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 C.OPXRIGRT DEPOSm 
 
KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 A Drama in Five Acts 
 
 GUSTAV MELBY 
 
 IjrXyiqgv^pj^ 
 
 BOSTON 
 
 RICHARD G. BADGER 
 
 THE GORHAM PRESS 
 
Copyright, 1916, by Gustav Melby 
 
 All Rights Reserved 
 
 
 ,25^ 
 
 SEP 18 1916 
 
 The Gorham Prebs, Boston, U. S. A. 
 
 ^GI.D 44913 
 
To My Friend 
 Hon. D. a. McLarty 
 
DRAMATIS PERSONtE 
 
 O'LAF, King of Norway. 
 
 AsTRiDj Queen of Norway. 
 
 MagnuSj Olaf's son and heir-apparent. 
 
 IngegerDj Princess of Sweden and Queen of Russia. 
 
 Jarisleiv^ King of Russia. 
 
 RoREK^ petty King of Hedemarken. 
 
 Finn Little^ his servant. 
 
 Thore Hund, 
 
 Kalf Arneson^ 
 
 Haarek of Tjotta, y Chiefs. 
 
 Olve of Egge^ I 
 
 Bjorn Stallare^ J 
 
 Bishop Sigurd. 
 
 SiGRiD^ wife of Olve. 
 
 Ulvhild^ Olafs stepdaughter. 
 
 SlGVAT^ King Olafs Skald. 
 
 Thorkeld^ a peasant. 
 
 Grim^ his son. 
 
 King's Steward. 
 
 Warriors. 
 
 Servants. 
 
 A Boy. 
 
 Peasants. 
 
 A Priest. 
 
 Trolls. 
 
 A Page. 
 
 Attendants. 
 
 Women and Children. 
 
 The scenes are laid at different places in Norway , 
 and at the court of Russia, during the early part of 
 the nth century. 
 
KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 ACT I 
 
 A lawn. In the background trees partly hiding a 
 chapel. To the right a large hall with porch. In the 
 foreground^ to the left, a fir-tree, at the foot of which 
 stands a rustic bench, 
 
 SCENE I 
 
 {Finn Little comes in from, the right, pursued by 
 Rorek, who vehemently brandishes his staff, appar- 
 ently attempting to strike Finn.) 
 
 Rorek 
 
 Thou bleareyed dwarf, thou miserable imp! 
 How doth my rod desire to flay thy back! 
 Come here, and I will break thy lustful bones, 
 So ne'er again thy legs shall run before a king! 
 
 {Finn dodges behind the fir-tree in the fore-ground.) 
 {Several men appear on the porch, laughing at 
 Rorek.) 
 
 First Man 
 
 To-night he is himself again, full soon 
 The king another servant him must grant. 
 
 7 
 
KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Second Man 
 
 But, well for Finn if he the fate avoids 
 Which fell to Svein, poor fellow, now exiled. 
 
 ROREK 
 
 Thou speakest well — "poor fellow" — he indeed. 
 First word of sympathy methink I've heard 
 From any one of Olaf's Christian men. 
 
 Seco^jd Man 
 
 But what of thee — where is thy kindness, Sir, 
 To scold and beat each servant granted thee ? 
 
 ROREK 
 
 Away with you! Dare ye reproach a king? 
 I'll crush your skulls if straightway ye don't hie! 
 {They flee from him into the hall.) 
 
 (Rorek comes slowly towards the tree where Finn 
 stands and in a low voice says to him:) 
 My boy, dear Finn, where art thou? 
 
 Finn 
 
 Here, my lord. 
 Come sit thee here, beneath this old fir-tree. 
 {He assists him to th^ bench.) 
 
 RoREK {laughing) 
 
 Thus have I played a ruse once more, for none 
 Of all the court our friendship must suspect, 
 
ACT I 
 
 Until our day hath come, and I am free, 
 And thou shalt share my wealth and liberty. 
 O, thou good Finn, must help me to revenge 
 The crime that brute committed against me, 
 When he destroyed my sight, the light of life, 
 For here as captive in the dark to grope. 
 
 Finn 
 Sir, tell me all, hovr did it come to pass? 
 
 ROREK 
 
 I thought the gruesome tale w^as known to all. 
 
 Finn 
 I've heard it. Sir, but never from thy lips. 
 
 RoREK 
 
 Since thou wouldst hear it, listen now and learn, 
 What manner of a ruler Norway hath; 
 List, till within thy heart a fire doth burn. 
 The fire of hatred which can ne'er be quenched. 
 Until this outrage shall have been revenged. 
 It was last autumn, that five Upland kings. 
 At Hedemarken met in league to plan 
 A safeguard 'gainst King Olaf and his hosts, 
 Who scoured the country, laying waste its homes 
 By fire and plunder, maiming, murdering, 
 And spreading terror everywhere, because 
 Some to the White Christ failed to swear 
 
lo KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Allegiance readily. We spent two days 
 
 In consultation, sent out men as spies, 
 
 Who brought us tidings daily of the course 
 
 Which Olaf took; at last we did agree 
 
 That each should raise an army of his own, 
 
 And join them in a battle 'gainst the king. 
 
 It is a truth that seldom any man 
 
 Hath enemies, except a friend also 
 
 He hath among them, ready him to aid; 
 
 And such a one was Ketil Ringaness, 
 
 Who during night in stealthy manner left. 
 
 Set sail, with forty men, and in the morn 
 
 Struck shore at Eid, just as from early mass 
 
 King Olaf came, and did to him betray 
 
 Our secret plan ; the king did not delay 
 
 To gather nearly half a thousand men; 
 
 With these, ere yet another day arose. 
 
 He us encircled while in bed, asleep, 
 
 So quickly, that not ev'n the watchmen knew 
 
 What happened, till they were by him entrapped; 
 
 Thus we were captured, and at break of day. 
 
 Before the king were brought, O, day of woe! 
 
 Three of the kings he caused to swear an oath 
 
 To leave the land for never to return ; 
 
 The fourth. King Gadred, then was bound. 
 
 His mouth pried open, and his tongue cut ofif. 
 
 Full many of our vassals, too, were maimed 
 
 On hands or feet, disabled thus for life; 
 
 But when my eyes had seen this butchery. 
 
 The king said: "Rorek, thou shalt be with me. 
 
 For thou hast cunning, and thy words are wise, 
 
 But ne'er again shall they advise my foe." 
 
 Then bid he one to take a knife and pierce 
 
 My eyes; the blood did flow instead of tears, 
 
ACT I n 
 
 Though bitter they did well within my heart, 
 For I should never see again the land 
 I fondly love, its mountains, dales and fjords, 
 Nor look upon my hearth and those who sit 
 Around it, dear ones, waiting for my steps. 
 This fount of grief is still within my soul. 
 But near it is a fire which daily grows 
 In strength, the all consuming fire of hate 
 Towards him — that oxenbellied tyrant who 
 Hath made me, like a slave, sit at his board ; 
 But worst of all, his cruelties have cowed 
 My kinsmen and my people; no one dares 
 To rise against him; soon in abject fear 
 The country's heroes will be ruled, the ^ods 
 Be driven from the land, and Christ enthroned 
 In every place; 'tis he and Olaf who 
 Will govern Norway; Ragnarok hath come 
 To all the gods, and judgment on the kings. 
 And all the free-born thanes of Norway's land. 
 
 Finn 
 
 {Arising from his seat in agitation.) 
 
 I swear by Odin and Valhalla's gods, 
 
 To use my strength and time to plot and work 
 
 Against the man who wronged thee overmuch. 
 
 ROREK 
 
 Hush! hush! my friend, remember that thy strength 
 
 Is small; but since it pleaseth me to see 
 
 Thy fieriness enkindled by my speech, 
 
 List Finn, draw closer, thou cans't do thy best 
 
12 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 For all by aiding me to flee from here; 
 
 Wilt thou do this, then shall my hand some d<".y 
 
 Reward thee richly both with gold and arms. 
 
 Finn 
 
 Reward enough for me to rescue thee, 
 
 King of my people, from thy enemy; 
 
 And I will trust thy schemes, for thou art wise. 
 
 And quickly bring it into daring deed. 
 
 ROREK 
 
 {Draws a dagger, hidden under his cloak.) 
 Feel this; 'tis long and sharp, a thrust or two 
 Of this would surely be the tyrant's bane, — 
 But also bring on me the fatal blow. 
 
 {He hides it.) 
 Hark then, and I will tell thee of my plan: 
 Get thee to Sigurd Hit, my ensign true. 
 This very eve, for thou art fleet of foot, 
 And say, his lord doth bid him bring a ship, 
 All manned in readiness for him this night. 
 Then shalt thou come and fetch a pail of mead 
 Well seasoned with the bitter herb which sleep 
 Gives to the drinker, and this shalt thou serve 
 To all the king's men in his hall to-night; 
 Then while in heaviness they drowse and sleep, 
 I'll urge the guard, the king hath placed o'er me. 
 To take me outside of necessity ; 
 Then shall Hit's men undo the sleepy watch. 
 And we will run and in our ship escape; 
 But hie thee straightway; understandest thou? 
 
ACT I 13 
 
 Finn 
 
 Indeed my lord; — but list, here comes the king! 
 
 ROREK 
 
 (Swinging his staff wildly.) 
 Brat, bowlegs, snaketail, get thee hence, I say! 
 
 SCENE 2 
 (Enter King Olaf and attendants.) 
 Olaf 
 
 Ha! ha! Friend Rorek out of sorts again. 
 Finn, canst thou please him not a single whit ? 
 
 Finn 
 
 O King, he seems impossible to-night. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Thou mayst go now^ I have a word to speak 
 With him alone. 
 
 (Exit Finn.) 
 
 Friend Rorek, how art thou? 
 
 Rorek 
 Hm! 
 
14 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Rorek, thou hast much sagacity, 
 
 And could I trust thy friendship and thy word, 
 
 I would — 
 
 Rorek 
 
 (Angry.) 
 Thou wouldst my sight restore, I ween. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 I would make thee my foremost counsellor. 
 As for thy sight, 'tis well for thee to learn 
 To use the inner eye of faith. 
 Which may the true and living God discern ; 
 Too often did thy eyes of flesh behold 
 The horrid idols and their wicked rites. 
 
 Rorek 
 
 And wouldst thou teach me how the Christ to sec 
 
 Olaf 
 
 In baptism He will be known to thee; 
 Arise, King Rorek, wash thy sins away. 
 And then begins thy new, thy Christian life. 
 
 Rorek 
 
 Not much I understand about thy Christ, 
 Who may have been a God, as many say 
 
ACT I 15 
 
 For I believe that in the olden time 
 
 Strange things did happen which we know not now. 
 
 {The chapel-bell rings.) 
 
 (Olaf kneels with his face toward the church.) 
 
 Olaf 
 
 It is the bell which calls to evening-pray'r, 
 Come Rorek, kneel with me and worship God. 
 
 (Rorek kneels beside him; in so doing he passes 
 his hand over the king's shoulder, ascertaining that he 
 is not clad in a coat of mail, but in a silken robe. 
 While the king prays, Rorek finds his dagger, and as 
 they are about to arise, he thrusts it after him. It 
 pierces the folds of the king's robe, and before Rorek 
 has time to make a second thrust. King Olaf is out 
 of his reach. Rorek is immediately seized by the 
 king's attendants. The door of the chapel is opened, 
 and the bishop and acolytes come to escort the kinf 
 to mass.) 
 
 SCENE 3 
 
 The former. Bishop Sigurd and acolytes. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Most treacherous attempt to murder me, 
 And if I justice should mete out to thee, 
 Sly fox, this eve would be thy last on earth. 
 Several attendants. 
 
 Let us but take him! 
 Other attendants. 
 
 Hang him by the neck! 
 
i6 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Bishop Sigurd 
 
 My lord owes to himself his life to shield, 
 And lest this villain shall thy bane become, 
 And thereby cast the greatest woe upon 
 The cause of Christendom in this thy realm. 
 He should be without much delay undone. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 It is a truth that many men for less 
 Offence than this have suffered speedy death. 
 And possibly to punishment extreme 
 He may compel me, but I'm loath to mar 
 The splendid victory I gained o'er those 
 Five Upland kings without the death of one; 
 So I will spare his life this time also, 
 But soon he must to far off Iceland go. 
 Whence he shall ne'er return to menace me. 
 Meanwhile you men whom I did once appoint 
 To guard him, I command that ye with care 
 Do watch him constantly both day and night! 
 
 ROREK 
 
 {Mockingly.) 
 Both day and night, though there's but night for me. 
 {Olaf motions his men to escort Rorek into the Hall.) 
 
 {Exit guard.) 
 
 scj;ne 4 
 The King, Bishop, acolytes, and attendants. 
 
ACT I 17 
 
 Sigurd 
 
 TE DEUM we shall sing to-night, since God 
 
 Hath thee preserved O King, and put to shame 
 
 Thy enemy on whom His punishment 
 
 Must surely fall ; He hath appointed thee 
 
 To be a rod within His holy hand 
 
 To chastise all who worship stock and stone. 
 
 Until to Him they shall true service yield. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 My Father, shepherd of my soul, let me 
 Confess a thought which sometimes burden me, 
 The thought that I perhaps unwisely deal, 
 And cruelly with my benighted land. 
 That I am but inciting a great hate 
 Against the holy church and 'gainst myself. 
 
 Sigurd 
 
 Give ear my lord to this one parable: 
 A peasant dwelt within the forest wild, 
 Where he his bow and spear knew how to wield, 
 For bears and wolves and deer abounded there; 
 But then one day he journeyed far away, 
 To foreign countries, where he saw the fields 
 Of golden grain, and orchards rich in fruit; 
 Then did a strong desire possess his soul, 
 To change his forest-soil into such fields. 
 Much did he learn about the tiller's work. 
 Did purchase seed corn, and obtained as gifts 
 Both roots and pips and kernels for to plant. 
 
i8 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Returning home, the forest greeted him, 
 
 With its accustomed music deep and wild. 
 
 And he did love it, he a forester, 
 
 Quite ruing that he ever should have planned 
 
 To fell such lofty trees, his native friends; 
 
 But then a duty new did urge him on ; 
 
 The seed seemed calling for a plot of ground, 
 
 And so, ere long, the forest did resound 
 
 With stroke of axe and crash of falling trees. 
 
 Until a gap appeared among the crowns 
 
 Through which the sunshine kissed the mossy earth; 
 
 The stumps uprooted were, the stones removed, 
 
 Prepared the virgin soil was for the seed, 
 
 Which grew and yielded harvest many fold; 
 
 And year by year this field was larger made, 
 
 By felling trees and digging stubborn roots. 
 
 Thus thou, O king, didst go to distant shores; 
 
 In England didst thou view the fields of God 
 
 Unto the harvest ripe, and there thy heart 
 
 Was filled with a divine desire to see 
 
 The Gospel planted in thy native land ; 
 
 But well thou knowest that this soil must be 
 
 Prepared by cutting down and rooting up 
 
 The strongholds of its dark idolatry. 
 
 The axe must to the tree be firmly laid, 
 
 The fire consume the dead and barren limbs, 
 
 Christ's kingdom planted amid pain and death 
 
 Of all its enemies, — then it will come. 
 
 No scruples shouldst thou have; the sacred book 
 
 Doth teach us that in olden times God's wrath 
 
 Fell on the sons of disobedience. 
 
 Remember Moses, how he caused to slay 
 
 Three thousand men, because a golden calf 
 
 Had worshiped been by faithless Israel ; 
 
ACT I 19 
 
 How every Levite, with his sword in hand, 
 
 Went through the camp from gate to gate, 
 
 And smote without regard a neighbor, or 
 
 A fellow, yea, a very brother, for 
 
 The anger of the Lord was upon them. 
 
