[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 battle stern and gory,
Weep ye o’er the hero slain! 
Balder, thou the Aser’s glory! 
Love, base love, has prov’d thy bane.

Chorus.  Balder, thou the Aser’s glory,
Love, base love, has prov’d thy bane.

Rota.  I of slaughter swift purveyor,
Sorrow o’er the hero slain! 
Balder, thou the Jotun-slayer,
Loke’s falsehood was thy bane.

Chorus.  Balder, thou the Jotun-slayer,
Loke’s falsehood was thy bane.

Hother.  Hother’s burning tears are flowing
O’er the mighty Balder slain;
Ah, thy heart with virtue glowing,
Noble Balder, was thy bane.

Chorus.  Ah, thy heart with virtue glowing,
Noble Balder, was thy bane.

Nanna.  Nanna weeps with pallid feature
O’er the mighty Balder slain: 
Friend of gods and every creature! 
Fate alone has prov’d thy bane.

Chorus.  Friend of gods and every creature! 
Fate alone has prov’d thy bane.

Many voices answer one another among the rocks.  The
mighty Balder is dead!

Concluding chorus.  Thunders, burst your cloudy portals! 
Heaven, earth, and ocean rave! 
Weep and howl, ye gods and mortals,
O’er the mighty Balder’s grave.