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52. The raven was regarded as sacred, and greatly venerated by the old Norse Vikings, who
had always one or two of these birds in their ships. When setting out on marauding
expeditions the raven was let loose and his flight followed by the bold voyagers, in the
belief that he led them to war and victory. These birds it was supposed lived to a
fabulous age. Odin’s shield had a raven on it, and so had the Landeyda or battle-flag of
Sigurd, which ever led to victory, although its bearer was doomed to die. Hialtland is the
ancient name of Shetland. The Norse rovers thought it a disgrace to die in their beds in
peace; and when they found their end approaching, clad in armour, had themselves
carried on board their ships which were then set fire to and sent adrift, that the old
heroes might die, as they had lived, on the ocean, and thence worthily rise to Valhalla.
53. The “Death of the Old Norse King,” translated into Icelandic verse by the Rev. Olaf
Pálsson.
54. A rix dollar is equal in value to 2/3 English. A skilling is a fraction more than a farthing.
55. Extracted from the postscript to Mr. William Longman’s “Suggestions for the
Exploration of Iceland”—an address delivered to the members of the Alpine Club, of
which he is Vice-President.—Longman & Co., 1861.
56. This chapter, written in December 1859, has already appeared in the pages of a
periodical.—A.J.S.
57. These journals, while admitting, in a general though apologetic way, that great evils exist
in connection with slavery, yet, somehow, on every occasion, systematically and
persistently uphold pro-slavery measures and interests.
58. Fuller information and subsequent events in America have justified and amply
confirmed this estimate of Brown, formed at the time. Having had access to documents,
published and unpublished, and being in a position to judge, we would confidently refer
the reader to a volume of 452 pp. 8vo., since published by Smith, Elder & Co.—“The
Life and Letters of Captain John Brown, edited by Richard D. Webbe”—as presenting a
fair statement of the facts of the case. From Brown’s deeds and words, therein recorded,
it will be clearly seen, how calm, noble and dignified was the bearing of the man whom
short-sighted trimmers, on both sides the Atlantic, have attempted to brand as a fanatic.
60. The antiquarian book to which we have already referred, erroneously attributes the
discovery to Garder, a Dane of Swedish origin. Our authority is Gísli Brynjúlfsson, the
Icelandic poet, now resident in Copenhagen, to whose kindness we are also indebted for
the copy of this work which we possess.
61. For these last, we would refer to Thorpe’s “Yuletide Stories,” Dasent’s “Popular Tales
from the Norse,” our own Nursery Lore, and to preceding Stories and Tales in this
appendix.
62. Mr. Dasent has since published an admirable translation of “Njal’s Saga,” which presents
a vivid picture of life in Iceland at the end of the tenth century.
Pg. vii: Punctuation consistency: ‘on Northern Subjects.’ to ‘on Northern Subjects’—Removed
period at end of TOC entry
Pg. 12: Repeated word: ‘in in the time’ to ‘in the time’
Pg. 52: Punctuation fix: ‘cleanliness comfort and refinement’ to ‘cleanliness, comfort and
refinement’—Added missing comma
Pg. 70: Corrected typo: ‘at each others’ to ‘at each other’s’—Added missing apostrophe
Pg. 138: Missing punctuation: ‘Faröe Islands. pp 30’ to ‘Faröe Islands, pp 30’—Period for
comma
Pg. 167: Quote placement: ‘has ever occurred.’ to ‘has ever occurred.”’—Added missing close-
quote to quote end
Pg. 171: Punctuation fix: ‘issue from Kötlugjá,’ to ‘issue from Kötlugjá.’—Comma for period
Pg. 189: Extra punctuation: ‘lava. continued’ to ‘lava continued’—Removed extra period
Pg. 226: Proper name consistency: ‘A. J. S.’ to ‘A.J.S.’—Usually without spaces
Pg. 239: Missing punctuation : ‘such a rib as this’ to ‘such a rib as this?’—Added missing ‘?’ at
para end
Pg. 242: Missing punctuation : ‘if she does’ to ‘“if she does’—Added missing opening
quotation mark
Pg. 259: Quote placement: ‘little porridge pot.’ to ‘little porridge pot.”’—Added missing close-
quote at quote end
Pg. 260: Proper name consistency: ‘Vola’ to ‘Vala’—Nominative form corrected, see next
sentence
Pg. 260: Chapter / TOC consistency: ‘N/A’ to ‘FROM THE “VÖLUSPÁ”’—Added section
heading where indicated in TOC
Pg. 262: Chapter / TOC consistency: ‘N/A’ to ‘FROM THE “SÓLAR LJÓD”’—Added
section heading where indicated in TOC
Pg. 264: Quote placement: ‘this Sun’s Song!’ to ‘this Sun’s Song!”’—Added missing close-
quote at poem end
Pg. 265: Quote placement: ‘Odin’s High Song’ to ‘“Odin’s High Song’—Added missing open-
quote at quote beginning
Pg. 265: Chapter / TOC consistency: ‘N/A’ to ‘FROM THE POEMS RELATING TO
SIGURD & BRYNHILD.’—Added section heading where indicated in TOC
Pg. 267: Missing punctuation : ‘the man speaks his mind’ to ‘the man speaks his mind.’—
Missing period added at stanza end
Pg. 272: Missing punctuation: ‘live without crime’ to ‘live without crime.’—Missing period
added at stanza end
Pg. 274: Missing punctuation: ‘in her breast’ to ‘in her breast.’—Missing period added at
stanza end
Pg. 275: Corrected typo: ‘CXII’ to ‘XCII’
Pg. 292: Punctuation fix: ‘lava,’ to ‘lava.’—Comma for period at entry end
Pg. 310: Missing punctuation: ‘days 296’ to ‘days, 296’—Added comma before pg. number
Pg. 310: Missing punctuation: ‘26’ to ‘26.’—Added missing period at end of index subentry
Pg. 313: Punctuation fix: ‘Plain, 94.’ to ‘Plain, 94’—Extra punctuation at entry end
Pg. 313: Punctuation fix: ‘Plateau, 74.’ to ‘Plateau, 74’—Extra punctuation at entry end
Pg. 313: Punctuation fix: ‘Pits, 107.’ to ‘Pits, 107’—Extra punctuation at entry end
Pg. 314: Missing punctuation: ‘140’ to ‘140.’—Added missing period at end of index subentry
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