1. To the Thing forthwith fared all Aesir,

and all goddesses gathered together.

Among them mooted the mighty godheads *

why Baldr the Bright had baleful dreams. **

* The abruptness of the beginning may be due to direct loan (from "Thrymskvidha," St. 14) of the first two lines. However, the manner is typical of the Scandinavian folkeviser (ballads) and the lines may be common property.

** For this myth, see "Voluspa," Sts. 31-33.

2. Up rose Othin, oldest of gods, *

and on Sleipnir ** the saddle laid:

to the nether world rode, to Niflhel ***dark.

A hound **** he met which from Hel did come.

* Conjectural.

** "The Runner," Othin's steed. See "Grimnismal," St. 45

*** "Dark Hel." See "Vafthrudhnismal," St. 43

**** Garm. See "Voluspa," St. 43

3. About his breast was he blood besprent,

and long did bark at Baldr's father.

Rode Othin on--- the earth did quake----

till the high halls of Hel he came nigh.

4. Then Othin rode to the eastern gate,

where the hoary seeress' howe * he knew;

there spells he chanted to charm up the dead,

till unwilling arose the witch and spake:

* "Low hill or mound," hence "grave."

5. "What man is this, to me unknown,

who maketh me fare such fear-fraught ways?

Was I buried in snow and beaten by rain

and drenched with dew, dead was I long."

(Othin said:)

6. "Vegtam * my name, I am Valtam's son;

say of misty Hel as of Mithgarth I:

for whom are the benches with byrnies covered, **

the dais decked eke with dazzling gold?"

* "The Wayfarer." Valtam, "the Warrior."

** See "Grimnismal," St. 9.

(The seeress said:)

7. "For Baldr the beer brewed here standeth,

a shield * lies over the shining drink;

in sorrow are sunk the sons of Othin. **

I was loath to speak, now let me cease."

* In the sense of the paten covering the caldron, to protect the drink against the "evil eye"?

** That is, the gods.

(Othin said:)

8. "Cease not, seeress, till said thou hast,

answer the asker till all he knows:

who will Baldr slay, the blameless god,

and send hither the son of Othin?"

(The seeress said:)

9. "Hoth * will the hero hitherward send,

he will Baldr slay, the blameless god,

and end the life of Othin's son.

I was loath to speak, now let me cease."

* See "Voluspa," St. 32

(Othin said:)

10. "Cease not, seeress, till said thou hast,

answer the asker till all he knows:

the hateful deed who will avenge,

and Baldr's slayer who send to Hel?"

(The seeress said:)

11. "Rind * bears Vali in Western Halls;

but one night old will Vali slay him:

neither cleanses his hands nor combs his hair,

till Baldr's slayer he sends to Hel.

I was loath to speak, now let me cease."

* Compare Krimgothic rintsch, "mountain."

(Othin said:)

12. "Cease not, seeress, till said thou hast:

answer the asker till all he knows:

who are the girls that greet so sore,

and their kerchief corners cast to the sky?" *

* Answer: the waves. Probably there is a pun intended, for the words of the original, here translated "kerchief corners," may also mean "the corners of the sail." Similar riddles are propounded by Gestumblindi (Othin) in the Hervarar saga, Chap. 9. To account for the riddle being introduced here it has been suggested that the lines refer to the sail of the ship bearing dead Baldr's body ("Gylfaginning," Chap. 48) which dips into the sea.

(The seeress said:)

13. "Thou art not Vegtam, as I had thought,

but rather Othin, oldest of gods."

(Othin said:)

"Thou art no seeress nor sage woman,

but rather of thurses three the mother."

(The seeress said:)

14. "Homeward hie thee, happy in mind:

no chanted spells will charm me up

until Loki is loose from his bonds *

and the day will come of the doom of the gods."

* See "Voluspa," St. 34, and "Lokasenna," Final Prose.

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