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ACT I: SCENE II
(SCENE.--A room built in Gothic style, comfortably furnished and
decorated with trophies of the chase. GRAN ushers in the KING and
KOLL.)
GRAN. We can be quite alone here. (ANNA, a deaf and dumb girl of
about fifteen, brings in some bottles of champagne, and, during
the following dialogue, sets out glasses, refreshments, cigars, and
pipes. She is quick and attentive to render the slightest service
required of her; when not employed, she sits on a stool in the
background. She talks to GRAN on her fingers, and receives orders
from him in the same manner.)
THE KING. Ah, this is like old times! I know the setting: "Gothic
room in mediaeval style, decorated with trophies of the chase.
Furnished with an eye to bachelor comfort!" You always had bachelor
habits, you know, even when you were quite a boy. (To KOLL.) We
never called him anything but "the Bachelor" on board ship. He
never had a love affair in all the three years our cruise lasted;
but the rest of us had them in every port we touched at!
KOLL. He is just the same in that respect now.
GRAN (offering the KING some champagne). Allow me!
THE KING. Thanks; I shall be glad of it. (To KOLL.) Your health, my
former tutor! (To GRAN.) And yours! (They drink.) Ah, that has done
me good!--Well now, let me ask you this: isn't it true that, all
through the meeting, you were talking nothing but republicanism,
although you didn't actually mention the word?
KOLL (laughing). You are not far wrong.
THE KING. And you, who in the old days were considered to be too
advanced in your opinions to be retained as my tutor, are now not
considered advanced enough! They nearly--threw you over, didn't
they?
KOLL. Yes! That shows you, if I may say so, the result of
government by a minority.
THE KING. And the result of mixing with such people as our
excellent friend the millionaire here, I suppose?
GRAN. It is always a mistake to lay the blame of public opinion on
individuals.
THE KING. I quite agree with you. And now it is time you knew the
reason of my coming here--in the strictest incognito, as you see.
By the way, I hope no one recognised me?
GRAN and KOLL. Not a soul!
(FLINK comes in.)
FLINK. Ah, here you are! (Comes forward, rubbing his hands
delightedly.) Well, what did you think of the meeting, my boys?
THE KING (aside to GRAN). Who is that?
GRAN (to the KING). We will get rid of him. (To FLINK.) Look here,
old chap--!
FLINK (catching sight of the KING). Oh, I beg your pardon, I
thought we were--
GRAN (obliged to introduce him). Let me introduce Mr.--? Mr.--?
(Looks at the KING inquiringly.)
THE KING. Speranza.
FLINK. An Italian?
THE KING. In name only.
GRAN (completing the introduction). Mr. Flink.
THE KING. Surely not A. B. Flink?
GRAN. Yes.
THE KING (interested). Our peripatetic philosopher? (Shakes hands
with him.) I have read one or two of your books.
FLINK (laughing). Really?
THE KING. Are you meditating another expedition?
FLINK. That's it.
THE KING. And on foot?
FLINK. Always on foot.
THE KING. Upon my word, I don't believe there is a man in the
country that can gauge popular opinion as accurately as you! Let
us sit down and have a chat. Do you drink champagne?
FLINK. Yes--when I can't get anything better!
THE KING (lifting his glass to FLINK). Your health, (They all
drink, and then seat themselves.) What part the country were you in
last?
FLINK. I have just been shooting with our friend here.
THE KING. So he is your friend? He is mine, too! My best friend,
ever since I was a boy. (He stretches out his hand; GRAN gets up
and grasps it in both of his.)
KOLL (to FLINK, who is looking astonished). Mr. Speranza was a
naval cadet at the same time as Gran.
FLINK. Really! Were they on the same ship?
THE KING. Yes, we were on a cruise round the world together--
FLINK. Do you mean the time when the Prince went on account of his
lungs?--the present King, I mean?
THE KING. The Prince that afterwards became King--yes.
