9. Observe in last line the change to direct address.

10. väl, doubtless.

11. dagen om, throughout the day.

16. jagar i molnen. Goes ahunting in the clouds, is dreaming.

18. Den strådöd. For the ancient Northmen it was a great disgrace to die a natural death. Death from self-inflicted wounds was more honorable. The use of den without an adjective is archaic.

18. blåvit Hela. Hela (see note, canto I: 23) was hideous in appearance. Half of her body was livid in color and the other half bore the ghastly pallor of death.

23. jarl, chief of a province. English, earl.

26. Nordlandens drotter, the kings of the Northland.

27. Odensblodet. See note, canto I: 35.

28. man. In this connection man means one of the king's retinue. The bönder rarely sought protection from kings and the proposal of Helge was highly insulting to Fritiof, who himself had a retinue.