What if some rainbow glory spans the gloom? Some strong, sweet utterance the wayside cheers? Step after step the fatal moment nears; SUNDAY. (Day of the Sun.) Thou glorious Sun, illumining the blue NOTE. In numbering the days of the week we call Sunday the first. This custom dates only from the earliest Christian times. As our Saviour rose from the dead on Sunday, the Christians wishing to keep the Resurrection always in mind, began to reckon the days from that event; and, in fact, our entire method of computing time is based upon the Birth of Christ. Balder, or Baldur, is the name given to the Sun-god in Norse mythology. The name also means lord or king. The myth of Balder has furnished a congenial subject for many modern poets, Matthew Arnold, Wil liam Morris (" Earthly Paradise"), Robert Buchanan, W. M. W. Call, and Longfellow ("Tegnér's Drapa "). The author of the poem selected should not be nameless, for it has unquestionable merit. BALDER. ANONYMOUS. Balder, the white sun-god, has departed! For the tears of the imperial mother, For a universe that weeps and prays, Rides Hermoder forth to seek his brother Rides for love of that distressful mother Through lead-colored glens and 'cross blue ways. With the howling wind and raving torrent, Nine days rode he, deep and deeper down, Of the moaning river by Hell-town. There he found the ancient portress standing- "Balder came this way," to his demanding "Here he could not dwell. He is down yonder Rode Hermoder on in silent wonder — Mane of Gold fled fast and rushed down yonder! For he leaps sheer over Hela's portal, "O, my Balder! have I, have I found thee? O, my sun-god! hearts of heroes crowned thee Balder brother! the Divine has vanished; "Come thou back Balder my king and brother! Teach the hearts of men to love the gods! Come thou back and comfort our great motherCome with truth and bravery, Balder, brotherBring the godlike back to men's abodes !" But the Nornas let him pray unheeded — Young Hermoder wept and prayed in vain. Oh, the trueness of this ancient story! Still the young Hermoder journeys bravely, But the fates relent not; strong endeavor, Do you think I counsel weak despairing? Dead and gone is the old world's ideal, And I seek a worthier ideal. Courage, brothers, God is overhead. NOTES. Compare the story of Balder with the story of Apollo. What resemblances do you discover? What differences are most marked? Do you think it probable or improbable that these stories had a common origin? Give the reason for your answer. The following dispatch to the London Times inspired Edmund C. Stedman to write his poem "News from Olympia," which was published in the Atlantic Monthly for February, 1877. "One after the other the figures described by Pausanias are dragged from the earth. Niké (Victory) This is has been found; the head of Kladeos is there; Myrtilos is announced, and Zeus will soon emerge. earnest of what may follow." NEWS FROM OLYMPIA. Olympia? Yes, strange tidings from the city Of their storm-mantled height and dwelling lone, — Where Zeus withdrew behind the rolling cloud, Ay, but that fated day When from the plain Olympia passed away; The pale Jew flung his cross, thus one has written, Gave out a cry that Pan himself was dead, And all was still; thenceforth no more the pæan, Sank, like a falling star, Hephaistos in the Lemnian waters far; |