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Qass_-

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http://www.archive.org/details/valhallamythsofnOOjone

VALHALLA
MYTHS OF NORSELAND
^
Saga,
in
gtluclljc

^^arts

JULIA CLINTON JONES

l-"a<ied
,

the Tiviliglit of the gods

;

Thro' the wild lands of the North

phoeiiix-fire

From

a Clod far higher.

forth.

Our Chribt-Child coineth

R.

NEW YORK WORIHINGION. 770 BROADWAY.

1880.

Copyright by

R.

WORTHINGTON.

1>. O.

PUBLIC hlBBtXi
lO. 1940

SEPT.

Trow's Printing and Bookbinding Company,

201-213 ^'^^^
12///

Street,

NEW YORK.

To THE MKAKJKV

Ol'

My Grandfather, DE WITT CLINTON.

I-OKMHK Governor of the State of

New York,

AND TO that of

Mv MoiHER,
this

Mrs.

DAVID
I.S

.S.

JONliS

VOLUME

DEDICATED

AS AN OFFERING OF

REVERENCE AND OF LOVE,

EY

THE AUTHOR.

TO THE READER.
To avoid
a multiplicity of foot notes, an appendix has been

prepared, which will be found at end of book, to which the

reader

is

referred for

all

allusions

and proper names.

CONTENTS.
Casting out of
Creation,
f.oki's

Brood,

70 23
3

Dedication,
Einheriar's Song,

39
Hela,

Hermodur's
Index

Visit to

95

to Notes,
v'Egir's

King

Feast,

100

Loki, the Mischief Maker,

Loki's Punishment,

48
109

Mimir's Well,

Odin's Visit to the Vala,

Preface,

59 88
7

Ragnarock,
Regeneration,
-

118

Thor and
Valhalla,

the

l^aughters of /Egir,

81

29

PREFACE
HAT
a curious fact
it is,

that

among

us,
in-

English-speaking people, scholarly

vestigation
classic lore

has

clung rather to

the

and mythology of Greece

and Rome, than and

to the less classic, but far purer

truer religion of the North.

It is

much

to

be deplored that so

slight a

knowl-

edge of Scandinavian Mythology

with those

prevails, popularly,

who

boast descent from

it

Hengist and

Horsa, and whose pride

is

that in their veins

flows the blood that long ago thrilled through the

bold hearts of the Vikings, descendants of the old

Norse-Gods.

PREFACE.

While

still

Thor and
week-days

Oclin,
;

Tyr and Freya give

still

names

to our

while

many

finger-

posts of language
stition,

and legend, custom and super-

point us back to the times of Skald and

ancestors sang their runic rhymes
sacrificial

Saga,

when our

in groves of

oak around the

Nature's
forces;

stone,

and
us,

worshiped

here,

among

sprung chiefly of Teutonic races, but

of their lore and religion.

little is

known

That
fathers,

this

mythology 7oas the religion of our

fore-

should be an incentive to our careful study

its

of

it,

casting aside the additional fact of

own

interest,

grandeur, and beauty.

The

very foundations of the Gothic faith lay in

principles of

temperance, freedom, and chastity;

its

bravery and justice were

key-stones;

through

valiant deeds alone could Valhalla, their

Heaven,
then, im-

be won by

its

votaries.

What wonder

bued with such doctrines, the part these Norsemen

played
in early

European

history,

the mighty turn

roused

they gave to the broad current of civilization.

Fired

by

threat

of

subjugation,

by

the advancing strides of conquering C?esar, they

rushed

like

an avalanche from their snow-capped

PREFACE.
fastnesses, to fall
servile

upon Rome, and wrest away her

dependencies,

to teach

unto

men

the grand

doctrines of freedom and moral obligations;

as

then,

Goth and Teuton, Frank and Saxon,

states,

to

form

new
and

with liberty as the basis of their laws,

toleration

and

justice their

crowning

glory.

They found Rome weakened by conquest, and

enervated by luxury; one by one they forced her

conquests from her, plunging Europe into a state

of semi-barbarism, only to raise

her up

at

last,

through their stronger northern natures, and purer

institutions

to

a higher degree of enlightenment;

infusing through

her weakened

frame, their
strength

own
and

bold blood, thus giving her fresh

vitality.

But, after

all,

when Goth and Teuton, Frank and

Saxon, had trampled upon principalities in their

resistless course,

when they had established those

reins
in-

dynasties whose successors to-day hold the

of power,

it

needed the defiant daring, the

of the

domitable

spirit

Norsemen

to counteract the

more phlegmatic natures of

their southern

kinsmen.

Instigated as they were by the teachings of their

.'Esir-faith,

animated

by the example

of

their

lO
hero-gods,

PREFACE.

inspired
we
find

by mythical prophecy,

what

wonder
ings

that

them carrying out these teachIjy

and prophecies, undaunted

danger or the

fear of death.

The broad
gress,
soil

Atlantic proved
first

no bar

to their pro-

and the

European who trod American

was a Norseman.

Alps nor Pyrenees raised a barrier to their headlong course.

days, rude
erous,

Savage as they were

in those early

and

ferocious, although brave

and gen-

they were a terror to the more polished

inhabitants of the luxurious provinces of the South.

Italy quailed before these long-beards;

Greece

-trembled as they advanced, chanting the runes of

the North.

Up

to the very gates of

Jerusalem they pressed

nor were they unknown on the coasts of Africa.

Their footsteps echoed through the streets of Con-'

stantinople;

while

the

white

sails

of their ships

wafted them over the blue waves of the Mediterranean, anchoring off the conquered coasts of Apulia

and

Sicily.

Until, at last, their very

name became

a threat,

and from church and town went up the prayer, em-

PREFACE.

I r

bodied

in

one of the Litanies of the day, "From

the fury of the

Northmen, good Lord, dehver us

they
trod,

!"

Planting wherever

the

germs of a

glorious freedom, they were the revolutionists of

that age,

and

all

succeeding ages owe them a lasting

debt of gratitude for the noble harvest that has

sprung up from the seeds of

libert}'

and truth by

them sown.

To

their scorn of luxurious feebleness,

to their

unswerving love of temperance and morality, do

we to-day owe
to height,

that which has led us

on from height
Eng-

the

principles which have placed

land
are

in the

foremost rank of the nations, and which

the
glorious
flag

blazoned forth on

of her

daughter, our

own United

States.

Not from concjuered

then,

Britain, or enslaving

Rome,
to

came

the leaders

who roused England

deeds of greatness and glory,

fens

but from the frozen

far-off

and rugged shores of the

North, the

sons of Thor and Odin rushed to sustain her falter

ing van.

The

climate and face of a country unquestionably

its

influence the physical peculiarities of

likewise
that

people,
;

people's

moral

characteristics

so

12

PREFACE.

Mythology, being a deification of natural phenomena, materially partakes of the nature of the climate

and

face

of the country where

it is

nurtured and

matured,
people

itself

only a reflex of the

it

mind of

the

among whom

originates.
in

Thus, the Southerner,

in beauty,

whose land nature

to ease

revels

and whose clime woos

and luxury,
then,

became effeminate and sensuous; with him,

religion

was pleasure and self-indulgence.

While, lost in the contemplation of the ice-bound

peaks of his native land,

marks,

Creation's

earliest land-

the Norseman's hardy spirit was lifted up

;

from earth to the thought of a higher existence

thus did his nature

become nobler and more aspiring

through contact with his grander, bolder surroundings,

and so gave

birth to a purer Mythology.

Held

fast in

the arms of the great Mother, he counted

each pulse-beat of her mighty heart, and imbibed

renewed

life

and vigor from

this close

communion.
a fuller

Religion, with him,

life,

became a craving after

world
is

one

to

which

this

but the threshold.

The heaven among

the

of the Greek was on earth ; his

;

mind

could soar no higher than Olympus

clouds,
its

Valhalla rested

and the death-river Thund,

flowed before

gates.

PREFACE.

13

In that dim Elder-Day, the untaught mind of the

Norseman, not guided by the hght of Science

ours

as

now

is,

and hence unable

to trace the intricate

workings of the scheme of Nature, ascribed each

part of the system, to the particular agency of

some

peculiar deity, and, as the forces were friendly or

unfriendly to him, he either worshiped

gods, or dreaded

them

as

them

as Jotuns.

To

him, the

roaring of the storm was the the thunder of whose

coming of angry Thor,

wheels shakes the

chariot

universe, while his eyes flash fierce lightnings.

Fire, to

him, was the

demon Loki; whose

;

evil

nature breaks forth in the volcano

sense,

who,

in a wider

was Lucifer himself.

in

While again,
giants,

Frost and Ice, he recognized

terrible.

monstrous, and most

In earth, he found Friga, the loving Mother,

wedded
Asgard.
set

to

Odin, the Al-father, Lord of heavenly

various changes of the seasons, were

The
in

forth

mythic forms, and beautifully were

the different duties

displayed.

and

personalities of the gods

The Norseman looked

faith,

forward to his

Ragnarock with uncjuestioning

a

and hoped

for

happy resurrection.

He

believed that through

14
destruction

PREFACE.
alone

could
higher

come
life.

regeneration,

through

death,

Bright-winged

Valkyriar bore him to Valhalla after a hero-death,

or the black Dragon, Nidhogg, dragged

him down

to

Nastrond,

if

base or cowardly.
Hell.

So did he recognize
respects did the

Heaven and
Norse
that

In so

many

religion coincide with the Bible dispensation,

its

followers long resisted the introduction of

;

Christianity

it

was only

after the

announcement

that the old gods were

dead that Christ was accepted

It is

with His mild and holy teachings.

now, with

great pleasure, that I place before the reader these

few following fables from distant frozen lands, feeling

assured that he
will

delight,

even as

have done,

in the poetry of their imagery, and in the grand

truths that shine forth through their mythic lore.

Concerning the

signification

which

have attached

to these myths, I

must

state that other explanations

are likewise given, that often they are rendered as

natural
sions.

and

physical, rather than as spiritual allu-

Still, I

love to think that the bold Vikings,

those strong-souled heroes of Eld, went deeper into

the grand

scheme of Creation, and recognized the

in the heart of Nature, in a

power of God working

PREFACE.
fuller

15

sense than in the mere Jotun force displayed

in the

earthquake shock, or tempest

I

blast.

In the

analogies drawn below,

similitude between what

wish to show the very close

are taught by the

we

Church

to regard as her peculiar doctrines,

and the Mytholinvolved in the

ogy of the North, whose origin

obscurity of past ages.

is

Let us accept these myths as glimmerings of that

light

which shines

in perfect

day

for us.

From
forms,
all

the beginning was God, and in various

men have acknowledged Him.

Throughout these myths, the old Skalds and

Sagas have striven to evolve the truth dimly shining
before them.

Throughout runs a double thread

as in the relation of

Odin and

Friga, Divinity acting

upon earthly powers,

in the story of Baldur, the

innocent Sun-God, and in the personifications of

Loki's
children,

double thread,

spiritual

and

physical.

The

Norsemen

looked

from Nature

up

to

Nature's God, and seeing the various forms and

changes of the great

divinity,

Mother, applied them

to

and thence

to that lesser type of a

sublimer

being,

man,

spiritually,

and

physically.

l6

PREFACE.

And

tlirough

all

we may

trace the creating

and

protecting Trinity of the Christian

system;

the
its

great frame-work of the religion of Christ with

final

Judgment and Resurrection.

Whether the same with the Greek, and borrowed

from
it,

or whether

drawn from a pure Aryan founstill

tain-head under Indian skies,

are there.

the seeds of truth

In the beginning was Muspel, Niflheim, and Ginunga,

Fire,

Darkness, and Chaos.

in

Muspel and Niflheim, meeting

duced the
first

Ginunga, pro-

formless Jotun matter, Ymir,

the
at
dis-

world-mass.

From Chaos

then sprang gods, those

protective,

Powers of Good,
the

same time came Jotuns,

and, creative and Beings of

111,

turbing and deadly.

In the Ijeginning

commenced

the strife between

(iood and

111.

The ^sir-Trinity, Odin,

ments)
then, from
in his

Vili,

and

Ve, de-

stroyed the Frost-Giants, (destructive natural ele;

Ymir created

Earth, and formed

Man, each

own image.

So Divinity went

forth in a three-fold form, and, the great

work of

PREFACE.

17

Creation being complete, in Odin (the Soul of the

Universe) were the Three blended.

the yEsir-Heaven, assembled the gods,
fications of divine or earthly powers.

In Valhalla,

all

personi-

Thence they watched over Midgard

(Earth).

Their various adventures are but mythical representations of the strife between Light
Spirit

and Darkness,

and Matter, Virtue and Vice;

ill,

Nature

dis-

turbed by natural causes of

and man's

soul torn

by

lusts

and

evil passions.

Among
Odin
fire;

the ALsir crept in the bad Loki, one with

at the first,

under the form of

Vili, spiritual

but, like

Lucifer fallen from above, he deevil

scended on earth, and became an

flame, cruel

and devastating.
While on
earth,

he was the parent of the Serpent,

the Wolf, and Hela,

the

Sin, Pain,

and Death,

whom
in the

Gods

strove to bind in the Abyss, but could

only cast

down

for a time.

They were born

dragon's bed, and nourished on the

personifications, each, of gold.

dew of dwarfs,

So

it

was that the

ills

lust of riches

was the nurse

and promoter of
Until Loki
fell,

and troubles

in the world.

Earth was as Eden.

PREFACE.

Loki and

his

brood were also the chief causes^

of physical disturbances, and their

l)urst

demon

natures

forth

in

the earthquake and volcano, the

tempest and conflagration.

Baldur, the Sun-God, was Innocence,

the Light
Nanna
(the

of the world, quenched by Hoeder (blind, physical

strength,
(sin).

Ignorance), lured on by the tempter Loki

slain, his

Baldur being
all

loving wife

desire for

good

things) was buried with him.

Then was born

swift

Vali (Repentance),

who was

the

avenger of his brother.

although Mother Earth (Friga) with
all

Still,

Cre-

ation, except sinful Loki,

mourned

for Baldur,

Hela

held him

fast.

Innocence, once dead, could return

no more
Baldur
.sun slain

until the Regeneration.

is

often the personification of the

summer

by the long dark winter of the North.

left

Loki, imprisoned in the Abyss,

behind him

numerous progeny,

ills

and woes

that should torstrife that

ment

the world,

and continue the

would

end only

in the final destruction.

Odin and Hela divided man between them.

The
body

spirit

went forth from the .Lsir-Trinity,

the

(the

tree)

sprang from the Jotun-World,

PREFACE.
SO,

19

from the beginning, Odin and Hela contended

for

dominion over humanity.

V'alkyriar

(bright

angels) led h'ero souls to Odin, to await the final

battle

when

tliey

should

fight with

him against the

hosts of Hela,

those

worthless and sin-stricken

ones, brought to her by the dread Death-Dragon.

For

this

World-Life struggle ended

in

one great

conflict,

in

which opposing powers mutually deitself in

stroyed each other, and involved the world

the general ruin.

Igdrasil, the Life-Tree, withered in the flames,

for

Time

shall

end

at the

Judgment-Day.
in

As Loki was received

cherished in Heaven.

Asgard, so was Lucifer

As Loki descended on

earth,

and there brought

to

forth the Serpent, the Wolf,

and Hela,
fell

be the
his

tormentors of Midgard, so Lucifer

from

high

estate, and Sin, Pain, and Death, scourges of earth,

are his offspring.

Can we
hai)s,

not, in

Baldur, see an image, faint per-

of that pure
like

One on whom,

too,

Lmocence
by that

brooded
Iscariot

dove,

the

Christ slain

who purposed not His

for the

death, but blindly

sold

Him

reward of betrayal?

While who

20
is

PREFACE.
Loki, but the temper Satan,
evil

who

ever stands

behind with

counsel?

Likewise, as Gabriel with flaming sword stands

at

the

Gate of Heaven, so stood Heimdal

at

Asgard's portal ; and as he, in dreadful Ragnarock,

sounded the summons on great Gjallar-horn,

shall Gabriel with his trump, call the quick

so
its

and the

dead to judgment.

