Page:The poetical works of Matthew Arnold, 1897.djvu/152

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114
BALDER DEAD.

Let gods, men, brutes, beweep him; plants and stones.
So shall I know the lost was dear indeed,
And bend my heart, and give him back to heaven."
She spake; and Hermod answered her, and said,—
"Hela, such as thou say'st, the terms shall be.
But come, declare me this, and truly tell:
May I, ere I depart, bid Balder hail,
Or is it here withheld to greet the dead?"
He spake; and straightway Hela answered him,—
"Hermod, greet Balder if thou wilt, and hold
Converse; his speech remains, though he be dead."
And straight to Balder Hermod turned, and spake:
"Even in the abode of death, O Balder, hail!
Thou hear'st, if hearing, like as speech, is thine,
The terms of thy releasement hence to heaven;
Fear nothing but that all shall be fulfilled.
For not unmindful of thee are the gods,
Who see the light, and blest in Asgard dwell;
Even here they seek thee out, in Hela's realm.
And, sure, of all the happiest far art thou
Who ever have been known in earth or heaven:
Alive, thou wast of gods the most beloved;
And now thou sittest crowned by Hela's side,
Here, and hast honor among all the dead."
He spake; and Balder uttered him reply,
But feebly, as a voice far off; he said,—
"Hermod the nimble, gild me not my death!
Better to live a serf, a captured man,
Who scatters rushes in a master's hall,
Than be a crowned king here, and rule the dead.
And now I count not of these terms as safe
To be fulfilled, nor my return as sure,
Though I be loved, and many mourn my death;

For double-minded ever was the seed