and, as it were, naturalized among the Germans and Scandinavians. Let us call to mind what Tacitus says of the respect shewn by these nations to their women. The Romans by no means introduced sentiments of this kind into the countries they conquered. It was not from them that they were adopted in Spain, France, England, &c. Whence comes it then, that after the fall of the Roman Empire, we find this spirit of gallantry all of a fudden spread fo wide? We fee plainly that this spirit, so peculiar to the northern nations, could only be spread and diffused by themselves. Formed and cherished by their religious prejudices, by their paffion for war, and the chastity natural to their women, at the same time intimately connected with their customs and manners, IT could not but follow them into all their settlements, and there would continue to maintain its influence for many ages. But afterwards, when the nations descended from them became more civilized and wealthy, the splendid and shewy effects, which this fine spirit of gallantry then produced, would easily dazzle the eyes of inquirers, and prevent them from difcerning the origin of it among fo rude a race of men as their Gothic ancestors: so that at present, when one would trace it up to its real source, we have strong prejudices to encounter and fur

I

F there are many strokes of gallantry in the Ode of king REGNER, the genius of Chivalry itself will feem to speak in that composed by a Norwegian prince, named HARALD THE VALIANT, which is found in an old Icelandic Chronicle, called Knytlinga Saga. This piece is of much later date than the preceding: but it is yet sufficient to show, that these northern people had learned to combine the ideas of love and military valour, long before those very nations themselves, whose taste and manners they had afterwards so strong an inclination to adopt. Harald the Valiant lived about the middle of the eleventh century. He was one of the most illustrious adventurers of his time. He had traversed all the feas of the north, and carried his piratical incurfions as far as the Mediterranean itself, and the coast of Africa. He was at length taken prifoner, and detained for fome time at Constantinople. He complains in this Ode, that the glory he had acquired by fo many exploits, had not been able to make any impreffion on Eliffif *, the daughter of Jariflas, king of Ruffia.

* In the original, as given by Bartholin, it is ELI

ZABETH,

THE ODE OF

HARALD THE VALIANT,

M

1

:

Y ships have made the tour of Sicily: then were we all magni"ficent and splendid. My brown vessel, " full of mariners, rapidly rowed to the " utmost of my wishes. Wholly taken

up with war, I thought my course would "never flacken, and yet a Ruffian maiden "scorns me.

65

" In my youth I fought with the people " of Drontheim. Their troops exceeded ours in number. It was a terrible con"flict: I left their young king dead in the " field: and yet a Ruffian maiden scorns

“ me.

"One day we were but fixteen in a vef"sel: a storm arose and swelled the fea: " it filled the loaded ship, but we dili" gently cleared it out. Thence I formed " hopes

" hopes of the happiest success: and yet a "Ruffian maiden scorns me.

" I know how to perform eight exer"cises *: I fight valiantly; I fit firmly " on horseback; I am inured to swim

८८

ming; I know how to run along in "scates; I dart the launce; and am skil"ful at the oar: and yet a Ruffian maiden "scorns me.

" Can she deny, that young and lovely " maiden, that on the day, when posted near a city in the southern land, I joined "battle, that then I valiantly handled my arms, and left behind me lasting monu"ments of my exploits? and yet a Ruffian "maiden scorns me,

" I was born in the high country of ** Norway, where the inhabitants handle " their bows so well. But I preferred " guiding my ships, the dread of peasants,

among the rocks of the ocean: and far " from the habitations of men, I have run " through all the feas with my vessels: " and yet a Ruffian maiden scorns me.

* See the Five Pieces of Runic Poetry, p. 80.

HE Ode which follows is of a dif

T ferent kind from the preceding, it is

called, in the ancient Chronicles, the ELOGIUM OF HACON. This prince was fon of the famous Harald, furnamed Harfagre, or Fair-Locks, the first king of all Norway. He was flain in the year 960, in a battle wherein eight of his brothers fell along with him. Eyvind, or Evinder, his coufin, a celebrated Scald, who was called THE CROSS OF POETS on account of his fuperior talents for verse, was present at this battle, and afterwards composed this Ode, to be fung at the funeral of his relation. It is Snorro himself, to whom we owe the EDDA, that hath preferved this Ode in his Chronicle of Norway.