Part 14 (1/2)

Won by his pa.s.sionate wooing, Gunlod consented to become his wife, and after he had spent three whole days with her in this retreat, she brought out the vessels from their secret hiding-place, and told him he might take a sip from each.

”And a draught obtained Of the precious mead, Drawn from Od-hroerir.”

Odin's Rune-Song (Thorpe's tr.).

Odin made good use of this permission and drank so deeply that he completely drained all three vessels. Then, having obtained all that he wanted, he emerged from the cave and, donning his eagle plumes, rose high into the blue, and, after hovering for a moment over the mountain top, winged his flight towards Asgard.

He was still far from the G.o.ds' realm when he became aware of a pursuer, and, indeed, Suttung, having also a.s.sumed the form of an eagle, was coming rapidly after him with intent to compel him to surrender the stolen mead. Odin therefore flew faster and faster, straining every nerve to reach Asgard before the foe should overtake him, and as he drew near the G.o.ds anxiously watched the race.

Seeing that Odin would only with difficulty be able to escape, the aesir hastily gathered all the combustible materials they could find, and as he flew over the ramparts of their dwelling, they set fire to the ma.s.s of fuel, so that the flames, rising high, singed the wings of Suttung, as he followed the G.o.d, and he fell into the very midst of the fire, where he was burned to death.

As for Odin, he flew to where the G.o.ds had prepared vessels for the stolen mead, and disgorged the draught of inspiration in such breathless haste that a few drops fell and were scattered over the earth. There they became the portion of rhymesters and poetasters, the G.o.ds reserving the main draught for their own consumption, and only occasionally vouchsafing a taste to some favoured mortal, who, immediately after, would win world-wide renown by his inspired songs.

”Of a well-a.s.sumed form I made good use: Few things fail the wise; For Od-hroerir Is now come up To men's earthly dwellings.”

Havamal (Thorpe's tr.).

As men and G.o.ds owed the priceless gift to Odin, they were ever ready to express to him their grat.i.tude, and they not only called it by his name, but they wors.h.i.+pped him as patron of eloquence, poetry, and song, and of all scalds.

The G.o.d of Music

Although Odin had thus won the gift of poetry, he seldom made use of it himself. It was reserved for his son Bragi, the child of Gunlod, to become the G.o.d of poetry and music, and to charm the world with his songs.

”White-bearded bard, ag'd Bragi, his gold harp Sweeps--and yet softer Stealeth the day.”

Viking Tales of the North (R. B. Anderson).

As soon as Bragi was born in the stalact.i.te-hung cave where Odin had won Gunlod's affections, the dwarfs presented him with a magical golden harp, and, setting him on one of their own vessels, they sent him out into the wide world. As the boat gently pa.s.sed out of subterranean darkness, and floated over the threshold of Nain, the realm of the dwarf of death, Bragi, the fair and immaculate young G.o.d, who until then had shown no signs of life, suddenly sat up, and, seizing the golden harp beside him, he began to sing the wondrous song of life, which rose at times to heaven, and then sank down to the dread realm of Hel, G.o.ddess of death.

”Yggdrasil's ash is Of all trees most excellent, And of all s.h.i.+ps, Skidbladnir; Of the aesir, Odin, And of horses, Sleipnir; Bifrost of bridges, And of scalds, Bragi.”

Lay of Grimnir (Thorpe's tr.).

While he played the vessel was wafted gently over sunlit waters, and soon touched the sh.o.r.e. Bragi then proceeded on foot, threading his way through the bare and silent forest, playing as he walked. At the sound of his tender music the trees began to bud and bloom, and the gra.s.s underfoot was gemmed with countless flowers.

Here he met Idun, daughter of Ivald, the fair G.o.ddess of immortal youth, whom the dwarfs allowed to visit the earth from time to time, when, at her approach, nature invariably a.s.sumed its loveliest and gentlest aspect.

It was only to be expected that two such beings should feel attracted to each other, and Bragi soon won this fair G.o.ddess for his wife. Together they hastened to Asgard, where both were warmly welcomed and where Odin, after tracing runes on Bragi's tongue, decreed that he should be the heavenly minstrel and composer of songs in honour of the G.o.ds and of the heroes whom he received in Valhalla.