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THE ^SIE AS OBJECTS OF WOESHIP. 167
The fallen warrior rejoiced in his dying hour that
by Odin's invitation he should go to Yalhalla and
drink ale with the JEsir ; as the ancient skald makes
Ragnar L68br6k sing in the den of serpents
" Home bid me the Disir,
Whom, from the warrior-halls,
Odia has sent me
Glad shall I with the ^sir
Drink ale in the high-seat,
lioathsome are life's hours ; .
Laughing shall I die."*
It is often related in the ancient legends that
Odin would make his appearance before or during a
battle, either to secure the victory to his favorites, or
to set a limit to their victorious career on earth and
summon them away to himself.
Odin lent his spear to Dag Hognason that he
might slay with it the hero Helgi Hundingsbani,
whose spirit, therefore, met with the most distin-
guished reception in Yalhalla. " Odin," it is stated,
" invited hirer to share in the rule of all things with
himself, "f
As an aged one-eyed man with a slouched hat
upon his head, Odin once made his appearance in
King Volsliiig's hall and selected Sigmund, the
king's son, as his favorite, by presenting to him a
sword. Sigmund becalmis^ a victorious hero, but
when his time was come Odin again appeared to
him in the same form, in the midst of a battle, and
held his spear before his sword. The sword broke,
* Krdkumd,! 29.
f
The 0. Edda : Helgakv. Hundingsb. II. 36, et sup.
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