VIII.— THE DESCENT OF ODIN.

Uprose the King of Men with speed,

And saddled straight his coal-black steed;

Down the yawning steep he rode

That leads to Hela'sdrear abode.

Him the Dog of Darkness spied;

His shaggy throat he open'd wide,

While from his jaws, with carnage fill'd,

Foam and human gore distill'd:

Hoarse he bays with hideous din,

Eyes that glow and fangs that grin,

And long pursues with fruitless yell

The Father of the powerful spell.

Onward still his way he takes,

— The groaning earth beneath him shakes,—

Till full before his fearless eyes

The portals nine of Hell arise.

Right against the eastern gate,

By the moss-grown pile he sate,

Where long of yore to sleep was laid

The dust of the prophetic maid.

Facing to the northern clime,

Thrice he traced the Runic rhyme,

Thrice pronounced, in accents dread,

The thrilling verse that wakes the dead,

Till from out the hollow ground

Slowly breathed a sullen sound.

Proph. What call unknown, what charms presume

To break the quiet of the tomb?

Who thus afflicts my troubled sprite,

And drags me from the realms of Night?

Long on these mouldering bones have beat

The winter's snow, the summer's heat,

The drenching dews and driving rain!

Let me, let me sleep again.

Who is he, with voice unblest,

That calls me from the bed of rest?

Odin. A traveller, to thee unknown,

Is he that calls, a warrior's son.

Thou the deeds of light shalt know;

Tell me what is done below,

For whom yon glittering board is spread;

Dress'd for whom yon golden bed?

Proph. Mantling in the goblet see

The pure beverage of the bee,

O'er it hangs the shield of gold;

‘ Tis the drink of Balder bold:

Balder's head to death is given;

Pain can reach the sons of Heaven!

Unwilling I my lips unclose;

Leave me, leave me to repose.

Odin. Once again my call obey:

Prophetess! arise, and say,

What dangers Odin's child await,

Who the author of his fate?

Proph. In Hoder's hand the hero's doom;

His brother sends him to the tomb.

Now my weary lips I close;

Leave me, leave me to repose.

Odin. Prophetess! my spell obey;

Once again arise, and say,

Who the avenger of his guilt,

By whom shall Hoder's blood be spilt?

Proph. In the caverns of the west,

By Odin's fierce embrace compress'd,

A wondrous boy shall Rinda bear,

Who ne'er shall comb his raven hair,

Nor wash his visage in the stream,

Nor see the sun's departing beam,

Till he on Hoder's corse shall smile,

Flaming on the funeral pile.

Now my weary lips I close;

Leave me, leave me to repose.

Odin. Yet a while my call obey:

Prophetess! awake, and say,

What virgins these, in speechless woe,

That bend to earth their solemn brow,

That their flaxen tresses tear,

And snowy veils that float in air?

Tell we whence their sorrows rose,

Then I leave thee to repose.

Proph. Ha! no traveller art thou;

King of Men, I know thee now;

Mightiest of a mighty line —

Odin. No boding maid of skill divine

Art thou, no prophetess of good,

But mother of the giant-brood!

Proph. Hie thee hence, and boast at home,

That never shall inquirer come

To break my iron-sleep again,

Till Lokhas burst his tenfold chain;

Never till substantial Night

Has re-assumed her ancient right;

Till, wrapp'd in flames, in ruin hurl'd,

Sinks the fabric of the world.