Early Plays - Catiline, the Warrior's Barrow, Olaf Liljekrans Part 20

[The sound of arms is heard approaching; he listens.]

CATILINE. They come, they come! Still are there valiant men Among them. Ah, the joyous clang of steel!

The merry clash of shields against each other!

Anew the fire kindles in my breast; The reckoning is near,--the mighty hour That settles every doubt. I hail the day!

[MANLIUS, STATILIUS, GABINIUS, and many OTHER CONSPIRATORS come through the forest.]

MANLIUS. Here, Catiline, come your friends and comrades true; In camp I spread the alarm, as you commanded--

CATILINE. And have you told them--?

MANLIUS. Yes,--they know our plight.

STATILIUS. We know it well, and we shall follow you With sword in hand to fight for life and death.

CATILINE. I thank you all, my comrades brave in arms!

But do not think, my friends, that life or death Is ours to choose;--our only choice is this: Death in heroic battle with the foe, Or death by torture when like savage beasts We shall be hounded down relentlessly.

Ah, which do you prefer? To risk in flight A wretched life prolonged in misery, Or like your proud and worthy sires of old To perish n.o.bly on the battlefield?

GABINIUS. We choose to fight and die!

MANY VOICES. Lead us to death!

CATILINE. Then let us be off! Through death we shall achieve The glorious life of immortality.

Our fall, our name, through distant generations Shall be proclaimed with lofty pride--

FURIA. [Calls out behind him among the trees.] --O terror!

SOME VOICES. Behold,--a woman--!

CATILINE. [Startled.] Furia! You--you here?

What brought you here?

FURIA. Ah, I must lead you on To your great goal.

CATILINE. Where is my goal, then? Speak!

FURIA. Each mortal seeks his goal in his own way.

And you seek yours through ever hopeless strife; The struggle yields defeat and certain death.

CATILINE. Yet also honor and immortal fame!

Go, woman! Great and n.o.ble is this hour!

My heart is closed against your raucous cries.

[AURELIA appears in the door of the tent.]

AURELIA. My Catiline--!

[She stops, terrified at the sight of the throng.]

CATILINE. [Painfully.] Aurelia,--oh, Aurelia!

AURELIA. What is the trouble? All this stir in camp-- What is on foot here?

CATILINE. You I could forget!

What will your fate be now--?

FURIA. [Whispers scornfully, unnoticed by AURELIA.]

Ah, Catiline, Already wavering in your high resolve?

Is this your death defiance?

CATILINE. [Flaring up.] No, by the G.o.ds!

AURELIA. [Comes nearer.]

Oh, speak, beloved! Keep me in doubt no longer--

FURIA. [In an undertone behind him.]

Flee with your wife--the while your comrades die!

MANLIUS. Tarry no longer; lead us out to battle--

CATILINE. Oh, what a choice! And yet,--here is no choice;-- I must go on,--I dare not stop midway.

CATILINE. [Calls out.] Then follow me to battle on the plain!

AURELIA. [Throws herself in his arms.]

Catiline,--do not leave me,--take me with you!

CATILINE. No, stay, Aurelia!

FURIA. [As before.] Take her, Catiline!

Worthy your death will be, as was your life, When you are vanquished--in a woman's arms!

CATILINE. [Thrusts AURELIA aside.]

Away, you who would rob me of my fame!

Death shall o'ertake me in the midst of men.

I have a life to atone, a name to clear--

FURIA. Just so; just so, my gallant Catiline!

CATILINE. All things I will uproot from out my soul That bind me to my life of empty dreams!

All that is of the past shall henceforth be As if 'twere not--

AURELIA. Oh, cast me not away!

By all the love I bear you, Catiline,-- I beg you, I adjure,--let us not part!

CATILINE. My heart is dead, my sight is blind to love.

From life's great mockery I turn my eyes; And gaze but on the dim, yet mighty star Of fame that is to be!