Northern mythology

:
Vlll
PREFACE.
paring the several myths ^ as given in that work with the
text of the two Eddas, it appearing that the conciseness
observed by Prof. Petersen, and which he, no doubt, found
necessary to his object^, not unfrequently impaired the
interest of the narrative, I resolved, while following the
plan of the ' Asalsere/ to have recourse to the Eddas themselves,
and exhibit the several fables or myths unabridged,
in all their fullness, as they appear in those authorities.
The interpretation of these myths, forming the secondpail;
of the first volume, is, with slight exceptions, from
the work of Prof. Petersen, though considerably abridged,
particularly as regards the etymological portion, which, if
' I use the term myth rather in the sense of legend or fable than in the
signification now more usually attached to it, that of supposing each divinity
a personification of the powers of nature ; a theory which assumes a
degree of mental culture to have existed among the early settlers in the
North wholly incompatible with all we know concerning them. As equally
appUcable here, I will venture to repeat ray own words used on a former
similar occasion "
: In these meagre traditions exist, I firmly believe, faint
traces of persons that once had being and of actions that once took place ;
but that they generally require a mythic interpretation, is tome more^han
questionable." (Lappenberg's England, i. p. 98.)
Much more consistent with probability I consider the view taken by
the Rev. A. Faye, but to which he does not seem to adhere (see Introduction
to vol. ii. p. xii.), which is the converse of the theoiy before-mentioned,
viz. " that unacquaintance with nature and her powers, combined
with the innate desire of finding a reason for and explaining the various
natural phenomena, that must daily and hourly attract the attention of
mankind, has led them to seek the causes of these phenomena in the
power of beings who, as they supi)Osed, had produced them
Like the poor Indian, whose untutor'd mind
*
Sees God in clouds or hears him in the wind.'
" These phenomena were too numerous and various to allow the
ascribing of them to a single being, and therefore a number of supernatural
beings were imagined, whose dangerous influence and pernicious wrath
it was sought to avert by sacrifices and other means."
- The ' Asalffire ' forms a part only of the work ' Danmai'ks Historic i
Hcdenhold.'
3 vols, small 8vo.