 Remember, too, Elijah, how he stood 
 
 On Carmel's top, a lonely man of God, 
 
 Surrounded by the priests of Baal, the king 
 
 And all the host of idol-worshipers. 
 
 How he, when fire had fallen from the heavens, 
 
 Consuming altar and its sacrifice, 
 
 In token of Jehovah he is God, 
 
 Took all the priests of Baal down to the brook, 
 
 To Kishon, where he caused them to be slain. 
 
 Four hundred fifty prophets in a day. 
 
 My king is merciful, compared to these 
 
 Great men of old, who did the will of God. 
 
 Such acts were needful then, and are to-day. 
 
 If truth and righteousness shall here prevail. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 I thank thee. Bishop Sigurd, for thy words, 
 Assuring me that all my course is right ; 
 With faith in Grod and self. We victory 
 Shall win o'er even the fiercest enemy. 
 
 Sigurd 
 
 And thou hast won, behold the country lies 
 Submissive at thy feet and hails thee king. 
 And through thy blessed reign each idol must 
 Be broken down and cast into the dust. 
 
20 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Indeed our triumphs have been great, and much 
 We have to thank our God and Father for ; 
 But sad to think, the country yet is full 
 Of idol-temples and of altars vile. 
 There is the North, and all the valleys 'round 
 Old Nidaros, which I have lately learned, 
 Are still observing seasons with their feasts 
 Of bloody sacrifices to their gods. 
 
 Sigurd 
 
 All these good heaven into thy hands will grant; 
 But it is time that we should Complin chant. 
 And for thy great deliverance, O, king, 
 Wc will TE DEUM LAUDAMUS now sing. 
 
 (The bell rings; the chapel-door opens j and a 
 vested choir meets the king, singing. The king, 
 bishop and attendants enter, and the door is closed. 
 Singing from within. It grows quite dark.) 
 
 SCENE 5 
 
 Ingegerd and Sigvat skald. 
 
 (Ingegerd is dressed in the costume of a young 
 huntsman.) 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 And here it is, thou sayest, Olaf dwells; 
 A charming, peaceful place among the trees. 
 
ACT I 21 
 
 SlOVAT 
 
 The peace of God is resting upon all, 
 
 Since from His house sweet harmonies go forth. 
 
 List to the chorus, how its anthem swells 
 
 With praise to Him who ruleth over all ! 
 
 The king in humble prayer bendeth low 
 
 His noble head before the holy Cross, 
 
 And Him who died upon it for our sins. 
 
 Behold how restful nature is to-night! 
 
 The autumn-wind hath gone to sleep within 
 
 The dark, deep forest, not a leaf is stirred ; 
 
 The silver moon doth hang above the rim, 
 
 Where sky and woodland meet, and blend their 
 
 shades ; 
 How sweet seems rest to-night to weary ones, 
 To such as we, fatigued with journeys long. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 No weariness I know, my eager heart 
 Is beating fast, for I have reached at last 
 The palace of the King whom I shall see 
 Full soon, then part, for never more to meet. 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 O, Nomas* will the threads of life so spin, 
 That thine and his shall sometime be entwined. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 Speak not of Nomas, thou, a Christian skald, 
 A mightier doth shape the fate of life. 
 
 *The three Fates of Norse mythology. 
 
22 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 ( The chapel-door opens; Ingegerd and Sigvat step 
 aside, while the party of worshipers pass in proces- 
 sion into the hall. The moon is rising; increasing 
 light.) 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 {Low.) 
 Now have I seen him. O, my noble King, 
 The hero of the Cross, true, valiant! 
 
 (Sigvat takes his harp on which he strikes a jew 
 chords.) 
 
 Play, Sigvat play, thy melodies allay 
 The tremor of my heart. 
 
 Sigvat 
 
 I'll sing a lay. 
 {He sings.) 
 Over the pine-clad mountains, 
 And through the murky forest, 
 Travelled a skald and a princess, 
 Far from the land of Svitjod, 
 Far to the hall of Olaf ; 
 Fair is the doughty princess, 
 Eager to see her woer, 
 Love is a sorrov^^ to her. 
 
 {The king enters unobserved.) 
 
 Not w^ist the king this evening. 
 Who in the moonlight standeth, 
 
ACT I 23 
 
 Although his heart is yearning 
 Answer to get from In'gerd, 
 Soon he must know, however; 
 Shadows begin to lengthen; 
 Heavy the sword of Olaf 
 Falls upon all his foe-men! 
 
 SCENE 6 
 
 Olaf, Ingegerd, Sigvat. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 O, Sigvat skald, when didst thou here arrive? 
 And why such harpings to a lonely youth ? 
 Who — as I ween — from Svitjod followed thee. 
 Into my hall come ye, refresh yourselves 
 With food and wine, and when ye rested have. 
 We will in your adventure take delight. 
 
 Sigvat 
 
 With gratitude I would my King obey, 
 But know not what the youth to this will say. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 Good Sigvat, thou into the hall must go, 
 Partake, as meet is, of the royal board. 
 But I must speak with thee, O King, at once, 
 Then to my men, who wait nearby, return. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 And comest thou with peace or war, my youth ? 
 
U ICING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 From Svitjod's king, with Sigvat skald I come. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Full well I this suspected, but the news, 
 
 I am intent to learn, both from the king 
 
 And princess Ingegerd, must come through him. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 Indeed, he may relate much more than I, 
 For he is learned in sweet minstrelsy. 
 But unto me the answer of the king 
 Was given as a burden to convey. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 And must thou straightway this to me declare ? 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 Yea, without much delay; — if thou wouldst lend 
 Thy gracious ear unto thy servant here. 
 
 Sigvat 
 
 And, by your kindness, I will take my leave. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 Farewell, kind Sigvat, thanks I tender thee 
 For all thy services; a royal bard 
 
ACT 1 ^i 
 
 Indeed thou art, in song and chivalry, 
 A boon companion of young heroes cult. 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 Thanks be to thee, my friend, thanks for the days 
 
 I spent in Svitjod's realm ; I hope again 
 
 To meet thee — on some happy day — farewell ! 
 
 SCENE 7 
 
 Olaf and In^egerd. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 What news important bringest thou to me? 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 My message from the King of Sweden is: 
 He coveteth thy friendship not o'er much, 
 For he declares that he with right can claim 
 This land o'er which thou rulest, and a theft 
 Thou hast committed, making it thine own; 
 Therefore he hates thee, and take care, O King, 
 Lest thou art unawares caught in his snare. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 And hath he broken, then, the pledge he gave 
 At Upsala, to Torgny and the earls. 
 To Ragnvald Earl, my spokesman at his court. 
 That peace should reign between his realm and mine, 
 
26 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 That I his daughter Ingegerd should wed ? 
 Unfaithful dog is he whose solemn oath 
 Is not as changeless as if cut in stone! 
 What does he then decree concerning her 
 My soul is yearning for, fair Ingegerd ? 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 O, many times she pleaded well with him, 
 To give her to the man she learned to love, 
 From what good Sigvat told her honestly. 
 Long did the king an open answer shun. 
 He gave her hope that she might have her way, 
 Until one morning he went on a chase. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 And did his answer on the game depend ? 
 On growling bear, or on the timid deer. 
 And should its nature thus decide for him ? 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 Not so, he neither spear nor arrow used 
 
 To kill the sullen bear or peaceful doe. 
 
 But on his steed, he with his well trained hawks, 
 
 In early morn brought down five partridges ; 
 
 Fine birds they were, me thought I never saw 
 
 Their like in largeness and in plumage fair, 
 
 And as he laid them outstretched on the wold, 
 
 And bid us view them, lifting one by one. 
 
 That we might feel their weight, he proudly asked. 
 
 If we had ever heard of any king, 
 
ACT I 27 
 
 Who made a better hunt in one brief hour; 
 To which his daughter Ingegerd replied : 
 "Yes I have heard of Olaf, Norway's king, 
 That he one morning, ere the sun arose. 
 Five kings did catch without the use of sword." 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Ha! ha! how did her answer please him then? 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 As when a pine-tree, dead and dry, is touched, 
 However lightly by a leaping flame. 
 At once most furiously flares and roars, 
 Thus suddenly his anger changed to rage ; 
 He swore that never should his daughter wed 
 The King of Norway, and he cautioned her 
 To ne'er again as much as breathe his name 
 In his dread presence, and much more he said. 
 Which Ingegerd with less heed listened to, 
 For she had heard enough ; upon her heart 
 There fell a load of utter hopelessness. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Doth she most truly love King Olaf then ? 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 How can her father's harsh refusal bring 
 Such sorrow to her, if she doth not love? 
 
28 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Well then, I shall with sword and flame compel 
 
 My enemy to yield unto my wish, 
 
 And him some good behaviour I will teach ! 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 Not such a course would kingly wisdom prove, 
 Remember, he is stronger than thou art. 
 In men and arms, in stores of gold and grain, 
 A power which he already might have used. 
 Were it not for Canute, the English king. 
 Whose eyes are likewise lusting for thy throne ; 
 For him he fears, and dares not strike 
 At Norway, lest with him he should have war. 
 But if thy armies cross the Keel,* he has 
 A pretext for a fight which means thy fall. 
 And Ingegerd hath this to say to thee, 
 That if thou waitest, she will e'er be true. 
 And sometime may your lives united be. 
 Now since her message hath to thee been told, 
 I must be gone, my men, not far away. 
 Await my coming, therefore I must say 
 Farewell to thee, O King, farewell! 
 
 Olaf 
 
 No stay! 
 A moment yet, {he removes a ring from his hand) 
 
 take thou this ring to her. 
 An emblem of my love immutable. 
 
 *Provincial name for the mountain chain which 
 separates Norway from Sweden. 
 
ACT I 29 
 
 (As she turns to receive the ring, the moon-light 
 falls upon her hands and face which is partly hidden 
 by the hood she wears. As if suddenly stricken with 
 an idea, the king says : ) 
 
 Thy hands look very slender, youth, not much 
 To war or to the chase thou giv'n art, 
 Thy beardless face hath not been burnished yet 
 By sun and weather, this I can detect ; 
 Remove the hood which shades thy eyes, that I 
 May better see, if they be light or dark. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 My lord, I pray thee do not ask this thing, 
 For thou my visage must not now behold ! 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Yes, I must see thy face and know thy name, 
 
 Ere thou departest, otherwise no faith 
 
 I place in what thy lips have uttered here. 
 
 May be thy words are but an evil lie, 
 
 A plan, concocted by an enemy, 
 
 To lead astray, or else thou art a spy; 
 
 I'll call my men, and we thy face shall see! 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 But Sigvat knoweth, he thy trusted skald. 
 
 To-morrow he the secret will reveal. 
 
 This hath he promised, therewith be content. 
 
30 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Olaf 
 
 No, Olaf s nature such a patience lacks, 
 And spurred by impulse he disdains delay; 
 But let me tell thee what I now surmise, 
 Since I thy hands and rosy lips have seen. . 
 
 Ingegerd 
 And thy surmise will be all wrong, I fear. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 No, I believe, my Ingegerd is here. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 As thou believest, so then let it be. 
 
 (She pulls off the hood; for a moment they gaze 
 at each other in silence.) 
 
 Olaf 
 
 So, thou art Ingegerd; a thousand times 
 More fair than Sigvat skald hath ever told ! 
 He said, thy eyes were blue and full of light. 
 The deep, dark blue, as of a moon-light night ; 
 He said, thy voice was like a rippling brook. 
 Which laughs and sings in some secluded nook ; 
 He said, thy mind was strong and courage-clad, 
 That to be queen good heav'n thee destined had. 
 
ACT I 31 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 Nor hath thy skald related half the truth 
 Concerning thee, O King ; my dreams of thee, 
 Of thy heroic bearing, royal mien. 
 And courtesy of speech was nobly bom 
 And nourished by the praise he sang of thee; 
 But ne'er this dream so fair, which followed me, 
 Both day and night, until it brought me here, 
 Gave justice to what now my soul perceives. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 So have I found thee whom my heart did crave. 
 The love, I yearned for all these lonely years. 
 The love, I needed to make life complete, 
 The love which henceforth like the morning star 
 Shall shine upon my path, when night seems dark. 
 The love which soften shall and gentler make 
 My nature's harsh and cruel Viking-traits, 
 The love which shall inspire me to achieve, 
 And reach the highest for this darkened land; 
 In thee life's fulness and its victory 
 God hath ordained for me; and now I pray. 
 Give up thy father's home, ignore his wrath. 
 Be thou my wife, my queen, without delay. 
 My court shall straightway, e'en to-morrow morn. 
 Begin the preparations for the feast, 
 Our nuptial, and forsooth it shall be made 
 As great and splendid as thy heart desires, 
 And when our bishop hath our marriage sealed. 
 And made an holy pact, then will my men. 
 My trusted warriors, proclaim with shouts, 
 
32 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 And din of swords that Ingegerd is queen. 
 With me and with my army wilt thou go 
 On great excursions through this gloomy land, 
 And wheresoe'er the people see the cross 
 And thee, the darkness of their heathendom 
 Will be dispelled, a new day will arise, 
 Love's day-spring in the hearts of pagan men. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 Thy words, O King, are music to my ears, 
 They thrill my soul, and yet they sadden me; 
 How I would love to tarry here with thee ! 
 But I must not, already darksome fears 
 Come over me. If I did love thee less. 
 Then I would stay and follow love's desire; 
 But since I know that this would bring distress 
 Upon my King, and on his land the fire 
 Of vengeance by my father, therefore now 
 Let me depart, sometime we two shall find 
 Our wedding-day, and with no fear to throw 
 A shadow o'er the happy mind. 
 
 (She attempts to withdraw from him.) 
 
 Olaf 
 
 111 dost thou judge me, if thou thinkest I 
 Would flinch before thy father's angry threat ; 
 For were his armies ten times that of mine, 
 I should not fear to meet them, since thy love 
 Would make me and my men invincible. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 I know my father better than thou dost ; 
 And now let reason also have its way, 
 
ACT I 33 
 
 In time, which shapes man's fate, we'll put our trust, 
 So fare thee well, until our wedding-day. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 No, Ingegerd, do tarry here with me. 
 At least a while, or if thou must depart. 
 Permit me to escort thee to the place 
 Where, as thou say'st, thy trusty men encamp. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 My men are near by, and I deem it best. 
 That none of them should see the King this night. 
 Nor am I fearful, ought would me molest. 
 {Exit Ingegerd.) 
 
 SCENE 8 
 
 Olaf (Solus) 
 
 Thus grants the heav'n a glimpse of what we wish, 
 To make our souls more ardent and more sad. 
 It holds our heart's desire so near our reach. 
 Then draws it far away, to make us mad, 
 A madness that spurs on and makes us scorn 
 Each foe and danger in a noble strife. 
 Until we feel and know that we were born 
 To be the heroes of a higher life. 
 
 Two aims were given me by destiny : 
 One is, to christianize this pagan land, 
 To subject all its little kings to me, 
 
34 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 And wisely rule this realm with steady hand ; 
 
 The other is, tc win the fairest face 
 
 And truest heart that God did e'er create, 
 
 On whom good heav'n pours out its charming grace 
 
 And love, estranged to every hellish hate; 
 
 These very aims, m^^ heart's will and desire, 
 
 Have passed before me like a vision fair, 
 
 And fill my being with a glowing fire. 
 
 Which lights my path to glory or despair. 
 
 SCENE 9 
 
 (A tumult is heard from the hall. A large num- 
 ber of armed men rush upon the stage, among them 
 Sigvat skald.) 
 
 First Soldier 
 
 {Pointing toward the forest beyond the chapel.) 
 
 This way, ye men, down to the fjord, of course! 
 
 Second Soldier 
 
 But we must first await the King's command. 
 
 Sigvat 
 
 Yea, tarry till we hear the King's command! 
 
