seized him and he fell prostrate in utter
grief.

Meantime, the Asa folk crowded round the silent form of Balder,
weeping and wailing; but, alas! their moans and tears could not bring
Balder back. At length, All-Father Odin, whose grief was too deep for
lamentations, bade them be silent and prepare to bear the body of the
dead Asa to the seashore.

The unhappy Hoder, unable to take part in these last offices, made his
way sadly through Asgard, beyond the walls and along the seashore,
until he came to the house Fensalir.

Frigga was seated upon her seat of honour before the fire against the
inner wall, and standing before her, with bent head and woeful
sightless gaze, Hoder told her of the dread mishap that had befallen.

"Tell me, O mother," he cried in ending, and his voice sounded like
the wail of the wind on stormy nights, "tell me, is there aught I can
do to bring my brother back? Or can I make agreement with the dread
mother of the Underworld, giving my life in exchange for his?"

Woe crowded upon woe in the heart of Frigga as she listened to the
story. The doom was wrought that she had tried so vainly to avert,
and not even her mother's love had availed to safeguard the son so
dearly cherished.

"On Balder Death hath laid her hand, not thee, my son," she said, "yet
though we fail in the end, there is much that may be tried before all
hope is lost."

Then she told Hoder of a road by which the abode of Hela could be
reached, one which had been travelled by none living save Odin
himself.

"Who goes that way must take no other horse
To ride, but Sleipnir, Odin's horse, alone.
Nor must he choose that common path of gods
Which every day they come and go in heaven,
O'er the bridge Bifrost, where is Heimdall's watch.

But he must tread a dark untravelled road
Which branches from the north of heaven, and ride
Nine days, nine nights, toward the northern ice,
Through valleys deep engulfed, with roaring streams.
And he will reach on the tenth morn a bridge
Which spans with golden arches Gioell's stream.
Then he will journey through no lighted land,
Nor see the sun arise, nor see it set;

And he must fare across the dismal ice
Northward, until he meets a stretching wall
Barring his way, and in the wall a grate,
But then he must dismount and on the ice
Tighten the girths of Sleipnir, Odin's horse,
And make him leap the grate, and come