Mathias 
 Runic odes
 
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 FREDERIC THOMAS BLANCHARD 
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 RUNIC ODES. 
 
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 MDCCLXXXr. 
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 Y
 
 SONNET. 
 
 PARDON me. Mighty Poet, that I turn 
 My daring fteps to thy fupreme abode j 
 And tread with awe the folitary road. 
 To deck with fancied wreaths thy hallow'd urn. 
 
 Yet, as I wander thro' this dark fojourn. 
 Think not I mean, with low-engender 'd praife 
 Thy name to fully, or profane thy lays ; 
 I have no thoughts that breathe^ no words that burn. 
 
 But hark, what voice in heav'nly accents clear, 
 Burfts from yon cloud, that glows with temp'rate fire . 
 
 ** Geafe, ceafe fond youth, to drop the fruitlefe tear, 
 '* Mute tho' the raptures of his fuU-ftrung lyre ; 
 
 " E'en his own warhlings, lejfend on his ear 
 **^ Loft in feraphic harmony expire. 
 
 865294
 
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 • j^i-i -* -
 
 RUNIC ODES. 
 
 ODE L 
 
 THE TWILIGHT OF THE GODS; 
 
 OR, THE 
 
 DESTRUCTION OF THE WORLD*. 
 
 The Twilight of the Gods, k the Northern Mythdvgv, is 
 that Period when Lek the Evil Being Jhall break his Con- 
 Jitiefimit ; the Human Puice, the Stars, and the Sun Jhall 
 dif appear ; the Earth fink in the Seas, and Fire con fume the 
 Skies : even Odin himfelf and all his Kindred Gods fi:all 
 perifij. For a farther Account of this •wild and curious 
 
 ^ ScfirBaitholinus de CauJicSfttempta mortis apud Danx. Lib. 2 . C. 14. 
 
 ^ Syftem
 
 [ ^ ] 
 
 Syjlem of Mythology, fee Mr. Mallet's Introduction a THif- 
 toire de Dannemarc, or rather the I'ratijlation of it, entitled 
 Northern Antiquities, in z Volumes %vo. with the lUuf- 
 tiations of the learned and ingenious Editor. 
 
 ■p R O M the chambers of the Eaft, 
 
 In robes of terror grimly dreft, 
 Ymir * hath his courfe begun, 
 Rival of th' unwearied Sun. 
 Now, in many a ghft'ring wreath. 
 Above, around, and underneath, 
 The ferpent dread, "f- of datelefs birth. 
 Girds the devoted globe of earth ; 
 And, as charm'd by pow'rful fpell. 
 Ocean heaves with furious fwell. 
 The plumed Monarch whets his beak, 
 Seeking where his wrath to wreak ; 
 Till on the plain, with corfes flrew'd, 
 He fates his maw with bleeding food : 
 
 * From Ymir were dcfcended all the families of the giants. Edda. 
 t In the Edda, a ferpent is fuppofed to furround the earth. 
 
 While 
 
 * 
 
 \
 
 [ 3 ] 
 
 While the veffel's * floating pride 
 Stems duration's rounding tide. 
 
 Trace again the foiemn rhyme ; 
 From Orient's ever-teeming clime 
 I fee them come, "f" an evil race, 
 Bold in heart, and flern in face : 
 In turbulent array they fweep, 
 Beneath them groans the burthen'd deep ; 
 Fierce they rufh, yet all obey 
 Monarch Lok's refifl efs fway. 
 Gaunt and wild with favage howl, 
 Mark the wolfifli Fenris prowl ; 
 With him ftalks a furious train, 
 Panting for th' enfanguin'd plain : ^ 
 
 Is Beliep's brother left behind ? 
 No: he flies on wings of wind. 
 
 * In the poetry of the north, the earth is ftiled, " The veflel that 
 ** floats on ages." I have made ufe of this paraphrafe for the NagelfarOy 
 or fliip of the gods here mentioned. 
 
 + The Mufpclli, a fort of Genii. 
 
 . Know'ft
 
 [ 4 ] 
 
 Know'fl thou what is done above? 
 No more in halls of joy and love, 
 The favour'd guefts, profufe of foul. 
 Drain the fkujl or necflar'd bowl : 
 What Genii fhake that nodding frame ? 
 Thefe are deeds without a name. 
 Struck with elemental jar, 
 Gods themfelves come forth to war : 
 From the manv-manfion'd dome. 
 Giant-tenants loofen'd roam ; 
 The dwarfifh guardians of each cell 
 Shriek around with fearful yell : 
 
 Thefe no a(5ls of joy and love 
 
 Know'fl thou now what's done above ? 
 
 From the regions of the South 
 Surtur * burfls with fiery mouth : 
 High o'er yonder black'ning fhade 
 Gleams the hallow'd fun-bright blade, 
 
 * The Priace of the Genii. of fire- 
 
 ft"'ron-' ■ Which
 
 [ 5 ] 
 
 Which, in ftar-befpangled field, 
 
 Warrior Gods encountering wield. 
 
 From vengeance' red celeftial flore, . 
 
