ODIN.

A Traveller to thee unknown,

Is he that calls, a warrior's fon.

Thou the deeds of light fhalt know;

Tell me what is done below,

For whom yon glitt'ring board is spread,

Dreft for whom yon golden bed.

PROPHETESS.

Mantling in the goblet fee
The pure bev'rage of the bee;
O'er it hangs the shield of gold:
"Tis the drink of Balder bold.

Balder's head to death is giv'n.

Pain can reach the Sons of Heav'n!

Unwilling I my lips unclofe :

Leave me, leave me to repofe.

ODIN.

Once again my call obey.

Prophetefs, arife, and fay,

What dangers Odin's child await,
Who the author of his fate.

PROPHETESS.

In Hoder's hand the hero's doom;

His brother fends him to the tomb.

Now my weary lips I clofe:

Leave me, leave me to repose.

ODIN.

Prophetefs, my spell obey;

Once again arife, and fay,

Who th' avenger of his guilt,

By whom fhall Hoder's blood be spilt.

PRO

PROPHETESS.

In the caverns of the weft,

By Odin's fierce embrace compreft,
A wond'rous boy fhall Rinda bear,
Who ne'er fhall comb his raven hair,

Nor wash his vifage in the ftream,

Nor fee the fun's departing beam,

Till he on Hoder's corfe fhall fmile

Flaming on the funeral pile.

Now my weary lips I clofe:

Leave me, leavs me to repofe,

ODIN.

Yet awhile my call obey;

Prophetefs, awake, and say,

What Virgins thefe, in fpeechlefs woe,

That bend to earth their folemn brow,

That

That their flaxen treffes tear,

And fnowy veils, that float in air.

Tell me whence their forrows rose :

Then I leave thee to repofe.

PROPHETESS.

Ha! no Traveller art thou,

King of Men, I know thee now;

Mightieft of a mighty line

ODIN.

No boding Maid of skill divine

Art thou, nor Prophetefs of good,
But mother of the giant-brood!

PROPHET ESS.

Hie thee hence, and boast at home,

That never shall enquirer come

Το

To break my iron-fleep again;

Till Lok has burft his tenfold chain.

Never, till substantia! Night

Has reafum'd her antient right;
Till wrapt in flames, in ruin hurl'd,
Sinks the fabric of the world.

* Lok is the Evil Being, who continues in chains till the Twilight of the Gods approaches; when he shall break his bonds; the human race, the ftars, and fun, fhall disappear; the earth fink in the feas, and fire confume the fkies: even Odin himself and his kindred deities fhall perish. For a farther explanation of this mythology, see « Introduction a l' Hiftoire de Dannemarc par Monf. Mallet," 1755, Quarto; or rather a tranflation of it published in 1770, and intitled, "Northern Antiquities;" in which fome mistakes in the original are judicioufly corrected.

THE