Popular Tales from Norse Mythology Free

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A country's mythology and folklore provides a window into its culture, society and history. That's especially true in Norway, which has a rich Norse mythology along with plenty of folk tales. Let's dive in! Most people have at least a Popular Tales from Norse Mythology knowledge of Norse mythology, Popular Tales from Norse Mythology if only knowing the names of Thor, Odin and Loki! But Norwegian mythology and folklore is about far more than the Norse Gods. There's many rural tales of trolls and their antics. And of course, appearances of the aurora borealis conjured up tales for hundreds of years before science provided an explanation. However, let's start with the big one! Before the Vikings converted to Christianitythere was a vibrant belief system that persists to this day in popular culture. It was simply the set of myths and stories that gave meaning to people's lives. The stories didn't hide the struggles of everyday life. Unlike some religions of today, the belief system of the Vikings didn't centre around salvation. Popular Tales from Norse Mythology, it marvelled at the way things were, Popular Tales from Norse Mythology a heavy focus on nature. One of the reasons Norse mythology is Popular Tales from Norse Mythology an integral part of modern culture in the English-speaking world could be that little was known about it outside the Nordic region until the 19th century. To us, it's relatively recent! Much of what we know about the stories comes not from the time of the Vikings at all. It's the Icelandic historian Snorri Sturluson who wrote down many of the stories in the decades around the year Previously, the stories were passed down orally. Many of the Norse stories involve one or more creatures. The world of fantasy literature is packed with mythical creatures including elves, dwarfs and giants. Read more : Creatures in Norse Mythology. Odin used them to keep an eye on his people and gain wisdom. Some consider the ravens as a metaphor for Odin casting out his thoughts. He was known to fear that one day they might not return. My personal favourite? The kraken! The giant Popular Tales from Norse Mythology creature is said to measure more than a mile long. Lying in wait in the deep waters, the Kraken rises up only when disturbed by boats. Sailors often headed straight for it, believing it to be land. Only when they were pulled down to their doom did they realise their mistake. Visit Norway and it's hard to miss the influence of Popular Tales from Norse Mythology on the tourist trail. Maybe you've even driven Trollstigen or hiked to the Troll's Tongue. But how much do you know about the mythology behind Norwegian trolls? In short, these mythical creatures fall into two categories. There's trolls of the mountain and forest, and trolls of the caves. Think of the reputation of a large neanderthal and you're half way there! These creatures are closely connected with nature. As such, they are able to uproot trees to use as clubs, and also control the weather. Unlike their forest-dwelling siblings, the trolls of the caves live out of sight. Generally, Popular Tales from Norse Mythology are depicted as shorter than humans, with stubby arms and legs. They're not generally friendly to humans. Like the other kind of trolls, they also use their connection with nature. However, more often than not it's to deceive humans. The book has since been translated many times and is also available in English as Norwegian Folk Tales. There are 60 tales in Popular Tales from Norse Mythology original collection. That's far too many to list here, of course! Instead, let's take a look at a couple in detail. One of the best known is Gudbrand i Lia. Known in English as Gudbrand on the Hillsidethe tale has been adapted many times, including by Hans Christian Andersen no less! The tale is about Gudbrand and his wife, who try Popular Tales from Norse Mythology sell one of their cows. He trades it for a horse, which he then trades for a pig, then a goat, then a sheep. This goes on until he ends up with a rooster, but realising he is starving, trades it for food. Left with nothing, he tells the tale to his neighbour, and places a bet that his wife will be fine with the situation because they get on so well. Read more : A Brief History of Norway. Gudbrand explains the situation to his wife, who sees the positive side in all his decisions. Gudbrand wins the bet. However, he ends the story with a bag of rotten apples instead of nothing, Popular Tales from Norse Mythology his neighbour is replaced by two travelling Englishmen. Known in Norwegian as De tolv villenderthe Twelve Wild Ducks tells the story of a Queen with twelve