FLINK. There is quite a royal flavour about our little gathering,
then! Here is the King's shipmate, and here is his tutor in
jurisprudence--
KOLL. You are forgetting yourself! You are the King's tutor's
tutor, you know--
THE KING. Were you Koll's tutor? Really?
FLINK (with a laugh). Yes, I had that misfortune!
THE KING. You hadn't so great a misfortune in your pupil as he had
in his!
KOLL. The King was a very apt pupil.
FLINK (jestingly). He has shown traces of it in his reign, hasn't
he!
KOLL. Don't speak ill of the King, please.
FLINK (ironically). Heaven forbid! (Takes a pinch of snuff.) I
know all about his talent--his great talent, his genial talent!
(Offers his snuff-box to the KING.)
GRAN. But it was public opinion we were talking about, Flink; is
it very much like what we heard to-day?
FLINK. I wouldn't say that; your opinions are rather advanced in
these parts.
THE KING. Is the tendency republican, rather than monarchical?
FLINK. That depends how you look at it. The King has just been
paying some visits in the country districts; he is, so to speak,
the commercial traveller for his firm--as all kings and crown
princes are. Of course he was cheered everywhere. But go and
ask the agricultural classes if they set great store by the pomp
and circumstance of royalty; they will unanimously answer: "It
costs an infernal lot to keep up!" Ha, ha, ha!
GRAN. Your farmer is a realist.
FLINK. A brutal realist! Ha, ha, ha! Self-government is cheaper.
He has it all at his fingers' ends, the scoundrel!
THE KING. He is not a republican by conviction, then
FLINK. Not universally, no. At least, not _yet_. But things are
moving that way; and our reactionary government is helping the
movement--that, and the letter they get from America.
THE KING. The letters they get from America?
KOLL. Letters from their relations in America.
GRAN. There is scarcely a family in the country now that has not
relations in America.
THE KING. And they write home about self-government?--about
republican principles?
FLINK. And republican institutions. That is the situation!
THE KING. Have you read any of these letters?
FLINK. Lots!
THE KING. This is excellent champagne! (Drinks.)
GRAN. Let me fill your glasses. (They all drink.)
FLINK. It doesn't really agree with me.
THE KING. But suppose the King were to establish democratic
government? Suppose he were to live like an ordinary citizen in
every way?
FLINK. In every way? What do you mean by that?
THE KING. Kept house like an ordinary citizen--were married like
an ordinary citizen--were to be found in his office at regular
hours like any other official?
GRAN. And had no court, I suppose?
THE KING. No. (KOLL and GRAN exchange glances.)
FLINK (shrugging his shoulders). It would be the last sensation
left for him to try.
THE KING (who did not observe his shrug, eagerly). That is so,
isn't it? You agree with me as to that? I am delighted to have had
this talk with you, Mr. Flink.
FLINK. The same to you, Mr.--Mr.--. (In an undertone, to KOLL.) Is
he a republican?
THE KING (who has overheard him). Am I a republican? I have had too
much experience not to be! Ha, ha! (Takes up his glass.) Devilish
good champagne, this!
FLINK (drinking). But, you know, Mr.--Mr. Republican--ha, ha!--
(smiles and whispers)--the King simply would not be allowed to
do what you suggest. Ha, ha!
THE KING. What do you mean?
GRAN (aside to KOLL, who gets up). Are you sure this is right?
KOLL. It will do him good, anyway, to hear all sides.
FLINK (who has got up and gone to the table on the other side to
get a pipe). He simply would not be allowed to, poor chap! What is
monarchy, I ask you? Nothing more or less than an insurance
business in which a whole crew of priests, officials, noblemen,
landed proprietors, merchants and military men hold shares? And,
goodness knows, _they_ are not going to give their director leave
to commit any such folly! Ha, ha, ha!
THE KING (getting up). Ha, ha, ha!
FLINK (vociferously, to him). Don't you think that is true?
THE KING. Good Lord!--perfectly true! Ha, ha ha!
