A Guide to MythologyClarke, Helen A. (Helen Archibald)
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A Guide to Mythology
Clarke, Helen A. (Helen Archibald)
Mythology -- Juvenile literature
The gods upon this dispatched messengers throughout all the world to
beseech everything to weep, in order that Balder might be delivered
from the power of Hel. All things very willingly complied with the
request—man, animals, the earth, stones, trees, and all metals—just as we
see things weep when they come out of the frost into the warm air. When
the messengers were returning, with the conviction that their mission had
been quite successful, they found on their way home a giantess (ogress,
_gygr_), who called herself Thok. They bade her also weep Balder out of
the dominion of Hel. But she answered:
Thok will weep
With dry tears
For Balder’s death;
Neither in life nor in death
Gave he me gladness;
Let Hel keep what she has.
BATTLE BETWEEN RA AND ANAPEF OR APEP IN THE UNDERWORLD
(_Egyptian_)
Get thee back, depart, retreat from me, O Anapef; withdraw, or thou
shalt be drowned at the pool of Nu, at the place where thy father hath
ordered that thy slaughter be performed. Depart thou from the divine
place of birth of Ra, wherein is thy terror. I am Ra who dwelleth in his
terror. Get thee back, Fiend, before the darts of his beams. Ra hath
overthrown thy words, the gods have turned thy face backward, the Lynx
hath torn open thy breast, the Scorpion hath cast fetters upon thee, and
Maat hath sent forth thy destruction. Those who are in the ways have
overthrown thee; fall down and depart, O Apep, thou Enemy of Ra! O thou
that passest over the region in the eastern part of heaven with the
sound of the roaring thunder-cloud, O Ra, who openest the gates of the
horizon straightway on thy appearance, Apep hath sunk helpless under thy
gashings. I have performed thy will, O Ra, I have performed thy will,
I have done that which is fair, I have done that which is fair, I have
labored for the peace of Ra. I have made to advance thy fetters, O Ra,
and Apep hath fallen through thy drawing them tight. The gods of the
south and of the north, of the west and of the east, have fastened chains
upon him, and they have fettered him with fetters; the god Rekes hath
overthrown him and the god Hertit hath put him in chains. Ra setteth, Ra
setteth, Ra is strong at his setting. Apep hath fallen; Apep, the enemy
of Ra, departeth. Greater is the punishment which hath been inflicted
on thee than the sting which is the Scorpion goddess, and mightily hath
she, whose course is everlasting, worked in upon thee, and with deadly
effect. Thou shalt never enjoy the delights of love, thou shalt never
fulfil thy desire, O Apep, thou Enemy of Ra! He maketh thee to go back,
O thou who art hateful to Ra; he looketh upon thee, get thee back! He
pierceth thy head, he cutteth through thy face, he divideth thy head at
the two sides of the ways, and it is crushed in his land; thy bones are
smashed in pieces, thy members are hacked off thee, and the god Aker hath
condemned thee, O Apep, thou Enemy of Ra! Thy mariners are those who
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