HANDBOUND

AT THE

C.1VJXJ

9
VIKING CLUB TRANSLATION SERIES

VOL.

II.

or poetic

BElfcer

COMMONLY KNOWN

AS

S^EMUND'S EDDA
PART

I.

THE MYTHOLOGICAL POEMS.

EDITKD AND TRANSLATED WITH INTRODUCTION AND NOTES

BY

OLIVE BRAY.

ILLUSTRATED BY

W.

G.

COLLINGWOOD.

PRINTED FOR THE VIKING CLUB,

KING'S WEIGHHOUSE ROOMS, LONDON.

G^

y\

PRINTED BY TITOS WILSON, KENDAL.

PT
7224
Es.Bj
V.I

CONTENTS.
Introduction

Grimnismal
Alvissmal

The Sayings of Grirnnir

The Wisdom of All-wise

Vaf}>ruJ>nismdl

Havamal

The Words

The Words

Hymiskvtya

The Lay
The Lay

PrymskviJ>a
Skirnismal

The Story

Rigsjmla

of the Mighty

of

Hymir

of

Thrym

of Skirnir

of Rig

Skamma

The

Weaver

One

Vala's Shorter Soothsaying

Lpkasenna

Torment

Greybeard and Thor

The Lay of Hyndla"

Baldrs Draumar
Baldr's Dreams
Hyndlulj6|>

in

Day-spring and Menglod

The Song

Voluspa en

God

of Odin, the High

Grotigaldr; Fjolsvinnismal
Harbar}>slj6)>

the

Loki's

Mocking

Fragments from the Snorra Edda

Voluspa

The Soothsaying

Bibliography

Indexes

of the Vala

.-...-.

OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

LIST

Page
Title

Odin

The Tree of
Torment

Yggdrasil

in

The Chariot

Sun
Thor

of the

All-wise answers

Sun shines

in the

3
-

Hall

25

Vidar (motive from the Gosforth Cross)

Odin's last words to Baldr -

The Stranger

Ox

slays the

38
39
-

60

61

(motive from a cross-base at Carlisle)

112

113
126

at the

Odin's Self-sacrifice

Thor

Door

Thor's Fishing
Loki's flight to Jotunheim

127

138

139.

156

Thrym's \Vedding-feast

The Lovesickness

of Frey
Skirnir's message to Gerd

Groa's Incantation

Day-spring finds Menglod

Thor threatens Greybeard

Greybeard mocks Thor

Rig

in Great-grandfather's

Cottage

The

his

Nine Mothers

Vision of the Mighty

One

Freyja awakes Hyndla

The Ancestry

of Ottar

Odin

Hel

rides to

157
181

182

2Q2

The Crow warns Kon

Heimdal and

24

219

224

238

225

The Death

of Baldr
Loki taunts Bragi
Loki Bound (motive from the Gosforth Cross)
Skadi's longing for the Mountains Njord's desire of the Sea

Ragnarok (motive from the Heysham hogback)

The Restoration (motive from the Heysham hogback)

203
218

239
-

244

245

270

271

276

277

INTRODUCTION

is only a compromise at best, and effected with a

It has therefore always some need
sense of resting in defeat.
of apology, especially to those who are already acquainted with the
original, and for a work which is entitled to a high place in inter-

translation

Such place we claim for the Edda, not only as

national literature.
the fountain head of Germanic mythology and tradition, but for its own
beauty of expression the art of the Scandinavian poets. They sent it
forth long since armed with winged words and girded with power, and
only for want of speech in different tongues has it remained so little
Two previous renderings into English by Thorpe and
recognised.

York Powell might well have proved

its

worth, but the

first

was

out of print while interest was only beginning to

awaken, and the second is included in the Corpus Poeticum Boreale
with other less worthy material in a form that cannot appeal to the

allowed to

fall

Both have been used in preparing the present book,

and students than to all who have
sufficient taste for mythology, and understanding of old lore, to recognise the truth and beauty which are not expressed in precisely the
but who are also insistent, like ourforms and language of to-day

general reader.

which

is

offered less to scholars

books are not true because of their age, nor old lamps
To satisfy truth and for
beautiful unless they can be polished anew.
fear of doing injustice to the original, we have endeavoured to keep
selves, that old

literal as possible, though ambiguity in the original

necessitates
interpretation by a somewhat freer rendering.
occasionally
have
failed
to
catch the spirit of the Icelandic or to find
Where we

the translation as

it worthy English expression, we hope that the illustrations will

suggest that a wealth of beauty is waiting to be represented in modern
art by the painter as it was pictured of old by the Icelandic poets. For

for

their style is so essentially graphic without being descriptive that the

more familiar we are with their works the more difficult does it seem

to translate

them

into

words instead

of colour

and form.

A A

THE POETIC EDDA.

ii

Saemund's Edda bears a

title under which its first editor would

Saemund, a well-known Icelandic scholar
of the twelfth century, had no part in its composition, although,
according to popular tradition, he was the author of a work on

have

failed to recognise

mythology.

it.

Nor was the name of Edda given to it before the sevenwe find this word attached to a collection of mythical

teenth century

made by

the great Icelandic historian, Snorri Sturluson (1181"

Its earliest meaning was
great-grandmother," and it is thus
1241).
used in Rigsjmla what were the intermediate steps in sense develop-

stories

"
"
"
like
old
know, but
great-grandmother's stories
"
was deemed by some sceptic a fitting title for Snorri's
wives' tales
account of the Old Norse gods and goddesses of Asgarth and it was
deemed equally suitable by Bishop Brynjolf Sveinsson (1643) for the
more venerable work which from that time was called Saamund's or
the Poetic Edda.*
It exists in several MSS., none of which were brought to light
before the Icelandic Renaissance of the seventeenth century.
The
finding of the first and most complete MS. was somewhat dramatic,
and resembled the long awaited discovery of the planet Neptune.
Magnus Olafsson had suggested the former existence of a more
"
ancient Edda," and we soon find this hypothetical work regarded in
the light of a hidden treasure of wisdom and ancient lore, of which all
existing fragments were but "the bare shadow and the footprint." We
know nothing of how it was tracked and at last discovered, but by
This
1643 the Codex Regius was in the hands of Bishop Brynjolf.
most important MS., known as R, is in the Copenhagen library it is
an octavo volume consisting of five parchment sheets belonging to the
thirteenth century, and containing nearly all the poems given below.
The others are found in MSS. of the fourteenth century, which were

ment we

little

The Codex Arnamagnaeanus

brought to light by the same scholars.
Draumar
the
Codex
Baldrs
Wormianus includes Rigs(A) supplied
is
in one of the great Saga
found
]mla with Snorri's Edda; Hyndluljo)?
books, the Flateyjarb6k Grogaldr ok Fjolsvinnismal are only known
;

in

paper

MSS.

of the seventeenth century.

Many scholars, however, incline to the theory put forth by Mr. Eirikr Magnnsson
paper on Edda (Saga book of the Viking Club, vol. i., p. 219), that the name,
whatever later meanings may have been given, meant originally " the book of Oddi" or
Codex Oddensis and that Edda is merely a feminine form, agreeing with bok, ofOddi,
the home of Snorri, where his love for history and literature first was kindled.

in his

INTRODUCTION.

in

Thus, with a few modern additions, Saemund's Edda

is an early
older lays, some mythical and some heroic
the
mythical lays only are given here, although, as regards style and
Brief
authorship, no line of distinction can be drawn between them.

collection of

much

the poems
passages in prose have been added at some later period
themselves belong to somewhat different dates, and show the work of
different hands; some are fragmentary, and have suffered from re;

arrangement and interpolation all are more or less obscure.

They
point back to lost traditions, forgotten creeds, and, it is suggested, a
wealth of early poetic literature and mythology which are common to
the Germanic race
they lead us forward also to the more intelligible
account of Snorri's prose book, which is the earliest commentary on
;

the subject.
This cannot rank with the primitive sources of tradition
in
so
far
as it quotes old fragments from lost poems and strophes
except
of those found in the Edda.
Christian and foreign influence, the
orderly mind of the scholar, the shaping hand of the artist have left
In one or two cases we can even correct his
their traces behind.

misinterpretations where an earlier and perhaps grander myth, less

understood in the narrow light of mediaeval learning than by the
broader and more comparative knowledge of to-day, has become over-

grown by some

where

obscurities in the

all

poems

We

are obliged, however, to rely on

other explanation is wanting for gaps and
indeed there is little else to throw light upon

later fairy tale.

Snorri's version

the subject.
Iceland has a magnificent prose literature in the Sagas of the
thirteenth century, which are records of the old Norse kings, stories of

Iceland or the mother country, and Viking expeditions

both romantic and historic. They treat of times past when the mythofamily

life in

Edda was still living, but they show only the cult and
worship of the principal deities Odin, Thor, and Frey who differ
The skalds or court
widely from the heroic beings of the myths.

logy of the

poets, save Ulf Uggason and Thiodwolf, rarely chose such subjects for
their songs, but in praising their lords they made use of a poetic

diction based on mythical lore,

bear out what

of

much

and

full

of allusions

which sometimes

written in the Edda, though often too obscure to be

service.
The only other contemporary source of information
is

Denmark by Saxo Grammaticus (1185

who, to honour his native land the more, has stolen the traditions
of neighbouring peoples, and brought the Old Norse gods upon the
is

a not very reliable history of

A.D.),

THE POETIC EDDA.

scene as heroes only, or as vanquished foes.

It is the unwritten
literature, the folk-lore and fairy tales of Germanic nations and of
other races, which often supply us with the motive, and help us to an
understanding of the Eddie myths.

But the poems are not so obscure as they appear at first sight
when taken together and compared and fitted one into the other they
become intelligible and reveal much concerning themselves, their nature
;

From internal evidence alone we must seek an

and their history.
answer to the question " When and where were they composed ? "
The MSS., as we have seen, belong to the thirteenth and fourteenth
:

An atmosphere
poems themselves are clearly older.
heathendom pervades them, and suggests a time before 1000 A.D.,
when Christianity was established in Iceland the evidence of language, the Icelandic dialect, and of metre shows on the other hand
centuries, but the
of

that they were not written earlier than the ninth century, when the
Old Norse tongue underwent definite changes.
Between these dates
therefore, 850-1000 A.D.,

it is

now

generally agreed that the

Edda was

During this period the Icelanders, in their intercourse

composed.
with Norway and in Viking expeditions or more peaceful settlements
in the British Isles, had every opportunity of drawing from all the
mediaeval springs of language and literature, and the question has now
become " How far do the poems belong to Iceland and the North ? "
but
Altogether, Olsen thinks; Finnur Jonsson gives them to Norway
;

who

held these myths and legends as the

heirloom of the whole Germanic race, the tendency is now to regard
in contrast to the early critics,

them

as mainly borrowed from Christian, classical, and other foreign

Thus Bugge and Vigfusson will not allow that they belong

sources.

North at all, but rather to the West, where they were composed
under the influence of international literature by settlers in the British
Isles.
This theory cannot be wholly accepted, but their researches
have at least shown that the vocabulary and descriptions of life are not
exclusively Icelandic or even Northern, and they enable us to view
the poems in better perspective.
Few traces will be found of the
immediate history of the Icelanders, their settlement in the ninth
to the

century, their life as depicted in the sagas with its strange mixture of
law at home and lawlessness abroad.
The stage of the Edda is filled
with kings and earls such as those who once ruled in Norway or
figured in heroic legends of the past.

and saws, where wisdom works by

Strange fables, old-world charms

spells

and knowledge

is

immersed

in

INTRODUCTION.

magic lore, barbarous customs, savage heathen rites all harmonise in

the picture of an earlier life, and suggest that the writers were repeating
the traditions of their mother country, or even, as Jessen holds, those
It is only when we come to the
of the primitive Germanic race.
individual style

and treatment that the

setting

becomes

truly Northern:

the kennings used, the descriptive details, the atmosphere and scene alike
and here we meet with foreign words
are characteristic of Iceland
which show the influence of
such as plug, plough
tresc, tress
;

The myths likewise in

and mediaeval romance.
their broad outlines do not belong to Iceland alone, but to other
Odin or
Scandinavian countries, and to Germany and England.
were
known
all
to
the
tribes, as were
Woden, Thor, Hel, Frigg, Tyr
a
so
familiar
in
and
elves
even
the
the Edda, is
dwarfs
being
Jotun,
"
eoten."
Their presentation, howmet in old English as a monster,
European

civilisation

Hel, no longer as the underworld, but a northern land of mist

who have become Frost giants, and Odin as the

ever

and

cold, the Jotuns,

War-father, a Viking in spirit can only be creations of the Icelandic

poets while the conception of a new world and higher Powers and
;

the figure of Baldr betoken the near approach of Christianity.

It
seems most reasonable, therefore, to adopt Mogk's theory that the

poems were composed mainly on old themes which had been brought
from the mother country into Iceland, where they took their present
form with traces of Old English and Celtic influence.
But the wealth of interest in the Edda has been disclosed by the
manifold researches and conjectures of different scholars pursuing
each his

own

Uhland, Hoffory, Miillentheory, perhaps, to extinction

hoff, tracing the delicate outlines of some nature myth ; Grimm and
Max Miiller finding links in mythology and Heinzel in poetic form
:

between the Indo-Germanic nations; Rydberg attempting, without even

attaining complete success, to prove that one grand historic saga and a
few heroic forms of Germanic origin are the source of all the late and
Schwartz, Mannhard, Meyers, distinguishing the
varying traditions
fancies born of superstition from the religious creeds of more developed
man Kauffmann and Fraser revealing how once savage rites are still
;

But no one has done

remembered and transfigured in poetic myths.
more towards proving the value of the Edda than Bugge, who has
shown that all its interests in literature, history, mythology, religion
are not drawn from one barren source alone, but from the wisdom of
the world.

THE POETIC EDDA.

VI

Partly for this reason, because its interests are too wide and deep
to yield themselves at once, and partly because the Edda has suffered
too much from the chances and changes of time, we offer suggested
expl. nations of the different poems for readers who are not previously
i

We should like to have avoided all

acquainted with Eddie literature.
the vexed questions which leave their scars behind and spoil appreand spirit of the work but too often these questions
ask themselves, and the many possible answers give depth and largeTo those, however, who would read it without
ness to the subject.
ciation of the art

commentary we

the

offer

translation only, with notes of reference

between corresponding passages which may possibly serve as guides in

following the right thread, and occasionally find an end for a story

though they will not, nor will any commentary, unravel

tangles in the Edda.
For mythology itself is a tangled garden of thought unless
undergone complete transformation in the hands of the artist.

begun

nothing

mind

less

than the mind of the nation laid bare, which,

of the individual, discloses a

mass of

some

the

it

has
It is

like the

inconsistent, incongruous

mature thoughts, fleeting

borrowed
opinions, lying side by side,
ings,
never
blended into unity.
experience, but
ideas, childish notions,

It is for

all

fancies, high imaginall

artist or historian to reveal the

stamped by past

mind

of his nation

own

sense of beauty will discover something which

is immortal and which, like the sculpture of the Greeks, he can leave
if a true historian, he will disclose some one
in fixed abiding forms
or if a prophet, he will declare the
or
of
development
stage
phase

if

a true

artist, his

But
and show mythology in the light of religion.
The
no such influence has given unity to the mythology of the North.
Edda discloses only a mixture of rational and irrational ideas, folklore, and fairy tale.
Savage heathen ritual, symbolic acts, and mystic
are
found
different
as
expressions of the same human instinct,
legends
and even associated with the same deity. For the gods themselves are
well defined one
continually changing their characters and forms
are
the
next
moment,
shifting, shapeless beings, sometimes
they
of
as
thought, statuesque and classic in repose, or as
types
appearing
natural forces in tKeir workings, full of almost human life and passion.
We seek in vain for the Indo-Germanic Heaven or Sky god, by which
is meant no unalterable personality who lives on in tradition from
age to age, but merely the conception of an over-ruling power, now

ideals of his .nation,

INTRODUCTION.

vil

inhabiting, now symbolising, and now identified with the heaven itself.
Odin, the Wind god, the High One, is set on his throne as the Allfather whom all other gods obey and serve, but soon we find him

parting with his weapons or attributes of Heaven god

light to Heimdal or to Frey, his thunderbolt to Thor.

We
down

could scarcely hope for unity in a mythology which

and scattered fragments of art but

in old wives' tales

sword of

his

is

in

handed
a work

as poetic as the Edda, and a collection which was almost co-existent

with the myths themselves, we might have looked for some funda-

mental idea, some one aspect whether of art or history or religion, in

which they would present themselves.
But we have already pointed
out that the Edda is too diffuse in its interest to confine itself to one
side of life
it is like some old building in which many hands and
have
taken part its charm lies in all its varied features and
many ages
and
to
follow
the poems in an appreciative way we are obliged
claims,
to dip into a world of fancy and emerge into one of fact, only to plunge
and be lost in mysteries of thought a specialist will find no satis:

faction in studying it, nor can he appreciate its merits.

To consider its myths as in any way representative of Old Norse religion
would lead us very far astray.
They hint now and then at acts of

worship, sacrifice and rites, but the narrative or dialogue is never

interwoven with prayers or hymns of praise, and seldom broken by

moral teaching.
religion

poet's

The connection between

of the people

hand has been

is

the

mythology and the

obscure, and probably very slight

at work,

for the

adding grace and humour, reinterpreting

in the light of fancy rather than of truth.

History also, after tracing
with delight some ancient custom, distinguishing Scandinavian features
from Germanic origins, and filling in a background of contemporary
life in the Viking period, rejects the rest as fiction.
And art will not

forbear to criticise a cycle of

which are manifestly by

poems which show a total lack of unity,

and of different dates, full of

different authors

obscure allusions, half forgotten

But here censure will be
style.

tales,

lost

in

discrepancies, inequalities of
praise of the almost unique

the dramatic power, suggestiveness,

qualities of the individual poems
humour which seldom appears conscious of itself, vigour and swiftness of expression, where word follows hard after word with a kind of
impetuous eagerness, and where all the force of the ballad-writer is
often combined with the grace of a finished artist.
Nor will admiration pause
for there is colossal grandeur about the whole subject
:

THE POETIC EDDA.

vin

which inspires reverence and awe, a material grandeur, such as men

loved and feared until civilisation taught them the minuteness, and
also the pettiness of life, an entire contrast to the intellectual delicacy

more

of the Greeks, and yet a mythology even

epic poem.
heroic action

The Germanic

fitted

than theirs for an

ideal naturally expressed itself in large

huge forms and simple outlines allow infinite space

power, and a skilful hand might have wrought these
poems into an epic cycle as fine and much stronger than the Arthurian
Hut they approach most nearly in fact, only for want of the
legend.
one shaping hand, they just miss being the mightiest drama that has
The characters Odin, Baldr, Loki, Njord, Frey,
ever been written.
;

its

for the play of

they possess even now all

Freyja are capable of infinite development
the steadfastness of the type, all the life of the individual
they are
;

they are girt about with the

godlike in their power and majesty
freshness and vigour, the tenderness and youth, the breadth and
atmosphere which belongs to them as forces of nature, and yet they
are intensely human in their passions, in their actions, and their
;

speech.
It is indeed as we pass from the drama and get closer and closer
to a representation of life itself that a principle of unity appears in the
It is seen at last in a thread which is woven through all the
Edda.
for the power of Germanic
of Fate, or rather Weird
that
poems
;

mythology is not the Fate which takes revenge on the individual and
which can be seen to interpose in the fortunes of men it is a sweeping
world-force set free by the first born beings, the Jotuns, and left to
It knows no law except
work itself out in the life of the universe.
It
that of consequence, and obeys no impulse except that of nature.
is Weird which renders the meeting of Menglod and Dayspring as
Gerd must surrender to Frey as
inevitable as the sunrise at dawn
earth must ever respond to the wooing of summer; Thor will recover
But Weird is seen at
his hammer as surely as spring will return.
of
It is as
whole
the Edda.
in
the
work on a yet mightier scale
cycle
all
inevitable for the JEsir, the war gods, to perish as it is for
imperfect
and they are destroyed, before even the coming
ideals to be shattered
of mightier powers, as a result of their own weakness and folly, and by
At intervals in the poems
forces which they have long held at bay.
Doom is foretold, the Weird motive is heard. But only in Voluspd
does there seem any conscious attempt to trace its power through all
This poem stands first in the Codex Regius,
the history of the gods.
;

INTRODUCTION.
a place which

it

merits, for

it

is

the grandest of

IX
all

the works in the

Edda, and is necessary for a full comprehension of the spirit which

moves and lives throughout, and the unity which binds all the fragments together.
But it is full of allusions whose significance is not
understood except by those already familiar with the various myths
For this reason, and because the attitude of
their interpretations.

and

one of summing up and estimating the value

The
of old-world thoughts in the light of new, we have placed it last.
other poems have been arranged where possible in their right sequence
in the history of the gods, but more often, for they are seldom closely
related, to introduce scenes and characters most conveniently to the
This scheme is perhaps made clearer by the explanatory
reader.
notes.
Grimnisnrwl stands first, for in it we meet with much that
is most characteristic of Old Norse mythology, the chief gods and
goddesses, their homes, the rude war-faring life in Valholl, the ValOdin, the All-father, is
kyries, and the great World-tree, Yggdrasil.
shown in the manifold forms in which he must henceforth be recogAlvissmal and VafJ>ru]>nismdl complete the description of
nised.
cosmology, and make us familiar with the inhabitants of different
worlds and the history of the earliest times.
These poems place us at
the outset in a right attitude towards the type of mythology found in
the Edda its myths have their place in evolutionary history among
those drawn by the poets from a religion in the transition stage
In
between a worship of nature and of more anthropomorphic gods.
the writer

is

essentially

H&vamal, the High One reveals himself by relating the mysteries of

own experience and the wisdom he has gained. HymiskviJ?a,
Thrymskvtya, and Skirnismal are less didactic narratives of Thor and
Frey, told with a simple love for old themes, and still in touch with
his

but in the next poems Fjolsvinnismal, RigsJ>ula, Hyndand

HarbardsljoJ>, the myth is associated with some new theme,
luljoj?
and used merely as a setting veiled meanings suggest themselves,
and the gods have become more conventional forms.
Their power is
and
Baldrs
Draumar
and
Lokasenna
the Weird motive is
in
waning,
heard waxing stronger and louder, proclaiming the near approach of
Doom or Ragnarok, for once more the Icelandic word is required to
The first of
express a Doom which is but the last of life's issues.
these poems, with its tone of solemn warning, is like a return to faith

nature myths

gods the second, with the mocking laughter of a sceptic,

reviews and criticises their history and their characters.
Voluspa also
in the old

13

THE POETIC EDDA.

x
is

a retrospect, but seen with a tender discerning eye, and, as

we have

noticed, an attempt to find unity and truth.

The text has been included more for the sake of comparison with
The version is
the English than for the use of scholars and students.

based on that of Gering (Padeborn, 1904), whose spelling and metrical

The spelling is to some
corrections have generally been adopted.
extent simplified: '0" is used both for the *i' umlaut of 'o' and the
'' umlaut
*u' umlaut of 'a' 'ce' represents the 'i' umlaut of '6' ; the
;

of 'a'

is

neglected as

in all later

MSS.

Different readings of the

more

important passages are noted below with the same abbreviation of names
Emendations
which are found in the best German commentaries.

and

all

the

MSS.

in order of strophes are also noted with a reference to

given by Detter and Heinzel (Leipzig, 1903), whose
should be observed, is arranged in half lines.

changes

edition,

it

as

No

precise attempt has been made in the translation to render

the long line
the original metre, which follows strict laws of its own
is divided by caesura into half lines, which are connected by alliterative
;

staves falling on the most emphatic words, and occasionally by rhyme.

the Fornyr]?islag resembles most
forms of strophe are found
nearly the oldest epic metre of the Germanic race; it is used in

Two

Voluspa, Thrymskvtya, and other epic lays, and consists of four such
the Ljo)?ahattr, which is peculiar to Old Norse, has

lines as described

rhythm and flexibility variety

lines
with and without caesura.
long

greater

given by the alternation of

is more suitable for the

is

It

dramatic poems like Skirnismal, or for dialogue as in Lokasenna.

Alliteration has been retained or introduced where possible, and the
rhythm, which is hard for modern ears to catch, has been slightly

emphasised

all,

satisfies neither

we freely
new nor

the

admit, resulting in a compromise which

the old, but which seems the only means

of introducing the one to the other.

It is with great hesitation that a translation (based mainly on
suggestions by Detter, Gering, Finnur J6nsson, Vigfusson, and other
authorities)

has been

given

of the
often

doubtful meaning.
By-names
of alliteration
in such cases (Grm.,
;

names,

seem

st. 8) it

sidered advisable to substitute the better

many

of which

are of

to be used only for the sake

has sometimes been con-

known

title.

On

the other

we

ourselves have occasionally introduced a familiar by-narne

In every case, however, the text will supply
for metrical convenience.

hand,

the original form even to those unacquainted with Icelandic.

Where

INTRODUCTION.

xi

the meaning of the names is wholly obscure they are given in their
original form in the translation; 'd' is adopted for Icelandic ')>,' or
'th,' since this has been done in previous versions, and a few names,

such as Odin, which have already become familiar to English readers,

are retained.
The nominative case ending
('/,' '') is dropped
Fenrir
'tV
as
or
where
in
the
case
of
forms part of the
except

V
V

stem

as Baldr.

We

would here express our gratitude to Prof. Ker, Mr. W. G.

Collingwood, and Mr. A. F. Major, whose corrections and suggestions
have been of inestimable value in the translation, commentary, and
general plan of the work.

THE SAYINGS OF GRIMNIR.

has been suggested that Grimnismal is one of the oldest poems
and it may well have been such in its original form,
for there is a grand simplicity in expression and an absence of any
It

in the collection,

It touches only on the main features of

seemingly borrowed ideas.
Old Norse mythology, and has no knowledge of later stories which

grew up around the separate gods and goddesses, and which form such
frequent subjects of allusion by the poets, supplying them with a
But the confused arrangement,
wealth of obscure poetical imagery.
which we have altered only for the sake of giving more sequence to the
ideas, and such details as those which surround the original conception
of the World Tree, suggest revision and interpolation, and give ground
for the supposition that the poem as it stands is of late origin, and an
attempt to revive a belief in the old religion by the teaching of old
The setting of the poem, too, bears the mark of a different
myths.
It is wonderfully dramatic in contrast to the
and more skilful hand.
quiet rehearsal of old-world knowledge
Frigg appear first as humble peasants,

and traditional

who

lore.