 Olaf 
 
 What means this tumult and excitement wild? 
 
ACT I 35 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 O, King, blind Rorek hath escaped from us ! 
 
 Olaf 
 
 What sayest thou? King Rorek hath escaped! 
 Pray, tell me quickly of this strange affair ! 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 This very hour thy men sat 'round thy board 
 
 With Rorek and his guard ; Finn Little brought 
 
 A pail of seasoned mead into the hall. 
 
 Of which we all drank freely, till our eyes 
 
 With sleep grew heavy, and some drowsed away ; 
 
 Then Rorek asked his guard to lead him out. 
 
 Reluctantly they with his wish complied, . 
 
 For they were dulled by drink, like all the rest. 
 
 At last he had his will and left the hall, 
 
 While Finn continued to supply the mead ; 
 
 But soon he also left ; some moments passed, 
 
 And I did follow him; alas, what scene 
 
 Did meet me now! Stretched on the ground there 
 
 lay, 
 In pools of blood, the bodies of the men 
 Whom thou didst place to guard the wily king; 
 Slain by a foe which stealthily did come 
 To aid him in his secret plan of flight. 
 In which Finn Little surely played his part. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 And whither, thinkest thou, they made their way? 
 
36 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 Most likely to the fjord and waiting boats. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Or to the woods, we know not Rorek's wit; 
 
 Half of my men, well armed, with utmost haste 
 
 Must to the ships and with them search the bay; 
 
 Some here remain, the rest the forest path 
 
 Espy with diligence, the fugitive 
 
 To find, lest he his liberty shall gain, 
 
 And I my cause and kingdom lose for aye! 
 
 Curtain 
 
ACT II 
 
 Place — Maeren-j Norway. 
 
 Scene — A large hallj in which there is a long table, 
 at the upper end of which is a dais, which is occupied 
 by Olvcj lord of the hall. Two of Norway's fore- 
 most chiefs, namely : Thore Hund and Haarek are 
 present, and together with a cotmpany of their re- 
 tainers occupy seats at the table. Rorek and Finn 
 Little are among the guests, seated next to the dais on 
 the right hand, while Thore and Haarek have the 
 same place of honor at the opposite side. It has been 
 a night of revelry, and the men are still drinking. It 
 is now towards morning — a morning in early Spring. 
 The room is poorly lighted with candles. On the 
 walls hang weapons and shields. 
 
 SCENE I 
 
 Olve 
 
 {Lifting a horn of mead, addressing his guests.) 
 True to our fathers' custom, have we shed 
 The sacrificial blood, that to our land 
 The gods may grant a summer rich in corn. 
 Still we have grain for beer and bread; a year 
 Of killing frost and failure doth not find 
 Us famine-stricken in this fertile vale, 
 Since peasants have in store much good old grain. 
 But from the North come stories of great woe, 
 Where people die in want of daily bread. 
 The gods are angry with Haalogaland, 
 Because it turned away from them, to serve 
 37 
 
38 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 King Olaf s Christ ; now sorely it must rue 
 Its faithlessness to all the aesir great. 
 
 ROREK 
 
 To such a plight King Olaf all our land 
 
 Will bring, if it accepts his faith. 
 
 My friends, 'tis time that we should Norway save 
 
 From dire disaster ! Still there is a way 
 
 To guard our country and the homes we love ; 
 
 And if ye would not such as I become, 
 
 A sightless fugitive, and maimed for life. 
 
 Then stay his bloody hands, ere all is lost. 
 
 Olve 
 
 The gods have sent thee here to fire our souls, 
 To 'rouse us from the sloth which binds our strength, 
 For sloth hath ever been our enemy; 
 But tell us Rorek, for thou seemst to know, 
 How we may check King Olaf in his course. 
 
 Rorek 
 
 Men of much wisdom, chiefs for prowess famed, 
 Sit 'round this board, and rather would I. list 
 To counsel from their lips. Let Thore speak. 
 And Haarek, men of weighty words, then I, 
 Perhaps, may syllable a burning thought. 
 
 Thore 
 
 King Rorek, let him speak ; 
 
ACT II 39 
 
 All 
 
 Yea, let him speak! 
 
 ROREK 
 
 {/i rising.) 
 Since ye desire that I shall counsel give, 
 I must request, as one who cannot see 
 The faces of his hearers, that our host, 
 Great Olve, of his guests allegiance takes ; 
 That all swear secrecy to what is said, 
 And enmity to him whom Odin hates; 
 Let Olve take the horn, he consecrated hath 
 To ^sir's honor, fill it with strong mead, 
 Then pass it 'round the table that each one. 
 Who takes this oath may drink, and he who fails 
 To quafE his potion may thereby be known. 
 
 Olve 
 
 My guests is this your wish? 
 
 All 
 
 So let it be ! 
 
 Olve 
 
 ( Taking a golden horn, and filling it, he addresses 
 the men.) 
 
 My friends, who dwell within my hall, as guests. 
 
 At this our sacrificial season, when 
 
 The gods must be appeased with reeking blood, 
 
40 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 That we their blessing and good will may have, 
 
 Our duty it becomes to bind ourselves 
 
 Against the man who spurns their holy will, 
 
 Who by destruction of their images 
 
 And sacred temples bring upon our land 
 
 Their fiery anger; we who fear the gods 
 
 And seek their favor must this very night 
 
 A pact establish 'mongst ourselves, which binds 
 
 Us to withstand King Olaf's tyranny, 
 
 And find a way whereby his growing power 
 
 May be destroyed. The presence of a king. 
 
 Like Rorek, who as ruler of his clan, 
 
 Was strong and prosperous, but now does hide 
 
 Beneath my roof, a poor, blind fugitive. 
 
 Should warn us of the fate that may befall 
 
 Each one of us, if we no measure take 
 
 To overthrow the mocker of our gods. 
 
 King Rorek will now counsel us how this 
 
 May be achieved, but ere he does, let all, 
 
 WTio swear allegiance to our cause. 
 
 Drink of this horn which to the ^sir hath 
 
 Been consecrated. May the ^sir's curse 
 
 Be on the lips that touch it with a lie ! 
 
 {The horn is passed around, and all drink of it.) 
 
 Rorek 
 
 Chiefs, warriors and friends, my heart is filled 
 
 With fire to-night, not the consuming fire 
 
 Of hatred only, but a burning zeal 
 
 For land and people and their future well. 
 
 Much have I thought and planned, since nothing else 
 
 The darkness of my life will me permit; 
 
ACT n 41 
 
 No work, no action for my groping hand ; 
 My sword and shield hang rusty on the wall; 
 No more shall Rorek lead his men to war, 
 Since he himself must beg a hand to guide ; 
 But I can think and plot, and if a word 
 From my enkindled soul shall like a spark 
 Set fire to other hearts to dare and do. 
 Then will I bear my fate without complaint. 
 My friends, arise and save your native land! 
 
 (Much acclaim.) 
 Where art thou Thore Hund who copest oft 
 With growling grizzlies in thy Northern isle ? 
 Thou art a silent man, but thinkest much; 
 Hast thou forgotten Olaf s robberies 
 And proud disdain of every freeman's right? 
 Arise, put out thy ships this very night. 
 And I will go with thee to King Canute, 
 To England's court, and bow before his throne, 
 Give him our fealty and show true cause 
 For his subjection of the upstart king; 
 That Norway's chiefs stand ready to submit 
 Themselves to his protection and just reign; 
 Then will we send his fleet across the sea. 
 Arouse indignant chiefs to join his hosts, 
 And wage such war on Olaf, that his power 
 For ever shall be crushed, and Norway's homes 
 And altars once more find security. 
 How seems this counsel to you earnest men? 
 If it seems good, then act without delay, 
 For I have fears, the King's not far away. 
 
 {He takes his seat. Much acclaim.) 
 
42 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Olve 
 
 Thus we have heard King Rorek's counsel good, 
 What think ye? {to Thore) Thore wilt thou fol- 
 low it? 
 
 Thore 
 
 Friend Rorek's words came as from my own heart. 
 
 Oft have I thought of this, and since his speech 
 
 Hath made it seem the only way to save 
 
 Ourselves from an impending tyranny, 
 
 I will make haste, commanding men to make 
 
 My two ships ready to set out this night. 
 
 The wind is westward, favoring our course; 
 
 King Rorek and his faithful Finn will go 
 
 With me to England's king, where we will plead 
 
 Our country's well before that noble lord. 
 
 Haarek 
 
 And I will stay at home and quietly 
 Prepare our chiefs to join the coming host. 
 
 Olve 
 
 So will we all, and let us drink a cup 
 In honor of the splendid counsel given. 
 
 ( They drink. A noise, as of much people, is heard 
 from without.) 
 
 What means this noise? 
 
ACT II 43 
 
 Haarek 
 
 Thy servants celebrate; 
 
 The vigor of thy mead hath stirred their wits, 
 
 As it will Thore's ere his cup he quits. 
 
 Thore 
 
 And thine so dull that neither words nor drink 
 Can make them ope their eyes just once to blink. 
 
 Haarek 
 
 Hadst thou the wits of her that sleeps by day, 
 Thou wouldst know how, at night, to steal away. 
 
 {The noise grows louder.) 
 
 SCENE 2 
 
 {As before; a servant enters in haste.) 
 
 Olve 
 
 {To servant.) 
 
 What causes all this tumult which I hear? 
 
 Servant 
 
 A man is here who says that he hath seen 
 
 King Olaf with an army, coming from 
 
 His ships, inquiring for the shortest road 
 
 To this your hall. Your household and your men 
 
44 KING SAII^^T OLAF 
 
 Are gathering excitedly to hear 
 
 From you what must be done to meet the King. 
 
 Olve 
 
 Let all my people come within this hall. 
 
 {Exit servant.) 
 
 SCENE 3 
 
 The doors are at once opened, and the members 
 of Olve's family, his servants and armed footmen 
 enter. Amid the confusion Thore Hund, Rorek and 
 Finn leave the hall. 
 
 Olve 
 
 My men, take up your weapons with much haste ! 
 Whate'er ye find of sword, of spear or axe. 
 And give defence to home and life, if he 
 Comes as an enemy, and I do fear 
 His coming, at this time, no good forebodes. 
 
 ( They arm themselves with the weapons, hanging 
 on the wall.) 
 
 And ye, my guests, will give us aid, I trust. 
 Come, show your valor in an evil hour! 
 
 All 
 
 We will! 
 
 {Clangour of arms.) 
 
ACT II 45 
 
 Haarek 
 
 But where is Thore, Rorek, Finn ? 
 
 (Exit Haarek.) 
 
 SCENE 4 
 
 (The former. Enter three of King Olaf's war- 
 riors.) 
 
 First Warrior 
 
 King Olaf with his men surrounds this hall, 
 And swift surrender of you all demands, 
 But if ye fail, he will, this very hour. 
 Subdue you by his sword and burn your home. 
 
 (Olve draws his sword and rushes upon them, his 
 men following him outside, whence the din of fight- 
 ing is heard. The women and children move about 
 terror-stricken.) 
 
 SCENE 5 
 
 Sigrid, Olve's wife; women, and children. 
 
 SiGRID 
 
 Now has the dream, I had last night, come true. 
 
 First Woman 
 
 To me the crows foretold this happening, 
 As through the gloomy forest I did go. 
 
46 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Second Woman 
 
 Last evening did the screech-owl laugh and hoot 
 From out the firtree by the oifer-moot. 
 
 SiGRID 
 
 P, hear the noise of battle; how they fight! 
 Ye gods be with us this unhappy night. 
 
 SCENE 6 
 
 (As before. Olve's men, pursued, rush into the 
 hall. King Olaf, Bishop Sigurd, and Olve bound.) 
 
 Olaf 
 
 {With drawn sword.) 
 
 As ye so soon have learned that in my pow'r 
 Your lives and limbs are, I this one advice 
 Do give to all, that ye your arms lay down ; 
 Your chief is bound, my men surround his hall, 
 And if ye hesitate to heed my words. 
 The morning sun shall shine upon the smoke. 
 Arising from the ruins of this place. 
 And from the heathen bodies who refused 
 Obedience to Christ and mc, your King. 
 
 Olve 
 
 Surrender men, and seek King Olai's grace! 
 
ACT II 47 
 
 (The men lay down their weapons before King 
 Olaf.) 
 
 SiGRID 
 
 {Falling upon her knees before Olaf.) 
 
 Have mercy, King, and spare my husband's life. 
 And I will pay the ransom, thou dost crave. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 A greater thing than ransom I demand 
 Arise, fair woman, and soon shalt thou hear, 
 What this may be and what the errand is, 
 Which brought us quite unbidden to your feast. 
 To me hath come the rumor that ye here 
 Still follow heathen ways by pouring out 
 The blood of beasts before the images 
 Of Thor and other idols, that a feast 
 Ye hold at each four seasons of the year, 
 Made vile by ofiFerings and heathen rites ; 
 That ye refuse to follow my command : 
 To give up your vain idols, and the faith 
 In God, the only true and living God, 
 And in his Son, the Christ, accept, that ye 
 Show stubbornness by all your wicked ways. 
 Not long ago did Olve and his men 
 Stand in my presence with a sheepish mien; 
 Wise, Olve thought himself, when he did dodge 
 My questions, and did hide with cunning words 
 His wickedness, and when I let you go 
 
48 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 In peace, I know ye laughed behind my back; 
 But know ye now, and Olve most of all. 
 Ye cannot me a second time deceive. 
 So make your choice, at once accept our Christ 
 Or die the death your heathendom deserves. 
 
 Olve 
 
 But we have one who greater is than thou, 
 Great Thor himself, when thou beholdest him, 
 Thy face will tamer grow, nor wilt thou dare 
 To stand before him as his enemy ; 
 Let him decide which god we must obey. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Thy proposition a confession is. 
 
 And thou shalt have thy wish, bring forth thy god. 
 
 Olve 
 
 Then let six of my men depart at once, 
 To bear him from his temple in the grove. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 And twelve of mine shall guard them in their quest, 
 Lest Thor should take a notion to escape. 
 
 Olve 
 
 And if his hammer he should swing in wrath, 
 A thotisand of thy men could not withstand 
 His thunderbolt; send all if it seems best. 
 
ACT II 49 
 
 (Selecting six of his men.) 
 Go, bring him hither ! 
 
 Olaf 
 
 (Likewise designating his men.) 
 And ye follow them! 
 
 (Exeunt men.) 
 
 Now, while we wait, my bishop will instruct 
 You in the faith, I ask you to embrace. 
 
 Bishop Sigurd 
 
 In this dark night I come to you with light, 
 
 The light of heaven to the sons of men ; 
 
 "The Day-spring from on High" dawns upon you 
 
 Benighted people in this heathen land. 
 
 Hear now the teachings of eternal truth : 
 
 There is no God, but one, in earth or sky. 
 
 Who made all things by his creative word, 
 
 The heav'n, the earth, the sea and all that lives 
 
 In them. Man made He of the dust and breathed 
 
 The breath of life intoi his nostrils, that 
 
 As crown of all creation he should share 
 
 In immortality as God's own child. 
 
 He made a garden for him, placed him there 
 
50 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Amid its ever bearing trees of fruit; 
 
 And man was happy, for he knew no sin ; 
 
 And there was peace 'mongst all created things. 
 
 One thing, alone, he lacked, a mate, a wife; 
 
 And God, when looking on his loneliness. 
 
 Came down, while in sweet slumber he reposed. 
 
 Removed one of his ribs and woman made. 
 
 To man's great joy and fulness of his life; 
 
 These parents of all mankind, Adam, Eve, 
 
 In innocence did dwell, till evil came 
 
 In shape of subtle serpent, tempting them; 
 
 The tree of knowledge in the garden stood, 
 
 Whose fruit was all forbidden by their God; 
 
 Of this the tempter did them soon persuade 
 
 To eat, which being done, man's guilt began; 
 
 He hid from God and was of Him afraid. 
 
