THE VIKING AGE. 



CHAPTER I. 



CIVILISATION AND ANTIQUITIES OP THE NORTH. 



Early antiquities of the North Literature : English and Prankish chronicles 

 Early civilisation Beauty of ornaments, weapons, &c. 



A STUDY of the ancient literature and abundant archaeology of 

 the North gives us a true picture of the character and life of 

 the Norse ancestors of the English-speaking peoples. 



We can form a satisfactory idea of their religious, social, 

 political, and warlike life. We can follow them from their 

 birth to their grave. We see the infant exposed to die, or 

 ivater sprinkled? and a name bestowed upon it ; follow the 

 child in his education, in his sports ; the young man in his 

 practice of arms ; the maiden in her domestic duties and 

 embroidery ; the adult in his warlike expeditions ; hear the clash 

 of swords and the songs of the Scald, looking on and inciting 

 the warriors to greater deeds of daring, or it may be recounting 

 afterwards the glorious death of the hero. We listen to the 

 old man giving his advice at the Thing. 2 ' We learn about 

 their dress, ornaments, implements, weapons ; their expressive 

 names and complicated relationships; their dwellings and 

 convivial halls, with their primitive or magnificent furniture ; 

 their temples, sacrifices, gods, and sacred ceremonies ; their 

 personal appearance, even to the hair, eyes, face and limbs. 

 Their festivals, betrothal and marriage feasts are open to us. 

 We are present at their athletic games preparatory to the stern 

 realities of the life of that period, where honour and renown 

 were won on the battle-field ; at the revel and drunken bout ; 



1 A kind of baptism. a The assembly of the people. 



VOL. I. B 



