FREYJA’S VOICE Beat on my heart, for mine containeth his.
ODIN Light! light once more! [The thunder dies away. Sudden dawn breaks, ripening soon to daylight. Within the crater, Freyja is revealed, standing over the exhausted form of Fenris.] Freyja, what hast thou dared?
FREYJA The bolt of iron and the scourge of brass Avail not, Odin.—Let me conquer him For thee!
ODIN How wouldst thou tame him?
FREYJA By my love, Yea, and the exceeding might of Baldur’s love, Whose gracious arts of poesie shall aid me. Grant him to us!
BALDUR Grant him to us, O father!
ODIN [Going apart.] O thou unknown Destroyer and Deliverer, Rape not again from me this nestling hope! [He descends into the crater.]
BALDUR AND FREYJA Grant him to us, Allfather, to be tamed!
FENRIS [Clutching the snow at their feet, feebly.] I—I am Allfather!
ODIN Lovers, I grant him to you; but not here, For this concession must be darkly hid Till you have proved its beauteous consummation. Not, therefore, here I grant, but yonder. [Indicates the earth below them.] There You shall enact a vast experiment, Whereof the pregnant sequel none may know Save only him, the master magian, Whose prentices we gods and titans are, And the blind wills of men his medium. For he, with silent face from us averted, Holds in the awful hollow of his hand The world—his crucible, and plies with them Ordeals of anguish and of ecstasy. Therefore the earth must be your place of passion, And there in slumber, even as mortals dream, Slumb’ring, that they are bright immortal gods, You shall be mortals, and shall walk as men, Forgetful of your immortality.