 Condemned by his own conscience and the light 
 
 Of holiness in which the Most High dwells. 
 
 Whose righteous judgment drove them from the bliss 
 
 Of Eden; doomed to sorrow, pain and toil. 
 
 They wandered from the gates of Paradise ; 
 
 But He, whose justice was a flaming sword. 
 
 Was also merciful and gave them hope: 
 
 "The woman's seed shall bruise the serpent's head," 
 
 Redemption purchased by the Son of God, 
 
 Who in the fulness of all time was born 
 
 In Bethlehem, a prince of David's house. 
 
 His life from childhood to his bitter death 
 
 Was rich in wonders, such as never seen. 
 
 No sin did he commit in word nor deed. 
 
 But pure as heaven he lived His life of love ; 
 
 The sick He healed, the dead He raised to life; 
 
 He fed the thousands with five little loaves, 
 
ACT II 51 
 
 Did calm the storm and walk upon the sea; 
 
 He spake as man had never done before, 
 
 Of love and mercy to the fallen race. 
 
 A few did hear and gladly followed Him, 
 
 From whom He chose twelve men, Apostles they 
 
 Were called whom He ordained to go and preach 
 
 The Gospel of His Kingdom to the world; 
 
 But one of them betrayed Him to His foe — 
 
 The wicked priests and rulers of the Jews, 
 
 Who took the Christ and nailed Him on a cross, 
 
 And what He there endured no tongue can tell. 
 
 For He did suffer for our sins and paid the debt. 
 
 His blood was shed to quench God's holy wrath 
 
 And set us free from Satan's slavery. 
 
 He died, was buried in a rich man's tomb. 
 
 But death could not imprison Him, He rose 
 
 The third day, Victor over death and grave; 
 
 The woman's seed had bruised the serpent's head, 
 
 And Paradise regained for Adam's race. 
 
 This Christ, Redeemer, whom we preach to you, 
 
 Now bids you turn from all the vanity 
 
 Of Idols which can neither see nor hear, 
 
 Can neither help nor harm, since they are nought 
 
 But images, shaped by the hands of men. 
 
 Believe on Him, for He alone can save; 
 
 Come let your sins and guilt be washed away 
 
 In holy baptism, receive the name 
 
 Of Christians every one of you, then shall 
 
 The blessings of the Most High rest on you, 
 
 And when ye die. His heav'n of glory will 
 
 Be opened for you, where a life of joy 
 
 Shall be your heritage for ever more. 
 
 But if ye fail Christ to accept, the sword 
 
52 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Of vengeance must be drawn, and horrid hell 
 Stand ready to engulf your stubborn souls. 
 
 Olve 
 
 Know thou, O, priest, with horns upon thy head,* 
 Our god is not as lifeless as thou sayest! 
 For daily doth he eat the bread and meat 
 Placed in his temple by the worshipers ; 
 True, oft he's silent, as a god should be. 
 But stir him up to anger, and both heav'n 
 And earth are filled with terror of his wrath. 
 Ah! there he comes, beware, O men, beware! 
 
 SCENE 7 
 
 As before. The men return with a large idol and 
 place it in the middle of the stage. It represents the 
 god Thorj and is decked with silver and gold in a 
 rather gaudy manner. It holds a hammer in the 
 right hand. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 {Frowning upon the idol.) 
 
 Once more I offer peace and liberty. 
 
 If ye this horrid idol will forsake. 
 
 And serve our God, choose what seems best to you. 
 
 '^Referring to the bishop's mitre. 
 
ACT II 53 
 
 Olve 
 
 .Where is thy God on whom we should believe? 
 We see him not nor know where he doth dwell. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 He Cometh now, behold Him there He is ! 
 
 {All look through the open door at the light of the 
 rising sun. While they are gazing with wonder at 
 its increasing glory, Olaf beckons one of his men to 
 strike the image with a club. It falls into utter ruin, 
 and large rats escape from it$ hollow body. Olve 
 and his followers attempt to flee, but are held back 
 by the King's men. In the confusion Olve is wound- 
 ed by one of Olafs men. The full light of the sun 
 falls upon the King who triumphantly lifts the cross 
 above his head, while all kneel about him.) 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Arise, friend Olve, let thy bonds be loosed ! 
 
 One of the King's Men 
 
 He's dead, behold the blood! 
 
 SiGRID 
 
 My husband dead! 
 
 {She falls over his body.) 
 
54 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Who killed this man, cut Norway from my hand. 
 
 Thus ever fate decrees, my victories 
 
 Should marred be by events which spell defeat. 
 
 Curtain 
 
ACT III 
 
 Several years have elapsed since the first act, dur^ 
 ing which time King Olaf has married Astrid, Inge- 
 gerd's sister, Ingegerd having been given in mar- 
 riage^ by her father, to Jarisleiv, King of Russia. A 
 wild scenery of mountains, with a fjord in the back- 
 ground. 
 
 , SCENE I 
 
 King Olaf, sitting on a cliff, is gazing across the 
 fjord. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 A toilsome journey have my liegemen given 
 Their king, a journey to most cheerless wilds, 
 A place which nature seems to have made fit 
 For evil trolls and hopeless fugitives. 
 Amid such scenes I am allowed to pause, 
 And think how vain my many years of toil 
 Have been for Norway's good ; in vain I've sought 
 To set it free from dark idolatry. 
 I am its true-born King with right divine 
 To rule my land in truth and righteousness, 
 To make the people one and lead them on 
 Toward light eternal and a brighter day; 
 But all in vain ! Perhaps man's life is vain, 
 His aspirations and his high pursuits, 
 And, like yon skiff which moves across the sea, 
 Makes but a transient pathway — soon effaced. 
 55 
 
S6 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Where are the men who friendship swore, the host 
 That followed me to battle? One by one 
 They slunk away; and here I will dismiss 
 Even those whom duty, and not love doth bind ; 
 And Astrid too, my wife, must seek her home; 
 And Sigvat Skald desires to go to Rome ; 
 But Magnus — 
 
 {Enters Magnus j a young boy,) 
 
 SCENE 2 
 
 O, my son, thee must I have. 
 
 My comfort and my hope, into thy soul 
 
 The light of heav'n must shine, and thou shalt be 
 
 The saviour of thy people, when its throne 
 
 Thou shalt possess. My son, thou wilt not leave 
 
 Thy father? 
 
 Magnus 
 
 No, with thee I will remain; 
 
 Where e'er thy way may lead, I follow thee. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 I thank thee, child, thy love shall be the sweet 
 Amid the bitter which I now must drink. 
 
 {He embraces him.) 
 
 SCENE 3 
 
 The former. Queen Astrid, Vlfhild and Sigvat 
 Skald. 
 
ACT in 57 
 
 ASTRID 
 
 I am so weary, and so cold 'tis here, 
 
 Among these dreary mountain-fastnesses; 
 
 Why didst thou choose this way o'er rocks and 
 
 streams ? 
 A trackless wilderness, until thy men 
 Can make no further path for horse and load. 
 Would I were in my father's hall this day ! 
 Poor Ulfhild weeps ; methinks the child is sick 
 And needs a place of rest — and tender care ; 
 'Twill be our death, if we with thee must fare, 
 
 {Astrid and Ulfhild weep.) 
 
 Olaf 
 
 My consort, thou shalt have thy wish fulfilled, 
 To go to Svitjod, to thy father's hall; 
 Take Ulfhild with thee, but give Magnus leave 
 To follow me, since this is his desire. 
 
 ASTRID 
 
 No, no, I cannot part from him, he must 
 Go home with me, his life is not secure 
 With thee, O King, pursued by enemies, 
 Whose path is lined with dangers everywhere. 
 
 Olap 
 
 Let he himself decide what he will do. 
 
58 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Magnus 
 
 Oft, mother, hast thou said: "Thou art a prince, 
 And heir to Norway's throne, and must as such 
 Be brave and valiant, all dangers spurn. 
 Seek heroes' company on battlefields. 
 Instead of pleasant ease in festive halls." 
 This admonition M^ill I follow now. 
 Stay with my father and his trials share, 
 But I will come again, my mother dear 
 To thee, so let me kiss away this tear. 
 
 {They embrace.) 
 
 ASTRID 
 
 Farewell, my child, farewell, perhaps I ne'er 
 Again shall see thy face, farewell, farewell! 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Farewell, Queen Astrid! {They embrace.) 
 
 and my daughter dear, 
 My Ulfhild, fare thee well, may heav'n protect 
 Thee, since thy father's arm seems impotent ! 
 
 {To Sigvat.) 
 
 And thou, my Skald, a song by thee hath oft 
 Rejoiced my heart, in days when life was bright. 
 And I would have thee follow me to cheer 
 Me in my exile and the hours of gloom, 
 But, as I know thy heart is set to go 
 
ACT III 59 
 
 To Rome, to make a holy pilgrimage, 
 
 I ask but this of thee, in safety soon 
 
 To bring my wife and child back to their home ; 
 
 Then enter on thy journey to the land 
 
 Where dwells the Holy Father of the Church. 
 
 Farewell, my Skald, accept this ring of gold, 
 
 A token of that nobly didst thou sing. 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 And when we meet again, in future days. 
 Thy people have turned curses into praise. 
 
 {Exit J together with Queen and JJlfhild.) 
 
 SCENE 4 
 
 Olaf, MagnuSj Bjorn Stallare. 
 
 {Enter Stallare.) 
 
 Olaf 
 
 My friend, What words of cheer canst thou bestow ? 
 
 Stallare 
 
 No words of cheer, O King, our progress o'er 
 
 These lofty mountains is impossible; 
 
 Our way is blocked with rocks and boulders huge. 
 
 O'er which no load or horse can ever pass. 
 
 Nor can a track be made through such a pile. 
 
6o KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Olaf 
 
 It must be made, we cannot now return, 
 
 My men must work, and God will bless our task, 
 
 Bid them toil on, and ere another day, 
 
 I trust that God hath made for us a way. 
 
 Stallare 
 
 Thy men are weary, in unhappy mood, 
 And from thy presence need encouragement, 
 Now let them rest until to-morrow morn, 
 Then come and see, if this thing can be done. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Thy words are good, and since the evening-hour 
 Is drawing nigh, let food and rest to all 
 The camp be giv'n; but know'st thou Stallare 
 Of any place where I may dwell this night, 
 Be it the simplest hut amid these wilds? 
 
 Stallare 
 
 Near-by there is a shepherd's lonely cot, 
 But this is not a place for thee, O King. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Too humble ? No, there is no place for me 
 Too lowly, since my soul doth trail the dust. 
 
ACT III 6i 
 
 Stallare 
 
 Not this the reason; but uncanny things 
 Are seen and heard in this secluded spot : 
 Grim mountain-trolls and imps do gather there 
 At night, whose horrid cries and noises chill 
 One's blood with fear; for years no man hath dared 
 To tarry there o'er night. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Yet, I will dare! 
 
 Show me the place and leave me there alone. 
 
 Stallare 
 
 Wilt thou not let me spend the night with thee ? 
 
 Olaf 
 
 No, I shall be alone, — alone with God. 
 
 Go, friend, and let my men have food and rest. 
 
 (Exit Stallare.) 
 
 SCENE 5 
 Olaf J Magnus. 
 
 Magnus 
 {With anxiety.) 
 
 My father, let me stay with thee to-night, 
 I am afraid that evil may thee harm. 
 
62 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Olaf 
 
 No, child, thou must repose among my men. 
 Beneath their shields sweet sleep will strengthen 
 
 thee ; 
 And thou must learn to let the shining stars 
 Instil their heav'nly calm into thy soul, 
 Their mystery brood on thy closing eye, 
 And never fear, since God is always nigh. 
 
 Magnus 
 
 So be it, father, for thy will is best. 
 
 {Exit.) 
 
 SCENE 6 
 
 Olaf J King's Steward. 
 {Enter Steward.) 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Why comest thou, good Steward, with such haste? 
 
 Steward 
 
 To let thee know, O King, that our supply 
 Of food is growing small ; now only two 
 Good steers are left for meat, but what is that 
 Among five hundred men, in such a place. 
 On such a journey — no one knows how long. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 {To himself.) 
 
ACT III 63 
 
 Another word of cheer. (To steward.) Go to, O 
 
 man! 
 Go to, my steward, and a portion small 
 Place in each kettle for the evening meal. 
 
 (He looks up to heaven in prayer, makes the sign 
 of the Cross and says:) 
 
 Bless, Thou, the little for the many's need, 
 And as of yore. Thou didst the thousands feed 
 With two small fishes and five barley-loaves, 
 So may these homeless, persecuted droves 
 Of men, who for thy cause with me have fled 
 Into this barren wilderness, be fed ; 
 Bless, Thou, our meagre store each day, and make 
 It plenty for our need — for thy name's sake. 
 
 (There is a vision of plenty; a pastoral scene of 
 grazing flocks.) 
 
 SCENE 7 
 
 An open wold. In the back-ground mountains. 
 On the right hand a little log-cabin thatched with 
 turf ; it is very old and weather-beaten. On the left 
 hand trees. Trolls rolling a rock into the middle of 
 the stage. They dance ctround it. It is growing 
 dark. 
 
 First Troll 
 
 This is the burden of the heart, 
 The burden of the heart of man. 
 From which he always seeks to part, 
 
64 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 But knows not how — and never can; 
 For we will always roll it there, 
 In nights of darkness and despair. 
 
 Second Troll 
 
 This is the sacrificial stone 
 
 On which he pours the blood ef beast, 
 
 And from the hollow of this bone, 
 
 I mark this part that's toward the east, 
 
 With blood drawn from an angry bat, 
 
 From hooting owl and gnawing rat. 
 
 (He pours it upon one corner of the rock.) 
 
 Third Troll 
 
 This is the stone of hidden fire. 
 Of anger and of hatred dark. 
 Come, strike it, and its innate ire 
 Leaps forth like lightning's lurid spark. 
 Come, let us strike, and strike until 
 The fire, unchained, brings mankind ill! 
 
 Fourth Troll 
 
 Beneath it coils the subtle snake. 
 The snake of falsehood and deceit; 
 Behold its glittering eye awake ! 
 Its giddy tongue and poisonous teeth ! 
 'Tis mine and came from blackest hell. 
 For ages I have kept it well. 
 
ACT III 65 
 
 {He takes the snake from under the stone and 
 puts it in his bosom.) 
 
 Fifth Troll 
 
 About it hovers darkness dense, 
 The darkness of the underworld, 
 Which keeps in bondage better sense, 
 Since reason from the throne is hurled, 
 I, Superstition, will him bind, 
 And always rule his fearful mind. 
 
 {A ray of light falls upon the scene from the cabin. 
 The Trolls shriek and flee into the woods from which 
 the First Troll is heard to say:) 
 
 It is King Olaf's prayer; his prayer 
 Doth burn us so, that we must flee. 
 And none of us again shall dare 
 In such a holy place to be; 
 Yea, Olaf's prayer doth fiercely burn, 
 Wherever we our course may turn. 
 
 ( The ray of light disappears. They return and 
 dance around the rock. The door of the cabin is 
 opened and the King comes out slowly.) 
 
 Second Troll 
 
 King Olaf! Let us hence! 
 
 Olaf 
 
 No stay ye Trolls! 
 
 Or I will turn you every one to stone. 
 
