The Death of Balder Part 13

NANNA (whilst she recognizes BALDER). Ha Balder! thou hast slain him!

Ah, forgive me!

My dream confuses me--thou see'st I tremble.

I heard the fall of G.o.ds--the G.o.ds lamenting; And b.l.o.o.d.y by the Hall there stood a spectre: Big was the ruddy wound whereto it pointed.

Like one deep musing it conceal'd its visage; But big the tears were through its fingers streaming: Ah, the pale son of night was tall as Hother!

BALDER. Ha! Hother can't be dead.

NANNA. I do believe thee; But ah! I cannot rest--I cannot, Balder, Till I have seen his face, have spoken to him, Embrac'd his arm, and press'd it to this bosom.

BALDER (distractedly). Ha, Nanna! this is more--'tis more, by Odin, Than I can bear!

NANNA (terrified). Ye mighty G.o.ds of heaven!

Thou fright'nest me, forlorn one!

[She endeavours to escape, but BALDER detains her by force, and flings himself at her feet.

BALDER. Oh my Nanna!

Stay! by these burning tears I do adjure thee, By all my sufferings! Stay, oh stay!

NANNA (with disquiet). What wilt thou?

BALDER. I scarcely know! Ah! I have hop'd, dear Nanna!

NANNA. Unhand me! Let me fly! What hast thou hop'd for?

Thou know'st who has my love. Unhand me, Balder!

BALDER. No, by the G.o.ds! here at thy feet I'll hear thee p.r.o.nounce my doom. Is there no hope remaining?

Can all my tenderness--these tears--can nothing Soften thy cruelty? Oh, answer, Nanna!

Say so at once! Plunge in my heart the dagger!

NANNA. Ah, wherefore, Balder, dost thou love a mortal?

BALDER. Perhaps thou doubtest my love, perhaps thou wishest Its whole extent. Ha, towards Heaven I'll lift my better hand, and vow eternal, Eternal tenderness to thee, my Nanna!

If greater proofs thou wish'st for, do but name them, That I may show to thee how dear I love thee!

NANNA. Ah, Balder, spare me! spare thyself! What wilt thou?

How often have I said my heart can never Merit the like of thee!

BALDER. Accurst evasion!

Why dost thou seek to spare me? Crush me! kill me!

Say that thou never wilt!

NANNA. Ah, I love Hother!

How can I?

BALDER. Perhaps thou only think'st thou lov'st him.

Can he deserve thee, Nanna? he, a mortal?

NANNA (incensed). He loveth virtue, Balder; he is valiant, And great is he 'mongst kings; he ruleth over The Danes!

BALDER. I'm more than any king, oh Nanna!

NANNA. Wert thou a G.o.d, I'd still have none but Hother!

BALDER (stretches his right hand despairingly towards heaven). Although rejected--hear it all ye heavens-- Although rejected, I will love thee, Nanna!

[He has scarcely finished speaking when the Valkyrie ROTA appears. The Bird of Death sits upon her shoulder. She averts her countenance, touches his skull with her spear, and says:

To battle, friend! to wounds, and fall, and darkness!

[She immediately disappears, and as BALDER and NANNA have their backs turned to her, and have both been too attentive to themselves to observe any one else, she is neither seen nor heard but by the spectators.

BALDER (he springs up like a maniac, and holds his hand for some time before his head). Ha! how I'm dreaming! how I waste my moments In dastard sighs, bewailing like a woman!

And have I not a s.h.i.+eld and sword? To battle!

To battle, Balder! Let thy broad sword glitter!

Lift high the sword, cleave down the haughty warrior, And dip thy spear in blood, thou son of Odin!

Ha! din of s.h.i.+eld 'gainst s.h.i.+eld, and battle's bellow, They, they shall gladden me--and deafen Nanna!

And I will cool this heart in blood of Kempions!

[He draws his sword, and runs away in madness.

NANNA (alone). Ye heavens! what did he mean? Alas, he rages!

Wretch that I am! he goes to slay my Hother!

My hopes ye annih'late, Ye powers of the sky!

Who'll strengthen me, fainting, Against the G.o.d's might?

Who'll heed my lamenting, My sorrowful plight?

Ah! whom can I wend to?

Will earth e'er attend to A powerless cry, Which cruel G.o.ds smile at?

My hopes ye annih'late, Ye powers of the sky!

Ha! ye have crush'd my heart! Oh Hother! Hother!

Where art thou? Ah! I can no more! I'm swooning!

O Death! O Freya!

[She supports herself, fainting, against a tree.

HOTHER, NANNA.

HOTHER (he rushes up to her in alarm). Dearest!

NANNA (looking stiffly upon him). Ah! my Hother!

HOTHER. So wild! so pale! Ah! would thy n.o.ble bosom Was not so tender!

NANNA. Voice of my belov'd one!

Oh, speak again! Oh, speak again!

HOTHER. Thou tremblest, My bride! my much-lov'd bride! And burning tear-drops, Oh, hide them! Ha! they burn me--melt my courage!

Weep not, my bride!