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FROM AXEL AND VALBORG›

Axel enters with King Hakon, who is wounded in the right arm.

XEL

Hakon

Axel

- Here are we safe awhile, my lord and king!
Here in God's holy house. Come, sit you down,
And let me bind for you your wounded arm;
A warrior ought to know the art of healing;
One has not always help at hand. The wound
Is deep, but yet not dangerous. Now, had we
A piece of linen only!

This your kindness

Wounds me more deep than Erling Skakke's sword.
Be thou not wounded by my faithfulness,-

Far other was its purpose.

[He feels in his bosom, draws out a cloth, and starts; but instantly composes himself, and says:—]

Here is linen.

Axel, why startest thou? Almighty God!

I know that cloth too well.

Nay, calm yourself.
And with this cloth you wish to bind my arm?
So that you may not die from loss of blood.
You wish to bind it with this very cloth
Wherewith I rent your life in twain?

It is another cloth.

My lord!

Nay, nay! It is

Axel

The very cloth which that malicious Knud

Cut with my sword 'twixt you and Valborg, Axel!

I know it. Oh, swathe not my arm with this:
It burns me — - tortures me with double pain.
Nay, it is natural a wound should burn,
And bandaging a sore is always painful.
Be calm, and rest yourself a moment, King!
Then in your left hand take your sword, and come
Once more with Axel 'gainst your haughty foe:
The presence of their king supports his people,
And I will serve instead of your right hand.

Hakon Is it contempt,- a lurking, proud revenge?
Or is it natural high-mindedness?

How shall I understand you, Axel? Think you
To heap up coals of fire on Hakon's head?

Hakon

By God and man! I will be true to you;

I will not harm you; I will ne'er forsake you.
This generosity but hurts me more.

O most unhappy Hakon Herdebred!

Thy bravest warrior despises thee.

By God in heaven, and by my Valborg, Hakon!
I do respect you.

I believe you, kinsman:

That was a solemn oath, well is it so;

For Hakon acted like an ardent lover

Upon the throne - not like a coward, Axel!

Axel Who feels the power of love, and does not know Its mighty workings?

Hakon

Now your words are drawn
Out of my very heart, my gallant hero;
Your faithfulness and kindness move me so.
[With sudden wildness]-

And yet, did I perceive that you believed
This were but woman's weakness, only caused

By this my pain of body, Axel Thordson,

With my left hand I would draw forth my sword,
And challenge you to fight for life and death.
Axel I swore by Valborg that I do respect you.
Hakon-You swear it. Then you shall esteem me too;
For I will make to you a sacrifice.

The sacrifice is great; - 'tis needful, Axel,
That you should know its costliness!

My King!

Axel-
Hakon I well know what I hazard by the offer
Of such a gift at such a time as this:
"Now has the proud and foolish youth at last
Opened his eyes; and now he can perceive
How his throne stands in need of brave defense.
Now does he need his warriors' faithfulness;
And therefore does he purchase friend with maid,
In the despair and anguish of his heart."

Axel

Ha,

-I would hate you, Axel! I would call you A cold and cruel and barbarian foe,

If you could dream of such a motive.

Sire!

Hakon-For Valborg loses Hakon Norway's realm,
But Valborg-loses he for Valborg's sake.
Think of the value of my gift! Gives one
The greater for the less, to satisfy
One's selfishness?

Axel

O Hakon! noble kinsman!

Hakon - Yes, I have blindly erred, and your pure soul,
Your noble mind, have opened now mine eyes;
And of free-will, because I wish the good,

Do I subdue the passion of my breast,

And give you back your Valborg-give you back
That which to me is dearest in the world.
Misjudge me not,-oh, see my sacrifice!
Axel I see it, and God sees it, noble King!
Hakon- And now embrace me!

Axel

Hold your wounded arm!

Hakon - The wound no longer burns: this linen cloth
Hurts me no more; it cools me, like the juice
Of healing herbs fresh gathered.

Axel-
Hakon And now let Erling overcome me.
Has overcome himself: his victory
Is greatest.

Axel

O my King!

Hakon

But it shall not be the last:
The other victory must now be gained.

[Noise is heard outside the church.]

