Stanza 1. _bonde_. This term is generally translated by the word peasant.
The word yeoman is often used as an equivalent term and sometimes the
original Scandinavian form _bonde_ is used in English. A _bonde_ was an
independent land-holder, liberty-loving, and, as a rule, an active
participant in public affairs.
3. _mjöd_, mead, a fermented drink made of water, honey and hops with a
flavoring of spices.
5. _altarrunden_. The pagan temples had no altars. The figure is borrowed
from the modern temple.
5. _offerlunden_. The Norse temples were usually surrounded by sacred
groves.
8. _hon_; antecedent is endräkt.
8. _som ringen på lansen_. This refers to the metal ring that served to
hold the point of the lance to the lance itself and thus gave it greater
strength.
11. _På pelarstoder fyra_. According to Scandinavian mythology the
heavens were supported by four dwarfs, _Austre_, East, _Västre_, West,
_Nordre_, North, and _Södre_, South.
13. _Nog svika lungans tecken i offrad falk_. This assumes that the
Norsemen read signs by observing the entrails of animals. Authorities
differ on this point. Some maintain that the poet has here merely
borrowed from classical mythology.
13. _flärd är mången runa, som skärs på balk_. Meaningless or deceptive
is many a rune that is cut in the staff. The early Northmen believed that
the will of the gods could be ascertained by writing runes on sticks of
wood which then were thrown on the ground and read by the priests.
18. _hur vis han het_ (heter). Expression is equivalent to "Hur vis han
än må heta."
18. _högbänk_. In the primitive Scandinavian homes benches were placed
along the four walls. The men had their places along the long walls
(långsidor) and the women along the end walls (kortsidor). At the center
of the two long walls were high seats of honor. The master of the house
occupied the one on the north side and the chief guest the one on the
south side.
21. _till Oden gå_, to die.
22. _Odens fåglar_. Oden is represented as having two birds, Hugin
(thought) and Munin (memory or, according to some authorities, the
longing that impels Oden to activity), which are dispatched to the earth
at every day-break and in the evening return to Oden and whisper into his
ears the news of the day's happenings.
26. _ty vädret rår för årsväxt och vind för lycka_. Equivalent to saying
that man is not himself the absolute master of his own destiny. The
forces of nature can thwart all his plans.
28. Throughout this canto Tegnér draws freely from Havamal, the "Song of
Oden" or the "Song of the Most High," which is replete with precepts on
morality and wisdom. In this stanza this ancient Scandinavian song is
followed very closely. Note the frequent sarcastic references to woman in
the Saga.
32. _norna_. The norns, three in number, weave the fate of men and gods.
Urda was the norn of the past, Verdandi of the present, and Skulda of the
future.
32. _hon stötte på sköld_. The meaning is: Wherever fate threatened with
some danger it was met by courage and vigilance.
33. _de asasöner_. See note, canto I: 35.
33. _Nordlands kungar_, the kings of the Northland.
38. _bautasten_. A monument erected in honor of rulers or heroes.
39. _Frej_, the god of sunshine and warm summer showers, hence also the
god of harvests.