: fychius, adored this divinity under the title of Goeto-Syrus, which signifies The Good Star. This word Syr, or Seir, which the Perfians employed to denominate the Sun, seems to be the fame with Thor, only in a different dialect. The ancient people of the north pronounced the th in the fame manner as the English do at present; not very different from ss. They had a particular character for that letter, which was afterwards lost in the other dialects of the Saxon language. All the Celtic nations have ' in like manner,' been accustomed to the worship of the Sun; either as distinguished from Thor, or confidered as his symbol. It was a custom that every where prevailed in ancient times, to celebrate a feast at the winter fol stice, by which men testified their joy at seeing this great luminary return again to this part of the heavens. They facrificed horses to him, as an emblem, says Herodotus, of the rapidity of this planet. This was the greatest solemnity in the year. They called it in many places, Yole, or Yuul, from the word Hiaul, or Houl, which even at this day fignifies the SUN, in the languages of Bass Britagne, and Cornwal *. When the ancient Pagan religion gave place to the Christian, the rejoicings, feasts and nocturnal assemblies which that festival authorised, indecent as they were, were not fupprefied, left, by endeavouring to gain all, all should be loft. * This is giving a Celtic derivation of a Gothic word, (two languages extremely different.) - The learned Dr. Hickes thus derives the term in question. "Jol, Cimbricum, Anglo-Saxonicè fcriptum, Freol; et "Dan. Sax. Iul, o in u facile mutato, ope intenfivi præfixi 1 et ze, fa"ciunt el, ol, Commeffatio, compotatio, convivium, Symposium." “ (Il. Ol. cerevifiam denotat, & metonymicè Convivium.)" Junii Etym. Ang. V. YEOL. Our ingenious author, however, is certainly right as to the origin and defign of the YULE-FEAST: the Greenlanders at this day keep a SUN-FEAST at the winter solstice, about Dec, 22. to rejoice at the return of the Sun, and the expected renewal of the Hunting season, &c. Which custom they may possibly have learnt of the Norvegian Colony formerly fettled in Greenland. See an account of this festival in Dav. Crantz's Hift. of Greenland, 2. Vols. 8vo. 1767. Vol. I. p. 176. т. The The church was content to fanctify the end of this feasting, by applying it to the nativity of our Lord; the anniversary of which happened to be much about the fame time. In the languages of the north, Juul, or Yule, still fignifies Christmas; and the manner in which this festival is celebrated in many places, as well as the old name itself, reminds us of many cir cumstances of its first original. (See Scheffer. Upfal. Antiq. c. 7. Pellout. Hift. des Celt. T. II. c. 12†.) I have already observed, that in all the languages of the north, the day confecrated to the Jupiter tonans of the Romans, was transferred to the God Thor, and was named Thorsdag, &c. that is, THURSDAY. Vol. I. pag. 96. † See alfo Key 1. Antiq. p. 159, &c. 349, 367. т. See THE TWELFTH FABLE. T Of the God Balder. HE second son of Odin is named BALDER. He is of an excellent natural temper; and hath the universal praise of mankind: so handsome in his perfon, and of fo dazling a look, that he seems to dart forth rays of light (A). To make you comprehend the beauty of his hair, you should be informed that the whiteft of all vegetables is called, the 66 Eye-brow of Balder." This God, fo radiant and graceful, is also the most eloquent and benign; yet such is his nature, that the judgments he has pronounced can never be altered. He dwells in the city of Breidablik, before-mentioned. This place. is in heaven, and nothing impure can have admittance there: this is confirmed by the following verses : " Balder hath his pala 61 ces in Briedablik, and there I know are " columns, upon which are engraven verses, capable of recalling the dead to life.” The The third God is he, whom we call KIORD. He dwelleth in a place named Noatun. He is ruler of the winds: he checks the fury of the fea, storms and ! fire (B). Whoever would fucceed in navigation, hunting or fishing, ought to pray to this God. He is so rich, that he can give to his votaries kingdoms and treasures : and upon this account also he deserves to be invoked. Yet Niord is not of the lineage of the Gods. He was reared at Vanheim, that is, in the country of the VANES; but the Vanes delivered him up an hostage to the Gods, and received in his place Haner. By this means a peace was re-established between the Gods and the Vanes. Niord took to wife Skada, the daughter of the Giant Thiaffe. She prefers dwelling on the spot where her father inhabits, that is, in the land of the mountains; but Niord loves to reside near the fea; yet they came at length to this agreement between themselves, that they should pass together nine nights among the mountains, and three on the shore of the fea. One day Niord, returning from the mountains, composed this fong; "How "do I hate the abode of the mountains? " I have only passed nine nights there; " but how long and tedious did they feem ! "There one hears nothing but the howling of wolves, inftead of the sweet fingF4 " ing "ing of the swans *, who dwell on the "sea-shores." In answer to this, Skada composed the following verses : "How is "it possible for me to enjoy my rest on "the couch of the God of the Ocean; " whilst birds in flocks returning each " morning from the foreft, awake me with " their screamings?" Then Skada returned to the mountains, where her father dwells; there snatching up her bow, and fastening on her snow-skates, she often employed herself in the chace of savage beafts . * It is very remarkable, that the ancient Icelandic bards should have got hold of that fabulous opinion of the SWAN'S being a finging bird; which so generally prevailed among the Greek and Roman poets. It would be a curious subject of disquifition, to inquire what could have given rise to so arbitrary and groundless a notion. -There can be no mistake about the bird here; for the Icelandic words are the fame with our English: Saungui Suana, "The song, or finging " of SWANS." Cantus Cygnorum. Τ. + The reader will find an additional passage here in the Latin version of Goranson; as also some parts of the preceding paragraph differently rendered, RE |