Northern mythology

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NORTHERN MYTHOLOGY. 73
ing then his face to the north, he uttered those necromantic
songs which have power to wake the dead, until
the Yala, raising herself reluctantly from the tomb, demanded
what man it was that had thus ventured to disturb
her rest. In answer, Odin told her that his name
was Vegtam, son of Valtam, and at the same time inquired
of her,
on what occasion the benches and gilded couches,
which he perceived, were being prepared.
She informed
him, that it was in honour of Baldur, and desired to be
no more questioned.
Persisting in his inquiries, she goes
on to tell him the whole manner of Baidur^s death and
the events immediately following, as they are here related
and again deprecates all further interrogation.
But Odin
persists, and asks, who those maidens are that do not
weep for Baldur, but let their towering head-gear flaunt
towards heaven^ ? Hereupon the Vala exclaims: '^Thou
art not Vegtam, as I before believed; rather art thou
Odin, chief of men.^^ To this Odin answers "
: No Vala
ai*t thou, nor wise woman : rather art thou mother of
three giants. ^^ To this insulting speech the Vala replies r
" Ride home, and boast of thy feat. Never shall mortal
visit me again, till Loki shall have burst his chains, and
Bagnarock be come.^^
When Loki, Laufey's son, saw the sport before mentioned,
he was displeased that Baldur was not hurt, and
in the likeness of a woman he went to Frigg in
Frigg inquired
Fensalir.
of her whether she knew what the JEsir
were doing in their assembly ? She answered that they
were all shooting at Baldur, but without hurting him.
Frigg then said, '^ Neither weapon nor wood will hurt Bal-
1 Who these maidens are we are nowhere informed, though it is evident
they were not visible to mortal eyes, and that by discerning them Odin
betrayed his divine nature. The lost myth concerning them must have
been at variance with the story of Thbkt (see hereafter) who is mentioned
as the only being that would not bewail the death of Baldur.
E