474 THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN PAGANISM AND CHRISTIANITY. 



chiefs as to what steps should be taken to provide provisions 

 for the army, when fighting against the Danes south of Dana- 

 virki, was advised by them either to withdraw from the 

 country, or slay some of the horses for food. To this the 

 Emperor replied : 



" To this advice there is a great drawback, for it is the 

 greatest sacrilege for baptized men who can in any other 

 manner prolong their lives to eat horseflesh " (Olaf Trygg- 

 vason, Fornmanna Sogur, c. 1). 



The Halfred's Saga, which relates how Halfred, who had 

 been baptized, was for some time with the King, Olaf Tryggva- 

 son, and asked him to hear a song, which at first the king 

 declined to hear, as too heathen for him, shows how hard was 

 the struggle with some men to entirely give up the old faith. 



" Of yore I worshipped well Lord of Hlidskjalf (Odin) ; 



Him the bold-minded The luck of men changes." 



The king said : " This is a very bad stanza ; thou must 

 improve it." 



" Every kindred has made songs But because I serve Christ 



To win the love of Odin ; I must hate against my will 



I remember the songs The first husband of Frigg (Odin), 



Of the men of our time, For his power I liked well." 



The king replied : " The gods dwell much in thy mind, and I 

 do not like it." 



" Enricher of men, I forsake Who in heathendom performed 



The god-name of the raven-worshipper A trick praised by the people." 1 

 (Odin) 



" This makes it no better ; make a stanza to mend this." 



" Frey and Freyja and the strong Thor I will call on Christ, for all love 



Ought to be angry with me ; The only Father and God ; 



I forsake the offspring of Njord. 2 The anger of the Son I dislike, 



The angry (gods) may be friends with He is the famous ruler of earth." 

 Grimuir (Odin) ; 



" This is a good song, and better than none ; sing more." 



1 This refers to stealing the mead. | - Frey and Freyja. 



