The Third Monologue from The Death of Balder

From The Death of Balder by Johannes Ewald

male · dark · 1:25 min

As when the warriors slumber, And suddenly are wak'd to thousand dangers By din of shields and mingled squadrons' tumult, So tower'd he up and shouted when he saw me, And dread and hollow as the ocean's bellow, As moan of forests in the nightly tempest, Sounded his voice unto my ear! "What, Rota!" he shouted; Rota here! "Ye gods of heaven! Whom seekest thou, where unclomb rocks engirdle Peace, smiling peace? O say! whom, sent by Skulda, Wilt thou devote upon the stilly mountains? But ah! what light had I the power to kindle? Dark is my spirit. The terrific Norna, She who allots to time, ere it approaches, It's luck, and binds it with determined fingers Unto Fate's will, is silent, and drives Rota Far from each plain belov'd where battle rages. Yet shook the fatal spear with which conflicting Monarchs I greet, at sunrise thrice it trembled; And death lies heavy in my arm--that know I, But for the victim.

Rehearse The Third's monologue

Run it out loud with a spotlight that follows your voice, line by line, until it's off the page. Free to start, no credit card.

Rehearse free Get started free