The Death of Balder Part 12

Well, then: use thou this spear! Death is its surname, And whom it smites eternal sleep shall fetter In Haelheim's silent night, if he is mortal; The immortal demon, whose eye by hate and wickedness Is clouded, 'twill plunge to torments of a thousand winters.

Mark that, and use it well! Thy breast is n.o.ble; But him, the wretch! who breathest poison in it, (Full well I know he's near) him shalt thou punish.

[ROTA disappears.

HOTHER, and presently LOKE.

HOTHER. Now, now! is all a dream? Yet, I've the weapon!

How welcome death! my n.o.ble foe no longer Shall hide thee from me, nor of thee deprive me; Now can I keep what I have sworn! O Nanna!

I bring a n.o.ble offering to thy virtue!

[He is going, but LOKE meets him at the entrance.

LOKE. Whither? thou Fortune's fav'rite!

HOTHER (sharply). Ha! to Haelheim.

LOKE. Hother, I scoff thy wise determination.

HOTHER (incensed). Thou scoffest?

LOKE. Yes, thou holdest thy foeman's life, And thou wilt die.

HOTHER. What foeman's?

LOKE. Whose, if not Balder's?

HOTHER. Ah, my life he gave me!

And though I hold the gift in little value, I took it still. And shall his lofty spirit His downfall prove? Shall I, shall Hother punish The pity I craved not?

LOKE. By Hael! he's coming!

Waste not the moments in these foolish visions.

HOTHER. What wouldst thou?

LOKE. Stand behind that pine, and kill him!

HOTHER. Ha! dastard slave!

[He strikes LOKE on the head with the spear, and he instantly sinks howling into the earth. He is no sooner out of sight than everything becomes quiet. The sun rises in its full majesty. After HOTHER has for some time looked on all this with astonishment, he says:

Like thee fall every traitor Who breatheth wickedness in the Skiolding's bosom!

Ha, Balder! [He goes somewhat aside.

HOTHER. BALDER.

BALDER (without perceiving HOTHER). Gloomy was this night and horrid!

Around about me angry G.o.ds consulted.

What seek they? To affright the soul of Balder?

Now all is still.

HOTHER. Now unconcern'd and haughty Walks the high demiG.o.d! Ah, little thinks he Each breath he draweth is the gift of Hother.

BALDER. Who utter'd Hother's name? I heard it utter'd, But all is hushed as death. I know not wherefore That name affects me more than any other, And why within mine ear 'tis ever buzzing.

Ah! can I more than pity him, poor mortal!

Who now his life and feebleness bewaileth, And trembles weaponless at his own shadow.

HOTHER. Ha, now! for that is worthy of the Skoldung; I'll be as proud as thou, and fly thy presence! [He goes.

BALDER. Who's speaking here? Who dares disturb my musings?

But, know I not that Finnish fiends are swarming Upon the rocks! The sun approach'd the ocean, And yet I found not Nanna: all deserted Was Gevar's house, and hollow rang each echo Of Balder's sighs. Where was she, then? where was she?

Ah! Hother charm'd thee. In the arms of Hother Thou didst not hear my sighs, my timid knocking, And my enamour'd call, thou cruel maiden!

And what if I had found thee? Then thine answer Most probably had prov'd the death of Balder.

I know myself no more; my heart it flutters, And here about it creeps unwonted chillness.

Yes, Nanna! yes; 'twas thou taught'st me to tremble.

Ah! belov'd maiden! I, a half-G.o.d, tremble When thou but breathest, when thy lip thou movest, As if to utter No, thy lip is open'd.

Oh, hus.h.!.+ and let me sink with hope to Haelheim!

But did I not behold thine eye beam friends.h.i.+p On Balder? felt I not thy warm tear trickle Upon this hand? and saw I not thy blushes?

Ha! I'll think through, I will enjoy entirely My hope: why then, my heart, beat'st thou so wildly?

And why in Balder's eyes are tears uprising, And hope to me a stranger? Oh, my treasure, Thou teachest me a dastard's fear! I tremble Now I've a glimpse of hope to be depriv'd of.

Ah! if 'tis torn from me again, if Nanna-- Oh doubt! oh fear with which my heart is tortur'd!

Yes, Thor, my friend, thy words were truth and wisdom; That pity that she showed was thanks for sparing Hother: She trembled but for Hother--for the lov'd one: Each tear but begged his life. What cruel delusion Has led my soul astray? Ah, wretched meteor Of empty hope! thou, thou for me couldst glitter, As if I had been ignorant of her hatred.

Ha! she has ever fled my path, my shadow; And when, to my own torment, once I wrested From the proud maid some sort of heed and answer, 'Twas mockery mere: she called herself unworthy To be great Balder's bride and Odin's daughter, And held my love-sick sighs for jest and flatt'ry.

Yet never have I heard the word which killeth, Without the aid of Surtur's deadly sapling-- The No, the frightful No, by Nanna utter'd.

Ha! I will hear it! Yes, by Haelheim's darkness!

My tears shall now extract that No from Nanna.

NANNA, BALDER.

NANNA (she rushes distractedly in upon the stage). Ah!

No one answers me! Do thou give hearing To Nanna's hard rock, which no G.o.d heedeth!

My anguish ease! Reply! Ah, where's my lov'd one?

BALDER (aside). My fate will have it so. Ha, Nanna.

NANNA. Show me, Ye silent forests, shades once lov'd, now awful, Oh, show me him--disclose me my dearest!

BALDER (aside). Ha! shall I? Dare I?

NANNA. Ah, where art thou, Hother?

Perhaps in an abyss, all crushed and b.l.o.o.d.y And silent! Woe is me! for ever silent!

BALDER (springing to her). Dear Nanna! Oh what terror--

NANNA. Ha! I've seen him!

The direst dream has shown to me my Hother!

Close by a yawning chasm was he standing, And round about him bellow'd hideous monsters.

BALDER. Thine--as thou callest him--thine Hother liveth.