SELECTIONS IN ENGLISH POETRY

Mournfully shook his head, and disappeared.

And as the woodman sees a little smoke 335

Hang in the air, afield, and disappear.

So Balder faded in the night away.

And Xanna on her bed sank back: but then

Frea, the mother of the Gods, with stroke

Painless and swift, set free her airy soul, 34°

Which took, on Haider's track, the way below:

And instantly the sacred morn appeared.

II. JOURNEY TO THE DEAD
Forth from the east, up the ascent of Heaven,
Day drove his courser with the shining mane;
And in Valhalla, from his gable-perch, 345
The golden-crested Cock began to crow.
Hereafter, in the blackest dead of night,
With shrill and dismal cries that bird shall crow,
Warning the Gods that foes draw nigh to Heaven
But now he crew at dawn, a cheerful note, 350
To wake the Gods, and Heroes to their tasks.
And all the Gods, and all the Heroes, woke,
And from their beds the Heroes rose, and donnM
Their arms, and led their horses from the stall,
And mounted them, and in Valhalla's court 355
Were ranged; and then the daily fray began.
And all day long they there are hack'd and hewn,
'Mid dust, and groans, and limbs lopp'd off, and blood :
But all at night return to Odin's hall,
Woundless and fresh; such lot is theirs in Heaven. 360
And the Valkyries on their steeds went forth
Tow'rd Earth and fights of men ; and at their side
Skulda, the youngest of the Nornies, rode;
And over JJifrost, where is HeimdalTs watch,