Balder’s Death and Funeral.—Balder’s portentous Dream, 46 according to the latter Edda The Descent of Hermod to the Shades, in quest of Balder’s 46 Soul, with the Story of the famous Horse, Sleipner Poetical Description of Hermod’s Descent into the Regions of 49 Hela The Journey to the Shades attributed to Odin himself, in the 51 poetical Edda of Saemund the Wise, while Balder was yet alive.—The Descent of Odin, and what he saw and heard in the Regions below Hoder is killed by Bo, the Son of Odin, by the Princess 55 Rinda.—Death of Odin His pompous Funeral.—His Character 56 RURIC succeeds his Father Hoder on the Throne of 57 Denmark.—The alleged Events on which the Tragedy of _Hamlet_ is founded, happened in the Reign of this Prince.—Hamlet’s Father, Horwendil, Governor of Jutland, and a famous Pirate, killed by his Uncle, who marries the Mother Hamlet feigns Madness.—Is suspected and feared by his 59 Uncle.—Kills one of the Courtiers who had been hid in order to overhear his Conversation with his Mother.—He upbraids his Mother Is sent to England with a View to his 60 Destruction.—Substitutes the Names of his two Companions for his own in the Mandate to the English King, by whom they are put to Death Marries the English King’s Daughter.—Returns to 61 Jutland.—Assumes the Fool.—Burns his Uncle’s Courtiers with the Palace, and slays the Fratricide himself He is declared his Uncle’s Successor.—His Death in 62 Battle.—SKIOLD, the Son of Odin, the first Monarch of Denmark Various Kings in the North.—That Title given to all Chiefs, 63 Pirates, and others.—The extent of the Authority of any of them uncertain Rational Conclusion drawn from the foregoing fabulous 65 Accounts ------------------------------------------------------------------------ BOOK I. HALF FABULOUS, HALF HISTORIC. CHAPTER I. DENMARK. B.C. 40—A.D. 1014. ANCIENT KINGS OF DENMARK.—THEY WERE NUMEROUS.—FRODE I.—LEGEND OF SWAFURLAMI AND THE SWORD TYRFING.—INCANTATION OF HERVOR.—THE BERSERKS.—STERKODDER, THE HERCULES OF THE NORTH—HIS ROMANTIC ADVENTURES.—WONDERFUL VOYAGE OF GORM I.—ONE EQUALLY WONDERFUL OF THORKIL.—KINGS OF DENMARK, CONTINUED: GURDIG AND GODFREY—RAGNAR LODBROG—SIGURD RING—HEMMING—GORM THE OLD—HARALD BLAATAND—SWEYN—INVASION OF ENGLAND.