was killed unintentionally, by his blind brother, Hoder.

HEIMDAL, the guardian of the heavens. He was styled the powerful, the holy, the god with golden teeth. He was represented as posted in the celestial fortress, at one end of the bridge Bifrost, which reached from earth to heaven, and was evidently an emblem of the rainbow. There he defended the passage against the giants; taking less sleep than the birds; seeing a hundred leagues around him, by night as well as by day; hearing the grass growing on the ground, and the wool on the backs of the sheep. Heimdal held in his hand a trumpet, the sound of which might be heard throughout all worlds. He was esteemed to be the standard bearer of the gods; the judge and pacificator of combats and disputes. He was represented with a cock's crest upon his head.

To the gods just described, may be added several children of Odin: Hoder the blind; the silent Vidar, who walked the waters and the air; Vali the formidable archer; Uller, who presided over the trial by duel; and Forseti, who decided the differences between gods and men. Iduna, queen of youth; Saga, Toddess of waterfalls; Vara, the witness of oaths; Lofen, the guardian of friends).ip; Synia, the aven ger of broken faith.

Who was Frea, and how was she won hipped'
What were Thor's attributes and worship?

Who was Niorder?

Who was Balder?

Who was Heimdal?

Had Odin children?

NIFLHEIM.

THE Scandinavian hell was called Niflheim, and as represented as consisting of nine vast regions

of ice, situated under the north pole. Near its eastern gate reposed the body of Vala, the prophetess.

Hard by the eastern gate of Hell
In ancient time great Vala fell;
And there she lies in massive tomb,
Shrouded by night's eternal gloom.
Fairer than gods, and wiser, she
Held the strange keys of destiny.

She knew what chanced ere time began;
Ere worlds there were, or gods, or man;
No mortal tongue has ever said,
What hand unknown laid Vala dead.
But yet if rumour rightly tells,
In her cold bones the Spirit dwells,
And still if bold intruder come,
Her voice unfolds his hidden doom.
And oft the rugged ear of Hell
Is soothed by some melodious spell,
Slow breathing from the hollow stone
In witching notes and solemn tone.

Herbert's Helga

The Dog of Darkness, similar to the Grecian Cer berus, guarded the entrance of Niflheim.

Uprose the king of men with speed,
And saddled straight his coal-black steed;
Down the yawning steep he rode,
That leads to Hela's drear abode.
Him the dog of darkness spied;
IIis shaggy throat he opened wide,
While from his jaws, with carnage filled,
Foam and human gore distilled.

Hoarse he bays with hideous din,

Eyes that glow, and fangs that grin.

Gray's Descent of Odin.

In the Scandinavian Hell was the principal abode of Loke, the cruel, cunning, and malicious enemy of gods and men. Here resided Hela, the dreadful goddess of death, daughter of the evil genius Loke and the giantess Angherbode, or messenger of ill

Hela was described as occupying an immense pa lace; where her hall was Sorrow; her table, Famine; her knife, Hunger; her servants, Slowness and Delay; her gate, Precipice; her vestibule, Languor; her bed, Malady and Leanness, her tent, Malediction. One half of her body was of the colour of putrid and the other of living flesh. In this re gion of horrors roamed the wolf Fenris, a monster dreaded by the gods, as destined to be one instrument of their destruction; and the equally formidable serpent.

The Valkyries were maids of the god of war; the goddesses of slaughter. It was their province to select those that were to fall in battle; to bear the invitation of Odin to the most distinguished; to conduct the souls of heroes slain to Valhalla, his hall 1; and there to pour out for them the beverage of the gods.

On steeds that seemed as fleet as light,

Six maids in brilliant armour dight.
Their chargers of ethereal birth,
Pawed, with impatient hoof, the earth,
And snorting fiercely 'gan to neigh,
As if they heard the battle bray,
And burned to join the bloody fray.
But they unmoved and silent sate,
With pensive brow and look sedate,
Proudly each couched her glittering spear
And seemed to know nor hope nor fear.
So mildly firm their placid air,
So resolute, yet heavenly fair.
But not one ray of pity's beam,
From their dark eyelids seem to gleam;
Nor gentle mercy's melting tear,
Nor love might ever harbour there.
Was never woman's beauteous face,
So stern, and yet so passionless.

What was the Scandinavian Hell?
Who was Vala?

Helga.

THE SONG OF VALA

Had the Scandinavians a dog like Cerberus ?
What terrible goddess resided in Niflheim?
Who were the Valkyries?

What verses describe the Valkyries?

THE SONG OF VALA

[From Herbert's Helga.]
Silence, all ye sons of glory!
Silence, all ye powers of light!
While I sing of ancient story,
Wonders wrapt in mystic night.
I was rocked in giant's cradle,
Giant's lore my wisdom gave;
I have known both good and evil,
Now I lie in lowly grave.

Long before the birth of Odin,

Mute was thunderous ocean's roar,
Stillness o'er the huge earth brooding,
Strand was none, nor rocky shore.
Neither grass nor green tree growing,
Vernal shower, nor wintry storm,
Nor those horses, bright and glowing,
Dragged the Sun's refulgent form.
He who rules, by night, the heaven,
Wist not where his beams to throw,
All to barren darkness given,
There, confusion; Hell below.

Imir sat in lonely sadness,

Watching o'er the fruitless globe;
Never morning beamed with gladness;
Never eve with dewy robe.

Who are those in pride advancing,
Through the barren tract of night?
Mark their steel divinely glancing,
Imir falls in holy fight!

Of his bones, the rocks high swelling
Of his flesh the glebe is made;

From his veins the tide is welling,
And his locks are verdant shade.

Hark! his crest with gold adorning,
Chanticleer on Odin calls.
Hark! another bird of morning
Claps his wings in Hela's halls.
Nature shines in glory beaming;
Elves are born, and man is formed,
Every hill with gladness teeming,
Every shape with life is warmed.
Who is he by heaven's high portal,
Beaming like the light of morn?
'Tis Heimdallar's form immortal,
Shrill resounds his golden horn

Say, proud warder, robed in glory,
Are the foes of nature nigh?
Have they climbed the mountains hoary!
Have they stormed the lofty sky?

On the wings of tempest riding,
Surtur spreads his fiery spell;
Elves in secret caves are hiding;
Odin meets the wolf of hell.

She must taste a second sorrow,
She who wept when Balder bled,
"Fate demands a nobler quarry;
Death must light on Odin's head

See ye not yon silent stranger?
Proud he moves with lowering eyes,
Odin, mark thy stern avenger!
Slain the shaggy monster lies.

See the serpent weakly crawling ;

Thor has bruised its loathsome head t Lo the stars from heaven are falling! Earth has sunk in ocean's bed!

Glorious Sun! thy beams are shrouded, Vapours dank around thee sail; Nature's eye with mists is clouded; Shall the powers of ill prevail?