The Pretenders BD14870_.GIF (420 bytes) 1863
The Pretenders
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From Act II

BISHOP NICHOLAS.
Never let it be seen that you have not an equal faith in yourself! Speak as if you had it; swear positively that yoy have it - and every one will believe you.

SKULE.
If I only had a son! If I had a son to come after me in all the great inheritance!

BISHOP NICHOLAS. (eagerly)
Yes, my lord? If you had a son -?

Transl. by Michael Meyer.

 In 13th century Norway, two men are competing for the throne. They are Earl Skule, brother of the recently deceased King, and Håkon Håkonsen, who claims he is the King's son born out of wedlock. Håkon wants to create a united Norway, but Skule steals his idea in his thirst for power, egged on by Bishop Nikolas. The Bishop has himself been a pretender to the throne; bitter and hungry for power, he creates division between the two pretenders in order to keep them both from reaching their goal. Bishop Nikolas burns a letter revealing Håkon's true origin, thereby keeping the truth forever hidden. The fighting caused by the Bishop leads to civil war. Håkon Håkonsen has married Skule's daughter Margrete. This brings her into a terrible conflict of interest, but she chooses to follow her husband. There is a dramatic battle between Håkon's and Skule's men. When Skule's wife, daughter and sister find him in hiding, he realizes that he has only loved power and has never possessed the great ideas of a king. With his son he goes forth and meets Håkon's men, only to fall in battle.
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