CANTO XIX.

THE EINHERIER.

From Valaskialf to the next hall Odin repairs in state, Where thousands of th’ Einherier their king’s approach await. The folding doors, at Syn the porteress’ touch, wide open fly! Then enters, ’mongst the champions brave, Odin the lord so high.

With kindness he salutes them all, for every one he knew; A troop of warriors lately slain had just appear’d in view: Their limbs were all besmear’d with blood, deep gashes on their breast; They stared as in a dream, and thought: Who could this scene have guest?

Then Eir advanced; she follow’d close Odin the chief so great: In all their gaping wounds she poured the liquor of the beet; These closed again, changed to slight scars; then woke the warriors brave, And found they were recall’d to life, and rescued from the grave.

Pale from the fight, a strong old man enter’d with snowy beard; His skull was cloven by a sword; frightful the gash appear’d; But Eir upon his bleeding front, while he before her kneel’d, With a strong pressure laid her hand; the wound that instant heal’d.

The glorious father of the fight then ask’d the warrior’s name: “I am Starkodder,” answer’d he, “a chief well known to fame: Food for the ravens I have given myriads of foes on earth; But here I meet them all as friends, and recognize their worth.”

Hærfader gravely then replied: “A Nidding once wert thou; By gold seduced, thou didst commit a crime on earth below.” “I sinn’d once in my youthful days,” Starkodder humbly said; “But even till my eightieth year atonement have I made.[72]

“From Helheim’s prison-bars I saved King Oluf, it is true:” But lo! King Oluf now appears: the old man well he knew: He straight embraced him, moved to tears, and said: “Well mayst thou plead Innumerable glorious acts to cancel one misdeed.

“The giants tempted thee, but Thor soon to thy succour came; Thrice happy he, who in his breast the dark-hued Alf can tame!” A rustling noise was heard, ’twas Thor shining in brazen arms; He rush’d into the hall, and caught Starkodder in his arms:

He press’d him to his heart, and with emotion wept aloud: Now Roska brought a leopard’s skin, and gave it to the god: Amongst th’ Einherier clash of shields resounds with deaf’ning din, When on the veteran’s shoulders broad Thor hung the leopard’s skin.

A club made from Yggdrassil’s wood he places in his hand; Thus ’mongst the demi-gods enroll’d Starkodder takes his stand: Counsel he gives to those who once were guilty of a crime, I’ th’ holy wave of Balder’s fount to wash off Nastrond’s slime.

Now to the field of battle his th’ Einherier all with glee: How the vast plain with heroes swarms, like billows on the sea! The danger, that the greatest strength and bravery on earth Could scarce o’ercome, was pastime here; mere children’s play and mirth.

And now the phalanx in the shape of a boar’s head they form; The lances clash with rustling noise like branches, when a storm In autumn whistles through the grove, ere snow makes white the green; Each glitt’ring blade like lightning strikes, that kills before ’tis seen.

Astounded at these wonders all, Starkodder silent stood: The buildings that inclose the space with ravishment he view’d. Vingolf and Gladheim on one side their lofty turrets rear; Valaskialf in the centre; left doth Freya’s dome appear.

But over Valaskialf he mark’d the awful tower immense, The like of which was never seen o’er all the earth’s expanse; ’Twas like the serpent Jormundgard in all his colours bright, When poised upon his tail he stands in perpendic’lar height.

Upon the buckler-cover’d roof two beasts Starkodder view’d; A goat over the dome, a stag over the portal stood: Heidruna doth all other goats in value far excel, Since from her udder, ’stead of milk, flow streams of hydromel.

But from the antlers of the stag a rill with brilliant spray And pleasing murmur spouted forth; it never ceased to play; A silver basin, when it falls, receives the bounteous stream; In various channels thence it flows to the world’s bound extreme.

On a balcony take their stand to view the feats of arms The Disar all: what Scald hath power to sing their matchless charms? Garlands of oak with their fair hands they wreath, and cast below As trophies in th’ arena vast, to grace the victor’s brow.

Starkodder mounted on the roof to view each wondrous sight, While Hermod friendly show’d the way by evening’s rosy light. He mark’d Heidruna the green leaves from th’ ash Yggdrassil crop, Which from the earth beyond the roof extends its branching top.

Not far from Valhall’s lofty gate, where Heimdal sentry stood, Starkodder the vast bridge of heaven, the gorgeous Bifrost, view’d: In its construction precious stones of various hue it blends, And, rising in one single arch, o’er all the earth extends.

Over this bridge, when they descend to earth, the Asar ride To sit as judges in the grove, by th’ ash Yggdrassil’s side: This bridge is dangerous to pass, steep, narrow; but, like bees Upon a wall, the gods contrive to hold on it with ease.

