NOTE TO THE TWENTY-FIFTH CANTO.
In the original, the metre of this Canto is written in imitation of one much used in the ancient Danish ballads, which, admitting a refrain that seems to have little or no connection with the substance of the ballad, continue it in every stanza throughout the piece. Here are three different refrains used in succession throughout the whole Canto, except in the two last stanzas.
Specimen.
Da Skirnir vaagned i naeste Gry,
(Solstraalen i Skyen sig bader)
Da stod med Venlighed ved hans Ly
Biergtrolden i̱ Pandserplader.
Som Guldbrandsdölen saa staerk og lang
(De Fugle quiddre paa Grene)
I Haanden bar han en sortbraendt Stang,