"But now one thing must be said to young skalds, to such as yearn to attain to the craft of poesy and to increase their store of figures with traditional metaphors; or to those who crave to acquire the faculty of discerning what is said in hidden phrase: let such an one, then, interpret this book to his instruction and pleasure. Yet one is not so to forget X or discredit these traditions as to remove from poesy thosex ancient metaphors with which it has pleased Chief Skalds to be content; nor, on the other hand, ought Christian men to believe in heathen gods, nor in the truth of these tales otherwise than precisely as one may find here in the beginning of the book. II. "Now you may hear examples of the way in which Now I'll tell men the virtue Of the terrible Jarl; Allfather's Song-Surf streams; Late my sorrows lighten. Here, moreover, he calls poesy the Song-Surf of Allfather. Now is the flight of eagles Of the sea-horses hie them To the Hanged-God's gifts and feasting. to the one-armed God of War ; but, especially in compounds, it has the sense of God, the God, and is usually applied to Odin. The compounds mentioned here by Snorri are all epithets of Odin. See Gylfaginning, p. 30. Thus sang Víga-Glúmr: Thus sang With the Hanged-God's helmet The bravest held the venture. Refr: Oft the Gracious One came to me Göndull and Skögull To choose from kings Who of Yngvi's kin Thus sang Úlfr Uggason: Swiftly the Far-Famed rideth, The Foretelling God, to the fire speeds, Through my cheeks praise-songs are pouring. Thus sang Thjódólfr of Hvin: Hallfredr The slain lay there sand-strewing, Spoil for the Single-Eyed Dweller in Frigg's bosom; In such deeds we rejoiced. sang thus: The doughty ship-possessor With sharpened words and soothfast Lures our land, the patient, Barley-locked Wife of Thridi. Here is an example of this metaphor, that in poesy the earth is called the Wife of Odin. Here is told what Eyvindr sang: Hermódr and Bragi, Go ye to greet the Prince; To the hall hither. Thus sang Kormákr: The Giver of Lands, who bindeth Thus sang Steinthórr: Much have I to laud The ancient-made (though little) Liquor of the valiant Load of Gunnlöd's arm-clasp. Thus sang Úlfr Uggason: There I think the Valkyrs follow, And ravens, Victorious Odin To the blood of holy Baldr. With old tales the hall was painted. Thus sang Egill Skallagrímsson: No victims for this To Vili's brother, The High-God, I offer, Glad to behold him; Yet has Mímir's friend On me bestowed Amends of evil Which I account better. He has given me the art- Of blemish blameless. Here he is called High God, and Friend of Mímir, and Adversary of the Wolf. Thus sang Refr: Swift God of Slain, that wieldeth Thus sang Einarr Tinkling-Scale: 'Tis mine to pour the liquor Úlfr Uggason: His steed the lordly Heimdallr |