a system of the ancient Icelandic or Runic mythology, containing many curious particulars of the theology, philosophy, and manners of the northern nations of Europe; or of the Scandinavians who had migrated from Asia, and from whom our Saxon ancestors were descended. Mr Mallet apprehends that it was originally compiled, soon after the Pagan religion was abolished, as a course of poetical lectures, for the use of such young Icelanders as devoted themselves to the profession of scald or poet. It consists of two principal parts; the first containing a brief system of mythology, properly called the Edda; and the second being a kind of art of poetry, and called Scalda or poetics. The most ancient Edda was compiled by Sæmund Sigfusson, surnamed the Learned, who was born in Iceland about the year 1057. This was abridged, and rendered more easy and intelligible, about one hundred and twenty years afterwards, by Snorri Sturluson, who was supreme judge of Iceland in the years 1215 and 1222; and it was published in the form of a dialogue. The latter added also the second part in the form of a dialogue, being a detail of different events transacted amongst the divinities. The only three pieces which are known to remain of the more ancient Edda of Sæmund are, the Volupsa, the Havamal, and the Runic chapter. The Volupsa, or prophecy of Vala, or Fola, appears to be the text on which the Edda is the comment. It contains, in two or three hundred lines, the whole system of mythology disclosed in the Edda; and may be compared to the Sibylline verses, on account of its laconic yet bold style, and its imagery and obscurity. It is professedly a revelation of the decrees of the father of nature, and the actions and operations of the gods. It describes the chaos, the formation of the world with its various inhabitants, the functions of the gods, their most signal adventures, their quarrels with Loke their great adversary, and the vengeance that ensued; and it concludes with a long description of the final state of the universe, its dissolution and conflagration, the battle of the inferior deities and the evil beings, the renovation of the world, the happy lot of the good, and the punishment of the wicked. The Havamal, or Sublime Discourse, is attributed to the god Odin, or Woden, who is supposed to have given these precepts of wisdom to mankind; it is comprised in about a hundred and twenty stanzas, and resembles the book of Proverbs. Mr Mallet has given several extracts of this treatise on the Scandinavian ethics. The Runic chapter