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THE STATE OP BEING AITEE DEATH. 147
Abyss, But even in heathen times it was hardly
thus understood, except, indeed, by individuals in
whose eyes nothing was praiseworthy except war-
like deeds. The Asa doctrine, taken as a comprehensive
whole, presents a different view, which
occurs in various places in the. lays and legends of
heathen times, and wbich may be regarded as really
proper to the Asa-faith.
The spirit (ond) or soul (sal) of man was a gift of
Odin ; the body, blo'odj and external beauty were a
gift of Lodurr or Loki ; the former belonged to the
Spirit "World or Heaven, the latter to the Material
World—to the Deep. They were joined together
with the earthly life ; at its close they were separated,
and each returned to its original source. The
soul, with the more refined bodily form in which it
was thought to be efiveloped, wejit to the hohae of
the Gods, while the body, with the grosser material
lif^ which was conceived to be inseparable from it,
went to the abodes of Hel to become the prey of
Loki's daughter. Man's being was thus divided
between Odin and Hel. Odin, who was also the
God of War, was thought to claim his share chiefly
from those who Pell in battle ; Hel from those who
died of sickness. Death by arms came thut to be
considered a happy lot by the Zealous IbllowerL of
the Asa-Faith, ['o: 't was a oroof o" OdinV "avor.
He who fell by arms was called by Odin to himself
before Hel laid claim to her share of his being ; he
was Odin's chosen son, who, with longing, wa» await-
ed in Valhalla, that in the Einherjar ranks he might
sustain the iEsir in their last battle. Therefore, the