THE HEROES OF ASGARD

THE

HEROES OF ASGARD
TALES FROM SCANDINAVIAN MYTHOLOGY

BY

A.

&

E.

KEARY

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY HUARD

Neto gotfc

THE MACMILLAN COMPANY

LONDON: MACMILLAN &
1909
All rights reserved

CO., LTD.

(9

New edition

September, 1906.

Reprinted July, 1909.

NottoQot fhrat
Berwick

ft

Smith Co., Norwood, Mass.. U.S.A.

PREFACE.
IN preparing the Second Edition of

this little

volume

of tales from the Northern Mythology for the press,

the Authors have thought

conversations

at

chapters, which

the

advisable to omit the

beginning

had been objected

course of the narrative.

the

it

whole, corrected

fresh information

of the

to as breaking the

They have

many

end

and

carefully revised

inaccuracies

and added

drawn from sources they had not

had an opportunity of consulting when the volume

first

appeared.

Authors have

The
been

writers

most

to

whose works the

indebted,

Mallet, Laing, Thorpe, Howitt

are

and Dasent

259890

Simrock,

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.

CHAPTER L

THE
PART

I.

II.

A GIANT

A COW

^ESIR.

AND A HERO,

THRONE, THE
LIGHT ELVES,

AIR

....

NIFLHEIM,

IV.

THE CHILDREN OP LOKI,

BIFROST, URDA, AND THE NORNS,

V.

ODH&RIR,

.......

CHAPTER

I.

4!

59
67
72
8l

IL

HOW THOR WENT TO

II.

THE
51

III.

VL

PART

AND

DWARFS,

JOTUNHEIM.

FROM ASGARD TO UTGARD, .

THE SERPENT AND THE KETTLE,

IO9

IJO

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER

IIL

FREY.
PART

I.

II.

.......

ON TIPTOE DC AIR THRONE,

THE

GIFT,

III.

FAIREST GBRD.

IV.

THE WOOD BARRI,

III.

147
152

163

THE NECKLACE BRISINGAMEN,

LOKI THE IRON WOOD A BOUNDLESS WASTE,
THE KING OP THE SEA AND HIS DAUGHTERS,

l6o

CHAPTER

II.

MM
157

IV.

THE WANDERINGS OF
PART L

FREYJA.
.

CHAPTER

177
185

V.

IDUNA'S APPLES.
PART

I.

II.

REFLECTIONS IN THE WATER,

THE WINGED-GIANT,
.

....
.

IQI

198

212

III.

HELA,

IV.

THROUGH FLOOD AND

FIRE,

Il8

CHAPTER VL

BALDUR.
PART L
IL

m.
IT.
T.

THE DREAM
THE PEACESTEAD,
BALDUR DEAD,
HELM KIM,
WEEPING,

*3'

240
247

.......
.

25,,

256

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER

VII.

THE BINDING OF FENRIR.

PAGB

PART

I.

II.

III.

THE MIGHT OF ASGARD,

THE SECRET OF SVARTHEIM,
HONOUR,

.......

CHAPTER

263

272
279

VIII.

THE PUNISHMENT OF
CHAPTER

LOKI,

285

IX.

RAGNAROK.
OR,

THE TWILIGHT OF THE GODS,

INDEX OF NAMES, WITH MEANINGS,

295

315

ot

GIANT SUTTUNG AND THE DWARFS,

...

GIANT SKRYMIR AND THOR,

FREYJA IN THE DWARFS* CAVE,

IDUNA GIVING THE MAGIC APPLES,

SKADI CHOOSING HER HUSBAND,

..

THE PUNISHMENT OF LOKI,

86

US
.

fYR FEEDING FENRIR,

MOB

.17*
195
.

227
265
292

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

INTRODUCTION.
IF

we would understand

we ought

Scandinavians,

time the myths of

all

another, has

by

in

Simrock,

Mythologie,

where

he

at

study

most

they

are

also

latter

Handbuch
tells

younger than

may

choked-up

streams

but

which,

flows,

be

us

draw-

is

which
to

be

effected

Dcutschen

der
that

whilst

more

those

compared

from
it

same

beautifully

Scandinavian records are richer and

which

the

and a comparison of one

been
his

to

Teutonic nations.

ing together of these,

with

the religion of the ancient

of

the

definite,

Germany,

to

ancient

the

fuller

half
river

remarked, that

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

10

has mingled in

river

both religions

were

Grimm

flowing.

German and

the

main

the

in

its

Northern

the

in

though

identical,

says that

details

they varied; and as heathenism lingered longer

than

Scandinavia

not

is

it

anywhere

and

hopes and
childlike

into

count

ice

its

images

halls

gems

best

Ah

into

if

but

dark guesses,

crude

expressions,

walk

old

crystal-

of

system

belief

the

through

frozen

wonder

at

and

faith,

fearful

its

from which

heart-reach ings

flowed,

narrowly

world

can

the

warm

but the

they alike once

at

of

and

than

old

definite

we

Europe,

rather

the

find

poetic

Yes,

of

part

there,

fears,

pretty

worship.

glittering

that

we should

else,

imaginings,

other

any

surprising

wants and

lised

in

in

we can

only

into

here

and

there.

the

poem

again

pry

we could but break up

darkly

feel,

the syllables of the far off years.

The
most
myths,

striking

are

which follow,

tales

little

and

put

picturesque

together in

form,

and

make

the subject

were

written

the

only

interesting

to

drawn from
of

simplest
with

the

Northern

the

possible

design

children.

to

By-and-

INTRODUCTION.
bye, however, as

in

to,

and the parts played

deities of this mythology,

to consider what
try

we can

if

their

them

duction to

to

will

seems
without
give a

Scandinavian

earliest

short

of the

account

may

be,

and

to

connection of one with

of the Northern mythology, as

the

by, the various

not be uninteresting

meaning

it

and

scarcely intelligible

it

the

trace

At present

another.

means become

their

degree acquainted with the characters

slight

belonging

we through

II

sketch

very slight

gathered from

is

it

intro-

they would be

it

as

sources,

sources

as an

best,

well

which

from

as

it

is

gathered.
in

Laing,

the

introduction

of the Heimskringla Saga, says,

ture

is

its

breath

has no existence,
viduals.

of
is

life,

Northmen were
wheresoever

they

landed,

Translation

nation's litera-

congregation of indicenturies

riding over the seas,

people they overcame

his

"A

without which a nation

but a

During the five

to

the

in

which the

and conquering

literature

was locked

up

in

of

language, and within the walls of monasteries.

the

Northmen had a

literature

the

a dead
But

of their own, rude

THE HEROES OP ASGARD.

Ia

as

it

Songs and sagas, mythical and heroic,

was."

were the staple of

of the north

this literature

and

handed down by word of

these appear to have been

mouth from skald to skald until about the beginning

Then Saemund

of the twelfth century.

and

commit them

to

began

others,

bom

Saemund the Learned was

the

1057,

year

been

fifty

established

positively

in

passed his youth

studying

at

full,

that

instructed

things,"

so

would give

in

every

Italy,

kind of

lore."

place here.

He

own

his

name

who he

was also said

little

which,

anecdote
however,

When he

priest of

him, studied

even

and

was,

he

name of any one he had been

and a charming
capacity,

all

he frequently "forgot the

when asked

that

the

reading about

became

He

island.

Germany, France, and

learnt, that

commonest

this

had

Christianity

that

in

writing.

indeed, did Saemund's head become of

he had

identity,

after

to

Iceland about

in

one time with a famous master, "by

whom he was
So

years

the Learned,

the

to

is

be an astrologer,

related of

would

be

him

in

out

of

went back to Iceland, he

Oddi, instructed the people about

old

religion, and, besides

writing

INTRODUCTION.
a history of

Norway and

lost,

Iceland, which has been

mythic and heroic

several of the

transcribed

songs of the North, which together form a collection

known

name of

the

by

The

Scemund's Edda.

the

date

from

about

Ssemund wrote

them

down

oldest copy of

his

posed

to

original

teenth century, and this copy

Library of

much

for

the

or

in

is

now

few

is

said

to

of the
in the

years

The

the twelfth.

MS.
is

century

eighth

the Elder

of

history

four-

Royal

ago they

Thorpe.

Edda

So
great-

mean, but

after

she scarcely seems old enough to be called a

We

great-grandmother.
up,

the

English by B.

into

grandmother the name

all

Copenhagen.

were translated

Elder,

Poetic,

songs themselves are sup-

have traced

and seen how she has dressed

her growing

herself,

and we

begin to think of her almost as a modern young

lady.

she
to

When we

tells

us,

too,

we

quarrel with her,

ing whether

we

listen

find

it

fault

is

to the

are

odd jumble of

more than

tales

half inclined

though without exactly know-

with her youth or her age that

You

are

too young to

know what

you are talking about, great-grandmother, we com-

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

I4

plain

oh

but,

dear

you mumble so and make

use of such odd old-fashioned words

who wrote down songs and

many

contemporaries,

Supreme

twice

Icelandic
at Oddi,

who

Republic,

and who

has

him

"Snorro

many

of

history

some time

for

wrote

Saemund's

Amongst

of commentary

sort

Laing says

done

for

Northmen, what Livy did

the

history of the Romans."

Edda

probably

the

valuable additions

has

Sturleson

of

Magistrate

to the stock of Icelandic written lore.

of

fifty

of Snorro Sturleson,

lived

also

left

some

about

and,

successors;

we hear

man,

scarcely

sagas; he had

years after his death,

rich

we can

Saemund was not the only man

understand you.

or

drawn

for

the
the

other things, he

enlargement

of

MSS.

of

from

Saemund and of others, which were preserved

at Oddi.

This

Snorrds

called

is

the

Prose,

Younger,

Edda, and was translated

Mallet
of

into

French.

many
Added to

information respecting the

ology,

there

are

scattered

through

Northern

literature

many
the

years ago

abounds.

by M.

these two sources

Scandinavian

allusions

heroic

or

to

lays

myth-

the

myths

with

which

1NTROD UCTION.
The

Edda

Poetic

of two

consists

the

parts

The mythological
mythological and the heroic.
songs contain an account of the formation and
destruction of the world, of the origin, genealogies,

adventures,

magic

incantations,

called

ethical.

cludes

with

was the author.

the

Thorpe,

gods,

which may be
the

Edda

"The Song

English

con-

of

Ssemund

supposed

the

himself

translator,

"It exhibits a strange mixture of Christianity

says,

and heathenism, whence

own

poet's

may

lay

portion of

is

it

one

called

song

of which

Sun,"

and

This

of the

conversations

journeys,

religion

was

remark

as well

it

of this
single

last

song,
in

strophe

a transition

in

here

to Christianity in the Elder

would seem

that

state.

the

We

the only allusion

that

Edda, with the exception

which stands quite alone,

an incantation

is

"An

eighth I will sing to

If night overtake thee,

When

out on the misty way,

That the dead Christian woman

No
Which

power may have

savours

curiously

to

of

do thee harm."

the

horror

which

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

16

heathens

these

then

the

new

queer old

lady

a sort of story.

She

of

felt

evidently

faith.

The

Edda

Younger

She begins by

indeed.

a very

is

telling

" there was once a

King called Gylfi, renowned
says

wisdom and

for his

with a desire to
also

wishing
off

know

about

all

the gods,

to get his information

on a journey

When

abode.

magic ;" he being seized

in

skill

Three seated

to

Asgard

he gets there

upon

Equally High, and the Third.

supposed to have taken

finds

thrones

three

first-hand, sets

the gods'

itself,

he

own

a mysterious

the

The

this picture

and

High,

the

story-teller is

from a temple at

Upsal, where the thrones of Odin, Thor, and Frey

were placed in the same manner, one above another.

Gylfi

introduces

himself as Gangler,

and proceeded
of

origin

of the

the

gods,

to question the

the Elder

hort

the

world,

&c, &c.

the answers which he

to

for

(connected with the present Scotch word

traveller

gang),

a name

Edda

Three upon the

nature and

Gangler's

questions,

receives, will, with

talcs,

summary we want of

adventures

and

reference

help us to get just

the

the Scandinavian myth-

INTRODUCTION.

ology

the

"What was
and Har

grown

mythology

frozen tight, as

we

find

and

up

old,

and

in the Eddas.

it

the beginning of things?" asks Gangler j

(the highest of the Three), replying in the

words of an ancient poem, says,

" Once was

When

all

the age

was not-

No sand, nor sea,

No salt waves,
No earth was found,
Nor over-skies,
But yawning precipice

And nowhere

grass."

This nothingness was called Ginnungagap, the gap

:

and Har goes on

On

the north side of

of gaps, the gaping of the chasms

to relate

what took place

Ginnungagap, he
nebulous

home

says,

in

it.

lay Niflheim,

the shadowy

of freezing cold and gathering gloom

but on the south lay the glowing region of Muspellheim.

called

There was besides a roaring cauldron

Hvergelmir, which seethed in the middle of

Niflheim,

and sent

forth

twelve rivers

called

strange waves; these flowed into the gap

there,

and so

filled

the gap with ice:

and

the
froze

but sparks

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

l8

and

flakes

of

from Muspellheim

fire

Ginnungagap on

ice.

the

north

fell

side

upon the

now

was

with ice and vapour and fleeting mists and

filled

whirlwinds, but

southwards with glowing radiancy,

with calm and light and wind

continues

melted

still

Har, the heat met

into

drops,

the

air;

frost,

and

the drops quickened into

and there was a human form

so,

the frost
life,

called Ymir, a giant

"Was he

a god?" asks Gangler. "Oh! dear no,"

answers Har ; " we are very far indeed from believing

him

to have

been a god; he was wicked and the

" I wonder what he

father of all the Frost Giants."

ate ?" said Gangler.

on
too,

to

" There was a

cow,"

Har went

explain; "she was made out of the drops,

and the giant fed upon her milk."

"

Good,"

answered Gangler; "but what fed the cow?'*

licked

the

covered with

on

to relate

of

stones
salt

Ginnungagap, which

" Slu

were

hoar frost;" and then Har goes

how by

degrees a man, Bur, grew up

out of the stones as the

cow

licked

them, good,

not like Ymir, but the father of the gods; and here

we may remark

that the giant

and the god equally

the sole progenitors of their immediate descend-

INTROD UCTION.
ants.

Ymir was

had a son called Bor.

a certain extent,

to

became the

"Was

it,"

Bur

But

after that the races

mix

for

first

Bor married a giantess and

father of three sons, Odin, Vili

there any

between these two

from

giant,

the father of the

degree of good
races?" asks

understanding

sons of the god slew

all

tells

flesh

it,

heavens and

of

Then the^ took wandering

and placed them

his

flakes

" from his

the land, from his

bones the mountains, of his hair the

the

the

the middle of

into

the earth out of

blood the seas, from his

skull

how

the frost giants but one,

dragged the body of old Ymir

Ginnungagap, made

"Far

Gangler.

Har; and then he

replies

and Ve.

brains

trees,

of his

the

clouds.

from Muspellheim,

in the heavens."

Until this time,

says the Voluspd.

" The

sun knew not

Where she a dwelling had,
The moon knew not
What power he possessed,
The stars knew not
Where they had a station."

About
the

this

time

it

happened

that the

sons of

god took a walk along the sea-beach, and there

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

20

found two stems of wood which they fasnioiied into

the

first

man and woman

'

Spirit gave them Odin

Sense gave Hoenir
Blood gave Lodin (Loki)

And
After this

it

is

goodly colour."

said that the all-holy gods, the

^Esir, the Lords, went to their judgment seats, held

"
council, and gave names to the
night and to the

morn, midday, afternoon, and eve

waning

moon,

whereby

to reckon years."

Then

they built a city

called Asgard in the middle of the earth, altars

temples,
tools

at

" made

furnaces, forged tongs

and precious things;"

home and played

after

and

and fabricated

which they stayed

joyously with

tables.

This

was the golden age of the gods; they were happy.

"To

them," says the old song, "was naught the

want

of gold,

until

came

there

three maids

all

powerful from the giants."

In some mysterious way

for gold seized

upon the gods

innocent golden play.

in

appears that a desire

it

Then

in the midst of their

they formed the dwarfs,

order that these might get gold for them out of the

INTRODUCTION.
The

earth.

dwarfs

then had been just like mag-

till

now

gots in Ymir's dead flesh, but

A shadow

likeness.

the golden age

is

want of gold

"Odin hurled

human

At the same time

The gods

the

received

begins to creep over the earth,

past.

happen.

things

2i

first

discover

war breaks

his spear

the

three

use

or

,out, as it is said,

amid the people, and then

war;" and the three all-powerful giant

maids appear. " Gold," says the old song (and calls
was the

first

her by a

name

as

if

"
she were a person), they pierced

with lances,

"And in the High one's

Hall

Burnt her once,

Burnt her thrice,
Oft not seldom,

Yet she still lives.

Wolves she tamed,

Magic arts she knew, she

Ever was she the joy

Of evil

The
sisters,

people."

three giant maidens are the three Fates

Past,

Present

from giant land, which

first

practised,

mixed cause of

moment when

all

and
in

Future.
this

They

the

came

place typifies the

things; they

came

at

the

the golden age was disappearing; they

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

22

stand upon the very edge of

saying.

"After

another,

or,

the

happy no hour

German

of a

an old

is

time begins"

golden age,

the words

in

once

The golden

when gold was invented,"

age ceased

the

"

and the avengers of evil

the bringers

"To

existence, at

its

proverb,

And now

strikes."

is

let

us see what sort of looking world these giants, gods,

men, dwarfs and

maids

fateful

talking about were living

"Round

giants

says so; but a

a frozen region

circle

inside that circle, the sea

the sea, the earth in which

men

to

fat

full

round.

of frost

middle of

in the

live, called Midgard,

and made out of Ymir's eyebrows;

in the

city of the gods.

the earth Asgard, the

has been

in.

without," Har

The outmost

whom Har

midst of
It

seems

be rather a disputed point whether or not Asgard

was on the top of a

mentioned

in the

Heavenly mountains are

hill.

Edda, but they are placed

at the

edge of heaven under one end of the rainbow, not

at all near Asgard,

the earth.

if

However,

Asgard was
to

spicuous we have placed

in

the

picture

of the

make
it

in

the middle of

the city

more con-

on the summit of a

hill

Scandinavian World which

INTRODUCTION.
stands at the

remark that

beginning of this chapter, and here

this

must

picture

exactly in a geographical light

navian point of view.

It is rather

ideas than of places, for

it

what

and

its

we have

said about the great

is

not be

" That

three roots.

looked at

even from a Scandi-

an expression of

tried to figure

"
ash,

says Har, which

and

was indeed the earth-bearer, "is the greatest

best

of

Its

trees."

all

branches spread over the

whole world and even reach above

has three roots, very wide asunder.

goes
over

down
it,

shall hear

The

to Ginnungagap.

and over

by

World Tree Yggdrassil

this root is

heaven.

One

It

of them

frost giants live

we

a deep well which

more of by-and-bye.

In the picture

this

root could not be shown, but the branches which

encircle the ice region are
it

cauldron

gnaws

lies

it

under

men know

of.

ash

in

a great snake called Nidhogg

day

suffers

Nidhogg

heaven

as

the

greater

tears it"

old

lay

says.

hardship

than

Under

a home of the dead.

also lies Helheim,

is

it,

night and

"Yggdrasil's

root

supposed to spring from

Another root extends to Niflheim, the old roaring

gods and men

live

this root

The
under

third
it,

in

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

Asgard and Midgard; the giant
under

it,

fate-sisters also live

Rainbow's arch

at the top of the

in their

palace very beauteous, which stands by the Holy

Urda Fount.

They water

the tree every day with

the holy water, so that ever "it stands green over

Urda's Fount."

These maidens are called Norns;

destinies

of

fix

they

the

men, Har says; "but besides them/'

he adds, "there are a great many other norns

indeed, for each

man

that

born there

is

a norn

is

to decide his fate."

"

Methinks, then," says Gangler,

were born

far

asunder; they are not of the same

"Some

race,"

" that these Norns

belong to the JEsir, some come

from the Elves, and some are dwarfs' daughters."

Besides these wonders,

we

are told that an eagle

perched amongst the highest branches of Yggdrasil

with

hawk between

his

amongst the branches and

squirrel

called

eyes,

four

bit off the buds,

Ratatosk or branch

ran

harts

borer

and a

ran

up

and down, carrying messages between the Eagle

and Nidhogg, as one account
between them

says,

causing

strife

a kind of typical busybody, in fact

INTRODUCTION.
Such

the

is

Yggdrasil, of which Jacob

myth of

Grimm remarks

bears

"it

high antiquity, but does

Of

unfolded."

it

course,

35

the

stamp of a very

appear to be

not

fully

was only the symbol of

a thought, the Scandinavians could not have believed

that there

was such a

tree.

The

But of what thought

was

it

ern

Antiquities

this

mythic Tree as the symbol of ever-enduring

time,
in its

the symbol ?

"We

says,

or rather of universal

are inclined to regard

nature,

ever

aspects but subsisting throughout

varying
eternity."

somewhere "Time's hoary nurse," and

It is called

we

editor of Mallet's North-

see the principles of destruction

One

and of renovation

root in the formless elemental

acting

upon

abyss,

one in the formed ice-frozen-over giant land,

it.

branches spreading over the whole world; one

"
Its name means
reaching up to the unseen.
Ygg"
its

terror,

and the

" drasil "

horror, fear
first

syllable

the chief god.

We

is

horse or bearer

one of the names of Odin

must not omit to mention that

our Maypoles and the German Christmas trees are

offshoots of Yggdrasil,

best of trees."

"that ash, the greatest and

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

"But who

"but besides

this

Allfather,

Odin

Bor by a

and

is

it

eldest of the

him

call

gods?"

Allfather," says

Har,

he has twelve names."

or

giantess,

Woden, the

son

eldest

of

the chief god of the Eddas,

is

Har

quite true, as

He

names.

and

first

"We

asks.

Gangler

the

is

says, that

was called Allfather

he has

many

the father of gods

and men, and Valfather or the chooser, because he

chose which of the slain in battle should come and
live with

him

in

names when he
but generally,
of the

first

heaven

he called himself by many

travelled,

he was known as Ygg,

he was Odin.

chiefly,

syllable of this last

Ygg), or violent emotion.

in

calm or storm

from

this

lies at

name

The meaning
is

terror (like

Simrock says that

air

the root of Odin's being;

he grew up to be a god of the

spirit,

" as in the
king of gods,
simple ideas of the people,"

he
as

says,

"nature and

spirit are

much a commander

inseparable; he

of the

spirits of

became

men

as of

most

the forces of nature.*

Air,

widespread and

spiritual of the elements,

how

naturally akin

to that wind, blowing where

in

hidden ways the

spirits

it

of

listeth,

men.

it

seems

which moves
Inspiration,

INTROD UCTION.
madness, poetry, warrior-rage, the storm of wind,

the thunder-god

Odin was
Jord

(the

Vidar, Vali,

we

in

and he had a

them

Thor

all.

giantess mother,

these

Har enumerates

Hodur,

Bragi, all called

Besides

earth).

sons of Odin

Odin

find

stood next in importance to Odin.

his father,

Baldur, Tyr,

to

we

mind

the storm of

shall hear the stories that

belong

them by-and-bye.
All these were of the race of the ^Esir or Asgard

gods ; there were other

and yet kept a

not clear

the JEsir.

deities

counted amongst them,

how and when

What

the

this, that the JEsir

different race,

made peace

still

known

in

it

it

is

simply

with the Vanir and

Amongst

Niord a kind of sea-coast god,

of Nipen

and

they became mixed with

Eddas say about

exchanged hostages with them.

find

and

the Vanir gods

distinct

These were of a

goddesses.
is

little

Norway,

the
his

these

we

original

son and

" beauteous and

mighty,"
daughter Frey and Freyja,

Frey presiding over

rain, sunshine,

and the

fruits

of the earth; Freyja goddess of the beautiful year

and of

love,

and Heimdall, a god who

lived

the heavenly hills at one end of the rainbow.

upon

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

,8

called

sea-king

whose nature

-Dgir,

not quite

is

defined whether he belonged to the god or the giant

is

occasionally mentioned

a wise giant Mimer.

also

mysterious being
requires a

little

the

in

Edda

But there

whom we name
explanation.

and

besides a

because he

last

This

tales,

is

Loki.

is

He

was one of the JEsir; we read of

his being with

Odin when

walk along the

that

god took

his fateful

made man, he helped Odin in the

we come upon him frequently travelling with

seashore and

work
the
yet
evil

sometimes

gods,
it

is

at

least

as

friend,

and

evident that Loki was looked upon as an

"Some

being.

call

him the calumniator of

the gods," says Har, " the contriver of

all

fraud

and

Loki is
disgrace of gods and men.
"
handsome," he adds, and well made, but of a very
mischief, the

fickle

passes

mood and most

all

perfidy."

Loki's

beings in

disposition.

Simrock says that

being

as

air

which has good and

destructive

evil

He

sur-

those arts called cunning and

lies

fire lies

in

evil in

it,

that

at the root of

of

Odin,

fire

but most outwardly

power; hence the beginning of the idea

of his evil-hcartedncss.

From

simple nature myths,

INTRODUCTION.

quite easy to conceive that the moral principle,

it is

as

29

it

grew up in a people, would develop

spiritual

ones, and the character of the gods would materially

evil are scarcely

conceptions which the wars of the

elements give birth

of

The name

sin.

Good and

the growth of the religion.

alter with

to.

the law

By

of Loki,

it is

the knowledge

is

said,

may mean

the

bright element.

Amongst

the goddesses

who were

called Asyniur,

Frigga stands 'out chief in the Eddas as Odin's wife,

but several others are named, and also the Valkyrior,

swayers of the battle and heavenly serving maidens.

The peace between

the ^Esir and the Vanir, and

the perceptible difference between these races of gods,

points to an amalgamation of the religions of two

Teutons in very early times

tribes of

would be

similar,

their

faiths

drawn indeed from one source,

but would have been modified by the circumstances

and requirements of the divergent

tribes.

supposes that the Vanir worshippers

dwellers
for
airs.

by

Simrock

may have been

the sea, and have had a special reverence

wind and water

deities

Their gods are a

little

mild, wide, beneficent

milder in nature than

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

more purely nature

those of Asgard, they are also

deities,
ters,

with less of the moral element in their charac-

which looks as

if

the two faiths had joined at

ferent stages of development, at different levels

may

so

say,

discernible.

that

We

the

between them

line

is

dif-

one
still

have seen how Har explains to

Gangler the formation of the universe in Ginnungagap

out

of the

beneficent

ice

strange

of

might

waves;

the

primeval

gods;

its

giant;

endurance,

rooted in the mighty Tree, that reached from depth

to height,

Laved with limpid water,

Gnawed by more serpents

Than any one would think

Of witless mortals. "

He

had also something

about it?" said

the

first

place

to

"What

future of the world.

say

Gangler; and
there

concerning the

hast thou

Har

come a

will

to

tell

me
"In

replied,
1

winter;*

and

then he described the destruction of the world

flood

and storm, and

supreme

and

fire,

and
of

warfare, a
evil,

the

primeval chaos surging again

out

conflict;

chaotic powers

ice

all

the

powers

INTRODUCTION.
and

of Niflheim

on

Muspellheim

one

gods, the forming orderly principle of

of

the

universe,

on the other

and through the mighty

all

which

ash,

side, the

the course

rage
itself

within,

trembles,

and

"Groans

that

alike

killing each other, and one cannot say

with

fall,

whom

moon, and
earth

"

sinks

the
stars

Monsters

tree."

aged

victory lies; for though

the sun,

made away

and the

are

into the

flood,

run a second course.

account

is

mixed

so

that

with,

soon emerges again,

it

beauteously green," destined, as

to

gods

it

Brighter,

one

would seem,

The

purer?

cannot say, and

why should we puzzle over it; perhaps they

knew as little what they thought and hoped as

we know about them

myth-spinners

of

says,

those old song-singers and

days gone

"Few may

as one of

by,

them

see

Further forth

Than when Odin

Meets the wolf,"

Notwithstanding,

contemplate
noble,

very

this

we cannot
myth,

grimly

help

feeling,

that there

courageous

was

in

its

as

we

something
fatalism,

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

3a

Simrock
is

"the course of Northern mythology

says,

like

the

golden years,

came with

gods

(we

the

all,

the renewing;

is

it

the

struggle,

be

not,

fell

the

in

hanging over

all,

the

twilight,

for

which

them

trace

and above

following tales);

crowning

shall

that

evil

evil,

shadows

death

all

the

beginning,

come, the troubles

to

fated

evil

kinds,

the

world's

shadow of

first

times,

of various

upon

The

drama."

it

all,

end,
the

observed,

end of the world, of time, of succession of events

that

recorded

is

in

this

Myth), but rather of

had

been

these.

chiefly

us,

the giants
fighting

them

know

destruction

as

far

again

from

that

this

drama

fatalism

as

and

impossible

in

one
the

times;

own

final

their

possible,

again,

help

they ward

hoping

dauntless

admiring

off

through
to

that

powers

had

formed

two

things

The two

The gods

another.

earliest

ways,

that

Ragnarok

and combat.

a thousand

arc fixed

to

struggling

these,

Looking through
strike

do not contradict

they

by

brought

(called the

myth

the

the

fight

they go

on

even though

and

defeat

the evil day

its

end.

the impulses

shadow
It

is

which

INTRODUCTION.
led to the

to

in

were,

defiance of

it,

after

inevitable.

Of

course

natural

that

of

alternate

the

this

it

most

of

spite

all

but

the

was

perfectly

heat,

unceasing

should

worshippers of the

but

one

must,

some moral

men by

geous

time

earth,

spirit

the

We

read

natural

world,

acquired

heathen North-

come

to

be

of

deal

good

Scandinavian
of

of married

lady

love

this

self-surrender

and

myths

heroic

and

coura-

comes
tales.

one of the gods' messengers, who,

from an undertaking be" For one

day
danger threatened, replied,

cause

my

mined."
die,

the

in

have

Odin had

of conflict and

when implored
was

the

hearth.

into

that

these

and

light

arise

think,

to

strife,

even Valfather, and Frigga, through the

nourishing
the

significance

the

Allfather,

of

would

of the

simple and

victory and defeat of

minds of any
it

courageous

servants

of

conception

and

cold

darkness,

who were

worship of the gods

the

who

die,

and dictated the worship

building up,

of this idea,

33

but

age

to

desist

decreed

and

In a lay of Odin,
the

fair

fame

my
it

never

whole
"

says,

dies

life

We
of

deter-

ourselves

him who

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

34
earned

has

and

it;"

reminds

this

Scandinavian custom of engraving

deeds upon

warlike

their

was

young

warrior

"they

gave him

which

was

of

related

is

first

white
*

the

called

which he carried
It

at

their

us

the

smooth
of

of

said,

buckler,

expectation,'

he had earned

until

is

it

enlisted,"

shield

the

"When

shields.

and

of

records

record."

its

one of the celebrated Jomsburg

sea-rovers called Bui, that finding himself defeated

an

in

engagement,

was

resistance

chests

But

better

far

having been
with

all

further

treasure

out

and, calling

the

is

thrown

enemy, and

his

without arms,
wait

his

two

"Overboard

men," plunged into the sea and perished.

Bui's

all

that

seeing

he took

fruitless,

of gold

full

and

the

following

upon
the

his

"
:

back

latter

in

warrior
wrestling

himself

finding

vanquished person promised to

without changing his posture while the other

fetched

Such

sword

to

kill

him,

and

he

faithfully

word."

kept his

traits

as these

lie

on the

light

side of the

Northern character, pity that the other side

dark one.

Craft, avarice, cruelty

is

such a

we cannot

shut

INTRODUCTION.

35

our eyes to them

cropping up everywhere, in the

stories of the gods,

and

sagas whose

Amongst

still

we have one of a young

Sigurd and his companions

Bui mentioned above.

had been taken

be beheaded.

king

says, that

prisoners,

They were

after

Hakon

and were condemned to

all

seated

on a log of wood,

another had his head struck

their capturer

he came out

execution.

sea-

Sigurd, by-the-bye, a son of that very

rover, called

and one

in the

sometimes most revolting.

details are

other stories,

more frequently

The

looked on

the account

watch the

after breakfast to

sea-rovers all

unflinching courage,

met

whilst

off,

fate with

their

and as the executioner asked

each one, before he struck the blow, what he thought

of death, each gave some fierce mocking answer;

but when

it came to
Sigurd's turn, and he was asked
what he thought of death, he answered, " I fear not

death, since I have fulfilled the greatest duty of

but I must pray thee not to

let

by a

slave,

my

tells

us he had

or stained with

flowing in ringlets
cruel

king

long

fair

my

hair

blood."

hair,

as

followers,

The

story

as

silk,

fine

over his shoulders.

Hakon's

being

life,

be touched

One

of the

moved,

it

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

36

seems, either with pity for Sigurd's hair or admiration

of his courage, stept forward and held the ringlets
whilst

the

executioner

upon which Sigurd

struck,

twitched his head forward so strongly that the warrior

who was holding his hair had both his hands cut off,
"and this practical joke so pleased the king's son,"
continues the

"Thou

tale,

tellest

" that he
gave Sigurd his

me many

life,"

wonderful things," said

Gangler; "what are the names of the Homesteads

In answer, Har tells him about Odin's
in heaven?"

and Thor*s, and

halls,

and

Baldur's,

Frigga's,

and

many another bounteous, wide-spreading, golden-roofed

mansion

amongst them of Valhalla, which Odin had

who

prepared especially for warriors

fell

in

battle

who were

thenceforth to be his sons, called

*
"
said
Methinks,
Einherjar, heroes, champions.

and

Gangler,

" there must be a

great crowd

and often a great press

at the

door among such a

number of people constantly thronging

"

Why

are?

not ask,

"

says Har,

" Five hundred

And

forty

"

in Valhalla,

in

and out"

how many doors

doors

eke

I think are in Valball.

there

INTRODUCTION.
"But what does Odin
" The

asked Gangler.
nir,

and

truly

flesh

of the good boar Saehrim-

required for heroes), for in spite of

is

being eaten every day

night

give the warriors to eat?"

more than enough (though few know

this is

how much

37

it

becomes whole again every

the best of flesh."

it is

its

"

And what

have

the heroes to drink ?" asked Gangler " for they must
require a plentiful supply;

"A

do they drink only water ?

question that," replied

silly

imagine that Allfather

would

Har; "dost thou

and

invite kings

and other great men and give them nothing

they had paid

dearly to get to Valhall, enduring

and receiving deadly wounds; they

great hardships
find they

drink.

is

is

quite

"

said Gangler; " but

themselves

"Every day they

when they

when

otherwise,

ride into

in

mead

spare."

Mighty

how do

the heroes

are not

drinking?"

the court and

they cut each other in pieces, this

but

price for water

a famous goat that supplies

"
and to

for all the heroes

things these,

amuse

had paid too great a

No, no, the case

Valhall there

enough

jarls

to drink

In that case the heroes would think

but water?

would

"

is

fight

till

their pastime

meal-tide approaches they return to drink

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

38

"Odin

in Valhall."

Gangler, "as

it

is

great

said

is

in

and mighty," answered

one of the ^sifg own

poems,
"TheashYggdrasill
Is the

first

of Trees,

As

Skidbladnir of ship%
Odin of ^Lsir
Sleipnir of steeds,
Eiirost of bridges,

Bragi of Lards,

Habrok of hawks

And Garm
" But do

all

of hounds is."

the dead go to Valhalla ? "

Niflheim there was another

below

in

dead

which

was

ruled

over

by

No down
;

home

the

of the

underworld

goddess Hela, and called after her Helheim.

ness

and

discomfort,

were rather

and as

all

its

according

characteristics than

to

one

it

account,

actual suffering;

the dead were said to go there

of sickness or old age,

Cold-

was probably

at

who

died

one time

regarded more as a place of misfortune than

punishment
the

The

cold, hidden-away

dead, separated from the bright,

of

condition of

warm

life

of

the upper world, would naturally suggest their being

consigned to the keeping of some under-world d

INTRODUCTION.
unless, indeed, they could lay claim to
life

by

here.

a second higher

of any great warlike deed done up

virtue

By degrees

into

39

suffering;

misfortune must have deepened

and, as the moral sense quickened,

the idea would arise of there being a retribution for

misdeeds done on earth as well as an emptiness of

its

missed

There

glories.

is

some place of punishment

place

it

refers to

a description given

it is

of

not quite clear what

in these words,

"A hall

standing

Far from the sun

In Nastrond,
Its doors turn

northward,

Venom

fall

drops

Through

its

apertures

The Hall is twined

With serpents' backs.
There she saw wading,

Through

sluggish streams,

Bloodthirsty

men

And perjurers

There Nidhog sucks

The corpse of the dead

The wolf tears men
Understand ye yet, or whatr

Now,

says

Har

that

was when he had

finished

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

40

his description of

Ragnarok,

" If
thou, Gangler, hast

any more questions to ask, I know not who can

answer thee,

for

could relate what

the world.

heard a

"

never heard

will

"Upon

terrible

happen

tell

who

of any one

other ages of

in the

which," the story says, "Gangler

noise

all

round him

he looked

everywhere, but could see neither palace, nor

nor any thing save a vast plain.

And

out on his return home.*

He

city,

therefore

set

so disappears king

Gylfi.

But we, who are not so presumptuous as to enquire

into the future of the ages,

nor

over

listening
stories

the

and god

bers,

and a

on

and

we

will
stories,

bit that

will try to

go on
giant

one remem-

make

the story

to ourselves as they

their old fashioned

words into our

every day words and modes of speech,

we may have

standing them.

little

one another and

go on, translating

Gylfi,

another remembers, and so

that

the time

own common

king

great-grandmothers'

stories

little bit

all

tellers clear to

so that

like

inquisitive

to

and are neither learned

at least

a chance of under-

THE

JZSIR.

4!

CHAPTER L

THE
PART L
A GIANT

A COW

AND A HERO,
lived a cow,

whose

breath was sweet, and whose milk was bitter.

This

IN the beginning of ages there

cow was

called

herself

on a

nothing

to

Audhumla, and she lived

misty plain,

frosty,

be

it

day; but

was
all

night,

by

but heaps of snow and ice

seen

piled strangely over one another.

north

all

where there was

far

away

Far away to the

to the

south

it

was

around where Audhumla lay a cold,

grey twilight reigned.

By-and-by a giant came out

of the dark north, and lay

down upon

the ice near

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

"

Audhumla.

You must

said

the giant to the

was

bitter,

certainly

he liked

me

drink of your milk,"

cow; and though her milk

it

well,

and

him

for

little

cow looked

while the

for

something to eat,

of

salt

sprinkled over the ice; so

she licked the

and breathed with her sweet breath, and then

look bright and

The

again,

The

the

made them

glittering.

giant frowned when he saw the

golden hair;

and

ice,

southern day shone upon them, which

of the

glitter

but Audhumla licked the pure

salt

and a head of a man rose out of the

head

described,

was

more

handsome

and a wonderful

clear blue eyes.

when he saw
alt

round her

all

and she saw a very few grains

long golden locks rose out of the

its

was

it

good enough.

After a

salt,

let

The

the head;

light

than

beamed

giant frowned

but

Audhumla

ice.

be

could

of

out

still

more

licked

the

a third time, and then an entire man arose

hero majestic

Now,
full in

it

in strength

happened

and marvellous

that

when

in beauty.

the giant

looked

the face of that beautiful man, he hated

with his

whole heart, and, what was

still

him

worse, he

THE MSIR.
took a terrible oath, by

43

the snows of Ginnun-

all

gagap, that he would never cease fighting until either

he or Bur, the hero, should

And he

ground.

fighting until

I cannot

tell

kept his

Bur had

how

dead

lie

the

upon

vow; he did not cease

fallen

beneath his cruel blows.

could be that one so wicked

it

should be able to conquer one so majestic and so

but so

beautiful;

it

was, and afterwards,

sons of the hero began to

his sons

when

the

grow up, the giant and

fought against them, too, and were very

near conquering them

times.

many

But there was of the sons of the heroes one of

very great strength and wisdom, called Odin, who,
after

many

giant,

combats, did at

and pierced

his

last slay the great

body through with

his

old

keen

spear, so that the blood swelled forth in a mighty

torrent,

broad and deep, and

brood were drowned

in

it

all

the hideous giant

who ran

excepting one,

away panting and afraid

After this

and

Odin

cousins,

we have won a
or have run

him

called round

and spoke

to

great victory

away from

us.

his sons, brothers,

them thus
;

"
:

Heroes,

our enemies are dead,

We

cannot stay any

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

44

longer here, where there

is

nothing evil for us to

fight against"

The

heroes looked round them at the words of

North, south, east, and west there was no

Odin.

one to

fight against

them anywhere, and they called

" It
out with one voice,

is

we

well spoken,

Odin

"heat

lies,

and

the

sun

follow you."

"Southward,"
northward

answered

Odin,

From

night.

the

dim

"Westward home!" shouted they

ward they went
Odin rode
to

in the midst of them,

On

his right

warlike, eldest son.

all;

and west-

and they

him reverence and homage as

father.

east

westward home."

begins his journey

to

all

hand rode Thor, Odin's

On

his left

paid

a king and
strong,

hand rode Baldur,

the most beautiful and exalted of his children; for

the very light of the sun itself shone forth from his

pure and noble brow.

