Teja.
God be thanked! For hadst thou ever seen him as I saw him on the morning of the battle in which he fell ... arrayed in golden armour ... and the white steed pranced beneath him, and his yellow locks streamed like sunlight about him. And he laughed the foe in the face.... Laughed like a child!... Ah, laughing to die like him!
Balthilda.
His lot was easy, Sire! He went from hence, but left to thee as an inheritance the half-destroyed kingdom.... How shouldst thou then have laughed?
Teja (eagerly).
Is it not so?--Is it not so?--How ... Ah, that doeth good! (Stretching himself.) Ah, thou doest me good!
Balthilda.
How proud thou makest me, Sire!
Teja.
But hadst thou seen him and compared him to me, thou wouldst spit upon me! Balthilda (fervently). I should have seen only thee, Sire dear, dear Sire!