4.  That they would send to every being, assurance to solicit, Baldr not to harm.  All species swore oaths to spare him; Frigg received all their vows and compacts.

5.  Valfather fears something defective; he thinks the Hamingiur may have departed; the AEsir he convenes, their counsel craves:  at the deliberation much is devised.]

6.  Uprose Odin lord of men and on Sleipnir he the saddle laid; rode thence down to Niflhel.  A dog he met, from Hel coming.

7.  It was blood-stained on its breast, on its slaughter-craving throat, and nether jaw.  It bayed and widely gaped at the sire of magic song:—­long it howled.

8.  Forth rode Odin—­the ground rattled—­till to Hel’s lofty house he came.  Then rode Ygg to the eastern gate, where he knew there was a Vala’s grave.

9.  To the prophetess, he began a magic song to chant, towards the north looked, potent runes applied, a spell pronounced, an answer demanded, until compelled she rose, and with deathlike voice she said: 

Vala.

10.  “What man is this, to me unknown, who has for me increased an irksome course?  I have with snow been decked, by rain beaten, and with dew moistened:  long have I been dead.”

Vegtam.

11.  “Vegtam is my name, I am Valtam’s son.  Tell thou me of Hel:  from, earth I call on thee.  For whom are those benches strewed o’er with rings, those costly couches o’erlaid with gold?”

Vala.

12.  “Here stands mead, for Baldr brewed, over the bright potion a shield is laid; but the AEsir race are in despair.  By compulsion I have spoken.  I will now be silent.”

Vegtam.

13.  “Be not silent, Vala!  I will question thee, until I know all.  I will yet know who will Baldr’s slayer be, and Odin’s son of life bereave.”

Vala.

14.  “Hoedr will hither his glorious brother send, he of Baldr will the slayer be, and Odin’s son of life bereave.  By compulsion I have spoken; I will now be silent.”

Vegtam.

15.  “Be not silent, Vala!  I will question thee, until I know all.  I will yet know who on Hoedr vengeance will inflict, or Baldr’s slayer raise on the pile.”

Vala.

16.  “Rind a son shall bear, in the western halls:  he shall slay Odin’s son, when one night old.  He a hand will not wash, nor his head comb, ere he to the pile has borne Baldr’s adversary.  By compulsion I have spoken; I will now be silent.”

Vegtam.

17.  “Be not silent, Vala!  I will question thee, until I know all.  I will yet know who the maidens are, that weep at will, and heavenward cast their neck-veils?  Tell me but that:  till then thou sleepest not.”

Vala.

18.  “Not Vegtam art thou, as I before believed; rather art thou Odin, lord of men!”

Odin.

19.  “Thou art no Vala, nor wise woman, rather art thou the mother of three Thursar.”