“And all day long they there are hack’d and hewn
’Mid dust, and groans, and limbs lopped off, and blood;
But all at night return to Odin’s hall
Woundless and fresh: such lot is theirs in heaven.”
Balder Dead (Matthew Arnold).
Fighting and feasting thus, the heroes were said to spend their days in perfect bliss, while Odin delighted in their strength and number, which, however, he foresaw would not avail to prevent his downfall when the day of the last battle should dawn.
As such pleasures were the highest a Northern warrior’s fancy could paint, it was very natural that all fighting men should love Odin, and early in life should dedicate themselves to his service. They vowed to die arms in hand, if possible, and even wounded themselves with their own spears when death drew near, if they had been unfortunate enough to escape death on the battlefield and were threatened with “straw death,” as they called decease from old age or sickness.
“To Odin then true-fast
Carves he fair runics,—
Death-runes cut deep on his arm and his breast.”