Earth is heav n s shadow human life the porch And outer court of Balder s heav nly temple.
There is one off ring which the gods prefer To thousand hecatombs, the sacrifice Of that wild hate and burning, fierce revenge Harbor d in thine own bosom. Such off rings Balder will have none. In heav n on earth, tis only peace that pardon gives. In lands far south, tis said, Is some new Balder worshiped, He, the pure virgin s son from heav n who sped, Sent by the Allfather s self to explain the dim And yet unfathom d runes which crowd the rim Bord ring the shield of darkness, that dread shield Worn by the norns. And never would this Balder wield Our earth s dark blood-stain d arms.