34 MYTHOLOGY AND COSMOGONY. 



because he knew best what a loss and damage to the Asar the 

 death of Baldr was. . . ." (Gylfaginning, c. 49). 



" It is to be told of Hermod that he rode nine nights 

 through dark and deep valleys and saw nothing before he 

 came to the river Gjoll 1 and rode on the Gjallar bridge, 2 

 which is covered with shining gold. 3 Modgucl is the name of 

 the maiden who guards the bridge ; she asked him his name 

 and kin, and said that the day before rive arrays of dead men 

 rode over the bridge, ' but the bridge sounds not less under 

 thee alone, and thou hast not the colour of dead men ; why 

 ridest thou here on the way of Hel ? ' He answered, ' I am 

 riding to Hel to seek Baldr, or hast thou seen Baldr on the 

 way of Hel ? ' She answered that Baldr had ridden over the 

 Gjallar bridge, ' but the way of Hel lies downward and north- 

 ward.' Hermod rode till he came to the gates of Hel ; then he 

 alighted and girthed his horse strongly, mounted and pricked 

 it with the spurs; the horse leaped so high over the gate 

 that it touched nowhere. Then Hermod rode home to the 

 hall, alighted, went in and saw his brother Baldr sitting in a 

 high-seat ; he stayed there the night. In the morning Hermod 

 asked Hel to allow Baldr to ride home with him, and told 

 how great weeping there was among the Asar. Hel said she 

 would see if Baldr was as beloved as was told ; if all things, 

 living and dead, in the world weep over him, he shall go back 

 to the Asar, but remain with Hel (me) if any refuse or will 

 not weep. Then Herm ;d rose, and Baldr let him out of the 

 hall and took the ring Draupuir and sent it to Odin as a 

 remembrance, and Nauna 4 sent to Frigg a linen veil and more 

 gifts, and ,to Fulla a gold ring. Then Hermod rode back to 

 Asgard and told all the tidings he had seen or heard. There- 

 upon the Asar sent messengers all over the world to ask that 

 Baldr might be wept out of Hel, and all did it, men and beasts, 

 earth and stones, trees, and all metals, as thou must have seen 

 that these things weep when they come from frost into heat. 

 When the messengers went home and had performed their 

 errands well, they found a jotun woman sitting in a cave, 

 called Thokk ; they asked her to weep Baldr (out of) Hel ; 

 she answered 



Thukk will weep I never enjoyed 



With dry teara A living or a dead man's son; 



The burning voyage of Baldr; May Hel keep what she has. 



1 Gjoll (the sounding one). 4 Nanna is told of in Baldr's burning. 



2 Gjallar bridge (the bridge of Gjoll). 



3 Modgud (the valkyrja ot' anger). 



as she, his wife, was burnt with him. 



