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48 INTEODTTCnON.
evidently of later origin tlian those previously
named. The first two are filled with poetic ex-
travagances not just adapted to the theme, such as
Thor's great alimentive capacity ; but B[arbar6slj66
and Alvismdl are playful and witty, and the latter
is quite learned and philological, more nearly allied
to the later productions of the genuine Scaldic
poesy.
— —
11. Skixnis-tor—rSkimir's Journey, is one of the
most simple and beautiful of the unconnected my-
thological poems. In the form of a dialogue it
gives the story of Frey and Ger8a, of his love to
her, and his wooing her through the agency of his
faithful attendant, from whom the poem is named.
12. Fjols-vinns-mal /Speech of the Mxtch-Know-
er, is a very obscure and unintelligible poem, con-
taining the conversation between the hero Svipdag
and the sentinel of MengloS, his beloved, who for-
bids him to enter. The former, in order that he
may not be recognized, calls himself FjolsviSr:
hence the name of the poem.
13^ Hyndlu-lj65
JELyndloHs Song, forms the tran-
sition to the epic poems. Freyja gets the giantess
Hyndla to trace the genealogy of Ottar, her favor-
ite, in which is given the descent of nearly all the
races of Northern heroes: the Skjoldiinga, the
yifiinga, "the Ynglinga, &c.
14. H4vam41—the Speech of tJie High-One {OAm),
is a collection of ethical poems. It was once believed,
with all seriousness, that Odin in his own
high person had composed it. The Havamal con-
tains precepts for daily life, prudential maxims,