Page:The poetical works of Matthew Arnold, 1897.djvu/152

114 Let gods, men, brutes, beweep him; plants and stones.

So shall I know the lost was dear indeed,

And bend my heart, and give him back to heaven."

She spake; and Hermod answered her, and said,—

"Hela, such as thou say'st, the terms shall be.

But come, declare me this, and truly tell:

May I, ere I depart, bid Balder hail,

Or is it here withheld to greet the dead?"

He spake; and straightway Hela answered him,—

"Hermod, greet Balder if thou wilt, and hold

Converse; his speech remains, though he be dead."

And straight to Balder Hermod turned, and spake:

"Even in the abode of death, O Balder, hail!

Thou hear'st, if hearing, like as speech, is thine,

The terms of thy releasement hence to heaven;

Fear nothing but that all shall be fulfilled.

For not unmindful of thee are the gods,

Who see the light, and blest in Asgard dwell;

Even here they seek thee out, in Hela's realm.

And, sure, of all the happiest far art thou

Who ever have been known in earth or heaven:

Alive, thou wast of gods the most beloved;

And now thou sittest crowned by Hela's side,

Here, and hast honor among all the dead."

He spake; and Balder uttered him reply,

But feebly, as a voice far off; he said,—

"Hermod the nimble, gild me not my death!

Better to live a serf, a captured man,

Who scatters rushes in a master's hall,

Than be a crowned king here, and rule the dead.

And now I count not of these terms as safe

To be fulfilled, nor my return as sure,

Though I be loved, and many mourn my death;

For double-minded ever was the seed