 Minifters of ruin pour ; 
 
 Caverns yawning, mountains rending : : 
 
 Q)nfcious of the fate impending, 
 
 Ydrafils prophetic afli 
 
 Nods to the air with fudden crafli : : 
 
 Monftrous female forms advance. 
 
 Stride the Heed, and couch the lance ; ; 
 
 Armed heroes throng the road. 
 
 All from Hela's * dark abode ; 
 
 And fee, from either verge of Heav'n, ■ 
 
 That concave vail afunder riv'n. . 
 
 Why does beauteous Lina weep ? 
 Whence thofe lorn notes in accent deep ? 
 For battle Odin 'gins prepare j . 
 Aloft in diftant realms of air, 
 
 * The Goddefs of death. 
 
 G For
 
 [ « ] 
 
 Mark the murd'rous monfter * ftalk, 
 In printlefs majefty of walk. 
 Otiin kens his well-known tread; 
 The flital fiflers clip the thread : 
 
 To the manfion cold he creeps 
 
 In vain the beauteous Lina weeps. 
 
 Glowing with paternal fire, 
 Generous rage and fierce defire. 
 See Odin's offspring, Vidarbold, 
 His fanguinecourfe unfault'ring hold. 
 Nought he fears the wolfifh grin, 
 Tho' flaughter's minions round him din ; 
 In .vain 'gainfl; him, in fell accord, 
 Giant forms uplift the fword ; 
 He locks his foe in iron fleep. 
 And ftamps the filial vengeance deep. 
 
 Think not yet the meafure full, 
 Or the blade with carnage dull ; 
 
 * The wolf Fenrisj by whom Odin was flain. 
 
 Lodinas
 
 [ 7 ] 
 
 Lodlna's glory, heart and hand. 
 
 Joins the fight, and takes his ftand, 
 
 Lo ! in many a horrid turn, 
 
 Creft that gliflens, eyes that burn. 
 
 The lordly ferpent rolls along, 
 
 Nor fears the brave, nor heeds the ftrong : 
 
 But hark, 'twas fate in thunder fpoke ; 
 
 Vidar deals the forceful llroke. 
 
 Lays the death-doom'd monfter low. 
 
 And triumphs o'er his burnifh'd foe. 
 
 From the cavern deep and dank. 
 Bonds thatburfl, and chains that clank, 
 Proclaim the griefly form canine, 
 Loofen'd fiom his long confine : 
 Garmar * foams with rage and fhame ; 
 Garmar, to gods no fearlefs name. 
 
 * Immediately previous to the dcftruclion of the world, the EdJa fup- 
 pofesj that the Stygian dog, named Garmar, will be unbound. 
 
 Signs
 
 [ 8 ] 
 
 Signs abroad portentous low'r ; 
 'Tis defolation's fated hour : 
 Fiery Ihapes the sether v/ing ; 
 Surtur calls, they know their King, 
 Dark encircling clouds abforb 
 The luflre of light's central orb ; 
 Confcious flars no more difpenfc 
 Their gently beaming influence ; 
 But burfting from their fhaken fphere; 
 Unfubftantial difappear. 
 No more this penfile mundane ball 
 
 Rolls thro' the wide aereal hall ; 
 Ingulphed fmks thevaft machine. 
 Who fhall fay, the things have been ? 
 For lo! the curtain clofe and murk 
 Veils creation's ruin'd work. 
 
 ODE
 
 9 ] 
 
 ODE II. 
 ; THE RENOVATION OF THE WORLD, 
 
 AND 
 
 FUTURE RETRIBUTION *. 
 
 The Gods (or Diemones) meet on the Top of Mount Inda, ann 
 Jing the following prophetic Song of Triumph. 
 
 "iVl O W the fpirlt's plaftic might. 
 
 Brooding o'er the formlefs deep. 
 O'er the dufk abyfm of night. 
 Bids creation ceafe to fleep ! 
 
 Inftant from the riven main 
 Starts the renovated earth ; 
 Pine-clad mountain, fhaded plain ; 
 See, 'tis nature's fecond birth. 
 
 ■* See Barlholinus, ut [up. 
 
 D Now
 
 [ 10 ] 
 
 Now the waters glide along, 
 Murm'rlng fountain, rapid flood ; 
 Eagles foar on pinion flrong, 
 Tyrants of the iinny * brood. 
 
 Gods on Inda fpread the board j 
 Such was the fupreme decree : 
 Swell the ftrains in full accord. 
 Strains of holieft harmony ! 
 
 " Pour the fparkling beverage high ; 
 ' ' Be the fong with horror fraught : 
 " Lab'ring 'f' earth, and ruin'd iky, 
 " Fill the foul and fix the thought. 
 
 " Odin next infpire the verfe, 
 ' ' Gor'd by the relentlefs fang ^ ; 
 
 * In Norway, and on the coafts of the Baltic, the birds of prey fubfift 
 principally on fifh. One of the Norway Eagles is ftiled, the fea or fifh^ 
 
 eagle. 
 
 t Alluding to the preceding Ode, 
 :i: Fenris, by whom Odin was flain. 
 
