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due, and who though they had all a certain power, were nevertheless obliged to obey Odin the most ancient of the gods, and the great principle of all things. Such was Niord[1], the Neptune of the northern nations, who reigned over the sea and winds. This was one of those genii, whom the Celts placed in the elements. The extent of his empire rendered him very respectable, and we find in the North to this day traces of the veneration which was there paid him. The Edda exhorts men to worship him with great devotion for fear he should do them mischief: a motive like that which caused the Romans to erect temples to the Fever: for fear is the most superstitious of all the passions[2].
Balder was another son of Odin, wife, eloquent, and endowed with such great majesty, that his very glances were bright and shining. Tyr, who must be distinguished from Thor, was also a warrior deity, and the protector of champions and
