Three dramatizations of Sir Walter Scott

Three dramatizations of Sir Walter Scott In celebration of the 250th anniversary of his birth, August 15th 1771

by Christian Lanciai

The Minstrel 3 The Lady of the Lake 33 Ravenswood 53

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Introduction Not all these three dramatizations are based on Sir Walter Scott.

The first was actually inspired by Gore Vidal's book "A Search for the King", one of his oddest and most original novels, while naturally Scott's "The Talisman" came naturally falling in line, as it also features the king's favourite minstrel Blondel. "The Talisman" was one of his last novels, shortly before his bankruptcy, and one of his best.

The second is something completely different, based entirely on Walter Scott's most successful poem and one of his last before starting to write novels.

The third is based on ”The Bride of Lammermoor”, the universally famous subject of Donizetti's opera "Lucia di Lammermoor", written in perhaps Scott's darkest period immediately before "Ivanhoe", introducing his penchant for going deeper down in history.

Sir Walter Scott created the historical novel, and the credit for that can never be enough emphasized. Today his numerous novels are hardly read at all, which is a shame, since many of them remain brilliant, and at least in Scotland he has always been regarded the second greatest bard of Britain after Shakespeare.

The Minstrel a drama from the age of the crusades

by Christian Lanciai (1997) after Walter Scott and Gore Vidal The characters (as they appear): Blondel, minstrel a hoodlum a lady a guest a gentleman a prudent man King Richard Lionheart Baudoin Maynard of Goritz William an officer Archduke Leopold of Austria Countess Valeria Konrad of Monferrato Guy de Lusignan Sir Kenneth Huntingdon El Hakim, Arabic physician Theoderic of Engaddi, hermit King Philip August of France Grand Master of the Templars Lady Edith Plantagenet Other crusaders, servants and attendants The action takes place in Europe and the Holy Land during the 1190s.

Copyright Christian Lanciai 1997

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The Minstrel Act I scene 1. Darkness. Blondel appears.

Blondel I wander lonely as a cloud in the night, driven forward by an invisible wind to abstruse destinies, without meaning, without direction and without possibility to say anything against the wind. Everything is dark, and I am blind, and only terrors surround me in this world of constant threats by strangers and dangers; for I have lost my king. Abandoned I am quite alone in a world of only darkness, for the only light in the world I had was my king.

(Some light shows a dark street. Blondel encounters a hoodlum.)

Hoodlum Watch your step, you ass hole!

Blondel I am no ass.

Hoodlum Of course you aren’t, you blind hedgehog!

Blondel Neither am I any hedgehog.

Hoodlum What are you then? A mole will find his way by faltering better than a sloth like you!

Blondel What kind of an animal is a sloth?

Hoodlum A slothful good-for-nothing of course.

Blondel You are just pulling my legs.

Hoodlum Can’t you take a joke? You are too sober! Let me buy you a drink!

Blondel So you don’t want to hurt me?

Hoodlum What kind of a knave do you think I am? I just came out from the tavern but will gladly go back there. Come along!

(Pushes him into the tavern, which opens and displays many merry customers in the primitive middle ages.)

Look what I found! Someone who has come wrong!

Lady We have thousands of them. Every single soul is lost in this world.

Hoodlum But this is the servant of a noble man! He is almost like real page!

Blondel Where am I? Guest In Vienna, of course! Here you are at home!

Blondel (aside) Yes, I am at home here and well taken care of, for no one will here suspect my secret.

Gentleman Where did you find such a small quaint fellow, you hooligan?

Hoodlum He was just wandering loose and distracted in the street, so I thought I could get him a drink and help the poor fellow to some orientation.

Gentleman He is not from this country.

Hoodlum Any devil can see that! What will it be, you lost miserable fool?

Blondel Anything.

Gentleman Who are you?

Blondel I think I have lost my memory.

Lady I know who he is. Anyone can see that he is someone’s discarded lackey.

Gentleman Well he certainly has no master, but who was his master?

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Lady Anyone can see that. Such pale weaklings are wandering all around Europe searching for their masters, who have fallen somewhere fighting the wild Saracens in the deserts of the far east.

Gentleman (to Blondel) Are you the son of a crusader?

Blondel No. Guest I think he might be a minstrel.

Hoodlum And why do you think so?

Guest He looks like it.

Gentleman (confidently) Are you a minstrel?

Blondel (doesn’t answer but blushes) Lady He blushes!

Guest (triumphant) He is a minstrel!

Several (the call goes around) We have a minstrel among us!

Lady Sing for us, Minstrel!

Guest Vienna needs all songs!

(Everyone has great expectations of the minstrel, who clears the throat.)

Blondel I am sorry, noble company, but I can no longer sing, for we have lost the war, Jerusalem is fallen, and the griefs and sorrows in the desert have dried out my singing voice.

Guest He is a minstrel!

Lady Sing for us anyway, gentle minstrel!

Gentleman If you have lost your zest for singing, you can still tell us something.

Lady Yes, tell us something!

Guest Tell us some story of the lovely Berengaria.

Blondel Do you know about Berengaria then?

Gentleman The whole world knows Berengaria of Navarre.

Blondel (inspired) The Queen of Cyprus, lovelier than Venus, born from whiter and purer foam than Aphrodite…

Guest He is coming to it.

Gentleman Tell me, why did Richard Lionheart really marry Berengaria?

Blondel (smiles) His mother ordered him.

Gentleman I thought so.

Lady He is a true minstrel! Tell us more!

Blondel About Berengaria’s beauty?

Guest About anything!

Blondel It was the imperious queen Eleanor who commanded king Richard to give heirs to his country, but Richard preferred to go for a crusade. Was queen Eleanor discouraged by that? Oh no! She then threatened Richard to give his throne to John without land, unless Richard married at once. When Richard heard this he was already in Sicily and was possessed with sacred anger, so he vanquished the kingdom of Cyprus for himself. The fleet of Navarre was there at the time, and on the king’s ship was his fair daughter Berengaria. Just to appease the mother, Richard Lionheart there and then married the lovely Berengaria.

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Guest (delighted) He can even tell us gossip from the courts!

A prudent man You talk about it as if you had seen king Richard and his queen yourself.

Blondel (apprehensive) No, not at all.

Prudent man Don’t be afraid. Tell us. Was she very beautiful?

Blondel (to the man) Not very. She is small and rather simple. But she has an honest heart and is sincere and righteous.

Prudent man Then you have been there.

Lady Tell us more! Where is Berengaria now?

Blondel (openly to all) She was sent by king Richard home to England.

Lady Wasn’t he pleased with her presence?

Blondel No, that was not the problem. He thought the terrible wars were not the proper place for a beautiful woman.

Hoodlum I think he sent her packing, since he must have found other and better women on location.

Guest And why do you think so?

Hoodlum Everyone knows, that in the east everyone has a harem.

Gentleman Only Saladin, the sultan and the emirs.

Hoodlum What kind of nonsense is that? All loose women in Europe have been sent to the Levant.

Gentleman Yes, as washer-women!

Hoodlum Washer-women? Is that what you think?

Gentleman Even the pope says so.

Hoodlum That pope can kiss his arse with all his washer-women!

Guest Please, don’t start fighting now!

Hoodlum Who wants to fight over some washer-women!

Lady I know for sure, that those washer-women went their quite willingly and with delight! For the host of crusaders was just all the wildest and maddest villains of Europe!

Gentleman And what has our minstrel to say about that?

Blondel (somewhat embarrassed) It’s true that there are erotic difficulties and problems in the East. Mohammed himself, the prophet of Islam, was not satisfied with only four wives but added at least five serving maids more.

Hoodlum What was it I told you? The East can turn on anyone to any virility!

Blondel But there are also terrible diseases.

Guest As a result of love?

Blondel No, because of the climate.

Lady He has been there! It is obvious!

Prudent man Where is king Richard now?

Blondel (frightened) That I must not tell you.

Prudent man You don’t need to be afraid. Do not mind the merry guests here. They are innocent, and there are no spies here. I know who you are. You are king Richard’s own minstrel.

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Blondel How do you know?

Prudent man I have heard you singing myself outside Jerusalem.

Blondel We never managed to capture Jerusalem.

Prudent man I know. That ruined the entire international enterprise. But come with me aside. Tell me how you got separated from your king.

Blondel This is confidential.

Prudent man I know. Where is king Richard now?

Blondel He is taken prisoner by the duke Leopold.

Prudent man So they succeeded in capturing him. So he got into Austria?

Blondel There was no other way. The problems started in Acre. We didn’t reach any further than Zara. From there the only way was through the country.

Prudent man And you travelled incognito of course?

Blondel My king thought he could make it.

Prudent man Tell me how they trapped him.

Blondel The problems started in Goritz.

Scene 2. The inn of Goritz.

Richard (enters dressed as a monk, long-haired and harrowed) And what do you think then the Jew said? Yes, he claimed that I had stolen it! I then grabbed that scoundrel by the collar and thundered: ”Are you accusing me of being a thief, you miserable miser?” He then yelled in fear: ”Pardon me, but such a precious ruby is very rare in the humble hands of a poor monk, especially if he wishes to sell it!” I then dropped the wretch to hell and spat at him and left.

Baudoin Was it wise to thus draw attention and to demonstrate it so openly?

Richard Baldwin, you if anyone knows that I can never control myself and not even in a priestly outfit. But where is my minstrel? I miss Blondel of Néel.

Baudoin He should be here. (enter Blondel) Richard There you are in the right moment! I need to be cheered up! What is your song for today?

Blondel My king, my songs became too melancholy from the desolation and death of the desert. You know that I have never more sung a song since the battle of the Lord’s city Jerusalem which we lost.

Richard Your wonderful melancholy at least always soothes and quiets my wrath. You are good for me, my minstrel! You must never part from me. You are all I have left of the desert and the wild beauty of the holy land of the crusades. I lost everything there and most of all my youth, but I still have got you.

Blondel It’s a joy to feel to be of some use and good in the world, although the strings of my harp are broken.

Blondel You are the whole world, Blondel, for it has lost its Jerusalem forvever.

Baudoin Don’t you think that someone later could retrieve Jerusalem?

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Richard My friend, we came with violence and war to the country which was holy, and we filled up the whole country with our violence. That was our mistake.

Now all Asia has learnt from us that violence and are able to hit back. We can never retake Jerusalem with violence. And who will then take the city without force?

Baudoin It seems next to impossible.

Richard You are quite right, my good Baldwin.

(Maynard of Golitz breaks in with some knights.)

Maynard (to the host) Is that monk still here who is trying to sell rubies?

(The host quietly indicates Richard. Maynard turns on him.)

Maynard My good man, I wish to speak with you.

Richard At your service, if I can be of any.

Maynard Who are you?

Richard Villiers, Norman merchant on his way home from Acre.

Maynard Yes, I believe that well enough. You tried to market a ruby.

Richard We needed a little money.

Maynard May I see the ruby?

Richard Do you wish to buy it?

Maynard I might have a customer for you.

Richard (shows the ruby) A precious stone from the blessed Arabia.

Maynard (eyes the stone) You say? (signs to his men, who leave) I happen to know the Jew you tried to sell the stone to. He happens to be an expert. He noticed the peculiarity of the stone at once and reported to me. This is no ordinary stone, my good Villiers.

Richard Then perhaps I could have a good price for it.

Maynard Just tell me how you came in possession of it.

Richard I bought it on Cyprus.

Maynard So, and from whom?

Richard At the market.

Maynard You are a bad liar for a merchant. You can do better.

Richard Do you then wish to accuse me like the Jew did?

Maynard I only accuse you of bad playacting. You hit the Jew both yellow and blue for not wanting to buy the stone. Is that proper for a pious monk? And is that the right way for a business man to succeed in business?

Richard What is your point?

Maynard I will tell you what this stone tells me. I am well familiar with all the crown jewels of Europe. England’s king Henry gave his queen Eleanor seven golden rings with rubies, each for every day of the week, and each ring was grafted with an H for Henry and an E for Eleanor, the two letters romantically intertwined with each other. Your ruby ring is one of those seven. Naturally I get curious as to how you got over it.

Richard I got it as a gift.

Maynard By whom? By king Richard Lionheart?

Richard No.

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Maynard I can’t believe that anyone in king Henry’s English family willingly would have parted with such a ring. Therefore I believe you must have stolen it.

Richard I have not stolen it.

Maynard Prove it! (Richard controls himself with difficulty.) My friend, if this ring is not with the king, he would miss it. I might get a reward for finding it. For it belongs to him, there is no doubt about it. He will surely give me a reward although I am related with Konrad of Monferrato, whom he murdered and which deed paralysed and shattered the crusade, its unity and optimism. Perhaps you even stole it from Konrad’s assassin?

Richard If you want to buy the ring, offer me a price. You have no right to obtain it any other way.

Maynard How could I buy the ring when it doesn’t belong to anyone of us? It is my obvious duty to send it home to England.

Richard The king is not there.

Maynard How do you know? Perhaps you know then where he is? There is a rumour that he is now travelling through Austria incognito. My greedy cousin duke Leopold has asked me to watch the roads, in case Richard Lionheart would try to sneak through the country without taking advantage of our most conscientious and obligatory hospitality.

Richard (rises in fury and tries to reach his sword under his cloak) Maynard (moving back one step) You have no chance. A number of knights are waiting outside, and they are heavily armed.

Richard What do you want?

Maynard King Richard, I have better reasons to wish all the evil in the world to my cousin than a harrowed monk as some jetsom from the Levant. But you must leave Goritz at once. You are not safe here. Carry on your journey in less company, and avoid Vienna by all means.

Richard Do you think I murdered Konrad of Monferrato?

Maynard He was your prime competitor, your quarrel was the most notorious in the world, and you if anyone had a motive clear enough, so there is much to speak for it. But I will not deal with it. I can never put myself in judgement over a king.

Richard Thank you, Maynard of Goritz.

Maynard Vanish discreetly tonight. And do not try again to offer the crown jewels of London for sale. (leaves) Richard (with a sigh of relief) There are still noble men left even in Austria.

Baudoin Richard, we have no time to lose.

Richard Yes, he is right. We must split up in smaller parties and travel different ways. Let’s get out of here and not say goodbye to anyone. (They break up.)

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Intermezzo.

Blondel But that was just the first warning. In Oberhaus we got into trouble when the king fell ill. We had to stay long at the inn, and even if the landlord didn’t ask any questions others did. When I visited the church the priest showed a considerable interest in my travelling company, and he asked me straight if one of them was my king. Of course I answered no, but one day I was taken care of by six knights. It was just as the king had recovered and we planned to continue…

Prudent man What was the king’s illness?

Blondel The ordinary crusade plague – fever and coughing. Some call it the desert cold, but it’s almost like phthisis.

Prudent man What happened?

Scene 3. The inn of Oberhaus.

Richard (like before) Why isn’t Blondel coming?

Baudoin I guess he is at church again.

Richard What’s the use of prayers in our condition?

William He is the only one among us who is pious and still praying. He prays for all of us. We should be grateful to him.

Richard But do you think it helps?

William That’s an entirely different matter.

(Some knights bring in the unconscious Blondel.)

Officer Is this your man?

Richard (rising, very upset) What’s the matter?

Officer He claims you are king Richard Lionheart.

Richard (ominously calm) I can see that you tortured him. What is a tortured man’s word worth, when the forced torture could make anyone confess whatever you would want him to confess?

Officer Your royal highness, the whole world knows you and know that you try to travel incognito through Austria.

Richard Have I no right to do so?

Officer Our duke Leopold seems to think that you should pay him a visit to his castle on the way. Anything else would be a great impropriety.

Richard If duke Leopold wishes to see me he should come himself.

Leopold (opens the door and enters) I was only waiting for a formal invitation. Welcome, Richard, to our Austria. It’s not so hot here as in the deserts of Arabia.

Richard No, instead it is so cold that you would almost prefer the desert heat.

Leopold Are you not happy to see me, companion in arms? We are after all colleagues!

Richard I am sure you are happier to see me. What do you want with me?

Leopold I want you as my honorary guest at Trierstein.

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Richard For how long?

Leopold Not longer than what is proper from the point of view of hospitality.

Richard You want me as your prisoner.

Leopold Brother, there are things to settle between us, such as how my brother Konrad died.

Richard He died my most implacable enemy but not by my hand.

Leopold Prove it!

Richard I can’t as long as I don’t know the murderer.

Leopold You are shuffling away.

Richard Do you wish to condemn an innocent man without his guilt being proven?

Leopold Many affirm that you are lying, which you are well known for.

Richard My lies are romantic and pathetic when needed but never treacherous.

William He speaks the truth.

Leopold (to William) Do you know who murdered our Konrad?

William Ask the Templars.

Leopold They stand high above such matters. They financed our crusade, but our Konrad’s death ruined it.

William Still they might have had their motives.

(Leopold and William argue.)

Richard (aside to Blondel) Blondel, I see no way out of this. I must remain here for the time being. But leave on your own and return to England. You can manage, for you are a minstrel. Your art can open all closed gates and doors and is a better cure against locks and politics than any weapon or key. Here, take this purse, and take that damned ring with the ruby – it is Berengaria’s. Deliver them in England and tell them that I live but imprisoned in Austria, for our duke here will never release me except for e handsome ransom.

Blondel All bones in my body ache, but I hear and obey. My violin will open all hearts to you and especially all English hearts.

Richard Thank you, my good minstrel. Raise no attention but sneak away carefully.

Leopold We get nowhere with this meaningless quabble. We have to get to the bottom of it! If necessary we’ll have to assign investigations and commissions! Then we’ll see if I can part with my brother Richard Lionheart.

Richard Brother, you are indeed making trouble for all Europe. France will without hesitation take part for me against you, and then we will never again be united in Europe. You are ruining the finest thing we have: the crusader spirit!

Leopold Brother Richard, you know as well as I that all we ever did in what once was a holy land was a nuisance of ourselves. We have ravaged with violence and only plundered, raped and murdered. We never accomplished anything and were never of any historical use.

Richard That was the attitude by which we lost Konrad and Jerusalem.

Leopold You did it! The responsibility was yours and no one else’s!

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Richard The Templars forbade me to attack Jerusalem, and Konrad wished it most of all. Perhaps that was reason enough for them to take his life.

Leopold Anathema! You don’t know what you are saying!

Richard Do you?

Leopold Damn! Take this man away! Escort him to my castle! There we shall talk about it!

Richard I see no other choice.

Leopold So you give yourself up to me?

Richard Do I have any choice?

Leopold I will see to it that you will be royally entertained.

Richard You had better. All Europe will watch me as you guard me.

Leopold I am sure we’ll reach an understanding. Take him out! And all the others also! But where is the beaten fellow?

Richard He went up to his room to rest. I can only hope that he will survive your treatment.

Leopold He was just a little wigged.

Richard Yes, he was only whipped to unconsciousness.

Leopold He will recover.

Richard I hope so.

Leopold Come, let’s go. After you, king Richard Lionheart. (shows him politely the way out. All leave in good order.)

Intermezzo 2.

Prudent man Thank you, my friend. So you got away. I will not detain you any longer.

You have an important mission to carry through. May you manage well all the way.

Blondel You are from England.

Prudent man Yes. Blondel How are things in England nowadays?

Prudent man They are not good. John without land wants to make himself king, but he is incapable of governing. Under his rule everything would just turn into chaos, anarchy and rebellion.

Blondel King Richard will come home sooner or later.

Prudent man Yes, but what will then be left of him? In what state will he be when he is allowed to get home to England? He consumed himself in the Orient and already has grey hairs at the age of thirty-five. Blondel, the best days of king Richard are past, and so are England’s.

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Act II scene 1. A high Gothic hall in a castle.

Countess Valeria (to her servant) I want him to be well taken care of. He must not suspect anything. Be quite normal, you are free to spoil him, but without exaggerations. It’s not every day we receive a true minstrel in our castle.

So, allow our guest to enter.

(The doors are opened, and Blondel is admitted.)

Welcome to our humble home, precious minstrel!

Blondel A humble home? Countess, you please to make an understatement.

Valeria Do you like it then?

Blondel I am overwhelmed by this solemn beauty everywhere. The atmosphere here is like that in a cathedral. Everything breathes peace and purity, beauty and moral superiority.

Valeria Minstrel, you flatter me.

Blondel Everything seems old here, but still everything is clean and proper and well preserved. Are you living here quite alone? I haven’t seen here anyone but you of your family.

Valeria My brother is dead, and I am the last one left.

Blondel But you are not old.

Valeria Why would you suspect that?

Blondel Your age is impossible to guess. You are as fresh as a beautiful young maid, but at the same time you demonstrate the high maturity of age.

Valeria That was a very kind thing to say.

Blondel If I may say so, everything here breathes a singular timelessness.

Valeria (smiles) Enough flattery for today. Now you are hungry, and you must accept that I inivite you for dinner.

Blondel I could hardly refuse it.

(Very well dressed servants prepare the table for a fantastic dinner.)

Valeria But tell me now all the news from the great world. It’s very seldom that new guests visit us. I understand that you come from Jerusalem and are on your way to England.

Blondel Yes, I am king Richard’s minstrel.

Valeria King Richard? Is king Henry no longer king of England?

Blondel That was long ago. King Richard is his son.

Valeria And this son has fought battles by Jerusalem. But why does the king of England travel so far to make war?

Blondel He has almost never been there in England. I am a Frenchman like you, and he is a Norman.

Valeria I know. The Normans went over and conquered Britain just like your king now obviously travels across the entire Mediterranean just to get Jerusalem.

Blondel He was not the first one. A hundred years ago Palestine was conquered, and Jerusalem was taken from the non-Christians.

Valeria Where is Richard now?

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Blondel Lost.

Valeria Completely lost?

Blondel Yes, I am searching for him.

Valeria But how could you, a minstrel of his, lose him?

Blondel It’s rather long story.

Valeria We have all eternity ahead, and I never tire of listening.

Blondel

By Jerusalem there occurred a quarrel between Richard and the other princes. King Philip August had already gone home, tired of all strife, and could no longer diplomatize. One of the noblest princes, prince Konrad of Monferrato, was murdered in a mysterious way exactly when he and king Richard had made enemies for life, and then some, especially the duke Leopold of Austria, thought that king Richard must have done the deed.

Valeria Konrad of Monferrato, wasn’t he the foremost among the warring crusaders in the Orient until king Richard came with Philip August?

Blondel Yes, and he was therefore the one who least of all could accept Richard’s superiority.

Valeria But Richard was a king, while Konrad only was a prince.

Blondel Yes, king Richard was of higher rank, and therefore Konrad should not have made trouble.

Valeria But please, continue, I pray. How did he disappear?

Blondel When we returned to Europe, the greedy duke saw his chance and took ignominiously king Richard as a prisoner.

Valeria Is it true?

Blondel Absolutely.

Valeria Have some more wine, I pray you.

Blondel But I got away, and he had time to give me the mission of carrying the news to England that he had been taken into custody. I met two Englishmen on their way to England, wrote everything down for them and put the king’s seal on the letter, so that they in England should understand. And since then I am erring here around the forests searching for the king.

Valeria Don’t you know where he is?

Blondel First he stayed at Trierstein, duke Leopold’s own personal castle, but when I arrived there, they had gone to Vienna. There I took part in a great minstrel feast with success and obtained the first prize out of king Henry’s own hand.

Valeria King Henry?

Blondel Yes, the German-Roman emperor, son of the red Frederick Barbarossa but a rather sickly young man.

Valeria It is true. I had him once for my guest.

Blondel But king Richard was not there, and obviously there was a quarrel between the duke and the emperor about him, which was why he was brought to Linz. And when I reached Linz he had been moved further to Durenstein. I was on my way there when a comrade recommended me to pay you a visit on my way.

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Valeria And you did right in honouring me with your kind visit. You have so much to relate. But now you are tired from all your trials. Here you can rest and recover for a few days after your adventures.

Blondel Your generosity is more than I deserve.