 " JEthev
 
 [ " ] 
 
 «* ^ther felt the confl''^ ^^''fce, 
 *' Dying groan, and pan. ng pang. 
 
 ** Where is now his vaunted might ? 
 *' Where the terror of his eye ? 
 *' Fled for aye from fcenes of light : 
 *' Pour the fparkling beverage high. 
 
 ** Lo ! they fleet in radiant round, 
 *' Years of plenty, years of joy : 
 *' Sorrow's place no more is found, 
 *' Cares that vex, or fvveets that cloy, 
 
 " From the kindly teeming foil, 
 *' Ripen'd harvefts wave unfown ; 
 " Wherefore need the peafant's toil ? 
 " Nature works, and works alone. 
 
 ** Afk you whofe the fcepter'd fway ? 
 '* 'Tis to lordly Balder giv'n : 
 
 i.^ 
 
 Mark
 
 [ " ] 
 
 *' Mark him there in bright array, 
 ^' Stalking thro' the halls of heav'n. 
 
 '* Hcder holds united reign ; 
 
 ** Lateft times their flrength fliall prove ; 
 
 " Monarchs of the bleak domain *. 
 
 " Know'ft thou now what's done above ? 
 
 <' Is it bleft delufion's hour ? 
 
 Rolls mine eye in frenzied trance ? 
 
 Beams of glory round me fhow'r ; 
 " Troops of radiant forms advance. 
 
 ** Founded on that firm-fetrock, 
 " Rifing view the dome of gold "f", 
 " Fix'd fecure from wintry fhock : 
 " There the good, and there the bold. 
 
 * jimplum ventofum mundum. Barthol. 
 
 + Gimli, the palace of the bleft ; called otherwife Viiigolf, the palace of 
 friendfliip. 
 
 *' High 
 
 <( 
 
 (t
 
 >> 
 
 [ «3 ] 
 " Higfi In trades of troubred air, 
 " Juflice waves her awful fword : 
 " Vice appall'd, with hideous Hare, 
 ' ' Shrinks ete fpoke the dooming word, 
 
 '' Confcience comes, a tort'ring fiend, 
 
 *' Bids his minions round him roll ; 
 
 *• Fellremorfe, the breafl to rend, 
 
 " Affonv, to ftorm the foul. 
 
 " In Naftronda's northern * plain^ 
 " Hark, th* invenom'd portals ope : 
 " Refpite there is none of pain, 
 " Ray of Sun, or beam of hope. 
 
 " Dog-ey'd luft, adult'ry foulj 
 
 " Murder red with many a ftain^ 
 
 " At the fatal entrance fcowl, 
 
 " Bound in adamantine chain. 
 
 * The plr.ce of puniflimcnt for the wicked. 
 
 E '' Mark
 
 [ '4 ] 
 
 ** Mark the houfe ; if right we deem, 
 ** 'Tis of fcalcs ferpentine built ; 
 " Round it brawls a turbid llream : 
 " Mortal, fuch th' abode of guilt. 
 
 *' Know'ft thou now what's done above? 
 " Know'fl thou now the deeds of night ?" 
 They fpoke : the feaft of joy and love 
 Glow'd on Inda's gllll'ring height. 
 
 ODE
 
 [ '5 ] 
 
 ODE III. 
 D I A L O G U 
 
 A T T H E 
 
 TOMB OF ARGANTYR*. 
 
 Hervcr repairs to the T'omb of her Father Argantyr^ at the 
 dead of Night, and invokes his Spirit to deliver up the Ma- 
 gical Sword 'Trifingus, %vhich was buried with him. 
 
 II E R V O R. 
 ' I "^ H Y daughter calls ; Argantyr, break 
 
 The bonds of death j fhe calls, awake : 
 Reach me forth the temper'd blade, 
 Beneath thy dufly pillow laid ; 
 Which once a fcepter'd warrior bore, 
 Forg'd by dwarfs \ in years of yore. 
 
 * See Hlckes's Thefaurus, Septentrional. Vol. I. 
 
 t Cwarfs or Nanl^ in the northern fcnll?, anfwer to Cyclops. Hicka's TheJ, 
 
 Where
 
 t '6 ] 
 
 Whete are the fons of Angrim fled ? 
 Mingled with the valiant dead. 
 From under twifted roots of oak 
 Blafted by the thunder's flroke, 
 Arife, arife, ye men of blood. 
 Ye who prepar'd the Vulture's food ; 
 Give me the fword, and ftudded * belt j 
 Armies whole their force have felt : 
 Or grant my pray'r, or mould'ring rot. 
 Your name, your deeds alike forgot. 
 Argantyr, roufe thee from thy rell ; 
 'Tis an only child's requeft. 
 
 A R G A N T V R.- 
 Daughter, I hear the magic found, 
 That wakes the tenants of the ground : 
 Why call'fl thou thus ? What dire intent 
 Is within thy bofom pent ? 
 No friendly handj no parent, gave 
 My bones to rell in hallow'd grave ; 
 
 *■■ Jj'pariiii ingcns 
 
 Ba'.teui, et notU fuljtyunt cvgiLa biiiiiii VlRC.- 
 
 to
 
 t «7 ] 
 
 To me no facred rite was paid i 
 
 Here by barb'rous hands convey 'd. 
 
