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ship, ornamented with shields, striped sails, small boats, &c., 

 the ancient wood carvings, some of which are shown in this 

 work, the clothing and cloaks which are only worn by the 

 higher-born, and which are fastened with 

 fibulae on the right shoulder, and the 

 embroidery. 



" Then his foster-daughter Brynhild 

 returned to Heimir. She spent her time 

 in a bower with her maidens, and sur- 

 passed in handiwork all other women. She 

 made embroidery with gold, and sewed 

 thereon the great deeds of Sigurd, the 

 slaying of the serpent, the taking of the 

 treasure, and Regin's death " (Volsunga 

 Saga, c. 24). 



" Gudrun went on until she came to the 

 hall of King Half, and stayed there with 

 Thora, Hakon's daughter, in Denmark 

 seven seasons (i.e., half-years), and was 

 well entertained ; she made embroidery, 

 and worked thereon many great deeds 

 and fine games, which were customary at 

 that time, swords and coats of mail and 

 all the outfit of a king, and King Sig- 

 mund's ships gliding along the shore. 

 They also embroidered how Sigar and 

 Siggeir fought on Fyen. This was their 

 enjoyment, and Gudrun now somewhat 

 forgot her grief" (Volsunga Saga, c. 32). 



The general occupation of ordinary 

 women was to milk cows, prepare food and 

 drink, serve the men, work in the field, 

 and especially make the hay, card wool, 

 attend to the clothes, 1 wash the men's 

 heads, and pull off their clothes when 

 they went to bed ; a custom still prevalent 

 in many parts of Scandinavia.' 2 



Women of high rank even superintended the work of the 

 farm, and had at times no small amount of authority. 



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1 Eyrbyggja, 51. 



2 Such expressions as " She was well 

 versed in all kinds of accomplishments 



that belonged to women " are often used. 

 (Heidarviga Saga. "21 ; Viglund, 17.) 



