Master Olof: A Drama in Five Acts | Page 9

have--and now may the
Lord give you the faith also.
Olof. Oh, once I did have the flame of faith, and it burned wondrously,
but the monkish gang smothered it with their holy water when they
were trying to read the devil out of my body.
Lars. That was a fire of straw which had to flicker out; but now the
Lord will light you a fire of logs by which the offspring of the
Philistines shall be consumed. Do you know your own will, Olof?
Olof. No, but I feel myself choking when I think of these poor people
who yearn for salvation. They are crying for water--for living
water--but there is no one who can give it to them.
Lars. Tear down the crumbling old house first, you can do that. Then
the Lord Himself will build them a new one.
Olof. Then they will be without a roof over their heads for a time.
Lars. They will at least get fresh air.
Olof. But to rob a whole nation of its faith--they will despair.
Lars. Yes, they will despair.
Olof. But they will decry me, and revile me, and drag me before the
elders.
Lars. Are you afraid?

Olof. No--but the offence--
Lars. You were born to give offence, Olof; you were born to smite. The
Lord will heal.
Olof. I can feel the pull of the current; I am still clinging to the
sluice-gate, but if I let go, I shall be swept away.
Lars. Let go! There are more than enough who hold back.
Olof. Reach out your hand to me, Lars, if I get too far into the
whirlpool.
Lars. That is not in my power, and into the whirlpool you must go,
even if it be to perish.
Olof. What storms you have raised in my soul! A moment ago I sat
here and played in the shadow of the trees, and it was Whitsun Eve, and
it was spring, and all was peace. And now--how can the trees be still,
and why is there no darkness in the sky? Put your hand on my forehead,
feel the blood surging! Do not abandon me, Lars! I see an angel coming
towards me with a cup--she is walking across the evening sky--her path
is blood-red, and in her hand she is carrying a cross--No, it is more than
I avail! I will return to my peaceful valley. Let others fight; I will look
on-- No, I will follow in their wake and heal the wounded and whisper
words of peace into the ears of the dying--Peace!--No, I want to fight
with the rest, but in the last ranks--Why should I lead?
Lars. Because you are the boldest.
Olof. Not the strongest?
Lars. The strong will come after you: and the strongest of all is by your
side; it is He who summons you to battle.
Olof. Help me, O Lord! I go.
Lars. Amen!

Olof. And will you come with me?
Lars. You must go alone--with God!
Olof. Why do you turn back?
Lars. I was not born to be a warrior: your armorer is all that I can be.
Your weapon is the pure Word of God, and with that you must arm the
people. For the doors to the popish armory have been broken open at
last, and hereafter every one calling himself a man must fight for the
freedom of his own spirit.
Olof. But where is the enemy? I am burning for battle, yet see no one to
fight against.
Lars. No need to summon them; they will come! Farewell! You may
begin whenever you are ready, and may God be with you!
Olof. Don't go. I have much more to talk with you about.
Lars. Here comes the vanguard now--to arms!
[Exit Lars.]
(A crowd of townsmen with their women and children pass across the
stage to the church door at the right. They stop in front of it, bare their
heads, and make the sign of the cross.)
Gert the Printer (disguised as a townsman). It's Whitsun Eve, and
nobody has rung the vesper bell--that's very strange.
A Townsman. The church door is closed. Maybe the priest is sick.
Gert. Or not yet out of bed.
Townsman. What do you mean?
Gert. Only that he might be sick abed.

Townsman. But there are a lot of acolytes, and one of them might be
saying a mass for us in his place.
Gert. They are probably too busy.
Townsman. With what?
Gert. That's hard to tell.
Townsman. Take care, my good man! You seem to have a leaning
towards Lutherism. Bishop Hans of Linköping is here, and so's the
King.
Gert. Is Brask in town?
Townsman. Indeed he is. But I suppose we had better try the church
door to see if