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 gods 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?