 In this manfion cold, forlorn, 
 
 My gloomy ghoft {hall ever mourn. ^ -?' 
 
 Think not by unceafing pray'r. 
 
 Hence the charmed fword to bear ; .} 
 
 For know, above in realms of lighty ,fry\- ifiT 
 
 Trifingus is another's right. 
 
 H E R V O R. M 
 
 Ha I my fire, what words accurft: 
 Have from the lip of falfehood burft ? v^i ;j3i // 
 Thou know'ft, with thee in darknefs laid, 
 Sleeps the confecrated blade : n\ fi' // 
 
 Yield it, 'tis th' appointed hour, ,;c.: l>:.. ) .^a i 
 Or dread avenging Odin's pow'r : 
 Canft thou thus, with tongue unblefl, xvr 
 
 Deny an only child'-s requeft ? , , _ 
 
 • * hiA R G A N T Y Rol t- - ■.■.■\0 
 With awe my words prophetic hear j, ; f 
 
 '" Hervor, 'tis for thee I fear : 
 
 F The
 
 t 's r 
 
 The fates have feal'd thy offspring's doom ; 1' 
 Trifingus brings them to the tomb.^d ^(d sisH 
 
 H E "k >''0 k. '' ''•'^■''^ 
 
 Talk not to ntb of fut-'jre' times ; {fiiC;ol§ vlVI 
 I fwear, by forcfe of magic rhymesj ^on Anhi i' 
 Repofe the dead ffiall know no more^'J ^OflsH 
 Till thou the gifted fword rcftore. ,won;I loL 
 
 A R G A N T Y rI ^"^^^^^-^'^^ 
 Maid, thy warlike foul I blefs. 
 Who rov'fl by night in armed drefs, .'ra ! jsK 
 With fpell-wrought helmet, iron proof. 
 And- garments wove in myilic woof;.iy; .iT 
 Who dar'ft in thrilling accents callj arfj aqaslS 
 The dead from, their fepulchral halli' ,3i blaiY 
 
 No more this idle converfe hold.*^'^' ^'^^^ ^^^^ 
 Once I thought thy fpirit bold i ^>°-"^ ^"^^^ 
 Give me forth the radiant brand * j 
 Hear, and grant my juft demand, n ^wj: //JiV/ 
 
 * Wav'dover by that flaming brand. Milt, P. L-r, 12.
 
 I[ '9 1 
 Let it's ftrength again be try'd, 
 'Twas not made below to bide. 
 Yield \ty 'tis th' appointed hour, 
 Or dread avenging Odin's pow'r. 
 
 A R G A N T Y R. 
 Here within the fated fheath, 
 Hialmar's ruin |ies beneath. 
 Wrapt in its own terrific flame ; , , 
 What maid but trembles at the name ? 
 
 H E R V O R. 
 
 . f ' r 
 r tremble not : the flame tho bright, 
 
 f Oufii t 
 Is but inefFe(5lual light, 
 
 . • :/ 'Uoa siT' 
 
 That plays around the buried corfe, 
 
 ,oiii lo JfiUCi elq-'uq 3ib ni i' 
 With meteor glare devoid of force i 
 
 Fll grafp the fword in terror dreft ; 
 
 Grant an only child srequeft., 
 
 .1l£fi a>.bH oj '^oifhi?/ inii bn/. 
 
 ARGANTYR. 
 Rafli Virgin, to thy pray'r I yield : 
 Lo ! Trifingus ftands reveal'd * If^-^ ^^^^ ^^ ' 
 Blazing like the'nbbn-da/^ftrft-^^'^i'^'^^-^i'i'^' 
 
 l;'JUO i* Here ihe fword is delivered to Hervor from the tomb, 
 
 HERVOR,
 
 •^H E R V ^'fert/i ■i'^i'^ 
 King of men;'''iis nobly done :'"" ^^" ^bwT' 
 This blade wltlf tujp'ffous'J<^'I^6\fft,-''' ^'^'''^ 
 A greater gift than Norway's throne. - "^ '^ 
 
 ■'^ A R G A N T Y R. 
 Fond, exulting daughter, know, ' ' " ' 
 Thefe tranfports work thee lafling woe'; 
 by the jkeen edge ( tis thus decreed) 
 Thy fons, e en Hydreks felf, mall bleed. 
 
 m E R. V O R. ,, _ 
 
 I muft to my fhips repair ;.,,_._. , , 
 
 'Tis nought to me : be that their care ^ 
 
 :.iJOi:: i.^L:q JcflT 
 If in the purple fount of life, 
 
 ^ ^.^.^ .!,., ' . arbiW 
 
 They fteep the lieel in mortal ftrife; 
 
 ^ i'; ,:,,...,..; ,/: :;::/cilm§ ill 
 
 By no ignoble ftroke they fall, 
 
 ^ .' . ^ . /Ino rrs Jn^iO 
 
 And fmk with joy to Hela's hall. 
 
