Hrasvelg, the giant who keeps watch on the North side of the root of the Tree of the World, to devour the dead. His shape is that of an eagle. Winds and storms are caused by the movement of his wings.—Scandinavian Mythology.
Hrimfax´i, the horse of Night, from whose bit fall the rime-drops that every morning bedew the earth.—Scandinavian Mythology.
Hrothgar, king of Denmark, whom Beowulf delivered from the monster Grendel. Hrothgar built Heorot, a magnificent palace, and here he distributed rings (treasure), and held his feasts; but the monster, Grendel, envious of his happiness, stole into the hall after a feast, and put thirty of the thanes to death in their sleep. The same ravages were repeated night after night, till Beowulf, at the head of a mixed band of soldiers, went against him and slew him.—Beowulf (an Anglo-Saxon epic poem, sixth century).
Hry´mer, pilot of the ship Nagelfar (made of the “nails of the dead”).—Scandinavian Mythology.
Hubba and Ingwar, two Danish chiefs, who, in 870, conquered East Anglia and wintered at Thetford, in Norfolk. King Edmund fought against them, but was beaten and taken prisoner. The Danish chiefs offered him his life and kingdom if he would renounce Christianity and pay them tribute; but as he refused to do so, they tied him to a tree, shot at him with arrows, and then cut off his head. Edmund was therefore called “St. Edmund.” Alu´red fought seven battles with Hubba, and slew him at Abington, in Berkshire.
Alured ...
In seven brave foughten fields their champion Hubba chased,
And slew him in the end at Abington [sic].
Drayton, Polyolbion, xii. (1613).
Hubbard (Mother). Mother Hubbard’s Tale, by Edmund Spenser, is a satirical fable in the style of Chaucer, supposed to be told by an old woman (Mother Hubbard) to relieve the weariness of the poet during a time of sickness. The tale is this: An ape and a fox went into partnership to seek their fortunes. They resolved to begin their adventures as beggars, so Master Ape dressed himself as a broken soldier, and Reynard pretended to be his dog. After a time they came to a farmer, who employed the ape as shepherd, but when the rascals had so reduced the flock that detection was certain, they decamped. Next they tried the Church, under advice of a priest; Reynard was appointed rector to a living, and the ape was his parish clerk. From this living they were obliged also to remove. Next they went to court as foreign potentates, and drove a splendid business, but came to grief ere long. Lastly, they saw King Lion asleep, his skin was lying beside him, with his crown and sceptre. Master Ape stole the regalia, dressed himself as King Lion, usurped the royal palace, made Reynard his chief minister, and collected round him a band of monsters, chiefly amphibious, as his guard and court. In time Jupiter sent Mercury to rouse King Lion from his lethargy; so he awoke from sleep, broke into his palace, and bit off the ape’s tail, with a part of its ear.