THE NORSEMAN
THE NORSEMAN
A DRAMA IN FOUR ACTS BY
ELIZABETH ALDEN CURTIS
PORTLAND MAINE
THE MOSHER PRESS
MDCCCCXII
COPYRIGHT
ELIZABETH ALDEN CURTIS
1912
This tale, that runs not smooth, of two who loved,
Of two who loved transcendently, and so
Turned the gods eyes upon them, and drew down
Hatreds, and obstacles, and plotted woe,
E en such as all the great, dead lovers knew,
Ere they beheld and reached their final goal,
Ere, in the twilight portals of the stars,
Rejoined they each his dear, divided soul,
Not singly stands this tale ! No perfect thing
Earth s envy spares, nor spares fate s black despite !
So V was ordained, for Love s high venturers,
To tread the dim abysses of the night,
Onward, by Aengus and fair Edain, led ;
Maddened by visions, hemmed by phantoms round ;
^et blessed beyond earth s easeful votaries,
Love-loosed from all things lesser than the sound
Of their own vows, breathed on the moon-bright air;
Veiled, as was Forgael, from the blight of time,
Enmeshed, at last, in sweet Dectora s hair !
February 5, 1912.
20211CO
PREFATORY NOTE
THE drama of THE NORSEMAN, adheres as closely as possible
to the story of Frithiof and Ingeborg, as it was told in the
ancient Frithiof Saga, of which the following is a brief extract:
" In Sognefylke, near the holy grove of Balder, dwelt King Bele;
two sons had he, Helge and Halfdan, and moreover a daughter,
Ingeborg the Fair. When he came to die, Bele warned his sons to
keep up friendship with the mighty Frithiof, a son of his friend,
Thorsten, who was the son of Viking. But the young kings refused
scornfully Frithiof s wooing for their sister s hand, and so he vowed
revenge, and that he never would come to their assistance.
" Soon after, it came to pass that when King Ring made war
against them, they sent to ask aid from Frithiof : he was playing
chess, and let himself not be one whit disturbed by their messenger.
" Ring conquered, and made the brothers promise Ingeborg s hand
to him.
" Meanwhile Frithiof had gone to see Ingeborg in Balder s temple
(which was a forbidden deed) and there he exchanged rings with
her; for to him the love of Ingeborg was a far weightier matter than
the favor of Balder.
" To punish him for his contempt of the shrine of Balder, the kings
laid upon Frithiof the task of going to the Faroes and demanding a
tribute. So Frithiof, with his foster brother, set sail in the ship,
Ellida, the best in all the North ; a ship which all said could under
stand the voice of men. After suffering shipwreck and enchantment,
they reached the Faroes, where Yarl Angantyr let him take the
tribute for friendship s sake, and so he departed.
Vll
PREFATORY NOTE
" When he came back, he heard that the kings had burned his
dwelling, and that they were just then at the midsummer feast in
the grove of Balder. Thither he went, and found few folk within.
Frithiof flung the purse with the money in Helge s face, so that his
very teeth fell out; and then he was going away, when he beheld the
ring he had given Ingeborg on the arm of Helge s queen. He
dragged it from her with such force that she fell to the ground;
Balder s image was thrown into the fire, and the whole temple set
in flame. King Helge sought to pursue Frithiof, but his ships had
been made useless.
" Now Frithiof remained an outcast ; so he took to the ocean, and
he slew the fierce sea-kings, but let the merchants fare in peace.
And so, when he had gained great glory and wealth, he hied him
back again to the North, and went disguised as a salt-burner to the
court of King Ring. Ring knew him, and pitying his sad tale, com
manded that he should be set in the most honourable seat. Queen
Ingeborg spake but little with him. One day, Frithiof and the king
went out together into a wood, and the king laid him down to sleep ;
then Frithiof drew his sword, and threw it away. Then the king
told him how that he had known from the first evening who he
was."
There are several endings given, by the mythologists, to this legend.
