Ye stars! what sorcery! But to me now listen! I hasten'd unto Hortha's gloomy forests, To glut myself in Roman blood; then look'd I Down from the thunder-cloud in which I journey'd, And on these towering hills my eyes I fastened; Then saw I Denmark's Hother, prince of battle, Like the rock-pine, which o'er the ocean beetles; He stood, and storm-winds with his locks were playing, Then from the brake a wolf sprang, grim and frightful, And big as Fenri's Wolf: the Skoldung saw it, And brandish'd high his spear. Forth went it booming, As booming goes from the cold North a whirlwind; Straight vanished wolf and spear; but deep a-forest Was heard as from a thousand wolves a howling. "See, see," it howl'd, "the Skoldung Hother loses His spear, and in his hand the sword is fragile. Now have we peace, and Norway's Kemps may slumber." Disturb'd at such dark sorcery, I seiz'd on The spear of steel thou see'st, and laid lightning And fiends' death on its point, when I beheld thee. THE THIRD (who hitherto has stood in deep thought). Sharp is my sight in war; but here is darkness. But do not think that chance and magic Here assembled battle's angry daughters. Allfather for the fight prepares; Allfather Assembles us with murky wink: I saw him, The mighty Thor; wroth was he, and his hammer Was in his hand. He stood by Gevar's dwelling: He spoke to me, and soon as e'er I answer'd He vanished, thundering in the eastern heavens. It is not sport, nor any childish quarrel, Be ye assured, makes Thor descend from Asgaard.

The Second Monologue from The Death of Balder

Rehearse The Second's monologue