Valeria A true artist can never be spoilt enough. You deserve everything. But you only introduced your story. Tell me more about Konrad of Monferrato and his strange tragedy.

Blondel (puts down his glass) Then I ask you, madam, to follow me to the holy arguable country, the home of all exotism and everything divine, the homeland of the passions and fanaticism, the sweet seductive scents and the passions, where man cannot control himself, where all feelings run amuck, and which no one succeeded in creating himself the lord of, – except God, the untouchable, the unfathomable, majestic entity of the deserts and the beduins, supreme in majesty and cruelty.

Scene 2. In a tent outside Ashkalon.

Guy de Lusignan Isn’t the haughty bully coming soon?

Konrad Have some more wine in the meantime, Guy de Lusignan. Just be calm.

We will get him down to earth.

Guy He gets more unbearable every day.

Konrad I know. But the worst thing we can do is to get incited. Then he will just strike us down. He loves it and enjoys it when someone gets mad at him, which he only takes for a justification for him to resort to violence. Whatever he says we must keep calm. That’s our only chance. Have some wine in the meantime, my good Guy. Richard (storming in, sumptuously dressed, in glorious health, with ostensibly glittering crown, takes the best seat, a fine Saracen throne) Well, you bastards, what will it be?

(Blondel follows him but more prudently and takes quietly a place in a corner with his violin.)

Guy I don’t find it very proper that our conference is opened by your insulting us.

Richard Do you have any better idea, sourpuss?

Guy Your majesty, you could at least start by wishing us a good evening.

Richard Good evening then, you bastards! And to the point! (pours himself some wine) Would you also like some, Blondel?

Blondel No thank you.

Richard You will sing for me later when I am finished with these garrulous knaves.

Konrad King Richard, our conference here is important.

Richard Of course it is! What did you image I thought it was? A secret strategic meeting for our next discreet attack against the soldiers’ brothel? Ha-ha-ha! (laughs and drinks) Konrad (serious) Richard, we both consider your demeanour hardly worthy of a king of Jerusalem.

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Richard What do you think Saladin is doing then in his harems? Do you consider that more worthy?

Guy (takes a run) With respect, your majesty, but both Konrad and I feel that Konrad should have the title of king of Jerusalem.

Richard (going off like being fired like a cannon, rising and spilling wine on both of them) You scoundrels, how dare you! You can never take Jerusalem without me! I am the only king left in the country after Philip August turned yellow and ran off!

Konrad He didn’t leave because of cowardice. He tired of our quarrels.

Richard You mean, he got tired of you.

Konrad What do you mean?

Richard You are the only one starting quarrels.

Konrad (starts to get up) Don’t you try it!

Guy Gentlemen, sit down and calm down! And don’t drink so much wine.

That will only make matters worse. Finally you don’t know what you are saying and even less what you are doing. Richard, Konrad was in the country before you. He captured Tyrus and held it against Saladin long before your arrival. Without his contributions you could never have landed.

Richard It’s a lie!

Konrad (has sat down) Guy, he says you are a liar.

Richard (still standing) Konrad, you are a rotter! And what’s worse, you are a villain!

How did you get to Palestine? You came like a pirate and sailed straight into the hands of the Arabs and risked the lives of all your men at once!

Konrad (rising) I did not know Acre was fallen!

Guy He made it, Richard. Not a single man was captured. What counts is what he did later on. He fortified the entire coast and took it from Saladin.

Richard Are you suggesting that he even vanquished Acre?

Konrad (ice cold) Richard, you know as well as I, that I was the one who took the city, while you took the honour if it.

Richard The way you go on, Konrad, makes a duel more and more inevitable.

Konrad The sooner the better.

Guy Gentlemen, this will not do! You are like children! Sit down and drink more wine if you want, but don’t start fighting! That would dissolve the entire crusade!

Richard (has resumed his seat with Konrad. Both drink more wine.) In this holy land you don’t duel. You engage assassins. Or you do as they do in Saladin’s family. You discreetly and anonymously poison each other. No one is accountable.

Konrad The stealthy Richard has spoken. For my part I prefer open duelling.

Don’t you dare, Richard?

Guy Gentlemen, gentlemen! You allow your feelings to get the better of you!

Try to control yourselves, for your men’s sake! An open conflict between you would throw all Europe into war!

Richard Let’s for hell’s sake return to the main issue! I mean and claim, that since Philip August has gone home and Frederick Barbarossa is dead, I am the only

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anointed king left in the crusade with a right to claim the title king of Jerusalem. It’s a self-evident fact, which you can’t argue against. Besides, I will myself lead the storming of Jerusalem.

Konrad Over my dead body.

Richard What?

Konrad You will not be king of Jerusalem except over my dead body.

Richard So you turn in your veto. Perhaps that makes a duel necessary after all.

Or should we rather, for our men’s sake and for the high morals of the crusading spirit, see who will first succeed in having the other one secretly murdered?

Guy Richard, you can’t be king of Jerusalem. It would disturb the political balance of all Europe.

Richard Why? Guy Because the claims are of Europe, and you have just an ignominious kingdom far outside.

Konrad Speaking of pirates.

Richard So you don’t include England in Europe? Am I then not a Norman?

Have I no cousins and relatives on every throne in Europe? Is not the next emperor of Europe a Norman king of Sicily?

Konrad Let him be king of Jerusalem then, but let’s be rid of you.

Richard (hits the table) There we are then! It’s me personally you can’t bear with!

Konrad Richard, you have no detachment. You push and bully everyone. To you everyone is worthless. If a baron presents an alternative plan to your strategy, you furiously beat him up and demonstrably throw him out. That’s not politics. It’s not royal. It is brutal arbitrariness.

Richard I see our duel becoming more and more unavoidable.

Konrad If you go on like that I will find it necessary to withdraw with my armies from the entire crusade.

Richard Do so! That will solve many problems! Then we don’t have to fight about the profits from the sack of Jerusalem!

Konrad And such a man you are supposed to reason with? I leave.

Guy Just one moment! Young Blondel, you have heard all our conversation.

You are our only neutral witness. Do you have any advice for us?

Blondel (rising) May I? Richard Speak out, Blondel. You may say whatever you want.

Blondel I actually have a point of view, which could be important.

Konrad Well?

Blondel You have gathered here to discuss who will be king of Jerusalem and how you will share the plunder, but have you considered, that you haven’t actually taken the city yet?

Guy (to the others) Have we thought of that?

Richard An irrelevant question. We can take the city any moment. It’s just a question of time.

Konrad Is it? Take the city then but without me, if you can. I am pulling out.

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Guy Konrad, you can’t.

Konrad I will.

Guy You are most important of all.

Konrad Try to convince that hopeless miscreant about that. (points at Richard) I am leaving. (leaves demonstrably) Guy Well, Richard, There we lost half the army. What will you do now?

Richard Take Jerusalem, of course.

Guy And if you fail?

Richard I must not fail.

Guy The city is strongly fortified. All odds are in favour of Saladin.

Richard Can’t you make Konrad join anyway?

Guy Never on your terms. On the other side, I can never imagine that the Templars would allow him to pull out.

Richard So we’ll have to leave it to the Templars. The case is appealed to them.

The conference is concluded. (drinks) Guy Good night, Richard Lionheart. I hope this was not a turning point but just a crisis. (leaves) Richard Well, Blondel, what do you think of the haughty fools?

Blondel (diplomatically) I have stated my opinion and will stick to it.

Richard (content) Ha-ha! You are the only wise guy in the entire crusade! (embraces him) Blondel But honestly, my king, wouldn’t it be wise to try to include Saladin himself in the negotiations? Perhaps the Jerusalem issue could be resolved in peace?

Richard Saladin himself?

Blondel Yes. Richard He doesn’t speak our language.

Blondel There are interpreters.

Richard He will never willingly let go of Jerusalem. He is intent on throwing every single European out of the holy land. He is the hardest nut to crack of all.

Blondel Wouldn’t that be reason enough to first of all crack that nut?

Richard But, my dear minstrel, how on earth do you crack such a mountain of resistance and fanatic hatred?

Blondel My king, there is no art that does not crack any superior force.

Richard (somewhat impressed) Have some more wine, my friend. And then you will sing for me all night. I will have your art for myself and never show it to Saladin.

Blondel May I go out for a pee first?

Richard By all means, go out and do what you want, as long as you come back (Blondel goes out) and never let me down, for art is the only company in the loneliness of power and the only comfort in his desert of the terrible desolation of absolutism. (empties his cup and calls out:) Blondel!

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Scene 3.

Valeria Was Saladin equally disillusioned?

Blondel The case of Saladin was worse.

Valeria Tell me about him.

Blondel Saladin was a difficult man and impossible to come near.

Valeria Such men are always interesting. Those are the ones who know more than what is beneficial for others to know.

Blondel Pardon me, my lady, but why do you live here quite alone? Have you never had any husband?

Valeria No, I am alone. Such as Saladin and I stand out of time and belong only to eternity.

Blondel Did you know Saladin?

Valeria Not personally, but I understand him.

Blondel How can you understand him without having known him?

Valeria My friend, have some more wine.

Blondel That’s what king Richard also always told me for an answer to my questions.

Valeria Believe me, it’s the best of all possible answers. But tell me now about Saladin.

Blondel None of us really got to understand him at all, even if we like king Richard always respected him. No one respected him more than king Richard.

Valeria Why? Blondel Maybe that Richard and Saladin understood each other. Saladin died shortly after Richard had left the holy land, you know.

Valeria Why do you mean that he died?

Blondel He was old and wasted like everyyone else.

Valeria But someone among you must have come rather close to Saladin.

Blondel That would have been Sir Kenneth of Huntingdon in that case.

Valeria Who was that?

Blondel A noble knight that got into trouble. He was dishonoured by neglecting his duty as a guard. He had received the honorary commission of watching the British flag but was tempted off his guard, and while he was away someone desecrated the British flag.

Valeria A trap in other words.

Blondel Yes. Valeria And then Sir Kenneth escaped into the service of Saladin?

Blondel No, he was banned from the vicinity of king Richard with a threat of death if he ever showed himself again, but then Saladin took care of him.

Valeria Did Saladin take care of a banned Christian crusader?

Blondel Yes. Valeria Typical of Saladin. Well, how did it turn out?

Blondel Sir Kenneth later told it all to me.

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Act III scene 1.

Three men around a camp fire in the desert, a wild long-haired hermit, an Arabian physician (with a strong accent) and a dishonoured crusader.

Hermit Cheer up, my son. It’s only the world you have lost.

Physician Poor comfort for a Christian warrior who has lost his soul.

Kenneth If only it had been just the world and my soul that I had lost!

Hermit Is there some more, then?

Physician You must realize, Hamako, that he is really shattered.

Kenneth Theoderic of Engaddi, you were once a knight yourself, can’t you understand what it feels like to lose your honour?

Theoderic My son, I denounced it willingly. There was nothing more to it than vanity.

Kenneth Not when you lose it!

Physician But how did it happen? I can’t understand the cruelty which you Christians show each other.

Kenneth Cruelty! It was my own fault!

Theoderic It was the old usual crusader vanity. Our friend here was ordered by king Richard to guard the English banner as it was erected alone on St. George’s hill.

King Richard considered it threatened, since the French and the Germans thought their banners would be honoured the same way on the same hill. Well, the vain king Richard did not. And what happens then, when Sir Kenneth watches the English banner? Yes, he is tempted off his guard by a beautiful lady, his heart’s only beloved; but it appears, that the one who had used his beloved’s ring to lure him away was no one less than queen Berengaria, king Richard’s heartsick wife, just to provoke her husband. And while Sir Kenneth was fooled away by these wanton women, someone stole up and removed the banner from St. George’s hill. When king Richard learned about it he was so angry that he immediately sentenced Sir Kenneth to have his head cut off.

Physician And that’s the king whose life I saved.

Theoderic The worst thing is that that king is absolutely indifferent and insensitive to how he handles the lives of others.

Physician I don’t understand the constant division and envy among you Christians. Why did you come here across so many seas and lands under such ordeals if only to quarrel with each other?

Theoderic A good question, my learned El Hakim.

Kenneth We didn’t come here to quarrel. Every crusader came here only for the sake of glory.

Hakim Which is so easily lost by your wanton women’s intrigues?

Kenneth (angry) They were no wanton ladies! It was the queen and the king’s cousin, who is my life’s immortally beloved!

Hakim Pardon me, pardon me! Calm down, Sir Kenneth. I am not your enemy and never intend to be so, in contrary to your king and eventual other crusaders who want your head cut off. So it was lucky for you that I was in the vicinity, so that I

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could save your life from your chivalrous and impeccable king by accepting you as a slave in my service.

Kenneth Slave of a heathen! And for life! And without ever again being able to see my beloved Edith!

Hakim (to Theoderic) He is shattered. We must do something.

Theoderic Can you cure such malaises, El Hakim?

Hakim For the mind that is sharpened in the desert nothing is impossible. I have a plan. Can you playact, Sir Kenneth?

Kenneth If I must.

Hakim Are you good at controlling yourself?

Kenneth (proud) I did not mention the queen’s intrigues with one word. I did not defend myself with one word. I rather suffered death than exposed the queen’s pettiness.

Hakim I like that. That’s what I call figures in the higher school of self-control.

Listen, Sir Kenneth. Everything can work out well if you follow my advice exactly.

Kenneth May I hear your plan first?

Hakim I am on good standing with Saladin. I am his physician as well. I know him well and will initiate him in our plan. He will be certain to agree to it with pleasure. I am certain of it. Sir Kenneth, we will remake you into a Nubian deaf and dumb slave, whom we will send as a present to king Richard as an extra body-guard.

Richard and Saladin understand each other and appreciate each other. He will understand the complimentary gift, especially since he is well aware of that both Germans and Franks among the crusaders would gladly see him assassinated. He couldn’t have a better body-guard than a Sir Kenneth Huntingdon that no one would recognize.

Theoderic A master plan, El Hakim. But can it succeed?

Kenneth How can you make me unrecognizable?

Hakim Simple. Take off your clothes.

(He claps his hands. Enter a servant with a desert suit: a leopard cloth over shoulders and hips and an Arabic turban. Hakim applies a small can and a pellet which he dips in the can and uses to colour Kenneth’s face.)

It’s the right Nubian colour. Our friend will be unrecognizable immediately.

Then it’s just up to him to stick to his part.

Theoderic Do you mean, El Hakim, that you are a physician to both Richard Lionheart and Saladin and that you pass freely between their camps?

Hakim Under certain measures of precaution, of course. (The masking of Sir Kenneth continues during the following.)

Theoderic Are you then a spy of Saladin’s?

Hakim (smiles) No, my friend, I am no spy. Saladin knows without my help everything that goes on in the camp of the crusaders, and Richard Lionheart knows that he knows. I am rather a sort of peace-maker. Saladin wants nothing more than peace.

Theoderic That’s what everyone would prefer.

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Hakim The challenge is to achieve a peace that everyone could accept.

Theoderic How far have the negotiations reached?

Hakim Our friend here knows, who has been himself a messenger to Saladin.

Kenneth The very latest is, that Saladin not only offers peace but also free access for all Christian pilgrims to all the sacred sites of Jerusalem and outside and the title of protective King of Jerusalem for Richard Lionheart.

Theoderic Those are generous terms. Has king Richard accepted?

Kenneth The problem is the other crusaders and especially the Templars with Konrad of Monferrato, who by any means wish to vanquish Jerusalem by violence, and that is also king Richard’s highest ambition. But they are at odds as to who should be given the title king of Jerusalem.

Hakim In that way none of them will ever enter Jerusalem.

Theoderic Who would most deserve the title king of Jerusalem if the city were taken?

Kenneth In my view it would be the old cautious Guy de Lusignan. That would also be the only wise choice diplomatically.

Hakim (ready with his masking and proud of the result) Well, Hamako! What do you think? Have I succeeded?

Theoderic Splendid! No one could ever believe that this Nubian slave was once related with the royal house of Scotland!

Kenneth Now you have taken everything away form me and even my face. May I at least in my heart continue to be a Christian?

Hakim My friend, the great prophet Mohammed wished to convert all to Islam by force if necessary. I disclaim such aggressive religious politics. The Arabian Allah, the allpowerful lord of the Hebrews and the Christian God are all one and the same.

No one can ever become a Muslim unless he wishes himself to be one. And since the religion of the Hebrews and the Christians is older than Islam, I see no logic reason for Jews or Christians to ever become Muslims.

Theoderic As wisely spoken as if from Saladin’s own mouth.

Hakim Of course, I had it from him.

Kenneth I am satisfied. I will play the act and wage my life as my king’s deaf and dumb Nubian slave without letting my secret across my lips if necessary. Thanks for allowing me to keep my soul.

Hakim No one can take that away from you, my friend.

Theoderic But how are things at Ashkalon now? What do the various Christian princes have to say about Saladin’s proposal? What is the general inclination?

Scene 2. The Christian camp.

(All the princes are gathered for a conference. Only Richard is absent.)

Leopold (rising) As representaive of the highest worldly power, his glorious majesty the emperor Henry VI of the Roman holy empire of the German nation, and as archduke of Austria, I consider myself called upon to introduce these discussions of sultan Saladin’s latest proposal of peace. Never imagine, gentlemen, that I ever

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wanted any quarrel with king Richard Lionheart of Normandy. But don’t believe either that I ever appreciated his capriciousness or ever was an admirer of his wild temper. I call Heaven as witness that I know nothing about this new trouble about the theft of the British banner from St. George’s hill. I am inofficially informed that king Richard’s own chosen guard was cheated to leave his guard by the temptations of a secret mistress and that someone then took the opportunity to remove the unguarded banner. I don’t know anything more. I swear myself free from any responsibility. Thereby I give the word to our most honoured brother king Philip August of France. (retires) (great consternation among all) Konrad Your majesty, you can’t pull out now, when we at last are ready to reclaim Jerusalem!

Philip (coldly) Do you think so, Konrad of Monferrato? You have still not succeeded in taking a stone out of Jerusalem, while you have wasted your energy on arguing about who should have the title king of Jerusalem while Saladin only scornfully smiles at your disunity and discord. I am tired of all your internal quarrels and don’t believe any more in a positive conquest of Jerusalem.

Grand Master of the Templars Your majesty, your grace (to the archduke) and other brothers of the crusade, I have never seen our internal differences of mind as the main obstacle to our target, the conquest of Jerusalem, but the greatest obstruction of our cause has always been king Richard Lionheart’s impossible attitude. The latest row of the flag has only been the latest symptom. King Richard is incalculable. He doesn’t know himself what he wants, he is hopelessly arrogant, he blows up for nothing and will go berserk with anyone who dares to displease him, and at the same time he claims the right of being the all powerful and only leader of the entire crusade, and strikes down on anyone who doesn’t agree to be less good. In brief, he is an uncouth bear and is not fit for leadership for so many men.

Richard (has entered) Then you lose the opportunity of that honour, Philip.

Philip Take the city then without my help, if you can! It’s all yours! It’s just lying there waiting for you! Pluck it as a ripe fruit! Please yourselves with it! It’s only waiting for you!

Richard We will, Philip, whatever brother Leopold of Austria and Konrad of Monferrato and the Grand Master of the Templars may find out to sabotage the enterprise!

Leopold (rising) This is intolerable!

Richard (at once) Don’t you think I know that you negotiated with Saladin behind my back about a separate peace deal?

Konrad We only want to secure what we already have won.

Richard And what have you won in this country without me? And all that, you now wish to secure for yourselves behind my back to leave me out!

Grand Master (sighs) Here he goes again.

Philip Gentlemen! Gentlemen! Can’t you see the situation? Here we have a brilliant peace proposal directly from Saladin himself, and instead of regarding it and

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debating it, you immediately fly at each others’ throats in wild arguments and senseless accusations and abuse! This desert is no sand-box for children! (silence) Leopold Brother Philip is right. Why don’t we listen to what Saladin might have to say?

Richard (makes a great effort) I know all about Saladin’s proposal, so I had better immediately shed light on its interesting points and its disadvantage. He most generously promises Jerusalem to us as an open city to all Christian pilgrims with other sacred pilgrim sites all over the country, and he wants me as a protective king for Jerusalem. So his wish is in unequalled magnanimity that we should get on well together about Jerusalem in peace.

Philip (can’t believe his ears) But that is wonderful! Who could possibly have anything against it? What more could we wish for? The only thing we actually really wanted was the church of the holy sepulchre!

Leopold It almost sounds too goof to be true. Brother Richard, what is the problem?

Richard As a seal on the reconciliation and fraternization between the Christian and the Moslem religion and mentality, Saladin suggests, that his brother would confirm the pact of friendship in marriage with the queen of Naples, my sister. (some murmurs) Leopold Thus a matrimony between a heathen prince and a Christian princess?

And what position does her brother take to that idea?

Richard It would have been possible, if Saladin’s brother then had moved to Naples and become a Christian. But if it means that my sister must move to Arabia to become a muslim harem lady, it is unfortunately impossible.

Philip Religious and political deadlock, in other words.

Richard Exactly, brother Philip.

Philip I am glad I have pulled out.

Richard And what about the rest of you? Are you equally pusillanimous? Do you give up Jerusalem that easily? We can still take it by force! Saladin has nothing to put against our united armies, and if we just could gather them together against Jerusalem, the matter would be settled. Does not such an impertinent and insulting offer by Saladin, such a humiliating outrage against our Christian faith and my own royal sister, deserve that we retaliate with a vengeance?

Konrad I stand with Richard in this. Such an outrageous insult cannot be tolerated.

Leopold Richard, you are right! Let the Turk devil and the faithless dogs have their genitals cut off in their own blasted harems in the sight of their ladies!

More and more Against Jerusalem!

Others Richard, lead us against Jerusalem!

(The meeting is concluded in enthusiasm, and Richard is carried out in triumph.

Only Philip shrugs his head and retires.)

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Scene 3.

Valeria So the peace went down the drain just because the crusaders were so retarded, stupid and vain.

Blondel You speak as if you were a Muslim.

Valeria Saladin just wanted to achieve something good. He was only constructive, while the crusaders only wanted to destroy and satisfy their greed.

Blondel How do you know? Did you know Saladin?

Valeria No, but I must have known him in another lifetime.

Blondel What do you mean?

Valeria Don’t you know anything about the transmigration of souls and reincarnation?

Blondel I have heard about it. But that is something that belongs in India, isn’t it?

Valeria It touches all humanity. But you must believe me, that Saladin meant no harm.

Blondel Not even when he conquered Jerusalem and took it away from us?

Valeria You took it from the Arabs. They took it back. That was not more than reasonable. But after having taken it back, Saladin offered it as a gift to the Christians, but they refused it. Instead they made war against the generous donor Saladin, giving him no answer but swords and violence. That broke his heart.

Blondel How so? Did he give up?

Valeria Don’t you know anything about it?

Blondel No. When we left Acre we assumed that he would soon retake all the harbour cities one by one.

Valeria He didn’t. He died instead of grief and disappointment over the false and weak hearts of Richard and the other crusaders.

Blondel You know more abut this than I. Valeria But have some more wine, young Blondel. We still have many nights ahead together. We have many stories still to tell. It could up to a thousand and more, if we use our time well.

Blondel (drinks) Why not?

Valeria A wise response, master Blondel. Tell me now about the Leopard knight.

Blondel Who? Valeria The so called Kenneth Huntingdon, the royal Scotsman, who loved Richard Lionheart’s cousin, he, who later converted to islam.

Blondel Did he? I know nothing about that.

Valeria Like the fair Philip August of France he tired of the petty quarrels and constant fights between the crusaders. He got exonerated as a deaf and dumb Nubian slave by first saving Richard Lionheart’s life from an assassin and then by the help of his dog finding out who stole the banner from St. George’s hill only to split the crusaders. It was that exposure which led to the murder of Konrad of Monferrato, since he and the Grand Master of the Templars were involved in the intrigue – don’t ask me how, but both died in mysterious circumstances. Then the whole crusade

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collapsed, and Richard gave up and went home. But what finally broke him down was his favourite Sir Kenneth Huntingdon’s treachery against him.

