BLANKA. Come, seat yourself!

GANDALF. [Steps back a pace.] No, sit you down, I'll stand.

BLANKA. Three years ago there came, G.o.d knows from whence, A warlike band of robbers to the isle; They plundered madly as they went about, And murdered everything they found alive.

A few escaped as best they could by flight And sought protection in my father's castle, Which stood upon the cliff right near the sea.

GANDALF. Your father's, did you say?

BLANKA. My father's, yes.-- It was a cloudy evening when they burst Upon the castle gate, tore through the wall, Rushed in the court, and murdered right and left.

I fled into the darkness terrified, And sought a place of refuge in the forest.

I saw our home go whirling up in flames, I heard the clang of shields, the cries of death.-- Then everything grew still; for all were dead.-- The savage band proceeded to the sh.o.r.e And sailed away.--I sat upon the cliff The morning after, near the smouldering ruins.

I was the only one whom they had spared.

GANDALF. But you just told me that your father lives.

BLANKA. My foster-father; wait, and you shall hear!

I sat upon the cliff oppressed and sad, And listened to the awful stillness round; There issued forth a faint and feeble cry, As from beneath the rocky cleft beneath my feet; I listened full of fear, then went below, And found a stranger, pale with loss of blood.

I ventured nearer, frightened as I was, Bound up his wounds and tended him,--

GANDALF. And he?

BLANKA. Told me as he recovered from his wounds, That he had come aboard a merchantman, Had reached the island on the very day The castle was destroyed,--took refuge there And fought the robber band with all his might Until he fell, faint with the loss of blood, Into the rocky cleft wherein I found him.

And ever since we two have lived together; He built for us a cabin in the wood, I grew to love him more than any one.

But you must see him,--come!

GANDALF. No, wait,--not now!

We meet in ample time, I have no doubt.

BLANKA. Well, all right, as you please; but rest a.s.sured He would be glad to greet you 'neath his roof; For you must know that hospitality Is found not only in the North.

GANDALF. The North?

You know then--

BLANKA. Whence you come, you mean? Oh, yes!

My father has so often told of you That I the moment that I saw you--

GANDALF. Yet you Were not afraid!

BLANKA. Afraid? And why afraid?

GANDALF. Has he not told you then,--of course if not--

BLANKA. Told me that you were fearless heroes? Yes!

But pray, why should that frighten me?

I know you seek your fame on distant sh.o.r.es, In manly combat with all doughty warriors; But I have neither sword nor coat of mail, Then why should I fear--

GANDALF. No, of course, of course!

But still, those strangers who destroyed the castle?

BLANKA. And what of them?

GANDALF. Only,--has not your father Told you from whence they came?

BLANKA. Never! How could he!

Strangers they were alike to him and us.

But if you wish I'll ask him right away.

GANDALF. [Quickly.] No, let it be.

BLANKA. Ah, now I understand!

You wish to know where you can seek them now, And take blood-vengeance, as you call it.

GANDALF. Ah, Blood-vengeance! Thanks! The word I had forgot; You bring me back--

BLANKA. But do you know, it is An ugly practice.

GANDALF. [Going toward the background.] Farewell!

BLANKA. O, you are going?

GANDALF. We meet in time.

[Stops.]

GANDALF. Tell me this one thing more: What warrior is it rests beneath the mound?

BLANKA. I do not know.

GANDALF. You do not know, and still You scatter flowers on the hero's grave.

BLANKA. My father led me here one morning early And pointed out to me the fresh-made mound, Which I had never seen upon the strand.

He bade me say my morning prayers out here, And in my supplications to remember Those who had harried us with sword and fire.

GANDALF. And you?

BLANKA. Each morning from that day to this I sent a prayer to heaven for their salvation; And every evening flowers afresh I wove Into a garland for the grave.

GANDALF. Yes, strange!

How can you pray thus for your enemy?

BLANKA. My faith commands me.

GANDALF. [Vehemently.] Such a faith is craven; It is the faith which saps the hero's strength; 'Twas therefore that the great, heroic life Died feebly in the South!

BLANKA. But now suppose My craven faith, as you see fit to call it, Could be transplanted to your virgin soil,-- I know full well, there would spring forth a ma.s.s Of flowers so luxuriant as to hide The naked mountain.

GANDALF. Let the mountain stand In nakedness until the end of time!