The Death of Balder Part 11

LOKE. She hardens it in Nastroud.

HOTHER. Peace, dreamer! Go!

LOKE. I see this heat with pleasure, And to extinguish all thy doubts, I'll show thee-- If thou dare see her--the terrific Rota.

HOTHER. What, Vanfred! if I dare?

LOKE. Enough! Look westward!

[He touches HOTHER'S eyelids. Immediately is seen the entrance of a vast cavern, which is only illumined by the flames which, with a continual roaring, now sinking, now rising, appear in its deepest part. At the entrance, on each side, is a little round altar. On the one a flame is burning in which lies the fatal spear. On the other stands a caldron.

The VALKYRIER move in a circle round the first.

THE THREE VALKRIER.

THE FIRST. Flames of Nastroud Blaze away!

The deepmost deeps feel Valhall's May.

THE SECOND. Flames whose roaring With dismay E'en Asa hears, Fate's voice obey.

ROTA. Poisonous blazes Harden a spear For Valhall's May!

ALL THREE. Poisonous blazes Harden a spear For Valhall's May.

ROTA. Whom it woundeth It shall slay.

THE FIRST. Whom it woundeth It shall slay.

THE SECOND. Whom it woundeth It shall slay.

ALL THREE. Whom it woundeth It shall slay.

ROTA (takes the spear from the fire and goes towards the other altar).

Enough, enough! Now will we in the caldron Cool its red point--now backward turns the circle, And as we turn, the life of him turns backward Whom the spear smites; as quench'd are Nastroud's sparkles Vanish shall the life of him it woundeth.

[She retains the spear in her hand, and all three march round the caldron.

ALL THREE. In juice of rue, And trefoil too; In marrow of bear And blood of Trold, Be cool'd the spear, Three times cool'd, When not from blazes Which Nastroud raises For Valhall's May.

ROTA (she dips it in, and then immediately gives it to the first VALKYRIE, who does the same, and then hands it to the second, likewise dips it in the caldron; meanwhile they sing:)

THE FIRST. Whom it woundeth It shall slay.

THE SECOND. Whom it woundeth It shall slay.

ALL THREE. Whom it woundeth It shall slay.

[ROTA takes the spear. The VALKYRIER and the cavern disappear. The scene appears the same as in the first of this act. The tempest still continues to rage.

HOTHER. Evanished! sunken! sorcery surroundeth My every step, and ties the arm of Hother.

Fool that I am! the moon will soon break over Gevar's high rocks; and I, by Hothbrod's ashes, Like one who fearfully will prolong existence, I'm paying heed to phantoms. Vanfred! Vanfred!

Fiend, who didst vow me friendship I detested!

Say, where is now the spear which kills for certain?

LOKE. Thou saw'st it.

HOTHER. Ha! I saw! I saw! Where is it?

LOKE. Do I not know that Odin's maids prepar'd it Only for thee, that fate will only suffer Thine arm in Balder's heart to thrust it?

HOTHER. Lately Thou saidst, think'st thou they wish the death of Balder?

But now against him they the weapon harden; Now Valhall's maidens hate the n.o.ble half-G.o.d.

Hence with thy contradictions, false deceiver!

LOKE. I have already said that I seduced them; My subtlety, not they, the spear has harden'd.

HOTHER. Good now! thy subtlety! how n.o.bly Hother Pa.s.ses the night! Proceed with thy narration.

LOKE. Then hear. Thou dost remember Rota's present.

The spear which set the haughty half-G.o.d kneeling, That shiver'd I, and brought it unto Rota.

I borrowed Tyr's, the Asa's dress and figure.

"Behold," I cried, "thy spear, thou crafty Rota!

Late at a Jotun's foot I found it lying, Sent from the Leir-King's hand; it still was buzzing, For strong is Hother's arm; I knew the weapon, And I, who trusted in thy art, I shouted.

Now ill it stands with yonder mountain Jotun; But loud he laugh'd, and straight the lance ups.n.a.t.c.hing, He shiver'd it, and here, O crafty Rota!

Here bring I back to thee the precious fragments!"

With joy I saw her eyes with fury flashing, She swore by Odin's arm, by all the powers, And by the highest G.o.dhead--by Allfather, Restless to search till she a spear discover'd With power to slay the strongest son of Ymer, And all who could be slain. She swore and vanished.

Then seem'd it--then, by Haela's mists, then seem'd it As if fate only for that oath had waited.

Three times above me thunder'd the high Norna; She spake; but terrible is Skulda's thunder; I cannot bear its sound; I swift departed; But soon was conscious of our spear's discovery.

Then thou didst call-- But hear the heavy pinions!

'Tis she! 'tis Rota! I aside must hasten; For Valhall's maids detest me. [LOKE goes aside.

HOTHER, and presently the Valkyrie ROTA.

HOTHER (he pursues LOKE with a contemptuous look). Outcast!

Ha! dastard slave! and thou didst swear me friendship!

No, ne'er hast thou been Hother's friend, thou traitor, But the sworn enemy of the G.o.ds and virtue!

ROTA (handing him the fatal spear with a half-averted countenance). Here, son of Hothbrod! here, my much-lov'd warrior!

Receive this spear, and use it as--

HOTHER. Thou weepest!

ROTA. Thou saw'st my tear--dear and n.o.ble the blood is Which it forebodes; but do thou use this weapon!

Yet 'tis no gift of mine--'tis that of Skulda.

HOTHER. I know thou fearest for the generous Balder; But, n.o.ble maid, if thou my heart see'st into, Thou know'st that he is safe as Thor in Valhall.

ROTA. Think'st thou to thwart the Norna's will, young hero?

She pointed out the hidden tree; she bade me Break off the bough of death; she bade me harden Its point in Nastroud's flames; she-- But what will I?

My tears are wasted, like thy n.o.ble project.