sons, but no daughters. The sons turned to wild ducks and flew away. The girl became sad as everyone else had brothers and sisters, so her mother told her of her missing brothers. She set out to find them. After three years, she did just that. However, the oldest brother saw her as the cause of their problems. The younger brother defended her. Eventually they decided she could stay but set her to work making clothes. Popular Tales from Norse Mythology, her brothers flew off as wild ducks every day but always returned as men. One day, a King round her and brought her to his castle to marry her and start a family. The King's stepmother objected and stole their babies, pinning the blame on the girl and eventually persuading the King to kill her. His stepmother said the girl should be torn apart by twelve horses for her crimes. The King eventually discovered the truth, and gave that punishment to his stepmother. Another popular tale tells the story of Askeladden. He was the youngest son of a farmer in heavy debt. His two older sons went into the forest looking for wood to repay debts. But they were scared away by the trolls and returned with nothing. Askeladden then tried his luck, taking along a piece of cheese in case he got hungry. Read more : The Mythology of Norwegian Trolls. Askeladden encountered the angry troll and used the cheese to pretend he was clutching a rock. Squeezing it until whey came out, Askeladden was able to fool the troll into thinking he had superior strength. The troll offered to help the boy cut wood, after which he invited the boy for a meal. As the troll tended the fire, he asked Askeladden to fetch water in two large buckets. The boy realised he couldn't carry them so fobbed off the troll claiming they were too small. He said instead that he would bring the whole spring. The troll instead chose to get the water while the boy tended the fire. Once the porridge was ready, they ate and ate. The boy placed his knapsack under his shirt and slashed a hole in it. While the troll thought he was eating a lot, the boy Popular Tales from Norse Mythology actually filling the knapsack and letting it leak out. That way he could eat as much as he wanted! The troll they are stupid, remember did so and died. Askeladden returned to the farm with the troll's silver and gold so the farmer could pay off his debts. Immerse yourself in Norwegian folklore at EventyrskogenNorway's fairytale forest. Here you can follow a one-hour walk through the forest with creative installations of trolls and other creatures to keep you company. It's especially suitable for children. There are trolls and googly eyes everywhere, and tons of references to Norwegian tales. The hike is a beautiful one, and the creativity shown on the sides of the trail is pretty incredible; I'm glad none of it has been stolen or vandalized, or ruined by Popular Tales from Norse Mythology rain. This is a great, decorative place to go running, and an even greater place to take your kids on a walk. There are more myths and legends surrounding the aurora borealis than the number of times I've seen them! Some of the stories still persist today in the culture of the Sami people of northern Scandinavia. If you've ever seen the northern lights, it's not hard to understand why. Before we understood the science, these lights must have seemed almost like magic. Popular Tales from Norse Mythology

He abolished all cruel laws, introducing in their stead just and humane Popular Tales from Norse Mythology. It was said that he had come over the sea on a shield from unknown regions, having been sent by his father for the welfare of his people. By means of a bloody duel Popular Tales from Norse Mythology a rival, he had won his beautiful and clever wife, Anhild. She gave birth to a son, who received the name of Gram. He resembled his father in mind and body, but was of a very passionate nature, and therefore constantly engaged in war and strife. He was accompanied on all his expeditions by his faithful comrade, Bessi, who protected him in battle with shield and sword. For this reason, Gram gave him Hroar's fair daughter in marriage; whilst he himself sued for the hand of Gro, a daughter of Siglrygg, King of Sweden, celebrated for her beauty and courage. But he received a scornful refusal, and was informed that she was already promised to a more desirable suitor. Gram immediately started with an army and a fleet in order to avenge the insult; and having heard that his enemy could only be wounded with gold, he took with him a club encased in that metal, instead of a sword. Landing on the Swedish coast, he clothed himself in goat's skins, and in this disguise wandered for many weeks, a terror to all whom he encountered. It chanced that the