PREFACE.
derived from the Latin hymns, invented by the monks in the fourth and fifth centuries: but from the original of Egill’s Ode, it will be seen that the ancient Gothic poets occasionally used rhime with all the variety and exactness of our nicest moderns, long before their conversion to christianity; and therefore were not likely to adopt it from the monks; a race of men, whom they were either unacquainted with, or held in derision [1].
Upon the whole, it is hoped that the few pages assigned to the Islandic originals will not be thought an useless incumbrance by any readers; but it is presumed will be peculiarly acceptable to such curious persons, as study the ancient languages of the north. To these gentlemen this small publication is inscribed:
- ↑ Vide infra pag. 32.
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