Odin and

give shelter to the sons of

Next the Sky god is pictured in Heaven,

throne of Window-shelf, from whence he can view all
"Odin," says Snorri, "is highest and first born among

a certain King Hraudung.

on

sitting

his

the worlds.
gods.
serve
wife,

He
him

rules over all things, and the other gods, however mighty,
as children serve their father."
Beside him is Frigg, his

who is also a power of the sky, and perhaps the ruler of the
The scene changes, and Odin is found once more upon earth

clouds.

Xli

THE POETIC EDDA.

He appears in the form best known

as a stranger at Geirrod's doors.
in
blue mantle and broad-brimmed
to men
and
clad
grey-bearded,
hat, but

he

is

unrecognised by Geirrod.

Here the poem opens with

the tortured god sitting between the fierce heat of two fires, craving for
one draught of water from Agnar's hands to cool his parched lips
before he can answer the questions of his tormentors concerning the
From time to time the narrative
and holy places of the world.

secret
is

broken by a cry from the god to his faithful Valkyries, who even
bear refreshing ale to the Chosen warriors in Valholl to his

now

kinsmen who are assembling, as was their wont, to drink in the sea
halls of Mgir.
How he is at last delivered from his painful situation
is left uncertain, owing to the obscurity of sts. 42 and 45.
To a like skilful hand belong the magnificent strophes in which
Grimnir reveals himself to Geirrod as Odin, the highest god where
the poet shows him as the One, who in different ages and for different
In his character as
beings has many aspects and many names.
Heaven god, he is Odin, Wafter, Tree-rocker, Wind-roar as ruler in
Asgarth. they call him the High One, Equal-ranked, Third Highest.
He is the life and source of all things the Maker, the All-father. He
He comes forth
rules the World as the Watcher from Window-shelf.
from Valholl as the Death-father, and goes to battle as War-father,
To evil giants he appears as the Dread
Host-leader, Helm-bearer.
Both gods and men
One, Bale-worker, Flashing-eyed, Flaming-eyed.
;

know the Wanderer, Grey-beard, Long-beard, Broad-hat. As Wellcomer he has many a love adventure as Hoodwinker, Form-changer,
He is moreover the god of
Wizard, he is the great master of magic.
or Poet who has won
and
the
Counsellor
the
Wise
One,
culture,
Sage
and
of
even bestowed the gift
This
the Song-mead,
poesy upon men.
glorious monotheistic hymn reminds us of some Indian poet singing of
"
In such
countless mystic forms unfolding in one Form."
Krishna,
;

Protean fashion the supreme god of every mythology has the right to

change his shape, and assume the powers and attributes of lesser beings.
It is unusual, however, for an old Northern mythologist to show such
appreciation of this truth.

god now

in this light,

now

He
in

usually content with presenting a

that, and each of the different poems
is

which relate to Odin will reveal him more fully in some one of the
Here the " Masked One " has veiled his god-head
above characters.
and suffered torment in order to instruct and enlighten mankind.
Grimnir begins his recital of old lore by enumerating the homes of

INTRODUCTION.

xin

the gods, which usually correspond with the characters of their owners.
All the principal deities are mentioned except Frigg, who, as we are
"
Halls of Moisture," where
told elsewhere, has her dwelling in the
Loki also is omitted, for the airy fire
perhaps she rules the clouds.
resting place until he was bound in the underworld.
here the War-father, who shows the true Viking spirit of an
His home is Valholl, the Hall of the Slain, described
old Norse hero.

demon had no
Odin

is

^ s seen from afar, standing high in Asgarth,

in sts. 8-10, 20-24.
overshadowed by Yggdrasil, and surrounded by the air river Thund,
which roars and thunders when the dead are brought through by the
This dwelling is reserved for the chosen sons of Odin who
Valkyries.
have been slain in strife; other dead folk pass to the underworld of Hel.
Snorri says, drawing his information mainly from this passage and other
"
all the warriors who have fallen in battle since the
extant poems,
of
the
world
come to Odin in Valholl. A great host is there
beginning
and
more
shall
assembled,
yet they will seem too few when
gather
'

Fenrir, the Wolf, is let loose at Ragnarok, the Doom of the gods. They
have for food the flesh of a sooty-black boar called Saehrimnir, which
will never be consumed, however great the throng in Valholl. Each day

Andhrimnir
and
he
whole
becomes
(the sooty-faced cook),
every evening
again.
But Odin partakes not of the same food as his Chosen Warriors.
He
from
his
table
to
two
the
Greed
and
wolves,
Ravener, for
gives
portion
he himself needs no food, but wine is his meat and drink. Two ravens
sit perched on his shoulder, and whisper to him tidings of what they
have seen and heard.
He
Thought and Memory are their names.
sends them flying each day over all the world, and at breakfast-time
Thus he is made ware of the things which come to pass,
they return.
and is called by mortals the Raven god.
The Chosen Warriors have
he

is

boiled in Eldhrimnir (the fire-smoked cauldron) by

a drink which, like their food, is never failing ; but they drink not
water, for how should All-father bid kings and earls and other mighty

men

and give them nought but water ?

A great price
who had suffered wounds and death to get such
their pains.
But there stands a she-goat called Heidrun

to his halls

would

it

seem

to those

a draught for
over the roof of Valholl, biting leaves from the Shelterer's boughs.
Mead flows from her teats into a vessel so huge that all the Chosen

Warriors can drink their

sport.

fill.

When

Each morning they put on

weapons, and go

they are not drinking they hold

their

forth into the court-yard

war-gear and take their

and there

fight

and lay one

THE POETIC EDDA.

xiv

another low, and play thus

sit

them down

to drink."

till

breakfast-time,

These daily

when they go back and

conflicts,

it

would seem> are

Valholl as
but a preparation for the last great conflict at Ragnarok.
It
a paradise is the ideal of the West in contrast to that of the East.
is no home of rest, but one of conflict and strenuous endeavour, where
the warriors tight on higher planes the same battles that they fought
upon earth, still with the same hope of achievement and honour, still
with a delight in the struggle itself, which is never finished. Even the

alternating periods of bliss have no resemblance to the passive Nirvana

state, but arc; like the ale which the Old Norsemen drank at their revels,

deep and intoxicating draughts of active material enjoyment.

In st. 7 Odin, as husband of Saga the seeress, is a god of wisdom,
and perhaps the by-name which we omitted, Hr6pt, the One who
Utters,

was used with

But the story attached to

intent.

it is

unknown.

perhaps only another version of the Mimir myth, where the god
draws his wisdom from sacred waters (p. 287). Full of pictorial beauty
is the scene of Odin and Saga drinking peacefully from the fount of
It is

knowledge.

Three sons of Odin are mentioned

Thor

(st. 4),

who, as wielder

of the great thunder-hammer, owns the Home of Strength ; Vidar (st.

17), called by Snorri "the silent god," who lives in wild Wood-home;

and Baldr (st. 12), whose dwelling-place

and pure as the heart of him who is the

and shining as his face,

and the most loved of all

is fair

best,

the gods.

Two

gods, Ull and Forseti

(sts.

and

15), play little part in

Old

Norse mythology, but were well known among other Germanic tribes.
Ull, as the great archer, owns the land of yew-trees which were used
for making bows.
He is called Ollerus by Saxo, and is said to have
been given both the name and kingdom of Odin when the latter was
banished for practising magic. Forseti is the son of Baldr and Nanna.
His cult may be traced among the Frisians.
In Heligoland, which is
"

Forsiti's land," the god had his temple and

holy places, and the people told legends of a culture hero, sprung from
the gods, who came once and taught them justice and " Frisian right."

called by Latin writers

The owner

of Vala-shelf

(st. 6) is

not clearly indicated.

Many obscure myths have attached themselves to the name of

"
he is warder of
Heimdal, who was primarily a god of light. As such
the gods, and sits at the end of heaven to guard the bridge Bifrost
Loki taunts him with this arduous life (p. 263),
against the giants."

INTRODUCTION.
but he had also his pleasant

home

xv
Frey and Freyja,

of Heaven-hill.

with their father Njord, belong to the gentler tribe of gods called
Wanes (Vanir), distinguished from the war-gods, or ^Esir. Frey (st. 5),
as god of
elves.

summer

Freyja

fruitfulness, dwells in a

(st.

rules in Folk-field

home

of sunshine

among

the

who

has here assumed the powers of Frigg,

14),
while Njord, the peaceful sea-god, has made his

home in Noatun beside the ocean.

One dwelling-place, Sound-home

(st. n), is not found in Asgarth,

the gods' realm, but in Jotunheim, or Giant-land, which is always
associated with the stirring, sounding elements of nature. The famous

story of Thiazi and his daughter Skadi is given later on.

After describing his own home and the joyous life there, Grimnir,
tortured by fiery heat, calls to mind the cool, rushing waters which

flow from Roaring Kettle, the central fountain of the world, which
brings him to the holiest of all places, the Doomstead of the gods,

where they assemble daily to hold council and judgment.

Here also
are two other fountains the well of Mimir, whence Odin draws his
wisdom, and the well of Weird, with the Norns who dwell beside it
Overhead rises the World-tree Yggdrasil,
shaping the lives of men.
which Grimnir has just called by the name which in his torment most
He remembers now its sufferings
appealed to him the Shelterer.
the fair, green boughs which stretch over the heavens, and whence fall
the dews of life, are being gnawed by spiteful harts the roots, springing
no man knows how deep, are torn by the fierce dragon of the underworld and the mighty stem which rises like the central column of the
In all ages and among many
universe, rots and suffers from decay.
peoples has been traced this reverence for a tree first, as the embodiment of the tree-spirit, the home of vegetative life and, lastly, as
typifying the source of spiritual life.
Yggdrasil is sometimes the
World Tree, which embraces the Universe of space and time.
Here,
behind the poetic fancies, which are peculiar to Old Norse mythology,
it stands in grand outlines as the
symbol of all creation groaning and
travailing together in death, but quickened and renewed with never:

failing life.

well-ordered scheme of Old Norse cosmology meets with a

difficulty in st. 31. 'The realms of Hel, of Jotunheim, and of mankind,

which

lie beneath the three roots of Yggdrasil, are there clearly conceived as on one level and bordering on each other, but elsewhere (pp.

240, 291) Hel

is

stated to be underground.

Other passages suggest

THE POETIC EDDA.

XVT
that there

was

a confusion between an old

Germanic idea of Hel

situated

beneath the earth and the Scandinavian notion of Hel and Jotunheim
in the bleak and terrible
regions of the north and east, divided from
Midgarth, the home of men, and Asgarth, the
rivers which flowed from Roaring Kettle.

home

of gods, by great

now that Odin (st. 36) cries aloud to his war-maidens, the
Valkyries. They are Choosers of the Slain, winged beings who attend
the conflict, who slay the " fey " or doomed ones, and bring them to
It is

Odin's
in

hall.

Njls Saga

song worthy of these battle-maidens

is

given to them

Let us wind,

let

ns wind the

web

of darts

we forth to wade
where our friends are crossing weapons.
Let us wind, let us wind the web of darts
where the banners of the warriors are streaming
through the host

fare

thus weaving the web of war, they foretell who shall stand and
shall fall on the bloody field.
Their more peaceful office is to
serve the Chosen Warriors at their feast in Valholl.

And
who

Grimnir then resumes his narrative.

Still craving for coolness
and shelter from the burning heat, he tells of the weary Sun horses,
refreshed in their labours by a delicious chill which is given by the
gods to lighten their toil of earth, protected by a mysterious shadow;

unknown of Sun herself, "who fares swiftly as

but has a home of refuge where she may hide herself from

maker whose nature

one

in fear,"

is

her tormentor, the grim wolf Skoll.

The next strophes which recount the creation of the world are best

Words of the Mighty Weaver, where they are also

The
and
(p. 47).
43
44 have little bearing on the context.
of
in
and
a
the Wielder's sons is famous
Old Norse mythology,
story
considered with the

found

Snorri relates how Loki, the mischieffrequent topic of allusion.

maker, had once cut off the golden hair of Sif, the Thunderer's wife,
and to appease the latter had gone down to the dwarf race called Dark

Wielder's sons, and persuaded them to forge her a wig of

They made this with other treasures so wonderful that Loki,

elves, the

gold.

strife, wagered his head with two dwarfs

Brokk the Badger and Sindri the Sparkler that they could not
make aught as fine. Thereupon the twain set to work and forged
three treasures, although Loki sought to hinder them, and changed

never weary of stirring up

called

INTRODUCTION.

xvn

upon Brokk and stung him as he was

When all were complete Loki and the dwarfs
blowing the furnace.
"
the gods
to
the
treasures
Asgarth to settle the wager, and
brought
went to their thrones of doom to hear the judgment of Odin, Thor, and
Frey, which none could gainsay."
The work of the Dark elves was first set forth, and to Odin Loki
and to
gave Gungnir, the spear which never failed to hit the mark
would
Thor the golden hair for Sif, "which
grow into the flesh as soon
as it was placed upon her head;" and to Frey the ship Skidbladnir,
" which was followed
by a fair wind when the sails were set whereIt was so huge that all the gods could find room in it
soever it went.
with their weapons and war gear, and yet one could fold it up like a
Then Brokk brought out his
cloth and put it in one's pocket."
called
treasures, and gave to Odin the ring
Draupnir, saying that eight
to Frey he gave the Boar
rings would drop from it every ninth night
which could run through air and sea, by night and day, swifter than
any steed, for never was night so dark nor the underworld so murk but
there was light enough to go on from the gleaming of its golden
But the hammer which was called Mjoilnir, Brokk gave to
bristles.
Thor, and told him that he might strike with it as hard as he willed,
no matter what lay before him, and the hammer would not fail that
if he hurled it away it would never miss the mark, nor fly so far but he
would find it there when he felt with his hand; moreover that it would
become so small that he could hide it if he liked in his bosom. There
was but one flaw in the hammer it was somewhat short in the
handle.
Then the gods gave judgment that Mjoilnir was the best of
all treasures, and the mightiest weapon of defence against the Frost
himself into a

fly,

which

settled

giants.

Perhaps Meyers
this tradition of the

is

right in tracing an

dwarf forgers

they

Indo-Germanic myth

were, like the

in

Cyclopes of

Greek mythology and the air beings of the Vedas, personifications of

natural forces, who wrought weapons to aid the gods in subduing the
ruder and more hostile powers.
Most precious in each case was the
thunder-hammer or thunder-bolt.
Bifrost (st. 44) is a bridge between heaven and earth, which,
Snorri says, is woven out of the colour of the rainbow.
Its name
"
the
from
its
nature
as
It will
signifies
trembling way,"
light.
scarce bear Thor, and must be broken at Ragnarok.
Sleipnir, Odin's
eight-footed steed,

is

seen in Baldr's

Draumar

Bragi, the mythical

C C

THE POETIC EDDA.

Kvm

Garm, the Hel hound,

poet, at the great banquet scene of Lokasenna
with his loud baying, announces Doom to the gods.
This strophe
sounds like a conventional Song of Saws with which Grimnir ends his
;

recital.

THE WISDOM OF ALL-WISE.

In Alvissmal we pass from the fearful scene of a god in anguish to
Here the author is little bound by
the elf-land of poetic fancy.
traditional ideas, but may exercise all his imagination and skill in
describing nature, who has ever fresh beauties to offer and fresh
In two particulars only has he borrowed from mythohe
shows
himself
familiar with all mythical beings in the worlds
logy
of the Edda, and he has taken for the setting of his poem some possibly
poetic themes.

well-known story which told how Thrym, the daughter of Thor, was
pledged to a dwarf by the other gods in the absence of her father. This
dwarf, All-wise, is discovered hastening to the home of his betrothed,
rejoicing too soon at the good fortune which has won him a bride born
of gods.

Thus,

lost in

is met by a rude and way-worn

from some weary journey into the

love-musing, he

Thor returning on

traveller

foot

All-wise does not recognise the father of his bride, and

harshness of Thor's address. He has doubtless,
such vanities are permitted to dwarfs, clothed himself in his best as a

land of giants.
is
if

much

injured at the

bridegroom, and

now he is taunted with the

who may never see the

the pallor of beings

disfigurements of his race,

sun, and the shortness of

which gives rise to fear and hatred of their giant foes. Swelling
with pride he stands upon his rights, and even answers the irony of the
stature

ill-clad

wanderer by admiring his rich

attire.

But the god of Thunder

declares himself, and the dwarf seeks to propitiate him by a display of

wisdom. Thor detains him in conversation strange behaviour in one

whose wonted speech

All-wise

is

is

brief

and stern

turned into stone, which

is

until the sun

the fate of

all

has risen and

foolish dwarfs

who

are caught by the first morning beam above ground.

All-wise on the different names which are given to
of
nature
objects
by the beings of different worlds, all of whom are

Thor questions

well
it

known

will

to Old Norse mythology, and reappear so constantly that

be worth our while to make their closer acquaintance.

INTRODUCTION.

xix

Mankind occupy Midgarth, the middle dwelling of Germanic

The gods born of Odin's race,
cosmology, between Heaven and Hel.
In this poem
or adopted as his children, have their home in Asgarth.
and elsewhere they are called ^Esir, to distinguish them from the
'other

god

but this
times,

tribe, the

name

it

is

little

true,

The Jotuns

Wanes.

as giants,

They appear somewho walk the earth in

like the giants of

Grimm's

human creatures, such

and sorrows of human kind.
But

are seen, too, as beautiful

the loves

known

describes their true character.

as three-headed monsters

anthropomorphic form, much

They
know

are best

fairy tales.

as Skadi,
in

who

Old Norse

tradition they still retain something of what they have lost in the folklore of other Germanic tribes
their original character as wild forces

of nature, born before the controlling, ordering power of the gods had
been established. As such they are akin to the Titans, or the Fomors
of Celtic mythology.
Their home was once in the storm, in the

amid the tumultuous elements but by the poets of the Edda

have
already been given a fixed habitation, Jotunheim, a waste
they
and desolate realm situated in the north or the east.
Skadi alone still
waters,

Sound-home.
As beings of nature they are clearly shown
and the Mountain giants, in Hymir, lord of the
dusky sea, in Skoll and Hati, the wolves of darkness, and the giant
eagle who makes the wind. They are the great opponents of the gods,
but not all, for some have lent their powers to be used with skill and
dwells

in

in the Frost giants,

purpose for the good of all living things, ^gir, ruler of the sea in its
milder moods, provides the gods with drink, and is even numbered

among them. Mimir gives a draught to Odin from his fount of wisdom.
The Norns who dwell by the Tree of Fate are weaving strands of life.
Asgarth itself is built by a giant smith. Odin learns the fate of Baldr
from a giantess, and seeks giant maidens as his wives; for the gods cannot dispense with the power of the Jotuns. They are dependent, moreover, on another race of beings, the dwarfs, who forge their treasures and

cunning weapons.

For

this

myth

also

we must

the instinctive beliefs or intuitions which

man

seek an explanation in
keeps with him from his

days till superstitious fancy ends in knowledge his sense of

unity with Nature, the feeling that earth and air are filled with a life
in some way akin to his own, but made visible only in its workings.
The dwarfs and elves are, in contrast to the Jotuns, the secret, silent
earliest

unseen agents who toil beneath the ground and possess the
hidden treasures of the earth
or creatures of air, who make their

forces,

THE POETIC EDDA.

xx

homes in mountains, woods, and fields, and who appear in such fairy
form that "beautiful as an elf" became a customary phrase in different
Snorri speaks of the Dark elves or dwarfs and the Light
tongues.
elves who inhabit Elf-home and those future realms of Paradise which
In early folk-lore they were usually
he calls Far-blue and Long-life.
beneficent beings, and their presence was held as a safeguard to men
but later on, through Christian antagonism to all heathen superstition,
they were regarded as malevolent sprites, and became confused with
;

evil-working trolls.
Of the other races mentioned, the Powers and High Powers are
"
"
is often used for the gods, from whom
regin
mysterious the word
are
here
Hel-folk are the dead who have not
distinguished.
they
;

perished in war, and who have therefore no place in Valholl, but must
pass to those regions of the underworld called Hel, which in later
tradition was given to a goddess of that name.

Thor questions

All-wise concerning thirteen different objects which

Earth and Heaven, Moon and Sun, Clouds and Wind,
Calm and Sea, Fire and Wood, Corn and the Ale which is brewed
from barley.
Night alone is without her fellow Day, either because
dwarfs may not see him, or because, too soon, he will appear.
Each
in
described
six
different
such
as
be
used by the
terms,
might
object is
inhabitants of the different worlds, though to us their fitness is not
fall

into pairs

Sometimes, however, they show careful discriminaalways apparent.

Men use the more ordinary names, and
tion on the part of the poet.
Thor also employs these. Elves call Heaven the Fair-roof, because it
Jotuns call Moon the Hastener,
one
of
their
own kindred, the great wolf
pursued always by
who
while
dwarfs
are
to
look
on his soft light call him
Hati,
permitted
" Shimmerer " but
who
hide
and seek with them, is
the
Sun,
plays
The synonyms do not belong to the ordinary
the Dallier's playmate.
poetic diction of skalds; but with a dainty touch and a delicate play of
language the poet of Alvissmal employs an art which is clearly his own,
showing individual love and observation of nature.
stretches over their
for

he

home

in the air.

is

THE WORDS OF THE MIGHTY WEAVER.

Vafjmijmismal, like Alvissmal,
accordance with traditional ideas.

is

a song of nature, but more in

a poetical interpretation of

It is

INTRODUCTION.
Old Norse mythology, which has

suffered

xxi

change from that existent

among the people with its unquestioning belief in elves ;md giants,
dwarfs and trolls as veritable beings who hlped and hindered their
doings; for Day and Night, Winter and Summer are here the wonderful
giants of a fairy tale
Rimy-mane and Shining-mane are never found
;

in folk-lore,

nor the great eagle

The most

life-like figure in

who makes the wind.

poem is that of Mighty Weaver, a

the

giant sage, unutterably old and unutterably wise; the personification of

all Experience, who sits on his throne throughout the ages, waiting to

be questioned by those

who

dare enter his presence.

In Old Norse

tradition there are no legends of inspired prophets who in visions have

been allowed to look into the future of the world, or of singers who

have been given utterance in divine madness. The mysteries of nature

are hidden deep in her own bosom, and shared only by those beings
who are nearest akin to her and draw their wisdom from its source, or

who by long familiarity have learned her ways. Knowledge

must be sought from bird or beast, from souls of the dead who have
gone back to their home in nature, but above all from the giants, that
ancient race who were born even before the earth, and were, made of
like substance.
There was one other way, indeed, though scarce
permitted, in which it was deemed possible to attain wisdom, through
those

magic

spells

enchanting

such as those used by witches when they "sat dut,"

Vala (p. 287), and compelled the night powers to

like the

give up their secrets.

Odin has now resolved to contend with the giant whose knowledge
is a race heritage ; but Frigg is fearful as to the issue, for the contest

no mock one.
Odin, though a god, is not all-wise by nature, but
has to learn, borrow, buy, and even steal his wisdom.
Disguised as
Riddle-reader he enters the giant's hall, and stands on the floor with

is

an assumption of humility

until

he has proved his right to

sit

beside

the Mighty Weaver.

If the latter had known the nature of his guest
he would scarce have asked the Wind god concerning powers of the
sky and the steeds of light and darkness, which Odin well knows.

Day and Night

we have

already noticed, are only a

were
undoubtedly
objects of superthough they
as animals.
conceived
sometimes
Germanic
and
races,
among
in this form, as

late invention of poets,

stition

In German poetry Day is a beast or bird who tears the clouds of

darkness with his claws; in Anglo-Saxon he is a raven who "blithehearted announces the joy of heaven."
The language used in all time

THE POETIC EDDA.

xxn

to describe the ever-recurring phenomena of day and night show that

they were felt as living personalities, whose presence was not merely

but could be heard in its mysterious movements.

In Old
EngKsh, Day glides and climbs, clangs and hastens and pushes on in
modern English, it still breaks and peeps.
In German, it gathers
visible,

Night sinks and

strength (erstarket) or turns aside (ervendet).

and in Anglo-Saxon wears a shadow helm.
Sigrdrifa has a greeting to
and prayer for divine aid

The Old Norse

dawn, which sounds

like

falls,

lay of

an ancient hymn

Hail Day,

hail sons of

Day,
Night and the daughter of Night
With eyes of blessing
behold us now
hail

and grant us victory who

sit

here.

Sun and Moon belong to Part II. of this poem, but may be
mentioned here, for they have undergone a change corresponding to
that of Day and Night.
Caesar notes their worship among the old
Germans, whose religion, in a period better known, was far removed
from any. pure nature-worship, and one in which Sun and Moon no
Their humiliation is recounted by
longer play any prominent part.
Snorri in a myth. The gods were wroth because the Sun and Moon took
to themselves such mighty names, and set them in their places in heaven

where they could only move on their appointed course.

Sol or Sunne
is still a goddess, the sister or companion of the Moon god.
She is
drawn in her chariot by the horses Early-woke and All-fleet, and is
pursued by the wolf Skoll, while Mani, who rules the changes of the
moon called Ny and Ni (st. 25, Grim.), is followed by Hati. But the
glory of Sun, the myths which tell of her ever-renewed conflicts and
triumphs over darkness, her wealth and her bounty have been transferred to the more anthropomorphic gods Baldr, Odin, Frey, and

who each in turn represent the sun deity.

