THE BRIDAL CROWN
A monologue from the
play by August
Strindberg
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NOTE: This monologue is reprinted
from Plays by August Strindberg, vol. 4. Trans. Edwin
Björkman. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1916. |
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SHERIFF: Look at them! Files of them, and whole hosts!
Look!--Do you know what that means? . . . . It is a good omen!
But, of course, you never expect anything good to come from me.
You wouldn't believe it that time either -- and that's
what led to your exposure! . . . . Look at those ants! Look at
them! They are making straight for you, Kersti. Are you not afraid
of them? Big wood-ants, and I think the ant-king himself is with
them. Do you know what can be done by the King, and by no other
authority? Do you know that? . . . . All other authorities can
pass judgment -- all of them can do that -- harshly or mercifully;
but there is only one that can grant pardon. That's the King!
-- Shall we ask the ant-king if he will grant pardon? [He
puts his hand to his ear as if to hear better] Would your
majesty be willing to pardon her -- that is, in regard to the
worst part? . . . . Did you hear what he answered? I thought
he said yes. But I may have been mistaken. . . . And being the
Sheriff, I can't go by hearsays, but must have everything in
writing. Let us ask the ant-king to write it down. He has plenty
of pens -- sharp as needles -- and he has ink of his own, that
burns. If we could only find a piece of paper! [He pretends
to search his pockets, finally he brings out the paper he was
reading when he entered] Oh, here we are! Look at this! The
King has written it with his own hand. Do you see? C-A-R-L, which
makes Carl. [He raises his cap for a moment in salute]
You haven't seen such big letters since you went to school, Kersti.
And look at the red seal -- that smelled like resin in the woods
when the sealing-wax was still warm. And look at the silken cords,
yellow and blue -- and all these lions and crowns. . . . That's
royal, every bit of it! . . . . Read it yourself, Kersti, while
I give my orders to the soldiers.
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MONOLOGUES BY AUGUST STRINDBERG |
