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-G.o.d.

NANNA (rushes towards BALDER, who taketh his weapons). O Balder! n.o.ble 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 G.o.ds 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 G.o.ds of Gevar!

BALDER. Nanna!

[He casts his spear behind him out of the scene.

NANNA. n.o.ble 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-G.o.d!

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, n.o.ble 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 G.o.dship!

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!