*240 
which may not be uninteresting to those who have not 
met with it before. Balder, one of the gods of Scan¬ 
dinavia, had a dream that his life was endangered: on 
communicatins; tlus to his mother, the goddess Frisrtra, 
she exacted an oath of fire, water, trees, metals, in 
short, of every thing in heaven and earth, that none of 
them should harm him. The misletoe was the only 
thing not included in the ceremony, it being deemed 
too weak and feeble a thing to threaten any mischief. 
Protected by means of this potent spell, he bore about 
a charmed life, and passed uninjured through every 
danger. Loke, one of his compeers, envying him his 
invulnerability, with much subtilty obtained from the 
goddess the information that she had exacted an oath 
from every thing in nature but the misletoe: “ Of this I 
took no oath,” said she, “ because it seemed too young 
and feeble.” Loke immediately procured some of this 
shrub, and then repaired to the assembly of the gods, 
who were amusing themselves with throwing all sorts 
of missiles at the invulnerable god. Observing Hoder 
standing apart without partaking of the sport, Loke 
came to him, and asked him why he did not throw 
something at Balder. “ Because I am blind,” rejoined 
he, “ and I have nothing to throw with.” “ Come, 
then,” said Loke, “ do like the rest, show honour to 
