d heat, till in the
spring the bright orb overcomes the powers of darkness and tempest, and
scatters his gold over the face of the earth." This myth appears in a
great variety of forms among the Scandinavian and German nations. In
the Eddas, Sigurd (Siegfried) is represented as roasting the heart of
Fafnir, and touching it to his lips. We have ventured to present a less
revolting version.--See Baring-Gould's Curious Myths of the Middle Ages.

"The slaying of the dragon Fafnir reminds us of Python, whom Apollo
overcame; and, as Python guarded the Delphic Oracle, the dying Fafnir
prophesies."--Jacob Grimm.

[EN#12.]

In order to harmonize subsequent passages in the story as related in
different versions, we here represent Siegfried as turning his back
upon the Glittering Heath, and leaving the Hoard to some other hero or
discoverer. In the Younger Edda, Siegfried (Sigurd) rides onward until
he comes to Fafnir's bed, from which "he took out all the gold, packed
it in two bags, and laid it on Grane's (Greyfell's) back, then got on
himself and rode away."

[EN#13]--BRAGI. This episode of Bragi and his vessel is no part of the
original story of Siegfried, but is here introduced in order to acquaint
you with some of the older myths of our ancestors. Bragi was the
impersonation of music and eloquence, and here represents the music of
Nature,--the glad songs and sounds of the spring-time. "Above any other
god," says Grimm, "one would like to see a more general veneration of
Bragi revived, in whom was vested the gift of poetry and eloquence....
He appears to have stood in pretty close relation to AEgir."

[EN#14]--AEgir.

"AEgir was the god presiding over the stormy sea. He entertains the
gods every harvest, and brews ale for them. The name still survives
in provincial English for the sea-wave on rivers."--Anderson's Norse
Mythology. See Carlyle's Heroes and Hero-Worship.

[EN#15]--The Valkyries.

See Grimm's Teutonic Mythology, p. 417, and Anderson's Norse Mythology,
p. 265.

[EN#16]--Brunhild.

In the Elder Edda, Brunhild's inaccessible hall stands on a mountain,
where she was doomed to sleep under her shield until Sigurd should
release her. In the Nibelungen Lied, she is represented as ruling
in Isenland, an island far over the sea. The well-known story of the
Sleeping Beauty is derived from this myth.

[EN#17]--Nibelungen Land.

"Vain were it to inquire where that Nibelungen Land specia