As Ragnarock came
storms, and

to the

Norseman with
strife,

conflagrations,

and

when
Ran

the
led

chained Loki was loosed,

out their bands of the
hosts against

-when ^*Egir and

Drowned

to join with Hela's

Odin and his hero-array;

fire,

when Surtur
all
;

cast forth his

and

in the great

World-Blaze

ended, and Igdrasil's self was consumed

to us

even so
shall

comes our Day of Doom, when "Satan

his prison;

be loosed out of
give

when

the sea shall

up her dead, and death and

in

hell deliver

up the

dead that are

them

when

there shall be war in

his

Heaven, and Michael and

against the Dragon,

angels shall fight

shall fight with

whose angels
shall

him; when the earth

heavens depart as a

be consumed, and the

it is

scroll

when

rolled together

and when time

shall

be no more."

PREFACE.

21

And
new

last,

these old

myth

held orth the promise

of a glorious regeneration,

new

heavens, and a

earth, with a purer race of .-Esir,

and a golden"

roofed Gimli.

To

us, likewise shall

come

a resurrection,

when

"former things are passed away,"

when a new earth,

for us also,

and a new hea\'en

a

shall

be prepared
streets are

new Jerusalem whose

pure gold.

Then
alike,

shall

come

to

all,

Norseman and Christian

in the

and

to those

who dwell

uttermost parts

of the earth,

the
said,

High and Mighty One, whose

utter,

name no man dare

beginning,

who

existed from the

the creative spark of

all

life

from Muspel,

and

He who

"Let there be
men, who

light;" the

God

of

Gods, and Judge of

to

shall call the

good

His glorious golden Throne

cast the

in highest

Heaven,

and

wicked below

to the

gloomy habitation
on them
for-

of Hell, where the

Dragon

shall prey

ever and ever, and where they shall dwell in tor.

ment.

As by the flames of

Surtur's

sword did
;

j)urification

come

to

the

.'Esir-Creation

so,

through

fire

alone shall

Earth

be purified, and

Death be overcome.
.\s
fair

Iduna alone had ne\er touched Loki's

22

PREFACE.
passed unscathed through
so
shall

foul brood, SO she alone

Surtur's

flames.

And

Immortality

rise

above Death, and stand forevermore in Heaven's

eternal Gate.

VALHALLA.
PART
FIRST.

CREATION.

the

dim morning-dawn of Time,

E'er yet was

made

the green Earth

fair,

With Muspel
Ginunga,
still

bright,

and dark Nif^heim,

air,

as windless

two Worlds of With the Abvss, ruled

These
three,

Fire

and Night

in their might.

Great Surtur, with his burning sword,

Southward,

at

Muspel's gate kept ward,

And

flashes of celestial flame,

24
Life-giving,

VALHALLA.
from the Fire-World came

While

in the North, in Niflheim dread,

Dwelt Nidhogg, Dragon of the Dead;

Death-dealing
frosts

and vapors

rise

From

that black Mist-World, full of sighs.

lay,

Between the two, Ginunga

yawning chasm void of day.

salt

The
Met

rime-drops from Niflheim's streams,

living

Quickened by Muspel's
in Ginunga's

beams.

gloomy space,

And Ymir

bore, of Jotun race,

Who

of himself Hrimthursar had,

Frost-Giants they, and Jotuns' bad.

The Cow, Audhumla, having nursed

The Jotun Ymir,

Then

licked the rime

Just wrath to wreak on the accursed,

forth sprang Buri, the Divine.

From
Who,

Bor, his son,

Vili,

came

ALsir three,

Odin, and

and great Ve,

in fierce war,

slaying

Ymir

Drowned

in his

blood the Hrimthursar.

Now
The

was conceived the god-like plan

Spirit, Light,

and mighty

Fire,

;
; ;

crp:ation.

-5

'I'hose ALsir three, their task

began,

Creation's

wondrous work
Hill, their

entire.

From Asgard's

heavenly home,

The

sons of Bor triumphant

come

Into Ginunga, Ymir hurled;

Out of

his parts they

;

formed the \Vorld

Sea

His body, Earth

his blood, the

Mountains, his bones; each

hair, a tree;

They

of his skull created sky.

the Earth
fair

Above

arched high.
bright,

Adorned with sparks from Muspel

The

Sun, and Moon, and stars of light

While, for defence 'gainst Jotun raid,

breast-work of his eye-brows made.

called
it

And

Midgard, and acrost

the bridge Bifrost,

From Asgard, threw

The Rainbow-bridge
Around

of colors three,
be.

That joined with Heaven, Earth might

the Earth they caused to swell

Deep

seas

upon whose utmost

strand,

Jotuns escaped they gave to dwell

In black and fearful nether land.

26

VALHALLA.

Of Jotun

race sprang black-browed Night,

Who

unto bright-eyed Day gave birth

placed in car of light

Him ^sir

Darkness to chase away from Earth

Hence Night and Day

alternate course

The

heav'ns in circle-wise, perforce.

Night rides before on dark Hrimfax,

Who
Day

hoar-frost

from

his bridle shakes;

While, from Skinfaxi's

mane

so

fair,
air.

scatters light o'er earth

and

Lest Jotun wolves should them devour.

To

swiftest flight they

bend each power.

The Sun, beneath

Held, high
in

the sultry noon.

Heaven, her horse's rein

companion. Moon,

x^nd, with her pale

Waited

until the

gods should deign

tell,

To mark their And place the

path, their powers to

stars

from bright Muspel.

Born

in the flesh of

Ymir

old,
set

Four dwarfs the mighty ALs'n

Four corners of the sky

to hold

CREAIION.

27

While, where the outmost boundaries

mcU

The

giant Hr3e, in eagle guise

Sat in the north,

when he

shall rise,

l^ach mighty wing-stroke will give birth

To

storms that desolate the Earth.

Within, below, o'ershadowing

all,

The
Its

Life-Tree, Igdrasil, upreared

sacred boughs o'er Asgard's Hall,

Alike by gods and Jotuns feared.

Its

Nornir

sat

by Odin's gate,

Sjjinning the thread of

W'hile deeper

Time and
Wisdom's

Fate;

down was Mimir's Well

laid rare
spell

On
Its

which was

deepest root did Nidhogg gnaw,

!

Dragon of Death

forever more.

Hovered

aloft the Eagle, Life,

Strife.

While deep below lurked Death and

From

high Valhalla's hall of might.

The
Did

.-Esir

looked the whole Earth

o'er,

in their

handiwork delight;

And

then,

upon the lone sea-shore

trees, the

Seeing two

Ash and Elm,

28

VALHALLA.

They chose them

Lest
all

rulers of this reahn,

the fair Creation vast

lonely, to the last.
Spirit poured,

Be wasted,

Odin on them the

And
With

sense was their's by Vili's word;

flesh,

and speech, and

sight

were they

Endowed by power

of mighty Ve.

*He

Ask, she Embla, they by name,

First Man and Woman now became. On Midgard did the glorious Three

Place

human

life

and

destiny.

And now
The

the gods' great work was

o'er.

Creation, beautiful, complete.

vaulted sky, the sea-girt shore

feet.

Lay, stretched along at Odin's

But even

in this early

morn.

Faintly foreshadowed, was the

dawn

Of

that fierce struggle, deadly shock,

Which

yet should

end

in

Ragnarock

When Good and

Evil,

Death and

Life,

Beginning now, end then their

*

strife.

The
as

Elder Edda ascribes the creation of

man

not to the sons of Bor,

but to another trinity of gods,

Odin,

Hoenir, and Lodur, probably the

same

Odin, Baldur, and Loki.

PART SECOND.
VALHALLA.
LL
is

ended!

all is

done,

the sky,-

Every thing beneath the sun;

While above,

the

stars,

Even

Valhal,

home on

high

Of

the gods', in Asgard's land,

Full-perfected

now doth

stand.

Assemble, ye gods!
In Valhalla's high hall

Odin awaits

ye,
all.

Seats stand for ve

30

VALHALLA.

Valhalla's high hall, 'gainst wild tempest proof,

Spears are

its pillars,

and

shields are

its

roof

Battle-axes carve the feast,

Coats of mail for ev'ry guest

Drape the
Valhalla,

walls, support the

board;

home

of Odin, God,
is

On
Of

Asgard's height,

the delight

^sir, working deeds of might.

The Eagle

of great Igdrasil
o'er the sacred Hill,

High hovers

Bird of Life

While waves of

strife

Round
Loud

the gates of Asgard pour,

hear Thund, the Death-Stream, roar

'Thro' the dreadful tumult made.

Fallen heroes hither wade,

Brought

to

Odin by Valkyr,

Battle-maidens held most dear.

O'er sea and thro'
air,

'Mid lightnings'

fierce glare,

Bright shields bearing.

Each maid wearing

VAI.HALI.A.

31

Gleaming armor,

side

by

side,

Down When

thro' lurid sky they ride.

to

Asgard back they come,

Tyr and Vidar welcome home

Valhal's wide hall

Has room

for all

Odin loves not empty

seat;

Fairest maids the victors greet,

Fill full

high with

mead

the bowl,
soul.

Deeply drinks each warrior

High

in Valhal sits

God Odin
Friga,

By

his side, in place of pride,

Decked with

falcon plumes

is

(^ueen of gods, and Odin's bride

^E.sir's

Mother,
1

Fjdrgyn's daughter

Future

is

to her revealed

Useless, for her lips are sealed.

And

now,

at last

Thro' Heav'n the blast

Rings clear from Heimdal's mighty horn.

O'er earth and air
its

sound

is

borne.

7,2

VALHALLA.

Loud summons
Gods

the /Esir,
air,

of the earth and

To

Valhalla's glorious feast;

faint the

Fading

sound has ceased.

First,

Thor with the bent brow,

In red beard muttering low.

Darting fierce lightnings from eye-balls that glow,

Comes, while each chariot-wheel

Echoes
in thunder-peal,

As

his

dread hammer-shock
rock,

Makes Earth and Heaven

(Jlouds rifting above, while Earth quakes below.

Fairest of

all

gods, beautiful Baldur!

,F>sir
!

Bright-browed and pure One, best loved of

Light from his shining face

Streams over Asgard's race;

Rising from realms of night,
Bears he in car of
light,

Bears he from realms

Brilliantly

afar,

beaming, joy to Valhalla!

VALHALLA.

33

Why

trembles Friga on her throne

blind Hcedur, Odin's son?
silent

When comes
The Mother

Lo! strong and

drawing near,

shrinks from

him

in fear,

For of veiled Futurity

Pierces she the mystery;
Baldur's fate to her revealed
Useless, since her lips are sealed.

Now Loki comes, cause of ill! Men and ^sir curse him still.
Long
Even
shall the
till

gods deplore,
o'er,

Time be

His base fraud on Asgard's

While, deep in Jotunheim, most

Hill.
fell,

Are

Fenrir, Serpent,

and dread Hel,

Pain, Sin

and Death,

his children three,

;

Brought up and cherished

thro'

them he

Tormentor of the world

shall be.

Lovely Gerda, Goddess rare!

Snow

white arms and

soft o'er sea

bosom
and

fair

Gleaming

air!

34

VALHALLA.

With her briUiant beaming blush,

Glowing lights
thro' cloud-waves rush,

While Auroras from her hair

Quiver 'round the ether dome;
Shooting
o'er the

Northern skies

Radiant arrows from her eyes,

As

to Odin's joyous

home.

She, the Bride of Frey, doth come.

(Jreat
1

Frey himself hastens hither,

-ord of

warm,

life-giving

weather

Soft-dropping rains
O'er smiling plains,

And

dew-drops shed

On
Fall

Nature's bed,

from

his chariot, fleet

and

bright,

As speeds he on

to halls of light.

Ijright

Iduna,

Maid immortal

Standing

at Valhalla's portal.

In her casket has rich store

Of

rare apples, gilded o'er

rare apples, not of Earth,
^Esir

Those
Ageing

give fresh birth.

VALHALLA.

35

When
She,

e'er the fearful

Day be

past,
last,

That Day, of Odin's pow'r the

unharmed

shall stand the shock.

Rising over Ragnarock,

Defying Surtur,

God

of Fire,
,*

Conqu'ring Serpent, Hel and Fenrir;

Then,

to Gimli's

golden dome,

L-ead the purer ALs'n

home.

Amid

the

summons

loud.

Rising o'er Earth and cloud,

Swelling, then lying faint

on ambient

air,

In rich melodious strain

The
IviUs ling'ring,

rune-notes' sweet refrain

from the golden harp-strings rare

Ecstatic notes!

Each, liquid

floats
.-Esir

In welcome as the

come

Circling round Odin's home,

Up

to Valhalla's

dome,
rise
;

Triumphant, exultant, they

E'er they reel and rebound

i

In

full

billows of sound,

36

VALHALLA.

Thrilling greetings thro' trembling skies,

Rare greetings

o'er rain-bow arch,

As

hither the
Still

^sir march,

Bragi doth sing;

Higher and louder,

Clearer and prouder.

Entrancing chords ring!

Seated
at

Odin's

feet.

Pouring forth floods of sweet

Silvery sound,
Bragi,

on Idun's

breast.

Singing shall ever rest

Soft strains from skilled finger-tips.

High themes from wise rune-graved

lips

Echo around
Delighting with his minstrelsy

The gods amid

Ruin

their revelry,

Until Surtur's fiery brand

flings o'er sea

and land

Then, passed the Twilight of the gods,

E'er shall he dwell in pure abodes,

And, beyond

all

reach of sadness,

He

shall

pour

forth notes of gladness.

VALHALLA.

37
the rune,

More triumphant then

Sweeter
far will

be the tune

Than now
At high

in Valhal

festival,

When
The
As the

with Iduna, then shall he

greet
full

^'Esir

joyously,

fierce strife

on Vigrid's plain

Rolls away,

And

Odin's race shall meet again

In brighter day.

Feasting and pleasure,

Joy without measure

In Valhalla hold
full

sway;

While, throughout the happy day,

To and
Swift

fro

goes Hermodur,
air

O'er the Earth, and thro' the

and

sure, as messenger,

Odin's mandates oft doth bear.

For even

in the flowing

bowl

Shall ne'er forget the god-like soul

-^sir great

AH
Until

await
his call.

Heimdal sounds

38

VALHALLA.

Valhalla's feast

Enchains no guest

When

there

is

need,

No

sparkling mead,
kiss,

Nor maiden's Nor

Keeps them

Asgard's bliss
in Valhalla's hall.

To To
Earth

their

power belongs
wrongs
!

quell evil, right

to

lifts

them her pleading hands.

stills

For them, Air

his

tempest bands.

While Dwarf with Jotun trembling stands

All

bow
By

before their high

purity

commands.

made

strong.

So the gods

in glorious state,

Dwell within Valhalla's

gate.

Cursed be the woeful hour

When

shall creep in
111,

Jotun power,
deadly shock

_^-A^i*^ When Good and

in

^^l

f^ABo^^^^haitle

in

dread Ragnarock.

PART THIRD.
EINHERIAR'S SONG,
EASTING
sit

the mighty Aisiv

:

In Valhalla's golden splendor

There, on snow-white arm reclining,

Garlands gay

is

Freya twining

" Mercy," singeth Baldur bright, " Is the

ornament of might.
victor's shield,
field."

As wreaths bedeck the

So Mercy crowns him on the

Throned high

is

Odin

great

Well he loves the Hero-feast

Wounds adorn each

warrior guest.

40

VALHALLA.

In that radiant

hall of state
set,

Decorated seats are

Still

with gore the swords are wet.

No
To

craven there
sit

may

dare

In the brightness of the gods,

In those blessed, grand abodes,

Heroes
Brave

feast,
life,

on couches

lying,

in

most

blest in dying.

Close beside him, in the Feast-hall,

Stand the beauteous Maids of War,

Who

from the stricken

field shall call

Bands of strong Einheriar.

Grave they
wait, with bright shields gleaming,

Thoughtful, brazen spears in hand,

Of those chosen Norse-sons dreaming,

Soon
to feast with Odin's band.

Whispered Odin, " Soon the gray Wolf

In Valhalla shows his face
;

Who can tell how soon in Vingolf He shall ravage Asgard's race ?

EINHERIARS SONG.
seats are empty.

4I

Still

Go

ye forth

Thro' the kingdoms of the North

Bold warriors who have bravely fought,

Mighty deeds have nobly wrought,

Choose ye from the misty Norse-land,

Allies, at

our Throne to stand

So,

when

fierce Fenrir

comes

in might.

They may

aid us in the fight.

Heroic deed claims god-like meed,

Of

valiant hearts

have yEsir need.

\\'ar
!

Daughters of
Scent ye afar

Where red

battle

doth rage.

The steam

of the carnage.

Who
Hath

on the death-plain
striven to gain

Peace for his country, and fame for his gods,

Bring here on your shields to blessed abodes,
E'er in victorious festival

To

sup with us in high Valhal."

