Prologue

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Prologue

(SCENE.--A large gothic hall, brilliantly illuminated, in which a
masked ball is taking place. At the rise of the curtain a ballet is
being performed in the centre of the hall. Masked dancers are
grouped around, watching it. Two of them, women, are conversing on
the right of the stage.)

FIRST MASK . Have you heard that the King is to be here to-night?

SECOND MASK . Yes, and since I heard it I have been imagining I
saw him everywhere.

FIRST MASK (pointing). That is not he, is it?

SECOND MASK . He is taller than that.

FIRST MASK . That one, then? Look, that one!

SECOND MASK . That one has spoken to me. He has too old a voice.

FIRST MASK . Shall we see if we can find him?

SECOND MASK . Yes, come along!

(A number of girls, wearing similar costumes and all masked,
have meanwhile collected on the left side of the stage.)

FIRST GIRL . Are we all here?

SECOND GIRL . All but Matilde.

MATILDE . Here I am! Have you heard that the King is to be here?

ALL. Really?

MATILDE . I don't know how he is dressed; but one of the masters
of the ceremonies told me he was to be here.

Several of the Girls. The dear King! (Two masked dancers, dressed
as Cats, pass by.)

TOM CAT . Do you hear that, my pet?

PUSS . Miau!

MATILDE . Let us try and discover him.

ALL. Yes, yes!

A MASK. And when we have discovered him--?

MATILDE . Let us all dance round him!

ALL. Yes!

TOM CAT (to Puss). You had better look after your virtue, Miss!

PUSS . Miau!

TOM CAT . Miau! (They pass out of sight.)

MATILDE . Remember that we are all to meet here in a quarter of an
hour!

ALL. Yes! (They disperse. The ballet comes to a close amidst
universal applause. Conversation among the dancers becomes general
and animated. The BARONESS MARC, disguised as an Old Woman, comes
forward, talking to another mask dressed as a Donkey.)

BARONESS. I will never forgive you for that, my lord chamberlain.

THE DONKEY . But you frighten me clean out of my part, Baroness!

BARONESS. If only I could understand how it happened!

THE DONKEY . After all, my dear Baroness, you cannot be expected to
take out all your schoolmistresses and their senior pupils on a
leash!

BARONESS. No, but I have particular reasons for wishing to look
closely after _her_. (All this time she has been persistently
looking round the room.) And in such a whirling crowd as this--

THE DONKEY . Let us lose ourselves in it, then! (He brays as they
go out. The PRINCESS, masked and dressed in a costume of the time
of Louis XV., comes forward accompanied by a Cavalier in a costume
of the same period.)

PRINCESS (continuing a discussion). And I say that if a king has
such graces of mind and person as ours has, he may do anything he
pleases.

CAVALIER . _Anything_, Princess?

PRINCESS. Anything that his mind prompts, provided that he do it
beautifully. (A GENTLEMAN-IN-WAITING, dressed in a costume of the
same period, approaches them.)

Gentleman-in-Waiting. I cannot discover him, your Royal Highness!

PRINCESS. But he is here. He is _here_. And for a lady's sake. I am
certain I am right.

CAVALIER . But I asked one of the masters of the ceremonies, and
he knew nothing about it.

PRINCESS. Then it must have been one that has not been let into
the secret.

CAVALIER . But, your Royal Highness--

PRINCESS. Don't keep calling me "your Royal Highness," but get
me a description of the costume he is wearing. (The GENTLEMAN-
IN-WAITING bows and goes away.) And you and I will go on hunting--

CAVALIER . --for the noble huntsman--

PRINCESS. --who is being hunted himself! (Moves away, but stops
suddenly.) Who is that? (CLARA ERNST, masked and in peasant
costume, comes forward followed by a masked figure wearing a
domino. He is whispering to her over her shoulder. She keeps
glancing about, as if looking for some one.)

THE DOMINO . --and there, in the enchanted castle, buried deep in
the wooded park--

CLARA. Let me alone!

THE DOMINO . --there we shall be greeted by a babbling fountain of
water--a nymph, holding the cup of joy high above her head--

CLARA (anxiously). What can have become of her?

(Meanwhile one of the masked dancers has been following them,
and now turns back to join others.)

A MASKED DANCER (pointing to the DOMINO). That is the King!

ANOTHER (quickly). But who is _she_?

THE DOMINO . --on both sides, shady alleys leading to the doors of a
secret retreat; and there--

CLARA (turning round). I despise you! (The dancing and music
suddenly stop. General consternation.)

BARONESS (starting forward as she hears CLARA voice.) Clara!

THE DOMINO (taking CLARA's hand and leading her apart from the
others). Do you know who it is that you despise?

CLARA (greatly agitated). Yes, I know who you are!--and that is
why, from the bottom of my heart, I despise you! (The music
begins afresh, covering the general consternation that has spread
among the dancers. The BARONESS comes forward with a cry of
"Clara!" CLARA bursts into tears and throws herself into her arms.
Curtain.)

Content of Prologue [Bjornstjerne Bjornson's play/drama: The King]

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