“Vithar’s then and Vali’s force
Heirs the empty realm of gods;
Mothi’s thew and Magni’s might
Sways the massy mallet’s weight,
Won from Thor, when Thor must fall.”
Vafthrudni’s-mal (W. Taylor’s tr.).
Here they were joined by Hoenir, no longer an exile among the Vanas, who, as developing forces, had also vanished forever; and out of the dark underworld where he had languished so long rose the radiant Balder, accompanied by his brother Hodur, with whom he was reconciled, and who was now ready to live with him in perfect amity and peace. Gently and pensively these gods talked of the past, recalled the memory of their former companions, and, searching in the long grass on Idavold, found again the golden disks with which the Æsir had been wont to play.
“We shall tread once more the well-known plain
Of Ida, and among the grass shall find
The golden dice with which we play’d of yore;