Complete Works of Henrik Ibsen (160 page)

URSULUS.
Then all Christians will say that it is their faith you are persecuting.

JULIAN.
No one shall be persecuted by reason of his faith. But have I the right to overlook whatever faults you may commit, simply because you are Christians? Shall your delusions shield your misdeeds? What have not your audacious crew for long been doing, both here at court and elsewhere? Have you not flattered all vices, and bowed before all caprices? Ay, what have not you yourself, Ursulus, connived at? I am thinking of that shameless, bedizened barber, that salve-stinking fool, who just now filled me with loathing. Are not you treasurer? How could you give way to his impudent demands?

URSULUS.
Is it a crime to have done my master’s bidding?

JULIAN.
I will have nothing to do with such luxurious servants. All those insolent eunuchs shall be hunted out of the palace; and all cooks, and jugglers, and dancers after them. A becoming frugality shall once more be enforced. [To Themistius
and
Mamertinus. You, my friends, shall aid me in this, — And you, Nevita, on whom, as a mark of special distinction, I bestow the title of general-in-chief, — you I depute to investigate how the offices of state have been administered under my predecessor, especially of late years. You may call in the aid of competent men, at your own choice, to decide with you in these affairs.
[To the older courtiers and councillors.
Of you I have no need. When my lamented kinsman, on his death-bed, appointed me his successor, he also bequeathed to me that justice which his long illness had prevented him from administering. Go home; and when you have given an account of yourselves, you may go whither you please.

URSULUS.
The Lord God uphold and shield you, my Emperor!
[He bows, and goes out by the back, together with the older men.
Nevita, Themistius,
and
Mamertinus,
with all the younger men
,
gather round the Emperor.

NEVITA.
My august master, how can I sufficiently thank you for the mark of favour which you —

JULIAN.
No thanks. In these few days I have learnt to value your fidelity and judgment. I also commission you to draw up the despatch concerning the eastern envoys. Word it so that the beneficent gods may find in it no reason for resentment against any of us.

NEVITA.
In both matters I will carry out my Emperor’s will. [
He goes out to the right.

JULIAN.
And now, ray faithful friends, now let us praise the immortal powers, who have shown us the right way.

THEMISTIUS.
The immortals, and their more than mortal favourite! What joy there will be throughout the empire, when it is known that you have dismissed those violent and rapacious men!

MAMERTINUS.
With what anxiety and impatient hope will the choice of their successors be awaited!

THEMISTIUS.
All the Greeks will exclaim with one voice:
“
Plato himself has taken the helm of state!”

MAMERTINUS.
No, no, worthy friend; all the Greeks will exclaim: “Plato’s ideal is realised—’ Only a god can rule over men!’”

THEMISTIUS.
I can but trust that the goodwill of the beneficent powers may follow Nevita. He has received a great and difficult charge; I know little of him; but we must all hope that he may prove himself to be the right —

MAMERTINUS.
Undoubtedly; although there might perhaps be other men who —

THEMISTIUS.
Not that I would for a moment imply that your choice, oh peerless Emperor —

MAMERTINUS.
No, no; far from it!

THEMISTIUS.
But if it be an error to burn with zeal to serve a beloved master —

MAMERTINUS.
 
— then, in truth, you have more than one erring friend —

THEMISTIUS.
 
— even if you do not honour them, as you have honoured the thrice-fortunate Nevita —

MAMERTINUS.
 
— even if they have to be content without any visible token of your favour —

JULIAN.
We will leave no capable men unemployed or unrewarded. As regards you, Themistius, I appoint you chief magistrate of this city of Constantinople; and you, Mamertinus, prepare to betake yourself to Rome during the coming year, to enter upon one of the vacant consulships.

THEMISTIUS.
My Emperor! I am dizzy with so much honour —

MAMERTINUS.
So high a distinction! Consul! Was ever consul so honoured as I? Was Lucius? Was Brutus? Was Publius Valerius? What were their honours to mine? They were chosen by the people, I by Julian!

A COURTIER.
Praise be to the Emperor, who makes justice his guide!

ANOTHER COURTIER.
Praise be to him, whose very name strikes terror to the barbarians!