Blondel I always wondered what happened. Do you know?

Valeria King Richard gave him full restitution as thanks for having saved his life twice and for having exposed the violator of the English banner, and he gave him even his cousin for a wife in gratitude. But as soon as they were married they ran off out into the desert.

Blondel How is it possible?

Act IV scene 1.

The exotic cave of the hermit.

(Kenneth and Edith kneeling seeking protection with the hermit.)

Theoderic I can’t approve of your action, but you have come to me as confessors, and I can never give you away. But we must discuss the matter thoroughly.

Kenneth For our part the matter is clear, father. We can’t accept a religion which justifies violence in the name of religion.

Theoderic Is Islam a better alternative?

Kenneth No, we denounce both Christianity and Islam.

Theoderic Do you then want to become Jews?

Kenneth Both Christianity and Islam come from Jewry, which was the first religion to in the name of God justify violence.

Theoderic But doesn’t the fifth command in the second book of Moses expressly say: You shall not kill?

Edith That’s just the thing and the double standard that we reject.

Theoderic So you don’t wish to belong to any religion?

Kenneth In the name of love we wish to renounce all violence. Is there no religion doing that?

Theoderic That’s precisely what Christianity does.

Kenneth And therefore the Christians consider themselves justified in slaughtering all non-Christians in the world and force them to be baptized under threat of death by the sword if they won’t.

Theoderic The Christians learned that mentality from the Muslims.

Kenneth And what about you, father? Didn’t you yourself detach yourself from the Christian world because of its violence?

Theoderic And therefore I live in a monastery. The monastery is the only solution for you, my children. And then you must renounce your marriage.

Kenneth Is there no middle way?

Hakim (entering suddenly) Pardon my intrusion, my good friends, but I happened to be here as a guest, when our friend Hamako here called on me when he heard that you would come.

Kenneth Doctor Hakim!

Hakim (humbly) At your service, my youths.

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Kenneth (presents him to Edith) This Arabian doctor saved my honour and the king’s life. Saladin himself offered his science as a present to the king, and he accepted it and was temporarily cured. Then followed my dishonour…

Edith It was my fault.

Kenneth But Hakim saved me by taking care of me, masking me as Nubian deaf and dumb slave and gave me as a present to the king as a special body-guard. As such I could avert an attempt against the king’s life and expose a political conspiracy.

That’s why king Richard allowed us to marry.

Edith So this doctor Hakim is to blame for everything.

Kenneth He is the noblest soul I have ever known. Can you solve our problem, learned Hakim?

Hakim My friends, I have struggled with that problem myself all my life. What is true in the New Testament, which was written down not until 30 and 70 years after the prophet Isa Ben Miryam? If Isa Ben Miryam was such a true and learned prophet, why didn’t he write his preaching himself, so that we could have had it uncorrupted?

And what was really the matter with his resurrection? Did he die or did he not? The Arabs suggest that he only apparently died and explain the resurrection, that his own friends carried him unconscious out of the grave and saved him, and that is also the opinion of the Jews. But the problems are even greater concerning our prophet Mohammed. He was a criminal robber who attacked caravans and used extortion to make the caravan people convert to his preaching. He banned Jews and Christians from Mecca and Medina. His god Allah was from the beginning just an Arabic local god, whom the prophet elevated to the same status and identity as the god of the Jews. Most things in the Quran he stole from the Bible of the Hebrews. In brief, he was just a religious copyist and adventurer.

Theoderic Are you an Arab proclaiming this?

Hakim No, my friend, I happen to be Kurd.

Kenneth So what should we do?

Hakim What do you intend to do?

Kenneth Keep away out here in the desert until we have reached some clarity.

Hakim For your own sake, I ask you to return with king Richard to Europe and England.

Kenneth Should we then accept the limitless hypocrisy of the Christian church?

Hakim Do you have any choice? Do you think you could wreck it? Do you think I could wreck Islam? Do you think that even the all-powerful sultan Saladin could wreck Islam to make a better religion? No, my friends, if Saladin or I or you made a new better religion than Islam and it had any success, it would soon just like Christianity and Islam derail and become a new arbitrary religion like all the others.

Theoderic You seem to know much about Saladin, my good doctor. Is he as critical as you against Islam?

Hakim Yes, even more. Islam is his life’s greatest disappointment. Only one disappointment grew even worse.

Theoderic Which?

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Hakim Richard Lionheart.

Theoderic Tell us.

Hakim He thought he and Richard Lionheart could reach an agreement. He believed in a unification between Islam and Christianity. He thought the corruption of both religions could be overcome and cured. He regarded your crusades as a wonderful opportunity for a dialogue between west and east, between Christianity and Islam. And you had the most brilliant leader in the world of your enterprise, a fantastic man, with both the courage and the heart of a lion. Just such a name, Lionheart, made me retreat out of admiration of his being. But when it came to determination, he preferred violence to peace, hatred to love and the folly of vanity to the patient afterthought of eternal wisdom.

(Theoderic, Kenneth and Edith have all marvelled at his revelation.)

I am sorry. I spoke too much. The game is over. How is it you Europeans say? It’s time to remove the masks. Yes, I am a man of great disillusions. No one is more painfully aware than I of how my own indefeasible religion Islam hopelessly derailed from the beginning, and my bitter disappointment is with all mankind. Still I didn’t give up but searched for some hope among men. I learned the physician’s science and healing art and started to treat people’s ailments anonymously to know man better, and I learned your lingua franca to learn to understand you crusaders.

As an Arabic doctor with lingua franca I could find my way in to even the death bed of Richard Lionheart. Yes, he was actually dying, and it was my joy to be able to rescue his life. I saw him as the hope for humanity and for saving both my and your religion. I thought that we two together could bring forth a new better religion free from all the stains and dross of Christianity and Islam. So I cured him, which made him presumptuous enough to reject my peace proposition. I wanted to give him everything, and he just ignored this perhaps most wonderful chance in history for something good. (silence) Theoderic Do you know why he rejected the peace proposition?

Hakim No, I could never understand it. Did he have any reason?

Kenneth It was your offer of a marriage between his sister and your brother. Why did you have to make that proposal?

Hakim (with a sigh) So that’s why he said no. The old usual proud inflexible western racism.

I had to make it. It was a test. I had reason to mistrust all people. You can’t take anything for granted, especially not in politics, and assume that the other party is without guile. My vision of our united religions could only be accomplished if the proud Christianity could lay off its arrogance.

Kenneth Richard would have agreed to the proposal if your brother had agreed to go to Naples and become a Christian. Would your brother have agreed to that?

Hakim Never. It would have been an impossibility.

Kenneth In the same way it was impossible for us to accept that king Richard’s sister would have been made an Arabic princess in Arabia.

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Theoderic Was the proposition really necessary?

Hakim In our Oriental world all pacts of friendship are sealed with a marriage between the parties as a solidification of the union and as a security for it to last.

Theoderic Don’t you then see the difference between our religions, o thou wonderful great and wise servant of man?

Hakim Explain it to me, holy hermit.

Theoderic Our female ideal is the holy virgin. Isa Ben Miryam himself never had any sexual intercourse with women. He was above sexuality. In the same way our church tries to keep above sexuality to avoid being dragged down by its weakness and dirt. For you it’s the contrary. Your prophet required four wives and had a number of extra maids in addition, who were not just washer-women. He legislated that all moslem men should be allowed four wives and to be able to divorce any one of them for the slightest reason and even to have them executed for infidelity when needed. At the same time he made it a law that an Arabic woman may only divorce her husband if she can produce four witnesses to his infidelity. Is it fair, o great prince of peace of the world, you the noblest man of all?

Hakim I have already confessed my disillusion and disappointment.

Theoderic But was it then necessary to bring up the idea? You had everything: peace, the agreement, the understanding, the political solution, demilitarization, but then you also had to demand a Christian wife for a Muslim. That was also the weakness of your great prophet: for him sex was imperative to religion. But we can only see a religion without sex as sacred.

Saladin You holiest hermit, you open to me an abyss in exposing the supreme human weakness and limitation of our religion.

Theoderic And we have come to terms with the tragedy of the crusades and reached an end on it.

Saladin(resigns) So my dear young ones, what will you do?

Kenneth Great Saladin, we will follow your advice and follow king Richard home to England.

Saladin And religiously? How will you solve your Christian moral problem?

Kenneth The crusades were an effort and a good effort. They prove by their historical reality that new efforts can be made.

Salain (with beaming eyes) To in spite of all realize my visions?

Kenneth It is not in our power. But it might be in the future.

Saladin Yes, that hope remains for us.

Theoderic The ancient Greeks knew well enough, that hope is the last thing that dies in man.

Saladin And as I see it her only hope is cooperation, especially between Islam and Christianity, for they are the world’s two greatest and most dynamic religions.

To go on fighting century after century, as we have been doing now for almost a hundred years since you first came across the seas, is just excessively silly and selfdestructive. I myself have failed. Richard Lionheart was my hope, my great hope, and it went out, perhaps in spite of all by my own eastern vanity, perhaps by his

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presumption, probably by both. I will not wish to go on living after he has left the country, for I see no hope among your Christian leaders after him.

Edith But what will come of it then? You are after all the leader of Islam and has the highest responsibility.

Saladin I will tell you exactly what will happen. You leave the country, and I die.

Gradually my successors will reconquer Ashkalon, Tyrus, Haifa and Acre. Muslims and Christians will return to being hopeless strangers and enemies to each other, since our religion never can accept or even understand the Christian ideal of virtue, chastity and purity, which we must consider insane, since it prevents children from being born, why we in time must get the upper hand on Christianity. We will dominate the Mediterranean and gradually vanquish the Byzantine empire bit by bit, until we might storm even Constantinople and break into Greece and perhaps expand in Europe and reach Hungary and Vienna. It depends on what happens in the far east, where the Mongols are pressing us. Your only hope and ours and that of the future, as I see it, would be if there could arise some leader among you who could make and win his way in to Jerusalem by peaceful means, diplomacy and reason. If he then could reform your Christianity it could save your world and religion and civilization, while I could hardly believe that Islam ever could be reformed, since not a letter of our angry holy simplistic book could be altered, while you Christians always bring forth new Christian philosophers and thinkers who are eager to renew your church. There is hope for you but not for us. (silence) It is late. I have given myself away. I shouldn’t have done that. But now it’s too late. I must break it up.

Kenneth Farewell, great venerable enlightened prince. To have met you and be able to associate with you carries greater weight with me than all my association with the wild Lionheart.

Saladin Thank you, my friend. Take well care of your wife, and never deceive her.

Edith We will miss you. I still hope you will stay on as the regent of the east as long as possible.

Saladin My days are counted, my child.

Theoderic Thanks for your confidence, you noblest of princes. Perhaps our different religions still one day might reach an agreement.

Saladin In the long run that’s the only thing that could save the world. Thanks and farewell, holy hermit. Don’t exaggerate your mortifications. (leaves) Kenneth We have had the privilege of associating with the great Saladin. He came to us as a poor doctor.

Edith We shall never forget him.

Theoderic May the world never forget him.

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Act V scene 1.

Valeria The rest is history. Saladin died only half a year after you had left the holy land. He died as he had lived in pious magnanimity and humble modesty.

Blondel As befits the greatest and noblest of princes. But it gives me pain to hear, my lady, that he died so forlorn. I never thought that possible. But how do you know?

Valeria Don’t bother about that. Go home to your king instead. He needs you.

Blondel Have you so quickly tired of my company?

Valeria My friend, I allow you to leave for your own good. Or else the risk is that you will remain here forever. You like it too well here, and I also enjoy your company too well. Three days is set as the limit in the east for unreserved hospitality.

After three days the guest should go on or become one of the family. It would be wise of you not to become one of my family. (Blondel wants to protest, Valeria averts it with a sign.) And your king needs you. He expects you at Durenstein.

Blondel So you give me leave just like that?

Valeria Yes, my friend. I had the power to keep you here, there are rumours about me and my family that we are vampires and that our guests never are seen to leave our castle, but the finest families are always disparaged. Go home to England with your king and save at least England. The rest of the world is lost.

Blondel Does my king know that I am here?

Valeria He knows that you are on your way to him.

Blondel (rises intuitively) What am I then waiting for? My king is expecting me! I must go at once!

Valeria Yes, my friend, do so, before I change my mind.

Blondel Thanks for your wonderful hospitality, my good lady. I will at least see to it that you will never be disparaged.

Valeria I hope so indeed.

Blondel (kisses her hand and leaves) For me you are just a great unfathomable mystery, but perhaps that was the way it was meant to be.

Valeria You are welcome to look at it that way, my friend. You had better make haste now. (Blondel takes his violin and leaves.)

(Valeria waits and sits alone for some time before she rises and claps her hands. One of the noble servants enters immediately.)

Valeria Let the coffin be carried in.

(The servant bows and leaves. Soon four servants carry in a coffin draped in a banner with the cross of St. George: the coffin of a crusader.)

Leave me alone with him.

(The servants bow courteously and leave.)

(When Valeria is alone with the coffin she flings herself across it in wild grief with heartrending lamentation, crying bitterly.)

Theoderic! Theoderic! Why did you abandon me! Why was I not allowed to keep you! (cries and laments most grievously, then gradually calms down.)

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You never learned that, my young minstrel. The hermit of Engaddi was my husband, and now he is dead. The coffin arrived here just before you. He never loved me, our marriage was settled by our families, since he was unluckily in love with a common girl, who therefore was sent by her family to a convent. As a nun she followed the crusaders to Palestine as a nurse. Theoderic learned about it and therefore took the cross. He found his life’s only love in the end, but then she was dead. She lies buried in his hermit’s cave, where he took her and buried her to forever reject our society and the crusades and everything that separated him from her. There he cried for her every day as an ascetic hermit until he died of mortification and his grief. Now he has come home, but I accuse all Christianity and its ideal of purity and virtue, for I loved him! They took him away from me!

Why then did I allow him to leave? A man must be allowed his freedom, women must never stand in the way of his self-indulgence. May he be mad, as long as he may be able to love! Call his madness what you want, call it Christianity or Islam, call it crusades or war, call it music or poetry, but allow him free reins with his madness, for only that way he will remain a child for us women to be able to love.

Theoderic, my husband, let me now grieve myself to death over you, like you methodically and intentionally cried out your heart for an unhappy nun. And let our grief account for all humanity with all its follies, especially Christianity and Islam with all their deranged crusades and eternal wars, which they only indulge in by eternal self-destructive vanity. May they some time at last reach an end, so that we women finally on one day may keep our men. (embraces the coffin with all her dying passion.)

Curtain.

(Berlin, Budapest, Sofia, Istanbul 11-17.3.1997, translated winter 2020, completed February 1st)

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The Lady of the Lake Dramatization of the poem by Walter Scott

by Christian Lanciai (2006) The characters: Ellen Douglas James Fitz-James Margaret Douglas Allan-Bane, the family minstrel of the Douglas clan Roderick Dhu, warrior chief of the Highlands James of Douglas Malcolm Graeme Roderick Dhu’s and Douglas’ followers Brian the hermit Murdoch, a guide Blanche of Devan Herbert and three other servants in green A prison guard Another guard Court people 32

The action is in Scotland by Loch Katrine and the castle Stirling during the reign of James V in the 16th century.

Copyright © Christian Lanciai 2006

Act I scene 1. A very rustic home in the Highlands.

The door is opened from the outside by Ellen, showing in her guest.

Ellen Come in, my friend! Our house is always open to you with everything it could have to offer.

James My lovely maid, you offer me your own home without even knowing who I am.

Ellen It’s our custom here in the Highlands to first make the guest feel well at ease and at home before we start asking any questions.

James Your hospitality is irresistible, and I almost feel forced into accepting it.

(Exactly as he enters, a handsome sword falls down from a sheathe above the door where it has been hung on the trophy of a stag. The sword dances down to James’ feet. He halts himself, regards the sword, then lifts it up and tries it.) This is a warning. Someone else greets me welcome with a heavier language than you, my lovely Ellen. I don’t know anyone who can swing such an impressing sword as this except one man.

Ellen I am his ward, but he is himself gone away. It’s careless of him to throw his sword up so casually that it could fall out of its sheathe and hurt the first best guest who would enter! (takes care of the sword, restores it in its sheathe and puts it out of reach.)

Margaret (enters) Have you brought a guest, my Ellen?

Ellen Yes, ít must be the noble stranger who Allan-Bane saw in his vision, whom we were commended to take well care of in every way.

Margaret How did he get here?

James Alas, let me explain myself. I and my company chased a stag, but the stag was too fast and clever for us, and both the dogs and my followers were left behind. When I stubbornly pursued my chase all alone, the brave stag succeeded in breaking my horse’s wind, so I had no choice but to abandon my valiant comrade, the faithful courser, to the crows.

Ellen It was the broken horse than Allan-Bane saw.

Margaret So you are a Lowlander?

James I found myself tricked up here in the Highlands by myself, my eagerness for hunting and my stubbornness. And as I was not at home here I was completely lost until I heard this lovely voice from the lake, who thought my noise came from some Malcolm or her father.

Margaret Your name, Sir?

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James Fitz-James, with James also as surname.

Margaret Allan-Bane never sees wrong. He saw that you were a highborn nobleman and knew what he said when he commended us to give you everything.

James I thank you from my heart.

Margaret But you must be exhausted after the hunt, which you must have pursued for several miles.

James I drove my horse to his death by my reckless hunt and abandoned myself to an alien land of strangers while only the stag triumphed.

Margaret He is of the Highlands and owns his freedom here, like we all do who live here.

James Your overwhelming hospitality is without doubt a sign of the soundness of your freedom.

Margaret Yes, we live soundly and correctly who live freely. You may sleep here on the fur by the fireplace. It’s the warmest and cosiest place in the house.

James It’s more than I deserve.

Ellen Don’t be modest. We treat all strangers the same way.

James I can only thank you with all my heart. I am completely worn out, I notice now, after the strain of the hunt and your soothing entertainment.

Ellen We are all tired. Come, mother. Allow the stranger to retire back into his loneliness to find his peace in pleasant and beneficial dreams.

(The ladies retire.)

James (relaxes on the fur) Dreams! What dreams could result from this? The sword that welcomed me with a warning, Ellen’s looks, complexion and revealing plaid, and the housewife’s integrity and dignity – it all speaks of Douglas, Douglas, Douglas! My life’s torturer in the form of a constantly worse conscience and agony for all that I have cost others for just being what I am – my destiny has brought me to Douglas’ own home, which his family generously has opened to me without reservations, the one they would have most reasons enough to wish dead! Well, if I in any way will be able, I shall for Ellen’s sake in the future try to restore something of what I have broken and the sensitive balance in their and the Highlanders’ life that only I have disturbed. Welcome, nightmares! Let me dream of my irreconcilable friend Douglas! (stretches out. The scene fades out.)

Scene 2. By the shore.

Ellen and Allan-Bane.

Ellen You warned me of him but still asked us to look after and take care of him well.

Allan-Bane Yes, for security, but it would have been better still if he never had come.

All we know about him is that he carries a secret, and his assumed name is probably just assumed – it doesn’t say anything about who he is, while all decent and honest people have a family name.

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Ellen He seems well educated though and polite and has no harm in his mind, and his story about how he happened to come here is probably all correct – the frustrating stag hunt, the horse that broke his wind which you found yourself, and how he never has been to these parts before.

Allan-Bane He is a Lowlander which is bad enough to raise all the deepest suspicions. Expect bad fortune from lowlander pride. That’s all I can say.

Ellen But I hear familiar and warlike cries from the lake.

Allan-Bane It is Roderick Dhu with his following.

Ellen My suitor, whom I am compelled to marry, although I only love Malcolm.

Allan-Bane Our chief, the hard Roderick Dhu dominates the Highlands completely with his hard long acquired power. That he proposed to you must demand a yes for an answer, for a refusal would be impossible. He would take you anyway.

Ellen I must see it in as bright a light as possible. Only he could defeat the Lowlanders and perhaps at last give our house Douglas back their rights.

Allan-Bane That’s how you must see it, and Roderick Dhu is now in his very strongest position and intends to give decisive battles against the Lowland tyranny in your name. If he defeats them you could be queen of Scotland.

Ellen I would rather stay up here in the mountains and go hunting with Malcolm Graeme.

Allan-Bane Unfortunately, Ellen, you must sacrifice your own good for the best of others.

Ellen I doubt that we could know what is best for all, but we always know the best for ourselves. To bet on the best of all is therefore an uncertain bet, while if you can fulfil your own happiness you have a better possibility to spread and transport that happiness to others.

Allan-Bane Maybe you are right. But I fear a threat against our happiness in the presence of the stranger here, since he very well could be a spy for the government.

Ellen He is too honest for such things. And we never had any secrets to anyone. There is nothing here for anyone to spy out.

Allan-Bane His mere presence is ominous enough, especially considering the reaction of your father’s sword on his entrance in our house.

Ellen Father was always careless with that sword.

Allan-Bane Still it never fell out until a Lowlander stranger with a secret came uninvited and crossed the threshold.

Ellen We listen to you, Allan-Bane, and we hear your advice and try to obey it, even when it is most abstruse and ambiguous.

Allan-Bane Here is now Roderick Dhu. Receive your suitor well, virgin Ellen, for he might not last very long.

Ellen Allan, your meaning is more abstruse and ambiguous than ever.

Roderick (enters, a grand stately but brutal warrior chief) Greetings, my lovely virgin and my becoming consort, as I hope. (kisses her hand but coarsely.)

Ellen Shouldn’t you first of all greet my father?

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Douglas (a worthy and noble middle-aged man, entering with the young Malcolm) My friend, welcome to our exile here on our island, as far away from all civilization and politics as possible.

Margaret (comes forth eagerly to greet) Roderick, welcome, the hope of the Highlands and of Scotland!

Roderick I hope indeed to realize that, but not without your help, Douglas.

Douglas That’s something we’ll have to discuss.

Ellen (discovers Malcolm in Douglas’ following, flings herself round his neck) Malcolm Graeme, my hero! But where have you been so long?

Malcolm (a handsome young man with all good qualities) Dear Ellen, wherever I have been, my only occupation has been to long for you. Fortunately I had your father near by.

Roderick (to Douglas) It is me she should embrace and greet with so spontaneous warmth, and not that upstart milksop.

Douglas He is as indispensable to our future as you yourself, Sir Roderick. But please enter now and partake in our gathering, so that we may offer you all we can of our hospitality. Mother Margaret has made the table ready and prepared the banquet, which only misses you and your men, Sir Roderick.

Roderick As usual, Douglas, you excel all the nobility that your family already has represented for centuries.

Douglas If I do so I have succeeded in my intention to entertain my guests to some satisfaction. Now, all at table, comrades! The ale is waiting for us, and the ousquebaugh!

(All go up to the house. Roderick and Malcolm cast eyes at each other when Ellen keeps close to Malcolm and watches Roderick with shyness. Allan-Bane follows as the last man and with heavy steps.)

Scene 3. The party.

All enjoy what is served, and the mood is excellent.

Roderick (rises with his cup) As usual, Douglas, you have surpassed not only yourself but everything we expected of your excellent and boundless hospitality. It is an honour for us to have you as a friend and ally, and thereby I wished to take the opportunity to affirm our alliance by solemnly confirming my faithfulness to your house for life by in the presence of so many witnesses trouble you with at last granting me a promise of your daughter’s hand. I must insist on my proposal and on the impossibility for you to decline this, since we must be united in a final settlement with the haughty king.

(Malcolm rises upset, Ellen calms him and makes him resume his seat. Douglas rises.)

Douglas My friend, it’s not the first time you propose to my daughter, but since you now do it so demonstrably I must at last give you an answer. No one has any right to decide who my daughter will have for her husband except Ellen herself, and

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even if I wanted you for my son-in-law, I would never have the right to give my daughter away to a man she couldn’t love. She has the last word, and I don’t even have the first. For the second, I could never go with you to war against the king. As a prince he was under my protection, I taught him sports and fighting arts, I was like a father to him, and you demand that I go to war against him. My simple answer is never, whatever he may have done as a king to wrong our clan. I would then rather remain in exile and quietly retire in a monastery, forget name and honour and become a hermit, than take part even in a word against the king.