Southward appears a verdant grove, and there upon a height, Resting on azure columns, stands a palace fair and light: High beech-trees of the liveliest green encircle this domain: There, to Starkodder Heimdal said, doth lovely Freya reign!

Northward appears a forest black; on a steep granite rock Stands a strong castle, with deep ditch, which any siege could mock; Its roof was tiled with copper shields; Trudvang the name it bore: There, Heimdal to Starkodder said, dwells the all-powerful Thor!

The sun now sank beneath the wave, and clear and round the moon On Valaskialf, on Folkvang bright, on massive Trudvang shone! Athwart the clouds Starkodder saw far off a dazzling light: “How now?” to Hermod thus he said, “have ye two moons at night?

“The light thou takest for a moon,” thus answered Hermod mild, Is Breidablik; that mansion’s roof with costly pearls is tiled: There Asa-Balder sits enthron’d the fleecy clouds among; Hark! how he chaunts with the white Alfs the dulcet vesper song!

“And hark! what thrilling melody the echoing clouds impart! Like the soft joys of innocence, it melts the coldest heart: But in the hall below resound laughter and boist’rous glee, And like the dove before the hawk, the pious tones give way.”

To Vingolf now they both descend; there joy tumultuous reigns: In honour of Valfader’s name his horn each warrior drains. There the good Scalds, who oft the north had gladden’d, touch the chord, They all like loving brothers sit at Odin’s oaken board.

A Drapa now, a splendid theme, together they rehearse; With glorious choral harmony resounds th’ heroic verse: ’Twas like to many a bunch of grapes, each from a diff’rent vine Gather’d, and now together press’d to form a generous wine.

Here neither jealousy intrigues, nor envy gnaws the heart; Each hears with deference sincere when others aught impart, And each rejoices like a child who lovely flowers beholds, When, what his own hath not conceived, another’s brain unfolds.

“There, next to Thor,” thus Hermod said, “Starkodder, is thy seat.” At times throughout the vast saloon flashes a splendour great; It flashes from the shields that hang in rows against the wall; The silver hilts and the steel blades a dazzling ray let fall.

When now the mead was drank, and when each Scald had ceased his song, Enter’d the scoffer Asa-Lok the jovial guests among; His nature is well-known: now red with insolence he grew; And to the mock’ry of the gods exposed himself anew.

Though by the greater gods despised and hated by the less, Yet often they must needs admire his wit and liveliness; At times his cunning was of use worse mischief to prevent, And when buffoonery prevail’d, there was his element.

But not innocuous were his jokes; sharp, like the razor’s edge, Both friend and foe alike they cut, yet ’twas his privilege. When circulates the brimming horn and seriousness gives way, We sometimes listen to a fool and tolerate his play.

With Fenris first he play’d, the wolf, whom he in a dark cave Of a foul witch begot; but all the guests with aspect grave Beheld the sport; it pleased them not, nor did his laughter help; For all the Asar fear’d the wolf, though he was but a whelp.

His eyes glared fiercely; every day his size and strength increas’d: Unwilling Odin in his hall suffer’d the hateful beast: To Skirnir, messenger of Frey, he turn’d aside his head, Whisp’ring a mandate in his ear; Skirnir the hint obey’d.[73]

But now Lok could not fail to see that Fenris was by all Abhorr’d and fear’d; without the gate he led him from the hall. Loud howl’d the wolf; to earth he hied; he there a robber found, And help’d to murder, while his teeth enlarged the victim’s wound.

Now to the stable hasten’d Lok by special leave of Thor, And brought in one of the white goats that drew the hero’s car: The bearded father of the flock was heard to sigh and groan; It vex’d the reverend goat to play the part of a buffoon.

With Fulla’s garter at one end Lok by the beard made fast The sturdy goat; the other end he tied to his own waist: Now to the goat he turn’d his back, and struck him with a thorn; The beast enraged ran at his foe full butt with levell’d horn.

To a short distance they retired; now they again fell to;[74] The gods in Valaskialf laugh’d loud the sport absurd to view. This amused Lok; no shame he felt within his breast; he thought That, while at him they laugh’d, they all were laughing at the goat.

But such buffoonery soon must fail amusement to impart; Loud laugh’d the mighty gods, ’tis true, but ’twas not from the heart. Oft doth a scene absurd and strange the lungs to laughter move, E’en when the heart and sense such scenes must ever disapprove.

Gefion began to frown; now Thor a sign to Bragur made: That silly play offended much the chaste high-minded maid. She rose to quit the hall, but Thor whisper’d to Bragur: “Pray Recite, to soothe the virgin’s ears, some soul-inspiring lay!”

Then Bragur tuned his harp and said: “Now listen to my lays! Behold! I strike the golden harp in noble Gefion’s praise!” At this the maid resumed her seat; what female could eschew To listen gracious to the song, that gives her honour due?