66 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Fourth Troll 
 
 Become our King; what doth it thee avail 
 To serve the good where only evil rules, 
 We know thy works of these past fifteen years, 
 How thou hast fought the ancient gods and sought 
 To bring a new religion to thy land; 
 A light in darkness did thy bishop say, 
 For we have heard him, too, although unseen; 
 Vain are these fifteen years which thou hast spent 
 Among thy people, gone from thee for aye. 
 Learn wisdom from a troll; become our King, 
 Serve darkness and the mysteries of night. 
 Rule over us and all the host which dwells 
 In all these mountains and the forest wild; 
 Thou'lt be the richest King that ever lived, 
 The lord of gold and silver without end. 
 For we are masters of the mountain ores ; 
 Besides, the power of magic thou shalt know, 
 The power to make thyself invisible 
 Among thy enemies and bring on them 
 The retribution which they now deserve. 
 We also know, thou dost not love thy wife ; 
 But Ingegerd, her sister, hath thine heart; 
 Her will we bring to thee from Novgorod, 
 To be thy mistress in our mountain hall; 
 And we will serve thee as thy loyal court. 
 The best of viands and of drinks procure, 
 The finest silken garments make for thee. 
 And thou shalt live like monarchs in the land 
 Of far off Ind, if thou wilt be our King. 
 
 All the Trolls 
 Yea, be our King, and we will thee obey! 
 
ACT III 67 
 
 {There is a sound as of distant thunder.) 
 
 Olaf 
 
 What is this sound as of a thunder-storm ? 
 
 First Troll 
 
 The coming of the host of mountain-trolls. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 The hobbling of their wooden-shoes, I ween; 
 But tell me troll, what knowest thou of her. 
 Of Ingegerd, when didst thou her behold ? 
 
 Third Troll 
 
 Last night I saw her in her garden stand. 
 Star-gazing, sighing, muttering thy name, 
 I was so near, I almost touched her hand, 
 But dared not for the fear of Olaf's blame. 
 
 {The trolls laugh.) 
 
 Come, let him see the face on which he dotes. 
 While on the air the mystic measure floats. 
 
 {They dance, striking the rock. The image of 
 Ingegerd is seen in the back-ground.) 
 
 Olaf 
 
 {With adoration.) 
 
68 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 O, Ingegerd, my love, is this a dream, 
 A vision or a sweet reality? 
 
 (She holds out her hand to him. Involuntarily 
 he advances towards her, when the vision vanishes. 
 It becomes quite dark.) 
 
 First Troll 
 
 Be thou our King, and she shall be thy vfxit. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Depart from me, ye evil mountain-trolls. 
 
 Second Troll 
 
 Since thou despisest folk, such as we are, 
 And for our mighty power hath no use. 
 We'll work against thee till that fatal day, 
 When thou shalt lean against a rock and die. 
 
 {Olaf makes the sign of the Cross, and the trolls 
 vanish. ) 
 
 SCENE 8 
 
 A place among the mountains. A narrow pass 
 obstructed by heavy rocks. A great company of men 
 are endeavoring to clear it. It is early morning. 
 
ACT III 69 
 
 First Man 
 
 This is impossible — as much this morn, 
 As it was yesterday. 
 
 Second Man 
 
 This pass can ne'er 
 
 Be cleared, though thousand men were laboring. 
 
 {He sits down discouraged.) 
 Third Man 
 
 Yea, were it possible, even then what road 
 To journey o'er, across these mountains wild ! 
 
 {He sits down.) 
 
 Fourth Man 
 
 We need the entire force of men for this; 
 But who comes here? 
 
 First Man 
 The King and Stallare. 
 
 SCENE 9 
 The former. King Olaf and Stallare. 
 {The men courtesy.) 
 
70 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Olaf 
 Good morning to you all ! How goes the work ? 
 
 First Man 
 Impossible, O King, impossible. 
 
 Olaf 
 Nought is impossible to him who wills. 
 
 {He lays aside his cloak and begins to roll away 
 the rocks.) 
 Come, let us move these rocks out of the way! 
 
 {The men go to work, and the rocks are easily 
 removed.) 
 
 The Word declares that faith can mountains move. 
 
 ( Olaf and Stallare stand aside as the pass is being 
 cleared. ) 
 
 Stallare 
 
 The rocks are moved as if by magic hands. 
 How's this my lord? 
 
 Olaf 
 The Mind's pow'r o'er the clod. 
 
 Stallare 
 I do not comprehend, 
 
ACT III 71 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Nor I, my friend; 
 Life hath great mysteries, Bjorn Stallare, 
 Which even he, through whom they work, can't tell. 
 
 Stallare 
 
 Through thee the Mighty God doth surely work. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 So doth He through His servants everywhere. 
 
 Stallare 
 
 But not in equal measure through them all. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 The pow'r is measured by our sacrifice. 
 
 Stallare 
 
 Then have I very little pow'r, my lord. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Well, thou art kind to follow me so far. 
 
 Stallare 
 
 Would I could follow thee to distant lands! 
 
72 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Olaf 
 
 But that would be too great a sacrifice. 
 
 Stallare 
 
 I know, my family needs me full well; 
 My farm would also into disuse fall, 
 If I should absent be for many months. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Good Stallare, I would not ask thee now 
 To follow me to distant Russia; 
 Return thou to thy home and family, 
 Watch the affairs of Norway, and some day, 
 Not far off, I do trust, lend me thy hand, 
 For I do hope my kingdom to regain. 
 
 Stallare 
 
 (Giving the King his hand.) 
 
 My lord I thank thee, though I fain would go 
 With thee and share with thee what fate decrees. 
 And when the time is ripe for thy return. 
 This bear* will be the first to welcome thee. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Ha! Ha! the watch dog,f too, will meet me then. 
 
 *Stallare's first name is Bjorn, meaning a bear. 
 fThe allusion is to Thore Hund, or dog. 
 
ACT III n 
 
 Stallare 
 Perhaps, but, then a bear may match a dog. 
 Olaf 
 
 Good is thy word of parting, Stallare, 
 And like a star thy friendship to my path. 
 
 {The pass is now clear, and the King, turning 
 towards it, says:) 
 
 The obstacle's removed, the road is clear, 
 To safety — and to exile — it leads on ; 
 Go, men, your task is done, go to the camp, 
 And tell it to arise and move at once. 
 
 {Exeunt the men.) 
 
 Scene io 
 Olaf, Stallare. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 There shall a highway be, the Scripture saith, 
 
 A highway through the waste and wilderness ; 
 
 This hath the Lord prepared, for He's my guide. 
 
 My stay and strength in every hour of need; 
 
 What matters then, if enemies conspire, 
 
 If friends be false, and fortune fickle is, 
 
 He never fails, nor ever leads astray. 
 
 Though it may seem. His paths are rough and steep ; 
 
 And though a cross awaits us at the end, 
 
 Even that, my friend, will be our victory. 
 
H KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 (He embraces Stallare.) 
 
 {The army begins to move through the pass. A 
 large banner with a white Cross is carried before it. 
 A horse is led in for the King; he takes its bridle 
 and says:) 
 
 Farewell, my land, I love thee more than life, 
 And I would die for thee to make thee Christ's! 
 
 {To Stallare.) 
 
 Farewell, my friend ! 
 
 Stallare 
 
 We'll meet again, farewell! 
 
 Curtain 
 
ACT IV 
 
 At the court of King Jarisleiv, Russia. King 
 Olafs apartments, granted him during his exile. 
 
 Scene i 
 
 Olaf. {He is somewhat changed in appearance, 
 sitting on a bench, whittling a stick.) 
 
 (Solus) 
 
 The tragedies of life lie in its doubts, 
 Its failure in the losing of our faith; 
 Here I sit brooding, days, and often nights, 
 O'er what the mission of my life should be. 
 To seek what I my birthright thought — the throne 
 Of Norway, or resign all earthly power. 
 And go on pilgrimage to Holy land ; 
 Then seek the solitude of saintly men. 
 Behind the ivy-mantled hoary walls 
 Of some great monastery, and there spend 
 The remnant of my years in fast and prayers ; 
 For this, perhaps, would give my soul true rest, 
 And surely lead at last to Paradise. 
 Great good it is for man to give himself 
 To meditation and to sacred lore, 
 Denying all which wareth 'gainst the soul. 
 And this I fain would do, if in my heart 
 No doubt did rise as to what heav'n decrees. 
 If ne'er the call I heard once more to take 
 Possession of my birthright and its weal; 
 75 
 
76 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 If in my heart I did not feel a fire, 
 
 Which friar's holy water cannot quench; 
 
 And whence this call, this fire, if not from God, 
 
 Who ere my birth predestined me a King? 
 
 But still the doubt as to my future course 
 
 Doth rankle in my breast; O, cursed doubt, 
 
 That steals the marrow from the hero's bones. 
 
 And make the mighty falter in his way! 
 
 Would that some messenger from heav'n might come 
 
 And point me to the path, I soon must go ! 
 
 Ne'er did I doubt myself before, perhaps — 
 
 That I may lose myself and all in Him. 
 
 {He is lost in thoughts, but continues to whittle.) 
 
 Scene 2 
 
 Olaf. A Page. 
 
 ( The Page, bringing a drinking-cup on a server. 
 He approaches the King slowly.) 
 
 Page 
 
 My lord, {the King is unconscious of his presence.) 
 My lord! {The King looks up.) 
 
 To-morrow is Monday. 
 
 ( The King rises to his feet, disturbed by this state- 
 ment.) 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Leave thou the wine and bring a candle-light. 
 
ACT IV 77 
 
 {Exit Page.) 
 
 Scene 3 
 Olafj Magnus. 
 
 Magnus 
 
 {Enters joyfully.) 
 
 My father, I have been with Ingegerd, 
 
 The gracious Queen of all this Russian realm, 
 
 And she doth say that thou wilt be the King 
 
 Of great Bulgaria, and I the heir thereto; 
 
 She says it is a land of riches great. 
 
 Of fields and flocks and of a mighty race; 
 
 On hearing this I hastened here to tell 
 
 The news to thee that it might cheer thine heart. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Come hither child, and let me kiss thy face, 
 So radiant with joy and buoyant hope; 
 
 {He kisses him.) 
 
 More than a kingdom is to me thy love, 
 
 And were it not for thee, I ne'er should think 
 
 Of being King again of any realm ; 
 
 If so must be, then there is only one 
 
 Which I must rule, and thou its only heir. 
 
 But let us speak no more of this to-day. 
 
 To-morrow Monday is, my page did quote. 
 
78 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Scene 4 
 
 Olaf, Magnus, Page. 
 
 ( The Page enters, carrying a burning candle, plac- 
 ing it on the table. King Olaf gathers the shavings 
 from the whittling on the floor. Magnus and Page 
 offer to assist him.) 
 
 Olaf 
 
 {Refusing their help.) 
 
 This act of penitence is mine alone. 
 
 {He places the small shavings in his right hand 
 and kindles them with the candle. A flame leaps 
 from his hand.) 
 
 Magnus 
 
 {Alarmed.) 
 
 My father, wherefore doest thou this thing? 
 
 {He buries his face in his hands and weeps.) 
 
 Olaf 
 
 It is a small atonement for my sin, 
 For I have disregarded God's own day. 
 Though thoughtlessly, or rather lost in thoughts. 
 And it is better for my hand to feel 
 
ACT IV 79 
 
 This sting of fire, and learn, than bum for aye; 
 For son, remember that we must obey 
 God's holy law, or else be cast away. 
 
 Magnus 
 
 O father, does it smart thee cruelly? 
 
 (He kisses his father s hand.) 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Thy kiss is balm to all my burning wounds, 
 Ev'n to my soul, which knows a greater pain. 
 And now, my son, go with the page a while. 
 
 (Exit Magnus and page.) 
 Scene 5 
 Olaf^ Ingegerd 
 (Enters Ingegerd.) 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Good day. Queen Ingegerd, how farest thou? 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 Quite well, King Olaf, though the time seems long. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Doth time seem long to thee whose life is full 
 Of all the things, the human heart can wish ? 
 
8o KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 The human heart craves more than pomp and pow'r, 
 More than the pleasures of the royal court, 
 More than the flattery of honeyed tongue, 
 More than the jingles of a hireling bard. 
 
 Olaf 
 And, pray, what more doth even a queen desire? 
 
 Ingegerd 
 A soul, a spirit that's akin to hers. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 I have to-day made penance for my sin. 
 My hand still feels the pain of purging fire. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 And art thou wounded thus, pray, let me see. 
 
 {He holds out his hand.) 
 
 A cruel self-infliction this; hast thou 
 
 No soothing ointment for such awful wound ? 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Sweet unguent have I in thy gentle touch, 
 
 And in thy voice a soothing medicine. 
 
 My soul's physician thou, my love's delight ; 
 
ACT IV 8i 
 
 {He kisses her hand.) 
 
 But I must leave thee soon, methinks I hear 
 
 A call to distant lands, and to a place 
 
 Where God's dear Son did die, that there I may 
 
 Find pardon for my great iniquity. 
 
 And serve Him through my life's remaining years, 
 
 In humbleness within some cloister-cell. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 Not so, my friend, not so, such dreary lot 
 Shall not be thine, for know, this very day 
 King Jarisleiv and I provisions made 
 For thy enthronement to Bulgaria, 
 The great Bulgaria, a realm not mean 
 Compared with Norway, and, indeed more sure, 
 Since Jarisleiv can be behind the throne. 
 No other place hath Providente decreed 
 For thee than that of kingship of some realm. 
 Thou true-born prince of hero's mould, my King! 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Queen Ingegerd, how pleased and proud I am 
 To hear such noble words and generous. 
 So all inspiring to my burdened soul ; 
 And I would count it highest honor to 
 Accept such royal offer from thy hand; 
 But if at all I'm born to kingly worth, 
 It is to rule the land to which I'm heir; 
 No other realm is mine by right divine; 
 And therefore must I either try to win 
 What I have lost, or never rule again. 
 
82 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 What e'er must be, my heart will ne'ertheless 
 Overflow with gratitude to thee and him 
 Who rules with thee this realm of Gardarik. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 Yes, thou art King, and if no other land 
 Thou deign'st to rule than Norway, thine by birth, 
 Then may thy wish come true, for we will aid 
 Thee with an army to retrieve the same. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 O, noble Queen, thou art a messenger 
 
 From God to save me from destructive doubt, 
 
 To rouse me from my lethargy to gain 
 
 New strength and purpose for the future days; 
 
 'Tis thee I lack, with thee my will should know 
 
 No obstacle, no failure; and no foe 
 
 Should ever boast of signal victory. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 My heart's desire would be to go with thee, 
 
 Where e'er thy highest aspirations lead ; 
 
 To scenes of peace or bloody battlefields. 
 
 Since only in thy presence I'm content; 
 
 But that can never be, our lot's to live 
 
 United in the Spirit's highest life. 
 
 While earth doth bind vnth duty's iron-chains. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Our love is lustrous as the evening star, 
 And purer than its clear and trembling rays, 
 
ACT IV 83 
 
 Whose light shall guide us through the darkest night, 
 And lift our vision to the highest goal. 
 
 (Goes to the window.) 
 
 Come, siee the sunset, never have I seen 
 
 Such evening-glow behind the pineclad hills ; 
 
 Behold heaven's fiery chariot depart 
 
 Into the realms of gold and crimson red! 
 
 And there, above it, stands the evening star, 
 
 Pale, almost to invisibility, — 
 
 Until the shadows from the darkling vale 
 
 Have with their mantle clothed the mountain peak; 
 
 Then it shall greet us as the symbol of 
 
 Our truest love; prophetic is the scene 
 
 Of my own life, for its last day must close 
 
 Behind the far-off pine-clad western hills; 
 
 But when my sun is set, our evening-star 
 
 Shall shine for aye in the eternal blue. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 But thou must not depart from me, for then 
 My sunset will come first, stay here with us ; 
 All privileges of the court are thine. 
 Remain with us, await a better day. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 A conflict rages often in my soul. 
 Between my destiny's incessant call 
 And life's sweet ease, enchanted by thy love; 
 This struggle, even in the hours of night, 
 Destroys my sleep and rest, until fatigued 
 
84 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 I slumber off and dream fantastic things. 
 
