Northern mythology

244 DANISH TRADITIONS.
JMagister Niels, during the generaPs life-time, had been
constantly quarreling with him, he nevertheless came without
delay, havhig with him a sharp axe. He then shut
himself in the chapel with the corpse, but what passed between
them no one knows ; only such a noise was heard
within that the whole mansion shook with it.
At length
all was again silent, and Master Niels came out with his
axe, looking deadly pale. From that time the general
remained quiet in his coffin, and was buried with great
pomp in Ulvborg church.
TRADITIONS OF TOWNS AND OTHER PLACES.
THE RAMPARTS OF COPENHAGEN.
Many years ago, when the ramparts were being
raised
round Copenhagen, the etirth always sank, so that it was
not possible to get it to stand firm. They therefore took
a little innocent girl, placed her on a chair by a table, and
gave her playthings and sweetmeats. While she thus sat
enjoying herself, twelve masons built an arch over her,
which when completed they covered over with earth, to
the sound of music w^th drums and trumpets. By this
process they are, it is said, rendered immoveable.
It is a universal tradition that every kind of building is strengthened
when any living being is buried beneath it. For such sacrifices, a lamb,
a swine, or poultry, are generally chosen. Ileinrich Heine (Die romantische
Schule, 270), says on this subject "
: In the middle age the opinion
prevailed, that when any buiUling was to be erected, something hving
must be killed, on tlie blood of which the foundation must be laid, by
which process the building would continue firm and immoveable
And in ballads and traditions the remembrance is still preserved how
children or animals were slaughtered, for the purpose of strengthening
large buildings with their blood."
THE IMAGE OF ST. OLUF.
St. Oluf had a chapel at Taasingc, in which his image
was preserved.
This it was the custom of the peasants to