One of the most usually accepted ones has been adapted to the
present play. The only decided liberties that have been taken with
the story, have been the placing of Ingeborg s ring on the arm of
Balder s image, instead of upon that of Helge s queen, for the
purpose of dignifying the scene, and heightening the effect of the
sacrilege; the turning back of the season of Frithiof s arrival at
the court of King Ring, from winter to autumn ; and a general
Vlll
PREFATORY NOTE
shortening of the events of that period of the Saga into the possible
limits of a single stage act.
The lyrics, which occur in the drama, should be set to an almost
purely recitative music, which will in no sense impair the spoken
value of the words. We know little of the art of those earliest
skalds, or harpers, who told stories in song to the romance-loving,
heroic peoples of the antique world, but this much must be certain;
that the words, themselves, with all the thrilling, impassioned power
of spoken language, must have been clearly intelligible, and unhamp
ered by musical embellishment, or the interest of those long, narrative
song-poems could never have been sustained. A vibrant chord a
fiery stanza, differing not much from speech, save, perhaps, in its
rhythm, and return, on a last word, to music, as if tethered by a
golden thread of melody ; a minor plaint, accompanied by an
arpeggio undertone; who can suggest or outline the technique of
that lost art of story -telling-in-song ! Of the songs in the present
play, only one, the last, seems suited to anything like a modern
musical treatment, a distinct melody, perhaps, and barcarolle
rhythm. The others belong, I am sure, to that far-off day when the
singers were the poets, prophets, actors, and historians of the nation,
and "a song" must have had an infinitely fuller significance than
any that it holds, to-day.
E. A. C.
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT
February 2, 1912
THE NORSEMAN
THE PERSONS OF THE PLAY
SIGURD RING, King of Ringric
HELGE, > Kings of Sognefylke and Brothers of
HALFDAN, ) Ingeborg
THE CROWN PRINCE OF RINGRIC, a Child
A HIGH PRIEST OF BALDER
FRITHIOF, a Free Norseman, son of Thorsten, a Hero,
whose death has just occurred
BJORN, Comrade of Frithiof
HILDING, Foster-father of Frithiof and Ingeborg
BLAETAND
HALVAR, a Jester
HEm, } Two Witches
A SKALD
FIRST WARRIOR
SECOND WARRIOR
FIRST MARINER
SECOND MARINER
AN OLD MAN
HUNVOR, Queen to Helge
THE PRINCESS INGEBORG, Sister of Helge and Halfdan
KRAKE, Ingeborg s Maid-in-Waiting
PRIESTS OF BALDER, WARRIORS, MARINERS, VASSALS
and MAIDENS
The Play is laid in Iceland, in the period covered by the
poetic Edda
THE SCENES
ACT I. SCENE i. Framnas. A Hall in Frithiof s House.
ACT II. SCENE i. Sognefylke. The Grove of Balder.
SCENE 2. The Sea Coast.
ACT III. SCENE i. A Road near Sognefylke.
SCENE 2. The Grove of Balder.
ACT IV. SCENE i. Ringric. The Feasting-Hall in King
Ring s Palace.
SCENE 2. A Terrace outside the Palace.
Four years are supposed to have elapsed between
Acts III and IV.
THE NORSEMAN
A DRAMA IN FOUR ACTS
ACT I
SCENE i. FRAMNAS. A Hall in FRITHIOF S house. The
walls are hung with weapons and spoils of the chase.
Oak benches, upon which armor is scattered. The floor
is strewn with rushes. Although it is early summer, a
bright fire burns on the hearth. At the back, a door
opening on a birch forest, with a glimpse of the sea
beyond.
A SKALD, heard singing, to the accompaniment of a
harp, as the curtain rises, and the twelve warriors of
THORSTEN, seated, listening, about the benches. A
maid, who has been quietly filling up the mead-horns,
goes out before the end of the song.
THE SKALD [Concluding.]
DEEPLY, in his rounded grave,
Thorsten sleeps beside the wave ;
Thus it is ye shall relate
Thorsten s deeds both good and great.
Like the snow-kissed Northern pine,
Stood he, in his day s decline ;
THE N O R S E M A N
As the sun, at close of day,
Passed his mighty soul away.
Dim with years his mortal sight,
In Valhalla s Hall of Light,
There, Jorevermore, shall he
Odin s changeless glory see.
FIRST WARRIOR [ When the music has died away.}
Twas thus, indeed, great Thorsten lived and died,
Wearing his valor like a kingly crown !
