BALDER DEAD
AN EPISODE
1. SENDING
Co on the floor lay Balder dead; and round
^ Lay thickly strewn swords, axes, darts, and spears,
Which all the Gods in sport had idly thrown
At Balder, whom no weapon pierced or clove;
But in his breast stood fixt the fatal bough 5
Of mistletoe, which Lok the Accuser gave
To Hoder, and unwitting Hoder threw—
'Gainst that alone had Balder's life no charm.
And all the Gods and all the Heroes came.
And stood round Balder on the bloody floor, ID
Weeping and wailing; and Valhalla rang
Up to its golden roof with sobs and cries;
And on the tables stood the untested meats,
And in the horns and gold-rimm'd skulls the wine.
And now would night have fall'n, and found them yet
Wailing; but otherwise was Odin's will. 16
And thus the Father of the ages spake;—
"Enough of tears, ye Gods, enough of wail!
Not to lament in was Valhalla made.
If any here might weep for Balder's death, 20
I most might weep, his father; such a son
I lose to-day, so bright, so loved a God,
But he has met that doom, which long ago
The Nornies, when his mother bare him,^pun,
And fate set seal, that so his end must be, 25
Balder has met his death, and ye survive—
Weep him an hour, but what can grief avail ?
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