 H i T Vi f. 
 . . . A,R, G A N T Y R. r, „ 
 
 Hie thee hence from fleathjsr 4oniain> ' - .T 
 With rev'rence keqp Hialmar's bane ; !\ 
 
 .(^cnoJ -tttrraH oi tsiovibb li bior/'i or' 1 OUCh
 
 r " ] 
 
 Touch but the blade, a warrior dlei. 
 On either edge quick poifon lies : 
 Thou art of a race divine, 
 Take the gift the gods affign. 
 
 H E R V O R. 
 
 Never fhall Trifingus fleep. 
 But move vi^ith defolating fweep ; 
 Never fear invade my breaft, 
 Nor dying fons my peace molefl y 
 If by Trifingus' flroke they fall. 
 They fink with joy to Hela's hall. 
 
 A R G A N T Y R. 
 
 Hark, e'en now with fullen moan, 
 Vi6lims twelve beneath thee groan : 
 Armed in paternal might. 
 Go forth, my child, and dare the fight : 
 Angrim's portion'd wealth is thine ; 
 Take the gift the gods allign. 
 
 G HERVOR
 
 [ ^^ ] 
 
 H E R V O R. 
 
 Now, in the filence of the tomb, 
 Dwell undifturb'd 'till final doom t 
 I muft tread my deflin'd road. 
 And fpeed me from this drear abode j 
 For here, as flill my fteps I turn>. 
 Flaky fires around me burru. 
 
 or>E:
 
 [ ^3 J 
 
 ODE IV. 
 
 BATTLE. 
 
 'I'he Images feledled from the VForks attributed to OJian, 
 irn H O the deeds of war ftiall tell ?— 
 
 Fingal ftruck the chorded (hell,. 
 Valour's nobleft, beft reward ;; 
 Fingal chief, and Fingal bard. 
 Leaning on the craggy rock. 
 He kenn'd afar the battle's fhock ;, 
 Forth tumultuous numbers roll, 
 Burfling from, his lab'ring foul, 
 
 Mark exulting heroes throng, 
 Starno bold, and Trenmor ilrong ;; 
 See the force of Gaul advance ;. 
 Fergus lifts the glitt'ring lance ; 
 Lowering there each warrior fhield, 
 Like darken'd moon in flarry field. 
 Hark! they join ('twas Swaran's word) 
 Man to man, and fv\ord to fword ^ 
 
 Tliick
 
 I H ] 
 
 '^"hick they fall, of armour reft, 
 Hauberks riven, helmets cleft ^ 
 Groans of dyhig armies fill 
 The deepen'd vale, the lofty hill ; 
 As the whirlwind's rapid might 
 Breaks the filence of .the night : 
 While Dourinff o'er the ftained 2;round, 
 Sano-uine torrents fmoke around. 
 
 O 
 
 What Spirit that, which mounts the blafl'' 
 His form with forrow's clouds o'ercaft. 
 His faded hue, and fullen Hate, 
 Speak the melfenger of fate. 
 
 As the Ocean s troubled roar, 
 When furges fweep the whitening fhore ; 
 As on Morven's Itormy brow, 
 Thoufand blafts in conflict blow ; 
 As the thunder's rattling march. 
 Rending Heav'n s affrighted arch ; 
 O'er th' embattled crimfon heath, 
 Hurtles fo the voice of death. 
 
 ODE
 
 F 
 
 [ 25 ] % 
 
 ODE V. 
 TUDOR*. 
 
 ILL the horn of gloffy blue. 
 Ocean's bright cxrulean hue ; 
 Brifkly quaff the flav'rous mead, 
 'Tis a day to joy decreed. 
 Strike the harp's fymphonious firing, 
 Tudor none refufe to fing ; 
 Ne'er fhall he belie his birth. 
 Valour his, and confcious worth. 
 
 Have you feen the virgin fnow. 
 That tops old Aran's peering brow ; 
 Or lucid web, by infe6l fpun, 
 PuFpureal gleam in fummer Sun ? 
 With fuch, yet far diviner light, 
 Malvina hits the dazzled fight ; 
 The guerdon fuch, can Tudor's breaft 
 Dare to court ignoble reft ? 
 
 * See Mr. Evans's fpecimens of the Welfh Bards. 
 
 H From
 
 ,■ [ 26 ] 
 
 From the cllflf fublime and hoary 
 See defcending martial glory ; 
 Armed bands aloft uprear 
 Crimfon banner, crlmfon fpear ; 
 Venodotia's ancient boaft, 
 Meets the pride of London's hofl ; 
 On they move with flep ferene. 
 And form a dreadly pleafmg fcene. 
 
 Heard you that terrific clang ? 
 Thro' the pathlefs void it rang : 
 Th' expedling raven fcreams afar. 
 And fnufFs the reeking fpoils of war. 
 Have you e'er on barren flrand 
 Ta'en your folitary ftand. 
 And feen the whirlwind's fpirit fped 
 O'er the dark-green billowy bed ? 
 Glowing in the thickefl fight, 
 Such refiillefs Tudor's might. 
 
