The Student's Mythology Part 26

BRAGI.

_Ques._ Who was Bragi?

_Ans._ He was G.o.d of poetry, but he scorned all lighter strains, and was the patron of those only who sung the praises of the G.o.ds and the deeds of warriors.

Iduna, his wife, kept in a casket certain apples which the G.o.ds, when they felt age approaching, had only to taste to renew the vigor and bloom of youth. On the approach of the Great Twilight, and the end of time, this fruit was to lose its magic power.

HEIMDALL.

_Ques._ Who was Heimdall?

_Ans._ He was the watchman of the G.o.ds, and was stationed at the extreme verge of heaven to guard the bridge Bifrost. The G.o.ds continually feared that the giants might force their way over the shining arch, and invade Valhalla.

Heimdall required less sleep than a bird, and his sight was so keen that he could distinguish the smallest object, for a thousand leagues around, even in the darkest night. His quickness of hearing was equally wonderful; he could hear the wool growing on the sheep's backs, and the grain sprouting in the fields. He possessed a horn of such construction that when he blew upon it, the sound spread in widening circles until it reached the uttermost confines of the world.

Heimdall was not permitted to marry, lest any care for wife or children might interrupt his unceasing watchfulness.

VIDAR.

_Ques._ Who was Vidar?

_Ans._ He was the G.o.d of silence. His strength was almost equal to that of Thor; he was often employed like Mercury as messenger of the G.o.ds. He had sandals which sustained him equally in the air, and upon the water.

HODUR.

_Ques._ Who was Hodur?

_Ans._ He was a blind deity, endowed with prodigious strength. He was mild and benevolent, but certain terrible predictions concerning him inspired such terror in Asgard that it was not lawful for any G.o.d to p.r.o.nounce his name. Hodur seems to have been a personification of night.

THE VALKYRIOR.

_Ques._ Who are the Valkyrior?

_Ans._ According to the Scandinavian tradition, they are warlike virgins, the messengers of Odin, and their name signifies "Choosers of the slain." Odin is desirous of collecting a great many heroes in Valhalla, that he may be able to meet the giants in the final contest at the end of the world. He sends the Valkyrior, therefore, to every battle field to make choice of those who shall be slain. When they ride forth on their errand, mounted upon war steeds and in full armor, their shields and helmets shed a strange flickering light, which flashes up over the northern skies, and is called by men, "Aurora Borealis," or "Northern Lights."

LOKI AND HIS PROGENY.

_Ques._ Who was Loki?

_Ans._ Loki was an evil deity, the contriver of all fraud and mischief. He was very handsome, but of fickle and malicious temper.

Loki had three children, the wolf Fenris, the Midgard serpent, and Hela, or Death. The G.o.ds were not ignorant that these monsters were growing up, and would one day bring much evil upon G.o.ds and men.

Odin, therefore, sent a messenger to bring them to him. When they came, he threw the serpent into the deep ocean by which the earth is surrounded. The monster soon grew to such an enormous size, that, holding his tail in his mouth, he encircled the whole world. Hela was cast into Niffleheim, where she receives as her subjects all who die of sickness or old age. The wolf Fenris gave the G.o.ds much trouble before they succeeded in chaining him. He broke the strongest fetters as if they were made of cobwebs. Finally, the mountain spirits fashioned a chain which he could not break. It was fabricated of the roots of stones, the noise made by the footfall of a cat, and other equally absurd and imaginary material.

BALDUR THE GOOD.

_Ques._ Who was Baldur?

_Ans._ He was the son of Odin, good and exceedingly beautiful. He was tormented by terrible dreams, indicating that his life was in peril.

He told these things to the a.s.sembled G.o.ds, who resolved to do all in their power to protect him. Frigga, the wife of Odin, exacted an oath from the elements, fire, air, water, and from everything animate and inanimate upon the earth--stones, plants, rocks and animals--that they would do no harm to Baldur. The G.o.ds were so well satisfied with this, that they amused themselves with throwing sticks, stones and all manner of weapons at the hero, who was not harmed by anything. Loki, with his usual malice, was determined on Baldur's death, but did not know exactly how to bring it about. He a.s.sumed, therefore, the form of an old woman, and went to see Frigga. The G.o.ddess asked him what the G.o.ds were doing at their meetings. The disguised Loki replied that they were throwing darts and stones at Baldur, without being able to hurt him.

