BALDER. Ha, Nanna! fly not from me!
HOTHER (to BALDER). Thou commandest,
I say she shall fly from thee. (To NANNA) Come, my Nanna!
(To BALDER). But do not thou despair! nor yet 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.