BLANKA. [Laughing.] Aha!
You think I meant it seriously?
GANDALF. Was it
Only a jest?
BLANKA. Alas! a foolish dream
I often used to dream before we met,—
Which often I no doubt shall dream again,
When you—
[Suddenly breaking off.]
BLANKA. You stare so fixedly.
GANDALF. Do I?
BLANKA. Why, yes! What are you thinking
of?
GANDALF. I? Nothing!
BLANKA. Nothing?
GANDALF. That is, I scarcely know myself;
And yet I do—and you shall hear it now:
I thought of you and how you would transplant
Your flowers in the North, when suddenly
My own faith came as if by chance to mind.
One word therein I never understood
Before; now have you taught me what it means.
BLANKA. And that is what?
GANDALF. Valfader, it is said,
Receives but half the warriors slain in battle;
The other half to Freya goes by right.
That I could never fully comprehend;
But—now I understand,—I am myself
A fallen warrior, and to Freya goes
The better part of me.
BLANKA. [Amazed.] What does this mean?
GANDALF. Well, in a word, then know—
BLANKA. [Quickly.] No, say it not!
I dare not tarry longer here to-night,—
My father waits, and I must go; farewell!
GANDALF. O, you are going?
BLANKA. [Takes the wreath of oak leaves which he
has
let fall and throws it around his helmet.] You can
keep it now.
Lo, what I hitherto bestowed on you
In dreams, I grant you now awake.
GANDALF. Farewell!
[He goes quickly out to the right.]
* * *
* *
BLANKA. [Alone.]
He is gone! Ah, perfect stillness
Rules upon the barren strand.
Perfect stillness, grave-like stillness
Rules my heart with heavy hand.
Came he then to vanish only
Through the mist, a ray of light?
Soon he flies, a sea-gull lonely,
Far away into the night!
What is left me of this lover?
But a flower in the dark:
In my loneliness to hover
Like a petrel round his bark!
[The war trumpet of the Vikings is heard from the
left.]
BLANKA. Ah! What was that! A trumpet
from the wood!
* * *
* *
[BLANKA, GANDALF from the right.]
GANDALF. [Aside.] It is too late!
BLANKA. O, there he is again!
What do you want?
GANDALF. Quick,—quick, away from
here!
BLANKA. What do you mean?
GANDALF. Away! There’s danger here!
BLANKA. What danger?
GANDALF. Death!
BLANKA. I do not understand you.
