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DivmATioN. 885
This sketch, althoiigh not in every way satisfac-
tory, gives an idea of the divination-weights of the
heathen Northmen. We may imagine the two
weights to have been precisely equal, and the
balance upon which they were thrown very deli-
cate and easily turned. The one was made to denote
what the person wished for, the other, what
he did not wish. It was probably imagined that
that would happen which the weight that roSe up in
the balance indicated ; and which of the weights
this might be^ depended entirely upon chance. The
human figure, said to have been stamped upon the
weights, probably. denoted the divinity from whom
they demanded a response by the casting of the lots.
The special power that lay in Hakon Jarl's divin-
ing-weights, appears to have been chiefly in the
sound which it was imagined was to be ieard in
the scales when the good weight came up.
They also sought information concerning the
future from men who, by being gifted with superior
powers—and this mostly by the aid of magic
means—were believed to be able to penetrate the
hidden decrees of FatQ,
Seers (menn frams;fnir, menn forspair) are fre-
quently mentioned in our ancient Sagas. Their gift
of foreseeing and foretelling certain things was
usually regarded as inborn. "What brought them
into repute was, douttless, in most cases, a keen un-
derstanding, a more' than ordinary knowledge of
nature, a deeper insight into human character, and
attentive observance of past and present events
in their causes and effects. More was not required
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