doms) and we ought not to despise any of the means which enable us to understand it thoroughly: Nor can we properly judge of its present improved ftate, without looking back upon the rude beginnings from which it hath emerged *The Tranflator hath concluded this Introduction in a manner fomewhat different from his Author, as he had taken occafion to give fome Remarks on the French Language, that would have been useless in an English Verfion, and had fpoke of his Work with a degree of diffidence, which could now be fpared, after it has received fuch full applause from the Public. T. N. B. N. B. RESENNIUS's Edition of the EDDA, &c. confifts properly of Three diftinct Publications: The FIRST contains the whole EDDA: Viz. not only the XXXIII FABLES, which are here tranflated; but also the other FABLES, (XXIX in number) which our Author calls in pag. 183. the Second Part of the EDDA, though in the original they follow without interruption; and also the Poetical Dictionary defcribed below in pag. xix. and 189, which is most properly the SECOND PART of the EDDA. (vid. p. xix.) The Title Page of this whole Work is as follows, "EDDA ISLANDORUM An. Chr. M.CC.XV Iflandicé Confcripta per SNORRONEM STURLE lflandiæ Nomophylacem, Nunc primum ISLANDICÉ, DANICE et LATINÉ ex Antiquis Codicibus MSS. Bibliothecæ Regis et Aliorum in lucem prodit, Opera et Studio PETRI RESENIJ. J. V. D. Juris ac Ethices Profefforis Publ. et Confulis Havnienfis, &c. HAVNIE, M.DC.LX.V." 4to. The SECOND Work is thus intitled, "PHILOSOPHIA Antiquiffima NORVEGO-DANICA dicta Uolulpa, quæ eft pars EDDA SÆMUNDI, EDDA Snorronis non brevi antiquioris, ISLANDICÉ et LATINE publici juris primum facta à PETRO JOH. RESENIO. &C. HAVNIE M.DC.LXV." 4to. 1 The THIRD Piece is intitled thus, "ETHICA ODINI pars EDDÆ SÆMUNDI Vocata Haavamaal, una cum ejufdem Appendice appellato Runa Capítule, a multis exoptata nunc tandem IsLANDICÉ et LATINÉ in lucem producta eft per PETRUM JOH. RESENIUM, &C. HAVNIE 1665." 4to. THE E D D A, OR, ANCIENT ICELANDIC MYTHOLOGY. The Vision of Gylfe: and Illufions of Har, F ORMERLY in Sweden reigned a king named GYLFE, who was famous for his wisdom and fkill in magic. He beheld, with astonishment, the great respect which all his people fhewed to the New-comers from Afia; and was at a lofs whether to attribute the fuccefs of these ftrangers to the fuperiority of their natural abilities, or to any divine power refident in them. To be fatisfied in this particular, he refolved to go to ASGARD (A), difguif ed under the appearance of an old man of ordinary rank. But the Afiatics* were too * The original is Æfirnir, (Afa) which fignifies either Gods or Afiatics. T. VOL. II. B difcerning difcerning not to fee through his defign, and therefore, as foon as he arrived, they fascinated his eyes by their inchantments (B). Immediately appeared to his fight a very lofty palace; the roof of which, as far as his eyes could reach, was covered with golden fhields. The poet Diodolfe thus describes it, "The Gods had formed "the roof of brilliant gold, the walls of "ftone, the foundations of the hall were "mountains (c)." At the entrance of this palace GYLFE faw a man playing with feven little fwords, which he amufed himself with toffing into the air and catching as they fell, one after another. This person asked his name; the difguifed monarch told him, it was Gangler, and that he came from the rocks of Riphil. He asked, in his turn, to whom that palace belonged? The other told him it belonged to their king, and that he would introduce him to his presence. Gangler entering, faw many ftately buildings, and innumerable halls crouded with people; fome drinking, others engaged in various fports, others wrestling. Gangler feeing a multitude of things, the meaning of which he could not comprehend, foftly pronounced the following verfes. "Carefully examine all the gates, before thou advancest "further; for thou canst not tell where "the foes may be fitting, who are placed "in ambush against thee." He afterwards beheld three thrones, raised one above another, and on each throne fat a man (D). Upon his asking which of these was their king, his guide anfwered, " He who fits on the loweft throne is the king, his name is HAR, or the lofty one: The fecond is JAFNHAR, i. e. equal to the lofty one: But he who fits on the higheft throne is called THRIDI, or the third (E)." Har perceiving Gangler, defired to know what bufinefs had brought him to Afgard: Adding, that he should be welcome to eat and drink without cost, along with the other guests of his court. gler faid, He defired first to know whether there was any perfon prefent who was famous for his wisdom and knowledge. Har anfwered, If thou art the more knowing, I fear thou wilt hardly return safe: But go, ftand below, and propofe thy quetions; here fits one will be able to answer thee. Gan REMARKS, In the edition of the EDDA, publifhed by Refenius, there is a Chapter before this: But I have not tranflated it, because it has little or no relation to the reft, and contains nothing remarkable; It is alfo not found in the MS. at-Upfal. That chapter feems to have been only prefixed by way of preamble, by SNORRO STURLESON, the compiler of the В 2 |