 ODE 
 
 ■aoi -i
 
 [ 27 ] 
 
 ODE VI. 
 
 AN INCANTATION. 
 
 FOUNDED ON THE 
 
 NORTHERN MYTHOLOGY. 
 
 11 EAR, ye Rulers of the North, 
 
 Spirits of exalted worth ; 
 By the filence of the night. 
 By fubtle magic's fecret rite ; 
 By Peolphan, murky King, 
 Mailer of th' enchanted ring ; 
 By all and each of hell's grim hoft, 
 Howling demon, tortur'd ghoft j 
 By each fpell and potent word, ,,^ 
 
 Burft from lips of Glauron's Lord ; 
 
 By
 
 [ .8 ] 
 
 By Coronzon's awful power ; 
 By the dread and folemn hour, 
 When Gual fierce, and Damael ftrong. 
 Stride the blaft that roars along ; 
 Or in fell defcending fwoop, 
 Bid the furious fpirit floop 
 G'er defolation's gloomy plain. 
 Haunt of warriors, battle-flain. 
 Now the world in ileep is laid, 
 Thorbiorga * calls your aid. 
 
 Mark the fable feline coat. 
 Spotted girdle, velvet-wrought ; 
 Mark the fkin of glillening fnake. 
 Sleeping feiz'd in foreft brake ; 
 Mark the radiant chryflal Hone, 
 On which day's Sovereign never fhone. 
 From the cavern dark and deep, 
 Digg'd i'th' hour of mortal fleep ; 
 
 * The name of an cnchantrefs in Bartholinus. 
 
 Mark
 
 [ *9 ] 
 
 Mark the crofs, in myftic round, 
 Meetly o'er the fandal bound. 
 And the fymbols grav'd thereon, 
 Holieft Tetragrammaton ! 
 While the midnight torches gleam. 
 Rivals of pale Cynthia's beam. 
 On ocean's unfrequented fhore 
 Some mofs -grown ruin filv'ring o'er. 
 While the flame of refmous fire 
 Mounts aloft in curling fpire ; 
 I fcatter round this charmed room. 
 The fragrance of the myrrh's perfume ; 
 And bending o'er this confecrated fword. 
 Confirm each murmur'd fpell, each inly-thrilling 
 word, 
 
 THE END. 
 
 It
 
 [ 3° ] 
 
 // ivas thought proper to fuhjoin the literal 'Tranjlations of the Ori- 
 ginals of the three firft Odes, as the Books whence they are 
 taken are rather fear ce. 
 
 ODE I. 
 
 CREPUSCULUM DEORUM, 
 
 INTERITUS MUNDI. 
 
 Barthol. L. 2. C. 14. 
 
 Hrymr ekr aufiau, &c. 
 
 HR Y M U S (gigas quidam) ab ortu 
 aurigat ; 
 Intumefcit mare : 
 Volutat fe lormungandus (anguis tenam 
 
 ambire creditus) 
 Furore giganteo. 
 Anguis maria movet ; 
 Aquilavero clangit, 
 Dilaniat cadavera lurido roftro. 
 Nafglar (navis) folvitur. 
 
 Navis ab ortu venit ; 
 Aderunt Mufpelli, 
 Per mare incolse ; 
 iokus vero gubernat. 
 Incedunt furcntes populi, 
 Cum lupo omnes. 
 Illifcum frater, 
 Beleipi prodit. 
 
 Quid novi apud Decs geritur ? 
 Quid apud Genios ? 
 
 Fragore perfonat totus gigantum mundus. 
 Dii in foro verfantur : 
 Gemunt nani 
 
 Ante lapidearum habitationum oftia, 
 Lapideorum meatuum gnari ; 
 Noftin' adhuc qmid rei geritur ? 
 
 Surtur ab Auftro prodit, 
 Ignc comitante ; 
 Radiat Solis inftar, enfis 
 Deorum bellacium. 
 Saxa ruinam minantur : 
 Focminic gigantese vagantur; 
 Calcant viam Helae : 
 Diffinditur Ccelum. 
 
 Tunc evenit HIins 
 Dolor fecundus ; 
 Quando Odinus prodit 
 Ad dimicandum cum lupo ; 
 Occiforque Bela:, 
 Candidus cum I'urto : 
 Turn Friggse 
 Cadet maritus. 
 
 Turn prodit magnus 
 Filius Odini, 
 Vidarus, ut pugnet 
 Cumftragis animali (lupo.) 
 Curat fobolis giganteae 
 Infiftere 
 Gladium cordi : 
 Turn patris mortem ulcifcitur. 
 
 Tum prodit magnus 
 Filius Lodma; ; 
 Incedit Odini filius 
 lit cum lupo (feu fratre lupi lormungando) 
 
 dimicet ; 
 Magna audacia 
 Occidit midgardicum anguem. 
 Viri omnes 
 E mundo evacuabuntur. 
 
 Latrat Garmus valde 
 Ante Guipenfe antrum ; 
 
 Rumpentur
 
 £ 3- ] 
 
 Rumpcntur Catenae, 
 Et proruet lupus. 
 Progreditur paffus novem 
 Fvorgint proles, 
 Tnliis ab angue 
 Mala facere non timido. 
 