Though openly deprived of their dominion, traces of Sun and
Moon worship linger in old customs and folk-lore. The power of
Freyja,

Moon, though somewhat impersonal,

practises, which have hardly died out.

apparent in superstitious
His waxing and waning was
regarded as influential for good and ill on the doings of mankind.
That which required growth and increase was undertaken while he
is

was waxing money was counted, weddings took place, and seed was
But with the waning Moon
planted which bore fruit above ground.
;

INTRODUCTION.

xxtn

felled, grass was mown, charms were used against pestiand the seed planted whose fruit ripened beneath the ground.
St. 27 is the only passage in the poems which speaks of Winter
and Summer as personal beings, though at one time they were doubtThe custom of crowning a May king or queen,
less regarded as such.
of
and the expulsion
Winter, represented by a victim or an effigy, are
recollections of the days when both were powers who had to be proThe conflict between
pitiated and coerced by ceremonies and magic.
Winter and Summer has become in the Edda a struggle between the
gods and the Jotuns, and especially one between Thor and the Frost

timber was

lence,

giants.

When
question of the giant (st. 17) concerns the future.
he
admits
answered
the wisdom of his guest, and invites him

The
this

is

last

on the throne.
But Riddle-reader has so far only proved
himself equal to his opponent ; he must now show himself superior.
The first questions are comparatively easy. Who should know better

to a seat

than the old giant how earth was framed from his forefather, Ymir.
In the beginning, relates Snorri, there was nought but Muspell-home,
the south, and Mist-home, the region of ice and
snow, in the north, and between them the yawning Deep called Ginnunga Gap. Then Ymir, the first Jotun, was born. He arose from

the world of

fire in

the melting poison-drops of the chill river Stormy-billow, which flowed

In due time he begot children
southward towards Muspell-home.
(st.

33), but before long arose

cow

Audumbla was

another race of nobler kind.

Once when

from a rock there appeared

the
cajled
This was
a man's hair, then his head, and at length his whole form.
Thus
Bur, father of Bor, whose son by the giantess Bestla was Odin.
the gods were born or evolved, like those of many other mythologies,
after a first imperfect creation.
They slew Ymir, and made the world
while all the other giants were drowned in
out of his mighty frame
licking salt

his blood except Bergelm, who was laid in some mysterious object
(here rendered as cradle, st. 35), and thus saved from the flood. Snorri
has many details which are not given in Vafj>ru|>nismal, and modern

have still further completed a picture of the deluge, with Bergelm

floating on its bloody billows in a Noah's ark, perhaps of Scandinavian

critics

type
in

or, translating Icelandic lu)>r as flour-bin, of a great

which the giants were ground up

^ce

Rydberg, pp. 387-395

Hamlet

for the

world-mill

making of the world.*

iu Icelaud, by I. Gullancz, pp. xi.-xvi.

THE POETIC EDDA.

xxiv

But the poem is aware of no such studied myth it alludes vaguely to

some great epoch when the everlasting war began between the gods
and the Jotuns, when natural powers were first made subject to god;

like ends.

The Mighty Weaver has now proved

his knowledge of giantand is asked concerning the history and life of the gods.
He
remembers the first great war between their kindred races, the gentle
Wanes or gods of culture and the war-like Msir (see also p. 283), which
ended with exchange of hostages and the admittance of Njord among
lore,

the JEsir.

He knows

humble earth-folk, that when the wind is

on
heard roaring overhead
stormy nights, Odin, the lord of Valholl,
the Victojry Father, is holding sport with his Chosen warriors.
This
most famous of Old Norse myths is not peculiar to Scandinavia. It
,is found in Britain in connection with King Arthur, and among the
top,

as well as

superstitions of Somerset, where, however, a somewhat close resemblance suggests direct borrowing from Old Norse sources.*
More
is the wide-spread superstition among German peasants of the
Furious Host or Wild Hunt which was heard passing through the air,
led by an old man, sometimes visible in his broad-brimmed hat, who

original

rode a white or black horse, and was called by the name of Wode or
Wote. Both versions have arisen from the blending of different ideas.
The souls of those who died appeared to be withdrawn into the world

whence they had come in woods, by streams, among

was detected, and they dwelt in companionand
elves
with
watersprites, but most of all they haunted the air.
ship
became
lord of these spirits, but especially of the
Odin as Wind god
.dead warriors, since he was also the god of battle, and those slain on
"
His
the field were dedicated to him and called
guests of Odin."
of nature from

mountains

their presence

valkyries, as we have already mentioned, used to ride through the air

at his bidding, and choose from the battlefield those who were worthy

of a

summons from the War-god.

The questions now become more

future

They touch on

the

and the reign of new powers after the

Even
foretold in the Soothsaying of the Vala.

Great Doom, which is

in- the present untroubled
As shown

vol. v. t

abstruse.

history of the world,

part

'.,

by the Rev. C.

p. 146.

lay,

which seems only to

W. WhistUr, Saga

Book,

vol.

rejoice in the

it.,

part

.,

life

pp. 46, 48,

and
49;

INTRODUCTION.

xxv

powers of nature, Weird is already visible to the giant, he knows its

But there is one secret which he does not know, and which all
have failed to divine, a secret hidden between god and god, which Odin
whispered in Baldr's ear, as he laid him on the bale-fire, in words which
end.

only the dead could hear. The very question reveals the personality of
the god the Weaver admits his defeat and it is shown that Odin has
thus far attained all the knowledge which can be won by experience
;

and learned by

tradition.

In the next

mysterious fashion, he attains the

to him as a god.

THE WORDS OF

poem

it

will

be seen how, in

wisdom which more properly belongs

ODIN,

THE HIGH ONE.

Another poem introducing some of the more remarkable and

It has
interesting myths is Havam&l, or The Words of the High One.
been subjected to almost more discussion than any other poem of the
Edda, but all the ingenuity of critics and scholars has not cleared
It has served rather to show how
it from
mystery and confusion.
is
our
of the history, the myths,
and
knowledge
fragmentary
superficial
and the soul-life of the early Germanic races. For although this poem,
with its wisdom of yesterday and to-morrow, myths which are purely
Scandinavian, ideas which can only be Christian, may belong to
different periods, it seems to be archaic in the main.
The same half
obsolete words occur in the various parts, and the teaching is
traditional, proverbial, such as might have been handed down by word
of mouth.
Moreover, Odin or Woden appears, not as the War-father
of the Skalds, but in his

As such
Romans,
Woden's
The

more universal character as the god of culture.

all the Germanic tribes and to the
him with their god Mercury Wednesday or

he was best known to

who

identified

"
day corresponding with dies Mercurii."
varying metre and style of the poem, its discrepancies, and
abrupt changes of subject prove it to be a collection of once separate
fragments. Attempts have been made to distinguish between these, but
I (st. 1-108), the Guestthere are only three well-marked divisions
in
which
laws
are
included
ethical
and
Odin's
love adventures; 2
rules,
:

108-136), the Counselling of Stray Singer; 3, Odin's quest after the

runes.
Parts II. and III. are linked together by the entrance of Stray
(st.

D D

THE POETIC EDDA.

xxvi

Singer into both, and all the three by a poetical fiction in which it is
assumed that Odin, the High One, is speaker throughout, and that the
It is, indeed, in the person
precepts are given with divine authority.
of Odin himself that a real unity can be claimed for the poern.
It
would seem that its final author, who was more teacher than poet,
possibly a Christian monk with a taste for antiquarian knowledge, had

mind not merely to collect the wise sayings of heathen lore, but to
show forth Odin, the heathen god, in a higher and more spiritual

He had none of the poetic

aspect than that of the War-father.
of
Grimnismal, to picture in rainbow strophes
imagination of the author
In a loose and inartistic way he has
the manifold nature of the god.
associated traditional sayings and mythical stories, freely admitting the

and more Christian-seeming ideas to a place beside the old.

He
has not, however, altogether failed in his aim.
For notwithstanding
the signs of Christian influence, which have caused the poem to be
later

and held as a haphazard collection of

Odin
reveals himself still a heathen, and
old,
of heathen thought steeped in .the magic of old
In the whole teaching of the poem, which is
charms and runes.
filled with sober beauty and wisdom, there is no creed save that of

rent in

pieces by criticism

fragments new and

emerges from a web

humanity.
I. Odin comes as guest to a hall, and, it is assumed, gives
In his character of Windcounsel
to those assembled within.
friendly
wanderer he often passes thus unrecognised through all the worlds.

In Part

With Loki and Honir he

comes

is

to the dwellings of

how he

often found adventuring in Giant-land,

men

"
Gest."
calling himself

and

The Sagas

kings and rulers of Norway under this title.

To the Christian king Olaf the Holy he was an object of terror and
hate, as the dread heathen god of enchantments who still lived and

tell

visited

many

could be exorcised only by the more potent spell of the mass-book.

"
Far have I fared, much have I ventured," said Odin, and it was
thus as wanderer, beggar, guest, that he learned the ways of the world
of men. Laws of love, friendship, and war are expressed,
often with epigrammatic humour, sometimes with a tender, half-pitying
knowledge of life. The first Part, and the advice given to Stray Singer

and the hearts

and maxims which agree almost word

Solomon or other ethical teachers, for

in the second, are full of sayings

for

word with the wisdom

of

they are of the nature of those simple truths which take up their abode
with mankind so soon as he has learned humanity and fellowship.

INTRODUCTION.

xxvn

But, unlike the teaching of the Eastern prophet, there is nothing

of rt-ligious duty, no aspiring after an ideal of perfection.
The sober
precepts of common sense are never interrupted by sudden upward

The
soarings and yearnings of passion.
is the wisdom drawn from experience.
Historically, the

poem

is

of

wisdom of Odin,

immense

value.

We

in this Part,

are taken far

and meet people no longer in a world of myth and

on
but
the firm ground of daily existence.
Customs,
speculation,
social
manners,
duties, and relations are brought before us, corresponding closely sometimes with what Tacitus wrote in the Germania
about the race in the first century, and it is seen from his descriptions
that sts. n, 17, 41, allude to what was especially characteristic of the
old Germans.
St. 155 also refers to a curious practice mentioned by
The German warriors advanced to meet their foes, like the
him.
back into

giant

real life,

Hrym

(p. 293),

with shields

the level of their lips as a

sung gently at first, letting the

lifted to

sounding board for their song.

They
sound swell out until it became like the roar of the sea, inspiring
Other customs are typically
terror and rousing their own courage.
Northern.
The word for court mentioned in st. 61 is \>ing, a name for
the great assembly or parliament of the Norsemen, which was most
Here were settled the laws of the land, and
democratic in character.
cases
were
tried with no lack of ceremony and red tape, though
private
matters frequently ended in a duel or a free fight between the two
parties.

In st. 8.4 we come to

One has descended from
love

is

the love quests of Odin, in which the

High

his height, and laid all dignity aside.

His
not even the idealised love of the mediaeval knight errant, but

like that of

There may once have been

Zeus, the pastime of the god.
in these tales of Odin and his giant wives,

some underlying motive

explaining his conduct as that of some fickle power of nature, but here
he figures only as the favourite of the skalds, the love adventurer, who
knew as well as any the chances and mischances of love. We may
imagine that our author selected one of these skaldic poems which
contained the famous story of how Odin won the art of poesy for men

by making love to the giantess Gunnlod, but unfortunately

for the

dignity of the god, he included also the other episode with Billing's
But here, too, he may be intending to record one of the
daughter.

most important incidents

of Vali, Baldr's avenger.

in

Eddie mythology, which led to the birth

have allusion in the Edda (pp. 159, 243)

We

THE POETIC EDDA.

xxvm

Saxo Grammaticus tells more fully of

to Odin's courtship of Rind.
his ardent wooing in a story which so closely resembles the above as to
suggest that Billing's nameless daughter is Rind, although the one is
seemingly of dwarf Rind, the other, according to Saxo, a giantess.*
The tale of this crafty maiden, who thrice outwitted Odin, is here told
in delicately suggestive scenes,

enlivened by amused disappointment or

passionate regret, according as

we choose

to regard

it.

For the explanation

although, as usual,

any interpretation

we
is

of the other story Snorri's help is required,

find a myth so disguised by later additions that

doubtful.

In the peace treaty between JEsir and

the gods created a wise being called Kvasir, who was slain by
certain dwarfs, and from whose blood was brewed the mead of poetic

Wanes

inspiration called Soul-stirrer.

Gunnlod

to

This passed into the hands of Suttung,

of his daughter

who gave it into the care

Odin, in
guard deep down in the earth.

a giant of the underworld,

the character of

Bale-worker, hired himself to Suttung's brother, and was promised the

mead as his wage. He must fetch it, however, for himself, and after
boring his way through the rock with Rati, the awl, he gained admit-

Three nights he lay with her, and three draughts

she gave him of the mead, in which he drank the whole.
Then,
tance to Gunnlod.

disguised as an eagle, he bore it safely to Asgarth, despite the giant

followed so hard after him that a few drops of the precious liquid

who

were spilt, and thenceforth deemed worthy only for the makers of
Snorri does not finish the story, nor tell how the Frostbad poetry.
came
storming to Asgarth knowing that Bale-worker was there
giants
who had stolen the mead. It was thus that poesy was won for gods
and men, and was given the name so often used by skalds, " Odin's
"
"
"
or
and thus, as ever, a great power is first
craft
Odin's drink
found in possession of the Jotuns, and must be won by the gods before
In Soul-stirrer we meet with the most
it becomes serviceable to man.
ideas
a
drink
primitive
producing a divine madness is found among
and
familiar
is the notion that intellectual or spiritual
many peoples,
can
be
gained by drinking the blood of their owners.
powers
Odin's discourse is now broken off by the writer of Part II., who
states that while listening in the most sacred spot, the Well of Weird,
he was able to see and near what went on in the world of men and in
the High One's hall, where Odin was giving instruction to a mythical
;

'

Mr. A. F. Major has pointed

out that this theory of Rydoerg's has some foundation.

INTRODUCTION.
But the Well of Weird is the
poet called Loddfafnir or Stray Singer.
fount of Wisdom, known to all poets and seers, a secret place of
communion with the divine, where all the strands of life present, past,
and future

and the writer

merely claiming divine

He
authority for his words by the use of mythological language.
describes inspired moments when things hidden to others were made
known to him. The counsel to Stray Singer is of much the same
are revealed,

is

character us the last set of maxims, though in expression they seem

less archaic.
Especially when compared with strophes such as 80-82,
84, 86, they

sound more

like skaldic verses

than the saws of old time,

charms of st. 136.

In the
Very different in tone is the solemn opening of Part III.
midst of halt-humorous, half-serious words of warning and advice, a
recital of love tales and charms, we come suddenly upon this awful and

which are again heard in the

mysterious scene of a god offering himself in sacrifice upon the World

Tree in order to attain the maturity of his wisdom and power.

The whole passage

is full

of mystery,

which we have not attempted

Nor is this
to elucidate by rearrangement or ingenious translations.
the place to discuss the vexed question as to whether (with all the
earlier authorities) in

some old and mystic legend we are entering the

heathendom, or whether (with Bugge, Meyer, Golther)

it is merely a scene borrowed from the Christian sacrifice, where Tree
There is no other
and spear must be identified with cross and lance.
record of the deed in Northern mythology except an old song from the
very sanctuary of

Shetland

whether

quoted by Bugge in confirmation of his own theory

genuinely archaic we cannot say

Isles,
it is

Nine days he hang pa da rutless tree,

For ill wis da folk, in gud wis lie.
A bludy maet wis in his side,

Made wi

a lance

'at

wid na hide.

Nine lang nichts in da nippin rime

Hang he dare wi' his neked limb.

Some dey

leuch,

Bitt idders gret.

This, without doubt,

*

On

p. 166.

is

a description of the crucifixion, but leads

the discovery of this song, see article by

Dr. Karl Blmd, Saga Book,

vol.

.,

THE POETIC EDDA.

xxx
to

no conclusion as to which of the two has borrowed

The

the other.

sacrifice depicted

resembles in

its

details

from

points the human

may take that of

many

were offered to Odin.

In this, if we
Vikar
in
described
c.
Gautreks
S.,
King
7, as typical, the victim was
on
the
branch
of
a
tree
and
stabbed
with a spear, which is as
hung
associated
with
Odin
as
the
hammer
with Thor.*
intimately
There will be better hope of an explanation of this passage, or at
least of more fruitful .result, when the discussion no longer centres
around the exact meaning of Yggdrasil, and of the " windy tree."
The labours of research will then perhaps be given to finding the
origin of a strange and world-wide legend, without which no mythology
This legend, in outline, is of a god call him Odin,
seems complete.
Baldr, Osiris, Ishtar, Adonis who must be sacrificed or voluntarily die
in order that he may rise again in fulness of power, or even give place
Sometimes it is clear that he typifies the beneficent
to some new god.
powers of nature, whether as the sun or the spring or summer fruitful-

sacrifices that

ness

but occasionally, as here, his significance

is

more doubtful.

When

our knowledge of comparative mythology is extended, and when

all these legends have been arranged in due order, beginning with the
early superstitious rite of savages, ending with the reinterpreted idea of
philosophy,

some

rightful place will then be claimed for the

myths of

Baldr and of Odin.

The
Runes.

sacrifice of the

By

this

word

is

god was made

for the sake of attaining the

usually understood the letters of the old Ger-

meaning must have been something

"
it was
especially
all danger whosoAs civilisation advanced and the art
ever whispered or chanted them.
of writing was learned, these charms were inscribed in characters cut
in stone or wood, and thus seemed to lend to the characters themselves
The transmission of thought by writing must have
a magic power.
seemed strange and supernatural to the uninitiated, and the name of
runes was soon applied to letters of the alphabet.
Among many nations of the past there has been a lawful and
unlawful use of the supernatural, a distinction between "white magic"
and " black magic." To the latter class belonged the evil spells which
manic alphabet, but

its

earliest

"
in the ear
rounded
softly spoken, whispered, or
used for those metrical charms which preserved from
;

* See " Cult

of Otkin," by

H. M. Chudwick.

INTRODUCTION.

xxxi

one man wrought for the destruction of another (st. 150).

Such
of
in
was
the
sin
the
old
ethical
code
of
practice
magic
unpardonable
the Germans, and was punished by burning. According to Saxo, Odin
himself was banished for a while from Asgarth because he won Rind,
his giant wife, by magic craft.
But the use of supernatural power was
permitted in prayer, or in the divine rites performed by priests and in
this passage runes also seem to have been a lawful agent through which
a power above nature could be compelled and used by the individual.
Kauffmann suggests that runes of this kind were mystic names for
objects which expressed their essence and being, and which gave con;

trol

over nature to the initiated.

In strophes 138, 139, are recorded Odin's attainment of three

kinds of wisdom upon which he grew and throve: I, the runes; 2,

Mimir's wisdom, for which he pledged his eye

3, Soul-stirrer, the
of song.
With regard to the last it is clear that we have here
;

mead
some

A passage
variant and perhaps older myth than that of 103-108.
in the heroic poem of Sigrdrifumal, although it cannot be fully
explained, throws suggestive lights on the subject, and shows the
intimate connection.of the threefold

wisdom and the purpose

of Odin's
Hoddrofnir that is, a
draught from Mimir's well Odin is said to have read, graved, and
Then they were cut off and mingled with
thought out the runes.
"
sent on far ways, where they
Soul-stirrer, or the gift of song, and
are found with the gods, and found with the elves, some with Wanes,
and some with men."
In the different accounts there seems to be one
fundamental idea. By self-sacrifice and toil Odin drew a shapeless and
unordered knowledge from nature upon which he grew and throve, and
then gave it back through the medium of his divinity interpreted and
sacrifice.

With the help

rendered serviceable to

of moisture from

It is unlikely that the earliest

beings.
thinkers ever arrived at a defined notion of this kind, but they uttered
in the language of fairy tale their belief that the gods were saving,
ordering powers who stood between them and nature.
all

With

the spells which begin in st. 145 there is change of tone and
St. 158,
style, suggesting that they belong to a once separate poem.
where Odin can hardly be the speaker, seems to confirm this view.

"
"
nine mighty rune-songs
to supply the
alluded to in st. 139, although eighteen are thus given.
The songs
mentioned below, whose words are unknown, must have been such as

The second poem was added

those sung by Groa to Day-spring

(p. 159),

or like the old Merseburger

THE POETIC EDDA.

xxxn
Spruche, which
this

is

found

in a

Odin or Wodan heals the

German MS.

of the tenth century.

foot of Baldr's foal, singing

Bone

to bone,
limb to limb as

In

blood to blood,
if

they were limed.

seems the utterance of the poet himself, if Mullenhoffs

explanation is correct, that Folk-stirrer is the dwarf who day by day is
surprised and vanquished by the dawn, and who in some wondrous
song of praise announces the conquering powers of light and life. The
St. 158

poet himself claims knowledge of this mystic song to give dignity to

his

own.

The reappearance

st. 162 is a clumsy device of

and st. 164 an epilogue such as
those with which skalds were wont to end their recitals.

the author to unite

of Stray Singer in

th.e different parts,

THE LAY OF HYMIR.

Hymiskvtya has been chosen to introduce

and

illustrate

the

character of Thor, because it shows him in truer though less familiar

aspect than the famous Lay of Thrym.

Two,
first

or perhaps three, motives are combined in this lay.

The
how Thor fetches the great cauldron for the gods to

recounts

drink.

They

are

all

assembled, after their hunting expedition, to

consult the oracle, and learn where they shall make their banquet.
According to old Germanic custom the twigs, which have been sprinkled
with sacrificial blood and graven with runes, are cast on a cloth, and by
the manner of their falling it is shown to the gods that they will find
It is a momentous occasion, for not only
plenty in the halls of ygir.
have they chosen their banqueting-room for all time, but they must win
the alliance of the wild sea-giant -fligir, who from henceforth will be
His
numbered among them ;t\nke gd of ocean in its gentler moods.
who
and
catches
drowned
men
in
her
fierce wife Ran,
rem^atuiostile

known to skald^tters^so his nine children, the waves.

Thor, a strange ambassaW the peace, is sent to greet the giant,
who is found sitting on the rofc^l, a di"e in proud contemplation of his
daughters, the merry, sparkling^ter clas tumbling one over the other
in their sport, when his peace
by the harsh voice of the
r\
Small wonder
'or the gods.
Thunderer demanding the wealth cv
net, is well

that he takes offence, and bids them^"^-

cauldron for their drink.

INTRODUCTION.

xxxni

As usual, the wants of the gods must be supplied by the Jotuns

the only kettle large enough is in possession of the Frost-giant Hymir.
Who shall be sent on this new errand but much-enduring Thor ? He
"
kinsman of giants," but elsesets forth with Tyr, who is here called
;

where the son of Odin, though perhaps only one of the chosen sons of
Speedily they harness Thor's famous goats Toothand
Tooth-grinder, and swiftly they drive to the borders of
gnasher
Giant-land where the rumbling car and goats must be left behind,
while they cross the river which flows between Asgarth and Jotunheim,
The Frost-giant refuses to give up
and fare on foot to Hymir's halls.

the War-father.

Thor has proved his might by breaking a cup of

wondrous strength, and this the god, not without help from the friendly
Thus, having won the cauldron, Thor and Tyr
wife, at last performs.

the great kettle until

return to the banquet.

But while they are

still

in

Jotunheim another episode

is

introduced

that of Thor's fishing expedition. He has consumed all Hymir's store

of provisions with an appetite like that which he displays in the courts

Thrym, and therefore volunteers to go fishing the next day. In a

manner characteristic of the god, whose deeds are all on colossal scale,
he fares to the wood and slays the biggest ox he can find, called Heavenhitter, to provide the fishing bait. Thor has designs upon a nobler prey
than mere fish or even whales, and he compels the reluctant giant to
row further and further out to sea but Snorri, who has already supplied some of the particulars, must be allowed to describe this incident
"
in his graphic manner
They made such way that soon Hymir said
that they had reached the place where he was wont to stop and fish.
But Thor was fain to row much further, and they fared swiftly onward

of

with vigorous strokes. Presently Hymir said that they were so far out
now that it would be perilous to stay on account of the great World

But still Thor declared that he

Serpent, called Midgarth's Worm.
must row on a while and did so, while the giant waxed sullen and was
filled with gloom.
At length Thor laid up his oars, and made ready a
fishing line exceedingly strong, with a
less strong.
it

He

baited

sank to the bottom.

it

hook no slighter and not a whit

it overboard, where

with the ox-head and cast

Now

in truth,

it

may be

said, that the

World

Serpent was beguiled, for he opened wide his jaws and gaped at the
As soon as he became
ox-head, and the hook stuck fast in his gums.
aware of this, he lashed out and tugged so furiously that Thor's hands
Then was the Thunderer wroth.
He girt him
slid over the gunwale.

E E

THE POETIC EDDA.

xxxiv

with all his pod's might, and stamped so hard that with both his feet
he leapt through the bottom of the boat, and found himself standing
on the ground. He pulled the monster up to the gunwale, and it may
well be said that none has ever seen a more fearful sight than this
when Thor set eyes on the serpent, and the serpent glared back at him
'Tis said that Hymir changed
from below and breathed out poison.
hue and grew pale, for he was appalled when he beheld the serpent
and saw the waves flowing into the boat.
At the very moment when

hammer aloft, the giant groped for his knife and cut
twain over the side, and the serpent sank back into the sea.
Thor threw his hammer after it and, some say, struck his head off, but
others say, with truth, that the World Serpent still lives and lies

Thor

raised his

the line

in

beneath the sea."

Snorri goes on to tell how Thor slew the giant,
which would not have suited our present author's design, who, as
already noticed, completes the first story and introduces an episode
to which Snorri refers, another of Thor's adventures, which occurred
when he was on his way to Utgarth-loki. He had stopped for the
night at a peasant's (probably Egil, mentioned in st. 5) where, as usualhe killed his goats for the evening meal, but ordered the bones to be
The peasant's son, however, broke one to get
carefully preserved.
at the marrow, and in the morning when Thor brought his goats to
life again by hallowing the bones with his hammer, one of the animals
The peasant trembled when he saw the
was found to be lame.
Thunderer grow wroth, and draw his bushy brows down over his eyes.
In atonement he was obliged to give his children, Thialfi the Digger
and Roskva the Swift One, to be thenceforth the servants of Thor. In
the poem, st. 39, this takes place on the return journey with the
cauldron.

