Thor monologue — The Death of Balder

O Balder, hear me! Hear why I come, and if thou wish'st for rescue, Then heed a friend's, a father's last, last warning! Wondering at thy infatuation, troubled By threatening, now no longer dark forebodings, By panic seiz'd, press'd by unwonted sadness, I left these hills, and thunder-peals announced me In Asgaard, every eye my trouble notic'd; Straightway around me stream'd the eldest Aser, Each first would know, what grief, or rather terror, Press'd down my eye. But straight Allfather made me A sign: he blushes, Balder, at thy weakness! He bade me keep it, whilst we could, a secret, And question first once more the ancient Mimer. I question'd him, and murky fate's explorer Thus answer'd: "If the sun (ah, hear and tremble, And save thee, whilst thou canst!) if it to-morrow, When by its glories yonder hills are brighten'd, Which oft have echoed back the half-god's wailings, Behold him yet in love and yet rejected, Then likewise it beholds the spear which slays him, And Odin's tears and all the Aser's sorrow!"