beautiful Gro was walking one day in the same direction. She did not fly at such an unusual sight, for she soon perceived that the seeming monster was filled with admiration at the sight of her, and stood like one enchanted. Besides, he spoke so kindly and pleasantly that she willingly answered him; and then, throwing off his disguise, he revealed to her astonished gaze a hero and a king. Each felt and inspired a mutual passion, and then and there they exchanged vows of eternal love. Gram now requested the consent of the king, who, being averse to his proposal, marched against him with a large army. But Gram's invincible valour spread confusion among the enemy, who fled in all directions, whilst both Gro's suitor and the king were numbered among the slain. Hereupon, Gram conquered the whole of Sweden, and on the day of his marriage he placed the royal crown on the head of his fair young bride. Gram's next care was to have his fleet splendidly decorated, and all the vessels painted, so that the dragon's heads in the bowsprit could be seen from a very great distance. A specially large and curiously shapen vessel was built for himself and his queen. It resembled the form of a dragon; in front, the head was ornamented with a golden crown, silver teeth, and a blood-red Popular Tales from Norse Mythology the helm at the back represented the tail of the dragon, the sails the wings of the monster, and the rudders his feet. When all was completed Gram set sail, and steered under a favourable wind towards Hledra. The crew were stationed on the deck in gay apparel and glistening armour. The shield of peace, composed of pure silver, sparkled from the mast of the Orlog ship, and the king himself, with the queen at his side, sat on the throne overlooking the whole procession. It was thus that Gram entered the harbour of the capital. All the nobles present joyfully assented to this, except Earl Ingo, who envied the young king his fame and power. Then Gram arose in arms at the head of his faithful followers. Victory attended him everywhere; and Ingo, after having been defeated in a great battle, fled to Swipdager, King of Norway. Gram now returned to Hledra, generously rewarded his warriors, and freed the people from their taxes for several years. At the Popular Tales from Norse Mythology time he was heavily afflicted by the loss of those who were nearest and dearest to him on earth. First, his father died; then Gro also breathed her last, after having presented him with a son, and when his faithful comrade, Bessi, was also gathered to his forefathers, Gram was left alone in the midst of his worldly prosperity. The news that Swipdager, at the instigation of Ingo, was preparing to invade Denmark, first aroused him from the melancholy into which he had fallen. He gathered all his brave warriors together, and was preparing to march against the enemy, when a Finlander came to him with the news that Humbel, the ruler of Finland, had a wonderfully beautiful daughter, whom he kept in confinement, because it had been prophesied that her marriage would cause some great misfortune to fall upon him. The old man showed him the picture of the maiden in a magic mirror, and the king was so enraptured with her loveliness, that he forgot his former queen, and the war by which he was threatened, and straightway sailed with his fleet to Finland. The king of that country not being prepared to oppose him, received the royal hero at his court, and told his daughter Signe to fill him a goblet of mead. Gram on seeing the maiden, thought that in reality she was far more lovely than in the magic mirror, and when Popular Tales from Norse Mythology sang a song to the sweet tones of the harp, praising the hero who had slain many a giant with his club, and had successfully fought for the crown of Swithiod, he fell so deeply in love with her that he then and there sought her hand in marriage. Humbel, not daring to refuse him, granted his request, whereupon Gram set sail, in order to terminate his quarrel with the Northmen. But, just as he was on the point of opening the battle, the old Finlander again appeared before him, holding the magic mirror in his hand. When Gram looked into it, he saw a sight that filled him with rage. The court of Finland rose before his view, and there he saw a princely hero in glistening armour, and in his hand Humbel was placing that of his daughter, although evidently much against her will. He rushed like one distraught to the shore, embarked on one of his vessels, and sailed for Finland. Wind and weather were Popular Tales from Norse Mythology, the ship bounded swiftly over the Popular Tales from Norse Mythology waves, and they soon reached their place of destination. The king wrapt himself in a large cloak