 This morning, having spent a restless night, 
 
 I lightly fell asleep and dreamed a dream; 
 
 I saw a man, in mien and bearing like 
 
 A king, perhaps King Olaf Trygavason, 
 
 Approaching me, and speaking on this wise : 
 
 "Why art thou downcast with the cares of life. 
 
 Why waver, hesitate and doubt the trend 
 
 Of thy own future course? Why thinkest thou 
 
 Of laying down thy crown as Norway's King? 
 
 Arise, return and claim thy right divine! 
 
 It is great honor for a man to win 
 
 A vic'try o'er his bitter foe, 
 
 But not less glory, if he fall and die 
 
 The hero's death, amid his warriors. 
 
 Thou must not by remaining here deny 
 
 Thy birthright and thy royal worth, arise, 
 
 Regain thy land, and God shall witness bear 
 
 That Norway is thy own, thy heritage !" 
 
 I 'woke, but still methought I saw a glimpse 
 
 Of him who with the dream was vanishing, 
 
 And vividly his voice and visage dwell 
 
 Within my memory and bid me do his will. 
 
 (Ringing of church bells.) 
 The vesper-bell to service summons us. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 And while we pray, may God show thee His way. 
 
 (Exeunt.) 
 
ACT IV 85 
 
 Scene 6 
 
 A maman and a boy. 
 
 Woman 
 
 Here, saith the servant, doth the King abide, 
 But he's not here, may be we better wait. 
 How is thy throat, my son, how farest thou? 
 
 Boy 
 {With difficulty.) 
 
 It pains me much, I scarce can draw a breath. 
 
 Woman 
 
 Sit down and rest a while, may be the King 
 Will soon be here, if not to chapel gone. 
 
 Boy 
 
 If he's to Vesper, let us seek him there. 
 
 Woman 
 We hardly can disturb him in his prayer. 
 
 Boy 
 May be his pow'r to heal is greater then. 
 
86 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Woman 
 
 Full true, my son, that pow'r comes down from 
 
 heav'n. 
 Two' weeks already hath thy ailment raged, 
 And none of all our remedies has helped. 
 And if King Olaf's touch alone can heal. 
 His pow'r from God is, not by wizard's skill. 
 
 {Music and singing from the chapel.) 
 
 Boy 
 
 O, mother, let us go to Vesper-song, 
 
 And seek the God who helps when others fail ! 
 
 Woman 
 
 So let it be, my son, come let us go, 
 
 May Jesu' Mother hear our humble prayer ! 
 
 {Exeunt.) 
 
 Scene 7 
 Bjorn Stallare. 
 
 {Entering he looks about circumspectedly. He 
 goes to the table, upon which the King has left the 
 piece of wood which he was carving. He examines 
 it with much interest.) 
 
 Solus 
 
 A Cross on which the Crucified is carved, 
 
 A Cross which tapers like a two-edged sword, 
 
ACT IV 87 
 
 Such as I often used to see the King 
 
 Make with his knife while lost in some deep thought. 
 
 I wager this is his — fresh from his hand. 
 
 (Touching it with his lips.) 
 
 A fitting symbol of my master's mind, 
 Who deals out justice with a two-edged sword, 
 And mercy by the Cross of Christ, our Lord; 
 And I who have deserved the sharpened blade, 
 Hope for his pardon through the Cross he made. 
 
 (Voices of exultation heard from the chapel.) 
 
 Scene 8 
 
 King Jarisleiv; a priest; woman and hay^ and sev- 
 eral courtiers come in hurriedly. Stallare hides be- 
 hind the open door. 
 
 Several Voices 
 O, how wonderful! 
 
 Others 
 A miracle from God ! 
 
 A Priest 
 A Saint is in our midst. King Jarisleiv. 
 
 Jarisleiv 
 Long have I known, he is a pious man. 
 
8B KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Priest 
 
 Come lad, and let us see the wondrous cure ! 
 
 {The boy comes forward.) 
 
 Woman 
 
 Praise to the Virgin Mary and all Saints ! 
 
 Priest 
 
 {Examining the boy's throat.) 
 
 And feelest thou no pain when thus I press? 
 
 Boy 
 
 There's neither pain nor swelling anymore. 
 
 Priest 
 
 Most wonderful, my boy. 
 
 All 
 
 Most wonderful ! 
 
 Stallare 
 
 {As he steps forth, the attention of all is fixed 
 upon him, since his appearance is that of a stranger.) 
 
ACT IV 89 
 
 Jarisleiv 
 
 And who art thou ? I pray, whence comest thou ? 
 Stallare 
 
 I am Bjorn Stallare, and from the land 
 Of pine-clad mountains do I hail, — a realm 
 Whose Sovereign dwells with you, as I am told, 
 King Olaf whom I seek to homage bring, 
 And tidings of importance from his land. 
 I therefore ask that ye will me inform 
 Where I may find him without much delay. 
 
 Jarisleiv 
 (Advancing, receives him cordially.) 
 I am King Jarisleiv of Gardarik. 
 
 Stallare 
 My lord, thy name is dear to Olaf's friends. 
 
 Jarisleiv 
 Thou art most welcome to my hall, good Bjorn. 
 
 Stallare 
 
 I thank thee. King, but I must first despatch 
 My errand to King Olaf. Where is he? 
 
90 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Jarisleiv 
 
 Not many moments since was he with us. 
 
 And here he comes. {Enters Olaf) King Olaf, 
 
 here's a man 
 Who seeks thee with a message of concern. 
 
 Scene 9 
 
 The former. Olaf. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Bj6rn Stallare! Why comest thou to me? 
 
 Stallare 
 
 {Kneeling.) 
 
 My Sovereign Lord, to give my homage and 
 To bring thee tidings from our lordless realm. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 I am right glad to see thee Stallare. 
 
 Arise! and be refreshed with food and drink, 
 
 Then will I hear the tidings from my land. 
 
 Stallare 
 {Still kneeling.) 
 My King, first must I speak with thee alone. 
 
ACT IV 91 
 
 (Exeunt all but Olaf and Stallare.) 
 
 Scene 10 
 Olaf and Stallare. 
 
 Stallare' 
 
 O, King, forgive thy faithless vassal who 
 Has taken money, and allegiance sworn 
 To Canute, King of England, in an hour 
 When all seemed lost to thee, when all thy friends 
 Abandoned hope that thou again shouldst reign, 
 When riches bribed, and evil threats alarmed. 
 I fell before the tempter, but, O King, 
 I travelled many weary leagues o'er sea and land, 
 My guilt to rue and thy forgiveness ask. 
 Into thy hands and God's I yield myself, 
 Content to follow thee where e'er thou go'st, 
 And never part from thee, if thou wilt grant 
 Thy pardon. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 'Rise, Bjom Stallare, arise! 
 
 I pardon thee, though it doth grieve my heart, 
 
 That friend, so staunch as thou, should faithless 
 
 prove ; 
 And this I also know, that few there be 
 Who are my friends, when men, like thee, do fail. 
 I also understand how difficult 
 It is, e'en for the best to faithful be 
 To one whose cause seen^ truly desperate. 
 
92 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Stallare 
 
 Indeed, it hopeless seemed, but not to-day — 
 The throne of Norway vacant is once more, 
 Since Haakon Jarl, its chieftain, now is dead. 
 This is the message which I bring to thee, 
 That thou canst win thy kingdom, if at once 
 Thou makest use of this another chance. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 But army, man, I have no army here! 
 
 Stallare 
 
 We'll gather thousands all along the way. 
 May be King Jarisleiv will give thee aid; 
 And Olaf, Sweden's King, — Queen Astrid's sire, 
 Will lend thee men and weapons, for her sake; 
 King Olaf, 'rise and claim thy heritage! 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Well spoken, Bjorn, thy fervent speech has warmth 
 
 Of friendship — such as I have need of now. 
 
 It seems to echo what I heard in dreams; 
 
 It drives away uncertainty and doubt; 
 
 Heav'n sent thee as a messenger to me ; 
 
 My prayer is heard, God's will is plain, I go. 
 
 My soul is filled with light, and I am strong, 
 
 And nothing can my plan and purpose change. 
 
 O, happy day-spring after darksome night, 
 
 I hail thee and the task thou hast in store, 
 
 Since it is better e'en to fail and die, 
 
ACT IV 93 
 
 While struggling for a worthy cause, than here 
 To sit and doubt, and idly spend the days. 
 
 Stallare 
 
 The note of victory is in thy words ; 
 No foe can overcome the light of heav'n. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 The foe ! Who leads the armies of my foe ? 
 
 Stallare 
 
 Thy former friends, my lord, thy former friends. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 My former friends ! Yea, such is human life ; 
 E'en Christ himself betrayed was by a friend. 
 Oft have I thought, of late, that friendship is 
 Another word for selfishness, a sweet 
 Illusion which we in our need implore 
 For help, and find it but the shadow of our Self. 
 And yet, to-day such thoughts have passed away, 
 Since thou hast proven that friendship real is. 
 But, to the question, who are those old friends, 
 Whose cup, once filled with wine, now death con- 
 tains ? 
 
 Stallare 
 
 Of such there many are: Foremost 'mongst them 
 Kalf Arneson and Einar Tamberskjalve, 
 
94 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Thor' Hund and Haarek, Rorek not forgot, 
 Who more than any other still inspires 
 The people with his hatred for thyself. 
 Yea, Rorek, like a man possest, does nought 
 But plot and work against thy cause, O King; 
 In league with great Canute, he leads the host 
 Of darkness in the land, and ever will, — 
 For he hath sworn dire vengeance on thy head. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 I understand, he went to Canute's court 
 With Thore Hund and others to incite 
 The King to war against me, which at last 
 Made me an exile and a throneless King. 
 
 Stallare 
 
 Yes, Rorek is the leader of them all. 
 
 Though blind, he sees the glow of hate and hell. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 May be his soul shall yet behold the light 
 Of heav'n and of the Kingdom of our Lord. 
 
 Stallare 
 
 The death of Olve was unfortunate. 
 
 It did unite the North, as nothing else. 
 
 Against thee, friend as he was of the chiefs. 
 
 His widow married Haarek, through whose power 
 
 She ceaselessly hath worked against thy cause. 
 
ACT IV ' 95 
 
 And kept the flame oi vengeance in the breast 
 Of all the leading chieftains of the land. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Most cruel fate which laid him low that mom; 
 
 Together with his god he perished then ; 
 
 The sun shone brightly on uplifted Cross 
 
 And on the vanquished worshipers of Thor. 
 
 But from that scene I now decern 
 
 The forces marshalled to a final strife, 
 
 The pow'r of darkness and the pow'r of light, 
 
 In final combat for the final right; 
 
 For martyr's blood is strong where e'er 'tis shed, 
 
 And men are by its call to vengeance led. 
 
 Stallare 
 
 But thine is still the Cross, its victory 
 Shall shine again o'er all thy vanquished foes. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Heav'n grant thy words be true, friend Stallare! 
 
 Scene ii 
 
 The former; page. 
 
 Page 
 
 {Excitedly.) 
 
 My lord, some strangers, just arrived, have caused 
 
96 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 A great excitement 'mongst thy men who ask 
 Admittance to thy presence. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 For what cause? 
 
 Stallare 
 
 I know ; it is my men who have met thine 
 And stirred their eagerness to onward go; 
 They will no longer rest and see their swords 
 Grow rusty, and they clamor for the hour 
 Of thy departure to their native land. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Then ope the door, my page, and let them in. 
 
 {Exit page.) 
 
 Scene 12 
 
 The former. 
 
 {Enter large company of Olaf's and Stallare' s 
 men — armed.) 
 
 Stallare 
 
 Thy men and mine, O King, united stand 
 To win the crown that's thine alone; {to the men) 
 not so? 
 
ACT IV 97 
 
 Men^ in Chorus 
 Ay! Ay! 
 
 A Spokesman 
 
 We've bound ourselves to follow thee, 
 King Olaf , unto victory or death. 
 
 Men, in Chorus 
 Hurrah ! hurrah ! hurrah ! King Olaf ! 
 
 Stallare 
 
 Hear! 
 
 The hour is come, my lord, to rise and act. 
 
 King Olaf 
 The hour is here, indeed, good Stallare. 
 
 Scene 13 
 The former, Ingegerd, Jarisleiv, and attendants. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 What means this clamor and these loud hurrahs ? 
 
 Olaf 
 
 That heav'n is answering my prayers aloud, 
 
 My path is plain, and I depart this day, 
 
 To win the crown which England stole from me ; 
 
 And now. King Jarisleiv and Ingegerd, 
 
 I thank you for your hospitality 
 
98 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 And royal kindness to a homeless man — 
 These many months, I tarried in your hall, 
 For kindness to my child and these my men. 
 
 Jarisleiv 
 
 It grieves us much to learn that thou must leave, 
 
 Since other plans w^e cherished for thee here, 
 
 But knowing that thy resolution has 
 
 Been reached through struggle and devotion true, 
 
 I shall not try to change, nor hinder it 
 
 In any manner, no, both men and arms 
 
 Most gladly to thy service I will give. 
 
 Olaf 
 {Grasping his hand.) 
 
 Thanks, noble friend, and in my victories 
 Thy kindness shall add lustre to thy name. 
 
 (To Ingegerd who has withdrawn into the back- 
 ground with averted face.) 
 
 To Ingegerd I have but this request, 
 
 That she will care for Magnus, my dear son: 
 
 Jarisleiv 
 We will ; no harm shall him befall, while here. 
 
 Olaf 
 
 Then all is well, and we must go to make 
 The preparations for our chosen quest. 
 
ACT IV 99 
 
 {Exeunt all, except Ingegerd.) 
 
 Scene 14 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 ( Weeping. ) 
 
 And now he goes to victory or death, 
 What e'er it be, that is my heart's own fate. 
 But happier is he in any strife, 
 Than I in this my anxious, lonely life. 
 
 Scene 15 
 
 Ingegerd, Magnus. 
 
 Magnus 
 
 {Advancing slowly, and laying his hand tenderly 
 on her arm.) 
 
 Why weepest thou, dear mother, Ingegerd? 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 {Embracing him.) 
 
 Dear child, and thou dost call me mother, too; 
 The image of thy father — left with me. 
 
 Curtain 
 
ACT V 
 
 Place — Sticklestad, Norway. 
 
 Scene — A hill from which a distant fjord is seen 
 in the back-ground. To the right of the stage a 
 small log-house; to the left a clump of trees. 
 
 It is the thirtieth day of July, 1030, the day of the 
 great conflict between the Christian armies of Olaf 
 and the pagan hosts of the peasants, the latter being 
 three times as numerous as the followers of the King. 
 A sun eclipse occurred during the battle, and as the 
 curtain rises, the scene is in a semi-darkness. The 
 battle is raging on the plain below, but not visible to 
 the spectators. 
 
 Scene i 
 
 Ingegerd and Sigvat. 
 {Watching the battle from the left of the stage.) 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 So far I've followed him, his helmet's gleam 
 Beneath his flying standard; but now hides 
 The darkness him, how strange and ominous ! 
 God shows displeasure with the pagan men, 
 And their hostility to Christ, our Lord. 
 Alas! what meaneth this? To me it seems 
 That all the heights are filled with spectral shapes 
 Which flit about pursuing or pursued. 
 O, Sigvat, canst thou see his standard now? 
 100 
 
ACT V loi 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 Yea, dimly can its Cross I still decern, 
 As mid the thickest of the fight it moves. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 My valiant King, God grant him victory ! 
 
 {Battle-cries are heard.) 
 
 {Onward! Onward! Christ's men, Cross-meUj 
 King's men!) 
 
 O, how they shout and shriek, the fight is fierce ! 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 It is a battle twixt the mighty Gods; 
 Between the true and living God and Thor. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 Then victory must be on Olaf s side. 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 For sooth it shall be his, it shall be his! 
 