Brave

born

blind;

the

Silent

After him

Vidar ; Hodur, who, alas

Hermod,

the

Flying

Haenir, and many more mighty

and then came a

came Tyr the

shell chariot, in

Word;

lords

was

Bragi,

and heroes;

which

sat Frigga,

THE &S1R.
the wife

of Odin,

with

her daughters, friends,

all

and tirewomen.
Eleven months they journeyed westward, enlivening the

way with

and

the twelfth

tents

at

and conversation,

cheerful songs

new moon they pitched

upon a range of

hills

The

borders of an inland sea.

their

which stood near the

greater part of one

night they were disturbed by mysterious whisperings,

which appeared to proceed from the

sea-coast,

and creep up the mountain side; but as Tyr, who

and ran

got up half a dozen times,

the

among

and

gorse

saying that he could see

maidens

at

bushes,

returned

always

no one, Frigga and her

resigned

length

furiously about

themselves

to

sleep,

though they certainly trembled and started a good

Odin lay awake

deal at intervals.

ever;

for

he

felt

And

was going to happen.

case;

for

in

the morning,

struck, a most

and
from

tore

over

in

that

certain

terrific

pieces

the

night,

something

how-

unusual

such proved to be the

before the tents

were

hurricane levelled the poles,

the

water

all

damask

furiously

gorges, round the base of the

coverings,

up
hills,

the

swept

mountain

and up again

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

46

along their steep sides right in the faces of the

all

heroes.

Thor swung himself backwards and

forwards,

threw stones in every possible direction.

down on

sat

the top of a precipice, and defied the winds

to displace

him

comfort

his

to

Tyr

and

whilst

Baldur vainly endeavoured

mother,

poor

But Odin

Frigga.

stepped forth calm and unruffled, spread his arms

towards the sky, and called out to the spirits of the

"
Cease, strange Vanir (for that was the name
wind,

by which they were

and

tell

us in what

called), cease

your rough play,

manner we have offended you

that

you serve us thus.*

The winds laughed

in

a whispered chorus at the

words of the brave king, and,

ings,

sank into silence.

grew

into a shape

limbed, uncertain

after

a few low

But each sound

in

titter-

dying

one by one the strange, loose-

forms stepped forth from caves,

from gorges, dropped from the tree tops, or rose

out of the grass

Then Niord,
rest

each wind-gust a separate Van.

their leader, stood forward from

of them, and said,

"We

how you and your company

know,

the

mighty Odin

are truly the

^sir

that

THE &SIR.
to say, the lords of the whole earth

is

slew the huge, wicked giant

We,

since

too, are

not of the earth, but of the sea and

air,

you

lords,

and we

thought to have had glorious sport in fighting one

against another; but

if

instead of that, shake hands."

let us,

spoke, Niord held out

was

like

his long, cold

a windbag to the touch.

heartily, as

it

such be not your pleasure,

did

hand, which

Odin grasped

the ^Esir; for they liked the

all

appearance of the good-natured, gusty

they begged to

And, as he

become one of

chief,

whom

company, and

their

henceforth with them.

live

To

this

Niord consented, whistled good-bye to

his

kinsfolk,

his

new

and on

steadily

summit of a
HilL
took

and strode

cheerfully

After

friends.

this

westward

lofty

There they

they

until

mountain,
all

sat

along amongst

they

called

round

journeyed

on

reached the
the

Meeting

in a circle,

and

a general survey of the surrounding neigh-

bourhood.

As

they sat talking together Baldur looked up

" Is
suddenly, and said,
that

we do not

find

it

not strange, Father Odin,

any traces of that giant who

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

48

fled

from

escaped

drowning in

his

blood?"

father's

"

and who

us,

Perhaps he has

into

fallen

Niflheim,

and so

perished," remarked Thor.

But Niord pointed northward, where the troubled

ocean
lies

rolled,

the

and

"Yonder, beyond

said,

snowy region of Jotunheim.

the giant lives, and builds

brings

up

cities

It

and

that sea,
is

castles,

there

and

a more hideous brood even

his children

than the old one."

"How

do you know

that,

Niord?" asked Odin.

"I have seen him many times," answered Niord,

"both before I came to live with you, and also
since then, at night,
sleep,

when

and have made

have not been able to

little

journeys to Jotunheim,

to pass the time away."

"This
"

is

indeed

for the giants will

and devastate the

"Not

news,"

said

Frigga;

again out of Jotunheim

earth."

answered

so,"

Frigga; for here,

for ourselves

terrible

come

upon

city,

Odin,
this

"not

very

hill,

from which we

over the poor earth, with

its

so,

we

will

my

dear

will build

keep guard

weak men and women,

THE &SIR.
and from whence we

49

go forth to make war

will

upon Jotunheim."

"That

remarkably well

is

said,

Father

Odin,"

observed Thor, laughing amidst his red beard.

Tyr shouted, and Vidar smiled, but

and then

all

the

^Esir

whole strength and industry

a glorious

city

on the

to

set

said nothing

work

with

their

to build for themselves

summit of the mountain.

For days, and weeks, and months, and years they

worked, and never wearied;

was
to

in them, so

fulfil

strong a purpose

Even Frigga and her

it.

fetch

to

disdain

so

determined and powerful were they

stones

in

their

ladies

did not

marble

wheel-

barrows, or to draw water from the well in golden

buckets,

and

mortar upon

then, with delicate hands, to

silver plates.

And

tower, height above height, until

Then

all

looked at
ness.

so that city rose by

degrees, stone above stone,

beautiful

it

the ^Esir stood at a

it,

and sighed from

Towering

mix the

tower above

crowned the
little

their

hill.

distance,

great

and

happi-

at a giddy height in the centre of

the city rose Odin's seat, called Air Throne, from

whence he could see over the whole

earth.

On

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

50

one side of Air Throne stood the Palace of Friends,

where Frigga was to
glittering

live;

on the other rose the

Gladsheim, a palace roofed entirely with

golden shields, and whose great

hall,

had

Valhalla,

a ceiling covered with spears, benches spread with

coats of mail,

and

five

hundred and

through each of which eight hundred

gates,

smithy,

situated

on

also

a large iron

the eastern

side

of

where the ^Esir might forge

armour.

That

Valhalla, and drank

new home, "The

chief orator, said

night

to the

their

they
health

the

city,

arms and shape

all

supped

ID

of their strong,

City of Asgard," as
it

men

There was

might ride abreast

their

forty entrance-

ought to be called

Bragi, their

THE

PART

II.

AIR rflKONE, THE DWARFS, AND THE LIGHT ELVES.

IN

morning Odin mounted

the

looked

over

stood

all

about

it

"The

but,

Air Throne, and

the

whilst

earth,

^Esir

round waiting to hear what he thought

earth

the top of
part,

whole

the

is

his

very

beautiful,**

throne,

Odin, from

said

beautiful

"very

in

every

even to the shores of the dark North Sea

alas!

fearful.

the

At

men

this

giant striding out

of the earth

moment

see

of Jotunheim.

shepherd-boy into the

sea,

the flock into his pocket

again one by one,

are

puny

and

three-headed

He

throws

and puts the whole of

Now

and cracks

he takes them out

their

bones

as

if

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

52

were

they

hazel-nuts,

the

all

whilst,

men

time,

look on, and do nothing."

"Father," cried Thor in a rage,

"last night I

forged for myself a belt, a glove, and a hammer,

with which three things I will go forth alone

to

Jotunheim."

Thor went, and Odin looked

"The men

of

again.

earth

are

and play

them,

moment

wheat

the

in

see

hideous

furrows,

little

live

to

At

prevent

a husbandman sowing grains

him, and changes them

two

elves,

stupid,"

who

which they cannot

tricks

understand, and do not know how

this

and

idle

" There are dwarfs and

said Odin.

amongst

the

whilst

dwarf runs

beings,

are

after

Again, I see

into stones.

who

of

holding under

water the head of one, the wisest of men, until he

dies; they mix his

put

it

three

into

blood with honey; they have

stone

jars,

and

hidden

it

away."

Then Odin was very angry

he saw
called

that
to

with the dwarfs,

they were bent on mischief;

him

Hermod,

his

despatched him with a message

Flying

for

so he

Word,

to the dwarfs

and
and

THE MSIR.
light elves, to say that

and would be glad

53

Odin sent

his compliments,

to speak with them, in his palace

of Gladsheim, upon a matter of some importance.

When

received

they

much

dwarfs and light elves were very

not quite knowing whether

ners,

to

However, they put on

afraid.

and went

swarm of

When

summons

Hermod's

clustering

feel

surprised,

honoured
pertest

Hermod

after

like

ladybirds.

they were arrived in the great city they

found Odin descended from his throne, and

with the rest of the ^Esir in the

Hermod

of Gladsheim.

and pointed

to the

flew

in,

his mission.

come

sitting

Judgment Hall

saluted his master,

dwarfs and elves hanging like

a cloud in the doorway to show that he had

to

or

man-

the. r

the

Then Odin beckoned

the

fulfilled

little

people

Cowering and whispering they

forward.

peeped over one another's shoulders; now running

on a

little

way

into the hall,

curious, half afraid

and

it

now back

was not

beckoned three times that they

footstool.

serious

Then Odin spoke

to

again, half

until

finally

them

Odin had

reached his
in calm, low,

tones about the wickedness of

their

mis-

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

54

chievous propensities.

Some, the

worst

very

of

them, only laughed in a forward, hardened manner

but a great

many looked up surprised and a

pleased at the novelty of serious words

light

elves

little

all

for

whilst the

they were tender-hearted

At length Odin spoke

the

two

name whom he had seen drowning

the

things.

dwarfs by

wept,

"Whose blood was

wise man.

to

he

it,"

" that
you mixed with honey and put into jars

"Oh,"

little

said the dwarfs,

asked,
?"

jumping up into the

air,

and clapping their hands, " that was Kvasir's blood.

out of the peace

selves,

He

know who Kvasir was?

Don't you

made between

sprang up

the Vanir and your-

and has been wandering about these seven

years or more;

lying in

Well, just

a meadow drowned

we mixed

his

men

so wise he was that

he must be a god.

blood

own wisdom ;

in his

with honey, and put

three great jars to keep.

Was

thought

now we found him

it

so

into

not that well done,

Odin?"
"Well

You
you

done!" answered

cruel,
kill

cowardly,

him.

lying dwarfs

For shame

"Well

Odin.

for

shame

done!

myself saw

w
I

and then

THE
Odin proceeded

to

55

sentence upon them all

pass

Those who had been the most wicked, he

were to

live,

and were

to

henceforth, a long

spend

said,

way underground,

their time in throwing fuel

upon

the great earth's central fire; whilst those

who had

only been mischievous were to work in

the gold

and diamond mines, fashioning precious stones and

metals.

said;

They might

hand, and

his

out of the

known,

city,

"And

you,"

said

and through with

"
all

Oh

fields,

round,

to their un-

But

earth-homes.

the

tearful,

light

smiling

morning dew.
Odin,

them through

looking

his serious eyes,

"and you

"

indeed, Odin," interrupted they, speaking

together in quick, uncertain tones

Odin, we

Then he

the palace-steps,

lingered, with upturned,

like sunshiny

Odin

night,

turned

dwarfs

over the green

deep-buried

still

the

at

dawn.

the

scampered down

shrilly chattering,

faces,

come up

but must vanish at

waved

elves

all

are not so very wicked.

" Oh

We

indeed,

have never

done anybody any harm."

"Have you
asked Odin.

ever

done

anybody any

good?"

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

56

"

Oh

answered

indeed,"

no,

we have never done anything

"You may
amongst the

said

"to

Odin,

live

and play with the wild bees

flowers,

and summer

elves,

light

at alL"

then,"

go,

the

You

insects.

something to do, or

you

find

however,

must,

be mischievous

will get to

like the dwarfs."

" If
only we had any one to teach us," said the
"
light elves,

we

for

are such foolish

Odin looked round

little

people."

upon the ^Esir;

inquiringly

but amongst them there was no teacher found for

the

silly

who nodded
"

Then he turned

elves.

little

head

his

to

good-naturedly,

Yes, yes, I will see about

f and

it

Niord,

and

said,

then he strode

out of the Judgment Hall, right away through the

gates,

city

and

down upon

sat

the

mountain's

edge.

awhile

After

alarming
wild

he

now

dropped

ticing

it

his

and

voice a

like

little,

bird-like

in

retreating;

lower

whistle

spirit's

in

louder,

now

advancing,

became a
music,

began to whistle
louder

manner,

gusts,

until

he

call;

and

most
strong

then
lower,

low, soft, en-

and

far

away

THE &S1R.
from

sweet as

the

Then

their
their

the

wonderfully

beautiful

nearer and

itself,

clear
fair

arms

answer came,

fluttering

sounds dropped

through

floating,

little

invitation

two

the

until

the south

57

sky

twined

into

two

came

forms

brother and

round

nearer

one another.

sister

one another,

golden hair bathed in sunlight, and supported

by the wind.

"My

son and

the

to

surrounding

Summer and

When
to

structor I

Niord,

proudly,

and

Freyja,

"Frey

Freyja dropped upon the

hill

by the hand, led him graceof the throne, and said, "Look

his son

the foot

here, dear

^Esir,

said

Beauty, hand in hand."

Frey and

Niord took
fully

daughter,"

brother Lord,

what a

fair

have brought for your pretty

young
little

in-

elves."

Odin was very much pleased with the appearance

of Frey; but, before constituting him king and
schoolmaster of the light elves, he desired to

know

what his accomplishments were, and what he considered himself competent to teach.

"I

am

the

genius

of

clouds

and

sunshine,"

answered Frey; and as he spoke, the essences of

THE HEROES OF ASCARD.

58

a hundred perfumes were exhaled from his breath.

"I

am

the genius of clouds and sunshine, and

me

the light elves will have

teach them

how

the blossoms, to
fruit,

of the flowers,
wheat,

burst

the folded buds,

can

to set

pour sweetness into the swelling

the bees through the honey-passages

to lead

to

to

for their king

if

to

make

the single

hatch birds' eggs,

and

ear a stalk

teach the

and much more,"

ones to sing

all this,

"I know, and

will teach

of

little

said Frey,

them."

Then answered Odin, "It

is

well;" and

Frey

took his scholars away with him to Alfheim, which

is

in every beautiful place under the sua.

THE &SIR.

59

PART IH
NIFLHEIM.

Now,

In the city of

Asgard dwelt one called Loki,

who, though amongst the ^Esir, was not of the ^Esir,

but utterly unlike to them; for to do the wrong, and
leave the right undone, was, night

the ^Esir

and day,

How

Loki's one unwearied aim.

this

wicked

he came amongst

no one knew, nor even whence he came.

Once, when Odin questioned him on

the subject,

Loki stoutly declared that there had been a time

when he was innocent and noble-purpose^

JEsir themselves; but

up and down the

Loki

said,

to

after

that,

earth,

discover

it

many wanderings

had been

the

like the

his misfortune,

half-burnt

heart of a

" since
when," continued he, "I became
woman;

THE HEROES OF ASGAKD.

60

what you now see me, Odin."

As

was too

this

a story for any one to wish to hear twice

fearful

over Odin never questioned him again.

"Whilst the JEsir

were building their

instead of helping them,

make

ning over to Jotunheim to

the giants

Loki,

city,

had been continually

friends

and wicked witches of the

amongst

Now,

place.

amongst the witches there was one so

run-

fearful

to

behold in her sin and her cruelty, that one would

have thought

it

as Loki to find
nevertheless,

they

lived

so

even for such an one

impossible

in her

any pleasure
it

was that he married

together

long

own wicked

hearts,

and

and
each

the abundance of

up

bringing

three children to be the plague, dread,

of mankind.

her,

making

time,

other worse and worse out of

their

companionship:

their

and misery

These three children were

just

what

they might have been expected to be from

their

parentage and education.

a monstrous

gand,

The

serpent;

most ferocious of wolves; the

corpse,

wife

half

queen.

looked at their

When
fearful

eldest

the
third

was Jormun-

second

Fcnrir.

was Hela, half

Loki and

his

witch-

progeny they thought

THE
within

they

go back to Asgard

So

here."

the ^Esir say

cannot

they

see,"

Odin

for

little

as

bravely,

saying, Loki wished

set forth

But

all

said

and

salute

had no

secret

while,

if

his wife

good-morn-

bade her hide the children securely

ing,

if

they should suspect Witch-wife, I

lest

old Father

and

"But

see?"

Loki; "and,
will

"What would

themselves,

could

on the road

to

in-doors,

Asgard

the time he was travelling Loki's children

went on growing, and long before he had reached

the lofty city
that

his

Jormungand had become so

out

let his

tail

across

the road;

At

first it

but he

exposure to the

air,

hung only a

grew,

Whether

Jormungand grew!
I

it

little

Oh, how

and

early next

do not know;

at that

were

said Odin,

taking

their

"it is quite

to

the

to shoot out

Luckily, however, just

moment Odin caught

sight

of him, when,

from the top of Air Throne, the eyes of

ruler

fearfully

but, in a single

morning began

in the direction of Asgard.

way

was from sudden

day he grew from one end of Jotunheim

other,

large,

mother was obliged to open the door to

morning
clear,

this vigilant

walk.

Frigga,

that

'"Now,*
I must

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

6a

remain in idleness no longer at Asgard, for monsters

are bred

up

So

of me."

gates

tread

to

ing

pierce

monstrous
In

descending

saying,

Odin went

Air Throne,
to

Jotunheim, and the earth has need

in

forth of

through

Asgard's golden

common men,

of

the earth

from

instantly

and

Jotunheim,

fight-

slay

its

sins.

journeyings Odin mixed freely with the

his

people of the countries through which he passed;

shared with them

taught them out of

them with

spired

them by
teach

and

toil

his

in

own

war and

grief;

experience,

large

in-

noble thoughts, and exalted

his

Even

his example.

much; and

pleasure,

to the oldest he could

the evening,

when

the labours

of the day were ended, and the sun cast slanting

see

the

noble
as

the

upon

rays

he

giant

Jotunheim,

them

long

of his

ago,

and

explained to

not yet over,

round

was

pleasant to

hanging open mouthed upon his words,

told

of

it

youths grouped round that

sturdy village

chief,

green,

village

for

that

them on every

great

then

pointing

ihem how
giants

side,

and

and

with

fight

that

the

towards
fight

was

monsters grew

they,

too,

might

THE
do

battle

the

earth.

One

bravely,

be

and JEsir

heroes

of

evening, after thus drinking in his burning

words they
smithy,

and

JESIR.

all

trooped

and Odin forged

and armour,
in their use.

children; I

instructing

together

to

the

all

night arms

them

for

village

them, at the same time,

In the morning he

"Farewell,

said,

have further to go than you can come;

but do not forget

to fight as I

me when

am

have taught you.

gone,

nor

how

Never cease to be

and brave; never turn your arms against one

another; and never turn them away from the giant
true

and the oppressor."

Then
their

the villagers returned to their

field-labour,

and

Odin

pressed

homes and
on, through

uninhabited woods, up silent mountains,

trackless

over the lonely ocean, until he reached that strange,

mysterious meeting-place of sea and sky.

brooding over the waters like

a grey sea

There,
fog,

sat

Mimer, guardian of the well where wit and wisdom

lie

hidden.

"Mimer," said Odin, going up

"let

me

to

him

drink of the waters of wisdom."

boldly,

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

64

"Truly,
treasure

Odin," answered Mimer,

that

you

"it

a great

is

and one which many have

seek,

sought before, but who,

when they knew

the price

of it, turned back."

Then
hand

replied

wisdom

for

would

"I

Odin,

my

give

right

willingly."

"Nay," rejoined the remorseless Mimer,

"it

is

not your right hand, but your right eye you must
give."

Odin was very

sorry

when he heard

deem

of Mimer, and yet he did not

great; for
it

into Mimer's hand he

inward

of

in

a draught of

return

felt

as

if

light; for

which you

he knew what

it

his

may be

were

him

a
an

sure he never

perishable

was necessary

the horn

there

wisdom springing up within

grudged having given

also,

in

and casting

As Odin gave back

the fathomless deep.

fountain

the price too

plucking out his right eye,

from him, he received

the words

eye.

for

him

Now,
to

do

order to become a really noble Asa,* and that

was to push on to the extreme edge of the earth

itself,

and peep over

into

Niflhcim.

Attr-thc singular of

/ICsir.

Odin knew

THE
it

was

ice-bound

Onward and northward he went

through

seas,

onward

right

he must do; and precisely

that

precisely

that he did.

twilight,

fog,

the face of winds

in

and

over

snow,

were

that

like

swords until he came into the unknown land, where

and

sobs,

drifting

and a

unfinished shapes were

sad,

up and down.

"Then," said Odin, thought-

have come to the end of

"I

fully,

and

sighs,

little

further

on Niflheim must
pushed on

Accordingly he
until

he reached the

lying

down and

ness;

but,

days,

his

stems.

roots

after

eye

further

leaning over from

Odin imagined

that

it

Yggdrasil

on
was

its last

one

fibres,

At

earth-tree,

and watched how

poisonous diseases.

whose

Jotunheim, from
the

the oldest of

and

mighty

Yggdrasil's

the old

three,
its

out of

time-worn,

they were for ever

gnawed by Nidhogg the envious

brood of

cold peak,

three nights

of

Odin looked long upon

Niflheim.

knotted

this,

further

was only empty dark-

sprang far and wide, from

above, and

and

was Niflheim.

It

there

hanging

fell

creation,

lie."

earth's extremest edge, where,

he looked into the gulf below.

first

all

serpent,

and

his

Then he wondered

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

66

what he should see next

arose from

and wandered
a home.

pale,

ills;

and one by one spectres

Shore of Corpses

naked,

whilst

trond, Yggdrasil,

and saw
far

all

below

arose

and without
into the

shapeless,

name-

deeper than Nas-

and Nidhogg, roared Hvergelmir,

Nine nights and days

brave wise Asa hung over Niflheim pondering.

More brave and more

it

its

him,

the boiling cauldron of evil.

this

nameless,

Then Odin looked down deeper

abyss of abysses,
less

Nastrond, the

than when he came.

often

on

his road

not always
to us

thus

weeping

wise he turned away from

It is

true that

he sighed

thence to Jotunheim; but

that

is

it

wisdom and strength coioe

THE

PART

IV.

THE CHILDREN OF LOKL

WHEN,

at length,

giants

frost

Odin found himself

of

giants,

three-headed

giants, monsters and iron witches

he

kind

every

mountain

giants,

and wolf-headed

in the land of

walked

straight

stopping to fight with any one of them,

came
he

the

all

his

he

and

the

the

deep

until,

until

time,

lay

and

growing
threw

There

ocean.

encircling

tail

monster,

the

neither

still,

Odin

earth,
his

binding

nor

any

as

him headlong

Jormungand

whole

was growing down

quite

fearfully

he

throat,

himself

one

else

still

found
after

he

Then

to the middle of Jormungand's body.

seized

was

without

on,

he
into

grew,
that

which

together;

has

been

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

68

move him

able to

disposed

of

Midgard

Serpent,

When Odin had

thence.

henceforth

Jormungand,

on

went

he

wicked Witch-mother

other

stood

monsters and women.

after

strange

At Fenrir and
great

pale as

most

Hela,

on

wolf-son,

of

terrible

crowd of giants strode

and

of

Loki's

be sent away.

savagely

Hela each

at

new snow, and

ice,

of

Witch-mother they stared with

joyfully

eyes,

when he looked

of

ferocious

before they should

the

house

open, and the

Odin, curious to obtain a glance

children

the

sat in the entrance, whilst

one side crouched Fenrir, her

and on the

called

the

to

The door was thrown

Loki's wife.

thus

but

glittering;

giant

became

as

cold with terror as a mountain

Pale, cold, frozen, they never

moved

again

but a rugged chain of rocks stood behind Odin, and

he looked on

fearless

and

unchilled.

"Strange daughter of Loki," he said, speaking to

"
Hela,
you have the head of a queen, proud forehead, and large, imperial eyes;
pulseless,

and

your

cruel

but your heart

arms

kill

what

they

embrace.

Without doubt you have somewhere

kingdom;

not

where

the

sun

shines,

and

is

men

THE
breathe the free

69

down below

but

air,

depths, where bodiless

spirits

in

infinite

wander, and the

cast-off

corpses are cold."

Then Odin pointed downwards towards

and Hela sank

that

downward, to

of abysses, where

abyss

made

ruled over spectres, and

called

Niflheim,

right through the earth, downward,

for herself

she

a home

and

Helheim, nine lengthy kingdoms wide

deep.
After

this,

Odin desired

promising that

and exchanged

if

Fenrir to follow

his

ferocity for

courage, he should

not be banished as his brother and

So Fenrir

him,

he became tractable and obedient,

followed,

sister

had been.

and Odin led the way out

of

Jotunheim, across the ocean, over the earth, until

he came to the heavenly

southern

sky

hills,

in

tenderly

which held up the

their

glittering

arms.

There, half on the mountain-top and half in

sat

Heimdall,

guardian

of the

tremulous

air,

bridge

Bifrost, that arches from earth to heaven.

Heimdall was a

tall,

white Van, with golden teeth,

and a wonderful horn, called the Giallar Horn, which

he generally kept hidden under the

tree Yggdrasil

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

but when he blew

the sound went out into

it

all

worlds.

Now, Odin had never been introduced to Heimhad never even seen him before; but he

dall

not

did

On

account
struck

the contrary,

from asking him

to

quested

know whom he had

secondly,

addressing;

what

a few questions.

education

his

who

refrain

he

First,

re-

the pleasure

of

parents were, and

his

been; and

had

not

could

that

much

being altogether

appearance, he

his

by

by without speaking on

him

pass

how

thirdly,

he explained his present circumstances

and

occu-

pation.

a
of

My name
Bifrost,

Born

Heimdall," answered the guardian

is

"and

the son

in the beginning of

of

nine sisters

time, at

the

am

I.

boundaries

of the ear Ji, I was fed on the strength of the earth

and the cold

that

perfect,
bird.

as well

sea.
I

My

training,

moreover, was so

now need no more

sleep

than

can sec for a hundred miles around

by night as by day;

my

horn

me

can hear the gnu>s

growing and the wool on the backs of sheep.

can blow mightily

Giallar,

and

I for

ever

THE
guard the tremulous bridge-head against monsters,

and dwarfs."

giants, iron witches,

Then asked Odin,

gravely,

" Is

it

also forbidden to

Must you

the -<Esir to pass this way, Heimdall?

guard

Bifrost, also, against

"Assuredly
^Esir

not,"

them ?"
HeimdalL

answered

and heroes are

tread

to

free

many-coloured pavement, and they

tread

the

it,

for

Urda

perpetual

Nornir

above the

glitter,

and

by

those

dwell

will

summit

arch's

fountain springs;

its

rises,
its

three

and

sacred

"All

trembling,

do well

know
falls,

waters

mysterious,

to

that
in

the

mighty

maidens, through whose cold fingers ran the golden

threads of Time."

"Enough,
morrow we

Heimdall,"

will

come.*

answered

Odin.

"To-

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

73

PART
BIFROST, URDA,

V.

AND THE NORN3.

ODIN departed from Heimdall, and went on

way,

much

noticed by his captor,

who pondered

new wonders of which he had

Urda, and the Norns

Thus

pondering

cended Asgard's

his

though not now

Fenrir obediently following,

heard.

over the
"
Bifrost,

what can they mean ?"

and

Hill,

he

wondering

walked

went,

as-

through the golden

gates of the City into the palace of Gladsheim, and

into the hall

and Asyniur

Odin
still

sat

Valhalla, where, just

were assembled at

down

then,

their

the

yEsir

evening meal

to the table without speaking, and,

absent and meditative, proceeded to carve the

Aiyniur

Goddcs*d.

THE &SIR.
boar, Saehrimnir, which

great

was every morning whole

saw that something was on

were well-bred.

silence if Fenrir

who had never

shadow of a

and

seen even the

the ^Esir

all

in order to see

Fenrir,

the wolf should

cluded

the lovely

what was

But Odin directed a reproving glance

the ill-mannered

that

life

perfect

she was,

as

which caused

little,

and turn round,

the matter.
at

in

nose in at the

his

beauty

her whole

in

they

wolf, covered her face with her hands,

and screamed a
to start

concluded

had not poked

genius of

She,

of

mind, and the JEsir

opposite to the seat of

doorway, just

for

questions,

his

been

have

eaten,

one thought

probable, therefore, that the

It is

would

Freyja.

No

him by asking any

disturbing

supper

every evening

again.

"I

he,

be fed; "after which," conrelate

will

and then gave orders

my

adventures to the

assembled ^Esir."

"That

is

all

very

Frey; "but who,

office

of

feeding

let

well,

me

yon

Asa Odin," answered

ask,

is

hideous

to undertake

and

the

unmannerly

animal ?"

"That

will

I,

joyfully,"

cried

Tyr,

who

liked

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

74

nothing better than an adventure; and then, seizing

a plate of meat from the table, he ran out of the

followed by Fenrir,

hall,

and jumped up

him

at

who howled, and

sniffed,

a most impatient, un-

in

manner.

^Esir-like

After the wolf was gone Freyja looked

up

again,

and when Tyr was seated once more, Odin began.

He

them of everything

told

done, and
strange

suffered; and,

and

hills,

Norns.

who

white Van,

spoke of

The

spoke to

them,

sat

and

and

very

were

seen,

and

of Heimdall, that
the

upon

Bifrost,

were

^Esir

had

that he

at last,

heavenly

Urda, and

silent

deeply

whilst

and

the

Odin

strangcl)

moved by this conclusion to his discourse.

"The Norns," repeated Frigga, "the Fountain
of Urd, the golden

my

threads of time!

children," she said,

Let us go,

rising from the table, "let

us go and look at these things."

But Odin advised that they

the

next

back

day,

as

the

should

journey

be

to

wait

until

Bifrost

and
in

Accordingly, the next day the ^sir and Asyniur

all

single

again

could

easily

accomplished

morning.

THE &SIR.

75

rose with the sun, and prepared to set forth.

came from Noatun, the mild

made

sea-coast,

Niord

which he had

home, and with continual gentle

his

out of his

wide,

he

mouth,

breezy

puffings

made

their

journey to Bifrost so easy and pleasant, that they

all

felt

glitter

sorry

when they caught

of HeimdalPs golden teeth.

was glad

see

to

He

sakes.
to

little

them;

thought

it

was concerned he never

of those bright

Looking

far

stretching

How

out

Heimdall were

his

them

he himself

On

the top

meditations he had

do,

Heimdall
white

long,

Ah!

to

the

^Esir,

hands to welcome

this

is

cousin," said he;

Niord's doing.
for

Niord and

related.

sweet and fresh

Frigga, looking all round,

it is

and

polite to say something.

Sir,"

as

their

for

already!" said

do you

"How

far

dull alone.

felt

how many

them; "come already!

be

As

for

and wide over the earth how much he

saw and heard

"Come

hills

least,

would be so good

go and see the Norns.

first

But Heimdall

at

glad,

the

continued

she, "in

up here!" remarked

feeling that

"You

it

would

are very happy,

having always such fine

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

76

scenery about you, and in being the

guardian of

such a bridge."

And

in

truth

bridge;" for the like of

Trembling and

ground.
the sky,

up

down

was never seen on the

top of

and Heimdall was pleased

ingly;

"At the

that

upward,

you wish to see

it

mountain to

the

wonder-

ALsir,

at their surprise.

point," said

arch's highest

"rises

swung across

again into the distant sea.

Bifrost!" exclaimed

"Bifrost!

it

the

glittering

from the

the clouds, and

Do

it

say "such a

well

might

Frigga

he, pointing

which

fountain of

to-day?"

"That do we, indeed,"

cried

all

the JEsir in

"Quick, Heimdall, and unlock the

breath.

spoke.

bridge's

golden gate."

Then Heimdall took

all

till

one, and the gate flew open

same

time sad

and

keys out, and

his

them into the diamond lock

he found the

fitted

right

with a sound at the

cheerful,

like

the

dripping

of leaves after a thunder-shower.

The

JEsiT pressed in; but, as they passed

Heimdall
aid

"I

laid

am

his

hand upon

very sorry,

Trier's shoulder,

Thor;

but

it

him,

and

cannot be

THE
You must go

helped.

another way;
that

to

77

the fountain alone by

you are so strong *and

for

you were to put your foot on

if

would tremble

it

JESIR.

or take

fire

in

pieces

from the

beneath

friction

heavy,

Bifrost, either

your weight,

of your iron heels.

Yonder, however, are two river-clouds, called Kormt

and

Urd, and

Sacred
time,

which

Ermt, through

you

will

wade

you can

to

assuredly reach

the

it

in

though the waters of the clouds are strong

and deep."
At the words of Heimdall Thor
the bridge's
to

fell

back from

"Am

head, vexed and sorrowful.

be sent away, then, and have to do disagreeable

things,"

After

said

all,

he,

"just

because I

what are Urda and

and Kormt and Ermt?

I will

am

so

strong?

Norns to me,

the

go back to Asgard

again."

"Nay, Thor," said Odin, "I pray you, do not

anything so foolish.

what

it

is

we

that

Kormt and Ermt

us.

can

It is yonder,
it

much

lie

Think
are

again,

going

to

beseech you,

see

and

hear.

before you, as Bifrost before

above both, that we

matter,

Thor,

Neither

go.

whether

we

reach

HEROES OF ASGARD.

TfJE

78

the Fountain

Urd

of

over Bifrost or through the

cloud."

Then

Thor blushed

with

shame

at

weakness, which had made him regret

without

and,

back,

he

more

any

the dreadful

into

plunged

He

him.

the ALsir

was

went on

hidden

their

hanging

river-clouds,

him

whose dark vapours closed around

vered

or

grumbling

own

his

his strength;

from

and

co-

and

sight,

way over the

glittering

bridge.

Daintily and airily they trod over

they swung

it;

themselves up the swinging arch; they reached

summit on a

for

waiting

already

them,

but cheerful and bold

knocked

at the

drenched

Then,

door of the

in.

did

to

they see!

through

them

Yggdrasil's

air,

fairest

and weary,
they

together,

bright cloud;

it

Oh! then what

an

infinite

height

above

branches,

a tender green, which also stretched

leafy
far

and

no topmost bough, and

it

of

and wide;

but, though they looked long, the A&IT could

tinguish

its

there

they saw towering

Looking up

purple

all

pale,

blew open, and they passed

the

Thor was

pale, bright cloud.

dis-

almost seemed

THE M&IR.
to

them

that,

must draw another

earth-tree

so

tall

the

from somewhere up above,

it

On

grew.

Noras, which

was so

fountain plashed

Two

the clouds.
fount,

describe

them

mighty,

they

Sitting

upon

water as

it

from one
with

busy

were

and

some

for

she

fell,

some

she

cruelly-

woof away from

tore

spoiled.

her,

and

and

then

rolled

Oblivion, which

it

grew

all

veiled.

the

them

plucked

hand,
care-

and

blemished,

Then Urd took

smoothed

many

was

watched

quickly, almost

and covered up some of the

but she hid away

They were

reluctant

Skuld's

and out

in

the

shall I

and passed golden threads

from

fingers

they

Verdandi

another.

and wove them

lessly;

Doomstead,

fall-

side

this

swam under

and one

wilful,

the

of

almost

rising,

on

Ah! how

sat Three.

it

it

and on the other the

cool waters

its

Urd, Verdandi, Skuld.

rose
to

bright

it,

ancient swans

and around

and

firmly

that

as nothing ever glitters

ing, glittering,

mighty

one side stood the Palace

blinded them to look at

Urda

so

root,

this

its

torn,

rough

places,

gaping holes;

of the bright parts,

round

thicker

her

and

the

too,

great

roller,

heavier

every

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

And

moment
from

ing

whence

Skuld

the end

Urd

and

Skuld,

no one could

they went on,

so

from

Verdandi draw-

drew

her

see.

She never seemed

separate

threads

bright

and neither of the

of them,

but

Verdandi;

reach

to

ever

sisters

stopped or grew weary of her work.

The
great

^Esir stood

They

sight

apart watching,

and

looked

face

in

the

it

was a

of

Urd,

and fed on wisdom; they studied the countenance

of

Verdandi,

and
the

through

glanced
hope.

At

silently,

one by

re-crossed

length,

the

drank

bitter

of

veil

with

full

strength;

Skuld,

and

hearts, they stole

they
tasted

away

one, out by the pale, open door,

bridge,

and

the side of Heimdall on

stood

more

once

by

the heavenly hills;

then

as

they

they went

home

went; but

ever afterwards

again.

Nobody spoke
it

was an understood

thing that the JEsir should fare to the

of the Nornir once in every day.

Doomstead

THE &SIR.

PART VL
ODMBCfc

Now
by

upon a day

it

the Well of Urd,

happened

and

that

Air Throne with a troubled mind.

see into

Dwarf

Home

as over man's world

Odin

in the evening

sat silent

he mounted

Allfather could

from his high place, as well

his

keen eye pierced,

also, the

mountains and darkness of Jotunheim.

On

this evening,

across his vision,

tear

and

tear, the fate-sisters' gift,

behold,

is

that an answering

which he sees down there in Dwarf Home,

luminous, golden,

" Can dwarfs

weep

swam

large,

in the dark heart of the earth?

?

"

exclaimed Allfather, surprised

as he looked a second and a third time, and went on

looking.

Fialar

and Galar, the cunning dwarfs who

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

had
" Is

killed

theirs ?

it

was not a

it

More

last

at

kneeling beside the tear.

" and do
said Allfather again,
they

"

No;

repent?"
it

Kvasir, were

precious

was Kvasir's

it

still,

golden mead now, because

blood

Odin knew

tear;

of the honey-

drops from Earth's thousand bees and flowers which

these

thoughtless

Odin,

"

"

into it

three precious draughts

and now the dwarfs

is

and the heart of the world

did not drink

it;

will die

is its

and the

it,

and the sweetness of the world

the light,

"

will

name

life

be

and
spilt,

But the dwarfs

they could only sip

it

little,

The Father

a drop or two at a time.

said

three,"

Odhaerir

drink

will

It

wonder

but

mischief-schemers,

workers, had poured

just

of Hosts

watched how they were amusing themselves.

Fialar

and Galar, and a whole army of the

little

blackfaced, crooked-limbed creatures, were tilting the

big jars over to one side, whilst

sucked

another,
ness,

smacking

up

falling

backwards
if

the

air

with

asleep;

one, and then

of their golden

their lips after

into

leaping

as

skim

the

first

it,

with
shut

tearing

at

sweet-

grinning horribly,
strange

eyes
the

gestures;

some
earth

of

and

THE
the

of

stones

wild beasts

homes

cavern

their

others,

like

rolling forth beautiful, senseless, terrible

words.

was Fialar and Galar who did

It

in

little

while,

one

clenched

until

at

near,

led

they

seized

their

earth

it

into the

listened,

the

open-mouthed,

and marched

Fialar

and Galar,
to

ways,

that

weapons

caps,

star,

cavernous

and behold,

stamping, and roaring applause

last

on by

their

fists,

cocked

a coloured

after another, the dwarfs gathered

round them as they spoke, and

with

that

in

each

alit

warlike

straight

Manheim,

lay

with

fashion,

up through
and

across

Frozen Land.

Giant Vafthrudnir, that " Ancient Talker," he who

sits

ever in his Hall weaving

tions for the gods,

new and

intricate ques-

saw them ; and looking up towards

the brooding heavens, he

the Father of Hosts.

exchanged glances with

But the dwarfs did not come

near Vafthriidnir's Halls

they never looked aside at

him, nor up to the Air Throne of the Asa; only

rushed heedlessly on
Gilling,

of

who was

Ifing-

till

they stumbled over the Giant

bank
taking a nap upon the green

Ifing

looks

lazy

stream;

one can

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

84

hardly see at

and

flows,

flows

that neither

deep

sight that

first

quietly,

it

flows at

unceasingly,

all

and

It

in fact, that stream

is,

divides for ever the Jotuns from the Gods,

"

Open

said
shall

it

once

roll

so

is

which

and of

it

run

all time,

no

that stream

So the dwarfs found

how deep

it

Throughout

On

but

god nor giant has ever yet been

able to fathom it

Odin himself once

ice shall be."

Gilling asleep;

Ifing was, they

knew

that

they

knew

they could

if

the giant Gilling in there he would never

get out again,

and then they should have done

something worth speaking about

"I have

a giant," each dwarf might

who knows, even

and,

feel

"

killed

little

It all

said,

JEsii might

and

to

afraid of them.

sticks

their

and

thousand
stones,

little

swords and

they worked away

they had plunged the sleeping giant

stream.

Allfather's

how

silly

the

begin

say,

comes from drinking KvasiVs blood," they

and then with

spears,
until

the

dwarfs

piercing

eye saw

it

into the
all,

and

jumped and danced about

THE

jESlR.

and praised themselves, and defied the

afterwards,

whole world, gods, giants and men.

"It

not for us," they said, "any more to run

is

away

before Skinfaxi the

day

over

instead

shining horse that draws

we

mane sheds

whose

humankind,

of dew;

will

dance

light

him and

before

crown ourselves with gold, as the gods and as men

do every morning.
the midst of

in

But,

ground

they

them and the

rejoicing as

if

spell

grew

between

the dwarfs stopped their

fallen

upon them, dropping

Giant Suttung, son of that Gilling

they had just slain, was coming upon them

in great fury to

dreadfully

had been easy

angry

they had

avenge his
frightened;
to

all

father's death.

