THE FATAL SISTERS. AN ODE (FROM THE NORSE-TONGUE) IN THE Orcades of Thormodus Torfæus; Hafniæ, 1697, Folio; and also in Bartholinus. Vitt er orpit fyrir valfalli, etc.1 [1 More correctly:-Vitt es orpit fyr val-falli.-ED.] [The Fatal Sisters, according to a note to the original MS. at Pembroke College, was written in 1761. It was first published, as here reprinted, in the edition of 1768. It is a paraphrase of an Icelandic court-poem of the 11th century, entitled DarradarLiod or the Lay of Darts. According to Vigfusson and Powell, it refers to the battle of Clontarf, fought on Good Friday, 1014, and represents the Weird Sisters as appearing before the battle, and weaving the web of the fate of Ireland and of King Brian. See Corpus Poeticum Boreale, i. 281-283, for the Icelandic text.-ED.] ADVERTISEMENT. The Author once had thoughts (in concert with a Friend) of giving the History of English Poetry: In the Introduction to it he meant to have produced some specimens of the Style that reigned in ancient times among the neighbouring nations, or those who had subdued the greater part of this Island, and were our Progenitors: the following three Imitations made a part of them. He has long since drop'd his design, especially after he heard, that it was already in the hands of a Person1 well qualified to do it justice, both by his taste, and his researches into antiquity.-[Gray.] 1 Thomas Warton, the poet-laureate.—[ED.] PREFACE In the Eleventh Century, Sigurd, Earl of the Orkney-Islands, went with a fleet of ships and a considerable body of troops into Ireland, to the assistance of Sictryg with the silken beard, who was then making war on his father-in-law Brian, king of Dublin: the Earl and all his forces were cut to pieces, and Sictryg was in danger of a total defeat; but the enemy had a greater loss by the death of Brian their king, who fell in the action. On Christmas Day (the day of the battle), a Native of Caithness in Scotland saw at a distance a number of persons on horseback riding full speed towards a hill, and seeming to enter into it. Curiosity led him to follow them, till looking through an opening in the rocks, he saw twelve gigantic figures resembling women they were all employed about a loom; and as they wove, they sung the following dreadful Song; which, when they had finished, they tore the web into twelve pieces, and (each taking her portion) galloped Six to the North, and as many to the South.--[Gray, 1768.] THE FATAL SISTERS. AN ODE. Now the storm begins to lower1 Iron-sleet of arrowy shower2 Hurtles in the darken'd air.3 Glitt❜ring lances are the loom, Where the dusky warp we strain, Orkney's woe, and Randver's bane. 1 The Valkyriur were female Divinities, servants of Odin (or Woden), in the Gothic mythology. Their name signifies Chusers of the slain. They were mounted on swift horses, with drawn swords in their hands; and in the throng of battle selected such as were destined to slaughter, and conducted them to Valkalla, the hall of Odin, or paradise of the Brave; where they attended the banquet, and served the departed Heroes with horns of mead and ale.-[Gray.] 2 "How quick they wheel'd, and, flying, behind them shot Sharp sleet of arrowy show'r." Milton's Par. Regained [iii. 324].-[Gray.] 3 The noise of battle hurtled in the air." Shakesp. Jul. Cæsar [Act. ii. Sc. 2]. [Gray.] 4 Launces.-MS. |