FLINK (who has cleaned and filled a pipe, but forgotten to light
it, going up to the KING). And what do they insure themselves
again, these beauties? (More seriously.) Against the great mass of
the people--against _his_ people! (The KING looks at him and makes
a movement of dislike.)
GRAN. Look here, Flink; suppose we go out into the garden for a
little? These spring evenings are so lovely.
FLINK. Compared to a political talk, the loveliest spring evenings
have no attraction for me--no more than warm water, offered me in
place of fine cooling wine, would have. No, let us stay where we
are. What is the matter with this pipe? (ANNA signs that she will
put it right for him, but he does not understand.)
GRAN. Give her your pipe; she will put it right.
KOLL. What I have always said is that, if the King had an
opportunity of understanding the situation, he would interfere.
FLINK. The King? He doesn't care a brass farthing about the
whole matter! He has something else to do! Ha, ha!
THE KING. Ha, ha, ha!
KOLL. The King is an unusually gifted man; he would not remain
indifferent in the long run.
FLINK. He has so many unusual gifts that have gone to the devil--!
THE KING. Tralalla! Tralalalalala! Tralala! It feels quite odd to
be with you fellows again! (Drinks.)
FLINK (in an undertone, to GRAN). Is he drunk?
THE KING (sitting down). Give me a cigar--! And let us discuss the
matter a little more seriously. (KOLL and GRAN sit down.)
GRAN. As a matter of fact, it is not a thing that can be discussed.
It must be tried. If, one day, the King were to say: "I mean to
live a natural life among my people, and to withdraw my name from
the old-established royal firm, which has lost all its reputation
for honesty"--that day everything else would follow of itself.
FLINK. Yes, that day, I dare say!
GRAN. Remember you are the guest of a man who is a friend of the
King's!
THE KING. Don't play the domestic despot--you who are a republican!
Let us have free discussion!
FLINK. I certainly don't intend to insult the King. He has never
done me any harm. But surely you will allow me to doubt whether he
is really the shining light you make him out to be?
THE KING. That is true enough!
FLINK (eagerly). You agree with me as to that, then?
THE KING. Absolutely! But--leaving him out of the question--suppose
we _had_ a king who made himself independent of others, and, as a
necessary consequence, rose superior to questions of party--?
FLINK (interrupting him). It is a vain supposition, my dear fellow!
A king bound to no party? (Puffs at his pipe.) It wouldn't work!
(Puffs again.) It wouldn't work!--It wouldn't work!--Falsehood is
the foundation of constitutional monarchy. A king superior to
questions of party? Rubbish!
GRAN. It would be expecting something superhuman of him, too.
FLINK. Of course it would!
THE KING. But the president of a republic is even less independent
of party, isn't he?
FLINK (turning to hint). He doesn't make any pretence that he
isn't. Haha! That's the difference! (Comes forward, repeating to
himself.) It is the falsehood that makes the difference.
KOLL. Oh, there are falsehoods enough in republics too,
unfortunately!
FLINK. I know; but they are not old-established institutions! Ha,
ha!
THE KING. That is an idea you have got from Professor Ernst's
writings.
FLINK (eagerly). Have you read them?
THE KING. I have scarcely read anything else for the last few
months. (KOLL and GRAN exchange glances.)
FLINK. Indeed?--Then there is no need for me to say anything more.
KOLL. But, after all this talk, we have got no further. Our friend
(pointing to the KING) wants to know, I think, whether a real,
serious attempt at what one might call "democratic monarchy"
could not reckon on being understood and supported--
THE KING (breaking in, eagerly). Yes, that's just it!
KOLL. --understood and supported by the most enlightened section of
the people, who are weary of falsehood and long for a generous but
secure measure of self-government.
THE KING. That's just it!
FLINK (who was just going to sit down, jumps up again, lays down
his pipe and stands with arms akimbo, as he says:) But what sort of
ridiculous ideas are these? Aren't you republicans, then?
KOLL. I am not.
GRAN. I am; but that does not prevent my being of opinion that the
change of government should be made gradually and gently--
FLINK. That would be treason!
GRAN. Treason!
