Northern mythology

''
On
156 NORTHERN MYTHOLOGY.
;
creatures in one worship, as tlie earthly offering-tree
assembled all followers of the same faith under its overshadowing
branches.
The goddesses of fate are called Norns^ The word
Norn does not occur in any kindred dialect. They decide
the fate of the hero, while they twist or spin the threads
of destiny, and the extent of his dominion, by fastening
and stretching it from one quarter of the earth to anotherand
herein they resemble the spinning Molpai or Parcse,
only that the Northern picture is more comprehensive.
Their functions are to point out, shoiv, and to determine
they show or
make known that which was destined from
the beginning, and determine that which shall take place
in time. Of the Fylgiur and Hamingiur, a sort of guardian
angels, that accompany every mortal from the cradle
to the grave, we have already spoken^.
Nearly allied to,
and almost identical with the Norns, are the Valkyriur.
They are also called Valmeyiar (battle-maids), Skialdmeyiar
(shield-maids), Hialmmeyiar (helm- maids), and Oskmeyiar,
from their attendance on Odin, one of whose names is
Oski. They spin and weave like the Norns. In Nialssaga"*
we read that Darrad (Dorru^r) looking through a
chasm in a rock, saw women singing and weaving, with
human heads for weights, entrails for woof and warp,
swords for bobbins, and arrows for comb.
In their appalling
song they designated themselves Valkyriur, and announced
that their web was that of the looker-on, Darrad.
At last they tore their work in fragments, mounted their
horses, and six rode southwards, and six northwards^.
The origin of the name of Mimir is unknown, and the
12. 2 Helgakv, Huudingsb. en fym, Str. 2-4.
«
Pages 113, 115. ^ Cap. 158.
this Grimm (p. 397) not inaptly observes: "So at least may be
understood the words viudum vinduiu vef Darra&ar,' though the whole
*
story may have its origin in a vef darrat?ar * ' (tela jaculi;. Comp. A. S.
darro'5, a dart." The story has been beautifully versified by Gray.