31 MARCH 1838, Page 17

SCANDINAVIA, ANCIENT. AND MODERN.

Tux Scandinavians have a twofold interest. Their manners and superstitions were curious ; their expeditions of piracy, often end- ing in permanent conquest, startea from the shores of Norway and the mouth of the Baltic, swept over Britain, Germany, and France, and reached through the Mediterranean to Sicily ; their rovers discovered Iceland and Greenland, and it is questionable whether they did not forestall COLUMBUS; whilst their literature, though not of much use for historical purposes, is valuable for its pictures of barbaric tile, anti curious as furnishing the most various- and numerous productions extant of a rude and unlettered people. In later ages, less universal interest attaches to their history ; but the romantic adventures and success of GUSTAVUS Vast, the great exploits and heroic death of Gustavus ADOLPH us, and the meteor-like career of CHARLES the Twelfth, are episodes as splendid as any to be found in the annals of the middle or later ages till the commencement of the French Revolution.

But, to the people of free and civilized Europe, the second point of interest is greater than the first ; for the ancient Northmen are in part their ancestors, and some of their most distinctive institu- tions are traceable to the customs of the Scandinavians. These, indeed, were modified, changed, or almost overlaid, according to the spirit of the people, the course of events and circumstances, or the extent to which the Danes or Northmen overspread the respective countries. But it is sufficient to glance at the past his- tory and present state of Germany, France, and England, in com- parison with that of Italy or the Peninsula, to be satisfied of the influence which these remarkable barbarians exercised upon con- stitutional freedom; and hence—it may be said without hyper- bole—upon the future destinies of the world.

Besides the subject, the work before us has another advantage, in its supplying a literary want; for, strange to say, there is not, in the English language, any entire, much less a popular and suc- cinct view of ancient Scandinavia, or of the history of Denmatk, Norway, and Sweden. And, thought Scandinavia Ancient and Modern does not lay claim to any remarkable historic genius, either in a philosophical exposition of latent causes or a pic- ture-like narrative of events, yet it presents a complete account of its subject, well divided as regards arrangement, and very read- able in respect to composition. Some typographical artifice of heading the histories of the three kingdoms, where they separate, would be an improvement ; even if it were not advisable to treat the history of Sweden and Denmark in distinct chapters, when they became, after the accession of GUSTAVUS VASA, entirely distinct kingdoms.

Except the light thrown upon the manners of the Northern nations by the pen of l'Ac trus, and the episode of the Cimbric war,

the history of the fabulous and heroic ages of Scandinavia is de- rived directly or indirectly from the lays of their bards ; many of whose later productions are preserved, and have been edited by Continental scholars. This account of their treatment by the Northinen would go some way to negative the proverbial poverty of poets, only that they seem to have been regarded not as mere bards, but as councillors and courtiers.

The skalds, as already noticed, were the chief depositories of Scandinavian lore; for, like the Greek rhapsodists or the Celtic bards, they were at once the poets and historians of their age. They became the companions and chroniclers of kings, who liberally rewarded their services, and sometimes entered the lists with them as competitors in their own art. A catalogue containing the names of two hundred and thirty of those most distinguished in the three Northern kingdoms, from the ninth century to the reign of Valdemar the Second, is still extant, among whom are several crowned heads and illustrious warriors. Rag- nar Lodbrok, his queen Aslauga, and his adventurous sons, belonged to that honoured profession. Such was the estimation in which this order of men were held, that they often married the daughters of princes ; and an instance occurs of one who was raised to the vacant throne of Jutland on the death of Frode the Third.

A sacred character was attached to their vocation. They performed the office of ambassadors between hostile tribes, and were frequently intrusted with the most important state commission,. They accompanied their princes to battle, and sung the achievements in which they had themselves arted the part of heroes. The Saga of Olaf Tryggvason :elates how that monarch placed his skalds around him on the day of combat, that they might not only hear of his exploits from the report of others, but behold them with their own eyes. At the fatal fight of Bravalla, Harald Hildetand was attended by a train of iminetrels, at the head of whom was Starkadder the Old, equally tenowned as a poet and a warrior. Egill, son of Skallagrim, an Icelandic military adventurer, who entered the service of King Athelstane, redeemed his life from Erix Eh- &ext., who had taken hint prisoner, by composing a lay of twenty strophes in praise of that tyrant.

Nowhere did they find a more liberal and hospitable reception than at the court of the Norwegian monarch. Harald Ilaarfager made them his compa• nioos and principal counsellors in all matters of state. He assigned them the highest seats at the royal board, and gave them precedence over the rest of his courtiers. St. Olaf, so remarkable for his zeal against the Pagan idolatries, deprived them of their wonted honours ; but such was the force of custom and prejudice, that he continued to give them much of his confidence, and fre- quently employed them on the most important missions. In the battle which terminated his life and reign, he was attended by three of the most celebrated Icelandic skalds, who occupied a conspicuous post in the midst of his bravest champions. Two of them fell dead by the side of their master ; the survivor, Thormod, though mortally wounded by an arrow, would not desert the saintly king, but continued until he expired to chant his praises in a lay still extant, and which was Rung by the whole army. Harald Hardrade was a critic in the skaldic art; and Canute the Great not only practised it himself, but was a munificent patron of its votaries. Source Sturleson relates of Thoraren, that, having composed a lay in his praise, be was impatient for an opportunity to recite it in his presence, assuring hint it was " very short," and would not consume much time. The wrath of the king, who was just rising from table and thronged with suitors, thus rebuked the unseasonable petulance of tbe bard : " Are you not ashamed to do what none but yourself has dared—to write a short poem hpon me? Unless by the hour of dinner to-morrow you produce a drapa above thirty strophes long, on the sante subject, your life shall pay the forfeit." The mandate was severe, but the skald was endowed with an Inventive genius, and before the stipul Red time had arrived, he produced the exacted verses, and was rewarded with fifty marks of silver.

The laws' of a people, after all, are perhaps the best describers of manners. Fictions may exaggerate, and must heighten indi- vidual cases ; authenticated facts may be singular examples ; but the laws of an uncultivated people, to whom legislation is a trouble, are only passed, we may be sure, to meet evils constantly occur- ring. And a pretty picture of social quarrels and their results is .given in this quotation.

The scale for personal injuries, inside and outside, and from head to foot, with the " were," or tine attached to each, may be seen in the laws of Ethel. • bert and Canute, which were imported front the North, reenacted by Edward the Confessor, and adopted by William the Conqueror. For pulling the hair

the penalty was 30 sceattas; fracturing the skull, I0s. ; cutting off an ear, 121. ; the nose, 9s. ; loss of an eye, 50s. ; each of the front teeth, 68.; for every grinder, Is. ; and if the speech were affected, 12s. ; a thumb, 90s. ; the forefinger, Bs. ; every finger-nail, Is. ; a broken rib, 3s. ; the toes were rated . at half the corresponding fingers; and is stab was valued according to its depth. For the murder of a freeman, the first instalment of 20s. was to be paid at the open grave, or down upon the coffin, and the residue within forty 4 days.

It should be observed, that history, in the sense of a narrative of events and an account of laws or customs, is not the sole mat- ter of this work. Under the title of' a view of Scandinavia, is given a brief notice of the fancies and knowledge of the ancients respecting the North of Europe, and a present description of those regions. There are also chapters devoted to the arts, literature, and learning of the Scandinavians, at the leading epochs of their annals ; as well as an account of their commerce, and of the na- tural history of their country.