Page:Norse mythology or, the religion of our forefathers, containing all the myths of the Eddas, systematized and interpreted with an introduction, vocabulary and index.djvu/290

 Valfather fears Something defective; He thinks the haminjes May have departed; The gods he convenes, Their counsel craves; At the deliberation Much is devised.

Up stood Odin, Lord of men, And on Sleipner he The saddle laid; Rode he thence down To Niflheim. A dog he met, From Hel coming.

It was blood-stained On its breast, On its slaughter-craving throat, And nether jaw. It barked And widely gaped At the father of magic song: Long it howled.

Forth rode Odin— The ground thundered— Till to Hel's lofty House he came; Then rode Ygg (Odin) To the eastern gate, Where he knew there was A vala's grave.

To the prophetess he began A magic song to chant, Toward the north looked, Potent runes applied,