Roderick Do you then prefer to be called a coward by healthier highlanders and clans, who don’t demand more than justice and what is right?

Douglas It’s not cowardice. It’s only precaution or even fear, if you like, for I have a spy of the king’s concealed and lodged in my house.

Ellen (rising) A stranger and guest is sacred and in the asylum of hospitality. Nothing can touch him, and if he is a stranger, that is no proof that he is a spy. On the contrary, as a lost stranger exposed in a wild land of rebels and brutal bellicose trouble-makers he is as vulnerable and innocent as a child, and we have no right even to ask him questions. He may be whatever he is in peace, God knows how unprotected he is, and our duty as his hosts is to protect him against everything.

Concerning your proposal, Sir Roderick, I thank you for the honour of being desired and loved by you, but I can never mobilize any tender feelings for you, since you by your ambitious and aggressive hardness make yourself the opposite of everything I found worth loving in another. And you have no right to even try to press or force my family with you into the war.

Roderick Nothing can stop the war, I already sent the burning message of the cross abroad to the clans, and it would have been wiser of your family to take a stand here for our right cause than to be driven over, ignored and despised by both the king, the Lowlands and your own Highland friends.

Malcolm (rises, upset, can’t control himself any longer) And what warrants do you have for your rebellion to succeed, you seducer of the people and villain professing power? How can you promise that you don’t just lead all your men to death? And what is your right except presumption and egoism?

Roderick You whelp, you don’t speak like that to a chieftain! We had better settle this at once! Let’s see which one of us is most deserving of the sweet Ellen! (produces his long battle-axe, and Malcolm just as eagerly pulls his sword.)

Douglas Stop! The first man here to lift any weapon to harm another is my enemy forever! Control yourselves! You are both breaking the most sacred law of hospitality as guests by drawing weapons to fight in the house of your own host!

Roderick (furious, lays his axe aside) I find it impossible to remain here. My friend, we remain sworn allies whether you take part in our war of rights or not. But we leave you and your family in peace, since you obviously don’t wish to have anything to do with us.

Douglas We remain faithful to you as your friends and to the king as his subjects.

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Roderick Says you, who suffered most and was the most humiliated of all by him! (leaves in frustration with his men) Malcolm (to Ellen) That was a sad end to this party. When this wild chief sends around his clan message with burning crosses as a call to war, my family and clan will not be kindly seen and might even be exposed to persecution for disloyalty. I had better go to them and bring them to safety.

Ellen You leave us in a moment of need?

Malcolm The moment of need that brought us closer together than any welfare could have done. This separation, my love, is just a prelude to our future and our love. We must both first of all take care of our own to later, when we have survived, also be able to devote ourselves to deeper matters of importance.

Ellen All crises will just transcend into better times.

Malcolm That’s what I mean. (Ellen flings herself crying in her father’s arms.)

Douglas Ellen, all our security lies in the one fact that we keep ourselves innocent and honest.

Malcolm (to Allan-Bane) Farewell, you most faithful of hearts, the soul and comfort of your clan and family! I promise you, that I shall never give up until I fought myself to the right of all of us with the king, that the Douglas family once more shall have its right position restored to them. The hard Sir Roderick has nothing to demand of us, and we owe nothing to his pretensions. Tell him that, for he like everyone else will listen to you, for only you will reach all the way into even the hardest Scottish hearts with your song. Remain our comfort, my good Allan-Bane, when tragedy strikes and the earth starts shaking in convulsions of destruction.

Allan-Bane Like the truth, the music will never fall silent.

Malcolm Yes, carry on like that. Farwell. (departs. Ellen remains in the arms of her father. Douglas comforts her. Margaret sighs and starts cleaning up after the sudden departure of everybody.)

Act II scene 1. Back by the shore.

The chiefs are assembled around a fire with the hermit Brian.

Brian The oath is sworn, and whoever breaks it is condemned! Our holy alliance of war is valid until the war is won or ended, and if anyone breaks the alliance and oath before the war is carried through, he and his family shall be excluded from the community of the clans forever and to be regarded as outlawed outcasts and despicable unworthy parasites on the inviolable pride, honour and dignity of Scotland! Every family and clan to which the burning cross has been sent with its call to war must take part and join or perish and be hit by the curse of the oath!

Roderick You have made enough noise, you holy fanatic. You have performed the rituals, we get the message, it should be clear to everyone since it is impossible to misunderstand, so let’s go to war, unite, get organized and carry on the operation.

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Brian Roderick

The mighty Roderick Dhu has spoken!

We have listened enough. Let’s get going!

(All break up.)

(When everyone has disappeared, Ellen enters alone in her plaid in the light of the fire.)

Ellen The war maniacs have sworn themselves to blood and death and the madness of rebellion and violence, fanatically exhorted by a demented hermit who lived alone all his life and who only understands rituals and ritual fanaticism. What crazy fools they are, poor pitiable bandits, who senselessly devote themselves to violence just to ruin themselves! And one of them proposed to me and really loved me, wanted me and desired to gain me only to the more furiously challenge his destiny and cast himself to a mad and meaningless death all too early. And I can only feel pity for such a vain hero. It can only end by going precipitously from bad to worse.

And what is right in all this? I turn to the holy virgin, who herself saw her only son being executed for nothing, for the evil of man and for the madness and sick system of politics, for the self-destructive morbidity of the Roman power and its mortality. Holy virgin Mary, what is right in this? Have I acted right in abandoning the chief of violence to the blindness of his personal accursed destiny? Have I acted wrong in turning down his generous and brave but frightening love? Are we, the Douglas clan, really cowards by my father’s wisdom in keeping us out of the way of violence and strife? It feels then as if we were the ones who in abominable detachment cruelly sacrifice the great Roderick Dhu with his power of initiative with his men to the war god’s altar of dreadful cynicism. Have I done wrong? Am I guilty of Roderick’s death? I shall never know. (sits down by the fire) Roderick (has appeared far above, listening) Now I shall never hear the lovely voice again, the only light of my soul. I go to war and might never again have peace, for my destiny is to blindly follow the onslaught of unrest and storm and violence and disaster with the unmanageable turbulences of human passion as the instruments of egoism and the raving hatred without end of the terrible foundering of justice in the madness of despair and its darkness of mind. My Ellen, I thought for a moment that you perhaps could save me, but now nothing can save me and least of all myself. (retires in sadness) Allan-Bane comes up to Ellen) Be comforted, Ellen. He is well taken care of, and your father’s nobility must touch and make any heart of stone melt in softness.

Ellen Still he is a prisoner, and a free soul like my Malcolm can like any bird only stifle and languish in a cage.

Allan-Bane If your father appears to the king, whom he brought up himself, to offer himself as a prisoner in exchange of his friend, the king’s heart must melt and liberate them both.

Ellen Dear Allan, in your minstrel wisdom you are as blue-eyed as the most naïve nun who never felt anything else than comfort and safety. It is wartime now, and even the law is made an exception. Of course the king has no other choice, when

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father voluntarily offers himself as a pawn, than to keep both him and my Malcolm stuck in prison for at least as long as the war goes on.

Allan-Bane Still I find my blue-eyed optimism reasonable.

Ellen Maybe in the long run.

Allan-Bane We poets live only for the future in the long run.

Ellen You live only in your own world and devote yourselves only to wishful thinking wherewith to deceive those easily seduced listeners who gladly would take anything seriously that just sounds good.

Allan-Bane Here is now our dangerous unknown stranger.

James (enters) Ellen, my own people have now found me, and I have received a reliable guide to follow me back, and have come to bid you farewell.

Ellen You can’t leave now. The Highlands are in arms in rebellion, and an unmistakeable Lowlander like you have only enemies to expect everywhere.

James I must take that risk, and I trust my luck.

Ellen Then you are as naïve and blue-eyed as Allan-Bane if not even more.

James Ellen, come with me to a greater security than here. I can offer you a safe haven at the castle of Stirling until these troubled times have raved enough. You can never find anything safer than my protection.

Ellen And would I then abandon my own and my responsibility?

James Your family is outlawed since long, you have lived like fugitives in stealth and evil here on this island too long, and you are even threatened by enmity from the war-crazy gangs of Roderick for having refused to join him. Come with me to Stirling, and in time you shall all have your freedom, both your father Douglas and his friend Malcolm Graeme.

Ellen If that is true I might as well stay here. You ask me to confide in an unknown knight, and what warrant do I have that I could trust his completely unknown intentions with me? You have received everything from us, but we never trusted you and never will, no matter how much you could trust our protection. My friend, if you want to set out in a lawless country and believe yourself safe enough to assume responsibility for the life of a virgin, who is threatened and in a difficult situation, you are more naïve than everyone else. Be naïve as much as you like, but only for yourself. I must stay here.

James Farewell then, Ellen, and pardon my imposition.

Ellen I am sure you mean well.

James (hesitates, returns) One last offer I can make you. (takes off a ring) I once had this from the king for a service I did to him in a matter of life and death. He owes me a great deal. If you ever find yourself in any predicament, carry this ring to my king, and he will respond to your wish, whatever it might be.

Ellen This gift seems honest, and I thank you for it. (accepts the ring and puts it on her finger) I will remember you with gratitude, Fitz-James.

James And I shall remember you with warmth, virgin Ellen. Now farewell again one last time. My guide is waiting. (breaks up)

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Ellen of them.

A strange man with many secrets. Perhaps one day we shall know some

Scene 2. A pass in the mountains.

James Please go ahead. I don’t trust you.

Murdoch We have nothing to fear. The road is perfectly safe.

James Why do you make such absurd hallos and yells?

Murdoch Just to frighten off eventual beasts and birds of prey that could be roaming here.

James Who really sent you?

Murdoch I am considered a very reliable servant by all.

James Yes, for all you Highlanders but hardly for a stranger and outsider like me.

Murdoch You fall a victim to your own suspiciousness. You imagine ghosts in the middle of the day. (enter Blanche of Devan behind the pass.)

James Is this a ghost?

Blanche (dressed in white with wild white loose hairs and wild flowers in her hair) Yes, I am a ghost, hanging by a thin thread and pending nowhere in Limbo between the shadows of death and phantoms of the murdered, who will always haunt us forever day and night and hide the light for every man and murderer with a bad conscience forever!

James Who is she?

Murdoch It’s the poor mad Blanche of Devan. Her husband was murdered on his way to his wedding. This is the bride.

James So she was never married and therefore remains a bride forever and has long since survived herself and lived too long. Poor girl!

Blanche I know who you are, brave stranger, who dares to tread alone up among the highland crooks and bandits! I was a thoroughbred Lowlander like yourself, and just like you my intended groom on his way to the wedding was also dressed all in Lincoln green when he was murdered by Sir Roderick and his bandits because he dared to stand for his right and defend himself and his life, when he was attacked by Sir Roderick.

James So your husband was murdered by Sir Roderick Dhu. Blanche And he was never exonerated.

Murdoch Enough of this talk! Sir, your company is waiting over there on the other side of the pass. If you want to reach home before dark you have no time to argue with demented witches.

Blanche Don’t trust him. I know well what is there behind that pass, treachery and ambush, just waiting to kill the stranger and leave him and his horse to the vultures!

James Traitor! I knew it! (draws his sword)

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Murdoch Whoever you are, you will not get away. (starts running and shoots an arrow against him, which misses and hits Blanche in her breast) James (overtakes him) Villain, who blindly murder an innocent female victim to senseless male arbitrariness! (runs his sword through him) Blanche (dying) Avenge me, you green stranger!

James I would love to, poor Blanche, if only once I would meet this Roderick in close fight.

Blanche It was he personally who murdered my bridegroom, who all since then has been crying to me from the other side of the grave for righteous revenge for having been murdered for nothing!

James Unhappy timeless bride, I am the only witness to your own unfair and too early martyrdom.

Blanche I am grateful for having received the arrow intended for you. Now at last I may join my husband, but I leave you as a witness to take revenge on the living.

James I will only undertake Sir Roderick Dhu. If only he is rightfully executed, it will be possible for all his followers and friends to be pardoned and exonerated.

Blanche Who are you to promise such a thing?

James Only your avenger.

Blanche I thank you in advance. (dies) James Unhappy deranged bride, I here cut a lock of your bloody virgin hair cried in sorrow to whiteness and add it together with your husband’s to once both be dipped in the blood of Sir Roderick.

(Sir Roderick appears from the other side of the pass.)

Roderick What do I see? You must be that green knight that everyone talks about but no one knows. But what happened to you?

James My assigned servant, who lies here, was discovered as a traitor when he tried to murder me but instead killed this poor old woman.

Roderick So you murdered him?

James I couldn’t just let him get away. But who are you yourself?

Roderick A wanderer of the mountains like yourself but of Highland blood and a follower of Roderick Dhu, unlike yourself. Are you his friend or his enemy?

James His enemy.

Roderick I warn you. For every word against him that you speak I have the right to kill you. But here in the freedom of the Highlands rules the law of nobility. You are a stranger here, and I who am at home here am obliged to do what I can for you. I will show you the way in peace, if you trust your life with me, instead of that failed guide who could only murder old women.

James I share your contempt of him and respect you for it.

Roderick If you were not so obviously a Lowlander I would assume that we were of the same and equally noble blood.

James I have nothing against you.

Roderick And neither have I with you. So let’s be friends, (offers his hand,) as long as I am obliged to help you on your way.

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James I accept it gladly, since we actually are on common ground, since none of us knows anything about the other.

Roderick Let’s take advantage of that opportunity, that none of us really is anyone.

James Yes. (finally accepts his hand) Roderick So we are brothers for today and tonight. You will share my own meal, and we will share the same plaid as a cover for tonight, like brothers, and sleep piously together, sharing the same good dreams. Will that suit you?

James It will. More and more I learn to know, respect and value the free spirit of nobility and honour in these highlands.

Roderick That’s the intention. You lowlanders have very much of value to learn from the code of our inviolable freedom.

James I must trust you, for I have no other choice.

Roderick Exactly. I have a joint of venison here. Would it do for our dinner?

James I love venison.

Roderick And then we can sleep well on it.

James I trust your honour.

Roderick Good. Then be my guest and brother until tomorrow.

James With greatest gratitude and positivity.

Roderick That’s the spirit. Let’s make ourselves comfortable.

(They settle down beyond the stage of the corpses and make their camp.)

Act III scene 1. Morning.

They rise form their bed, where they have slept under the same plaid together.

Roderick I hope you had a good night.

James The best imaginable.

Roderick Perhaps we then could continue fortified on our walk together to your safety.

James Whoever you are, your hostship and protection have been perfect.

Roderick A natural thing for us in the Highlands. Just tell me one thing: why did you stay so long here?

James I was new to this land, and there was so much here to observe.

Roderick Like the beautiful Ellen Douglas?

James She was the one who first took care of me and showed me a good will.

Roderick And that highland magnanimity charmed you so thoroughly that you wanted to carry her away.

James Only to place her in security as long as the rebellion went on.

Roderick And what is your interest in that?

James In her security?

Roderick No, in the rebellion.

James I assure you, that I only thought of her security.

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Roderick Sir Roderick Dhu has thought himself of the security of all Highland women and therefore asked them to gather with Ellen Douglas on her island, which her father selected as a safe asylum for his outlawed exile. Only you have asked Ellen to to come out of there. Why? James I guess I was so charmed by her.

Roderick She belongs to her father’s friend Malcolm Graeme, who is taken prisoner by the Saxons.

James I didn’t know.

Roderick That she belongs to Malcolm Graeme or that he is imprisoned?

James The latter.

Roderick So you have an interest in the war. You were suspected from the start to be a spy. Could you explain your curiosity and your prying and lingering so long in any other way?

James I am no spy. I was lost and led astray up here hunting for a stag.

Roderick Yes, that was Ellen Douglas’ explanation. But it does not satisfy me.

What do you have against Sir Roderick Dhu? James He is a murderer.

Roderick What freedom fighter isn’t?

James But he has murdered innocents without distinction.

Roderick Like who?

James Like the widow’s husband who was murdered by another of Sir Roderick’s servants yesterday.

Roderick Poor Blanche of Devan. He missed his shot. It was not murder, just a homicide.

James But he aimed his shot to murder a stranger who was under the protection of the highland laws of hospitality.

Roderick That is correct. And therefore he was killed. But why are you Sir Roderick’s enemy?

James I promised the dying Blanche of Devan to avenge her bridegroom’s death.

Roderick He was on the wrong side. It was his own fault. He was in the way and had to blame himself. Many committed that mistake. You are also on the wrong side.

James How can you then justify violence, chaos, rebellion and murder in the name of freedom? Isn’t that just a fanatical obsession?

Roderick My friend, it is inherited. Watch the mountains around you, this glowing warm beautiful landscape of only freedom, heroism and glory, which appertained to the Celts through all times. But at one time there came from the south these ambitious, greedy and pretentious Saxons, who robbed us of our country. They made themselves our lords and kings by arbitrariness without our asking for it, and since then, during the last five hundred years, have we fought for our freedom and our rights, our natural heritage since the beginning of time. Can you then as a Lowlander claim that we are wrong?

James We were driven out of England by the Normans.

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Roderick That’s no excuse for robbing us Celts of our lands, make us outlawed, confiscate our property and force the best of us, like the Douglas family, into exile and poverty.

James You speak about your rights and advocate justice but take the law in your own hands and use violence against innocents, like Blanche of Devan and her bridegroom. How do you think the great Sir Roderick Dhu could reach anywhere by such means? How could it end up in any other way than badly when everything he does goes wrong? Come over to our side instead, my friend, for the Lowlands actually warrant order, law, and the rights of justice. We can give Douglas back his rights, for he took a stand aside of the war, but never Sir Roderick Dhu, who is leading it.

Roderick (gives a high and shrill whistle. Immediately fully armed wild highland warriors turn up from everywhere.) My friend, I am sorry, but the one who has helped you thus far is actually Roderick Dhu. Now he can’t help you any more.

James (finds himself threatened by an overwhelming superior power, takes a stand with his back against a rock and draws his sword) What difference does it make? Come along, one or all of you! In the end we shall all fall anyway!

Roderick (impressed by his bravery, gives a sign to all the warriors and waves them away) He is too brave for all of you. Away with you! I want to speak with him alone. (All the warriors disperse.)

James (shaken) You make a great impression by your overwhelming power and force but don’t use it.

Roderick You are still under the laws of hospitality. We still have some distance to go before you are out of my territory. Then we can settle our difference.

James Why not at once?

Roderick Only if you insist James You are the insisting one. I have a better idea.

Roderick Well?

James Come with me to Stirling and give yourself up to the king’s mercy, and he will grant it.

Roderick Your pretensions excel your haughtiness. Who are you to believe that you could make decisions for the king? Don’t you think he will do whatever he fancies? Do you think he would hesitate to execute a rebel in cold blood, whoever would plead for him? Do you really think I am that stupid? Are you pulling my legs, you clown?

James No, I am just trying to help you the least way I can as some thanks for the grace you have shown me.

Roderick We have talked enough nonsense. I could never stand you lowlanders, and you are the worst of all. I never bargain with my freedom and rights as a freeborn clansman of the Highlands. Even if my life would be spared by your despicably arrogant king, I would rather, like you, take a stand with my back against a rock and defend my life alone against the most hopeless of superior powers.

James I regret that we have to fight.

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Roderick Not I, for it will be a fair combat, where you stand for the arbitrary tyranny of the Lowlander arrogance, while I stand for the freedom and honesty of the Highlands. May the one who is right carry the victory, and I know that I am right. (draws his sword) James I will spare you, if you fall before me. (draws his sword) Roderick Not I, if you fall before me. You will like Murdoch be left for the vultures. Revenge for revenge.

James You are heavy and more qualified to lead a fight than to fight it.

Roderick I have been through more fights than I can remember.

James And therefore you are old and slow.

Roderick Yes, just go on provoking me! A raving bull is unruly and invincible.

James On the contrary. In his fury you find his weakness.

Roderick You just dally and rant like a rat! Fight instead like a man!

James That’s what I am doing while you are only boasting. (succeeds in wounding him) Roderick Your quickness gives you credits, and your skill is impressing but doesn’t bite on an old bull.

James Weakened by an old man’s love for a far too young and lovely maid.

Roderick Don’t you dare involve Ellen in this!

James You were the one who wanted to fight, not I. (succeeds in wounding him) Roderick The blood rises to my head and befuddles my precision. Where does all this blood come from? Am I that badly wounded already?

James The next round, my friend! Don’t keep dodging!

Roderick You are the one who constantly evade the point of my sword, you minion! Then tell me at last who you are! You did learn who I was.

James You gave yourself away. I never do.

Roderick Coward!

James No, tactician! (hits the sword off his hand. Roderick gets down on his knees.)

Surrender, noble veteran, and follow me to Stirling, where I will give you the best care for all your old wounds.

Roderick Never! (attacks him form below and grabs his throat, they roll about with Roderick on top, but he pants and is tired and has blood in his front which hinders him from seeing, but then he gets his knife.)

Get back into my veins, blood, and don’t drown my front and get into my eyes to blind me! May I then thrust in my blindness not to fall myself. Fall, enemy, whoever you are! (thrusts, but hits the ground with his knife, since James in his quickness succeeds in avoiding the strike. Roderick rattles and rolls over while James quickly rises unhurt and free.

Roderick lies without moving unconscious on his back.)

James Thus you are fallen, great hero, but it required many wounds to get you on your back. Well, you poor Blanche of Devan, (takes forth the two locks of hair and dips them in Roderick’s welling blood,) now you are avenged with your bridegroom, too late but still. The man who caused your misfortune is not dead but is panting, rattling and fallen to never be able to rise again. Let it then be enough. (takes out a

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horn and blows a signal, repeats it a few times. Then gradually four young men appear dressed in the same Lincoln green as he.)

Take care of him, bring him to Stirling and dress his wounds carefully. We could still be able to save his life.

Herbert He would hardly have desired it himself.

James If he wants to die, that’s his concern. But if we can save his life, it is our duty to do so. Make it quickly. He must not lose more blood, and every moment of the life he has left is like an eternity to him. Let’s save him for his eternity.

Herbert We will do ur best.

(The four take care of the unconscious Roderick and carry him out.)

James Now to Stirling. I can do nothing more for my friends here but the more where a new life now begins. (follows his followers.)

Act IV scene 1. The Stirling dungeons.

Guard But what business could a beautiful and delicate virgin like you and an old minstrel like this old picturesque original have in these dungeons of hell with only lamentations of anguish and death?

Ellen I am looking for my father, who is supposed to be here somewhere. I have a ring, which a good friend of his gave to me, if I ever would have any request to make him. I do have that now. (shows the ring) Guard (with awe when he sees the ring) My daughter, this rings commands us to the deepest respect. You will at once be brought to see the king personally. Hallo there, guard! Escort this girl at once to the higher regions, and present this ring to the king as her imperative argument.

Guard 2 Follow me, Miss. You will meet the king personally and immediately.

Ellen I am most obliged.

Allan-Bane I stay here, Ellen, and will try to find your father in the meantime.

Ellen Good luck, Allan-Bane! I have a feeling that everything will be satisfactorily arranged. (is led away by the guard to higher levels.)

Allan-Bane So I beseech you, good prison guard, to immediately bring me to my lord. Yes, I implore you earnestly, for I am his man and have no right not to be by his side.

Guard You old faithful minstrel, you shall see him, but I must warn you, that he is not in a very healthy condition.

Allan-Bane What is ailing him?

Guard You shall see, if you insist.

Allan-Bane I insist.

Guard Listen to these choruses of despair and complaints! This is not just the fore-court to hell but above all to death, and few are those who get out of these holes of torture and the most bitter misery. Here you are buried alive, and you are only let out when you are dead.