THEMISTIUS.
Praise be to all the exalted gods, who have united in casting their enamoured eyes on one single man, so that when the day comes — distant may it be! — when he shall for the first time inflict pain on us by departing hence, this one man may be said to have cast Socrates, Marcus Aurelius, and Alexander into the shade!

JULIAN.
There you touch the kernel of the matter, my Themistius. ‘Tis to the gods that we must uplift our hands and hearts. I say this, not as instructing you, but merely to remind you of what has so long been forgotten at this court. By no means would I seek to coerce any one. But can I be blamed because I would fain have others share in the sweet rapture which possesses me when I feel myself uplifted into communion with the immortals? Praise, praise to thee, vine-clad Dionysus! For it is chiefly thou who dost bring about such great and mysterious things. Depart now each to his task. I, for my part, have ordered a festal procession through the streets of the city. It shall be no mere revel for my courtiers, nor a banquet within four walls. The citizens shall be free to join me or to hold aloof; I will discern the pure from the impure, the pious from the misguided. Oh Sun-King, shed light and beauty over the day! Oh Dionysus, let thy glory descend in floods upon our minds; fill our souls with thy sacred storm-wind; fill them till all trammels are burst asunder, and ecstasy enfranchised draws breath in dance and song! — Life, life, life in beauty!
[He goes out hastily to the light. The courtiers break up into whispering groups, and gradually disperse.

SCENE THIRD
.

A narrow street in Constantinople. A great concourse of people, all looking in one direction down the street. Noise, singing, and the music of flutes and drums is heard at some distance.
A Shoemaker.
[At his house-door, calls across the street.]
What is afoot, dear neighbour?
A Shopkeeper.
[In the house opposite
.] They say ‘tis some Syrian jugglers that have come to town. A Fruit seller. [in
the street
.] No, no, ‘tis a band of Egyptians going around with apes and dromedaries.

EUNAPIUS THE BARBER.
[Poorly clad, trying in vain to slip through the crowd
.] Make room, you fools! How the devil can any one chatter and play the fool on such a day of misfortune? A Woman.
[At a small window
.] Hist, hist, Eunapius! My comely master!

EUNAPIUS.
How dare you speak to me in the open street, you procuress?

THE WOMAN.
Slip in by the back way, sweet friend!

EUNAPIUS.
Fie upon you! Am I in the humour for folly —

THE WOMAN.
You shall soon be in the humour. Come, fair Eunapius; I had a consignment of fresh doves the day before yesterday —

EUNAPIUS.
Oh sinful world!
[Tries to
pass.] Make room, there, in Satan’s name; let me pass!

HEKEBOLIUS.
[Clad for a journey, and followed by a couple of laden slaves, comes from, a side-street.]
Has the town turned into a madhouse? Every one seeks to out bellow his neighbour, and no one can tell me what is astir. Aha, — Eunapius, my pious brother!

EUNAPIUS.
All hail to you, reverend sir! So you have come back to town?

HEKEBOLIUS.
This very moment; — I have consecrated the warm autumn months to quiet devotion, on my estate in Crete. And now pray tell me what is afoot here?

EUNAPIUS.
Confusion and disaster. The new Emperor —

HEKEBOLIUS.
Yes, yes, I have heard strange rumours —

EUNAPIUS.
The truth is ten times worse. All faithful servants are hunted out of the palace.

HEKEBOLIUS.
IS it possible?

EUNAPIUS.
Alackaday; I myself was the first

HEKEBOLIUS.
Terrible! Then, perhaps, I too — ?

EUNAPIUS.
Most certainly. All accounts are to be examined, all gifts resumed, all irregular perquisites —

HEKEBOLIUS.
[Turning pale
.] God have mercy on us!

EUNAPIUS.
The Lord be praised, I have a good conscience!

HEKEBOLIUS.
I too, I too; but nevertheless — . Then no doubt it is true that the Emperor has sacrificed to Apollo and Fortuna?

EUNAPIUS.
Certainly; but who cares for such trifles?

HEKEBOLIUS, Trifles? See you not, my short-sighted friend, that it is our faith, as good Christians, that he is persecuting?

EUNAPIUS.
What do you say? God’s cross, is it possible? Women.
[In the crowd.]
There they come! A Man.
On a housetop.]
I can see him!