Giant

Gilling

They
asleep

manage, but a giant awake, a

that
they were not the same dwarfs

seemed half an

happened that they quite

them

the

weapons, huddling close to one another, cower-

whom

giant

Then
had

folly,

shake under

to

upon began

sky.

ing, whispering.

were

their gleeful

and an enormous darkness

them,

their

stood

all

hour
easily

ago
let

and

so

it

Suttung carry

off to a low rock in the sea which was

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

86

dry just then, but would be washed over by the

" There
you are," said Suttung as he
morning tide.
"
the
threw them all down
and

upon

then

we

be drowned," they

shall

and the

once,

seamews

screeched as well.

and

seamews'

sat

nests,

Suttung

on

the

and poked

high

will

back

rocks

birds,

by the

sips

Then

the dwarfs

in fact

little

said

the

"The

sky
are

is

to

listen

getting quite grey," they said,

going out,

different

At

still

last

same same thing over

so often that the others began

stars

talked

all

intoxicated

they had taken of Odhairir.

Fialar and Galar

the

"Drowned, drowned,

be drowned."

were

the

and paddled

once, and every one of them said a

thing, for they

to

over

whispered together and consulted, they

at

and

rock,

lonely

and laughed and echoed

the dwarfs and the seamews.

yes, then you

nests

their

his fingers into the nests

and played with the grey-winged

his feet in the breakers,

from

strode

you

" But

screeched at

all

started

ashore and swooped round the

shore

there

rock,

hungry grey wave comes."

shall stay until the

and Skinfaxi

is

to

them.

"and

the

coming, and

the waves are gathering and gathering and gathering

GIANT SUTTUNG AND THE DWARFS.

Page

86.

THE &SIR.
hoarse are the voices of the Seaking's daughters;

why do we

but

away

getting

all

sit

chattering

we might

as

easily

here instead of

do

if

bribe the giant Suttung with a gift"

yes," shouted the silly

him our cap

little

we

did but

"Yes,

yes,

we

give

people, "shall

jewels, or our swords, or our pick-axes,

or our lanterns, or shall

we promise

a necklace out of the

of the sun and the flowers

of the earth, or shall

fire

we

build

him a

ship of ships ?"

"Nonsense," said Fialar and Galar;

a giant care

make him

to

for such things as these?

"How

should

Our swords

could not help him;

he does not want pick-axes

nor lanterns who

amongst the mountain snows,

nor ships
laces

he

is

mead

Bah

stride across

giant loves

life,

the sea, nor neck-

he drinks blood,

greedy besides and longs to taste the gold

of the gods."

Then
give

lives

who can

all

him

the

our

dwarfs shouted together,

gold

mead,

"Let us

wondrous

our

Odhserir, our Kvasir's blood in the three stone

drink,
jars."

Odin heard from Air Throne's blue deep.

brooded over the scene.
life,

and the

"The

He

sweetness, and. the

light of the world, then,"

he

said,

" are to

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

gg

satiate

was

for

bling

mankind

Manheim

Suttung heard also

alike ?

"And what may this Odhserir be worth

from the Rock.

you boast of so much?" he shouted to the dwarfs.

Wisdom, and labour, and

the

in the trem-

could he not pierce into Jotunheim, and

Svartheim, and

"

became Terror

that he

it

Allfather feared nothing for the gods at

Height

that time

that

and

a giant's greediness of food and blood"

dwarfs.

"Does

it

taste

blood of a

Tut,

tut,

and

tut I"

life,

and

love," said

answered

Suttung.

"Honey and wine;

well?"

God and

fire,

with his hands into two

little

dells as

he

them ashore

they clinging to his fists

a magnet

it

down

rose,

strode to the island, from which he took up

like needles to

Then

the milk of the Earth."

Suttung got up slowly from the rock, pressing

dwarfs at a grasp

like the

all

and

and
the

wrists

and, with one swoop, threw

hungry waves began to lap and

just as the

wash about the dwarfs-peril.

So the dwarfs jumped,

and leaped, and laughed, and sang, and chattered

M-^riin, and ran on before Suttung, to fetch him the
golden mead, Odhaerir.

Three big stone

jars, all full

The

Peace-offer,

the

Peace-kiss.

Spirit-mover,

Suttung

lifted

the

the

lids,

and looked into the

jars.

" It

THE MSIR.
doesn't look much," he said

know

make a

it ;

but

all, I

don't

take the

I'll

daughter Gunnlod, and they

my

to

will

pretty treasure for her to keep."

Odin brooded over the

ter's

"and, after

that I shall care to taste

home

jars

89

in

morning

scene.

It

was a grey win-

ice over all the rivers,

Jotunheim

snow upon the mountains, rime-writing across the

woods, weird hoar
branches of the

can read, but

straggling over the bare

letters

trees, writing

men

see

it

only as pearl-drops of the

Suttung could read

cold.

such as giants and gods

it

well

trudged along to his Mountain

he had ever read

his

upon

it

the

Odin read

and

this is dark.

captive

life-tear

Suttung's

in

huge

omin-

For

behold,

halls?"

frozen

in

the
let

dark land, as

him

in,

him

and then closed upon them both,

Suttung gave the

mead

keep, to guard

well,

it

life-givis

mead be

door opened to

it

it,

"This

Shall the gold

becomes dark

his treasure,

trembled,

better than

shoulders the wondrous Kvasir's

Odin;

made

Home

before; for was he not bearing

ing blood, Odhaerir.

ous,

enough as he

to his daughter

and

was empty and

Gunnlod

the heart of
cold.

to

Manheim

Then Odin looked

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

9o

north and south and east and west, over the whole
world.

"Come

he

to me,"

ravens flew towards him.

out of nothing

and they were

there.

for in

said,
It

and two swift-winged

seemed as

moment

if

they came

they were not there

Their names were Hugin and

Munin, and they came from the ends of the

where Odin sent them every morning.

earth,

Every even-

ing he was wont to say of them,

MI

fear

me

for

Hugin,

come not back,

1*
But much more for Munin.

Lest he

Yet they never

the

dim hour

failed to

come

back, both of them, at

which they recounted to the Father

in

of Hosts the history of the day that was past, and the

hope of the day

that

was to come.

Munin's song was so

terrible that

On

this evening,

only the strength

of a god could possibly have endured to

Hugin struck another

Then
filled

said Odin,
his

ears,

Throne, "Night

and he had
is

the time for

.-Esir."

cadence had

descended

each one reflect until the morrow

advice helpful to the

after

end.

and sweet

note, profounder

when cadence

its

from Air

new counsels;

who

is

let

able to give

THE &SIR.
But when the jewelled horse ran up along the sky,
from whence his mane shed
world,

when

and

giants

light

over the whole

giantesses,

and ghosts and

when

dwarfs crouched beneath Yggdrasil's outer Root,

Heimdall ran up Bifrost and blew mightily

his

horn in

Heaven's height, there was only one found who gave

" Od-

counsel to Odin, and that was Odin himself.

haerir,"

he

" which

said,

is

must come up

god-gift,

Go

men's earthly dwellings.

Munin," said the Asa,

and he

Hugin, go

forth,

also

went

to

forth,

forth alone,

none knowing where he went, nor how.

So Odin journeyed

for

a long, long while towards

Suttung's Hall, across the windy, wintry ways of Jotun-

heim, seeing well before him the yellow

went,

through night

Odin came
in Giant

itself,

into a

Land.

it

as

he

rivers,

and

happened

that

through rocks, and woods, and

until at last

mead

meadow upon a summer morning

Nine

slaves were

meadow, whetting some old

mowing

in the

rusty scythes which they

had, working heavily, for they were senseless fellows,

and the summer day grew

faster

labour grew to completion.

hearted," said

Odin

upon them than

"You seem

to the thralls;

their

heavy-

and they began

to

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

him how

explain to

rusty

and old

and that they had no whetstone

Upon

Odin

this

offered to

with his whetstone

the scythes

whet

them

with.

their scythes for

them

and no sooner had he done so than

became so sharp

stones as easily as grass.

ever, the thralls

their scythes were,

to sharpen

that they could

Instead of mowing, how-

began to clamour round Odin, beseech"

ing him

me

Give it to
to give his whetstone to them.
"
cried one and
give it to me give it to me 1
:

another

and

all

the time

it

catching

as

Could catch

it

it,

in

hardly have been

looking

down

thralls lying

that;

as the

dead

Was

next?

happened

amongst
air,

if

and
they

"This

fell,

killed

at his feet,

down on

Allfather

He

could

he was sorry when,

but

whetstone

Odin, as he looked

am

the

the thralls tried

their hands.

sharpened weapons.

quietly
in

leaning stupidly across one another,

what

at

Then

fell

their scythes

surprised

Odin stood

whetstone up

throwing his

them,

with

have cut

is

he saw

all

by each

other's

the

an Evil Land," said

the dead thralls,

"

and

a bringer of evil into it"

So he journeyed on

till

Suttung's brother, Itaugi

he came to the house of

Odin asked Baugi to give

THE &S1R.
him a

and Baugi, who knew no more

night's lodging,

who

than the thralls had done

consented, and began

he was

" This

in.

to talk to

this

traveller was,

Odin of the trouble

hay harvest," he

is

said,

" as

you

must have seen, walking here through the meadows

and

do

I have

a mighty

field to

puzzles me, because

it

sent out sound

and well

gather

my

this

summer
"

and

I can't imagine,

days

I don't

give me,

they managed

me

out sadly, for

puts

mind undertaking

"A

to

do the work of nine

a certain reward you

"What

you will"

Baugi, eagerly.

dead

How

last
long in Jotunheim."
" I'm not a bad hand
at mowing,

thralls for you, Baugi, for

if

don't

Well," said Odin,

and

it

to

whom

all fell

morning,

about the middle of the day.

it,

in,

nine slaves

is

his daughter

that," said Baugi,

for

thirsty

"

mower

draught of that golden mead,

Gunnlod keeps
isn't

bargain between us."

may

that?" inquired

Odhaerir, which Suttung obtained from the dwarfs,

which

how

but

so

good as

for him."

"

and

Oh

my homebrewed

but you shall have

So Odin worked

it.

for

It is

Baugi the

whole summer through with the labour of nine instead

of with the labour of one ; and

when

the last field wai

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

94

reaped,

and wintry mists were gathering,

"We

come

" and
Baugi,

my

god and

over their bargain again.

the giant began to talk

will

the

together to Suttung's house," said

brother shall give you the draught

But when the two came

which you desire so much."

to Suttung's house, and asked him for the mead,

Suttung was exceedingly angry, and would not hear a

" You don't
word about it from either of them.
drink

"
it

yourself, brother,"

pleaded Baugi,

you might do so every day

if

although

you liked, without ask-

ing anybody's leave, or doing one stroke of work for

man

has toiled night and day for nine

" Odhaerir
it only once."
" and
for us giants, nevertheless," answered Suttung,

whilst this

months
is

it,

that he might taste

well does

my

daughter Gunnlod guard

and from men, from

^Esir.

by

all

Have

it

from dwarfs

spectres, from Asyniur, and from

not sworn that so

the snows of Jotunheim,

it

shall

be guarded

and by the stormy

waves, and by the yawning chasm of the abyss."

Then Baugi knew

that nothing

and he advised Odin

and drink

beer.

to

more was

to

go back with him

be

said,

at once,

But Odin was not to be turned

from hit purpose so

easily.

"You

promised

me

THE

JSSIR.

95

draught of the gold mead, Baugi," he

can see
sit

through the rock in

it

its

three treasure jars

down by me and look through

you can see

together,
that

day

night,

was

it

and pierced the rock with

until they

asleep,

sat

till

down

their glances all

had made a small hole

when Suttung was

asleep,

the rock

So Odin and Baugi

too."

" and I

said,

in

it;

and

at

and when Gunnlod

and whilst the gold mead shone

steadily

of the cave, Odin looked up towards

in the heart

Asgard, and said,

"

Little get I here

by

silence:

Of a well-assumed form I
For few things

And

then

ground the

and put

it

fail

will

make good

use

the wise."

this strong wise

Asa picked up from the

mean, wriggling form of a worm

little,

on and crept

noiselessly into

the

hole

which he and Baugi had made,

said

Odin

" The

giant's

ways are under me,

The

giant's

ways are over me,"

as

he wriggled through the stone, but

when he had got

quite through to the inner side,

to Gunnlod's room,

Odin took

his proper

form again.

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

96

"I

see her

upon her golden

he said as he

seat,"

looked upon the sleeping Gunnlod where she

and Odin was

beautiful.

leave

And Odin

maiden

so

turned

to

"How

he

that

without

Asgard

Alas

than ever

so

must

I
shall

she

an

Evil

loved and pitied the beautiful

much,

possible.

possible

"For

defrauded of her treasure in

Land."

lay,

a giant-maid

sorry.

her weeping," he mused.

not weep,

been

and

Surprised

see

to

surprised

for

since

For Gunnlod awoke

in

would

have

mead had

the

that

was

less

had seen

her.

Gunnlod,
Allfather

re-

it

the light of Odin's glance

and trembled, she did not know why, she did not

know

at

first

that

he was an Asa, but, when he

asked her for her treasure she could not keep

it

from him, she could not have kept anything from

him.

She rose from her golden couch, her blue

summer

yes melted into the tenderness of a

die

undid

Odhaerir,
then,

and

the

bars

and bolts

and

coverings of

which she had guarded so

knelt

before

hands towards him and

you arc a god."

Odin
said,

and

sky,

faithfully

stretched

"Drink,

for I

till

her
think

THE

draught, a draught, a long, deep draught, and

Asa was shaken through its height

depth, and again a draught of

the spirit of the

and through

its

love flowing forth to the outermost, to the abysses,

and one draught again

Why

are

you weeping

do you weep?

in rushing,

Oh

Gunnlod ?

so,

still.

Why

Did you not give him your whole

"your

treasure,

peace

fervent love, your whole soul;" you

kept nothing back, and Odhaerir

The

inheritance of the gods.

lives, the giantess

is

for

dwarfs sold

ever
it

the

for their

of her love, gods win

lost it

it

for the world.

"It
"It

is

for the ^Esir,

Odin's booty,

is

it

to share

wings, and flew

far up,

and the black, cold

heavenly home.
treasure

now
left

in

alone; she

^Esir

the

Asa spread

of Suttung,

Alas for Gunnlod

sits

is left

too.
!

eagle's

away from the barren rock,

How

her light

towards his

she has lost her

cold the cavern

is

she

is

is

gone out

weeping upon her golden throne.

But Odin soared upwards

and the

it,

halls

and her Asa

which she

men," said Odin.

for

Odin's gift;" and imme-

it is

diately, in haste

is

flew

on toward Asgard,

came crowding upon

the city's jewelled

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

98

walls to watch

And

his approach.

soon they per-

ceived that two eagles were flying towards the

the second pursuing the

The pursuing

first.

was Suttung, who, as soon as he found that

his

city,

eagle

mead

was gone, and that Odin eagle-wise had escaped

his

vengeance, spread also his eagle's wings, very strong

and very

swift, in

Suttung appeared to gain

pursuit

The

Frigga feared for her beloved

upon Odin.

Asyniur and the JEsiT watched breathlessly.

Frost

giants

and Storm giants came crowding up from the

deeps

to see.

"Does Odin

" or
they asked,

will

return

amongst the gods?"

Suttung destroy him ?

"

was

It

not possible, however, that the struggle should end in

The Divine

any way but one.

height

upon

Hall

his

then there burst from

earth.

Odin's

" It
gift.

is

spilt

Poetry

It

is

flood of song that

Land were overflowed

themselves upon the

herself,

it

for the jfcsir,

is
it

men,** answered Allfather, with

*'

it

for

is

his

men."

common

Odin's booty,

it

is

for the ^Esir,"

said a thousand and a thousand songs.

changing voices;

and

High One's Hall

the

him such a

the widest limits of JEsir

some sounds even

bird dropped from the

"And

for

million ringing,

" Such as have

THE
sufficient wit to

And

this

Asgard

In

JZSIR.

make a

was the

first

gg

right use of

it,"

said Loki.

discordant note that troubled

after Odin's return.

this tale, or rather in this

arrangement of

tales,

most of the chief gods are named, and one or two

at.

The

blood,

and

of the myths concerning them are hinted

made

sweet mixture
to

given
as

the giant

we have

jars,

out of

Suttung

seen, Odhserir.

Kvasir's
to
It

and though the name of

Odhserir,

called

portion

in

"Sohn," and that

Odhserir

Songs,

the

is

and

mentioned
in

the

it

it

was kept
it

as

the second
in the third

called,

in three

a whole was
jar
jar

was also

"Bohn."

two of the Elder Edda

Younger

given of Odin bringing

of the Eddas,

in

keep, was

up

Edda an account
to Asgard.

is

Neither

must be remarked, mentions the

banishment of the dwarfs and elves

in

connection

The golden mead, Odhserir,

The first syllable
signify poetry.

with Kvasir's death.

is

supposed

of the
spirit

to

name means mind and

mover.

"Sohn"

means

feeling.

Odhaerir,

reconciliation,

or

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

;oo

"Bohn" means

the offer of peace.

of peace,

two

these

the origin of Kvasir,

the acceptance

names

latter

who was

referring

to

created out of the

peace made between the ^Esir and the Vanir.

Simrock

thinks

tation, implies

that Odin,

"Kvasir," meaning fermen-

that

the excitement necessary to poetry;

labouring for a draught of the precious

mead, suggests that poetry can only be possessed

through

and

labour,

that

his

receiving

the beautiful Gunnlod, expresses

Odin drinking

crown of love*

it

as the gift

Odin appears

his three draughts

'

for

have

to

he

is

Potent songs

And

felt

made

learned,

Of the precious mead,

Then I began to bear fruit
And to know many things.

Word by word
I sought out words,
Fact by fact

I sought out facts,

Very

graved,

large characters,

Very potent characters,*

it is

intoxi-

very wise after

to say

a draught obtained

Runes

and

three times signifies

it

the intensity through which poetry lives,

cation.

from

it

THE &SIR.
One

of

Edda songs

the

by Suttung's mead.

is

worth

like.

places

called

So we may conclude

One's Lay."

are

is

I0 i

quoting,

The

it

One

or two of the

just

show what

to

following are selected

from

and have no connection with one

*'

At eve the day

is

to

Beer

after

"Cattle

has passed away,

it

it is

drunk,"

die,

Kindred

die,

We ourselves also die }

But

know one

That never

thing

dies

Judgment on each one dead."

44

was once young,

was journeying alone,

And

lost

Rich

my way

thought myself

When I met another.

Man is the joy of man."
Here

is

a contrast

"Two

are adversaries;

The tongue

is

"High

strophes

the

the bane of the head

lay

different

another.

be praised,

A sword after it is proved

Ice after

the

was inspired

102

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

Under every cloak
I expect a hand."

MA

firmer friend

No man
Than

ever gets

great sagacity."

" Givers and

Are

*A

requiters

longest friends.*

worse provision
can carry

No man
Than

too

So, good

Beer

My

much
is not,

beer-bibbing
as

it is

said.

for the sons of

garments

in

field

I gave

away
To two wooden men

Heroes they seemed to bt

When

they got cloaks."

Much

too early

came

to

But too

many

places

late to others |

The beer was drunk,

Or not ready
The disliked seldom hits

We

often read of

times in animal,

more

Odin

the

moment"

disguising himself, some-

frequently in

human

form.

He

THE &SIR.
wanders about the world, and very curious
are told about his adventures.
his wife's leave before setting

stories

Sometimes he asks

off,

" Counsel thou me

now, Frigg |
As I long to go

An

And

all- wise

giant to visit,"

Frigg answers,

" In

safety

mayest thou go,

In safety return

In safety on thy journeyings be

May thy wit avail thee

When thou, father of men
Hold

shalt

converse with the giant."

But Odin was not obliged to take long journeys

hinuelf
in

the

when he wanted
world,

messengers

he

whom

to

had,

know what was going on

as we have seen, two

he sent out

daily,

Hugin and Munin, thought and memory,

" Hugin and Munin
Each dawn take
Earth

fields

I fear

me

over

for

their flight
j

Hugin

the

Ravens

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

104

come not back,

Lest he

But much more

for

"

Munin.

Perhaps because of Munin being memory he was

expected to

fail first

Odin looking over

in

into Niflheim,

The god

an old song.
'

know

On

is

that I

made

is

thus alluded to

to say,

hung

a wind-rocked tree

Nine whole

nights.

Downward

I peered,

To runes applied myself

Wailing learnt them,
Then

The

fell

next strophe

In

hung upon Yggdrassil.

German
"

origin.

it,

A man/'

this

got the draught of

myth,

it

seems as

if

Odin

Simrock mentions a singular

which may possibly have some

tale

connection with

thence."

how he

tells

the precious mead.

little

down

it

and has evidently an Eastern

says,

" in
danger of falling into a

brook, held fast with one hand to a shrub whilst his

feet

rested

predicament,

gnawing

at

on
he

a small piece

saw

of grass.

two mice

(day

and

In

this

night)

the root of the shrub, and the grass

THE &SIR.

,05

undermined by four worm heads.

Then a dragon

appeared and opened his mouth to swallow him up,

an elephant reached

whilst

his trunk towards him.

At the same time he seized with eager mouth some

honey which dropt from the
that the eating of the

occupied with
on, but

may

tree."
is

honey

like

Simrock says
people being

frivolity whilst the world-battle

not the story possibly have a

goes
to

little

do

with Odin and Yggdrassil and Odhserir.

We
over

heard before that Odin was connected with

We

Air.

all

even

him here on

his

High Throne looking

worlds, wandering over the earth, piercing

the deep,

to

wisdom
in

see

giving his

consequently having only one

Heaven

means the

some suppose
setting of the

guards the well,

that

Sun

Mimer

eye to

the

nightly.

eye,

pledged

flowed into Ginnungagap.

eye

Mimer, who

means the remembrance of the

of things which was water

for

one Sun

origin

the strange waves that

An odd

story

is

told of

Mimer, who was originally a giant though received

by the

JEsir, viz., that

the Vanir,

Odin.

who

he was sent as a hostage

cut off his head and sent

The head remained

it

to

back to

so wise that the father of

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

106

the gods used to consult

it

on

all

important occasions;

as the lay says

"Odin

speaks

With Mim's head."

Heimdall, guardian of the Bridge (whose exact

name was "trembling

rest")

important of the Vanir.

was perhaps the most

He

is

represented in one

old lay as travelling about the world by himself,

which
great

is

a sure sign that he was originally a very

god indeed.

father of

The

this

journey he became the

the three races of men, the Thralls, the

Karls and the

races are

Upon

Jarls.

The way

in

which these three

compared with one another

is

very curious.

Thralls are described with "shrivelled skin,

knotty knuckles, thick fingers, hideous faces, curved

backs and protruding heels, they are made to erect

fences,

manure

turf."

The

linen, to

fields,

tend swine, keep goats and dig

Karls' children are said to be clothed in

be ruddy headed and have twinkling

eyes,

and they grow up to "tame oxen, make ploughs,

build houses,
useless

Jarls,

make

carts

and farm ;" but the favoured,

"Light of

hair,

bright

cheeks,

eyes

THE
piercing as a serpent's,"

jESIR.

to "shake the shield,

grow up

to brandish spears,

Horses to

ridefc

Dogs to slip,
Swords

to draw,

Swimming

to practise.*

Heimdall keeps the bridge alike from thunder god

and

Surtur,

who

will ride

horn

giants, but at

frost

is

crescent

lives

over

it

Ragnarok, the swarthy god

on the borders of Muspellheim,

and

shatter
this

mentioned,

moon, and

means the moon.

Later,

and Odin had sunk

moon was

is

Heimdall's

to pieces.

supposed

to

drinking

when

mean
horn

the
also

the stories of the

into weird, unholy legends,

into the wild

his

names was Irmin, and

milky way

is

Mimer's

gods had dwindled down

crescent

it

One

horn.
this

called Irmin

Huntsman, the
of Heimdall's

means " Shining."

strasse

The

or Irmin's way,

and the wild hunt was supposed to go over the milky

way,

which

is

also

called

Denmark, and Waldemar

is

Waldemar's

a common

way
name

in

of

hunters.

Loki and

his children in these

myths are evidently

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

108

the destructive principle, either physically, or morally,

Jormungand and Fenrir

or both.

Jormungand means "the

Fenrir

it

is

said

universal

"he goes about

open jaws devouring

all

things."

are

much

alike.

Wolf," and of
with

revengeful,

Hela had

originally

another side to her character, but here as Loki's

daughter she has only the nature of his other children.

The myth about Loki finding the half-burnt heart

woman is said to be a very young one ; and so

of a

perhaps

it is

not worth considering the meaning

The god about whom, next

are told,

is

Thor.

to Odin,

most

of.

stories

In some parts of the north he was

a more prominent object of worship even than Odin,

Norway and Iceland being

especially devoted to his

service.

Let us now hear how Thor went to Jotunheim.

HOW THOR WENT

TO JOTUNHEIM.

CHAPTER

Io <,

IL

HOW THOR WENT TO

JOTUNHEIM.

PART L
FROM ASGARD TO UTGARD.

ONCE on a

time,

Asa Thor and Loki

on a journey from Asgard to Jotunheim.

travelled

in

white goats.
chariot,
it

It

by two

They
milk-

was a somewhat cumbrous

iron

and the wheels made a rumbling noise as

moved, which sometimes

Asgard, and
it,

Thor's chariot, drawn

out

set

startled

the

ladies

made them tremble; but Thor

liked

thought the noise sweeter than any music, and

was never so happy as when he was journeying

it

of

from one place to another.

in

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

HO

They travelled all day, and in

came to a countryman's house.

the evening they

It

was a poor,

lonely place; but

Thor descended from

and

to

determined

pass

the

night

his chariot,

The

there.

countryman, however, had no food in his house to

give these travellers;

himself and
obliged to
for

up

make

kill

supper.

his

and Thor, who liked to

every one

own two

He

invited

feast

feast

with him, was

goats and serve

them

the countryman and

and children to sup with him; but before

his wife

they began to eat he

"Do

not,

made one

request of them.

on any account," he

said,

"break or

throw away any of the bones of the goats you are

going to eat for supper."

" I wonder
why," said the peasant's son,
to his

sister

Roska.

Thialfi,

Roska could not think of

and by-an4-bye Thialfi happened to

have a very nice little bone given him with some
any

reason,

marrow
in

my

"Certainly there can be no harm

breaking just this one," he said to himself;

would be such a

"it

pity to

lose the

marrow;

1*

r.s

Asa Thor's head was turned another way,

slyly

broke the bone in two, sucked the marrow,

and
he

in it

HOW THOR WENT TO JOTUNHE1M.

and then threw the pieces into the
where Thor had desired that

be placed.

all

XI1

goats'

skins,

the bones might

do not know whether

Thialfi

was

uneasy during the night about what he had done;

but in the morning he found out the reason of Asa
and received a lesson on " wonderThor's

command,

ing why," which he never forgot

As soon

as

Asa Thor

all his life after.

rose in

the morning he

took his hammer, Miolnir, in his hand, and held

over the goat-skins as they lay on the

he said

the

curiously on,

last

whisper-

They were dead skins with

ing runes the while.

dry bones on them

floor,

it

when he began to speak ; but as

word, Thialfi, who was looking

saw two

live goats spring

up and walk

towards the chariot, as fresh and well as when they

brought the chariot up to the door Thialfi hoped.

But no; one of the goats limped a

hind

leg,

and Asa Thor saw

it.

little

with his

His brow grew

dark as he looked, and for a minute Thialfi thought

he would run

far,

far

into

and never

the forest,

Asa Thor's

come back again ; but one look more at

face, angry as it was, made him change

He

his

mind

do than running
thought of a better thing to

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

1 12

He came

away.
Asa's

himself

threw

at

the

and, confessing what he had done, begged

feet,

for

pardon

forward,

disobedience.

his

the displeased look passed

Thor

away from

listened,

and

his face.

"You have done

him up

wrong, Thialfi," he said, raising

" but as
you have confessed your fault so

bravely, instead of punishing you,

with

me on my

lesson

will

take you

journey, and teach you myself the

of obedience

to the JEsir

which

is,

see,

wanted."

Roska chose
that

to

go with her brother, and from

day Thor had two

faithful

servants,

who

fol-

lowed him wherever he went.

The

and goats were now

chariot

left

behind

but,

Loki and his two new followers, Thor jour-

with

neyed on to the end of Manheim, over the

sea,

and

then on, on, on in the strange, barren, misty land of

Jotunheim,
tains

Sometimes they crossed

great

moun-

sometimes they had to make their way among

torn

and rugged

mist,

appeared to them to wear the forms of men,

and once

for a

tangled forest

rocks,

which

often,

through the

whole day they traversed a thick and

In the evening of that day, being

HOW THOR WENT TO JOTUN1IEIM.

much

very

tired,

JI3

they saw with pleasure that they

had come upon a spacious

broad as the house

hall,

of which the door, as

stood wide open.

itself,

"

Here we may very comfortably lodge for the

night," said Thor; and they went in and looked
about them.

The house appeared

was a wide

They

it.

hall,

and

to

be

perfectly

five smaller

were, however, too tired to examine

and as no inhabitants made

fully,

empty ; there

rooms opening into

they ate their supper in the hall,

it

care-

their appearance,

and

lay

down

to

But they had not rested long before they

sleep.

were disturbed by strange noises, groanings, mutterings,

and

snortings, louder than

any animal that

they had ever seen in their lives could make.

and-bye the house began

and

it

seemed

as

if

there

and
a

Thor

the very earth trembled.

sprang up in haste, and ran to the open door

though he looked

By-

to shake from side to side,

earnestly into

the

but,

starlit

forest,

was no enemy to be seen anywhere.

Loki

Thialfi, after

sheltered

groping about for a time, found

chamber

to

the

right,

where

they

rest in safety
thought they could finish their night's

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

114

Thor, with Miolnir in his hand, watched at

but

the door of the house

all

dawned he went out

stretched

As soon

night

into

the

forest,

as the day

and

there,

on the ground close by the house, he saw

a strange, uncouth, gigantic shape of a man, out of

whose

nostrils

came a breath which swayed

There was no need

to their very tops.

the trees

wonder

to

longer what the disturbing noises had been.

any

Thor

walked up to

fearlessly

to have a better look at

this

strange

him ; but

monster

sound of

at the

his footsteps the giant-shape rose slowly, stood up

an immense

height,

two great misty

"Who
and

are

and looked down upon Thor with

eyes, like blue mountain-lakes.

you?"

stretching his

said Thor, standing

neck to look up ;

on

" and

tiptoe,

why do

you make such a noise as to prevent your neighbours

from sleeping?"

"My

name

is

Skrymir,"

"I need not ask yours.

Thor of Asgard
done with

my

said the

You

giant sternly;

are the

little

Asa

but pray, now, what have you

glove ?

"

As he spoke he stooped down, and picked up

the hall where Thor and his companions had

GIANT SKRYMIR AND THOR.

Page

ii?.

HOW THOR WENT

nS

TO JOTUNHEIM.

passed the night, and which, in truth, was nothing

more

than

Thialfi

had

room

glove, the

his

where Loki and

slept being the thumb.

Thor rubbed
be dreaming.

his

eyes,

and

felt

as

if

he must

Rousing himself, however, he raised

Miolnir in his hand, and, trying to keep his eyes

on

fixed

always

the

changing,

should know,

heim
you

to

"

and,

my

Try

And

he

face,

which

said,

"It

Skrymir, that I

and conquer

fight

are,

to try

giant's

little

as

you

is

seemed

be

time that you

am come
such

to

evil

think me, I

to

Jotun-

giants

am

as

ready

strength against yours."

it,

then," said the giant

Thor, without another word, threw Miolnir

at his head.

"Ah Ah

1" said the giant;

to

" did a leaf touch me?"

Again Thor seized Miolnir, which always returned

his hand, however far he cast it from him, and

threw

it

The

with

all his force.

giant put

think," he said,

my

up

his

hand

to his forehead.

"I

" that an acorn must have fallen on

head."

third

time Thor struck a blow,

the heaviest

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

Il6

that ever

fell

from the hand of an Asa;

but

this

time the giant laughed out loud.

"There
"

who

has

is

let

surely

a bird on that

a feather

on

fall

my

he

tree,"

said,

face."

Then, without taking any further notice of Thor,

he swung an immense wallet over his shoulder, and,

turning his back

upon him, struck

When

led from the forest.

way he looked round,

less like

into

he had gone a

immense

his

a path that
little

face appearing

a human countenance than some strange,

uncouthly-shaped

stone

on

toppling

mountain

precipice.

"

Ving-Thor,"

of good advice

Utgard don't

me

tall

* he
"
said,

let

before I

go.

make much

of yourself.

man, but you have

you yourself are a very

me give you
When you

little

taller still

mannikin.

home whence you came, and be

learned something of yourself

Jotunheim."
" Mannikin or
not, that

Asa Thor

after the
*

Ving-Thor

get

You
to see

to

think
;

and

Turn back

satisfied

to have

by your journey

will I

giant

a piece

to

never do," shouted

"We

will

Winged-Thor.

meet

again,

HOW THOR WENT TO JOTUNHEIM.

and something more

will

we

II?

learn, or teach each

other."

The

baek to answer,

giant, however, did not turn

and Thor and

some time

his

after him,

companions,

resumed

after

looking

Before

their journey.

the sun was quite high in the heavens

for

came

they

out of the forest, and at noon they found themselves

on a vast barren

plain,

where stood a great

city,

whose walls of dark, rough stone were so high,

that

Thor had

to

bend

see the top of them.

head quite

his

When

far

back to

they approached the

entrance of this city they found that the gates were

closed and barred; but the space between the bars

was so large that Thor passed through

The

companions followed him.

his
city

were gloomy and

still.

easily,

streets

They walked on

some time without meeting any one; but

and

of the
for

at length

of which the
they came to a very high building,
gates stood open.

"Let us go in and see what

said Thor ; and they went

is

going on here,"

After crossing the threshold they found themselves

in

an immense banqueting

hall.

table stretched

1 1

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

from one end to the othe r of

round the

table,

it

stone thrones stood

and on every throne

sat

giant,

each one, as Thor glanced round, appearing more

and

grim,

cold,

among them

sat

and

than

stony

on a raised

the

rest.

One

and appeared

seat,

to

be the chief; so to him Thor approached and paid

his greetings.

The
rising,
is,

giant chief just glanced at him, and, without

said,

in

a somewhat careless

with questions about their journey.

out

asking

that

little

you,

fellow,

Perhaps, however, you may be

you appear; and as

shall

down

sit

some wonderful
followers are
to

manner,

"It

think, a foolish custom to tease tired travellers

to

it

table

for,

with-

Asa Thor.

are

in reality taller than

a rule here that no one

is

he

till

has

performed

us hear what you and your

feat, let

famed

know

and

in

prove yourselves worthy to

what way you choose

sit

down

in the

had

entered

com-

pany of giants."

At
hall

this

speech,

cautiously

Loki,

who

behind Thor,

pushed

the

himself for-

ward.

a The

feat for

which

am most

famed," he said

HOW THOR WENT

"is

and

eating,

it

TO JOTUNHEIM.

one which

is

inclined to perform with right

and

before me,

can despatch

"The

it

let

me

see

Put food

as quickly as I can."
is

one by no means

be despised," said the King, "and there

to

here

who would be

summoned

At

this,

and a
in

one

is

glad to try his powers against

Let Logi," he said to one of his followers,

yours.

" be

now

just

will.

good

19

any of your followers

if

you speak of

feat

am

to the hall."

tall,

thin, yellow-faced

trough of meat

large

middle of the

the

hall,

man

approached,

having been

Loki

to

sat

placed

work

at

one end, and Logi at the other, and they began to

eat

hope

ate;

but

eyes

to watch

met

as

if

up

all

all

them, and

they had both

quantity; but,
into,

giants

it

when

in

a few minutes
It

they

seemed, at

eaten exactly the same

the thing

came

was found that Loki

Then

to

had,

the meat, but that Logi had

bones and the trough.

their

turned their slow-moving

the middle of the trough.

in

first,

the

never see any one eat as they

shall

be examined

indeed,

eaten

also eaten the

the giants nodded

huge heads, and determined

that

Loki wai

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

120

The King now

conquered.

turned to Thialfi, and

asked what he could do.

"I was thought swift of foot among the youth

of my own country," answered Thialfi ; " and I will,
if

please, try to run a race with

you

"You
the

any one here."

have chosen a noble

King

sport, indeed," said

" but
you must be a good runner if you

could beat him with

Then he
the whole

whom

I shall

called a slender lad,

company

left

match you."

Hugi by name, and

the hall, and, going out by

an opposite gate to that by which Thor had entered,

they

came out

to

noble race-ground.
Thialfi

and Hugi

an open space, which made a

There the goal was

Thialfi ran fast

fast as the reindeer

which hears

Hugi ran so

much

he turned round, and

faster that, passing the goal,

Thialfi half-way in the course.

"Try
alfi,

and

started off together.

the wolves howling behind; but

met

fixed,

again, Thialfi," cried

once more taking

course

with

feet

his

scarcely

swiftly as an eagle when,

he swoops on

the

King; and Thi-

place,

touching

flew

along

the

the

ground

from his mountain-crag,

his prey in the valley;

but with

all

HOW THOR WENT TO JOTUNHEIM.

his

running he was

goal

"You

are

certainly

King; "but
better

little

it.

still

more

win you must do a

to

than this;

the

said

good runner,"

you mean

if

to surprise us all the

The

a good bow-shot from the

still

when Hugi reached

121

but perhaps you wish

this third time."

third time, however, Thialfi

was wearied, and

though he did his best, Hugi, having reached the

goal, turned

and met him not

far

from the

at

each

starting-

point

The

giants

again

looked

other,

declared that there was no need of further

that Thialfi
It

trial,

for

was conquered.

was now Asa Thor*s

turn,

looked eagerly at him, while the

by what

and

wonderful

feat

he

and

all

the

company

Utgard King asked

chose

to

distinguish

himsel

"I
Thor

will
said,

try

a drinking-match with any of you,"

shortly; for, to

tell

the truth, he cared

not to perform anything very worthy in the com-

pany

in

which he found

himself.

King Utgard appeared pleased with this choice,

and when the giants had resumed their seats in

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

22

the hall,

he ordered one of

in his

drinking-cup, called

which

it

at

was

if

draught,

"cup of penance,"
make his guests drain

the

custom to

his

had

they

servants to bring

his

broken

any

the

of

ancient rules of the society.

"There!" he
drunk

call it well

if

Thor looked

thirsty

he put

work of

He

pull

full

it

single

the cup;

into

it

to his lips,

it,

and empty

drank,

but the

and being

all,

and thought to make

at

it

one good, hearty

and put the cup down again;

it

was now

be moved without

could

it

it;

appeared to him

it

instead of being empty,

that

at

it

in three."

but not so very large after

short

"we

a person empties

very puniest can manage

long,

to Thor,

Some, indeed, take two to

draught

but,

it

handing

said,

just

so

danger

of

spilling.

" Ha
for
in.

and

ha

You

the second pull

are keeping
I

see,"

Without answering, Thor

drank

failed; but,

with

all

his

said

might

little

your strength

Utgard,

lifted

when he put down

had only sunk down a

all

looking

the cup again,

till

his

breath

the cup, the liquor

from the brim.

HOW THOK WENT TO JOTUNHE2M.

"If you mean

"you

Utgard,

to take three draughts to

are really leaving

unfair share for the

for, if

Ving-Thor;

in other feats,

we

last

time.

it,"

23

said

yourself a very

Look

to yourself,

you do not acquit yourself better

much

shall not think so

of you

here as they say the ^Esir do in Asgard."

At

speech Thor

this

felt

angry, and, seizing the

cup again, he drank a third time, deeper and longer

than he had yet done;

when he looked

but,

into

the cup, he saw that a very small part only of

contents

had

Wearied

disappeared.

and

its

disap-

pointed he put the cup down, and said he would

try

no more

"It

is

to

empty

pretty

it

said

plain,*'

the

King,

round on the company, "that Asa Thor

looking
is

by no

means the kind of man we always supposed him

to be."

"
feat,

"I
Nay," said Thor,

and you yourselves

am

willing to try another

shall

choose what

it

shall

be."

"Well,"

said

the

"there

King,

which our children are used to

ago I dare not have named

it

to

play.

is

a game

at

short time

Asa Thor; but now

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

124

I
in

am

curious

see

to

how he

merely to

It is

it.

a childish amusement

As he spoke a
and

hall,

under

Thor,
to

it

my

lift

it

ground

truly."

grey cat sprang into the

large,

up.

his

hand

tried gently at

first;

forward,

stooping

lift

acquit himself

will

cat from the

He

put

by degrees he put forth all his strength,

tugging and straining as he had never done before ;

but

but the utmost he could do was to raise one of

the cat's paws a

"It

is

as

just

way from

little

the ground.

thought," said

ing to allow that the cat is large,

little

there

anger ?

who

is

that

laid

me," cried

you

think

will

dare to wrestle with

truth,"

Thor,

me

"who
in

my

said

the

King,

"I

don't

think

any one here who would choose to wrestle

with you;
in

are will-

"In
there

all

and Thor but a

fellow."

"Little as
is

King Utgard,

"but we

looking round with a smile;

old

but,

if

wrestle

crone

Elli.

low many a better

shown himself to be.*

you
She

man

must,
has,

in

will

her

call

time,

than Asa Thor has

HOW THOR WENT

The

TO JOTUNHEIM.

She was

crone came.

old,

I25

and

withered,

and Thor shrank from the thought of

toothless,

but he had no choice.

wrestling with her;

She

threw her arms round him, and drew him towards

the ground, and the harder he tried to free himself,
the tighter grew her grasp.