FLINK. Treason against the truth--against our convictions!
KOLL. Don't let us use big words! Monarchy is strongly rooted in
the existing order of things.
FLINK (with a laugh). In the insurance company!
KOLL. Well, call it so if you like. It _exists_; that is the point.
And, since it exists, we must make it as honest and as serviceable
as we can.
THE KING. Your health, Koll! (Drinks to him.)
FLINK (moving away from them). No true republican would agree with
you.
GRAN. You are wrong there. (FLINK gives a start of surprise.)
THE KING (who has seen FLINK's surprise, gets up). Listen to me!
Suppose we had a king who said: "Either you help me to establish a
democratic monarchy--purged of all traces of absolutism, purged of
falsehood--or else I abdicate--"
FLINK. Bah!
THE KING. I only say, "suppose"! You know quite well that the
cousin of the present king, the heir apparent, is a bigoted--
KOLL (who has been exchanging glances with GRAN while the KING was
speaking, breaks in hurriedly). Don't go on!
THE KING (with a laugh). I won't!--And his mother, who rules him--
FLINK. --is even worse!
THE KING. What would be your choice, then? Would you help the king
to establish a democratic monarchy or--?
FLINK (impetuously). I would ten thousand times rather have the
bigoted prince, with all his own and his mother's follies!--the
madder the better!
GRAN. No, no, no, no!
THE KING (to GRAN and KOLL). We see his true colours now! (Moves
away from them.)
KOLL (to FLINK). That is the way you republicans always ride your
principles to death.
GRAN. Patriotism ought to come before--
FLINK. --before truth? No; a short sharp pang of agony is better
than endless doubt and falsehood, my friend! That is true
patriotism.
KOLL. Oh, these theories!--these phrases!
GRAN. I am a republican as well as you, and, I think, as sincere a
one. But I should have no hesitation--
FLINK. --in playing the traitor?
GRAN. Why do you use such words as that?
FLINK. Words! Do you think it is nothing but words? No, my friend,
if you did what--what I did not allow you to say--I should come
here one day to call you to account. And if you refused to fight
me, I should shoot you like a dog!
GRAN (gently). You would not do that.
FLINK (heatedly). Not do it?--Have I given you the deepest
affection of which my heart is capable, only for you to turn
traitor to it? Am I to see the man whose character is the crowning
achievement of my life, betraying our cause--and, by reason of his
great personal prestige, dragging thousands down with him? On the
head of all the disillusionments I have suffered, am I to have this
one in the evening of my life--? (Stops, overcome by his emotion. A
pause.) You shouldn't jest about such things you know. (Walks away.
ANNA has placed herself in front of GRAN, as if to protect him.)
KOLL. I think we had better change the subject, and go out for a
little!
THE KING (aside, to him). Yes, get him away!
FLINK (in the background, as if he were addressing an invisible
audience). We must have discipline in the ranks!
KOLL. Gran, ask your maid to hurry up with the supper.
GRAN. Yes, I will.
KOLL (to the KING). What do you say to a turn in the garden,
meanwhile?
THE KING. By all means!
FLINK (coming forward to GRAN). This friendship of yours with the
King--to which I had attached no particular importance--I hope it
has not altogether--(Stops short.)
GRAN. --not altogether corrupted me, you mean?
FLINK. Exactly.
THE KING (laughing). Politically?
FLINK. Politics are not unconnected with morals, sir!
THE KING. But why get so heated, sir? We know that the present King
is a--
KOLL (breaking in hurriedly). Don't say any more!
THE KING (with a laugh). You said yourself that he doesn't care a
brass farthing about the whole matter--he has something else to
do! And so the whole thing ends in smoke!
FLINK (more amiably). I dare say you are right.
THE KING. Of course I am. You are all agreed that, under his rule,
republican sentiments are growing in real earnest.
FLINK. You are right! He couldn't help things on better if he were
a republican himself, I assure you!
THE KING. Perhaps he _is_ a republican?
FLINK (animatedly). Perhaps he _is_! Splendid! And works against
his own interests--!
