BALDR 33 



walls are wonderfully high, and her doors are large. Her 

 hall is called Eljiidnir, her plate famine, her knife hunger; 

 ganglati (lazy-goer, idler) her thrall; ganglot (idler) her 

 bondswoman ; her threshhold is called stumbling-block ; her 

 bed the couch of one who is bed-ridden ; her bed-hangings 

 (arsal) the glittering evil. One half of her body is livid, 

 and the other half skin-colour ; therefore she is easily known, 

 and her look is frowning and fierce " (Later Edda, c. 34, 

 Gylfaginning). 



" It is the beginning of this Saga that Baldr the Good 

 dreamt great and dangerous dreams about his life. When he 

 told them to the Asar they consulted and resolved to ask for 

 safety for Baldr from every kind of danger; Frigg (Odin's 

 wife; took oaths from fire, water, iron, arid every kind of 

 metal, stones, earth, trees, sicknesses, beasts, birds, poison, 

 serpents, that they would spare Baldr's life. "When this was 

 done and known, Baldr and the Asar entertained themselves 

 thus : he stood up at the Things and some gods shot at him, 

 or others struck at him or threw stones at him. Whatever 

 they did he was not hurt, and all thought this a great wonder. 

 When Loki Lanfeyjarson saw this he was angry that Baldi 

 was not hurt. He changed himself into a woman's shape and 

 went to Frigg in Fensalir. Frigg asked this woman if she 

 knew what the Asar were doing at the Thing. She said that 

 they all shot at Baldr, and that he was not hurt. Frigg said, 

 ' Weapons or trees will not hurt Baldr ; I have taken oaths 

 from them all.' The woman asked, ' Have all things taken 

 oaths to spare Baldr's life ? ' Frigg answered, ' A bush grows 

 east of Valholl called Mistiltein (mistle-toe) ; I thought it was 

 too young to take an oath.' The woman went away ; but Loki 

 took the mistletoe and tore it up and went to the Thing. 

 Hod (Baldr's brother) stood in the outmost part of the ring of 

 people. Loki said to him, ' Why doest thou not shoot at 

 Baldr ? ' He answered, ' Because I d6 not see where he is, 

 and also I am weaponless.' Loki said, ' Do like other men 

 and show honour to Baldr ; I will show thee where he stands ; 

 shoot this stick at him.' Hod took the mistletoe and shot at 

 Baldr as Loki showed him ; it pierced Baldr, who fell dead to 

 the ground. This was the most unfortunate deed that has 

 been done among the gods and men. When Baldr was fallen 

 none of the Asar could say a word or touch him with their 

 hands, and they looked at each other with the same mind 

 towards the one who had done this deed, but no one could 

 take revenge ; it was such a place of peace. When they tried 

 to speak the tears came first, so that no one could tell to the 

 other his sorrow in words. Odin suffered most from this loss, 



VOL. I. D 



