King Regner Lodbrog[1] when he was going to die, far from uttering groans, or forming complaints, expressed his joy by these verses. "We ‘are’ cut to pieces with swords: but this fills me with joy, when I think of the feast that is preparing for me in Odin’s palace. Quickly, quickly seated in the splendid habitation of the Gods, we shall drink beer out of the skulls of our enemies. A brave man fears not to die. I shall utter no timorous words as I enter the Hall of Odin.” This fanatic hope derived additional force from the ignominy affixed to every kind of death but such as was of a violent nature, and from the fear of being sent after such an exit into Niflheim. This was a place consisting of nine worlds, reserved for those that died of disease or old age. Hela or death, there exercised her despotic power; her palace was Anguish; her table Famine; her waiters were Expectation and Delay; the threshold of her door, was Precipice; her bed Leanness: she was livid and ghaftly pale; and her very looks inspired horror.
After this defcription of the religion of the Scandinavians, can we be surprized
- ↑ See “Five Pieces of Runic Poetry, translated from the Icelandic.” Lond. 1763. 8vo.—Olaii Wormii Literatur. Run. ad calc.