Thor

strove bravely, but

ness and weariness

he tottered and

At

this

Utgard

sight

No

over.

up,

laughed
the

desired

and proclaimed

one of

feeling of weak-

down on one knee

the giants

all

struggled long.

came over him, and

fell

coming

leave the hall,

They

a strange

his followers

at length
before' her.

and

aloud,

woman

old

to

that the trials were

would now contend

with Asa Thor, he said, and night was approaching.

He

then invited Thor and his companions to

down
as

sit

and spend the night with him

Thor, though feeling somewhat

at the table,

his

guests.

perplexed

and

mortified,

accepted

his

invitation

behaviour
courteously, and showed, by his agreeable
during the evening, that

he

knew how

to

bear

being conquered with a good grace.

In the morning, when Thor and

were leaving the

city,

the

his

companions

King himself accompanied

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

126

them without the gates; and Thor, looking

at

him when he turned

the

for

Giant

first

time,

steadily

farewell, perceived,

was

he

that

the

same

very

whom he had met

with

Skrymir

him

to bid

the

in

forest

"Come, now, Asa Thor,"

said

the

giant

with

me

truly,

a strange sort of smile on his face, "tell

before

you

how you

go,

journey has

think your

turned

out,

and

whether

saying

that

you

would

or not I

meet

was

with

in

right

men

better

than yourself in J6tunheim. n

"I

answered Asa Thor, looking

confess freely,"

up without any false shame on his face,

have acquitted myself but humbly, and

me

for

will

know

be said that

that in

am

"that

it

grieves

Jotunheim henceforward

man

of

little

it

worth."

"

By my troth no," cried the giant, heartily.

"Never should you have come into my city if
!

had known what

really
it,

All

are;
will,

this

and
for

time

enchantments.

now

once,
I

mighty
that

tell

man

you are

the

truth

of valour you
safely

to

out

have been deceiving you by

When you met me

in

of

yon, Thor.

the

my

forest,

HOW THOR WENT

and hurled
been

Miolnir

crushed

had

not

hammer

the

on

and

fell,

ravines,

which

valleys.

In

weight

which

where

you

manner

same

the

have

of

your

blows

become
I

Loki and Logi

Loki,

indeed,

is

eat

sat

like

down

verdant

deceived
last

of mortal

my

but

itself;

Logi

runners;

but

Thialfi is the swiftest

slender

the

Hugi,

lad,

thought; and what speed can ever equal

So

was in your own

it

When you

trials.

took such deep draughts from the horn, you

knew what a wonderful

The

how

feat

far

come

you

its

waters

to the shore

have

little

you were performing.

other end of that horn reached the

and when

much

you

night

before the trough,

hunger

up both bones and trough.

his?

deep

who, with eager, consuming tongue, licked

fire,

was

your

three

about the contests in which you engaged

When

between

strokes of
cleft

henceforth

shall

should

a mountain
the

137

head,

placed

skilfully

myself and you,

my

at

by

TO JOTUNHE1M.

fallen

you

away,

ocean,

will

and

see

how

the deep sea itself has been diminished by

your draught

Hereafter,

out of the tide

will

call

men
it

watching the going

the ebb, or draught

THE HEROES OF ASGARD

128

Scarcely less wonderful was the prowess

of Thor.

you to be a

to

second

in the

you displayed

cat,

What appeared

trial.

the

was, in reality,

you succeed

in

moving

it

Midgard

When we

serpent, which encircles the world.

we trembled

lest the

saw
very

foundations of earth and sea should be shaken by

Nor need you be ashamed

your strength.

been overthrown by the old woman

old age; and there never has,

is

be, one

whom

We

must now

here

again,

ray

city;

for

she

and never

will

Elli,

she has not the power to lay low.

and you had better not come

part,

or

attempt

for

of having

shall

further

anything

always defend

it

against
fresh

by

enchantments, and you will never be able to do

anything against me.

At

these words

"

Thor

raised

about to challenge the giant to

strength;

but,

before

vanished from his

look for the
appeared, and

city,

that

he

sight;

could
and,

he found that

and was

Miolnir,

fresh

speak,

turning
it,

he was standing

too,

of

trial

Utgarda

round

had

alone

to
dis-

on

smooth, green, empty plain.

" What a

fool I

have been," said Asa Thor,

alou'i.

HOW THOR WENT TO JOTVNHEIM.

t2 g

"to allow myself to be deceived by a mountain

w

giant

"Ah," answered a voice from above, "I

told

you, you would learn to know yourself better by

It is

your journey to Jotunheim.

the great use

of travelling."

Thor turned
see

quickly round

Skrymir behind

every side,

he

could

him;

but,

perceive

again,
after

thinking

looking

nothing,

but

to

on
that

a high, cloud-capped mountain, which he had noticed

on the horizon, appeared to have advanced to the

edge of the

plain.

THE HEROES OF ASGAKD.

PART

IL

THE SERPENT AND THE KETTLE,

THOR

turned

on the

away from Giant-land, and

road homeward he passed through the Sea-King's

There

dominions.

he found

was giving a banquet to

coral-caves.

to

listen

At a

and to

look.

all

It

Old

^Egir the

wide

the -^Esir in his

Thor stood

distance

little

within cave stretched

that

was a

fair

sight:

still

cave

out before him decked with

choicest shells, whilst far inward lay the banqueting-hall,

lighted with shining gold;

white and red

the brightcoral-pillars stood at uneven distances;

browed ^Esir reclined

couches;

JEgir's

at the

daughters

murmured sweet music

as

board on
the

soft

fair-haired

they waited

on

water

waves
their

HOW THOR WENT

guests;

and

little

TO JOTUNHE1M.

131

baby-ripples ran about laughing

Thor walked through the caves

and entered the hall As he did so Odin looked
in all the corners.

up from

his place at ^Egir's right hand,

"Good

evening, son Thor;

how

and

has

said,

it

fared

with you in Jotunheim?"

Thor's face grew a

little

cloudy at

this question,

and he only answered,

"Not

as

it

Then

ought to have done, father."

he placed himself amongst ^Egir's guests.

"In my dominions,"
all

round,

"And

" an

the

itself

looking

shores

of

Jotunheim,"

answered

away

as

if

mile,

a giant were drinking

in."

"Is that
a

-5gir,

extraordinary thing has happened."

"the sea has run back a quarter of a

drawing
it

King

what may that be, brother?" asked Niord.

"From
^Egir,

said

tall

all

you have got to

Wave, as she swept her

say, father?

"said

hair over the Sea-

King's shoulder, and peeped up from behind him;

"is that all you know of the wonders which are

going on in your deep

Then

home ?

Listen."

JEgii bent forward on his seat; the

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

132

all

ceased speaking, and drew in their breath; the

waves

raised

their

From a

listening.

arched

way

great

and were

necks,
off

still,

came the sound

of a sullen swell.

"Who
" That

"And
" He

is

that speaking?" asked Odin,

is

Jormungand speaking," said Thor.

what does he

say,

Thor?"

says that I could not conquer him."

"Pass round

who saw

that

But alas!
before

it

the

it

foaming mead," cried

-^Egir,

was time to turn the conversation.

^Egir's mead-kettle

was so

had gone half down the

small, that

table

stood

it

empty before Tyr.

"There

is

giant

called

Tyr,

"who

lives far

ward

at the

end of heaven."

The

JEsir

"He
is

all

Hymir,"

remarked

over the stormy waves to east-

looked up.

has a kettle," Tyr went on to say, "which

a mile deep, and

mead enough

for all this

which would

certainly

hold

to us," said -^Egir,

"we

company."

"If Hymir would lend

it

could finish our supper; but

end of heaven to borrow a

who would go

kettle ?

to the

HOW THOR WENT

Then Thor

TO JOTUNHEIM.

rose from the table,

tighten round him

his belt of

and took Miolnir

iron gloves,

"What!

off

again

power ;

I33

and began

to

he put on

his

in his hand.

to Giant-land,

Ving-Thor?"

cried ^Egir.

"Didn't you
" I am
Thor.

say you

going to borrow

Tyr sprang up
on

started

Hymir's

cavern

it

of

Hymir

for you.

come with me, Tyr?"

Will you

at

wanted Mile-deep?* said

their

joyfully,

and

journey.

dwelling,

which

the two

When
was

they

on the shore of a frozen

arrived

roughly-hewn
sea,

person they met was a wonderful

brothers

the

giantess

first

with

nine hundred heads, in which glittered fiery eyes,

and which grew out from

that

was

it

all

impossible to

parts of her body, so

tell

whether she

As Thor and

walking upon her head or her heels.

her trying to discover

Tyr were looking at

a woman came out of the
lovely

as

them on

giant's

home

the giantess was hideous.

the threshold.

was

Her golden

this,

quite as

She greeted
hair

fell

thick

upon her shoulders; her mild eyes shone upon

them; and with words of welcome she held out

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

There

her hands and led them into the cavern.

she offered them meat and drink, and bade them

come home.

her husband, Hymir, should

rest until

As the darkness came

and the time of

on, however,

his expected return drew near, she became silent and

" I am
anxious ; and at last she said,
very much afraid

husband

that

my

here

when he comes

will

be angry

if

he sees strangers

Take my

in.

advice, now,

Asa

Thor and Asa Tyr, and hide behind one of these pillars

My

in the rock.

times,

and not nearly so hospitable as

"We

not

are

some-

lord, I assure you, is surly

accustomed

to

come

when

could wish."

hide

ourselves,"

remarked Thor.

"But you

shall

forth

call

you,"

answered the woman.

So

the

^Esir

they heard
sea,

she

heavy footsteps

desired.

far off,

By-and-bye

over the frozen

The

coming nearer and nearer every moment.

distant

burst
angrily
in

did as

icebergs

open the door of

in.

He

the chase,

"hard-frozen

his

wood

and

resounded,

had

his

at

cavern,

last

and

been unsuccessful

hands were

stalked

that

frost-bitten,

stood upon his cheek."

Hymir

day

and a

HOW
As soon

THOR WENT TO JOTUNHEIM.

I35

woman saw what mood

as the fair-browed

he was in she went gently towards him, placed her

hand

in

and

his,

guests;

then,

him of the

told

she

and

entreated

him

to receive

entertain

them

hospitably.

the strangers

Hymir made no answer;

his

eye towards the

hidden,

asunder,
fell

supported

kindly,

one glance of

the

JEsir were

and

the

cross-

with a crash to the

Eight ponderous kettles had been hang-

ground.
ing

it

but, at

place where

the pillar burst

beam which

of the

arrival

with a sweet smile and voice,

on the beam, and

all

but one were shivered

to atoms.

Thor and Tyr then stepped forth into the middle

hall, and Hymir received them civilly, after

of the

which he turned his attention to supper; and, having

cooked three whole oxen, he invited the ALsir to

Thor

eat with him.

fell

to

work with great

and when he had eaten the whole of one

relish,

ox, prepared

to cut a slice out of another.

"You

eat

but Thor was

his

supper

great

still

until

deal,"

said

Hymir,

sulkily,

very hungry, and went on with

he had eaten

two

entire

oxen.

Tim HEROES OF ASGARD.

36

Then

said

"Another

Hymir,

Ving-Thor,

night,

you must provide your own supper;

for

can't

undertake to keep so expensive a guest."

Accordingly,

prepared to go out
place

his

in

next

the

early

On

boat

their

Hymir

morning,

and

fishing,

Thor a

offered

to

way

the

shore

said

Thor

they passed a herd of oxen feeding.

" Have

you provided a

bait for

me ? "

to the giant

"You
Hymir,

must

one

get

for

yourself,"

answered

surlily.

So Thor was obliged to cut

off the

head of one

of the oxen for a bait.

"You'll never be able to carry that head," said

Hymir;

for,

in

truth,

the

ox

which

to

"
belonged was an enormous animal, called

it

had

Heaven

Breaking."

But Thor made nothing of the head, slung it

over his shoulder, and carried it down to the boat

As they

got under weigh,

Thor and Hymir each

took an oar ; but Thor pulled so

fast,

and with such

mighty strokes, that the giant was obliged to stop

for breath,

and beg

that they might

go no

further.

HOW THOR WENT

"We

TO JOTUNHEIM.

I37

have already reached the spot," he

" where I
always catch the

"But

want to go further

said,

finest whales."

out

to

said

sea,"

Thor.

"That

" for

Hymir ;

to the waters

"

be

will

dangerous,

we row any

if

baited his

hook with the

out into the sea, whilst

side of the boat,

Hymir

last

and

come

he stopped,

cast the line

leant over the other

Jormungand smelt Thor's

monstrous jaws, and eagerly

his

snicked in both head,

fiercely,

ox's head,

great

he opened wide

sooner did he

At

on.

shall

lies."

and caught two whales.

Now, when the

bait

we

further

under which Jormungand

Thor laughed, and rowed

said

Ving-Thor,

and hook, and

the pain than he

feel

and plunged so

wildly,

that

but no

line;

struggled

so

Thor's hands

were in an instant dashed against the sides of the

boat.

on
feet

Still

pulling

burst

slippery

Thor did not

with

monster's

At

mountain-high

head

the waves,

and

hold, but went

force

that

his

the boat, and rested on the

beneath.

rocks

his

wondrous

such

through

lose

then,

indeed,

last

the

venomous

was hauled
it

above

was a dreadful

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

sight to see Thor, in all the
his

strength,

casting

and the

serpent

forth

poisoned

fiery

power of

looks

upon

glaring

his god-like

on

the

serpent,

him,

and

spitting

Even Hymir's sun-burnt

venom.

he beheld

cheek changed colour as

beneath

his

feet the sinking boat, and at his side the deadliest

At

monster of the deep.

his fear,

he rushed before Thor, and cut

in sunder.

after

into the waters.

did the rocks burst;

the caverns; old mother earth

fishes

line

but Thor hurled Miolnir with fearful force

Then

his

Immediately the serpent's head began

to sink
it

in the wildness of

last,

it

all

thrndered through
shrank; even the

sought the bottom of the ocean;

but

the

serpent sank back, with a long, dull sound, beneath

wound

the waves, a deep

vengeance in his
Ill

at ease

in his head,

and smothered

heart.

and

silent,

Hymir then turned

to go

home, and Thor followed him, carrying boat and

oars,

every

and everything
fresh

sight

envy and rage;

that

else,

on

of Thor

for

he had shown

his

shoulders.

increased

he could not
so

little

the

Now,
giant's

bear to think

courage

before

his

HOW THOR WENT TO JOTUNHEIM.

I3g

brave guest, and, besides, losing his boat and getting

desperately wet

so

through the
his

in

by wading home

feet

did not by any means

sea,

When

temper.

his

and were supping

home,

got

they

improve
therefore,

he began jeering and

together,

taunting Thor.

"No

doubt, Asa Thor,

"

he

a good rower and

yourself

not

catch

fine

you

did

you

break that drinking-cup before

though

fisher,

can

but

to-day;

anything

think

"you

said,

you,

do you

think?"

Thor

upright stone.
in

pieces,

greater

sitting

But,

and

strength,

pillars in the

Now,

and dashed

seized the cup,

it

rock

unbroken.

the

cup

he

hurled

it

was

still

at

standing.

her

shatterd

with

Again,

the cup

against

the

without a crack.

wheel

From

against an

stone was

the

happened that the

spinning

Thor was

lo

it

beautiful
just

woman was

behind

where

time to time she chanted

snatches of old runes and sagas in soft tones

and

now, when Thor stood astonished that the cup was

not

broken,

singing

the woman's

voice

low the following words:

fell

on

his

car,

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

4o

Hard

the pillar, hard the stone,

Harder yet the

giant's bone.

Stones shall break and

pillars fall

Hymir's forehead breaks them

Then Thor once more took

it

the cup,

and cried

unhurt,

out of

can

but

Thor;

my

you carry

that

at last, Vingkettle

mile-deep

hall, think you ?"

tried to

Tyr

this

but Hymir himself was

"Well done

out,

and hurled

The cup was

against the giant's forehead.

time shivered to pieces;

all."

lift

it,

and could not even

raise the

handle.

Then Thor grasped

so, his feet

effort

he

the rings

it

by the

pressed through the

lifted it;

he placed

rang at his feet;

bore off the

kettle,

and

After journeying a

rim, and, as
floor.

it

on

and so

he did

With a mighty
his head, while

in

triumph he

set out again for ^Egir's Hall.

little

round, and then he saw

way he chanced

that a host of

to look

many-headed

Hymir for their leader, were thronging

From every cavern, and iceberg, and
after him.
jagged peak some hideous monster grinned and
giants, with

leered as a great wild beast waiting for his prey.

HOW

THOR WENT TO JOTUNHEIM.

i 4I

"Treachery!" cried Thor, as he raised Miolnir

above his head, and hurled

three times

it

among

the giants.

In an

instant

they stood

stiff,

and

dead, in rugged groups along the shore

his

arm

raised;

some

out;

position

another with

upright,

he

had

his

one with

head stretched

some crouching; each

last

they stand, petrified by

assumed.

and

cold,

And

in the

there

ages into giant rocks

still

and,

still

pointing their stony fingers at each other, they

tell

the mighty tale of

Thor's achievements, and

the wondrous story of their fate.

"Pass round

the

foaming

cried

mead,"

^Egir, as

Thor placed " Mile-deep " on

and

time

this

it

happened

that there

King

the table

was enough

for every one.

Thor, as his
his

name

implies,

was the thunder god ;

realm was called Thrudvang, which

is

said to

the "Region of Fortitude." Of his hall, Bilskirnir

" Five hundred
floors, and
(storm-serene), Odin says,

mean

its windings.
forty eke, has Bilskirnir with

Of all

the

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

142

roofed houses that I

His

hammer,

know

my

is

"To

Miolnir,

son's the greatest"

Megingjardir, his belt of prowess

names

"
signify

intervals"

thunder

To

shower,

all

help

to

and

the

him

picture

to

opposition

Hrimthursar, frost-giants,

enchantments, and

combat

this

also, in the

the

like

whole

the

the

in

fog-

sterile

and

portions

The

and warrior ;

are moral as well as physical

principle

Thor appears

physical world,

also as the chief hero-god

of

tribe

mountain-giants,

retarding forces of the physical world.

of

falling

in

a god of cultivation and the order

larger sense of

the

whose
race at

swift

character; but he ought to be understood,

of nature, in

grind,"

his goats,
"
"

crack, grind, gnash

attendant Thialfi,

his

or

pound,

his victories

was unceasing

his life

warfare.

In the
the

Edda account

whom

giant-king

Utgard-Z0&'/
Loki, who,

we

and

is

it

to Logi

myth Loki stands

nearly akin to himself.

who

in

there

be

to

saw, had his

Utgard opposed
this

of Thor going to Utgard,

he finds

own
is

is

observed
root in

also

fire,

fire,

called

that
is

in

so that in

opposition to two beings

This

may be

explained as

HOWTHOR WENT

TO JOTUNHEIM.

I43

Utgard, outer-world, or under-world, means

follows.

human and godly

outside of both the

reminds

us

of

the

chaotic,

regions,

elementary

and

powers.

Utgard-Loki, or out-worldly-Loki, represents outside

human world

of

in

its

evil aspect

apart from the formative principle.

him appears

elementary

opposed to the

latter

fire

the destructive

Connected with

(Logi),

and Loki

because at the time

was conceived he had come to mean

this

myth

evil in the

world

rather than that elementary double-natured

of which the idea of his evil

This view of Utgard,

viz.,

its

had

fire

originally

during

visit

there,

for

Thor

is

crept.

first

Thor

a deity of the

formed universe, he can subdue that to

the

out

connection with the

chaotic powers, explains the apparent defeats of

his

is

his will, not

double-natured elements out of which

it

was

built up.

How

naturally

would the dark frozen land and

misty mountain shapes of the north, suggest to the

ancient song singers these

ideas

concerning

out-

worldly and in worldly giants and wild unfathomable

powers and enchanted combatants.

It

must be confessed

that

Asa Thor does not

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

144

always appear in the favourable light in which the

tales

two very uncomfortable

out those dark
as

we saw

northern warriors.

recover

stories

it,

In particular, there

hammer and going

disguised as

had succeeded, and he

"Loud laughed,"

the giant

hammer

slay her too.

his

craft

in his grasp

After which he slew,

the giant,
sister,"

first

him, then all the giant's

Perhaps, even so far as that

an aged

a story

says the lay, "the fierce hearted

who had robbed

given him, but

sister,

the

felt

is

to Jotunheim to

When

Freyja.

one's soul in his breast"

race.

about him, bringing

of craft and cruelty which,

traits

before, so often stained the bright shields of

of his losing his

again,

There are one or

given here represent him.

it

we could have

for-

had " a luckless

is said,

and the hero-god must need

"Blows she got, a hammer's

stroke,"

and

hammer

"so," ends the lay, "did Odin's son get his

back," apparently well satisfied with the whole performance.

But are the Warrior-god's descendants so

very different from himself

luckless sister,

do anybody much harm,

fall

the giant's

who does not seem

beneath the

is

vengeful

sister,

as

if

the aged,

she could

she not apt even

now

to

hammers of our modern

HOWTHOR WENT
Thors,

TO JOTUNHEIM.

remorselessly stricken

battle has

From

after

the real

been fought and won?

the fierce thunder deity

bright children,

mighty."

down

145

we

turn to Njord's

Frey and Freyja, "Beauteous and

FRRY.

CHAPTER HL
FREY.

PART L
ON TIPTOE

IN AIR THRONE.

I TOLD you, some time ago,

away into Alfheim with the

how Van Frey went

light

elves,

of

whom

Odin made him king and schoolmaster.

You have heard what Frey was

like,

and the

kind of lessons he promised to teach his pupils,

so you can imagine what pleasant times they had

of

it

hi Alfheim.

Wherever' Frey
sunshine.
steps,

Flowers

came

there

sprang

and bright-winged

up

was

summer and

under

his

foot-

insects, like flying flowers,

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

148

His warm breath ripened

hovered round his head.

on the

the fruit

colour

the

to

and gave a bright yellow

trees,

and

corn,

purple

grapes, as he passed through fields

When

he rode along

in

stately boar,

Golden

him,

the air with

filling

abroad the news,

flower

half-closed
forest,

and

burst

and

field,

winds blew before

and spreading

fragrance,

Frey

is

into
hill,

the

to

drawn by the

his car,

Bristles, soft

" Van

bloom

and vineyards.

"

coming

beauty,

perfect

flushed

and every

and

richest

their

colours to greet his presence.

Under
little light

all

Frey's

care

instruction

elves forgot their idle

the pleasant tasks he had

them.

them

was the

the

promised to teach

possible sight to

see

and

It

prettiest

among

hang the dew-drops

grass-blades,

the

deftly

woods and meadows

on the slender

or to drop

them

closed cups of the sleepy flowers.

tips

the

into

When

this

of their day's tasks was over they used to

round

pretty

ways, and learned

in the evening filling their tiny buckets,

running about

the

and

their

summer-king,

like

bees

to

of

halflast

cluster

about

the

queen, while he told them stories about the wars

between the JEsir and the

when he

time

or of the old

giants,

alone with his father Niord,

lived

Noatun, and listened to the waves singing songs

in

So pleasantly did they spend

of far distant lands.

their time in Alfheim,

But

midst of

the

in

Frey had a wish

not

help often

senger and
things,"

he

in

his

friend

say,

mes-

clear-minded

his

"I have seen many

Skirnir.

to

work and play

this

mind, of which he could

to

talking

used

all

"and

travelled

through

many lands; but to see all the world at once, as

Asa Odin does from Air Throne, thai must be a
splendid sight"

"Only Father Odin may

Skirnir

would

say; and

it

sit

on Air Throne,"

seemed

to

Frey that

answer was not so much to the purpose as

this

his friend's sayings generally were.

At

length,

Odin was

one very

clear

summer

evening,

when

feasting with the other ^Esir in Valhalla,

Frey could restrain his curiosity no longer.

left

Alfheim,

asleep,

and,

climbed into

where

all

without

the

asking

little

any

elves

were

one's

Air Throne, and stood on

He
fast

advice,
tiptoe in

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

Odin's very seat

It

was a

and

clear evening,

had, perhaps, better not even try to

you what

tell

Frey saw.

He

looked

all

first

and where men, and

ing themselves

up

birds,

still

lingered,

and flowers were gatherhe

for their night's repose; then

towards the heavenly

glanced
rested,

him over Manheim,

round

light of the set sun

where the rosy

hills

where

Bitrost

and then towards the shadowy land which

deepened down into Niflheim.

his eyes

At length he turned

northward to the misty land of Jotunheim.

There the shades of evening had already

from his high

place Frey could

fallen

but

see distinct

still

shapes moving about through the gloom.

Strange

and monstrous shapes they were, and Frey stood a

little

higher,

on

after

them.

In

tall

that he might look further

this position

house standing on a

and

lifted

door.

up her arms

It

maiden

dazzling

he could

was

dusk

lifted

reflection

up

came

at

it

a maiden came

undo the

to
in

just descry a

in the very middle of

hill

While he looked

Jotunheim.

this

tiptoe,

Jotunheim

her

white

from

latch of the
;

but

arms,

them,

that

when

such

Jotun-

PREY*
heim, and the sky, and
with clear light

be
the

distinctly

face

of

door

earth,

and

the sea were flooded

For a moment everything could

seen;

but

Frey

saw

the maiden with the

and when she

the

all

151

uplifted

had

entered the house and

after

her,

and

darkness

fell

sky,

and

sea,

darkness

fell,

Fre/s heart

but

nothing

arms;
shut

again
too,

on

upon

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

152

PART
THE

THE

with

their

GIFT.

morning, when

next

up

IL

the

dawn,

surprised to

his

see that he

little

elves

awoke

came thronging round

and

receive

to

king

the

they were

commands,

had changed

since

they

saw him.

last

" He has
grown up in the night," they whispered

one to another sorrowfully.

And

in truth

and playfellow

he was no longer so

for the

merry

little

fit

a teacher

people as he had

been a few hours before.

It

was

to

no purpose

and the flowers

from

his

that the sweet winds blew,

opened, when

chamber.

bright

Frey
white

came
light

forth
still

FREY.

I53

danced before him, and nothing now seemed

worth looking
set,

him

to

That evening when the sun had

at.

and work was

over,

no

there were

stories for

the light elves.

"Be

still,"

'If you

will

be

when they pressed round.

and listen, there are stories

said,
still

be heard better than mine."

to

enough

Frey

do not know whether the

thing; but

seemed

it

Frey

that

and winds, and the whispering

birds,

that

to

day

in

one

singing

heard

any-

flowers,

and

elves

rivers, united

song, which

he never

wearied of hearing.

"We
in the

whom

whole world so

you saw

"Frey
elves

"but there

are fair," they said;

said

has
to

fair

surprised;

nothing

as Gerda, the giant-maiden

last night in

in

dew-drops

Jotunheim."
eyes," the

his

little

each other in whispers as they sat

round looking up at him, and they

for

is

only

to

men and

felt

very

much

the ^Esir

is

it

permitted to be sorrowful and weep.

Soon, however, wiser people noticed the change

that

had

come over

good-natured father,

the

Niord,

summer king,
sent

Skirnir

and
one

his

day

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

154

into Alfheim to inquire

cause of

the

into

Prey's

sorrow.

He

found him walking alone in a shady place,

and Frey was glad enough to

his

tell

trouble to

his wise friend.

When

he had related the whole

"And now
asking

me

will see that

you

be merry as

to

story,

there

is

used to be

he

said,

no use
for

in

how

can I ever be happy in Alfheim, and enjoy the

summer and
I

sunshine, while

is

love,

in

living

my

dark,

dear Gerd,
cold

land,

whom
among

cruel giants?"

"If she be
you

say,"

as beautiful

really

answered

Skirnir,

of place in Jotunheim.
to be your

wife,

"That would
Frey;

and

"but

if

Why

live

and beloved as

" she must be

sadly out

do not you ask her

with you in Alfheim?"

only too

gladly do,"

answered

were to leave Alfheim only

for

a few hours, the cruel giant, Ryme,* would rush

in

to

take

my

place;

would be undone
men,

who

are

in

all

a night, and the poor,

toiling

the

would

watching
*

Ryme

the labours of the year

for

the Frost Giant

harvest,

PREY.
wake some morning to

, 55

find

their

corn-fields

and

orchards buried in snow."

"Well," said

"I am

Skirnir, thoughtfully,

so strong nor so beautiful as you,

you

me

will give

side,

and

I will

Now,
well

the lovely Gerd,

or trust

sword

that

he

of Jotunheim

for

and put

and then he turned rather

part with

risk

will

the

Gerda again?

moment

to think of

unbuckled his sword

into

Skirnir's

pettishly away,

be many days

all

recompense

himself down on a mossy bank under a

"You

and yet

own;

less

it,

and what other hope

He
it

to

to

any

his dear

the choice he was making.

side

his

Skirnii

did not allow himself a

his

giant-father

and he knew

gift,

ought not

expect

had he of ever seeing

from

any hands but

in

it

he

was

than an enchanted sword?

He

by your

she will gladly

that

and the house of her

Frey's

could

dangers

if

to you."

enough

how

but,

speak in such a way of you, and of

leave her land

come

Frey;

sword that hangs

undertake the journey to Jotunheim;

will

Alfheim, to

to

the

neither

hands;

and threw
tree.

in travelling to Jotun-

THE HEROES OF ABOARD.

156

he

heim,"

"and

said,

time I shall

that

all

be

miserable."

Skimir was too sensible

worth

answering.

and prepared

Frey,

but, before he

water

that

expression,

in

are
into

full

Skirnir's

took a

hasty

set

on

to

it

off

his

hill,

in

In

spite

beautiful

pool

the

it

picture

up

He

mind.

stooped

hiding

out of the water;

in

carefully
it

in

woods

summer, and a clever thought came

down, without

Frey's seeing him, and, with cunning touch,

the

of

sorrow-

its

as

see

to

little

of

of

journey

Frey's face

was as

speech

farewell

chanced

the

near.

lay

this

he

left

of

the reflection

ful

He

think

to

his

his

silver

mantle, he

then

he

fastened

drinking-horn,

mounted

stole

his

and,

horse

and rode towards Jotunheim, secure of succeeding

in his mission, since

to

conquer the

win the maiden*

he carried a matchless sword

giant,

and a matchless

picture

to

FREY.

PART

IIL

FAIREST GERD.

I TOLD
father,

not be

house

the

that

you

difficult for

hero,

and

surrounds

it

will

you to imagine what a toilsome

Skirnir

He

had.

he rode a brave

when they came

that

Gymir, Gerda's

stood in the middle of Jotunheim, so

and wondrous journey

brave

of

to

the

barrier

was

horse;

but^

of murky flame

came over

Jotunheim, a shudder

both.

"Dark

it

is

without," said Skirnir to his horse,

"and you and

must leap through

flame,

go over hoar mountains among Giant Folk.

giants

will

victorious

take

us

together."

both,

or

we

shall

and

The
return

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

'58

Then he
him with
cleared

his

patted

his

the

horse's

neck, and touched

armed

heel,

and with one bound he

barrier,

and

his

hoofs rang

on the

frozen land.

Their

first

journey was through the land

day's

of the Frost Giants, whose prickly touch

whose breath

is

see.

vulture-headed

Monsters

giants,

hid

Skirnir

Then they

sharper than swords.

the dwellings of the horse-headed

passed through

and

and

kills,

his

terrible

and the horse

face,

to
flew

along swifter than the wind.

On

the evening of the third day they reached

Skirnir rode

Gymir's house.

round

it

nine times;

but though there were twenty doors, he could find

no entrance;

for fierce

three-headed dogs guarded

every door-way.

At length he saw a herdsman pass

he rode up and asked him how
stranger

to

it

near,

was possible

and
for

enter Gymir's house, or get a sight of

his fair daughter Gerd.

"Are
already
" that

you

doomed

dead

you

talk

man,"
of

to

death,

answered

seeing

Gymir's

or
the
fair

are

you

herdsman,
daughter,

FREY.

or

a house

entering

I59

no one ever

which

from

returns ?"

"

My

death

sounded

fixed for

is

answer, and

in

his

and

loud

of

Jotunheim.

fair

Gerd as she

voice,

clear

one day," said

sat

Asa,

misty

air

of

the

chamber with

her

the

her

in

the

through

reached

It

Skirnir,

voice of an

the

ears

maidens.

"What

that noise of noises," she said, "that I

is

The

hear?

earth shakes with

it,

and

all

GynuYs

tremble."

halls

Then one of

the maidens got up,

and peeped

out of the window.

"I see a man," she

from his horse, and he

said;
is

"he has dismounted

fearlessly letting

it

graze

before the door."

"Go

and

out

Gerda; "I

said

for his voice

is

softly,

lest the

mead

giants,

in

must

him

in

stealthily,

hear

again

then,"

him speak;

sweeter than the ringing of bells."

So the maiden

ing

bring

and opened the house-door

who was drinkgiant, Gymir,

rose,

grim
the

banquet-hall

should hear and come

with seven

forth.

other

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

160

Skirnir heard the door open,

the maiden's sign, he

and followed her

he entered

and understanding

entered with stealthy steps,

As soon

to Gerda's chamber.

the doorway the

light

from

as

her face

shone upon him, and he no longer wondered that

Frey had given up his sword.

"Are you the son of an Asa, or an Alf, or

wise Van?" asked Gerda; "and why have

of a

you come through

and

flame

snow

to

visit

our

halls ?"

Then
feet,

Skirnir

and gave

promised

came forward and knelt

his message,

Gerda listened; and

talk to her,

it

as he

had

of Alfheim.

was pleasant enough to

looking into her bright face; but she

did not seem to understand

He

and spoke

Van Frey and

to speak of

at Gerda's

much

of what he said.

promised to give her eleven golden apples

from Iduna's grove

if

she would go with him, and

that she should have the magic ring Draupnir from

which every day a

found

there was

things

to

still

no

fairer

use

in

jewel
talking

one who had never in

anything beautiful.

all

fell.

But he

of

beautiful

her

life

Gerda smiled

at

FREY.

I6l

him as a

child smiles at a fairy

tale.

At length he grew
maiden," he

childish,

"If you are so

angry.

"that you can believe

said,

only what you have seen, and have no thought of

^Esirland

or

the

darkness shall

then

^Esir,

fall

sorrow

and

upon you; you

on the Eagle Mount turned towards Hel.

shall beset

and ^Esir
to

live

for

and you

ever with the Frost

whose cold arms you

Terrors

Men

be your lot

shall

you; weeping

will hate you,

utter

shall live alone

will wither

be doomed

shall

Giant,

away

Ryme,
a

like

in

thistle

on a house-top."
"Gently," said
head, and

Gerd,

sighing.

make such a

talk

turning

"How am

away her bright

to blame? you

of your JEsir and your ^Esir;

but how can I know about

it,

when

all

my

life

long

I have lived with giants?"

At

these

words,

Skirnir

rose as

if

he would

have departed, but Gerda called him back.

"You must
"in

return for

Skirnir

heard

drink

a cup

of

mead," she

said,

your sweet-sounding words."

this

gladly,

for

now he

knew

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

l6a

He

what he would do.

drank

hand,

turned

from

his

took the cup from her

mead,

he contrived

it,

water

the

off

cleverly

image was painted

to

on

drinking-horn,

he

before

and,

pour

which

re-

the

in

Frey's

then he put the cup into Gerda's

hand, and bade her look.

She smiled as she looked

and the longer she

looked, the sweeter grew her smile; for she looked

for

the

time

first

and

many

she

had

on

things

never

believe

in

face

like

that

clear

understood

words were no longer

now

became

loved

her,

her

that

to

before.

Skirnir's

fairy tales.

She could

and

^Esirland,

in

beautiful

all

things.

" Go

"and
him

back

to

him

tell

in the

to

take

nine

in

warm wood

After hearing
haste

your master," she

that

these
leave,

days

said,

at

will

last,

meet

Barri."

joyful
for

every

the giant's house

lingered

in

One

of

Gerda's maidens

door,

and he mounted

his

words,

Skimir made

moment

that

he

he was in danger.

conducted

him

to

the

horse again, and rode

from Jotunheim with a glad heart

FREY.

PART

IV.

THE WOOD BARRL

WHEN

Skirnir

Gerd's answer
find

that

back

got
to

Frey,

his master

"Nine days!" he

are

and

Alfheim,

he was

told

disappointed

to

did not immediately look as

and happy as he expected.

bright

nine

to

days?
very

said;

One day

long,

but

"but how can

is

'nine

and

long,

days'

wait

three

days

as

well

might

be a whole year."
I
tells

have heard children say such things when one

them

to wait for a

new

toy.

Skirnir and old Niord only laughed

Freyja

and

all

the

journey to Alfheim,

ladies

of

when they

Asgard
heard

at

it;

made
the

but
a

story,

THE HEROES OF ASGARD,

164

comfort

to

and hear

Frey,

news about

the

all

the wedding.

"Dear
lie

still

here,

under

sighing

quite mistaken about the time

sents,

talk

Alfheim

in

At

when
for

all

his

little

Frey

He

it

long;

be;

is

his musings.
at

how

he

could

lift

He

his

up

looked,

the thought;

were

ladies

everything

little."

did

really

frightened

the Asgard

are

You have no

have to be altered a

wedding,

jection?

to

going

wake up from
a

truth,

are

words

these

head, and
in

will

being

over the wedding.

how busy we

idea

You

tree.

prepare the marriage pre-

hardly long enough to

and

never do to

"it will

Frey," they said,

was not allowed to

but,

work

ready to

make any obhave much share

but he had

little

to

in

private

thought, for never before was there such

a com-

in the business

motion
things
light

days,

The

in Alfheim.
that

elves

any one.

went

nine

the

during

himself;

wanted
were

They

forgot

about

ladies

overlooking,

not

running

indulge

of
all

the

through

found so many

and

the

slightest

their

time,

little

use

usual tasks,

groves

and

to

and

fields,

FJREY.

sedgy banks of

and by the
earth-holes,

and

and empty

snail-shells,

Some

the

stole

and wove

into

it

and

butterflies,

make
All

pulled

all

The

work was

made,

the

from

their

the

wings

when

scarcely finished

the

out from Alfheim

set

Frey

warm wood Bam.

like

something

came Frey
and
Bristles,

wedding-ring,

Draupnir,

drink

chased

runners

the

which

magic

a wedding

his

in

First

Golden

by

pulled

set with

joined him on the way, and they

together,

cession.

to

leaves,

feathers

his elves, to the

-dSsir

others

tails,

and bonnet-plumes.

fans

the

glow-worms'

Gerda was to

that

swiftest

ninth day came, and

with

flower-cups

hoping to find

a necklace, and

the

while

from

light

acorn cups

jewels the

to

into

every one

from cowslip

the ruby spots

from;

down

creeping

peering into

rivers,

Gerda.

for

gift

165

chariot,

carrying

none

was

ring

in

of

pro-

drawn

his

hand

other

than

so

many

which

stories are told.

Odin and
gift,

the

Frigga

Ship

followed

Skidbladnir,

with their wedding

in

which

all

the

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

66

could

iT

be folded

wards

in

it

carry

and

sit

of

weight

their

not one so

large

and

singing,

and

and

every

wood,
breath

on

when

it

might

was

all

the

seemed

golden

elves,

apples

gift,

under

toiling

took

It

twenty

and yet there was

Laughing,

baby's finger.

warm

dancing, they entered the

summer

over,

if

on

sweet
smiled

earth

Frey and Gerda, only

and

every one

moon shone

as

sent

flower

Everything

wedding-day of

home, and
it

as

them.

after

the

you

offerings.

people to carry one

little

that

ladies with their gifts.

them flocked the

All round
the

small,

head, and then two and

fair

and

the heroes

all

after-

Iduna, with eleven

a basket on her

two

could

your hand.

Then came
in

so

up

it

though

sail,

the

cold

Vanir

had

gone

the

wood

into

spoke

to

one

another.

"Odin,"

said

one

"
for

"gave

voice,

wisdom, and we have seen

that

Frey," answered the other,

happiness.

while

It

it

" has

may be well

the sun shines

and

his

eye

for

was well done,"

bright

given his sword

to

be unarmed

days last;

but

FREY.
when Ragnarok has come, and the sons of Muspell
ride down to the last fight, will not
Frey regret
his

sword?"

Frey appears as the summer god, and the Boar

was sacred to him because, from

earth with

its

tusks,

it

represent the frozen

far off loves

Gerda

up the

tearing

and return

typified agriculture

of the seed-sowing time.

from

its

is

supposed

to

which Summer seeing

earth,

and woos

The

to his embrace.

lighting of the sky by the uplifted giant maiden's

arms

is

to

explained

mean

Northern Lights

the

glancing from one end of heaven

the

to

other.

Frey parts with his sword in order to win Gerda

this is

alluded to in both Eddas as

or at any rate highly imprudent

of

come

Muspell

Frey

shall

at

Ragnarok,"

have to meet

were wrong

if it

"When
it

is

the sons

said,

not have wherewith to fight"

will

thou, unhappy,

The

have been
ship Skidbladnir was said to

by four dwarfs
to in

in the beginning of time;

a poem quoted

and

"then

Surtur in battle,

before.

Draupnir

it

is

is

made

alluded

not men-

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

168

Edda

tioned in the

in connection with

Fiey and

Gerda.

