swept
Up wave-worn aisle in radiant march."

Valhalla (J. C. Jones).

Unloved Divinities

AEgir, as we have seen, ruled the sea with the help of the treacherous
Ran. Both of these divinities were considered cruel by the Northern
nations, who had much to suffer from the sea, which, surrounding
them on all sides, ran far into the heart of their countries through
the numerous fiords, and often swallowed the ships of their vikings,
with all their warrior crews.

Other Divinities of the Sea

Besides these principal divinities of the sea, the Northern nations
believed in mermen and mermaids, and many stories are related of
mermaids who divested themselves for a brief while of swan plumage or
seal-garments, which they left upon the beach to be found by mortals
who were thus able to compel the fair maidens to remain on land.

"She came through the waves when the fair moon shone
(Drift o' the wave and foam o' the sea);
She came where I walked on the sands alone,
With a heart as light as a heart may be."

L. E. R.

There were also malignant marine monsters known as Nicors, from whose
name has been derived the proverbial Old Nick. Many of the lesser
water divinities had fish tails; the females bore the name of Undines,
and the males of Stromkarls, Nixies, Necks, or Neckar.

"Where in the marisches boometh the bittern,
Nicker the Soul-less sits with his ghittern,
Sits inconsolable, friendless and foeless,
Wailing his destiny, Nicker the Soul-less."

From Brother Fabian's Manuscript.

In the middle ages these water spirits were believed sometimes to
leave their native streams, to appear at village dances, where they
were recognised by the wet hem of their garments. They often sat
beside the flowing brook or river, playing on a harp, or singing
alluring songs while combing out their long golden or green hair.

"The Neck here his harp in the glass castle plays,
And mermaidens comb out their green hair always,
And bleach here their shining white clothes."

Stagnelius (Keightley's tr.).

The Nixies, Undines, and Stromkarls were particularly gentle and
lovable beings, and were very anxious to obtain repeated assurances
of their ultimate salvation.

Many stories are told of priests or children meeting them playing by
a stream, and taunting them with future damnation, which threat never
failed to tur