SECOND WARRIOR
Alas, we shall not see his like again !
FIRST WARRIOR
Unless his spirit wakes in Frithiof.
That colt has grazed in scented fields too long
He needs must feel some strong adversity,
To stir the sweet contentment of his blood.
Mayhap the goad is even now prepared !
I fear me that the temper of the King
Will not embrace young Frithiof s overture.
THE NORSEMAN
THE SKALD
What s this you speak of ? I am just returned
To Sognefylke, and the Kingdom s news
Outruns me. What is this of Frithiof ?
FIRST WARRIOR
Thou dost recall the life-long covenant
Twixt Thorsten and King Bele ?
THE SKALD
Aye, full well !
FIRST WARRIOR
It was King Bele s wish that his two sons,
Helge and Halfdan, our late-crowned Kings,
And his sweet daughter, Princess Ingeborg,
Should, at his death, maintain, with Frithiof,
The friendship he had shown for Thorsten. So
SECOND WARRIOR {Interrupting him.]
So Frithiof has gone, this very day,
With young Bjorn, his sworn and chosen friend,
To lay his sword before the Kings of Sogn,
Offering to take his warlike father s place,
And fight the Kingdom s battles.
THE NORSEMAN
FIRST WARRIOR
Furthermore,
He goes, for this was Bele s true desire,
To ask her brothers for the Princess hand.
Thou knowest they were reared in Hilding s house,
Together, with this very end in view.
THE SKALD
"As fond as Frithiof and Ingeborg,"
Was e er a saying in old Hilding s mouth!
And have these saplings never grown apart ?
FIRST WARRIOR
They are so grafted on each other s lives,
I think the natural order is reversed,
And that the tree doth live upon the shoot,
And all its better parts do spring therefrom.
THE SKALD
And what if Helge should refuse this suit ?
Men say he has a proud and grudging heart !
SECOND WARRIOR [Grimly.]
Why, then will Thorsten s comrades have a word
To say for that which Thorsten held most dear !
[Striking his sword-hilt, significantly]
A word so sharp that even Kings must hear !
THE NORSEMAN
[THE WARRIORS assent, hotly. So intent are they, that
BJORN enters, and stands in their midst, unnoticed.
He is young and golden-haired, and, in spite of his
heavy armor, looks like a lad, among the battle-scarred
soldiers of T/wrsten]
BJORN
An enemy might take you by surprise !
Where are your ears, ye greybeards, and your eyes ?
[THE WARRIORS spring up, startled; upon seeing
BJORN, they surround him, eagerly.]
FIRST WARRIOR
Bjorn ! What ! Back so soon ? Where s Frithiof ?
Come boy, what news? What passed at Helge s court?
BJORN [Darkly.]
The foulest insult passed that e er I heard !
[To THE WARRIORS.]
T was well I went with Frithiof, alone !
Had ye been there, ye would have slain the King,
Upon his judging-seat, and thrown the realm
Into a revolution !
[THE WARRIORS crowd closer about him, murmuring
excitedly.]
SECOND WARRIOR
Tell us more !
Speak plainly all that thou hast hinted at !
THE NORSEMAN
BJORN
Frithiof is close behind me. He but stayed
To see the boat drawn safe upon the shore.
See, here he comes ! Now, learn the tale from him !
[FRITHIOF is seen approaching, through the wood. THE
WARRIORS draw apart, to make way for him, and
salute him, with affection and pride, as he enters]
FRITHIOF [With a show of cheerfulness ]
Why now, good friends, t is joy to be at home !
In this sweet circle should all journeys lead,
From home, toward home ; that home may shine more fair
For being glimpsed a-distant, like a star !
FIRST WARRIOR [Solemnly.]
With joy do we behold thee, Frithiof,
And do most anxiously await thy news,
If it be good, we 11 publish thy success ;
If bad, our hungry swords will follow thee,
To better it, or be thy liegemen still,
In those bright Halls where Thorsten sits, on high !
[THE WARRIORS assent, heartily.]
FRITHIOF
Your loyalty doth touch me to the heart !
The more that, in this hour, my heart is sad,
And all my fortunes crossed and hindered.