The Northmen had

in

their year:

they

half of the year,

One was

time.

the

of

turn

Yule
said

is

celebrated

derived from a

by Laing that

named which

vows to
another

this

"Yule,"

Christian

festival.

of Odin, but

it

is

winter feast was held in

some

great

enterprise
boar's

before

head

at

mention of the golden boar

festival

with the god Frey,

was a general propitiation of the summer

deities for the

in

very nearly

name,

its

year, over a golden

seems to connect the

it

about

In Fouque^s writings a custom

this winter feast; the

probably

so

the Scandinavians had of making

accomplish

new

name

seed

midwinter

in

from

the

to

and

harvest

the

winter

in the

place

our Christmas,

honour of Thor.
is

between

be applied

to

took

the day, and

coinciding with

came

three grand religious festivals

all

coming year; the second

honour of the goddesses

expeditions began

was

the third, about spring,

in honour of Odin, because at

to

festival

this

be undertaken.

season warlike

THE WANDERINGS OF FREYJA.

CHAPTER

IV.

THE WANDERINGS OF

FREYJA.

PART L
THE NECKLACE BRISINGAMBN.
Now, though Frey was made king and
master of
part
sister

of

the

elves,

them

with

school-

spent the greater

in

Alfheim,

his

Freyja remained in the city of Asgard, and

had a palace
this

light

time

his

and

palace

Sessrymnir

for

built

there

the

was

beautiful

for
face,

one

"Roomy

entertained her guests,

of them;

her

every

and

named Folkvang.
very

beautiful

Seated "where

In
hall,

Freyja

and she had always plenty

one

listen

liked

to

look

at

her

to her enchanting music

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

7o

which was quite superior to

anybody

She

else's.

had, moreover, a wonderful husband named Odur,

who was one

had

1
of the sons of the immortals, anr

come from a long way

her.

marry

and used
the

was

Freyja
often

to

off

of

speak

on

little
it

Some

other ladies of Asgard.

of

this,

Frigga

and

them

said

proud
to

tc

purpose

of

she was a very fortunate person; but some were a

little

of her,

whilst

not to

be vain

jealous

warned

her

happiness,

lest

Frigga always gravely

on

should

sorrow

account of her
her

overtake

un-

awares.

Everything
for

on

life

the

in

smoothly,

quite

long time, Freyja

beautiful

and

went

however,

leading a very gay and

sunshine of

her happiness,

herself a very radiant joy to every one around

But one day, one unlucky day, Freyja,

her.
fair

and

sunshiny

from Asgard

hoped

to

time,

Vana, went

young

take

walk

meet somewhere

brother Frey,

and

to

of

in

particular favour.

The

out

alone

Alfheim.

She

thereabouts

whom she had not

whom she wanted

this

her dear

seen for a long

occasion for

to
it

ask

a very

was

this;

THE WANDERINGS OF FRE YJA.

and

Heimdall

were

^gir

x7 x

dine

to

expected

at

Valhalla the next day, and Freyja and her husband

were invited to meet

them.

All

of Asgard were to be there.

ladies

was coming, with his new

lords

and

Niord,

too,

the

wife, Skadi, the daughter

of a giant

one

"Every
Freyja,

will

"and

be

have

dressed," said

beautifully

not

single

ornament to

wear."

"But you
Freyja,"

more

are

said

any

one,

born

Wind-Home."

in the spacious

"All are

not

answered his wife

so
;

high-minded as you, Odur,"

" and if I
go to Valhalla with-

out an ornament of

any

be looked down upon."

So

saying,

Freyja

Alfheim, determined
brother

somehow
where.

garland

kind

tried

set

off,

to ask

of

to

as

of

flowers

shall

certainly

told

all

you,

to

her good-natured
at

least.

not find

keep

thought she was there; but

thinking of her dress

or other she could

She

than

beautiful

her husband; "for you were

in

But

Frey any-

Alfheim

she

the time she was

and her ornaments, planning

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

173

what she should wear, and her steps went downward, downward, away from Alfheim to the cavern

of four dwarfs.

"Where am I?"

said

at last lost the light of day,

on deeper and

dering

surely this

between the

deeper

rock.

quite

dark

high

"Why,

must be Svartheim; and yet

unpleasant, nor
is

and went down, wan-

and under the firm roof of

walls,

she

as

Freyja to herself,

is

not

the

sun

it

here, though

not shining."

And
her,

in truth

winding

most

recesses,

it

was not dark ;

for, far

on before

and out through the cavern's

in

were groups of

inner-

men, who had

little

each a lantern in his cap and a pickaxe in

his

hand; and

for

they were working

hard,

diamonds, which they piled up the

across the roof in white

digging

walls,

and rose-coloured

and hung
coronets,

marvellously glittering.

Four clever

little

dwarf-chiefs were there directing

the labours of the rest; but, as soon as they caught

sight

of

Freyja,

the cavern,

they sat

and began

to

down
work

in

the

centre

diligently at

of

some-

thing which they held between them, bending over

FREYJA IN THE DWARFS* CAVE.

Page

172.

THE WANDERINGS OF FREYJA.

it

with strange

felt

chattering

and

very curious to see what

i;3

grimaces.

Freyja

was ; but her eyes

it

were so dazzled with the blaze of diamonds and

order

she was obliged

that

lanterns,

to

it

distinguish

go nearer

to

Accordingly, she

clearly.

walked on to where the four dwarfs were

and

Ohl

over their shoulders.

peeped

exquisitely worked!

Freyja drew

in

sitting,

brilliant!

bewildering!

back

blinded

almost

with

again

eyes; for she had looked upon the necklace Bri-

moment a

singamen, and at the same

passionate

wish burst forth in her heart to have

own, to wear

round

her

Freyja,

own

"is no

did so, and

through

"Life to

neck.

longer worth

but also looked

to wear

Valhalla,

fair

Then

singamen."

rang

in

it

cunningly at
into a

the

vaulted

it

for

her

always

me," said

having without Bri-

the dwarfs held

burst

it

it

out to her,

one another as they

laugh so loud that

caverns,

echoed back again from side to

side,

echoed

it

and

from dwarf

to dwarf, from depth to depth.

Freyja,

on one

however,

side,

only turned

her head a

little

stretched out her hand, grasped the

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

necklace with her small fingers, and then ran out
of

the cavern

quickly as ever she could,

as

There she

again to the green hill-side.

fitted

the

brilliant

still

tain

that

all

little

was near, and turned

She

exulting heart.

felt

was well with her; nevertheless,

Freyja was

come back

palace of

Folkvang, she sought her

that

she

to

cerall

When

well, but very miserable indeed.

apartments,

after

shyly at the reflection

pool that

homewards with an

was not

up
down and

ornament about her neck,

which she looked a

of herself in a

sat

Asgard again, and to her

might see

own

Odur

private

alone,

and

make him admire her necklace Brisingamen.

But
was
not there.
Odur
She searched in every
room, hither and thither ;
to

be found

in

any room or any

palace of Folkvang.
every place;
out,

among

She peered

restlessly

the

places of

wistfully,

he was not

hall

in

all

the

Freyja searched for him in

she walked
the

but alas

with

about,

"Roomy

sad eyes,

in

in

and

Seated."
the

face

of every guest ; but the only face she cared to see,

she never saw.

Odur was gone, gone back

for ever to the

home

THE WANDERINGS OF FREYJA.

of the Immortals.

175

Odur could

Brisingamen and

not live together in the palace of Folkvang.

But

Freyja did not know this; she did not know why
Odur was gone, nor where he was gone; she only

saw he was not

and

sadly,

and she wrung her hands

there,

watered

her

jewels

with

mourned

in

warm

salt,

tears.

As she
of her

said

thus and

palace,

by on

Some

sat

their

purpose.
raised

all

her head with a

something about
ment, which sank
the

encouraging, or

passed

Frigga

down

not

turn

^Esir,

at

her.

to

the

and she

all,

saying

and punish-

so deeply into the heart of

that she

listen

to

my

him thus

to

weeping,

away from me with a

my

got up

presenting herself

and,

Asa Odin, spoke

have searched through

ail

pride,

young Vana

before the throne of

much

severe shake,

and

with a desperate resolution,

"Father of

of

last

by
little

beauty,

sorrow-stricken

Asgard passed

and looked

some another; but no one

thing,

anything at

of

ladies

to Valhalla,

way

one

said

the

all

the entrance

cruel

and do

frown.

palace of Folkvang, and

through the city of Asgard, but nowhere

is

Odir

176

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

the Immortal to be found.

I

the earth, through the

me

Let

beseech you, and seek him

far

go, Father Odin,

and

near, across

over the sea, even to the

air,

borders of Jotunheim."

And Odin

answered,

"Go,

Freyja,

and

good

fortune go with you."

Then
chariot,

Freyja sprang into her

swift,

which was drawn by two

hand as she rose over the

city,

softly-rolling

cats,

waved her

and was gone.

THE WANDERINGS OF FREYJA.

PART IL
THE IRON WOOD

LOKI

THE

cats

champed

eager and

air

with

The

noiseless.

she went; they

and rippled
rivers,

land.

She

came

world, and drove

"But none of
for

ask

Odur,"
for

him

said
at

down from
behind

away
carried

rolled

down

weeping golden

fell

that

clinging steps,

swift,

chariot

Freyja was carried away up and

part of the world,

and skimmed

their bright bits,

over earth and

alike

A BOUNDLESS WASTE.

her

down

the
its

little

and weeping

beauty
to

greatest

wide

such

to

doors

herself;

as

city

every

wherever
cheeks,

sunshiny
to
in

every
the

streets.

the houses here are

Freyja

into

tears

her pale
in

and

on,

good enough
" I

these."

will

not

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

17 8

So she went

straight

on

the palace of the

to

king.

"Is Odur

in this palace?" she asked of the gate-

"Is

keeper.

the

Odur,

Immortal,

living

with

the king?"

But the gate-keeper shook

that his master

"Then
many

no one

had never even heard of such a person.

turned

Freyja

other
in

that great

and

away,

doors,

stately
all

and assured her

his head,

asking
city

so

knocked

at

Odur; but

for

much

as

knew

her husband's name.

Then Freyja went

and shabby
but

there

only,

"No

streets,

it

was

into

the

long,

narrow lanes

where the poor people

all

the

same;

lived,

every one

said

not here," and stared at her.

In the night-time Freyja went quite away from

the
off

city,

to

the

and

the

lanes,

side of a lake,

and looked over

and the

cottages,

far

lay

down

looked

there

where she

into the water.

By-and-bye the

moon came and

too,

and the Queen of Night saw a calm face

the

water,

serene

and high;

Beauty saw a troubled

face,

but the

frail

and

fair.

in

Queen of

THE WANDERINGS OF FREYJA.

was

Brisingamen

and

reflected

Freyja was pleased at

and

ornament,
but

tears;

around

At

the

of her

sight

deep

and

sky

favourite

midst of her
of

instead

moon,

too,

waves.

little

the

Bri-

were

stars

her.

last

her

fair

shape

crept

between

and he began

to

up

down

sat

lying,

head

side of

by the

Freyja slept

she was

which

Loki,

the

for

and then a dark

took

the

smiled even in the

as

singamen,

the

the water

in

flashed from

rare colours

its

179

the lake,

bank

the

beside

her,

and

It

was

hands.

its

on

whisper into Freyja's ear

as she slept

"You

were quite

and

out

to

try

right,

get

Svartheim, instead of

husband.
for

It

Freyja,

"he
for

something
staying at

said,

yourself

home

was very wise of you

to

"to go
in

with

your

care

more

your dress and your beauty than for Odur.

You

went down into Svartheim, and found Brisingamen.

Then

the

singamen
Freyja?
Freyja

Immortal went away; but

better

Why

then

do you

turned,

he?

Why

do

not

is

you

Bricry,

start so ?"

moaning,

and

tried

to

lift

her

TH& HEROES OF ASGARD.

i8o

head from between

and

seemed

it

his

in her

mare brooded over

"Erisingamen

clasp without

Then a
and

is

lay.

Loki

me

dragging
her

down,"

little

laugh burst

hand

it

forth

up

shuddering

caverns until

terrible night-

she cried

upon

the

knowing what she was doing.

great

came

if

her.

her sleep, and laid

in

hands; but she could not,

dream as

in

Svartheim,
vaulted

the

through

shook the ground upon which she

started

up,

and

was

before

gone

Freyja had time to open her eyes.

It

was morning, and the young Vana prepared

to set out

on her journey.

"Brisingamen
farewell to her
is

fair;

After

is

image

but I find
this,

it

Freyja

towns, and villages,

but there
could

tell

was

fair,"

not

in

she

said,

the lake.

as

bade

she

"Brisingamen

heavy sometimes."

went

to

cities,

everywhere for

asking

one

many

in

all

the

her where he was gone,

Odur;

world

and

and

at

who
last

her chariot rolled eastward and northward to the

very borders of Jotunheim.
for before

There Freyja stopped

her lay Jarnvid, the Iron

Wood, which

THE WANDERINGS OF FREYJA.

X 8i

was one road from earth to the abode of the

and whose
to

pull

down

entrance

the

the

to

tall

forest

Jarnvid was

sky with their iron claws.

the

an

sat

and

full

giants,

black and hard, were trying

trees,

Iron Witch,

her

with

towards

face

the

In

back

her

Vana

of the sons and daughters of this

were

Iron

Witch;

foxes,

and many-headed ravenous

they

"Eastward," croaked

wolves,

and

bears,

and

birds.

a raven

as

drew

Freyja

near
Eastward

The

and there she did

to

in the

Iron

Wood

old one sitteth ;*

sit,

her wolf-sons and

talking in quarrelsome tones

vulture-daughters,

who

an-

swered from the wood behind her, howling, screeching,

and screaming

was a horrible

din,

all

at the

same

time.

and Freyja began

her low voice would

never

There

to fear that

be heard.

She was

obliged to get out of her chariot, and walk close

up

to

the old

witch,

so that she

might whisper

in her ear.

"Can you tell me, old mother," she said, "where

"
Odur is ? Have you seen him pass this way ?

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

182

"I

word of what you are

don't understand one

saying," answered the iron

woman

no time

in

have

waste

to

" and

if I

did,

foolish

answering

questions."

Now, the

witch's

Freyja's heart,
pull

and she was not strong enough

to

knowing what she should do.

"You had
For

like daggers into

them out again; so she stood there a long

time, not

last;

words struck

"there's
this

better go," said the crone to her at

no use

was

the

Freyja

standing

there crying."

grandmother of strong-minded

women, and she hated

Then

in

got

tears.

into

her chariot

again,

and

went westward a long way to the wide, boundless

land where impenetrable forests were growing, and

undying nature reigned in

silence.

the silent Vidar was living there;

She knew that

for,

not finding

any pleasure in the gay society of Asgard, he had

obtained

permission

to this place.

haps he

will

"He

from
is

Father

one of the

Odin

to

^Esir,

and

retire

per-

be able to help me," said the sad-

hearted young Vana, as her chariot rolled on through

empty moor-lands and

forests,

always in

twilight

THE WANDERINGS OF FREYJA.

Her

no sound, her eye saw no living

but still she went on with a trembling

ear heard

shape

hope

till

she came to the spot

"

Begrown with branches

And high

grass,

Which was

Vidar was
as

silent

his

^3

there firm as an oak,

sitting

Long

night

long hau:,

Vidar's dwelling."

grass

each other over his eyes;

with

moss,

and

his

dewdrops

up through

grew

and the branches of

ears

and as

trees

crossed

were covered

glistened

upon

his

beard.

"It

"through

Freyja,
afraid

almost impossible to get to him," sighed

is

his

these

all

wet leaves, and I

moss-covered ears are very

deaf.'

am
But

down on the ground before him,

" Tell
me, Vidar, does Odur hide among

she threw herself

and
thick

said,

trees?

or

is

he wandering over the

broad

west lands?"

Vidar did not answer her

over his face, as

if

reflected

like sunshine breaking

"He

only a pale gleam shot

from that of Freyja,

through a

wood

does not hear me," said Freyja to

herself;

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

and

crushed

she

branches.

"Only

Odur here?"
no

nearer
tell

me,

him

through

the

Vidar," she said,

"is

to

But Vidar said nothing,

for

he had

voice.

Then Freyja
bitterly
last,

for

a long time.

looking

Iron Witch

hid her face in her lap, and wept

up,

"is

when one

no
is

"An
better
really

Asa," she said, at

to
in

one than

an

trouble;" and

then she gathered her disordered dress about her,

threw back
into her

wmy.

her

chariot,

long

bright hair,

and,

springing

once again went wearily on her

THE WANDERINGS OF FREYJA.

PART

IIL

THE KING OP THE SEA AND

AT

came

she

last

to

the

HIS DAUGHTERS.

wide

was gloriously

there everything

the

No

wind

stirred

and

sea-coast,

beautiful.

evening, and the western sky looked

crimson flower.

,85

like

It

was

a broad

the ocean,

but

small waves rippled in rose-coloured froth on

the shore, like the smiles of a giant at play.

^Egir,

the

old

breast,

and

sea-king,

the

the sand, whilst

his ears

drank

himself

on

were laving

his

supported

cool waters

their sweet

murmur;

for

nine waves were his beautiful daughters, and they

and

their

though

father

^Egir

were

talking

together.

looked so stormy and

really as gentle

as a child,

old,

Now,
he was

and no mischief would

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

186

ever have happened

been

so

in

was
fond

eagerly

husband, she used

that

she

to

steal

had

he

catch

of a

daughter

wife,

giant,

that,

whenever

call

upon her

out of the deep sea-

and follow ships

her

dragging

water,

might

the

of fishing

caves where she lived,

the

if

kingdom

winds came to

any of the rough

under

his

But he had a cruel

himself.

Ran, who

called

and

to

left

any

net

who

one

for miles

after

her,

fell

so

over-

board.

Freyja wandered along

place where the Sea

the

shore

King was

went she heard him speaking to

"What

And

the

"Freyja

happy

is

and as she

his daughters.

wave answered,

in Asgard.

Then

the

the history of Freyja?" he asked.

first
is

lying,

towards

fair

young Vana,

who once was

"

the second wave said,

"But she

left

her

fair

palace there, and Odur,

her Immortal Love."

Third wave,
" She went down to the cavern of dwarfs."
Fourth wave,

THE WANDERINGS OF FREYJA.

"She found Brisingamen

and

there,

carried

it

away with her."

Fifth wave,

" But when she

got back to Folkvang she found
that Odur was gone."
Sixth wave,

"Because

Vana

the

had

loved

herself

more

for

Odur

than Immortal Love."

Seventh wave,
never

will

"Freyja
will

be

happy

again,

never come back."

Eighth wave,

"Odur

never

will

come back

as

long

as the

world shall last"

Ninth wave,

"Odur

never

will

return,

nor

Freyja

forget

to weep."

Freyja

stood

when she heard

never

come

still,

spell-bound,

she

back,

wrung

and

listening,

the last words, that

her

Odur would
hands,

and

cried,

"

O, Father ^Egir

up from a wide

sea,

trouble comes,

wave over wave,

comes surging
into

my

souL H

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

!88

And

in truth

seemed as

it

over

was

wave
seen

^gir

rose

higher

shouted,

and
in

and

dashed

little

^Esir

sea

deep

and night

upon

fell

down exhausted

until her

kind daughter,

home

After this the beautiful

Vana

came and

lived in her palace of Folkvang,

sisters,

old

carried her

Siofna,

again in her arms.

Ran

distance

the

into

sank

Freyja

on the sand, where she lay

the sleepy

wave

louder

spoke

confusion,

Then

storm.

her words had power

her net in the

dragging

and sky mixed

the

if

whole surface of the ocean

change the

to

with friends and

and Asyniur, but Odur did not

return,

nor Freyja forget to weep.

Freyja,

as

she

appears

in

the

Edda,

goddess of the beautiful year and of

love.

The

extremely obscure
is

of her

story
;

it

is

marriage

all

with

was the
sorts

of

Odur

is

even thought that Odur

only a form of Odin, and, in like manner, that

Freyja and Frigga are very intimately connected.

Frig^a was the patroness of married love, of the

happiness and duties of the

home

(originally,

she

THE WANDERINGS OF FREYJA.

and Freyja and

the great goddesses were probably

all

personifications of the earth)

of love,

less

is

189

but Freyja, as goddess

in idea than Frigga, she

developed

has more of the nature goddess, less of the

She was said to divide the

in her.

woman

spoil with

Odin

in battle, taking half the slain for herself

and leaving

him the other

her having

been

at

half,

one time

which

points

to

and sharing

his wife

all

with him.

Supposing her to have been the beautiful year, or

rather

during the beautiful part of

earth

the

the

year, Odur leaving her would imply the beginning

of the shortening of the days at midsummer.

source of

golden
leaves
gifts

summer

and

Summer

flies,

Do

tears.

seeks

The

him weeping

mean Autumn's golden

these

falling fruits? or that the Sun's beautiful

must ever follow him.

This myth of Summer's source, the Sun, declining

from the year has,

Odur because

it

it

supposed, been given to

is

was not important enough

to the greatest of the gods, although

wrapped up

Odin

are

in his nature,

identical

"Every mythology

in
tells

it

to belong

was really

and the names Odur and

German.
us

of

the

Simrock
death

says,

of the

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

190

like the flight

beautiful part of the year

who

mourned by

is

Looked

from

at

or

his

we

point of view,

this

earth vaunting

summerly

wife

his

and decking

of a god,
beloved."
see

the

herself with

her richest jewels in the deepest pride of her delight

at the very

moment when

stealing away from

is

earth,

the spirit of her existence

The summer - decked

her.

without the sun of her

But

life,

is

soulless,

has

must be confessed that the

become

mortal.

Edda

very obscure about Brisingamen, and does

is

it

not mention the necklace in connection with Odur*s

The

departure.

wolves

Iron Witch was the mother of two

who devoured

Ragnarok, she

is

not mentioned in

Freyja, but in another

that

Freyja's

tears

some

We

star

shall

lay.

may be

character of Aurora
for

the sun and

It

the
the

moon

at

myth of

has been suggested

dew, and she in

the

when she sheds them, weeping

god of the night

now

hear the story of Iduna

a dwarfs

daughter, the wife of Bragi and goddess of Spring,

the renewing of

life.

IDUNA S APPLES.

CHAPTER

191

V.

IDUNA'S APPLES.

PART L
REFLECTIONS IN THE WATER

OF

all

the groves and gardens round the city of

Asgard
was
the

and they were many and

none so

wife of Bragi,

side of the

called

hill,

the one

as

lived.

It

where Iduna,

stood on the south

not far from Gladsheim, and

"Always Young," because nothing

there could

older than
it

beautiful

The

colour, as

ever decay,
it

there

beautiful

or

become the

it

was

that grew
least

bit

was on the day when Iduna entered

trees

wore

the hedges

always a tender, light green

do

in

spring.

The

flowers

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

ig 2

were mostly half-opened, and every blade of grass

bore

always a trembling, glittering drop

dew.

Brisk

winds wandered about the grove,

little

the leaves dance from morning

making

of early

till

night

and swaying backwards and forwards the heads of

the flowers.

"
"
" Blow
away 1 said the leaves to the wind, for

we

never be tired."

shall

"And

you

And

in answer.

and

never be old,

will

sang,

"Never

tired

and never old."

Iduna, the mistress of the grove, was

among young
flowers.

and tender

birds,

She was so

that

fair

the stupid fish

stood

still

in

leaves,

come

the

destroy so beautiful an image by

and when she

for the
it

swans to

held
eat,

from a water-lily

Iduna never
to her

nearest

left

it

fit

to live

and spring

when she bent over

the river to entice her swans to

it;

winds

the

said

then the birds took up the chorus

out her

to her, even

water,

afraid

swimming

to

over

hand with bread

you would not have known

was so wonderfully white.

her grove even to pay a

neighbour,

and

yet

she did

visit

not

WUNA'S APPLES.
means a

lead by any

company of her husband,

the

Bragi,

been an entertaining person to

is

to

who must have

live

he

with; for

have known a story which never came

said to

an end, and yet which never grew wearisome.

All the heroes of

Asgard made a point of coming

upon her every day.

to call

that they should like to

and so
it

besides having

dull life; for,

a lady; and

fair

was not quite to see

It

was natural enough

visit

so beautiful a grove

yet,

to confess the truth,

Iduna

either the grove or

that they came.

Iduna

when her
she

her,

innermost
casket,

guests

was

herself
visitors

never

to

had a

of

and

this,

bring

from

out

bower a certain

request,

think

had tasted her apples,

self,

to

of her

would not

aware

had chatted a short time with

failed

recess

and

well

as

of

going away

which,

her

till

they

flattered

her-

than any other

better flavour

golden

that

favour,

she

the

fruit

in

the world.
It

would

Asgard to
sides,

have

been

have refused

Iduna

was

not

quite

such
as

far

unlike

courtesy;

wrong

hero

of

and,

be-

about

her

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

194

as

apples

hostesses

when

are,

generally

they

boast of the good things on their tables.

There

no

is

flavour; and

be

to

or a
it

cross,

or

tired,

that,

into

soon

as

happy as he had

and

vigorous,

and

fresh,

been

ever

them

in

difficulty

request; she had

casket another

Iduna
it

no

as

surely

could

and

apples,

to

their

daily

them

one or two,

against the fatigues of the way.

Iduna had no

as

them

Iduna to give

requesting

to fortify

she

had

they never went on a journey with-

that

comfort,

till

bower,

he

life.

necessary did they think

for

the

as

So fond were the heroes of these

out

spirits,

one apple, he found himself as

eaten

so

happened
of

out

little

when he came

followed

always

his

any one of the heroes

little

little

apples had a peculiar

doubt her

if

fell

this

fear of her store ever failing.

she

never

complying with

in

in;

took

an

apple

but where

She

discover.

from

came

it

never

her

from

saw

it

was close to the bottom of the casket; but

always

made when

heard
it

the

touched

sweet
the

tinkling

golden

rim.

sound
It

it

was

IDUNA GIVING THE MAGIC APPLES.

Page

195.

IDUNA'S APPLES.
as

good as play

taking

the

Iduna to stand by her

to

apples

come

ones

rosy

195

and watching

out,

tumbling

without

in,

casket,

the

fresh

knowing

who threw them.

One

spring morning Iduna was very busy taking

apples out of her casket

for several of the heroes

were taking advantage of the fine weather to journey

Bragi was going from

out into the world.

perhaps he was tired of

a time;

for

story only to Iduna,

to

know

his

by heart; and Odin, Loki, and Hoenir

it

venture would

any entertaining ad-

When

they had

and taken a tender

received their apples,

grove

looked, perhaps, a

if

them.

befall

the

tour in the direction

little

of Jotunheim, just to see

Iduna,

telling

and perhaps she was beginning

had agreed to take a

of

home

and

green

fair

as

all

farewell
it

was

little solitary.

Iduna stood by her fountain, watching the bright

water as

and

it

danced up into the

and

turned,

little

flashing

grew

tired,

and

fell

circles

back,

in

air

and quivered,

making a hundred

the river;

and then she

for

once,

of the li^ht and the noise,

wandered

down

to

still

place,

where the

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

196

was shaded by low bushes on each

river

side,

and

reflected clearly the blue sky overhead.

Iduna

down and looked

sat

own

Besides her
ing,

into the

face there were

fair

deep water.

little,

wander-

white clouds to be seen reflected there.

counted them as they sailed

strange

water

form

was

reflected

dark,

large,

a head with

past.

up

to

lowering wings,

Iduna started and raised her head.

same head

the

as well as

sky,

had never

same wings

looking

up from the

looked,

and went up, up, up,

from the

pointed claws,

th
till it

It

the

down from
water.

been seen near Asgard

Iduna

while

her

looking at her.

fierce eyes

as well as below; the

She

At length a

was above

same eyes
the

blue

Such a

sight

before;

and,

thing waved

its

wings,

lessened to a dark spot

in the clouds and on the river.

It

was no longer

shook
fell

its

terrible to

wings a number of

look at; but, as

little

it

black feathers

from them, and flew down towards the grove.

As they neared

the

trees,

they no longer looked

like feathers

each had two independent wings and

a head of

own; they were,

its

in fact, a

swarm

of

IDUNA S APPLES.
Nervous Apprehensions;

197

troublesome

little

insects

enough, and well-known elsewhere, but which now,

for the first time,

Iduna ran
off;

found

their

away from

she fought quite

them;

bravely

they are

by no means easy

when, at

last,

dress,

known

feeling
to

into the grove.

them;

but

get rid of;

and

against
to

itself

thrilled

down
there

it

folds

of her

to her heart, a new,

any dweller in Asgard.

know what to make of

them

she shook

one crept within the

and twisted

strange

way

feeling

never yet

Iduna did not

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

198

PARTH.
THE WINGED-GIANT.
IN

meantime Odin, Loki, and

the

They

particular quest

pro-

They were not bound

ceeded on their journey.

on any

Hcenir

strayed

hither

and

thither that

Odin might see that things were going

on well

the world, and his subjects comporting

in

themselves

and

then

in

they

becoming
halted

Every now

manner.

while

Odin

inspected

the

thatching of a barn, or stood at the smithy to see

how
to

the smith wielded his hammer, or in a furrow

observe

share
said

if

the

ploughman guided

evenly through the

if

might;

soil.

his

the

workman was working with

and

he

turned

away,

plough-

"Well done," he

leaving

all

hit

something

IDUNA 'S APPLES.

behind him, a straw in the barn, a piece of old
iron at the forge-door, a grain in the furrow
to look at

the

nothing

but ever after the barn was always

went

never

forge-fire

out,

the

field

full,

yielded

bountifully.

Towards noon the JEsir reached a shady

and, feeling
sit

down under a

studied a

valley,

and hungry, Odin proposed to

tired

tree,

and while he rested and

book of runes which he had with him,

he requested Loki and

Hoenir

to

prepare

some

dinner.

"I

undertake the meat and the

will

said

fire,"

"you, Loki, will like nothing better than

Hoenir;

foraging about for what good things you can pick up."

"That

which

is

precisely

"There

Loki.

what I mean

to

with

my

cunning,

have the best of

before your

fire is

all

the

if I

this

to

tree

burnt up."
stone in his hand,

and immediately he assumed the shape of a

In

be

It will

do not contrive

dishes under

As Loki spoke he turned a

black cat

said

do,"

farm-house near here, from

can perceive a savoury smell.

strange,

is

this

form he

large

stole in at the kitchen-

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

too

window of a farm-house, where a busy housewife

was intent on taking pies and cakes from a deep
oven, and ranging them on a dresser

Loki watched

window.

under

his opportunity,

the

and when-

ever the mistress's back was turned he whisked a

cake or a pie out of the window.

"One,

two, three.

there

Why,

fewer every

are

time I bring a fresh one from the oven !"

the

bewildered

cat

I see the

housewife.

end of her

Out of the window

a stone
a

thin

that

on the

tail

thieving

window-sill."

leant the housewife

to

throw

but she could see nothing but

at the cat,

cow

"It's

cried

trespassing in her garden;

and when

she ran out with a stick to drive away the cow,

it,

too,

had vanished, and an old

young ones, was

The
pies

raven, with

six

flying over the garden-hedge.

raven was

Loki, the

little

and when he reached the

ones were the

valley,

and changed

himself and them into their proper shapes, he had

a hearty laugh

at

>us

own

cleverness,

and

at

the

old woman's dismay.

" Well
done, Loki, king of thieves," said a chorus

of foxes,

who peeped

out of their holes to see the

IDUNAS APPLES.
only one of the ^Esir whose conduct they could

but Odin, when he heard of

appreciate;

very

from

far

He

done.

well

it

thinking

was

it,

was

extremely displeased with Loki for having disgraced

himself by such

"It
well
it

is

mean
he

true/'

be glad to

tricks.

said,

furnish

"that

me

my

with

should be done knowingly.

all

subjects

may

I require, but

Return to the farm-

house, and place these three black stones on the

whence you

table from

Loki

unwilling as

stole the provisions."

he was to do anything

believed likely to bring good to others

to

He made

obey.

he

was obliged

himself into the shape of a

white owl, flew once more

through

the window,

and dropped the stones out of his beak; they

sank deep into the table, and looked like three
black stains on the white deal-board.

From
there

that

time the housewife led an easy

no

was

need

for

her

mix dough, or prepare meat

kitchen

at

what

time

of

to

grind

corn,

or

Let her enter hei

day she would, stores

of provisions stood smoking hot on the table.

kept her

life;

own counsel about

o

it,

She

and enjoyed the

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

102

reputation

of being

keeper in

the whole

most

the

economical housebut one thing

country-side;

disturbed her mind, and prevented her thoroughly

enjoying the envy and wonder of the neighbouring

All the rubbing, and brushing, and clean-

wives.

the

in

ing

black

stains

would

world

from her

not

remove

kitchen table,

the

and

three
as

she

had no cooking to do, she spent the greater part

of her time in looking at them.

"If they were but gone," she

times every day,
is

"I

a hundred

should be content;

one to enjoy one's

the stains off one's

said,

own

how

but

when one cannot rub

life

table ?

"

Perhaps Loki foresaw how the good wife would

use her gift;

for

he came

house in the best

Father

Odin's

he said

been

see

"We

spirits.

permission,

sit

will

down

the

farm-

now,

with

to

dinner,"

" for
surely, brother Hcenir, while I have

making

so

have been doing

I

back from

many

journeys to and

something

with

that

blazing so fiercely, and with

fro,

fire

that

you

which

old iron

pot smoking over it"

"The

meat

will

be by

this

time

ready,

no

IDUNA'S APPLES.
"

Hcenir.

doubt," said

some time stewing

The

now

-#Lsir

and Hcenir

up

steam rose up from

meat

the

he

first

"

it

it

put

when

but

it;

said

in

for

he

fire,

thick

took

out

when

as

into the pot.

and Odin again took

Hcenir ;

Another hour passed, and

Hcenir again took off the

was

now

of the pot.

lid

was as red and uncooked

Patience,"

it

ox while

wild

has been

themselves near the

the

out his book of Runes.

but

it

the pot."

in

seated

lifted

killed

you were away, and part of

203

and looked

lid,

precisely the

same

This happened several times,

ning Loki was puzzled;
noise was heard

at the meat;

state

as

and even

before.

the

cun-

when, suddenly, a strange

coming from a

tree near, and, look-

ing up, they saw an enormous human-headed eagle

seated on one of the branches, and looking at them

with two fierce eyes.

"Give me

my

While they looked

share of the feast,"

it

it

said,

spoke.

"and

the meat shall presently be done."

"
Come down and take it it lies before you,"
said

eyes

Loki,
;

for

while

he saw

Odin looked on with thoughtful

plainly

that

it

was

no mortal

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

204

who had

bird

the boldness to claim a share

in

the ^Esir's food.

looks, the

Undaunted by Odin's majestic

eagle

flew down, and, seizing a large piece of meat,

going to

away with

fly

it,

he had now got the bird in

it

The

found that

made a

stick

when Loki

fell; but,

thinking

took up a

his power,

and struck a hard blow on the

stick that lay near,

eagle's back.

when Loki,

was

tried to

ringing sound as

draw

it

back, he

stuck with extraordinary force to the

it

back; neither could he withdraw his own

eagle's

hands from the other end.

like

Something

dragging Loki

"It

like

enormous

bulk

Thiassi, the

"it

heim,

who has presumed

is

into

the

it

air,

brought
strongest
to

out

he saw the
the

against

giant in Jotun-

show himself

in

our

Loki has only received the reward of

presence.

his treachery,

in

up

and then

after.

sky;

fere

mouth;

as I thought," said Odin, as

is

eagle's

dark wings and rose

its

spread

a laugh came from the creature's

half - bird

half -human,

his

and

it

behalf;

would ill-become us to
but,

as

the monster

is

inter-

near,

IDUNAS APPLES.
it

be well

will

205

for us to return to Asgard, lest

any

misfortune should befall the city in our absence."

While

Odin

the

spoke,

had

creature

winged

risen

up so high as to be invisible even to

eyes

of the

and,

^Esir;

return

their

during

them

Asgard, he did not again appear before

as they

approached the gates of the

to
but,

they were

city,

He

coming to meet them.

surprised to see Loki

had a

the

and bewildered look; and when

crest-fallen

they questioned him as to what had happened to

him since they parted

declared himself

account

further

had
giant,

such a strange way, he

in

be quite unable

to

of his

adventures

to

been carried rapidly through the

and,

at

down

thrown

last,

any

give

than

he

that

air

by the
a

from

great

height near the place where the ^Esir met him.

Odin

looked

but he forbore

steadfastly

to

question him

knew

well that there

truth

from

Loki,

and

must follow a

evil-doers as Loki

further:

spoke,
for

he

was no hope of hearing the

mind the conviction he

result

him as he

at

he
felt

kept
that

meeting

and the

within

some

between

giant Thiassi

his

own

disastrous

two

such

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

206

That evening, when the ^Esir were

and

Loki

of Valhalla,

went alone to
a

bright

still,

moved

each

to

water,

head

feasting

out from Gladsheim, and

stole

visit

Iduna

her grove.

in

The

evening.

of

leaves

It

the

was
trees

up and down, whispering sweet words

softly

nodded

all

to each other in the great hall

telling stories

other;

the

sleepily

to

and Iduna
in

resting

with

flowers,

own

their

sat

one

by the
hand,

half-shut

fountain,

thinking

eyes,

in

the

with

her

reflections

of pleasant

flings.

"It

am

is

afl

very

such pleasant

lives.

It

me

does not do

or cure the pain I have had so long in

Loki's
fell

"but

thought Loki;

well,"

not the happier because people can here

long shadow

on the

Iduna

water

only

kindly; for

he

the

much

Loki, she

heart"

and made

approached,

in the

any good,

my

sun was setting

She remembered the

start

disturbed her so

she saw

as

for

live

sight

that

had

morning; but when

looked

up

and

smiled

he had often accompanied the other

JEsir in their visits to her grove.

"I am wearied with a long journey,"

said Loki

IDUNAS APPLES.
"and

abruptly,

me

to refresh

by Iduna's

would eat one of your apples

my

after

eat

it,

he turned

tently

to

unwilling

warmly, or beginning

and

her

to

air.

he

after

said,

apple for some time,

are but small

in

her surprise,

round and round in his hand

it

true then,"

the

at

To

apple.

of thanking her

is

casket stood

and she immediately put

side,

with a contemptuous

"It

The

fatigue."

hand and gave Loki an

instead

207

looking

in-

"your apples

withered in comparison.

was

now

can

believe

at

it

but

first,

doubt no longer."

"Small

withered I*

Asa

Nay,

hastily.

versed

and

Odin

the whole world,

said

himself,

Iduna,

who

me

assures

has

rising
tra-

that he has

never seen any to be compared to them."

"That
Loki; "for
a

tree, in

grow

never

will
this

said

very afternoon

a grove not

apples so

be

far

beautiful

again,"
I

have discovered

from Asgard, on which

that

no

one who

seen them will ever care again for yours.

"I do not wish

Iduna,

trying

to

to

turn

returned

has

see or hear of them," said

away

with

an

indifferent

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

208

Loki

but

air;

followed

and

her,

speak more and more strongly

new

this

fruit,

her

all

refused to

guests

her

her and of her

for

began

Bragi

At

gifts.

beauty of

when she found

listen

deserting

and when even

of the

to

Iduna would be sorry

hinting that

she had

that

continued

this

to

new

the

think

grove,

lightly of

Iduna sighed, and

Loki came up close to her, and whispered in her

ear,

" It

is

but a short way

Come

sun has not yet set

and the

from Asgard,

out with me, and, be-

fore any one else has seen the apples, you shall

gather them,

no woman

put them in your

and

ever

shall

have

it

casket,

her

in

and

power to

boast that she can feast the ^Esir more sumptuously

n
than Iduna.

Now

Iduna

had often been cautioned by her

husband never to
the grove,

and

that

she

here,

anything tempt her to leave

let

had

she

thought

always
there

been

was

so

no

happy
use

in

his telling her the

same thing so often over; but

now her mind was

so

tiful

fruit,

and

she

full

felt

of the wonderfully beau-

such a burning

wish

to

ID UNA S APPLES.
1

get

that

for herself,

it

she quite forgot

her

hus-

band's commands.

"It

only a

is

Loki

as

and,

way," she said to

no harm

"there can be

once;"

little

in

went

on

show her the way

to

this

her,

she

hastily,

and

urging

took up her casket from the ground

begged him

herself;

out just

going

to

this

other

Loki walked very quickly, and Idun had

grove.

not time to collect her thoughts before she found

entrance of Always

the

herself at

gate she would gladly have

Young. At the

stopped a minute to

take breath; but Loki took hold of her hand, and

forced her

moment

but

if

the

all

back, Iduna

it

though, at

through,

trees

out in alarm, "

called

come

pass

of passing, she half drew back

her as

to

to

was too

"
!

for

it

seemed

the

grove suddenly

back,

come back, Oh,

in

Come

the very

She half drew back her hand,

late; the gate fell

behind her, and

she and Loki stood together without the grove.

The

trees rose

sun, and

they stood;

cheek, and

up between them and the

setting

a deep shadow on the place where

cast

cold,

made her

night
shiver.

air

blew

on

Iduna's

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

210

"Let us hasten

she

on,"

to

said

come back

us hasten on, and soon

again."

But Loki was not looking on,

Iduna

up.

he was looking

raised her eyes in the direction of his,

and her heart died within her;

for

had

she

over her head, just as

there, high

seen

the fierce

moment
lower,

head, looking

stood

it

the sharp

For one

at her.

above her head, and then

still

lower,

lower,

up
the

in

it

morning, hung the lowering, dark wings

talons

"let

Loki;

shadow

the huge

and,

fell;

before Idun found breath to speak, the dark wings

were

up

in

round

folded
the

her,

and she was borne high

northwards,

air,

towards the

that hangs over Jotunheim.

was out of

The presence
him;
release

he

for

and

sight,

of the
had,

by promising

casket into

his

then
giant

in

to

power;

truth,

Loki watched
returned

was

no

to

she

till

Asgard.

wonder

purchased

deliver
but,

grey mist

his

to

own

up Iduna and her

as he returned

alone

through the grove, a foreboding fear pressed on his

mind.

