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ACT III: SCENE I
(SCENE. An open place in the town. It is evening, and the square is
badly lit. On the right is the club, a large building, standing
alone; lights are shining from all its windows. Steps lead from the
door, above which is a balcony. The square is full of people. In
the background, standing on the lowest step of the pedestal of an
equestrian statue, is a BALLAD SINGER, singing to the accompaniment
of his guitar. Cigars, oranges, and other wares are being sold by
hawkers. The singer's voice is heard before the curtain rises. The
crowd gradually joins him in the refrain which he repeats after
each verse of his ballad.)
The Ballad Singer (sings).
The Princeling begged and begged and begged
Her love, on bended knee.
The Maid said craftily, "Nay, nay,
I doubt your high degree!"
Refrain.
She knew the might, the might, the might
Of love's distracting hour;
How royalty, with all its pomp,
Will curtsey to its power.
The Princeling said: "Consent, my dear,
And you shall marry me."
The Maiden answered mockingly,
"Over the left, maybe!"
"Nay, as my Queen, enchanting maid,
And that this very day!"
The Maiden answered him, "Gadzooks!"
And fainted right away.
Recovering, she sighed, "My Lord,
Princesses will be wroth;
On every side they sit and wait
To plight to you their troth."
He answered, "Bosh!"--"But what of those
Who counselled you before?"
"Whom do you mean?"--"Your ministers!"
"I'll show them to the door!"
"But think, my dear--your generals,
Your nobles, court, and priest;
They'll try to drag you from my side
Or shun us as the pest."
"Nay, be not feared! I'll make you more
By dozens at a word,
Who'll bow and grovel if they be
To rank and place preferred."
"But think of the republicans!
My father!--what if he--?"
"The cock that crows the loudest, then,
Prime minister shall be!"
"Suppose the people stoutly swear
They'll none of me?"--"Nay, nay,
An order here, a title there,
And all will homage pay."
"Then I am yours!"--"Hurrah!" He holds
Her tight his arms between;
"Nay, not so fast, my kingly love!
Not till I am your Queen!"
She knew the might, the might, the might
Of love's distracting hour;
How royalty, with all its pomp,
Will curtsey to its power.
AN OLD GENTLEMAN(to another). What is going on here?
SECOND OLD GENTLEMAN . I don't know. I have only just come.
A WORKMAN . Why, the King is coming past here with her!
FIRST OLD GENTLEMAN . Coming past here with her? To hold a court
at the palace?
THE WORKMAN . Yes.
SECOND OLD GENTLEMAN (taking a pinch of snuff). And I suppose those
fellows in the club mean to make a demonstration?--hiss them, or
something of that sort?
THE WORKMAN . So they say.
FIRST OLD GENTLEMAN . Have they decided not to attend the court
then?
THE DANDY . Unanimously decided.
A WOMAN. It's filthy!
THE DANDY . I beg your pardon?
THE WOMAN . I say that those fellows in there will condescend to
seduce our daughters, right enough; but they won't condescend to
marry them. But, you see, the King does.
THE WORKMAN . I am not sure it wouldn't be better if he didn't.
THE WOMAN . Well, I know people who say that she is quite a
respectable person.
THE DANDY . I imagine that you have not read the newspapers?
FIRST OLD GENTLEMAN . Hm!--one has to be a little careful as to how
far one believes the newspapers.
SECOND OLD GENTLEMAN (offering him his snuff-box). I am delighted
to hear you say that! There is such a lot of slander flying about.
That bawdy ballad just now; for instance.
THE WOMAN . Yes, that's poking fun at _him_--I know that.
THE DANDY . You had better take care what you are saying, my good
woman!
THE WOMAN . Ah, I only say what I know.
(FLINK appears on the steps of the statue beside the BALLAD
SINGER.)
FLINK. Stop your stupid songs! I want to speak!
VOICE in the Crowd. Who is that?
