Chapters 44-95 - Germanic Mythology

Mæli can take either a substantive or adjective as prefix. Examples: Guðmæli,
fullmæli. Ná from nár can be used as a prefix both to a noun and to an adjective.
Examples: nágrindr, nábleikr.
Námæli should accordingly be an oration, a declaration, a proclamation, in regard
to nár. From the context, we find that námæli is something dangerous, something to look
out for. Gunnar is dead and is gone to the lower world, which contains not only happiness
but also terrors; but his aged father, who in another strophe of the poem gives us to
understand that he had adhered faithfully to the religious doctrines of his fathers, is
convinced that his son has avoided the dangers implied in námæli, since he had no sinful
deed to blame himself for. In the following strophe (21), he expressed his confidence that
the deceased had been adopted by Gauta spjalli, a friend of Odin in the lower world, and
had landed in the realm of happiness. (In regard to Gauta spjalli, see further on. The
expression is applicable both to Mimir and Hoenir.)
Námæli must, therefore, mean a declaration (1) that is dangerous; (2) which does
not affect a person who has lived a blameless life; (3) which refers to the dead and affects
those who have not been vamma varir, on the look-out against blameworthy and criminal
deeds.
The passage furnishes additional evidence that the dead in the lower world make
their appearance in order to be judged, and it enriches our knowledge of the mythological
eschatology with a technical term (námæli) for that judgment which sends sinners to
travel through the Na-gates to Niflhel. The opposite of námæli is orðs tírr, that judgment
which gives the dead fair renown, and both kinds of judgments are embraced in the
phrase dómur um dauðan. Námæli is a proclamation for náir, just as nágrindur are gates,
and nástrandir are strands for náir.
71.
THE DOOM OF THE DEAD (continued). THE LOOKS OF THE THINGSTEAD.
THE DUTY OF TAKING CARE OF THE ASHES OF THE DEAD. THE HAMINGJA
AT THE JUDGEMENT. SINS OF WEAKNESS. SINS UNTO DEATH.
Those hosts which are conducted by their psychopomps to the Thing near Urd's
fountain proceed noiselessly. It is a silent journey. The bridge over Gjöll scarcely
resounds under the feet of the death-horses and of the dead (Gylfaginning 49). The
tongues of the shades are sealed (see No. 70).
This thingstead has, like all others, had its judgment-seats. Here are seats (in
Völuspá called rökstólar) for the holy powers acting as judges. There is also a rostrum
(þularstóli á, Urðar brunni að - Hávamál 111) and benches or chairs for the dead
(compare the phrase falla á helpalla - Sörla þáttur, Chapter 4, and the sitting of the dead
one, á norna stóli - Sólarljóð 51). Silent they must receive their doom unless they possess
mál-runes (see No. 70).
The dead should come well clad and ornamented. Warriors bring their weapons of
attack and defense. The women and children bring ornaments that they were fond of in