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by a faction of which he was the avowed enemy. We owe all that is rational, certain and connected in the ancient history of these vast countries, to his writings, and especially to his “Chronology of the Northern Kings.” There runs through this. whole work so much clearness and order, such a simplicity of stile, such an air of truth, and so much good sense, as ought to rank its author among the best historians of that age of ignorance and bad taste. He was also a poet, and his verses were often the entertainment of the courts to which he was sent. It was doubtless a love for this art which suggested to him the design of giving a new Edda, more useful to the young poets than that of Sæmund. His design therefore was to select whatever was most important in the old Mythology, and to compile a short System, wherein should, notwithstanding, be found, all the Fables
opinion attribute it to Snorro, it may be sufficient to say that some writer who lived a few years later than that celebrated sage, may have added a Supplement, drawn up after the manner of Snorro, by way of continuation of that Author’s work. Besides, it is a matter of little importance which ever opinion we adopt. We are only interested in the first part of the Edda; and it is sufficient that the Author of that part, whosoever he was, hath there faithfully preserved the ancient religious traditions of the northern nations.
