Ill 



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

 But she spake yet again — 



" beasts, and birds, and trees of the forest, hurt not 

 Balder !" 



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

 So that she spake no further from Lidskialf. 



" I think," said she to herself, " that will do very weU 

 indeed." 



But just as she was gathering her garments around her to 

 step down from Lidskialf, which has nine hundred and ninety- 

 niue golden steps to it, she heard once more what seemed to be 

 the sound of distant laughter. 



"It is only Lok again," said Freyga; "he is always 

 laughing." And looking forth upon the east of Asgard, where 

 she had seen the little mistletoe, she saw Lok, whose sides were 

 shaking with mirth. " I thought it was a mistletoe-bush," said 

 she, " but it seems to be Lok." 



So she came back to the Asir, and told them Balder' s dream 

 would come to nothing, for she had made all things in heaven 

 and earth make oath not to hurt him. 



After this the gods used to make much sport with Balder 

 of an afternoon, for he was very good-natured. It was their 

 manner to make a target of him, some throwing darts, some 

 slinging stones, and some hewing at him with their swords and 

 battle-axes ; but there was nothing that hurt him. Nanna, his 

 wife, was very pleased with this, and it was great amusement for 

 the other gods, aU except Lok, who was not only on tip-toe, as he 

 always was, for mischief, but was very jealous that less regard 

 was paid now than formerly to his antics, because the Asir found 

 BO much entertainment in throwing things at Balder. Now Lok 

 had his suspicions about the mistletoe, and, putting on the shape 

 and attire of a woman, he went to Freyga' s house, which was on 

 the sea shore, and said — 



" I have noticed of late that the Asir are in the habit of 



