultry ! Let us rest awhile, 
 And mark the peaceful passing of the year. 
 [Sealing himsd/J] 
 
 FRITHIOF [Musing.] 
 
 A golden prospect 1 Now comes on the Fall ! 
 Far in my homeland there s a busy sprite, 
 Painting the forest with a hundred hues, 
 Where the great elk, with towering antlers reared, 
 
 81
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 Stalks kinglike, or doth drink his royal fill 
 From mountain rivulets, as cold as snow. 
 
 [RING begins to nod.] 
 The harvest of the year, a genial time, 
 Touched with the sadness of departing grace 1 
 
 [RiNG/etgns to fall asleep.] 
 When shall I read thy signals on the heights, 
 And down the gentle valleys of my birth ? 
 
 [He discovers that the KING is asleep ; coming close to 
 
 him] 
 
 How now, does Winter lay his frosty head 
 Upon the breast of Autumn ? Let me see ! 
 
 [Gazing closely at the KING S face] 
 So thou art he that stole away my Bride ? 
 
 [ With rising anger] 
 
 How did st thou dare to pluck that budding rose, 
 To plant upon the snow of thy decline ! 
 She loves me ! with a passion that has grown 
 Resistless with its longing! First for home, 
 And all the recollections of her youth, 
 She pined, and home ! What was it but my face ! 
 Now I have found her, can I go again, 
 And leave her to her longing, and fare forth, 
 Myself, in body, leaving here my soul, 
 To haunt its sorrow ? By this old man s death, 
 All would be righted ! [His hand steals to his sword] 
 With one well-aimed stroke 
 And drop him from the terrace to the sea 
 
 82
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 \_ffe creeps forward, an/I then, appalled at his intention, 
 throws away his sword, which falls clattering against 
 the basin of the fountain. RING appears to awaken^ 
 
 RING 
 
 What noise was that ? 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 My sword fell from my hand. 
 
 [Picking it up, in confusion, and returning it to its 
 scabbardJ] 
 
 RING 
 
 Fell, or was thrown away, O Frithiof ? 
 
 FRITHIOF [Amazed.} 
 Thou know st me, who I am ? 
 
 RING 
 
 I knew thee, first, 
 
 When thou did st place the ring on Ing borg s arm. 
 I chose this time to have a word with thee. 
 Frithiof, I wronged thee, knowing not how great 
 The wrong I did. Have patience, yet awhile ! 
 Youth can afford a penitential hour, 
 A brief denial, at the soul s behest. 
 My years are many. In this golden air 
 
 83
 
 T HE NORSEMAN 
 
 i feel the touch and numbing chill of death 
 Descend upon my spirit. Be content 
 To voyage a little longer. Can st thou, so ? 
 Wilt thou be reconciled to such a course ? 
 
 ER IT H I O F [After a pause,] 
 
 I will be gone as quickly as I can, 
 And tempt my love, and try my soul no more. 
 I thank thee for thy hospitality, 
 And wise forbearance. I 11 to find Bjorn, 
 And have my ship made ready. Fare thee well ! 
 [He goes out] 
 
 RING 
 
 Frithiof, farewell! Men call me "Wise King Ring!" 
 
 Wise ! To espouse the little snow-white maid, 
 
 Who is the mate of yonder hero ! Wise ! 
 
 Nay, rather mad, to barter for a wife 
 
 Whose heart I know not, and whose love was won 
 
 Ere ever I beheld her ! It is done ! 
 
 [ Going toward the Palace ; with a long look around 
 
 him] 
 
 Strange, that the earth should never seem so fair, 
 As when the eyes may look on it no more ! 
 
 [ With a change of mood ; wrathfully] 
 Nay, then ! Shall I be scapegoat for this brace 
 Of sighing lovers ! T was a bargain ! Fair, 
 And understood of all ! And I have kept 
 
 84
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 My part with strict and free conformity! 
 
 For this pale maid, shall I lay down my state, 
 
 Depose myself, and leave my single heir 
 
 To be bred up in this usurper s house ? 
 
