HOTHER. I will! And now, by Hothbrod,
He dieth by my hand!
BALDER. Presumptuous mortal!
HOTHER. Thy shield! thy spear! I hate all vaunt, my half-god.
NANNA (rushes towards BALDER, who taketh his weapons). O Balder! noble
Balder!
BALDER. Ah, poor Nanna!
Thou see'st he forces me--that death he beggeth!
HOTHER. Ha! this is all too much. Protect him--hide him!
Cover thy gallant with thy faithless bosom!
I will not slay thee; but my oath is uttered,
That he or I shall fall! And now!
[He turns the point of his spear against himself.
NANNA. Ah, Hother!
What doest thou?
HOTHER. I've sworn!
NANNA. Hold, hold, thou savage!
I go--I fly. Oh help, ye gods of heaven!
[She goes away in a kind of distraction, but she remains standing at the
entrance of the scene, where she with fearful curiosity looks on and off
the combatants. The warriors go in circle with uplifted spears.
HOTHER. Now, valiant Balder, call upon thy father!
BALDER. Shame on thee, Hother! Thou offendest Nanna.
HOTHER. Prat'st still, my hero?
BALDER. Well--thou wilt?
HOTHER. Ha, Hothbrod!
[He casts the spear which he had received from the first VALKYRIER, and
had retained in his hand. It striketh BALDER, but falls, without taking
any effect, at his feet. BALDER in return casts his spear into his left
hand, and tears down a huge piece of the neighbouring rock.
NANNA. Ye gods of Gevar!
BALDER. Nanna!
[He casts his spear behind him out of the scene.
NANNA. Noble being!
HOTHER. Ha! darest thou mock me, thou inflated braggart?
[He takes from the tree the spear which the Valkyrier, ROTA, gave him,
and casts it. It strikes so hard against BALDER'S breast, that he nearly
sinks upon his knee; but it nevertheless falls to the ground without
wounding him.
BALDER. Ha! Surtur, ha! Was that the fell destroyer?
Fly from my fury!
HOTHER. Cool its heat in Valhall!
[He casts the last spear, which he has seized in the meantime, but, like
the first, without any apparent effect.
BALDER (as he draws his sword). Now, then, presumptuous?
HOTHER (as he likewise draws). Demon! and no half-god!
Thou blunt'st the spear; but here's a sword remaining!
Now, Hothbrod!
[He strikes at him with his utmost force, but the sword reboundeth from
the helm of BALDER.
BALDER. Odin!
[He strikes HOTHER'S sword from his hand, so that it flies into pieces,
seizes him by the arm, and sets his sword against his breast. HOTHER
sinks upon his knee beneath the powerful grasp, but raises himself
immediately, without BALDER'S attempting to hinder him but he retains him
so in his power that he cannot move himself. NANNA rushes in and casts
herself down upon her knee before BALDER.
NANNA. Generous, noble Balder!
BALDER. Take up thy bride and live!
HOTHER. My life detest I,
I would not give the smallest hair of Nanna,
For yet a thousand years thy whole godship!
BALDER. Die, then!
[He lifts his sword like one who will strike.
HOTHER. Why dost delay?
NANNA. Ha! here thou savage!
Here, strike into this breast and spare my bridegroom.
[BALDER lets his sword sink.
HOTHER. Still, still, thou lovest me? Oh, Nanna! Nanna!
There see'st thou, fiend, she loveth me!
BALDER. Ah, torment!
Ha! I can end thee! [He lifts his sword again.
NANNA. Let my tears prevent thee!
HOTHER. By heavens! she's mocking thee! If thou delayest,
She'll laugh full at thee in the arms of Hother.
NANNA. Believe him not, but virtue--thine own bosom!
BALDER (sheathing his sword). Live, Hother! live!
HOTHER. Ha! have I begged for mercy?
BALDER. No! Live; forget our strife, thou dauntless warrior!
Embrace thy friend, and be, as erst, unshackled!
HOTHER. Ha! cruel, proud, and all too noble en'my!
Thou know'st, thou feelest but too well thy triumph!
Ha! thou hast overcome, hast humbled Hother!
And think'st thou he can live? Heard, heard has heaven
My oath, that I or Balder die!
[He grasps his dagger, and is about to stab himself with it, but BALDER
wrests it out of his hand.
BALDER. Bethink thee!
HOTHER. Ye heavens! Hother! ah! how art thou fallen!
NANNA (affectionately). My Hother!
HOTHER. Ah! farewell for ever, Nanna!
[He goes hastily away. NANNA attempts to follow him, but BALDER detains
her.