The Viking Age: The Early History, Manners, and Customs of the Ancestors of the English-speaking Nations, Volume 1

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Page 554 - ... with the blood of the bull that he had sacrificed there himself. Every man who was to perform any lawful duties in the proceedings of the courts should first take an oath upon that ring and name two or more witnesses, and make the following declaration: — 'I call you to witness that I take oath upon the ring, a lawful oath, so help me Frey and Njord and the Almighty God to this end that I shall in this case prosecute, or defend, or bear witness, or render verdict, or pronounce sentence according...
Page 428 - Freki, and he needs no meat, wine is to him both meat and drink ; ravens twain sit on his shoulders, and say into his ear all tidings that they see and hear ; they are called Huginn and Muninn (mind and memory) ; them sends he at dawn to fly over the whole world, and they come back at breakfast-tide, thereby...
Page 8 - The influence of this state is by far the most considerable of any of the countries on the whole sea coast, because the Veneti both have a very great number of ships, with which they have been accustomed to sail to Britain, and [thus] excel the rest in their knowledge and experience of nautical affairs; and as only a few ports lie scattered along that stormy and open sea, of which they are in possession, they hold as tributaries almost all those who are accustomed to traffic in that sea. With them...
Page 30 - The first world to exist, however, was Muspell in the southern hemisphere; it is light and hot and that region flames and burns so that those who do not belong to it and whose native land it is not, cannot endure it. The one who sits there at land's end to guard it is called Surt; he has a flaming sword, and at the end of the world he will come and harry and will vanquish all the gods and burn the whole world with fire.
Page iii - THE VIKING AGE. The' Early History, Manners, and Customs of the Ancestors of the English-Speaking Nations.
Page 34 - ... the earth, and the stones and trees and all metals — just as you will have seen these things weeping when they come out of frost and into the warmth. When the messengers were coming home, having made a good job of their errand, they met with a giantess sitting in a cave; she gave her name as Thokk. They asked her to weep Baldr out of Hel. She answered : Thokk will weep dry tears at Baldr 's embarkation; the old fellow's son was no use to me alive or dead, let Hel hold what she has.
Page 397 - I have made up my mind never to go to that place, and I should be a poor trader if I sell my many good family lands and go into deserts.
Page 7 - Sueones, situated in the ocean itself, are not only powerful on land, but also have mighty fleets. The shape of their ships is different, in that, having a prow at each end, they are always ready for running on to the beach. They are not worked by sails, nor are the oars fastened to the sides in regular order, but left loose as in some rivers, so that they can be shifted here or there as circumstances may require.
Page 20 - Then ruled over England King Ethelred, son of Edgar (979). He was a good chief; he sat this winter in London. The tongue in England, as well as in Norway and Denmark, was then one, but it changed in England when William the Bastard won England. Thenceforth the tongue of Valland (France) was used in England, for he (William) was born there " (Gunnlaug Ormstunga's Saga, c.
Page 565 - Three squares, each one foot wide, must be marked around the cloak. Outside the squares must be placed four poles, called hoslur (hazel poles) : it was called a hazelled field when it was prepared thus. " Each man must have three shields, and when these were made useless he must stand upon the cloak, even if he had walked out of it before, and thereafter defend himself with his weapons.

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