to hide his costly apparel, drew his hat low over his Popular Tales from Norse Mythology, and thus approached the palace, whence sounds of feasting and of revelry proceeded. He passed himself off as a man skilled in medicine, who was capable of healing all wounds, and of curing pains of every kind. On hearing this the king was pleased, and Popular Tales from Norse Mythology him a seat among the men in waiting. Beer and mead were drunk to such an excess that the minds of the guests succumbed to their potent influence. Then Gram took a stringed instrument Popular Tales from Norse Mythology one of the singers, and as he sang the praises of manly courage and womanly faith, Signe, who sat next to her bridegroom, raised her soft eyes to his Popular Tales from Norse Mythology. She recognised him,—she rose. Then the king threw off his disguise, rushed among the Popular Tales from Norse Mythology guests, drew his sword and killed the duke and all who opposed him, and finally carried the maiden away to his vessel in safety. Lightly their ship bounded over the waves, as if drawn by invisible hands, and the sea-nymphs laughed, and the nixies sang marriage-songs, and the wedding was soon after celebrated in the castle at Hledra. The king was beside himself with joy in the possession of his fair bride, who won all hearts by her beauty and wisdom. Moreover, they were now no longer threatened by war, for the Northmen had retreated, without venturing to engage in battle. Years went by, rich in love and happiness, till suddenly the report spread that Swipdager had once more risen in arms, and was expecting the forces of the Saxons, who were coming to his aid. The energies of the king were thus again awakened by this approaching danger; he summoned his soldiers to battle, and the warriors of Denmark and Swithiod, eager for fame and plunder, readily enlisted under the banner of their great ruler. The hostile factions soon found themselves face to face. When the first rays of the sun shone through the morning mist, horns were sounded Popular Tales from Norse Mythology the attack. Then the war-cry arose; arrows and javelins whistled through the air, swords and lances clashed against helmets and shields. Gram Popular Tales from Norse Mythology his warriors broke wildly through the ranks of their adversaries, filling all hearts with dismay. The hostile forces retreated before the superior strength of the foe, until at last all had fled except the rear-guard, commanded by Swipdager. Just at this moment, white sails appeared in the distance, coming nearer and nearer, till the vessels reached the shore. Many armed warriors disembarked, arranged themselves in ranks, and marched against the enemy, who, confident that the victory was won, were scattered hither and thither, pursuing the flying Northmen. When Gram saw the Saxons, he knew well the extent of the danger which threatened him; and determined either to make himself master of the occasion by killing Swipdager, or else, if the fates so willed it, to lose his life upon the Popular Tales from Norse Mythology of battle. When the combat was at its fiercest, Popular Tales from Norse Mythology bold Saxon suddenly forced his way through the ranks. He clove in two the shield of the Danish king, who thereupon grasped his sword to aim a desperate blow at his adversary, but it unfortunately caught in the boughs of a neighbouring oak, and before he had time to disentangle it, he was felled to the ground by Swipdager's sword. Swipdager was victorious; many of his enemies lay dead on the battle-field, and the rest he had put to flight. Denmark was tributary to him, and he now made preparations for fresh conquests. He marched into Hledra, and gave orders that the two sons of the slain king should be brought to him, so as to Popular Tales from Norse Mythology them, when older, from avenging the death of their father. But nowhere could they be found; they seemed to have disappeared from off the face of the earth, for since Gram's death no one had seen them. Swipdager now marched against Swithiod, in order that that land also should be subject to him. As the Swedish warriors were headed by no very able man, it took him but a very short time to subdue them. In consequence of his many conquests, Swipdager was now looked upon as the greatest monarch of his time, and ambassadors were sent from distant lands to do homage to the great ruler of the North. He had been successful in everything, except in his search for Gram's sons, to whom he was desirous of offering compensation for the loss they had sustained at his hands. For Swipdager was in reality a good and kind man, and it was only through the cunning of Ingo that he had been induced to take part in any violent proceedings; after