1.
The gods hurried
to their hall of council,
Gathered together,
goddesses with them,
All-powerful, eager to unriddle
Baldur's dream
that such dread portended.2.
Up rose Odhinn,
unaging magician,
Harnesses Sleipnir,
the eight-legged,
Sped down from Asgard
to Hel's Deep.
The howling hound
of Hel faced him.3.
Blood-speckled the beast
on the front of his chest,
howled in frenzy
at the father of runes.
Odhinn rode forth,
loud thundered the fields
As he halted
at Hel's high hall.4.
The High One halted
at the eastern gate,
Where loomed a tumulus,
tomb of a witch.
Runes he chanted,
charms of power:
Her spectre, commanded,
rose and spoke from the grave:5.
"Who is he
that on Hel intrudes?
Who calls me up,
increasing my grief.?
Drenched by hail,
driven by storm,
Dew-frozen,
I am dead long.
Odhinn said:
6.
I am Struggler's Son,
Strider, Way-Tamer,
Your secrets I ask:
all earth's I know.
Why are Hel's halls
hung with jewels,
Her chambers rivers
of red gold?
The witch said:
7.
"For Baldur
our mead is brewed strong
In a shining cauldron,
a shield over it.
Odhinn on high
in heart despairs.
Unwilling my words:
I would no more."
Odin said:
8.
"Far-seeing witch,
your words unriddle.
More will I ask:
all will I know.
Who shall slay Baldur,
best of the gods,
Who suck the life
from the son of Odhinn?"
The witch said:
9.
"Hodur the blind
the branch shall throw,
From his brother's body
the blood to drain,
Sucking the life
from the son of Odhinn.
Unwilling my words:
I would no more."
Odin said:
10.
Far-seeing witch,
your words unriddle.
More will I ask:
all will I know.
By whose hand
shall Hodur fall
And Baldur's bane
be burned with fire?
The witch said:
11.
"Rindur the blessed
shall bring forth Vali.
Though but a night old,
he shall be the avenger,
His hands he shall wash not
nor his hair comb
Till Baldur's bane
is borne to the pyre:
Unwilling my words:
I would no more."
Odin said:
12.
"Far-seeing witch,
your words unriddle.
More will I ask:
all will I know.
Who are the maidens
who shall mourn then,
Toss up to Asgard
their trailing scarves?"
The witch said:
13.
"Way-Tamer you are not,
nor are you Strider:
You are Odhinn the wily,
unaging magician."
Odin said:
14.
"Witch you are not,
nor woman either:
Womb of monsters,
you have mothered three."
The witch said:
15.
"Go home, Odhinn:
air your triumph.
No guest shall again
my grave visit,
Till wild Loki
tear loose from his bonds
And the World - Wasters
on the war-path come."
Original English translation by W. H. Auden & P. B. Taylor is in the public domain. This edition has been extensively edited and corrected and is Copyright © 2001 JJB, used with permission.