University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

—Ina's Tent.
A Recess in the centre, with a curtain drawn before it.
Enter Guthrum, Edith, and Oscar.
Guth.
What say the priests?

Osc.
You may not spare his life!
Your oath to Odin must be kept, unless
His country he forswears, and serves the God—
Conditions which he spurns. Would, else, the tide
Of your great nation's prosperous fortune ebb
To an eternal drought! Among the ranks
They run, thy oath reiterating, and, with words
Ambiguous, starting fears, you may retract,
And curse your people!

Guth.
Let their altar reek!
Blood rain upon them till it drown them! Leave
The tent!

Osc.
Shall they prepare to sacrifice?

Guth.
Tell them, if for command of mine they wait,
I will not give it!—No! not for their god!
She speaks not?

[Oscar goes out.
Edith.
Nay, my lord, at times a word;
But none that leads to certain inference.

Guth.
Has she not slept?

Edith.
Nought but unnatural sleep—
Rest that might pass for wakefulness—that scarce
Doth shut the lid—which weariness itself
Beholding, ere 'twould taste, would watch; it seems
So far from sweet! All listlessness without,
While all within's astir!

Guth.
I will not see her.

Edith.
My lord?

Guth.
I did not speak; or if I did,
'Twas not to thee! I thought myself a father!
I thought as never father loved his child
I loved my Ina! 'Twas my pride to show it;
Yea, even when she ruled me like a child!
I used to think that of my fiercest mood
She was the mistress, from my wildest flight
Could call me down, but lit my eye upon her,
As the loved lure the falcon!—and I've kill'd her!
I'm not a father!—No, I never loved her
But as a child, a toy! Come, show her to me!
Undraw the curtain! He that makes a corse
Of what he loves, may sure be flint enough
To look upon't.
[Edith undraws the curtain, and Ina is discovered sitting in a state of fixed abstraction. Edith raises her, and leads her forward to a couch, Ina moving as if it were mechanically.
Leave us to ourselves.
[Edith goes out.
Why, 'tis enough to make the sickly heart
Break out in laughter, when the very work
Our eyes could weep them tearless at, our hands
May boast the making of!
[Approaches, and sits down beside her.
My Ina! Ina!—
My child! you'll speak to me?—What, are you ill?
How feel you?—You look well!—There, my own girl,
Lie in your father's bosom!—Speak to him!
What say'st thou, Sweet?—Wast not about to speak?
Thou wast. Go on, go on!—Speak to me—Ina;
Or I'll go mad!—Dost hear?—On my knees,
I pray you speak to me!—Now, this is wilful!
Away!—You but dissemble!—'Tis put on!—
For shame, for shame! You've seen my eyes in tears!
You've seen my knees upon the ground!—You know
It is your father—your old father, and
You'll not speak to him!—Think you he can't see?
Why, any one could do't! To fix the eye
And keep the visage motionless, and sit
As you were riveted to your seat! A child
Were scant of wit that lack'd such obvious power—
Of simulation! I renounce you, Ina!—
[Going.
Will you not speak to me, my child? Speak to me!
[Returns.
A word—a whisper—anything!—a sign—
To show me that you are not worse than dead—
Alive, and just the same! I can be rash!
I can give way to fury!—I will try
If life be in thy heart!
[Draws his dagger, and rushes up to her.
I'd scare a stone!

[Wild discordant music is heard without. Ina starts up and clasps her hands.
Guth.
Ha!

Ina.
There it is!

Guth.
She speaks!—She is alive!

Ina.
I've listen'd for't
So long, I fear'd 'twould never come!

Guth.
What, Ina?

[Music again.
Ina.
Again!

Guth.
Do they prepare to lead him forth;
The sacrifice will presently begin!
They make a pretext of their god to mock
My power!

Ina.
He's ready!—Let me go to him!

Guth.
To whom? Thy lover?

Ina.
I should like to get
My father's blessing first!

Guth.
Thou hast it, Ina!

Ina.
I know I have. Who says he does not love me?
I'd not believe it, though he were to kill me!
He'd do't in madness, and he'd kill himself
When he had found he had done it! Bless his Ina?
He always blesses me!—at morning when
He sees me first, and then, again, at night!
Yea, ofttimes through the day! He'd bless me, though
I broke his heart; and I'll bless him, although
He has broken mine!

Guth.
She knows me not!

Ina.
We'll wed
As never lovers did. We'll have our nuptials
Of a new fashion. Who'd be bid to them,
Let him bring tears with him, he's welcome—such
As gush with sobs! We'll have no smiles at them!
The meanest churl gets handfuls when he weds!
Nor songs! such minstrelsy a beggar buys
For thanks! No, give us shrieks! and laughter! but
Such laughter as it withers joy to hear!—
As breaketh from the heart of madness!—as
Resounds from lips that wish their owners dead!

Guth.
What mean those words, my child?

Ina.
I'll wed him as
Ne'er wedded maid, to let him never from
My side; but dwell in such entrancement with him,
The day for us may go without his sun,
And night without her cloud! all converse cease,
Of tongue or eye; that not ourselves shall break
The silence sweet of our deep ecstasy.

Guth.
Perception's all within; without is none.
Passion hath drunk up sense! I feel a touch
Of her condition while I look upon her—
Go mad! You had a daughter yesterday—
Brag of her now! Point to her cheek, and ask
If ever grew such smiles as blossom there!
And bid the ear that listens to her, note
The sweetness that it feasts on! [Music.]
Hark! thou'rt call'd!
What! not go through the task thou hast begun
So bravely? Slay thy child, and finish it!

[Rushes out.
Ina
[alone].
They'd thwart a maid in her first love, they would?
They think it easy, but they'll find it hard!
When first I thought I should become a bride,
Wondering how I would deck me, I ran through
The ranks of fairest flowers to pick me one
To set it in my bosom; and I remember
It was a rose I pitch'd on—There's my rose!
[Draws a dagger, and returns it to her bosom.
[Music.]
The rites begin,—Let me steal after them,
And watch the time! I'm coming to thee, Oswith!
I'll show thee how a Danish maid can love!

[Goes out.