The Religion of the Northmen
Returning to Denmark, we will read a list of the publications of the "Royal Society of Northern Antiquitaries," which are a noble monument of the learning and industry of Professor Rafn.
Fornmanna Sögur, or the Historical Sagas recording events out of Iceland, in the original Icelandic text; complete in 12 vols. 8vo., with 6 Facsimiles.
Scripta Historica Islandorum, &c., the same in Latin by Sveinbiorn Egilsson. 12 vols. 8vo.
Oldnordiske Sagaer, the same in Modern Danish, 12 vols. 8vo.
Fornaldar Sögur Norđrlanda, a complete collection of the mythico-historical Sagas recording events assignable to the period anterior to the colonization of Iceland, in the Old-Norse text, edited by C. C. Rafn. 3 vols. 8vo.
Nordiske Fortids Sagaer, the same translated in Modern Danish, by C. C. Rafn. 3 vols. 8vo.
Krakumal, sive Epicedium Ragnaris Lodbroci Regis Danić; Ode on the Heroic Deeds and Death of the Danish King Rangnar Lóđbrók in England, in the original text, and in Modern Danish, Latin, and French, with Critical and Explanatory Notes, edited by C. C. Rafn. 8vo.
Fćreyinga Saga, or the history of the inhabitants of the Faroe Islands in Icelandic, the Faroe dialect, and Danish, with map, edited by C. C. Rafn. 8vo.
The Same in German, by G. Monike.
Islendinga Sögur, or the Historical Sagas recording events in Iceland itself. 2 vols. 8vo., with map and 10 Facsimiles.
Historiske Fortćllinger om Islćndernes Fćrd; the Icelandic Sagas translated into Danish by N. M. Petersen. 4 vols. 8vo.
Grönland's Historiske Mindesmćrker; or Greenland's Historical Monuments, a Collection of the Sagas relating to the Discovery, Settlement, and History of Greenland, in the original text, with a Danish translation , introduction, and explanatory remarks, complete in 3 vols., with 12 plates.
Antiquitates Americanć sive Scriptores Septentrionales Rerum Ante-Columbianarum in America, opera et studio Caroli C. Rafn, with 14 plates and 4 maps. Imp. 4to. pp. 526.
Tidsskrift for Nordisk Oldkyndighed, Historical and Philological Transactions. 2 vols. 1 plate.
Nordisk Tidsskrift for Oldkyndighed, Archćological Transactions. 3 vols. 9 plates.
Annaler for Nordisk Oldkyndighed, Annals of Northern Archćology, 1836-53, with numerous plates.
Annaler for Nordisk Oldkyndighed og Historie, Annals of Northern Archćology and History 1846 to date, with plates.
Antiquarisk Tidsskrift, Archćological Review, 1845 to date, with plates.
Mémoires de la Société Royale du Nord, 1836-47. 3 vols. 30 plates.
Besides "A Guide to Northern Archćology" in English and frequent bulletins in Danish, German, French, and English.
Among the numerous works in Germany, the well known works of Grimm are first in importance. A translation of the Eddas by Karl Simrock, which was published in 1851, is the most faithful and spirited one that has been made. In its form, in preserving the alliterative rhymes, and in simplicity and spirit, it is the best that has appeared to any language. In connection with this subject is a small handbook of German Mythology (36) by J. W. Wolf, and a Journal devoted to German Mythology and the History of Culture, (37) has just been established by him in Gottingen, which has the names of Grimm, Zingerle, Plönnies, &c. among its contributors.
England and France have also produced some works in this department of Northern Antiquities, but they are wanting in that depth and originality which characterize the productions of the German and Scandinavian writers.
A small work entitled "Chants Populaires du Nord," (Paris 1842,) contains a translation of some of the Eddaic lays, in connection with a few of the popular legends of other countries of the North. An excellent work bearing on this subject is "A Sketch of the Literature of the North in the Middle Ages," by Eichhoff. (38)
In England we have Cottle's translation of the Edda, (39) a work of the last century, which entirely fails in representing the spirit of the Eddaic poetry, and Percy's "Mallet's Introduction," which, with additional chapters by Blackwell, and Sir Walter Scott's Abstract of the Eyrbyggja Saga, has been published in Bohn's "Antiquarian Library," and thus placed within the reach of every one. The "Supplementary Chapters" contain much valuable information respecting the literature and the manners and customs of the Old-Icelanders, drawn from Danish authorities, but the author continually betrays a disposition to frivolity, as though it was a subject now worthy of his serious investigation, but one which you found him engaged in by way of pastime. "A Manual of Scandinavian Mythology" by Grenville Pigott (London 1839), makes a favorable presentation of the subject, in which, however, the author has not drawn very deeply from original sources. Howitt's "Literature and Romance of Scandinavia" (London 1852) is a pleasant indicator to the general literature of the North, in which the Old-Icelandic is represented by numerous extracts from the Eddas and some of the Sagas.
In this brief outline much has been necessarily omitted, in order to bring within our limits a general view of the Restoration and Publication of Icelandic literature; but enough has been said, we hope, to enkindle a desire in many to extned their researches into this field, which offers a bountiful harvest to the Philologist and the Antiquarian, and is full of interest to the enlightened lover of literature.
ENDNOTES:
36. "Die Deutsche Götterlehre." Göttingen, 1852. [Back]
37. "Zeitschrift für Deutsche Mythologie und Sittengeschiehte," edited by J. W. Wolf. Göttingen. [Back]
38. "Tableau de la Litterature du Nord au Moyen Age, en Allemagne et en Angleterre, en Scandinavie et en Sclavonie," par F. G. Eichhoff. Paris, 1853. [Back]
39. "The Edda of Sćmund," &c., by A. S. Cottle. London, 1797.[Back]
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