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mother, stood up in the peace-stead, and declared that she would take this 

 matter in hand, and that Balder should not die, if Odin would give her leave to 

 sit but once in Lidskialf, so that she might look out over all the heavens and the 

 earth. For Lidskialf was the chair of Odin, in which none but he himself might 

 sit— such was the decree of the gods— and he often sat there, that he might see 

 all that was being done in Jotunheim by the Giants, and what charms were 

 being prepared by the swart littie Lapps, and other sorcerers. However, the 

 gods considered it thoroughly among themselves, and at last it was decreed 

 that Freyga might sit in Lidskialf for once, only she was not to tell of it, and it 

 was never to be permitted again. 



So Freyga was very much pleased, and went up all alone to Odin's high 

 seat, and looked out upon heaven and earth, and cried with a loud voice — 

 " Who loves Balder ? " 



Then arose a sound like the voice of ten thousand thousand seas — a voice 

 from all things, above and below, that they all loved Balder. Fire, and water, 

 and iron, and wood, and stones, and beasts, and birds, and poisons, and serpents, 

 and all things whatsoever, spake for Balder. 



Then Freyga looked out once more all over the heavens and the earth, and 

 said, also with a loud voice — 



" Who loves not Balder ? " 



And there was no answer. But a strange noise came up from the eastward 

 of Valhalla, which Freyga could not clearly make out. 



"I think," said she at last, "it is only Lok the mischief-maker laughing. 

 It is of no consequence — he laughs at everything." 



And as she spoke, she saw Lok laughing and mocking to himself, with his 

 hair blown about in the wind, and his arms spread over his head, and she 

 despised him in her heart. And she looked angrily and scornfully on him ; and 

 while she looked he seemed to change into a little shrub which the wind was at 

 play with. 



"It is only the mistletoe," thought Freyga; "it is very little, and no con- 

 sequence." 



Then Freyga looked out yet a third time over heaven and earth, and spake 

 with a voice yet strongerjhan before — 



" O fire and lightning, hurt not Balder ! " 



And a loud consenting voice made answer. So that Freyga was content. 

 Then she said — ■ 



" O water, and wind, and hail, and snow, hurt not Balder ! '' 



And there came a voice as b( fore, and Freyga was content. And she spake 

 yet again — 



"O iron, and stone, and earth, and wood, hurt not Balder! " 



And there came a voice as before, and Freyga was content. And she spake 

 yet again — 



