Page:Poeticedda00belluoft.djvu/59

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Voluspo

And the mighty past  they call to mind,
And the ancient runes  of the Ruler of Gods.

61.[1] In wondrous beauty  once again
Shall the golden tables  stand mid the grass,
Which the gods had owned  in the days of old,
..................

62.[2] Then fields unsowed  bear ripened fruit,
All ills grow better,  and Baldr comes back;
Baldr and Hoth dwell  in Hropt's battle-hall,
And the mighty gods:  would you know yet more?

63.[3] Then Hönir wins  the prophetic wand,
..................
And the sons of the brothers  of Tveggi abide
In Vindheim now:  would you know yet more?


    garthsorm, who, lying in the sea, surrounded the land. The Ruler of Gods: Othin. The runes were both magic signs, generally carved on wood, and sung or spoken charms.

  1. The Hauksbok version of the first two lines runs:
    "The gods shall find there,  wondrous fair,
    The golden tables  amid the grass."
    No lacuna (line 4) is indicated in the manuscripts. Golden tables: cf. stanza 8 and note.
  2. Baldr: cf. stanza 32 and note. Baldr and his brother, Hoth, who unwittingly slew him at Loki's instigation, return together, their union being a symbol of the new age of peace. Hropt: another name for Othin. His "battle-hall" is Valhall.
  3. No lacuna (line 2) indicated by the manuscripts. Hönir: cf. stanza 18 and note. In this new age he has the gift of foretelling the future. Tveggi ("The Twofold"): another name for

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