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264 EELIGION OF THE NOETHMEN.
were carried away by a wild frenzy which for the
moment redoubled their strength and rendered
them insensible to bodily pain, but at -the same
time deadened all humanity and reason in them,
and made them like furious wild-beasts. In this
condition, accoi'ding to the ancient descriptions,
they distorted their countenances hideously and
changed color, now pale, now blue, and the hair
stood up on. their heads; they raved like dogs or
w.olves, and were as strong as bears or bulls ; they
howled like wild-beasts, bit the edge of their
shields, and hewed down everything that met them,
often without distinguishing between friend and foe,
not even sparing their own children or nearest
kindred, if these happened to come in their way.
Neither fire nor steel, it was believed, could then
take effect on them; with terror people* saw them
wade through fire or cast themselves upon naked
weapons as if in pastime. In battle they went forth
tinhamessed, clad in the bare serJi or shirt, whence
probably their name was derived. This mad fury
of theirs was called Berserksgang, and seems to
have been regarded by the zealous Asa-worshipers
as an inspiration from the War-God Odin. The
Berserksgang, however, not only made its appear-
ance in time of battle, but often also during severe
labors, when the men who were transported by it
accomplished things which otherwise seemed im-
practicable for human power. It was mostly
called forth when the passion of the Berserk, and
more espeoiailly his anger, was awakened. When
the Berserksgang had spent its fury, there followed