I was at hand and swore unto thee friendship.

HOTHER. Grim is thy visage, and thine eye doth promise,
But little good. What dost thou seek?

LOKE. Whom, Skolding,
Whom fearest thou? Why hide in yonder vestments?

HOTHER. I fear? thou warlock! Wise thou wert in speaking
Of friendship!

LOKE. Spare thy wrath my youthful warrior!
Reserve it for thy foes!

HOTHER. They shall not miss it!

LOKE. And yet 'tis plain thou hidest thee from some one.

HOTHER. It was Nanna bade me. Ha! I blush by heaven!
When Nanna spake I always blindly listen'd.
She has disguised me, as thou see'st, stranger;
She plagues me with her fears; the dreamer would not--
Would really not--for all the wide world's riches,
That the wood goblin, or perhaps some lover
Invisible, should know me.

LOKE. Pretty folly!
Balder invisible! the handsome half-god!

HOTHER. What! Balder, son of Odin? He her lover?