Yet, as I wander thro' this dark sojourn, I have no thoughts that breathe, no words that burn. But hark, what voice in heav'nly accents clear Bursts from yon cloud, that glows with temp'rate fire? "Cease, cease, fond youth, to drop the fruitless tear, "Mute tho' the raptures of his full-strung lyre: "E'en his own warblings, lessen'd on his ear, "Lost in seraphic harmony expire." ODE I*. Page 121. The Twilight of the Gods, in the Northern Mythology, is that Period when Lok, the Evil Being, shall break his Confinement; the Human Race, the Stars, and the Sun, shall disappear, the Earth sink in the Seas, and Fire consume the Skies : even Odin himself, and all his kindred Gods, shall perish †, The foregoing Ode contains a Description of the Events which, according to this dark Mythology, will precede the Destruction of the World. *See BARTHOLINUS de Causi contemptae mortis apud Danos. Lib. 2. C. 14. For a farther Account of this wild and curious System of Mythology, see Mr. Mallet's Introduction à l'Histoire de Dannemarc, or rather the Translation of it, by the present Bishop of DROMORE, entitled, Northern Antiquities, in two Volumes 8vo. EDDA. 121. Ymir hath his course begun,] From Ymir were descended all the families of the giants. ib. Now, in many a glist'ring wreath, Above, around, and underneath, The Serpent dread of dateless birth, In the Edda, a serpent is supposed to surround the earth. 122. While the Vessel's floating pride Stems duration's rounding tide.] In the poetry of the North, the earth is stiled, "The "vessel that floats on ages." I have made use of this paraphrase for the Nagel fara, or ship of the gods here mentioned. ib. sort of Genii. an evil race,] The Muspelli, a 123. From the regions of the South Surtur bursts with fiery mouth;] The Prince of the Genii of Fire. ib. Harbingers of Hela's reign:] The Goddess of Death. 124. Mark the murd'rous monster stalk,] The wolf Fenris, by whom Odin was slain. 125. Garmar foams with rage and shame:] Immediately previous to the destruction of the world, the Edda supposes that the Stygian Dog, named Garmar, will be unbound. It has been thought proper to subjoin to each the literal Translations of the originals of this and the two next Odes, as the Books whence they are taken are scarce. Page 126 For the ground work of this, as well as of the preceding Ode, see BARTHOLINUS de Causis Lib. 2. c. 14. contemptae mortis apud Danos. ib. "Pour the sparkling beverage high; Alluding to the preceding Ode. Fenris, by whom Odin was slain. ib. "Monarchs of the bleak domain.] Amplum ventosum mundum. BARTHOL. 128. -the dome of gold,] Gimli, the Palace of the Blest; called otherwise Vin golf, the Palace of Friendship. 128. "In Nastronda's northern plain The place of punishment for the wicked. NOVI MUNDI EXORTUS. BARTHOLINUS UT SUP. Ser hon uppkoma, &c. VIDET illa emergere Alterâ vice Terram e mari Valdé viridem; Conveniunt Dii In Ide campc; Et de dirutis habitaculis Antiquorum sermonum. Domum stare videt Sole clariorem, Auro tectam Tum prodit potens ille, "Advenit suscus "Nidhoggus mortuorum. "Nunc illa terra absorbitur." Domum stare videt A sole remotam In Nastronda; Fores boream spectant; Distillant veneni guttæ Intro per fenestras: Nostin' adhuc quid rei geritur? Hæc contexta est domus |