"If

it

should be true," he thought, "thatlduna's

apples have

the

wonderful power Odin

attributes

WUNA'S APPLES.
to

them!

if I

among

should

the rest

from

suffer

the loss!"

Occupied with these thoughts, he passed quickly

the trees, keeping his

among

He

on the ground.
around
fancied

for once,
that,

dare not trust himself to look

when he had

gliding

had seen the

daughter Hela.

eyes resolutely fixed

through

dark robes

raised his head, he

the

brushwood,

and pale

face

of

he
his

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

312

PART

IH.

HELA.

WHEN

it

was known

Iduna had disappeared

that

from her grove, there were

in Asgard,
for her.

he

every

had a

day,

his evil

sorrowful

questions, as

secret fear

that now,

at

that

of wearing

away,

one

face,

else;

stronger

the consequence of

last,

ways would find him

any

became

out.

Days passed on, and the looks of

-dSsir.

faces

Loki walked about with as grave a

and asked as many

but

many

and anxious voices were heard inquiring

care,

instead

deepened on the faces

of the

They met, and looked

turned away sighing;

at each other,

and

each saw that some strange

change was creeping over

all

the others,

and none

WUNA 'S APPLES.

to be the

liked

very

no

gradually

to speak of it

first

little

change

came on

It

every

and

day,

The

ever

passing

without

leaves of the

trees in

Iduna's grove deepened in

day

colour.

They

glowing

when the

red,

"Let us
tired, tired,

The

became a sombre
at last,

and,

every day more

where

the ^Esir

back again, and blew

are

we

tired,

tired,"

are

old;

sat,

all

and

all

it

"We

are

new sound

round the banquet-

and

then they rushed

said the leaves again;

we

"we

are

are going to die;" and at

the trees

one by one,

fluttered to the ground, glad to rest

the winds,

to

through the grove.

the word they broke from

and

about,

tired."

winds, surprised, carried the

"We

and

languidly.

alone," they said at length.

Gladsheim, and whispered

hall

green, then

a pale brown;

came and blew them

brisk winds

moved

they

first

the change.

having

nothing

back to Gladsheim with the

else

to

last strange

anywhere;
do,

went

word they

had learned.

The
there

^Esir were all

were

no

stories

assembled in Valhalla; but

told,

and

no songs sung.

2T4

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

No

one spoke much but Loki, and he was

day

in

to

a talking humour.

another,

He moved

from one

unwelcome

word

in

Frigga?"

he

an

whispering

ear.

every

"Have you

your mother

noticed

"Do

said to Baldur.

you see how white her

growing, and what a number of deep

is

printed

"Look

to Frey.

Freyja and your friend Baldur," he

and

lately

Who

and Freyja the

"You
to

would think

woman were

faded

that

moaned

the great

halls,

you

the

and

time,

day

that

of

over

man

Baldur the beautiful

are old

new

her

in

coming
all

you are

Then they
guest

had

fitness

on

all

going

round

and out of the

the ^Esir

at the table of the ^Esir.

question
for

sound.

sad

"as they

that that pale

the winds, wandering

hundred doorways, and

at

said,

fair?

are tired

die,"

at your sister

What a change has come

opposite to us.

sit

hair

lines are

on her face?"

Then he turned

them

that

saw,

seated

looked

up

the

first

herself

that

for

There could be no
the score of royalty,

a crown rested on her brow, and in her hand

IDVNA'S APPLES.
she held a sceptre;

but the fingers that grasped

and

sceptre were white

the

the crown

looked

215

and under

fleshless,

face of

the threatening

Hela,

half corpse, half queen.

great fear

and

on

fell

the ^Esir as they looked,

all

only Odin found

"Dreadful

voice

Loki!"

of

daughter

to

to

her.

said,

"by

speak

he

what warrant do you dare to leave the kingdom

where I permit you to
place

your
for

who

^Esir,

to

take

no mates

are

such as you?"

Then Hela
one

by

"White
limbs,

raised her

she

hair,"

dull

eyes

sit

you,

among

you that

my

kingdom."

signs,

are

from

am

as

that

"wrinkled

said,

these

me

finger,

guests

the ^Esir.

by these

tell

bony

the

to

one,

have summoned
to

the

among

and come

reign,

the

the
I

my

and pointed,
round.

sat
faces,

weary

warrants

which

land

of shadows

have come to claim

future

guests,

and

to

preparing a place for you in

At every word she spoke a gust of icy wind

came from her mouth and froze the blood in the
listeners'

veins.

If

she

had stayed

moment

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

216

longer they would have stiffened into stone

but

when she had spoken thus, she rose and left the
hall, and the sighing winds went out with her.
a long silence, Bragi stood up and

after

Then,
spoke.

"-dEsir,"

he

"We

said,

are to blame.

now many months since Idun was

from us; we have mourned for her,
is

not

her

yet avenged

ceased to be warriors and ^Esir.

Idun

unless

returns,

journey to the
to

neglected

Norns

for

we have
liberty,

they

At

and

where she

fitting

Let

us a
us,

we had

two of us

which we have so long

things
is,

we

for us

we

from the

and then, when

will

die;

for

than to

fight for her

that will
sit

be

here and

away under the breath of Hela."

these words of Bragi the ^Esir

of their old strength and courage.

of

if

enquire of her
all

till

left

It is plain that,

are lost

fount,

know

need be,

an end more
wither

Urda

visit,

learnt

if

we

away

come over

looking on each other as

sit

It

we have

but

Since she

loss.

strange weariness and despair have

and we

carried

Bragi's

proposal,

and

decreed

felt

a revival

Odin approved
that

he

and

Baldur should undertake the journey to the dwell-

'S

ing-place of the
set forth;

for

Hela's

had no time to
It

Norns.
visit

APPLES.

That very evening they

showed them

was a weary time to the dwellers

while they were

that

they

lose.

absent

Two new

taken up their abode in the

city,

in

Asgard

citizens

had

Age and Pain.

They walked the streets hand-in-hand, and there

was no use in shutting the doors against them \ for
however closely the entrance was barred, the dwellen
in the houses felt

them as they passed.

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

2i8

PART

IV.

THROUGH FLOOD AND

AT

Baldur

length,

and

Bragi

FIRE.

in

Loki's treacherous conduct to the ^sir,

It revealed

and declared

Idun could only be brought back by

who must go

the

words,

mystic

which Odin alone could understand.

that

with

returned

answer of the Norns, couched

Loki,

in search of her, clothed in Freyja's

garments of falcon feathers.

Loki was very unwilling to venture on such a

search
if

but Thor threatened him with instant death

he refused to obey Odin's commands, or

to bring

back Idflna;

was obliged
wings

to

to

his

and, for his

own

failed

safety

he

allow Freyja to fasten the falcon

shoulders,

and to

set

off

towards

1DUNAS APPLES.

3x9

where he well knew

Thiassi's castle in Jotunheim,

Iduna was imprisoned.

that

was called a castle; but

It

was, in reality, a

it

hollow in a dark rock; the sea broke against two

of it;

sides

above, the sea-birds clamoured

and,

day and night

There the giant had taken Iduna on the night

on which she had

her grove; and, fearing

left

lest

Odin should spy her from Air Throne, he had shut

her up in a

gloomy chamber, and

her ever to

come out

from

up

perhaps,

the
it

fresh

was

It

safer

was hard

and

air

to

sunshine;

Idun

for

strictly

than

if

forbidden

be shut

and

yet,

she

had

been allowed to wander about Jotunheim, and see

the

monstrous

sights

that

would

have met her

there.

She saw
servants,

her;

nothing

whom

and

but

Thiassi

himself and his

he had commanded to attend upon

they,

being

curious to

see a stranger

from a distant land, came in and out many times

every day.

They were
and,

at

first,

fair,
it

Iduna saw

relieved

fair

and

smiling;

her to see such pleasant

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

220

faces

round her, when she had expected something

horrible.

"Pity me!" she used

me

my

to

say

them; "pity

my home and

have been torn away from

to

husband, and I see no hope of ever getting

back."

And

she looked earnestly at them

but their

pleasant faces never changed, and there was always

however

same smile on

At

Idun

bitterly

length

them, saw,

be

might

the

weeping

then* lips.

Iduna,

more

looking

when they turned

that they were hollow

narrowly

behind; they were, in

Ellewomen, who have no

at

backs to her,

their

truth,

and can never

hearts,

pity any one,

After Iduna saw this she

looked

their smiling faces, but turned

wept

It

silently.

is

Ellewomen when one

Every day
Iduna's door.
yet,"

he

used

Something
take

much

the

"
to

very

no

more

at

away her head and

sad

to

live

among

in trouble.

is

came and thundered

giant

at

Have you made up your mind

say,

dreadful

"to give

will

happen

longer to think of it

me
to

the apples?

you

if

you

Iduna trembled

1DUNAS APPLES.
much

very

every day, but

"No; "for

to say,

she had

still

knew

she

a2 l

strength

that the most dreadful

thing would be for her to give to a wicked giant

the

gifts

had been entrusted

that

The

use of the ^Esur.

the

by

apples

he put
from

his

force

hand

beneath

if

giant

to her for the

would

he could;

have

but,

into the casket, the fruit slipped

his

of a pea, and hid

fingers,
itself

shrivelled

into

again

little

to

its

white

own

hand

size,

and

touched
this

do while the giant was with

it,

only when
it

for

the smiling Ellewomen

So the days

her.

if

swelled

she would never

passed on, and Iduna would have died

among

the size

in crevices of the casket

where his great fingers could not come

Iduna's

taken

whenever

it

of grief

had not been

the moaning sound of the sea and the

cry of the birds; "for, however others

"
these pity me,
she used to say, and

music to

may
it

wild
smile,

was

like

her.

One morning when she knew that the giant

had gone out, and when the Ellewomen had left
her alone, she stood for a long time at her window

by the

sea,

watching

the

mermaids

floating

up

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

222

and down on the

with

their

were

sad

waves, and looking at heaven

She

blue eyes.

because

mourning

knew

that

they

no

souls,

and

they had

she thought within herself that even in prison

was better

to

belong to the

Msu

it

than to be a

mermaid or an Ellewoman, were they ever so

free

or happy.

While she was

she heard her

still

name

occupied with these thoughts

spoken, and a bird with large

wings flew in at the window, and, smoothing

feathers,

stood upright before her.

in Freyja's

understand in a
her

free,

It

garment of feathers, and he

moment

that

her
set

He

to lose.
in

her

bosom, and then he said a few words over

her,

her to

told

conceal

her

was Loki

made

he had come to

and that there was no time

its

casket carefully

and she found herself changed into a sparrow, with

the

casket

fastened

among

the

feathers

of

her

breast.

Then Loki spread

his

wings

once

more, and

flew

out of the window, and Iduna followed him.

The

sea-wind blew cold and rough, and her

wings

fluttered

with

fear;

but

she

struck

little

them

IDVNA'S APPLES.

bravely out into

the

air

and

flew

an arrow

like

over the water.

" This

word gave her

the

far

gone

"

lies

way

when a sound was heard above

had put on

after

them.

three

flew

call

five

not

the sea,

of the sea-birds.

Thi-

and was

flying

his eagle plumage,

For

and

Loki,

But they had

strength.

and the wind, and the

assi

cried

Asgard,

days and

five

nights

the

over the water that divides Jotunheim

from Asgard, and, at the end of every day, they

were

closer

together,

for

the

giant

was

gaining

on the other two.

All

the five days the dwellers in Asgard stood

on the walls of the

city watching.

On

the sixth

evening they saw a falcon and a sparrow, closely

pursued by an eagle, flying towards Asgard.

"There
been

"The

will

calculating

eagle

who had

not be time," said Bragi,

will

the

speed

reach

them

at

which

they flew.

before they can

get

into the city."

But Odin desired a

walls;

and

remained

to

fire

to be lighted

Thor and Tyr,

them,

tore

up

with
the

what
trees

upon the
strength

from

the

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

S24

and made a rampart of

groves and gardens,

round the

all

The

city.

light of the

fire

fire

showed

Iduna her husband and her friends waiting

She made one

her.

down

passed the walls, and dropped

foot of Odin's throne.

The

but, wearied with his

long

to

his

raise

the

and,

effort,

rising

high

the air above the flames and smoke, she

in

up

last

for

The

air.

giant tried to follow;

bulk

flames

scorched

and he

he was unable

flight,

enormous

flew through them,

safely at the

fell

sufficiently

his

wings

among

high

in

as

he

the flaming

piles of wood, and was burnt to death.

How
they

Idun feasted the ^Esir on her apples, how

grew young and beautiful

spring,

and green

leaves,

again,

and how

and music came back to

the grove, I must leave you to imagine, for I have

made my

story long

enough already; and

if I

say

any more you will fancy that it is Bragi who has

come among you, and that he has entered on his
endless story.

IdQna

has

a connection

with the

underworld,

IDUNA'S APPLES.
away by a

carried

frozen

regions,

Ash

threatening

is

represented as falling

and Bragi
from her

to bring her

and heaven.

down from

up

again,

and to

ascertain

duration of the

of Spring

tender year with

the

hints of immortality

assurance for which

Iduna

is

we

may

supposed

corresponds

to

of

appropriate,

and

that

name

the BragarfulL

the

unable to give the

the Spring, and her

a time to the giant Thiassi

the falling of the leaf in Autumn.

union

Bragi's

is

fill

messages of

its

yearn.

to typify

falling into captivity for

The

or

the impossibility of wringing from Nature

heart, even

hope and

world

Instead of answering she bursts into

the bright, tearful return

mean

Yggdrasil's

answers to the questions and longings that

full

Her

things.

she has been able to discover anything

if

about the destruction and

this

becoming

Odin sends Heimdall

into the nether world.

tears

all

in his

curiously hinted at in the Elder Edda, where

is

Iduna

meanwhile

earth

winterly, old; death

story

and kept captive

giant

the

Poetry

we

At

with

must not

calls

to

mind

feasts, in

seems

Spring

the

very

to

mention

old

story of

forget

old times,

it

was the

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

226

One

custom to drink from cups of mead.

for victory,

to

Odin

one to Frey and one to Niord

for a

good year and peace, and

It

was called the "

vowed over

it

the

fourth

to

Bragi.

of Vows," and the drinker

Cup

some

to perform

great deed worthy

of the song of a skald.

In connection

the story of Iduna

with

indeed, almost a sequel to

Skadi, which

The

is

as follows

When

find the

being,

myth

of

had a very

giant Thiassi

Skadi

we

it

she found

tall

daughter, called

her

that

father

never

returned from his pursuit of Idun, she put on her

armour and

The

set off to

Asgard to revenge

his

death.

however, were not inclined to allow

heroes,

her the honour of a

combat

her that, perhaps,

would answer her purpose as

well,

if,

instead

it

of

fighting

They suggested

them,

she

were

to

to

content herself with marrying one of their number,

and
be
not

it

appeared to Skadi that

revenge

make up

victim.
all

stand

It

The

enough.
their

minds

was agreed,
in

at

this

might possibly

^Esir,

however, could

who

should

last,

that they

be

the

should

some place of concealment where

SKADI CHOOSING HER HUSBAND.

Page

227.

IDUNAS APPLES.

choose her husband.

made up her mind

looking carefully at

be

could

and

seen,

that

Skadi

walk before them, and, by looking at the

should
feet,

feet

their

only

227

pair,

which,

Now, Skadi had

to

all

from

marry Baldur;

the

feet,

after

she stopped before

beautiful

their

privately
so,

shape,

she

thought could only belong to the handsome Sun-

When, however, the

god.
feet

from

emerged

the

figure belonging to the

hiding-place,

covered that she had chosen the

was

it

bluff,

dis-

gusty old

Niord instead of the beautiful young Baldur; and

she

was

not

particularly

well

pleased

with

her

was obliged to abide by it

Niord were married they found,
and
When Skadi

choice, though she

as persons

do

shape of their
that

it

feet,

was not at

together.

who marry each

find

all

and other such wise

an easy thing to

They could not even

where

they should

live.

happy out of Thrymheim

the

place

other

for

the

reasons,

live happily

agree about the

Skadi was never

home

of noise

in

misty Jotunheim, and Niord could not forget pleasant

Noatim, and

the clear,

dwelt in his youth.

At

sunny seas where he had

last

they agreed that they

228

fHE HEROES OF ASGARD.

would spend three days in Noatun, and nine days in

Thrymheim but one day,when Niord was returning
;

to

Noatun, he could not help breaking out into the

following song

" Of mountains I am
weary,
Nine nights long and dreary,
All up the misty hill,
The wolf's long howl I heard.
Methought it sounded strangely
Methought it sounded ill
To the song of the swan bird. 1*

And

Skadi immediately answered

Never can
In

my

sleep

couch by the strand,

For the

wild, restless

waves

Rolling over the sand,

For the scream of the seagulls,

For the mew as he cries,
These sounds chase for ever
Sweet sleep from mine eyes."

Then, putting on a pair of snow-skates, she set

off more swiftly than the wind, and Niord never
saw more of

her.

Ever afterwards, with her bow

in her hand, she spent her

time in chasing wild

animals over the snow, and she

patroness of

all skaters.

is

the queen and

IDUNA'S APPLES.

The next

says "that he
lair

is

story
is

and dazzling

229

about Baldur, of

whom Hai

the best of the sons of Odin.

So

rays of light seem to issue

that

from him, and thou mayest form some idea of the

beauty of his hair when I
of

all

plants

Sweden

still

is

called

called

thee that the whitest

brow

'

"

(a plant in

Baldur

is

and the most eloquent

of

Baldur's eyebrow).

the mildest, the wisest,

all

tell

Baldur's

the ^Esir.

"Broad glance 'tis called

Where Baldur the Fair
Hath built him a bower
In that land where I know
The least loathliness lietk"

BALDUR.

33,

CHAPTER VL

BALDUR,

PART

I,

THE DREAM.

UPON a

summer's

afternoon

it

happened

Baldur the Bright and Bold, beloved of

^Esir,

found himself alone in his palace of Broad-

blink.
valleys,

Thor was walking low down among the

brow heavy with summer heat; Frey

his

and Gerda sported on

leaf

that

men and

ship

still

waters in their cloud-

Odin, for once, slept on the top of Air

pervaded the whole

Throne; a noon-day

stillness

earth; and Baldur in

Broadblink, the wide-glancing

most

sunlit of palaces,

dreamed a dream.

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

231

Now

dream

the

Baldur was

ot

He

troubled.

knew not whence nor why; but when he awoke

he found that a most new and weighty care was
within him.
scarcely
to

carry

his

and

it,

and

heart,

on

fall

was so heavy that Baldur could

It

any one

yet he

pressed

"Lie

said,

there,

Then

but me."

he

and walked out from the expanded

his

and

Frigga,

He

found

kind,

he

that

hall,

seek

closely

rose

up,

splendour of

own mother,

his

her what had happened to him.

tell

her

her crystal

in

to

waiting

might

it

and do not

listen,

saloon,

and ready

calm and

to sympathise;

so he walked up to her, his hands pressed closely

on

and

his heart,

"What

the

is

lay

down

matter,

at her feet sighing.

dear

Baldur?"

asked

Frigga, gently.

"I

do

not

know, mother,"

do not know what the matter

shadow

in

"Take

my
it

answered

he.

is; but I

"I

have a

heart"

out,

then,

my

and

son,

let

me

look

at it," replied Frigg.

"But

fear,

mother, that

the whole earth."

if

do

it

will covef

3ALDUR.
Then

Frigga laid

her hand

her son that she might

and she

grew

my

beloved son

pale,

upon the heart

as she felt

cried

Oh

Baldur,

shadow of

the

is

her parted

it ;

"

out,

the shadow

of

shadow's shape.

the

feel

Her brow became clouded

lips

233

death 1"

Then

said

"I

Baldur,

die

will

my

bravely,

mother."

But

Frigga
I

for

all;

earth

kill

nor harm you."

sworn

me

to

that

So Frigga stood up, and called

on earth

that

she called

all

had power

hill

high
will

air,

at

Then she

lifted

"Swear

to

her

and

First

iron-ore

steel,

and

her right-hand

to

and they

called

neither

the crystal hall,

who

saying,

will

it

and heavy

into

lead,

not injure Baldur ;"

went.

die

to her everything

silver,

stood before the Queen,

the

not

hurt or slay.

to

metals to her;

came lumbering up the

brass and gold, copper,

in

shall

not sleep to-night until everything

on

has

"You

answered,

will

me

all

all

that

you

swore,

and

stones;

and

huge granite came with crumbling sand-stone, and

white lime, and the round, smooth stones of the

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

234

and

sea-shore,

''Swear that

her the trees

tall

with long branches,

Then

said,

and they

"Swear
said,

like

that

"We

raised

Frigga

swear,"

and went.

and disappeared.
Baldur,

But

"

And

hand,

After this

who came blown

by poisonous winds on wings

Then Frigga

face, saying,

her

not hurt Baldur;"

will

you

of pain,

Frigga said to them,

"We

swear," then flew

called to her all beasts, birds,

and venomous snakes, who came

to

to

hill,

* Swear:" and
they sighed,

hand

and

from which green leaves

and to the sound of moaning.

away.

saying,

called

Frigga

Frigga called to her the diseases,

thitherward

arm,

Baldurj"

came rushing up the

firs

were waving, and

flags

injure

and wide -spreading oak-trees, with

ash and sombre

and

not

will

and went.

swore,

they

you

her

raised

Frigga

to her

and swore,

After this she stretched out her

whilst

now,

my

smile

heard from Frigga the whole

she

over her

son, you cannot die."

just then Odin came

more mournful than

spread

in,

and when he had

story,

he looked even

had done; neither did

the cloud pass from his face

when he was

the oaths that had been taken.

told of

BALDUR.
"

Why do

manded

you

look so grave,

still

It

lord ?" dedie."

"Is the shadow

gravely,

gone out of our son's heart, or

"

my

"Baldur cannot now

Frigg, at last

Odin asked very

But

*35

is

it

still

there?"

cannot be there," said Frigg, turning away

her head resolutely, and folding her hands before

her.

But Odin looked

was.

The hands

Baldur,

saddled

and

saw

how

it

pressed to the heavy heart, the

Then immediately he

brow grown dim.

beautiful
arose,

at

eight -footed

his

Sleipnir,

steed,

know

" I
turning to Frigga, said,
of a dead Vala, * Frigg, who, when she was

alive,

could

grave

lies

mounted him, and,

am

tell

what was going

on the

going there to

terrible grief is really

So
and

saying

the

Asgard,

and

her,

bridle in

his

hand,

with a bound, leapt forth,

down

dashed

into

between rocks.
* Vala

coming upon us."

whirlwind
then

and

and ask whether any

Odin shook the

Eight-footed,

rushed like

happen; her

of Helheim,

side

east

awake

to

a prophetess.

the

mountain

a narrow

of

defile

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

236

Sleipnir
until

way,

went

on

the

through

There

mouth.

long

the

earth

defile

he came to a place where

Odin

rode

opened

her

down a

broad, steep, slanting road which led

Then thought Odin

Gnipa yawned upon Niflheim.

to

himself,

as

just

"

Sleipnir

jaws of the

was

My

chained
to

tried

Odin shook him

went on

ever,
leapt,

and Odin

then horse
turned

the

and

rock,

himself

the

sprang

at

cleared

rider

toward

the

dog

who

forward,

and

Three times

Garm, as

At

fight

the

through

voracious

still

thrust just

eastward

leap

upon Odin.

and

off,

with

But

already done."
to

the

Garm,

to

fasten

is

journey

was about

pit,

him

and the mouth of the cavern

the cavern Gnipa,

to

and

in

fierce

last

as

Sleipnir

same moment;

the
the

dead

entrance,

Vala's

and

grave,

dripping blood along the road as they went; while

the

beaten

Garm

stood

baying

in

the

cavern's

mouth.

When Odin came

horse,

to

and stood with

the grave he got

off his

his face northwards looking

through barred enclosures into the city of Helheim

itself.

The

servants of

Hela were very busy there

BALDUR.
some new guest

for

making preparations

*37

hanging

gilded couches with curtains of anguish and splendid

misery upon the walls.

Then

within him and he began

to repeat mournful runes

a low tone to himself.

in

The dead Vala turned

the

"What man

upright

"who

dares disturb

Then Odin,

my
the

for

what was not true;

fell

heavily in her grave at

sound of his voice, and, as he went on,

bolt

is

died

heart

Odin's

upon

is

she

this,"

sat

asked,

sleep?"
first

the

time in his

said

life,

shadow of Baldur dead

and he made answer, " My name

his lips,

Vegtam, the son of Valtam."

"And

what do you want from

me?"

asked the

Vala.

"I want
Hela

is

to

know," replied

making

ready

that

"for

Odin,
gilded

whom

couch

in

Helheim?"

"That

the dead Vala.

again, for

my

But Odin

Baldur

for

is

"Now

the

Beloved,"

go away, and

let

answered

me

sleep

eyes are heavy."

"
said,

going to Helheim ?

Only one word more.

"

Is Baldur

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

238

"Yes, I've told you that he

is,"

answered the

Vala.

"Will he never come back to Asgard again

"If everything on earth should weep

answered she, "he

will

go back;

for

him,"

he

if not,

will

remain in Helheim."

Then Odin covered

his face with his hands,

and

looked into darkness.

"Do

1*

go away,

I cannot

keep

my

But Odin raised

tell

me

this

darkness,

it

one

said the Vala,

"I'm

so sleepy;

eyes open any longer."

his head,

to

"

Only

again,

Just now, as I looked into

thing.

seemed

and said

me

as

if

saw one on earth

who would not weep for Baldur. Who was it ? "

At this the Vala grew very angry and

"How

couldst

thou

see

in

darkness?

said,

know

of only one who, by giving away his eye, gained

No Vegtam

light

art

thou,

but

Odin, chief of

men."

At her angry words Odin

and
Vala

called
art

became angry

out as loudly as ever he could,

thou,

mother of three

nor

wise woman,

giants,"

but

rather

too,

"No
the

BALDUR.
"

Go, go

her grave;

Loki

have

come."

w
!

answered the Vala,

"no man
burst

After this

his

239

falling

back in

waken me again until

chains and
Ragnarok be

shall

Odin mounted the Eight-footed

once more, and rode thoughtfully towards home.

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

PART

IL

THE PEACESTEAB.

WHEN

Odin came back to Asgard, Hermod took

the bridle

from

his

hand, and

father's

that the rest of the ./Esir were

him

told

gone to the Peace-

a broad, green plain which lay just outside

stead

the city.

Now

this was, in fact, the

the ^Esir, where they practised

playground of

trials

with another, and held tournaments and

These

last

of

skill

sham

one

fights.

were always conducted in the gentlest

and most honourable manner

for the strongest

law

of the Peacestead was, that no angry blow should be

struck, or spiteful

and

word spoken, upon the sacred

for this reason

well if children also

some have thought

had a Peacestead

it

field

might be

to play in.

BALDUR.
Odin was too much
Helheim
he

so

of

But

Gladsheim.

that afternoon;
in

his

when he was gone,

city by another way, and hear-

Hermod where

from

from

his journey

away, and shut himself up

Loki came into the

ing

by

the Peacestead

to go to

turned

palace

tired

241

the ^Esir were,

set off

to join them.

When
the

that

shooting

at

of two

To

the

midst,

at

threw

at

stones

with
at

steel,

his

this

and

aiming

him
him

with

some

Thor

prised,

for

circle

between
out what

find

whilst

his

weapons

friends

swords

their

him.

at

others

arrows

pointed

continually

swung

Miolnir

to

what

himself,

must

that

"if
of

wonder what Father Odin and

looked,
the

in

shot

Mother Frigg would say

still

found

saw Baldur standing

their

the sport of Asgard,

Jotunheim be?

as Loki

he

Loki

peeped
to

"Well," said Loki

head.

is

them

and calm,

erect

Some hewed

round

and he
of

his surprise

and brothers were

Peacestead,

standing

something,

was.

in

the

to

^Esir were

shoulders

the
it

he got

sport

if

they were here

he became

went

on,

even

"

more

Bat
sur-

and Baldur was

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

242

Arrow* aimed

not hurt

at his very heart glanced

back again untinged with blood.

down from
bruises

broad

his

Swords

there.

bright

The

stones

brow, and

fell

left

no

wound

clave, but did not

him; Miolnir struck him, and he was not crushed.

At

Loki

this

grew

perfectly

"And why

and hatred.
honoured," said

he,

shall

not hurt him?"

into

little,

is

furious

with

Baldur

to

"that even

steel

so

and stone

Then Loki changed

dark, bent, old

envy

be

himself

woman, with a

stick

and hobbled away from the Peacestead

At the door he knocked

in his hand,

to Frigga's cool saloon.

with his

stick.

"Come
Loki

in!" said the kind voice of Frigg, and

lifted

the latch.

Now when
the hall, a

hobbling
true

Frigga saw, from the other end of

little,

up

bent, crippled, old

her crystal

queenliness,

floor,

she

woman, come
got

up

with

and met her half way, holding

out her hand, and saying in the kindest manner,

"
Pray sit down, my poor old friend ; for it seems
to

me

oft"

that

you have

come from a

great

way

BALDUR.
"That

Loki

answered

indeed,"

have,

243

in

tremulous, squeaking voice.

"And

did you happen to see anything of the

" as
asked
came ? "

^Esir,"

you

Frigg,

"Just now

saw them

by the

passed

Peacestead,

"What were
"Shooting

they doing ?*

at Baldur."

Then Frigg bent over her work

smile

and

at play."

on her

"And

face.

with a pleased

him?"

hurt

nothing

she said.

"Nothing,"

answered

Loki,

looking

keenly

at

her."

"No,

murmured

nothing,"

down and speaking

still

me

that they will not."

"what

"Sworn!" exclaimed Loki, eagerly;

that

you say ?

Has

looking

half musingly to herself; "for

things have sworn to

all

Frigg,

everything sworn then

is

"

"Everything," answered she, "excepting, indeed,

the

little

shrub mistletoe, which grows, you know,

on the west side of Valhal, and to which I said

nothing,

because I thought

it

was too

young to

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

244

u Excellent

1"

and then

Loki;

thought

he got

up.

"You're not going

Loki in

rested

quite
his

Frigg,
at

last

woman.

into the eyes of the old

"I'm

said

you?"

and looking up

her hand

out

stretching

are

yet,

now, thank

answered

you,**

squeaky voice, and then he hobbled out

and sent a

at the door, which clapped after him,

Frigga shuddered, and

cold gust into the room.

thought that a serpent was gliding

down

the back

of her neck.

When
changed

went

Loki had

to

straight

" Too

off

young

to

his

the west

the mistletoe grew.

and cut

the presence

left

himself back

a large

proper

side

branch,

where

his

knife,

saying these words,

not too weak for

After which he set off for the Peace-

stead once more, the mistletoe in his hand.

he

got there he

at

their

sport,

talking eagerly,

and

shape,

of Valhal,

Then he opened

for Frigga's oaths, but

Loki's work."

of Frigg, he

found that the

standing

round,

When

^Esir

were

still

taking

aim,

and

and Baldur did not seem

tired.

But there was one who stood alone, leaning against

BALDUR.
a

tree,

245

and who took no part in what was going

This was Hodur, Baldur's blind twin-brother;

stood with his head bent downwards,

silent,

were

most

and Loki

eager;

was a discontented expression on his

he were saying to himself,

if

hand upon

put his
"

And why

brave

So

of me."

notice

they
there

face, just

as

"Nobody

takes any

Loki went up to

him, and

his shoulder.

are you

friend?" said

standing here

Why

he.

Hew

at Baldur.

something

that

thought

he

whilst

when

the others were speaking, doing nothing

on.

at

all

alone,

my

you throw

don't

him with a sword,

show him some attention of that sort"

or

"I

haven't got a sword," answered Hodur, with

an impatient gesture
I

my

fights,

you know as well as

wearing warlike weapons, or joining in

because I

"Oh!
know I

is

I've

but

got a
if

sham

blind."

that it?"

lend you

enough,

am

Loki.

said

shouldn't like to be

However,
I'll

" and

Father Odin does not approve

that

Loki,

do,

of

left

"Well, I only
out of everything.

twig of mistletoe here which

you

like;

shall

be

a harmless

happy

to

little

guide

twig

your

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

246

arm

if

might

you would
take

it

to

like

as

throw

compliment

it,

and Baldur

from

his

twin-

brother."

"Let me

feel

it,"

said

Hodur, stretching out

his uncertain hands.

"This way,

this

way, my dear friend," said Loki,

"
as hard as ever

giving

him the

can, to

do him honour; throw 1"

Hodur threw

twig.

Baldur

Now,

fell,

you

and

death covered the whole earth,

the

shadow of

ALDUR.

PART

IIL

BALDUR DEAD.

ONE

after

another they turned and

and brothers of the

stead, those friends

after

the Peace-

left

slain.

One

another they turned and went towards the city ;

crushed hearts, heavy footsteps, no word amongst

them, a shadow upon

Asgard

too,

seated

itself

Odin had

The shadow was

all

had walked through

upon

just

the

come out

Frigga's hall,

of

threshold
to look at

in

and

Gladsheim.

it,

and Frigg

stood by in mute despair as the JEsir came up.

"Loki did

it!

Loki did it!" they said at

in confused, hoarse whispers,

last

and they looked from

one to another, upon Odin, upon

Frigg,

upon the

shadow which they saw before them, and which

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

248

"Loki did

within.

felt

they

they went on saying; but

name

the

it

it!

Loki,

was no use repeating

it

filled

first,

"

all

hearts

their

and then they

down

lying

when

there

to utter

which

of Loki over and over again

was another name they were too sad

yet

all

Loki!"

Baldur.

Frigga

said

went to

look at

him

so peacefully on the grass

Carry him to the funeral pyre

"
!

dead, dead.
said Odin, at

length; and four of the ^sir stooped down, and

lifted their

dead brother.

With scarcely any sound they carried the body

tenderly to the

and

sea-shore,

laid

upon the

it

deck of that majestic ship called Ringhorn, which

had been

his.

Then

they stood round waiting to

see

who would come

on

his shoulders sat his

to the funeral.

Odin came, and

two ravens, whose croaking

drew clouds down over the Asa's

face, for

and Memory sang one sad song

that day.

Thought
Frigga

came,

Frey, Gerda, Freyja, Thor, Hcenir, Bragi, and

Idun.

Heimdall came sweeping over the tops of the

mountains on Golden Mane,

^Egir the
sent

his swift, bright steed.

Old groaned from under the deep, and

his daughters

up

to

mourn around

the dead.

BALDUJK.

and

Frost-giants

349

came crowding

mountain-giants

round the rimy shores of Jotunheim to look across

the sea

upon the

Baldur's

fair

young wife;

Nanna came,

an Asa.

funeral of

but when she saw the

dead body of her husband her own heart broke

with

grief,

and the ^Esir

the stately ship.

After

laid

this

her beside him on

Odin stepped forward,

and placed a ring on the breast of

ing something at the

when he and

in

his

the

sea

before

lift

giantess

floating,

holding

they

but

to

it,

heavy they

beckoned

Hyrrokin to come over

and help them.

ship

So

nothing.

fire

setting

they found that their hearts were so

could

ear;

the rest of the ^Esir tried to push

into

Ringhorn

same time

his son, whisper-

from

to

the

Jotunheim

She, with a single push, set the

and

Miolnir

then,

whilst

the

in

high

Thor stood up

air,

Odin lighted

the funeral pile of Baldur and of Nanna.

So Ringhorn went out

and

the

funeral

flame burst forth

fire

floating towards the deep,

burnt on.

broad

towards heaven; but when

smoke would have gone upward

came sobbing and

Its

carried

&

it

away.

too,

red
the

the winda

THE HEROES Of ASGARD.

250

PART

IV.

HELHEIM.

WHEN

at last the

so

far to

on

the

sea that
horizon,

"Does any one

Ringhorn had floated out

ship
it

looked

Frigga
of you,

do," cried

then,

seek

dead, and

Hermod," answered

to us

out

said,

love for ever?"

else

had

lips.

Sleipnir with all speed,

there

my

Hermod, before any one

time to open his

"Go,

and

children, wish to per-

form a noble action, and win

"I

red lamp

dull,

round

turned

my

like

Hela,

entreat

and
the

ride

down

stern

"saddle

Frigg,
to

Helheim

mistress

of

the

her to send our beloved back

once more."

Hermod was gone

in

the twinkling of an

eye,

BALDUR.

251

not in at the mouth of the earth and through the

steep

down which Odin went

cavern

Vala's grave

he chose another way, though not

a better one;
the best

found

the dead

to

for,

go to Helheim how you

downward,

it

At

very cold.

last

he came

and

dark

slippery,

slanting,

will,

Hermod

but a downward road, and so

is

to the Giallar Bru

that sounding river which flows between the living

and the dead, and the bridge over which

prised to

gold in such a place;

see

rode over the

at

the stones,

bridge,

is

paved

Hermod was

with stones of glittering gold.

but

and looked down

he saw that they were

sur-

as

he

carefully

only tears

which had been shed round the beds of the dying

only

and yet they made

tears,

But

brighter.

end of the

when

way seem

the

Hermod reached

the other

bridge, he found the courageous

and

who, for ages

ages,

had been

dead go by, and

to watch the

sitting

woman
there

she stopped him

saying,

"What a
Yesterday
Giallar

noise

you

five troops

Bridge,

make.

of dead

Who

are

men went

and did not shake

it

so

you?

over the

much

as

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

Besides," she added, looking

you have done.

closely at

Hermod, "you

all.

Your

then,

do you

"I

are not a

neither cold

lips are

ride

on the way

to

more

dead man

nor blue.

at

Why,

Helheim?"

seek Baldur," answered Hermod.

"Tell me,

have you seen him pass?"

" has ridden over the
"
bridge
Baldur," she said,
but there below, towards the north,
to the

the

way

Abodes of Death."

So Hermod went on the way

the

lies

barred

gates

his

tightened

alighted,

Helheim

of

until

he came to

There

itself.

saddle-girths,

he

remounted,

clapped both spurs to his horse, and cleared the

Then

Hermod

found himself in a place where no living

man had

the City -of the Dead.

Perhaps

gate

one

by

tremendous

ever been before

you think there

are
his

a great silence there, but you

Hermod

mistaken.
life

is

heard so

leap.

much

thought he had never in

noise

words were speaking together

uttered

for the echoes of all

words,

some newly

and some ages old; but the dead men did

not hear

who

for their ears

flitted

up and down the dark

streets,

had been stunned and become cold

BALDUR.

Hermod

long since.

2 53

rode on through the city until

he came to the palace of Hela, which stood in the

Precipice was

midst.

its

Wide Storm, and

hall,

much

yet

alas!

Baldur,

guests.

on her

left

his pale

sat

the

Hela

at

her right-hand,

told

her.

It

sit

hall

maid

Delay

and Burning
led the

see,"

smiled

she

her

Thirst,

way

to

for

the

of

grimly,

sit

a living

table;

man ;

down,

Slowness,

her wine.

to

Starvation,

her

After sup-

she said, turning to Hermod,

unrest provided

curtains of weariness,

man

the sleeping apartments.

very anxious about the comfort of

are beds

and

he might sup that night with

Hunger was

to.

knife

per Hela

"You

that

was a strange supper

down

Hela's

him

sat

When Hela saw

wife.

but beckoned to him at the same time to

and

so he

and served her newest

young

Hermod coming up

not too

rooms

where

banqueting-hall,

the head of her table,

at

entrance-

Hermod was

afraid to seek the innermost

went on to the

the

threshold,

my

for

guests.

all,

and look how

all

"I am
Here

hung with
the walls

are furnished with despair."

So saying she strode away, leaving Hermod and

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

254

The whole

Baldur together.

Hermod

those unquiet couches and talked.

speak of nothing but the past,

anxiously round the

room

But Baldur

with tears.

they sat

night

his

and

as he

seemed

could

looked

dim

became

eyes
to

see

light

and he spoke of what was to come.

far off,

The next morning Hermod went

to

Hela, and

He

entreated her to let Baldur return to Asgard.

even offered

to

take his place in Helheim

pleased; but Hela only laughed at

"You

talk

how much
if

earth,

shall

this,

if

and

she
said,

a great deal about Baldur, and boast

every one loves him; I will prove

what you have told

on

on

me

living or dead,

be

weep

go home again; but

to weep, then let

true.

if

for

now

Let everything
Baldur and he

one thing only refuse

Helheim hold

its

own; he

shall

not go."

"
as

Every- one will weep willingly," said

he

mounted

entrance of
far

his friends in

to

the

as the gate,

many

and rode

Sleipnir,
city.

Baldur

and began

Asgard, but

of them.

Hermod,

towards

the

went with him as

to send messages to all

Hermod would

not

listen

BALDUR.

"You
"there

So

will so

is

no use

Hermod

255

soon come back to us," he

said,

in sending messages."

darted

homewards,

and

Baldur

watched him through the bars of Helheim's gate-

way

as he flew along.

"Not
still

soon, not soon," said the

he saw the

was to come.

light far off,

dead Asa; but

and thought of what

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

156

PART

V.

