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“Odin pursues his way; his horse causes the infernal caverns to resound and tremble: at length he reaches the deep abode of Death, and stops near to the eastern gate, where stands the tomb of the Prophetess.
“He sings to her verses adapted to call up
the dead. He looks towards the north; he
engraves Runic characters on her tomb; he
utters mysterious words; he demands an
answer: until the Prophetess is constrained to
arise, and thus utters the words of the dead.
“WHO is this unknown that dares
disturb my repose, and drag me from my
grave, wherein I have lien dead so long,
all covered with snow, and moistened with
the rains, &c.”
The other prodigies, which Odin in the
Runic Chapter boasts he has the power of
performing, are not of less importance.
“[1]IF I will that a man should neither
fall in battle, nor perish by the sword, I
sprinkle him over with water at the instant
of his birth.” We may here recollect
what I have said in the former Volume
concerning the baptism of the people of
the north, while they were yet Pagans[2].
