And who will think, when the strain is sung What life-drops, from the minstrel wrung, None, none! - his treasures live like thine, He strives and dies like thee; Thou, that hast been to the pearl's dark shrine, O wrestler with the sea! Abridged. hold a safe place to keep treasure; a stronghold. - riv'en: broken.. grots: grottoes or caves. THE DEATH OF BALDUR NOTE. According to Norse mythology Odin was the king of the gods. He dwelt in the great hall Valhalla, and here he feasted with the other gods and with his chosen heroes. Frigga, his wife, was the "all wise,” and among his children were Thor and Freya, from whose names are derived 5 our words Thursday and Friday. Loki was a mischief-maker, who delighted to bring the gods into trouble. The following myth has furnished a theme for more than one poet. Baldur the Good was unhappy. He was tormented with terrible dreams, and he felt sure that his life was in 10 danger. He told his father Odin of his fears. Odin and the other gods resolved to save their beloved Baldur from any possible misfortune. So Frigga, Odin's wife, went to all the beasts and birds, to all the trees and poisonous vines, to all the creeping things which destroy 15 life, to all the stones and metals, to fire and to water, and from all she claimed a promise that they would do no harm to Baldur. And now the gods, feeling sure that Baldur's life was safe, amused themselves by throwing sticks and darts at 20 him, some hurling spears and battle-axes in mere sport, for they thought that nothing could harm him. Wicked Loki, seeing that Baldur was not hurt, was sorely vexed. "Why is it," he asked of Frigga, "that neither stones nor darts can do him harm?” "Because all things have promised to spare him," said Frigga; "all except one tiny shrub called Mistletoe, which was so small and feeble that I claimed no promise from it." Then Loki went to search for the mistletoe, and when he had found it he came again to where the gods were play- 5 ing. There he found one standing apart from the rest. "Why dost thou not throw something at Baldur?" asked Loki. "Because I am blind," was the answer. "Moreover, I have nothing to throw." 66 Come, then," said Loki, "here is a twig to throw, and I myself will direct thine arm." So saying he led the blind god so near Baldur that when the mistletoe was thrown it pierced to his very heart and he fell down lifeless. Then there was grief in the halls of Odin. Baldur was dead- Baldur the Beautiful. 10 15 "What will become of us," cried the people, "now that the sunlight is gone out of the world? We shall perish in the cold and the dark." And they went weeping to their 20 homes, believing that joy could never come to them again. And all the gods and heroes came, wailing for the dead. Nature sorrowed with them. The trees bent their heads and the leaves fell to the ground. The grass turned brown and no birds sang. The little creatures of wood 25 and meadow hid themselves in the trees or in the earth. The brooks and rivers were quiet and the blue waters of the lake turned white and cold. Odin sat in his great hall, thoughtful and troubled. "We must bring Baldur back," he cried. "He shall stay in the underworld no longer. Yet how can we persuade Queen Hela to give him up?" "There may be a way," said the wise Frigga. "Let one of the gods take the horse Sleipnir and ride down. 10 over the dark, strange road to the underworld. If he arrives in safety, he must ask Queen Hela to give Baldur back to us." "But who will dare to go on so fearful a journey?" the gods asked of one another. 66 15 "I dare," cried Hermod, Baldur's younger brother, famous for his swift running and for his horsemanship. "I will ride Sleipnir down to the underworld.” So when the morning came Hermod set out, riding Odin's gray horse Sleipnir. For nine days he rode 20 through mist and fog, in glens so dark and wild that he could hardly see his way; for nine nights he rode through chilling winds and over rocky pathways. And at last he came to the gate of Queen Hela's castle. The drawbridge was up, the gate was shut, and there was no one in sight. 25 Hermod whispered in his horse's ear. "Good Sleipnir," he said, "do not fail me now. Bear me over the castle wall." Then the gray horse sped like lightning down the path, gathered himself up for his great leap, and in another moment was flying over the wall into the courtyard. All the doors of the castle were open, so Hermod went on into the dining hall. And there, at Queen Hela's right hand, sat Baldur, more beautiful than ever. The hall seemed full of sunshine, so radiant was his presence. Even Queen Hela was no longer stern and forbidding, 10 but gracious as a hostess should be. The next morning Hermod told his story and begged that his brother might go back with him. "The whole world weeps for him," Hermod added. "Is this really true?" asked Queen Hela. "Many of 15 my subjects leave sorrowing friends at home." |