Hel to Ullr

Oh, my light Ullr! Hel is writing to you the letter.
It is not a royal decree – it is the weak woman's plea.
Yes, I know that a queen may not be beseeching
But love, like death, equalizes all us.
But not long ago she seemed to me a fantasy of skalds!
I was wrong! Love is hotter than Surtr's dagger!
I cannot tell anyone about my pathetic fate,
Because a mistress should not go crazy with passion.
In addition, our peoples fight among themselves cruelly.
To love a god is a great sin for a giantess,
Although it is not uncommon. How long have raped Odin unassailable Rind
And he brought her to Asgard with their young son!
Earlier he was seduced Grid and cruelly defiled Gunnled.
Thor, your stepfather, loved Jarnsaxa passionately.
What can I say? I still remember the bitter fate of my mom –
It hurts me to talk about it.

My mother was not beautiful, and her name was Griefbringer,
And her house was always poor and empty.
Only once a weary traveler went to her home –
It was Loki. He knew how to conquer women!
He seduced my mom and within three years he lived with her as with his wife.
I was a consequence of this love.
But to me it would be better not to be born:
My face was so ugly that everyone looked at me with horror.
My brothers, Midgard serpent and wolf Fenris, were not afraid of me:
Of the three of us only I was a human.
Hard-hearted father left us, when we were born,
And he returned to Asgard to the nice life of the gods.
He was free and did not think about us,
He had forgotten my mom in the passionate embrace of goddesses …

But soon the wise Odin knew about our birth
And he invited us to Asgard, to decide our fate.
I remember with what terror I stood before the throne of the Lord,
I silently listened to his words, drooping my head,
But Odin did not cause us harm.
He released serpent Midgard in the sea
And he allowed me and Fenris to live in the realm of the gods.

But in the bright Asgard I was not happy:
The gods could not forgive me my ugliness.
I remember the arrogant and hateful looks of beautiful goddesses.
Each of their sight, as thorn has wounded my heart.
I was so lonely and often wept furtively,
But I could not tell anyone about my grief.
Loki, my father, was ashamed of me –
I knew it, though I was a child. Anguish tormented my heart.
I've been for Asgard, as ugly and festering sore,
Equally unfortunate, as the wound on the body of a soldier.

And with tears in my eyes, I begged the Lord of the Gods,
That he immediately drove me out of Asgard.
He agreed and gave me possession of the land of the dead,
To no one on earth will not see me.
The decision of the Lord, I confess, I had the heart.
I gave him my wise ravens
I hastened to say goodbye forever to sunlight,
To live to descend into the gloomy realm of shadows...
Soon Fenris shared my fate, the gods captivated him deceptively
And forever imprisoned him in my dark country.
Since then,Ullr, I hate the treacherous ases
And I dream of revenge…

Many years passed. I became a great queen.
My people love me. I inspire fear my enemies.
I graced the dark Underworld:
There are many lush gardens, many wide valleys...
A lot of wealth, a lot of pearls and diamonds,
The bridge is paved with gold, a lot of beautiful palaces –
This is for good people; and sinners suffer very much:
They wander, having found no rest, and menacing dragon torments them.
I should be for all a fair and impartial judge.
The poor and the rich, young and old - all are for me on an equal position.
I got a lot of wonderful men,
But my blood remained cold, and love did not warm my soul.

What happened on that day when you came in Helheim
And your wondrous beauty eclipsed even Baldr?
But you come to us not by choice:
Odin punished you for your great insolence, and sent in my kingdom.
And it is true. Because you tried to admire his power
And while he traveled, you took his place without permission.
I wanted to be harsh with you, but you won me over:
Passion ignited my soul – you're beautiful, as gentle day.
Looking at you, I remembered the sunlight
(Previously, I thought I had forgotten it forever),
I remembered the sky because it is blue, like your eyes.
You looked at me with disgust and horror… Darling!
How I cursed my ugliness at that moment!
But you're polite to me (such is the fate of the exile!)
I brought you into my home as a host.
Ullr, do you remember how we were happy then?
Next to you I forgot my hatred for ases.
But soon did you leave me
Because Odin has forgiven you, and he returned you to the light Asgard.
How can I live without you now? My heart yearns for your love,
But you have forgotten me, as a deceptive dream.
I repeated the fate of my poor mom,
But her happiness became her little children,
But I am deprived of even this. You're the only joy in my cruel life.
I implore you to come back to me!

But I know that not only feasting and fun attract you to Asgard
But your hot passion: Skadi was captivated you ... Well, of course! She is so beautiful,
I'm so ugly! Could you could love me!
But her wicked soul is horrible, like my body!
Skadi ruthless than our forefather Ymir!
If you could see her soul with your own eyes,
You would have horrified and immediately came back to me.
But the beauty covers of sin and dominates the bustling world,
But tell me, what else Skadi surpassed me?
She's not a goddess, she's a giantess, as I,
Can she, daughter of the ferocious Thiazi, love the as!
In addition, the Skadi is dissolute, and I keep holy allegiance to you,
Although you do not love me (just a little too compassionate).
All your caresses and words were lie.
I know that you were with me just for the sake of my power.
Flattering (confess me, my Ullr!) to be a formidable queen's lover,
Play her heart, and be her lord!
No! You tell me that I was not right and that you do still love me!
Loving me you named me Under Moon
And you said that I lit up my dark kingdom!
But as soon as the moon will lose her light without the sun!
Be you my sun and I'll be your moon,
And our Underworld we will transform to the skies.
My kingdom is not Asgard, but you will not be lonely out there:
Baldr, your beloved friend, would be glad to meet you:
You will spend the days in the feasts and pleasant conversations
Or stroll through the gardens with lush autumn foliage –
There are many different flowers and plants that I planted:
I'm fond of flowers when I lived on earth.
When you come back to me, we will be happier than gods,
And this sweet moment I am looking forward to loving.
Let everyone think I'm cold, but you already know
Flame of my embrace that burns only for you.

But now I'm alone with my endless grief,
Faithful and devoted Garm is sleeping at my feet quietly.
Although he is a dog, he understands my suffering
He is my only friend with whom I share my pain;
Sometimes, I confess, I dream about death,
It is a pity that in the country of dead men I cannot die!
My light, forgive me for this reproach. I know that I was not skilful in speeches,
But to love is not pompous phrases always needed!
You know, that water softens even sharp stones
And hot fire melts the ice. But does the same, Ullr,
You will be colder than ice and unfeeling than a sharp stone,
If my bitter tears will not touch you?
I understand that you will be hard to say goodbye to Asgard,
But not forever, I call on you to myself -
Only half a year - then again you'll be able return to Skadi.
Live in Asgard in winter and in summer - in my kingdom!
Let me destined to suffer, waiting for the welcome guest:
I believe that your tenderness will heal my soul.