The Gesta Danorum (Books I-IX) on Balder

The Danish History, > Book Three.

• attestation: Balder, son of Odin, was seized with love for Nanna after seeing her bathing and resolved to slay Hother

  "Balder the son of Odin was troubled at the sight of Nanna bathing, and was seized with boundless love"

• attestation: The wood-maidens told Hother that Balder desired Nanna and warned him not to fight Balder, who was a demigod of celestial seed

  "Balder had seen his foster-sister Nanna while she bathed, and been kindled with passion for her; but counselled Hother not to attack him in war, worthy as he was of his deadliest hate, for they declared that Balder was a demigod, sprung secretly from celestial seed"

• attestation: The only weapon that could kill Balder was a sword kept by Miming the Satyr of the woods, who also held a wealth-increasing bracelet

  "he knew of a sword which could deal him his death, which was fastened up in the closest bonds; this was in the keeping of Miming, the Satyr of the woods, who also had a bracelet of a secret and marvellous virtue"

• attestation: Balder fled and the haven was named after his flight; Gelder King of Saxony died in the battle

  "The haven, recalling by its name Balder's flight, bears witness to the war. Gelder, the King of Saxony, who met his end in the same war"

• attestation: Balder defeated Hother in a second battle and was acclaimed king by the Danes

  "he was conquered in the field by Balder, whom a little before he had crushed, and was forced to flee to Gewar"

• attestation: Balder pierced the earth to create springs for his thirsty soldiers after the battle

  "Balder, in order to slake his soldiers, who were parched with thirst, with the blessing of a timely draught, pierced the earth deep and disclosed a fresh spring"

• attestation: Balder was tormented by nocturnal phantoms in the likeness of Nanna and fell into such decline he had to travel by carriage

  "Balder was continually harassed by night phantoms feigning the likeness of Nanna, and fell into such ill health that he could not so much as walk"

• attestation: Balder came to Zealand with a fleet and the Danes acclaimed him king, while Hother was defeated and fled to Jutland

  "Balder also came to Zealand with a fleet; and since he was thought to be rich in arms and of singular majesty, the Danes accorded him with the readiest of voices whatever he asked concerning the supreme power"

• attestation: The maidens prepared Balder's strength-enhancing food using venom from three snakes

  "they had three snakes, of whose venom they were wont to mix a strengthening compound for the food of Balder"

• attestation: Balder had himself carried into battle on a litter the next day and died three days later from his wound

  "he renewed the battle on the morrow; and, when it raged hotly, bade that he should be borne on a litter into the fray"

• attestation: On the night before dying Balder had a vision of Proserpine promising her embrace on the morrow

  "Proserpine was seen to stand by him in a vision, and to promise that on the morrow he should have her embrace"

• attestation: Balder was given a royal funeral and buried in a barrow

  "his body given a royal funeral, the army causing it to be buried in a barrow which they had made"

• attestation: Treasure-seekers who raided Balder's barrow were driven off by a phantom torrent of water erupting from the hill

  "the hill split, and from its crest a sudden and mighty torrent of loud-roaring waters seemed to burst"