 NigreCcit Sol : 
 Immcrgitur mari Tellus : 
 Dilparetcunt e Coelo 
 Serena- Stellae : 
 S.evit iguis 
 
 Sub feculi extremitatem ; 
 Lambit afcendens flamma 
 Ipfum Coelum. 
 
 ODE 
 
 N O V I ]M U N D I 
 
 II. 
 
 E X O R T U S. 
 Bartholinus ut fuf. 
 
 Ser hoti uppkoma, &c. 
 
 VI D E T ilia emergere 
 Altera vice 
 Terrain e mari 
 Vald: viridcm ; 
 Labuntur aqure ; 
 Supcrvolat aquila, 
 Qu3e in montibus 
 Pilccs capit. 
 
 Conyeniunt Dii 
 In Ida: '■ campo ; 
 Et dc diruiis habitaculis 
 Validis loquumur : 
 Jbique mentionem faciunt 
 Magnorum coUoquioruni, 
 Et Odini 
 Antiquorum fermonum. 
 
 " Ibi deinde 
 " Mirabiles orbes 
 " Deauratl alcatorii 
 " In gramine invenicntur, 
 
 " Quos olira poflederant 
 
 " Reftor deorum, 
 
 " Et Odini progenies." 
 
 Ferent non fati 
 Agri fruftum : 
 Adverla quaevis ceflent ; 
 Aderit Baldcrus. 
 Incolent Balderus et Hodus 
 Odini dirutas afdes, 
 Bene bellaces Dii. 
 Noftin' adhuc quid rei geritur ? 
 
 Domum ftare vidct 
 Sole clariorem, 
 Auro teftam 
 In Gimli ; 
 Ibi probi 
 
 Populi habitabunt, 
 Et per fecula 
 G audio fruentur. 
 
 Turn prodit potens ille, 
 Inftante divine judicio, 
 Validus e fupernis 
 Qui omnia regit ; 
 Hie fententiam fcrt, 
 Et caufas dirimit, 
 Sacra fata ftatuit, 
 Qua; durabunt. 
 
 " Advenit fufcus 
 " Draco volans, 
 " Anguis afpcr, ab imis 
 " Nidenfibus montibus ; 
 " Pennis fuis fertur ; 
 " Pcrvolat campum 
 " Nidhoggus mortuorum. 
 " Nunc ilia terra abforbetur." 
 
 Domum ftare videt 
 A fole remotam 
 In Naftronda f ; 
 Fores boream fpeftant ; 
 
 * Inda; V. Left. 
 
 t The Gothic Hell is termed Niflheim. In Goranfon's Latin verfion of the Edda, Hift. 
 ima, is the following paflage. " In medio Niflhemii eft fons nomine Hvergelmer. Hinc 
 profluunt amnes hifce celcbrati nominibus : Angor, Gaudii Remora, Mortis Habitatio, Ce- 
 li;rrima Perditio et Vetufta, Vagina, ProccUa Saeva, Vorago, Stridor ct Uluiatus, Late Ema- 
 nans, Vehementer Fremens, portas inferni alluit.— This is evidently the Platonic Inferno 
 in Virgil. 
 
 Diftillani
 
 [ 32 ] 
 
 Dinillant vcneni guttas 
 Intro per fcneftras : 
 HzEc contcjtta eft doraus 
 Spinis ferpentinis. 
 
 Ibi vadarc videt 
 Rapida flucnta 
 Viros perjuros, 
 Et nefarios, 
 
 Et qui alterius vcIHcant 
 Aurem coniugis. 
 
 " Rodebat ibi Nidhoggus cadaveia ; 
 " Laniavit lupus viros. 
 Noftin' adhuc quid rci geritur r 
 
 N. B. The lines maiked thus " ai 
 ted in the imitation. 
 
 ARGANTYR. 
 
 Daughter Hcrvor, full of fpclls to raife the 
 dead, why doft thou call lb ? Wilt thou run 
 on to thy own milchief ? Thou art mad, and 
 out of thv fcnfes, who art dcfperately refolv- 
 ed to waken dead men. I was not buried 
 either by father, or other friends. Two 
 which lived after me, got Tirfing, one of 
 whom is now pofleffor thereof. 
 
 ODE 
 
 111. 
 
 H E R V O R. 
 
 Thou doft not tell the truth : So let Odin 
 hide thee in the tomb, as thou haft Tirfing 
 by thee. Art thou unwilling, Argantyr, to 
 give an inheritance to thy only child ? 
 
 ARGANTYR. 
 
 Alctro haud multum diirimili carmina fita 
 fcripfit Scaldus ille, au£tor libri, cui ti- 
 tulus HERVARER SAGA, (quem edi- 
 dit cl. Olaus Verelius) ut conftat ex dia- 
 logo iUo inter Hervaram et Argantyri pa- 
 tris fui manes, a quo ad tumulum ftans, 
 Vt Tirfingum gladium cum eo fepultum 
 daret, rogat. 
 
