r ever!

NANNA. Oh horror! Whither? What is thy intention?

HOTHER. To die! Thou know'st my oath! Ha! the sun hastens!
Seest thou how high? I swore by Hothbrod's ashes
With Balder not to live a day! Release me!
Ha! seest thou how high--

NANNA. And I have sworn too,
By tenderness, by Freya, by my bosom,
I'll not release thee; I thy track will follow
In the black night of death! This arm I'll cling to,
And my tear-moisten'd eye, until it bursteth,
Shall gaze on thee, shall gaze on thee, its Hother!

HOTHER. Then be courageous--of thy Hother worthy!
Think on his oath, and--

NANNA (she releases him). Ah, what wilt thou, Hother?

HOTHER. And see him die!

[He lifts his spear to stab himself. At that same moment the frantic
BALDER rushes upon the scene.

BALDER, HOTHER, NANNA.

BALDER (he runs directly up to NANNA). Come! follow me now, Nanna!
Our bridal festival's prepar'd in Haelheim,
In Asgaard. Follow me, thou murky daughter
Of joy! Ha, quick! Of dastard love I dream not.
Jotuns await my arm. Hurrah! thou stayest!
Thou stayest! Come!

[He seizes her by the arm, and seeks to drag her away by force. HOTHER
steps between, and endeavours to thrust him aside with his hand.

NANNA. Oh, save me! save me, Hother!

HOTHER. Hold, Balder!

BALDER (he releases NANNA, and drawing his sword, hews at HOTHER with his
utmost might, who seeks to parry the blow with his spear, retreating at
the same time). Fall, presumptuous wretch!

HOTHER. Beware thee!

BALDER. Fall, nidding!

HOTHER. Ha, beware thee!

BALDER. Die!

[He stumbles, and runs the spear into his breast; whereupon he
immediately drops his sword and sinks upon one knee.

HOTHER. Ha, Balder!

BALDER. Ha, Nanna!--Thor! I have deserv'd my fortune.

[He dies, and a mighty whirlwind passes over the scene.

NANNA. Ye heavens!

HOTHER. He is dead, the mighty Balder!

A VOICE FAR AWAY IN THE FOREST. He is dead, the mighty Balder!

MANY VOICES, which answer one another amongst the rocks.
The mighty Balder is dead.

[It thunders; ODIN and FRIGGA appear upon a cloud in a very mournful
attitude. THOR and many of the ASER come forward from one side of the
wood, and the three VALKYRIER from the other.

THOR (and his retinue). Odin, thy Balder is dead!

CHORUS. Thunders, burst your cloudy portals!
Heaven, earth, and ocean rave!
Weep ye gods, and mourn ye mortals,
O'er the mighty Balder's grave!

THOR. Gods of