THIRD SCENE.

Surrounded by noisy people, Teja and Balthilda have appeared in front of the tent. They enter led by Bishop Agila. Before them, two choir-boys swinging censers. Behind them, Amalaberga, Euric, Athanaric, Theodemir, and other lords and military leaders. The tent covers are let down. Exeunt the watchers.

(Bishop lets go the hands of the bridal pair, and turns back to Amalaberga.)

(Teja stands gloomy and brooding. Balthilda casts a shy imploring look around her. Painful silence.)

Ildibad (softly).

Now must thou say something, King, to welcome thy young wife.

Teja (softly).

Must I? (Taking one of the choir-boys by the nape of the neck.) Not so vehemently, boy; the smoke cometh up into our nostrils. What dost thou when thou wieldest not thy censer?

Boy.

I wield my sword, King.

Teja.

That is right. But make ye haste with wielding the sword, or ye may easily be too late. (Softly.) Nothing to be seen of the ships, Ildibad?

Ildibad.

Nothing, my King. But thou must speak to thy young wife.

Teja.

Yea ... so now I have a wife, Bishop?

Bishop.

Here standeth thy wife. King, and waiteth on thy word.

Teja.

Forgive me, Queen, if I find not this word. I have been brought up in the midst of battles, and other dwelling-place have I not known. It will be hard for thee to share this with me.

Balthilda.

King ... my mother ... taught me ... (She stops.)

Teja (with assumed kindness).

And what taught thee thy mother?

Amalaberga.

That a wife belongeth to her husband--above all, in the hour of distress; she taught her that, King.

Teja.

That may indeed be true and holy to ye wives.... If only the husband also belonged to his wife in the hour of distress. And yet one thing,

Amalaberga.

It hath been told me that in the morning, cocks crow near ye wives yonder in the Wagenburg. For weeks, the warriors have eaten no meat. I counsel ye, give them the cocks. (Amalaberga bows.)

Bishop.

My King!

Teja.

Heh! Thou hast but now spoken so beautifully at the field-altar,

Bishop.

Dost thou desire to preach so soon again?

Bishop.

I will speak to thee, because bitterness devoureth thy soul.

Teja.

Verily? Thou thinkest it? Then I give ear.

Bishop.

Behold, like the spirit of divine wrath, so hast thou risen up among us, young man.... Not thy years did the nation count, only thy deeds.... Old men bowed willingly to thy youth, and since thou hadst yet a long time to serve, as one of the humblest, wert thou already our ruler. From the golden throne of Theoderic, where mercy had sat in judgment, where Totilas bestowed pardon with a smile, rang out sternly thy bloody word ... And woe clave to us as a poisoned wound.... Pursued hither and thither beneath the hot outpourings of Vesuvius, we are now encamped with women and children; while Byzantium, with its hireling soldiers, holdeth us surrounded.

Teja.

That it surely doth, ha, ha! Not a mouse can come through.

Bishop.

Our gaze wandereth wistfully seaward: for thence hath God promised us bread.

Teja.

No tidings of the ships?

Ildibad (softly). Nothing.

Bishop.

Before we armed ourselves for a new war with misery, as free men, true to the ancient law, we determined to choose thee a wife, for in his own body should the King taste why the Goth loveth death.

Teja.

Found ye that your King loved life overmuch?

Bishop.

My King!

Teja.

Nay, that dared ye not, for every hour of this life would hold ye up to mockery.... And even if the ancient law required it, why must ye weld me with this young thing which, trembling for fear before me and ye, hideth in her mother's skirts? And especially on so fitting a day, when hunger doth furnish the marriage music.... Look upon me, Queen--I must call thee by thy title of a half-hour, for, by God! I hardly yet know thy name. I pray thee, look upon me! Dost thou know me?

Balthilda.

Thou art the King, Sire.

Teja.

