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 gods! here at thy feet I’ll hear thee
Pronounce 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!