SELECTIONS IN ENGLISH POETRY
He spake; and, as he ceased, a puff of wind
Roll'd heavily the leaden mist aside
Round where they stood, and they beheld Two Forms
Make toward them o'er the stretching cloudy plain.
And Hermod straight perceived them, who they were,
Balder and Nanna; and to Balder said : —
^Balder, too truly thou foresaw'st a snare!
Lok triumphs still, and Hela keeps her prey. 1105
No more to Asgard shalt thou come, nor lodge
In thy own house, Breidablik, nor enjoy
The love all bear toward thee, nor train up
Forset, thy son, to be beloved like thee.
Here must thou lie, and wait an endless age. mo
Therefore for the last time, O Balder, hail!"
He spake; and Balder answer'd him, and said: —
41 Hail and farewell! for here thou com'st no more.
Yet mourn not for me, Hermod, when,thou sitt'st
In Heaven, nor let the other Gods lament,
As wholly to be pitied, quite forlorn.
For Nanna hath rejoin'd me, who, of old,
In Heaven, was seldom parted from my side;
And still the acceptance follows me, which crown'd
•My former life, and cheers me even here. H20
The iron frown of Hela is relax'd
When I draw nigh, and the wan tribes of dead
Love me, and gladly bring for my award
Their ineffectual feuds and feeble hates—
Shadows of hates, but they distress them still." 1125
And the fleet-footed Hermod made reply: —
"Thou hast then all the solace death allows,
Esteem and function; and so far is well.
Yet here thou liest, Balder, underground,
-Rusting for ever; and the years roll on, 1130
The generations pass, the ages grow,