Balthilda. How proud thou makest me, Sire! Teja. But hadst thou seen him and compared him to me, thou wouldst spit upon me! Balthilda (_fervently_). I should have seen only thee, Sire dear, dear Sire! (Teja _looks askance at her, shyly and distrustfully, then walks silently to the left, sinks down before the seat on the throne, and burying his face in the chair, weeps bitterly_.) Balthilda. (_Follows him shyly and kneels down beside him_.) Teja, beloved, if I hurt thee, pardon me! Teja (_rises and grasps her arm_). Tell it to no one! Balthilda. What, Sire? Teja. That thou hast seen me weep! Swear it to me! Balthilda. It hath been told me that I am now even as a piece of thy body--and of thy soul also!... Wherefore should I swear? Teja. If thou art a piece of my body, then come nearer to me, that thou mayst not see my tears. Balthilda. Let me dry them for thee! See, for this cause am I here. Teja. Ah, 'tis well with me.... I must indeed have died of shame, for never yet hath a Gothic man been seen to weep. Even when we buried Totilas, we wept not.... Yet I am not ashamed.... If I but knew why suddenly it is so well with me!... Balthilda, I will tell thee something. But thou must not laugh me to scorn. Balthilda. How should I laugh at thee, beloved? Teja. I am hungry. Balthilda (_springing up in surprise_). Alas, surely thou hast given everything away! Teja. Oh, by no means! Go just over there, wilt thou? (_She obeys_.) Behind my couch--seest thou the fireplace? Balthilda. Here where the ashes lie? Teja. There standeth a chest? Balthilda. Yea. Teja. Wilt thou open the lid? Balthilda. Ah, it is heavy! Teja. Now feel within! Deep, deep!... There Ildibad the old miser--well? Balthilda (_disappointedly_). A couple of bread crusts; is that all, Sire? Teja. There is indeed nothing more. Balthilda. May I not then go quickly over to the Wagenburg?... Perhaps still ... Teja. Oh nay.... They themselves need the fragments.... Bring that hither! As brothers we shall share it--eh? And then there is sufficient for both. Wilt thou? Balthilda. Yea. (_She sits beside him_.) Teja.