CANZLER--Old men recall it as a forgotten thing.
(_Selma enters the cottage._)
WIGLAF--In what sea lies it?
CANZLER-- Where the Frankish land
Looks toward the setting Balder, I have heard.
WIGLAF--And does this river off here empty near it?
CANZLER--First flowing through wide forests and high rocks.
(_Wiglaf walks to and fro thoughtfully._)
HARTZEL--I don't doubt you've been wronged, Wiglaf. I don't
Doubt that they're arming. What I do say is
Who knows it is against us?
WIGLAF-- Wait and see.
HARTZEL--It may be they are mustering a host
To take the East again. Nigh forty years
Ago now, Frederic Red-beard--Canzler here
Remembers; he was young then--mustered
Nigh on to four score thousand, Canzler?
CANZLER-- About.
HARTZEL--And they were not against us.
WIGLAF-- (_Taking up the bundle and starting right._)
Farewell, all.
CANZLER--Where are you going, Wiglaf?
WIGLAF-- There's no place
In all this land for Wiglaf.
CANZLER-- Don't say that
While that roof stands.
WIGLAF-- It won't stand long, Canzler.
FRITZ-- (_Clenching his hands._)
'Twill stand till he won't need it any more.
WIGLAF--Wild deer shall listen and no foot be heard.
CANZLER--Have you forgotten your inspired word?
(_Fritz and Rudolph exchange glances._)
WIGLAF--But centuries may pass ere that child comes.
(_Selma comes from the cottage and begins to gather
dry leaves and chips about the doorway. She
is singing to herself and her voice comes
faintly through the trees._)
CANZLER--Or in these hard days have you, too, lost faith
In Woden?
WIGLAF--Wiglaf lose faith in Woden!
O chief!
(_Looking down._)
What shall Wiglaf say? Shall the skald,
Whose eye sees through the darkness, see no light?
Beyond the winter see no spring, beyond
The storm, no calm? (_He starts away._)