 Ingegerd 
 Thy faith is strong, did it gain strength in Rome? 
 
I02 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 Yea, what I saw and heard estabhshed it: 
 The glory of the Church, its pow'r to save 
 And solace pilgrims penitent, her light 
 To guide the nations, sitting in the night; 
 The holy Father's gracious sovereignty. 
 And blessings, fully me assured that Christ 
 Shall be at last the ruler of the world. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 Didst thou obtain a blessing from the Pope? 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 I did, and one for Olaf I received. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 How sad, we did not reach this place ere now. 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 This is my grief , O Queen! Yea, I must go 
 Into the dark affray to find my King, 
 To fight for him, and even die for him. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 Thou hast no weapons, Sigvat, but thy sword. 
 And wouldst thou leave me without that, alone? 
 
ACT V 103 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 No need for thee to wield a pilgrim's sword ; — 
 But it may please my lord thee to defend. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 Thanks, and forgive a woman's cowardice. 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 Thou hast, indeed, been brave. Queen Ingegerd, 
 To journey all the way from Russia 
 To this wild battlefield, to find my lord. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 And thou know'st why, thou know'st a woman's love 
 Can overcome all hindrances and fear. 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 Yea, woman's love is mightier than death. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 Yes, if he fall to-day, I follow him. 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 Hush! speak not thus. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 Seest thou his standard now? 
 
I04 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 Methink I still can see it float aloft. 
 {War cry of the peasants:) 
 
 Onward! onward! clansmen! 
 Ingegerd 
 
 There is a note of vic'try in that cry. 
 Alas, I fear the peasants gain on him! 
 Alas! alas! {she kneels) O, holy Mary, hear 
 My pray'r for him, defend, I pray, his life, 
 O, save him from his heathen enemy! 
 Ye saints, implore for me his safety now; 
 May angel-hosts protect him in this hour, 
 And guide this conflict to his victory! 
 
 {The din of battle grows louder. She arises.) 
 O, now was Olaf's standard surely struck! 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 {Excitedly.) 
 
 I fear it was pulled down, I fear it was ; 
 But there again 'tis lifted, — it is safe. 
 
 Both 
 Huzza! huzza! for Olaf and his men! 
 
ACT V 105 
 
 Ingegerd 
 I wish this darkness might be lifted soon. 
 
 Scene 2 
 The former. Enter Rorek, led by Finn Little. 
 
 Rorek 
 And so would I, whoever broached the wish. 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 Poor man, how long since thou hast seen the light? 
 
 Rorek 
 Full thirteen years have been a constant night. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 Full thirteen years, what caused thy blindness then? 
 
 Rorek 
 
 The man who fights a hopeless battle now 
 Against his countrymen, on whom the gods 
 Are pouring out their vengeance for his deeds. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 Mean'st thou King Olaf? Foolish knave, how 
 dar'st 
 
io6 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Thou speak of him contemptedly ? (To Finn) 
 
 Thou churl, 
 I bid thee take away this wretch at once! 
 
 {Sigvatj approaching them with drawn sword j at- 
 tempts to drive them away.) 
 
 Finn 
 
 If not my eyes deceive me quite, methink 
 I darkly Sigvat skald before me see. 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 And I know thee Finn Little, though much changed ; 
 And this is Rorek, Olaf's greatest foe. 
 
 ROREK 
 
 Once in his life the skald hath spoken well. 
 Sigvat 
 
 And thou hast lived these years thy fiendish hate 
 To mix with cunning plots against the King? 
 Behind all dark intrigues which led to this 
 Great struggle here, I knew thou wert. 
 
 Rorek 
 
 Such utterance of truth doth honor me; 
 These years have had their aim, and it is gained. 
 
ACT V 107 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 And with thy life's achievement comes the end, 
 Thou wicked imp, go down to darkest hell ! 
 
 {He lifts his sword to strike Rorek, but Finn 
 parries it off with his own.) 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 No, do not slay him, Sigvat, let heav'n's ire 
 Meet out some greater punishment for him. 
 
 Rorek 
 
 Well spoken, though there is no danger yet 
 
 That heav'n may lose its chance to punish me; 
 
 My trusty Finn is equal to the skald, 
 
 Unless his journey to the Pope increased his skill 
 
 In swordsmanship ; try it in Olaf 's ranks. 
 
 He needs thee now. Com'st thou too late from 
 
 Rome 
 To sing the swan-song to thy troubled King ? 
 Or hath he placed thee here — a woman's guard, 
 Since skalds are best at home with women-folk? 
 
 Sigvat 
 Wretch, how I ache to close thy mouth for aye ! 
 
 Rorek 
 A mighty triumph for a royal bard. 
 
log KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Scene 3 
 
 The former. Trolls — same as in third act. They 
 enter unobserved from the back-ground. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 {Discovering the trolls.) 
 O Sigyat, who are these strange ugly folk? 
 {She runs up to Sigvat.) 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 Unearthly beings, mountain-trolls, I ween. 
 
 {Lifting his sword.) 
 What are ye, and what want ye here? 
 Trolls 
 
 Ha! ha! 
 
 We're trolls who come to see King Olaf die. 
 
 {Ingegerd screams in terror; Rorek and Finn 
 laugh.) 
 
 First Troll 
 
 He would not be our King, so he must die. 
 For those who slay him get their help from us. 
 There's Thore Hund who by our pow'r hath made 
 
ACT V 109 
 
 His coat of reindeer-hide all weapon-proof. 
 We often do his bidding, and to-day 
 Our unseen host is working cunningly. 
 King Olaf's other army now astray 
 Is led and cannot come to his relief ; 
 This is our work against our enemy; 
 Ha ! ha ! our evil work is everywhere ! 
 
 Trolls (In Chorus) 
 Our evil work is everywhere, ha! ha! 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 Depart ye evil spirits, get ye hence! 
 
 ROREK 
 
 No, stay, I know ye well my neighbor-folk; 
 Your hall is in the mountain, near my home; 
 Full often have I heard your anvil ring 
 To your wild dances at the midnight hour. 
 But say, how dare ye be about at day? 
 
 Second Troll 
 
 'Tis dark as night, that is the reason why. 
 The ^sir sent this darkness, that we may 
 Assist them in the felling of their foe. 
 
 (The trolls dance fantastically, striking a rock 
 from which sparks of fire leap forth.) 
 
no KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Song of Trolls 
 
 The day is turned to night, 
 
 And hellish is the fight, 
 
 Now Olaf leans against the stone. 
 
 How full of anguish is his moan; 
 
 Now see the gleam of killing blow. 
 
 And from the wound his life doth flow. 
 
 And pursy Olaf is no more. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 No longer can I this endure. O Christ, 
 Deliver us from evil! 
 
 (The trolls vanish.) 
 
 ROREK 
 
 Ha! ha! ha! 
 It is a sport to see these wily folk. 
 
 Finn 
 To see them — Rorek canst thou see them too? 
 
 RoREK 
 Yes, I can see things of the other world. 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 Thou art in league with them, thou wicked fiend! 
 
ACT V III 
 
 ROREK 
 
 Whate'er I am — I am with all my soul. 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 A soul sold to the evil one for pow'r. 
 
 RoREK 
 Give all thou hast to get the greatest pow'r. 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 Yea, to the Christ, for He is mightiest. 
 
 ROREK 
 
 Fie on thee, Sigvat skald! Come, Finn, away! 
 (Exeunt.) 
 
 Scene 4 
 Ingegerd and Sigvat. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 O, this is terrible, I tremble like a leaf. 
 
 Sigvat 
 Come rest thee. Queen, here is a rustic seat. 
 
112 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 {He leads her to the right of the stage, where, 
 among the trees, there is a stone on which she sits 
 down.) 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 Did not the trolls sing about Olaf s death — 
 That he was dying, leaning 'gainst a stone? 
 Go Sigvat and find out how he doth fare. 
 
 {Sigvat goes back to the place of outlook.) 
 
 Sigvat 
 
 What do I see, the army takes to flight! 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 (Running toward him.) 
 
 King Olaf s? O, my God, then he is dead! 
 
 Sigvat 
 
 Come Ingegerd, the army flies this way. 
 
 ( They disappear among the trees. Warriors from 
 Olaf's army rush across the stage, battle-worn, and 
 some are wounded.) 
 
 Scene 5 
 
 Thore Hund, Kalf Arneson. 
 
ACT V 113 
 
 Thore 
 
 Pursuit is hardly necessary now, 
 
 The King's men flee like sheep before the wolf, 
 
 The victory is ours, Kalf Arneson. 
 
 Kalf 
 
 Yes, if to slay one's King is victory. 
 
 Thore 
 
 And art thou sorry that the deed is done? 
 
 Kalf 
 
 Nor doth it give me joy to think of it. 
 
 Thore 
 
 Ah, Kalf, thou art a man of changing moods! 
 
 Kalf 
 
 And such are all when in uncertainty. 
 Say, Thore, art thou sure we're in the right ? 
 
 Thore 
 
 I was an hour ago, but, to be true, 
 I am not now. 
 
 Kalf 
 Thou man of changing moods. 
 
114 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Thore 
 
 And wouldst thou know the reason? 
 
 Kalf 
 
 Gladly, sir. 
 
 Thore 
 
 {Holding out his right hand.) 
 
 Look at this hand, it had a painful wound, 
 
 From which the blood was flowing, while I fought ; 
 
 But when the King expired, I closed his eyes. 
 
 And wiped a stream of blood from off his face, 
 
 Which came in contact with my wound, and while 
 
 I placed his body into true repose. 
 
 And covered up his face, the wound began 
 
 To heal, and now, behold, 'tis almost well! 
 
 Kalf 
 
 A miracle, my friend, a miracle! 
 
 Thore 
 
 So is it, and I have begun to think. 
 That we, perhaps, have wrought a crime this day. 
 Such thoughts, however, must not master us, 
 For chiefs must ever be — as in the right. 
 
 Kalf 
 
 And henceforth wilt thou deign to live a lie ? 
 
ACT V 115 
 
 Thore 
 Until the people doth regret this day. 
 
 Scene 6 
 The former. Haarek. 
 
 Haarek 
 
 The peasants of this vale demand our aid 
 In driving Olaf's men quite from the land, 
 Lest they should linger here and devastate 
 Their farms, and cruel outrages commit ; 
 All blame they seem to fix on us, their chiefs, 
 If laggard bands of Olaf's men remain. 
 
 Thore 
 
 Much caution hath the people of this vale. 
 They must be sure of all things, ere they rest. 
 
 Kalf 
 
 Still, I do think it is a just demand; 
 The enemy must be pursued at once. 
 Until they cross the bound'ry of this realm. 
 
 Thore 
 Pursue them to Valhalla, if thou must. 
 
ii6 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 KLa-Lf 
 
 Come, Thore, of thy hand we'll further speak. 
 
 {Exeunt chiefs.) 
 
 Scene 7 
 
 {Enter Thorkeld and his son Grim, carrying the 
 body of King Olaf on a stretcher.) 
 
 Thorkeld 
 A heavy and a precious burden this. 
 
 Grim 
 The King of Norway was no puny lad. 
 
 Thorkeld 
 
 We'll hide his body in this little cot, 
 Lest ruthless enemies should it molest. 
 
 {They set it down, and Thorkeld opens the door.) 
 
 Scene 8 
 The former. Ingegerd, Sigvat. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 {Discovering the body.) 
 
ACT V 117 
 
 O, what is this? 'Tis he, look Sigvat, look! 
 
 {Sigvat uncovers the King's face.) 
 My God 'tis he! 
 
 {She falls beside the corpse in a swoon.) 
 Sigvat 
 
 {Attending her.) 
 
 Have ye no water here? 
 
 That I may bring her back to consciousness. 
 
 Thorkeld 
 
 No water, sir, but steel will bring her to. 
 
 {Sigvat draws his sword over her forehead.) 
 
 Geqm 
 
 Thy sword hath neither stain nor battle-scar. 
 
 Sigvat 
 
 Beware of taunting me, thou saucy churl. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 {Regaining consciousness.) 
 
ii8 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Just now I saw him in a vision fair ; 
 
 He stood amid a light most glorious, 
 
 And spoke to me, with smile upon his face : 
 
 "To-day I won my kingdom, and for aye 
 
 It shall be Christ's and mine, yea more and more; 
 
 To-day I wed thee, Ingegerd, to-day." 
 
 (She sees Sigvat's sword.) 
 
 Lend me thy sword, kind Sigvat, just this once. 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 Queen Ingegerd, let reason rule thy heart. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 He calleth me, this is our wedding-day. 
 
 Thorkeld 
 What meaneth all this, who are ye ? I pray. 
 
 Sigvat 
 The friends of Olaf, man, I am his skald. 
 
 Thorkeld 
 
 If ye be friends, then do not hinder us 
 In caring for the body of the King. 
 
 Sigvat 
 Where will ye hide it? 
 
ACT V 119 
 
 Thorkeld 
 
 In this cot, until 
 
 A coffin we can make to place it in. 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 But they might come and find it here. 
 
 Thorkeld 
 
 Not so, 
 We'll hide it 'neath a pile of straw and wood. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 (Rising.) 
 
 Thanks, noble hearted man, (grasping his hand) 
 
 but wilt thou make 
 Two coffins, one for him and one for me? 
 
 Thorkeld 
 
 Full many hundred slain lie on the field, 
 For whom no coffins can be made, forsooth 
 We cannot make them now for blooming wives. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 Insult me not, thou know'st not whom I am. 
 
 Sigvat 
 She is Queen Ingegerd of Russia. 
 
I20 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 {Thorkeld and Grim fall on their knees before 
 her.) 
 
 Thorkeld 
 Forgive thy servant's thoughtlessness, I pray. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 Ye are forgiv'n, arise and do my wish. 
 
 Thorkeld 
 But why, your Majesty? 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 Obey, obey! 
 
 Thorkeld 
 
 I should have told that we two coffins have 
 In store, one for myself, one for my wife. 
 Such as the custom is among our folk, 
 These can be used and without much delay. 
 And now, as soon as we have hid the corpse, 
 Go with me to my home on yonder hill, 
 And plan with me how he may be interred. 
 
 {The body is taken into the house.) 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 Alas ! 'tis more than I can bear, to see 
 
 Him in such plight, he who is Norway's King; 
 
ACT V ui 
 
 By his own people murdered, and in death 
 Hid from their fury 'neath a heap of wood, 
 Lest they, like beasts, should him asunder tear. 
 Alas! my noble hero, if I'd known, 
 That it would come to this, I pleaded had 
 Unceasingly with thee to stay with us. 
 But now it is too late, alas, too late ! 
 But I will come to thee, thou callest me. 
 
 Thorkeld 
 
 (Closing the door.) 
 Now let us go. 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 Come, let us follow him. 
 (Exeunt.) 
 
 Scene 9 
 Rorekj Finn Little. 
 
 ROREK 
 
 Damned rascals ! Wonder where they hid his corse. 
 Ho, trolls and goblins put me on his track! 
 Where are we now? 
 
 Finn 
 
 Close by a little house. 
 
122 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 ROREK 
 
 Has It an open door? 
 
 Finn 
 
 The door is closed. 
 
 ROREK 
 
 Then open it; if locked, then break it down. 
 A pow'r most strange is thither leading me. 
 
 Finn 
 
 No need of key there is to ope this door. 
 
 {He opens it.) 
 
 ROREK 
 
 What seest thou within? 
 
 Finn 
 
 'Tis rather dark. 
 
 RoREK 
 
 Finn, enter, enter, see what is within! 
 
 {Finn enters. Rorek, driven as by an irresistible 
 force followSf stumbling over the threshold; he falls 
 headlong into the house. Both come out almost im- 
 
ACT V 123 
 
 mediately. Rorek's hat is down over his face, and 
 in adjusting it, he touches his eyelids with his fingers, 
 saying : ) 
 
 'Twas wet in there, my hands felt something wet 
 Upon the floor. What didst thou find, my Finn? 
 
