Notes

1] This poem and other such translations or paraphrases were originally intended by Gray as illustrations, in a projected history of English poetry, of "the style that reigned in ancient times." The history was never written, The Fatal Sisters is a translation or paraphrase of an Icelandic court poem of the eleventh century entitled The Lay of Darts. Later translated into Norwegian and Latin, it tells of the battle of Clontarf, fought in Ireland in 1014 A.D., and represents the Sisters as appearing before the battle, and weaving the web of the fate of Ireland and of King Brian. Gray's main sources were Latin versions made by Torfaeus (Torfason), a learned Icelander (d. 1719), and Bartholinus (Bartholin), a Danish physician and scholar (d. 1690). The following outline of the story (possibly written by Gray) appeared as preface to the first edition of the poem: "In the eleventh century Sigurd, Earl of the Orkney Islands, went with a fleet of ships and a considerable body of troops into Ireland, to the assistance of Sictrygg with the silken beard, who was then making war on his father-in-law Brian, King of Dublin; the Earl and all his forces were cut to pieces, and Sictrygg was in danger of a total defeat; but the enemy had a greater loss by the death of Brian, their king, who fell in the action. On Christmas Day (the day of the battle) a native of Caithness in Scotland saw at a distance a number of persons on horseback riding full speed towards a hill, and seeming to enter into it. Curiosity led him to follow them, till looking through an opening in the rocks he saw twelve gigantic figures resembling women: they were all employed about a loom; and as they wove they sung the following dreadful song: which, when they had finished, they tore the web into twelve pieces, and (each taking her portion) galloped six to the north and as many to the south. These were the Valkyriur, female divinities, servants of Odin (or Woden) in the Gothic mythology. Their name signifies Choosers of the Slain. They were mounted on swift horses, with drawn swords in their hands; and in the throng selected such as were destined to slaughter, and conducted them to Valkalla, the hall of Odin, or paradise of the brave; where they attended the banquet, and served the departed heroes with horns of mead and ale."

3] "'How quick they wheel'd; and dying, behind them shot/Sharp sleet of arrowy showers.' Milton, Paradise Regained, (iii, 324)" (Gray).

4] "'The noise of battle hurtled in the air.' Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, (II, ii)" (Gray).

8] Orkney and Randver are figures in ancient Gothic and Icelandic sagas.

11] The weights that hold the threads stretched in the warp.

24] "The hauberk was a texture of steel ringlets, or rings interwoven, forming a coat of mail, that sat close to the body, and adapted itself to every motion" (Gray's note to The Bard, 5).

31] Gondula and Geira: Valkyries.

62] falchion: broad, curved sword.

Other poems by Thomas Gray