[Footnote 126: In the mythology this ship belongs to Frey, having been made for him by the dwarfs.]
[Footnote 128: The old Norse word is órlög, which is plural, (from ör = Ger. _ur_, and lög, _laws_,) and means the primal law, fate, weird, doom; the Greek +moira+. The idea of predestination was a salient feature in the Odinic religion. The word örlog, O.H.G. _urlac_, M.H.G. _urlone_, Dutch _orlog_, had special reference to a man's fate in war. Hence Orlogschiffe in German means a naval fleet. The Danish orlog means warfare at sea.]
Odin established the same law in his land that had been before in Asaland. Thus he established by law that all dead men should be burned, and their property laid with them upon the pile, and the ashes be cast into the sea or buried in the earth. Thus, said he, everyone will come to Valhal with the riches he had with him upon the pile; and he would also enjoy whatever he himself had buried in the earth. For men of consequence a mound should be raised to their memory, and for all other warriors who had been distinguished for manhood, a standing stone; which custom remained long after Odin's time. Toward winter there should be a blood-sacrifice for a good year, and in the middle of winter for a good crop; and the third sacrifice should be in summer, for victory in battle. Over all Svithjod[129] the people paid Odin a scatt, or tax,--so much on each head; but he had to defend the country from enemy or disturbance, and pay the expense of the sacrifice-feasts toward winter for a good year.
[Footnote 129: Svithjod, which here means Sweden, is derived from Odin's name, Svidr and thjod = folk, people. Svithjod thus means Odin's people, and the country takes its name from the people.]
Njord took a wife hight Skade; but she would not live with him, but married afterward Odin, and had many sons by him, of whom one was called Saming, and of this Eyvind Skaldespiller sings thus:
To Asason[130] Queen Skade bore Saming, who dyed his shield in gore,-- The giant queen of rock and snow Who loves to dwell on earth below, The iron pine-tree's daughter she, Sprung from the rocks that rib the sea, To Odin bore full many a son,-- Heroes of many a battle won.
To Saming Jarl Hakon the Great reckoned up his pedigree.[131] This Svithjod (Sweden) they call Mannheim, but the great Svithjod they call Godheim, and of Godheim great wonders and novelties were related.