 T is monstrous ! T is a foul ingratitude ! 
 
 Have 1 not fed her, clothed her, honoured her, 
 
 Humored her whims, been playmate to her child ? 
 
 Yet the first glance from this young rover s eyes 
 
 Dissolves me from her very consciousness, 
 
 As though the sun should bid a mist dispel ! 
 
 I have lived close with virtue all my life ; 
 
 My realm doth bask in high prosperity ; 
 
 And many men, by my beneficence, 
 
 Are helped and furthered, on life s thorny way. 
 
 Shall I be slighted by these light o loves ! 
 
 I, Sigurd, King of Ringric ! By my troth, 
 
 I 11 summon forth the flower of my men, 
 
 And have this vagrant flogged from off my coast 1 
 
 I 11 take a higher hand with this proud dame, 
 
 And keep more safe the honour of my house ! 
 
 \_He tries to reach the rope that pulls the great bell, in 
 the Palace gate. It just eludes his grasp. He tries 
 to drag the stone bench toward it, but cannot stir it. 
 He tugs at it fiercely, moves it a little, and halts, 
 exhausted. Bitterly7\ 
 
 Old! I am old! Weak futile rusted out! 
 
 O life, how thou dost mock man, to the end ! 
 
 My race is run ; my breath and pulses fail ; 
 
 Wisdom, the priceless treasure of my years, 
 
 85
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 Should be my bride ! And yet I still pursue 
 Youth s phantom dream of earthly happiness I 
 
 [Pressing his hand upon his eyes, after a pause] 
 I will go in and wrestle with this fate, 
 That so essays me in its crucible 1 
 
 \_He goes heavily into the Palace. Enter HALVAR and 
 an old man " of the people."] 
 
 THE OLD MAN 
 
 Tis whispered, on the quays and in the town, 
 
 That it is Frithiof! Now, what say st thou ? 
 
 There is no other dragon-ship afloat 
 
 Bears such a length of keel, and how she rides 
 
 Her anchor! Like a fortress in the sea! 
 
 His crew will not be questioned. Thinkest thou 
 
 T is he, himself ? Thou hast observed him well. 
 
 HALVAR 
 
 The King must answer that ! He 11 hear thy news. 
 Come in with me and tell thy tale to him. 
 
 [They go in. INGEBORG and THE CROWN PRINCE 
 enter, by another door, from the Palace.] 
 
 THE CROWN PRINCE [Running along the terrace, 
 and looking down at the sea] 
 
 Oh, Mother, see the gulls ! They circle so ! 
 Why do they call and call, and never sit, 
 To rest themselves, upon the swinging sea ? 
 
 86
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 INGEBORG 
 
 So they are made, my darling ! \_Aside.~\ Nay, I think 
 That they are souls in pain ! Thus do my thoughts 
 Forever wheel and wheel about my grief, 
 Nor ever can find rest ! 
 
 [Looking tenderly at the child, who plays happily about. ] 
 
 Ah, but for thee, 
 Thou rainbow thing, life s knot could be untied ! 
 
 [FRITH IOF re-enters, full-armed, and ready for depar 
 ture^ 
 
 FRITHIOF [Seeing INGEBORG.] 
 
 The gods are kind to those who purpose well ! 
 I came to seek thee, Sunlight of my Soul ! 
 
 THE CROWN PRINCE [Throwing himself upon 
 FRITHIOF.] 
 
 Now, may I feel your sword, how sharp it is ? 
 And will you tell me what the writings say 
 That shine upon it ? 
 
 FRITHIOF [Smiling.} 
 
 In a little while ; 
 [He takes the child in his arms, and seats him beside 
 
 the fountain. ] 
 
 If thou wilt make a garland for my head, 
 Of these bright leaves ! 
 
 87
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 THE CROWN PRINCE [Delighted.] 
 
 I 11 make a splendid one ! 
 
 [He begins, busily, to make the fallen leaves into a 
 crown. FRITHIOF draws INGEBORG to a seat, beside 
 him.] 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 Dearest look in my face ! This little hand, 
 That trembles so, shall rest upon my heart ! 
 Dear Love, to-day, I nearly slew the King. 
 
