before Loke should be loosed from his chains and the ruin of the gods had come. Thus the lay of Vegtam in the Elder Edda: Together were the gods All in council, And the goddesses All in conference; And they consulted The mighty gods, Why Balder had Oppressive dreams. To that god his slumber Was most afflicting; His auspicious dreams Seemed departed. They the giants questioned, Wise seers of the future, Whether this might not Forebode calamity. The responses said That to death destined was Uller’s kinsman, Of all the dearest: That caused grief To Frigg and Svafner, And to the other powers,— On a course they resolved: That they would send To every being, Assurance to solicit, Balder not to harm. All species swore Oaths to spare him: Frigg received all Their vows and compacts. Valfather fears Something defective; He thinks the haminjes[57] May have departed; The gods he convenes, Their counsel craves; At the deliberation Much is devised. Up stood Odin, Lord of men, And on Sleipner he The saddle laid; Rode he thence down To Niflheim. A dog he met, From Hel coming. It was blood-stained On its breast, On its slaughter-craving throat, And nether jaw. It barked And widely gaped At the father of magic song; Long it howled. Forth rode Odin— The ground thundered— Till to Hel’s lofty House he came; Then rode Ygg (Odin) To the eastern gate, Where he knew there was A vala’s grave.