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 noble half-god.
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 nobly Hother
Passes the night! Proceed with thy narration.

LOKE. Then hear. Thou dost remember Rota's present.
The spear which set the haughty half-god kneeling,
That shiver'd I, and brought it unto Rota.
I borrowed Tyr's, the