{"collection":"Classics","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/cla/north/baldur.htm","path":"cla/north/baldur.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/cla/north/baldur.htm","text":"The gods hurried to their hall of council,\nGathered together, goddesses with them,\nAll-powerful, eager to unriddle\nBaldur's dream that such dread portended.\nUp rose Odhinn, unaging magician,\nHarnesses Sleipnir, the eight-legged,\nSped down from Asgard to Hel's Deep.\nThe blood-dabbled hound of Hel faced him,\nHowling in frenzy at the father of runes.\nThe High One halted at the eastern gate,\nWhere loomed a tumulus, tomb of a witch.\nRunes he chanted, charms of power:\nHer spectre rose whom his spell commanded\nTo enlighten the god with the lore of the dead.\nWho is he that on Hel intrudes?\nWho calls me up, increasing my grief.?\nDrenched by hail, driven by storm,\nDew-frozen, I am dead long.\nI am Struggler's Son, Strider, Way-Tamer,\nYour secrets I ask: all earth's I know.\nWhy are Hel's halls hung with jewels,\nHer chambers rivers of red gold?\nFor Baldur our mead is brewed strong\nIn a shining cauldron, a shield over it.\nOdhinn on high in heart despairs.\nUnwilling my words: I would no more.\nFar-seeing witch, your words unriddle.\nMore will I ask: all will I know.\nWho shall slay Baldur, best of the gods,\nWho suck the life from the son of Odhinn?\nHodur the blind the branch shall throw,\nFrom his brother's body the blood to drain,\nSucking the life from the son of Odhinn.\nUnwilling my words: I would no more.\nFar-seeing witch, your words unriddle.\nMore will I ask: all will I know.\nBy whose hand shall Hodur fall\nAnd Baldur's bane be burned with fire?\nRindur the blessed shall bring forth Vali.\nThough but a night old, he shall be the avenger,\nHis hands he shall wash not nor his hair comb\nTill Baldur's bane is borne to the pyre:\nUnwilling my words: I would no more.\nFar-seeing witch, your words unriddle.\nMore will I ask: all will I know.\nWho are the maidens who shall mourn then,\nToss up to Asgard their trailing scarves?\nWay-Tamer you are not, nor are you Strider:\nYou are Odhinn the wily, unaging magician.\nWitch you are not, nor woman either:\nWomb of monsters, you have mothered three.\nGo home, Odhinn: air your triumph.\nNo guest shall again my grave visit,\nTill wild Loki tear loose from his bonds\nAnd the World - Wasters on the war-path come.","title":"Baldur's Dream","type":"page"}