Chapter 25

_Enter BRUNHILDA and FRIGGA from opposite sides._

BRUNHILDA.

From whence so early? Dewy is thy hair And blood-stained are thy garments.

FRIGGA.

I have made A sacrifice unto the ancient gods, Before the moon was gone.

BRUNHILDA.

The ancient gods! The cross rules now, and Thor and Odin dwell As devils in deep hell.

FRIGGA.

And dost thou fear Them less for that? Their curses still may fall Upon us, though their blessings are withheld, And willingly I sacrificed the ram. Oh, wouldst thou kill one too! Thy need is great Above all others.

BRUNHILDA.

Mine?

FRIGGA.

Another time. I long had meant to tell thee, and today At last the hour has come.

BRUNHILDA.

I've always thought That at thy death the hour would come to me, So did not importune thee.

FRIGGA.

Mark me now! From our volcano came there suddenly An aged man and left with me a child, A tablet, too, with runes.

BRUNHILDA.

'Twas in the night?

FRIGGA.

How dost thou know?

BRUNHILDA.

When on thee falls the moonlight--On thy face, thou speakest oft aloud, Betraying much.

FRIGGA.

And thou didst harken to me? At midnight we were watching with our dead--Our beauteous Queen. The old man's hair was white, And longer than a woman's. Like a cloak It hung about him, flowing softly down.

BRUNHILDA.

The spirit of the mountain!

FRIGGA.

Naught know I!-- No syllable he spoke. The little maid Reached forth her hands and grasped the golden crown That glittered brightly o'er the dead Queen's brow. We marveled that it fitted her.

BRUNHILDA.

The child?

FRIGGA.

The little maid; and it was none too large, Nor later did it bind her.

BRUNHILDA.

'Twas like mine!

FRIGGA.

Like thine it was! And, yet more wonderful. The child was like the maid that lay there dead Within the mother's arms and disappeared As had it ne'er existed--yes, so like That only by the breathing could we know The living from the dead. It seemed to us That nature must have formed one body twice, With life for one child only.

BRUNHILDA.

Had the Queen A new-born baby in her arms?

FRIGGA.

Her life She gave to bear her child, and with her died The little maid.

BRUNHILDA.

Thou didst not tell me that. FRIGGA. I never thought to tell thee. Sorrow broke The mother's heart that she could never show Her baby to her lord. For many years This priceless joy in vain he had desired, And, just a month before the child was born, A sudden death o'ertook him.

BRUNHILDA.

Tell me more!

FRIGGA.

We sought the aged man, but he was gone. The glowing mountain that had been cleft through As one might split an apple, slowly now Was drawn together there before our eyes.

BRUNHILDA.

The old man came no more?

FRIGGA.

Now hark to me! Next morning to the grave we bore our Queen; But when the priest was ready to baptize The little maid, his arm fell helpless down, Nor could he touch her forehead with the dew Of holy water, and his good right arm He never lifted more.

BRUNHILDA.

What, never more!

FRIGGA.

The man was old, and so we marveled not. We called another priest. The holy dew He sprinkled on the child. The blessed words Of benediction halted on his tongue, Nor hath his speech returned.

BRUNHILDA.

And now the third?

FRIGGA.

For him we waited long. We had to seek In other lands afar, where of the tale None knew. At last this priest baptized the child. His holy office ended, down he fell Upon the ground and nevermore arose!

BRUNHILDA.

And did the baby live

FRIGGA.

She throve apace, And strong she grew. Her playful ways to us Were signs what we should do or leave undone. They ne'er deceived us, for the runes had said That we might trust them ever.

BRUNHILDA.

Frigga! Frigga!

FRIGGA.

Thou art indeed the maid! Now dost thou know Not in the gloomy caverns of the dead, In Hecla where the ancient gods still dwell, Among the Norns, among the Valkyries, Seek thou the mother that gave birth to thee! Oh, that no drop of holy water e'er Had touched thy brow! Then were we wiser far.

BRUNHILDA.

What dost thou murmur?

FRIGGA.

How then did it hap That on this morning we were not in bed, But fully robed had tarried in the hall? Our teeth were chattering and our lips were blue.

BRUNHILDA.

A sudden sleep o'erwhelmed us, that was all.

FRIGGA.

But had it ever happened?

BRUNHILDA.

Not before.

FRIGGA.

Then hark! The old man came and tried to speak. It almost seems as if I'd seen him stand And grasp thy shoulder; and he threatened me, But heavy was thy sleep. Thou should'st not hear What fate awaits thee if thou dost persist. So offer sacrifice and then be free. Oh, had I paid no heed unto the priest, Howe'er he urged me! But the sacred runes I had not read aright.--Come, sacrifice, For danger cometh nigh.

BRUNHILDA.

'Tis nigh?

FRIGGA.

Alas! Thou knowest that the fiery sea is quenched That flamed around thy castle. BRUNHILDA. Yet the knight Still lingers who should wield the magic sword And on his war-horse gallop through the flames, When he had won proud Fafner's ill-starred hoard.

FRIGGA.

I may have erred. But yet this second sign Cannot deceive me, for I long have known That when the fateful hour shall come to thee, Clear vision doth await thee. Sacrifice! Mayhap the ancient gods surround thee now Invisibly, and they will straight appear With the first blood-drops of thine offering.

BRUNHILDA.

I do not fear.

[_Trumpets are heard._]

FRIGGA.

The trumpets!

BRUNHILDA.

Hast thou ne'er Heard them before.

FRIGGA.

Never before with dread. The time for lopping thistle-heads is past, And iron helms arise before thee now.

BRUNHILDA.

Come hither all! For I will let her see Brunhilda still can conquer! While the sea Of fire still flamed I hastened forth to meet ye, And friendly, as a trusty dog will spring To give his master room, my faithful fire Drew back before me, sank on either hand; The road stands open now, but not my heart. [_She ascends her throne._] Now fling the portals wide and let them in! Whoever here may come, his head is mine!