Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-03-04
POETICAL. .,>,-
For the Enquirer.
JENNY LIN d
On,
pOETICAL.
Tho Incarnation OF IdunA'


.r.. Moasehen schon ,s,d ,cundsrbar. "-GoETHE'
80 IA svedish or. rather, Scandinavian mythology
az snaa Goddess called Iduna Far ana oeauuIu,
Ssss should undoubtedly be, she was
.nS h Gods and heroes found themselves growing OLD
NV rsnaired if we may believe the old Skalds ana
ISmna ale Of the "apples Of YOUTH young
Not even in the graceful mythology OF GeecS az
@ nv,hnp which surpasses in elegance this beautiful an
.srant aiegory 1t is illustrative of the power o. so
or song which bears the soul away from all ma
,h interests and calculations, 10 OWNER sphe'e' anu
IL consciousness Of Immortality
In old valhalla, q mighty odin(0sa'e
In all the glory OF HE ancient state. r..rn,
Fair Friesa(9 Freya,( az and the Thunderef lho''V'
And all the gods and heroes OF the times
or old-of Skania's golden age stood rouna :.
Ia;o throne with reverence meet, ana ~ofsMp' 90
Beseeaed their state and His VINO To them
rns ,he God ia thousand years and more,
Have rolled away since we ascenaeo mere
And left the earth beneath the rule OF ne"
anu sl, nS aoda A wondrous change hath swept
Away ali trace Of the old glorious Gays.
All fsth is dead, and ancient vaor gone,
~ truth and virtue now are scarcely known,
anu anu MANS cold hear, throbs not with noble thoughts,
And great ambitions, as 1t used to beat,
IN 'n' 0N The inner, God-like life,
F4e dreams not of and lives ignobly In
The outer world Of sense-a worthy chief
OF bees or king of beaver-tribes; but LOT
Companionshp Of gods, too deeply iaiIen;
Yet for his sake, win resume once more
NV ancient sodship-make the nations isei
The power Of other days-the wondrous ioice,
OF that old Skanian faith, which erst did hi
The stern old northern heart, with noble thoughts
And proud resoves-Come fair Iduna; THINE,
The task shall be- my mission TO fuhl. .,
Rehold the world is dead mans heart ana soui
Arc dead and thou must give them LIE. 20 down
To earth and, gathering up tue narmonies OF
The world seek out some gifted Swedish maid;
Enshrine myself therein; and, through her voice,
Revive the torpid nations, with the power
OF Song"
The goddess heard and down the radiant bridge TO-
Where faithful Heimda ~ guards the peace OF Heaven
She lightly flew, and soon did tread once more
The ancient Swedish hills; and, as she went,
She garnered up, all the sweet sounds OF earth;
The mystic echoes Of the hills and caves;
All human tones, and warbiinss sweet OF olrds'
The cadences Of brooks and gushing springs;
The wondrous music of the winds and trees,
And rythmic thunders Of the eternal sea-
AM these she gathered up in one sublime
And mighty cantcle.
Near where temple consecrate TO Thor
Once stood in restless slumber lay fay, and a
Young Swedish girl. Pale was her {, the
Bright tear-drop sparkled, as peay dreamed;,-
Long lashes Of her closed eyes, .ch the brls1t
And in her dream, she saw aPuits
Iduna gentle keeper Of thsweet song. smle
OF Youth" and goddessty played upon
gilmore than mortalhe advanced TO embrace
The goddess lipad, whom she eucirced in
The wonderinD, and on whose parted lips
Her snowy 5Wn, and breathe, into hcr mouth
Did placedon of tho soul ofsong
The ip>the maiden saw the goddess melt
Ard, and all her substance seemed to blend
IN her own image, and part become
Z Aer own being.
The same as abe had been b A spell,
OF mighty power, was on hU0kald.-
The Genius of her race,-of Skanian song,
Lay In her heart Mortal no more, she walked
The earth, divine adored. Her songful breath,
The glorious luxury of her tones,-the soft
And sweet and tender cadence Of her voice,
Did move the nations as the summer-w winds
Do sway the fields of golden grain. Whereer
She passed glorious truck of spendor bright
With gentle thoughts and sweetest charities
And kindest deeds of love- did follow her;
miracle TO herself, and all the world,
TIL awakened nations wondered and adored
Some said-"She was angel in Disguise
And some did say-"She was echo of
That wondrous song, which holy Miriam sung,
When Egypts hosts were drowned, and Israel
Was saved"
She came and went form of light,
A living blessing, through our human world
And none did dream that this mysterious maid,
An INCARNATION was, most bright and fair,
OF great Iduna,-and sent down to men,
From mighty Odin's most ilustrious throne,
To the nations through the power OF Song.
q Odin tho northern mythology Odn, Wooden was TIL
OF the week conecrated 10 him
and hence s oven now called "Wednesday, Wednesday
g. "Frgga the wife Of Odn She had temple the sant
OF Rugen which the Latin historian has described
Freya goddess of love Full Of tenderness and sym
said by tho shed tears oil god over the sorrows
Of MORALS.
s. @Thor Of On, and Of the thunder together
day Thorsday Thursday named in honor OF him
G. Radian Bridge" Brost. the Rainbow Valhaa could
only attained by passing this bdge the gods according 10 the
old Skalds.
forever Bo the Rainbow where he could every thing
ib, transpirei in the ie could hea the Edda
the fields and wool on the lambs ne IN hs
whose loud blast through the enrc world