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Allan-Bane Then bring me at once to my master, and don’t augment the despair of my involuntary separation from him by threats of his death!

Guard My friend, you shall see him. (They reach the cell. He unlocks it.) Stay with him as long as you like. He hasn’t got much time left anyway. (Allan enters a dark cell, where someone lies on a bunk and moves in pain.)

Roderick Who is it?

Allan-Bane (comes up to him) Roderick Dhu! I asked to see my master!

Roderick Then they thought I was your master. But you are welcome, Allan-Bane, for I am alone and comfortless. A neutral company like yours was just what I needed.

How are they all? Who has survived? Who has fallen? How did the war go? I know nothing and are here pending in desperate uncertainty between life and death.

Allan-Bane (examines him) You are badly wounded.

Roderick I fought an honest combat and lost. Therefore am I lying here in a desperate effort by my overlord to save my life, he has shown me all possible care and bandaged me well, but I don’t know if there is anything more for Roderick Dhu to live for.

Allan-Bane We thought you were dead as you had completely vanished. No one knew where you were, and the war was carried through by the highland clans without you.

Roderick Were you there?

Allan-Bane I followed the action. I saw the entire tragedy. I can bear witness of it all.

Ellen is all right.

Roderick Thank heavens! That’s the most important thing!

Allan-Bane But no one knows anything about Douglas and Malcolm Graeme.

Roderick The king has put them away somewhere to deal with them later. But sing for me about the war. Let me hear the swansong of the Highlands, the last fight of the last brave warriors for the freedom of their rights. Let me hear how everything was lost and then die.

Allan-Bane My chief, it will be a tearful song of suffering about only bad luck, misfortune and treason. I must warn you that it might be unbearable.

Roderick What is more unbearable than the life we have to live, when everything we lived for only has been robbed and ruined for our eyes? Let me suffer the supreme unbearable account of the false reality, so that I then may appeal to the devil and organize worse consequences of revenge than can be fathomed by the living in this mortal vale of tears of blood and misery.

Allan-Bane I cannot praise the war, how the noblest are made to suffer for nothing, how those who survive are rewarded for their murders and trespasses, and how fresh widows and motherless sons only have to expect a more hopeless and doleful existence than death.

The king’s troops advanced but met with resistance in a valley on the way up to Loch Katrine, where they were suprised by an ambush and completely surrounded, but they closed their lines and fought their way through. There was a Highland victory within reach, but then there was a query rising: Where is Roderick Dhu? His

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signal and presence was all that would have been needed there to grant us a victory, only his personality in visible form with his indomitable superiority was requested by fate, and the wildness of our highlanders would have been able to annihilate the greedy intruders of bullying pretentious masterfulness.

But the king’s troops proceeded to the lake Katrine, and they knew very well that the only inhabitants of the island were women seeking protection. Still they said: ”There is the island, that for centuries served bandits for hiding themselves and their stolen goods. It’s their last refuge. If we just get a hold of it we have the heart of the rebellion and the enemy in our hands.”

A brave swimmer was then sought for, who could get across to just release some small boat to cross the water with, and at once there was a voluntary lancer who was willing to brace the challenge. He valiantly swam across under showers of arrows fired from the island, but reached the island unharmed and started releasing a boat, when from a hiding-place behind an oak there by the shore the Highland widow appeared with a dagger in her hand. I saw how it flashed in murderous lust in the light of lightnings to be buried in the bold man’s back, who straight lay lapped by the waves of the shore. Then there was the shocking message. A courier from Stirling announced publicly that the war was ended since Sir Roderick Dhu and also Douglas were prisoners at the king’s mercy in Stirling. The king’s soldiers then exulted like mad possessed by the joy of hubris, while the highland hearts that still throbbed burst into tears, if they did not completely break.

Roderick That’s enough. I can’t take any more.

Allan-Bane Thus the war came to an end, Douglas imprisoned as he voluntarily had offered himself to mediate, and Sir Roderick captured no one knew how. Then the last hopes of feedom from the Lowland overbearing barbarity, pettiness and greed withered, and then died the last free spirit among the free mountains of the Highlands when even Sir Roderick Dhu was taken prisoner, as everyone took for granted, by ignominious treason.

Roderick No, it was not ignominious. We honestly fought a combat, the stranger and I, he for the advance of the Lowlands and I for my right. As a gentleman and knight he has tried to take care of me and save my life, but, my friend, I don’t want to live any more. (tears his bandages and immediately starts bleeding profusely) Allan-Bane Oh no, my chief!

Roderick Let me die. If I am not allowed to live any longer for the ideals that were mine, I have nothing to live for and can but die. Sing on, my friend, about our misfortunes and tragedies, sing me sweetly to my sleep straight to eternity, and go on singing of me when I am dead. Your songs will never quieten, and from a safe distance of eternity I will always continue listening to them, enjoy them and only live on in their consistent truth of beauty and eternity… (dies) Allan-Bane (rising) No, you great warrior and chieftain! You must not leave us like that, abscond with your soul and let us down! My ruler, your life was ours, and without you there is no real life any more in the withering Highlands that only lived

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for their freedom. We shall never forget you, and never shall we ever stop singing your songs of glory, courage and indomitable integrity. (sits down by the dead man and cries.)

Scene 2.

Ellen waiting in a room of the castle.

Ellen (listens to something outside the window) What is the voice I am hearing? I seem to recognize it all too well. I have heard that musical soothingly sweet voice before. It is Malcolm Graeme who is sitting somewhere by a window, but it doesn’t sound as if he was imprisoned. Still I recognize his longing and understand it all too well.

Malcolm (from a window above) My falcon is tired of its peg under his hood, my dog is tired of his food, my horse is restlessly stamping in the stables of rising impatience, and I am myself sitting here languishing of boredom and restlessness. Why am I not free way out there in the woods, wildly galloping forth in my best hunting hour in the morning, with my dogs cheerfully barking, storming ahead with my falcon for a guide flying high in triumph to spy a prey! But I am bereft of my proper life out there in the woods and must sit here to count the hours in fatiguing dullness through the heavy tolls of the lamenting chimes, like for a never-ending funeral, and see how the sun-rays crawl along the walls as slowly as possible in endless immovable procession, when it used to be the lark that woke me up faithfully at dawn and always at the right time, and the rook was the one who always called me back to my rest at dusk. These luxurious royal towers and battlements with their purple halls and expensive ornaments have nothing to offer me that could please me, as they only add shadows and darkness and heavy depression to my existence by the presence of power and pretensions. I can’t bear these unnecessary encumberments. I would rather like before bask in the light of Ellen’s appreciative eyes, who were my life’s only real sun, and which always spread fresh glory and flair on the hunt, which always brought me fortune, so that I with joy before the evening could present her with the trophies and harvest of the day’s work. Now I only thirst and hunger from want of my former life of freedom, when I now only can suck in melancholy, nostalgia and the unfathomable sadness of incurable disappointment.

Ellen He is singing for me without having an idea that I am here and can hear his song.

James (enters) The king is ready to see you, Ellen. He is waiting.

Ellen Then I will do my best to plead for all the unhappy lives of my own.

James I will bring you to him. Just don’t expect too much.

Ellen I expect nothing, for I have already lost everything.

James Life always remains.

Ellen What life?

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James You will see. (shows her out. The scene opens and reveals a royal gallery where the entire court is assembled. All uncover their heads and bow to James in polite submissive greeting, while he leads Ellen forth holding her by the hand.)

Ellen (overwhelmed when she understands, can’t make a sound, wants to sink through the floor, covers one eye with her hand while she presents the ring with the other, which is all she can do.)

James It’s over now, Ellen. You are now and for always in safe hands, for behold! Your father is waiting here. (Douglas steps forth.)

Ellen Father! (throws herself in his arms. The embrace is long and mutually tender and sincere.) I thought I had lost you!

Douglas My daughter, all divisions between me and the king are forgotten and forgiven. The war is over, and so is our outlawed exile. We now belong like we used to do to the king’s own and closest family again.

James Your ring, Ellen, I gave you to give you the right to present a wish to the king, which he must grant. You have not presented your wish yet.

Ellen Then there is only thing for me to wish for, and that is a pardon for Roderick Dhu. James I wish I could grant it, but a higher judge than we has interfered and made all appeals impossible. He has been taken care of by a higher command, and we can impossibly get him down again. He passed away in painful compassion with your family bard Allan-Bane’s recounting to him the whole war at his own wish.

Ellen So he is dead?

James He has passed on to the better world of eternity.

Ellen Then there is only one other possible wish for me, which I with proper virginal timidity leave for my father to present. (gives the ring to her father) James Don’t you think I would know your heart’s wish and prayer? Malcolm Graeme, come forth! (He appears without having been seen earlier. He kneels to the king.)

Here you came shamelessly and gave yourself over to us with a prayer to release James of Douglas from his outlawed exile and offered yourself as prisoner in his stead, why Douglas did the same thing and offered himself for you. You surrendered both quite willingly, we accepted you both as pawns for the wild war, but you had already exchanged one another for each other, without your knowing about it. Go hence now back to your forest and remain honoured and free for always as Scottish men of honour and the king’s own best friends! Here is a shackle, Malcolm Graeme, as an eternal gift of friendship for a punishment for life, if you will only marry Ellen Douglas. (removes his own neck chain and hangs it on Malcolm.) Be mine now and each other’s, so that we may all live long in our well-deserved happiness. (lays Ellen’s hand in Malcolm’s. They finally embrace.)

Douglas James, my son, if I may call you that, who taught you all these tricks, your art of masquerade, this manipulative human diplomacy and this magnanimous nobility?

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James You were my teacher, and I have never forgotten you. You were the most feared man in Scotland for your astuteness, only I admired you and was careful in acquiring, learning and copying your masterful art of manoeuvres.

Douglas As my most faithful apprentice you still managed to surpass your tutor.

James For a pupil to receive the report that his teacher is surpassed can only mean one thing, that the teacher was superior.

Ellen Don’t start arguing now again about that the other had to be better. You were best both of you, and be at last satisfied with that!

Douglas Let us allow the woman to decide, for only she can end all wars.

James Now for the banquet, please, if I may ask you, for if there is anything I owe you, my friends, it is at least a final friendship and festive banquet.

(Music. The court applauds. The King leads his friends out to the banquet.)

The end.

(Gwaldam 2.11.2006, translated 1-3 February 2020.)

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Ravenswood drama in five acts after Walter Scott

by Christian Lanciai (2001) (translated 2020) Dramatis personae: Lord Allan Ravenswood his wife Edgar, their son a priest a presbyter lords and nobles of the Church Sir William Ashton Lady Margaret, his wife Lucy, his daughter Henry, his son

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Old Alice Caleb, servant to Edgar Marquess of Arundel Heir of Blackguard Craigengelt, con man An innkeeper a gravedigger a chamber maid The action is in Scotland around 1700.

Copyright Christian Lanciai 2001

Act I scene 1.

Old Ravenswood My son, I am dying, and it’s no fault of mine. You should know…

Wife Don’t start that again, your eternal rant of revenge and injustice…

Ravenswood Just let me then speak out of hell before I die!

Wife But it’s just repetitions, my dearest. We have heard it before a thousand times…

Ravenswood You don’t even know what I am going to say.

Wife My husband, consider that you are dying! I don’t want you to work yourself up to madness and die unblessed in anger and then perhaps never reach any peace even in your grave…

Ravenswood Nonsense, old woman! Listen to me, my son. Listen carefully now. I lost the last process, and therefore I exploded by harm, and that’s why I am lying here infernally dying! But it’s not my fault! It was that villain Ashton, who robbed us of all our property, all your inheritance, our family honour, all our great past! That upstart!

That impostor! That trickster! That rotten twister of the law!

Wife Don’t work yourself up. I told you…

Ravenswood Hold your tongue, old whimpering lady! You can complain enough after I am dead! Just let me die in peace first, and then you can go wailing. Edgar learn to know the truth!

Wife But he already knows all about it!

Ravenswood No, he doesn’t. He knows nothing. He doesn’t know how that false jesuit Ashton cheated us out of our castle and bribed all our judges and lawyers just because he was greedy of our glory and wealth and jealous of our title and wished to assume it all himself by means of his money, that he had sucked out with the blood of innocent people like mine own!

Wife Calm down!

Ravenswood No! No I can’t and I won’t calm down, not until I am dead! Don’t try to impede me, wife! You have had license to do so all our lives as long as we were married, but now it’s not possible any more, because I am dying, and I wish to be free by death! That bloody William Ashton and his leech of a wife, that devil’s witch 54

Margaret, who runs everything in that family and always kept William under her slipper, is to blame for all the unspeakble misfortunes of our family! He and no one else and the witch behind him! You are the last offspring of our tribe, my son! Only you can restore our family honour by revenge, revenge, and more revenge!

Edgar Father! (wants to get closer to him) Wife It’s over. He is dead.

Edgar No, it’s never over! (embracing his dead father) What a terrible will you leave for me, father, the one and only word of revenge! Such a command is worse than any curse!

Wife Forget it, my son. He wasn’t sober.

Edgar How could I ever forget it? To command me to forget my father’s last dying words is to brand them on my front forever! No, mother, my father lives on by me, and I have duties towards him that will be fulfilled, even if it has to cost my life.

Wife We have still something left to live on. We are not completely ruined. Let us survive and leave the Ashtons in peace.

Edgar You shall live in peace, mother, as long as you live. But the least I can do is to watch the Ashtons and follow their every step and mistake and strike without hesitating if I get the least rightful reason to reckon with them.

Wife Yes, my son, watch them, but never let anger govern your hand. You are only safe as long as you you are governed by reason alone.

Edgar Let us now bury the last baron of Ravenswood, for I fear that title will never be mine.

Wife It’s yours already.

Edgar No, mother. William Ashton has paid the justice of the peace to assume it.

Scene 2. The funeral at church.

Many noblemen are present with their swords and dressed up solemnly.

Ravenswood’s coffin is carried in procession through the church towards the priest by the altar.

Then suddenly another priest enters from the back to swiftly advance towards the coffin and the presbytery.

Presbyter The funeral must be interrupted! This is not legal!

Priest (by the altar) Who dares to interrupt a sacred funeral?

Presbyter Justice herself! Lord Allan Ravenswood is to be buried according to Scottish law and not English!

Priest But in his last days he requested for himself an Anglican funeral.

Presbyter But the law says no!

A lord (steps forth) Sir William Ashton is behind this. He has asked the justice of peace to stop the funeral for formal reasons.

Another Is it Lord Allan or his enemies who are to decide on Lord Allan’s funeral? (draws his sword) Many (draw their swords and advance against the presbyter) Lord Allan! Lord Allan!

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Presbyter Yes, I give in, but only to this demonstration of force! And Lord Allan’s descendants will one day regret their obstruction of justice here! (hurries out) Edgar Proceed with the ceremony, father.

Priest This interruption has completely robbed me of my breath. Conflicts in church is the last thing I want to experience. Let’s make it brief.

Edgar (climbs the pulpit and addresses the whole congregation) Friends and relatives! I call you all as witnesses! You have seen yourselves how Sir William Ashton, after having robbed my father of his title and property, not even has hesitated to try to sabotage the departed’s funeral. He has trampled on my father’s body! I thank you all for feeling the same harm as I for that offence. Without your swords my father would have been desecrated by the so called justice. I call you all as witnesses and beg you to remember this.

Most of them Hear! Hear!

Edgar Now you can go on, father. The service was broken to ruin the solemnity of the sorrow but instead to be replaced by the glowing outrage of our hearts. But the poverty and dishonour of our family caused by a corrupted lawyer will never be forgotten but one day rightfully avenged. (climbs down. The priest opens his book of prayers. Everybody puts his sword away. The ceremony continues.)

Scene 3.

Lucy

The power of beauty is the greatest but also the most confusing, but in conflicts and war the only sensible thing is to remain still, but a danger is also in the fragrantly tempting beneficial wine, and when in company of listeners you had better hold back your words.

There is no song more false than flattering words and no seduction more fatal than the shining gold.

If you just manage to keep your eye, your hand and your heart completely clean, your life will be calm and safe and relieved of pain.

Ashton Here you walk around, philosophising as usual in virgin solitude.

Well, can you show me at last where that old hag Alice governs?

Lucy She lives in solitude in great simplicity in a ramshackle hut but is still wiser and more powerful than anyone with influence.

Ashton More powerful than me?

Lucy Your power is only formal, father, of mundane things, but old Alice can look into the future and into the souls of men.

Ashton Then she probably cannot see mine, for I have no soul.

Lucy You talk nonsense, father. Everyone has a soul and even you.

Ashton Can you define it? Can you prove it? Can anyone see it and touch it? Is it in the stomach, in the head or in the heart? No coroner expert has ever discovered the soul.

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Lucy If you can’t see or feel your own soul, Alice probably will, and then it’s about time that you at last get acquainted with her. Here is now her hut.

Ashton A disgraceful hovel indeed.

Alice (comes out) Lucy Ashton! And Sir William Ashton himself! Yes, I heard voices, but I never thought Sir William himself would come to me.

Ashton Old Alice, my daughter has spoken well of you to me and was eager to bring me here.

Alice Why? Ashton She wanted me to see how you lived so that I could understand how well your house needed repairs.

Alice I haven’t complained.

Ashton How long have you lived here?

Alice I have been living here for sixty years. During most of that time the land belonged to the Ravenswood domain.

Ashton Yes. I know. I bought it of him.

Alice And you live in Ravenswood’s castle.

Ashton Yes. Alice And it doesn’t give you any second thoughts?

Ashton Why should it? I bought the property legally with lands and houses.

Alice But the name of the castle is still Ravenswood.

Ashton Yes. Alice And there are still living members of that family.

Ashton The late last baron of Ravenswood has left one single son, I think.

Alice Yes, young Edgar. I nursed him.

Ashton Mistress Alice, I would like to help you. You were among the most faithful servants to the Ravenswoods, but during my time here you have been living in misery. Allow me to repair your house.

Alice William Ashton, don’t push the matter any further.

Ashton Are you so ungrateful?

Alice I only talk about important matters. You have driven the house of Ravenswood too far into the abyss of desperation, but it is not a tribe to trifle with.

Someone could in just one blow take revenge on your entire family.

Ashton Are you warning me?

Alice Yes. You are hard in your legal justice but as limited as you are hard and can never see that also others can sometimes be right. And if they are denied the right of justice they could take the law into their own hands with means of weapons.

Ashton Are you accusing me?

Alice No, I am only warning you. Try to reconcile yourself with the Ravenswood family with diplomatic methods. That might be the only way for you to avoid retaliation.

Ashton (insulted) For what? For having followed the law?

Alice You know what I mean.

Ashton No, I don’t know what you mean at all.

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Alice You just don’t want to know it then. You suppress it.

Ashton Come, Lucy, I have heard enough.

Alice You deny your soul and your humanity with it.

Ashton She is demented.

Alice I just wanted to warn you.

Ashton Thanks for a warning I didn’t ask for. I will repair your miserable hovel, but you can thank my daughter for that.

Alice She is a righteous girl and an indispensable treasure in her goodness, for she has a soul, and she is aware of it. But she is a vulnerable vessel.

Ashton Lucy, let’s go.

Lucy Thanks, old Alice, for receiving us.

Alice I always receive whoever comes.

Ashton Goodbye, old Alice. (leaves and drags Lucy along) Lucy What scared you of her, father?

Ashton I was not scared of her. She is just a whimsical old hag.

Lucy But she is wise.

Ashton To warn me of dangers that don’t exist?

Lucy How do you know they don’t exist?

Ashton Edgar Ravenswood has no cause against me, but I have a case against him.

Lucy How? Ashton He carried through his father’s funeral with an Anglican priest spiting the law and with violence!

Lucy Has then a family no right to decide on funerals of their own members?

Ashton Not if the law has anything to say against it!

Lucy I don’t understand your intolerance, father.

Ashton No, because you don’t know the law, but it’s the same, for I don’t understand your old Alice with her weird prophecies of misfortune.

Lucy She only wishes everyone well.

Ashton I am not so sure of that.

(They reach a small pavilion.)

Lucy Go on, father, and let me linger here.

Ashton (jokingly) To continue your philosophical ponderings or to have a secret meeting with a cavalier?

Lucy Perhaps both.

Ashton My daughter, I obey. Just don’t stay out in the forest during the night. (leaves) Lucy Old Alice has been blind for twenty years but still sees longer and better than everyone else. Above all she sees what no one else can see, but my father can’t understand or accept that. If he ignores her warnings, then I must take them the more seriously. Here he comes. (Edgar appears.)

Edgar My love!

Lucy Edgar! Each time I wait for you I doubt in despair that you will come, but every time you take me by surprise again!

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Edgar I only live for you. I have nothing else.

Lucy I at last brought my father to visit old Alice, and I think I can make him positively inclined to you Edgar I think so too. I just fear my own disbelief, that someone shall betray us, a treason behind the curtains, an infidelity somewhere.

Lucy As long as you have me we are both safe.

Edgar Yes, I almost believe you, for our first meeting was miraculous indeed.

Lucy You saved my life.

Edgar Perhaps not, but it looked bad when the bull pursued you across the fields and your father tried to get in between as an even better target.

Lucy He still talks about your mastershot even today.

Edgar I didn’t know then who you were. But you were lucky that I am a skilful hunter who always hits his target.

Lucy My father still doesn’t know who you were.

Edgar Let it remain so. The less he knows about me, the better.

Lucy But one day you must recognize each other and be reconciled.

Edgar That could only happen with your help.

Lucy I will do all the best I can.

Edgar As long as you are still here in this country for me to love, I will stay, even if it will accelerate the destruction of my family. I have nothing to live for in Scotland except you. If you were not here, I would at once go on a ship to the continent and join the French service.

Lucy I see it as my life’s sacred mission to accomplish a lasting reconciliation between our families.

Edgar You guide me in life like the lighthouse in the night makes a ship find the right way.

Lucy I think we can succeed with everything.

Edgar As long as you think so I am with you.

Lucy My love! Now I must leave. Same time, same place next time?

Edgar If nothing happens.

Lucy Next time I will bring you and father really close to each other.

Edgar I am yours, Lucy, and I believe in you.

Lucy Ditto, ditto!

Edgar Farewell! (leaves) Lucy A dark cloud hangs on his brow which constantly warns about impending bad weather. If only I could keep it off at a safe distance!

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Act II scene 1.

Inside the castle of Wolf’s Crag. A greater dining hall with obvious traces of destruction: nothing has been cleaned up after a great devastating party.

Edgar (enters, distraught, throws himself down by the table, takes a cup, takes a bottle, tries to pour himself a glass, but the bottle is empty.)

Caleb! Are all the bottles empty? (No answer.)

No wine. The direst questions are always left without answers. The only important questions are those which never get an answer. Like this one: what is more important – your duty or your love? Your health and well-being or your duty? To obey your father’s last command and his life’s last wish or the inner voice of your own heart and conscience? But can revenge ever become a duty? This tears my heart asunder, that I have fallen in love with the daughter of the man who intentionally ruined my entire family. Shall I then love the daughter and at the same time plan a righteous revenge and premeditated murder on the father of my beloved? It doesn’t make sense! No matter how I ponder the problem it only gets worse and more complicated. Caleb! Where are you? And why is there no wine?

Caleb (enters, frightened) My lord, I haven’t had time yet to clean up after your father’s funeral party.

Edgar You say that as if my father himself was the one who partied the most after his death, but it wasn’t his party! It was all his parasites and relatives that devoured the last of what we owned, as if they hadn’t ruined us enough already! We are ruined, Caleb, completely bankrupt! And you haven’t even any wine left!

Caleb We might still find some fragments left in the cellar.

Edgar Hurry then, and bring it up! If there is a single bottle left, it’s no use saving it!

