98 



WEAPOX*. 



Gefjon ploughing Selund out of Sweden ; 1 Thor fishing the 

 serpent (Midgardsorm) ; the everlasting fight between Hogni 

 and Hedin, which last is as follows: 



"King Hediu, son of 

 Hjarrandi, took Hild, 

 daughter of King Hogni, 

 away while he was absent 

 from home. When Hogni 

 heard this he pursued him, 

 and found him on Haey ( H( >y , 

 High Island), one of the 

 Orkneys. Hedin offered him 

 much gold as indemnity, 

 but Hogni said : ' Thou 

 offerest peace too late, for 

 now I have drawn the sword 

 Dawsleif, which was made 

 by the Dvergar, which 

 causes a man's death every 

 time it is unsheathed ; the 



Fig. 885. Shield, GokMaJ ship ; about 3 feet wolm( | s cut b y ft are never 

 in diameter. , ,.-,,,,.' . , rp , 



healed. Hedin said: 'Thou 



boasteth of thy sword, and not of victory : I call every 

 sword good which is faithful to its master' (owner). Then 

 they began the battle called Hjadninga-fight, and they fought 

 all that day, and at night went to their ships. During 



Fi". 88(3. front view of shield handle of bronze, found by the side of a skeleton. 



Skogsby, Oland. J real size. 



the "night Hild went to the field of the slain, and with 

 witchcraft called all the dead to life again. The next day the 

 kings went to the battle-field, and all those who had been 

 killed the day before fought with them. Day after day the 

 battle went on, and all the slain and all the weapons in the 

 battle-field and the armour changed into stones. But at day- 

 break all the dead men rose and fought, and all their weapons 

 could be used. It is told in songs that the Hjadniugs shall 

 remain thus till racjnarok (the last fight of the gods) " (Later 

 Edda, Skaldskaparmal, ch. 50). 



1 Ynglinga, Saga. 