the death of the latter his better feelings prevailed, and he longed for reconciliation. Meanwhile, the princes, Guthorm and Hadding, had been in safe keeping. A mighty warrior named Wagnoft had taken the children during the battle from the arms of their dying mother Signe, and had fled with them into an almost inaccessible wilderness in Sweden. He thought it better that they should be brought up among bears and wolves than that they should fall victims to the fury of the enemy. They grew into fine strong youths, who learnt under his tuition to bend the bow, to wield the sword, and to slay the wild beasts of the forest. As they grew older, their expeditions took them into more inhabited parts, and people began to suspect who the brothers were. When the rumour reached Swipdager's ears, he immediately sought out the strangers in their retreat, and spoke to them kind words of reconciliation. He pointed out to them the poverty of their present mode of life, and promised them not only abundance of wealth, but also Popular Tales from Norse Mythology he would give them to hold, as his vassals, their father's kingdom of Denmark. Guthorm, who was of a kind and friendly disposition, laid his hand in that of the king, and gladly acceded to his proposals; but Popular Tales from Norse Mythology answered never a word. The image of his dead father seemed to rise before his view, while at his side stood Wagnoft, like a spirit of vengeance, knowing of no atonement. Swipdager, despising the anger of his obstinate opponents, left them to their fate, and returned to the castle, accompanied by Guthorm. Hadding and Wagnoft now felt that their hiding-place was no longer secure, and they therefore wandered over hill and vale, till they reached the sea-shore. Some pirates, who happened to be sailing by, took them on board, and on hearing that Hadding was of royal descent, chose him as their king, and under his guidance gained much fame and plunder. One of their most important battles was fought in Kurland, against Lokir, the king of that country. Hadding pressed through the thick of the battle, in order to Popular Tales from Norse Mythology face to face with the king, but he soon found himself in a most perilous situation, surrounded on all sides by the enemy, separated from his friends and deprived of all weapons of defence. Death seemed inevitable, when suddenly an old man, blind of one eye, and whom no sword or spear could harm, approached. He strode over the battle-field, towering above all other men, as if he were a god come to rule the earth. Hadding felt himself enveloped in the old man's mantle, raised in the air, and carried away with lightning speed. When at last he was set down on firm ground, he found himself on Popular Tales from Norse Mythology lonely coast, but the old Popular Tales from Norse Mythology had disappeared as soon as the cloak had been withdrawn from him. Nevertheless, when Hadding once more ventured into the interior of the land, he again fell into Lokir's power, who gave orders that he should be thrown before a wild bear. But, fortunately, he had learnt in his youth the nature of wild animals, and lay on the ground stiff and motionless as a corpse. The bear turned him from side to side with his paws, when suddenly Hadding sprang to his feet, threw himself on the monster, and strangled him. The young hero, whose great strength had awakened much admiration, was once more conducted to his prison; but he sang the guards to sleep, and escaped from the dungeon where he was confined into a fresh green wood. There the little birds welcomed him with sweet songs, and inspired him with hope and happiness. After many years Hadding again met with his former companions. As the latter was a very fat man, and weighed no less than three hundredweight, he had to give up all the gold in his kingdom. Hadding now crossed over to Sweden with a formidable army, in order to avenge himself on Swipdager, and thereby fulfil the oath which he had sworn as a boy. For by day and night the spirit of his father was ever Popular Tales from Norse Mythology him, reminding him of the filial duty he was called upon to perform. Top 5 Norse Mythology Tales

