FOOTNOTES

[1] According to Worsaae, the “stone” period in Denmark preceded the Celts, who possessed settled abodes in Europe 2000 years ago, by about a thousand years. The “bronze” period must have prevailed in the early part of the Christian era, when the Goths were inhabitants of the country. The “iron” period can first be traced in Norway and Sweden with any certainty in the fourth and fifth centuries. In Denmark the use of iron superseded the use of bronze altogether about 700 A.D. But it is hardly necessary to observe, that there is still much controversy among antiquarians on this difficult subject.

[2] There must have been an air of barbaric grandeur about these heathen temples. On the door of that at Lade, near Trondjem, was a massive gold ring. Olaf Trygveson, when wooing Sigrid the Haughty, made her a present of it. Having an eye to the main chance, she put it in the hands of the Swedish goldsmiths to be tested (Becky Sharp would not have done worse). They grinned knowingly. The weight was due in a great measure to a copper lining. No wonder after this that she flatly refused to be baptized, the condition Olaf had laid down for wedding her. Upon this he called her a heathen ——, and struck her on the cheek with his glove. “One day this shall be thy death,” she exclaimed. She kept her word. Through her influence Sweyne was induced to war with Olaf, who lost his life in the memorable battle of the Baltic.

[3] These tolls, as is well known, have since been redeemed.

[4] Foster-children are as common in Norway at the present day as they used to be in Ireland, where it was proverbially a stronger alliance than that of blood. The old sign of adoption mentioned in the Sagas was knaesetning, placing the child on the knee.

[5] In this part of Norway the wolf is known by no other name. Like graa-been (grey-legs) elsewhere in Norway, so here skrüb is a euphemism for wolf. The word is evidently derived from skrübba, to scrub, and alludes to the rough dressing or scrubbing to be expected at the claws of that beast. This disinclination to use the real name “ulv,” is no doubt due to the ancient superstition of the “varulf” (wer-wolf).

Oh! was it wer-wolf in the wood,

Or was it mermaid in the sea,

Or was it man or vile woman,