Onward still his way he takes, (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 rhyme; PROPHETESS. What call unknown, what charms, presume To break the quiet of the tomb? Who thus afflicts my troubled sprite, And drags me from the realms of night? Who is he, with voice unbless'd, That calls me from the bed of rest? ODIN. A Traveller, to thee unknown, Is he that calls a Warrior's Son. Thou the deeds of light shalt know; For whom yon glittering board is spread? The pure beverage of the bee; ODIN. Once again my call obey. PROPHETESS. In Hoder's hand the Hero's doom; His brother sends him to the tomb. Now my weary lips I close: Leave me, leave me to repose. ODIN. Prophetess, my spell obey, Once again arise, and say, Who the' Avenger of his guilt, PROPHETESS. In the caverns of the west, By Odin's fierce embrace compress'd, A wondrous Boy shall Rinda bear, Who ne'er shall comb his raven-hair, Nor wash his visage in the stream, Now my weary lips I close : ODIN. Yet awhile my call obey; What Virgins these, in speechless woe, And snowy veils, that float in air? Tell me whence their sorrows rose : PROPHETESS. Ha! no Traveller art thou, King of Men, I know thee now; Mightiest of a mighty line ODIN. No boding Maid of skill divine Art thou, nor Prophetess of good; But mother of the giant-brood! PROPHETESS. Hie thee hence, and boast at home, That never shall Enquirer come Till Lok has burst his tenfold chain; * Lok is the Evil Being, who continues in chains till the Twilight of the Gods approaches; when he shall break his bonds; the Never, till substantial Night THE TRIUMPHS OF OWEN.* A FRAGMENT. FROM THE WELCH, OWEN's praise demands my song, Liberal hand, and open heart. Big with hosts of mighty name, human race, the stars, and sun, shail disappear; the earth sink in the seas, and fire consume the skies: even Odin himself, and his kindred deities, shall perish. For a further explanation of this mythology, see 'Introduction à l'Histoire de Dannemarc, par Mons. Mallet,' 1755, quarto; or rather a translation of it published in 1770, and entitled Northern Antiquities ;' in which some mistakes in the original are judiciously corrected. * From Mr. Evans's Specimens of the Welch Poetry; London, 1764, quarto. Owen succeeded his father Griffin in the principality of North Wales, A. D, 1120. This battle was fought near forty years afterwards. + North Wales. |