Chapter 6Scene 2

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

Eric Of Norway entertained, to whom a child I was delivered. Song and dance were hers; I made them mine. 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.

Act II, Scene 2 HERTHA Thou art mistaken, King. He cannot conquer and he will not yield, But weakens Norway. This in him I blame. 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 thinkst 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 ERIC Speak plainly now. 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

Act II, Scene 2 Thou knowst not of, wilt thou reject my price, Confusing different debts in one account? 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 Sigualdson, 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 ERIC And Swegn? 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.

Act II, Scene 2 ERIC Thou hast done? Let me consign thee to thy prison then. 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 thoughts! 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?

Eric HERTHA This face and noble bearing cannot lie. I am content and feel as safe with thee As in my husband’s keeping. 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 helpst me even as Thor and Odin did. I make my Norway one.