Be calm, my King! Rest yet a moment longer!
Your golden helm is heavy, and your head
Needs some relief; give me your helmet.

Take mine instead; it is a lighter one.

Here

[The noise increases; Axel throws the King's purple mantle, which has been unloosed during the bandaging, over his own shoulders.]

Hakon-What do you, Axel?

Axel

Nay, be still, my lord!
I hear men coming-possibly our foes:
Let Axel be a shield to you!

Hakon

Axel

[A troop of the enemy rushes in.]

There stands he!

There stands he! See you? with the golden helmet
And purple robe. It is the King. Rush in
Rush in on him, and cut him down!

O Axel!
Now do I understand your strange behavior.
Give me my helmet back!

Nay, draw your sword;
Place yourself so that your right arm may be

Protected by my body. When you see

An opening, strike- and then draw back again.
[He cries]-

Come on, ye paltry wretches! Here stands Hakon.
His sword is drawn, you see; he does not fear
Your coward onslaught in the house of God.
Come on, ye murderers! who do not dare
To stand up man 'gainst man in honest fight,
But think to win base gold by Hakon's murder.
My fiery lion's-tongue is gleaming bright;
Come, let it slake its thirst in traitors' blood!

Hakon [drawing his sword]

Axel

He would befool you! Here stands Norway's chief,
And with his left hand will he punish you.

Peace, Axel Thordson! you are wounded. Hakon
Can well defend himself.

The Enemy

Down with him! down!

[A fight. Noise is heard outside, of other warriors; there is a cry-]

To help! to help! the King has been attacked.

The Hostile Warrior [to Axel]

Aha! help comes too late!

[He wounds him.

Haste! flee away.

Hakon is slain! Come on, and cut your way

To Erling through the Biarkebeiners' ranks.
Hakon is slain; — away!

Sigurd of Reine and Wilhelm rush in with a number of Biarkebeiners

What! Axel in the royal robe and helmet?
All bleeding, too?

Axel [to the King]—

Now take your helm again!

It is too heavy now for me. Go, Sire!

And leave me with my comrade here alone.

My brother! is your wound —

Nay, leave me, King!

Charge boldly on the foe; revenge this treachery;
Follow with Sigurd and his bark-clad warriors!

Sigurd - Yes, Hakon! even Norway's forests

Have armed themselves to fight for Throndhjem's lord.
Look at these warriors! Gotha-dwellers! Bears!

Stems of the forest pines, all gathered here
From many a mountain ridge. For want of armor,
This rugged bark protects their gallant hearts.
These stems of alder, with their sharpened points
Hardened by fire, supply the place of spears.

In such wise fight they for their humble hearths,
And the king's honor. Head thou them, my lord,
And by a storm avenge we Axel's slaying.
You die a noble death, my Northern brother!
Fallen for your King. We, too, shall follow you
Ere long, perhaps, and greet you before God.
Come, Hakon! Leave him with his friend alone!
Come on! Life calls for strife, but Death for peace.

Hakon [to his warriors-pointing at Axel]

Ye Norsemen! for the King he gave his life.

The Biar kebeiners [impatiently striking their wooden spears against the ground]

We, we will also give our lives for thee!

Lead us to death! Lead us against the foe!

Hakon [embracing Axel]—

Farewell! ere sunset we shall meet again.

Wilhelm [approaching Axel]

Axel

Wilhelm

Axel

[He follows the warriors.

My brother! is your wound a mortal one?
Yes, Wilhelm. Loose my shoulder scarf, I pray you!
Draw out the scabbard, and give me the scarf,
That I may stanch the blood a little while,
And respite life. Thanks! Lead me over now
To yonder pillar that bears Valborg's name;
Here shall I rest more easily. So! Let me lean
Against the wall, so that I may not fall
In dying.

Brother, do you suffer pain?

No! Light and calm and peaceful is my heart. Wilhelm Axel, would you not wish to see your Valborg

Axel

Axel

Once more before you die?

Ah, Wilhelm, yes! Wilhelm- Then will I hasten up and fetch her straightway. Stay yet a moment! It might happen, Wilhelm, That Axel were no more when Valborg comes. Then tell the chosen of my heart I died

With Valborg's name upon my lips.