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.