And now, in the second place, for that particular branch of the Aryan race, in which this peculiar development of the common tradition has arisen, which we are to consider as "Norse Popular Tales. Whatever disputes may have existed as to the mythology of other branches of the Teutonic subdivision of the Aryan race—whatever discussions may have arisen as to the position of this or that divinity among the Franks, the Anglo- Saxons, or the Goths-about the Norsemen there can be no dispute or doubt. From a variety of circumstances, but two before all the rest—the one their settlement in Iceland, which preserved their language and its literary treasures incorrupt; the other their late conversion. In the two Eddas, therefore, in the early Sagas, in Saxo's stilted Latin, which barely conceals the popular songs and legends from which the historian drew his materials, we are enabled to form a perfect conception of the creed of the heathen Norsemen. The tertiary system of Polytheism is the soil out of which the mythology of the Eddas sprang, though through it each of the older formations crops out in huge masses which admit of no mistake as to its origin. Nor was this struggle between two rival races or powers confined to the gods in Asgard alone. Just as their ancient foes were the Giants of Frost and Snow, so between the race of men and the race of Trolls was there a perpetual feud. As the gods were men magnified and exaggerated, so were the Trolls diminished Frost Giants; far superior to man in strength and stature but inferior to man in wit and invention. Like the Frost Giants, they inhabit the rough and rugged places of the earth, and, historically speaking in all probability represent the old aboriginal races who retired into the mountainous fastnesses of the land, and whose strength was exaggerated, because the intercourse between the races was small. In almost every respect they stand in the same relations to men Popular Tales from Norse Mythology the Frost Giants stand to the Gods. There is nothing perhaps, more characteristic of a true, as compared with a false religion, than the restlessness of the one when brought face to face with the quiet dignity and majesty of the other. Under the Christian dispensation, our blessed Lord, his awful sacrifice once performed, "ascended up on high," having "led captivity captive," and expects the hour that shall make his foes "his footstool"; but false gods, Jupiter, Popular Tales from Norse Mythology, Odin, Thor, must constantly keep themselves, as it were, before the eyes of men, lest they should lose respect. Such gods being invariably what the philosophers call subjectivethat is to say, having no existence except in the minds of Popular Tales from Norse Mythology who believe in them, having been created by man in his own image, with his own desires and passions, stand in constant need of being re-created. They change as the habits and temper of the race which adores them alter; they are ever bound to do something fresh, lest man should forget them, and new divinities usurp their place. Hence came endless avatars in Hindoo mythology, reproducing all the dreamy monstrosities of that passive Indian mind. Hence came Jove's adventures, tinged with all the lust and guile which the wickedness of the natural man planted on a hot-bed of iniquity is capable of conceiving. Hence bloody Moloch, and the foul abominations of Chemosh and Milcom. Hence, too, Odin's countless adventures, his journeys into all parts of the world, his constant trials Popular Tales from Norse Mythology wit and strength, with his ancient foes the Frost Giants, his hairbreadth escapes. Hence Thor's Popular Tales from Norse Mythology and toils, his passages beyond the sea, girt with his strength-belt, wearing Popular Tales from Norse Mythology iron gloves, and grasping his hammer, which split the skulls of so many of the Giant's kith and kin. Such were the gods in whom the Norseman believed,—exaggerations of himself, of all his good and all his bad qualities. Their might and their adventures, their domestic quarrels and certain doom, were sung in venerable lays, now collected in what we call the Elder, or Poetic Edda; simple majestic songs, whose mellow accents go straight to the heart through the ear, and whose simple severity never suffers us to mistake their meaning. Between these, love and hate; all that can foster passion or beget revenge. Ill-assorted marriages; the right Popular Tales from Norse Mythology to the wrong woman, and the wrong man to the right woman; envyings, jealousies. Such was the theme of the wondrous Volsung Tale, the far older, simpler, and grander original of that Nibelungen Need of the thirteenth century, a tale which begins with the slaughter of Fafnir by Sigurd, and ends with Hermanaric, "that fierce faith-breaker," as the Anglo-Saxon minstrel calls him, when he is describing, in rapid touches, the mythic glories of the Teutonic race. This was the story of the Volsungs. They traced themselves back, like all heroes, to Odin, the great father of gods and men. From him sprung Sigi, from him Rerir, from him Volsung, ripped from his mother's womb after a six years bearing, to become the Eponymus of that famous race. In the centre of his hall grew an oak, the tall trunk of which passed through the roof, and its boughs spread