 I will tell thee, Hervor, what will come 
 to pafs : this Tirfing, will, if thou doft be- 
 lieve me, deftroy almoft all thy offspring. 
 Thou fhalt have a fon, who afterwards muft 
 poflefs Tirfing, and many think that he will 
 be called Heidrek by the people. 
 
 HERVOR. 
 
 Hervor. I do by enchantments make, that the dead 
 
 WaFNADU Arg.intyr, &c, fhall never enjoy reft, unlefs Argantyr deli- 
 ver me Tirfing. 
 
 HERVOR. 
 
 AWAKE, Argantyr, Hervor, the only 
 daughter of thee and Suafu doth awa- 
 ken thee. Give me out of the tomb, the 
 hardned fword, which the dwarfs made for 
 Suafurlama. Hervardur, Hiorvardur, Hra- 
 iii, and Argantyr, with helmet and coat of 
 mail, and a (harp fword : with ftiield and 
 accoutrements, and bloody fpear, I wake you 
 all, under the roots of trees. Are the fons 
 of Andgrym, who delighted in mifchief, now 
 become duft and afties ? Can none of Eyvor's 
 fons now fpeak with me, out of the habita- 
 tions of the dead ! Harvardur, Hiorvardur ! 
 So may you all be within your ribs, as a thing 
 that is hanged up to putrify among infefts, 
 unlefs you deliver me the fword which the 
 dwarfs made, and tb* glorious belt. 
 
 ARGANTYR. • 
 
 Young maid, I fay thou art of manlike 
 courage, who doft rove about by night to 
 tombs, with fpear engraven with magical 
 fpells, with helmet, and coat of mail, before 
 the door of our hall. 
 
 HERVOR. 
 
 I took thee for a brave man, before I found 
 out your hall. Give me out of the tomb the 
 workmanftiip of the dwarfs, which hates all 
 coats of mail ; it is not good for thee to hide 
 it. 
 
 ARGANTYR. 
 
 The death of Hialmar lies under my fhoul- 
 ders ; it is ail wrapt up in fire : I know no 
 
 ouid
 
 [ 33 ] 
 
 maid in any country, that davcs this fword 
 take in liand. 
 
 H E R V O R. 
 
 I (hall keep, and take in my hand the ftiarp 
 fword, if I may obtain it. I do not think 
 ihat fire will burn, which plays about the 
 fight of deccafed men. 
 
 ARGANTYR. 
 
 conceited Hervor, thou art mad. Ra- 
 ther than thou in a moment fliouldcft fall into 
 the fire, I will give thee the fword out of the 
 tomb, young maid, and not hide it from 
 thee.^ 
 
 HERVOR. 
 
 Thou doft well, thou offspring of Heroes, 
 that thou didft fend me the fword out of the 
 tomb. I am now better pleafed, O Prince ! 
 to have it, than if I had got all Norway. 
 
 ARGANTYR. 
 
 Falfe woman, thou doft not underftand, 
 that thou fpeakeft fooliihly of that in which 
 thou doft rejoice. For Tirfing (hall, if thou 
 wilt believe me, maid, deflroy all thy off- 
 fpring. 
 
 HERVOR. 
 
 1 muft go to my feamen. Here I have no 
 mind to ftay longer. Little do I care, O 
 Royal Friend! what my fons hereafter quar- 
 rel about. 
 
 ARGANTYR. 
 
 Take and keep Hialmar's bane, which 
 thou (halt long have and enjoy. Totich but 
 the edges of it, there is poifon in both of 
 them : it is a moft cruel dcvourer of men. 
 
 HERVOR. 
 
 I (hall keep, and take in hand, the (harp 
 fword which thou haft let me have : I do not 
 fear, O (lain Father ! what my fons hereafter 
 may quarrel about. 
 
 ARGANTYR. 
 
 Farcwel, daughter! I do quickly give thee 
 twelve men's death ; if thou canft believe with 
 might and courage : even all the goods that 
 Andgrym's fons left behind them. 
 
 HERVOR. 
 
 Dwell all of you fafe in the tomb. I muft 
 be gone and haften hence, for I fcem to be in 
 the midft of a place where fire burns round 
 about me, 
 
 Hickes's Thefaurut Septenfrionalis, Vol. I. 
 page 193. 
 
 ODE V. 
 
 This is not a regular Imitation of any par- 
 ticular Poem in Mr. Evans's Specimens ; 
 but the following Paifages, in different 
 Parts of them, ftruck mc, and occafioncd 
 my compofing this Ihort Monoftrophic Ode. 
 
 CUP-BEARER! fetch the horn 
 that we may drink together, whofe 
 glofs is like the wave of the fea : bring the 
 beft meath. 
 
 " I have compofed with great ftudy and 
 pains, thy praife, O thou, that ftiineft like 
 the new-fallen fnow of the brow of Aran; — 
 Thou that (hineft like the fine fpider's webs 
 on the grafs in a Summer's day. 
 
 '' The army at Offa's dike panted for glo- 
 ry, the troops of Vcnodotia, and the men of 
 London. 
 
 " He puts numerous troops of his enemies 
 to flight like a mighty wind.". 
 
 FINIS,
 
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