Young Folks Treasury, Volume 2 (of 12)

Thor was walking among the valleys, his brow heavy with summer heat; Frey and Gerda sported on still waters in their cloud-leaf ship; Odin, for onc

essed it closely to his heart and said, "Lie there, and do not fall on any one but me." Then he rose up and walked out from the splendor of his hall, that he might seek his own mother, Frigga, and te

r, dear Baldur?" a

e. "I do not know what the matter i

son, and let me look

that if I do it will

ow's shape. Her brow became clouded as she felt it; her parted lips grew pale, a

, "I will die br

will not sleep to-night until everything on earth ha

nd huge granite came with crumbling sandstone, and white lime, and the round, smooth stones of the seashore, and Frigga raised her arm, saying, "Swear that you will not injure Baldur"; and they swore, and went. Then Frigga called to her the trees; and wide-spreading oak trees, with tall ash and sombre firs, came rushing up the hill, and Frigga raised her hand, and said, "Swear that you will not hurt Baldur"; and they said, "We swear

ry, he looked even more mournful than she had done; neither did the clo

y lord?" demanded Frigga at

s the shadow gone out of our so

turning away her head resolutely,

nir, his eight-footed steed, mounted him, and, turning to Frigga, said, "I know of a dead prophetess, Frigga, who, when she was alive, could tell what was

with a bound, leaped forth, rushed like a whirlwind down the moun

f, "My journey is already done." But just as Sleipnir was about to leap through the jaws of the pit, Garm, the voracious dog who was chained to the rock, sprang forward, and tried to fasten himself upon Odin. Three times Odin shook him off, and still Garm, as fierce as ever, went on

f Helheim itself. The servants of Hela were very busy there making preparations for some new guest-hanging gilded couches with curtain

he sound of his voice, and sat bolt upright. "What m

not true; the shadow of Baldur dead fell upon his lips, a

want of me?" aske

"for whom Hela is making ready

red the prophetess. "Now go away and le

one word more. Is Bal

you that he is,"

come back to

for him," said she, "he will go back

face with his hands an

ess, "I'm so sleepy; I cannot

ng. Just now, as I looked into darkness, it seemed to me that

in darkness? I know of only one who, by giving away his ey

led out as loudly as he could, "No prophetess nor

n me again until Loki have burst his chains and the Twilight of the Gods be come