In the Peace Stead no crime had ever been committed, no blood had ever been shed, no falseness had ever been spoken. Contentment came into the minds of all in Asgard when they thought upon this place. Ah! Were it not that the Peace Stead was there, happy with Baldur's presence, the minds of the ?sir and the Vanir might have become gloomy and stern from thinking on the direful things that were arrayed against them.[Pg 181]
Baldur was beautiful. So beautiful was he that all the white blossoms on the earth were called by his name. Baldur was happy. So happy was he that all the birds on the earth sang his name. So just and so wise was Baldur that the judgment2 he pronounced might never be altered. Nothing foul3 or unclean had ever come near where he had his dwelling4:
'Tis Breidablik called,
Where Baldur the Fair
In the land where I know
Least loathliness lies.
Healing things were done in Baldur's Stead. Tyr's wrist was healed of the wounds that Fenrir's fangs6 had made. And there Frey's mind became less troubled with the foreboding that Loki had filled it with when he railed at him about the bartering7 of his sword.
Now after Fenrir had been bound to the rock in the faraway island the ?sir and the Vanir knew a while of contentment. They passed bright days in Baldur's Stead, listening to the birds that made music there. And it was there that Bragi the Poet wove into his never-ending story the tale of Thor's adventures amongst the Giants.
But even into Baldur's Stead foreboding came. One day little Hnossa, the child of Freya and the lost Odur, was brought there in such sorrow that no one outside could comfort her. Nanna, Baldur's gentle wife, took the child[Pg 182] upon her lap and found ways of soothing8 her. Then Hnossa told of a dream that had filled her with fright.
She had dreamt of Hela, the Queen that is half living woman and half corpse9. In her dream Hela had come into Asgard saying, "A lord of the ?sir I must have to dwell with me in my realm beneath the earth." Hnossa had such fear from this dream that she had fallen into a deep sorrow.
A silence fell upon all when the dream of Hnossa was told. Nanna looked wistfully at Odin All-Father. And Odin, looking at Frigga, saw that a fear had entered her breast.
He left the Peace Stead and went to his watchtower Hlidskjalf. He waited there till Hugin and Munin should come to him. Every day his two ravens10 flew through the world, and coming back to him told him of all that was happening. And now they might tell him of happenings that would let him guess if Hela had indeed turned her thoughts toward Asgard, or if she had the power to draw one down to her dismal11 abode12.
The ravens flew to him, and lighting13 one on each of his shoulders, told him of things that were being said up and down Ygdrassil, the World Tree. Ratat?sk the Squirrel was saying them. And Ratat?sk had heard them from the brood of serpents that with Nidh?gg, the great dragon, gnawed14 ever at the root of Ygdrassil. He told it to the Eagle that sat ever on the topmost bough15, that in Hela's habitation a bed was spread and a chair was left empty for some lordly comer.
And hearing this, Odin thought that it were better that Fenrir the Wolf should range ravenously16 through Asgard[Pg 183] than that Hela should win one from amongst them to fill that chair and lie in that bed.
He mounted Sleipner, his eight-legged steed, and rode down toward the abodes17 of the Dead. For three days and three nights of silence and darkness he journeyed on. Once one of the hounds of Helheim broke loose and bayed upon Sleipner's tracks. For a day and a night Garm, the hound, pursued them, and Odin smelled the blood that dripped from his monstrous18 jaws19.
At last he came to where, wrapped in their shrouds20, a field of the Dead lay. He dismounted from Sleipner and called upon one to rise and speak with him. It was on Volva, a dead prophetess, he called. And when he pronounced her name he uttered a rune that had the power to break the sleep of the Dead.
There was a groaning22 in the middle of where the shrouded23 ones lay. Then Odin cried, out, "Arise, Volva, prophetess." There was a stir in the middle of where the shrouded ones lay, and a head and shoulders were thrust up from amongst the Dead.
"Who calls on Volva the Prophetess? The rains have drenched24 my flesh and the storms have shaken my bones for more seasons than the living know. No living voice has a right to call me from my sleep with the Dead."
"It is Vegtam the Wanderer who calls. For whom is the bed prepared and the seat left empty in Hela's habitation?"
"For Baldur, Odin's son, is the bed prepared and the seat left empty. Now let me go back to my sleep with the Dead."
But now Odin saw beyond Volva's prophecy. "Who is[Pg 184] it," he cried out, "that stands with unbowed head and that will not lament25 for Baldur? Answer, Volva, prophetess!"
"Thou seest far, but thou canst not see clearly. Thou art Odin. I can see clearly but I cannot see far. Now let me go back to my sleep with the Dead."
"Volva, prophetess!" Odin cried out again.
But the voice from amongst the shrouded ones said, "Thou canst not wake me any more until the fires of Muspelheim blaze above my head."
Then there was silence in the field of the Dead, and Odin turned Sleipner, his steed, and for four days, through the gloom and silence, he journeyed back to Asgard.
Frigga had felt the fear that Odin had felt. She looked toward Baldur, and the shade of Hela came between her and her son. But then she heard the birds sing in the Peace Stead and she knew that none of all the things in the world would injure Baldur.
And to make it sure she went to all the things that could hurt him and from each of them she took an oath that it would not injure Baldur, the Well-Beloved. She took an oath from fire and from water, from iron and from all metals, from earths and stones and great trees, from birds and beasts and creeping things, from poisons and diseases. Very readily they all gave the oath that they would work no injury on Baldur.
Then when Frigga went back and told what she had accomplished26 the gloom that had lain on Asgard lifted. Baldur would be spared to them. Hela might have a place prepared in her dark habitation, but neither fire nor[Pg 185] water, nor iron nor any metals, nor earths nor stones nor great woods, nor birds nor beasts nor creeping things, nor poisons nor diseases, would help her to bring him down. "Hela has no arms to draw you to her," the ?sir and the Vanir cried to Baldur.
Hope was renewed for them and they made games to honor Baldur. They had him stand in the Peace Stead and they brought against him all the things that had sworn to leave him hurtless. And neither the battle-axe flung full at him, nor the stone out of the sling27, nor the burning brand, nor the deluge28 of water would injure the beloved of Asgard. The ?sir and the Vanir laughed joyously29 to see these things fall harmlessly from him while a throng30 came to join them in the games; Dwarfs31 and friendly Giants.
But Loki the Hater came in with that throng. He watched the games from afar. He saw the missiles and the weapons being flung and he saw Baldur stand smiling and happy under the strokes of metal and stones and great woods. He wondered at the sight, but he knew that he might not ask the meaning of it from the ones who knew him.
He changed his shape into that of an old woman and he went amongst those who were making sport for Baldur. He spoke1 to Dwarfs and friendly Giants. "Go to Frigga and ask. Go to Frigga and ask," was all the answer Loki got from any of them.
Then to Fensalir, Frigga's mansion32, Loki went. He told those in the mansion that he was Groa, the old Enchantress[Pg 186] who was drawing out of Thor's head the fragments of a grindstone that a Giant's throw had embedded33 in it. Frigga knew about Groa and she praised the Enchantress for what she had done.
"Many fragments of the great grindstone have I taken out of Thor's head by the charms I know," said the pretended Groa. "Thor was so grateful that he brought back to me the husband that he once had carried off to the end of the earth. So overjoyed was I to find my husband restored that I forgot the rest of the charms. And I left some fragments of the stone in Thor's head."
So Loki said, repeating a story that was true. "Now I remember the rest of the charm," he said, "and I can draw out the fragments of the stone that are left. But will you not tell me, O Queen, what is the meaning of the extraordinary things I saw the ?sir and the Vanir doing?"
"I will tell you," said Frigga, looking kindly34 and happily at the pretended old woman. "They are hurling35 all manner of heavy and dangerous things at Baldur, my beloved son. And all Asgard cheers to see that neither metal nor stone nor great wood will hurt him."
"But why will they not hurt him?" said the pretended Enchantress.
"Because I have drawn36 an oath from all dangerous and threatening things to leave Baldur hurtless," said Frigga.
"From all things, lady? Is there no thing in all the world that has not taken an oath to leave Baldur hurtless?"
"Well, indeed, there is one thing that has not taken the oath. But that thing is so small and weak that I passed it by without taking thought of it."[Pg 187]
"What can it be, lady?"
"The Mistletoe that is without root or strength. It grows on the eastern side of Valhalla. I passed it by without drawing an oath from it."
"Surely you were not wrong to pass it by. What could the Mistletoe—the rootless Mistletoe—do against Baldur?"
Saying this the pretended Enchantress hobbled off.
But not far did the pretender go hobbling. He changed his gait and hurried to the eastern side of Valhalla. There a great oak tree flourished and out of a branch of it a little bush of Mistletoe grew. Loki broke off a spray and with it in his hand he went to where the ?sir and the Vanir were still playing games to honor Baldur.
