All things promised to spare him, save the mistletoe, slender and harmless, from which no vow was asked, for it clung, as was its need, to a strong tree for protection. To her, in due time, the maidens returned, and she received from them the compacts and vows that were given. Now Frigg, who had fore-knowledge of all things save Balder's fate, sent forth her maid-servants to take oaths from all creatures living, from plants and metals, and from stones, not to do any hurt unto the god Balder. To him came the gods beseeching to know what ailed him, and he told that nightly he dreamed fearsome dreams which boded ill, and revealed to him, alas! that his life was in dire peril. The light went from his eyes, care sat on his forehead, and melancholy were his lips. Odin uttered magic runes to protect him from evil.īut soon after Balder began to languish. Frigg also sang, and then Fulla her sister. Charms were sung over the sun-god by Nanna and by her fair sister Sunna, the sun maid. Horse-the horse from whose hoofmarks bubbled forth clear wells. A dread omen forewarned them of disaster, because the leg was sprained of Balder's There came a time when Odin and Balder went forth to journey through a wood. On a bright horse she rode also, and tender was she and very fair. For wife he was given Nanna, the moon maid, the brave one who fought with him the light battles. He rode a brightly shining horse, and his ships, which men called 'billow falcons', were the sunbeams that sailed through the drifting cloudways. On Balder's tongue were runes graven, so that he had great eloquence. He was well loved by all the gods, save evil Loke, who cunningly devised his death.īalder, the summer sun-god, was Odin's fairest son his mother was Frigg, goddess of fruitful earth and sister of Njord. Like fine gold was his hair, and his eyes were radiant and blue. The whitest flower upon earth is called Balder's brow, because the countenance of the god was snow-white and shining. The Summer Sun-god-Blind Hodur-Nanna the Brave-The Light Battles-A Dread Omen-Balder's Dreams-Frigg's Alarm-World Vows taken-Odin descends to Hela-The Vala invoked-Her Prophecies-Loke's Evil Design-The Mistletoe Arrow of Pain-Balder is killed-Hermod's Mission-The Funeral of the God-Odin whispers-Hermod in Hela-Urd's Decree-World Tears-Hag seals Balder's Fate.īALDER THE BEAUTIFUL was the most noble and pious of the gods in Asgard. Sacred Texts Legends and Sagas Index Previous Next

Balder the brave mythology