Three Dramas by Bjornstjerne M. Bjornson

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Koll. Mr. Gran will address the meeting.

Flink. Three cheers for Mr. Gran! (Almost the whole meeting cheers
lustily. KOLL shouts at them and hammers on the table with his
mallet in vain.)

Koll (when peace is restored). I must ask the meeting to show some
respect for its chairman. If not, I will leave the chair.--Mr. Gran
will address the meeting.

Gran. The plan that we are proposing is no new one. It has been in
practice for a long time. In America--

The Priest, Alstad, and others. Yes, in America!

The Mayor (getting up). Mr. Chairman, are we to have politics,
after all?

Koll. I cannot see that to mention America is to talk politics.

The Mayor. Then what is politics, if America isn't?

Koll. To talk politics is--for instance--to use the arguments your
worship did. Mr. Gran will proceed.

Gran. I see that the Priest wishes to speak. I shall be happy to
give way.

Koll. The Priest will address the meeting.

The Priest. I see here, in this assembly, a number of those whom I
am accustomed to address in more solemn surroundings. My dear
parishioners, it was for your sake that I came here. You have heard
for yourselves--the whole question is a political one; and, dear
fellow Christians, let me entreat you to shun politics! Did not our
Lord Himself say: "My kingdom is not of this world"? This freedom,
this equality, of which they talk is not the soul's freedom, not
that equality which--

Koll. I would suggest to the reverend speaker that he should
postpone his remarks until the next time he gets into the pulpit.
(Slight laughter.)

The Priest. One should be instant in season and out of season;
therefore--

Koll. I forbid you to continue.

The Priest. It is written: "Thou shalt obey God rather than man"!
My dear parishioners, let us all leave this meeting! Who will
follow his priest? (Takes a few steps towards the door, but no one
follows him. Laughter. He sighs deeply, and sits down again.)

Koll. If no one else wishes to speak--

Vinäger. Mr. Chairman!

Koll. Mr. Vinäger wishes to speak.

Vinäger. These proceedings remind me of China, and of the Chinese
mandarins who will not allow any one of lesser degree to come near
them--although at moments I have felt as if I were still in Europe
in the presence of a still greater power, greater even than the
Grand Turk--I mean this democratic envy which grudges others what
it has not got itself. To reconcile both parties I should like to
make the following suggestion. Build the carriages, as is often
done, in two stories. Then those who wish to ensure their privacy
can do so by sitting upstairs; and the others will be satisfied
too, because they will all be in the same carriage after all.
(Loud laughter.)

Koll. If no one else wishes to speak (looks at GRAN, who shakes his
head) I shall proceed to put the question to the vote. The motion
submitted by the directors, which is now before the meeting, is as
follows--

The Mayor. Excuse me, but what of my motion wit h regard to a
saloon for his Majesty?

Koll. I did not understand your worship to mean your suggestion
as a formal motion.

The Mayor. I did, though.

Koll. Then I will put it to the vote after the director, motion has
been voted upon.

The Mayor. A motion that concerns the King should take precedence
of all others.

Koll. Even the King is subject to the rules of logic. The
directors' motion is: "That only one class of railway carriage
shall be purchased, of a type slightly more comfortable than the
ordinary third-class carriage." Will those in favour of the motion
kindly go to the left--on this side of the room; those against the
motion, to the right. (Nearly all go to the left. Cheers are heard
outside, and are gradually taken up by those inside. KOLL hammers
with his mallet.) Order, please! (The cheering ceases, but an
animated conversation goes on.) The directors' motion is carried!

The Mayor (shouting). I am sure every one did not understand the
method of voting!

Koll (hammering with his mallet). Order, order. (Quiet is gradually
restored.) What did your worship say?

The Mayor. That some people must have misunderstood the way of
voting; because I see my daughter Natalie, who is a shareholder
too, on the other side of the room. Of course she has made a
mistake.

Natalie. Oh no, father, I haven't. (Loud laughter, and applause.)

The Priest. Ah, my poor deluded parishioners, I shall pray for you!

The Mayor. Order!--The Mayor's motion--

Alstad. I would suggest that the Mayor should withdraw it. We know
what its fate would be in such a meeting as this.

Koll. As long as I occupy the chair, I shall not permit any
derogatory expressions to be applied to the meeting. Does the Mayor
still insist on his motion being put? (Whispers to him: "Say no!")

The Mayor. No.

Koll. Then, as no one else wishes to speak, I declare the meeting
at an end. (Every one begins to move about and discuss affairs
vigorously.)

Alstad (to his son VILHELM). So you have the face to vote with
these--these Americans, against your old father, have you?

Vilhelm. Well, father, I honestly think--

Alstad. Just you wait till I get you home!

Vilhelm. Oh, that's it, is it? Then I shan't go home--so there! I
shall stay here and get drunk, I shall.

Alstad. Oh, come, come!

Vilhelm. Yes, I shall! I shall stay here and get drunk!

Alstad. But, Vilhelm, listen to me! (Takes him by the arm. Meantime
a STRANGER has taken KOLL and GRAN by the arm, to their manifest
surprise, and brought the forward away from the crowd. He stands
for a moment, looking them in the face, till suddenly KOLL gives a
start and cries out: "The King!")

The King. Hush!

Gran. It really is--!

The King (to GRAN). You are at home here; take up into a room--and
give us some champagne. My throat is as dry as a lime-kiln!

Curtain

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.

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