THE KING. A sort of commercial traveller working for the downfall
of his own firm!
FLINK (excitedly). For the downfall of his own firm! Splendid!
Props up his reactionary rule by means of royal pronouncements,
confidential communications, public speeches--
THE KING. --in a suicidal manner!
FLINK. Splendidly suicidal! Ah, that makes you laugh, does it?
KOLL. Hush, some one might hear us!
FLINK. I don't care who hears us! (The KING bursts out laughing.)
But you ought, as one of the King's officials, to stop _his_
laughing! (Points to the KING.) It's shocking!--It's high treason!
KOLL. Listen to me!
FLINK. You ought to arrest him for laughing like that! Suppose the
King--
GRAN. That _is_ the King! (The KING goes on laughing. FLINK looks
from him to the others, and from the others to him.)
THE KING. This is too much for me! (Sits down. FLINK rushes out.)
KOLL. That was very bad of you.
THE KING. I know it was; but forgive me! I couldn't help it! Ha,
ha, ha, ha, ha!
KOLL. For all his queer ways, he is too good a fellow to be made a
fool of.
THE KING. Yes, scold me; I deserve it. But, all the same--ha, ha,
ha, ha!
GRAN. Hush!--he is coming back. (The KING gets up as FLINK comes in
again.)
FLINK. Your Majesty may be assured that I would never have
expressed myself as I did in your Majesty's presence if I had been
fairly treated and told whom I was addressing.
THE KING. I know. The fault is mine alone.
FLINK. The fault is that of others--my so-called friends.
THE KING (earnestly). By no means! It is mine--mine alone. I have
had a scolding for it!--And in your presence I ask my friends'
pardon; I have put them in a false position. And, in the next
place, I ask for your forgiveness. My sense of humour got the
better of me. (Laughs again.)
FLINK. Yes, it was extremely amusing.
THE KING. It really was! And, after all, what have you to complain
of? You had an opportunity of speaking your mind, any way!
FLINK. I certainly did!
THE KING. Very well, then!--And when you wanted to show any
respect, _I_ prevented you. So I think we are quits.
FLINK. No, we are not.
THE KING (impatiently). Indeed?--What do you want from me, then?
FLINK (proudly). Nothing!
THE KING. I beg your pardon! I did not mean to offend you.
FLINK. You have done so to a degree that you are naturally
incapable of appreciating. (Goes out.)
THE KING. This is a nice business! (Laughs. Then notices GRAN, who
is standing at his desk with his back to the KING, and goes up to
him.) You are angry with me.
GRAN (looking up slowly). Yes.
THE KING. Why didn't you stop me?
GRAN. It all happened too quickly. But to think that you could have
the heart to do it--in my own house--to a man who was my father's
oldest friend, and is mine--!
THE KING. Harald! (Puts his arm round his shoulders.) Have I ever
asked you for anything that you have not given me?
GRAN. No.
THE KING. Then I ask you now to admit that you know that, if I
had thought this would hurt you, I would never have done it--not
for worlds! Do you still believe as well of me as that?
GRAN. Yes.
THE KING. Thank you. Then I will admit to you, in return, that for
months past I have lived in a state of horrible tension of mind;
and that is why I jump too easily from one extreme to the other.
So, my friends, you must forgive me! Or finish my scolding some
other time! Because now I must talk to you of the matter which
induced me to come here. You are the only ones I can turn to; so
be good to me!--Shall we sit down again?
KOLL. As you please.
THE KING (moving towards the table). I know you both want to ask
me the same question: why I have never come before now. My answer
is: because I have only now arrived at a clear conception of my own
position. Some months ago some hard words that were used to me lit
a fire in my heart and burnt out a heap of rubbish that had
collected there. (ANNA fills their glasses.) Won't you send that
girl away?
GRAN. She is deaf and dumb.
THE KING. Poor girl! (Sits down.) When I came back from my cruise
round the world, the old king was dead. My father had come to the
throne, and I was crown prince, and I went with my father to the
cathedral to attend a thanksgiving service for my safe return.
