Light

and warmth i ue from his body for all. His name is compared with the Lithuanian Baltas “ whitene ,” the Slav Biel-bog or ‘white god.” [From the Aryan root Bhal “to shine”: Bal-dar being the “light giver."—Ep.] He was the wisest, most amiable, eloquent, just, and gifted of the Asars or gods (Astras) He dwelt in Breida-blik, the purest spot in heaven; but he came to earth and suffered endle trials, and death, which like other sun gods he foresaw. Even the gods shot arrows at him and threw stones, but knew he was really immortal. The evil god Loki, jealous of Baldur, learned from Friga that he was proof against all a aults except by the mistletoe (winter); and therefore Loki got Hodr (Darkne ) to cast at Baldur an arrow of of mistletoe; thus “he fell in crimson glory,” and was called “the blood covered god.” The winter sun so set to the sorrow of all creation. Baldur's corpse (like that of Osiris) was borne away in a ship. His wife Nana, daughter of Nep, threw herself on his pyre with ‘ Odin’s magic ring. This indicates the Sati rite (Suttee) among Western Aryans; but she becomes the sunset gode . All gods wept and sought for Baldur; and Hermod, the active son of Odin, traced him as having ridden over Mod-Gudr the golden bridge of Hell. Hela, queen of Hades, agreed that he should be permitted to return, if all the living and dead in the world had bewailed him.