Swift thro' the startled

air,

Like lightning

flashing,

42

VALHALLA.

Thro' war-clouds dashing,

Speed the Valkyriar

Brazen armor gleaming bright,

Glittering far with Glory's light,

*Skuld, their leader, upward

lifting

Pointing finger, where, thro' rifting

Crimson clouds, the path

is

lying

To

the gods in glorious dying.

Louder the

battle roars

As

rain the life-blood pours

!

Shivers the barbed lance

Sharp swords

like

meteors glance!

Each

fiery heart

Pierced by Death's dart

Exults with sluggish
life

to part

Fiercer yet see warriors battling,

Twanging bows and quivers

Thro' the
field,

rattling

mad

chargers rushing,

Ruthless hoofs the fallen crushing

O'er red earth, with strong spears crashing,

Gold haired sons of vahant

*Skult!

sires

Noma of the

Future

'^^EINHERIAR'ST
^jSU^G.

Like their northern blasts are dashing;

I

n each breast, Berserker fires

Spring hot to Hfe

At sound of

strife,

Smell of blood their sinews bracing,

Film of death from glazed eyes chasing

Leaping mad

thro' hostile bands,

Seizing victory with fierce hands.

Clutching in wild grasp, the spear

Which

shall

wide their heart-strings tear

the

Triumphant,

feel

welcome wound
life

That, sure, the seat of

has found

Falling on the field of slaughter

Wildly screaming joyful laughter.

Exultant, that in Saga's song,

Undying, should

their

deeds belong

Impatient, hail the maids

who bear
rare.

Their souls

aloft

on blood-shields

)ownward

thro' gore

and carnage swooj^ing,

\'alkyriar, o'er the death-field stooping,

The

field

of fame,

44

VALHALLA.

In Odin's name,

Choose from the

slain

On whom the hero-mark is plain. On their brows press icy kisses,

Hold them
close in cold embraces,

Snatch them from the arms of Death,

Woo
As

back

life

with Glory's breath.

their

Back streams

golden hair

thro' the trembling air.

Up
On

to the ^sir,

The bold
Heimdal

Valkyriar
spirits bear.

gory shields their

waits at Asgard's portal,

Leads to Idun, Maid Immortal.

Gaping wounds are bound by Eyra

Ee'r they feast with blue-eyed Freya.

Then, loud the song of triumph

'Tis Bragi, lo
!

rings,

the rune

who

sings

BRAGI'S SONG.
" Skoal to the Heroes, from battle returning
!

Loud sung

for

aye be each death-dealing blow

;;

BRAGI

SONG.

45

With scorning,

to Hel, the craven

ones spurning,

Shield-bearing Valkyrs exultantly go.

Agape

are the wounds, proud crimson marks glowing,

Gashes of glory on Heroes who die

Precious to Odin, the purple tide flowing,

Each red drop, a wine-draught, runes

Fires of Conquest, the

ev'ry sigh.

dun

skies are lighting,

Vidar

is

chaunting victorious strain

!

Hail to our Feast-Hall

great Heimdal, inviting,

On

Gjallar-horn sounds triumphant refrain.

are twining,

Mercy and Might round each bold heart

Adorning each soul

like shield-graven

blooms

Gondula and Skuld, with Rota, combining.

Bear them to Vingolf,
glooms.
thro' Death's

welcome

Odin awaits them,

in splendor

proud

sitting.

There gather the gods

in high festival

Vidar and Thor shall receive as befitting

Einheriar led to golden Valhal.

Radiant couches

for

them

are preparing.

Banquets that strengthen the warrior-soul

Maidens

alluring full beakers are bearing,

in o'erflowing bowl.

Love mingling with wine

Softly recline they

on warm bosoms,

thrilling

; ;

46

VALHALLA.

Every quick pulse of the

swift

throbbing heart
fihiiig,

Fulla for Friga their mead-cups high

Joy

is

imperfect where Love hath no part.

Safely surrounded

by Passion's sweet longing,

till

Feast they and rest they

dawning of

light

Pleasure and banquet to Valor belonging,

Feasting shall strengthen strong sinews of Might.

Then when

the car of fair

Day

is

uprising

From dense murky depths

of cloud-land below.

On
So,

Idavold's plain, in warfare surprising,

Till eve shall they strive, in

prowess shall grow.

when

the gray wolf to Asgard be coming,

in wild

And
And

Jotun hosts rage

they'll fight, in

tempest shock,

For Odin

Day

of dark dooming,

battle for him, in dread

Ragnarock."

So Bragi ends
Rise, swell,

thro' list'ning air

die, the rune-notes rare.

and

Around

the Hall, on seats of gold

Recline at ease Einheriar bold.

Bright maids, caressing, pour the mead,

While Saga chaunts each warlike deed

On

Bragi's breast,

Iduna

leans.

BRAGIS SOXG.

47

Fair Gerda's blush thro' Valhal glearfts,

And

Friga welcomes to her side

great Odin's pride.

The Hero-band,

In joy and feasting, passes night

Their souls, with dawn rejoice

in fight

They,
Till

blest, shall dwell in fair

abodes
;

comes the Twilight of the gods

and
'her hosts

'Gainst Hela,

of Dead,

They then

shall strive in battle dread.

PART FOURTH.
LOKI,

THE MISCHIEF MAKER.

Valhalla's glorious

EATH

dome,

In the ^sir's heavenly home,

Hither, hence, they ceaseless roam,

Rest to

find, their labors

done

Rest and pleasure

Without measure
Finished task
is

pleasure won.

In

fair

Duty's perfect round.

Godlike souls are ever found.

From beaming day

The gods compete

till

cloudless night

in

works of might

LOKI,

THE MISCHIEF MAKER.

49

Great Friga's bounteous smiles delight

And warm

the Earth

Frey, from his height.

Sunshine and rain

O'er
hill

and

plain,

Sends

to the Earth,

That plenteous

birth
his fane.

From

Nature's

womb may deck

brilliant blushes,

Lovely Gerda's

Lights auroral, quiv'ring flushes.

From The

Frey's proud throne, thro' evening

in ether wavelets rare.

air.

Tremble

grateful Earth looks

up with love
;

To

bright Valhalla's

dome above
down

While, in dark Jotunheim most drear,

Giants and dwarfs shrink
in fear.

Love

is

the rule of

all
!

In Valhalla's high hall

Love

is

the

Lord

Love never
strength,

fails

Meekness and
Mingled

at length,

By Love poised

in Odin's just scales.

50

VALHALLA.

So Love ruled

all

Till Loki's fall,

Loki, thro'

whom

Death, Sin and

Woe

Should ravage Heaven, and Earth below.

One

with Odin at the

first

When
From

the grand Creation burst

the ^Esir's glorious plan

One
One

with

him when Time began

with him in godlike thought

in

One with him

At every

good deeds wrought

feast

His honored guest

His foster-brother,

Of Jotun mother
Fair of face, seductive grace.
Fair, as tho' of

^sir

race,
estate.

Fell

he from his high

Sinking in the depths of Earth,

There had Loki second

birth,
;

Born of Laufey,
His
father,

frail

and base

Wind,

Fickle,

unkind
gate.
fire

Dwelt he within Utgard's

Thro' Jotun change, his holy

LOKI,

THE MISCHIEF MAKER.

wrong
desire,

51

Burnt

fiercer into

Mingling with

evil ones,

became

An

earthly, devastating flame.

Deep below, on

dragon's bed,
his children dread,

Brought he forth

Frightful, fearful, fiendish

brood

Loving

evil,

hating good

Wily Serpent, raging Fenrir,

Dark Hel most

Shapes so

awful, scourges drear,

terrible,

Forms too

horrible
to see,

For aught but wretched Guilt

Yet ever
in the fierce

world to be

While

Lokrs deepest soul

offspring foul.

Held he most dear these

Now

back

to

Asgard having come,

The gods
Little the

receive the traitor home.

mighty yEsir dream

all

Their brother be not

he seem.

But prone to hate

Their better state

Ah The
!

bitter

have the high gods cursed

which Loki nursed
!

evil stock

52

VALHALLA.

Goes he where the ^sir

go,

Working

still

as secret foe

To undo

their

mighty deeds

Leaves them

at their greatest needs.

is

Now
From

soon in Asgard peace

Valhalla rest has

dead

fled.

Creeping

in
sin,

Shapes of

Lust of gold and greed of gain,

Dim

the light on Ida's plain.

Darkly, densely gather there

Forms
But

that

seem of thinnest
show
all fair;

air.

as yet that

Hateful forms, by Loki brought,

Which

shall

render Asgard naught!

Ever by

stealth

Works he
Foul and fiendish
All

himself,
like his race
fall
;

woes that

On
Can be

Odin's hall

traced to Loki base.

From

out Valhalla's portal

'Twas he who pure Iduna lured,

LOKI,

THE MISCHIEF MAKER.

53

Whose

casket fair
rare

Held apples

That render gods immortal,

And
By

in Thiassi's

tower immured.

his

mocking, scornful mien.

it

Soon, in Valhal

was seen

'Twas the

traitor Loki's art

Which had

led

dun

apart

To gloomy And Jotun

In

tower.

power.

In eagle guise he wrought the wrong

like disguise the wrathful

throng

Of

^Esir force

him bring the maid

Safe under Asgard's mighty shade,

Guarded by

god-like

power most

strong.

Once did

the traitor rank conspire

;

'Gainst Asgard's mighty host entire

At one

fell

blow

To wreak

dread woe.
still,
ill.

Tho' trusted by the ^sir

'Twas Loki planned the hateful

To Asgard came an

architect,

54

VALHALLA.

And
^

castle offered to erect,

castle high

Which should
guile

defy
raid
;

Deep Jotun

and giant

And
As

this

most wily compact made,

Fair PVeya, with the

Moon and Sun

all

price the fortress being done.

Darkened, indeed, and gloomy

Earth, Asgard, and Valhalla's hall.

Should aught the

Moon

or

Sun

befall
air,
!

Barren the earth, breathless the

If they should lose loved Freya's care

Deceitful wile,

Seducing guile

So well had veiled the deep-laid scheme,

The gods could

Which one
of

not detect, nor dream

Valhalla's throng

all

Had

been the author of the wrong,

a flash, the

Till, like

memory came,
!

'Twas Loki did the payment name

Horror and

fear the

gods beset
!

Finished almost the castle stood

LOKl,

THE MISCHIEF MAKER.

55

In three da3"s more

The work be

o'er

Then must

they

make

their contract L!;ood,

And

pay the awful debt.

Horror and

fear

At danger near

Sudden
Each

to fiercest

anger turned

god-like soul

now

eager burned

To

force

him break the contract dread,

Loki's head.

Or vengeance wreak on

Guile and fear are kindred ever,

Brothers they,

who may not

ire

sever

To

appease the ^sir

Loki bent to their

desire,

That

crafty builder's strongest stay,

The magic
vSubtile

steed, to wile away.

full

and

of strange device,

As a young mare did he entice

The

horse afar to

unknown

sh
n.

Thus could

the plotter
all

harm

nore.

Thro'
Till

the night,
light.

morning's

56

VALHALLA.

Swift after Svadelfari fleet

The

Builder sped with anxious

feet.

But useless

all

By Loki

foiled,

His anger on the gods

recoiled.

As

further

work himself could naught

Without the magic aid he brought.

Now,

casting

all

disguise aside,
in

Amidst the gods

angry pride,
half-built tower,-

While crumbling sank the

In giant form and Jotun power

He

stood

Wild

terror seized

on

all,

Lest ruin should on Asgard

fall.

Dread hour

for

Valhal

help was none

!

When
The
With

Asgard's stoutest stay was gone

vengeful Jotun, tow'ring high,

scoffing taunt

and

furious cry.
sky,

Shook gate and roof e'en upper

Grasped
at the Sun,

While

pallid

Moon
by
!

Coursed

swiftly

Then on

the trembling ALsir turned,

And

forward dashed

LOKI,

THE MISCHIEF MAKER.

57

In thunders crashed
Portal and
wall,
all in

defences they

Too

feeble

such

affray,

Like reeds from out his path he spurned.

But, joy

great Thor, returning slow

toil

From road and

And

frequent broil.

In wearied march

Up
Heard

rainbow arch,

the foul insults of the foe.

Frantic at the outrage wrought.

Maddened by

the ruin sought.

swept.

As storm-wind sudden, on he

Like thunder-bolt on Jotun leapt

As on the
'Gainst rib

giant foe he sprang,

and thigh great Mjolnir

rang,

With mighty stroke

His skull he broke,

Then

hurled him

down

to

Hel below.

So Thor restored Valhalla's peace.

But
ills

in

Asgard did not cease

.scales.

Uneven balanced Odin's

58

VALHALLA.

Kindness on

evil

nature

fails,

Meekness naught
Odin's
self,

avails

distraught

By

the trouble wrought.

Early and late e'er sought from Fate

Wisdom

to rule in god-like state.

PART FIFTH
MIMIR
N
'

W^

ELL

the dread Frost-Giants' dwelling,

In the realm of Jotunheim,

By

the sacred Life Tree swelling,

Filled with mysteries of Time,

The Fountain sprang

While from those

of Mimir wise,

rise

Mimir, knowing good and ill,

silver

waves would

Mists that watered

Igdrasil.

Thoughtful there

sat

AVisdom's son.

Warder of the Well

In whose waters dwell

6o

VALHALLA.
Future, past and present lore,

From which Nornir evermore

Deeply drank.

He, knowing One,

Whene'er the early dawn was breaking.

And Jotunheim
His constant

from sleep awaking,

waters slaking.

thirst these

Would
In
full

his very heart-strings steep

horn drawn from the deep.

With

silv'ry

beard which

far

below

His girdle

fell

in glist'ning flow.

With wrinkled brow

Sat Bragi old, stern

yet flashing eye,

Mimir

nigh.

He, worthy son of Odin high.

Who
Up

held the

gift

of minstrelsy.

When, sudden, from the sacred Well

would
light

foam and vapor

swell,

Or when

o'erlapping wave.

Springing from deepest cave,

Outflung

its

misty spray,

Then
Such

to his

golden harp would stray

roll

His quiv'ring hand, and forth would

strains as straight

enchant the soul

And

hold, spell-bound, the listener's ear

mlmir's wfxl.

6i

Rich runic rhymes

Of olden

times,
lore,

High words of ancient

Deep words from wisdom's store;

\Vhile
still

thro' all the lofty

soft

measure.

With

sounds breathing clear

Of Love's

delight

and godlike

pleasure,

Were mingled
Tho'

notes of woe,

sadly, sweetly low,

The burden,
As
tho'

wierd, unearthly wailing.

spirits,

doomed

unavailing,

Lost raptures mourned; then tones faint failing

Would
Thro'

rise again,

with harp high sounding.

all

the silent air resounding.

And

louder, longer e'er swelled high.

Inspiring themes of poesy,

Deeds of the gods

that yet should be.

And
By

deeds that were of Eld.

Bragi's deep-rune-written tongue

Oft were such magic song-notes sung

Oft with his harp, in vesture white.

He would

the .'Esir proud delight.

For Inspiration's jjower he held

62

VALHALLA.

Hither came the awful Vala,

Seeress from the land of Hela,

Counsel wise to take

Here her
Often, too,

thirst

would

slake.

came ^sir

hither

Often sent the Jotuns whither

Welled the fount of Wisdom

fast,

Draining deep the horn of Knowledge,

Solving secrets of the Past.

Vapors, rising from the Well's edge,

Shadows of the Future

cast.

Now,

great Odin, just

and

true,
hill,

God
Tho'

of gods, on Asgard's

his ravens faithful flew,

all

Bringing news from

earth through,

Tho' he quaffed from Urda's bowl

Wisdom's draughts

that feast the soul,

Tho' by Sokvabek he stayed

With

fair

Saga, all-wise maid,

still

Knowledge
Lacked
the

God

to right the

ill.

Anxious, troubled,

full

of thought

To undo

the evils wrought,

;;

mimir's well.

63

Gloomy,
Great

grieving,

God Odin

Uprising from Valhalla's throne.

Slow, the pillared Feast Hall leaving,

Engraven deep with runes within.

Sad, parting from those halls of
light.

Forth rode he

out into the night,

Down

to dark

Jotunheim alone.

Rode he
First,

long and rode he

fast.

beneath the great Life Tree,

At the sacred Spring, sought he

Urdar,

Noma of

the Past

But her backward seeing eye

Could no knowledge now supply.

