SCALD, properly SKA'LLD, is an ancient Scandinavian word which signifies poet, as skaldmar or skilldkona signifies a poetess. The name is, therefore, sometimes applied to the Scandinavian poets in general ; but it belonged more especially to that class of poets who celebrated in their songs the exploits of heroes. The Scalds were thus not merely poets, but also the historians of their nation. When Snorri Sturlusou, the last and most celebrated of the Scalds (1178-1241), states that the Scalds indeed always praised their contemporary heroes most, but never attributed to them any fictitious deed, we must infer that the creative powers of these poets had no scope, at least as far as contem poraneous history was concerned. The form and mode of diction were thus the only parts in which they displayed their poetic powers; and how they availed themselves of this right is clear from the nume rous specimens of Scaldic poetry still extant : they are full of the boldest and most extraordinary imagery, wheuce they are frequently very obscure and almost unintelligible.
Scaldic poetry is almost the only source from which we derive our knowledge of the ancient history of the north of Europe. A consider able portion of it goes back to the remotest antiquity, and contains only mythological legends ; while another portion, in the form of poetry, contains historical accounts of contemporary events. Such poetical histories, very different from the rhymed chronicles of other nations, continued to be written down to the middle of the 13th century. The Scalds were generally in the service of a chief or king, whom they accompanied on his expeditions in the capacity of historio graphers ; and it was the pride of the chieftains to obtain such Scalds as possessed most ability and learning. Their services were richly rewarded by the heroes whose praise they sang.
We still possess a very long list of Scalds, among whom are persons of the highest rank, and even kings. The most distinguished, how
ever, were those of Iceland, and it is to these that we are indebted for the collection of ancient poetical traditions known under the name of the Eddas. Those which are more historical are known as Sagas, though in many cases these are mythical or legendary, as iu the saga of Rag= Lodbrok, and the Heldensage von Voltuid ' (our Wayland Smith). Between the time when the death-song of Ragnar Lodbrok was composed (about the end of the 8th century) and that of Ssoner STURLUSON [BIOG. Div., where, by mistake, it is printed STURULSON], we have the names of upwards of two hundred Scalds, of whom the more eminent were, Egil Skallagrimson, who wrote in praise of Erik Bloclaxe, king of Norway ; Einar Skaloglam, on the deeds of Hakon Jarl ; Eynind Skaldaspillar, one of the best of the race, whose ' If arkinamal ' is also an eulogism on Hakon ; Olaf Hvitaskald, said to be the author of a part of the prom Edda;' and Sturla Thordarson, the writer of the • ltafnsmal;' but none of them possess the vigour and freshness of the earlier productions, though sufficiently curious as presenting pictures of the life and manners of the times. With the introduction of Christianity the poetic power was devoted to the cele bration of saints and miracles, and the zeal of the priests succeeded not only in suppressing the inspiration of the poets, but in destroying the existing specimens, so that only in Iceland, where the priesthood was selected from the natives, and no foreign influence interfered with the old national literature, have any relics been preserved. Compare ' Fundgruben des Nordens,' by Legis; John Olafsen, Om Nordens garnle l)igtekonat, Grundregler, Versarter, Sprog og Fdredrags mode,' Copenhagen, 1786; and the article SNORRI STURULSON, in Moo. Div.