For I have met with grave indignity
At hands which I had every right to hope
THE NORSEMAN
Would be outstretched in love, to clasp my own.
I will not further try your patiences ;
It happened thus ; before the Kings of Sogn,
As we agreed, I laid great Thorsten s sword ;
Seeking to join my father s far-famed arms
To Helge s forces ; and I then did sue
For my sweet Princess ; bade them to recall
How t was our good King Bele s oft-spoke wish
To see us wedded ; by their buried sire,
Did strive to move them to my heart s desire.
[THE WARRIORS are hushed with attention^
They answered me with pride and insolence.
Dark Helge curled his crafty lip with scorn
And bade such high presumption be forgot
As sought to mate with blood of Odin s line,
A royal Princess with a vassal s son.
[THE WARRIORS murmur, indignantly^
While, as for Iceland s battles, here he smiled
Toward the younger King, he doubted not
They could be fought without such aid as mine,
But, lest it should be said that they forgot
My father s service, rendered to the King,
I should be welcome to a vassal s place,
To serve them in their palace, or their court.
[Angry outcries from THE WARRIORS.]
Whereat, the freeman s blood within my veins
Leaped to avenge its insult, and I drew
My sword with sudden fury, crying out,
" Had I not journeyed hither, O proud King,
3
THE NORSEMAN
In such a mind as fits this solemn time,
Filled with the peace that lingers o er the grave,
I would have served thee, as I serve this shield ! "
With which, I struck his golden shield a blow,
The where it hung, in state, upon an oak,
That brought it crashing downward, cleft in twain,
And blanched the hue of royal arrogance !
" Henceforth," I cried, " come not within my reach,
Nor ask my aid, nor further tempt my mood ! "
Whence, straight, I m come to Framnas, as you see !
[Great excitement among THE WARRIORS. He goes on,
quieting it, by a gesture^
My comrades, I have shown you all the truth
In this unhappy thing, that you might know
To what you pledge yourselves, in following me.
If there be any moved to serve the King,
1 bid him, with all friendship, to be gone !
Are there, among you, any of this mind?
THE WARRIORS [Together. }
No 1 [Tumult^
FR IT H IO F [ Quieting them. ]
Good friends! But one word more! Good Friends!
I pray !
I am more grieved than I can well make known,
Even to you, who knew my hopes so well,
And see them here dispersed and set at naught,
That hatred should arise where love hath dwelt
14
THE NORSEMAN
So long a time, and such a peace give place
To such a quarrel ! Hardships, labors, wars,
I never would have murmured or turned back !
But now, indeed, I know not where to turn !
These deep affronts will burn into my blood,
Till vengeful thoughts infest my nights and days !
Had I but ready means
THE WARRIORS
For Frith iof!
Call on us !
We follow thee !
FRITHIOF [Above the confusion.}
Good comrades, hear me speak ! Have patience, friends
FIRST WARRIOR
He counsels patience ! Is this Thorsten s son?
SECOND WARRIOR
What ! Shall we then be patient of affronts ?
FRITHIOF [Answering him.]
Aye, rather than of such untempered zeal !
[To the rest.}
O, Comrades, Warriors, ye are they who fought,
With Thorsten, on full many a desperate field ;
Worn with the fury of the open seas ;
Grown grey in Iceland s vigils ; in her wars,
THE NORSEMAN
Following the blade that flashed so redly forth,
Above the gloom that veiled the battle-front,
As Uller s lights array their streaming spears
Gainst the thick darkness of the winter skies !
Ye were my father s sinew and his strength ;
I am his son, and he doth live in me !
Unto the ways of warfare was I born ;
Cradled in courage, schooled to smile on death ;
And here I pledge you, on what day we fight,
Such cheerful leadership, such joy in arms,
That you shall rush to meet the oncoming foe,
Like a great band of lovers to your loves !
Ye are but lately come from Thorsten s grave,
The solemn dirge still echoes in your ears ;
For such a sire, beseech a worthy son !
To gracious Odin let your prayers ascend,
To guide the arm that wields this spotless blade,
Great Angurvadel, Lightning of the North !
