( xxvi )
have held in the court of the Gods, is the first and most interesting part of the Edda. The leading tenets of the ancient ‘Gothic[1]’ Mythology are there delivered, not as maintained by their Philosophers, but (which makes an important distinction) by their Scalds or Poets. By reading it with care, we discover, through the rude and simple stile in which it is composed, more of art and method than could be expected; and such a chain and connection, that I know not whether it can be equalled by any book of Greek or Roman Mythology. It is this part only of the Edda that I have endeavoured to translate with accuracy, and to elucidate with Remarks. The Second Part is likewise in the dialogue form, but carried on between other speakers, and is only a detail of different events transacted among the Divinities. Amidst these Fables, none of which contain any important point of the ‘Gothic’ Religion though they are all drawn from that source, I have only selected such as appear to contain some ingenuity, or are expressive of manners. At the same time, I have only given a very general idea of them. Let me beg of such as regret this omission, to consider, that what I suppress, would afford them no
- ↑ Celtique. Orig.