Caleb (to himself) It is all consumed, and the entire family has died out except a last self-destructive remnant. Pity about such a brave and talented young man! (leaves) (bangings at the gate) Edgar Is it fate itself coming to my door? Perhaps it’s an answer to the question tearing my soul apart. In that case I welcome it. (goes to open) (Thunder and lightning as he opens to William Ashton.)

Ashton The master of Ravenswood? I am Sir William Ashton. My daughter and I were suddenly surprised by bad weather when we saw your castle ar some distance.

May we come in?

Edgar (opens the gate wide) Welcome, Sir William. It’s an honour to receive you.

Unfortunately we don’t have much to offer. As you see, our last guests made a clean house and haven’t washed up the dishes.

Ashton Your father’s funeral feast, I presume?

Edgar Yes. They finished the last bottle.

Ashton May I present my daughter, Lucy Ashton.

Lucy But father, we have already met Edgar Ravenswood. Don’t you recognize him?

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Ashton By my non-existent soul, isn’t it our saviour from the raving bull! Now I recognize you! What a happy coincidence that it happened to be you!

Edgar I say the same, for that gave me the opportunity to meet your daughter.

Ashton I actually thought the master of Ravenswood had already gone abroad, where I heard he had intended to go to make his fortune.

Edgar I am prepared to go abroad at any time. Agents at the French court are ready to present me to the king at any time.

Ashton I am sure you would make a perfect officer.

(Meanwhile Caleb has returned with a bottle.)

Caleb There was one last bottle left.

Edgar That’s enough. Let’s open it and empty it and drink to the welfare of our families. We need more cheerful tunes here after my father’s death. Come in, I pray, and take a seat by the table of leftovers from Allan Ravenswood’s funeral feast. The memories are still vivid there by all the empty bottles, but we still have one left to slaughter. Please sit down, make yourselves at home, enjoy the company of all the consumed forgotten drinks, and let us all be merry.

Ashton There is a gloom hanging over your festive speech, which is not entirely convincing.

Lucy He has just lost and buried his father. You can’t expect any genuine joy at such a post mortem mood.

Ashton Can you lodge us here for the night? I am afraid that the terrible thunderstorm out there compels us to apply for your protection.

Edgar We have rooms enough indeed. What we lack is comfort.

Ashton We’ll survive well enough. Don’t think that we came here to enjoy your non-existent affluence. We are here in more important matters. I have long wished to meet you face to face, Edgar Ravenswood.

Edgar Let’s hear what’s on your mind.

Ashton There is an old Christian saying, that you should never let the sun descend on your anger. Are you familiar with it?

Edgar Are you angry with me?

Ashton No, but you are angry with me.

Edgar Why should I be? I don’t know you, and I saved yours and your daughter’s life just by coincidence.

Ashton Neither I nor she has been able to forget it.

Edgar What is your point?

Ashton I wish to reach a settlement. I know that your father hated me all his life and the more so the longer he lived, because he was compelled by his bad economy to sell Ravenswood to me. He is even known to have cursed me on his death bed, and that curse they say he gave you for an inheritance. Lord Ravenswood, I don’t wish to live with an undeserved curse on my head.

Edgar And how was it undeserved? By cheating my father of his money all his life?

Ashton What was between me and your father is buried with him. That’s not the issue here. What concerns us now is what is between you and my daughter.

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Edgar Has she told you anything?

Lucy Edgar, I am the one who desires a reconciliation between our families, and I am behind father’s initiative to reach it.

Ashton I have reached the conclusion that both our families could only benefit from a union between you and my daughter. Above all our families would be reconciled. I have nothing against it, and my daughter has nothing against it. Do you have anything against it?

Edgar This suggestion comes rather suddenly and unexpectedly. Of course I have nothing against it, but shouldn’t we take it easy and be careful?

Ashton I was just hoping for words of that kind from you. Your family is generally known to anticipate otherwise and rather take the law into your own hands than wait for the slow process of the law. Precisely that has brought your family to misfortune, and it pleases me to hear that you are set on a different course of proceedings.

Caleb What about the wine?

Edgar Some wine, Sir William?

Ashton Yes, why not? (Caleb serves.) We actually almost have something to celebrate.

Edgar What are we celebrating, Sir William?

Ashton Listen to me, my good young lord. I want the best for everyone, and I think I know what is best for all, and that’s what I want to do. I want a complete reconciliation. I want to ban all your thoughts of revenge forever. And it’s best for yourself that you agree to my proposition.

Edgar Why? Ashton Your father did not fulfil his last process.

Edgar You mean, that you have still demands on my family after having already bereft us of everything?

Ashton I am not saying any more. The process does not have to go any further.

Instead of carrying through the process I offer you my daughter, with her own voluntary consent, in an engagement.

Edgar So you are exercising extortion to make me accept Lucy in marriage.

Ashton How dramatic you are. You insist on seeing everything in the bleakest colours. Extortion. Well, look at it as an extortion but positively. You will be a member of my own house, which was your own and carries your own name, and Lucy and you are like made for each other. I can only see a happy marriage as the only consequence of our intrigue.

Edgar You surprise me, Sir William. Here we sit in the wreckage after my father’s ruined life, which you brought about, among the ruins of the party which relatives and friends made the most of just to consume the last of what remained of my unhappy family’s resources, and then you demand of me by extortion that I should accept your only daughter in marriage and take part of all your property, you recompense my family with an entirely new ship, and this gift you force upon me under threats, that if I don’t accept it you will bereave me of the last thing I have left.

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Ashton You see everything so drastically.

Edgar And you see everything so casually that you don’t realize the dimensions of what you offer us. You offer me a beautiful wife and a complete redress of my family under the threat of consequences if I decline this incredible offer which, you must excuse me, I find too good to be true.

Ashton So the matter is settled. You are engaged.

Edgar Are we?

Lucy Edgar, father is actually serious about it.

Edgar Still I fear some invisible threat under the surface, which maybe not even Sir William is quite aware of. Are you aware, Sir William, that I could any time take a ship to France and there enter the service of the French king? The least deception, and I will vanish.

Ashton I knew about this and took it into my calculations but found it worth trying to keep you here for the sake of Lucy, because she loves you.

Edgar Her feelings are not unanswered, and she knows it.

Ashton So we have not one blot in the protocol.

Edgar Still I reserve for myself the right, as a sort of insurance, to at the least sign of any deceit disappear.

Ashton We will take this into consideration, well aware of the danger and be the more eager to arrange everything for the best between you and Lucy.

Lucy (embraces him) Thank you, father!

Ashton You are my only daughter. I could never oppose you in anything. What opened my eyes was that you brought me to old Alice.

Edgar Have you been to old Alice?

Lucy Yes, I have for years sought her company, for she is wiser than anyone else.

Edgar My old nurse! How is she?

Lucy As blind and clairvoyant as ever.

Edgar I must visit her.

Lucy Let’s do it together. Father has promised to repair her ramshackle hut.

Edgar There seems to be some goodness in you, Sir William, in spite of all the harm you did to my father.

Ashton I just wish to settle everything in order. So you accept the engagement?

Edgar and Lucy (looking at each other) Yes. Ashton Then it’s settled. All we needed was a drop of good old wine, and that was all on your own credit, Lord Edgar.

Edgar No, it was old Caleb who fished it up.

Ashton It was a good wine anyway, and that’s the main thing. Had it been whisky we would already have a party and planned the wedding. That’s the best medicine which always helps against everything and most of all against the darkness of the soul: some small potion every day, and you can just sleep well all your life and feel the better for it, for the good and pleasure of everyone around you. I wish you all the best, dearest youths. (raises his glass)

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Edgar Let’s then at the same time wish the best for both of our families and a final end to all the tragedies that have been.

Lucy Cheers!

(They drink to each other’s health and laugh.)

Caleb There is more.

Edgar Save it for tomorrow, Caleb. At the moment it can’t get any better than as it is.

(The mood is the best possible, and they continue keeping up the relaxed good cheer, while Caleb leads the old cook to bring in the dinner.)

Caleb Quickly, Mysie! Now it’s time!

(The dinner is brought in and served.)

Scene 2.

Alice Twenty years of darkness is nothing to what you have seen during the years. The petty people go like blind and see nothing through life. Sometimes they wake up when they suddenly see their efforts of vanity brusquely result in perfectly logical misfortunes and disasters, which they in their blindness swear themselves innocent of and thus in convulsive obstinacy stick to their blindness and immediately start building up for the preparation of new misfortunes and disasters. Alas, you poor humans, you would all have been wiser if you had been born blind! – But I hear some steps approaching. It’s Lucy but this time not in the company of the blindly faltering father. The footsteps of this cavalier are more determined and firm – a man who will not flinch. He can only be a Ravenswood. (enter Lucy and Edgar) Lucy, do you dare to bring a Ravenswood here?

Lucy No one can fool you, old Alice. It’s the young lord of Ravenswood himself, whom you nursed when he was a small child.

Alice The young master Edgar?

Edgar Yes, myself, dear foster-mother.

Alice (on her guard) How dare you come here with an Ashton for a company? You can’t be a Ravenswood. Let me feel you. (feels his face) Yes, it’s the hard front almost like of steel and the sharp features of just forwardness. I do recognize these furrows, the deep hollow cheeks and the sharp angle of the cheekbone. You are my nursling, Edgar of Ravenswood, – but how can you stand so close to an Ashton?

Lucy That’s why we have come here, to reveal to you that we are engaged.

Alice Engaged?

Lucy Yes, engaged.

Alice And you almost sound happy about it, poor guiltless child! You are laughing at your own misfortune!

Lucy (to Edgar) Remember that she is old and not completely rational.

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Alice Answer me, lord of Ravenswood! What are you doing here on your enemy’s property and with his own child for a company? I demand an answer of your responsibility!

Edgar It is as we have told you.

Alice Your ancestors were irreconcilable, but they were honest in their enmity.

They never tried by the sneaking deceit of false humility to get at their enemies.

What connects you with Lucy Ashton? Just don’t tell me it is true that you actually joined in blindness to follow a destiny together.

Lucy It’s actually true, old Alice. Father has himself confirmed and approved of our immediate engagement.

Alice (gives up all hope) Then God help you both!

Edgar Old Alice, we came here in the intention and belief that we could bring you some joy by telling our news, but we seem to only have accomplished the opposite.

Alice Lucy, leave us. I wish to speak alone with the young lord here.

Lucy Yes, Alice. As always, I obey you. (leaves) Edgar (when Lucy is gone) What do you mean, foster-mother, by trying to darken our happiness from the beginning?

Alice You mean to say that Sir William Ashton himself has approved of the engagement? On what terms?

Edgar He has not stated any terms.

Alice Out with it! He must have said something! An experienced lawyer does not embark on anything without being certain of getting roundly rewarded by the double.

Edgar He said that my father’s last process would be cancelled as a final sign of confirmation that our families would be reconciled forever.

Alice And you bought it?

Edgar What do you mean, mother Alice?

Alice Don’t you know that your father-in-law to be by manipulating the law and justice system during all your life and your father’s has defrauded you of all your property and all that wealth in lands and farmsteads once owned by your family?

Edgar Of course I know about it, but I will get it all back and even Lucy herself, perhaps the best wife you could get.

Alice Edgar, I am blind, but I have the sight and eyes of the soul, and they can see far more than the human eye, for my ears are no less than extended invisible hypersensitive antennae. I hear everything and see everything by my ears. Your father was so infamously and infernally cheated by William Ashton’s slyness, that he died of mortification, grief and anger when he far too late became aware of how it all had been worked out. By his extensive knowledge of the law, William Ashton has bribed judges, wangled and taken over everything by foul play. But Allan Ravenswood did not give up, and when he died the process was not yet completed.

You are the one to take it on and carry it to fulfilment to at last expose William

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Ashton’s manipulations with the law. Letters have been sent to you from the House of Lords which William Ashton has succeeded in putting into his own pocket and which therefore never have reached you.

Edgar How does mother Alice know all this?

Alice I have ears. Servants have eyes, and they talk. Old Alice hears everything that is essential.

Edgar Do you mean that Sir William gives me Lucy as a bribe to make me halt and cancel the process and thus give up my rights?

Alice Instead, you become part of his family, his robberies are made legal, you will be a loyal and obedient lackey, and William Ashton will get away with everything he has done.

Edgar Mother Alice, this truth is far worse than all the curses my father made.

Alice Forgive me, my son, but I had to open your eyes.

Edgar Lucy! Poor girl! She knows nothing!

Alice What are your plans now?

Edgar I have no choice. I have to leave the country, join foreign service and get detached from everything.

Alice That sounds sensible, because if you remain here Lucy must become your bride, you will be William Ashton’s son-in-law and accomplice, or break your engagement, which would break Lucy’s heart, for she loves you.

Edgar I know. Above all I must consider the situation of the poor innocent Lucy.

Alice Leave the country. Maybe something happens while you are away to motivate your return.

Edgar I will keep in touch with everyone by letters.

Alice Edgar Ravenswood, you are the last member of your tribe. Do what is right, and your family will survive.

Edgar Thanks, mother Alice, for your words. That will be the only thing I will do now as long as I live. But now I must leave at once and arrange my journey. My first duty is the escape from home.

Alice Farewell, my son. I will try to make the bed soft for Lucy in your absence.

Edgar I know, mother Alice, that you always were the most faithful and loyal servant in the Ravenswood family. Now, hurry on, Edgar, away and run! (hurries away) Alice Poor boy! In all kindness he opened the door to an unknown guest and invited him to stay the night without understanding before it was too late that the guest was dire misfortune and disaster in person.

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Scene 3. At the pavilion.

Lucy What might Alice have had to tell my lover that was so secret? It must have been terrible things, horrible family secrets no doubt, which could affect family destinies for hundreds of years. Only Alice knows all about such things. But here is Edgar. He seems quite distressed and in a great hurry.

Edgar (enters, in a hurry) Lucy? You here?

Lucy I have been waiting for you. Have you forgotten that you were to escort me through the forest back to Ravenswood?

Edgar (to himself) This is terrible. What shall I do? – Lucy, I am in a great hurry.

Lucy Yes, it shows. What have you learned?

Edgar (can’t control himself, rushes forth and grasps her hands) Lucy, my love, I am lost.

Lucy But what has happened?

Edgar I have to leave Scotland at once.

Lucy But why?

Edgar In order not to cause us even greater harm.

Lucy But how could you possibly harm us?

Edgar Because I am the master of Ravenswood while you are the only daughter of Sir William Ashton.

Lucy Is it that old preposterous family feud haunting you again?

Edgar I can’t explain the details.

Lucy But you must go away?

Edgar Yes, hopelessly.

Lucy And what about our wonderful engagement?

Edgar My love, I can’t marry you. It was just a wonderful dream that was too good and beautiful and wonderful to be realized.

Lucy But what is then the impediment?

Edgar I can’t explain it.

Lucy So you simply leave me here just like that?

Edgar Lucy, I am very sorry, but I have no choice.

Lucy But you will stay in touch with me? Please write me letters at least!

Edgar I can’t promise that letters will get through from the war I in that case will be obliged to write from, but I will write to you, whether my letters will reach you or not.

Lucy Now I recognize you again. Look here. (brings out a golden coin which she breaks) Not our engagement, but the one and only united heart that we were is now broken. I will keep my half and never let it go. The other half is yours. (gives him half the coin) Edgar You give me yourself.

Lucy Yes, I do.

Edgar O generous and divinely generous heart! If only you were free from your own family!

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Lucy Yours is my only family now forever. I never want to be anything less than a Ravenswood.

Edgar Your tenderness and love make a sharp contrast to all the centuries of hatred that burned between our families. My revenge against your father was predestined, but for your sake I was fully prepared to bury it and forget all about it.

But no history can be completely counted out and suppressed and least of all any family history. We have often revenged ourselves on the Ashtons when the hour struck to full maturity and the limits of patience and pain were busted, and still the intrigues of the Ashton family have continued to ruin us and wronged us in outrageously gross injustice. Then you enter my life, the only righteous branch of the Ashton tree, to join the last surviving lord of the Ravenswoods in his own ramshackle house. And we can’t marry each other, no matter how true and uniquely lovely in its sincerity and truth our love is proven to be.

Lucy I don’t know what forces you abroad and don’t wish to be informed about it either, since it can only be of evil nature. But bide your time, young Ravenswood, as all Ravenswoods always have done, and when the right moment has come it’s time for you to return to cleansweep the house of all ghosts and crooks.

And until that day you have my word that I shall be here waiting for you. This half broken heart (holds up the coin) shall be the lasting and obvious evidence of my endurance.

Edgar And I think by my soul that I believe in you. With the same faith I shall stick to my part of our broken heart. And you can rely on, that I shall often write to you, every day even, if my conscience demands it. Even if you don’t get my letters they will painfully resound in all the universe.

Lucy (embracing him) My love, we belong only to each other and never to another.

Edgar I share your faith and trust.

Lucy (looking at him) Then we are agreed. I am yours. Only death can break my oath.

Edgar I shall live for you and only for you, until I get back.

Lucy You will came back.

Edgar I will come back.

Lucy Only those words can make me accept our divorce. I am nobody and have no soul except that part of me that henceforth shall live in you.

Edgar My lovely angel, we will never get through or be finished with this so very mutual love.

(Suddenly the sound of a bowstring, an arrow whizzes by and hits the tree above them, and a raven is hit and falls down dead to them.)

Lucy (cries out) Edgar What is this? A dead raven! Who dares to shoot down sacred ravens in the Ravenswood forest? (Henry, Lucy’s brother, peeps out from the bushes.)

Henry Sorry to disturb you, but it was too tempting. The raven was sitting so near to you, and I couldn’t resist testing my precision of aim.

Edgar (to Lucy) Who is this? Do you know him?

Lucy My younger brother Henry.

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Edgar Don’t you know that all ravens are under the protection of the clan of Ravenswood? And you dare to shoot down a raven in front of a Ravenswood’s face!

Henry Forgive me. I didn’t know who you were.

Lucy How long have you been lurking in the bushes, Henry?

Henry Only for a moment. It was the raven that attracted my interest, not you.

Edgar Well then, Henry Ashton, since you are here you can escort your sister back to Ravenswood, so I don’t have to do it.

Henry I don’t mind if you do it.

Edgar But I do.

Lucy Edgar Ravenswood is in a hurry.

Henry I understand. Our mother would never accept your relationship anyway.

Lucy What do you mean?

Henry I know what mother thinks. She wants us only to marry upwards, not downwards.

Lucy Is then Ravenswood a step down from the Ashtons?

Henry The Ashtons are rich and want to be richer. The Ravenswoods are poor.

Edgar And are getting poorer.

Lucy But the Ravenswoods are ancient nobility. We are not even petty nobility.

Edgar But your mother is a Douglas.

Lucy Yes, and she never forgets it.

Edgar Farewell, Lucy. I will stick to my word.

Lucy And I will stick to mine.

Edgar That’s all I ask for.

Henry (offering her his arm) So, sister, to the castle?

Lucy Yes, to the Ravenswood castle. (They leave.)

(When Ravenswood leaves in one direction and Henry and Lucy are heading in the other, Sir William Ashton suddenly enters and meets Edgar surprisingly just as he is leaving.)

Edgar Sir William!

Ashton I was just hoping to meet you! Splendid! And there is Lucy and Henry! (questioning) In different directions?

Edgar I must ask you not to try to stop me, Sir William.

Ashton How very proper then that I arrived just in time to do so! You can’t guess who just arrived at the Ravenswood Castle to be my guest – your cousin the Marquess of Arundel!

Edgar (surprised) Arundel!

Ashton (taking him friendly by the shoulder) We have common political interests, my dear son-in-law to be, and as you well know your cousin the marquess is the leading fighter for your cause and carries the banner for our party. You just have to come and meet him! There couldn’t be a more suitable occasion. (to Lucy and Henry) Are you also coming, children?

Lucy Of course, father.

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Ashton Then we shall all go home together as the one happy family we almost are already. (takes care of them all with fatherly good will and leads them out. Edgar is rather confused.)

Act III scene 1.

The great hall in Ravenswood. A great congregation of noble people.

Edgar What am I doing here in this flashing company of only gaiety and flair? I am worse than an outsider, for I am both lord and even poor, the worst possible combination, and a lover at that, a hopeless, doomed, despairing lover, whose only hope is to get away from his love, which is too good to be true; for all devilish parasites appear to have flocked to it, like moths to the light, and from sheer ignorance weave a spider’s web of political intrigue around it, completely unaware of it of course, like all political destruction always is. But I love her, and the more so the more certain I become of never being able to gain her.

Arundel My dear cousin, here you are! I really hoped to see you here. Sir William Ashton has discreetly let me know that your families at last are on the course of reconciliation and in the best possible way by means of sacred marriage. Could it be better? You will even have your family’s old properties back in that way.

Edgar It’s too good to be true.

Arundel What do you mean, cousin?

Edgar Something isn’t right. There is an opposition missing in the parliament.

Arundel Sir William himself stands whole-heartedly for our party. He welcomes you into his family just to see his family allied with a nobler one than his own. Your initial position couldn’t be better, my dear lord Ravenswood.

Edgar I know, and that’s what frightens me.

Arundel Don’t you love her? But she is a most amiable and endearing virgin.

Edgar We really do love each other.

Arundel That settles it. Then it’s all clear.

Edgar No, it’s not.

Arundel You are probably just melancholy by nature.

Edgar If it only were that simple.

Ashton My Marquess of Arundel and my Lord of Ravenswood, you are my two most honoured guests in this house today. You can’t imagine how it pleases me to see the two of you here together.

Edgar Does it favour your political plans, Sir William? And is your daughter part of your political plans?

Ashton My friend, has someone here insulted both you and me by backbiting, since you have suspicions?

Arundel He is just melancholy by nature, Sir William.

Ashton Melancholy is no sin, but suspicion is.

Arundel That’s what I mean. (takes Edgar aside)

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Ashton (to himself) Does he suspect anything? Does he know anything? My plans must not be thwarted now! (a servant wants his attention) Yes, what is it?

(The servant whispers. Ashton gets pale and upset.)

Ashton Not now! It must not be true!

Servant She is already here.

Ashton Too late! Then the crisis cannot be averted.

(The doors open and lady Ashton enters.)

Margaret Ashton William, how excellently convenient that I would arrive just now! I couldn’t have arrived in a better moment!

Ashton My wife, I thought you were in London.

Margaret I was until I decided to come home.

Ashton Why such a hurry to get home?

Margaret Because I have some good news which I just couldn’t delay a moment with breaking to the world.

Ashton What then?

Margaret My husband, I have found the best possible party for our daughter.

Ashton (alarmed) Who then?

Margaret The honourable heir of Blackguard, one of the best parties of Scotland, considering what considerable fortune he will bring into the family in which he marries.

Ashton That scoundrel! That impostor! That outrageous snob!

Margaret Don’t be stupid now, dear. He has money.

Ashton My dearest, Lucy is already betrothed to another.

Margaret I know. A poor gloomy nobleman without money. And for such a bad party you go and throw away your only daughter. As soon as I heard about it I decided to do something about it.

Ashton And that’s what you think you have done?

Margaret My friend, I always get what I want. You know that.

Ashton Does then your daughter’s wishes about her marriage mean nothing?

Margaret She is just a stupid goose who doesn’t know what’s best for her. All parents are to decide for their children’s marriage. Or else it will only go wrong.

Ashton You don’t know what you are doing.

Margaret I know all too well what I am doing, but you are blind. But there’s the noble lord of Ravenswood! How excellent that he is here. Then I can explain to him myself how little his presence is needed here. Lord Edgar Ravenswood!

Ashton She is really set on arranging a disaster.

Edgar Yes, Mylady?

Margaret How very convenient that you are here! You if anyone is engaged in the welfare of our daughter Lucy. I can give you the happy news that her future now is settled and secured by the fact that my husband and I unanimously have decided to accept the proposal by the heir of Blackguard.

Edgar I understand, mylady. And the fact that she is already betrothed to another does not concern you as her mother?

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Margaret Naturally a mother must forbear with her daughter’s temporary infatuations. But when it comes to serious business she can never say no.

