shakes? Tell me thy race and home.
But yestermorn, five troops of dead passed by,
Bound on their way below to Hela's realm,
Nor shook the bridge so much as thou alone.
And thou hast flesh and colour on thy cheeks,
Like men who live, and draw the vital air;
Nor look'st thou pale and wan, like men deceased,
Souls bound below, my daily passers here."

Then Hermod told his name and whence he came, and asked eagerly if
Balder had already crossed that bridge. And the maiden told him that
Balder had indeed passed that way along the road to Hela's kingdom.

So Hermod galloped over the golden bridge, and resumed his way through
a darksome tract of frozen country, and over fields of ice unlighted
save by dim stars that shone uncertainly through the mist. At length
further passage was barred by a high wall in which was a grate.
Without hesitation Hermod put Sleipnir to this obstacle, he surmounted
it with the ease and grace of a fawn, and they found themselves in
Hela's realm.

On passed Hermod, unheeding the murmuring shades that flocked around,
and he did not draw rein until, coming to Hela's hall, he saw there
Balder, his brother, and, near by, the awful goddess.

Leaping from Sleipnir, the young Asa knelt before Hela and besought
her that Balder might ride home with him, that the heavy hearts of all
in Asgard might be comforted.

But dark Hela shook her head, reminding him how Odin had cast her out
with her two brothers, the Serpent and the Fenris Wolf; why should she
grant the Asa folk this boon?

Then Hermod laid his hands upon her knees. "All things in heaven and
earth grieve for Balder, therefore restore him, good mother, and
darken not our lives for evermore," he answered.

The appeal in his mournful eyes, as well as in his words, somewhat
moved Hela, though her heart was still hardened against Odin, and she
said: "Come now, let us see if all things love Balder as you say,

"Show me through all the world the signs of grief!
Fails but one thing to grieve, here Balder 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 lost was dear indeed,
And bend my heart, and give him back to heaven."

Then Hermod was given permission to greet his brother, and Balder
answered him with faint voice. They spoke of Asgard, the beloved land
of living gods a