KING. That's the worst yet! What do you mean?
OLAVUS. Piety is the respect shown by the stronger even if he be a man of destiny—for the feelings of the weaker, when these spring from a childlike, and for that reason religious, mind.
KING. Oh, is that what it is?
OLAVUS. Now I have said my say.
KING. Yes, so you have—time and again.
OLAVUS. And if my King had been willing to listen now and then, he would have learned a great deal more. But it is a common fault of princes that they won't listen to anybody but themselves.
KING. Well, I never heard the like of it! I am astounded—most of all because I haven't killed you on the spot!
OLAVUS. Why don't you?
KING. [Rises and goes toward OLAVUS, who remains standing unabashed, looking firmly at the approaching KING; the latter withdraws backward and sits down again; for a few moments the two men stare at each other in silence; then the KING says] Who are you?
OLAVUS. A humble instrument of the Lord, shaped to serve what is really great—that marvellous man of God, to whom it was granted to unite all Swedish men and lands.