The Death of Balder | Page 7

to

kindle? Dark is my spirit. The terrific Norna, She who allots to time,
ere it approaches, It's luck, and binds it with determined fingers Unto
Fate's will, is silent, and drives Rota Far from each plain belov'd where
battle rages. Yet shook the fatal spear with which conflicting Monarchs
I greet, at sunrise thrice it trembled; And death lies heavy in my
arm--that know I, But for the victim.
THE FIRST. Threatens Fate our Hother?
THE SECOND. Thor's fear and even thine betoken danger.
THE THIRD. So seems it. Ah! if it concern'd our Hother! Ye mind full
well how high the Danish hero I ever lov'd--I saw him by a fountain,
Dejected, weaponless, and half in slumber; But deep into the forest fled
the savage, From whom he took his sword, the sharp-edged Mimer,
And Hother's spear in his rude hands he carried. "Retain my falchion,
thou ferocious warrior! Little in conflict shall it e'er avail thee!" So
shouted he, and all the rocks resounded. Then straight I brought my
choicest spear from Valhall-- Long since I cut it from a lonely wild
beech, Which, hid from day, grew up in Lapland's deserts; A circle of
grey stones stood round about it, On each was clotted blood, and bones,
and ashes; Blood as I cut the spear the stem emitted-- It crushes stone,
and steel, and giants' armour.
HOTHER, THE OTHERS.
HOTHER (he is armed, but without a spear). Where is this prince of
beauty, Nanna's half-god?
[He starts slightly upon perceiving the VALKYRIER. They advance
towards him, hand in hand.
Excuse me my astonishment, fair war-maids!
THE FIRST. Hail to thee dauntless warrior, bane of Gelder!
THE SECOND. Hail to thee, Skoldung, valiant son of Hothbrod!

THE THIRD. Hail, hail to thee, my Hother, Leire's ruler!
HOTHER (astonished.) Ye know me!
THE THIRD. Yes, thou noble youth, and love thee!
HOTHER. Your goodness overwhelms me--to what godhead Stand I
indebted for this lucky meeting?
THE FIRST. I bring to thee a spear to fight with heroes!
THE SECOND. And this, I hand to thee, can slaughter demons!
THE THIRD. This spear is excellent in fight with Jotuns.
HOTHER. How shall I e'er repay these costly presents?
THE FIRST. Be valiant! fight! send battle's sons to Valhall!
THE SECOND. Extend the Danish sway and Odin's worship!
THE THIRD. The sire of many warlike kings of Leire!
[They vanish.
HOTHER. There's nought but sorcery upon these mountains! They've
vanished! Do I dream to-day? Where am I? Sight, feeling, reason are
alike enchanted! But here, ye gods! here in my bosom rages The
magic--Vanfred's poison. Nanna, Nanna! Shall I mistrust thee,
then--shall I, thy Hother?
[He places the two spears against a tree, whereon he hangs his shield.
That which the first VALKYRIER gave him he retains in his hand.
The fire which love enkindles First warms with bliss the heart, But
soon, ah! soon the traitor Awaketh burning smart! Love's flame at first
discloses Pure innocence alone; But quickly by its splendour A deed of
guilt is shown. O love! thy bliss is vanish'd, Thy flame extinguish quite,
For in my bride black falsehood Now only meets my sight.

NANNA, HOTHER.
NANNA (who has stood at the entrance of the scene, and has heard the
latter part of Hother's song). I overheard thee, weak, ignoble Hother!
HOTHER. Ah yes, weak! credulous!
NANNA. Save thyself repentance!
HOTHER. Where is thy demigod?
NANNA. This bosom, Hother, acquitteth me; That were enough for
Nanna, if--
HOTHER. Oh, pray, proceed!
NANNA (affectionately). Lov'd less--
HOTHER (contemptuously). Whom? Balder?
NANNA. Savage! what fiend has pour'd into thy bosom His bane of
late? Ha! fly from me: detest me! Wilt thou love her thou canst
mistrust!
HOTHER. Ah, Nanna!
NANNA. I have debas'd myself to excusation (Virtue from that, O
Hother, ever shrinketh); Yet trust'st thou not?--one's wont to trust the
lov'd one! Thou know'st (I told it thee before) that Gevar, Thy wise
instructor, has declar'd that Heaven Threatens a bloody, horrible
misfortune, In case our love be nois'd about in Asgaard, Ere certain
stars shall stand in other orbits; And canst thou wonder when so great
an Asa As Odin's Balder cometh unexpected, That I all trembling will
conceal--
HOTHER. Ha, trembling! My curse upon the slave who first invented
A word which ne'er my Nanna's lips should sully; Thy excusations kill
me! I imagined It was a chaste, a maidenish reflection, That made my
Nanna blush at our affection: Unmurmuring I obeyed, and kept in

secret. Why hast thou ta'en from me that sweet delusion? Why spak'st
thou not, and say for whom thou tremblest? For Balder's death? Thou
lovest then thy half-god. But no, ye gods! No, I believe thee, Nanna! It
is for mine, for Hother's death, thou fearest. Then think'st thou me so