Edgar (looks around, watches Sir William who turns down his look, finally turns to Arundel) My cousin, are you aware of what kind of people you are associating with? (walks straight out) Ashton (tries to for the sake of appearances to repair the damage) My wife, it is not very proper to insult our guests.

Margaret I haven’t insulted anyone. Those who leave without saying goodbye provide the insults.

Ashton I can never accept Blackguard for my son-in-law.

Margaret Then you act against the future and happiness of your own daughter.

Ashton You don’t know what you are doing.

Margaret On the contrary, my friend. I am saving you in your blindness from walking straight out a precipice.

Arundel Madam, you have trampled into sensitive affairs concerning you and your husband.

Margaret Not at all. I am only thinking of my daughter’s happiness.

Arundel Are you sure? Aren’t you anticipating her happiness for your own benefit?

Margaret Stick to your own affairs, Sir, and don’t meddle in our private concerns.

Arundel Madam, if you commit a mistake for which your own entire family will suffer, I am not prepared to overlook it. (leaves) Margaret What does he mean? Who does he think he is?

Ashton The leader of the most important party for the future of Scotland, and that’s what he is.

Margaret But what does that have to do with our daughter?

Ashton He wished to do something good for our family. You might have ruined that chance.

Margaret And where is Lucy? Why isn’t she here?

Ashton She left for her room the moment you showed up. (leaves) Margaret Doesn’t anyone here understand that we have no other choice but the best for our family?

Scene 2. A tavern.

Craigengelt Blackguard Craigengelt Blackguard army?

Craigengelt

You ruffian, what intrigues are you up to now?

Just you wait, and you’ll hear the most smashing so far.

I am waiting.

Do you recall our failed effort to enlist Edgar Ravenswood to the French Yes, he got second thoughts when he fell in love with some dame.

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Blackguard Whereupon he discarded us with insulting arrogance. I can never forgive that kind of thing.

Craigengelt You take your business too seriously. You can enlist any fools for cannon fodder for the French king and get paid for it, but just because a Ravenswood doesn’t walk into the trap it’s his fault and not yours.

Blackguard The girl he fell in love with was the daughter of Sir William Ashton, the keeper of the seal, one of the leading law-perverters of Scotland.

Craigengelt And? Blackguard I ventured an impasse. I guessed that the connection would not be liked by the old lady Ashton, who is born a Douglas, so I let her know one thing and another by way of rumours, so she was properly prepared and would follow my line.

Craigengelt And? Blackguard Just passing, I let it reach her ears that I could have some interest in the poor girl Lucy.

Craigengelt And? Blackguard You keep repeating yourself. Let me tell the whole story. I also let her understand that I expected a great inheritance.

Craigengelt So she swallowed the bait.

Blackguard With everything in it. I now have both the ladies at my mercy.

Craigengelt Is it for your own sake or just to have a revenge on Ravenswood?

Blackguard Both of course. Who can refuse the Ashton properties, which they cheated out of the generous house of Ravenswood?

(Enter Arundel who takes a seat by another table.)

Craigengelt So you have the mother on your side. Well, what about the bride and her father? What if they say no?

Blackguard They can’t say no if the mother says yes. She is a Douglas.

Craigengelt I doubt the enterprise, my fellow.

Blackguard Shall we make a bet?

Craigengelt If you don’t get her I will have all my debts cancelled.

Blackguard And what if I get her? What will you then pay me with? You are as poor as the church rat Ravenswood.

Craigengelt Something tells me that you will not have her and that something will go wrong.

Blackguard I will have her all right, you can be sure. I don’t care what happens after the wedding as long as I get her dowry. The rest means nothing. Her love and feelings she may keep, as long as I get her money. (They continue discussing when suddenly Ravenswood enters.)

Arundel Cousin! I have been waiting for you!

Edgar Pardon my late arrival. I met some ghosts on the way.

Arundel Alive or dead?

Edgar Both. Old Alice, my nurse as a child, has died, and I had to arrange her funeral.

Arundel I am sorry.

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Edgar She was just an old blind and useless woman, the oldest servant of the Ravenswoods, who the new proprietor of Ravenswood allowed to live in misery in a shackle falling apart, which finally buried her alive. Sir William promised to repair it for her, but he is a man who gladly gives promises but rarely keeps them.

Arundel Forget Lucy, Edgar.

Edgar How could I? Arundel She may be a rare pearl in her family, but the entire rest of that family is rotten. Forget her and carry on your process against them instead. You have everything to gain from that. I will back you up.

Edgar It would break her heart, if I coldly ventured a process against her corrupt father. I know how corrupt he is. I have his fate in my hands, but for her sake I cannot touch him.

Arundel Leave it then to me instead. I am actually the head of the clan.

Edgar No, cousin, I am. I am the only Ravenswood alive, and therefore I am the head of the clan.

Arundel But you have no resources. I have everything. I am like an uncle to you.

Trust me.

Edgar No, cousin, no one has anyone to trust in life except himself. If you put your trust in others you lose yourself. Leave my destiny to me, and let me spare the fate of Lucy and her family on my own responsibility.

Blackguard But it is he himself. (rising) Who dares to take my beloved’s sacred name in his mouth?

Arundel Who is that absurd fool?

Edgar The heir of Blackguard, a dunce.

Blackguard Who are you calling a dunce, you preposterous scarecrow?

Craigengelt Don’t start a fight with him, Buck. He is too noble for you.

Blackguard He has insulted me, on my honour!

Edgar And how did I succeed in insulting you, who have no honour?

Blackguard By taking into your dirty mouth the most sacred name I know, namely my becoming bride!

Edgar (rising slowly) Is this a nightmare, or am I dreaming wide awake?

Arundel Come, cousin. They are just fuddled.

Blackguard Fuddled, you swine! What are you then, you false peacock in borrowed feathers?

Arundel He just doesn’t carry his liquor very well. Let him be.

Edgar If you want a duel, come back when you are sober.

Blackguard You haughty peasant! Draw your sword and defend yourself, if you aren’t yellow!

Craigengelt Sharpen your sword, Buck, until you get sober.

Blackguard I am sober by the devil!

Craigengelt Yes, even the devil would believe it.

Arundel (wants to bring out Edgar) Come now, before it gets worse.

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Gravedigger (enters) If you desire it, lord Ravenswood, I could also play for you at old Alice’s funeral.

Edgar Don’t think about it, old man. Just bury her.

Gravedigger But I assure you that I am good at the violin.

Blackguard Go and get buried yourself, you pathetic old fool. We have enough fools around here already.

Gravedigger Perhaps you would prefer to have me play at your funeral?

Blackguard I am not dead yet, you nitwit.

Gravedigger No, not yet, but you stand in line.

Blackguard Who let in that imbecile maniac here into this poultry-house?

Innkeeper Give him something to drink and he will be happy.

Blackguard Here you are then, you drunkard, for your health! (throws the contents of a beer-jug in his face) Gravedigger (wipes his face) Now I know I will not play at your funeral. Your funeral will be without music, and no one will even play any litany for you, because no one will grieve for you. You will die alone.

Blackguard Shut up, damn it, you cursed croaker!

Gravedigger I just wanted to play for you at your funeral, but you declined. But everyone will play at Miss Lucy’s funeral, for she is first in line, and her dirge will be the most sorrowful.

Edgar What are you saying, you poor gravedigger?

Gravedigger I wish you no harm, lord Ravenswood, for your grave will never be dug.

Arundel The man is a prophet.

Craigengelt Come, Buck, let’s go.

Blackguard What about the duel then?

Craigengelt Next time.

Edgar I am at your service, mister heir of Blackguard, if you are serious even when you are sober.

Gravedigger Sobriety is a sickly condition which fortunately will pass, if you only come to your senses.

Arundel That man is wiser than he himself is aware of.

Blackguard I will fight you, gentlemen, one at a time! Just form a line, and I will take you all on at once!

Arundel Is this man the desired son-in-law of Lady Ashton?

Craigengelt That’s what he thinks, but I believe there will be some objections.

Blackguard Not from Lady Ashton!

Arundel The man is balmy. He owns nothing and believes himself to take over the Ashton properties.

Blackguard Yes, for I am more clever than the fool Ravenswood, who let go of them!

Edgar I have heard enough. Let’s leave.

Gravedigger It seems as if the house of Ashton will get the son-in-law they deserve.

Blackguard And that’s me! (to the gravedigger) Shut up, you!

Gravedigger I believe you will shut your mouth before any gravedigger.

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Arundel That man is the wisest man in Scotland.

Gravedigger Thank you, Sir. I will gladly play on your funeral.

Arundel Thank you, but it is not needed at the moment.

Gravedigger Postpone it as long as you can but not any longer.

Graigengelt You are finished, Buck.

Blackguard Nonsense! I haven’t even started!

Craigengelt Come now! (succeeds in finally getting him out and follows him) Arundel That’s the end of today’s entertainment.

Edgar If that man marries Lucy he will be her death.

Arundel No risk, cousin. Only lady Ashton wants him, and she hasn’t even met him yet.

Edgar Then I hope she will see him before the wedding.

Arundel Do you still want to marry her?

Edgar You mean Lucy?

Arundel Yes. Edgar Something tells me, that Lucy will outgeneral everyone including myself.

Arundel You love her.

Edgar Yes, and it will be the misfortune of all of us. (to the gravedigger) Would you play on our wedding, gravedigger?

Gravedigger I usually play only at funerals.

Edgar Our wedding will be better than any funeral. You are invited as a guest of honour, my friend.

Gravedigger It’s not always a gravedigger is invited for a wedding. I thank you for the honour.

Edgar Don’t forget it. Come, cousin, let’s go. (leaves with Arundel) Gravedigger There you see how useful you are. In the end everyone wants you, for no one wants to dig his own grave, although that’s what everyone is doing all his life.

Innkeeper Here you are, my friend. (offers him a drink) Gravedigger Another must thank you. We are colleagues, you and I, for we are the most indispensable of all: the gravedigger and the bartender.

Innkeeper And we always remain when everyone else has gone home.

Gravedigger Yes, since someone has to clean up after all the bodies.

(They drink together.)

Scene 3.

Ashton But Margaret, you can’t be serious.

Margaret The matter is settled, and there is nothing to discuss.

Ashton You can’t do this to me. Can’t you see that you are implementing my destruction?

Margaret The destruction comes from Ravenswood. You should never have had anything to do with that family. All evil comes from there, and you not only take

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over their properties but even invite that last spawn of vermin to be Lucy’s husband, so that he the more thoroughly could revenge himself on our entire family. What are you really thinking of, William? You were lucky that I returned home in time to save you and the family.

Ashton You don’t understand anything. The Marquess of Arundel is Ravenswood’s cousin, and his party is now ruling Scotland. After your humiliation of Ravenswood I am no longer worth a rotten apple in the eyes of the marquess. He will drop me like a damaged potato, I will lose my position and employment, all thanks to your short-sightedness.

Margaret I know more than you. Ravenswood is on his way abroad. He will stay away long enough for us to choose a worthy husband for our daughter in peace and quiet. Ravenswood will probably never come back any more.

Ashton But he and our daughter were such a faithful couple, and they loved each other. Everything indicates that they still do and intend to remain faithful. I have had a letter from him in which he ensures us of his good wishes for Lucy, to whom he now formally proposes.

Margaret I also had a letter from him, which I have answered.

Ashton What have you written?

Margaret I have tried to take him out of all his delusions by explaining that there is nothing for him to get here and that Lucy will have a husband who is worthy of her.

Also Lucy had a letter from him. It’s finished now. She will get no more.

Ashton Will you keep her watched and isolated?

Margaret Of course.

Ashton What do you think she will think about that?

Margaret She doesn’t need to know.

Ashton Don’t you think she will understand what we do to her?

Margaret I am glad that you finally are saying ’we’! That means that you agree to our plan. It is all up to us how we handle this business. Lucy will obey her parents.

Ashton I hope you are right.

Margaret I am always right.

Act IV scene 1.

Lucy Loneliness is the mother of virtue, I was always lonesome, but I was never more lonely than in the company of these people, who only consider me a piece of merchandise to arbitrarily make sales with. My lover is gone and sends no word, but I fear that my guards intercept all my mail and also make certain that nothing I write will reach any addressee. I warned my Edgar against writing to me and tried to hint at my situation of hopeless restriction, but I fear it only added fuel to the tender flame of his noble love. But here comes the superior force. I just hope there will be no more talk about suitors and marriage again.

(Enter Ashton and lady Margaret.)

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Ashton My daughter, you have a visitor.

Lucy Is it that Blackguard idiot again?

Margaret He is a faithful and sincere man who only wishes you well.

Lucy I thank you. Doesn’t he know that I em engaged since of old?

Margaret Alas, my daughter, how many time do we have to go through all that again? Ravenswood has forgotten you, and he has another flame now when he enjoys life to a maximum in France.

Lucy How do you know this for certain?

Margaret Trustworthy witnesses have confirmed his indulgences as a rake.

Lucy What trustworthy witnesses? Drunks and braggarts like Blackguard himself and Craigengelt, his intimate drinking companion?

Ashton Don’t take that attitude to your mother. The good Blackguard is now here to woo you for serious. It would be wise of you to be on good standing with him.

Lucy I will be on good standing with him.

Ashton Good girl.

Margaret Or else she would be no daughter of ours. She knows well to do the right thing, or else she would not be my daughter.

Ashton Shall we let in the eager and faithful suitor?

Margaret I think Lucy is prepared well enough.

Ashton (to a servant) Show the good Blackguard in.

Lucy (to herself) Even if he would be the best in the world and among suitors the most prudent, he would still be like a flea in comparison with my lover.

Margaret What was that, my daughter?

Lucy Nothing.

Margaret Look to it now that you honour your family by greeting this unbeatable suitor positively. We can’t afford to have a game with such high bets botched.

Lucy Least of all if I am the wages.

Margaret Exactly, my daughter.

Ashton (enters with Blackguard) Welcome, my dearest friend! My daughter has been waiting for you with some eagerness.

Blackguard Not as eagerly as I have longed for her.

Ashton Yes, I leave you two turtle-doves alone in your intimacy. I presume you have some private concerns together to discuss. (leaves) Margaret Since my daughter is rather young and inexperienced, I hope, Mr Blackguard, that you excuse me that I remain for her sake according to her own wish?

Blackguard We have no secrets, do we, Lucy?

Lucy The word is yours, Mr Blackguard. I just listen.

Margaret You must provide an answer, though.

Lucy Only to questions.

Margaret Of course.

Lucy And I suppose Mr Blackguard has only one single question?

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Blackguard The most important of all.

Lucy We are waiting with excitement.

Blackguard Well, Miss Lucy Ashton, I wish to marry you.

Lucy That was no question.

Blackguard That was no answer.

Lucy I will answer as I please.

Margaret Please be somewhat obliging to your suitor, Lucy. He only makes some effort at some courtesy.

Lucy You can’t just take me and deliver me to the altar as some kind of merchandise, Mr Blackguard.

Blackguard What else do you want?

Lucy Love, for instance.

Blackguard Love will come later.

Margaret Mr Blackguard has presented his question, Lucy, and you must answer.

Lucy Isn’t my answer already well known to the entire world?

Margaret (to Blackguard) So her answer is yes.

Lucy No, mother, I haven’t answered yes. But all Scotland knows that I am engaged to Lord Edgar Ravenswood. As long as he lives, and as long as I live, there is no other love for me.

Margaret (coldly) All the world knows that the ruined profligate Ravenswood is more than eager in indulging in wanton women abroad and has already broken a number of new engagements there.

Blackguard Ravenswood will never come back, Miss Lucy. He has forgotten you.

Lucy How do you know?

Blackguard Has he ever written a single letter to you?

Lucy He knows that if he writes the letters will never reach me but be intercepted on the way.

Blackguard Who has given you such a fancy?

Lucy I know it.

Margaret You speak against better knowledge, my daughter.

Blackguard And haven’t you yourself written countless letters to him which he has just ignored and left unanswered?

Margaret She writes to him almost every day.

Blackguard There you are.

Lucy I fear that my letters don’t get through.

Blackguard And why wouldn’t they get through?

Lucy I fear they are being intercepted on the way.

Margaret But you are paranoid, my daughter.

Lucy I am afraid that I am not.

Margaret So it’s settled then. From now on we will start preparing the wedding festivities.

Blackguard I knew that she would say yes! There is no better match in all Scotland than me!

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Margaret We are well aware of that, and we are grateful for your generous offer, especially now as my husband no longer is the Keeper of the Seal of Scotland.

Blackguard What do you mean, madam? Has he lost his job?

Margaret Only temporarily.

Blackguard I hope so indeed.

Margaret (rising) It brings me great joy that we have reached such a mutual and congenial understanding, which my daughter is especially happy about. We are very grateful, Sir. Blackguard I just hope I didn’t go too far.

Margaret No risk, or is there, Lucy?

Lucy Not yet.

Margaret (to Lucy) That pleases me. (to Blackguard) There you are. She is content. Shall we leave? I am sure Lucy has much to consider.

Blackguard (rising) Then it only remains to go through some details with Sir William.

Margaret I am sure you will reach an agreement. (shows the way out) After you, my becoming son-in-law.

Blackguard See you, Lucy. (leaves) Lucy (alone) And you don’t know what is expecting you, if you enforce your will. But I know what is expecting me. The only thing I have in life now is lamentations and nightmares day and night, until Edgar returns, if he ever does return. Or else I am dead.

Scene 2.

Edgar One year without a word with only formal letters that undoubtedly were dictated by her mother. Have they put her in a nunnery? My love, if only I had a sign that you at all had received or read at least one of my hundreds of letters! But there is only silence or formalism. It is inhuman. I must return home, for this uncertainty is unendurable. Perhaps she is already given away in marriage to that Blackguard knave, but then I should have had some notice of it. I fear a suffering worse than death. I seem to feel her slowly languish in a virgin cage with all her freedom cut off by cruel parents, who only think of their own advantage and couldn’t care less about their daughter’s life. But I don’t know if that is just my own imagination or if my terrible misgivings could be true. I must have a clearance. It’s just to go back home, and may the whole world with my career just go to blazes!

Scene 3.

Ashton We must make her come to a decision.

Margaret Calm down, William. Time is working for us. In just a few days, time has run out for her respite.

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Ashton But she refuses to give up that miserable Ravenswood! She clings to him as if he were the only man in the world!

Margaret She must wake up to the reality one day that there are other men than he.

Ashton And that witch you employed to cure her pthisis only made her health and matters worse!

Margaret Be grateful for that. It was a part in the strategy to break her resistance, and the drugs of that hag were more than efficient. After that I could make her agree to anything.

Ashton What agreement did you make her accept?

Margaret Her argument was always that she impossibly could break her engagement with Ravenswood without his consent. Well, I gave her a respite. If Ravenswood never gave a word for an answer to all her letters before the day of St. Jude, she would agree to the contract. She is probably already rather convinced of Ravenswood’s infidelity.

Ashton Do you still have Ravenswood’s letters?

Margaret Not one of them. I destroyed them all immediately after the first perusal.

Ashton It’s almost dishonest.

Margaret Nothing that is done for the best of the family can be dishonest. You should know that as an experienced lawyer.

Ashton We must go through with the marriage. Or else I am ruined.

Margaret I know, but the important thing is to not let the bridegroom know until after the wedding.

Ashton As soon as the contract is signed we are on the safe side.

Margaret Here he is now, our beloved son-in-law. Welcome, dearest Blackguard!

Blackguard I came to visit my bride. How is she?

Margaret She is a bit indisposed but will be sure to have recovered tomorrow.

Blackguard Has she recovered from her severe illness?

Margaret Yes, thanks to the old wise Ailsie Gourlay and her heavy drugs, our daughter has survived her difficult crisis of the nerves.

Ashton But it was Ailsie’s drugs that broke her down and wrecked her.

Margaret Quiet, William. That was another matter. Hard illnesses demand hard medicines, and Ailsie did what she had to do until you kicked her out. That is why our daughter’s recovery has been delayed.

Blackguard I just hope she will be well for the wedding.

Margaret For her wedding she will be standing on her legs. We warrant that.

Blackguard And what about the troublesome process against Ravenswood?

Margaret If only his cousin the Marquess of Arundel hadn’t brought it up again, Ravenswood could have become our son-in-law. Now when revenge on us is the only thing he can think of it is impossible. It is certainly that process that has brought down Lucy to despair.

Blackguard I hope there is nothing to it that that process would ruin you, Sir William.

Margaret Of course not. You shouldn’t listen to vague rumours.

81

Blackguard Such as that Ravenswood has engaged another abroad?

Margaret That’s no vague rumour. Everyone is talking about it.

Blackguard Another rumour says he is on his way here.

Ashton Impossible.

Blackguard I hope so. (rubs his hands) Well, then all we have left are the formalities.

When can we sign the marriage contract?

Margaret On the day of St. Jude.

Blackguard That is in four days.

Margaret Everything will be cleared until then.

Blackguard Also the bride?

Margaret She especially.

Blackguard That’s good. The sooner we get it over with, the better. If Ravenswood is on his way here we have to have all the papers ready before he turns up and embarks on new processes and scandals.

Ashton My view exactly.

Margaret It pleases me that we are all agreed. Thereby our security is perfect.

Blackguard Just remember, that I must have a living bride and not a ghost. Or else there will be no deal.

Margaret Of course, dearest son-in-law. We will keep you informed. But there is hardly any need for you to see her before the wedding.

Blackguard I trust that you keep your word and have all the papers in order.

Margaret Of course. You may go now. (Blackguard bows and leaves.)

Ashton I am sure we’ll make it, old girl. A few days more, and his assets will be ours.

Margaret And both Lucy and we will be rid of Ravenswood.

Ashton Everything will be resolved thanks to your wisdom.

Margaret Thanks, my friend.

Act V scene 1.

Lucy Dress me up for a bride, but do it carefully, for I might break. These Brussels laces in this blinding satin of whiteness is like an armour of ice on my heart, which feels as if I would never more be free of it, as a more poisonous and lethal mantle than the Nessus cloak that was given to Hercules. I am already dead, for I am celebrating my wedding but not with the one I love and was honestly engaged with, but with a base opportunist procurer.

Maid You have never been more beautiful, Miss. The frosty paleness of your cheeks rhyme perfectly with the virgin purity of your whiteness.

Lucy I feel like a snow queen without a heart in a living coffin.

Margaret (enters) Aren’t you ready yet? The contract must be signed before nine o’clock!

Lucy Mother is in a hurry about my execution.

82

Margaret Just see to it that you get ready. The bridegroom is waiting and hasn’t got the whole day.

Maid You shouldn’t rush a wedding, madam. The bridegroom will wait while the bride must have time to get ready.

Margaret It’s bad luck to wait with decisive life events till after nine in the morning!

Lucy Is mother superstitious?

Margaret I just follow good old advice.

Maid You seem somewhat nervous, madam, as if you were the bride.

Margaret I am just impatient. We all waited long for this day.

Maid There. Now everything is ready.

Lucy Mother, I am ready for your broad-axe. You can let in the guests.

Margaret That pleases me, my daughter. So far you have done well. (claps her hands) Let in the priest and the guests!

(Sir William Ashton comes first with the priest, followed by the bridegroom, Craigengelt and other guests.)

Priest This wedding was long postponed, Sir William.

Ashton All to please the bride. Her whims have put bees in our bonnets far too long.

Priest Is the argument with Ravenswood over?

Ashton The process has been going on for generations and will be carried on as long as there is any Ravenswood left.

Priest They say the last one is abroad.

Ashton Yes, he is at war somewhere and is not likely to return.

Priest You must understand, Sir William, that since a wedding is a sacred ceremony I must be very careful about everything being carried out in perfect order.

If I have understood the matter correctly, the engagement between your daughter and Ravenswood was never broken.

Margaret (intervenes) It was broken long ago by Ravenswood’s engagement to others abroad.

Priest Do you have proof of that?

Margaret Every Scotsman who has gone abroad and heard about Ravenswood has spoken of it.