At first sight the Lay of Hymir seems to have lost its connection
with mythology and to be a mere fairy tale about giants who are real
giants, and heroes with human appetites and human passions. Common
fairy tale motives are introduced, such as the good wife who conceals

The writer scarcely

guests from her husband and betrays his secrets.
artistic
or
a
humorous
his
from
point of view, but, like
story
regards
of
air
he
tells
it
with
a
some child,
conviction, and a delight in
simple
the incidents which obscure the original nature myth. But the outlines
of this nature myth may still be traced, the more clearly because of
It is the story
the faithful repetition of strange and impossible facts.
of how the god of Thunder goes to release the storm clouds from their

INTRODUCTION.
winter bondage and brings them into

summer showers

of rain.

xxxv

summer

Explanation might

filled

with

also be found for

some

realms,

the cup which had to be broken is perhaps the icebut there is so much which is mere fancy that further

of the details

bound sea

It is mainly through combining

interpretation becomes dangerous.
the separate adventures of Thor that the poet has secured for his fairy
tale a high place among the mythological poems.
For, whether

consciously or unconsciously,
picture of Thor, the god.

he has given us the most complete

The

latter, as son of Odin and Jord, 'is the offspring of Heaven

and Earth, and his character is twofold human and divine.
Thor,
whose name is derived from \unor (thunder), shows himself to men in
the aspect of a heaven god when they hear the rushing of his chariot
wheels in the storm, and in the lightning see the swift blow of his
hammer; for, like Indra, Zeus, and Jupiter, he is armed with the
destructive thunderbolt.
But though terrible in his might, he is feared

only by

evil beings.

To

those

who

ally

themselves with the gracious

gods his appearance is ever welcome, for it means that the winter
powers are dispersed, and in his fierce accents they hear the promise of
summer rain. Among the gods he is protector of Asgarth and MidThe giant forces of nature quail before him, and even Loki,
garth.
the elusive fire-demon, is obedient to his word.
In such form he is

shown in the myth of the cloud cauldron.

But Thor is rightly called by the poets a " Son of Earth."
He is
the most human of all the gods, a Hercules in Old Norse mythology,
who is continually exerting himself in the service of man. We can
see his mighty form striding over the wastes of Jotunheim, where
demand his presence.

endless labours and conflicts with the giants

Rude

featured, with gleaming eyes beneath his bushy brows, with

quivering red beard, clad in toil-worn garb, for ever attempting the

impossible

to

unbind earth, to empty ocean, to conquer old age, he

is

alike glorious in victory and defeat. It is this figure which is presented

to us in Thor's fishing adventure, and in the various incidents of the

One after another, he proves himself equal to the tests of the

he
giant
unaided, he lands the boat, and bears home
slays the oxen
the tackle and the whales
he breaks the cup, and finally carries off
poem.

the cauldron.
of

But

all

these are only stupendous

mere physical strength and daring

failure to

human

yet more human

catch the World Serpent and in his baffled
;

is

tasks, proofs

Thor

in his

rage, which

is

THE POETIC EDDA.

rather than godlike.
Perhaps it was this weakness, this
to
the
for
striving
perform
impossible, and inability to admit defeat
once again Thor met with the Serpent that appealed to the Old
childish

Norse seafarers and peasants, and made him their favourite among
the gods.

Not only is this myth characteristic of the North, but also the
manner in which it is told or rather pictured in scenes, while the curtain
is allowed to drop over all the uninteresting details.
With the Saga
writers a national method of story-telling grew into a self-conscious,
but they never surpassed the poet of Hymir's Lay in
The entrance of the Frost-giant, with the
impressionistic realism.
artistic

style,

sudden blast of the wintry

sudden, too, and alarming is the fall of the row of mighty
cauldrons, and the shivering of the ice cup into a thousand pieces.
clinging to his beard,

icicles

storm

is

like the

But most striking of all is the majestic picture of the Thunderer as he

strides forth with the great cloud kettle upon his head.
It is one
which Carlyle loved to recall: "Thor, after many adventures, clapping
the pot on his head like a huge hat, and walking off with it quite lost
in it, the ears of the pot reaching down to his heels
a kind of vacant
hugeness, large

enormous

awkward gianthood,

characterises that Norse system

force, yet altogether untutored, stalking helpless with uncer-

tain strides."

The language

of the poem is rude

words and sentences are illthe
use
of
make
and
it difficult to translate
strung,
clumsy epithets
But in the original
without losing its almost savage vigour and life.
the strength and simplicity have a wild attractive power, and render it
a favourite in Northern literature.
;

THE LAY OF THRYM.

In Thrymskvij>a we come to one of the best known and best sung
the Scandinavian myths. Strong and vigorous like Thor striding
into Jotunheim, crisp and clear as a northern snow-scene in the

of

all

sunlight, this narrative

very perfect of its kind, and needs

Like the more modern Saga writers, the

poem

is

but little explanation.

author shows an appreciation of the

Scandinavian literature which appear

spirit

in the

and peculiar qualities ol

of Hymir.
But his

Lay

INTRODUCTION.
;iri;nigement

and choice of

details

made with more conscious

is

design.

He

handles his subject as an artist, and plays with it as a humourist

throughout retaining a simplicity and rudeness which is strong, but
never crude.
;

Thor

discovered in helpless plight, his red beard quivering in

impotent rage, a Thunder-god searching vainly for his thunder-hammer,
" which the
Frost-giants and Mountain-giants well know when they
is

it
uplifted, and small wonder, for
their forefathers and their kindred."

see

many a head has it broken of

But now it is stolen, and none

must be told the dire secret except Loki, the mischievous fire-god and
all messengers, who on this occasion uses his cunning
in the service of the gods, and soon discovers the lost treasure.
The
hammer, like the thunderbolt of superstition, which is silent during
the winter months, is deep hidden below the earth in the keeping of

the swiftest of

the Frost-giant

Thrym

nor will he surrender

it

until

he has seen the

Spring-goddess Freyja coining as bride to his dark realms like the

sunshine which she impersonates. He. has never yet beheld the bright

fair

maiden, though he

may have heard

stolen, she will refuse to

Thor

her light footfall overhead.

hastens to her court and bids her at once put on her bridal
dreaming that, with Asgarth in danger and the precious

go meekly into Jotunheim.

But she

veil,

not

hammer
is

not so

into a rage as god-like as that of Thor himself

poor
when the great sea-serpent refused to be caught upon his fish-hook.
Thor must himself fetch the hammer. Then Heimdal who, though
spirited,

and

flies

one of the warlike

as wise

and

far-seeing as the Wanes,

counsels that Thor should deceive the Frost-giant disguised as Freyja.
In this scene one can almost hear the laugh that goes through Asgarth
JEsir,

is

at the rueful picture of the

feminine

trifles,

Thunderer thus decked with jewels and

draped in woman's weeds.
Thrym

his sturdy figure

seems to accept

his strange bride without expressing surprise, perhaps

because Frost-giants and Spring-goddesses have seldom a chance of
But Thor can control his appetite as little as his temper,
meeting.

He wonders

and the giant wonders much

at its capacity.

when he stoops

and sees beneath the

to kiss her,

veil

yet more
those flaming

The wedding, however, must

bushy brows.
The hammer which hallowed the wedding feast of man

eyes, half hidden by the

be completed.
is

brought forth, and Thor seizing

it becomes once more the

god
announced by the crashing thunder peal.
This poem is worthy of all praise for its realism and humour

summer

and

is first

but

THE POETIC EDDA.

xxxviii
it is

responsible, with others of

its

kind, for the comic, even ridiculous

In the ruder Lay of Hymir

figure which has always passed for Thor.
the heroic outlines of the god are more clearly discerned.
The nature
be
if
would
Thor
and his
unrecognisable,
myth too, suggested above,
hammer had not elsewhere played such parts. Mjollnir is one of the
A belief in it was not conmythical treasures forged by the dwarfs.
fined to Old Norse mythology, for it appears in many traditions and
fairy tales of

Germany.

Two
st. 3,

other famous objects are mentioned

and her necklace called Brisinga-men in

Freyja's feather coat in

If the story of

st. 12.

might prove to be one of the most

mythology.
undoubtedly old, though it may not, as
Miillenhoff suggests, date back to Indo-Germanic times.
It was

the last could be reconstructed,

poetical in

known

it

It is

it being in
Beowulf, and
as the property of Frigg.
In
the S6rla)?attr we have the following story
Once Freyja, mistress
of Odin, spied a necklace lying in a cave.
It was the work of certain

in

England, the

in

earliest reference to

Denmark, where Saxo mentions

it

dwarfs, perhaps the Brisings, and

when she looked

at

it

she longed to

possess
They promised to give it her if she would stay with them
four nights, and this she did.
Odin was angry when he discovered it,
and caused Loki to steal the necklace from her chamber, and would
it.

back to her on condition that she stirred up war between

whence the legend of the " Everlasting Battle."
The poet
Ulf Uggason tells in the following lines of the battle between Loki
"
The famous and skilled one of the bridge of the
and Heimdal
Powers (Bifrost) wrestled with the evil and cunning son of Farbauti
only give

two

it

kings,

(Loki) at Singastone, ere the mighty son of nine mothers gained the
shining necklace of sea-stones."

What is the meaning of this fragmentary tale ? The shining

necklace must have been a symbol of light, especially the light cast
can scarcely venture, like some critics,
upon the ocean waves.

We

to

define

rainbow.*

it

moon, the morning and evening star, or the

belonged to the Sun goddess, whether called Freyja,

as
It

the

Frigg (wife of the heaven god), or Gefjon, for that the three were
originally one is suggested by the frequent confusion between them, in
Saxo, in S6rla)?attr, and in Ls., st. 20, 21.
Norse tradition is th property of Freyja,

But Brisinga-men

who

is

in

Old

also called Mardoll,

* See
Z./.d. A. 30, p. 220; (Bugge) Arkivf.n.fil. IV., p. 121

E. Mogk,

p. 140.

INTRODUCTION.

xxxix

or Sea-shining, and Menglod, the Necklace-glad.

Freyja loses her
back
of
wins
it
for her in some
necklace, and Heimdal, the god
light,

which was possibly confused with the last fight

between Loki and Heimdal at the Doom of the gods, or it may have
given rise to this latter incident, which is only told by Snorri. Mtillenconflict with darkness,

myth of Brisinga-men through the story of Hildr and

heroic lays which belong to more recent times.
and
other
Hogni,

hoff pursues the

THE STORY OF

SKIRNIR.

The Song

of Skirnir, like those of Thrym and Hymir, is a simple

It is full of sentiment,
narrative poem, but less severe in its outlines.

and even romantic in its love motive, while a soft-tinted nature myth
still clings to it, and lends a mysticism which is absent in the others.
It is the spring-time, and Frey, the lord of light and heat, longs
to embrace Gerd, the fair earth, and to draw her away from her father's
wintry halls, that together they may bring forth the rich summer fruits.
Whom shall he send as his herald but Skirnir, the Light-bringer, to
bear the

greeting of the Sun to Earth after the long winter

the North ?
But Earth is wilful and reluctant hardly will

first

darkness

in

She

she forsake her frost-bound halls.

caresses

and

warmth

The

Sun grows fierce and impatient, and her

him who had once seemed as alien to her as the

bribes, until the

heart melts in love to

sunr.'mer

dallies with the first tender

story

is

to the winter cold.

told in true Northern fashion in a series of dramatic

Frey, discovered alone in the hall, wandering aimless and

and refusing speech with his kind Skirnir, holding speech
with his horse, sustaining his courage in the fear and mystery of the

scenes

love-sick,

night journey; his parley with Gerd in words aflame with such passion
that one sees his slight form quivering, and hears his voice rise higher
and higher as he passes from gentle pleading to fierce denunciation.

The

curse itself pictures the hell of Northern belief, which is

It is a
widely different from the fiery kingdom of other mythologies.
far stretching waste, hemmed in by snow-clad mountains, bleak and
cold, dark

and desolate of

all

inhabitants save three-headed monsters

or eagles rending corpses, and the

and

fro,

and binding

all

dim form

things in their

of Frost-giants stalking to
Small wonder
chains of ice.

THE POETIC EDDA.

XL

Gerd

threatened with raving madness in this lonely land,

without speech with human kind, without love, without the good cheer
which gladdens winter in the North.
that

There

is

are,

however, indications that this poem is not exclusively

The romance and sentiment are more fully

Icelandic or Norwegian.

expressed than is usual. One or two familiar forms and objects suggest
that the author had a knowledge of international literature, and the
best known motives of legend and mythology.
There is the watcher

who greets Skirnir, the newcomer, and demands the reason of his
coming magic, flickering flames are one of the perils of the way the
sword which he borrowed from Frey must have been one like that in
;

Beowulf, or that of Sigurd or other ancient weapons, forged with

magic craft, and graven with stories of old battles and runes of protection and victory.
The golden apples of youth, which were the

property of Idun, and either borrowed or stolen by Skirnir, are Fcarcely

known to the Edda, though mentioned by Snorri. They were a fruit

known in Norway and Iceland, and the poet, it seems, also has
been borrowing, perhaps from the golden apples of the Hesperides.
More peculiar to the North is another object, the ring Draupnir,
little

which was forged by the dwarfs.

It belongs to Odin, and the allusion
All the different treasures are
shows that Baldr is already slain.
and
of
other beneficent powers, and
light, growth, fertility,
symbols
the passing of them from hand to hand is commonly found in the
myths of polytheism, where no god is ever truly individualised, but is
apt to melt away in shadowy outlines, assuming the form and attributes of some other god, unless indeed, like Thor, he has become so
anthropomorphic as to have

lost already something of his god-head.

the
hero
of
the
Frey,
story, was better known in Sweden than in
There he was worshipped as the highest god
other northern lands.
;

temples were

built,

and yearly

sacrifices

were offered to him.

Frey's
more noticeable in

though perhaps less evident in folk-lore, is

He was especially regarded as the patron
history than that of Odin.
Snorri
of harvests, and in this aspect he is known to the Eddas.
"
says:
Frey rules over the rain, and the shining of the sun and the
Hence the symbols of fertility and
growth of fruits in the ground."
Skirnir
is
which
allowed
to
lipht
carry with him, and hence too the
of
Elf-home
to
where
the elf-folk work his kindly will
Frey,
gods' gift
cult,

in nature (see

Grm.,

is

He

apparent.

is

st. 5).

In this

the Sun-god

poem

his

who awakens

more

original character

earth out of her winter

INTRODUCTION.
sleep, too

weak

XLI

at first to melt her frozen heart

(st.

4)

and Skirnir

The sword
now lost for

not merely his messenger, but himself in disguise.

beam which he sent as gift to the earth maiden is

is

or sun-

ever to

At Ragnarok he
the gods, and in the possession of their giant foes.
But here, as everywhere,
will seek for it in vain (see Lok., st. 42).
is a discrepancy between the myth and its nature interpretation
the symbol in the one must pass away, but year by year the power of
which it is the emblem will be renewed.

there

DAY-SPRING AND MENGLOD.

Gr6galdr and Fjolsvinnism&l are found
older than the seventeenth century, as
have been associated for many reasons.

in several MSS., none

two separate poems, but they

The one without

the other

is

together they give a story which is told in a Danish

fragmentary
"
ballad of the sixteenth century called
Young Svendal." In the first
hero
the
is
forth
in the
starting
upon a dangerous mission
part
;

second he has accomplished his journey, and arrived upon the scene of
No details are given of the perils
action, where he attains his object.
of the way, but

it

not even necessary to assume that the strophes

lost, for a sudden dramatic opening, a swift

is

recounting them have been

passing over of incidents, are sufficiently common in the Edda, and

"
Then Day-spring
require only some brief line of explanation, such as

Here and there are found connecting

fared into Jotunheim."

links

The object of search in Part I. is menglofrtm,

between the poems.
those joyous with necklaces (st. 4)
and Day-spring, in Part II., wins
If, as most authorities take it, both are
Menglo\>, the Necklace-glad.
;

In st. 14 is prophesied'
proper names, the identification is complete.
with
the
warder
Much-wise.
The same
Day-spring's dispute
giant
motive runs through the whole action, which from beginning to end is
ruled by destiny.

In

4 of Part I. and st. 47 of Part II. this is

issue must follow fate," "The doom of Weird

st.

openly expressed "The

may no wight withstand."

more

clearly, in

In no

poem

is

the

Weird motive heard

work in obedience to

none

is it

more

often

met

in fairy tales as the princess

distinctly seen to

natural law.

Menglod
glass

is

mountain, and

is

won by a

princely lover

who

sits

on a

but with the help of

F F

THE POETIC EDDA.

XLII

"

the story can be reconstructed in its more original

Day-spring has been sent by his step-mother to seek Menglod,

Young Svendal,"

form.

fair giant-maiden who owns a shining necklace, and is of such

renown that she has long been sought by lovers in vain.
Day-spring
comes for help to his own mother's grave, and stands calling her at
the doorway, for she has promised to aid him with the wisdom of the
dead.
She comes forth reluctantly, like all who are compelled by love
or enchantments to re-enter their old haunts, and standing at the gates
of the tomb, she sings him magic songs to render him victorious in all
bonds shall not hold him, foes
the difficulties which lie before him
shall not slay him, bitter frosts on the mountains, storms on the sea,
mists on the night journey, even the spirits of dead women shall not
dismay him one thing alone can hinder his desire, the doom of
The charms which
Weird, which nor gods nor men can withstand.
she sings are rune songs, such as Odin knew, and one which he had
even used to win his giant-wife Rind.
This scene between Gr6a and
her son is characteristic of the attitude of the Old Norsemen towards
their dead, who were still regarded as a power for good or evil in their
lives, and whose constant presence among the living was loved or

an occurrence different in kind

This supernatural influence had to
from the ordinary events of life.
be met with one of a corresponding nature
hence the charms and
in
which
men
used
one
runes
another
and to combat
cut
against
spells
feared, but never a matter of wonder, or

difficulties.

Here ends the

first

fragment

before the opening of the second a

long interval has elapsed, during which Day-spring has endured untold
He
perils, and prevailed through the spell songs of his mother.

moreover, though this incident is veiled in mystery, met with

She sits waiting for him
Menglod (st. 5 and 49), and has lost her.

has,

on the mountain
seeking

top,

with

her,

come back and he is

he can break down every
The next scene opens abruptly Day-spring

knowing that he

the

assurance

will

that

between them.
In the
has arrived in the gloom of night at his journey's end.
dim flickering light of magic flames he sees the giants' hall rising up
before him, and in front, passing to and fro, is outlined the dark figure
barrier

The ring of fire has here a deeper signification than

of the warder.
the wonted circle through which the princes of romance had to pass to
it is inherent in the myth.
their princess
Day-spring hails Much;

wise the watcher, and

is

refused admittance

but he will not

now

turn

INTRODUCTION.

XLIII

almost within sight, and he stands conversing with

Much-wise under the assumed name of Wind-cold.
Gradually he

back, his love

is

leads up to a revelation of his true name, before which all barriers will
and leave the way open to Menglod, his beloved, who is destined
for him alone.
He questions Much-wise concerning all that lies in
fall

and one by one, interwoven, the obstacles are seen.

the fiery ring of flames, and round the castle a huge rockwall with but one entrance, the barred gate called Sounding-clanger.
Yggdrasil, the tree of life and fate, stands overshadowing all things
front of him,

Outside

is

boughs sits Golden-comb or Wood-snake, the cock whom the

giants watch in dread, for when he crows their Doom will be at hand.
Fierce dogs are guarding the courts, and can be eluded only when
but Wood-snake himself can be
feasting on Wood-snake's wings
slain by a magic wand alone, which is in the keeping of the giantess
Sinmara, and she will not lend it except for a tail feather from that
same cock. Thus the chain of difficulties is complete. But still Day-

and

in its

spring asks concerning Ember, the flaming hall, built by wondrous

beings (of whom we know only Loki the fire-god and Delling the dwarf
of dawn), until he comes to Menglod herself. A contrast to the ruthless
spirit of

Old Norse

literature

and

to all other descriptions in the

Edda

gracious woman, waiting and yearning

in heart for her lover, but shedding meantime contentment and peace
on those around.
Day-spring at last reveals his name, and they meet
"
like the lovers of all time, first with trembling doubt,
Will she have
"
me?" and "-Is it he? then with the certainty that they have known
and have been destined for one another through all eternity.
The whole scene is so complete in its human passion that it seems
is

this patient figure

a tender,

almost superfluous to ask for any further interpretation but those

which suggest themselves are so natural and fitting that, just seen,
they fade away in delicate ethereal colours, and form a background of
;

opalescent light.

The underlying

allegory which Cassel suggests is not wholly false,

far-fetched
in some of its details.
The idealist sets forth in
although
search of perfect love and beauty, which he sees far off on some high

mountain

top,

able to those
to

him who

and longs to gain.

who

with them

The

difficulties

appear insurmount-

the spirit of worldly wisdom, but

follows the true instincts of his heavenly nature they give
strive

in

way, and he attains.

Much

also

may be

said for the view

which sees

in this

myth only

THE POETIC EDDA.

XLIV

another presentation of that concerning Gerd and Skirnir, the oftIf, howrepeated wooing of the imprisoned earth by a summer god.
ever, the interpretation lies in natural

suggested by the names.

It is

phenomena,

it

must be the one

a radiant light picture

Day-spring or

Day-hastener, child of Sun-bright, comes as Wind-cold (the cool, fresh

breeze which springs up at dawn), to wed Menglod on the mountain
while she, the bright sun goddess and her shining necklace are
tops
;

known to us as Freyja and Brisinga-men. The sudden revealing

of Day-spring is that earliest moment in the dawn which can be called
Still a few moments pass before Sun herself
day rather than night.
well

comes, and the inevitable meeting takes place between her and the
No myth so poetical and so fitting could be told of this union,
Day.
as that of

two predestined

souls.

We

cannot well compare the poem or associate it with any other

in the Edda.
It is different in spirit, more romantic, more tender,
with a passion which cannot be limited to any one age or locality.
it is of late origin.
The writer makes
"
of
the
of
use
the
known
as
kenning,"
peculiar type
synonym
frequent
in which some other person or object is employed to represent and
describe the particular one in view.
The name of a god or goddess

Everything tends to show that

serves often as a general term for man or woman ; thus Eir (st. 28),
who in the Prose Edda is a goddess of healing, means only a fair

The old mythology had

in the present case a giantess.
become a conventional system, technical rather than imaginative and
names which once belonged to personal beings had lapsed into mere

woman,

words expressing abstract

of importance here, for it

qualities.

The

possible that
in
this
St. 18, as
be explained
light.

Golden-comb, who
wives

passage

but
is

if

the

is

question of poetic diction is

many difficult passages could

we have

given

it,

alludes to

announce Doom to all giants and giantand Sinmara must be retained, the
Not only in language
any modern reader.

will first

names

meaningless to

of Surt

and sentiment does the writer stand apart from the other poets of
mythology, but his knowledge of its most famous objects is defective
The mistletoe which Loki plucked (st. 26) seems conand obscured.
fused with Golden-comb and the Doom of the World the cock itself,
who has his station in the scene of dawn, resembles the Christian
symbol of watchfulness, whose cry dispels the power of darkness. The
description of Yggdrasil, with its fruits which are instrumental in the
birth of men, is so different from the old Tree of life and fate that some
;

INTRODUCTION.

XLV

have denied their identity.

The nature myth itself seems to
wear a modern garb, quite unlike the old-fashioned and improbable
critics

stories of a less critical age.

GREYBEARD AND THOR.

Harbarj>slj6}>

is

one of the old

flyting scenes

which are so familiar

the sagas of history and romance, where hero mocked hero, hurling
frank abuse across the hall in language which might be softened, but
was little disguised by a rude strophic form.
Two such flytings are
in

recounted

one

among

the gods

in ^Egir's halls (p. 245).

the present scene, and the more famous

There is a wide difference between the

first with its mixture of prose and metre, and

the polished strophes of the second.
The wit is of a different texture.
Here it is rude and forcible, but sometimes merely abusive ; there it is

clumsy dialogue of the

No one has yet

keen, artistic, swift and sparkling as Loki himself.
been able to discover any definite principle in the metre of Harbar)?slj6j>.

We

have therefore made Thor speak in Fornyrjnslag, abrupt and

trochaic like the harsh-spoken god, while Greybeard uses the more
musical Ljo|>ahattr. As in the Song of Rig, mythology is used to outline a sketch of social life, but

once again the contrast

is

striking.

Old

world stories and nature myths serve but to illustrate topical allusions.
The gods themselves are mere exponents of different social ideals. In
treatment of their characters and in the real humour of the situation
the author redeems himself for any lack of brilliance in the dialogue,
but the

can be called nothing less, presents little attraction

may have seemed witty enough to contemporaries,
the obscure traditions of the poem, and shared the intense

skit, for it

to us, although

who knew
feeling

all

it

and bitterness which underlie its humour.

and the stories half forgotten.

For us the colours

are faded,

We

recognise certain features of history and

background, indeed, scarcely needs to be
ever present with us that of struggle between the

can, however,

mythology.
recalled, for

The
it

is

still

historical

This began at a much earlier date in

aristocracy and the people.
and
Sweden than among other mediaeval nations, and had a
Norway
more immediate and decisive result.
The Viking who had tasted the
sweets of freedom in his wild seafaring

life

refused to submit to

POETIC EDDA.

tHfe

"

" bondi
at home.
dependence when a
Tyranny had once been
enforced by the right of conquest, and feudalism strove to maintain it
by the authority of law, successfully for a while in the South, but
Strife on the battlefield, strife at the Thing, and
vainly in the North.
strife in skaldic verse between class and class was the order of the
day.

The two

on either side of the stream, though caricatures

wont to meet them, are easy to recognise.
A
weary traveller arrives on the banks of the fjord which flows between
him and his home.
Unwilling to wet himself by wading through the

of the gods as

figures

we

are

whom he spies over by the further shore.

an
old
man
with a grey beard and a tongue which
latter,
have
learned
to
might
wag more kindly, in a spirit of pure contradiction
refuses to aid the traveller.
Both reveal their names.
Greybeard
shows an intimate knowledge of the other's antecedents in the
uncomplimentary dialogue which follows, and the story ends where it
began, with Thor raging on the further shore, vainly longing to get
within reach of his tormentor, who has just described the length and
flood,

he hails a ferry-man

But the

weariness of the journey.

