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Mists of death forsake my brow—
Regal Sire! I know now:
In Vegtam’s borrow’d form appears
The dateless guardian of the spheres.
No longer I esteem thee wise—
Maid in strength thy virtue lies.
Gods, on his return, sent messengers throughout all the world, begging of every thing to weep, in order to deliver Balder from Hell. Then the messengers returned, concluding they had effectually performed their commission: but as they were travelling along, they found in a cavern, an old witch, who called herself Thok; the messengers having besought her, that she would be so good as to shed tears for the deliverance of Balder; she answered in verses to this effect:—“Thok will weep with dry eyes for the funeral of Balder; let all things living or dead weep if they will: but let Hela keep her prey!” It was conjectured that this cursed witch was Lok himself, who never ceased to plague the Gods. He was the cause that Balder was slain; he was also the cause that he could not return to life.
