The essence of the Scandinavian, as indeed of all Pagan Mythologies, we
found to be recognition of the divineness of Nature; sincere communion of
man with the mysterious invisible Powers visibly seen at work in the world
round him. This, I should say, is more sincerely done in the Scandinavian
than in any Mythology I know. Sincerity is the great characteristic of it.
Superior sincerity (far superior) consoles us for the total want of old
Grecian grace. Sincerity, I think, is better than grace. I feel that
these old Northmen wore looking into Nature with open eye and soul: most
earnest, honest; childlike, and yet manlike; with a great-hearted
simplicity and depth and freshness, in a true, loving, admiring, unfearing
way. A right valiant, true old race of men. Such recognition of Nature
one finds to be the chief element of Paganism; recognition of Man, and his
Moral Duty, though this too is not wanting, comes to be the chief element
only in purer forms of religion. Here, indeed, is a great distinction and
epoch in Human Beliefs; a great landmark in the religious development of
Mankind. Man first puts himself in relation with Nature and her Powers,
wonders and worships over those; not till a later epoch does he discern
that all Power is Moral, that the grand point is the distinction for him of
Good and Evil, of _Thou shalt_ and _Thou shalt not_.

With regard to all these fabulous delineations in the _Edda_, I will
remark, moreover, as indeed was already hinted, that most probably they
must have been of much newer date; most probably, even from the first, were
comparatively idle for the old Norsemen, and as it were a kind of Poetic
sport. Allegory and Poetic Delineation, as I said above, cannot be
religious Faith; the Faith itself must first be there, then Allegory enough
will gather round it, as the fit body round its soul. The Norse Faith, I
can well suppose, like other Faiths, was most active while it lay mainly in
the silent state, and had not yet much to say about itself, still less to
sing.