Goddeffes are called Valkyries; Odin fends them into the fields of battle, to make choice of those who are to be flain, and to bestow the victory. GUDUR, Rosta, and the youngest of the Deftinies or' Fairies who prefide over Time, viz. SKULDA (or the FUTURE) go forth every day on horfeback to chufe the dead, and regulate what carnage fhall enfue. IORD, or the Earth, the mother of Thor; and RINDA, the mother of Vale, ought also to be ranked among the Goddeffes. *Iflandic, Norn en yngsta, i. c. Nornarum natu Minima. Goranfon. T. REMARKS ON THE EIGHTEENTH FABLE. (A)" The principal is Frigga."] I have already remarked that that FRIGGA was the Earth, the fpoufe of ODIN, and mother of the inferiour Divinities; and that THOR was her firft-born. She, with these two other Gods, made that facred Triad, who were ferved and attended with fo much refpect in the famous Temple of Upfal. Frigga, or Frea, was there reprefented as re pofing upon cushions between Odin and Thor; and by various emblems, was denoted to be the Goddefs of Plenty, Fruitfulness and Pleasure. The fixth day of the week is Frea's day in all the northern languages, (fc. FRIDAY) She being the mother of the whole human race, the people regarded one another as brethren, and lived in ftrict unity and concord, during the fhort time that her feftivals lafted. Non bella ineunt, faid Tacitus, refpecting those feafons, non arma fumunt, claufum omne ferrum; pax & quies tum tantum amata. But as foon as these were over, they made themselves amends for this forced ftate of quiet, and the God of war was only served with the more activity during the reft of the year. I have nothing to remark concerning the other Goddeffes, who are only known to us by the EDDA, and who, for the most part, feem to have fprung from the brains of the northern SCALDS. (B) EYRA performs "the function of Phyfi"cian to the Gods."] Tacitus informs us that the Germans had no other physicians but their women. They followed the armies to ftanch and fuck the wounds of their hufbands. In like manner, all the hiftories and romances of the north always represent the females, and often princeffes, charged with this care. The fame thing may be obferved of almost all nations in their infan cy. But no people had ever a ftronger confidence in the women's skill in medicine, than our Celtic and Gothic' ancestors. "Perfuaded, fays Taci66 tus, that there was "fomething divine in "that fex," they submitted, when fick, to their opinion and decifion with that implicit confidence, which is due to fupernatural knowledge. Indeed all the fcience of medicine that was employed in those times, was little elfe but magic applied to the cure of difeafes. The evils and the remedies were most commonly nothing else but lots, poffeffions, conjurations and enchantments. And the mountaineers in many parts of Europe, know of no other at this day. The fuperftition of fhepherds and fuch like people, in this refpect, is well known. The prejudices of these poor people, are only reliques of what all heads were once full of. After this, regret who will, the loss of ancient times! (c) "She hath a horse, "which runs over the air."] The travels of Goddeffes and Fairies. through the air, are very common in all the poems and fables of the ancient inhabitants of the north, and most of the nations in Europe have thought in this refpect along with them. When in process of time Chriftianity became prevalent, what had been formerly looked upon as a precious gift and fignal mark of divine favour, was now regarded as the effect only of diabolic arts. The affemblies of ecclefiaftics made very fevere prohibitions, and denounced their anathemas against all those who should travel through the air in the night-time. In the ancient law of Norway, called "Gu"lathings Lagen," c. I. we find this regulation. "Let the king and the "bishop, with all poffi"ble care, make inquiry "after those who exercife 66 Pagan fuperftitions ; "who make use of ma<< gic arts; who adore the Genii of particu"lar places, or of tombs, "travelling, are tranf "ported from place to "place through the air, " &c." A council held at Rouen, and cited in Burchard, contains a prohibition of the fame nature. (Conc. Rotom. L. I. c. 94. fect. 44.) In fome places the people are ftill of opinion, even in our own days, that witches are carried to their infernal Sabbaths through the midft of the air, on horseback, or at leaft riding aftride certain animals.' (Vid. Keyfler. Antiq. Sept. p. 88, 89.) There are few of our popular fuperftitions, but what may be traced up to fome opinion, which was confecrated by the ancient religion of the Goths and' Celts. Nor need we always except thofe, which feem in fome refpects to hold a conformity to doctrines or practices, which the Chriftian religion alone could have taught us. One name fubftituted for another,' and an outfide varnish of. devotion cannot fo difguife their original, but that it is easily discovered by a skilful eye. THE NINETEENTH FABLE. Of Frey and Gerde THERE was a man named Gimer, one of the race of the Giants of the mountains; who had had by his wife Orboda, a daughter named Gerde, the moft beautiful of her sex. One day FREY having afcended the throne of the Univerfal Father, in order to take a view of the whole world from thence; perceived towards the north a magnificent palace in the middle of a city, and a woman come out of it, whofe hair was fo bright, that it gave luftre to the air and the waters. At that fight Frey, in juft punishment of his audacity in mounting that facred throne, was ftruck with fudden fadnefs, infomuch that upon his return home, he could neither speak, nor fleep, nor drink; nor did any body dare fo much as to inquire into the caufe. However, NIORD ordered Skirner, the confident of Frey, to come to him, and charged him to demand of his mafter mafter what fworn enemy he had, that thus he renounced all converfe with mankind. Skirner promifed to do this, and going to Frey, afked him boldly why he was fo fad and filent. Frey answered, That he had feen a young woman fo beautiful and finely shaped, that if he could not poffefs her, he should not long furvive it; and that this was what rendered him fo thoughtful. "Go therefore, adds he, obtain her "for me in marriage, if you bring her to me, you fhall have in fhall have in recompence what 66 ever you defire." Skirner undertook to do this if Frey would make him a prefent of his Sword, which was fo good, that it would of itself ftrow a field with carnage, whenever the owner ordered it. Frey, impatient of delay, immediately made him a present of the sword; and Skirner fetting out, obtained the young woman of her relations, who promised that she should follow him within nine nights after his departure, and that the nuptials fhould be folemnized in a place called Barey. Skirner having reported to Frey the fuccefs of his embaffy; that God, full of impatience, pronounced these verses. "One night is very long; two nights are "ftill longer; How then fhall I país the "third? Many a time hath a whole "month appeared to me. fhorter than the "half H 4 |