Windrank. Yes, of course! The father and liberator of his country!
Of course, he"s an oppressor, but that"s no reason why he should be murdered.
Christine. When is it going to happen?
Windrank. Why, to-morrow--in Greatchurch--right in church! [At a signal from Christine, the Harlot leaves.]
Christine. How could they pick you for such a deed?
Windrank. Well, you see, I gave a connection or two among the church attendants, and then I am poor, of course. What the devil does it matter who puts the match to the powder, if only some shrewd fellow is pointing the gun? And then we have several other little schemes in reserve, although I"m to fire the first shot. But why don"t you run off and tell about it?
Christine. It has already been done.
Windrank. Well, G.o.d be thanked and praised! Goodbye, there goes all my money!
Christine. Tell me who you are, you conspirators.
Windrank. No, that I won"t tell!
[Enter Nils. He crosses the stage followed by a troop of soldiers and a crowd of people.]
Christine. Do you see that they are already looking for you?
Windrank. I wash my hands of it.
Nils (goes up to Windrank without noticing Christine). Have you seen Olof Pedersson?
Windrank. Why?
Nils. Because he is wanted.
Windrank. No, I haven"t seen him. Are there others wanted?
Nils. Yes, many.
Windrank. No, I haven"t seen any of them.
Nils. Well, it will soon be your turn. [Exit.]
Christine. Are they looking for the conspirators?
Windrank. What a question! Now I"m going to clear out. Good-bye!
Christine. Tell me before you go--
Windrank. Haven"t time!
Christine. Is Master Olof one of them?
Windrank. Of course! (Christine sinks down unconscious on one of the graves. Windrank is suddenly sobered and genuinely moved.) Good Lord in heaven, it must be his wife! (He goes to Christine.) I think I"ve killed her! Oh, Hans, Hans, all you can do now is to get a rope for yourself! What business did you have to get mixed up with the high and mighty?--Come here, somebody, and help a poor woman!
[Enter Olof, led by soldiers carrying torches as he catches sight of Christine, he tears himself loose and throws himself on his knees beside her.]
Olof. Christine!
Christine. Olof! You"re alive! Come away from here and let us go home!
Olof (overwhelmed). It"s too late!
SCENE 2
(Within Greatchurch. Olof and Gert, dressed as penitents, stand in the pillory near the entrance. The organ is playing and the bells are ringing. The service is just ended, and the people are leaving the church. The s.e.xton and his wife are standing by themselves in a corner near the footlights.)
s.e.xton. Lars the Chancellor, he was pardoned, but not Master Olof.
Wife. The Chancellor has always been a man of peace and has never stirred up any trouble, so I can"t understand how he could want to have anything to do with such dreadful things.
s.e.xton. The Chancellor has always had a queer streak, although he has never said much, and though he was pardoned, it cost him everything he had. I can"t help being sorry for Master Olof; I have always had a liking for him, even though he has been a fire-brand.
Wife. Well, what"s the use of making a young fellow like that pastor?
s.e.xton. Of course, he"s rather young, and that has been his main fault, but I"m sure time will cure it.
Wife. What nonsense you are talking, seeing that he"s going to die to-day.
s.e.xton. Well, Lord, Lord, if I hadn"t clean forgotten about it! But then it doesn"t seem quite right to me, either.
Wife. Do you know if he has repented?
s.e.xton. I doubt very much, for I am sure his neck is just as stiff as ever.
Wife. But I suppose he"ll thaw out a little now, when he sees his cla.s.s of children whom they wouldn"t let him prepare for confirmation.
s.e.xton. Well, I must say that the King can be pretty mean when he turns that side to. Now he is making the pastor do church penance the very same day his children are being confirmed. It"s almost as bad as when he made the dean drink with the headsman, or when he sent those two prelates riding through the city with crowns of birch bark on their heads.
Wife. And his own brother Lars has been sent to shrive him.
s.e.xton. See, here come the children! How sad they"re looking--well, I don"t wonder. I think I"ll have to go in and have a cry myself--
(Enter the children about to be confirmed, boys and girls. They begin to march past Olof, carrying bunches of flowers in their hands. They look sad and keep their eyes on the ground. A number of older people accompany the children. A few curious persons point out Olof and are rebuked by others. Last of all the children in the procession comes Vilhelm, one of the scholars with whom Olof was seen playing in the First Act. He stops timidly in front of him, kneels, and drops his bunch of flowers at the feet of Olof, who does not notice it because he has pulled down the hood of his penitential robe so that it hides his face.
Some of the people mutter disapprovingly, while others show signs of pleasure. Mrten comes forward to take away the flowers, but is pushed back by the crowd. Soldiers clear a path for Lars Pedersson, who appears in canonicals. The crowd disappears gradually, leaving Lars, Olof, and Gert alone on the stage. The playing of the organ ceases, but the bells continue to toll.)
Lars. Olof, the King has refused to listen to the pet.i.tion for pardon submitted by the City Corporation. Are you prepared to die?
Olof. I am not able to think so far.
Lars. I have been ordered to prepare you.