hould come, but he implored
Hermod to take Nanna back with him, as the home of the shades was
no place for such a bright and beautiful creature. But when Nanna
heard this request she clung more closely to her husband's side,
vowing that nothing would ever induce her to part from him, and that
she would stay with him for ever, even in Nifl-heim.

The long night was spent in close conversation, ere Hermod sought
Hel and implored her to release Balder. The churlish goddess listened
in silence to his request, and declared finally that she would allow
her victim to depart provided that all things animate and inanimate
would show their sorrow for his loss by shedding tears.

"Come then! if Balder was so dear beloved,
And this is true, and such a loss is Heaven's--
Hear, how to Heaven may Balder be restored.
Show me through all the world the signs of grief!
Fails but one thing to grieve, here Balder stops!
Let all that lives and moves upon the earth
Weep him, and all that is without life weep;
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."

Balder Dead (Matthew Arnold).

This answer was full of encouragement, for all Nature mourned the
loss of Balder, and surely there was nothing in all creation which
would withhold the tribute of a tear. So Hermod cheerfully made his
way out of Hel's dark realm, carrying with him the ring Draupnir,
which Balder sent back to Odin, an embroidered carpet from Nanna for
Frigga, and a ring for Fulla.

The Return of Hermod

The assembled gods crowded anxiously round Hermod as soon as he
returned, and when he had delivered his messages and gifts, the AEsir
sent heralds to every part of the world to bid all things animate
and inanimate weep for Balder.

"Go quickly forth through all the world, and pray
All living and unliving things to weep
Balder, if haply he may thus be won!"

Balder Dead (Matthew Arnold).

North, South, East and West rode the heralds, and as they passed tears
fell from every plant and tree, so that the ground was saturated with
moisture, and metals and stones, despite their hard hearts, wept too.

The way at last led back to Asgard, and by the road-side was a dark
cave, in which the messengers saw, crouching, the form of a giantess
named Thok, whom some mythologists suppose to have b