GRAN. I was there.
THE KING. The whole thing was a novelty to me, and a solemn one. I
was overcome with emotion. Seeing that, my father whispered to me:
"Come farther forward, my boy! The people must see their future
king praying." That finished it! I was not born to be a king; my
soul was still too unsullied, and I spurned such falsehood with the
deepest loathing. Just think of it!--to come back from three years
at sea, and begin my life in that way--as if perpetually in front
of a mirror! I won't dwell on it. But when my father died and I
became king, I had become so accustomed to the atmosphere of
falsehood I lived in that I no longer recognised truth when I saw
it. The constitution prescribed my religion for me--and naturally I
had none. And it was the same with everything--one thing after
another! What else could you expect? The only tutor I valued--you,
Koll--had been dismissed; they considered you to be too freethinking.
KOLL (smilingly). Oh, yes!
THE KING. The only real friend that dated from my happier days--
you, Harald, had been sent to the right about; you were a
republican. It was while I was in despair over that loss that I
fell really in love for the first time--with your sister, Harald.
Banishment, again. What then? Why, then the craving that every
healthy youth feels--the desire for love--was turned into dissolute
channels. (Drinks.)
GRAN. I understand, well enough.
THE KING. Well, put all those things together. That was what my
life was--until just lately. Because lately something happened, my
dear friends. And now you must help me! Because, to make a long
story short, either I mean to be the chief official in my country
in a peaceful, citizenlike, genuine way, or--as God is above me--I
will no longer be king! (Gets up, and the others do so.)
KOLL. Ah, we have got it at last!
THE KING. Do you think I don't know that our republican friend
there spoke what is every thoughtful man's verdict upon me? (They
are silent.) But how could I possibly undertake my task, as long as
I believed everything to be make-believe and falsehood, without
exception? Now I know the root of the falsehood! It is in our
institutions; he was quite right. And one kind of falsehood begets
another. You cannot imagine how ludicrous it appeared to me--who up
till then had led such a sinful, miserable existence--when I saw
honourable men pretending that I was a being of some superior
mould! I! (Walks up and down, then stops.) It is the state--our
institutions--that demand this falsehood both on their part and on
mine. And that for the security and happiness of the country!
(Moves about restlessly.) From the time I became crown prince they
kept from me everything that might have instilled truth into me--
friendship, love, religion, a vocation--for my vocation is quite
another one; and it was all done in the name of my country! And now
that I am king, they take away all responsibility from me as well--
all responsibility for my own acts--the system demands it! Instead
of an individual, what sort of a contemptible creature do they make
of me! The kingly power, too?--that is in the hands of the people's
representatives and the government. I don't complain of that; but
what I do complain of is that they should pretend that _I_ have it,
and that everything should be done in _my_ name; that I should be
the recipient of petitions, cheers, acclamations, obeisances--as if
the whole power and responsibility were centred in _my_ person! In
me--from whom, in the interests of all, they have taken away
everything! Is that not a pitiful and ludicrous falsehood? And, to
make it credible, they endow me into the bargain with a halo of
sanctity! "The King is sacred;" "Our Most Gracious Sovereign,"
"Your Majesty!" It becomes almost blasphemous!
GRAN. Quite true.
THE KING. No, if that cannot be done away with, I can do away with
myself. But it must be possible to do away with it! It cannot be
necessary for a people, who are marching on the eternal path
towards truth, to have a lie marching at the head of them!
KOLL. No, it is not necessary.
THE KING (eagerly). And that is what you will help me to show them.
KOLL. I have no objection! There is life in the country yet!
THE KING (to Gran). And you, my friend? Are you afraid of being
shot by a mad republican if you help me?
GRAN. I am not particularly afraid of death, any way. But the maid
is telling us that supper is served.
THE KING. Yes, let us have supper!
KOLL. And then, to our task!
Curtain
Content of ACT I: SCENE II [Bjornstjerne Bjornson's play/drama: The King]
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