Eric, Hertha.

ERIC

I sent for thee to know thy name and birth.

HERTHA

My name is Hertha and my birth too mean
To utter before Norway's lord.

ERIC

Yet speak.

HERTHA

A Trondhjem peasant and a serving-girl
Were parents to me.

ERIC

And from such a stock
Thy beauty and thy wit and grace were born?

HERTHA

The gods prodigiously sometimes reverse
The common rule of Nature and compel
Matter with soul. How else should it be guessed
That gods exist at all?

ERIC

Who nurtured thee?

HERTHA

A dancing-girl of Gothberg by a lord
Of Norway entertained, to whom a child
I was delivered. Song and dance were hers;

I made them mine.

Page – 514

ERIC

Their names? the thrall? the lord?

HERTHA

Olaf of Norway, earl of Trondhjem then,
And Thiordis whom he loved.

ERIC

Thou knowest Swegn,

The rebel?

HERTHA

Yes, I know.

ERIC

And lov'st perhaps ?

HERTHA

Myself much better.

ERIC

Yes ? He is a man
Treacherous and rude and ruthless, is he not?

HERTHA (with a movement)

I would not speak of kings and mighty earls:

These things exceed my station.

ERIC

Ah, thou lov'st!

Thou wilt not blame.

HERTHA

Thou art mistaken. King.
He cannot conquer and he will not yield,
But weakens Norway. This in him I blame.

Page – 515

ERIC

Thou hast seen that? Thy peasant father got
A wondrous politician for his child!
Do I abash thee? 

HERTHA

I am what the Gods
Have made me. But I understand at last;

Thou think'st me other than I seem.

ERIC

                       Some thought

Like that I had.

HERTHA

King Eric, wilt thou hear?

ERIC

I much desire it, if I hear the truth.

HERTHA

Betray me not to Aslaug then.

ERIC

That's just.

She shall not know.

HERTHA

What if I came, O King,
For other purpose, not to sing and dance,
And yet thy friend, the well-wisher, at least,
Of Norway and her peace ?

ERIC

                Speak plainly now.

Page – 516

HERTHA

If I can show thee how to conquer Swegn
Without one stroke of battle, wilt thou grant
My bitter need ?

ERIC  

I would give much.

HERTHA

                            Wilt thou?

ERIC

If so I conquer him and thy desire

Is something I can grant without a hurt

To Norway or myself.

HERTHA

It is.

ERIC

             Speak then,

Demand.

HERTHA

I have not finished yet. Meantime
If I avert a danger from thy head
Now threatening it, do I not earn rewards
More ample?

ERIC

More ? On like conditions, then.

HERTHA

If I yield up great enemies to thy hands

Thou know'st not of, wilt thou reject my price,

Confusing different debts in one account ?

Page – 517

ERIC

Hast thou yet more to ask? Thou art too shrewd
A bargainer.

HERTHA

Giving Norway needed peace,
Thyself friends, safety, empire, is my claim
Excessive then?

ERIC

I grant thee three demands.

HERTHA

They are all. He asks not more who has enough.
Thrice shall I ask and thrice shall Eric give
And never have an enemy again
In Norway.

ERIC

Speak.

HERTHA

Thy enemies are here,
No dancing-girls, but Hertha, wife of Swegn,
And Aslaug, child of Olaf Thorleikson,
His sister.

ERIC

It is well.

HERTHA

The danger lies
In Aslaug's hand and dagger which she means
To strike into thy heart. Tonight she strikes.

ERIC

And Swegn?

Page – 518

HERTHA

Send me to him with perilous word
Of Aslaug in thy hands; so with her life
Buy his surrender, afterwards his love
With kingly generosity and trust.

ERIC

Freely and frankly hast thou spoken. Queen
Who wast in Trondhjem: now as freely ask.

HERTHA

The life of Swegn; his liberty as well,
Submitting.

ERIC

They are thine.

HERTHA

And Aslaug's life
And pardon, not her liberty.

ERIC

They are given.

HERTHA

And, last, forgiveness for myself, O King,
My treason and my plots.

ERIC

This too I grant.

HERTHA

I have nothing left to ask for.

ERIC

        Thou hast done ?
Let me consign thee to thy prison then.

Page – 519

HERTHA

My prison! Wilt thou send me not to Swegn?

ERIC

I will not. Why, thou subtle, dangerous head,
Restored to liberty, what perilous schemes
Might leap into thy thought! Shall I give Swegn,
That fierce and splendid fighter, such a brain
Of cunning to complete and guide his sword ?
What if he did not yield, rejected peace ?
Wilt thou not tell him Aslaug's life is safe?
To prison!

HERTHA

Thou hast promised, King!

ERIC

                            I keep
My promise to thee, Hertha, wife of Swegn.
For Swegn thou askest life and liberty,
For Aslaug life and pardon, for thyself
Forgiveness only. I can be cunning too.
Hertha, thou art my prisoner and thrall.

HERTHA (after a pause, smiling')

I see. I am content. Thou showest thyself
Norway's chief brain as her victorious sword.
Free or a prisoner, let me do homage
To Eric, my King and Swegn's.

ERIC

                  Thou art content?

HERTHA

This face and noble bearing cannot lie.
I am content and feel as safe with thee
As in my husband's keeping.

Page – 520

ERIC (smiling)

So thou art,
Thou subtle voice, thou close and daring brain.
I would I felt myself as safe with thee.

HERTHA

King Eric, think me not thy enemy.
What thou desirest, I desire yet more.

ERIC

Keep to that well; let Aslaug not suspect.
My way I'll take with her and thee and Swegn.
Fear nothing, Hertha; go.

                              Hertha goes out.

O Freya Queen,

Thou help'st me even as Thor and Odin did.
I make my Norway one.

                                                                   Curtain

Page – 521