Across Verdandi's page there
fell

Dark shades

that ever

woes

foretell

The shadows which 'round Asgard hung

Their baleful darkness o'er
it

flung

The

secret

was not written there

fair.

Might save Valhal, the pure and

Last, youngest of the sisters three,

Skuld,

Noma

of Futurity,

Implored

to speak, stood silent by,

64

VALHALLA.

Averted was her

tearful eye.
light,

And

now, deprived of guiding

Onward rode Odin

thro' the night.

When to the Fountain's brink he came. The God invoked the Sage's name.
Arising slow

Respect to show

To Odin

great, the ^'Esir chief,

Stood Mimir wise.

Whose
From some

piercing eyes
relief

Saw that the Father sought

sharp trouble, fear or grief

Straight to him, then, Al-father spoke.

With questioning words the silence broke.

"

Oh

all

wise

Mimir

Sprung of the ^sir.

Wise wert thou

e'er
!

of old,

Prophet and seer

unfold

What

mysteries the Fates

may hold

Darkened

Valhalla's hall.
all

The

gods, confounded

Shame and

disgrace o'er Asgard's race

mimir's well.

65

Hang
Where

like
is

an

evil

shrouding

pall.
?
?
fill

our perfect quiet gone

Why
With

has the peace of Asgard flown

the
ills,

Whence come
strife

the wrongs that

Hill
?

and care our happy

Has

yet a

god wrought
it

this disgrace ?
?
tell
!

Or

springs

from the Jotun race

!

Speak thou Speak

!

for

thou cans't
o'er the

Watcher

Well

For, by the oath of gods.

Whatever

rich rewards
;

Thou

seek, they shall be thine

Thou

hast

my

pledge divine

!"

Then spoke Mimir,

stern

and

slow,

Filling high his golden' horn,

While deep murmurings, muttered low.

Up

from out the Well were borne,

Surges of all-knowing Time,

Utt'ring faint their solemn

chime
!

" Odin, drink

this

beaker drain
shall

Every drop a Fate

Spill

be

not one

great
lift

God,

in vain

Misty

veil shall

for thee.

66

VALHALLA.

Yet

e'er these waters

can be thine,
;-

Sure pledge of payment must be mine

Not

hehriet bright, nor corslet strong,

strife

For they to war and

belong
;

No

jewels rare,
in

nor golden store

Thine eye
"

pledge leave evermore."

Uneven sway

thy scales.
ever
fails

Bhnd meekness

To

balance crafty strength,

strength that springs from
ill,-

The

Behold

at length

From

guile

and

lies

Pure peace
Strength
is evil,

e'er flies.

vain

is will.

Meekness, weakness,

each

is sin.

While

false Loki's

brood within

Ye

shall cherish
ill

and

shall nourish.
flourish.

Giving thus

deeds to

Be

Loki's brood outcast.

fast

In deepest depths chained

Else on the cow'ring world

Shall torments fierce be hurled

Ruined

shall fall

proud Asgard's

wall,

mimir's well.

67

Void be each throne,

guestless each
and
as ye will,

hall

Thro' the Serpent, Hel, and Fenrir

Shall

come

destruction, deep

drear.

But, battle with

them

Dread Ragnarock

thro'

them comes

still.

Too Too

long has Loki dwelt within,

/Esir cherished sin
late,
;

Too long have

late
!

too

great

God

too late

Unchangeable the words of

Fate.

Ward

off the

ills,

if

so ye may,
!

But Ragnarock ye cannot stay

On

Baldur's brilliant crest

What

shining glories rest

!

White vestured God

Love
Peace
is

is

his sword,
!

his battle-cry

But even now

false Loki waits

Within the shade of Asgard's gates

Lo

even now the Tempter stands

blind, with guiding hands.
is

By Hcedur

The hour
Alas
!

drawing nigh

full

soon shall Asgard's

light

Be quenched and

lost in blackest

night

68

VALHALLA.

Then triumphs Loki base

Ravens
his fearful race
!

Terrible shall be the hour

^Vhen

is

loosed their baleful power

shall

Thee, thee

hideous Fenrir slay

that awful

With cruel fangs

Day

When

Earth shall burn, gods pass away.

All this great Friga

knoweth
to

well.
tell,

But heron's crown forbids

The plumed

crown, Forgetfulness,
lips to silentness.

Condemns her

" Quaff once again,

O God

But mark thou well each word.

Not

strength of Thor, or heart of Tyr,

'Gainst Serpent, Hel, or fierce Fenrir,

Can aught

alone.

Let

all

JEsir

Rise in their might, cast out to night

Loki's foul brood
;

then, in the light

Of

Justice high, let

judgment
all.

fall

With equal measure upon

Restored Valhalla's purity,

Thus Ragnarock delayed may

be.

mimir's well.

69

Return thou, Odin,

e'er too late

Hear, and obey the words of Fate."

So^ ended Mimir, while the swell

Of

sigh-like

murmurs from
his voice
;

the well
all

Ceased with

then

was

still.

Back Odin rode

Where,

to Asgard's Hill,

in Valhalla's shield-hung hall,

all

Assembled were the ^Esir

To

learn what might from Fate befall.

Again,

when

early

dawn was

breaking.

And Jotunheim
Then Mimir,
Going

from sleep awaking,

morn's
first

in the

glowing.

to the fountain's edge.

Drank ever of the

clear

mead

flowing

In his horn, o'er Odin's pledge.

PART SIXTH.
CASTING OUT OF LOKI'S BROOD.
EEP down
in the realms of night,
in might,

Hideous powers dwelt

Brought forth on the dragon's bed,*

With dwarf's dew* and venom fed

Awful, dreadful shapes of terror.
Guilty forms of darkest horror
!

Demon

birth.
!

Accursed of Earth

Well do the .^sir know the

sight.

The

traitor

Loki was their father

By Angurboda, Jotun mother

Dragon's bed and Dwarf's dew, are personifications of gold.

CASTINC;

OUT OF LOKI

BROOD

Fierce hate and wrong

With time grown strong

The brood
In

triumphant,

this exultant,

By Fate

'twas given

That they should raven

Proud Asgard's sons and men among.
Seated high

among

the ^sir,

In Valhalla's shield-hung Hall,

Words of judgment spake God Odin,

Counsel took he with them
all.

Fiercely burned the gods' just ire

Angry-browed, with shoulders bent,

On
Been

their rune-graved staves they lent

art,

Thro' Loki's
slain,

had peace within

sin,

while loathsome forms of

the Serpent, and pale Hel,

The Wolf,

Permitted upon Earth to dwell.

Rising from his Judgment-Seat,

From

his spear-supported

Throne,

Tow'ring to his

fullest height.
fleet

Spake great Odin, " Thou most

72

VALHALLA.

Tried Hermodur

quick begone
!

Bear

my mandate

speed thou forth

Thro' the wild and frozen North

From

drear Jdtun lands of night

Bring the foul death-dealing blight

To be judged by ^sir
'Twas done.

might."

The deadly brood

Before the high Throne stood.

Wildly

striving,

Wrestling, writhing,

Unwilling, to the

Judgment came,

Compelled by power of Odin's name.

Defiant, haughty Loki reared

His

lofty

head

with threat'nings dared

;

Affront the gods

if

so they feared

His power of

ill,

to cease from wrath,

!

Resign to him his race of death

Bold Tyr, undaunted, smote

swift blow.

Then hurled

the Evil

One

below.

With venom-dripping
Fierce
tail in

crest.

mad

unrest,

Coiling his loathsome length,

; ;

CASTING OUT OF LOKl's BROOD

73

Launching

forth rings of strength,

Forked tongue, and poisoned breath,

The

Serpent, child of Death,

Menaced

Valhalla high

With heaving

throes,

And

deaf 'ning blows,

sky.

Lashing the very

Close by the Throne

now Hela stood

;

Whose

awful aspect chilled the blood

Gaunt and
(jrim

pallid,

and

livid,

frightful, ghastly

shape was she.

shall be.

As dead among the dead

Red

lightnings flashed from hollow eyes,

forth groans

Her dark robes gave

and

sighs.

Back shrank the ^sir,

pale, aghast.

As

thro' their

midst the Dread

One

passed,

All reeking with the

fumes of death,
frantic wrath

Mad, drunken, wild with

Malignant glared she round the Hall,

As, baleful, would she crush

them

all

Shaking

in

rage her mighty arm,

lUirning to

work high Asgard harm.

74

VALHALLA.

Then throned
Awful

Justice, roused at length,

Seized each the monsters in his grasp,

in ire

and wondrous strength

In vain they strove 'gainst Odin's clasp

Swiftly impelled thro' air

In breathless race

They

flew thro' space,

Thro' mist and cloud.

With howlings

loud.
!

Cowered the Earth in fear

While, in Valhalla, at the sight.

Shivered the Gods with faces white.

Into mid-ocean's dark depths hurled,

Grown
With

with each day to giant

size.

The Serpent soon enclosed

tail in

the world.

mouth, in circle-wise
still

Held harmless

By Odin's
With

will.

lurid eye, in strong despair,

Belching forth fierce

Winds
With
rain

that should pierce

air.

and storm, the trembling

Up

maelstroms broke.

CASTING OUT OF LOKI

BROOD.

75

While thunders woke

With

sullen roar,

From
As

shore to shore,

he, with baffled ire.

still

Writhed

in vain desire.

By Odin

strong.

Avenging wrong,
In ice-bound realms of Nillheim dread, In gloomy regions of the Dead,

Was

hideous Hel
to dwell.

Condemned

Hither, to her dark domain.

Came
By

those worthless

spirits, slain

old age, disease, or pain,

Captive, by the Dragon, Death,

Borne on black-hued wings beneath

Unmarked by

hero-gore.

There wade they evermore

In venom-streams that pour

'Round

that dismal habitation

All restless driven

Till chains

be riven
;

In the

Day

of consternation

76

VALHALLA.

When
Rush

will

those rigid bands

forth

from Hela's lands,

in the

And,

shock

Of Ragnarock,
Thro' Thund's roaring
Against the high ^Esir,
'Gainst the Einheriar,
river.

Led by

Valkyriar,

Shall strive that fearful host,

The armies

of the

lost.

Elvidner was Hela's

hall.

Iron-barred, with massive wall

Horrible that palace

tall

Hunger was her

Waste, her knife

table bare
;

her bed, sharp care

feast

Burning Anguish spread her

Bleached bones arrayed each guest

Plague and Famine sang their runes.

Mingled with Despair's harsh tunes.

Misery and Agony
E'er in Hel's abode shall be
!

'Round about Thund's

torrent poured
;

Loud

without,

Garm, Hell-dog, roared

CASTINU;

OUT OF

LOKl's BROOD.

77

AVhile,

on the

liridge of glass,

To

take from

whom

might pass

The

toll

of l)lood,
stood;

Grim Modgud

There, Hel shall reign

Till,

freed from chain.

strife,

In Ragnarock she rave in

Evil 'gainst

Good, and Death

'gainst Life.

Remained
Even

for

doom

Fenrir alone

Al-father on his throne

that Jotun power,

Trembled before
Fearing should

come

the woeful hour,

Decreed by Nornir,
Foretold by Mimir,

To most
When

high

^-Esir,

bright Valhal be plunged in gloom.

The Wolf's red jaws be

Odin's tomb.

Exultant in his awful strength

Before the gods he stood at length.

None

but hraxe Tyr might dare

the

To come

Wolf

anear.

Twice did the .Msir

strive to bind.

78

VALHALLA.

Twice did they

fetters

powerless find

Iron or brass of no

avail,

Naught, save

thro'

magic could
last,

prevail.

Gleipnir, at

By Dark Elves

cast.

In Svartalf-heim, with strong spells wrought.

To Odin was by
As
Yet
still

Skirnir brought.

soft as silk, as light as air.

of magic power most rare

his limbs in

Wound round

weblike

fold,

Full tight did Gleipnir Fenrir hold. Striving in vain

Freedom
Each

to gain,

struggle only tighter

bound

The Wolf lay chained on

With
bristling

the ground.
teeth,

back and gnashing

The monster

rolled the throne beneath

froth

The venom

From gory mouth

Was

scattered

by

his blistering breath

Ever he sought

in rage to rise,

Drawn

ever back by magic plies

With frenzied

bite

And

furious might.

CASTING OUT OF LOKl's liROOD.

79

\\'ould tear apart his fetters light.

Mad howUngs
More
frantic

loud
;

Pierced Asgard proud

grew

His huge weight threw

From

side to side

His hideous hide

With dust and gore

Was

covered

o'er.

With foaming jaws

And
Then

outstretched claws

glared he, impotent, about

With fury heard the taunting shout,

The

shrill

laughter of the /Esir,

all

Derision loud of

save Tyr,

Thro' him one-handed evermore.

Bound

firm, this scourge of earth.

Fierce Loki's fiercer birth.

On To

rocky

isle

wait the while,

his

sword between

wide jaws

thrust,

The mighty sword

of Odin just,
the point
aloft,

On

earth the

hilt,

VALHALLA.

His howlings

oft
;

Shook earth and main

Struggles
all

vain
fast

There
Till

lies

he

time be past,
burst forth at
last.

And Ragnarock
In vain, alas

did vengeance

come
dome.

Doomed, even

then, Valhalla's
late,

Too

too late

Decrees of Fate,

Unchanged and
Must
Stern Destiny,
She,
still

sure,

endure.

who can avoid ?

govern
all
!

pitiless, shall

Fair Asgard's gold-thatched roofs must

fall

Void be her thrones

Alas
!

guestless each hall.

the hour
all

still

came apace

When

of earth and Odin's race

In Ragnarock should be destroyed.

PART SEVENTH.
THORAND THE DAUGHTERS OF
N
their azure pillows lying,

.EGIR.

O'er them distant

murmurs

dying,

Ocean caves beneath

''

replying

'S^^^Uj]

From mermaid's horn

To echoes borne On winged breeze

O'er land and seas

From Asgard, Midgard, Jotunheim.

Gently rocking to and
fro,
;

^gir's daughters ceaseless go

Mantles blue the maidens wear,

Snow-white bosoms gleaming bare,

82

VALHALLA.

Sea-grass green their floating hair,

Still

onward

rolling,

keeping time.

Who

so

fair as

the waves,

^gir's daughters.

Dancing waters
Lapping
lightly

on the land,

Sporting softly on the strand,

Chasing one another.

Then

the breeze, their brother.

Ruffles their crests,

Scatters their spray.

While

their billowy breasts.

in their play.
!

Heaving high
Swell and throb

In coral caves

Reigns King ^gir,

Feasts the ^sir.
Feasts he, too, the drowned

Ones

Hither brought by Ran, his queen,

Swathed

in

shrouds of sea-weed green.

;

Fringed with shells

while

still

the sheen

Of

pallid

hmbs and

whit'ning bones.

E'er ghastly through the meshes

comes

Of

the net, in which each day

THOR AND THE DAUGHTERS OF

/EGIR.

83

Unwary

sailors catches she,

Grim Sea King's guests below

to be.

Who

so fierce as the waves,

caves,

When, from deep ocean

-^gir shall
Shall
call.
all

summon

To
Madly

bear his fury on high

raging, roaring, lashing,

'Gainst steep crags in wild wrath crashing,

Up

to

Heav'n

their spray-clouds dashing,

!

Mingling sea and sky

Hither comes Thor,

The Thunderer,

To

sport with those maids at rest.

Sleepily lies each

maiden calm,

Gently

drifting,

with snow-white arm

Folded on billowy breast

Foam-wreaths over the
floating hair,

Swelling surges murmuring e'er

Lullaby songs that soothe to

rest.

But

fierce

Thor,

The Thunderer,

84

VALHALLA.

Loves no calm

Peace has no charm

To

lull his

soul to rest.

Comes he

hither to sport an hour.

In Jotun's land,

With mighty hand,

His
.'Esir

power

Rang

in the rock

In tempest shock,

And

raised dread fear in giant's breast.

What Odin

sought,

That strong Thor wrought And, now returned.

For sport he burned
E'er yet he reached Bilskirnir's bower.

From

their rest the

maids are waking,

cheeks breaking,

Dimpling smiles

o'er soft

Sparkling showers from fingers shaking,

Foamy
Scatters

fingers, light

and

fair

While bright Day from car of gold

gems of

price untold
rare.

To bedeck

each virgin

Clinging, clasping in caresses.

THOR A\D THE DAUGHTERS OF ^GIR.

