NOTES TO THE FIRST CANTO.
Specimen of the metre in the original.
Et Sagn fuld vaerd at höre
Med gamle Runer staaer;
Laaner mig Eders Oere!
Mens jeg Guldharpen slaaer.
Hvad i de mörke Skrifter
Er sat med sindrig Hu
Om Asernes Bedrifter,
Det vil jeg tolke nu.
The eight first Cantos, in the original, are written in the same metre. In my translation, as will be seen, I have indulged in greater variety.
[13] In the heathen time there was a magnificent temple at Upsala. The poet here probably alludes to some earthquake, or convulsion of nature, which damaged or destroyed it, and which was therefore supposed to be occasioned by Utgard-Lok, the chief of the giants.
[14] This Ash is the ash-tree Yggdrassil. See the Catalogue of proper names.
[15] The Valkyrior.
[16] By the seven virgins are no doubt personified the seven colours of the rainbow.
[17] By the mythe of the death and resuscitation of Thor’s goats, is meant probably the death of nature in winter, and her resuscitation in spring. By the marrow eaten by Tialfe, and the lameness of the goat occasioned thereby, it is meant, that if the seed or germ of reproduction in animals or plants be damaged or destroyed, the reproduction becomes imperfect, or impossible.
[18] The pact between Niord and Ægir means, that when the sea is frozen by the north wind, the weather is perfectly calm, and the sea itself passable as dry land.
[19] What this hut turns out to be, is explained in the second Canto.