of ODIN *. Thus have you good reafon to say, that Odin is the greatest and most mighty of Lords; which is also confirmed to us by these verses, composed in honour of the Gods. “The Ash Udrafil is the " greatest of Trees; Skidbladner, of Vessels; "Odin, of Gods; Sleipner, of Horses; Bi" froft, of Bridges; Bragè, of Scalds, or Po ets; Habroc, of Hawks; and Garmer, "of Hounds." * The reader will find a confiderable addition here in Goranson's Latin Version. т. REMARKS ON THE TWENTIETH FABLE. (A) "When the wolf "FENRIS arrives at the " last day."] I have already remarked, that the EDDA never loses sight of that grand event, the Destruction of the World. The inferior Gods were, at that time, to undergo rude afsaults. This was pointed at in the preceding fable; where a reason is affigned why Frey will not be able to refift the attacks of the evil Genii. It was owing to this expectation that the inferior Gods received with pleasure warriors of approved valour, and fuch as they could depend on at the last times. (B) "The heroes are "fed with the fat of this " animal."] This description of the palace of Odin is a natural picture of the manners of the ancient Scandinavians and Germans. Prompted by the wants of their climate, and the impulse of their own temperament, they form to themselves a delicious paradise in their own way; where they were to eat and drink, and fight. The women to whom they affign a place place there, are introduced for no other purpose, but to fill their cups. One wild boar furnishes out the whole of this celeftial banquet: for, not very nice, they were only folicitous about the quantity of their food. The flesh of this animal, as well as that of the Hog, was formerly the favourite meat of all these nations. The ancient Franks were no less fond of it; a herd of swine was, in their eyes, an affair of such importance, that the second chapter of the Salic Law, consisting of twenty articles, is wholly taken up in inflicting penalties on those who stole them. In Gregory of Tours, queen Fredegond, in order to alienate the mind of the king from one Nectarius, blackens him with the crime of having stolen a great many Gammons or Hams, from the place where K. Chilperic laid up his provisions. The king did not confider this at all as a laughing matter, but : took it in a very grave and serious light. or (c) " To inebriate all "the Heroes."] Wine was very scarce in those times, and almost unknown. BEER was, perhaps, a liquor too vulgar for the Heroes †; the EDDA therefore makes them drink Hydromel, MBAD, a beverage in great esteem among all the German nations. The ancient Franks made great use of it. Gregory of Tours, speaking of a certain lord who generally drank it, adds, Ut mos barbarorum habet. Greg, Turon. L. 8. c. 3. + Yet we find in some of the Icelandic odes, the Heroes rejoicing in the expectation that they should quaff BEER Out of the sculls of their enemies, when once they were received into Valhall, or the palace of ODIN, See below, Regner Lodbrog's Ode in this Volume. (D) "They cut one " another in pieces."] From this paffage of the EDDA, we may form to ourselves an idea of the amusements of the ancient Goths and' Celtes. When they were not engaged in any real war, they endeavoured by the representation of battles, to gratify that fierce difposition which made them т. fond have been given them, imply not neceffarily their first beginning. In fact, we have never feen, nor ever shall fee, any important custom spring up all at once, and establish itself with success, without there having existed something analogous to it beforehand, to prepare and lead men's minds to adopt it. fond of the profession of arms. "The Goths are 66 extremely fond of "throwing their darts, " and handling their "arms; and it is their "daily practice, to divert "themselves with mock"fights:" says Ifidore in his Chronic. The fame prevailed among the Gauls, and Germans, as is plain from a passage in the fragments of Varro. To this custom we may ascribe the rife and establishment of Justings and Turnaments. There are many institutions of this kind, whose origin is no less ancient, lost in the clouds of a very remote antiquity, whatever some learned men may affert, who affign them much later eras; not confidering that customs are commonly more ancient than the first historian who speaks of them; and that a new name, or more regular form, which may 66 To return to the PALACE OF ODIN ; in order that the Heroes might repair betimes in the morning to the celestial TiltYard, there was a Cock in the neighbourhood, which awaked them. At the great day of the overthrow of the world, the shrill fcreams of this bird will be the first signal of the approach of the evil Genii. This particular is related in the VOLUSPA, a poem wherein we have fome flashes of true poetic fire, amidst a great deal of smoke. The pafsage is this : "That animal which gives such a brilliancy to his golden crest, hath already pierced with his cries the "abode of the Gods: he hath awakened the Heroes; they run to their arms; they run to the Father of "Armies. To his screams answer, under ground, the "dismal cries of the Black Cock, which dwells in the " palace of Death." See Barthol. Antiq. Dan. p. 563 THE TWENTY-FIRST FABLE. Of the Horse Sleipner, and his Origin. G ANGLER asked; Whence comes the horse Sleipner, which you mentioned; and to whom does he belong? Har replied, His origin is very wonderful. One day a certain architect came, and offered his service to the Gods, to build them, in the space of two years, a city so well fortified that they should be perfectly safe from the incurfions of the Giants, even although they should have already penetrated within the inclofure of Midgard; but he demanded for his reward the Goddess Freya, together with the Sun and Moon. After long deliberation, the Gods agreed to his terms, provided he would finish the whole himself without any one's afsistance; and all within the space of one single winter. But if any thing should remain to be finished on the first day of fummer, he should intirely forfeit the recompense agreed on. On being ac acquainted with this, the architect stipulated that he should be allowed the use of his horse. And to this the Gods, by the advice of Loke, assented. This agreement was confirmed by many oaths, and concluded in the prefence of many witnesses; for without this precaution, a Giant would not have thought himself safe among the Gods, especially if Thor had been returned from the expedition he had then taken into the eaft, to conquer the Giants. From the very first night then this workman caused his horse to draw ftones of an immense bulk; and the Gods saw with furprize, that this creature did much more work, than his master himself. The winter however was far advanced, and towards the latter end of it, this impregnable city had almost attained the summit of perfection. In short, when the full time was now expired all but three days, nothing was wanting to compleat the work, except the gates, which were not yet put up. Then the Gods entered into confultation, and inquired of one another who among them it was that could have advifed to marry Freya into the country of the Giants; and to plunge the sky and heavens into darkness, by permitting the Sun and Moon to be carried away. They all agreed.. that Loke was the author of that bad coun fel, and that he should be put to a most VOL. II. cruel I 1 |