En stol højt monne stande alt under hvælvet sten
Den var af hovedpande og skøre dødningben
Der så man Hel at true, alt var hun hvid mod fod
Mod issen blå at skue af underløbet blod
Et dødningben det hvide vel bleget i måneskin
Hun straktes ud til kvide med et hævngærrigt sind
Det vare muldent lugte hun sprang det som en vånd
Som kongespir hun brugte det i sin grumme hånd
Det var så tyst derinde, en liglugt overalt
Der rørtes ingen vinde kun hule suk gengjaldt
Tre fakler blåligt lue ved hver en dødning stod
Man idel rædsel skue med intet spor af blod
Der så man Tor at smile, han vendte sig omkring
Han monne hurtigt ile hen i de dødes ring
Han råbte højt derinde da disse strenge ord
Så gå det hver en kvinde som ej tør følge Tor
I usselige dåre som frygter sår og død
Nu Hel jer evigt såre med kval og bitter nød
I lod ej hjelmen hvælve om issen kækt i strid
I skabtes til at skælve så skælv til evig tid
Derpå den strenge kæmpe tren fast for Hela frem
Han måtte stemmen dæmpe i hendes mørke hjem
Han sagde gustne kvinde retfærdigt straffer du
Dog står jeg ej herinde i en frivillig hu
Til Udgårds drot at drage dertil stod fast mit sind
Der kunne han så mage at her jeg vandret ind
Thi sig mig hvis du mægter hvad vej jeg vandre må
For til de stærke slægter i Jotunheim at gå
Der skreg til Mjølners svinger Hel med sin stemme styg
Det klang som sværdet klinger udi en panserryg
Forlad min sort bue gå frem snart est du der
Det blænder mig at skue din sundheds rosenskjær
Der vinkte brat behænde gud Tor med dristigt blik
Sig Loke bort mon vende da Hel forbi han gik
Fast han sit øje lukkede så tungt var ham den gang
Hun så på ham og sukkede i hendes spir det klang
Under the vaulted roof, behold!
A throne appears, but not of gold,
Silver, or ivory; this throne Was built of human sculls alone!
Thereon sat Hela, fell to view;
Her skin a chalky hue reveal’d,
Down from the girdle; livid blue
Above it seem’d from blood congeal’d!
A man’s thigh-bone in moonshine bleach’d
T’ enforce new torments she outstretch’d,
For never her vindictive mind
Allows to rest the Nidding kind:
This bone exhal’d a corpse-like smell;
On high she waved it like a wand;
It made all crouch; it serv’d full well
As sceptre in her clammy hand.
No sound, but moans to make flesh creep,
Here interrupts the silence deep;
No zephyrs thaw the frost severe;
Cadav’rous odours taint the air;
Three torches blue illum’d the scene!
By each a ghastly spectre stood!
Shapes frightfully diseased were seen,
But on their limbs no trace of blood!
Now Thor began to smile; exempt
From fear himself, he with contempt
The crowd of trembling ghosts beheld,
And loud this stern discourse he held:
“O wretched fools! why did ye shun
The dangers of all-glorious war?
Thus may it fare with every one
Who dares not follow Asa-Thor!
“Ye miserable, who eschew’d
Danger and death and scenes of blood!
Weaker than women!
Hela now Grinds ye with never-ending woe;
Ye fear’d to don the warrior’s helm,
And trembled at the bowstring’s twang;
Well, now, in Hel’s accursed realm,
Ye tremble with eternal pang!”
Thus Thor: the ghosts respond with moan:
The chief advanc’d to Hela’s throne,
And though thick fogs his utt’rance choke,
He still, though hoarse, thus suppliant spoke:
“Hela, terrific queen! whose eye
Fills every living breast with fear,
Ah! not spontaneously do I
Before thy awful throne appear.
“I cannot the desire withstand
To visit Lok of Utgard’s land;
I long that chieftain to behold,
And therefore here have travell’d bold.
Then, O! resolve me, Hela true,
For well thou know’st each distant clime,
Where must I turn? what course pursue,
To reach the realm of Jotunheim?”
Then Hela croak’d out thus with force,
From throat with fogs and vapour hoarse:
“Begone from hence! depart! away!
Ye’ll soon arrive where giants sway;
The rosy hues that stain your cheek
My eye-balls sear to look upon;
Of health, and youth, and strength they speak;
Such sights I loathe: avaunt! begone!”
Now Thor a sign impatient made
Behind him, which his troop obey’d.
Lok ventur’d not to raise his eye,
As he stern Hela’s throne past by;
He closed his eyes her sight to shun,
And stumbled heavily along:
She look’d at him and breath’d a groan,
Which echoed far the rocks among.