“These are the gauntlets wherewith I wield it, And hurl it afar off; this is my girdle, Whenever I brace it strength is redoubled! “The light thou beholdest stream through the heavens, In flashes of crimson, is but my red beard, Blown by the night-wind, affrighting the nations. “Jove is my brother; mine eyes are the lightning; The wheels of my chariot roll in the thunder, The blows of my hammer ring in the earthquake! “Force rules the world still, has ruled it, shall rule it; Meekness is weakness, strength is triumphant; Over the whole earth still is Thor’s-day!” SAXON SACRIFICES. The sacrifices which were presented to the gods in the early ages were very simple, and such as a people in the first stages of civilization would offer--the first fruits of their crops, and the choicest products of the earth. They also sacrificed animals. They offered to Thor, during the feast of Jaul, fat oxen and horses; to Frigga, the largest hog which they could procure; to Odin, horses, dogs and falcons, sometimes cocks, and a fat bull. They even proceeded at times to shed human blood. The victims were usually chosen from captives in time of war, and slaves during peace. After being selected, they were treated with excessive kindness, until the time of their execution, when they were congratulated on their happy destiny in a future life. On great emergencies, however, nobles and kings were immolated on the altars of the gods. On all these occasions the priests took care, in consecrating the victim, to pronounce certain words; such as, “I devote thee to Odin;” “I send thee to Odin;” or, “I devote thee for a good harvest, for the return of a fruitful season.” The ceremony concluded with feasting, during which they drank immoderately. First, the kings and chief lords drank healths in honor of the gods; afterward, every one drank, making song or prayer to the gods who had been named. After the victim was slain, the body was burnt, or suspended in a sacred grove near the temple; part of the blood was sprinkled upon the people, part upon the sacred grove. With the same they also bedewed the images of the gods, the altars, the benches and walls of the temple, both within and without, thus completing their work. [Illustration: SACRIFICIAL RITES OF THE ANCIENT BRITISH DRUIDS.] FAIRY-LORE OF WESTERN EUROPE. The Saxons and their kindred, the Teutons and the Celts, have a great mass of fairy tales, legends, hobgoblin stories and the like. These tales enter more into the life of the people than we are accustomed to believe. While the stronger men, the soldiers of the race, told their old Viking tales or recited their Eddas’ poems, the common people told over and over again the tales of the little beings who haunted hill and meadow, field and forest, lake and river.