The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-02-05
THE SWORD OF TYR.
ANoAgHERN MYTH THAT IS STRANGE.
~ ~ MIXED WITH HISTORY.


The Besutiful weapon Made By . Clever
Dwarf Possessed Magical Powers-Ths
Decree OF the Norns and How IL wss
Tunned In Several Instances.
Our Morse ancestors had many things to
contend with besides the aggressiveness OF
their warlike neighbors. The extreme cold
weather, the long periods Of darkness,
lasting half the year, terrible storms and
poverty and hunger were formidable foes,
and they tended to develop in the north
men both combativeness and superstition.
It Is not strange, then, that their gods
were supposed to be warlike, or that they
should think that frost giants and evil
spirits were abroad in that frigid, storm
swept land
Odin, the father of all the gods, while
he possessed many attributes and was q
patron of song and story, was particularly
distinguished for his martial spirit and
possessed a marvellous spear, gungnir,
which was endowed with miraculous quail
ities and which he always carried with
him. This wonderful spear was the handi.
work Of a skillful smith, a dwarf of tho
name of Dvalinz.
Among Odin's sons was one that had in.
herited his fathers warlike spirit and
whose name was Tyr, god of war and
courage. One of Tyr's most valuable pos
sessions was sacred sword made by the
clever dwarf who had fashioned his fa-
ther's spear. The sword was hung in the
temple, where the first rays of the morn
ing sun caressed its shining blade 1t was
carefully guarded night and day, but in
spite OF all precautions 1t mysteriously
disappeared.
There was CONSERVATION in Asagrd when
the loss was discovered, and immediate
search was made for the missing weapon.
A druidess, who possessed the gift of div
ination, was consulted, and from her 1t
was learned that the Norns had decreed
that whoever came into possession of the
sword should conquer the world, but
would eventually come to his death by IL.
The druidess, however, refused to disclose
the hiding place of the sword
In the ancient city of Cologne, which
was founded by the Romans, the prefect,
or governor of the province, sat one day
feasting upon the choicest viands and
drinking of the richest wines of his PROV
dizing proclivitics, and it was surprising
TO those who knew him that he should be
selected for the honors that came to him.
As he sat at his table surrounded lsy tho
convivial spirits of the city servant came
to him saying that stranger wished tc
see him upon matter that would admit
of no delay.
Reluctantly he left of his feasting to re-
ceivo the visitor, tall, dignified stranger,
who presented him with the sword of Tyr,
remarking that it would bring him grea.
honor and renown. He then saluted vi
tellius as emperor. Immediately those
present took up the cry, Hail to the EN-
pcrorl" and Vitcllius was elected emperor
of Rome.
He at once proceeded toward Rome, the
capital OF the empire, but pursued his
journey very leisurely, paying much more
attention TO feasting than to marching
One day, while in a state OF intOxication,
he left his sword, the sacred sword of Tyr
unguarded in one of the outer apartments
of his tent, where it was observed by a
German soldier, who appropriated it, leav-
ing in its place rusty weapon that he
had been carrying
Vitellius was SO absorbed with his feast
ing that he did not miss the sword until
after his arrival at Rome Learning that
Vespasian was marching toward the city
to dispute his claim to the throne, he
sought the sword, thinking to resist his
rival, but 1t had disappeared. Believing
this to be an omen of defeat, he secreted
himself in dark recess OF his palace,
where he was found by the angry people
who had so recently declared him emperor
and was ignominiously dragged forth and
hurried away to the foot OF the Capitoline
hill. The German soldier who had stolen
the sacred sword happened to arrive at the
same moment as the disgraced monarch,
and, drawing the sword, he cut off the
emperor's head with n single stroke full.
filing the decree of the Norns that the
sword should slay its possessor.
The German soldier kept the sword
many years, fighting in many different
regiments and in various countries and
was always victorious He became famous
on account of his skill and power as a
warrior and was greatly honored. At last
old age compelled him to give up his mar
tial pursuits, and he retired tn private life,
still retaining in his possession the won.
derful sword.
Fearful lest II might he taken from him,
he buried il upon the banks Of the river
DduuDc anu DullI nlfnselI IL IuOuCSt uWcil-
ing over the spot where the sword lay hid.
den. At last he died, and though his
friends begged him To disclose the hiding
place Of the sword he refused, saying that,
though its possessor might he able to con.
quer the world, he could not escape the
curse of death.
The sword, however, was not destined
TO remain always hidden. Many years aft
er the death of the German soldier the
Hun leader Attila, with an army of in.
vaders, passed along the Danube. AS they
approached the spot where had formerly
stood the Germans hut Attila noticed a
peasant ruefully examining his cows foot
and paused to inquire what was the mat.
ter. The peasant told him that the COW
had cut her foot upon something that was
hidden in the tall grass.
They began search, and soon found
the point Of a sword sticking out of the
ground. The sword was unearthcd. and
when Attila saw the fine workmanship he
knew that he had found the lost sword of
Tyr Ii had not lost it's lustcr or its won.
dcrful virtues by its long imprisonment in