85

To

his breast the great

soft

God

presses

Each

maid, while floating tresses

\\Tap him in embraces cold.

Burning Thor, with kisses

Will their frozen

fierce,

bosoms
;

pierce,

Seizes in enfolding arms

Filled with passion, strong desire,

Lustful flames e'er mounting higher.

Presses wildly yielding forms,

Riots on their sparkling charms.

Lightly

still

the maids caress him.

;

Closer to their bosoms press him

Strange regrets and vague alarms

Wake
Of
More

too late

now,

filled

with storms

wild wrath, they vainly try

his

From

mighty arms to

fly.

gently does their lover Thor,

To

lie at

peace the maids implore

But

struggling, rising in their rage.

all

While

the ocean powers engage

To

free

them from the Thunderer,

his

At length

wTath they rouse

Then ends

in strife the

rude carouse.

86

VALHALLA.

Fiercely the billows strive,

Madly they

toss

and

writhe,
;

'Neath towers of froth they hide

While
Is

all

the ocean wide

lashed in boiling surge,

^gir

sits

trembling on his throne,

to

For power

match with Thor

is

none.

Now, from

their towers the

maids emerge,
scourge.

Now, driven back by tempest

Rough, wild waters
!

True Jotun daughters

Roaring, Avrestling, battling, writhing,

Evil powers 'gainst

^sir

striving

Now, Now,

lost 'neath walls

of foaming

froth,.
!

darting swift high billows forth

Blinded by the spray they pour.

Deafened by

their sullen roar.

Mighty Thor,

The Thunderer,
Flashes lightnings,
rolls his

thunder.

Tears their billowy arms asunder.

Undoes

their fiercely clinging clasp.

Upholds them

firmly in his grasp.

THOR AND THE DAUGHTERS OF

Upholds them high
'Neath lowering sky,

JEGIR.

87

Rampant

raging, shrieking shrill,

at his will
lifts.
;

Holds them powerless

Still

the maidens higher

'gainst the

Dashes

frowning

cliffs,

Dashes with

his

gathered strength

His wrath appeased, he turns

at length.

And

muttering in his red beard low,

still

While glaring

from bended brow.

Home

to Bilskirnir

wends he slow
go.

With mocking laughter doth he

PART EIGHTH.
ODIN'S VISIT
F
all

TO THE VALA.
fair

the gods of x^sgard

Who
To
And
Of
Beneath the
all

did in Valhal's feast-hall meet,

there
feet,

'Mong ^sir twelve who gathered

quaff their

mead

at

Odin's

tell their tales

of rare emprize

light of Freya's eyes;

the twelve round Odin's throne,

Baldur, the Beautiful, alone,

The Sun-god, good, and

pure,

and

bright.

Was

loved by

all,

as all love light.

But now strange dreams and omens

O'erclouded brows whence

ill

light e'er

streamed

odin's visit to

the vala.

89

While Midgard

all,

with Asgard's

hill,

Trembled

for

him, most cherished deemed.

At council grave did hither come

Beneath Valhalla's royal dome,

The anxious

.-Esir,

thus to seek
o'er

What harm might hang

They

Baldur meek.

rayed and offered great reward,

the Earth this charge to make,
fair

And begged
Round Baldur
By day and

a watch and ward

night to ceaseless take.

Friga, his mother, restless

went

To

every plant, each element,

thing, with breath or breathless, she

Each

Bound by an

oath to harmless be
;

To
.She

her dear son

but,

woe

ah,

woe

passed the sacred mistletoe.

Then up

rose Odin, anxious

still,

Saddled

Sleipnir, of Loki's

brood;
ill.

To

dark Niflheim, fearing some

Then

quickly rode Al-Father good.

Forth in his path s^jrang Garm, the hound,

Fierce keeper he of Hela's gate;

QO

VALHALLA.

On

rode Odin

from Earth came sound

Baldur's
fate.

Of moaning over

Reached he soon the eastern

portal

Whence

returns

no hving mortal,
song-spell
hell.

Chaunted loud the Saga's

Which shades

shall call

from death and

Forth from the tomb the Vala came,

Foreboding shape of woe and

"

ill;

What man

art thou,

called by what name,

my
rest at will ?

Who

dares disturb
I lain

Dead have

long years gone by.

The snows The

rains

of winter on

have washed

me lie. my bleached
to break

bones dry,
fill;

Long

since the

worms have

ate their

And now
Speak
"
!

thou

'rt

come

my
1"

rest,

1 nntst

answer thy behest

Vegtam my name

is,

Valtam's son.

And come

now
!

to question thee;

Behold these seats

see every one

Bedecked with
For

rings
?

and jewelry

whom

prepared

The mead

is set,

The

foamina; draught with shield laid o'er;

ODIN

S VISIT

TO THE VALA.

For

whom

the feast

the guest stays yet

Can gods withhold from

Hela's shore?"

For Baldur gleams the beaker bright,

His seat

is

set

by Hela's side

Compelled

to

speak by power of might,

Silent henceforward I abide.

Hoedur, by Loki's fraud led on,

Blind arbiter of sighs and tears
Will slay the bright, the mighty One,

And

bring the end on Odin's heirs.

But, see! th' avenger, Vali, come,

Sprung from the

west, in Rindus'
!

womb.
!

True son of Odin

one day's

birth

He

shall not stop

nor stay on earth

lave.

His locks to comb, his hands to

His frame

to rest,

should

rest

it

crave.

Until his mission be complete.

And

Baldur's death find vengeance meet.'"

Close not thy

lips!

further seek
will

The name

of her

who

not mourn.

Who

will

not weep for Baldur meek,

till

But scornful smiles from eve

dawn."

92
"

VALHALLA.

Thou

art not

Wegtam,

as I

deemed
more."

Closed are
"

my

lips forever

Nor

art

tJioii

Villa, as

thou seemed

No

seeress thou of Hela's shore,

But mother of the giants dread,

Appointed guarders of the dead
"
!"

Ride on, great Odin

Answers
1

thou hast found

to all that troubled thee;

to

my

cold sleep under ground.

Will lay

me

calm and

quietly.
I said;

Compelled, unwilling, have

My

words
for

shall

weigh on thee as lead.

shall

Never

man

ope

my tomb

Till fatal

Ragnarock be come!"
thro'

So homeward

dark Hela's shade

Odin

his

upward journey made;

still

Passed close beside the waters

That lave the roots of

Igdrasil
fair.

Nor heeded

Valkyr's greetings

When now
That
air to

he reached the purer

air;
sigh,-

him breathed but one

!"

" fjaldur the Beautiful must die

BALDURS DEATH.

93

BALDUR'S DEATH.
With mournful brow and heavy
eye,

Came Odin to Valhalla's gate, And passed the fateful Nornir by,
But found within
all

joyful state;
fair

For .^sir strong and Vingolf

Had met

in Baldur's

honor

there,

.And placed him in their midst on high,

A mark
And

for spear

and archery
\yas he,

Most god-like of the gods

proven deathless now to be.

rocks and mighty boulders
full force,

Huge

Thor
;

Hurled with

but without harm

.\nd Vidar, with the Thunderer,

And
Mad,

Njurd,

the Sun-god bore a charm

silent

Loki alone stood

by;

jealous hate was in his eye;

Swift his device,

as ancient dame.
Mother came,

He

to the loving
thro' fair
all in,

.-\.nd

words the secret found,

That

on, above the ground,

Except the feeble mistletoe.

Had

sworn to shield her son from woe.

94

VALHALLA.

Then loud laughed Loki

swift returned,

The

slighted plant within his hand,

Soon the blind Hcedur he discerned;

Then, giving him the tender wand,
" Wherefore,

Hcedur

dost not pay

Due hqnor
Think

to this festal

day ?

Dost thou not see the ^sir great

it

not

ill

to

show him

state ?

Blind as thou

art, I'll

lead to where
fair;

Bright Baldur stands, a target

Thou knowest

well,

Creation

now

To work no

ill

has taken vow."

Blind Hoedur threw,

ah,

woe

the dart

By Loki from
Pierced
fatal to

the

frail

plant shred,

the Sun-god's heart.

!

Baldur the Beautiful lay dead

Dead

lay the Sun-god.

Never more

Should summer-light stream from his brow

To do him honor, to the shore Came Odin, with the ^sir now
Heroic
souls,

by Valkyr

led,

Ljus-Alfers, Vans, thro' sorrow sped

hermodur's

visit

to hela.

95

To

swell the train that

mourned

the dead.

Near, with bent brows, the Thunderer stood;

While Hoedur, bowed 'neath

All shod with silence, slow

w^eight of blood,

drew near

To

weep with him their brother dear.

swift Hringhorni's giant

On

prow
laid,

Baldur the Beautiful they

The burning

ship must bear

him now

Thro' gloomy skies of gathering shade

Dull yellow fringe on pale gold shroud

Gleamed

coldly 'neath the wintry cloud.

lit

Then Odin
Out

the funeral pyre,

fire,

to the north, in streams of

To

Saga's call his spirit sailed,

his loss bewailed.

While Nature's heart

Ne'er shall the mild god hasten

Till fatal

home

Ragnarock be come.

HERMODUR'S
Sad Mother
1

VISIT

TO HELA.

watching her dear son

Borne by the burning ship away,

96

VALHALLA.

Dreamed might be

Loki's

work undone

Should she to Hela ransom pay.

With veiled head and mournful brow,

Then did she

to the JEsiv go,

all

And
By

sought which of them

would prove

The depth and

greatness of his love,

riding swift to Elvidnir,

Ransom from Hel

the White-God dear.

all,

And

bring him back, the loved of

hall.

Safe to his seat in Asgard's

At once Hermodur claimed the quest.

Mounted

Sleipnir,

who saddled

stood,

And

never sought he stay nor rest

Till

he nine days had been on road

Then, on the tenth, he came to where

The
The

bridge of glass hung on a hair

o'er the river terrible,

Thrown

Gioll,

boundary of Hel.

Now A

here the maiden, Modgud, stood

toll

Waiting to take the

of blood,

maiden horrible

to sight,

Fleshless, with shroud

and

pall bedight.

HERMODUR
As
swift

S VISIT

TO HKLA.

97

Hermodur thundered

by,
!

"Stop!" quoth the maiden, "give thy name

Thou

hast not hue of those

five

who

die;

Only yestreen

dead troops came,

Yet trembled not

Beneath

this bridge so

much

their tread as thy

one

touch."'

And when

he asked, " Did Baldur ride

Down

to the

dead within her

" at

sight ?"

"E'en now," she answered,

the side

Of Hel he

feasts in halls of night."

On

rode Hermodur.

Fearful

Garm,

The Hel-dog,

bayed, nor caused alarm

The Nornir
So he

dread, by Igdrasil,
'gainst his will.

Could not withstay him

to

dark Elvidnir came.

And
Gave

there invoked Hel's mighty name,

Friga's message, told her

how

All nature

mourned

for

Baldur now.

And

prayed her
in

set the

White-god

free.

That joy
" .\nd "

Asgard's halls might be.

is it

so?" swift answered Hel;

tliis

Now

shall the truth of

appear

98
If all things

VALHALLA.
loved thy

God

so well
fear.

No
Let

loss of

Baldur need thou

all

things from fair Nature's birth,

Breathing or breathless, on the earth,

For him, throughout creation, mourn

And

then your Sun-God shall return."

Back rode Hermodur

to the hall

Where
There,

Friga and the yEsir stayed

filled

with hope, he told them

all

What
Already

promises dark Hela made.

light

seemed

to return,
?

For did not Nature e'en now mourn

What

breathing thing, or without breath.

for Baldur's death ?

That would not mourn

Quick

o'er the earth great Friga sent

Her mandate

that

all

things should

weep

x\nd gods and Vanir loving lent

Their powerful

aid, that all

should keep

day of universal woe

To ransom
Now,
as

Baldur from below.

Hermodur homeward rode

bearing Friga's message forth.

From

HERMODUR

S VISIT

TO

HF.LA.

99

giantess, all shameless, strode

Veilless her head,

From a dark cave that fronts the north. undimmed her eye.
hateful smile her lips shone nigh
;

'Twas Loki, in the form of Thokt,

Who,

evil, at

the

summons mocked.

" If so thou please, let Nature wail

Without my

tears 'twill not avail.

Why

should

weep, whose heart

is

dry

Weeping and
Living or

wailing,
ill

none

will I

lifeless,

or well.
!"

Let Baldur bide his time with Hel

Then, with loud laughter, Thokt was gone,

But where she stood a stream poured down.

Hermodur sad
'

returned, and slow,

Through Asgard spread the words of woe,

Baldur the Beautiful
shall ne'er
!

From Hel

return to upper air

Betrayed by

L()ki, iwice betrayed,

is

The

prisoner of Death

made
!"

Ne'er shall he 'scape the place of

Till fatal

doom

Ragnarock be come

PART NINTH.
KING
.EGIR'S FEAST.
last,

OW

Loki's

worst work was done.

high,

Triumphant Wrong, exalted

O'ershadowed even Odin's throne,

And dimmed
sky.

the glow o'er Earth

and

Weeping and gloom

Fill'd Valhal's

dome;

The
Fair

stars

gleamed pale

Thro' Heaven's cloud-veil;

Day

reined back his steed of

light.

Exultant rode forth Jotun Night;

Lost in the consciousness of woe,

All purposeless the .Esir'go.

KING

,-K(;iR S

FKAST.

Withered

tlie

Mirth

Creation's birth

Reeled bHndly 'neath the staggering

Baldur, defenceless, innocent,

l:)l()\v.

Naught but

his shining purity

'Gainst evil deeds as surety,

To

Hela's feast by craft was sent.

Evil before,

Now more
Evil

and more
grew
;

and base the

traitor
fell

Lower and lower

Only
for
ill

he ever,

his

each endeavor;
;

Fled from his heart the pure and true

A
Until to
all

reckless raging

Each power engaging,

his very

name
;

Symbol of
While,
still

craft

and hate became

he high

defiant, held

His haughty head, 'neath lowering

sky.

Yet

still,

tho' lost,

upon

his face

At times a grace
Faint glimmered of the ancient day

When

he and Odin, one

in soul,

02

VALHALLA.

Mingled

their love in flowing

bowl

transient gleam,

a semblance cast

By shad'wy mem'ries of
Arising

the past,

dim

to fade away.

Now,

to assauge the high gods' grief

And

bring their mourning

some

relief,

From

coral caves

'Neath ocean waves.

Mighty King ^gir

Invited the yEsir

To

festival

In Hlesey's hall;
That, tho' for Baldur, every guest

Was

grieving yet,

He
Awhile
his

might forget
in friendly feast.

woe

The vexed waves heard From

white
lips

the

summons

given

hissed their wrath to

Heaven

Who joy

or feasting e'er should

sat with

know

While Baldur

Hel below ?

Panting, heaving, restless waters

Sobbing, moaning, ^2gir's daughters

KING

iEGIR's FEAST.

Bellowing in sullen roar,

Beating on the rock-girt shore,

Tumbling wild
Whit'ning
all

in

dismal

tide,

the deep sea wide,

fell

The booming

surges thundering

O'er sunken rocks in hoarse, sad swell,

While the thick mists flaunted high

Funeral banners to the sky.

Weeping waters
.'Egir's

daughters,

Unforgetful,

And

regretful.

Wailing over Baldur's fate;

While

far

below
flow.

Their mournful

On

throne of state

Sat

King

^Egir,

Who
Would
feast at

the .Esir

banquet rarely

great.

Beneath the watery dome,

AVitli crystalline

splendor,

In radiant grandeur,

Uprearcd the sea-god's home.

I04

VALHALLA.

More

dazzling than foam

ot"

the waves,

E'er glimmered and gleamed thro' deep caves

The

glistening sands of

its floor,

Like some placid lake rippled

Lights opalescent

o'er.

Glowed phosph :)rescent

Thro'
its

sparkling emerald walls

Flowers the

fairest,

Rich treasures
Lavish decked
its

rarest,

billowy halls;

Bright shells from ocean's bed.

Gem-like, their luster shed,

Twinkling

in rays

most

bright.

Mingled

their

gleaming

Brilliantly

beaming
light.

Rainbow-like

Myriad things of ocean.

With

soft gliding

motion,
coral grove

Through branched

Would

dartingly rove.
trees,

Thro' blooms and o'er palm

'Mid mosses and

sea-fan.

Swayed by the cool breeze

KING .tGIR

FEAST.

105

In the grottoes of Ran.

While

thro' crystal gulfs

were gleaming
;

Ocean

depths, with wonders teeming

terror,

Shapes of

huge, unsightly,

Loomed

thro' vaulted roof translucent

Silver finned fish

swam

lightly.

Sparkling showers scatt'ring brightly,

Phosphorescent rays pelucent.

Devouring Ran, by ^gir*s

side.

Smiled, treacherous, thro' the feast-hall wide.

In

festive state

awaited they

Their ^sir guests to deep Hlesey.

At length a conch-shell, hung on high.

Rang

hoarse and loud,

greeting proud.
his
hall

As Odin and

numerous
drew nigh

train
;

To

AVhilc Heimdal, with great Gjallar-horn,

.\nswered the notes, on ripples borne,

In clear refrain.

Then Vans and Of

Earth, and

vEsir,

mighty gods.

air,

and Asgard, lords

io6

Valhalla.

Advancing with each goddess

fair,

briUiant retinue

most

rare.

march,

Attending mighty Odin, swept

Up
Fair

wave-worn

aisle in radiant

Thro' pillared

crystals, glittering bright,

light.

diamond lamps, dispersing

Around them

briny breezes crept.

Wafting them on

To
Where

^gir's throne

'Neath billowy arch,

fountains flowing, filled with mead,

And

goblets wreathed with bright sea-weed,

For them abounded

While songs resounded

Loud and
As near and

high
cry.

In welcoming
nearer,

drew they

nigh.

With burnished gold helm,

at their
led,

head

Great Odin up the feast-hall

Mighty father of the ^sir

With

his bride, the blue-eyed Friga

Azure robes around her flowing.

Heron-crested,

KING .EGIR

FEAST.

107

Snow-white breasted,

Love upon her

For her
lord,

soft lips

glowing

her

heart's desire.

Freya close beside was treading,

Dazzling rays around her shedding

From
As

the starry wreath of light,

Sun-worlds,
fair

glowing scarce so bright

lo\'ely

Beauty's

queen

Hast'ning on thro' crystal sheen.

Sweet Bragi, Njord, Forseti mild.

And

gold-curled

Sif,

the spouse of Thor,

With Vidar, Frey, and many more,

Up
As

thro' the central

nave defiled;

Absent alone the Thunderer.

close to ^gir's throne they drew,
ev'ry step the

With

conches blew;
notes rang,
!

The

shrill

And

skoal loud sang

Skoal to each guest

At ^gir's

feast.

Higher and louder swelled the

Merrier the
festivity
!

glee.

Io8

VALHALLA.

'

^Vhen, suddenly, in shadow

fell

shade from Hel

hall within;

The

A
Crept
in

figure tall
stealth,

by

a shape of
storm,
ail,

sin

'Twas Loki reared his hateful form

Like
lull in

dismal silence shrouded

And ended

the hi^h festival.

PART TENTH,
LOK rS

PUNISHMENT.
forlorn,

^LONE,
An

Apart withdrawn,
outcast, Loki leant

'Gainst coral feast-seat in the aisle;

On

traitor

shameless each the while

Re])roachful glances bent.

"

Now, wherefore

art

thou hither come,

An unsought

guest, in ^^gir's
festival
hall,
is

home ?

At

In banquet

For

thee,

behold

no

seat

set

No

(lowing

mead

thy lips shall wet.

Ho
Depart
!

VALHALLA.

thou scourge of Asgard's race

the gods thou hast no place."

Among

'Twas Bragi spoke;

From Loki broke

Resounding words of
insult vile;
all

" Confusion on

Within

this hall
!

Death to the ^sir

Ruin

to

^gir

May

flames of Surtur
all

Destroy ye

Empty your

pleasures,
;

Worthless your treasures

In a brief while

Cometh your
Even now Hela

fall.

Glares at Valhalla

Never, ye gods
Shall

again
festive train

meet your

At banquet

high.

Lo

darkened sky

Attests

my

power.

In woeful hour

LOKI'S PUNISHMENT.

Your Baldur
I

fell

thro' subtle art

plucked the dart

That, surely, pierced the Sun-God's heart.

When

Nature wept,
1

As Thokt,

kept

My

tearless watch, lest

he

From

Hela's kingdom freed might be.

From

earliest

dawn

Of Time's young morn.

On

Asgard's

hill,

My
Opposed you

steadfast will
in

each high endeavor

I

Fair tho'

seemed,

Friend, as ye deemed,

double game

played you ever.

Triumphant,

tho' I

now

give

way

The
Soon, zEsir

stronger ye

This time
!

may

be.
!

comes the woeful day

stay

Dread Ragnarock ye none can

Then my

fierce

power

shall Valhal
foe.

know.

And Asgard

feel

me open

VALHALLA.

" Tremble, ye

^sir

And

you,

King ^gir

Hark how

fierce Fenrir
!

Howls loud and long

Now, Odin
Valkyriar,

speed

Your maids of war;

For
in Valhalla
is

Soon

there need

Of brave and
Einheriar
!

strong

"

Ye

fair-faced

goddesses

Not

one,

By

Beauty's light or Wisdom's ray.

Can

turn away

The woe begun.

Soon, ravening, shall

Thro' proud Valhal,

And
Rage

bright Vingolf,

the Gray Wolf!

No

seat have /, as

welcome

guest.

At

this

your feast
horrors dwell

Where

In halls of Hel,

LOKIS PUNISHMENT.

Behold

a mightier feast

is

spread,

Meats that nourish,

And
The

cause to flourish

ghastly armies of the Dead.

!

Above, loud crows your golden Cock

Once hath

the sound
!

Echoed around
'I'he third

time heralds Ragnarock

!"

Scoffing he spoke,

and sneering gazed

On

throng assembled;
listening,

mute, amazed.
instant's space.

They,

stood an

Then wrath

swelled high.
eye.
!

Darkened each

Convulsed each face

Stung by insulting taunt.

Enraged

at

odious vaunt,

Quick
Thro'

to his feet each, furious, sjjrang;

dome and

arch deep curses rang

When, suddenly, a peal of thunder

Shivered the crystal gulfs asunder;

With

lurid ray, fierce lightnings played,

Reflected bright

In diamond

light.

114

VALHALLA.

'Gainst billowy wall

Of banquet
Then quaked

hall,

While winds and waves loud tumult made.

the undulating floor,

Quivered each amber lamp,

Each wreath

of sea-weed

damp
;

Rocked
Deep
It

the translucent

dome

aisles

were flecked with foam,

!

was the mighty Thunderer, Thor

Swift drawing nigh
-

With

flashuig eye

And

flaming beard,

Wroth, mutt'ring low

'Neath bended brow,

He On

raised great Mjolnir high;

traitor vile

he glared.

Before the dread

Avenger's tread

Back Loki shrank,

'Mid
steel swords' clank,
!

And, craven

trembling

fled

Mad

for

vengeance, wild with hate.

Forth the gods, infuriate,

LOKl'S PUNISHMENT.

TI5

From gay
Rushed

halls in coral caves,

thro' surging, swelling

waves

In

fearful race.

To
The
Now,

Loki chase
!

wrathful ^^sir gave

thro' boiling whirlpools darting,

Hissing depths, asunder partuig;

Now,
Never

the foaming billows breasting.

for a

moment

resting

Until, wearied out at length,

(lathering

all his failing

strength

Himself

to save.

The

traitor, to

a salmon changing,

Slipping, sliding,

Doubling, gliding,
licnoath a roaring cascade ranging,

Halted

for

an instant's space.

In that instant's pause for breathing,

Waters 'round him frothing, seething,

Sides with fear and
flight fast

heaving,

His

fierce

enemies perceiving

(iolden scales thro' foam-clouds flashing,

On him

dashing.

Il6

VALHALLA.

Seized and bound him, firmly lashing

Struggling form with horrid
coils.

Fettered by the entrails torn

From
While the

his

own

son, Jotun-born,
in the toils
;

Laid he, hopeless,

x^sir,

mocking, taunting,

Chained him

powerless and panting,

final battle-shock.

Fast to a triple-pointed rock.

Till freed

by
left

Ere they

him

in his anguish.

O'er his treacherous brow ungrateful,

Skadi hung a serpent hateful.

Venom-drops

for

aye

distilling.
filling

Every nerve with torment

Thus

shall

he

in horror languish.

By him,

still

unwearied kneeling,

Sigyn at his tortured side,

Faithful wife
!

with beaker stealing

as they
!

Drops of venom

fall,

x'Vgonizing poison all

Sleepless, changeless, ever dealing

Comfort,

will

she

still

abide;

Only when the cup's o'erflowing

LOKI

PUNISHMENT.

II7

Must

fresh pain

and smarting cause,

beaker going,

Swift, to void the

Shall she in her watching pause.

Then doth Loki

Loudly cry
;

Shrieks of terror,

Groans of horror,
Breaking forth in thunder peals
!

With

his writhings scared Earth reels.

Trembling and quaking,

E'en high Heav'n shaking
!

So wears he out

his awful

doom,

Until dread Ragnarock be come.

lu this poc-m, Loki's final capture and punishment only is told. Escaping from the banquet hall of ^Egir, he fled to the mountains, where he secreted himself until discovered by Odin, who, with the rest of the Jisir, went in pursuit. Loki, to avoid capture, assumed the form of a salmon, but was finally taken by Thor.

PART ELEVENTH.
R A c; N A R O C K
.

WAS

done

th'

avenging deed was

wrought
Alas, too late
!

Decrees of Fate

With judgment fraught

Must be obeyed.
With Baldur dead
Pure Peace and Innocence had
fled
;

When
Strife

his swift, shining course

was stayed,

Then darkness gathered

Tho'
oki lay fast

o'er the Earth,

and Corruption sprang

I

to birth.

bound below,
woe

The

seeds of

; ;

RAGNAROCK.
sown broadcast;

A\'ere

Nearer and nearer drew the hour,

Blacker and fiercer grew the power

That should o'erwhelm

all

things at

last.

Grim Fimbul

raged,

and

o'er the

world
;

Tempestuous winds and snow-storms hurled

The

roaring ocean icebergs ground,

flung
its

And

frozen foam around

E'en to the top of mountain height

No
Of
gentle

warming

air,

Nor radiance
Summer's

fair

soft'ning light,

Tempered

this dreadful glacial night.

Three other winters howled abroad

With furious storms of

Beneath the might of
Earth trembled
;

ice

and

hail

fearful gale

while, thro' wild abyss,

The

seas around, upthundering, roared

To

sable skies, with

moan and

hiss

Crag hurled on crag with deaf'ning crash

Great Igdrasil, beneath the lash

Of tempest

shock,

all

quivering stood

to

VALHALLA.

The blackened

skies

were flecked with blood

By

raging powers of Darkness riven

their fixed orbits in the heaven,

From
The

pallid stars

were ruthless driven

Thro' flying cloud.

Hoarse earthquakes bellowed loud

Crumbled

the rocks; forests

down bowed
;

Forth burst the hot volcanic stream

Flashed forth the

fatal lightning's

gleam

Streamed sheets of flame

Devouring tongues of
fire

to lurid sky;

rose high,

Did mighty

Igdrasil enshroud,

And Time

expired in burning flood.

All

bonds were burst

Troops of accursed

Tore rampant

thro' the

Earth and

air

The gloomy hordes The powers

Fire

of Night roamed free;

that erst

from Chaos came

and Water, Darkness, Death

and Asgard
strove in wrath.

'Gainst Earth

More Of

fiercely

than the lurid glare

conflagration, hideously
I

.Shone on men's faces Murder's flame

RAGNAROCK.

Brother slew brother

father, child

Men

turned to

tigers,
!

mad

for gore
;

Creation raged

war followed war

Impiety, Injustice piled

Huge heaps
Passion,

of horror to the sky

and Fear, and every crime

held thro' this dread time
their pale

Mad

riot

Undaunted, reared

heads high

So came, with blood and tempest shock,

Wild Ragnarock
!

The Day

of

Doom

The hour was come!

Shrill

crowed Valhalla's golden Cock

bird of

The crimson
Deep
Hot

Hel

replied.

Fierce Fenrir flung his fetters wide,

howling, rushed with ravening jaws.

Nostrils flame flashing, outstretched claws,

eyeballs glaring for his i)rey

air,

On-leaping thro' the gulfs of

With jaws agape from Earth

to
!

Heaven,

yawning chasm of red

fear

Well knew the Wolf, that awful Day,

What

])rey

should to his

maw

be given.

!2

VALHALLA.

In giant wrath, the Serpent tossed

In ocean depths,
till,

freed from chain.

;

He

rose

upon the foaming main

his
tail.

Beneath the lashings of

Seas,

mountain high, swelled

o'er the land

Then, darting mad the waves

Pouring forth bloody froth
Spurting with poisoned,
Foul, deadly mists o'er

acrost,

like hail,

venomed
all

breath

the Earth,

Thro' thundering surge, he sought the strand.

Over the

lurid

ocean flew

The

Death-ship, Nagelfari, dread.

Filled with Hrimthursar, led

by Hrym,

Bearing huge rocks

the winds that blew

And

sped

it

on

this final time.

Were dying

sighs of mortal dead.

Now

at the
livid

head of Hel's pale

armies of the
lost,

host,

Those

The unchained Loki

Grimmer and

furious came.

closer, thro' the

gloom

On

pressed they to the plain of

Doom.
;

Scorching on high, rolled pillared flame

RAGNAROCK.
Nature pierced,

With

l)ayings that thro' (Jnipa, (larm, the

From

Hel-Dog, burst

In mad, chaotic rout,

Thro' baleful

light,

The powers

of Night
aljout
I

Reeled and careered

Amid

the hideous din.

dire,
in

Confusion

The blackened Heav'ns were rent

Thro' the jagged
rift,

twain

With dazzling radiance

swift.
!

Streamed the World of Fire

Xiainst the hosts of Sin,

On

hastening to broad Vigrid's plain,

blazing sons of Muspel rode
their
;

The

Thro' gloomy clouds

pathway glowed.

Down
With

thro' the fields of air,

glittering

armor

(an,

In battle order bright.

They

sped, while seething tlame

rai)id

From
Leading
his

hoof strokes came.

gleaming band, rode Surtur,

fire
;

Mid

the red ranks of raging

124

VALHALLA.

His very sword a ray of

light
!

Snatched from the Sun

Flinging on high

Flame banners

flaunting to the sky,

at

Onward they came

headlong pace

The Rainbow

Bridge, 'neath furious race.

Shivered and sank

its

work was done

White

as the winter snows.

Great Heimdal now arose

Valhalla's Warder,

High Heaven's Guarder

Siezed his huge trump and boldly blew.

Loudly and long

thro'

Asgard rang
!

Great Gjallar-horn, with startling clang

That summons well the ^sir knew

Then,
for the third time,
all

crowed the Cock,

!

Assembling

for

Ragnarock

As

thro' the

Heavens the summons rang,

*
!

Swift to their Chief the ^^sir sprang

Fresh armor seized from steel-draped hall

Exulting loud in awful joy

That

conflict

mighty should employ

RAGNAROCK.

125

Once more
Should end

their might,

E'en though the fight

in Asgard's fatal fall

For, high o'er Vigrid's gory plain.

The ^sir saw

Little delay

fair

Gimli's fane.

was

in that

hour

(ireat

Odin gathered
him

all his

power

Ah Had
I

well for

that to his feasts

bidden he such warrior guests.

Valkyriar,

Now, wakened by

Brave armies of Einheriar

With

stiffened fingers

bound on swords
lance,

With shield and

'Mid bright spears' glance,

Pressed on amid the hastening gods.

Then, gold-helmed Odin

at their head,

Valhalla's hosts to Vigrid led

With polished armor shining

bright,

And

cuirass gleaming thro' the night.

On

to the final battle sped.

side, the

Close by his

Thunderer.
in strife
!

With Odin, Fenrir closed

Awful and strong

126

VALHALLA.

That contest

long,
!

For death and hfe

Powerless to aid was mighty Thor

'Gainst

him the

fell

World-Serpent raged,
!

And

all

his ^'Esir

powers engaged

Blood-stained the helmet's burnished gold

In struggles

mad

o'er

Earth they

rolled.

At

last,

huge Fenrir's wide-stretched jaw

Engulfed the

God
to

in grizzly

maw;

Thus, by foul Loki's

fearful son,

Was
Lo

greatest

ill

Asgard done.

Vidar, as avenger,

came
!

Of Odin's fame

The Monster

in his

mighty grasp,

Resistless clasp,

He

seized; loud howlings broke.

far,

And

affrighted echoes woke.

his writhing foe

Upon

Planting his iron shoe.

Rending and tearing with

Until, at length.
Split

vast strength,

he Fenrir's jaws asunder

RAGNAROCK.

The

reft

sky shook with deep death growls,

And

sharp, prolonged, hideous howls

Like harsh peals of angry thunder.

Scarce conquered was the Gray Wolf dread,
E'er, with the life

blood oozing slow

From wound

dealt forth
fell

by dying

foe,

On

Fenrir foul

Vidar, dead.

Caught

in the

loathsome
coils,

toils

Of Jorniungandur's
Thro"
all this

fearful

war

No

aid could bear the

Thunderer
fatal sting,

The

Serpent,

armed with

Loud clanking now

with scaly side,

Fierce fold on fold out-lapping wide.

With

toss

and

fling
tried.

To

crush the ^^^sir-champion

At
AVith

length,

wondrous

strength.
coils off flung

Great Thor the horrid

Beneath the blows of Mjolnir dread,

The savage Monster,

stricken dead,

In jet-black gore lay weltering,

liut, in

that awful combat, stung

128

VALHALLA.

By venomed
Back

fang, nine steps

and more

recoiled the
in his last

unconquered Thor,

And

World- Victory died.

Once, high

in Valhal held a god, fallen

But now, a

shape abhorred.
for
ill

Condemned
Stern
Full long

doom

to

fill.

had Loki writhed enchained,

Tormented, tortured, agonized

Stretched at gigantic length,

Useless his Jotun strength,

Tearing

at iron fetters fast

Heavings and howlings

all in

vain
past,

There had he tossed long ages

Revolving schemes of deeds accursed.

Wild hopes of wrath and vengeance nursed

For
these, alone,

he freedom prized.

That, with his pristine power regained,

He

hatred fierce might wreak at

last

Joyful to

him was

Vigrid's plain.

Roused

to fresh ire at Fenrir's

in rage his figure

fall,

Up-towered

tall.

RAGNAROCK.
Breathing defiance deep and loud,

29

Leading ahead Hel's ghostly crowd,

With vengeful

lust,

the yEsir sought.

Swift o'er the field,

With brazen

shield,
rest.

And

lance in

Great Heimdal rushed to meet the foe

'Mid streams of gore,

While shout and roar

And
Convulsed the

thund'rous blow
earth, the aether split
rift

There, thro' the

with flames

alit,

Bright Muspel's sons in awful gaze,

One

instant glaring in amaze,

in frenzied fight

Marked how

they finight.

Then, in death-struggle, wildly pressed,

Infuriate, grappling breast to breast.

In vengeful arms they, gasping, reeled.

The

universal fury swelled

Fiercer on high

The

vaulted sky.
flame,

High arched with

Resounded with the deaf'ning clang

130

VALHALLA.

Which, deep below,

in

earthquakes rang.

Milhons advancing hosts repelled,

Whom
From

millions

met and fought, unquelled

air,

and

earth,

and
in

sea, there

came
;

Throngs

until

now

bondage held

Down
The

from their cloudy prisons swept

^'Kgir, fettered

sons of

kept

By thunderbolt and

lightning's chain.

From

seething whirlpools of the main.

Up

ALgxr sprang with Ran's dank train

pallid

Of

Drowned

while ravening waves,

Huge, rearing high

their

foaming

breasts,

Destruction bearing on their crests,

To

battle

rushed from ocean caves.

Terrific conflict! each

on

field.

Alone, could devastation wield.

Host surged on host; then,

rallying, flew

To

join

more

fierce the strife

anew.

No On
Each
in this

thought of
his

flight

own might
relied.

mad'ning hour

Down
Of

to her very central point

Trembled the

earth

thro' every joint

pale Creation's quiv'ring frame,

RAGNAROCK.
Confusion wild, and warring came
Till,
(

131

darting

down from scorching

brand

sky,

Treat Surtur flung his fiery

In conflagration flared the land.

Shrivelled like scroll the heaven high

Above, below, surrounding

Still

fire

mounting higher.

Played lurid 'gainst the crumbling

home

Of

Valhal's gods in Asgard's

dome.

Ended

the frightful war.

Alone, as conqueror,

Stood Surtur, Victor!

With ruined Nature's

birth,

Down

sank the blackened Earth

In boiling sea.
All smould'ring
fell
I

That which from Chaos came,

To Chaos back

returned

Disastrously,

In the eclipse of Asgard's lords.

Faded the

twilight of the gods.

At length one universal fiame.

Enwrapping

distant spheres, high burned;

132

VALHALLA.

Laid on one mighty funeral pyre,

Forth flashed in
fierce

consuming

fire,

In World-blaze dread,

Earth, Heaven and Hell

PART TWELFTH
RE
O
C;

EN E RA

ON

(Ihaos wild again

o'er Creation's fane.

Reigned

Foul Loki's brood had given birth

To fear
.So

in

Heav'n, and crime on Earth.

stain,

deep had sunk corruption's

far

So

had spread dark

sin

and

pain,

That Death alone

Could
While

e'er

atone

thro' the flames of Surtur's

sword

Alone could peace be yet restored.

When

that dread World-blaze flared c.n high,

in ruin earth

Mingling

and sky,

134

VALHALLA.

The

lurid glow,
forth'

still

mounting higher,
purifier.

Shone
'Twas

t^ god-sent
The

/,*

past.

Fire-God's work was done

Died down the flame;

Weak
Submerged
in

Nature's shame

depths of shoreless sea;

The
With

charred skies, the smoke-wreaths gray.

battle's din,

had passed away;

!

Day had begun

All gloriously

Thro' Heaven's broad

fields

of trackless

liglit,

With splendors bursting

thro' the night.

The

fairer

daughter of the Sun

Rode forth on her celestial way Round ether main,

Where
starry isles strew thick the plain

One
Of
Flooded

dazzling blaze

cloudless days
all

worlds with ecstacy.

Triumphantly
Stept forth the High and Mighty

One

From mansions
Where
rests for

of Eternity,

aye His golden throne;

RKr.KN'KRATlON.

135

To Whom Time

was a moment's birth;

Strong with the strength of Heaven and Earth,

Victorious o'er sin and
Willi
jjain,

wondrous majesty

shall reign

in judgment's solemn panoply.

Then

the Life-giving Spirit s])oke;

And sudden
Uj) from the

broke
the sea,

bosom of

Most beateously,

The

vernal Earth, aml)rosial

Fair as the smile of new-born light,

And

fairer far

than when at

dawn

Of young

Creation's early nlorn,

Up-springing from chaotic night.

She sang her praise

to

proud Valhal.

Raising on high her forehead

fair

Crowned

A\ith

sweet flowers of beauty rare,

to the crystal arch.

She smiled up

Laughing with fountain's gurgling plash,

And mountain
Moving

streamlet's joyous dash;

far,

While shining planets

in li(|uid

harmony

;;

1^6

VALHALLA.

Around

the

Throne of Him most High,

in

Pausing awhile

measured march,

Poured down a flood of softened beams,

C'aught from blest Gimli's golden gleams,

To
Decked

greet their sister star.

in bright robes of living green,

o'er with flow'rets' sheen.

Enamelled

Sweet Nature stood restored.

Ripe unsown harvests clothed the

hills;

The murmuring

rills

Refreshing dews o'er meadows poured

The mantling

vines, luxurious,

hung

With purple treasures

richly fraught

While sunbeams wrought,

The

leafy

bowers

t)f

shade among,

network rare of gold with dusk

^Vide gardens of sweet-smelling musk,

With jassamine and

roses' scent.

To perfumed

air

more perfume

lent;

Thick woods, whose boughs of fragrance flung

Their spicy odors to the breeze.

Rose

in fresh

coolness o'er the vale.

And

gently swayed to balmy gale

KEc;KN KRAI ION.

137

The bending
With l)urnished
fruit,

trees,

were weighted deep;

While, from the steep, Rivers of joy rolled

down each

dale;

On

the sweet breeze that gently swelled

From groves

of cassia and of palm,

Forth tuneful voices gaily welled

From

feathered songsters of the

air.

Whose gorgeous plumes,

in colors bright,
light.

Flashed jewelled gleams of rainbow

Mingled with roseate sunl)eanis

fair.

Caressing breaths of heavenly balm

Young Nature lapped

in blessed

calm

While throbbing pulses of the Farth

Beat high at her glad second
birth.

Thro'

all

that

doomful Day

When

.Surtur's

flames destroyed the world.

.And back to Chaos Nature hurled.

Two

gentle beings lay

in

Concealed

Mimir's

wood

Hodminir's forest deep;

unscathed,

Unshaken

l)y

the tempest shock,

in dreamless slumbers sweetlv swathed,

138

VALHALLA.

They,

all

unharmed, passed 'neath the brand.

o'er all

That burning sword which

Devouring
Alone, of
else, air, sea,
all

waved,

and land,

Creation, saved

From

that resistless fire

and flood

Of Time-destroying Ragnarock.
Unconscious
thro' that

hideous
life,

strife,

Awakened now
Guileless

to blissful

and

lovely, they arose

In new-born strength and purity.

All passion passed, with care

and woes;

Calmed now convulsed

Creation's throes

To

peaceful rest and surity.

all

Thro'

that night of horror dread

On dews
Now,

of morning they were fed;

lifting

up

their joyful eyes

In rapturous wonder and surprise.

They gazed around

From
With

ether vault to teeming ground.

Above, the broad horizon's zone

orient effulgence shone

Beneath, the bounteous Earth sent up

Unfading

grass,

and

flow'ret's cup.

R EGKN liRA

TION'.

39

Filled with the wine of early

\\'ith

dawn;

dew-drops gemmed, each emerald blade

gleaming, liquid light
of the heavens displayed;

\\'ithin its

The image

Eternal spring breathed thro' the morn,

And

cast o'er

all

her halo bright.

So beauteous

lay,

so

tranciuilly,

The

virgin daughter of the sea,

That the two souls who on her gazed.

Themselves most innocent and
All perfect 'mid perfection rare.
fair.

By myriad blooming charms amazed,

Received with joy
this dwelling place.

High
Pure

altars to the
(iimli's fane

gods they reared,

they loved and feared
;

So, blest

and happy, chosen were

a nobler race.

As parents of

Upon
Of

the perfume-breathing plain

lda\oller,

where before
halls of yore.
;

Stood Asgard's gold-roofed

The joyous

/P^sir

met again

Conquerors from awful

fight,

140

VALHALLA.

Grown pure
Passed
thro'

thro' fire,

grown strong with

life,

strife,

dread death to endless

light
:

As

thro'

dark bars to fane of

For Loki's reign was

o'er.

No more
Should
foul wrong, loathsome, side

by side

With peace and purity abide.

Broken the power of Hel

Freed from her gloomy chain,

Baldur again
Rose, luminous, from realms of night.
All .shapes of
111,

as rolled

away

The
Back

Twilight gloom before his ray,

to their

bonds appalled
all evil

fell

On

Vigrid's plain

died.

That great Atonement-Day,

In godlike love, thro' godlike might.

Led back

the

^'Esir, purified,

To firmer thrones and brighter halls Than e'er were found in Asgard's walls.
Love smiled
thro' all the universe
;

Arm

linked in arm, in sweet converse,

Baldur, with Hcedur seated nigh,

In perfect peace and harmony,

rp:generation.

141

(ilad greetings gave exultantly,

As up the heights

to Ida's plain

The happy
In the clear

.-Esir

rose again,

dawn, triumphantly.

With

crystal walls, gold-fretted roof,

new-built Valhal, tempest-proof.

Towered
Without, within,
Steel to

aloft
all

rich

and

rare.
fair

make

strong,

and jewels

All lavish spread

O'er pavement broad, and vaulted

dome

While music
Floated,
full

soft

voiced, high overhead,

Ciuiding the Ais'ir to their home.

Again the beakers deep brimmed

o'er;

Again the great gods' wondrous lore

And mighty deeds

Of
earlier

of Eld were sung

With runic rhyme

time

Again the pillared Feast-Hall rung.

But now no Battle-Maidens stood

Round Odin's Throne,

at hero-feast,
;

With gory armor, shields of blood

142

VALHALLA.

All useless

now

Valkyriar,

War brought
High
o'er

forth

no Einheriar,

For war had ceased.

young Earth and

Gimli's fane

Ida's plain,

By

Close by the Throne of

Him Most High;

With folded wings, stood Victory

While sweetly
thro'

each sounding sphere,

air,

In tones that swelled on waves of

He

spoke,

commanding

" Peace

"
!

Gave

chains to Death

to Pain, surcease.

Wide thrown,

lo

Gimli's golden gate

On most harmonious
Arrayed
in

hinges swang,

As, from His Everlasting Seat,

majesty complete.
Eternal, glorious, came,
all

The Judge

Weighing, supreme,

things create,
!

Empires of Earth, of Heaven, of Hell

To

farthest orbs

His judgments rang.

sentence
fell.

As from His

lips just

The

fetid

ranks of Sin shrank

down

Beneath His frown.

Thro' radiant vault of ether sky.

REGENERATION.

143

To On

Hel's

domain of misery,

wings of hideous Nidhogg borne,

lie,

In Nastrond's fearful stream to

'Neath serpents' fangs, in lurid flame,

By Fenrir

torn.
cliarn

Bound

fast in

adamantine

In frightful depths of endless pain

Such was

their fear

doom

of agony,

Of
More

and shame.

awful was their second doom.

Exiled forever from His face,

Removed

far in

anguished gloom
starry jjlain.

To know, above on
In glories shown

fair

Gimli's fane.

Where

joy ecstatic bathed the good

In endless flood
\\'hile they,

condemned, could gain no place

feet

E'en at His

Never the

faintest ray

might snatch.

Nor

e'en the

dimmest shadow catch

Of

raptures sweet.

Seated, now, in Gimli's portal.

As before

at

Asgard's gate,

"

144
Fair Iduna,

VALHALLA.

Maid Immortal,
^sir
wait.

Shall the purer

Songs of joyance ever singing,

Skoals of triumph, sweet and clear.

Thro' the vaulted

dome

are ringing,

Echoing

Ihro' crystal sphere.

" Passed

is

the

gloom of

night,

Finished the fearful

fight,

Welcome,

thrice

welcome

to glories

on high.

For

striving

and sadness,
;

Now
Lo
!

taste ye pure gladness

thro' the radiant, orient sky,

From What

Gimli's wide portal,

splendors immortal

Flash o'er your pathway, to Heav'n drawing nigh.

Joy, joy to you, blest ones
!

Behold

for

you gold thrones

rise
;

Fixed 'neath the dome of Eternity

The
Rest

stars of the

morning
!

Sing sweet in the dawning

after conflict, the soul's dearest prize.-

Mount, then, ye heroes

Hasten
to Gimli's hall

all.

Near you, on golden wing, Victory

flies

RKt;KNi:KA'rio\.

145

Pausing awhile, more clear and high

Awoke

the notes triumphantly.

On

tuneful hinge, with music sweet,

roll

Back

the gates most glorious

The

entering conquerors to greet.

his lofty seat.

Then, bending from

The Judge Supreme,

With smiles
that e'er through Ciimli gleam,
these, victorious,
to

Now

welcomes
Iduna

I-ed by

His

feet.

Bowed low

before

th"
still

Eternal I'hrone,

loftier

measure

she sings

'I'en

thousand
all

hari)s with

sounding strings
alone.

Ascribe

praise to

Him

His

justice,

might and wisdom own.

chorus rings
;

Thro'

list'ning orbs the

The

hosts of Hea\"n entranced stand

paths, while echoes grand

Still in their

Roll in huge waves of ceaseless sound

Those countless burning worlds around.

Too

high, too pure, that

wondrous

strain.
:

For Earth

to catch e'en fiiint refrain

146

VALHALLA.

Yet

Still

the exultant song rolls on

!

For victory won

The

Twilight passed
its

dread
Day

Ragnarock

Passed, with

furious battle shock

All joyful beams, with brillant ray,

Regeneration's glorious

_/LPHABETICAL

INDEX OF

TES.

JEgir.

-The Northern Neptune; dwelt on the Isle of Hlesey, where at every harvest he entertained the gods. The last feast given to them was after Baldur's death, ended by the /Egir was of giant race, but unbidden presence of Loki.
held intercourse with the gods.
entirety.

He

ruled over ocean in

its

.^gir's Daughters. /Egir's Sons.

.^siR.