far and wide in upper air. Into that hall, on a high feast day, when Signy, Volsung's daughter, was to be given away to Siggeir, King of Gothland, strode an old one-eyed guest. His feet were bare, his hose were of knitted linen, he wore a great striped cloak, and a broad flapping hat. In his hand he bore a sword, which, at one stroke, he drove up to the hilt in the oak trunk. I give it him, and none shall say he ever bore a better blade. Many tried, for that sword was plainly a thing of price, but none. This was that Popular Tales from Norse Mythology blade Gramof which we shall hear again. Sigmund bore it in battle against his brother-in-law, who quarrelled with him about this very sword, when Volsung fell, and Sigmund and his Popular Tales from Norse Mythology brothers were taken and bound. All perished but Sigmund, who was saved by his sister Signy, and bidden in a wood till he could revenge his father and brethren. Sigmund then regains his father's kingdom, and in extreme old age dies in battle against the sons of King Hunding. Just as he was about to turn the fight, a warrior of more than mortal might, a one-eyed man in a blue cloak, with a flapping hat, rose up against him spear in hand. Popular Tales from Norse Mythology that outstretched spear Sigmund smites with his trusty sword. It snaps in twain. Then he knows that his luck is gone; he sees in his foe Odin the giver of the sword, sinks down on the gory battle-field, and dies in the arms of Hjordis, his young wife, refusing all leechcraft, and bowing his head to Odin's will. By the fortune of war, Hjordis, bearing a babe under her girdle, came into the hands of King Hialprek of Denmark; there she bore a son to Sigmund, Sigurd, the darling of Teutonic song and story. Regin, the king's smith, was his foster-father, and as the boy grew up the fairest and stoutest of all the Volsungs, Regin, who was of the dwarf race, urged him. For Fafnir, Regin, and Otter had been brothers, sons of Reidmar. There, on the bank under the force, they saw an otter with a salmon in its mouth, which it ate greedily with its eyes shut. Loki took a stone, threw it, and killed the beast, and boasted how he had got both fish and flesh at one throw. To fetch the gold Odin sent Loki down to the abodes of the Black Elves; there in a stream he caught Andvari the Popular Tales from Norse Mythology, and made him give up all the gold which he had hoarded up in the stony rock. In vain the Dwarf begged and prayed that he might keep one ring, for it was the Popular Tales from Norse Mythology of all his wealth, and ring after ring dropped from it. Then the Dwarf laid a curse on the ring, and said it should be every man's bane who owned it. So Popular Tales from Norse Mythology filled the skin with gold as full as he could, and set it up on end, and Odin poured gold over it, and covered it up. But when Reidmar looked at it be saw still one grey hair, and bade. Then Odin drew forth the ring and laid it over the grey hair. It soon began to work. First, Regin asked for some of the gold, but not a penny would Reidmar give. So the two brothers laid their heads together and slew their sire. Then Regin begged Fafnir to share the gold with him. But, "no," Fafnir was stronger, and said he should keep it all himself, and Regin had best be off, unless he wished to fare the same way as Reidmar. So Regin had to fly, but Fafnir took a dragon's shape; "and there," said Regin, "he lies on the 'Glistening Heath,' coiled round his store of gold and precious things, and that's why I wish you to kill him. Two are made, but both snap asunder at the first stroke. Then he went to his mother and begged the broken bits of Gramand out of them Regin forged a new blade, that clove Popular Tales from Norse Mythology anvil in the smithy, and Popular Tales from Norse Mythology a lock of wool borne down upon it by a running stream. King Hialprek lends him force; by Odin's guidance he finds them out, routs their army, and slays all those brothers. On his return, his foster-father still eggs him on to slay the Dragon, and thus to shew that there was still a Volsung left. So, armed with Gram, and mounted on Gran, his good steed, whom Odin had taught him how to choose, Sigurd rode to the "Glistening Heath,". Then Regin came up, and the old feeling of vengeance for a brother's blood grew strong, and as an atonement, Sigurd was to roast Fafnir's heart, and carry it to Regin, who swilled his full of the Dragon's blood, and lay down to sleep. But as Sigurd roasted the heart, and wondered if it would soon be done, he tried it with his finger to see if it were soft. The hot roast burned his finger, and he put it into his mouth, and tasted the life-blood of the Dragon. Then in a moment he understood the song of