Him the Dog of Darkness spied, (The groaning earth beneath him shakes). Till full before his fearless eyes, The portals nine of hell arise. Right against the eastern gate, 'Thrice he trac'd the runic rhime; PR. What call unknown, what charms To break the quiet of the tomb? [prefume Who thus afflicts my troubled fprite, And drags me from the realms of night? Long on thefe mouldring 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 unbleft, That calls me from the bed of rest? OD. A Traveller, to thee unknown, For whom yon glitt'ring board is spread, PR. Mantling in the goblet fee Pain can reach the fons of Heav'n! Unwilling I my lips unclose : OD. Once again my call obey. PR. In Hoder's hand the Hero's doom: His brother fends him to the tomb. Now my weary lips I close : Leave me, leave me to repose. OD. Prophetefs, my spell obey. Once again arife, and say, Who th' avenger of his guilt, By whom shall Hoder's blood be fpilt. PR. In the caverns of the west, 'Till he on Hoder's corfe fhall smile Now my weary lips I close; OD. Yet a while my call obey. What Virgins thefe, in fpeechlefs woe, And fnowy veils, that float in air. PR. Ha! no Traveller art thou, OD. No boding Maid of skill divine PR. Hie thee hence, and boast at home, That never shall Enquirer come To break my iron-sleep again,. Till Lok + has burst his ten-fold chain : Has reaffum'd her ancient right; + Lok is the Evil Being, who continues in chains till the Twilight of the Gods approaches, when he shall break his bonds; the human race, the ftars and fun shall disappear; the earth fink in the feas, and fire confume the fkies: even Odin himself, and his kindred deities, fhall perish. For a farther explanation of this mythology, fee Mallet's Introduction to the Hiftory of Denmark, 1755, Quarto. |