Hermoðr Á Helferð

(album: Dauði Baldrs - 1997)

[Original:]

En þat er at segja frá Hermóði at hann reið niu naetr døkkva dala ok djúpa svá at hann sá ekki fyrr en hann kom til árinnar Gjallar ok reið a Gjallar brúna. Hon er þokð lýsigulli. Móðguðr er nenfd mær sú er gaetir brúarinna. Hon spurði hann at nafni eða ætt ok sagði at hinn fyrra dag riðu um brúna fimm fylki drauða manna, "En eigi dyrn brúin minnr undir einum þér ok eigi hefir þú lit dauðra manna. Hví ríðr pú hér á Helveg?" Hann svarar at "ek skal ríða til Helja at leita Baldrs. Eða hvárt hefir þú makkvat sét Baldr á Helvegi?" En hon sagði at Baldr hafði par ridit um Gjallar brú, "en niðr ok norðr Liggr Helvegr." Þá reið Hermóðr þar til er hann kom at Helgrindum. Þá sté af hestinum ok gyrði hann fast, steig upp ok keyrði hann sporum. En hestrinn hljóp svá hart ok yfir grindina at hann kom hvergi nær. Þá reið Hermóðr heim til hallarinar ok steig af hesti, gekk inn í hollina.

[English translation:]

But there is this to tell of Hermod, that he rode for nine nights through valleys so dark and deep that he saw nothing until he came to the river Gioll and rode onto the Gioll bridge that is covered with glowing gold. There is a maiden guarding the bridge called Modgud. She asked him his name and lineage and said that the other day there had been five battalions of dead men that had ridden over the bridge. "But the bridge resounds no less under you, and you do not have the colour of dead men. Why are you riding here on the road to Hel". He replied: "I am to ride to Hel to seek Baldr. Have you seen anything of Baldr on the road to Hel?" And she said that Baldr had ridden there over the Gioll bridge. But downwards and northwards lies the rode to Hel. Then Hermod rode on until he came unto Hel's gates. When he reached the gates of Hel he dismounted from his horse and tightened its girth, mounted and spurred it on. The horse then jumped over the gate and Hermod rode on to the hall and went in. When he went into the hall he saw sitting in the seat of honour his brother, Baldr.