The örnstjerneBjöKing. Hush! Have a little respect for the truth that should follow death! Understand me rightly: I do not mean that any of you would lie. But the very air about a king is infected. It was of that-a word or two. My time is short. But a testament. ...
The King. Neither the Old nor the New! Greet what is called Christianity here in this land-greet it from me! I have thought much about Christian folk of late.
The King. How your tone cuts me! Greet it from me, what is called Christianity here in this land. Nay, do not crane your necks and bend your backs as if the wisdom of the ages were now forthcoming. (_aside_) Can there be any use in saying something seriously? (_aloud_) You are Christians?
The General. God forbid the doubt! Faith is exceedingly useful. ...
The King. For discipline. (_to the Sheriff_) And you?
The Sheriff. From my blessed ancestors I received the faith.
The King. So _they_ are blessed also. Why not?'
The Sheriff. They brought me strictly up to fear God, to honor the king.
The King. And love your fellowmen. You are a State individual, sheriff. And such are Christians nowadays. (_to the Merchant_) And you?
The Merchant. I have not been able to go to church very much of late because of my cough. And in the foul air. ...
The King. You go to sleep. But are you a Christian?
The King. (_to the Priest._) And you are naturally one?
The Priest. By the grace of Jesus I hope that I am.
The King. That is the formula, boys, that is the accepted thing to say. Therefore, you are a Christian community, and it is no fault of mine if such a community will not deal seriously with what concerns Christianity. Greet it from me, and say that it must have an eye to the institution of monarchy.
The Priest. Christianity has nothing to do with such matters. It searches _the inner man_.
The King. That tone! I know it--it does not search the air in which the patient lives, but the lungs. There you have it! Nevertheless, Christianity must have an eye to the monarchy--must pluck the lie from it--must not follow it to its coronation in the church, as an ape follows a peacock. I know what I felt in that situation. I had gone through with a rehearsal the day before--ho, ho! Ask the Christianity in this land, if it be not time to concern itself with the monarchy. It should hardly any longer, it seems to me, let the monarchy play the part of the seductive wanton who turns the thoughts of all citizens to war--which is much against the message of Christianity--and to class distinctions, to luxury, to show and vanity. The monarchy is now so great a lie that it compels the most upright man to share in its falsehood."