RUDOLPH--The Saxon sword is broken. The great shield That covered all the North lies in the loam Rusting, and the wild-flowers eat its stains. Where are our fathers, Fritz? Heimdall, who sees All races, sees not anywhere that race That stood at bay when Swabian went down, Frank and Bavarian and the great North fell. A paw was put upon its breast and lo, It is scattered, blood and bones and heart and brain! Its hand is here; its heart is in the north; Its head far off an island in the sea; Its blood is everywhere, in grass, in leaves; Its flesh still fronts the dragon in these trees. FRITZ--And we, we men-- RUDOLPH-- Our time has not yet come. FRITZ--Must be the feet and run, eh? RUDOLPH-- We must wait Until the heart calls from the silent north. FRITZ--Wait? RUDOLPH-- You would have us--? FRITZ-- If we are the hand, For the hand strikes. RUDOLPH-- Without the head? No, Fritz; We must delay our battle with the beast. A new shield we will shape us on the heights; Temper it in the flashes of the sky And boss it with the terror of the grave. Of mountain metal on the mountain tops, New armor we will forge. Let the old shield Lie here upon the plain, covering the dead. Let the leaves cover it. And for the sword That broken lies between the dragon's paws, Val-father will reach down and put the hilt Of some great Fafnir's-bane in Canzler's hand, Canzler, in turn, in Oswald's when he weds, And Oswald and the girl will pass it on Down to the hand of that child-- FRITZ-- Canzler go? RUDOLPH--Whom Woden shall bid seek the dragon's den, And Siegfried of the North shall slay the snake. FRITZ--Canzler will not go. Canzler! RUDOLPH-- He will go. FRITZ--Canzler will lay him in the grave first. RUDOLPH-- Fritz, Who calls the fairies? FRITZ-- What of that? RUDOLPH-- Witchcraft. FRITZ--You mean that they will burn her? RUDOLPH-- Do they not Burn witches in the city...? We can die; We on our swords can perish; but the girl...? (_He goes off through the wood, leaving Fritz silent upon the bridge._) FRITZ-- (_To himself._) Canzler will lay his sword upon her throat. (_With bowed head he walks on across the bridge. As he passes into the deeper shadows the white sheep's pelt lying in the bank at the roadside catches his eye. He goes curiously toward it, when, seeing the post, he glances up and stops suddenly. For a time he stands as_ _one appalled._) Rudolph! RUDOLPH--Ho!