CHAPTER XXXI. 



SUPERSTITIONS. OMENS. 



Belief in omens The sight of blood oil food a foreboding of violent death- 

 Blood dripping from weapons a sign of fierce conflict Peculiar appear- 

 ances of the moon Ravens Howling wolves Stumbling when going 

 to fight The second song of Sigurd Fal'uisbani Supernatural beings- 

 Visions. 



THE people were strong believers in omens, to which they 

 paid great attention, and which were supposed to be seen by 

 persons when awake or in their dreams. Some omens repeated 

 themselves before recurring events of the same kind. 



If any one imagined that he saw blood on his food, or that his 

 food disappeared, he expected a speedy and violent death ; l and 

 it was a common belief that blood dripping from weapons, or 

 their sounding loud when used, foreboded a fierce battle or 

 conflict. 2 



"He (Hildigliim) heard a crash so loud that he thought 

 both earth and heaven shook from it. Then he looked into 

 the west, and saw a ring with the colour of flame, and in it a man 

 on a grey horse. He passed quickly ; and had a burning fire- 

 brand in his hand. He rode so near him that he could easily 

 see him. He was black as pitch. He sang this stanza with 

 a loud voice : 



I ride on a Poison in the middle ; 



Rime-frost maned horse, Thus is it with Flosi's plan 



With dewy wet mane, As if a stick were thrown, 



Causing evil ; Thus is it with Flosi's plan 



Fire is in the ends of the brand. As when a stick is thrown. 



It seemed to him that he flung it eastward to the mountains, 

 and that such fire rose from it that he did not see the 

 mountains for it. It seemed to him the man rode eastward 

 to the fire and disappeared there. Then he went in to his 

 bed, and fell in a long swoon, but woke from it. He remem- 



1 Viga Styr, 102. | " Xjal.-i, 7'J, 79. 