OTHER VOICES.
Who comes? Who, who?

THE MAN QN THE HOUSETOP.
The Emperor Julian. He has vine-leaves in his hair.

PEOPLE IN THE STREET.
The Emperor!

EUNAPIUS.
The Emperor!

HEKEBQLIUS.
Come, come, my godly brother!

EUNAPIUS.
Let me go, sir. I am in no wise godly.

HEKEBOLIUS.
Not godly — ?

EUNAPIUS.
Who dares accuse me of — ? Do you want to ruin me? Godly? When was I godly? I once belonged to the sect of the Donatists; that was years and years ago. Devil take the Donatists!
[He knocks at the window
.] Hi, Barbara, Barbara; open the door, old she-cat!
[The door is opened and he slips in.

THE MULTITUDE.
There he is! There he comes!

HEKEBOLIUS.
All irregular perquisites — ! Accounts examined! Oh thunderbolt of disaster!
[He slips away, followed by his two slaves. The procession of Dionysus comes down the street. Flute-players go foremost; drunken men, some of them dressed as fauns and satyrs, dance to the measure. In the middle of the procession comes the
Emperor Julian,
riding on an ass which is covered with a panther-skin; he is dressed as the god Dionysus, with a panther-skin over his shoulders, a wreath of vine-leaves round his head, in his hands a staff wreathed with green, and with a pine-cone fastened on its upper end. Half naked, painted women and youths, dancers and jugglers, surround him; some carry wine-flagons and goblets, others beat tambourines, and move forward with wild leaps and antics.

THE DANCERS.
[Singing.]
Potions of fire drain from goblets o’erflowing! Potions of fire! Lips deeply sipping, Locks unguent-dripping, Goat-haunches tripping, Wine-God, we hail thee in rapturous quire!

THE WOMEN.
[Singing.]
Come, Bacchanalians, while noontide is glowing — Come, do not flee us — Plunge we in love-sports night blushes at knowing! There rides Lyaeus, Pardborne, delivering! Come, do not flee us; Know, we are passionate; feel, we are quivering! Leaping all, playing all, Staggering and swaying all — Come, do not flee us!

JULIAN.
Make room! Stand aside, citizens! Reverently make way; not for us, but for him to whom we do honour!

A VOICE IN THE CROWD.
The Emperor in the company of mummers and harlots!

JULIAN.
The shame is yours, that I must content myself with such as these. Do you not blush to find more piety and zeal among these than among yourselves? An Old Man. Christ enlighten you, sire!

JULIAN.
Aha, you are a Galilean! And you must put in your word? Did not your great Master sit at meat with sinners? Did he riot frequent houses that were held less than reputable? Answer me that.

EUNAPIUS.
[Surrounded by girls; in the doorway of
BARBARA’S
house.]
Yes, answer, answer if you can, you fool!

JULIAN.
What, — are not you that barber whom — ?

EUNAPIUS: A new made freeman, gracious Emperor! Make way, Bacchanalians; room for a brother!
[He and the girls dance into the ranks of the Bacchanalians.

JULIAN.
I like this well. Take example by this Greek, if you have a spark of your fathers’ spirit left in you. And this is sorely needed, you citizens; for no divinity has been
so
much misunderstood — ay, even rendered ridiculous — as this ecstatic Dionysus, whom the Romans also call Bacchus. Think you he is the god of sots? Oh ignorant creatures, I pity you, if that is your thought. Who but he inspires poets and prophets with their miraculous gifts? I know that some attribute this function to Apollo, and certainly not without a show of reason; but in that case the whole matter must be regarded in quite another aspect, — as I could prove by many authorities. But this I will not debate with you in the open streets. This is neither the place nor the time. Ay, mock away! Make the sign of the cross! I see it! You would fain whistle with your fingers; you would stone me, if you dared. — Oh, how I blush for this city, so sunk in barbarism that it knows no better than to cling to an ignorant Jew’s deluded fantasies! — Forward! Stand aside, — do not block the way!

THE DANCERS.
There rides Lyaeus, Pardborne, delivering!

THE WOMEN.
Know, we are passionate; feel, we are quivering; Come, do not flee us!
[During the singing of the refrain the procession turns into a side-street; the crowd looks on in dumb astonishment.