# BALDRS DRAUMAR

BALDRS DRAUMAR

BALDR’S DREAMS




1.  Once were the gods   |   together met,
    And the goddesses came   |   and council held,
    And the far-famed ones   |   the truth would find,
    Why baleful dreams   |   to Baldr had come.

2.  Then Othin rose,   |   the enchanter old,
    And the saddle he laid   |   on Sleipnir’s back;
    Thence rode he down   |   to Niflhel deep,
    And the hound he met   |   that came from hell.

3.  Bloody he was   |   on his breast before,
    At the father of magic   |   he howled from afar;
    Forward rode Othin,   |   the earth resounded
    Till the house so high   |   of Hel he reached.

4.  Then Othin rode   |   to the eastern door,
    There, he knew well,   |   was the wise-woman’s grave;
    Magic he spoke   |   and mighty charms,
    Till spell-bound she rose,   |   and in death she spoke:

5.  “What is the man,   |   to me unknown,
    That has made me travel   |   the troublous road?
    I was snowed on with snow,   |   and smitten with rain,
    And drenched with dew;   |   long was I dead.”


Othin spake:


6.  “Vegtam my name,   |   I am Valtam’s son;
    Speak thou of hell,   |   for of heaven I know:
    For whom are the benches   |   bright with rings,
    And the platforms gay   |   bedecked with gold?”


The Wise-Woman spake:


7.  “Here for Baldr   |   the mead is brewed,
    The shining drink,   |   and a shield lies o’er it;
    But their hope is gone   |   from the mighty gods.
    Unwilling I spake,   |   and now would be still.”


Othin spake:


8.  “Wise-woman, cease not!   |   I seek from thee
    All to know   |   that I fain would ask:
    Who shall the bane   |   of Baldr become,
    And steal the life   |   from Othin’s son?”


The Wise-Woman spake:


9.  “Hoth thither bears   |   the far-famed branch,
    He shall the bane   |   of Baldr become,
    And steal the life   |   from Othin’s son.
    Unwilling I spake,   |   and now would be still.”


Othin spake:


10. “Wise-woman, cease not!   |   I seek from thee
    All to know   |   that I fain would ask:
    Who shall vengeance win   |   for the evil work,
    Or bring to the flames   |   the slayer of Baldr?”


The Wise-Woman spake:


11. “Rind bears Vali   |   in Vestrsalir,
    And one night old   |   fights Othin’s son;
    His hands he shall wash not,   |   his hair he shall comb not,
    Till the slayer of Baldr   |   he brings to the flames.
    Unwilling I spake,   |   and now would be still.”


Othin spake:


12. “Wise-woman, cease not!   |   I seek from thee
    All to know   |   that I fain would ask:
    What maidens are they   |   who then shall weep,
    And toss to the sky   |   the yards of the sails?”


The Wise-Woman spake:


13. “Vegtam thou art not,   |   as erstwhile I thought;
    Othin thou art,   |   the enchanter old.”


Othin spake:


    “No wise-woman art thou,   |   nor wisdom hast;
    Of giants three   |   the mother art thou.”


The Wise-Woman spake:


14. “Home ride, Othin,   |   be ever proud;
    For no one of men   |   shall seek me more
    Till Loki wanders   |   loose from his bonds,
    And to the last strife   |   the destroyers come.”