play by Ruth Salles
This play is based on a Norse myth, the story of the Gothic king who freed the Danes from the monster Grindel.
CHARACTERS:
Danes:
King Rodgar
People (singers: workers and warriors)
Queen Waldiwa
ladies
Sentinel
Guard
Grindel the monster
Askher, adviser to the king.
Goths:
Hugileik, King of the Goths
Beowulf, nephew of the king
Some of the king's subjects
Gothic warriors (7), including Hunfred
Scene: on one side is Denmark; on the other, Gotland; in the centre, further on, the Grindel Swamp.
DANESE CHORUS (sings):
“Our first king
– no one can explain –
came as a child
of the mysterious sea,
lying on the straw,
on a floating shield.
And he was a brave warrior
and founded our kingdom.
Coming to the end of life,
made us a request,
and for all the warriors
he was obeyed.
On a ship he was placed,
of treasures surrounded.
And the ship went out to sea
never to return.”
KING RODGAR:
“And I, your great-grandson Rodgar,
in Denmark reigning,
I see my people happy,
working and singing.
GUARD (approaches anxiously):
– O King Rodgar,
the news I have to give is terrible:
came out of the swamp the monster Grindel
and broke down the castle walls.
DANESE CHORUS:
- Oh God! The Grindel Monster?!
KING RODGAR (serious and dismayed):
– Ah… There is no one who can beat him!
This people and this country how will I defend?
(The monster Grindel enters. It attacks the Danes, and they all fall to their faces with a single cry.)
DANESE CHORUS:
– Ooohhh!… (Grindel leaves. The Danes stand up)
BEOWULF (on the side of the Goths, bends a knee before King Hugileik):
- Oh Hugileik! O king of the Goths!
a terrible monster
threatens the people and the king of Denmark.
I, your nephew Beowulf,
I want to go there to save them.
I beg that seven men and a boat
be given to me.
KING HUGILEIK (giving order to the Goths):
– May everything be provided!
(addressing Beowulf):
“I know you have strength and courage.
I give permission to travel.
BEOWULF AND WARRIORS (talk and sway with rhythm, mid-scene):
– Our boat goes into the waters,
go to the vacancies by browsing.
You can already see the cliffs!
Let's disembark.
SENTINEL OF THE DANES (advances and receives the Goths):
– Who are you, gentlemen?
who arrive here at the moment
where does suffering reign?
BEOWULF:
– We are Goths. I am my king's nephew.
We all came just to help.
Take me to King Rodgar.
This monster Grindel I will defeat.
(The sentry leads him to Rodgar. Beowulf bends his knee as the king speaks.)
KING RODGAR:
– Beowulf, welcome!
I heard about its value.
Your hands are worth thirty
in courage and vigor.
BEOWULF (already standing):
“I know about this monstrous man.
And I know you fight unarmed.
I will fight him too
only with the strength of my arms.
But if he destroys me,
send my breastplate to the Goths.
She belongs to our strain
and among Goths it is always inherited.
HUNFRED (1st Gothic warrior, speaks with spite but later befriends Beowulf):
– You are that Beowulf,
which was won by Brecka,
when the two, in the open sea,
disputed to swim?
BEOWULF:
— Not so, O Hunfred!
That day, at sea,
I fought terrible monsters
who came to drag me
to the bottom of the abyss.
I arrived after Brecka.
I defeated all the monsters!
If you were brave,
as speaking it appears,
Grindel didn't go out anymore
of the muddy swamp.
QUEEN WALDIWA (advancing with her ladies):
– I am Queen Waldiwa,
King Rodgar's wife.
These glittering gems
I want to give them as a gift.
I begged with such fervor,
that a savior has come to us. (the ladies distribute the jewels)
KING RODGAR:
— Hero Beowulf, with his warriors,
you are the first foreigner
to whom I entrust my castle!
May it be well guarded!
By Askher, my adviser,
you will be guided.
ASKHER (to Beowulf):
- Do as you intended,
but be very careful,
asking for help from heaven!
a powerful magic
makes steel swords
cannot harm Grindel.
Fight only with your arms!
(Enter Grindel. The Gothic warriors, front and center of the scene, form a semi-circle and surround Beowulf. He holds the monster's arms, who gradually kneels, until he crawls and flees.)
1st WARRIOR, HUNFRED:
– Grindel is failing.
Beowulf is winning!
2nd WARRIOR:
- There goes the monster fleeing
to the swamp, running!
3rd WARRIOR:
– Grindel, mortally wounded,
will soon be dying!
4TH WARRIOR:
– Danish friends,
you can go back to the castle!
5th WARRIOR:
- We thank the queen
those beautiful jewelry...
6th WARRIOR:
- Rest easy, my good friends!
Let's raise our hands to heaven!
7th WARRIOR:
– Beowulf is a great hero.
The monster Grindel has won!
DANESE CHORUS:
- Alive! Long live Beowulf,
our savior hero!
Shouts of joy sound,
sing songs of praise!
(The Goth warriors lie down to rest. The people retire.)
CHORUS OF THE GOTHES (in your country):
- Now everyone rests,
but they don't know the worst:
lives at the bottom of the swamp
another avenging monster.
GUARD (approaches King Rodgar, distressed):
– King Rodgar, I bring news
that caused terror to all:
threatens our lives
an even bigger monster!
KING RODGAR:
– Beowulf defeated Grindel.
But an even bigger monster, who will win?
BEOWULF:
- I'm going there right now.
seek it in its own abyss.
And because the danger is great,
no one else will go with me.
HUNFRED:
– Beowulf, take this sword!
She has already defeated giants.
BEOWULF:
– Yes, Hunfred, I thank you.
Everyone be confident.
(Beowulf heads for the swamp. It's in the corner, hidden by a rock.)
CHORUS OF GOTH WARRIORS (as Beowulf disappears into the swamp behind the rock, then reappears at the end):
1st:
– The hero jumped into the waters, which swallowed him.
2nd:
– The monster certainly drags you into its abyss.
3rd:
– The hero doesn’t come back… He’s already been defeated…
4th:
– Under the claws of this monster will it have died?
5th:
– Oooh! A whirlpool forms in the swamp!…
6th:
– Beowulf rises from the waters! And come smiling!
7th:
– Beowulf defeated the monster of the great
abyss!
DANESE CHORUS (sings):
“Come on, Danes,
celebrate the Goths!
There they go in their ships
all the warriors.
We appreciate your value.
And the brave Beowulf
we will never forget,
we will never forget!”
***
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