(2) Such bird-beaked, bird-legged figures occur on the Cross at
Papil, Burra Island, Shetland. Cf. Abbey Morne Cross, and
an Onchan Cross, Isle of Man.





THE DANISH HISTORY OF SAXO GRAMMATICUS.




PREFACE.

Forasmuch as all other nations are wont to vaunt the glory of their
achievements, and reap joy from the remembrance of their forefathers:
Absalon, Chief Pontiff of the Danes, whose zeal ever burned high for the
glorification of our land, and who would not suffer it to be
defrauded of like renown and record, cast upon me, the least of his
followers--since all the rest refused the task--the work of compiling
into a chronicle the history of Denmark, and by the authority of his
constant admonition spurred my weak faculty to enter on a labour too
heavy for its strength. For who could write a record of the deeds of
Denmark? It had but lately been admitted to the common faith: it still
languished as strange to Latin as to religion. But now that the holy
ritual brought also the command of the Latin tongue, men were as
slothful now as they were unskilled before, and their sluggishness
proved as faultful as that former neediness. Thus it came about that my
lowliness, though perceiving itself too feeble for the aforesaid burden,