Chapter 6Scene 2

Eric, Hertha.

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.

Yet speak.

HERTHA A Trondhjem peasant and a serving-girl Were parents to me.

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?

Who nurtured thee?

HERTHA A dancing-girl of Gothberg by a lord Of Norway entertained, to whom a child I was delivered. Song and dance were hers; I made them mine.

Their names? the thrall? the lord?

HERTHA Olaf of Norway, earl of Trondhjem then, And Thiordis whom he loved.

Thou knowest Swegn, The rebel?

HERTHA

Yes, I know.

And lov’st perhaps?

HERTHA Myself much better.

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.

Ah, thou lov’st! Thou wilt not blame.

HERTHA

Thou art mistaken, King. He cannot conquer and he will not yield, But weakens Norway. This in him I blame.

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.

Some thought Like that I had.

HERTHA

King Eric, wilt thou hear?

I much desire it, if I hear the truth.

HERTHA Betray me not to Aslaug then.

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?

Speak plainly now.

HERTHA If I can show thee how to conquer Swegn Without one stroke of battle, wilt thou grant My bitter need?

I would give much.

HERTHA

Wilt thou?

If so I conquer him and thy desire Is something I can grant without a hurt To Norway or myself.

HERTHA

It is.

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?

More? On like conditions, then.

HERTHA If I yield up great enemies to thy hands Thou knowst not of, wilt thou reject my price, Confusing different debts in one account?

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?

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.

Speak.

HERTHA

Thy enemies are here, No dancing-girls, but Hertha, wife of Swegn, And Aslaug, child of Olaf Sigualdson, His sister.

It is well.

HERTHA

The danger lies In Aslaug’s hand and dagger which she means To strike into thy heart. Tonight she strikes.

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.

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.

They are thine.

HERTHA

And Aslaug’s life And pardon, not her liberty.

They are given.

HERTHA And, last, forgiveness for myself, O King, My treason and my plots.

This too I grant.

HERTHA I have nothing left to ask for.

Thou hast done? Let me consign thee to thy prison then.

HERTHA My prison! Wilt thou send me not to Swegn?

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.

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.

Thou art content?

HERTHA This face and noble bearing cannot lie. I am content and feel as safe with thee As in my husband’s keeping.

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.

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.