All were laughing as Loki drew near, for the Giants and the Dwarfs, the Asyniur and the Vana, were all casting missiles. The Giants threw too far and the Dwarfs could not throw far enough, while the Asyniur and the Vana threw far and wide of the mark. In the midst of all that glee and gamesomeness it was strange to see one standing37 joyless. But one stood so, and he was of the ?sir—H?dur, Baldur's blind brother.
"Why do you not enter the game?" said Loki to him in his changed voice.
"I have no missile to throw at Baldur," H?dur said.
"I cannot see to throw it," said H?dur.
"I will guide your hand," said Loki. He put the twig of Mistletoe in H?dur's hand and he guided the hand for the[Pg 188] throw. The twig flew toward Baldur. It struck him on the breast and it pierced him. Then Baldur fell down with a deep groan21.
The ?sir and the Vanir, the Dwarfs and the friendly Giants, stood still in doubt and fear and amazement39. Loki slipped away. And blind H?dur, from whose hand the twig of Mistletoe had gone, stood quiet, not knowing that his throw had bereft40 Baldur of life.
Then a wailing41 rose around the Peace Stead. It was from the Asyniur and the Vana. Baldur was dead, and they began to lament him. And while they were lamenting42 him, the beloved of Asgard, Odin came amongst them.
"Hela has won our Baldur from us," Odin said to Frigga as they both bent43 over the body of their beloved son.
When the ?sir and the Vanir had won their senses back the mother of Baldur went amongst them. "Who amongst you would win my love and goodwill45?" she said. "Whoever would let him ride down to Hela's dark realm and ask the Queen to take ransom46 for Baldur. It may be she will take it and let Baldur come back to us. Who amongst you will go? Odin's steed is ready for the journey."
Then forth47 stepped Hermod the Nimble, the brother of Baldur. He mounted Sleipner and turned the eight-legged steed down toward Hela's dark realm.
For nine days and nine nights Hermod rode on. His way was through rugged48 glens, one deeper and darker than the other. He came to the river that is called Gi?ll[Pg 189] and to the bridge across it that is all glittering with gold. The pale maid who guards the bridge spoke to him.
"The hue49 of life is still on thee," said Modgudur, the pale maid. "Why dost thou journey down to Hela's deathly realm?"
"I am Hermod," he said, "and I go to see if Hela will take ransom for Baldur."
"Fearful is Hela's habitation for one to come to," said Modgudur, the pale maid. "All round it is a steep wall that even thy steed might hardly leap. Its threshold is Precipice50. The bed therein is Care, the table is Hunger, the hanging of the chamber51 is Burning Anguish52."
"It may be that Hela will take ransom for Baldur."
"If all things in the world still lament for Baldur, Hela will have to take ransom and let him go from her," said Modgudur, the pale maid that guards the glittering bridge.
"It is well, then, for all things lament Baldur. I will go to her and make her take ransom."
"Thou mayst not pass until it is of a surety that all things still lament him. Go back to the world and make sure. If thou dost come to this glittering bridge and tell me that all things still lament Baldur, I will let thee pass and Hela will have to hearken to thee."
"Then I will let thee pass," said Modgudur.
Joyously Hermod turned Sleipner and rode back through the rugged glens, each one less gloomy than the[Pg 190] other. He reached the upper world, and saw that all things were still lamenting for Baldur. Joyously Hermod rode onward54. He met the Vanir in the middle of the world and he told them the happy tidings.
Then Hermod and the Vanir went through the world seeking out each thing and finding that each thing still wept for Baldur. But one day Hermod came upon a crow that was sitting on the dead branch of a tree. The crow made no lament as he came near. She rose up and flew away and Hermod followed her to make sure that she lamented55 for Baldur.
He lost sight of her near a cave. And then before the cave he saw a hag with blackened teeth who raised no voice of lament. "If thou art the crow that came flying here, make lament for Baldur," Hermod said.
"I, Thaukt, will make no lament for Baldur," the hag said, "let Hela keep what she holds."
"All things weep tears for Baldur," Hermod said.
"I will weep dry tears for him," said the hag.
She hobbled into her cave, and as Hermod followed a crow fluttered out. He knew that this was Thaukt, the evil hag, transformed. He followed her, and she went through the world croaking56, "Let Hela keep what she holds. Let Hela keep what she holds."
