Tegner's Drapa

Balder, having been tormented with terrible dreams indicating that his life was in peril, told the dreams to the assembled gods, who resolved to conjure all things to avert from him the threatened danger. Then Frigga, the wife of Odin, exacted an oath from fire and water, from  iron and all other metals, from stones, trees, diseases, beasts, birds, poisons, and creeping things, that none of them would do any harm to Balder. Odin, not satisfied with all this, and feeling alarmed for the fate of his son, determined to consult the prophetess Angerbode, a giantess, mother of Fenris, Hel, and the Midgard servant. She was dead, and Odin was forced to seek her in Hela's dominions. This Descent of Odin forms the subject of Grays fine ode beginning,

But the other gods, feeling that what Frigga had done was quite sufficient, amused themselves with using Balder as a mark, some hurling darts at him, some stones, while others threw their swords and battle-axes at him; for do what they would, none of them could harm him. And this Became a favorite pastime with them and was regarded as an honor shown to Balder. But when Loki beheld the scene he was sorely vexed that Balder was not hurt. Assuming, therefore, the shape of a woman, he went to Fensalir, the mansion of Frigga. That goddess, when she saw the pretended woman inquired her if she knew what the gods were doing at their meetings. She replied that they were throwing darts and stones at Balder, without being able to hurt him. "yes," said Frigga, "neither stones, nor sticks, nor anything else can hurt Balder, for I have exacted an oath from all of them." "What," exclaimed the woman, "have all things sworn to spare Balder?" "All things," replied Frigga, "except one little shrub that grows on the eastern side of Valhalla, and is called Mistletoe, and which I thought too young and feeble to crave an oath from."

As soon as Loki heard this he went away, and resuming his natural shape, cut off the mistletoe, and went to the place where the gods were assembled. There he found Hodur standing apart, without partaking of the sports on account of his blindness, and going up to him, said, "Why do you not also throw something at Balder?"

"Because I am blind," answered Hodur, "and see not where Balder is, and have nothing to throw."

"Come, then," said Loki, "do like the rest, and Show honor to Balder by throwing this twig at him, and I will direct your arm towards the place where he stands."

Hodur then took the mistletoe, and under the guidance of Loki, darted it at Balder, who, pierced through and through, fell down lifeless. Surely never was there witnessed, either among gods or men, a more atrocious deed than this. When Balder fell, the gods were struck speechless with horror, and they looked at each other, and all were of one mind to lay hands on him who had done the deed, but they were obliged to delay their vengeance out of respect for the sacred place where they were assembled. They gave vent to their grief by loud lamentations. When the gods came to themselves, Frigga asked who among them wished to gain all her love and good will. "For this," she said, "he will ride to Hel and offer Hel a ransom if she will let Balder return to Asgard."