Hother.  My life detest I,
I would not give the smallest hair of Nanna,
For yet a thousand years thy whole godship!

Balder.  Die, then!

[He lifts his sword like one who will strike.

Hother.  Why dost delay?

Nanna.  Ha! here thou savage! 
Here, strike into this breast and spare my bridegroom.

[Balder lets his sword sink.

Hother.  Still, still, thou lovest me?  Oh, Nanna!  Nanna! 
There see’st thou, fiend, she loveth me!

Balder.  Ah, torment! 
Ha!  I can end thee! [He lifts his sword again.

Nanna.  Let my tears prevent thee!

Hother.  By heavens! she’s mocking thee!  If thou delayest,
She’ll laugh full at thee in the arms of Hother.

Nanna.  Believe him not, but virtue—­thine own bosom!

Balder (sheathing his sword).  Live, Hother! live!

Hother.  Ha! have I begged for mercy?

Balder.  No!  Live; forget our strife, thou dauntless warrior! 
Embrace thy friend, and be, as erst, unshackled!

Hother.  Ha! cruel, proud, and all too noble en’my! 
Thou know’st, thou feelest but too well thy triumph! 
Ha! thou hast overcome, hast humbled Hother! 
And think’st thou he can live?  Heard, heard has heaven
My oath, that I or Balder die!

[He grasps his dagger, and is about to stab himself with it, but Balder wrests it out of his hand.

Balder.  Bethink thee!

Hother.  Ye heavens!  Hother! ah! how art thou fallen!

Nanna (affectionately).  My Hother!

Hother.  Ah! farewell for ever, Nanna!

[He goes hastily away.  Nanna attempts to follow him, but Balder detains her.

Nanna, Balder.

Nanna.  Woe’s me! he will destroy himself.

Balder.  By Odin! 
He shall not!  Be composed! believe, I’ve power
To hinder it!  Believe thy Balder, Nanna!

Nanna (she takes with fervour his hand and bends herself for some time
over it).  I do believe thee, noble one, I know thee! 
I feel all thy exaltedness.  Thy virtues
I hold in reverence.  Oh! that all my friendship,
That these hot tears were able to reward thee!

Balder (casts himself upon his knees before her).  Oh glimpse!  Oh wave of hope, in which I’m drowning!

Nanna (agitated).  What hopest thou?

Balder.  Let not thy lips, oh Nanna
Awaken Balder from his dream of rapture;
Let him enjoy it; let him read his destiny,
His hope, his life, in yonder precious tear-drops.

Nanna.  Ah, what avails it ’gainst one’s fate to struggle? 
My heart can ne’er of Balder be deserving.

Balder.  Ah, that I but—­