The waves
Vili

personified.

The
in

rain-drops and hail-stones personified.

these
chief.

.(^sir-Trinity.

Odin was The gods Valhalla; of the Odin, and Ve, sons of Bor, world. Al-Father. ^The supreme God, without beginning and withcreating
a

should reign in the Regeneration. often given to Odin as father of the .^sir.
out end,

who

title

Angurboda (Anguish-boding).
Architect.
castle

giantess,

the

mother by

Loki, of Fenrir, the Serpent, and Hela.

The Jotun, who, in disguise, contracted to build a of defense to Asgard, in payment to receive Freya, the Sun and Moon. The bargain was made through Loki nor did the gods see their danger till three days before the castle was completed. Loki, under compulsion, lured away Svadilfari, the chief aid of the Jotun, who in his true form then attacked the gods ; he was slain by Thor.
gods.
;

Asgard.
Ask.

Home of the The Njrthern Adam

was nourished.

created

by

the

.:^sir-Trinity,

(Odin, Vili and Ve), from an ash tree.

AuDHUMLA. The cow formed from the frozen rime of Ginunga. From her udder flowed rivers of milk, on which Vmir

INDEX OF NOTKS.
B.

Baldur.
fice

The

Summer Sun-God;
all

son

ot"

Odin

by

Friga

best-loved of

gods.

Slain by Hodur, through

the arti-

of Loki.

Berserker
fury;

(Without armor). A warrior wild with martial name derived from Arngrim, who, furious, fought unarmed, and conquered the King of Holmgard.

BiFRosT.

The

destroyed at

Rainbow bridge joining Ragnarock by Surtur.

seat of

Asgard

to

Earth;

BiLSKiRNiR.

The

Thor; symbolized the

father of Odin, Vili

lightning.

BoR.

-Son

of Buri, and

and Ve, by the

Jotun woman, Bestla.

Bragi.

God of

Poetry and Song

son of Odin.

The progenitor of the y^sir-Trinity ; Buri (the PRonuctR). himself formed by the licking of the salt rime by Audhumla. On the first day, out grew from the stones the hairs of a man; on the second day, the head appeared; and, on the
third day, forth sprang the

mm

entire.

D.

Dagr, Ok Day.

Delling
Dwarfs.

Son of Night, by Delling. (Day-break). Of JbWiv

race.

Created

out of the dust of the earth by the

^sir-

Trinity; of Jotun race, but serving the gods. They dwelt in rocks, chiefly, and were metal-workers. Four of them

held up the corners of the sky.

Dragon's Bed.

Dwarfs' Dew.

A synonym A synonym

for gold.
for gold.

E.

Eagle of Igdrasil.
Einheriar.

Symbol of

life,

hovering over Igdrasil.

Heroes chosen from

battle as allies for

Odin against

the Battle of Ragnarock; feasted by

him

in Valhalla.

INDKX OF NOIKS.
Klvidnir (the plai;e ok Stokms). htim.
E.MBLA.

149
hall of

The

Hela

in Nifl-

The Northern
tree.

E\c; formed by the /Esir-Trinity from

an elm

Eyra.

The goddess

ot

healing; she bound the

wounds of the

Einheriar in Valhalla.
V.

Fenrir,.

of pain, also of earthly fire. Son of Loki by Angurlod.i. Bred up in Asgard, finally cast out, and bound with Gleipnir, in depths of eaith; the foam from his mouth formed the river Von; his tossings caused earthquakes. Through his outstretched jaws the .^-Esir thrust Odin's sword, the hilt on Earth, the point in Heaven. Loosed in Kagnarock, he swallowed Odin, and was slain bv Vidar.

Personitication

FiMBUL. The terrible winter which Ragnarock.

lasted three years, preceding

FjoRGYN.
first

Primeval Earth
wife of Odin.

personified.

Daughter of Night, and

FoRSETi.

Frey.

God of peace and God of sunshine and

Nji'ird

justice.

Son of Baldur by Nanna.

rains.

soft

Of

the

Vanir,

being son of

by Skada;

presided over

fruitfulness

His spouse was Gerda, won after long resistance through Skirnir. Their union represented the coming of spring to the winter-Earth. In Ragnarock he was slain by
of Earth.
Surtur.

Freya

The
(

Northern Venus.
Brisingamen
she received
1

Goddess

of love.

Daughter

of Njord by Skada, and next in rank to Friga.

The wreath

of stars, her hall,

lovers.

was her
pure

necklace; in Folkvang,
united faithful

women, and

Friga.

The Northern Ceres. Daughter of FjTirgyn by Odin, Personifiwhose wife she became, and queen of the gods.
cation of cultivated Earth.
jugal love.

Patroness of industry and confuture, but could not reveal

She penetrated the

150

INDEX OK NOTKS.
her knowledge, her lips being sealed by the heron's crown Foreseeing Baldur's fate, she took from Creation she wore.

vow not to injure him, neglecting only the mistletoe. Loki, visiting her as an old woman, discovered this, and hence Baldur's death. Hermoder obtained from Hela a promise to set him free, should all Creation weep for him. Loki as Thokt alone was tearless, and Baldur was lost.
a

Frost Giants, or Hrimthursar. Destructive Jiituns. Deadly influences in nature and in man's soul personified. Sprung from Ymir ; they were finally drowned in his blood, save one pair who escaped and became progenitors of new Jotun
races

FuLLA (Fertility).

Maid of

Friga,

whose casket she

bore.

G.

Garm.

Northern

realm.

Cerberus. Hell-hound guarding Hela's In Ragnarock Tyr and he destroyed each other.

Gerda.
GiMLi.

Daughter of the giant of the aurora-borealis.

Gymer;

wife of Frey.

Symbol

Ginunga-Gap.

Dwelling the The

of

pure, after

Ragnarock.
placed
before creation

abyss

of Chaos,

between Nifiheim and Muspelheim ; a bottomless chasm, filled with a fermenting mass of formless matter, flowing from the venom streams of Niflheim.

One of the venom-rivers, boundary Heimdal's horn. Gleipnir. The magic chain binding
GiOLL.

of Hela's realm.

Gjallar-Horn.

Fenrir; wrought

by the

dark elves, and brought

to the gods by Skirnir.

Gnipa Cave.

Golden Apples.
GoNDULA.

In Niflheim, where Given by Iduna

Fenrir,

was chained Garm.

to

renew youth

to the gods.

Gray

One of the Valkyriar. Wolf. Son of Loki.

INDKX OF NOTES.

151

Heimdal.

Northern Iris; warder of Bifrost bridge. Sprung from the nine daughters of the waves, through the glow of Odin's eye. With Gjallar-Horn, he assembled /Es'n and Einheriar at Rajnarock, when Loki and he fell together.

Hela.

Daughter of Loki by

ruling in Niflheim.
all

Angurboda. Goddess of Death, Divided the dead with Odin, receiving

cowards and evil-doers.

Hermodur.

Son

of Odin

by Friga.

Messenger of the gods

the Northern Mercury.

Heron's Crown (Forgetfulness)

Worn
his

by Friga.

Hlesev.

H(EDUR.

j^gir's abode beneath the ocean.

Personification

of darkness and

Odin by Friga. Blind slayer of means of the mistletoe dart.

brother

ignorance Son of Baldur, bv

Hodmimir's Wood.
narock.

Where the human

pair

were saved

in

Rag-

Hr^.

giant in eagle

guise, stationed in

the North, causing

storms by the flapping of his wings.

Hrimfaxi.

Steed of Night, scattering frost and

dew from

his bit.

Hrimthursar.

Frost giants, sprung from

Ymir.
at

Hrym.
It

The giant steering the ship Nagelfari

Ragnarock.

Hringhorni.

The

ship upon

which Baldur's body was burned.

represented

the whole world.

I.

Idavold, or Idavolf-er.
bleiJ after

Asgard's

plain,

Creation, and where they

where the gods assemmet again in the Re-

generation.

Goddess of Immortality; daughter of the dwarf Ivald, Iduna. and wife of Bragi.
Igdrasil.

Tree of

Life, having three roots, in Niflheim,

Jotun-

152

INDEX OF NOTES.
Mimir's Well was beneath the second, Nidhogg gnawed the and the Urdar-fuunt by the last. first. Scorched at Ragnarock, it revived in the Regeneraheini and AsgarH.
tion.

J-

JoRMUNGANDUR.

Midgard-Scrpcnt, encircling the Earth; In Ragnarock, Thor and born of Angurboda, by Loki. he fell together.

The

JoTUNS (Giants).
sions in

Earliest created

beings, sprung

from Ymir.

Personifications of destructive natural elements and evil pas-

man.

JoTUNHEiM (Home of Giants).

JoTUN-woLVES.

Utgard.
in

Pursued

Sun and iMoon;

Ragnarock, over-

rook and devoured them.

Laufey (Leaf-isle).
Ljus-ALFEBS.
Loki.

Mother
;

of Loki.

The

light elves

good

spirits.

Son of Farbauti by Laufey, and foster-brother of Odin ; took part, under the name of Ve, in the creation of man, In primeval times, he giving him the senses and passions. Later, he became the embodied prinwas a benign power. Constant worker of ill to Asgard and ciple of evil. Captured by the gods, and bound with the entrails Earth. Freed in Ragnarock, of his son Narfi, in depths of Earth. Earthquakes were then slain by Heimdal, who fell also. thought to be caused by his writhings, and volcanoes by his
fiery breath.

M.
MiDGARD. Earth, formed by the Sons of Bor from the body of Ymir; destroyed in Ragnarock by Surtur's flames, it sprang lip more fair in the Regeneration.
MiMiR.
Personification of keeper of the Well of head was sent to Odin,
forth

memory; the all- knowing giant Wisdom slain by the Vanir, liis who had it embalmed, and thence;

came

to

it

for advice.

INDKX OF XOTKS.
Mimir's Well, (the Ocean).
of Igdrasil. Mj.)LNiR.

53

Lying
for

beneath the second root

Thoi's hammer, made

him by the dwarfs.

toll

Mohgud.

The

skeleton maid taking

from the dead who

crossed the Gioll.

The Northern Charon.

Moon. Brother commanded

by

of the Sun, and son of the giant Mundilfori, the gods to drive the car of the Moon.
sister

Jotun wolves pursued brother and devoured them at Ragnarock.

unceasingly, and

MusPELHEiM.
stars

The realm of flames, ruled over by Surtur. were sparks from Muspelheim.

The

Muspel's Sons.

The flames.
N.
death -ship built of dead men's
for nails.

Nagelf.'\ri.

The

Nastrond.
rock
J

Place

of puniihment in Niflheim.

the wicked after

Ragna-

NiDHOGG.

Symbol

of corruption.

Death-dragon gnawing the

roots

of Igdrasil; bore the wicked to Nastrond.

Existed from the beginning. Niflheim. ofHela.

Ice-cold; the realm

Nj()RD.

patron of sailors and fishermen, and rulover rains and winds. His wife was Skada; his children were Frey and Freya. He was exchanged by the Vanir for Hcenir, brother of Odin, according to the Elder
ing

A vana-god,

Edda.

Night.

the Jutun Norve. By Delling, of .^sir Mother and son were placed she had a son, Day. by Al-father in chariots, and forced to drive successively round the heavens.
race,

Daughter of

NoRNiR (singular, Norna).

The Fates Goddesses of Time. Represented as three sisters, dwelling at the Urdar-foun;, from which they daily watered Igdrasil. Odin himself was forced to seek counsel from them, and obey their decrees.

154

INDEX OF NOTES.

Odin.

est

The highBtir, by Bestla of Hrymthursar race. of the Esir-Trinity5 from him sprang the other gods in His wives Spirit and essence of the universe. Valhalla. were Jc'ird, (Fjcirgyn) Friga and Rindus, personifications of
In Ragnarock he was destroyed by Fenrir. nesday bears his name.
Earth.

Son of

Wed-

The Sun. Left in pledge at Mimir's Odin's Eye (the Spirit Well, symbolizing the sinking of the sun at night into the ocean; also, the Eye of Heaven, penetrating the depths of
Earth.

The

Spirit

seeking out the treasures of memory.

Daily

Odin's Ravens.
bringing

Huginn (mind) and Muninn (memory).

all parts

him news from

of the Earth.

R.
Ragnarock.

Destruction

The

final

of Earth and conflict between good and

evil

death of the powers.

;

gods.

Ran, or Rana.
Regeneration.

Wife of

yEgir.

Evil and malicious

in

her

net she caught unwary sailors.

Corresponded

to

the Christian Resurrection.

rule.

When
Rindus.

the

High and Mighty One held

earth.

of winter Rota. One of the Valkyriar. Northern Runes. of the

Personification
Letters
old

One

of Odin's wives.

alphabet, supposed to have

magical properties.
S.

Saga.

Goddess

of

history,

dwelling at Sokvabek.
her.

Saga, a

tale, derives its

name from

Serpent.

Shield-graven Blooms.

Jormungandur, son of Loki. The Norsemen decorated the edges of

wife of Thor, personification

their shields with graven wreaths.

SiF. Golden-haired

of

autumn

earth covered with harvests.

INDEX OK NOTES.

155

Wife of Loki. In his punishment, she held a basin SiGYN. wherein to catch the venom drops otherwise failing on his
face.

Skada.

-Wife

ot

Njord, and daughter of Thiassi.

of the North. The Steed of Day. From mane, Skirnir. Messenger of " an expression of Skoal. Skuld. The Noma of the Future one of the Valkyriar.

Skalds.

bards

Skinfaxi.

his

light radiated.

Frey.

Signifies

hail,"

greeting.

Foal by Svadilfari of Loki disguised as a mare; Sleipnir. with eight legs, and of wonderful swiftness ; he became the steed of Odin.

The flowing Hail and SuRTUR. The god of

SoKVABEK.
Sons of ^Egir.
Svadilfari.

well,

where was the

hall

of Saga.

rain personified.

fire,

guarder of Muspelheim.

In

Ragna-

rock, he destroyed Earth with his flames.

Horse

of the Jotun architect;

sire

of Sleipnir.

Thiassi.

Giant
was

father of Skada.

For him Loki stole Iduna.

He

slain

by Thor.

Thukt (Darkness).
Thor.

Loki,

disguised as a giantess, prevented

Baldur's ransom.

The northern Jupiter ; the thunder-god, son of Odin Fell in Ragby Fjorgyn, and next in rank to his father. Represented as narock, poisoned by the Serpent's breath. young and handsome, with flame-flashing eyes, bent brows Thursday (the thunder-cloud), and red beard (lightning).
was named from him.

Thund.

Twilight.

The Ragnarock, the

death-river rolling between Asgard and Earth.

fall

of the gods.

156 Tyk
God of war;
rir,

INDKX OF NOTES.
son of Odin, by
a

giantess;

by

him rendered one-handed.

U.
Past.

Tuesday

keeper of Fenis named from

him.

Noma of the Utgard. The

Urda.

capital of JTitunheim.

V.
Vala.

The prophetess;

roused from her death-sleep by Odin,

fall

she predicted the death of Baldur, and

of Asgard.
Einheriar.

Valhalla. --Home of the .^sir, where Odin feasted the Valtam. Fictitious name of Odin's fatlier.
Vali.

Son of Odin

by Rindus

avenger of

his brother Baldur.

When
Valkyriar.

only one day old, he slew

Hcidur.

Symbol of the

Summer

sun chasing away Winter darkness.

Battle-maidens; choosers of the shin, whom they bore on gory shields to Valhalla, where they served them at Odin's feast.

Vans, or Vanir.

Gods

ot

the

air;

deities

also

of the sea.

They were
Ve.
of

Njtird, Frey

and Freya.
creating

Son One of the ^sir-Trinity. Name assumed Odin when seeking Vala. Verdandi. The Noma of Vidar. Son of Odin by Grid. In Ragnarock he avenged Odin, and slew ViGRlD. The of the Ragnarock. ViLi. Son of and one of the Asgard. ViNGOLF. Hall Regeneration, Virgin Daughter of the Sea. Earth,
Bi'ir.

Vegtam.

by

the

the Present.

the giantess
Fenrir.

field

final battle in

Biir,

creating .^^sir-Trinity.

of the goddesses in

in the

uprising from the

bosom of the ocean.

Y.

Ymir (the World Mass)

giant formed from the melted rime-drops in Ginunga, through the quickening power of the Supreme God. He of himself had the Hrimthursar; was finally slain by the .^sir Trinity, and his sons drowned in his blood. From his parts the world was formed.

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