Page:The poetical works of Matthew Arnold, 1897.djvu/167

Rh Howbeit stay, and be appeased; and tell,

Sits Balder still in pomp by Hela's side,

Or is he mingled with the unnumbered dead?"

And the blind Hoder answered him and spake,—

"His place of state remains by Hela's side,

But empty; for his wife, for Nanna, came

Lately below, and joined him; and the pair

Frequent the still recesses of the realm

Of Hela, and hold converse undisturbed.

But they too, doubtless, will have breathed the balm

Which floats before a visitant from heaven,

And have drawn upward to this verge of hell."

He spake; and, as he ceased, a puff of wind

Rolled heavily the leaden mist aside

Round where they stood, and they beheld two forms

Make toward them o'er the stretching cloudy plain.

And Hermod straight perceived them, who they were,—

Balder and Nanna; and to Balder said,—

"Balder, too truly thou foresaw'st a snare!

Lok triumphs still, and Hela keeps her prey.

No more to Asgard shalt thou come, nor lodge

In thy own house Breidablik, nor enjoy

The love all bear toward thee, nor train up

Forset, thy son, to be beloved like thee.

Here must thou lie, and wait an endless age.

Therefore for the last time, O Balder, hail!"

He spake; and Balder answered him, and said,—

"Hail and farewell! for here thou com'st no more.

Yet mourn not for me, Hermod, when thou sitt'st

In heaven, nor let the other gods lament,

As wholly to be pitied, quite forlorn.

For Nanna hath rejoined me, who of old,

In heaven, was seldom parted from my side;

And still the acceptance follows me, which crowned