WEEPING*

"WELL, Hermod, what did she say?" asked

^Esir from the top of the

coming; "make haste and

And Hermod came

" Oh

had

more

is

that

delivered

his

"

they cried, as soon as he

message.
then

was

tell

Frigga.

She

five

minutes

there

us what she said."

up.

all ?

easy;" and

hill,

tell

the

they saw him

as

they

"Nothing can

be

hurried

off

to

and

in

eye

in

all

weeping

was

not

already,
tearless

Asgard.

"But

this

is

not

enough,"

whole earth must know of our

weep with us."

said

Odin;

grief

that

it

"the

may

BALDUR.
Then

the father of the ^Esir called to him his

maidens

messenger
sent them

words on

out
their

the

into

beautiful

lips,

maidens

could

as

went

they

new

and

river of grief,

the

men and women

down

lay

messenger

to

seemed

The
like

to the JEsir as

" Baldur

time

tones

is

dead

a
if

"
!

the Valkyrior are saying?" asked

and when they heard

and

at first the

back on Asgard

it

first

three

But the

they now wept for

"What is that
the

these

dead!"

is

only whisper them in low

" Baldur is dead n
along,

sounds flowed

sad

and

Valkyrior

worlds with

all

"Baldur

words were so dreadful that

dull,

*57

weep

in

the

all

rightly,

men

country round,
labour

left then*

women dropped

the buckets

they were carrying to the well, and, leaning their

over

faces

children crowded
the

at

they
the

them with

upon the

corners of

own mothers were

The

filled

them,

the

doorsteps, or sat

streets,

grass

"Baldur

to

the

and the
is

crying as

if

down
their

dead.

Valkyrior passed on.

said

The

tears.

empty
wild

dead!" said

" Baldur

fields;

and

field-flowers

the

is

dead!"

straightway

shed

messenger

tears.

maidens

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

358

and the stones; and the very stones

to the rocks

" Baldur

began to weep.

dead " the Valkyrior

is

cried; and even the old mammoth's bones, which

had

for

lain

tears, so

centuries

" Baldur

senger maidens as
all

hills,

that small rivers gushed

mountain's side.

and

under the

forth

dead

is

"

burst into

from every

said the mes-

they swept over silent sands;

" Baldur is dead "

the shells wept pearls.

they cried

to

the sea; and

the sea,

when

and

to

Jotunheim

the giants understood

they wept, whilst the sea

across

it,

even

rained spray to heaven.

After this the Valkyrior stepped from one stone to

another until they reached a rock that stood alone

in the

middle of the sea; then,

all

bent forward over the edge of

and peeped

over, that they

of the deep.
the

sea monsters

messenger
"
said,

their

"Baldur

is

fish

looked

Surely our work

is

at

to

wept
one

done."

arms round one another's

on the downward road

the monsters

tell

dead!" they said; and,

and the

maidens

stooped down

it,

might

together, they

Then

another,

the

and

So they twined

waists,

and

set forth

Helheim, there to claim

Baldur from among the dead.

BALDUR.

Now

had

he

after

sent

259

forth

messenger

Odin had seated himself on the top

maidens,

Air Throne that he might see

ceived

his

his

At

message.

how
he

first

of

the earth re-

watched

the

Valkyrior as they stepped forth north and south,

and

east

steaming

and

west;

tears

rose

soon the whole

but

like

up

"

The

and

great cloud,

said,

"Are you

all

weep-

Valkyrior heard the sound of his voice

ing

as

they went

all

down

together

and they turned round,

the slippery road,

stretching

out their arms

towards Air Throne, their long hair

with

whilst,

earth's

Then he looked down

hid everything from him.

through the cloud, and

choked

they answered,

voices

"The

and

falling

back,

streaming

eyes,

world weeps, Father Odin;

the world and we."

After

came
was

this

to the

chained,

"The

on

they went

and

which

world weeps,"

but just

through the

way

until

they

yawned

over

Niflheim.

they said one to another

way of encouragement, for

dreadful;

their

end of the cave Gnipa, where Garm

as

here the road

they were

about

by

was so
to

pass

mouth of Gnipa they came upon

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

260

who

named Thaukt,

witch

haggard

sat

the

in

entrance with her back to them, and her face

" Baldur is dead

wards the abyss.

said the

messenger maidens, as they

her ; but Thaukt

to-

Weep, weep

!"

tried to pass

made answer

" What

she doth hold,

Let Hela keep

For naught care I,

Though the world weep,
O'er Baldur's bale,

Live he or die

With

tearless eye^

Old Thaukt

And
a

shall wafl."

words leaped into Niflhcim with

with these

yell of triumph.

"Surely that

cry was

one of the maidens

the city of Helheim,

face of

"One

the cry

has

not

Loki,

said

but another pointed towards

and there they saw the

Hela looking over the

"and Helheim

"

of

wept,"

holds

its

stern

wall.

the

said

own."

motioned the maidens away with

grim

Queen,

So saying
her

she

long, cold

hand.

Then

the

Valkyrior

turned

and

fled

up

the

BALDUR.

pale snow-drift that

the

city

but

full,

Hodur by a
of

his

life

He

was the youngest

strong and cold as

When

year.

like

before the storm.

of Asgard.

Odin's sons
blast

flies

Odin's throne,

a strong child, called Vali, was born

After this
in

of

the foot

to

way

steep

2 6j

also, as

it

is

the icy January

single

blow,
to

trying

new

of the hope of the

only a day old he

in

slew the

blind

and then spent the

lift

the

of

rest

shadow of death

from the face of the weeping earth.

The death of Baldur was probably

in

the

first

place an expression of the decline of the Summer

At midsummer

sun.
at

midsummer

husband forsook

Freyja's

also the bright

god begins

to

her,

turn

Midsummer day is observed

Europe under the name of Beltan,

his face Helheim-wards.

in the

and

North of

fires

are lighted

evidently

had

Baldur*s death.

its

upon the
origin

Some

in

hills,

think that Baldur and

typify the two halves of the year.

the day in

a custom which

a commemoration of

Summer Hod

kills

Hodur

At the turn

of

Baldur, at the turn of

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

262

the

day

son

of

in

Winter Vali

Hodur.

Vali was the

giantess,

whose

kills

Odin and Rind, a

name

means the winterly earth, so that clearly Vali comes

at midwinter.

Baldur

kill

Why

the mistletoe should be used to

it is difficult

to say.

Might

its

being so

weak and small imply the very small beginning of

the day's decline.

But Baldur, from the description given of him

in

the

Edda, must surely be a personification of

goodness morally, as well as the sun of the outward

year,

and

his

not returning from

retained there through

seems to be a
first

the

machinations of Loki,

sort of connecting link

between the

sorrow of the gods, the beginning of

their final defeat

by the evil powers at

the giants have already one foot

The hero of
the

Helheim, being

first

the next story

upon

is

evil

and

Ragnarok

the gods.

Tyr, mentioned in

chapter as the only one of the ^Esir wtf

could feed the monster Fenrir.

THE BINDING OF FENRIR.

CHAPTER

263

VII.

THE BINDING OF

FENRIR.

PART L
THE MIGHT OF ASGARD.

of

HOPE you have not

Fenrir,

brought

Loki's

home

forgotten

fierce

wolf-son,

entertained

wholesome, bright

wolfish

air

Odin

he was,
that

All-

the

of Gladsheim, the sight of

and the hearing of the

brave words which day by day

would, perhaps,

the cruel nature

as

some hope, thinking

the fair faces of the Asyniur

of heroes,

told you

whom

with him to Asgard, and of whose

reformation, uncouth and

Father

what

fell

from the

lips

have power to change

he had inherited from

his father,

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

264

and make him worthy of

place as

his

a dweller

in the City of Lords.

To

lest,

in

his

cruel

any who were unable

was a grand

it

truly

see

to

loved,

evening

after

strength,

and watching

he should injure

And

to defend themselves.

and one

sight,

two

the
the

Odin

strong-handed,

task of feeding Fenrir,

assigned the

him,

and

brave

Tyr, the

feast

came prowling
food from the one hand
Fenrir

together,

was

to Tyr's

over

that

Asa Odin

in

Valhalla,

feet to receive his

strong enough to quell him.

Tyr stood up in his calm strength like a

sheltering

rock

in

the

in

when,

tall,

which the timid sea-birds find

a home; and Fenrir roared and howled round him

like

the bitter, destroying

mines

its

on.

but

strength;

so rapidly as to

Tyr had reached the prime of

Fenrir went on growing, not

awaken

gand had done, but

little

stronger and a

The

that slowly under-

base.

Time passed
his

wave

^Esir

fear,

slowly,

as his brother
surely,

little fiercer

Jormun-

continually

every day.

and the Asyniur had become accustom-

ed to his presence ; the gentlest

lady in Asgard no

TYR FEEDING FENRIR.

Page

265.

THE BINDING OF FENRIR.

longer turned away from

mouth and
about

fiery

eye

the

sight

of his

they talked to

and every

the smallest things,

265

fierce

each other
event

daily

was commented on and wondered about; but no

one said anything of Fenrir, or noticed how gradually

he grew, or how the glad

and the strong

air

food, which gave valour and strength to an Asa,

could

only develope

ness and

gone on

cruelty in

with

greater

wolf.

And

if it

wisdom

within,

eyes of his brothers

halla

meal,
face

monster

had not been that Asa Odin's

one eye, enlightened as

One

they would have

living securely together while the

grew and grew,

well of

rapidity fierce-

evening,

it

was by the upspringing

saw more

and

than the

children.

he stood

as

clearly

in

the court of Val-

watching Tyr as he gave Fenrir his evening

a sudden cloud of care
of

and

All-Father,

satisfied his

on the placid

fell

when

the

hunger, crouched back

having

wolf,

to

his

lair,

he

called together a council of the heads of the -^Esir

Thor, Tyr, Bragi, Hcenir, Frey, and Niord

(

after pointing out to

allowed

to

them the

grow up among
8

evil

and,

which they had

them

unnoticed,

he

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

266

asked

it

coming

way of
became too strong to

counsel as to the best

their

before

it

over-

with-

stand.

Thor,

always

"One would
in

way

think," he

I,

said,

in

as

Jotunheim

monsters.

Set

the

at

mind

this

The assembled
cloud

my

fear

Before

Fenrir;

not

to-

and,

workmanship, there
from him."

^Esir applauded Thor's

did

of

have forged

will

bind

shall

once bound in a chain of

binder

rest

at

time

be nothing further to

forge mighty

and

conqueror

a chain with which you

to

or

made my name known

never

your

morrow evening

the

"to hear the grave

Asa Thor, had no power

had

but

answer.

to

first

as a smithy near Asgard,

thing

weapons, and

will

the

which you speak, Father Odin, that there

was no such
that

was

ready,

pass

speech;

away from

Odin's

brow.

"You have done many mighty

he sa>d; "but,
Fenrir

will

if

prove a

deeds,

mistake not,
task

fhor made no answer;

too

Son Thor,"

this

binding of

difficult

but he seized

even

for

Miolnir,

THE BINDING OF FENRIR,

with

and,
All

sounding

strode

steps,

267

the smithy.

to

night long the mighty blows of Miolnir rang

on the

and the roaring bellows breathed a

anvil,

hot blast over

-^Esir

that

slept

the

all

hill

but every

night;

None

of Asgard.

of the

now and

one or other of them came to cheer Thor

Sometimes

work.

the

into

to

strike

seated

himself

blow

stout

the

among

eyes

fixed

on the glowing

a hero

song,

to

with his
forth

brought

at

his

face

bright

sometimes Tyr entreated

dusky smithy;

permission
Bragi

Frey

his

then

which

the

sometimes

and,

workers,

poured

iron,

blows

ringing

kept time.

There was also another guest, who,

made
fire

round
a

presence known.

his

the

evil

All

and

of

the darkness,

in

fiendish,

song,

form

By

Fenrir

at intervals,

the light of

was seen

the

prowling

and every now and then

mocking laugh

filled

the pauses of the

and the wind, and the ringing hammer.

that night

Fenrir

evening

and the next day Thor laboured

watched,

meal,

Thor

and,

at

strode

the

time

of

triumphantly

the
into

Father Odin's presence, and laid before him Lae-

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

2 68

the strongest chain that

ding,

forged on
another,

The

earth.

and wondered

"It
this,"

is

and

said;

it

from one to

immense
its

length,

and

twisted links.

Fenrir to break through

for

impossible

they

at its

moulding of

at the ponderous

had ever yet been

^Esir passed

they

were

loud

in

their

thanks to Thor and praises of his prowess; only

Father Odin kept a grave, sad silence.

When
his

Fenrir

came

food from Tyr,

Tyr were

to seize

weapons

in

struggle;

it

and bind him.

readiness,

but,

to

lay

for

their

allowed the chain to

down

the court

into

receive

to

was agreed that Thor and

They held
a

they expected
surprise,

Fenrir

be wound round

at his ease, while Thor, with

thenfierce

quietly

him,

and

two strokes

of Miolnir, rivetted the last link into one of the

strongest stones

when

on which the court

the ^Esir were

other on their victory,

about

to

rested.

bound

forward

each

congratulate

he slowly raised

his

derous form, which seemed to dilate in the

with one

Then,

snapped

the chain like

a silken thread, and walked leisurely to his

as

if

no unusual thing had

pon-

rising,

befallen him.

lair,

THE BINDING OF FENRIR.

The
each

at

"He who

and,

himself the

And

Dromi."

of

words, he

again

and resumed

when he once more appeared

his hand Dromi

by one

half,

self

by

and

it,

on the

first

After
council

among
It

the "Strong Bind-

under

its

that

weight;

strength

Asa Thor himand yet Fenrir

of allowing himself to be bound

cost

him very

little

more

second

of ^Esir

in

failure

effort

Odin again

Gladsheim,

than

its fetters.

called

Thor stood

and

the others, silent and shamefaced.

was

now Frey who

an opinion.
of the

smithy

before Father Odin,

evening to free himself from

this

the

to

Lseding in

and was so heavy

fear

it

exceeded

chain

staggered

showed no

the ground,

Thor worked, and,

nights

he carried in
This

these

having uttered

his place at the anvil.

For three days and

ing."

first

harder

still

Miolnir from

lifted

he was, returned

weary as

the

breaks through Lseding," he

"only brings upon

bondage

stood looking

faces,

Once more Thor was

other.

to speak.
said,

downcast

with

^Esir,

269

ventured

"Thor, Tyr, and

JSsir,"

he

said,

first

other

"have passed

to

offer

brave sons
their lives

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

a7

valiantly in

much

and, doubtless,

my

how

how

silent,

learned
little

the

forge

most

part,
fields,

chain

silence

strength

which have
of

that

lies

enough

in

carried

on

forth

the

Thor and Miolnir have

strong

have

brings

to

regard

that

labour

ever

many

watching,

me

thing

the

that

up the

leads

worthy

One

wondrous

and

grandest birth.

ever

in this

thought

Lords.

and

things,

darkness

in

been

brother
is,

night

day; and,

perhaps,

my

by

dewy

been made plain to

things have

the

for

them

the seasons follow each other, and

brightly-smiling

not,

I,

to

time peacefully in woods and

watching
the

come

wise lore has

through these adventures.

have spent

and monsters,

giants

against

fighting

bind

failed

to

Fenrir;

we cannot be helped by the mighty

and renowned, let us turn to the unknown and
since

but,

weak.

"In
live

the

caverns

and dim places of the earth

a tiny race of people,

who

are always working

with unwearied, noiseless fingers.

permission, I will send
entreat aid of

my

With Asa Odin's

messenger, Skirnir, and

them; and we

shall,

perhaps,

find

THE BINDING OF FENRIR.

that

what passes

the

might

271

of Asgard

may be

accomplished in the secret places of Svartheim."

The

face of

Asa Odin brightened

and, rising immediately

up
time

the
in

council,

returning

and
to

Skimir on his mission*

from his
entreated

Alfheim

as Frey spoke,
seat,

he

Frey to

and

broke

lose

no

despatching

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

PARTH,
THE SECRET OF SVARTHEIM.
IN

the

cloud

of the

spite

was

all

Alf

radiant

that

and peaceful

fair

Queen,

sunshine with her bright

loved her,

and

fluttered

hung over Asgard

in

made
face.

round

Alfheim.
there

The
her,

Gerda,
perpetual
elves

little

up

keeping

a continual merry chatter, which sounded through

the land

like

the

sharp

ripple of

a brook over

stony places; and Gerda answered them

in

sweet tones, as the answering wind sounds

low,

among

the trees.

These must have been pleasant sounds to hear

after

the

Fcnrir;

ringing

but

Frey

of Miolnir and the howling

hardly

gave

himself

time

of
to

THE BINDING OF FENRIR.

Gerd

greet

and

his

before

elves

273

summoned

he

and acquainted him with

Skirnir into his presence,

hung over Asgard, and

the danger that

the

im-

portant mission which the JEsir had determined to

to

trust

his

Skirnir

sagacity.

playing

listened,

with the knot of his wondrous sword, as he was

wont

make known

to do, in order to

that he

possessed

it

"This
that

is

as

but,

depart at once,

Frey

thanked

him, and,

it

to

said,

"from

woo

fairest

Asgard requires
little

it,

liking

on

putting

small

key

which was, indeed, the key to the

him

farewell,

and Skirnir

his journey.

The road from Alfheim

as long as you would be apt
is

he

though I have

gate of Svartheim, he bade

it

me

of

the truth,

to wield.

dark caves and cunning people."

into his hand,

set out

him

sent

the welfare

Gerd;

for the

for

far different mission,"

on which you once

will

confess

for, to

was somewhat too heavy

to every one

possible for

to

Svartheim

to imagine.

is

not

Indeed,

a careless person to wander from

one region to another without being at once aware

of

it.

Skirnir,

having the key in his hand, took

THE HEKOES OF ASGARD.

274

the

direct

opening

The

way.

dim

of

and entered

his horse without,

and

moist,

and

warm,

stands

entrance-gate

mountain-cave.

it

at the

Skirnir

left

the air was heavy,

keenest

the

required

glances of SkirmYs keen eyes to see his way.

numerable narrow, winding paths,

leading down-

all

As he

wards, opened themselves before him.

met

groups of

clinking

sound of ham-

ear,

and,

looking

round,

men

at

his
little

shining metal

some, with

elfin

work on every

wheelbarrows

were wheeling small

of

fol-

faint

lowed the widest, a

mers

In-

full

along the ledges

saw

he

Some

side.

of lumps
rock

of the

pickaxes and spades, were digging

ore from the mountain-side; some, herded together

in

little

caves,

tinued

his

on

his

dancing

away

now he
head
light.

fires,

or working

As he

anvils.

downward path the

daylight faded
ness, for

were busy kindling

hammers on small

with tiny

last

con-

remnant

of

but he was not in total dark-

perceived that each worker carried

a lantern, in which burned a pale,

Skirnir

knew

that

a Will-o'-the-wisp, which the dwarf

had caught and imprisoned

to

each light was

who

light

carried

him

in

it

his

THE BINDING OF FENRIR.

275

work during the day, and which he must restore

to the earth at night

For many miles Skirnir wandered on lower and

On

lower.

every side of him lay countless heaps

of treasure

gold, silver, diamonds, rubies, emeralds

which the cunning workers stowed away

their

to

the very middle

silently

At length he

dark hiding-places.

in

came

mountain, where

of the

the

rocky roof rose to an immense height, and where

he

found

himself in

brilliantly-lighted

Here, in truth, were hung

world, which,

the

all

on dark, moonless

lights

Will-o'-the-wisps,

lights,

worms'
carefully
hall,

tails,

the

light

hung up

hi

in

tiers

Corpse-

from

sparks

fire-flies'

round

wings

and

hideous shapes

Hump-backed,

Skirnir's

of

the

eyes

tiny

cunning-eyed,

glowthese,

round the

illuminated the palace with a cold blue

and revealed to

the

nights, are carried

out by dwarfs to deceive the eyes of men.

the

palace.
in

the grotesque

light,

and

around

him.

open-mouthed,

they

beings

stood round, laughing, and whispering, and pointing

One among them, a

who sat on a golden

with shrivelled fingers.

taller

than the

rest,

little

seat

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

276

be a kind

thickly set with diamonds, appeared to

among them, and

of chief
his

to

him

Skirnir addressed

message.

Cunning and wicked

dwarfs were, they

as these

entertained a wholesome fear of Odin, having never

forgotten

sheim

one interview

their

and, therefore,

Skirnir

with

came,

with

him

in

Glad-

when they heard from whom

many uncouth

gesticulations

they bowed low before him, and declared themselves

to
willing
obey All-Father's commands.

They asked
to

two days and two nights in which

for

complete

their

and

task,

that

during

time

Skirnir remained then* guest in Svartheim.

He

wandered about, and saw strange

saw the great earth central

fire,

withered race, whose task

is

it

with

fuel;

saw

he

it

the

dwarfs,

feed

diamond-makers,

who

whose business

cracks in the mountain-sides

and the swarthy,

ceaselessly to

change the ashes of the great

and the

He

sights.

fire
it

with

into brilliants;
is

to

pure

fill

veins

the
of

and gold, and lead them up to places where

Nearer
they will one day meet the eyes of men.

silver

the surface he visited the workers in iron and the

THE BINDING OF FENRIR.

377

makers of salt-mines;

he drank of

tasting mineral

and admired the splendour

of

their

waters,

silver-roofed

their

strange-

and dwellings

temples

of

solid gold.

At the end of two days

audience-hall,

put into

size

dwarf chief held

felt

to

chief

hand a slender

his

imagine what

finger;

Skirnir re-entered

and then the

it
it

and when

of the

You can

chain.

was when I

tell

on

rested

that the

you

lightly balanced on

it

the

dwarfs

his

fore-

hand

Skirnir's

him no heavier than a piece of

it

thistle-

down.

The

King laughed loud when he saw the

Svart

disappointment on Skirnir's

you a

little

you that

in

thing," he

making

it

materials in the whole

No
is

the least

said;

world

The

the beards of

yet

fit

for

to

assure
all

the

the purpose.

be made again, neither

atom of the substances of which

made be found more.

six things.

"and

we have used up

such chain can ever

will

" It seems

face.

noise

women;

It

made by

is

it

fashioned out of

the footfall of cats

the roots of

stones;

sinews of bears; the breath of fish; and the

the

spittle

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

278

of birds.

Fear not with

no stronger chain

will

this to

ever be

bind Fenrir; for

made

till

the end

of the world."
Skirnir

now looked

with wonder at

and, after having thanked the dwarfs,

to

bring them a reward from

on

his road

meal,

of the

his

chain,

and promised

Odin, he set forth

home, and, by the time of the evening

reached Valhalla, and gladdened the hearts

,/Esir

by the

tidings of his success*

THE BINDING OF FENRIR.

PART

IIL

HONOUR.

FAR away
frowning
lies,

dark

the

lake,
its

Amsvartnir,

troubled waters,

island of sweet

broom, flaming

a jewel on the dark brow of Hela.

lonely
sail,

the

mountains,

and, above the level of

burns Lyngvi,
like

surrounded by

to the north of Asgard,

isle,

to which

the ^Esir, with

In

this

no ship but Skidbladnir could

Fenrir in the midst, assembled

to try the strength of the dwarfs' chain.

Fenrir prowled round his old master, Tyr, with

look

of

licking the

and

now

defiantly.

triumph

savage

now

hand

shaking

The

his

yEsir

that

in

his

cruel

eyes,

had so long fed him,

great

head,

and

howling

stood at the foot of Gioll,

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

2 8o

and passed

the sounding rock,

Gleipnir, the chain,

from one to another, talking about

it,

while Fenrii

"It was much stronger than

listened.

it

looked,"

they said ; and Thor and Tyr vied with each other
in their efforts
his

to

break

there

belief that

it;

while

Bragi declared

was no one among

giants capable of performing so great a feat,

JEsir

"

or

unless,"

he added, " it should be you, Fenrir."

This speech roused

the pride of Fenrir;

long at the slender chain

after

looking

faces

of the ^Esir, he answered, "Loath

be

bound by

doubt

my

this

chain;

but,

lest

and,

and

am

you

the
I

to

should

courage, I will consent that you should

bind me, provided one of you put his hand into

my mouth

as

pledge

that

no

deceit

is

in-

tended."

There was a moment's silence among the JEsu

when they heard this, and they looked at one

another.
Odin looked at Thor, and Thor looked
at Bragi,

and Frey

to his side,

fell

behind, and put his hand

where the all-conquering sword, which

he alone could wield, no longer rested.

At length Tyr stepped forward

valiantly,

and

THE BINDING OF FENRIR.

2 8l

put his strong right hand, with which he had so

often fed him, into the wolfs cruel jaws.

At

this

other ^Esir threw the chain

the

signal

round the monster's neck, bound him securely with

one

end,

rock

Gioll.

shook

and

fastened

When

other

vain he raised himself up, and

this

joy;

the ^Esir set

sight

for they

saw

their

danger that threatened

was

silent, for in

Then Thor

down

through

will roll

The
out

sails

to

magic
silent

on

the

till

his

up a loud shout of

averted.

had

the

Only Tyr

lost his

hand.

sword into the mouth of

flood burst forth, roared

country a

of Skidbladnir

and

floated

moonlight;

in

and began

turbid

river.

its

So

Ragnarok be come.

the wind;
ship,

and

firmly the slender

the rock and under the lake,

course
it

Asgard

and a foaming dark

Fenrir,

rose,

enemy conquered, and

the struggle he

thrust

great

bounded forward

more he struggled the more

chain bound him.
the

At

the

to

had done before; but

he

as

himself,

the

he was bound Fenrir

now

spread themselves

the ^Esir, seated

over the

lake

silently

while, from the top of

in

the

in

the

Bifrost,

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

28 a

over the Urda fount and the dwelling of the Norns,

"
"
a song floated down.
Who," asked one voice, of
the ^Esir has

all

won

made

singing, another voice

the

highest honour;

honour?" and,

the highest

answer,

of

for,

all

"Tyr has won

the ^Esir, he has

the most worthily employed his gift."

"

Frey gave his sword for fairest Gerd."

" Odin
bought for himself wisdom at the price of
his right eye."

"

Tyr, not for himself, but for others, has sacrificed

his strong right hand."

The wolf
to

We

swallow
see

Fenrir
the

is

annihilation;

chief of

him here

side of nature morally

Why

he was destined

gods at

Ragnarok.

as destruction chained until

time for mischief should

in him.

the

come

again

his

the destructive

and physically

is

personified

the dwarfs should be able to

make

chain strong enough to bind him, which the gods had

failed to do, is

can

a puzzle.

May

it

mean

compass ends which force has

that subtlety
to

relinquish.

or possibly a better thing than

subtlety, gentleness

THE BINDING OF FENRIR.

Tyr,

who

plays an important part in this myth,

was the son of Odin and a

means "Shining;"
chief of gods.
like

283

He

at
is

His name

giantess.

one time he was probably a

also a sort of

war god, something

Har

Thor, a finer hero, though, by a long way.

" he

says of him,

the gods,

in valour is

one hand

is

the most daring and intrepid of

man who

hence a

surpasses

called Tyr-strong."

all

others

His having only

refers partly to his character of war god,

and means that the victory can only be awarded

one

side.

" Thou never couldst settle a

two," was said to his shame, and,

that of all

Tyr

war gods
his

gives

Wednesday, Thor

betwixt

add, to

for ever.

name

to

Tuesday, as

to Thursday,

Odin

to

and Freyja or Frigga

to Friday.

Some

suggest that Loki

Saturday.

He

Loki

next chapter.

strife

we may

to

is

the patron of

forms the subject

of

the

THE PUNISHMENT OF

CHAPTER

LOKI.

VIII.

THE PUNISHMENT OF
AFTER
tured

the death of Baldur,

to

LOKI.

Loki never again ven-

intrude himself into the presence of the

He knew

JEsir.

well enough that he

had now done

what could never be forgiven him, and

he must bend

future,

285

all

his

that, for the

cunning and vigilance

to the task of hiding himself for ever from the eyes

of those
just

whom

he had so injured, and escaping the

punishment he had brought upon himself.

The world

is

large,

and

am

very cunning, said

Loki to himself, as he turned his back upon Asgard,

and wandered out

into

to the

thick woods,

waters

neither

is

Manheim

there

and no measure

is

no end

for the

deep

there any possibility of counting the

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

286

various forms under which

I shall disguise myself.

All-Father will never be able to find

no cause

to

But, though Loki repeated this

fear.

was

over and over again to himself, he

He

wandered

into

far

thick

the

covered himself with the deep waters

to

have

me;

the tops of misty

and

hills,

afraid.

woods,
;

and

he climbed

crouched in the

dark of hollow caves; but above the wood, and

through the water, and

single

ray of

down

clear

calm,

and he knew

follow him,

into the darkness,

seemed always to

light

that

came from the

it

who was watching him from

eye of All-Father,
Air Throne.

Then he
disguising

to

tried

the

escape

under

himself

judging

various

eye

by

Some-

shapes.

times he was an eagle on a lonely mountain-crag;

sometimes he hid himself as one among a troop

of timid reindeer;
of a wood-pigeon
spotted
was,

fish,

among

living

nature, everything

some voice

in

in

sometimes he lay in the nest

sometimes he swam, a brightthe

sea

seemed

which

to

but,

creatures,

to

or

wherever

alone

know him, and

say

to

him,

he

with dead
to find

You

are

THE PUNISHMENT OF LOKI.

and

Loki,

or water,

Tired at
find,

Loki

have

you
there
last

He
in

Air,

earth,

him anywhere.

built himself

river

a house by the side of a

down from a high rock

at

which,

lower point,

into the sea below.

took care that his house should have four doors

it,

the

for

rest

of seeking what he could nowhere

narrow, glittering
flashed

Baldur.

killed

was no

287

that

he might look out on every

side,

and catch

glimpse of the JEsir when they came, as

first

he knew they

would

to

come,

take

him

away.

Here

his wife, Siguna, and his two sons, Ali and

Nari,

came

to live with him.

Siguna was a kind woman,

kind for Loki.

She

felt

she saw he was in great

thing

sorry for
fear,

and

good and
him now that

too

far

that every living

had turned against him, and she would have

hidden him from the just anger

she could
father's

but the two sons cared

dread and

danger;

they

of the JEsir
little

spent

if

about their
all

their

time in quarrelling with each other ; and their loud,

angry voices, sounding above the waterfall, would

speedily have betrayed the hiding-place, even
Father's piercing eye

if All-

had not already discovered

it

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

83

would be

If only the children

to say anxiously every

day

Siguna used

quiet,

but Loki said nothing

he was beginning to know by experience that there

was

about

that

be

children that could never

his

kept quiet or hidden away.

At

one day when

last,

was

he

the

in

sitting

middle of his house looking alternately out of

all

the four doors, and amusing himself as well as he

could by making a fishing net, he spied in

distance the whole

ing

company
The sight

house.

his

together

beautiful,

and

the

of the ^Esir approachof

noble,

them
and

all

coming
free

pierced

He

Loki with a pang that was worse than death.

rose

without daring to look again, threw his net

on a

fire

burned on the

that

the side of the

little

river,

floor,

and, rushing to

he turned himself into

a salmon, swam down to the deepest,

at the bottom,

The
in

and looked

^Esir entered the house,

vain for Loki,

famous

for

stillest

and hid himself between two

his

till

keen

Kvasir,
sight,

of the fishing-net in the

all

pool

stones.

round

one of Odin's sons,

spied out the remains

fire;

then Odin

knew

once that there was a river near, and that

it

at

was

THE PUNISHMENT OF LOKI.

there where Loki
his sons to

the water,

had hidden

make a

and to

and drag out whatever

could find there.

drew

the other through

pulled

it

up

the

first

all

cast

ordered
into

it

living thing they

was done as he

It

held one end of the net, and

He

himself.

fresh net,

289

desired.

Thor

the rest of the JEsir

When

the water.

time, however,

it

they

was empty, and

they would have gone away disappointed, had not

Kvasir, looking earnestly at the meshes of the net,

discovered that something living had certainly touched

them.

threw
of the

They then added a weight

it

with such force that

river,

it

to

the net,

and

reached the bottom

and dragged up the stones

in the pool.

Loki now saw the danger he was in of being

caught in the net, and, as there was no other way
of escape, he rose to the surface,
river

as quickly as he could,

net into the waterfall.

swam down

the

and leaped over the

He swam

and leaped quickly

as a flash of lightning, but not so quickly but that

the ^Esir saw him,

knew him through

his disguise,

and resolved that he should no longer escape them.

They divided

into

two bands.

the river to the waterfall;

Thor waded down

the other

^Esir stood

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

in

a group

swam backwards and

Loki

below.

forwards between them.

dart out into the sea,

Now

he thought he would

and now

that

over the net back again into the

seemed the

way of

readiest

This

last

escape, and, with

the

speed, he attempted

greatest

was watching

he would spring

for him, and, as

river.

it

Thor, however,

soon as Loki leaped

and

out of the water, he stretched out his hand,

caught him while he was yet turning

Loki wriggled

his

Thunderer grasped

fingers;

tightly

by

the

in his

hand, waded to the shore.

and, holding

tail,

Odin and the other

first

^Esir

him

in this

him

manner

There Father

met him ; and,

at

Odin's

searching look, Loki was obliged to drop his

disguise,

in

the

air.

through

slimy length

slippery,

Thor*s

but

the

in

his

and, cowering

proper

One by one

and

frightened,

to

stand

shape before the assembled Lords.

they turned their faces from him;

in looking at him,

for,

they seemed to see over again

the death of Baldur the Beloved.

I

over

told

you that there were high rocks looking

the sea not

of these,

higher

far

from

than the

Loki's
rest,

house.

had midway

One
four

THE PUNISHMENT OF LOKI.

and to these the ^Esir resolved

projecting stones,

bind

to

Loki in such a manner that he should

never again be

Manheim

of

proposed to

able

to

torment

that

the

inhabitants

Thor

or Asgard by his evil-doings.

return

to Asgard,

with which to bind the prisoner

him

391

to bring

a chain

but Odin assured

he had no need to take such a journey,

"Loki," he

"has already forged

said,

for himself

While we

a chain stronger than any you can make.

have been occupied in catching him, his two sons,

and Nan, transformed into wolves by

Ali

passions,

With

have fought with, and destroyed, each other.

their sinews

their father,
It

we must make a

it

But

rope was

manner the
his

it

turned into bands of iron,

and bound him immoveably

this

said.

the dead wolves' sinews, and, as soon as

touched Loki's body,

in

chain to bind

and from that he can never escape."

was done as Asa Odin

made of

their evil

to the rock.

Secured

JEsir left him.

punishment

did

not

end

here.

snake, whose fangs dropped venom, glided to the

top of the rock, and leaned his head over to peer

at

Ix>kL

The

eyes of the

two

met and

fixed

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

92

The

each other.
afterwards
his

but every

pitied

world

the

all

moment

down on

fell

tongue

In

serpent could never

move away

a burning drop from

Loki's shuddering face.

was

there

one

only

who

His kind wife ever afterwards stood

him.

beside him, and held a cup over his head to catch

When

the poison.

obliged to turn
fell

poison

he

will

Loki,
origin

as

was

cup

to

away

empty

lie

it,

and drops

it,

He

was
of

shuddered

and the whole earth trembled

bound

we have

may have

she

full,

again on Loki's face.

and shrank from

So

the

till

Ragnarok be come.

seen

been, had

all

along,

come

to

the time these nyths were formed,

principle, the originator

of

all

whatever his

mean

evil

by

the destructive
as, father

corruption

of devouring Hel, of Fenrir, the wolf annihilator, and

of Jormungand, the universal wolf.
story in

There

one of the Eddas about a

feast

is

a curious

which the

King of the Sea gave to the gods. By the way, one

" Sat
the Rock-dweller, glad as a
song says of ^Egir,
child:"

which

is

the introduction to another feast he

THE PUNISHMENT OF

LOKI.

Page

292.

THE PUNISHMENT OF LOKI.

If he began

gave the gods.

latter

by being glad on

this

occasion, expecting a happy entertainment, he

must have had a grievous disappointment,

bent on mischief, would

insist

Things rarely went

^Esir.

upon

for Loki,

feasting with the

well where

Loki was,

which the gods knew and begged him not to come.

But Loki would come, and

at the table

best

to

insulting

directly

he was seated

he began his mischief-making, doing his

make

the gods

them by

quarrel with one another,

reminding each of some

turns,

or misfortune least pleasant to remember.

it

must have

party.

At

been

last

who had been on a

after

alarm

companions.

journey,

a good deal of abuse had

passed between him and Loki, the

to take

Altogether

a most uncomfortable dinner-

Thor,

came back; and,

fault

latter

and slank away from

One account

says that

ately after this the gods caught Loki

it

his

appeared
enraged

was immedi-

and bound him,

but another does not mention his capture in connection with ^Egir's feast.
his

Simrock says that Loki, in

character of accuser at this banquet, represents

the guilty conscience of the gods.

becomes the

guilty conscience

itself,

From

this

he

a personification

THE HEROES OF ASGAP*>.

294

of the consciousness of

His attempts

sin.

con

at

cealment, the four doors of his house placed every

way

that he might

making

be

alert in descrying danger, his

by which he was caught

the net

(for the

JEsii were said to copy the net which they found

bound with

in Loki's house), his being

of his

own

children

He

out this idea.

results
is,

says Simrock, the

as well as the consciousness of it

as

Fenrir

is

destruction

moral power, they are

the entrails

of evil deeds

He

is

ajl

carry

Bad

itself

sin chained

The gods

chained.

his chains, for

it

ar*

said that

is

And yet, how

when he shudders they tremble.
real he has become in this myth, so much a person
that

we can

means of

his

scarcely help wishing

ingenious disguises,

some one

glad that at last

faithful

so

wife,

much

come

"there

exactly

to escape

and are
to pity

who wards

off

by

certainly

him

the

from him

of his punishment

We now
said,

standing by,

is left

him

will

how we

to

Ragnarok; and

come a
tell

winter."

the story.

"first," as

But that

is

Har
not

XAGNAROK.

CHAPTER IX

RAGNAROK, OR THE TWILIGHT OF

THE GODa
SINCE the day that Baldur died no one had walked
in

the

bright

halls

of

even stepped through the expanded

of

imdimmed

brightness,

no one had

Broadblink

soft,

gates.

Instead

luminous mist now

hung over the palace of the dead Asa, and the

Asyniur whispered to one another that

it

was haunted

by wild dreams.

"I have seen them/' Freyja used to say; "I

have seen them float in at sunset through the
palace windows and the open doors

every evening I

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

296

can

trace

mist; and

their
I

strange from

forms

slight

know

that those

the shuddering that I

look at them, or

if

the

through

rosy

dreams are wild and

feel

when

ever they glance at me."

So the Asyniur never went into Broadblinkj and

though the JEsir did

not

think

dreams, they never went there

But one day

it

that

happened

much about

Odin stood

opening of the palace gates at sunset.

was clear and calm, and

western

sky

until

he stood

crimson

its

the

either.

in the

The evening
watching the

faded

into

soft

blue grey; then the colours of the flowers began

to

mix one with another

yellow

blossoms

stood

became more dim.

silence

over the

only the

It

earth

out

was

alone

twilight,

whilst

the

evening drew near to one another.

dream came
blink.

Her

tall

white and

the

distance

and there was

night and

the

Then a young

floating through the gates into Broadsisters

were already there ; but she had

only just been born, and, as she passed Odin, she

touched him with a

light

hand, and drew him along

with her into the palace.

same

hall in

She led him into the

which Baldnr had breamed, and there

RAGNAROK.
Odin saw the night sky above him, and the broad
branches of Yggdrasil swaying in the breeze.

Norns stood under the great ash

had dropped from

their fingers

and Urd and Ver-

dandi stood one on each side of Skuld,

still

For

veiled.

each a cold hand, and

veil,

the

stood

Urd and Verdandi

raised

the veil slowly from

lifted

Odin looked

Skuld's face.

time

who was

three

long

motionless, but at length

and the eyes of Skuld

breathlessly within the

dilated as

he looked,

grew larger

and

and, at

expanded into boundless space.

last,

larger,

The

the golden threads

melted into one another,

In the midst of space lay the world, with

long shores,

green

heim

and vast oceans,

plains;

round

all

^Esirland
it;

in

ice

the

midst,

with

Man-

then the wide sea, and, far

the frost-bound shores of Jotunheim.

there

its

mountains, and

off,

Sometimes

was night and sometimes day; summer and

winter gave place to one another

and Odin watched

the seasons as they changed, rejoiced in the sunshine,

But

and looked calmly over the night

at

last,

during

out of Jarnvid, and

one

sunrise,

began to

a wolf came

howl at the

sun.

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

298

The sun did not seem

up the sky

majestically

heed him, but walked

to

to her

mid-day point; then

the wolf began to run after her,

down

and chased her

There the

the sky again to the low west.

sun opened her bright eye wide, and turned round

at

bay; but the wolf came close up to

shuddered, and

earth

wolf was

for

waiting

moon

the

moon

the

Another

rose.

with

and

The

mouth, and swallowed her up.

his

opened

her,

wide jaws

open, and, while yet pale and young, he, too, was

devoured.

The

now

while

frost

was

and

night,

and

winter

night,

there

was

nothing but winter.

dauntless

Giantess'

Then a

it

again;

driving from the four corners of heaven.

and

Winter

shuddered

cold and darkness,

covered with

snow came

earth

eagle

Rock,

light

and

sat

upon the height of the

began

to

strike

his

red cock crowed over the Bird

harp.