 [INGEBORG starts up, in terror.] 
 He fell asleep, upon this very spot, 
 And all my evil passions woke in me, 
 And counseled me to slay him, and I stole 
 Upon him, sword in hand, then saw myself, 
 And threw my guilty weapon far away ! 
 And he awoke and called me " Frithiof." 
 So I may tarry at thy side no more. 
 
 [INGEBORG, with a cry, throws herself into his arms] 
 Thou would st not have me stain my soul, for love ? 
 Thou would st not have me stain my love ? O death, 
 Come first, and save me from that crowning sin ! 
 
 Bravest, Truest, lift that golden head, 
 And bid me go ! There is no other way ! 
 
 1 11 live for thee; now I have seen thee mine ; 
 I 11 find a place where I may shelter thee ; 
 
 I 11 come again, as life doth in me dwell ! 
 
 The King is old ! Till one more harvest, Sweet ! 
 
 88
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 Think of the child ! We must consider him, 
 Before ourselves, by reason of his state, 
 His helplessness. Now, thou art comforted ? 
 Speak to me, dearest 1 Thou would st have me go ? 
 
 INGEBORG 
 
 My light goes with thee ! I would have thee go. 
 If thou dost need me, I will come to thee, 
 Across the world. O love me ! Live for me ! 
 
 THE CROWN PRINCE {Running to them.] 
 
 The crown is done ! When wilt thou put it on ? 
 And why does Mother weep ? 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 O little one, 
 I dare not wear thy crown ! The crown for thee ! 
 
 [Putting it on the child s head.~\ 
 For me a greater thing ! [Taking INGEBORG in his arms .] 
 
 [An alarm is heard within the Palace. FRITHIOF and 
 INGEBORG draw nearer, to listen. HALVAR and THE 
 OLD MAN rush out, followed by the terrified COURT 
 IERS.] 
 
 HALVAR [To INGEBORG] 
 
 The King is dead ! 
 He died upon his spear, ere we could stay him ! 
 
 89
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 [INGEBORG covers her face with her hands. FRITH IOF 
 takes the child in his arms, to soothe him. HALVAR, 
 in his motley, begins to pull the tocsin, in the Palace 
 gate, to summon the people, who hasten up from the 
 town and sea-front. BJORN, full-armed, and THE 
 WARRIORS of FRITHIOF, among the first. HALVAR 
 cries out, as he tolls.] 
 
 The King is dead ! The King ! The King is dead ! 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 [ When the people have assembled, and the bell is silent ; 
 placing the child on his shield, and raising him to his 
 shoulder, with the crown of leaves still on his head] 
 The King is dead 1 Behold your little King ! 
 
 \The people acclaim him, heartily I\ 
 I am a stranger in this land, but now, 
 I would announce myself to you, by name. 
 Frithiof, the son of Thorsten, am I called 
 
 \The people interrupt him with shouts ofjoy.~\ 
 Framnas, in Iceland, was my former home ; 
 Your Queen was daughter of my father s friend, 
 King Bele, whose renown you all have heard. 
 I was betrothed to this dear Ingeborg, 
 
 [She takes her place beside him, proudly.] 
 Who, by a trick, was stolen from my arms, 
 By her proud brother, who bestowed her, then, 
 In turn for peace, on your departed King. 
 
 90
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 Hither I came to see how she did fare 
 Among you, and it was my plan to sail, 
 From here, upon the morrow 
 
 [The child, tired of FRITHIOF S speaking, and his 
 strained position on the shield, leaps boldly to the 
 ground. The people hail his fearless action with 
 delight, as an omen of his future strength and 
 courage?^ 
 
 THE PEOPLE 
 
 Little King! 
 Son of the Shield ! 
 
 We will be ruled by thee ! 
 He 11 lead us into battle ! 
 
 Have no fear ! 
 