FLINK. You don't know me. I have never made public speeches--and
least of all to street mobs.
VOICE in the Crowd. Why are you doing it now, then?
FLINK. Because I have been charged with a message to you! (The
members of the club rush to the windows and on to the balcony
and steps. Uproar.)
VOICE in the Crowd. Be quiet! Let us hear him!
FLINK. Listen to me, good people! You don't know me. But you used
to know a tall chap, with long white hair and a big hat, who often
made speeches to you. I mean Professor Ernst.
VOICE in the Crowd. Three cheers for Professor Ernst. (Cheers.)
FLINK. He was sent to prison, as you know, for high treason;
escaped from prison, but broke his legs. Now he is living in exile,
hopelessly crippled.
VOICE in the Crowd. He got a pardon.
ANOTHER. No one knows where he is.
FLINK. I know where he is. He has charged me to deliver a message
to you to-day.
VOICES from the Club. Bravo!
VOICES from the Crowd. Has he! Bravo, Ernst!
VOICES from the Club. Be quiet, down there!
FLINK. He made me promise that, on the day on which his daughter
was to be presented at the palace as the King's betrothed, I would
stand up in some public place where she would pass by, and say that
it was being done against her father's will and in spite of his
urgent entreaties and commands. (Loud cries of "Bravo!" from the
club. A voice in the crowd: "That is just what we thought!") I am
charged to announce publicly that he despises her for it and sends
her his curse! (Fresh cries of "Bravo!" from the club. Voices in
the crowd: "That's shocking!"--"No, he was quite right;" etc., etc.
Uproar.) Quiet, good people!
A Young Man in the Crowd. May I be allowed to ask a question?
(Shouts of "Yes!" and "No!" and laughter are heard.)
FLINK. By all means.
The Young Man. Did not Professor Ernst himself advocate a king's
doing just what our King has done?
VOICES in the Crowd. Hear, hear!
FLINK. Yes, and in return was thrown into prison and is now an
incurable cripple. No one has been more cruelly treated by the
King's hirelings. And now here is his daughter willing to become
Queen!
COUNT PLATEN (from the club balcony). I don't see why you want to
blame her! No; what I say is, that it is our dissolute King's fault
altogether! (Renewed uproar. Cries of: "Turn him out!" from the
club.)
FLINK. I had something more to say about those who--. But make
those fellows at the club be quiet first.
A Voice. They are fighting over there! (Laughter. Wild uproar is
heard from the club, amidst which COUNT PLATEN'S voice is heard
shouting: "Let me be! Let me alone!"--and other voices: "Don't let
him go out!"--"He is drunk!" Eventually COUNT PLATEN comes out on
to the steps, hatless and dishevelled.)
COUNT PLATEN . I'm going to make a speech to you! I am better than
that crew in there! (Cries of "Bravo!") What I say is, that the
King is coming past here directly with a woman. (Applause, and
laughter. Every one crowds towards him. The police try to pull him
down. A free fight ensues.) Hiss them when they come! (Cries of
"Throw him down!"--"Bravo!"--"Hurrah!") I, Count Platen, tell you
to do so! Hiss him, howl at him, make a regular hullabaloo when he
comes! I, Count Platen, tell you to! (Cries of "Three cheers for
Count Platen!" are mingled with cries of "Three cheers for the
King!" There is a general tumult. COUNT PLATEN is hustled up and
down the steps, and tries to go on making his speech every time he
comes up.) He is defiling the throne!--He wants to marry a
traitor's daughter! Shame! I, Count Platen, say so! Here I stand--!
(A trumpet-call is heard; then cries of "Here is the King!"--"No,
it's the cavalry!"--"The cavalry are coming!"--"Clear the square!"
A shot is heard, followed by a scream; the people take to their
heels as another trumpet-call is heard. Curtain.)
Content of ACT III: SCENE I [Bjornstjerne Bjornson's play/drama: The King]
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