imagine
Thou wilt have long to wait, if wait thou darest.

[HOTHER and NANNA exeunt.

BALDER.  Ha! wherefore crush’d I not to earth the brawler?
But Nanna loves him—and shall Balder render
Nanna unhappy, cause despair to enter
Her breast, and dim with tears her eyes’ effulgence?
And what is his offence, the noble hero?
He loves—ha, who can gaze upon thy beauties
And love thee not, proud maiden?  But he braves me!
Ah! he is young and fortunate, and if I
Had slain him now, ’twas Nanna’s love I punish’d,
And not his insolence; and, O my bosom!
Shall thy pure flame dishonour thee?  No, Balder!
Love on and die, but of thyself be worthy!
Ha, let me lose my life and all, Allfather!
And Nanna e’en!  Yes, let me lose e’en Nanna!
But not the virtue she herself doth honour!

[He hangs his shield upon a tree, which is opposite to that where Hother’s hangs, and sets his spear up against it.

True bliss, through virtue only known,
By virtue’s self deserv’d alone.
Only for thee doth Balder sigh:
My sad heart would a heaven disdain
Which through dishonour it must gain.
So dear let slaves enjoyment buy!
Yes, Balder, worthy of thyself continue!
Canst thou wish Nanna to abandon Hother?
Wish her whose virtue thy high soul so worships
Should weak and base become for thy advantage?
But—does she love him? has he won her promise?
Who knoweth but she merely has dissembled,
And shown a fictious flame to prove thee, Balder!
Transporting dream!

NANNA, BALDER.

NANNA (rushes in, terrified).  Ha!  Balder if thou lovest—Ah, if thou—

BALDER (casts himself at NANNA’S feet).  Heavens,
Nanna! canst thou doubt it?
I burn, I burn!

[Whilst NANNA in her terror makes every effort to raise him, they come into a familiar attitude, in which HOTHER, who has slain bears, and who is wiping the blood from his spear at the moment he appears, perceives them.  He starts, and remains standing among the trees, so that he cannot hear what they say.

NANNA.  Oh, rescue then my Hother!
Two savage bears among the bushes yonder
Attack’d him; if thou hast love for virtue,
Assist him quick; if thou delayest a moment,
The noblest heart that ever beat they’ll mangle!
Oh! quick: bethink thee not!

BALDER.  No, cruel Nanna!
Fear not!  My arm shall rescue him thou lovest!

[Just as he is about to rise HOTHER steps forward.

HOTHER, THE LAST.

HOTHER.  Ye heavens! do I dream!  Enamour’d half-god!
Excuse me for disturbing thee!

BALDER (as he rises up).  There is he!

NANNA (goes tenderly to meet HOTHER).  Ah, Hother!  Ah, my Hother!

HOTHER (pushes her back with his hand).  Go, false woman!

BALDER.  Gods, how unthankful art thou—how ferocious!
Can such a bear of Nanna be deserving?

HOTHER (takes his shield down from the tree).  Now, pay for all, and end thy prate in Valhall!

NANNA.  Savage, thou mean’st not sure—

HOTHER.  Beware thee, Nanna!

NANNA.  Oh, hear me—

HOTHER.  I have seen.  Go, hide thee, false one!

NANNA.  Thou wilt not sure—

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!