Yea. But for thee I should be man, not King.... And knowest thou what manner of man standeth here before thee?... Behold! These arms have been hitherto plunged in reeking blood, not the blood of men shed in manly strife, I speak not of that, that honoureth the man--blood of unarmed pale children, of--(shudders)--Thou shalt have great joy, if I come with these arms to wind them about thy neck.... Dost thou indeed hear me? Have I not a beautiful voice, a sweet voice? Only it is a little hoarse. It is weary with screaming loud commands to murder.... Peculiar pleasure shall be thine when thou hearest tender words with this bewitching hoarseness. Am I not truly a born lover? These wise men knew that; therefore they taught me my calling.... Or believe ye, it was your duty to beguile your King in the weariness of camp life; as the great Justinian dallied in golden Byzantium, and sent forth his eunuchs to slay Gothic men? Ha, ha, ha!

Bishop.

My King, take heed lest thou be angry.

Teja.

I thank thee, friend. Yet that signifieth nothing. It is but my marriage humour.... But now I will speak to ye in earnest--(Ascends to the high seat of the throne.) On the golden throne of Theoderic, where mercy sat in judgment, can I, alas! not take my place; for that is being chopped into firewood at Byzantium.... Neither smiling like Totilas can I pardon, for no one longer desireth our pardon.... From the glorious nation of the Goths, there hath sprung a horde of hungry wolves therefore it needeth a wolf as master. Thou, Bishop, didst call me the spirit of divine wrath, which I am not.... I am but the spirit of your despair. As one who all his life hath hoped for nothing, hath wished for nothing, I stand before you, and so I shall fall before you. That ye knew, and therefore ye are wrong, ye men, to reproach me secretly. Contradict me not!... I read it clearly enough between your lowering brows.... Because it goeth ill with us, make not a scapegoat of me--that I counsel ye.

Theodemir.

King, wound us not.... The last drop of our blood belongeth to thee. Cast us not into the pot with these old men. Euric. We old men fight as well as they; and love, young man, as well as they.

Teja.

Then let that suffice. Your Queen shall soon enough learn how, in misfortune, friends quarrel among themselves. And as ye pass through the camp, tell the warriors, the only thing that frets the King this day this day of joy, is it not?--is that he hath not the power to offer them a worthy marriage feast ... or yet perchance-- Ildibad.

Ildibad.

(Who on the right has secretly spoken in bewilderment to a watcher who has just entered.) Yea, Sire.

Teja.

What have we still in our stores, old man?

Ildibad (controlling his emotion).

Truly, thou hast given away almost all thy provisions.

Teja.

I ask thee, what remaineth?

Ildibad.

A jar of fermented milk, and two stale crusts of bread.

Teja.

Ha, ha, ha! Now thou seest, Queen, what a poor husband thou hast got. Yet if the ships be there, as the people say, then will I do royal honours to every one, even as is his due. Yet tell it not, that would mar their joy. But if they hear the trumpets sound, then tell them there will be meat and wine on the long tables, so much as--

(To Ildibad, who glides across the stage to his side) What is it?

Ildibad (softly).

The watch departeth. The ships are lost.

Teja.

(Without the least change of countenance.) Lost--how--in what way?

Ildibad.

Treason.

Teja.

Yea, verily! Yea--meat and wine so much as each one will, at long white tables--I shall have it divided--and Sicilian fruits for the women, and sweetmeats from Massilia. (Sinks reeling upon the seat of the throne, and gazes absently into the distance.) The Men. What aileth the King? Look to the King!

Balthilda.

Surely he is hungry, mother. (Approaches him. The men draw back.) My King!

Teja.

Who art thou, woman? What wilt thou, woman?

Balthilda.

Can I help thee, Sire?

Teja.

Ah, it is thou, the Queen! Pardon me; and pardon me, also, ye men. (Rises.)

Bishop.

King, thou must husband thy strength. Theoderic. Yea, King, for the sake of us all. The Men. For the sake of us all.

Teja.

In truth, ye warn me rightly. Women, I pray ye, return to your encampment. We have to take counsel. Do thou, Bishop, see well to their safe conduct.

Amalaberga (softly).

Make thy obeisance, child!

Balthilda (softly).

Mother, will he speak no more to me?

Amalaberga.

Make thy obeisance! (Balthilda obeys.)

Teja.

Fare ye well! (Exeunt Balthilda, Amalaberga, Bishop. Shouts of applause without, greet them.)