Northern mythology

IGO
NORTHERN MYTHOLOGY.
heim^; and gathers them around him in Valhall.
As king
of mind^ he daily visits Saga, the goddess of history, in
her abode, Sockquabeck^ ; and this, his mental dominion,
is further indicated by his ravens, Hugin and Munin^
(thought and memory). Odin is described as a tall, oneeyed
old
man, with a long beard, a broad-brimmed hat, a
wide, blue or variegated, rough cloak, with a spear (Gungnir)
in his hand, and the ring Draupnir on his arm. On
his shoulders sit his two ravens, his two wolves lie at his
feet, and Charleses wain rolls above his head. He sits on
a high seat (as he was represented at Upsala), whence he
sees over the whole world.
The following account of his appearing to King Olaf
Tryggvason is particularly interesting.
''
The first evening that King Olaf kept Easter at Ogvaldsnces,
there came an old man, of very shrewd discourse,
one-eyed, of sombre look, and with a broad-brimmed hat.
He entered into conversation with the king, w^ho found
great pleasure in talking with him, for he could give
information of all countries both ancient and modern. The
king asked him about Ogvald, after whom the naze and
the dwelling were called, and the old man told him about
Ogvald and the cow that he worshiped, seasoning his
narrative ^dth old proverbs. Having thus sat until late
in the night, the bishop reminded the king that it was
time to retire to rest. But when Olaf Avas undressed and
had lain down in bed, the old guest came again and sat
on the footstool, and again conversed long with him ; for
the longer he spoke the longer did Olaf wish to hear him.
The bishop then again reminded the king that it was
time to sleep. Unwilling as he was, for he was very loth
to end their conversation, he nevertheless laid his head
on the pillow, and the guest departed.
Scarcely however
was the king awake, before his first thought was his guest,
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