Glen Collection of printed music > Printed text > Charms of melody, or, Siren medley

37i
BALLADS AMCiENT anp j^odern,, LEGENDARIES, &c.
The Defcent of Odin.
FROPHETESS.
UPROSE the Kins of. Men with fpeed,
And faddled ilraight his coal-black fteed :
Do"'n the yawning fteep he rode.
That leads to Hela's drear abode. *
Him the Dog of Darknefs fpied ;
His ftiaggy throat he open'd wide.
While frotn his jaws, with carnage fiU'd,
Foam and human gore diftiU'd :
Hoarfe he bays with hideous din,
Eyes that glow, and fangs that grin s
And long purfues, with fruiilefs yell,
The Father of the powerful fpell.
Onward ftill his way he takes,
(The groaning earth beneath him fliakes,)
Till full before his fe.ulefs eyes
The portals nine of Hell arife.
Right againfl ihe eaftern gate,
By the mofs-grown pile, he fue ;
Where long of yore to deep was laid
The duft of the prophetic Maid-
Facing to the novihern clime,
Thrice he traced the Runic rhyme j
Thrice pronounc'd, in accent? dread,
The thrilling verfe that wakes the deadj
Till from out the hollow groun4
Slowly breath'd a fallen found.
mOFHETESS.
What call unknown, what charms, prefume
To break the quiet of the tomb f
Who thus afflic'ts my troubled fprite.
And drags me from the realms of night ?
Long on thefe mouldering bones have beat
The winter's fnow, the fummer's heat.
The drenching dews, and driving rain !
Let me, let me fleep again.
Who is he, with voice unblefs'd,
Calls me from t4e bed of reft i
ODIW.
A traveller, to thee unknown,
Is he that calls, a warrior's fon.
Thou the deeds of light (halt know ;
Tell me what is done below.
For whom yon glitt'ring board is fpread,
Drefs'd for whom yon golden bed ?■
PROPHETESS.
])Iantling in the goblet fee
The pure bev'rage of the bee ;
O'er it hangs the (hield of gold ;
'Tis the drink of Balder bold >
Balder's head to death is given.
Pain can reach the Sons of Heaven f
Unsvilling I my lips unclofe :
Leave me, leave me to vepofe.
OOIN.
Once again my call obey,
Prophetefs, arife, and fay,
Whiit dangers Odin's child await,
Who the author of his fate ?
* Nifihelmr, the hell of the Gothic nations, cooMed of nine
worlds, to which were devoted all fiich as died of ficlintfs, old age,
«r by any other meaas ihjn in battle. Over it prefided Hela, the
Goddefs of Death.
In Hoder's hand the Hero's doom ;
His brother fends him to the tomb.
Now my weary lips I clofe :
Leave me, leave me to repofe.
OP IN.
Prophetefs, my fpell obey,
Once again arife, and fay.
Who th' Avenger of his guilt,
By whom (hall Hoder's blood be fpilt ?
PROPHETESS.
In the caverns of the weft.
By Odin's fierce embrace comprefs'd,
A wond'rous boy (hall Rinda bear.
Who ne'er fliall comb his raven-hair.
Nor walh his vifage in the ftream.
Nor fee the fun's departing beam.
Till he on Hoder's corfe fhall fmile,
Flaming on the funeral pile.
Now my weary lips I clofe,
Leave mo, leave me to repofe.
ODIM,
Yet awhile my call obey ;
Prophetefs, awake, and fay,
What Virgins thefe, in fpeechlefs woe,
That bend to earth their folemn brow,
That their flaxen trefTes tear,
And fnowy veils that float in air.
Tell me whence their forrows rofe :
Then I leave thee to repofe.
PROPHETESS.
Ha ! no Traveller art thou.
Kin? of Men, 1 know thee now ;
Migntieft of a mighty line
ODIN.
No boding Maid of (kill divine
Art thou, nor Prophetefs of good ;
But mother of thp giant-brood !
PROPHETieSS.
Hie thee hence, and boaft at home.
That never (hall enquirer come
To break my iron fleep again:
Till Lok*has bnrft his ten-fold chain;
Never, till fubftanrial Nie;ht
Has rea(rumed her ancient right ;
Till wrapp'd in flames, in ruin hurl'd,
Sinks the fabric of the world.
* Zff/f is the Evil Being, whocontimu-s in chains till the TVw.
Irgki cf the Gctis approaches ■, when ht ftall break his bonds ; the
human race, the liars. a:id fun, fliali CiiappfnT-, theeaith fink in
the feas, and firt confume the ikies: even'Odin himfelf, and Kil
kii.dred deities, fhall pcrilh. For a furti ei- explanation of thi'- mjfc
thology, fee " IntroduiStion a THiftoire de Daiinemarc. par Mi
Mallet," 1755, quarto; or rather a tranllslion of it publiff.ed ia
1770, and entitled; '* Norihem Antiquit e' ;" in which fome laif-
takcE in the oiiginal are judiciuuily corrected.