Havelok The Dane by Charles Whistler (most inspirational books of all time txt) 📕

mighty warrior go down to the water in the white robe of the catechumen, and come therefrom with his face shining with a new and wondrous light.

Then he founded a monastery at Grimsby, that there the men of the marsh, who had been kind to him in the old days, might find teachers in all that was good; and there it will surely be after many a long year, until there is need for its work no more, if such a time ever comes.

So the land grows Christian fast, and good will be its folk if they follow the way of king and queen and their brothers.

Now have I finished also, and this is farewell. Look you, husbands and wives, that you may be said to be like Havelok and Goldberga; and see, brothers, that you mind the words that Grim spoke to his sons, and which they heeded so well--

"Bare is back without brother behind it." And that is a true word, though it was a heathen who spoke it.

THE END.

1 I have to thank the Mayor of Grimsby for most kindly furnishing me with an impression of this ancient seal.

2 Now Nishni-Novgorod, from time immemorial the great meetingplace of north and south, east and west.

3 The garth was the fenced and stockaded enclosure round a northern homestead.

4 The seax was the heavy, curved dagger carried by men of all ranks.

5 The northern sea god and goddess.

6 Men drowned at sea were thought to go to the halls of Pan and Aegir. Ran is represented as fishing for heroes in time of storm.

7 The Norns were the Fates of the northern mythology.

8 The "Witanagemot," the representative assembly for the kingdom, whence our Parliament sprang.

9 The greatest term of reproach for a coward.

10 The gold ring kept in the Temple of the Asir, on which all oaths must be sworn.

11 The sanctuary of the Asir. Thorsway and Withern in Lincolnshire both preserve the name in the last and first syllable respectively, both meaning "Thor's sanctuary."

12 The northern equivalent of the Saxon "Folkmote," or general assembly of the people.


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Publication Date: 09-07-2009

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