Wood.

gold-combed cock crowed over Asgard, and over

Helheim a cock of sooty

red.

underground Garm began

to

From a long way

howl, and

Fenrir broke loose from his rock-prison,

forth

over the whole earth.

Then

at

last

and ran

brother

con-

RAGNAROK.

299

tended with brother, and war had no bounds.

hard age was

that.

" An

axe age,

A sword age,
Shields oft

cleft in

twain

A storm age,
A wolf age,
Ere the earth met

Confusion

Heimdall
horn,

rioted

ran

up

the

Bifrost,

Yggdrasil,

root to

summit.

its

forth

might

ash,

doom.*

At length

darkness.

and

whose sound went out

the

ride

in

its

blew

into

was

After this

all

his

Giallar

worlds,

shaken

from

and
its

Odin saw himself

from Asgard to consult Mimer at the

Well of Wisdom.

Whilst he was there Jormun-

gand turned mightily

in

his place,

plough the ocean, which caused

every shore,

so

that the world

water to the base of

its

high

it

and began to
to swell

over

was covered with

hills.

Then

the

ship Naglfar was seen coming over the sea with

its

prow from the

east,

and the giant

Hrym was

the

steersman.
All Jotunheim resounded, and

the dwarfs stood

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

3 oo

moaning before
was

down upon
the

The

rode

sons of Muspell,

swarth

the

whom fire
He led
sun.

bands from heaven to earth over

the

over

himself,

the

at

tops

the

fire,

beneath

their

again;

even

trod

the

Garm was

head of

of the

all

mountains

Fenrir,

whom

^Esir,

to

Vigrid,

forth

ride

the

Garm, Jormungand,

Surtur was there, too,

commanding

he had drawn up

the great battle began

Odin went

to

sated with

the

shining bands on a distant part of the

Then

way

where the giants were already

assembled, headed by

sons of

and the

Confusion rioted, and Odin

living.

high, wide battle-field,

and Loki.

men

his flaming

broke loose, and came up to earth to

look upon the

saw

and

pieces

and

raged,

Bifrost,

shuddered

crowds that

in such

their blood,

in

earth

stumbled;

giantesses

Helheim

broke

bridge

Then

tread.

their

Surt,

before and behind

whose sword outshone the

tremulous

streamed

light

rode through the breach, and at

fire,

of them

head

leader,

and a flood of

the dark earth.

the sons of

Then heaven

stony doors.

their

in twain,

cleft

against

in

Fenrir,

in

the

several

plain.

earnest

First,

who came

on,

RAGNAROK.
enormous

his

opening

and would have reached

little

jaw

upper one to heaven,

had

further

been

there

Odin and Fenrir fought

space to admit of it

^Esir's

lower

the

mouth;

reached to the earth, the

301

for

while only, and then Fenrir swallowed

Father

ting his foot

the

but Vidar stepped forward, and, put-

on

Fenrir's lower jaw,

with his hand

he seized the other, and rent the wolf in twain.

Garm had been

In the meantime Tyr and

they had killed each other.

until

Loki,

and

Loki

radiant slayer,

by
ere

him.

Frey

slew

Heimdall.

met Surtur

Many

but

fell;

blows

the

Fire

Beli's

Frey,

in battle,

terrible

fighting

Heimdall slew

and was
were

killed

exchanged
sword

King's

out-

shone the sun, and where was the sword of Frey?

Thor went

forth

Thunderer raised

against
his

the

Jormungand;

arm

he feared no

strong

flung Miolnir at the monster serpent's head.

mungand leaped up a great height in

fell
down to the earth again without
stream of

he

died.

venom poured
Thor

trength of his

fell

he

evil

the
life

Jor-

air,
;

and

but a

forth from his nostrils as

back

nine

paces

own blow; he bowed

his

from

head

the
tr

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

the earth,

and was choked

in the poisonous flood;

serpent was

so the monster

by the strong

killed

Thunderer's hand; but in death Jormungand slew

his slayer.

Then
earth

mankind forsook

all

down

sank

itself

the

into

slowly

Water swelled over the mountains,

the

rivers

through thick trees, deep currents swept

valleys

wide

The

flood.

stars fell

upward from

At

the

midst

of them,

red

roared

through

the

of

deep,

wrapped

encircling

the

world,

of Yggdrasil,

The

itself.

smoky clouds

burst forth from the

fire

flames

and

flood swelled, the

now

things.

now be

The end

is

like the beginning,

for ever as if nothing

But, as he spoke, the

clouds rolled away

wl

the

nothing but flood and fire.

"
Then," said Odin, in his dream, I see the end

raged ; there was

all

will

last,

infinite

branches

played against heaven

"

gurgled

down

from the sky, and flew

thither.

the earth and the water;

fire

ocean.

nothing was to be seen on the earth but a

about hither and

drifted

and the

earth,

of heaven;

fire

and

it

had ever been."

ceased suddenly; the

a new and brighter sun looked

and he saw

arise

a second time

RAGNAROK.
the earth from ocean.

sunk.

It

First, the waters

new

that

hills

rose

fell

rose slowly as

it

had

back from the tops of

fresh

up

303

and verdant;

rain-

drops like pearls dripped from the freshly budding

and

trees,

the sea with a sweet sound;

into

fell

waterfalls splashed

glittering

from the high rocks

eagles flew over the mountain streams

unsown

spring-like;
evil,

and

Forest

all

came

fields

Then from Memory's

a new race of men, who spread

forth

who

fed

There was also a new

the dawn.

earth arose

bore fruit; there was no

nature smiled.

over the whole earth, and

on the dew of
city

on Asgard's

a city of gems; and Odin saw a

Hill

standing
with gold.

in

it,

fairer

Above

into that fair city

all,

than

the

sun,

came,

and

new

hall

and roofed

the wide blue expanded, and

came Modi and Magni, Thor's

two sons, holding Miolnir between them.

Vidar

the

deathless

Vali and

Hcenir;

Baldur

came up from the deep, leading his blind brother

Hodur peacefully by the hand ; there was no longer
any

strife

between them.

habited the spacious

Two

brothers' sons in-

Wind-Home.

Then Odin watched how

the ^)sir sat

on the

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

304

green plain, and talked of

Hod

dead," said

is

to

and Jormungand, and

Fenrir,

and the world

re-

who

fell

rejoice

them?"

"They
gave

"Garm

things.

" and so are

Baldur,
Loki,

dead brothers

joices; but did our

in slaying

many

did,

Hod,"

answered

Baldur;

"they
world

their lives willingly for the life of the

and, as he

listened,

Odin

felt

that

"
;

was true;

this

when he looked upon that beautiful and happy

age, it gave him no pain to think that he must die

for,

before

came

it

that,

though for many,

it

was not

for him.

By-and-bye Hcenir came up to

with something
that he

he

had found

glittering

in

in the grass

his
;

"Behold the golden

said,

Hod and
hand

Baldur

something

and as he approached
tablets,

my

brothers,

which in the beginning of time were given to the

^Esir's Father,

Then they

and were
all

lost in the

Old World."

looked eagerly at the

as they bent over them, their faces

tablets, and,

became even

brighter than before.

"There
"not an

is

no longer any

evil sight,

nor an

evil thing," said

evil

sound."

Odin;

RAGNAROK.
But

as

Niflheim,

came
on

he

and

spoke

dusky

the dark-spotted

out

rose

wings

of

Nidhogg,

serpent,

flying from the abyss, bearing dead carcases

cold death, undying.

his wings

Then

the joy of

brimmed

that

eternal

Odin was drowned

his

and

heart,

gnawer had entered into

it

his soul.

no victory over sin?" he

then,

no death

in the tears

was

as

the

if

" Is

there,

"Is there

cried.

Death?" and with the cry he woke.

to

He

His dream had faded from him.

stood in the

palace gates alone with night, and the night was

Long

dying.

since the rosy clasp of evening

had

dropped from her; she had turned through darkness eastward, and looked earnestly towards dawn.
It

was

twilight again, for the night

drew near to one another.

the morning star

east

smote

the

voice

came advancing,

filled

all

space.

cruelty,
kill

and death.

each

other;

of

the

swelling,

"Look

the groaning earth, with

star

stood in the

and a coming brightness

Out

heavens.

and the morning

all

widening,

forth,"
its

light

it

cold,

said,

and

Heroes and giants

now

giants

fall,

still

until

it

"upon

pain,

and

fight

and

and

heroes

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

triumph;

now

heroes

and

Look

forth,

faiths

of nations shall

eastward,

man ;

nothing

Of

lost it will

course the

full

old

like

totter

hard

is

light that lighteth

dark

it

cannot

it

every

doth not lighten ;

melt;

there

is

Eddas do not say anything about

in

a dream, or about

having any idea of a light that was to

divested of this slender
is

men, turn

not save."

Odin seeing Ragnarok

stands

they

of pain.

but when the worn-out

fear not;

and behold the

nothing

rise;

giants

the earth

for there is nothing

there is

and

fall,

can but combat, and

veil,

the

his

come ;

story as

it

but,

here

almost an exact likeness of the northern

In one

Edda

given as the prophecy of

a Vala or seeress, and the last line is " Now she will

myth.

it

is

descend," meaning that the Vala had finished her

prophesying, and would

come down from her high

seat

We
those

have now heard a

gods

in

whom

believe; and, are they

little

Har
like

about the

said

each

^Esir,

we were

to

other or unlike?

RAGNAROK.
ask ourselves.

ire

At

we say

first

thinking about them a

little

are not really very old

much

alike

Eddas speak of them

we saw

as distinct, but then, as

unlike, but after

while, very

It is certain that the

indeed.

307

Eddas

before, the

compared with the

religion

they explain, they are almost young.

Simrock points out clearly the likenesses between

the gods

a very few of them we touch upon.

Let

us begin, by putting in a line for ourselves to look

Odin, Tyr, Heimdall, Thor, Frey, and Baldur.

at,

Odin

air,

moon and
throne,

stormy and serene, the heavens with sun,

stars

seeing

Odin the wanderer ; Odin on

over the whole

world;

Summer, as Odur ; the patron of

of the

slain,

of one

hand.

pledger

the

shining, a dweller

who

sees

the

and hears

Heimdall,

upon

far off,

chooser

as

Irmin,

heavenly mountains,

who wanders over

blows his golden horn.

the

Thor, whose dwelling

heavens; god of the storm, of cultivation;

the warrior,
said

battles, the

Tyr, the shining, the warrior god,

the

earth,

the

Odin,

the pledger of one eye, drinking from

Mimer's horn.

is

Air-

that

the

chooser

whilst

Odin

of the slain;

had

all

the

for

Jarls

it

is

that

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

308

fell

in

Thor claimed

battle,

share.

the

Frey,

the

Summer, god

year, the pledger of his sword.

Thralls

of the

It is

for

his

fruitful

supposed that

Frey was once the husband of Freyja, and that

was

their

separation

and

Freyja's wanderings

him with Odur or Odin.

pledges his
earth to

weep

and her

for

tears.

this

tears;

would connect

Baldur, Summer, or Sun god,

to the under-world.

life

it

which founded the myth of

In leaving the

him, he recalls the desertion of Freyja

Turning to the goddesses, we see

Jord or the earth spoken of as a wife of Odin;

Rind, the winterly earth

What

under-world.

would be natural

to worship

and

Iduna, the spring of the

Gerda, also the winterly earth;

earth;

it

Freyja, so nearly joined to

Frigg, the summerly earth

strikes us

through

Hela,

the

all this is that

for the early earth dwellers first

the heavens with

all

that they contain

suggest, whilst the action of heavenly influences

upon the earth would reveal her

mother,

stern,

cold,

tender,

embosoming, reproducing

many ways
ID the

first

in

all

them

as the great

fruitful,

consuming,

to

in

one.

There are

which gods and goddesses multiply.

place Gylfis will begin to ask questions

RAGNAROK.
and pry into

first

causes and ways and means of

whence would

existence,

air,

water,

to say

fire,

and chaotic regions which

of the giants

would suggest themselves.

One

side or another of

must always be uppermost, and nature

life

new

differences grows into

personalities

myths again moral ones

variations
joins

meet the new requirements.

tribe

another

The

tribe's chief

Thor

Odin claimed the

one

its

and new

Again, tribe

and pantheons mingle, the chief god of

fact of

Simrock

in

from nature

easily develope,

one race becoming the son,

at

a division of

easily arise

nature into elementary powers,

nothing

309

time

from

of

god, and so on.

receiving Thralls in battle whilst

Jarls,

says that

say, or the brother,

looks as

the

first

if

Thor had

to a

fallen

second

place.

Tyr answers to Zeus, and that

perhaps he was the oldest of the Asgard gods

but

he says also that Odin has gathered up

into himself

the highest attributes of the gods.

The only

all

allusions that can be relied

Eddas contain
very

on as genuine which the

to a higher god than Odin

obscure strophe

speaking of Ragnarok,

in

is

the Voluspa which

one
says

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

**

Then comes

To

the Mighty One,

the great judgment,

The powerful from above

Who

rules over all

He shall doom pronounce

And strifes allay,
establish

Holy peace
Which shall

Another

Mill

more

ever be."

difficult to

understand in Hyndla'a

lay.
*

Then
Yet

shall another

come,

mightier,

Although I dare not

His name declare*

Few may

see

Further forth

Than when Odin

Meets the Wolfc

Simrock, however, thinks that he sees some gleams

of a higher unseen

and

there,

also fancies that

he

is

Hidden Power very faintly here

this Being and Odin he

and between

he can trace some connection.

But

very uncertain on the point

Simrock says of the goddesses in the Scandinavian

mythology that they most of them represent only

one side

of the

original

Earth Mother, dividing

RAGNAROK.
them

the double nature between

personating the

fruitful,

in her nature.

beneficent, life-giving reno-

It

is,

and Iduna are mixed

of Odin's

Hela

that

is

half a

He

wives.

giantess

Gerda

Rinda

in nature, also

root idea remains with her,

as earth

woman.

the eldest of the goddesses,

is

and
also,

says,

and

that the

a receiver of the dead,

though she became so degraded.

is,

side

however, to be observed that

whilst half a corpse she

others

some

see

Hela has only the dark

vating earth, whilst

left

we

so

gave her power over nine worlds, and here

Odin

we

see

a trace of the old idea of her being the great Earth

Mother.

"From

a goddess of the underworld to

a goddess of death

is

underworld should be

one

step.

goddess of the

life-giving as well as destroying;

but soon the heathen horror of death appears, and

the destroyer

is

looked upon as the ender only, not

the fresh begetter

not be

satisfied,

she becomes a hunger that will

and hence Hela

a daughter of

is

Loki.

Out

of

the

flood,

into

the

flood

again,

Niflheim and Muspelheim join hands in the twilight

As

in

the

first

beginning of things

we saw

the

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

5x3

and melted by these

strange waves alternately frozen

and

out

of

so in Ragnarok

we

see

antagonistic powers,

a form

more supreme, the

this

antagonism

the flood

rival forces, cold

and

heat,

against the formed, ordered world

fighting

once
both
both,

because both alike represent elemental forces which

must precede formation.

So, also, a second time the

world emerges out of the struggle, Simrock thinks, a

renewed world morally and physically

it

does seem to have

old order of things,

But does

this

certainly

made some advance upon

it

the

stands forth beautiful at once.

the

back, with fate in the back-ground.

So many of the same powers seem

the

and

mean any more, we wonder, than

golden age come

in

to

be

at

work

two worlds, that we can only think of a

succession of events in looking at the picture.

see again the golden tables,
as Baldur.

There

is

we

see

Hodur

We

as well

one very obscure verse which

seems to imply that the giant fate-maidens are in the

renewed world.

Sons succeed

their fathers.

Odin's

sons inherit Odin's hall; the two mentioned are Vali

and Vidar, who were both descended from

and giants always

typify the

giantesses,

baser part of nature.

RAGNAROK.

313

On

Thor's sons retain the badge of warfare.

other hand,

is

it

said that

Hod and

peacefully

together

from

remarked,

also, that

no Vanir gods

the

of Asgard) are mentioned.

Voluspa which

in the

Baldur come up

been

has

it

deep;

There

talks of

the

(inferior to those
is

a strophe

also

peace established, and

of heavenly Gimill, gold bedecked, where the right-

eous people are to dwell for evermore, and enjoy

happiness

"She a Hall sees standing than the sun

With gold bedecked in Gimill.
There

And
But

strains,

shall the righteous people dwell,

for

we

evermore happiness enjoy."

immediately

again,

Eternal Gnawer, with a corpse

" The dark

dragon

Our

from

upon

the

his wings.

from beneath, the glistening serpent,

flying

by the

catch the melody's last tone.

wail?

hopeful

bears Nidhogg, flying o'er the plain a corpse."

ears are puzzled

of corpses ?

these

following

shown the dark-spotted snake

are

On his wings

brighter,

Gimill's

"

Who

who can search

strain,

Is

gold roofs,

it

and we cannot

a joy note or a

from

the

shore

can search into the beginning ;

into the

end?"

INDEX OF NAMES.

INDEX OF NAMES,
WITH MEANINGS.
SELECTED FROM MALLET'S " NORTHERN ANTIQUITIES,* AMD
FROM THORPE'S "NORTHERN MYTHOLOGY."
sEgir
dZsir
Alf,

The King of the

Gods or Lords.

Sea.

The name means, "to flow.*

As or Asa.

Singular,

Elf Alfheim, Elfhome.

The name of one of

Alt or Vali

Loki's children.

It signifies,

"strong."

AmsvartnirNsnae of a

lake.

It

means,

"grief,

black,

Thc mother of Jormungand, Hela, and

Fenrir.

gloomy."
r

Angurbodi-

The name
Asgard
Asyniur

signifies,

"
Literally,

God's-ward," or "the abode of the god*,'

Goddesses.

Audkumla The
Baldur

"anguish boding."

first

cow.

Signifies,

Bright, white, bold.

xa

"void, darkness.*

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

BarriThe Warm Wood.
The stag killed by Frey.
Bdi signifies, " to bellow."
" the Tremu
It means,
#*/rarf -Name given to the rainbow.

Beli

"

lous or Aerial Bridge.

Bilskirnir

Name

of Thor's

mansion.

It

either

signifies

"bright space" or "storm-serene."

BSr or Bur

The first hero.

The god of eloquence. From faaga, "to shine;" or
bragga, "to adorn."
Bragr, which in Norse signifies

Bragi

"poetry," has become in English "to brag," and a poet

"a

braggart."

our word

From

Bragi's bumper, the Bragafull,

"bragget," and probably,

also,

the

comes

verb

"to

brew ; " Norse, brugga.

Breidablik

Name

of Baldur's abode.

It

means,

"

broad-blink,

wide-glancing, expanded splendour."

**nsingamenName

of

Freyja's

necklace.

From

bribing

"flaming."

Oa*_Signifies, "swoon," or "complete repose."

name of one of the four harts which ran about
branches of Yggdrasil

Draupnirk

ring

also the

of Odin,

Baldur's pile, acquired the

name

Name

itself.

of a chain

from which he freed

by which Fenrir was bound, and

himself.
It has since become a
pro-

verb in Sweden,

" To

out of Dromi,"

when anything

get loose from Lading, and to dash

is

to

be done with great

exertion.

Duneyr

Name

Durathror

the

of a dwarf.

which, after being placed on

power of dropping every ninth

night eight rings ot equal weight with

Dromi

It is thf

among

of one of the harts which lived in

Light sleep.

Another of the

harts.

YggdnuiL

INDEX OF NAMES.
Name

Durin
Dvalin

of a dwarf.

Name

Torpor.

Einherjar

Chc?n

Signifies,

317

"light sleep."

of one of the harts

also of a dwarf.

heroes.

The name of the rivers which

Elivdgar Stormy waves.
flowed forth from Hvergelmir, and hardened into ice in
Ginnungagap, the abyss of abysses, situated between Niflheim

and Muspellheim.
Old Age. She wrestled with Thor

Elli

Elvidnir

The

in Jotunheim.

entrance-hall of Hela's palace.

It

" wide

means,

storm."

Ermt

Name

of a river through which

Thor had

to wade.

Fenrir or Fenris Ulfr Monster wolf, oz dweller in an abyss,

or howling wolf of the deep.
Fensalir

Frigga's abode.

FolkvangTreyfis

Fensaloon, or watery deep.

abode.

"the

Literally,

folk's

field

or

habitation."

Frey and

Freyja

Master

German word "frau."

and

mistress,

The names

from

whence the

also signify,

"mild,

joyous, fructifying, beauteous."

Frigga or Frigg

Garm
way

Free, beauteous, winsome.

The dog with bloody breast and jaws who guarded the
From gcrr, "voracious," a word probably

to Helheim.

cognate with English "gorge."

Gerda> or Gerdur
"
*'

Gerd,

ukrgerd,

Gimli

Name

destruction

or

"gem."

From

era t

"to do

make," as

in

agriculture.

of the

heavenly city which existed after

and renewal of the world.

Signifies,

the

"fire,**

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

The

Ginnungagap

space between Niflheim and Muspellheim.

of gaps, the abyss of abysses, the

"the gap

Literally,

yawning, gaping abyss."

The sounding

Gjallar-bru

from the abodes of

river leading

the living to those of the dead.

GjaUar-horn From gjalla, "to resound, to clang."

with the English, "to yell."
Gj'oll

"

Name

of river,

sonorous, fulgid,"

the sun's sound

meaning "the horizon." It signifies,

and has reference to the popular belief of

when

day breaks forth

it

goes

the skriek

Odin's abode.

Glodsheim

Cognate

down and when it rises, or when

" break of
of day, our
day."

Literally, "glad's

"
abode of gladness ;

whence the

from

home," or "the
English word

"gladsome."
Gltipnir

The

It signifies,

chain made by dwarfs

"the devouring."

for the binding of Fenrir.

Cave leading to Helheim.

Golden Bristles. Name of Frey's hog.
Mane. The name of Heimdall's steed
Golden
Gulltoppr

Gnipa

Gullinbursti

Hetmdall

Guardian

of the

His name sign

rainbow.

"the pole or post of the world."

incomplete,

is still

called

The

fiea

rainbow, whta

by the northern nations Veirstolpe

a weather-post. "
Hela The Queen of the Dead.
means " intense cold "

literally,

others,

Some
"a

say that her

name

large hole or cavity."

The home of Hela.

ffifrmodThe name of Odin's messenger.

Helheim

host," or

Himinbiorg

"army

Heimdall's abode.

mountains."

It signifies,

"

of courage."

The name signifies, " hecvenly

INDEX OF NAMES.

The name of Odin's throne, from whence he looked over

Hlidskjalf
the earth.

Hb'dur or

3 zg

means literally,

It

Hod The

**

a trembling or wavering slope. n

His name means,

blind god.

"war,

combat."

The god

ffaenir

He

of mind or perception.

is

sometimes

called the rapid As, or Long-foot.

Hringhorn

"ringed horn."

Literally,

The name of

Baldur's

ship.

Hrym

or

Ryme Name

Hugi

or

Hugin

of a giant, from whence

Spirit, breath,

thought

"rime

frost."

The name

of one

of Odin's ravens.

Hvcrgelmir The roaring cauldron, or spring of hot water,

which bubbled up out of Niflheim.

Hymir Name
Hyrrokin

"

Jduna or Idun

From hum, "the sea."

fire."
The name of a

of a giant.

Literally,

smoky

giantes*

Guardian of the apples of immortality.

Iron Wood.
Jormungand Universal serpent

Jarmrid

Jotunheim

Grimm

Giants' home.

for giant, ibtun, is cognate

be derived from

KerlaugQK&
on

his

Name

" to

eten,

and may

eat."

of the rivers through which Thor had to wade

to the

way
Kormt Another
JCvasir

eta,

thinks that the old Norse

with the old Saxon

Doomstead.

of the rivers through

of a

man

killed

which Thor waded.

by dwarfs

also of

Odin's sons.

Lading -Name of one of the chains used to bind Fenrir.

" wide land."
landvutiVidsu's abode. Literally,

one ol

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

320

Logi
Loki

Flame.
Either flame, or derived from luka*

"to shut j" whenoa

the English "lock."

Lyngvi

The

island of sweet broom.

Magni

The

powerful.

ManbeitnThe abode
Mani1\it moon.
Mardbll

Sea-nymph

One

of Thor's sons,

of men

from

the

whence, perhaps,

English

word, "doll"
Thai's girdle of might, the belt of prowess.

Afegingjardir

Name

Midgard

applied

to the

earth;

"middle-ward," or

"inclosure."

Mimer

The name

Guardian of Wisdom's Well.

signifies,

"to keep in memory," or "to be mindful." Mimer's Well

was supposed to be situated at that end of the rainbow
Mimer drank water from his well
opposite to Himinbiorg.
out of a horn, whence the popular superstition that a cup

is

to be found at the end of the rainbow.

Name

Miolnir

"

or grind

Modgudur

of Thor's hammer.

It signifies,

Name

bridge leading

of the
to

woman who

Helheim.

It

stood at the end of the

signifies,

from whence the English word "mood."

Modi The name of one of Thor's sons. It

Munin

Name of one of Odin's ravens.

Muspellheim

"to pound

whence the English word "mill."

The Muspellhome.

"courageous,"

signifies,

It signifies,

"courage."

"

"

memory.
Muspell means "elemental

fire."

ffaglfar

of nails.

Name

of the ship that appears at Ragnarok,

"nail."

Nagl means

made

INDEX OF NAMES.
Wanna

The name signifies, "daring."

The name signifies, "binding."

Baldur's wife.

One

Nari

Nastrond

of Loki's sons.

" the shore of

corpses."

Literally,

Serpent at the root of Yggdrasil.

rendered "dark gnawer."

NidJwgg

Niflheim

"nebulous home."

Literally,

Njord

water.

The name may be

Van, the universal nourishing power in air and

There is in the North an aquatic plant still called

"Njord's glove."

The name of Njord's home.

Koatun

It

means,

" the

place

of ships."

Nornir
Odin

singular

Called

places

still

as, also,

Odur

Wednesbury, in

The

signifies,

Staffordshire,

of Freyja's husband.

twilight of the gods.

The name

YggdrasiL
Roska The

given to the Fates.

Several
by the Saxons Wodan or Woden.
name of Odin in Germany and Sweden,

Wifeof^Egir.

Ratatosk

Name

retain the

The name

Ragnarok

Ran

Norn

sister

"quick,

Her name

signifies,

"plunder, robbery.*

of the squirrel which ran up and

of Thialfi, Thor's attendant.

lively,

down

The name

active;" from whence comes the

English word "rash."

S<zhrimnirNzm.z of the boar every evening eaten in Valhalla.

It signifies, "seat
Sessrymnir The name of Freyja's hall.
"
"
roomy ; from whence the English word room.**

Name of Thor's wife.

Siguna Name of Loki's wife.

Sif

THE HEROES OF ASGARD.

Daughter of Freyja and goddess of sleep.
Skadi signifies, "the hurtfuL"
wife of Niord.

Siofna

The

Skadi

Her habitation was Thrymheim, "noise-home."

SkidbladnirNzme of Frey's ship. The English word "blade,"
or "leaf," comes from Bladnir.

Skirnir

The name signifies, "serene,

messenger.
The English word "sheer" comes from it.
Name of a giant. From shram, "show, brag, feint"

Frey's

pure, clear."

Skrymir

SkuldQvz of the Nornir.

SMpnir Name of Odin's
signifies,

"smooth,

word "slippery."
The sun.
.Sb/
Surf or Surtur The

name

He

fire-god,

had

is

to come."

eight legs.

Sleipnir

from whence

gliding;"

who

the

English

lived in Muspellheim.

"swart, browned by

signifies,

Suttung

Skuld signifies, " what

horse.

His

fire."

A giant, whose name means,

"to drink."

Svartalfheim or Svartheim Literally, "swart or dark home."

It was the region of the dwarfs, or dark elves.

Thaukt

Name

Thialfi

One

of a witch.

of Thor's attendants.

Supposed to mean, "the

thunder-shower."
Thiassi

Name

of Skadi's

father.

It

signifies,

"violent,

tempestuous."

Thor

God

of thunder.

Also called

Ving-Thor, or Winged-

Thor ; Auku, or Oku-Thor; Chariot-Thor.

Thrudvang or Thrudheim Thor's abode, The name

"the region of

fortitude,"

or

"dense,

together."

Thrymheim
Tyr

Noise-home.

The god

after

whom

Tuesday was named.

closely

signifies,

packed

INDEX OF NAMES.
Urd One of the Nornir. Her name signifies, " past."
Urda The name of the sacred fount, which was situated

over

Bifrost.

The name

Utgard

of the chief city of Jotunheim.

Literally,

"outer- ward."

Name

Valhalla

of a hall in Gladsheim.

It

means

literally,

"hall of the chosen."

Valkyrior

means

literally,

The name

Odin's maidens.

"choosers of the slain."

The home

Vanaheim
Vanir

Valkyria

singular,

of the Vanir.

singular masculine,

The name of the gods

Van;

singular feminine,

of the air and water.

Vanr

Vana
signifies,

"empty."

A wanderer.

Vegtam

VerdandiQnz of the Nornir. Her name signifies, "present."

Vidar signifies, " a wood or forest. "
Vidar The silent god.
Vidblain The wide blue.

Name

Vigrid
evil

of the battle-field on which the gods and the

powers contended during Ragnarok.

Vigrid

signifies,

"battle, ride."

VingolfkbQte

of the goddesses.

Means

literally,

"the

of friends."
Voluspd

The name

Yggdrasil

Ymir The

of an old poem.

The name
first

giant.

of the earth tree.

Ymir means, " a confused

noise."

flooi

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pages.

Studies and stories of the gray squirrel, the puma, the coyote,
the badger, and other burrowers, the porcupine, the skunk, the
woodchuck, and the raccoon.

INMAN.
12mo.

THE RANCH ON THE OXHIDE. By Henry

xi + 297 pages.
Illustrated,

Inman.

A story of pioneer life in Kansas in the late sixties. Adventures

with wild animals and skirmishes with Indians add interest to the
narrative.

JOHNSON.

CERVANTES' DON QUIXOTE.

Johnson.

12mo.

A well-edited

Illustrated,

xxiii

edition of this classic.

Edited by Clifton

+ 398

The one

pages.
effort

has been to

bring the book to readable proportions without excluding any really

essential incident or detail, and at the same time to make the text

unobjectionable and wholesome.

THE GROWTH OF THE AMERICAN NATION.

JUDSON.
Harry
xi

Pratt

Judson.

12mo.

Illustrations

and

By

maps,

359 pages.

The cardinal facts of American History are grasped in such a

way as to show clearly the orderly development of national life.

KEARY. THE HEROES OF ASGARD: TALES FROM SCANDINAVIAN MYTHOLOGY. By A. and E. Keary. 12mo.
Illustrated.

323 pages.

The book is divided into nine chapters, called "The ^Esir,"

Thor went to Jotunheim," "Frey," "The Wanderings of

"How

Freyja,"

"

Iduna's Apples," "Baldur," "The Binding of Fenrir,"

of Loki," "Ragnarok."

"The Punishment

6
DE SOTO AND HIS MEN

KING.

By

Grace King.

12mo.

IN

THE LAND OF FLORIDA.

xiv + 326 pages.

Illustrated,

upon the Spanish and Portuguese accounts of the

by the armada which sailed under De Soto in
conquest
attempted
1538 to subdue this country. Miss King gives a most entertainand of their final demoralized
ing history of the invaders' struggles
while her account of the native tribes is a most attractive

story based

rout;
feature of the narrative.

KINGSLEY.

MAD AM HOW AND LADY WHY:

FIRST LESSONS

IN EARTH LORE FOR CHILDREN. By Charles Kingsley.

12mo. Illustrated, xviii+321 pages.

are two fairies who teach the how

There are chapters on Earthquakes,
Volcanoes, Coral Reefs, Glaciers, etc., told in an interesting man-

Madam How and Lady Why

and why
ner.

of things in nature.

The book

is

intended to lead children to use their eyes and

ears.

THE WATER BABIES: A FAIRY TALE FOR A

LAND BABY. By Charles Kingsley. 12mo. Illustrated.

KINGSLEY.

330 pages.

One of the best children's

become a classic.

stories ever written; it

has deservedly

OUR NATIVE BIRDS: HOW TO PROTECT THEM

AND ATTRACT THEM TO OUR HOMES. By D. Lange.
12mo. Illustrated, x + 162 pages.

LANGE.

A strong plea for the protection of birds.

Methods and devices

encouragement are given, also a bibliography of helpful
literature, and material for Bird Day.
for their

LOVELL.

By

STORIES IN STONE FROM THE

Isabel Lovell.

12mo.

Illustrated,

ROMAN FORUM.

viii

+ 258

pages.

The

eight stories in this volume give many facts that travelers

wish to know, that historical readers seek, and that young students

enjoy.

The book puts the reader

in close touch with

Roman

life.

McFARLAND. GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH THE TREES.

By J. Horace McFarland. 8vo. Illustrated, xi + 241 pages.

charmingly written series of tree essays. They are not

but popular, and are the outcome of the author's desire
that others should share the rest and comfort that have come to
him through acquaintance with trees.
scientific

MAJOR.
12mo.

THE BEARS OP BLUE RIVER. By

Illustrated.

collection of

The scene

is

MARSHALL.
12mo.

good bear

with a live boy for the hero.

days of Indiana.

stories

laid in the early

WINIFRED'S JOURNAL.
Illustrated.

PALMETTO STORIES.

Illustrated,

x -f 244

By Emma

Marshall.

Some of the

characters

353 pages.

story of the time of Charles the First.

are historical personages.

MEANS.

Charles Major.

277 pages.

By

Celina E. Means.

12mo.

pages.

True accounts of some of the men and women who made the
history of South Carolina, and correct pictures of the conditions
under which these men and women labored.

MORRIS.

MAN AND

TION.

By

HIS ANCESTOR: A

Charles

Morris.

16mo.

STUDY

IN EVOLUvii + 238

Illustrated,

pages.

popular presentation of the subject of man's origin. The

various significant facts that have been discovered since Darwin's
time are given, as well as certain lines of evidence never before
presented in this connection.

STORIES FROM FROISSART. By Henry Newbolt.

12mo. Illustrated, xxxi + 368 pages.
Here are given entire thirteen episodes from the "Chronicles"
of Sir John Froissart.
The text is modernized sufficiently to make
it intelligible to young readers.
Separated narratives are dovetailed, and new translations have been made where necessary to

NEWBOLT.

make

the narrative complete and easily readable.

THE CAPTAIN'S DAUGHTER.

OVERTON.
Overton.

12mo.

Illustrated,

By Gwendolen

vii-f 270 pages.

A story of girl life at an army post on the frontier. The plot is

an absorbing one, and the interest of the reader is held to the end.
PALGRAVE.
SONG.
16mo.

THE CHILDREN'S TREASURY OF ENGLISH

and arranged by Francis Turner Palgrave.
viii+302 pages.
Selected

This collection contains 168 selections

songs, narratives,
descriptive or reflective pieces of a lyrical quality, all suited to the
taste and understanding of children.

8
PALMER. STORIES FROM THE CLASSICAL LITERATURE
OF MANY NATIONS. Edited by Bertha Palmer. 12mo.
xv + 297

pages.

collection of sixty characteristic stories

from Chinese, Japa-

Hebrew, Babylonian, Arabian, Hindu, Greek, Roman,

German, Scandinavian, Celtic, Russian, Italian, French, Spanish,
Portuguese, Anglo-Saxon, English, Finnish, and American Indian

nese,

sources.

CHILDREN OF THE TENEMENTS.

RIIS.

12mo.

Illustrated,

ix

+ 387

By

Jacob A.

Riis.

pages.

Forty sketches and short stories dealing with the lights and
shadows of life in the slums of New York City, told just as they
came to the writer, fresh from the life of the people.

SANDYS.

TRAPPER
ix

trated,

+ 441

A book which will

who

learns

JIM. By
pages.

Edwyn

12mo.

Sandys.

Illus-

Jim is a city lad

delight every normal boy.
all the lore of outdoor life

from an older cousin

trapping, shooting, fishing, camping, swimming, and canoeing.

is a well-known writer on outdoor subjects.

The author

STORIES OF CALIFORNIA.

SEXTON.
12mo.

Illustrated,

+ 211

By

Ella

M. Sexton.

pages.

Twenty-two stories illustrating the early conditions and the

romantic history of California and the subsequent development
of the state.

THE YOUNGEST GIRL

SHARP.

12mo.

Sharp.

Bab, the
brothers.

IN
ix

THE SCHOOL.
+ 326 pages.

By Evelyn

"

youngest girl," was only eleven and the pet of five

Her ups and downs in a strange boarding school make

an interesting

SPARKS.

Illustrated,

story.

THE MEN WHO MADE THE NATION: AN OUTLINE

OF UNITED STATES HISTORY FROM

1776

TO

1861.

By

Edwin E. Sparks. 12mo. Illustrated, viii + 415 pages.

The author has chosen to tell our history by selecting the one
man at various periods of our affairs who was master of the situation and about whom events naturally grouped themselves.
The characters thus selected number twelve, as " Samuel Adams,
the man of the town meeting" "Robert Morris, the financier of
;

the Revolution"; "Hamilton, the advocate of stronger govern-

ment,"

etc., etc.

THE LISTENING CHILD. A

IHACHER.

made

stories of English verse,

By Lucy W.

hearers.

selection from the

for the youngest readers and

12mo.

Thacher.

xxx -f 408 pages.

two hundred and fifty selections.

Under
Fhe arrangement is most intelligent, as shown in the proportions
Much prominence is
assigned to different authors and periods.
this title are gathered

The preliminary essay,

riven to purely imaginative writers.
"
Short Talk to Children about Poetry, is full of suggestion.

UNCLE HENRY'S LETTERS TO THE FARM

Wallace. 16mo. ix + 180 pages.

WALLACE.
BOY.

"A

By Henry

Eighteen letters on habits, education, business, recreation, and

kindred subjects.

WEED.

LIFE

HISTORIES

Clarence Moores Weed.

OF AMERICAN

12mo.

Illustrated,

INSECTS.
xii

By

272 pages.

In these pages are described by an enthusiastic student of

entomology such changes as may often be seen in an insect's
He shows how very
form, and which mark the progress of its life.
wide a field of interesting facts is within reach of any one who has
the patience to collect these little creatures.

WELLS.

THE JINGLE BOOK. By

viii + 124 pages.

Carolyn

Wells.

12mo.

Illustrated,

collection of fifty delightful jingles

and nonsense

verses.

The

illustrations

by Oliver Herford do

WILSON.

DOMESTIC SCIENCE IN GRAMMAR GRADES. A

By Lucy L. W. Wilson. 12mo. ix + 193 pages.

justice to the text.

Reader.

Descriptions of

homes and household customs of all ages and

and industries, glimpses of the
on various household subjects.

countries, studies of materials

homes of literature, and articles

WILSON. HISTORY READER FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

By Lucy L. W. Wilson. 16mo. Illustrated, xvii + 403
Stories grouped about the greatest men and the most striking
events in our country's history. The readings run by months,

beginning with September.

WILSON.
Lucy

PICTURE STUDY IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

L.

W. Wilson.

12mo.

Illustrated.

By

10
Ninety half-tone reproductions from celebrated paintings botii
and modern, accompanied by appropriate readings from the

old

poets.

All schools of art are represented.

HEART OF NATURE.

WRIGHT.
12mo.

By Mabel Osgood

Wright^

Illustrated.

This volume

comprises "Stories of Plants and Animals,

and Sky," and "Stories of Birds and
Beasts,^
usually published in three volumes and known as "The Heart ol
1 '

"Stories of Earth

Nature Series."

It

is

a delightful combination of story ana

name being a sufficient warrant for ifl

nature study, the author's

interest

and

fidelity to nature.

FOUR-FOOTED AMERICANS AND THEIR KIN. Bj

Mabel Osgood Wright, edited by Frank Chapman. 12mcl
Illustrated, xv -f 432 pages.

WRIGHT.

An animal book in story form.

woods, and back to an old room,

The scene

shifts from farm t(\

a sort of winter camp,;
where vivid stories of the birds and beasts which cannot be
seeij
at home are told by the campfire,
the sailor who has hunted thq

sea, the

fitted as

engineer, and wandering scientist!

useful family tree of North American

woodman, the mining

each taking his turn.

Mammals is added.

WRIGHT.

DOGTOWN. By Mabel
xiii + 405 pages.

Osgood

Wright.

12mo,

Illustrated,

"Dogtown" was a neighborhood so named because so manj

people loved and kept dogs. For it is a story of people as well al
of dogs, and several of the people as well as the dogs are old
friendsj
having been met in Mrs. Wright's other books.
LITTLE LUCY'S

YONGE.
lotte

M. Yonge.

WONDERFUL GLOBE.

12mo.

Illustrated,

xi

By

Charl

140 pages.

An interesting and ingenious introduction to geography. Inj

her dreams Lucy visits the children of various lands and thud
learns much of the habits and customs of these countries.
YONGE.
12mo.

UNKNOWN TO HISTORY.
Illustrated,

xi

By

Charlotte M. YongeJ

Mary Queen

of Scots, told in the

+ 589

A story of the captivity of

author's best vein.

pages.
1

14 DAY USE
RETURN TO DESK FROM WHICH BORROWED

LOAN
This book

is

due on the

DEPT.

last

date stamped below, or

on the date to which renewed.

PrnnvH

KB 19
LD

1968

hnnlfiiarn imhjii

HI

HfTtiflii

ill

in

recall.

HI

21A-50m-ll,'62

(D3279slO)476B

General Library
University of California
Berkeley

U.C.

BERKELEY LIBRARIES