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.