THE

DESCENT OF ODIN.

AN OD E.

(From the NORSE-TONGUE,)

IN

BARTHOLINUS, de caufis contemnendæ mortis HAFNIE, 1689, Quarto.

Upreis Odinn Allda Gautr, &c,

G

THE

DESCENT OF ODIN.

AN OD E.

UP rofe the King of Men with speed,

And faddled ftrait his coal-black

fteed;

Down the yawning steep he rode,
That leads to * Hela's drear abode..

* Niflheimr, the hell of the Gothic nations, confifted of nine worlds, to which were devoted all fuch as died of fickness, old age, or by other means than in battle. Over it prefided Hela, the Goddess of death.

any

Him the Dog of Darkness fpied,
His shaggy throat he open'd wide,
While from his jaws, with carnage fill'd,
Foam and human gore diftill'd:
Hoarse he bays with hideous din,
Eyes that glow, and fangs that grin ;
And long pursues with fruitless yell.
The Father of the powerful spell.
Onward ftill his way he takes,
(The groaning earth beneath him shakes).
Till full before his fearless eyes,
The portals nine of hell arise.

Right against the eastern gate,
By the mofs-grown pile he fate :
Where long of yore to fleep was laid
The duft of the prophetic Maid.
Facing to the northern clime,
Thrice he trac'd the runic rhime;
Thrice pronounc'd, in accents dread,
The thrilling verfe that wakes the Dead:
Till from out the hollow ground
Slowly breath'd a fullen found.

T

PR. What call unknown, what charms To break the quiet of the tomb? [prefume Who thus afflicts my troubled fprite, And drags me from the realms of night? Long on these mouldring bones have beat The winter's fnow, the fummer's heat, The drenching dews, and driving rain! Let me, let me sleep again.

Who is he with voice unbleft,

That calls me from the bed of rest?

OD. A Traveller, to thee unknown,
Is he that calls, a Warrior's Son.
Thou the deeds of light shalt know:
Tell me what is done below,

For whom yon glitt'ring board is spread, Drefs'd for whom yon golden bed?

PR. Mantling in the goblet fee
The pure bev'ridge 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 fons of Heav'n!