Thor shows the same character that

we know well in other poems.

himself
he
called
Had
by some other title he would not have escaped
recognition, and could scarce have gone in disguise as Greybeard
suggests a veiled reminder of how Thor once wore woman's weeds.
Rude in his appearance and harsh in his speech as when he met Allwise the dwarf, straightforward and simple in his thoughts and actions,
he takes literally the sneer of Greybeard when told that his mother must

He
be dead or she could scarce have thus neglected his appearance.
has just been engaged in the never-ending, somewhat thankless task, of
Many of the labours which he proudly boasts and
fighting the giants.
the failures with which he

is

Hrungnir, mentioned in st.

Old Norse mythology, and

taunted are well known.

15, is
is

The

battle with

one of the world-famed contests of

told by Snorri in Skaldskaparmal.

It

happened that the giant Hrungnir, whose name, like that of other
Jotuns, means the Sound-maker, and whose head and heart were of
stone,

had been invited

to feast with the gods in Asgarth.

There

they plied him with drink till he grew boastful and threatened to
destroy them all save Freyja and Sif, whom the giants had oft tried to
At last the gods grew weary of such mighty words and uttered
win.
the

name

of Thor,

who was then warring

in Jotunheiui.

Forthwith

INTRODUCTION.

XLVII

entered the Thunderer, all wrathful, swinging his hammer and asking,
"
Who had let a crafty Jotun drink ale with the gods? who had made
peace with Hrungnir that he was now within Valholl? and why was
"
Freyja thus filling the ale-cup as she was wont at the gods' banquet ?

Then answered Hrungnir, and looked

"

Odin bade me drink with him

Thor
his

at

Thor with no
and he

in Valholl,

is

friendly eyes,
surety for me."

moment from slaying Hrungnir, and accepted

Armed and thirsting for battle they came to the
Hrungnir with Mokkr-kalfi, a giant made out of clay,

refrained for the

challenge.

appointed spot
to support

him

on the scene

is

Thor, with his trusty servant Thjalfii.

thus described by Thjodulf

His arrival

The' son of Earth, with swelling heart,

drove forth unto the play of swords,
and Moon's path rumbled beneath him.
Before him blazed

all

the realms of space

the ground was dashed with hail, and earth rent asunder,
as the mighty-hoofed goats of his chariot

drew him

forth to the meeting with Hrungnir.

Then Baldr's brother spared not the rocky

foe,

while the mountains trembled and were cloven,

and ocean blazed.

Thor slew Hrungnir, while

Thjalfi despatched the clay giant.

a stone splinter, which stuck fast in his head.
He besought the giantess Groa to extract it by singing a charm over
him, but she forgot the charm in her joy when she heard that Thor

The god was wounded by

had brought back her lost husband, Aurvandil, in a basket from the icy
realms of the North safe except for one toe, which had been frozen
and thrown up into the sky to make the morning star.
Many incidents in this story have been interpreted by Uhland.
Hrungnir is the stony ground which vainly resists the thunder showers.
Mokkr-kalfi is the less stubborn clay, which submits to Thjalfi the
Delver Groa is nature's power to heal the rents and sears that have
been made in the storm conflict and Aurvandil, whose name belongs
to the morning star in Old English, is a summer being imprisoned in
Jotunheim during the winter, perhaps some constellation which is seen
with joy when it appears on the horizon as the herald of summer. Our
poet seems to have confused him with Thiazi (st. 19), whose death was
a yet more famous event in the chronicles of Asgarth. Thor, however,
;

THE POETIC EDDA.

XLVIII

played

little

part in

and the

it,

appearance of Idun,
redeeming the faults

in

of

full

account

Lokasenna.
other

gods

In
of

is

best reserved for the

both

incidents

Thor

is

Odin, who had invited

The deeds of st. 29, 37, 39

of Loki, who had stolen Idun.

but they were all of like nature the destruction of
their
and
St. 39 has perhaps some
yet more terrible wives.
Jotuns,
connection with Geirrod's daughters (see p. 275).
St. 26 is an allu-

Hrungnir

are

unknown

sion to one of the

most humorous of Thor's adventures which Snorri

"
it
is not well for mortals to speak of those
although
He was journeying
powers which the Thunderer could not subdue."
once with Loki and Thjalfi, whom he had just taken for his servant
recounts,

(see

p.

xxxiv.).

Utgarth-loki,

in

Presently they came unawares into the land of

the uttermost parts of the earth, and there many

befell them.
One night they sought rest in a large
and empty hall-, but about midnight they were disturbed by a great
"
Then Thor arose, and called his comrumbling and earthquake.
They groped around them, and found on the right of the
panions.
hall about half-way down an outhouse, where they entered.
Thor sat
him down in the door, while the others, who were sore afraid, went
But he kept a grip on the handle of Mjollnir, for he
further within.
So the night passed, and in the
had a mind to defend himself."
found
their hiding place had been the
the
adventurers
that
morning
This
of
a
thumb
giant, Utgarth-loki himself, is called
giant's glove.
He plays
by various names Fjalar (the Dissembler) and Skrymir.
many tricks on the three companions, and unwittingly they race with
thought and wild fire, strive with ocean and with old age, and
but, as we have noticed, defeat without disinevitably suffer defeat
honour was the privilege of Thor.
Throughout the poem the author
shows a complete understanding of the god's nature, as seen in its
human aspect, from the side which made him loved by the Norwegian
He was the companion of their labours when
and Icelandic peasant's.
softened
the hard earth.
He hallowed their soil, he
they prepared and
blessed their marriage feasts with his hammer, and showed himself
ever the friend of churls, as Odin was the patron of lords and earls.
This brings us to the figure on the other side of the stream, who
Some critics have suggested that
gives only the name of Greybeard.
he is Loki, the mocking demon, who knows better than any the misdemeanours of the other gods, and who now reviles Thor as he reviles
But the name alone reveals him as
them all at ^Egir's banquet.

wonderful things

INTRODUCTION.
Odin

in his usual disguise of a

by Thor.

XLIX

grey-bearded old man, unrecognised

very rarely be identified with

The deeds mentioned can

those told in other poems, but they are such as belonged to Odin in
his various characters.
As god of war, he is seen with battle-flag and

reddened spear, wasting the fair meadows of All-green (16), rousing

hatred between nation and nation, and inciting men to slay one
another (24).
As love-adventurer he keeps secret trysting with the

maiden (30), who perhaps is Billing's crafty

and well he knows how to gain the love of women
As master of magic he does not
speeches and a false heart.
win giant maidens by spells like those he had practised
gold-bright
(p. 87),

-(p. 159),

daughter
with fair
scorn to

on Rind

He

or by sporting aloft with dark witch riders at night (20).

has attained knowledge in his usual way, by fair means or foul (st. 20),
and from all beings, even the dead (44) whom, like the Vala, he has

up from the grave.

contrast is drawn between Thor, the patron of the hardworking tillers of the soil, and Odin, the god, and here the representative, of the aristocratic and cultured classes, whose lives were
" Odin has
given to love-making and expeditions of plunder and war.
earls who fall on the battlefield, Thor has the race of thralls."
The
called

Thus a

"
atoned for by a ring," nor the
oppression of the rich couid never be
Thor's bitter reply to this
strife of classes settled by arbitration (42).
"
mocking suggestion, Where didst thou learn such scornful speeches!"
seems to give voice to the discontent of the people, which is evidently

shared by the poet,

who

leaves us in

little

doubt as to his own views

in

drawn

of the gods.
That of Odin is bloodnot
unlike
the
fiend
and sorcerer that he
thirsty, lustful, unscrupulous,
while
half
became to early Christians,
believed in him as a
they still

the portraits which he has

god.

He

is

Thor, on the other hand, is not painted in such dark colours.

and stands no longer equipped with all his god's

caricatured,

he is
might, the grand outlines showing beneath the rough exterior
in
and
even
his
the
uncouth
discomfiture,
ridiculous,
only pathetic
;

But the sympathy of

giant who lives on in popular notions of to-day.
He is still shown as the Warder of
the poet is always with Thor.
Midgarth, whose lot is to redeem the faults of others; and he
retains a mortal glory which was ever his in defeat.

still

One reproach of Odin's is mysterious and unexplained (34). Thor

accused of having once broken faith, which he does not deny. Does
this refer to an incident in mythology, such as Thor's slaying of the
is

G G

THE POETIC EDDA.

giant smith in Asgarth, to whom the gods were bound by oath (see
Introd. to Vsp.) or is it some topical allusion to an occasion when the
;

people had turned against their

and betrayed them to a foe ?

times too great for the dignity

leaders,

If the realism of this scene is at

of the gods, they are at least viewed in an aspect little known to

modern readers of mythology.
The presentation of Thor and Odin as
familiar types, if we may trust our poem, shows in what light they
were regarded by the masses, what place they occupied in the hearts
of men.
Thor was their protector he was the author of all that was
and
good
kindly in nature, and was worshipped less from awe than
from love.
Odin, on the other hand, was feared, and perhaps hated,
the
by
peasants for his destructive violence as war-god, and for his
magic wonder-working power, which was as little comprehensible to
them as the culture which lay beyond their range. Just for a moment,
by the hand of a sceptic, the curtain seems withdrawn, and we look
into the obscurity of past thought, and see something of the relationship between the mythology and the religion of the people.
;

THE SONG OF
Rigsjmla

is

Edda, but only

RIG.

not included in any of the best MSS. of Saemund's

the Codex Wormianus with the Prose Edda. Partly

in

and because its connection with Heimdal, the god of

seems
obscure
and improbable, the poem is sometimes put aside
light,
It is without doubt a skaldic song,
as a late invention of the skalds.
one of those lays which were sung in the hall by a court poet in praise
of his royal master, whose descent he traces from the gods.
Unforfor this reason,

tunately the final strophes are missing, or we should perhaps learn the
Harald the Fair-haired has been
name of this king of famous race.
suggested, and the date of composition is certainly that of the Viking
period.

But the poet

is

tion, except for details.

theme and singing

it,

evidently not drawing on his own imaginaart of the skald lay in taking some old

The

like

an old melody, with variations to

suit the

occasion.

The myth in question tells how once of old the god Heimdal, who
was not wont to leave the seat where he kept watch in heaven, came
to earth as a kingly being called Rig.

He

is

described as passing

INTRODUCTION.

through ail the world, and visiting first the dwelling of the serf and
thrall, then that of the peasant landowner, and lastly the hall of the
To each home he brings the birth of children,
rich and nobly born.

who pursue occupations, and who wed according to

From the highest rank of the earls is born a king, who
their station.
Thus Heimdal is the originator of different
is given the name of Rig.

who

are reared,

men, but kings especially have their right to claim descent

from the god.

classes ol

Snorri knows nothing of this story, but the Vala (p. 277) speaks of
Heimdal as the father of all "holy kindreds," and in the "Shorter
"
the kinsSoothsaying," although no name is mentioned, he is called

man

allied to all races."

The attempt

to explain the myth any further, and to identify Rig,

as Rydberg has done, with Skef or Scyld, the culture hero of the

Germanic

race,

is

unsatisfactory.

The

motive, indeed,

is

common,

for

and some such myth arose everywhere

man
(see introd. to Hdl.) when
began to wonder whence he had come,
and why he was man with a knowledge of good and evil.
Not having
his
with
the
he
invented
a
race
learned
somefounder,
ape,
kinship
yet
it is

primitive and world wide

human form. He made up stories which, oft repeated,

were soon told as true, and were believed because they took place so
"
"
of a culture hero who came to be king over men, to
long ago
times a god in

awaken them out of their first sleep of ignorance, and teach them to
rule nature by wisdom and knowledge, until, as in the poem, wisdom
itself became regarded as the divine inheritance of kings.
Sometimes
the scene is more poetical than the green roads and the hasty striding
figure of Rig.
Scyld, the Danish hero, came as a child drifting in a
boat to shore, and when he had accomplished his work he passed back
"
to unknown regions beyond the sea.
From the great deep to the
"
great deep
King Arthur came and went in mystic fashion.
But the present poet has another end in view than dreaming. He
is answering man's next question, which was in truth the demand of
"
his socialistic countrymen
Who thus made men of high and low
"
"
?
were
born
so," is his answer, and he shows by
degree
They
lore
such
an
was established by divine autnority.
that
order
mythic
His contempt for the low-born seems to indicate that he would not
change

it if

The

he could.

political setting of the poem has already drawn it out of

the realms of fancy upon historical ground; and in its details, the

THE POETIC EDDA.

Ui

of life
description of the customs and manner
of
features
Some
valuable.
classes, it is most

among

the different

which the poet

he
were
back
to an older
date, as though
going
life

depicts are out of

period, or were very conservative in his views.

The

first-born son

serfs, little better

(st. 6) is

than slaves,

Thrall.

who could

The Old Norse

thralls

were

be sold at the will of their

It
In the Viking period they were often prisoners of war.
but
never
to
obtain
them
for
freedom,
any
possible
As
share in the government, or influence in the popular assembly.
and
were
condition
social
their
their names indicate,
very
occupations

master.

was sometimes

Great-grandfather's table is set with coarse brown bread and

broth, which are the best that he can lay before his guest.
In the home of Grandfather and Grandmother there is more

low.

comfort; their appearance and clothing are neat, and even ornamental;
work and that of their children requires skill; the son who is

their

and ruddy skin, his bride does not travel on

Churl in st. 18, which is a
graced by a wedding veil.

born to them has a

foot,

and she

is

fair

"

Karl," does not give a true idea of the

position of the latter, who here represents the class of free-born
"
"
"
peasant proprietor called bondi or bui," a name which was given

cognate form of Icelandic

to his offspring, and which was used in Viking days to designate the
These formed a kind of hereditary aristocracy,
emigrants to Iceland.
The Karl of this passage
and
absolutely independent.
self-governed,

scarcely takes so high a position, but belongs to an earlier age.

Mother and father are found (st. 21) in a lordlier dwelling; she has
no task but to admire and adorn her fair white neck and arms ; his

work

is

the honourable pursuit of warfare,

and the fashioning of

son, Earl, with bright eyes and shining hair,

who lives the glorious life of a conqueror, distributing spoils and wealth
among his dependents. Yet more than Churl he belongs to ancient

weapons.

days,

They have a

and resembles one of the great lords who are mentioned

in

Hyndla's Lay, or those who give rise to the epithets used by poets,
"
"
the ring-breaker
and " gold-giver."
The Old Norse ideal was fixed
before the rise of any kind of feudal rule ; the power of earls passed

hands of the collective butndr, and they too become subject to

the laws and customs of the Thing.
Earl weds the fair daughter of Ruler, and their children Sou,
are required only to inherit the rights and
Offspring, Descendant, &c.
into the

follow the customs

which belong

to their noble birth.

But

to ivon the

INTRODUCTION.

LIU

who becomes a king, is given a higher heritage, not of his

father Jarl, but from Rig, who bestows his own name upon him, and
He shares their powers, he
endows him with the wisdom of gods.

youngest,

Icarus to understand

and

is

and use the sacred runes, he

interprets nature,

alone the true son of Heimdal and the father of

This poem has

The

little

all

kings.

beauty and grace, but a quaint charm

in the

movement

of the metre keeps time with the

original.
striding march of Rig, and throughout there is an air of superiority
which disdains all the polish and delicacies of art for so fine a
swift

theme.

THE LAY OF HYNDLA.

The Shorter Soothsaying

is

included hi the

MS. with

the

Lay

of

now, by general consent, regarded as a distinct poem.

The main theme of Hyndla is the recitation of a family history, but
suddenly, with an abrupt change of style, the subject passes to a
Hyndla, but

is

genealogy of mythical beings; then again it reverts to the original

theme.
Snorri quotes from this interpolation (st. 6) as though
from some old and famous song, and mentions as his authority a
poem called "The Shorter Soothsaying of the Vala" "Voiuspa mni

skommu." We may assume therefore, though in opposition to Sijinons

and certain other critics, that it is a iragment of a lost and much older
work, which dealt, like the greater Soothsaying, with the history of the
gods.

Someone, as in Baldr's Dreams, is holding converse with a witch,

The unknown questioner desires to
up perhaps from the dead.
know the origin and kinship of all mythical beings. He asks tirst
concerning the god s race, and learns that once, before tne death of
Here a gap in the poem
Baldr, the /Esir were twelve in number.
called

names unrecorded, but they may be conjectured troui

descriptions by Snorri and in Lokasenna of the full assembly in ^Egir's
leaves their

halls.

At these banquets were present Odin, Thor, Heimdal, Tyr,

and Loki, who, with baldr,

Vidar, Vali, Forseti, Uil, Hcenir, Bragi,

make the twelve.

Another passage is missing which should tell how the Wanes

Njord, Frey, and Freyja came among the other gods, and throughout

THE POETIC EDDA.

LiV
there

make

is

such confusion and want of sequence that

the

poem

explicit

it is only possible to
by grouping the strophes with the help of

familiar allusions.

The questioner would next learn whence came other powers beside
the ruling gods, those tumultuous forces ever warring with them, the
Jotuns; those wise women, the Valas, who could interpret dreams and
and whence all wizards and witches and monsters
the great wolf Fenrir, and prodigies such as Odin's eight-footed

foretell the future

like

steed

Sleipriir

The answers

to these questions are unfortunately

us only what is known from other

being (st. 8), the mother of all witches, was
born in mysterious fashion from a burning heart, which Loki, as firegod, had devoured. She, it has been suggested, is the same as Goldendraught, who was burned and reburned in Odin's hall, and who was

often too dark to understand, or

sources.

tell

One awful

the causer of the

first

war between gods and Wanes

(p. 183).

In alluding to Loki, who is half god, half giant, the questioner

has turned once more to higher beings, and the birth of One is related,
not mentioned, but who is easily recognised as Heimdal.
description agrees with what is told oi him elsewhere, and belongs
to his character as a god of nature.
Heimdal, although he plays a

whose name

is

The

us, ana his

seldom named by the skaldic
poets; no sacrifices were offered to him, no temples built for his
worship, he had no place in the hearts oi men.
Merely to ascribe a

considerable part in the Jidda,

nature not clearly understood.

is

He

only half revealed to

is

late origin to his myth is not sufficient explanation ior this strange
The myths which
silence about a god so well known to the iidda.

encircle
lived

him point back by

their very contradictions to

different ages

in

one who has

the changing thought and fancy of

through
i heir wonders are accepted only because they belong to
mankind.
"
"
He is
the past.
Heimdal," says Snorn, is called the White god.
Sometimes he is called Golden-tooth, tor his teeth
great and holy.
are of gold. His steed is Goldy-lock, and his dwelling place is HeavenHe is warder of the gods, and sits at the
hill, by the bridge bifrost.
He
end of heaven guarding the bridge against the Mountain giants.
needs less sleep than a bird he can see, by night as well as by day, a
He hears grass growing on the earth and
hundred miles around him.
wool on the backs of sheep, besides all else that makes more sound.
He owns the trumpet Gjailar-horn, whose blast is heard throughout
Thus shown as the dazzling god of light, he is unthe worlds."
;

INTRODUCTION.

LV

approachable; far seen, aloof, he sits on his mountain throne, guarding

Bifrost where the niinbmv reaches heaven.
He is no less mysterious
in

"

which Snorri
"
Heimdal :-

his birth,

Song

of

Child

also

am

describes,

quoting from some

lost

of mothers nine,

of sisters nine the son.

These maidens, from their names in st. 12, are ocean waves, and
again as the god of light that he is born at the world's edge on the
horizon where the sky meets the earth and sea.
It is there at sunrise
that he drinks of the crimson splendour which is like the blood of
it is

sacrifice offered to the gods.

Heimdal stands apart from other deities in the Edda.

He is less
human, except when, as Rig, he passes through the world of men and
His epithet of the " richest
becomes the kinsmen of all peoples.
ruler" belongs to him perhaps as owner of the wide and glorious
"

"

The expression weapon-famed is

dwelling place of Heaven-hill.
here translated " armed with glory," because it must be derived from
the sword of piercing sun rays which is usually the possession of the
Heaven god in mythology, but which Heimdal may well borrow as the
"
"
god of light. In the above mentioned Lay of Heimdal his sword is
"
man's head," and the skaldic poets
mentioned as being made of a
"
"
These obscure
use
Heimdal's sword as a synonym for the head.
allusions,

for

which even Snorri vouchsafes no explanation, suggest

Heimdal were already half

that even" in his day the traditions about

lost

and forgotten.
All the revelations so far

becomes prophetic.

She

have been of the past

foretells the

fearful

the Vala

now

signs and wonders

in

"
"
nature, the
long dread winter (p. 55) which shall herald the fulfilment of Weird with the Doom of the first ruling powers, the gods of

war, and the coming of the new Power, some say of Christianity, but
whose nature is here kept secret, like other hidden things " the
Mightiest One's old mysteries," the runes which Odin knew alone, the

words which he whispered into Baldr's ear.

How then was this mythical fragment united to the less exalted
theme of Ottar's genealogy, which, if it were not for the myth in which
it is framed, should belong to the heroic lays ?
Perhaps the author
"
of Hyndla's Lay had in his possession the old
Soothsaying," and
purposed to write a corresponding genealogy of earthly beings, enume-

THE POETIC EDDA.

LVI

rating those great Germanic heroes of legend and saga whom he deemed
He lingers with old-fashioned love for the list
worthy of immortality.

danger of perishing for ever

the power of the nobility is being seized
Now, while they are yet fresh in the
by the middle class bondi.
memories of men, let these names be recorded, and their worth attested
of

mighty names,

in these

feeling that they are in

degenerate days when

by association with those of the gods.

As the hero of his subject the writer takes Ottar the Simple, a
chieftain who is unknown to history, but who seems to have belonged
to the famous family of Hordaland. He is here identified with Od, the
"
human lover of Freyja, whose story is thus told by Snorri
Freyja
was wedded to a mortal called Ottar, and their daughter Hnoss, the
Treasure, is so beautiful that all things fair and costly are named after
her.
But Ottar went far away, and Freyja followed him weeping, and
her tears were of red gold " (st. 32).
Ottar of the poem has wagered
:

his inheritance with another

unknown personage, Angantyr,

that his

descent, could he only trace it, is the nobler.

Freyja is willing to
her
her
him
and
she
takes
with
favourite,
help
disguised as Goldenthe
famous
boar
to
which
bristle,
They seek Hyndla,
belonged
Frey.

and rides forth upon

a wolf at night.
She is a giantess, and thus knows all the history of
mankind.
But as such she must be propitiated by a goddess, and

who,

like other valas or witches, dwells in a cave,

Freyja promises to win her the favour of Odin, the War-father, who at
times can be so gracious
Thor too, the enemy of giant-wives, shall be
;

men offered to the gods.

the
Hyndla suspects
presence of Ottar, but Freyja denies it, and
in answer to questions of the latter she rehearses the generations of
kings while they ride through the night, and Ottar's heart must beat
appeased by

sacrifice

such as

with pride as she marshals forth the host of his dead forbears.
It is
is allied to the most ancient and noble races, and heroes

shown how he

who can trace their line back to the gods.

mean nothing, or merely call up shadowy

To

us

all

these great

names

figures in the land that lies

between history and romance.

But recited in ancient days by the
and women gathered in the hall, the famous
race names of Skjoldung, Skilfing, Odling, Yngling were full of deep
skalds, before the warriors

meaning, and expressed their ideal of glory in heroic deeds.

The Skjoldungs are ancient mythical figures who centre round the
birth cradle of the
landic,

and Danish

In the various Old English, IceGermanic race.

sources, which do not always agree in their details,

INTRODUCTION.
is

found the legend of an old culture hero, deemed perhaps a god in

form.
He came as a child drifting over the sea in a boat,

human

surrounded by treasures, with a sheaf of corn from which he took his

Skef, though the poem Beowulf has transferred the legend to his
son Scyld.
The boat approached a land called Skania, where Skef
rescued a people in great misery, and taught them to cultivate their
He died in old age, leaving
territory and defend it against the enemy.
and
was sent forth once more
or
the
to
inherit
Skjold
kingdom,
Scyld
over the sea in a boat no less richly endowed than when he came,
" but no
"
knew who received the precious burden."
man," it is said,
From Skjold came the Skjoldungs, or, as we learn from Beowulf, the

name

Danes, whose home was Leira in the island of Seeland.

Old English genealogies

With him we must identify
in

Skef or Sceaf

the ancestor of the Angles and Saxons.

Skilvir, also said to be the father of Skjold,

is

the progenitor of the Skilfings, another name for the Swedes.

But who are the Ynglings ?
Ing or Yng is also a great race-hero,
In the poem Ynglinga-tal,
and ancestor of the Swedes and Angles.
the

name Yngling and

must be
same as

Skilfing

identical with Skilvir,

is

used interchangeably.

and

Skilvir, as

we have

Thus Yng
seen,

is

the

All this confusion

Scef, or, according to Beowulf, Skjold.
leads us back to one mythical founder of the Germanic race, from

whom

the tribes claimed their descent, and whom they remembered

who had raised them from a state of savagery, and
seemed to them in later days as the son of a god (see Rydberg, pp. 89,
all

as a culture hero,

90-95).

Then Hyndla turns to Ottar's immediate family, and those with

which it is connected.
The first great hero mentioned is Halfdan the
He was the king of Denmark, and one of the patriarchs
Old (st. 18).
of the Germanic race, known to Saxo Grammaticus and to the author
of Beowulf. His most famous achievement was the slaying of Sigtrygg,
a mythical king. He sacrificed to the gods in order to obtain long life,
"
but he was granted no more than " a man's life
of three hundred
years,
line

and the promise that no ignoble offspring should be born in his

hence Ottar would desire to claim kinship with him (Skald-*

skaparmal).
The twelve berserk brothers of

st.

23, sons of

Arngrim and Eyfora,

belong to Hervarar Saga, and their chieftain Angantyr

is

the principal

one of the finest of the Old Norse heroic poems.

The word
berserk had its origin in a superstitious belief that some men were
figure in

H H

THE POETIC

LVIII

EfcDA.

