dearest!

BALDER (aside). Ha! shall I? Dare I?

NANNA. Ah, where art thou, Hother?
Perhaps in an abyss, all crushed and bloody
And silent! Woe is me! for ever silent!

BALDER (springing to her). Dear Nanna! Oh what terror--

NANNA. Ha! I've seen him!
The direst dream has shown to me my Hother!
Close by a yawning chasm was he standing,
And round about him bellow'd hideous monsters.

BALDER. Thine--as thou callest him--thine Hother liveth.

NANNA (whilst she recognizes BALDER). Ha Balder! thou hast slain him!
Ah, forgive me!
My dream confuses me--thou see'st I tremble.
I heard the fall of gods--the gods lamenting;
And bloody by the Hall there stood a spectre:
Big was the ruddy wound whereto it pointed.
Like one deep musing it conceal'd its visage;
But big the tears were through its fingers streaming:
Ah, the pale son of night was tall as Hother!

BALDER. Ha! Hother can't be dead.

NANNA. I do believe thee;
But ah! I cannot rest--I cannot, Balder,
Till I have seen his face, have spoken to him,
Embrac'd his arm, and press'd it to this bosom.

BALDER (distractedly). Ha, Nanna! this is more--'tis more, by Odin,
Than I can bear!

NANNA (terrified). Ye mighty gods of heaven!
Thou fright'nest me, forlorn one!

[She endeavours to escape, but BALDER detains her by force, and flings
himself at her feet.

BALDER. Oh my Nanna!
Stay! by these burning tears I do adjure thee,
By all my sufferings! Stay, oh stay!

NANNA (with disquiet). What wilt thou?

BALDER. I scarcely know! Ah! I have hop'd, dear Nanna!

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!