He inquired of Frigga, in his turn, if it were really true that she had exacted an oath of all created things, to spare Baldur. "Aye,"

said Frigga; "all things have sworn, save a mistletoe which was growing on a mountain side, and which I thought too young and feeble to crave an oath from." As soon as Loki heard this, he went away rejoicing. Having cut down the mistletoe, he repaired to the place where the G.o.ds were a.s.sembled, and put the bough among the sticks which they were casting in sport at Baldur. It was thrown with the rest, and Baldur fell to the ground pierced through and through. The G.o.ds were overwhelmed with grief, and broke forth in the wildest lamentations. Then Frigga came, and asked, who among them would show his love for her, and for Baldur, by procuring the deliverance of the hero. Not having fallen in battle, Baldur had pa.s.sed into the power of Hela, who ruled over the gloomy regions of h.e.l.l, or Niffleheim.

Hermod, the son of Odin, offered to repair thither, and pay to Hela a mighty ransom for the return of his brother Baldur. He set out, therefore, mounted on Odin's horse Sleipnir, which had eight legs and could outstrip the wind. For nine days, and as many nights, the hero rode through darksome glens where no object could be discerned in the gloom. On the tenth, he came to a dark river, which was spanned by a bridge of gold; this was the entrance into h.e.l.l, and Hermod rode over it fearlessly, although it shook and swayed under his living weight.

He pa.s.sed the night in discourse with Baldur, and the next morning preferred his pet.i.tion to Hela. He offered any ransom she might name for Baldur's return, a.s.suring her that heaven and earth resounded with lamentations for the hero. Hela would take no ransom, but wished to try if Baldur were really so beloved. "If," said she, "all things in the world, both living and lifeless, weep for him, then shall he return; but if any one thing refuse to weep for him, then shall he be kept in h.e.l.l."

On hearing the result of Hermod's mission, the G.o.ds made proclamation throughout the world, beseeching all created things to weep for Baldur's deliverance. All complied with this request; both men and animals, all, even to the savage beasts of the forest, shed tears for the hero. The trees and plants shed crystal drops like rain, and even the rocks and stones were covered with a glittering dew. One old hag only, sat in a cavern, and refused to weep, saying,

"Thankt will wail With dry tears Baldur's bale-fire.

Let Hela keep her own."

It was strongly suspected that this hag was no other than Loki himself, who never ceased to work evil among G.o.ds and men. Thus Baldur was prevented from coming back to Asgard.

Funeral of Baldur.

_Ques._ How was the hero buried?

_Ans._ Baldur's body was borne to the sea-sh.o.r.e, and placed upon a funeral pile which was built of his own ship, the largest in the world. All the G.o.ds were present, and even the Frost and Mountain Giants were touched with kindness and came to do him honor. When the wife of Baldur saw the funeral pile prepared, she died of grief, and her body was consumed with that of her husband.

Loki's Punishment.

_Ques._ How did the G.o.ds revenge the death of Baldur?

_Ans._ They pursued Loki, who made use of his magical power to escape their wrath. He changed himself at one time into a salmon, and hid among the stones of a brook. He was taken, however, by Thor, who caught him by the tail, and compressed it so, that all salmons ever since have had that part remarkably thin. Being restored to his natural form, Loki was bound with chains in a gloomy cavern. A serpent was suspended over his head, whose venom falls upon his face drop by drop. One comfort is allowed him; his wife Siguna sits by his side, and catches the drops as they fall, in a cup; but when she carries it away to empty it, the venom falls upon Loki, which makes him howl with horror, and twist his body so violently that the whole earth shakes.

The Elves.

_Ques._ Who were the Elves?

_Ans._ They were beautiful spirits, clothed in transparent and delicate garments. They loved the light, and were kindly disposed to mankind. The country of the Elves was called Alfheim, and was the domain of Freyr, the G.o.d of the sun, in whose light they were always sporting.

_Ques._ Were all the fairies equally beneficent?

_Ans._ No; the Night Elves, also called Gnomes, and sometimes Brownies, were at times exceedingly malicious. They were ugly, long-nosed dwarfs of a dark brown complexion, and were never seen except at night, because the sun's rays had the power of changing them into stones.

_Ques._ Where did these dwell?

_Ans._ The Gnomes dwelt in mountain caverns and the clefts of rocks.

They were particularly distinguished for their knowledge of the mysterious powers of nature. They were also skillful workers in wood and metal, and were acquainted with the secret stores of gold and silver which the G.o.ds had hidden in the earth. Many stories are related of their malicious pranks; but they sometimes favored the poor and friendless in an unexpected manner.

The princ.i.p.al works of the Gnomes were Thor's hammer, and the ship Skidbladnir. This vessel was so wonderfully wrought, that while it was large enough to carry all the deities with their war and household implements, it could be folded together so small as to be carried in the hand.