 THE OLD MAN {Coming forward, as the 
 spokesman of the people} 
 
 Frithiof, our little King, too young is he 
 To judge our wrongs, and lead our hosts to war. 
 We 11 choose thee for the regent of his house, 
 Before the Ting, and thou shalt be our Yarl, 
 Till he is grown to manhood, if thou wilt ; 
 For we can safely trust our realm s renown 
 To such as thee. 
 [To the people.} 
 
 Does this express your will ? 
 
 9 1
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 THE PEOPLE 
 
 Aye 1 
 
 So we wish ! 
 
 That Frithiof should be Yarl ! 
 
 THE OLD MAN 
 
 We will not offer thee what, for so long, 
 
 Has been thine own, the love of our young Queen. 
 
 But we 11 attend your bridal-feast with joy ! 
 
 [The people assent, joyfully, among themselves} 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 I thank you all ! And I will strive to bend, 
 Round this young brow, a crown that shall endure ! 
 
 [He kisses the little KING, upon the forehead, and lifts 
 him to the shoulders of HALVAR, who bears him off 
 triumphantly, surrounded by the COURTIERS and 
 people} 
 
 INGEBORG [Calling after HALVAR.] 
 Halvar, be careful ! 
 
 HALVAR [Calling back.} 
 
 Madam, so I will 1 
 This back shall bear him safely back to thee ! 
 
 92
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 INGEBORG ^Looking after them, with a smile that 
 is dose to tears.] 
 
 The little mad thing, to be crowned a King! 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 Dear heart, I 11 love him, as I shall our own 1 
 
 INGEBORG 
 
 O blessed one, and he will worship thee ! 
 
 [BjORN and FRITHIOF S warriors, who have lingered 
 behind the rest, come forward, with beaming looks, 
 to clasp him by the hand.] 
 
 BJORN 
 
 Dear brother, and sweet Princess, you do know 
 My joy in this ! 
 
 FRITHIOF {Embracing him] 
 
 Bjorn, we know it well ! 
 What can we do to give like joy to thee ? 
 
 BJORN 
 
 Lend me thy ship and these 
 [Pointing to THE WARRIORS.] 
 
 That I may sail 
 
 93
 
 THE N O R S E M A N 
 
 To Sognefylke, to bring back my maid. 
 She waits me there, I know ! 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 With all my heart ! 
 INGEBORG 
 
 What joy to see my Krake s face again ! 
 Bjorn, I 11 give thee gold, to reconcile 
 My brother, Halfdan, and re-build the shrine ! 
 Wilt undertake it ? 
 
 BJORN 
 
 And perform it, too ! 
 
 Farewell ! I shall return before you two 
 Have eyes to see that I am gone ! 
 
 INGEBORG 
 
 Farewell, 
 
 Thou best of friends ! Come back to us in haste ! 
 Frithiof will put the gold upon the ship. 
 
 FRITHIOF [To BJORN.] 
 I will be with you, shortly, at the Ting ! 
 
 [BJORN and THE WARRIORS go out, INGEBORG waving 
 them farewell. The daylight dies, and the moon, 
 huge and golden, begins to rise out of the sea, gilding 
 the distant ripplesl\ 
 
 94
 
 THE NORSEMAN 
 
 FRITHIOF {Taking INGEBORG in his arms.] 
 
 In one short hour, from hell to highest heaven ! 
 My soul is dizzy with its swift ascent ! 
 
 INGEBORG 
 
 To part no more ! Dear Love, can it be true ? 
 To part no more, until that final sleep, 
 From which love wakes to smile eternally ? 
 
 FRITHIOF 
 
 Yon golden moon, how often, from my deck, 
 I have beheld her, rising from the sea, 
 And solaced my poor heart with the faint joy 
 Of thinking that she shone, as well, on thee ! 
 
 [A fisherman sings, unseen, in his boat, on the sea, 
 below them^\ 
 
 Love is forever, 
 Love changeth never, 
 
 Winds of the dawn, o er the bright waters blowing, 
 Bear ye my dream to her ! 
 Ripple and gleam to her, 
 Tide, ever-flowing ! 
 
 Sun of the airless, 
 
 Burning and pray erless, 
 
 Noon-day, like flame on the glassy sea falling, 
 
 95