Then Hermod knew that he might not ride to Hela's habitation. All things knew that there was one thing in the world that would not lament for Baldur. The Vanir came back to him, and with head bowed over Sleipner's mane, Hermod rode into Asgard.[Pg 191]
Now the ?sir and the Vanir, knowing that no ransom would be taken for Baldur and that the joy and content of Asgard were gone indeed, made ready his body for the burning. First they covered Baldur's body with a rich robe, and each left beside it his most precious possession. Then they all took leave of him, kissing him upon the brow. But Nanna, his gentle wife, flung herself on his dead breast and her heart broke and she died of her grief. Then did the ?sir and the Vanir weep afresh. And they took the body of Nanna and they placed it side by side with Baldur's.
On his own great ship, Ringhorn, would Baldur be placed with Nanna beside him. Then the ship would be launched on the water and all would be burned with fire.
But it was found that none of the ?sir or the Vanir were able to launch Baldur's great ship. Hyrroken, a Giantess, was sent for. She came mounted on a great wolf with twisted serpents for a bridle57. Four Giants held fast the wolf when she alighted. She came to the ship and with a single push she sent it into the sea. The rollers struck out fire as the ship dashed across them.
Then when it rode the water fires mounted on the ship. And in the blaze of the fires one was seen bending over the body of Baldur and whispering into his ear. It was Odin All-Father. Then he went down off the ship and all the fires rose into a mighty58 burning. Speechlessly the ?sir and the Vanir watched with tears streaming down their faces while all things lamented, crying, "Baldur the Beautiful is dead, is dead."[Pg 192]
And what was it that Odin All-Father whispered to Baldur as he bent above him with the flames of the burning ship around? He whispered of a heaven above Asgard that Surtur's flames might not reach, and of a life that would come to beauty again after the World of Men and the World of the Gods had been searched through and through with fire.
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1
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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2
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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3
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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4
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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5
bower
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| n.凉亭，树荫下凉快之处；闺房；v.荫蔽 | |
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6
fangs
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| n.（尤指狗和狼的）长而尖的牙( fang的名词复数 )；（蛇的）毒牙；罐座 | |
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7
bartering
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| v.作物物交换，以货换货( barter的现在分词 ) | |
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8
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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9
corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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10
ravens
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| n.低质煤；渡鸦( raven的名词复数 ) | |
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dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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12
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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13
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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14
gnawed
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| 咬( gnaw的过去式和过去分词 )； （长时间） 折磨某人； （使）苦恼； （长时间）危害某事物 | |
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15
bough
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| n.大树枝，主枝 | |
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16
ravenously
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| adv.大嚼地，饥饿地 | |
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17
abodes
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| 住所( abode的名词复数 )； 公寓； （在某地的）暂住； 逗留 | |
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18
monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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20
shrouds
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| n.裹尸布( shroud的名词复数 )；寿衣；遮蔽物；覆盖物v.隐瞒( shroud的第三人称单数 )；保密 | |
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21
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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22
groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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23
shrouded
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| v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 )；保密 | |
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24
drenched
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| adj.湿透的；充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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25
lament
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| n.悲叹，悔恨，恸哭；v.哀悼，悔恨，悲叹 | |
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26
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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27
sling
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| vt.扔；悬挂；n.挂带；吊索，吊兜；弹弓 | |
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28
deluge
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| n./vt.洪水，暴雨，使泛滥 | |
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29
joyously
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| ad.快乐地, 高兴地 | |
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30
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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31
dwarfs
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| n.侏儒，矮子（dwarf的复数形式）vt.（使）显得矮小（dwarf的第三人称单数形式） | |
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32
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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embedded
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| a.扎牢的 | |
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34
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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35
hurling
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| n.爱尔兰式曲棍球v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的现在分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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36
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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37
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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38
twig
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| n.小树枝，嫩枝；v.理解 | |
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39
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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40
bereft
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| adj.被剥夺的 | |
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41
wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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42
lamenting
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| adj.悲伤的，悲哀的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的现在分词 ) | |
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43
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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44
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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45
goodwill
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| n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉 | |
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46
ransom
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| n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救 | |
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47
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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48
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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49
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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50
precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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51
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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52
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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53
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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54
onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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55
lamented
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| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56
croaking
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| v.呱呱地叫( croak的现在分词 )；用粗的声音说 | |
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57
bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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58
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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