[.Drawing his sword, which illumines the Hall like a
Ugh fn ing-flash . ]
So shall our land secure her memories,
And ye find consolation in your scars !
King Bele was my master and my friend ;
He loved his Kingdom, and his sons full well ;
More than my life, his daughter do I love.
I cannot right, with sudden turbulence,
A wrong that of such friendships doth arise !
Be patient, nothing doubting of my zeal,
Until I can discover some sure plan
16
THE NORSEMAN
Whereby, once more, to come into my own.
Go feast again ! Share, of these ancient halls,
The long-familiar hospitality,
Changed, yet unchanged, and, thinking on the past,
Leave, for a time, the present s need to me I
FIRST WARRIOR [Going.}
Why, so we will ! Thou sayest valiantly !
By this we know thou art thy father s son I
SECOND WARRIOR
Wisdom with courage ! We shall fight for thee !
[THE SKALD and WARRIORS go out, murmuring approv~
al, among themselves}
FRITHIOF [To BJORN, who is going out with the rest}
Bjorn !
BJORN [Coming back}
Frithiof, thou call st me ?
FRITHIOF
O, Bjorn, Bjorn,
My heart is lead and ice, within my breast !
Come, give me comfort of thy counsel, friend !
I shall go mad with pondering on this thing !
How shall I mend it! For you know my hope
Has ever been that I might come to be
That, unto Iceland, which my father was !
How shall I steal my dove from out the nest ?
THE NORSEMAN
How shall I punish Helge s insolence,
Without inflicting on our little Isle,
A graver wrong than has been done to me ?
O, think, Bjorn, how slighted they the past !
Those happy days of our old Master s reign,
That Thorsten s mighty prowess kept secure !
BJORN
They ruled like one, great Thorsten and the King
FRITHIOF
They were like brothers. But King Bele s sons
Would have no cousins of such plain complexion!
BJORN
Helge is full of dark hypocrisy
And cunning priestcraft! He it is that stirs
This mischief up, blowing the idle Prince
Like chaff before the wind of his intent !
FRITHIOF
How have I roused this envy in the King ?
Thou know st well I have no love of place,
Nor dream of eminence ; that I would hang,
With scarce a sigh, my sword upon the wall,
And dwell with peace in these fair-colored fields,
Could I transplant my lily to their soil.
Ah, there s the rankle in the wound, Bjorn !
Why did they place, my father and the king,
Their two young children, Ingeborg and me,
18
THE NORSEMAN
Beneath one roof, to grow inseparable ?
O, my White Rose, my little Ingeborg,
The spirit of thy youth is in my blood !
The swift and tender valor of thy soul
Is the pure spell that leads me on to bliss !
My life thou art, and he who takes my life,
It shall go hard but he shall lose his own !
Thy smiles, the light I never sought in vain,
That love lit up within thy fearless eyes ;
The pressure of those little arms of thine
About my neck, when, in a laughing mood,
I bore thee high across the mountain-brook
O, father 1 O, King Bele ! Would ye take
The treasure from me, ye so freely gave ?
O, would ye break the heart ye woke in me ?
{Drawing his sword, in a frenzy of bitterness.}
Great Angurvadel, by thy living strength,
Thou art no vassal ! Thou, at least, hast drunk
The blood of Kings, and lain in Valund s hand !
Come, Angurvadel, we will take the North
And found an empire and hew out a crown !
Come! Thou and I, together
BjORN \_Laying a hand upon his shoulder I\
Frithiof ! Pray !
FRITHIOF {Recalling himself^
Bjorn ! Forgive me ! I grow mad, I think,
With all this brooding and perplexity !
THE NORSEMAN
Speak to me, friend, restore me to myself!
I thirst for vengeance, but my heart cries out
That, so, I may prepare my love some hurt !
For wisdom ! So to bear my father s sword
That these sweet valleys and slow-moving herds,
These wooded hill-tops and bright mountain-lakes,
May know no other shadow than is cast
Upon their beauty by the wandering clouds !
I seem to feel, upon my soul, Bjorn,
The weight of some tumultuous destiny
I must enact, despite my gentler will !
Thou saw st, but now, how jealously our men
Received the mention of this open wrong,
This public scorn that turns my heart to fire !
