Father of Magic

1 All together the Æsir came in council*
and all the Asynior in consultation,
and what they debated, those dauntless gods,
was why Baldr was having baleful dreams.

2 Up rose Odin, Gaut of men,*
and on Sleipnir he laid a saddle;
down from there he rode to Mist-hell,
there he met a whelp coming from hell.*

3 Bloody it was on the front of its chest
and long it barked at the father of magic;
on rode Odin, the earth-road resounded,
he approached the high hall of Hel.


- Poetic Edda, Baldrs draumar