"

hamramr," or able to change their forms, and become bears or

Later on*
wolves, and were hence called berserks or were-wolves.
the name was given to those wild beings who from time to time were
seized by fits of madness and rage, when they seemed possessed of
more than human strength, and wrought fearful deeds in battle. The
saga in question tells of a magic sword called Tyrfing which came into
It had been forged by dwarfs, and stolen
the hands of Angantyr.
from them therefore a curse followed it, and though it might serve its
The
bearer well for a lifetime, it would at last bring him to death.
and
in
sea, till
consequence of
viking brothers ranged over land
Angantyr's love for Ingibjorg they met in battle, and fell before, two
Hervor,
warriors, Odd and Hjalmar, in the island of Samsey.
had
inherited
berserk
the
and
warlike
spirit,
daughter,
Angantyr's
her.
She
armed
herself
like
a
and
it
came
warrior,
upon
presently
went forth to seek Tyrfing from her father's grave.
Fearlessly she
haunted
land
with
its
the
magic flickering flames until
passed through
stood
on
the
she
howe, crying
;

Wake

Harvard, Hjorvard,
where ye rest

Hrani, Angantyr
the tree-roots under

with helm and byrnie,

sword keen-whetted

shield and harness,

and reddened spear

the sons of Arngtim,

to dust of earth ;
death-thirsting warriors,
of Eyfora's offspring
and not one comes forth
All are they come,

in

Munavagi

to

speak with

me

at length, while the whole land was aflame with enchanted fires,
the grave opened, and she won her heritage from the dead.
With the mention of the
St. 25 scarcely requires explanation.
till

famous but ill-starred Niflung and Volsung races, a note of warning

comes into the poem. This great saga is so widely known and has
been so oft repeated that it no longer belongs only to the people of the
North, who told it first and best in written form.
Jormunrek married
Svanhild, daughter of Sigurd; he caused his wife to be trampled to
death by wild horses in consequence of a slander, and her brothers
sought to avenge the deed. In the history ol the Latin writer Jornandes
he is Ermanric, a mighty king of the Goths in the fourth century, who
was conquered in battle by the Huns. Again he is known in Saxo's
chronicle as the Danish king, Jarmeric, and

is

mentioned

in

Beowulf

INTRODUCTION.

LIX

Under slightly different names, the same story of the

death and the brother's vengeance is told in connection with
Ermanric and Jarmerik.
have clearly one of the Germanic race

as Eormenric.
sister's

We

remembered by

heroes,

all

the different tribes after their separation.

29 alludes to another famous saga, and mentions the instigator of

one of the greatest legendary battles of the North.
Ivar was a
St.

he conquered and slew Hrorek, king

(st. 28)
of Sweden, whose daughter, Aud the Deep-thoughted, he had married.
She fled with her little son Harald and married Radbard, king of

descendant of Angantyr

was Randver.
Harald Battle-tusk lived to be king
In his old age, desiring a glorious death, he challenged
Sigurd-ring, king of the Swedes, to meet with him at Bravellir. There
took place a combat of world-wide renown, which is described by Saxo,
who delights in the slaughter and bloodshed like some old Viking.
Russia

their son

over the Danes.

Kings,

princes,

nobles,

earls,

gathered upon the field

chieftains

thousands

fell

from

on either

Germanic tribes,
side, and the Swedes

all

were victorious.
After this passage followed the old fragmentary poem, placed
by the author of Hyndla's Lay, but by some later

there, not perhaps

copyist who was ignorant of the old genealogies, and knew little of the
distinctions between gods and men.
The scene now returns to Freyja and Hyndla, whose ride is ended.

Hyndla would be left to sleep in peace once more, and bids Freyja hie
homewards on her wild night journey, with the darkness lit up only by
the flickering of enchanted fires like those which surrounded Hervor,
and ever haunt the places of the dead.
Freyja's mocking request to
the
to
her
boar
is
the
ale-cup
pass
acknowledgment of Ottar's presence;
the dialogue between her and Hyndla grows dramatic and breathless,
ending with a curse from the witch and a blessing from the goddess
upon Ottar.
The rearrangement of strophes which is given in the translation
has been made with the help of a prose paraphrase in Orvar-Odds
It agrees in most points with that suggested by Gering.
The
Saga.
few recognised names have suggested the family groups.

BALDR'S DREAMS.
In Baldr's

Dreams

for the first

time

we meet

face to face with

THE POETIC EDDA.

LX

the most sublime and beautiful figure in Old Norse mythology, one
is universally known, for the tenderness and pathos of his
story

who

appeal to modern sympathies

moreover, has ever proved a source of

modern critics, who make for darkness and mystery as

the moth makes for the light.
All endeavours have failed to unravel
the secret of his personality, and to trace it to any one source in
inspiration to

history or mythology.

This poem belongs to a closing chapter in the history of the gods.

is the great tragedy which foreshadows their Doom.
No
facts are. recorded of him in his lifetime; here and there in some
passing allusion he enters a poem and flits across its pag^s like some
gleaming ray of light, but only in his death does he become the most
human and" tender and best loved of all the gods. From the poetic
Baldr's death

Edda alone we

learn little concerning him, and Snorri must be allowed

the gaps with his own version of the story.
Baldr was the son of Odin and Frigg.
Unlike Thor, he had no
both
of
his
and
with
earth
father
mother, he was born of
kinship

to

fill

in

heaven.

He was
and no

"He

was the

best among the gods, and praised by all beings.

so fair to behold and so bright that a glory streamed from him,
white herb, even though it were the whitest of all herbs, could

compare with

the. whiteness of Baldr's brow.

He was

the wisest of

gods, the fairest spoken and the most pitiful, and yet of such nature
that none might overrule his judgments.
His home was in the heavens

Broad-beam, where nought unclean might enter."

Nothing further is told of Baldr's life, nor what part he played in
the history of the gods; how he shared in their warring and striving,
" there
but not in their sinning
for of him
is nought but good to
tell."
a
love
which
He must have had
recounted the wooing
story
of Nanna, his fair wife, who must perish with him
but now, in this
poem, we hear that Baldr, while still youthful, has had evil dreams and
forseen his fate.
Perhaps, like some old Norse hero, his fylgja has
stood before him that shadowy spirit who follows each man, but is
All the gods gather in alarm and hold
seen only at the sunset of life.
council, but none can tell, though all can guess, the meaning of Baldr's
Dreams.
Odin is sent down to Hel to seek tidings from a Vala, who,
as one of the dead, has power to trace the workings of Weird before
and behind.
He rides thither by the same road which Herrnod took
afterwards and on the same steed, his own eight-footed Sleipnir, and
stands calling on the Vala until she obeys the spell of the Master
called

INTRODUCTION.

LXI

Magician, and comes forth from the grave. He must have used incan"
as those " diabolical songs
which are said by Latin
historians to have been sung by the heathen at night-time to call up

tations such

their dead,

and were so sternly prohibited by the Church.

is heard in speech with Odin.
Her words are not the

The Vala
mere

fortune-telling of a witch, but like the oracle of old she pro-

nounces the doom of Baldr.

The Weird motive now sounds in the
continues
like
and
a
undertone throughout as the Vala
grim
poem,
one
one
the
He
visionary pictures of Baldr's dreams.
interprets
by
has

first

seen the interior of a great hall being prepared for the recephonoured guest; the benches are strewn, the mead cup is

tion of an

and overlaid with the bright shield, and all the place adorned as
for the coming of some king.
'But Baldr has guessed that this
is Hel's abode, and is troubled.
Now Odin learns the name of this
expected king, and wrothfully asks who would dare thus" to slay his
son, the best loved among all the gods? He is answered that no dread
Frost-giant or Mountain-giant, but one among themselves will shoot
the fatal shaft.
Who then shall avenge the deed before ever Baldr is
laid on the bale-fire ?
The father's anger is appeased when he is told
that the giantess Rind shall bear him a mighty child, who shall work
vengeance on the author of the Woe.
The Vala is next questioned on the second vision which Baldr
has seen a mourning world, maidens weeping and in wild despair

filled

though

casting their veils to the winds.

Why

does she

now

break out in fierce

None
indignant reproaches, and know that her tormentor is Odin ?
living save a god could thus see into the future, and perhaps as a
dweller in the underworld she resents the attempt which will be made
to deprive Hel of its victim.
Then Odin, with mocking fury and

prophecy of the Vala, bears the dread tidings

But she has the last word, reminding him how even

refusal to believe the

home

to Asgarth.

the gods must suffer Doom for all their after efforts, the devices of the
fond mother to save her son, are only a hopeless striving against Weird.
;

Here Snorri takes up the story: "The gods resolved to ask protection
Baldr against all harm, and Frigg took an oath from fire and water,
from iron and all metals, from rocks and earth and trees, from poison
and serpents that they would spare Baldr.
When this was done and
made known, it became the sport of Baldr and the gods to make him
stand up at their meetings while some shot at him, some struck him,
and some cast stones but whatever they did he was unharmed, and
for

THE POETIC EDDA.

LXII

they deemed'it a glorious feat

ill

pleased.

He went

save Loki, son of Leaf-isle,

in the likeness of a

woman

to

Fen

who was

Halls,

where

who asked what all the gods were doing at their assembly.
The woman made answer that they were shooting at Baldr, but that
Frigg dwelt,

Said Frigg
Nor weapons nor trees will hurt
nought harmed him.
Baldr, for I have taken an oath from them all.' And the woman asked
Have all things taken the oath to spare Baldr ?
Frigg answered
'
There grows indeed, to the west of Valholl, a tender shoot called
the Mistletoe, which seemed too young to ask an oath from.'
Then
all in a moment the woman vanished.
But Loki went and plucked the
There was one, Hod,
Mistletoe, and joined the gathering of the gods.
'

'

'

who

stood without the circle, for he was blind.

Loki asked
Why
art thou not shooting at Baldr ?
and he answered
Because I
'

'

cannot see where he stands,

'Thou must do as the others,'
Shoot now this wand
I will
took the Mistletoe, and aimed
;

and moreover
said Loki, 'and

'

am

without weapon.'

show honour

to Baldr.

show thee where he stands.'

So Hod
as Loki showed him.
The shaft flew
dead to the earth, and 'tis deemed the

and pierced Baldr, who fell

When Baldr had
direst shot that ever was shot among gods and men.
in
their hands to lift
fallen, speech failed the gods and likewise power
him. Each looked at the other, and all were of one mind about him
who had wrought the deed, but they could not seek revenge there, for
it was a holy place of peace.
When the gods sought to speak there
was only sound of weeping, and the one could not tell his sorrow to
the other.
But the greatest sorrow was to Odin, for he best fore-knew
what loss and woe had befallen the gods with the death of Baldr.
When at length they had come to themselves again, Frigg asked who
among them all desired to win her grace and favour, and would ride
the Hel road and seek if haply he might find Baldr, and offer ransom
And Hermod,
to Hel that she should let him return home to Asgarth.
Then
the Eager-hearted son of Odin, was chosen for the journey.
and
Hermod
of
was
the
steed
forth,
Odin,
brought
gliding Sleipnir,
mounted and rode swiftly away. But the gods took the body of Baldr
His vessel, called Ring-horn, was the
to send it floating out to sea.
greatest of all ships, and when the gods sought to launch it forth and
So
kindle the bale-fire thereon for Baldr, it could nowise be stirred.
they sent to Jotunheim after the giantess, fire-shrivelled Hyrrok, who
When she had
riding on a wolf, using serpents for the reins.
dismounted Odin called four berserks to -mind the steed, but they

came

INTRODUCTION.

LXIII

it until they had felled it to the ground.

Hyrrok went
forward to the prow, and in one push she launched the boat with such
force that sparks flew from the rollers, and the whole ground was

could not hold

He seized his hammer,

shaken.
Then was the Thunderer wroth
and would have broken her head it all the other gods had not asked
Then they bore forth the dead torm of Baldr and laid
mercy for her.
it in the vessel, and when his wife Nanna, Nep's daughter, beheld it
She too was laid on the
her heart broke from sorrow, and she died.
Thor stood by, and hallowed the
bale-tire, and the flame was kindled.
At his feet ran a dwarf called Lit, and Thor
pile with Mjollnir.
into the tire, and it was burned.
All manner
his
loot
it
with
spurned
First came Odin, and with him
of folk came to the burning of Baldr.
Frigg and the valkyries and his ravens Hugin and Munm. Frey came
driving in a car drawn by the boar called Golden- bristle or Fierce-tang,
and Heimdal riding the steed Golden-lock. Freyja was there with her
cats.
Thither came, too, a host of Frost-giants and Mountain-giants.
Then Odin laid on the bale-tire that ring called Draupnir, which is of
!

such value that therefrom

Baldr's steed was

fall

eight like rings every ninth night.

led to the bale-tire in all its trappings.

And

Meanwhile

rode nine whole nights through dales so dark and deep that
he could see nought till he came to the loud roaring river Gjallar, and

Hermpd

rode over the echoing Gjallar- bridge, which is thatched with shining
There the maiden called Modgud keeps watch.
She asked
gold.

Hermod

his race

and name, and

told

him how yesterday

tive

phantom

troops had ridden over the bridge, but under thee the bridge echoes
full as loud, nor hast thou the hue of a dead man.
Why art thou
'

on the Hel-road ?
He answered
and seek Baldr ; hast thou seen aught
'

'

must needs ride to Hel,

him on the Hel-road ?
said
over
the
has
ridden
downward and
Baidr,'
she,
Gjallar-bridge
northward lies the way to Hel.'
So Hermod rode on till he came to
the Hel-gates. There he sprang from horseback, tightened his saddlegirths, and mounting again he spurred his steed so fiercely that it leapt
high over the gates, and not so much as touched them with its heels.
Then he rode onward to the hall, where he dismounted and entered.
He saw there his brother Baldr sitting on the high seat, and he stayed
the night.
In the morning he besought Hel to let Baldr ride home
with him, and told her how great mourning there was among the gods.
Hel said that she would make trial whether Baldr was as much beloved
as men said
If all things, both
quick and dead, in all the worlds,
riding

'

of

'

'

'

THE POEtlC EDDA.

LXIV

for Baldr, then shall he fare home to the gods, but if aught
Hel keep what she has.'
Then Hermod arose, and Baldr
him
forth
from
the
and
hall,
brought
gave him the ring Draupnir to
bear to Odin as a token of remembrance, while Nanna sent a veil to
Then Hermod went his way home
Frigg and a golden veil to Fulla.
to Asgarth, and told them all the things which he had seen and
shall

weep

refuse, let

heard."

The
is

rest of Snorri's

account and

how Baldr

could not be delivered

given with the Fragments (p. 273).

Other Icelandic sources of this myth are found in allusions of the

skalds,

and

in the description of the bale-fire in

Hus-drapa by Ulf

Throughout there is little discrepancy and confusion ;

Uggason.
if
a
indeed,
knowledge of Baldr had been confined to the North, he
But other nations claim to have known,
have
rested in peace.
might
and perhaps worshipped him; the Old English trace their descent
in Germany they knew him as a hero,
from Baeldseg, son of Wodan
in Denmark strange rites were observed,
Phol (Mersburger Spruche)
;

In the latter
with burning of rings at Baldershagi (Friftofssaga).
do
we
find
however,
any legend corresponding to the
country alone,
Saxo relates how Hotherus, a Swedish king, wooed and won
above.
Nanna, a Norwegian princess; but Balderus also loved her, and the

two princes long fought for the maiden, until the latter was slain by a
In this account Hod appears as the hero of the story,
magic sword.
Baldr is the villain, and like other Old
and is beloved by Nanna.
He is invulnerable
Norse gods he is degraded by Saxo to a demi-god.
which
sword
Hotherus
wins
the
from the woodto all weapons except
features
the
Danish
certain
In
story may be regarded
spirit, Miming.
in
less
exalted
and
is
nearer to folklore
it
tone,
as the older version
Loki's share in the deed, Hermod's ride to Hel,
than to literature.
;

and the weeping for Baldr are probably late additions to the myth.
As to whether the sword or the mistletoe is the older weapon it is
A fateful object with which the life of a hero is
difficult to decide.
motive in mythology or fairy tale sometimes it
common
a
is
bound up
a charmed drink, or even some beast
sometimes
is a sword or a wand,
;

In Voluspa (st. 32) the mistletoe is described in this light,

and if, as Frazer suggests, Baldr does indeed represent the tree spirit
of an oak, then his life may be said to reside in the fair and slender
or bird.

plant which remains green in winter

The

when

the oak tree seems to die.

dead Baldr has suffered yet more than the

living.

helpless

INTRODUCTION.

LXV

victim, the prey of critics, he has been rent asunder, and his whole life
story distributed in fragments to the different sources whence it came

nature myths, primitive worship, poetic fancy, legendary history,

Christian influence, classical lore.
Theorists on all these topics have
taken Baldr as trheir subject and encircled his name with hybrid myths,

and drawn new pictures of

Almost worthy of him

his death scene.

is

that of the glorious sun-god who perishes daily, or perhaps yearly, and
with him his wife, the summer fruit and blossom ; or that in which he

seen as the incarnate spirit of nature's growth and life, which seems
to die during the winter months, but which in the spring time will be
is

born anew.

This interpretation of Baldr as a tree

death as the poet's description of a heathen rite,

He shows
Frazer in " The Golden Bough."

is

spirit,

and of

his

fully discussed by

how

universal

among

nations was the offering of a human victim, not in sacrifice to

special deity, but in the performance of a magic drama by which

some

men

sought to assist nature through imitation of her work. Savage and

primitive peoples have often thought to make rain and sunshine by
sprinkling water and lighting fires so too, in spring time, the death of
;

the old tree spirit and the birth of the new might be enacted and
furthered by human representatives.
It is true that many legends and

customs may be interpreted in this light, but it does not serve to explain
There are no grounds, nor any details in his history,
the Baldr myth.
even with the ingenious use of the mistletoe, by which Baldr, as we
know him, can be transformed into a tree spirit.

Another picture of ancient ceremonial

is

drawn by Kauffman.

In

for men deemed it

brought forth as the scapegoat
to
not
the
of
possible
vegetative life, but
expel,
merely
decaying spirit
all the evils, physical and moral, which assailed them.
To serve this

Baldr

this scene

is

purpose a scapegoat was chosen to bear the

In early
days his person, reserved for a special end, was sacred and tabooed.
No dishonour was attached to his vocation, and the higher the victim,

who might
sacrifice.

ills

of humanity.

be a king or even a god, the more efficacious was the

Subsequently the scapegoat was degraded, and became an

object of shame, who was chosen from among criminals and outcasts,
as in the Pharmakion at Athens, where a human victim was sacrificed
as late as the fifth century.
May there not have been a time among
the German nations when Baldr, the most innocent and lovable of all

the gods,

humanity

was sacrified in yearly ceremony for his kind and for

Whatever the truth may be as to the origin of the myth,
I

THE POETIC EDDA.

LXVi

certainly as a scapegoat that he figures in the Edda.

fast overtaking the old faulty war-gods, and the first
it is

Weird was
victim was

innocent Baldr.

Both these

now

last theories recall acts of

ancient

ritual.

We

come

which Baldr is the impersonation i>f an idea, the

in Old Norse religion, which arose from the
of
a
Christ
conception
need of humanity for a god divine in his beauty and goodness, but
human in his suffering and death. This suggestion, however, demands
it
too great a power of abstraction from an uncultured people
only
the
final
form
of
Baldr
as
the
myth
reinterpreted by a later
explains
Bugge was certainly of that opinion when he attempted to show
age.
to another in

that the death scene as given in the Edda is only a copy of the
Loki represents Lucifer, and Hod the blind
Christian sacrifice.
were
conceived in the traditions of the Middle Ages.
as
Longinus
they

Just as the eye is beginning to grow accustomed to this transformation

scene, and to recognise familiar features and real correspondence, it

changes anew, and Baldr, passing into Balderus, becomes Achilles;

Hod or Hotherus is seen as Paris, and Nanna as CEnone. There is
this truth in Bugge's theory, that the first conception of Baldr must
have undergone gradual transformation with a nation's developing
thought, and assumed in some degree the form and colour of external
influences.

But

it

is

difficult

to

follow a change so sudden and

complete.

The common

sense theory which sifts fact from fiction has given

From the dim background of history he
other
us one
picture of Baldr.
steps forth, some old king who seems more like a god when thus beheld

His name, which means a lord or prince,

in the twilight of past days.
seems to confirm an explanation which always has the semblance of
But the hero chosen by a primitive race for such honours
probability.

was usually a glorious conqueror or a benefactor of mankind, not

If the myth has its
the pathetic victim of a fruitless sacrifice.
source in history, Saxo's more human love story must be the earlier
version.

Let us return, however, to the first picture.

Baldr stands invulNo hailing shower of commentary or weapon of research
still.
has destroyed the beauty and reality of the figure which Snorri and the
Icelandic poets have drawn.
nerable

INTRODUCTION.

LXVII

MOCKING.

LORI'S

"There is one," writes Snorri, "who is numbered among the gods,

although some call him their reviler, and the shame both of gods and
men.
His name is l-oki, or Lopt, the Rover of Air, son of the Jotun
His mother is called Leaf-isle or Pine-needle, and his
Fierce-beater.
Loki is beautiful and fair of
brothers are Byleipt and Hel-dazzler.
He is more versed in the
face, but evil of mind and fickle in his ways.
Oft he brings
art of cunning than others, and is crafty in all things.
the gods into great plight, and delivers them oft by his wily counsel."
This bright elusive figure, like a spark of the fire which he personifies,
kindles with life and humour every tale into which he enters, appearing
and reappearing in different forms, a god in his power, and a devil in
He well deserves a place among the portraits which art
his deeds.
No stormy power of evil like the
has drawn of the latter personality.
Satan of Paradise Lost, he yet provokes war in heaven, and snares by
His rebellion is more dangerous to
his tempting the wives of gods.
them than a wild assertion of the individual, for he is the undermining
instrument of

fate.

Compared

too with Mephistopheles, Loki, rich in

and mirth and beauty, finds more victims among men than
the cold seducer of the spirit. In all the more familiar myths of Snorri's
Edda he appears a purely Scandinavian figure, of late origin and possibly
moulded by Christian influence but in the poems he may be traced
back to some old Germanic fire god, perhaps called "Logi," flame, who
"
"
ender
or destroyer of the
lent his name and attributes to Loki, the
his
double
nature
and
the poetical conHowever
this
gods.
may be,
him
are
find
which
told
concerning
explanation in
tradictory myths

human

life

his origin as a fire god. Fire is mighty, beneficent, life-restoring, swift,

and beautiful to the eye such character has Loki when, as Lodur, he
;

warmth- and goodly hue on man, when he fetches

Idun out of Jotunheim, and appears a god of wondrous beauty.
But
fire may also be cruel, treacherous, fierce, and destroying
and was it
not Loki himself who enticed Idun out of Asgarth, who betrayed
Freyja, mocked the gods at their banquet, worked the death of Baldr,
In all his mythical adventures
and led the Hel hosts at the Doom ?
Loki appears sometimes as the friend of the gods, and especially as the
companion of Odin and Hcenir, and sometimes in alliance with the

bestows the

gift of

THE POETIC EDDA.

LXVIII

He commits some folly or crime, he bring the gods into

danger, and then by his power and cunning h'e extricates them and is
forgiven, until he works the evil which can never be atoned or remedied
giants.

the death of

must

After this he

Baldr.

suffer

punishment

till

Ragnarok.
"

"

is the best poem of its kind in the whofe

Mocking
the
of
Edda.
collection
Continually striving after more and more
vivid representation, Old Norse art has at last attained its perfection in
an inimitable dramatic poem, where the whole interest is centred in
The characters are drawn in masterly fashion with
living personality.

Loki's

the dialogue is racy, humorous, forcible, and has

a neat, crisp touch
Much skill is shown in "the
a bitterness which flavours the whole.
introduction of new speakers, with their ever varying tones, and quick
;

The author

repartees.

is

never didactic

he has no end

in

view beyond

or is it not rather their

this comedy of the fallen, discredited gods
collective
For although the
poems of the Edda do not give
tragedy ?
us a complete history of the gods, and the "earlier ones do not even

suggest the somewhat ethical light in which it is here presented, this

The poet of
idea of tragedy is not a purely modern interpretation.
of
of
the
fall
the
as
the
result
their
gods
warring, the
Voluspa regards
retribution of

Weird

peacefulness.
This
events.

the distinctive feature

in

the

new wcrld

is

its

The
is

present poet has his own notion of the sequence of

clearly one of the latest, and the gods, as shown by

The. banquet
him, are so degenerate that they can exist no more.
The Vala of the preceding poem had
scene is a crisis in their history.
In her solemn accents was heard the first
spoken the doom of Baldr.
note of warning, and Loki, with wild mocking words, pronounces judgment on the rest.
They are gathered for peaceful converse in the sea halls of JEgir,
recalling with quiet satisfaction or intoxicated Joy their old deeds of
glory, when in bursts a fierce intruder, the fiery Loki, half demon in
his spite and cunning, half god in his beauty and might. Truths bitter

and shameful he hurls at them, and they shrink condemned before his
unwelcome revelation, and give him place at their banquet. 'One by
one he singles out the gods, and spares not the goddesses, and the
sting of each accusation lies in its truth.

speech,
"

is

Bragi the poet, so ready in

doubtless a boaster and a coward like the singer Hunferth in
"

it is well known that Odin, the High One, has degraded

himself by working magic, that Frigg.is unfaithful, that Frey has

Beowulf;

INTRODUCTION.

LXIX

parted with his sword to buy Gerd, that Thor was outwitted by
Heimdal and Tyr he can taunt only with their
Utgarth-Loki.
sufferings; in Baldr he can find no stain, yet boasts that he himself

was author of the crime whereby the god was

invincible

in

slain.
But Loki, though
stand before Mjollnir, and on the
god-like wrath, with a few parting gibes

words, cannot

his

.entrance of the Thunderer in

the hateful intruder takes flight.

ment, painted

in

lurid colours,

gloomy scene which comes

It

is

a wild picture of disillusionintensified by recalling the

which are

before, the tragedy of Baldr's death,

and

that which follows the extinction of the banquet lights, the punishment
for so events, as of a story
of Loki, and the fulfilment of Doom

already complete, seem to have shaped themselves in the poet's mind.

