[Footnote 54: Slaughtering and carrying off the cattle on the
sea-shore.]
[Footnote 55: The Valkyriur.]
[Footnote 56: Dark words of deadly import.]
[Footnote 57: The superstition commemorated In this strophe is, no
doubt, the origin of some very beautiful ballads in the later
literature of Scandinavia and Germany referring to this superstition:
"When thou, my dear, art cheerful,
And easy in thy mind,
The coffin where I slumber
Is all with roses lined.
But oft as thou'rt in sorrow,
And bow'd with grief so sore,
Is all the while my coffin
Brim full of blood and gore."
]
[Footnote 58: Probably house of draffs; place of swine, swill, lees.]