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? PR. Mantling in the goblet fee Pain can reach the Sons of Heav'n! Leave me, leave me to repose. O. Once again my call obey. Prophetess, arife, and fay, What dangers Odin's Child await, Who the Author of his fate? PR. PR. In Hoder's hand the Heroe's doom: His Brother fends him to the tomb. Now my weary lips I close : Leave me, leave me to repofe. O. Prophetess, my spell obey, Once again arise, and say, Who th' Avenger of his guilt, PR. In the caverns of the west, Nor fee the fun's departing beam; Till he on Hoder's corfe fhall fmile, Flaming on the fun'ral pile. F Now Now my weary lips I clofe: Leave me, leave me to repose. 1 O. Yet a while my call obey, Prophetess, awake, and say, What Virgins these, in speechless woe, That bend to earth their folemn brow, That their flaxen treffes tear, And fnowy veils, that float in air. 'Tell me, whence their forrows rofe : Then I leave thee to repose. PR. Ha! no Traveller art thou, King of Men, I know thee now, Mightieft of a mighty line O. No boding Maid of skill divine Art thou, nor Prophetess of good! But Mother of the giant-brood! PR. PR. Hie thee hence, and boaft at home, That never shall Enquirer come To break my iron-sleep again : Till Lok has burft his tenfold chain. Never, till fubftantial Night Has reaffum'd her ancient right; Till wrapp'd in flames, in ruin hurl'd, Sinks the fabrick of the world. THE Lok is the evil Being, who continues in chains till the Twilight of the Gods approaches, when he fhall break his bonds; the human race, the ftars, and fun, fhall difappear; the earth fink in the feas, and fire confume the fkies: even Odin himfelf and his kindred deities fhall perish. For a farther explanation of this mythology, fee Mallet's Introduction to the Hiftory of Denmark, 1755, Quarto. |