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/293

 And heavenward cast Their neck-veils. Tell me that; Till then thou sleepest not.

THE VALA:

Not Vegtam art thou, As I before believed; Rather art thou Odin, Lord of men.

ODIN:

Thou art no vala, Nor wise woman; Rather art thou the mother Of three thurses (giants).

THE VALA:

Home ride thou, Odin! And exult. Thus shall never more Man again visit me Until Loke free From his bonds escapes, And Ragnarok All-destroying comes.

When it had been made known that nothing in the world would harm Balder, it became a favorite pastime of the gods, at their meetings, to get Balder to stand up and serve them as a mark, some hurling darts at him, some stones, while others hewed at him with their swords and battle-axes; for whatever they did none of them could harm him, and this was regarded by all as a great honor shown to Balder. But when Loke Laufeyarson beheld the scene he was sorely vexed that Balder was not hurt. Assuming, therefore, the guise of a woman he went to Fensal, the mansion of Frigg. That goddess, seeing the pretended woman, inquired of her whether she knew what the gods were doing at their meetings.