The distinctive marks of the married woman were, the veiled head, to which the 'síðar slœðor' of the Rigs Lay may have reference; the long gown, 'kuen-uádir of kne falla,' in Thrymsk. 65; and the keys, id. 64 (which are so frequently found in English interments), are also mentioned in the Rigs Lay.
        To set up housekeeping, used of the married couple was 'gœra bú,' Rig. 88; 'bioggo or unðo,' 82; and the husband is 'húsgumi,' Rig. 103; 'bóndi,' 91, 'búandi'; the wife 'hús-cona,' Rig. 105, 'kuán,' Gudr. kv. 35.
        Polygamy is once mentioned in connection with some other archaic traditions.
                þo ero hagligar Hiöruarðz conor. Helg. II. 13.
        Polyandry is looked on as disgraceful. When, in the Lacuna Lay, Sigfred seems to propose it as the solution of a difficulty, Brunhild refuses with scorn to have two husbands alive at once. And in Loka-senna, a change of polyandry is brought as an insult, even though it was of archaic type, a woman living with three brothers; the tradition that it had once existed being shown by the fact that it is there attributed to Wodin and his brothers.
                hefir æ uer-giörn uesið:
                es þá W .... oc W ...... létz þú W ..... s brœðr
                báða í baðm um tecit. Lokas. 105-7. cor.
        The disposal of a woman by will is apparently possible to some extent.
                þa nam at mæla mál ið efsta
                ..... K ...... áðr hann sylti:
                mic bað hann gœða golli rauðo
                oc suðr gefa syni Grimhildar. Oddr. 54-8.
        How Divorce was effected we know not, but the woman, it seems, could for certain grounds leave her husband; while the husband could put away the wife at will, her dowry following her --- at least, where she was not to blame. The term for the woman was 'ganga frá,' to walk away; for man 'hafna,' to put away.
                at frá conungom cuánir gengi. L. B. L. 58. cp. Laxd. Saga, p. 66.
                fyrr scalec míno fiörui láta
                an þeirar meyjar meiðmom týna. L. B. L. 61-2.
                hafnaði Holm-Rygjom oc Hœrða meyjom. Horn-clofi, 89, and Cormac.
        The marriageable age for women was twelve.
                uas ec uetra tólf, ef þic uita lystir,
                suá at ec œngom gram eiða seldac. L. B. L. 311-2.
        The concubine, whom a man might have in addition to his wife or as a substitute for a wife, is 'friðla,' Hym. 114: a paramour, gallant, friðill, 33, cor. Children born out of wedlock, and acknowledged by the father, have a defined position, though they are not equal to the children by a wife; but this seems to be owing mostly to the mothers of such children being captives or slaves. The position of such an one is noticed in the Tale of Gudrun, where the captive princess speaks of her position in her captor's household, hated by the mistress, and loved by the master.
        The bastard is 'hrísi,' Konungatal, 165, 'horn-ungr,' Hlod. 53: the outlaw's son is 'uarg-dropi,' W. Pl. 308, and has no rights. The classic passages are
                Her es Hlœðr cominn Heidrecs arf-þegi
                broðir þinn inn bed-scami. Hlod. 17-18.
                þetta es þiggjauda þýjar barni:
                þá hornungr á haugi sat
                es öðlingr arfi scipti. Hlod. 51-4.
        Adultery was called 'hórdom'; the paramour is 'hórr.'
                annars kuán teygðo þer aldregi
                        eyra-rúno at. Less. Lodd. 14, 15. (11)
                huerr hefir þínn hórr uesið. Lokas. 123.
                ......... hordómr micill. Vsp. 109.
        The offence of Incest was 'sifja-slit.' W. Pl. 211-3. cor.
                mono systrungar sifjom spilla. Vsp. 108. (12)

1. Land: 'óðal,' 'bú,' 'lænd' (plural form in this sense).
   
2. Chattels: 'arfr,' which, like an equivalent, originally meant cattle, as the names, 'arfi, arfuni,' for oxen amongs other things, seem to show.
   
3. Slaves: 'ambáttir'; 'þýjar,' 'man'; bondmaids, 'þrælar,' 'uíl-megir.'
   

Notes: