Ochlcnschlaegcr's Hakon Jarl 103 



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C8 65. Skidd. One of the three Nornes or Fates, Urd, Verdanda, ami 

 Skuld (the Present, Past, and Future). They control the lives 

 of men, and their decrees are irrevocable. They are seated under 

 Ygdrasil, the "Tree of the Universe." 



68 66. Ygdrasil. The great ash tree that binds together heaven, earth, 

 and hell. It stands upon the earth, but its branches reach into 

 heaven and its roots penetrate hell. 



68 67. Urdur or Urd. (See note (Sr^ above.) 



69 68. Tliorgicrdur Horgahrud. A local war-goddess, a special pat- 



roness of Hakon's. He calls upon her again at the end of this 

 act. 



70 69. Audcn. This one-eyed man Auden can hardly be explained as a 



real personality. He must be considered as the Mephistopheles 

 of Gothe or the 'other-world' beings of Shakespeare. Here he 

 represents the conscience of Olaf in its last struggle to find out 

 whether or not he is right in destroying" the old religion of the 

 North and planting in its place the Christian faith of the South. 

 73 70. The Siren's song. Tangbrand is of course acquainted with the 

 South and its literature, and here refers to the sirens of Greek 

 mythology. 



76 71. Mimcr. The keeper of the waters in the well of wisdom, where 



Odin had pawned one of his eyes for a drink. The Elder Edda 

 says : 



"Full well I know 



Great Odin, where 



Thine eye thou lost ; 



In Mimer's well. 



The fountain pure. 



Mead Mimer drinks 



Each morning new. 



With Odin's pledge." 



77 72. Askur. Askur and Embla were the first man and woman that 



the gods created. 



79 73. Heimdal. Keeper of the rain-bow bridge, Bifrost. He has a 



trumpet called Gjallarhorn which he blows in summoning the 

 gods at Ragnarok, the doomsday. Here Hakon interprets the 

 crowing of the cock as a signal from Heimdal for action. 



80 71. Nither. Nither is not mentioned in the Eddas, but is a giant 



spoken of by Saxo Grammaticus, a Danish historian and author 

 of the thirteenth century. 

 80 75. Merc Ama::oiis. mere Valkyrs. The Amazons and Valkyrs were 

 battle-nymphs who were present in battle at every warrior's side. 

 They designated those who were to fall in battle, and later con- 

 ducted them to Valhal. They are often called Odin's hand- 

 maids. 



Heimdal's temples. See note 73 above. 

 Thorgierdur Horgahrud. See note 6S above. 

 Gaidaa. According to history, Gaulaa is where Hakon was killed. 

 Restrained his hand. The Bible reference here is plain. 

 The doughty Jarl was slain. This is historically true. Harald 

 Graafeld and Erling, sons of the famous Gundhild, burned Sigurd 

 Jarl, Hakon's father, in his own house. 

 Hakon. Hakon Athelstein. See note 47 above. 

 Then it must he thou. See Introductory Note on Hakon Jarl. 



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