The Tragic Fall Of Wizlaw, The Count Of Rügen

Act II, Scene II

13th November. A seaport in Trelleborg. There are barrels and two latern posts on the stage. Less COURTIERS accompany DUKE than previously.

Enter DUKE, STEWARD, HERALD 2, GUARDS, COURTIERS

DUKE: Dost thou know when they shall arrive?

STEWARD: I know not sir but I do predict that they shall be here in a short manner of time.

DUKE: Let's hope for their safe arrival. Herald, place thyself further up the dock where there is a better vantage point so thou can see and alert us when their vessel draws near.

HERALD 2: Aye m'lord.

[Exit HERALD 2

[there is a wait]

STEWARD: How dost thou feel?

DUKE: I lack entertainment. I personally cannot bear to wait for such a time. Fetch me musicians at once.

STEWARD: [instructing COURTIER] Thou heard him. Go bring the minstrels.

[Exit a COURTIER

STEWARD: So, what dost thou think that the Count wants to talk about?

DUKE: I know not but it must be an urgent matter as specified in the letter. I hope for this meeting to go without any hindrances so that afterwards, we can attend the banquet at the Baron's residence.

STEWARD: A banquet? I knew not of such a decision. At what time?

DUKE: As I have said, after this meeting. Art thou not listening to me?

STEWARD: Nay, of course I am. I just wish to occupy more of thy time in order to make the wait not appear too long and to-.

DUKE: Then how about thou is silent. I am not here to talk to thee, but rather to Rügen.

STEWARD: I-I apologise my liege. I did not mean to offend thee in any sort of way.

DUKE: Thou didst not, but thou talks too little of any topics which do matter. How long 'til that courtier returns with the musicians?

ANOTHER COURTIER: Here they come. Seems like they brought someone else too.

Enter a COURTIER, MINSTRELS & BARON

BARON: I send my greetings to thee, my liege.

DUKE: And I do receive them with kindness and so say in return to thee as well. Where hast thou been?

BARON: At my residence. I was making sure all things were going smoothly.

DUKE: Well it is good that thou finally joined us in our wait. [to MINSTREL 1:] Musician, please play us a tune to make our time more pleasant here.

MINSTREL 1: As thou requests.

[he begins to play the lute with another MINSTREL playing the drums]

DUKE: This is a most memorable tune.

MINSTRELS: [they sing:] O. Den Store was his epithet, the great King Valdemar.

Rebuild the nation he did,

Build the Sønderborg he did,

Improve the Danevirke he did.

Then, upon a bishop's command,

A war he declared against the Wend

To capture the Pomeranian isle to the south-west.

A siege ensued consisting of eight days

In which the Dane had won and plundered the Pagan base.

After a year or two