f some folk-tale; and the
story of the leaden casket containing the soul of Nornagest which was
sunk in the lake is an interesting instance of the external soul. I
have no doubt that it is a reference to some folk-tale, but have not
yet been able to identify it. Among many primitive peoples, who can
hardly grasp abstract ideas, the life or soul of a man is regarded
as a concrete thing which can be laid aside, and which, so long as
it remains unharmed, will secure for him immortality. There is, for
example, a Hindoo story of a princess whose soul was believed to be in
her necklace.--One day an astrologer said to her parents: "This is
no common child; the necklace of gold about her neck contains your
daughter's soul; let it therefore be guarded with the utmost care; for
if it were taken off and worn by another person, she would die[1]."

Many similar folk-tales are known from Icelandic and Danish sources as
well as from many parts of Europe and Asia.

The air to which the following ballad is sung will be found on pp.
117, 118 of Thuren's _Folkesangen paa Faeroerne_.

[Footnote 1: For many interesting parallels, cf. Frazer,
_Golden Bough_ (London, 1911-1915), "Balder the Beautiful,"
ch. II.]

_Nornagests Rima_

Taken down by A. P. BERGGEEN.

[Illustration: Music]

[Lyric:
Eitt er froethieth um | Nor-na gest, | Lat taer ra-etha |
raeth-gereth i | van-da. | Ti likum goethum | gekk hann naest. |
Ox-ar tolv voru | leid-dir a torg, | og so fram a |
fri-ethu borg. | Gra-ni bar | gul-lieth af |hei-ethi. ||]

THE FAROESE BALLAD OF NORNAGEST

1. A Ballad there is of Nornagest,
Refrain:--_Be ready with a plan in trouble!_--
In manly virtues among the best.
Refrain:--_Every lad should do so!_

2. Twelve oxen were led to the market square,
And onward thence to a castle fair.

3. The King he thought to hew them to earth,
And with courage and joy did he sally forth.

4. The King he struck such a mighty blow
That the blood from the wounds did swiftly flow.

5. All the oxen fell down dead,
And the axe sank deep that he brandished.

6. All men praised his princely blow:
The blood from the wounds did swiftly flow.

7. A man there came with crutches twain:
With these he steadied himself amain.

8. The King to the man full mildly spoke:--
"O why, and O why, dost thou praise not my stroke?"

9. "O Sire, thou