It is a last gathering before the round table of the war-gods is dissolved.
The very conception of a Baldr had been their condemnation,
for

it

was the

stripped of

all

birth of a

new

their old glory,

ideal.

shown

Here the
as fickle,

sceptic leaves them,

shadowy beings

the

ever-changing gods of nature.

For

poem must be interpreted as

Loki figures throughelemental
forces.
of
picture
out as the destructive fire-demon, from his strife with the peaceful
hearth fire on entering to the last curse which he hurls upon JEgir.
a

it

is

in

this light that the

much obscured

Most of

and accusations may thus be explained, except

st. 17 and 52, where the myths of Idun and
Skadj'are unknown.
Frey and Freyja, whose names are masculine
and feminine forms of the same word (lord and lady), are in their
hence their close
origin different aspects of the same Sun deity
union as brother and sister and as husband and wife, but nothing
further is known of some myth alluded to in st. 30, which must have
grown up to explain it.
Hence, too, the loss of Frey's sword in the
sunbeam which he sent to Gerd, or earth (st. 42).
Njord also (st. 34)
in

his taunts

passages such as

appears
"dwells

in
in

the character of a peaceful sea god ; "who," says Snorri,

Ship-home he rules the way of the wind, and stills the, sea

and slakes the

in the
in

fire

He is not of Msir race,

who gave him as hostage to

flame.

land of Wanes,

exchange one who

is

called Hcenir.

but he was fostered

the gods, and took

Thus peace was made between

Wanes."
Loki, in st. 36, accuses Njord of what is
recounted of him in Ynglinga Saga, that before he came among the
JEsir he was married to his sister, who bore him a son and daughter,
and Freyja. As such a union was not permitted among the

the gods and

THE POETIC EDDA.

LXX

he now declares Frey to be the son of Skadi.

His after history, how
he was sent on by the gods as hostage into Jotunheim, and was kept a
prisoner there during the long winter months like ocean itself when
held in bondage by the frost, is told by Snorri, and given with the

As sea god, too, Hymir's daughters, the glacier

themselves
into his mouth (st. 34).
streams, poured
Drawn from some nature myth must be the allusions of st. 26.
Fragments

(p.

271).

Odin, as heaven god, has a wife of like nature, Frigg

but, in less
exalted character, he is also the husband of the Earth goddess, Jord.
Does Frigg allow herself to be wooed by Odin's brothers Vili and Ye",
;

who are again different aspects of himself, as

made the sport of the wind in all its moods ?

the cloud goddess, who is

Frigg's unfaithfulness in

Ynglinga Saga is told as traditional history of Odin, the race founder

Not he alone appears under
occurred during his banishment.
it
a
but
as
nature
Frigg and Freyja have their
god,
varying forms
shadowy image in Gefjon (st. 2), mentioned by Snorri as a "maiden
who is served by such as die unwed." Here, like Frigg, she has foreknowledge of fate, and like Freyja she owns the famous necklace
"
"
the fair youth
(st. 20), from
(p. 131), which was won by Heimdal,
;

Loki,

who had

stolen

it.

Idun, the wife of Bragi, appears but this once in the poems.
"
She keeps in her casket those apples whereof the gods
Snorri says
wax
thus they
eat when they
old, and which make them young again
;

have given a great treasure into the keeping of Idun, which once was
These words recall one of the most famous incidents
well nigh lost."
in the history of the gods, which involved the slaying of Thiazi (st. 50)
and Njord's periods of exile.
Loki, when journeying with Odin and
been
made
had
once
Hcenir,
prisoner by the giant Thiazi, and was
released only on promise of betraying Idun to the giants, who, like
He enticed her
Freyja, was coveted by them as a summer goddess.
as
he
had
found
wondrous
as her own.
of
out
apples
Asgarth by saying
" Then there was
at
of
the loss
Idun, and ere
walling among the gods
They gathered in council, and
long they waxed grey-haired and old.
each asked the other what he knew last concerning Idun, and it was
found that she was last seen going forth from Asgarth with Loki."
The latter, to save his life, donned Freyja's falcon plumes and flew into
Thiazi purJotunheim, and fetched back Idun in the form of a nut.
sued him as an eagle, and, just missing him, flew into a fire which the
His wings were burnt,
gods had kindled outside the walls of Asgarth.

INTRODUCTION.

i.xxi

and there he was slain. Skadi, his daughter, demanded vengeance, and
would make peace only on two conditions one, that the gods should
make her laugh, which only Loki could do by acting the part of a
buffoon secondly, that she should choose a husband among them, and
;

she chose Njord

(p.

271).

Even more famous than

this occurrence

was the binding

of Fenrir

by Tyr, the god who accompanied Thor in his quest after the cauldron.
According to Snorri, "he is the best and bravest hearted of all the
It appears from his name that he
gods, who rules victory in battle."
once owned a more distinguished place than that of war-god. Sanskrit
dyam, Greek Zeus, Latin /wpiter, Old High German Ziu, Old English
7'wesday, Old Norse Tyr, are all derived from the same Germanic root
div, to shine, which must originally have belonged to the Heaven god.
Snorri relates how Loki had three terrible children by the giantess
Sorrow-bringer Fenrir, the World-serpent, and Hel. "All-father bade
the j^ods bring them to him, and he cast the Serpent into the deep, where
it lies encircling all lands, and grown so huge that it bites its own tail.
Hel he cast into Mist-home and the Wolf was reared at home.
Tyr
And when they beheld
alone had courage to approach him with food.
how he waxed mightier each day they remembered the prophecy, how.
And after they had
it was foretold that lie should work their woe.
;

taken counsel together they forged a very strong fetter called Landing,
and brought it to the Wolf and bade him try his strength upon it.
Seeing that it was not over mighty, Fe'nrir let the gods bind him as

they willed, and at his first struggle the fetter was broken.
loosed himself from Laeding.
"

Thus he

Then

the gods forged another fetter, twice as strong, which they

Dr6mi, and bade the Wolf try his strength upon this, and told
him that he would become famed for his might if a chain of such
Fenrir knew well how strong was the
forging would not hold him.
knew
likewise
he
that
he had waxed mightier since he broke
but
fetter,

called

Moreover, it came into his mind that one must needs risk
somewhat for the sake of fame, and he allowed himself to be bound.
When the gods said they were ready Fenrir shook himself, and loosened
the fetter till it touched the ground
then he strove fiercely against it
Laeding.

him, and broke it so that the pieces flew far and

Thus Fenrir freed himself from Dr6mi.

and spurned
wide.
"

it

off

Then were

the gods filled with fear and deemed they would never
be able to bind the Wolf, and All-father sent Skirnir, Frey's shining

THE POETIC EDDA.

LXXII
courier,

dwarfs,

down te the Underworld, where dwelt the Dark Elves

who forged for him the fetter called Gleipnir. Out of

or
six

things they wrought it the footfalls of cats, the beards of women, the
roots of mountains, the sinews of bears, the breath of fi>h, and the
It was soft and smooth as a silken band, yet strong
and trusty withal."
The Wolf would consent to be bound only with this fetter on
conditiort that one among the gods would lay a hand in his mouth.
"
And each god looked at the other, and weened that here was choice
of two ills; but none made offer until Tyr put forth his right hand,
and laid it in the Wolf's mouth." So they bound Fenrir, and watched
him struggle, while the fetter grew tighter and sharper, " and they
But this
laughed, one and all, save Tyr alone, who lost his hand."
as
with
to
the
of
is
in
course
Weird
Baldr,
vain, and the
attempt,
stay
Wolf will remain bound only till Ragnarok.

spittle of birds.

60 alludes to that luckless journey of Thor's into, Jotunheim

xlviii.), when he was so many times outwitted by Utgarth-loki, who
St.

(p.

here called Skrymir. On this occasion the giant had offered to carry
the provisions of the gods with his own, and he bound them up so
lightly that Thor could not loosen the knot.
is

This poem

is

a review of the whole life-history of the gods.

It

main events which took place in their midst, it indicates

but the sceptical attitude of the
the part played by each character
be
seen
best
can
writer
by comp'aring it with the dignity and pathos of
the poem which follows Snorri's Fragments, Voluspa. The Fragments
themselves have already been explained, where possible, by similar
passages in the Poetic Edda.
recalls all the

THE SOOTHSAYING OF THE VALA.

In Voluspa the gods' history is reviewed once more from beginning to end, this time by one who sees it in its truest light the artist.
Just touched, as it seems, by later influence and new ideals, this poem
cannot be taken as primitive, or as the work of one who held the

mythical fancies as religious beliefs. The old gods have had their day,
but once more it is told before it is forgotten,
their story is complete
Some
in an age when their nature and strivings are yet understood.
;

INTRODUCTION.
who

LXXIII

the beauty of these old-world tales, has

endeavoured to give them a unity which is still retained in spite of all
after meddling with his work.
It is seen in the thread which runs like
poet,

has seen truth

in

a guiding principle throughout the bond of Weird which weaves itself

inch by inch out of the acts of gods and men. As we have shown, this
poem is the conscious recognition of a principle which must exist in any

For this reason it needs

mythology founded on a religion of nature.
be
to
read both first and last first, because it sums up and interprets the other poems; and last, because without a previous knowledge
of its myths the Vala's words can scarcely be understood.
Even with
such knowledge as we have already gathered some passages cannot be
others
explained, owing to lost connections and forgotten incidents
because their difficulty arises from the nature of mythology itself, with
its rational and irrational ideas, its blendings of poetry and superstition,
and the thoughts of one age with those of another.
But, as the poet
himself has seen, little beauty and no truth can be revealed in the
detailed rehearsal of myths by which men have sought to represent the
He has given rather the spirit in which they tried to
mysteries of life.
them.
The
Old Norsemen turned a serious face towards life,
grasp
and refused to regard it either as a playground or a home of rest
it
was essentially a field of endeavour and of strife between man and
All this is echoed in
nature, god and Jotun, powers of good and evil.
the struggle of the gods with Weird, the power and deep war-notes of
the poem, the solemnity of tone which is relieved at times by a quiet
Peculiar, too,
rejoicing in the mere movement and activities of life.
was the attitude of the Norseman towards the supernatural. Mysteries
to him were not further mystified by speculation or emotion, but as
such they were left and took their place among the factors of his daily
We can well
life, where all else was tangible and definite to the eye.
imagine such an attitude of mind arising among men who had been
brought to dwell in a land where nature is full of mystery, and who
were forced to live a practical and strenuous life in conflict with powers
Loneliness and dim perils of ice and snow
only half understood.
;

became a part of their every-day existence.

Hence the atmosphere
and setting of the poem its background, dim and misty, grey and
subdued in tone, lit only by aurora gleams of imagination
and its
foreground, with the well-defined and vivid pictures.
;

Characteristic, too,

is

the figure of the Vala, so called probably,

K K

THE POETIC EDDA.

LXXIV

though the point is much disputed, from the staff which she carried.*
She was a wandering prophetess, who, clad in her fur cap and her
dark robes, went from house to house, foretelling and divining hidden
The power of second sight which she claimed was common,
things.
not only to such as she, but to many a good housewife in Icelandic
But while those so gifted knew only of trivial matters, intersagas.
preted dreams and omens, advised and warned, this Vala, addressing
kindreds of the earth, reveals the fate and history of the world.
Like the witch in Baldr's Dreams, she has been called up from the

all

dead, and, like the Mighty Weaver, she is one of those primaeval beings
who remember all things and she recalls in visionary scenes, one by
;

Snorri has vainly attempted to bring

one, the great events of time.
sequence and order into his corresponding description, and has invented
details

which

spoil the

grandeur of that given by the Vala.

of better authority, however,

we

For want
him for

are often obliged to rely upon

explanations.

She

tells first

as yet there

snow and

of the creation.

was no heaven or earth

In the beginning was chaos, when

only, in the north, a region of

and, in the south, one of fire and heat, with a yawning

gap between, from which life arose in the form of Ymir, the stirring,
rustling, sounding Jotun, followed by others of his kind, born out of
ice

the elements, and as yet hardly to be distinguished from them.

Then
the gods were born, who forthwith made war upon these giant powers,
and, half subduing them, they ordered the universe with its worlds of

gods and

elves, of

dwarfs and giants, of

men

the living in Midgarth,

the dead in Hel, all held in the sheltering embrace of a great World
Tree but from whence sprang this Tree, or when and how it grew,
not even the giants could tell.
;

Sun, Moon, and stars were set in heaven, and when Sun turned
"
her face towards Earth, and shone upon its " threshold
stones,
fruit, and its bare surface was
overspread with
But as yet the paths of the heavenly bodies had not been
How did she fling her
decreed. What did Sun do in her perplexity ?
Did
she
hand
rim
of
heaven
?
over
the
right
appear to the spectator
to glide cm towards the right, and linger in the northern heavens
without knowing the hall of her setting ? Did she face round from the
it

brought forth

green.

But

Zsf.d.a., vol.

42; Norsk. Hist. Tidsskr.,

v., p.

cf Vigfusson, p. 721

vol. iv., p.

Anz.f.d. Alt., xii, p. 49, note.

169;

Golther,

/>.

652,

INTRODUCTION.

LkxV

south, and marching back eastward, fling her own right hand over the
Or have we in St. 5 a description of the
horizon, and set in the east ?
below the horizon, and then rising
for
a
moment
sun
midnight
dipping
to put to shame Moon, who had not yet learned his secret influence
over the destiny of man, and the stars, who knew not their courses ?
For the first time the gods gathered in council in their holy place by
the Well of Weird to order this matter again they met to rescue the
;

humble dwarf folk, who had been left half created as the maggots
which crawled out of Ymir's flesh.
They were given human form and
a share in creative power, but

all

their work, the forging of secret

they must do beneath the ground.

treasures,

Then followed

the greatest act of creation, concerning which the

gods held no council, for it came to pass in the course of destiny.

When Sun, obeying the law of her own being, had first shone upon
life was quickened in the earthy matter } now the
gods once faring on their homeward way bestowed, each after his own
nature, gifts upon two barren trees, and human life was awakened,

the world, vegetative

with individuality and a soul.

Odin, as the Wind god, gave them
as
the emblem of the spirit, or even
which
has
held
ever
been
breath,

whom

known, except that he was

Loki (here called
wise (see below), gave an understanding mind.
Lodur), the fire-god, gave warm blood and the bright hue of life,
Meanwhile, what Snorri calls the "golden age" was passing, when
as spirit

itself.

Hoenir, of

little

is

homes mentioned by Griinmr, rejoicing

and
It must
work,
doubtless, too, in their love.
have been then that Bragi wooed Idun with fluent tongue, that Baldr
wedded Nanna, that Thor's heart was given to Sif the golden-haired,

the gods were building the fair

in their

in their play,

the most guileless

the goddesses.
age was broken. The first shadow of Doom
fell as three mighty maidens passed from Jotunheim, and sat them
down beneath the tree Yggdrasil. These fair Norns, who wrote the

But soon

among

all

this peaceful

past and present on their tables and laid down the future lots of men,
are later forms of Weird, personified as a grim goddess of fate, and
known to all Germanic races.

Then

swiftly followed the first

war among kindred races of the

From the last more cultured tribe

gods, the Msir and the Wanes.
there came a witch called Golden-draught among the warlike .Ksir.

Two

things she taught this simple folk

magic.

The

last

the lust for gold, and the use of

was deemed an unpardonable

sin

among Germanic

THE POETIC EDDA.

LxxVi

and was punished by burning. In like manner the JEsir sought

but in vain,
to destroy Golden-draught by burning her in Odin's hall
for as many times as they burned her she was born anew (p. liv.).
War broke out and the Wanes demanded were-gild, and a council of
peace was helcl but the War-father arose, and hurling his spear gave
It ended in the storming and
the signal for strife to rage anew.
Here a gap in the poem or a
destruction of Asgarth by the Wanes.
hides
the shame and defeat of the
vision
of
the
Vala's
timely clouding
nations,

In 'Ynglinga Saga (iv.) it is told as legendary history that after

gods.
a while both sides became weary of a war in which victory fell now to
the one and now to the other, and in which the countries of both

So they held a peace meeting, and made a truce and

were spoiled.
The Wanes sent their noblest, Njord, with his
exchanged chieftains.
and the ^Esir sent Hcenir, who was deemed
children Frey and Freyja
well fitted -to be a ruler, and with him they sent also one of great
;

understanding, Mirriir, in exchange for Kvasir, the wisest among the

Wanes.
Hcenir was made a chief in Wane-home.
When the people

found that he could give no counsel without Mimir, but said on all
"
occasions
Let others decide," they thought themselves cheated by
the vEsir, and cut off Mimir's head and sent it to Odin.
He smeared
it
with herbs, and sang rune-songs and gave it power of speech,
through which he learned many secret things.
According to Snorri,
Kvasir was a wondrous being fashioned by all the gods, from whose
blood the Song-mead was brewed (p. xxviii.).
In both accounts the

This war between strength and

valour on the one side, art and skill on the other, is like a shadowy
recollection of a time in history, when the barbaric children of the
North were dazzled by Roman gold and Roman civilisation. But such

details are evidently of late invention.

strife,

with the

first

weakening of the war powers, was inevitable

in

the story of the gods.*

Immediately following
sion of the Vala

this incident,

it

would seem from the

allu-

25), took place an event which Snorri recounts

a fierce struggle with the Jotuns, and a crafty attempt on their part
to win Freyja, the summer-goddess, who had just been brought to
(st.

The gods were in need of a builder to raise anew the walls

Asgarth.
of their dismantled city, which by the last war had been left open to
* For the war between the
gods and Wanes,
xviii, p. 542.

see article

by Dt. and HI.

Beit., vol.

INTRODUCTION.

Lxivll

A craftsman appeared and

the inroads of Frost and Mountain-giants.
offered to do the work in three half years, but asked as his payment
At the evil counsel of Loki,
Freyja, and with her the Sun and Moon.
ot
and seemingly in the absence
Thor, they agreed to his demands if
he could finish the work in a single winter, before the first day of

He worked night
summer, otherwise his reward would be forfeited.
and day with the help of his giant horse Svadilfari, and the walls were
well nigu complete when it still wanted three days before the summer.
Then the gods took counsel, and questioned one another " who had
thus planned to send Freyja as bride into Jotunheim, who had filled
all the sky and heaven with darkness by taking thence the sun and
moon ? " It is this scene which the poem describes, but it tells
"
the gods knew, one and
nothing of what is learned from Snorri that
all, that he must have counselled this, who ever counsels ill, Loki, the
son of Leaf-isle."
Then they laid hands upon him, and made him
swear to deliver them out of their plight and he did this by changing
himself into a mare, and enticing Svadilfari away into the woods.
"
And when the craftsman saw that he could not finish the work he
flew into a Jotun-rage, and the gods knew now for certain that it was
one of the Mountain-giants who had come among them
and oaths
were disregarded and Thor was called, who came even as swiftly.
Then was Mjollnir raised aloft, and the craftsman received his wage
but he returned not into Jotunheim with the Sun and Moon, for at the
first blow his skull was broken into pieces, and he was sent down to
Mist-hel beneath."
Once more a scene of shame is veiled, for the
gods had broken faith with the Jo tuns in trying to undo their own
;

lolly.

When the Vala resumes, a new part of the poem has begun, and
her words become more mysterious.
She is revealing now no longer
old tidings heard or things remembered, but secret knowledge which
won at
commune with

she has

night time when she "sat out" enchanting and holding

the spirits of nature.
On some such occasion, it seems

that Odin has come to consult with her, but when this occurred or
whether she is rehearsing a past incident is not made clear.

She proves first her power to foretell the future by showing that
her knowledge penetrates to the holiest secrets of the gods.
She
knows of their pledges Heimdal's hearing, Odin's eye, and Baldr's
life.

Heimdal can hear grass growing in the earth, and wool on the
Is it his ear which he has hidden in the sacred well

back of sheep.

THE POETIC EDDA.

Lxxviri

beneath Yggdrasil to obtain this wonderful power which he needs in

And why has Odin pledged
watch against the Mountain-giants ?
his eye to Mimir ?
This last question can be answered only by tracing
back the history of Mimir.
In German tradition he is a wise teacher

his

and wonderful smith, who instructed Siegfried and \Veland; according

to Snorri, he is Hcenir's companion, whom the Wanes beheaded, and
who became the friend and counsellor of Odin in the Poetic Edda he
is also closely associated with the god, whose wisdom, as we have
seen, is not the natural attribute of his divinity, but is drawn from all
sources.
Giants, Valas from Hel, ravens in the air instruct him, but
;

his friend of friends is

Mimir, the Deep-thinker, with

Doom. Mimir
a sacred well of Wisdom,

counsel at the
of

whom

he takes

a giant in the older Edda, and guardian

or rather, at an earlier date, that well

is

from whose source or head flowed the moisture used in the

writing of the runes (p. xxxi.), and in whose waters Odin has pledged
A further interpretation,
his eye to gain insight into hidden things.
which Miillenhoff suggests, belongs to a still older stratum of thought
a nature myth of the sun drawing precious moisture from the sea,
and in return casting its own reflection, its second eye, into the deep.

itself,

Sun and sea, thus mutually dependent together, give nourishment to

the world, as Odin and Mimir together bestow their wisdom.
In st. 32 is mentioned the third and yet more mysterious pledge,
Baldr's life and fate, which are bound up with the mistletoe (p. Ixiv.). But
the description of the Vala is now growing more and more visualised,
and she herself can scarce interpret the floating pictures which represent
now some future, now some present scene. She is looking into all
the different worlds Earth, where the Valkyries are speeding to the
battlefields of men; Asgarth, where beside Valholl the fateful mistletoe
the cave where she foresees the torment of
is already high upgrown
Loki Hel, where evil men are suffering the penalty of their misdeeds
dark dwarf-land, where
Jotunheim, with, its feasting-hall of giants
no sun nor moon can penetrate, lit only by the glowing forge fires of
and again eastward into Jotunheim, where Skoll
.these active beings
was fostered, the dark wolf-son of Fenrir, who tollows the fleeing Sun
goddess across the heavens until he clutches her in the west, and stains
;

all

the sky at sunset with crimson like the blood of men (p. xvi.).
All these grim sights have in them something fearful and

omened the shadow

heard more and more
;

of fate
clearly.

is

ill-

growing darker, the Weird motive is

Now the true " spaedom " of the Vala

INTRODUCTION.

LXXIX

she has turned to the future, and foretells the Doom of the
she grows less visionary the scene is a twilight glimpse of
But
gods.
dawn she can only see dimly, and she is listening to the crowing of
the cocks in Giant-land, in Asgarth, and in Hel, and following the
long expected signals of alarm she hears a rumbling through all Jotunheim as the giant-enemies of the gods bestir themselves for battle the
clashing of weapons in Valholl as the War-sons of Odin awake and
pour forth through the five hundred doorways, while the gods are
in Hel, the
gathering at the doomstead and holding speech together
She hears
rending of chains Fenrir has broken loose, Loki is free.
the gleeful song of the giants' warder answered by Heimdal with
the roaring blast of Gjalla-horn, which sounds through all the worlds.
In the earth, too, among men, she hears wars and rumours of wars,
crashing of shields and swords from below comes the groaning of
the imprisoned dwarfs
and throughout, at intervals, waxing louder
Amid this
and wilder, the deep baying of the Hel-hound, Garm.
tumult she catches another sound, more fearful still, the shivering and
rustling of the great Ash, the Tree of Fate, as it quivers, but does not
fall
and yet one other sound, a voice in the storm, the murmur of
words Odin is holding speech with Mimir.
Now light falls once more the Vala can see the foes are
gathering from all quarters on the great battlefield, which measures a
hundred miles each way.
From the east come Frost and Mountainfrom
from the north the Helthe
south
come
giants
Fire-giants
and
Loki
must
come
from
the
west
the
hosts,
gods, led by Odin, with
all his Chosen warriors.
In single combats the last battle is depicted. Weird is triumphant.
A second time must the Heaven-goddess weep, when the War-father is
devoured by Fenrir, though vengeance quickly follows, and the Wolf
falls before Vidar
Frey, who has parted with the sword which waged
Thor meets once more with
itself, is destroyed by the Fire-giant Surt
the World Serpent, and still glorious in defeat, he slays and is slain.
Thus the war-gods perish, and fire consumes the world.
begins

Throughout this passage the tone of the poem has changed.

Solemn and meditative at first, or rippling blithely on through each
fresh disclosure of life, it has grown abrupt and stormy with the
Now again it changes to a tone of
strivings of Weird to fulfil itself.
There
the
restitution of all things.
heralds
which
peaceful exultation,
is

nothing visionary now, or mystic,

in the scene.

It is

a calm, fresh

THE POETIC EDDA.

LXXX

morning after the night of storm all nature is at rest life

Seldom do we find in old poetry so realistic a description
;

is

resumed.

the green
earth is still bathed with moisture
the rushing of waterfalls is heard
the living eagles, in contrast to the pale-beaked monster of st. 50, seek
;

their

not

wonted food

all,

in

mountain pools.
The gods are come again, but
is
at an end, and their home of
war-gods

for the rule of the

It is a conbattle will henceforth be the dwelling-place of peace.

tinuation of a former existence, without labour and without strife;

old sports are renewed, old achievements are not forgotten, old mysteries
are disclosed.
Powers of evil depart, and there comes a new god. But

here fresh mysteries appear, and must wait for solution by a later poet
seeks, like the present one, to explain existent myths in the light

who

of a higher creed.

GRIMNISMAL.

4
6}?inn ok Frigg sdtu

malti: 'Ser Jm Agnar fostra

En

minn

Geirr6J?r fostri

'Hann

hvar hann

)>inn,

elr

born

alia.
i

gygi

v\\>

6)>inn

hellinum

konungr ok sitr nu at landi.'

