The Death of Balder | Page 7

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 weak, so wholly powerless, And lov'st me still? When e'er lov'd maids the dastard?
NANNA. 'Tis no disgrace to quake before a half-god!
HOTHER. 'Fore Odin's self mere cowards quake. Now hear me! I--I, or Balder, die to-day!
NANNA. O Hother! I came to quarrel, came prepar'd with anger; But ah, in burning tears it soon has melted. Thou die, or Balder! he--a half-god!
HOTHER. Nanna! Thy tears insult me sore, and yet--I know not-- They gladden me--they torture--they enchant me. I love them--I excuse them--I--I know not-- O tear--sweet, bitter tear, desist from flowing! Thou showest tenderness--but ah! betrayest Mistrust and slight respect!--ah, love thy Hother, But oh! believe, he will deserve thee, Nanna: Thy heart is far too noble for the coward Who beareth shield and sword and yet can tremble.
HOTHER. The slave only feareth.
NANNA. The hero can fall!
HOTHER. Ah then his fame cheereth His bride in her thrall.
NANNA. Ah then his bride weeps!
HOTHER. She's honour'd.
NANNA. She weepeth!
HOTHER. She's honour'd.
NANNA. And weepeth.
HOTHER. Ah, then his fame cheereth His bride in her thrall.
BOTH. Ah then his fame cheereth His bride in her thrall.
NANNA. Ah, if thou now fallest?
HOTHER. And if I now fall?
NANNA. Then I