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296 RELIGION OP THE NOETHMEN.
evening during a whole week this moon made its
appearance."* The name UrSarmani seems to indi-
cate that it was regarded as a sign from the Norns,
or from the highest Norn UrSur.
There were othei* omens which were believed to
be peculiar to certain remarkable events. Such are
repea,tedly mentioned in the Sagas, and it mostly
belongs to the history of every event of more than
usual importance in public or private life, to have
some omen brought up as going before it. Some-
times there are accounts of the revelations of super-
natural beings, who by significant but enigmatical
songs announced what was to happen, while at other
times the omens consisted only of strange sights in
the air or upon the earth.
Finally, they often perceived omens in quite natural
occurrences, which were expounded by certain
established rules, according to the circumstances of
the case. Thus when they marched out to battle it
was considered a good omen if they saw a raven fly-
ing in the same direction, or if they perceived two
men standing in conversation, or heard a wolf howl
but if any one stumbled in going out to battle, it
was thought to forebode evil. When a man was
slain by arms and fell forwards, it was accepted as
an omen that he should- be avenged ; and the vengeance,
it was beHeved, would strike the one who
stood directly before him when he fell.
* ETTb. S. li.
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