Álfheim Frey gáfo I árdaga Tívar at tann-fe.-Grímnis-mál, st. v. At creation's day The gods to infant Frey Álfheim gave to sway. Frey was the God of light, and his Elves repre sented its rays. puíat álfraupvll Lýser vm alla daga. He was much worshipped in Sweden, and the annual feast of Jul was celebrated in his honour. Yet, albeit he backed his power, his divinity with invaluable presents, Gerda, a Jötun maiden, would not consent to be his bride till she was threatened with the loss of her beauty. Frey (Freyr) was the son of Njörd and the brother of Freyja. NOTE 56, PAGE 61, LINE 448. His cure was only for the skill of Eir. NOTE 57, PAGE 61, LINE 450. Thou didst admire that vest a Dyrgía wove. Dyrgía, a female dwarf. In reference to the lines that follow, it may be observed that the Saxon no blemen were very fond of wearing costly tunics, woven with golden flowers, &c., and their ladies justly celebrated for their skill in such kind of work. NOTE 58, PAGE 61, LINES 461, 462. As sad a maiden whom stern Syn upbraids Syn, the Goddess of Denial, was the portress of Vingólf, the home of the goddesses and the Valhalla of women. Syn was said to be, like St. Peter, very rigid in her duty. NOTE 59, PAGE 66, LINES 556, 557. Shall bear him gently to the herb-skilled wives Before the introduction of Christianity and cleric physicians in the North, it was the office of women to heal the wounded and cure the sick. Vængishjört (Venger's hart), the name given to the vessel of a sea-king. NOTE 60, PAGE 68, LINE 577. Whose vital radiance spoke the unhallowed spell. Dat kann ek ip tívnda Ef ek sép tun-ripor Leika lopti á. Ek sva vinnk At þeir villir fara Sinna heim-hama Sinna heim-hvga. Dat kann ek ip sextánda Ef ek vill ins svinna mans Hafa géð alt ok gaman. Hvít-armri kono Ok sný ek hennar avllom sefa. Háva-mál, clviii. clxiv. NOTE 61, PAGE 68, LINE 582. Faster than honey-dew from Yggdrasill. Yggdrasill, the tree of the universe, from whose leaves (the stars of heaven) descend the dews upon the earth. NOTE 62, PAGE 68, LINES 587, 588. It is the tone in which false Odin spoke, Gunnlauth, the daughter of Suttungr, had custody of the mead of poetical inspiration: Odin to secure the treasure, seduced the maiden, and left her exposed to the wrath of her Jötun sire. NOTE 63, PAGE 68, LINE 591. Of Vilmeith's darkly folded demon lore. Eru vitkar allir frá Vilmeipi. All wizards are descended from Vilmeithr. P ANGURBOÐI. (THE PROPHETESS OF EVIL.) Seið hon kynni Illrar þióðar.-Völuspá, st. xx. Right deeply skilled Our woes to build; To work annoy Was all her joy. Song of the Sibyl, st. xx. NOTE 1, PAGE 73, LINE 5. Daughters of Dvalinn! what hath roused your wrath ? They were the Nornir, or Destinies, of ignoble stock, and the great promoters of misfortune. |