SCENE IV     The Avunthian forests; moonlight. Vuthsa, Vasavadutta, Munjoolica. VUTHSA . Thou hast held the reins divinely. We approach Our kingdom's border. MUNJOOLICA But the foe surround. VUTHSA We will break through as twice now we have done. Vicurna comes. Vicurna arrives ascending. VICURNA Vuthsa, yon Rebha asks For parley; is it given? Fid hold him here While by a long masked woodland breach I know Silent we pass their cordon. VUTHSA Force is best. VICURNA Vuthsa, to my mind more; but I would spare Our Vasavadutt

SCENE II     Hertha, Aslaug. ASLAUG Hertha, we dance before the man tonight., Why not tonight? HERTHA Because I do not choose¹ Merely to wound and then be stayed.² ASLAUG                            To near, To strike, while all posterity applauds. For Norway's poets to the end of time Shall sing in praises noble as the theme Of Aslaug's dance and Aslaug's dagger. HERTHA                            Yes, If we succeed; but who will sing the praise Of foiled assassins ? Shall we³ risk defeat ? Shall4 Swegn of Norway roam until the end The desperate snows and forest5 si

SCENE III     Cleopatra's antechamber in the palace. Cleopatra seated, Rodogune. CLEOPATRA It is their horsehooves ride into my heart. It shall be done. What have I any more To do with hatred ? Parthian Rodogune, Have you forgotten now your former pomps And princely thoughts in high Persepolis, Or do your dreams still linger near a throne ? RODOGUNE I think all fallen beings needs must keep Some dream out of their happier past, — or else How hard it would be to live! CLEOPATRA O, if some hope survive In the black midst of care, however small, We can live, then only, O t

Act Two   A room in Eric's house. SCENE I     Hertha, Aslaug. HERTHA See what a keen and fatal glint it has, Aslaug. ASLAUG Hast thou been haunted by a look, O Hertha, has a touch bewildered thee, Compelling memory ? HERTHA Then the gods too work. ASLAUG A marble statue gloriously designed Without that breath our cunning maker gives, One feels it pain to break. This statue breathes! Out of these eyes there looks an intellect That claims us all; this marble holds a heart, The heart holds love. To break it all, to lay This glory of God's m

SCENE IV     The tower-room beside the terrace. Vuthsa on a couch. VUTHSA All that I dreamed or heard of her, her charm Exceeds. She's mine! she has shuddered at my touch; Thrice her eyes faltered as they gazed in mine.                                                 He lies back with closed eyes;                                Munjoolica enters and contemplates him. MUNJOOLICA O golden Love! thou art not of this earth. He too is Vasavadutta's! All is hers, As I am now and one day all the earth. Vuthsa, thou sleep'st not, then. VUTHSA Sleep jealous waits Finding another i

                             

SCENE II   ASLAUG The world has changed for me within one night. O surely, surely all shall yet go well, Since Love is crowned. ERIC (entering)                                Aslaug, the hour arrives When I must leave thee. For the dawn looks pale Into our chamber and these first rare sounds Expect the arising sun, the daylight world. ASLAUG Eric, thou goest hence to war with Swegn, My brother ? ERIC                     What thinks thy heart? ASLAUG                                                         That Swegn shall live. ERIC Thou know'

  SCENE III     Eric, Aslaug. ERIC Come hither. ASLAUG Thou hast sent for me ? ERIC                                    Come hither. Who art thou? ASLAUG What thou knowest. ERIC                                    Do I know? ASLAUG (to herself) Does he suspect? (aloud) I am a dancing-girl, My name is Aslaug. That thou knowest. ERIC                                  Where Did Odin forge thy sweet imperious eyes, Thy noble stature and thy lofty look? Thou dancest, — yes; thou hast the art, and song, Th

Act Five SCENE I     A room in Vasavadutta's apartments. Vasavadutta, Munjoolica. VASAVADUTTA So thou hast dared to come. MUNJOOLICA I have. Thou, dare To look me in the eyes! Thou canst not. Then ? VASAVADUTTA Hast thou no fear of punishment at all ? MUNJOOLICA For shutting thee in with heaven ? none, none at all. VASAVADUTTA How didst thou dare? MUNJOOLICA How didst thou dare, proud girl, To make of kings and princesses thy slaves ? How dare to drag Sourashtra's daughter here, To keep her as thy servant and to load With gifts, caresses, chidings and

Act One   Antioch. The palace, a house by the sea.        SCENE I .   The palace in Antioch; Cleopatra's antechamber. Cleone is seated; to her enters Eunice. CLEONE Always he lives! EUNICE No, his disease; not he. For the divinity that sits in man From that afflicted body has withdrawn, — Its pride, its greatness, joy, command, the Power Unnameable that struggles with its world: The husk, the creature only lives. But that husk Has a heart, a mind and all accustomed wants, And having these must be, — O, it is pitiful, — Stripped of all real homage, forced to see That none but Death desires him