A Book of Myths, by Jean Lang - Umnet

of the Northmen there arose a cry of bitter lamentation.
"That was the greatest woe that ever befell gods and men," says the
story.
The sound of terrible mourning in place of laughter brought Freya to
where
"on the floor lay Baldur dead; and round lay thickly strewn swords,
axes, darts, and spears, which all the gods in sport had lightly thrown at
Baldur, whom no weapon pierced or clove; but in his breast stood fixed
the fatal bough of mistletoe."
Matthew Arnold.
When she saw what had befallen him, Freya's grief was a grief that
refused to be comforted, but when the gods, overwhelmed with sorrow,
knew not what course to take, she quickly commanded that one should
ride to Niflheim and offer Hel a ransom if she would permit Baldur to
return to Asgard.
Hermoder the Nimble, another of the sons of Odin, undertook the
mission, and, mounted on his father's eight-footed steed, he speedily
reached the ice-cold domain of Hel.
There he found Baldur, sitting on the noblest seat of those who feasted,
ruling among the people of the Underworld. With burning words
Hermoder pled with Hel that she would permit Baldur to return to the
world of gods and the world of men, by both of whom he was so dearly
beloved. Said Hel:
"Come then! if Baldur was so dear beloved, And this is true, and such a
loss is Heaven's-- Hear, how to Heaven may Baldur be restored. Show
me through all the world the signs of grief! Fails but one thing to grieve,
here Baldur stops! Let all that lives and moves upon the earth Weep
him, and all that is without life weep; Let Gods, men, brutes, beweep
him; plants and stones, So shall I know the loss was dear indeed, And
bend my heart, and give him back to Heaven."