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/292

And Odin's son
Of life bereave.

THE VALA:

Hoder will hither
His glorious brother send;
He of Balder will
The slayer be,
And Odin's son
Of life bereave.
By compulsion I have spoken,
Now will I be silent.

VEGTAM:

Be not silent, vala!
I will question thee
Until all I know:
I will yet know
Who on Hoder vengeance
Will inflict,
Or Balder's slayer
Raise on the pile.

THE VALA:

Rind a son shall bear
In the wintry halls:
He shall slay Odin's son,
When one night old.
He a hand will not wash,
Nor his hair comb,
Ere to the pile he has borne
Balder's adversary.
By compulsion I have spoken,
Now will I be silent.

VEGTAM:

Be not silent, vala!
I will question thee
Until all I know:
I will yet know
Who are the maids
That weep at will