Priest So. I thought all the rumours came from you.

Blackguard What are we waiting for? The bride is ready, and the documents are just waiting to be signed.

Margaret (to Lucy) Here is your great moment, Lucy.

Lucy What do you want me to do?

Blackguard Just sign the marriage contract, and everything else will be arranged.

Margaret The papers are here.

Priest Just a moment! No hurry! This is a sacred moment which must be observed under strict ceremony. First of all a prayer to sanctify this for all of us so very important moment.

83

Margaret Yes, yes, but let’s get done with it!

Ashton Priests are always so slow by nature, my dear. It’s their profession.

Maid The slower they are, the holier they are. By the way, the time has already passed nine.

Margaret Too late!

Priest Hereby I invoke the blessing of the all-powerful on this holy matrimonial union which we all are here to witness between our two so honourable parties and their families. I hope that one of these parties with time will find a beneficial cure for her wounded heart by her forthcoming marriage as a reward for the obedience and submission with which she in commendable humility has accomodated herself to her high parents’ well-intended wishes. Not just a long life on earth may be her just reward for her trial and obedience, but also an eternal place in the church among the dwellings of the blessed in heaven from now on. Thereby I invoke all God’s blessings on the Ashton family and the tribe of Blackguard and their descendants for all times in generation after generation. So be it. Amen. Now you may proceed.

Margaret Here are the papers.

Ashton Who comes first?

Blackguard You, Sir William.

Ashton (takes the pen) I hereby sign this marriage contract to the benefit and happiness of my darling daughter and her union in church with an ideal husband. May they long live in bliss and happiness! (signs the contract) Your turn, dear son-in-law.

Blackguard (signs quickly and carelessly) Then there is only Lucy left.

Margaret Here you are the pen, my darling child. (gives the pen to Lucy, who approaches the table of the documents with faltering hesitation.)

Ashton There is no danger in it, my child.

Blackguard Just a small formality. (to Craigengelt) She can write, can she?

Craigengelt Or else we are lost.

Blackguard There, be a good girl and sign it now, my own bride.

(Lucy writes.)

Margaret You are writing with a dry pen, Lucy. You must dip it in the inkhorn first.

Lucy (drops the pen) What inkhorn?

(Blackguard and Henry both bend to pick up the pen and hit their heads against each other.)

Blackguard You or me, you blunderer?

Henry It’s your bride.

Blackguard (takes up the pen, dips it and gives it to Lucy) There, my girl, sign it properly now.

Henry (while Lucy enforced and quavering signs) I am glad it never became that revenging angel Ravenswood, sister. Aren’t you also?

Ashton Quiet, Henry! She is concentrating!

Blackguard Just one more signature, Lucy, and it’s all done with, so that we then can celebrate our wedding.

84

Lucy (holds the pen in the air) I can’t! I can’t!

Margaret (hurries to her side, guides Lucy’s hand with the pen to the document) This is the last thing you have to do. Then you are free from us.

Edgar(’s voice outside) Let me in! Don’t try to stop me!

Lucy (without having signed) He is here! He is here! (drops the pen) (The door flies open and Ravenswood enters. He goes straight up to the document table to examine the signatures and Lucy in mortal silence. He comes directly from a long and hard journey in a red hat and cloak, armed with a sword and two pistols, with his hair dishevelled and makes a rather wild impression.)

Margaret (breaks the silence) By what right do you break in and disturb a family’s most private concerns?

Henry This is my concern, mother, to deal with. Since his offensive intrusion is a fait accompli I must ask him to follow me to a certain place where we can make a satisfactory settlement.

Blackguard If anyone here has any right to feel offended by this intrusion it’s me.

Craigengelt, get me my sword, at once!

Ashton I am sorry, but you are all second hands in this. This man has during all my life caused my family trouble and misfortunes. If anyone has any right to deal with him, it’s me.

Henry No, father. You are too old. Leave it to me.

Blackguard Let us all take him on one by one!

Craigengelt Me too!

Priest Calm down! Let’s hear what he has to say for his defence.

Edgar Patience, gentlemen! One at a time! I will gladly accept your challenges, one after the other in due order, since you all seem equally fed up and indifferent to life as I am. To me it’s the same if you murder me or if I take all your lives. I have here a more important issue to present.

Ashton Gentlemen, calm down! Sheathe your swords! Let us speak sensibly as full-grown men!

Blackguard May the devil take me if I don’t immediately pierce the heart of that chronic disturber of peace once and for all!

Craigengelt And I am his second.

Henry Father, we can’t have him here in the house. He must get out at once. Let me cut short the process with him.

Priest This is a holy service, and we are gathered here today to in sacred devotion commit ourselves to a holy sacrament. Where do all these swords, these angry looks, these flashing lightnings of hatred and all this volcanic lack of self control come from? This was supposed to be a wedding! Down with all your weapons at once!

Henry No one must violate my sister’s wedding! (rushes at Edgar with his sword.

Blackguard stops him.)

Blackguard Stop! Fair play if I may! I was first!

85

Edgar Quiet! There is time for everything, and I accept all duels at once, but later! First we must conclude this meeting. (turns to Lucy and produces a letter from his pocket) Is this by your hand, Lucy Ashton? (shows it to her) Lucy (faltering, weak) Yes. Edgar Judge me later! (holds up the letter in sight of all) This is a sacred love letter in which Lucy Ashton warrants her fidelity to me as long as she lives. I promised her the same fidelity and have not broken it. And now, Lucy Ashton, (shows her the marriage contract with the signatures) is also this by your hand?

Lucy (can’t answer) Ashton If you wish to present documentary evidence of impediment of marriage, I must ask you to present it to court and not here so ruthlessly in front of my daughter.

Edgar Am I not here in my fullest rights? Have I no right to demand a clear answer of the one I have loved? Murder me if you want, all of you here and now, but first I must demand an answer! And only one person has the right to give it, and that’s the one I loved faithfully until her marriage. But the bridegroom was not I. Now I want to know whom she has chosen for her bridegroom.

(All hesitate. None dare speak.)

Priest (breaks the silence) The Lord of Ravenswood is in his fullest rights. He has been abroad for more than a year and not had any information about what has been going on here. So let’s then hear from Miss Lucy’s own lips, that she dutifully has chosen to obey her parents when they chose a husband for her in the absence of the master of Ravenswood. Let him speak alone with Miss Lucy to have all misunderstandings dispersed and she gets the opportunity to in peace and quiet give a clear answer how she irrevocably has chosen to relinquish him on the ground of his processing against her father and therefore instead followed her father’s and mother’s will. It’s not more than fair.

Margaret Never! My daughter is according to the marriage contract an already betrothed bride and shall never before the wedding speak alone with any other alien man! All propriety and convention forbids it! I have no fear of this wild warrior’s weapons and will stay as a parting wall between him and my daughter whatever he may say to that with whatever means he may choose.

Priest Then stay, my lady, but let for God’s sake these two have a talk with each other! I will also stay if you please, and they will probably have no objection against the presence of an ordained clergyman.

Edgar Then stay, father, and be our witness to our settlement, and you may also stay, lady Ashton, in the capacity of the mother of the bride. But may all others withdraw from here, so that Lucy at last may speak freely with me.

Henry (accepts) We will settle later, Edgar Ravenswood. (sheathes his sword) Edgar Whenever you please.

Blackguard Our settlement will follow.

Edgar Whenever you want.

86

Ashton Lord Ravenswood, I once opened my house to you and placed everything in it at your disposal including my only daughter. You answered with ingratitude, by a process that caused me harm, and by abandoning my daughter by going abroad. All this damage you have now crowned by this shameful behaviour of intruding in the middle of my daughter’s marriage with weapons and threats and a humiliation that never can be healed. None of us deserved this. I would ask you to come with me to my room, so that we could talk the whole situation over face to face, and you would then be brought to understand the importance of leaving my daughter, her life and her future in peace.

Edgar Tomorrow, Sir William. I stand at everyone’s disposal tomorrow. This day I must first be allowed to devote to my own life.

(Sir William leaves. When he has left, Edgar bars the door behind him.)

Edgar There. Now we are undisturbed. Do you still know me, Lucy? I am still the same, the Ravenswood that for your sake refrained from my justified revenge on your father and his family, who with fraud and deception bereft my father and his family of everything he owned of any worth. I am not responsible for the process which my cousin the marquess of Arundel has started in my name against your father, since I have been abroad and never had anything to do with it. He wanted me to relinquish you for the sake of the process and the honour of my family, but I refused. To get some distance to all this I went abroad, but I never got detached from you and never will, unless you by your own will declare yourself belonging to another man.

Margaret Your venomous language is too clear to make any misunderstanding possible. The self-evidence of that my daughter here stands in front of her family’s implacable and only enemy is too obvious for her to be able to answer.

Edgar I didn’t speak to you, lady Ashton, but I am talking only with your daughter and will accept no other answer than from her own mouth. She is a human being who has the right to answer for herself, or hasn’t she? Well, Lucy, I am waiting for your answer. As the one which you engaged yourself in this holy engagement with (produces a necklace from under the collar with the medallion with the half coin) I have the right to know, if you relinquished this engagement by your own will to undertake another.

Lucy (incapable of speaking for herself by shock and numbness) It was my mother…

Margaret She speaks the truth. It was I who by reasonable human and legal reasons broke your engagement since it was not suitable for my daughter’s or my family’s future, health and welfare. And I had support for my arbitrary course of action from the Bible itself. Read the text, father.

Priest (opens his Bible) ”If a woman promises herself to a man while a virgin and in her father’s house, and the promise comes to the knowledge of her father and he does not object, then the promise has legal force. But if the promise comes to the father’s knowledge and he has objections, then her promise is not valid.”

Margaret God has given you Lucy’s answer, lord Ravenswood.

87

Edgar And is it then your serious intention, Lucy, to break your faith and promise and deny your own free will to submit to biblical outdated paragraph stickling to use it for an excuse to scrap the one who loved you?

Margaret Listen to him! He dares to make blasphemies!

Priest (crosses himself) May God forgive the desecrator!

Edgar Don’t listen to them, Lucy. It is I who am speaking to you, I, who sacrificed everything for my fidelity to you, who buried my family’s honour and glory for your sake, who forsook all my friends who advised me to refrain from my connection with you, and who now has returned to you to hear from your own mouth that you submitted to your family’s demand that you use my confidence in you to break and pierece my heart forever.

Margaret His melodrama goes too far. Lord Ravenswood, you see for yourself that Lucy is quite incapable of answering you. She has long been ill and to bed for six months under a severe diet of hard medicines which has weakened her to such a degree, that she is more vulnerable than an orchid in winter; and in this situation you enter to assail her with your sharply upsetting emotional spears which you enjoy torturing her heart with. But as she cannot answer in her state of shock in your distressing presence, I must beg to speak for her. You have the answer in your hand.

You have the letter in which she by her own hand asks you to break her engagement with you. In addition you also have the marriage contract which she has signed herself with Mr Blackguard. What more do you need for an answer?

Edgar (examines the document; to the priest:) And was it without deceit and coercion that this marriage contract was signed?

Priest My son, I was myself a witness to that she signed it by her own hand.

Edgar (watches Lucy) To hold your silence is to agree. You don’t seem to have any objections, Lucy, to what your mother has said. And the signed document is irrefutable evidence. Let me then waste no more of your time. (tears off his medallion; hard, to Lucy:) Here is my oath of fidelity broken and returned. You are released from my promises. Marry whatever pimp and robber you please, and I hope you will be more faithful to him than you were to me. May I also ask you to return your half of our oath of fidelity.

Margaret Allow me. (goes to Lucy, cuts of her necklace and gives the half coin to Edgar) For once I am happy to be at your service.

Edgar My lady, it should then please you that all relationship between the souls of me and your daughter is now broken forever. Your constantly more obvious part in this divorce makes me wish, that your evil wishes and even more evil actions may be your last intrigues against your daughter’s future and happiness. If anyone has broken her it is you. And to you, Miss Lucy, I have nothing more to say than that I shall pray to God that you because of your intentional faithlessness and premeditated perjury will not be the object for the whole world of contempt and scorn.

Margaret You have shot your last arrow of poison against my daughter’s heart and here in our house against our entire family. There is nothing else for you to do here.

88

Edgar I know. I give up Ravenswood and my name and myself forever. (leaves) (When he unbolts the door to open it, they are all standing outside: Blackguard, Henry, Sir William, Craigengelt, and others.)

Blackguard Well, you bastard, when shall we have our duel?

Henry Don’t forget that I was first!

Ashton (enters, appraises the situation, exchanges eyes with his wife, and at last sees his daughter.) What I see is a human battlefield.

Margaret Lord Ravenswood is finished here.

Ashton I sincerely hope so.

Blackguard Time and place, lord Ravenswood!

Edgar Marry your trollop first, and see if you survive it!

Henry Here and now, lord Ravenswood, for this additional insult to my sister!

Edgar No one has insulted your sister except your entire infamous family and especially her monstrous weasel of a mother.

Priest Lord Edgar, it will only get worse the longer you stay.

Edgar Is it my fault that I get detained on the way?

Gravedigger (appears suddenly) Remember, that I was invited to play at your wedding.

Edgar (gives a short laugh) Of course, that was the one missing thing! Welcome! Play for the dead! They are all wandering on the path of death but are too blind to notice it and are only grateful and carry on as long as it securely leads them down to perdition! Bring forth your fiddle and play them all into death and down their graves, and then cover them all with earth and dust so that no one of them in their voluntary blindness and madness will ever rise again from the dead!

Priest Now he is gone mad.

Ashton (concerning the gravedigger) Drive that beggar out of here!

Lucy No, he is welcome. This is my wedding, and I have the right to decide what guests I wish to have. If I may not choose my bridegroom I must insist on my right to choose gravedigger. Come, dearest gravedigger, and play for me! You buried old Alice, I know that, the wisest person who lived in our domain, and you shall be thanked for that. That was the only benefaction anyone of our family did towards the oldest servant in the house of Ravenswood.

Gravedigger I played indeed for her as well, I tell you.

Lucy Yes, I am sure.

Margaret Lucy, this is a solemn wedding and not a spectacle of fools.

Lucy If my wedding doesn’t please you, you may leave.

Margaret (shocked) Lucy!

Ashton She will recover. She is just overstrained.

Margaret We must get her to bed. Where is that Ailsie who gave her beneficial drugs?

Ashton Have you forgotten? I drove her away when she almost poisoned our daughter to death.

Margaret It was not my fault.

Ashton That I saved Lucy’s life, or that I drove out Ailsie?

89

Craigengelt If you survive all the other duels, I will be next.

Edgar And if all the others fall? Would you like to join them in their fall, you arch clown, or do you wish to survive?

Blackguard He dares to be presumptuous as well!

Priest This is going wrong! This is going all wrong!

(The gravedigger has started playing for Lucy, who piously sits and listens.)

Margaret Drive out Ravenswood! Get that devil out of our house!

Lucy Our house, mother? Didn’t we steal it from Ravenswood?

Ashton What are you saying, you slut? How dare you?

Margaret She is not well.

Gravedigger I will play her back to her health. She was dead but starts awakening now.

Henry We might as well settle here and now, lord Ravenswood. (draws his sword) Edgar As you wish. Here you will even have an audience in the bargain.

(They fight) Ashton Stop it! Stop it!

Priest This goes beyond my authority. I am gone.

Ashton Thanks for your contributions, father, but they were not quite enough.

Priest I did my best, but the preparations were all your own. Now harvest the fruits of what you have brought forth in your own house. (succeeds in stealing away) Henry There is no priest to give us the last ointment.

Edgar All authorities vanish when they are needed.

Lucy Play some more, gravedigger! Play us all into the dance of death! Make us feel that we are alive at least once before we die! (gets up and starts dancing to the gravedigger’s fiddle) Margaret Lucy!

Ashton Nothing can stop her now. It’s after all her own wedding.

Margaret It was not intended to go like this.

Ashton Still no one else is responsible for the occasion except yourself.

Blackguard Rest a while, Henry, and let me take over!

Henry That’s not fair!

Blackguard I don’t care! (attacks Edgar. Henry lays off completely exhausted.)

Edgar Craigengelt, make ready to take over when Blackguard is finished!

Craigengelt I’ll be delighted! (pulls his sword and attacks Edgar) Blackguard No, he is mine! (kicks out Craigengelt) Craigengelt No hurry. We have the whole night.

Edgar You have the whole eternity in front of you, if you can wait.

Henry Eternity can wait. First we must get you down to hell. (attacks him) Edgar Because I loved your sister, Henry, without ever touching or violating her, like all in your family did?

Lucy (dances) Edgar, our wedding will be on the other side of the grave!

Edgar I am looking forward to it!

Henry He is too well practised. He is too difficult. We can’t manage him.

90

Blackguard Rest, young man. Leave him to me.

Lucy Save him for me, Edgar. He is my bridegroom, you know.

Edgar They are just playing with me. I have not the heart to beat them. Where did you learn to fence, babies? Against sheep in the moors or among girls without kilts?

Craigengelt He is just pulling our legs. It’s time to settle the matter. (attacks Edgar) Lucy Come, Blackguard, and dance with me! Remember, it is our wedding.

Edgar The bride is calling for her bridegroom. You had better obey her, Buck. I give you leave in the meantime.

Craigengelt I can manage him alone.

Blackguard (to the parents, when he sees her dancing) Is she quite well?

Ashton There is something wrong with her, but I don’t know what.

Margaret Try to get her to bed. Then she will get normal again.

Lucy Edgar, they want to see me in bed with my bridegroom!

Edgar You decide, since you are the bride.

Lucy No, my mother decides for me, for she decided everything that touches my life. She even decided my words to you in the only letter they allowed to get through to you, and now she commands me to go to bed with my bridegroom.

Edgar (starts understanding) My God! Ashton (is getting scared) This is getting less and less a place for us, Margaret. Let’s abandon this battlefield before there is an accident.

Margaret Are you afraid, William, of the consequences of your course of action?

Lucy Dance with me, bridegroom!

Blackguard Anything to please you, Lucy. (dances with her) Lucy How do you want your bed, bridegroom?

Blackguard Soft and cosy and filled with making love.

Lucy You will get even more than you ask for.

Craigengelt Take over, Henry. I can’t go on any more.

Edgar Before you challenged me you should have considered that I was at the battle of Blenheim.

Ashton (grows pale) The greatest battle of the duke of Marlborough!

Edgar But it’s too late to back out now. (attacks Henry) Lucy How do you find your wedding waltz, my noble husband?

Blackguard You are softer than an angel.

Lucy It will get even better for you in bed.

Ashton I don’t recognize our daughter, Margaret.

Margaret Neither do I. Lucy How many wenches have you had, Buck?

Blackguard I don’t know. Some number.

Lucy But you are my first one.

Blackguard I am looking forward to it.

Lucy But I think I know how it feels like.

Blackguard Do you?

91

Lucy Yes, for I actually already felt it.

Blackguard But you are a virgin.

Lucy That’s what I mean. Virgins are more sensitive than cold hardened veterans. Do you want to know how I feel it?

Blackguard You make me curious.

Lucy Be my guest. (sticks a dagger into his lower parts and pulls it up through his belly. The music stops at once.)

Blackguard (lets go of her, bleeding like a cribble) She has murdered me!

Henry Sister! (breaks off fighting and hurries to Lucy) Lucy (laughing hysterically) He asked for it! He asked for it!

Edgar Lucy! (rushes forth to assist her) Ashton (examines Blackguard) She has cut through his entire abdomen. He can’t survive.

Blackguard That witch! She cheated me!

Henry It was my knife, and it was well sharpened.

Edgar (embraces Lucy) Lucy, how are you?

Lucy (giggles) I finally got my bridegroom, but it was the wrong man, for he was only good for the contrary of what he was intended for.

Craigengelt (hurries to help) Buck! What has she done to you!

Blackguard That witch has destroyed me!

Edgar (to the parents) Behold your life’s work!

Lucy It was not their fault. They did not know what they were doing. They just thought that they would get their bridegroom’s money.

Blackguard My money? I have no money.

Ashton Weren’t you the heir of Blackguard?

Blackguard An empty title. I was looking forward to the acquisition of all Ravenswood.

Margaret Since you are dying anyway, my noble son-in-law, you might as well know, that my husband is ruined by the process of the Marquess of Arundel against us in the name of his cousin Ravenswood.

Blackguard You have cheated me!

Ashton No, poor fellow, we have all cheated ourselves.

Edgar (tries to comfort Lucy) Lucy! Lucy! It’s over now!

Lucy No, it’s not over. It’s now it begins. It’s only over for my part now.

Edgar What are you saying?

Lucy They poisoned me, Edgar. They gradually poisoned me by their hatred against you. When their poison wasn’t enough to kill my love, they employed the drug mixer Aislie, who was given free hands to poison me for real, until I became weak enough not to be able to make any resistance any more. And then I was married to the most appropriate bridegroom in the world, a ridiculous deceiver, who could fool everyone by his charm. But I knew him as a becoming bride and paid him for the innocence of his vanity. Now I have paid my debt and can get out of here. Tell me, Edgar, was I true to you or not?

92

Edgar My love, everything can still be all right.

Lucy After this? After a premeditated murder of my bridegroom?

Craigengelt He is dead.

Ashton Then close his eyes.

Lucy And I will follow him, for I can’t take any more. You sacrificed everything for me, Edgar, but I succeeded in sacrificing even more. (dies) Edgar (with Lucy in his arms) No, Lucy, no, come back! No! (bursts out crying) Ashton Behold your life’s work, my consort. Was it worth all the trouble? Are you satisfied now? Were you really always right?

Henry Sister! Sister! (cries by his sister) Craigengelt On my honour, this was a most exceptional wedding.

Gravedigger I knew I would get some work to do here, but I didn’t know who was to die.

Edgar (collects himself, turns to the parents) Her highest ambition was to have our families reconciled by our love. She died for that mission. Sir William, are you prepared to pardon me?

Ashton Pardon you for what, my son? For our own misdeeds?

Edgar Henry? Craigengelt? I still owe you satisfaction for your honour.

Henry Forget it. Sorrow has completely shattered us.

Craigengelt We already have two funerals too many.

Edgar Then there is only one matter left. Your hands, gentlemen. (offers his hand. Henry accepts it first.)

Henry Never again any strife between our families, lord Ravenswood, and this house we leave in your hands. Isn’t it so, father?

Ashton Your relative the Marquess of Arundel has actually arranged it that way.

Edgar Your hand, Sir William. (Sir William accepts it.) Remain residents here with your family as my administrators. I will now go abroad again, for there is nothing more for me to do here but to grieve for my beloved.

Margaret Lord Ravenswood, our hearts are as shattered as yours.

Edgar Then we at last have something in common, lady Ashton. Your hand, madam. (She accepts it.) Craigengelt, will you follow me abroad?

Craigengelt Why not? I always followed Blackguard on his fake missions. Now I have no one left to follow but maybe you.

Edgar Then we are all reconciled in Lucy’s name, as she would have wished, but she never imagined nor did we that it would go thus far that she would give her life for it. How childish and petty is not all human strife and violence in comparison with the seriousness of true love! If only we could all learn something from it, as we now learned the hard way to tread the road of atonement. Come, my friends. Now it’s time to indulge in grieving.

Ashton Margaret, you waged your only daughter and lost the whole game.

Never gamble with any human life again.

Margaret My heart is bleeding, and it is my curse, that it unlike Lucy’s can’t that easily bleed to death.

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Ashton Edgar Gravedigger Craigengelt Gravedigger funeral.

Craigengelt Gravedigger

Live then with your curse and learn from it.

Come, let’s go. Gravedigger, your task will be to cover the bodies.

And make them ready for the funeral.

The music had a sudden and tragic end.

No, my friend. The music never stops. I will play again at the next You mean wedding?

It’s the same thing. They both add up equally. There is no difference. (exeunt)

(Ladakh-Dharamsala, August 2001, translated January 2020)

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