birds, and beard how the swallows over his head said Popular Tales from Norse Mythology to the other, "There thou sittest, Sigurd, roasting Fafnir's heart. Eat it thyself, and become the wisest of Popular Tales from Norse Mythology. And now Sigurd was the most famous of men. All the songs and stories of the North make him the darling of that age. They dwell on Popular Tales from Norse Mythology soft hair, which fell in great locks of golden brown, on his bushy beard of auburn hue, his straight features, his ruddy cheeks, his broad brow, his bright Popular Tales from Norse Mythology piercing eye, of which few dared to meet the gaze, his taper limbs and well-knit joints, his broad shoulders, and towering Popular Tales from Norse Mythology. His great pleasure. The bravest man alive, and one that never knew fear. On and on he rode, till on a lone fell he saw a flickering flame, and when he reached it, there it flamed and blazed all round a house. No horse but Gran could ride that flame; no man alive but Sigurd sit him while be leaped through it. Inside the house lay a fair maiden, armed from head to foot, in a deep sleep. Brynhildr, Atli's sister, was her name, a Valkyrie, a corse-chooser; but out of Popular Tales from Norse Mythology she had given the victory to the wrong side, and Odin in his wrath had thrust the thorn of sleep into her cloak, and laid her under a curse to slumber there till a man bold enough to ride through that flame came to set her free, and win her for his bride. So then she woke up, and taught him all runes and wisdom, and they swore to love each other with a mighty oath, and then Sigurd left her and rode on. Here at first he was full of Brynhildr, and all for going back to fetch his lovely bride from the lone fell. But Grimhildr was given to dark arts; she longed for the brave Volsung for her own daughter, she brewed him the philtre of forgetfulness, he drained it off, forgot Brynhildr, swore a brother's friendship with Gunnar and Hogni, and wedded the fair Gudrun. But now Giuki wanted a wife for Gunnar, and so off set the brothers and their bosom friend to woo, but whom should they choose but Brynhildr, Atli's sister, Popular Tales from Norse Mythology sat there still upon the fell, waiting for the man who was. She knew but one could do it, and waited for that one to come back. So she had given out whoever could ride that flame should have her to wife. So when Gunnar and Hogni reached it, Gunnar rode at it, but his horse, good though it was, swerved from the fierce flame. Then by Grimhildr's magic arts, Sigurd and Gunnar changed shapes and arms, and Sigurd leapt up on Gran's back, and the good steed bore him bravely through the flame. So Brynhildr the proud maiden was won and forced to yield. That evening was their wedding; but when they lay down to rest, Sigurd unsheathed his keen sword Gramand laid it naked between them. Next morning when he arose, he took the ring which Andvari had laid under the curse, and which was Popular Tales from Norse Mythology Fafnir's treasures, and gave it to Brynhildr as a "morning gift," and she gave him another ring as a pledge. Then Sigurd rode back to his companions, and took his own shape again, and then Gunnar went and claimed Brynhildr, and carried her home as his bride. But no sooner was Gunnar wedded than Sigurd's Popular Tales from Norse Mythology were opened, the power of the philtre passed away, he remembered all that had passed, and the oath Popular Tales from Norse Mythology had sworn to Brynhildr. All this came back upon him when it was too late, but he was wise and said nothing about it. Well, so things went on, till one day Brynhildr and Gudrun went down to the river to wash their hair. Then Brynhildr waded out into the stream as far as she could, and said she wouldn't have on her head the water that streamed from Gudrun's; for hers was the braver husband. So Gudrun waded out after her, and said the water ought. I trow he went to bed with thee that night, who gave me this gold ring. And as for that ring yonder which you have on your finger, and which you got as your 'morning gift,' its name is Andvari's spoil, Popular Tales from Norse Mythology that I don't think Gunnar sought on the Glistening Popular Tales from Norse Mythology. Then she egged on Gunnar to revenge her wrong. At last the brothers yield to her entreaties, but they were sworn Popular Tales from Norse Mythology to Sigurd, and to break that oath by deed was a thing unheard of. Still they broke it in spirit; by charms and prayers they set on Guttorm their half-brother, and so at dead of night, while Gudrun held the bravest man alive fast locked in her white arms, the Popular Tales from Norse Mythology stole to the bedside and drove a sword through the hero.