Note 65 — HERVA, [64] AT THE TOMB OF ARGANTYR. A RUNIC DIALOGUE.
Reading edition
l. 17. Semblance cold—According to the Gothic Mythology, the spirits of Heroes slept in their bodies, which did not decay. Putrefaction, therefore, was the heaviest curse that could be denounced.
“Never shall enquirer come “To break my iron-sleep again, “Till Lok has burst his ten-fold chain.” Gray’s Descent of Odin, from the Norse Poetry.
“Argantyr.—Daughter Hervor, full of spells to raise the dead, why dost thou call so?—wilt thou run on to thine own mischief?—Thou art mad, and out of thy senses, who art desperately resolved to awaken dead men!”—
“I was not buried either by father or other friends—Two which lived after me, got Turfing, one of whom is now possessor thereof.”
“Hervor.—Thou dost not tell the truth—so let Odin hide thee in the tomb, as thou hast got Turfing by thee. Art thou unwilling, Argantyr, to give an inheritance to thy only child?”
“Argantyr.—I will tell thee, Hervor, what is to come to pass. This Turfing will, if thou dost believe me, destroy almost all thy offspring.—Thou shalt have a son, and many think that he will be called Hydrec by the people.”
“Hervor.—I do, by enchantments, make that the dead shall never know peace, or rest, unless thou deliver up to me Turfing.”
“Argantyr.—Young maid, I say thou art of manlike courage, who dost roam, about by night to tombs, with spear engraven by magical spells, with helmet and coat of mail, before the door of our hall.”
“Hervor.—I took thee for a brave man before I found out your halls. Give me out of the tomb the workmanship of the Dwarfs, which hates all coats of mail.—It is not good for thee to hide it.”
“Argantyr.—The death of Hialmor lies beneath my shoulders.—It is all wrapt up in fire. I know no maid of any country that dares take this Sword in hand.”
“Hervor.—I shall take and keep it in my hand, if I may obtain it.—I do not think the fires will burn that play about the sight of deceased men.”
“Argantyr.—O, conceited Hervor, thou art mad! Rather than thou shouldest in an instant fall into the fire, I will give thee the Sword, O, young maid, and not hide it from thee.”
“Hervor.—Thou dost well, offspring of heroes, that thou dost give me the Sword out of the tomb.—I am now better pleased, O Prince, to have it, than if I had got all Norway.”