How shall I cool it ? Counsel me, Bjorn !
BJORN
Thou know st, Frithiof, I would give my life
To right thy wrongs, to serve thee anyway !
I m a rough soldier, shy of flattering words ;
My loves, for this, lie deeper than my lips ;
And thee, O chosen comrade, have I loved
Since that first morn, when, like unbridled colts,
We ran, together, joyously afield.
Believe me, Frithiof, to see thee sad,
To see thee taunted by a prouder foe
Than I can put to silence with my sword,
Goes to my heart, as strong wine to the head !
Let but dark Helge come within my reach,
20
THE NORSEMAN
Upon a free-fought field, I ll carve for thee
So bright a vengeance on the prostrate King
As shall win notice of the bloodiest ground !
Enough of this ! Listen, O Frithiof,
To such plain counsel as I have to give,
T is taught me by my diligence for thee !
FRITHIOF
Good friend, I know thy love ! Speak on, Speak on
BJORN \Beckoning FRITHIOF to the doorl\
See yonder captive sea-bird, where she rides
The leaping waves that touch her sturdy bow,
And race along her shining length of keel !
FRITHIOF {Looking seaward^
Ellida, thou best ship in all the North !
BJORN
Loose those black pinions, swifter than the breeze ;
Without delay for Sognefylke sail,
To-night, the wind and tide will favor thee,
See for thyself, the Princess Ingeborg,
Recount thy wrongs, and let her counsel thee.
FRITHIOF
O, best of guides ! My pulses leap with joy
At thought of it ! But Helge keeps her close
21
THE NORSEMAN
Within the temple ! It is held a crime
For any man to speak to any maid,
Within the shrine of Balder.
BJORN
There s the grove !
By Krake, Ing borg s maiden, I could send
A message, bidding her to meet thee there.
FRITHIOF
And is this maiden to be trusted, so ?
BJORN
I d stake my life upon it !
FRITHIOF [Smiling.]
What, Bjorn !
Thou, too, old soldier, cased in triple-mail,
Has Freya found a maid to vanquish thee ?
BJORN
And if I love, my love must wait on thine !
I ve sworn to share thy fortunes, Frithiof ;
As thou dost fare, so Bjorn will fare with thee !
FRITHIOF [Moved.]
O brother, how may I deserve thy love !
To-night, we 11 leave our fears upon the shore !
THE NORSEMAN
Would night were come! "Inaction" is a word
To shake the firmest hero of us all !
Come, let s go bid the seamen to prepare
The ship for sailing!
BJORN
Why, with all my heart !
\They go toward the door. BJORN, who is in advance,
halts upon the threshold^
Frithiof, what s this, two strangers, as I see
Are coming hither, through the birchen-wood !
FRITHIOF
Wait ! Let us get a prior look at them !
[FRITHIOF and BJORN look, cautiously, around the
door. HILDING and BLAETAND are seen climbing
the forest-fath. HILDING is old and feeble, and
leans for support upon his companion^
From Sognefylke ! Hilding, by my faith !
What can this mean, Bjorn ? We must be wise
And wary ! Bring the board ! A game of chess
Will serve to give our moves serenity !
\They hastily set a chess-board, seat themselves, and
appear to be absorbed in the game. HILDING and
BLAETAND enterJ]
HILDING
Greeting, O Frithiof !
2 3
THE NORSEMAN
[FRITHIOF pays no heed. He is disconcerted, but con
tinues, suavely.]
I am come in haste,
From Sognefylke, with important news.
FRITHIOF [ Without looking up.}
Say st thou ? Can aught from Sognefylke bear
Such import ?
[As HILDING hesitates, in dismay.]
Well, say on ! Unfold thy news !
HILDING [Concealing his annoyance]
King Ring, of Ringric, doth invade our coast ;
Hourly the danger grows more imminent ;
And I am sent, O Frithiof, unto thee,
To ask that thou wilt bring thy matchless ship,
The far-renowned Ellida, with thy men,
And aid us to repulse this enemy,
Who, though an aged, is a mighty man.
FRITHIOF [To BJORN; as if intent upon the game]
Bjorn, thy King s imperiled. Take this pawn,