 Finn 
 
 Nought but a pile of wood. 
 
 ROREK 
 
 A pile of wood ? 
 
 {He rubs his eyelids.) 
 What is this wet upon my hands? 
 Finn 
 
 'Tis blood. 
 
 ROREK 
 
 Blood! Strange indeed; my eyes are itching so. 
 
 Finn 
 Thy eyes are all besmeared with blood. 
 
 RoREK 
 
 Most strange! 
 {He rubs them again.) 
 
124 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 O Finn ! I see thee, yes, I see, I see ! 
 Be this a dream or sweet reality? 
 
 (Finn steps back in fear.) 
 
 Be not afraid, I have not lost my mind; 
 The truth is, I can see. 
 
 Finn 
 What seest thou? 
 
 ROREK 
 
 Thee, and this house, these trees and yonder vale. 
 
 Though all things seem so dim and dusk, I now 
 
 Behold the blood upon my hands; I know, 
 
 O God, I know! (lifting his hands toward heaven) 
 
 It is King Olaf's blood 
 
 Which hath restored my sight, a miracle ! 
 
 And now I do remember what he said : 
 
 That through my blindness I should find the light 
 
 Of better things, a vision of the Christ. 
 
 O Christ, forgive these many evil years, 
 
 The blindness of my soul, the hellish hate; 
 
 Forgive my sins against thy martyred saint, 
 
 'Gainst whom so long I wickedly did plot ; 
 
 Forgive this sinful pagan, and if still 
 
 My life can serve thee, let it all be thine! 
 
 (A brightj warm light fills the scene and remains 
 till the close.) 
 
ACT V 125 
 
 Scene 10 
 
 The former. Sigvat, Ingegerd, Thorkeld, Grirrij 
 and servants carrying two coffins. 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 {Upon seeing Rorek.) 
 
 Here fs that monster Rorek, and his slave. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 (In consternation.) 
 
 Alas! that demon, is he here again? 
 
 (J side.) 
 
 And now perhaps he knows. 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 Leave that to me. 
 (He draws his sword, approaching Rorek.) 
 
 Rorek 
 
 I see thee now, O, Sigvat, I can see ! 
 Yea, wonder of all wonders, I can see! 
 And I am changed, a new and humble man. 
 Who sorrows for the wrong, he did the King, 
 Through whose shed blood my sight hath been re- 
 stored. 
 
126 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 What sayest thou? thy sight restored, how strange! 
 
 All 
 How strange! 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 How did it happen? tell it us. 
 
 ROREK 
 
 Not satisfied to know, the King was dead. 
 
 But eager to obtain his body, lest 
 
 His friends should find it and bestow on it . 
 
 An honorable burial in some 
 
 Secluded spot, or carry it away 
 
 To distant lands, I with the aid of Finn, 
 
 My true and trusted friend, came to this place, 
 
 And by the pow'r of divination knew. 
 
 The corpse was hidden somewhere in this house; 
 
 Finn oped the door and searched, still nothing found 
 
 But heaps of wood; yet, in my eagerness 
 
 I stumbled in and fell upon the floor ; 
 
 Then something wet I felt with both my hands, 
 
 My hat came down upon my face, and as 
 
 I 'rose and pushed it back, I touched my eyes, 
 
 Or rather empty sockets, as they were, 
 
 Which then began to itch, and rubbing them 
 
 With both my hands, it seemed as if a dawn, 
 
 A day-dawn, after thirteen years of night. 
 
 Came upon me, and I began to see; 
 
ACT V 127 
 
 This dawn is now full day, I clearly see, 
 Yea, see ! 'Tis true what Finn did first perceive, 
 That it is blood, O, precious, holy blood, 
 Which gave me sight! 
 
 Ingegerd 
 My God, how wonderful! 
 
 ROREK 
 
 Put up thy sword, O, Skald ; henceforth no friend 
 Shall e'er be found more true to Olaf's cause 
 Than I, who hated him, alas, too much ! 
 
 (Sigvat takes his hand.) 
 
 (Rorek to Ingegerd.) 
 
 The King hath pardoned me, wilt thou, his friend? 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 Tis hard to pardon his chief murderer; 
 But since, like Christ, he loves his enemies, 
 And meets out good for evil, through his death, 
 How can I but forgive, even such as thee. 
 
 (She weeps.) 
 
 Rorek 
 
 I thank thee. Madam, may heaven comfort thee 1 
 
128 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 This day salvation is brought nigh to all. 
 
 ROREK 
 
 What is your purpose with these coffins, pray? 
 
 Grim 
 
 This for King Olaf s body we did bring. 
 
 RoREK 
 
 The other, whose is that? 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 Ah, that was mine. 
 
 But now it is no more, for life, not death. 
 My lord has thus proclaimed; to-day begins 
 His reign o'er Norway, and he bids me live. 
 To help his son obtain his heritage. 
 
 ROREK 
 
 His son, young Magnus, where is he this day? 
 
 Ingegerd 
 Safe in the court of Russia is he. 
 
ACT V 129 
 
 ROREK 
 
 Of all the petty-kings of Norway, I 
 Shall be the first to swear allegiance to 
 The noble prince, King Olaf 's rightful heir. 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 So do we all, come let us pledge our lives 
 To Magnus Olafson. 
 
 1 All 
 
 (With uplifted hands.) 
 
 We do! we do! 
 
 Scene ii 
 
 The former. Thore Hund, Kalf Arneson and 
 Haarek enter. 
 
 Thore 
 We've chased them far enough ; 
 
 Kalf 
 They won't come back. 
 
 (Both discover the company.) 
 
 Thore 
 Ah what is this? A scene most strange I see! 
 
I30 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 ROREK 
 
 But Stranger 'tis for me, thee to behold. 
 
 Thore 
 
 Me to behold! What sayest thou, old man? 
 
 RoREK 
 
 {Grasping his hand.) 
 
 This is a day of miracles, my friend, 
 
 So great that thou canst hardly understand. 
 
 Thore 
 No, I can't understand, what meanest thou? 
 
 ROREK 
 
 That I, the sightless one, received my sight. 
 
 Thore 
 Received thy sight, and how? 
 
 Rorek 
 {Pointing to heaven.) 
 From Him! 
 
ACT V 131 
 
 {Pointing to the house.) 
 
 Through him! 
 Yea, through the King, the saint, whom we have 
 slain. 
 
 Kalf 
 
 He's mad, poor fellow, yes, he's mad. 
 
 Haarek 
 
 Of course! 
 Our victory is more than he can bear. 
 
 ROREK 
 
 {Taking their hands.) 
 
 Not mad, my friends, not mad. 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 He is not mad, 
 His words are true, his sight is now restored, 
 This ye can note, even without candle-light. 
 
 Kalf 
 
 An hour ago we should have needed it. 
 
 RoREK 
 'Twas when my sight came back, the sun shone forth. 
 
132 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Thore 
 Most passing strange, — a day of eerie signs. 
 
 (Pause.) 
 Where is King Olaf's body? 
 
 ROREK 
 
 (Pointing to Thorkeld.) 
 
 Ask thou him. 
 
 Thorkeld 
 
 Why should I know? I've heard it said that he 
 Alive appeared, this very day, at Stav.* 
 
 Thore 
 
 What sayest thou? Another mystery! 
 But why these coffins here? 
 
 Thorkeld 
 
 We'll give thee one. 
 
 Thore 
 
 I knew not, thou wert Olaf's friend. 
 
 *The name of a farm in the upper part of the 
 valley. 
 
ACT V 133 
 
 Thorkeld 
 
 I am 
 Haarek 
 
 If not for Rorek, we would chase you all. 
 
 ROREK 
 
 Not her. 
 
 Thore 
 
 Who's she? 
 
 Rorek 
 
 The Queen of Russia. 
 
 {The three chiefs make obeisance to her.) 
 
 Haarek 
 
 I beg your pardon, Madam, I wist not. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 Are ye the chiefs who caused King Olaf's death? 
 
 (No answer.) 
 
 A man from Olaf's ranks hath told that one, 
 Named Thore Hund, did pierce him with a spear, 
 As he lay wounded, and another chief. 
 
134 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Named Kalf, did strike him with his battle-axe, 
 Which caused his death ; — are ye these murderers ? 
 
 (No answer.) 
 
 Your silence proves your guilt. O, day of grief, 
 That I should e'er behold such bloody foe ! 
 
 Thore 
 
 To fight, to give or take the fatal blow, 
 
 Hath equal honor on the battle-field. 
 
 Your King fought valiantly, like his men ; 
 
 Bjorn Stallare stood by his side and struck 
 
 Me such a blow, that had not this my coat 
 
 Withstood its fury, 'twould have been my death; 
 
 But I transfixed the bear with this my spear, 
 
 And he did die, the man who led the King 
 
 From distant Russia to his sad fate. 
 
 But he was Olaf's friend, though once untrue, 
 
 And in his death looked to his king with love ; 
 
 The King beheld it; at that moment too 
 
 A battle-axe did strike him in the knee ; 
 
 He leaned up to a rock, a wounded man, 
 
 And then a spear and battle-axe did all the rest. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 O, cruel men, what ought I do to you ! 
 
 ROREK 
 ( To Ingegerd. ) 
 
ACT V 135 
 
 Forgive them, noble lady, as, thou didst 
 Forgive the one who led these chiefs to w^ar. 
 
 Haarek 
 
 And hast thou, Rorek, asked for such a thing? 
 
 ROREK 
 
 Because the grace of God I first did find. 
 
 Haarek 
 
 Thou hast been greatly changed, we know thee not. 
 
 Rorek 
 
 A change most blessed, friends, for now I see. 
 Both you, and him I spurned so many years. 
 
 Thore 
 
 Believ'st thou then on Olaf's Christ? 
 
 Rorek 
 
 I do. 
 
 Thore 
 
 {Examining his hand. To Haarek and Kalf.) 
 
 'Tis healed, how strange! Such miracles do shake 
 Me to the very core, 
 
136 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Haarek 
 
 And me — 
 Kalf 
 
 And me. 
 Thore 
 {Aloud.) 
 Nor would I henceforth be his enemy. 
 
 ROREK 
 
 Ye, too, my friends, will see a better light; 
 But listen to me now ; oft have ye asked 
 My words of counsel and ev'n followed it, 
 And now I ask one thing of you. 
 
 Thore 
 
 Speak forth. 
 
 RoREK 
 
 If ye did know where Olaf's body lie, 
 Would ye molest or duly honor it ? 
 
 Kalf 
 We'd honor and protect it. 
 
ACT V 137 
 
 Thore and Haarek 
 
 Aye, we would. 
 
 ROREK 
 
 Then, as I know the mettle of your words, 
 I beg your aid in this one solemn task, — 
 The burial of hini, our fallen King. 
 
 Thore 
 
 Where is he then ? 
 
 Ingegerd 
 O, tell him not, I pray! 
 
 RoREK 
 
 Now dealest thou with men of honor, Queen. 
 
 {To Thorkeld.) 
 Bring forth the body. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 Art thou sure of them? 
 
 Rorek 
 As sure as of myself and thee, Queen Ingegerd. 
 
I3B KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Thore 
 Did ye intend this coffin for the King ? 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 We did. 
 
 Thore 
 
 The other one for whom? 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 For none. 
 
 O, say not that. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 Thore 
 
 A happy thought — for none ; 
 
 I have it, Rorek, listen to my plan : 
 
 We place the body in this coffin here, 
 
 And take it 'cross the fjord to Nidaros, 
 
 Where it shall be interred close by the church. 
 
 Or what I've heard the priests call holy ground. 
 
 But Bishop Sigurd is his enemy. 
 
 Bought as he is with English gold, and lest 
 
 He capture it, and sink it in the fjord, 
 
 We'll use the other coffin as a ruse. 
 
 Fill it with hay and stones, and nail its lid, 
 
 And give it prominence upon the ship; 
 
ACT V 139 
 
 The other we will hide beneath the deck, 
 Thus safely we shall take him to his rest. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 A cunning scheme — 
 
 ROREK 
 
 Ah, Thore, thou art shrewd ! 
 
 Thore 
 
 Go men, and fill this one with stones and straw. 
 
 {Servants exeunt with one coffin. Thorkeld and 
 Grim take the other into the log-house.) 
 
 {To Thorkeld.) 
 
 Good man hast thou a shroud ? 
 
 Thorkeld 
 
 'Tis 'neath the lid. 
 
 {All except Ingegerd and Sigvat go to the house; 
 some enter, others look in through the open door.) 
 
 Sigvat 
 
 ( To Ingegerd. ) 
 
 Behold the hands that slew to service turned ! 
 
140 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 Ingegerd 
 This is King Olaf s Coronation-day. 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 And thou art crowned with him his rightful Queen ; 
 For love must triumph, e'en as righteousness. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 My heart is heavy, yet I feel a joy, 
 So pure as never I have known before. 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 It is the joy which love's sweet triumph gives. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 Mean'st thou the triumph of love's sacrifice? 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 Yes, without sacrifice there is no love. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 Without the sacrifice — to live and wait. 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 To live for life's great duties faithfully. 
 
ACT V 141 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 I will return to Russia, to tell 
 
 Of Olaf s death to Magnus, and our tears 
 
 Shall mingle like a mother's with her child's ; 
 
 Then I will make him ready for his task. 
 
 But Sigvat, whither wilt thou turn thy course? 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 In Norway will I live and sing my lays. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 Kind hast thou been to me, my royal bard, 
 
 Take this a token of my gratitude, — 
 
 Yea, of our friendship through these many years. 
 
 (She takes a bracelet from her arm and presents 
 it to him.) 
 
 Sigvat 
 
 I cannot thank thee as I ought, my Queen, 
 My heart is all too full to give it speech. 
 Thou wilt permit me, see thee to thy ship, 
 Where trusty seamen are awaiting thee. 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 But first I must behold his blessed face. 
 
 {The King's coffin is brought out from the house 
 and placed in the middle of the stage. The servants 
 
142 KING SAINT OLAF 
 
 also bring the other casket and set it down in the 
 back-ground. Ingegerd kneels beside the coffin, and, 
 weeping, embraces the King's face. A bright light 
 shines about the coffin. All, except Sigvat, kneel.) 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 This day a light divine begins to shine 
 Upon our land, where darkness brooded long; 
 This day King Olaf hath regained his throne, 
 A throne and scepter, purchased with his blood ; 
 To-day his reign begins and shall endure. 
 As long as Norway is a Christian land; 
 Nor is he monarch only, but a Saint, 
 Who gave his life as martyr for the Christ. 
 In death he found his glory and his life, 
 In death he found his ancient heritage. 
 Day of defeat? No, day of victory! 
 Day of dark grief? No, rather day of joy! 
 Go bury him where Norway shall bend knee. 
 And worship God, and see a vision fair 
 Of things to come, until the land is free 
 From darkness, and its mountains glow with light 
 Of God's eternal truth and golden love. 
 
 ( They carry the coffins down the hill in the back- 
 ground. A peculiar light follows the procession. 
 Sigvat, Ingegerd and Rorek stand looking after 
 them.) 
 
 Ingegerd 
 
 Farewell, my Lord and King, until we meet 
 
 In that fair realm where love's dream is complete ! 
 
ACT V 143 
 
 How strange the web and woof of human life ! 
 
 It is not in our pow'r to fashion it, 
 
 But His alone who rules above man's strife. 
 
 SiGVAT 
 
 I hear sweet music 'mid the rustling trees, 
 A sound as of clear church-bells from afar, 
 Their tones are charged with harmony and peace, 
 As if a soul hath found its Morning-star. 
 
 Curtain 
 
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