Frigg segir:
hann kvelr gesti sina, cf honum J>ykkja

er matntyingr sa, at

ofmargii koma.'
)>etta

er

heima

Hltyskjalfu ok sa urn

mal.

konung
kominn

6|>inn segir, at

Frigg sendi eskimey sina Fullu

hanum

varaz, at eigi fyrgorjn

i

er in mesta lygi

J?at

ok

land,

sag)>i J?at

vairi eigi matg6J?r;

konungr
vildu hundar a

sagna ok setja

]>6tt

hann

]>6 laetr

feldi

mesti

Hon

baj>

at

h6gomi,

hann handtaka

)?ann

ok

sat

Konungr

hann

)?ar

let

var

]?ar

at a

Geirr6J>r

mann

bldm ok nefndiz Grimnir ok

vaeri at spur);r.

milli elda tveggja,

um

hundr var sva olmr

at engi

a,

Geirr6J>ar.

ve}>ja

fjolkunnigr ma)>r sa er

var enn

J?at

ok

Sa var

ra]?a.

ekki fleira fra ser,

mark

En

hann mundi hlaupa.

til

J>au

er eigi
sagj?i

hann pina

atta naetr.

til

Geirro)?r

son tiu vetra gamlan ok het Agnarr eptir bro)?ur hans.

at
Grimni
ok gaf hanum horn fullt at drekka ok sag)>i, at
Agnarr gekk

konungr

atti )?a

konungr

gorj?i ilia, er

af

]>a

hann

pina hann saklausan.

let

Grimnir drakk

var eldrinn sva kominn, at feldrinn brann af Grimni.

kva}?:

T.

Heitr

est, hripu]?r

gongumk
loj;i

svi]>nar,

brinnumk
2.

Atta

nsetr

svat

ok heldr

funi

firr,

]>6t

til

a lopt berak,

feldr fyrir.

satk milli elda her,

mer manngi mat n

bau)?,

nema

einn Agnarr,
es einn skal
GeirroJ^ar sunr Gotna landi.

3.

Heill skaltu Agnarr

Veratyr vesa
ejns drykkjar

mikill

alls J?ik

heilan

J?u

betri gjold geta.

ra|?a

skalt aldregi

bi]?r

Hann

THE SAYINGS OF GRIMNIR.

once on Window-shelf, gazing out

"
Seest thou Agnar, thy fosterling,
how he begets children with a giantess in a cave ? But Geirrod, my
"
He is such a meatfosterling, is a king, and rules over the realm."
"
he
his
that
starves
guests when he deems
grudger," answered Frigg,
Odin swore that this was the
that too many are come into his halls'."
Frigg sent her handgreatest lie, and they wagered on the matter.
maiden Fulla to Geirrod to bid the king beware lest an enchanter, who
had come into the land, should bewitch him, and she gave them this
no dog, however fierce, would assail
sign whereby he might be known
him. Men had lied greatly in saying that Geirrod was not hospitable,

Odin and Frigg were

over

all

sitting

Said Odin

the world.

that he caused a certain guest to be seized, whom the dogs

He came clad in a blue mantle, calling himself
would not attack.
Grimnir, the Masked One, and would tell nought beside, however much

but for

all

Then

they asked him.

speak, and they

the king ordered him to be tortured till he should

in the midst between two fires, and eight nights

him

set

who was ten years old, and named Agnar

went
after the king's brother,
up to Grimnir and gave him to drink out
of a brimming horn, saying that the king had done ill thus to torture
him without cause and Grimnir drank. At length, when the fire had
waxed so nigh that his mantle burned upon him, he spake
he sat there.

Geirrod's son,

1.

and far too great

Fierce art thou, fire
flame, get thee further away
!

my

my
2.

is scorched
though
mantle burns before me.

cloak

Blest be thou,
for

high

fires,

alone shall rule the realm.

Agnar

shall call a blessing

2.

it

betwixt the
Eight nights have I sat
while no man offered me food,
save only Agnar,
the son of Geirrod,

who
3.

hold

the

God

of all beings

upon thee

one such draught

thou shalt never more
so fair a guerdon win.

Rule the realm or land of the Goths, a name used

warriors or a nation.

in a general sense for

GRIMNISMAL.

4.

Land es heilagt
asum ok olfum
enn

es ek liggja s
noer

skal p6rr vesa,

prityheimi

unz of rjufask regin.

5.

Ydalir heita

Ullr hefr

J?ars

ser of gorva sali

Alfheim Frey

gafu

ardaga

tivar at tannfe.

6.

Beer's enn

es

}>ri]>\,

silfri J?6k)>u sali

Sokkvabekkr

heitir

enn

unnir glymja yfir

|>ar )?au

gloj?

8.

regin

es velti ser

Valaskjalf heitir
ass i ardaga.

7.

blij>

enn far svalar knegu

fj6r]n,

drekka of alia daga

6]?inn ok Saga
or gollnum kerum.

Gla)?sheimr heitir enn fimti

Valholl vty of J^rumir

)>ars

en gollbjarta

en

9.

Hroptr
kyss hverjan dag
vapndau)?a vera.

J?ar

es au)?kent
salkynni at sea

Mjok

)>eims

skoptum's rann rept,

IO\ Mjok

vargr hangir

6|nns

J>aki]?r,

strait.

)?eims

til

0)?ins

fyr vestan dyrr

ok drupir orn

koma

skjoldum's salr

brynjum of bekki
es au);kent
salkynni at sea

til

yfir.

koma

THE SAYINGS OF GRIMNIR.

Homes

(The Twelve

Holy

4.

is

of the Gods.)

which yonder

the land

lies

near the world of gods and elves

shall the Thunderer dwell,
the Home of Strength
even till the Powers perish.
:

in

5.

the realm where Ull

Yew-dale is called
hath set him a hall on high
which the gods gave Frey
and Elf-home that
as tooth-fee in days of yore.
;

6.

third

home

is

whose

there

hall

with silver by blessed Powers

that seat

Vala-shelf

which was founded

7.

is

in

is

thatched

named,
former days.

The

fourth is Falling-brook
there, for ever,
the chill waves are rushing over
while day by day
drink Odin and Saga,
;

glad-hearted, from golden cups.

8.

The

fifth is

called

and gold-bright Valholl,

Glad-home,
midst

lies in its

spacious,
there Odin shall choose

his

own each day

of the warriors fallen in war.

9.

'Tis easily known

by all
to visit Odin's folk

who come

with shafts

with shields

'tis

raftered,

'tis

roofed,

with byrnies the benches are strewn.

10.

'Tis easily known

by all
to visit Odin's folk

who come

there hangs a wolf

western door,

'fore the

and an eagle hovers over.

Frey, Elf-home,

5-

at teething.

bench

'

7.

see Introd. to

Falling-brook V

Detter suggests the above.

8.

Skm. and Ls. st. 43.

Tooth fee, gift to a child
Sokkvabekkr has usually been rendered SinkingOdin, here

called

Hropt

See Introd.

GRIMNISMAL.
11.

enn

heitir

prymheimr

en nu Ska|?i byggvir,
fornar toptir
12.

es pjazi bj6,

se'tti,

sa enn amatki jotunn

skir brityr go)>a,

foj>ur.

Bretyablik 'ru en sjaundu,

sr of gorva sali

en

)>ar

Baldr hefr

}>vi

es ek liggja veit

landi

frcsta feiknstafi.

13.

Himinbjorg
.

'ru

en attu,

valda

14.

enn

]>ar

Heimdall kve]?a

drekkr

)>ar vor)>r go]?a

la?r

en

veum

VECFU ranni

o>

en ]>ar Freyja
Folkvangr 's enn niundi,
sessa kostum i sal
halfan val
hon kyss hverjan dag
:

en halfan 6)>inn
15.

Glitnir

ok
en

}>a.r

ok
16.

's

manna

hann
sama

tiundi,

silfri )>ak]?r et

Forseti

byggvir flestan dag

'ru

en

]?engill

Hrisi vex

]?ar

mogr

)>ar Njor)>r

enn meinsvani
rac]>r.

ok havu grasi

Vicars land

en

en

elliftu,

of gorva sali

hatimbru]?um horgi
17.

es golli studdr

svajfir allar sakar.

Noatun

sr

enn

a.

Vij>i

of l?fzk af

froskn at hefna fo)?ur.

mars baki

hefr

MAYINGS OF GKIMNIK.

THI
11.

The

sixth

is

where Thiazi bode,

Sound-home,

that fearful Jotun of yore ;

fair bride of gods,
dwells,
in her father's former home.

now Skadi

12.

The seventh
set

away

in

there hath Baldr

Broad-gleam
on high,
where I ween are found
the land
is

him a

hall

the fewest tokens of

13.

The

Heaven-hill

is

eighth

ill.

world-bright Heimdal

rules o'er its holy fanes

glad-hearted the good

The

ninth

is

watchman
mead quaffs.

the

in that peaceful hall

14.

Freyja rules there

Folk-field;

choice of seats

in

of gods

the hall

she chooses each day

one half the dead
but half the War-father owns.

15.

The

tenth

is

pillared with gold,

Glistener

and eke with

silver roofed

nigh the long day through,

the Judge, and soothes all strife.

there Forseti dwells

16.

The

eleventh

hath built

Noatun
Njord in
him a hall by the sea

is

that haven

ever faultless found,

a prince of men,
he holds the high built fanes.
17.

and with
With brushwood grows,
Vidar's
land
Wood-home,

grasses high,

from his steed that son

strong to avenge his
n.

Thiazi, Skadi, see Ls.

st.

gested
v.,

meaning for Noatun

797, 192.

17.

is

Vidar,

shall

show him

sire.

50 and Introd.

pronounced like Y ; so also Frcyja, Njord.

wife of Odin, u'lw shared the slain with him.

Odin

of

14.

Jotun or giant
Freyja seems here

J
to

in Icelandic is

stand for Frigg,

Njord in that haven; the sugFragments from Sn.E, and Saga-book,

16.

see

"Ship-haven,"
see Vm. st. 53 : Vsp.

st.

54.

GRIMNISMAL.

lo

18. (21)

unir pjo)?vitnis

pytr pund,
fiskr

fl6J>i

drstraumr

Jjykkir ofmikill

valglaumi at
19. (23)

Fimm

vaj>a.

ok of fjorum togum

hundru)> golfa

Bilskirni me]? bugum

es ek rept vita
)>eira

hykk

ranna
mins veitk mest magar.

20. (22)

es stendr velli a

Valgrind heitir

heilog fyr helgum

en
forn's su grind,

hve's
21. (24)

durum

|>at fai'r vitu,

las of lokin.

Fimm

ok of fjorum
hundru]? dura
a
Valhollu
vesa
;
hykk

atta hundru)^ einherja

ganga or
|?as Ipeir fara vij? Vitni at vega.
22. (18)

Andhrimnir

laetr

fleska bazt

en

vi)>

23. (19)

togum

einum durum,

Eldhrimni

]>at fair vitu,

hvat einherjar alask.

Gera ok Freka

se)?r

gunntamtyr

hro)?ugr Herjafo)?r:
vin eitt
en
vapngofugr
v\y
O]?inn ED lifir.

The rearrangement of strophes, which is not an attempt at restoration, but made

18.
for the sake of clearness, is indicated by figmes in parenthesis corresponding to the strophe
numbering of R.

THE SAYINGS OF GRIMNIR.

(The Sky-road to Valholl.)
18.

while
The Thunder-flood roars,
of the mighty Wolf therein

sports the fish

o'erwhelming seems

the flow of that stream

for the host of slain to

19.

Halls five hundred

wade.

and forty more

hath the Lightning-abode in its bendings,

houses I know,
of all the high roofed
highest is that of the Thunderer.
(Valholl.)

20.

the sacred gate,

Death-barrier stands,
on the plain 'fore the sacred doors
;

old

the lattice

is

how
21.

it is

and few have learned

closed on the latch.

and forty more

five hundred,
ween may be found in Valholl
and eight hundred Chosen
pass through each one
the Wolf.
with
fare
to
when they
fight
Doors
I

22.

There Sooty-face

in Sooty-flame
boils
the boar called Sooty-black
which few have heard
the best of fare,
;

'tis

the chosen warriors' food.

is

23.

Father of Hosts
Glorying, the battle-wont
feeds Ravener and Greed, his wolves
ever Odin lives,
but on wine alone
;

the

18.

Weapon-famed god

Thunder-flood.

The

river

of war.

name Thund may thus

be connected with

Id.

The fish of the

meaning Swollen, with Id. ]>indan (B).
]?
mighty Wolf is according to G. the sun, or prey of the wolf of darkness, st. 39 : she shines
in the heavens till swallowed by Fenrir ; see Vm. 46.
Cf. Dt. HI. who translate the
Wolfs flood or stream which flowed from his jaws, and connect the passage with the

Jmnor by the

suffix

(V),

or,

storming of Asgarth by the Wanes mentioned in Vsp. 24.

24.

Wolves, ravens

sources than

Grm.for

these particulars are taken

his description.

21.

See Vsp.

from Sn.E., who had

st.

43.

23,

evidently othtr

GRIMNISMAL.

12

fljuga hverjan dag

Huginn ok Muninn
jormungrund yfir:
at hann aptr ne komi,
oumk of Hugin
?6 seumk meirr of Munin.

24. (20)

25.

es stendr hollu &. [Herjaf6j>rs]

Hetynin heitir geit
ok bitr at Lfcraj^s limum
hon skal ens skira mja]>ar,
skapker fylla
;

knaat su veig vanask.

26.

es stendr hollu a [Herjafo|>rs]

Hjortr heitir Eik|>yrnir

ok bitr af Lf6ra|>s limum

en af hans hornum
drypr
}>a)>an

27.

eigu votn

oil

Hvergelmi,

vega.

Ssckin ok JEk'm,
Si]? ok Vty,
Svol ok Gunn]?ro,
Fjorm ok Fimbutyul,
Rin ok Rinnandi,
Gomul ok Geirvimul,
Gipul ok Gopul,
hverfa
of
hodd
J>sor
go)?a
;

J?yn

28.

ok Vin,
poll ok Holl,
Gra]? ok Gunn]>orin.

Vin a

onnur Vegsvinn,

heitir,

Nonn ok Hronn,
ok
Hri>,
Sylgr ok Ylgr,
SliJ?
ok Strond,
ok
Vond
Van,
Vty
falla gumnum
ok
Gjoll
Leiptr,
)>fcr
en falla til Heljar he|?an.
Nyt ok Not,

29.

Kormt ok Ormt

ok Kerlaugar

}>eer skal porr va)?a

es hann
dag hverjan,

at aski Yggdrasils
)>vit

asbru

brinnr

heilog votn hloa.

27, 28.

Interpolations

B, A/A, 5, /.

dcema

oil loga,

tvsfcr,

ferr

THE SAYINGS OF GRIMNIR.

24.

13

of Thought and Memory

Ravens, Hugin and Munin,
the
wide
world
each
wing
day
I tremble for Thought,
lest he come not again,
:

yet for

Memory more

fear.

(The Waters of the World.)

25.

stands, the goat,

Sky-bright o'er Valholl
who gnaws the Shelterer's boughs ;

she

fills

'Tis
26.

with the shining mead

a bowl

stands, the hart,

Oak-thorn o'er Valholl

who gnaws

the Shelterer's boughs

run drops from his horns

whence flow

29.

a draught which runs not dry.

all

into Roaring-kettle

floods in the world.

Kormt and Ormt

and the Bath-tubs twain,

these must the Thunderer wade,

when he

fares each day

to his throne of doom
under Yggdrasil's ash
thence Bifrost burns,
the bridge of the gods,
and the mighty waters well.
;

27, 28.

The names contained

in these strophes

to belong to existing, not mythical, rivers,

do not

all

some of which were

bear interpretation and seem

to be found in Britain.

GRIMNISMAL.

i4

30.

Gla]?r

ok

Gler ok Sketybrimir,

Gyllir,

Silfrintoppr ok
Gisl ok Falhofnir,
]>eim rtya fosir

Sinir,

Golltoppr ok L6ttfeti,

joum
dcema

es

dag hverjan,

fara

at aski Yggdrasils.

31.

standa a )>ria vega

priar rcetr
und aski Yggdrasils
:

annarri hrimjmrsar,
Hel byr und einni,
menn.
menskir
)>rij7Ju

3IA.

Orn

sitr

a asks limum

es vel kvefya

oglir einn

mart

vita

honum augna

milli

Velprfolnir vakir.

32.

Ratatoskr heitir ikorni

es rinna skal

at aski Yggdrasils ;
hann skal ofan bera
arnar or]?

ok segja Ntyhoggvi

33.

Hirtir 'u auk fjorir

|?eirs

gaghalsir gnaga

Damn

ntyr.

af heefingar &

ok Dvalinn,
Duneyrr ok Dyra)>r6r.

31 A.

Mh.

Not found

in the

MSS., hut

reconstructed

from

the prose of Sn.

by G.S.Mk,

THE SAYINGS OF GRIMNIR.

30.

15

Glad One, Goldy,

Gleamer, Race-giant,
Silvery-lock and Sinewy,
Shiner, Pale-hoof,
Gold-lock, Lightfoot,
these are the steeds which the gods ride,

when they

fare each day

under Yggdrasil's ash.

to their thrones of

doom

(The World Tree's torments.)

31.

There are three roots stretching

from under Yggdrasil's ash

three divers

ways

'neath the

first

dwells Hel,

'neath the second Frost giants,

and human kind 'neath the

3 1 A.

An

third.

in the boughs of the ash,

knowing much of many things

eagle sits

and a hawk

is

perched,
Storm-pale, aloft
betwixt that eagle's eyes.

32.

the squirrel
with gnawing tooth
which runs in Yggdrasil's ash

Ratatosk

is

words from above

he bears the eagle's

and to Fierce-stinger

33.

There are four harts

tells

too,

below.

who with heads thrown back

gnaw the topmost boughs of the tree

Dainn the Dead One. Dvalin the Dallier,
:

Duneyr and Dyrathror.

Human
3I ._Yggdrasil's ash, the World Tree; see Vsp. st. 2, 19; Hav. st. 137.
kind.
These are the dead folk whose dwelling is in the underworld (see Vsp. st. 52), not,
We are repeatedly told that Yggdrasil springs from under
as Snorri suggests, the living.
the earth.

(Dt. HI.)

Hel,

see

Bdr.

st.

/.

GRLMNISMAL.

16
34.

Ormar

fleiri Hggja
und aski Yggdrasils,
an of hyggi hverr 6svij?ra apa
Goinn ok Moinn.
|>eir'u Grafvitnis synir,
Grabakr ok Grafv6llu)>r,
Ofnir ok Svafnir
hykk at EC skyli
mei)?s kvistu ma.
:

35.

Askr Yggdrasils
meira an

drygir

menn

viti

en a hlijm funar,

hjortr bitr ofan,

skerjnr

36.

erfijn

Ntyhoggr

Hrist ok Mist

ne|?an.

vilk at me"r

horn

beri,

Skeggjold ok Skogul
Hlokk ok Herfjotur,
Hildr ok pruj>r,
Goll ok Geironul,
;

Randgri)? ok Ra);gri}
]?er bera einherjum

37.

Arvakr ok Alsvtyr
svangir

en und

]?eira

jfcsir,

38.

sol

Svalinn

ok Reginleif,
61.

skulu upp he]?an

)>eir

draga

falu blty regin,

bogum

isarn kol.

hann stendr

heitir,

solu fyrir,

Skjoldr skinanda go]?i

veitk at brinna skulu,
bjorg ok brim
:

ef

39.

hann

fellr

Skoll heitir ulfr

go)?i

til

fra.

es fylgir

enu

skirleita

Varnar-vtyar,

en annarr Hati,

Hro)>vitnis sunr,
skal fyr hei)?a brujn himins.

39.

varna vij?ar
Varnar-vij^ar Dt. HI., Isarnvi]?ar S, G,

R A.

THE SAYINGS OF GRIMNIR.

34.

More serpents

under

lie

17

Yggdrasil's ash

than a witless fool would ween

Coin and Moin,

the offspring of Grave-monster,
and
Grey-back
Grave-haunting worm,
Weaver and Soother,
I ween
they must ever
rend the twigs of the

tree.

suffers anguish more

than mortal has ever known,

Yggdrasil's ash

35.

on high gnaw harts,

it rots at the side,
and Fierce-stinger rends it beneath.
cries

(Then

Would

he from the fire-torment.)

and Mist
would bear me a horn
my Valkyries, Axe and Spear-point,
Bond and War-fetter,
Battle and Might,
Shrieker and Spear-fierce in strife

36.

that Hrist

Shield-fierce, Counsel-fierce,

who

Strength-maiden

all

bear ale to the Chosen in War.

(Sun and Earth.)

Early-woke,

37.

hence must these horses

All-fleet,

wearily draw up the

but under their withers

sun,

the gods, gracious Powers,

an iron-coolness have hid.

There

38.

who

one called the Cooler

is

a shield from the shining goddess

the mountains
will flame

Skoll

39.

is

stands 'fore the Sun,

and the stormy sea

ween,
he fall from thence.

I
if

the wolf called

who hunts

even to the Sheltering grove

the bright sun-goddess

a second fares, Moon-hater,

offspring of Fenrir
in front of that fair bride of heaven.

Fierce-stinger, the dragon of the underworld

35.

kyries, or

war maidens

darkness

see

Vsp.

st.

of

40.

Odin

Fenrir, the

set

Vsp.

st.

39.

Val-

36.

Moon-hater, wolves of
39.
great Wolf who swallows Odin ; see Vsp. st. 53.

see Vsp. st. 31.

Skoll,

GRIMNISMAL.

i8

Or Ymis holdi

40.

vas

en or sveita

jor)>

of skopu]?,

sscr,

bjorg or beinum,
ba)>mr or hari
en or hausi himinn.

41. (40)

En

or bans

broum

gor)m

blij>

regin

mtygar)? manna sunum,

en or hans heila
voru )>au en harj?m6)?gu

sky

42. (41)

oil of skopu)?.

hefr ok allra go)>a

Ullar hylli
hverrs tekr fyrstr a funa
;

)>vit

43. (42)

opnir heimar
verj>a of dsa sunum,
af
hvera.
hefja
)?as

Ivalda synir

gengu

ardaga

Sktyblajmi at skapa,
ski pa

nytum
44. (43)

skirum Frey,

bazt

Njar)?ar bur.

hann es
Askr Yggdrasils
enn Ski);bla|>nir skipa,
6j?inn asa,
Bifrost brua,

Habrok hauka,

40, 41.

One

strophe

R.

osztr vij?a,

en joa Sleipnir,
en Bragi skalda,

en hunda Garmr.

THE SAYINGS OF GRIMNIR.

19

From

the flesh of Ymir

the world was formed,
from his blood the billows of the sea,
the hills from his bones,
the trees from his hair,
the sphere of heaven from his skull.

40.

41. (40)

Out

of his brows

and out of
all

The

his brains

shaped above

(The Kettle
42. (41)

the blithe Powers

for sons of

Midgarth

is

taken

in the sky.

off the fire in Geirrod's hall.)

and of

favour of Ull
to

him touching

first

For gods can enter

when

made

men,
were the angry clouds

the

the

the kettle

is

all

the Powers

fire

homes

of

men

raised from the hearth.

(The Treasures of the World.)

43. (42)

Went

the Wielder's sons

of old to build

Skidbladnir the wooden bladed,

for the bright god Prey,
best of all ships,
ever bountiful son of Niord.

44. (43)

'tis

Yggdrasil's ash,

the best of trees,

but Skidbladnir of ships,

Odin

of gods,

Bifrost of bridges,
Habrok of hawks

Ymir, a Jotun,

Sleipnir of steeds,
Bragi of skalds,

and Garm of hounds.

the first born of beings

see

Vm.

st.

21, 29.

41.
Midgarth
So understood by the
When the kettle is taken off the gods can sec Odin through
Copenhagen edition (1848).
the roof opening, come to his rescue, and then hold a triumphal feast ; see st. 45 (G. J. L.).
The house was set open to
Dt. HI. explain it in connection with the strophe -following.
guests at meal-time, and he who thus first invited a god and kindUd the friendly hearth
40.

In Old English poems also the earth

is

called Middle-garth.

was regarded as one of the benefactors of the race.

rival forgers of the Sparkler's race; see Vsp. st. 37.
book, iv., 192, 193.

fire

42.

43.
44.

The Wielder's sons

Skidbladnir,

see

are

Saga-

GRIMNISMAL.

20

45. (44)

Svipum hefk nu ypt

vty

fyr sigtiva
skal vilbjorg vaka
skal inn koma
)>at

sunum,

)>at

ollum &sum

^Egis bekki a
JEgis drekku
46. (50)

Olr

est, Geirro)>r

at.

hefr )m ofdrukkit,

es }>u'st

miklu'st hnugginn,

ollum einherjum ok Ojnns

47. (51)

en
Fjoty ]>r sag)?ak,
of )?ik vela vinir

minu gengi
hylli.

J>u fdtt

of

mant

ek

rmeki liggja
allan

48. (52)

Eggm6]?an
)>itt

mins vinar

dreyra

drifinn.

val

nu mun Yggr hafa,

veitk

lif

of

lijnt

nu kndtt O]>m sea,

nalgask }>u mik, ef megir

ufar'u disir

49- (45)

H6tumk Grimr

htumk

Herjan ok Hjalmberi,
pekkr ok ]7ri>i,
pu>r ok
Helblindi ok Har,
50. (46)

Sa)?r

Bileygr, Baleygr

Bolverkr, Fjolnir,

einu nafni
siz me)?

46.
S.

Glapsvtyr, Fjolsvi)jr,

Si^hottr, Styskeggr,
Alfo)?r, Valfo|?r,

H* G.

U)>r,

ok Svipall
ok Sanngetall,
Herteitr ok Hnikarr,

Grimr ok Grimnir,
(47)

Gangleri,

Sigfo]?r, Hniku)?r,

Atrtyr,

h6tumk
folkum

Farmatyr

aldrigi,

f6rk.

This strophe, as the alliteration shows,

is

in

fornyr|?islag,

but imperfect,

THE SAYINGS OF GRIMNIR.

21

(Grimnir reveals himself as Odin.)

45. (44)

Now my

face have I shown

to the war-god's sons,
therewith shall help awake,
and the gods shall gather,
all glad, to the bench
in ^Egir's feasting hall.

46. (50)

Dulled with ale art thou, Geirrod, too much hast thou drunk,
of great treasure art thou deprived,
bereft of

my

help,

and of

chosen warriors,

all

even the favour of Odin.

47. (51)

Much have

but little thou mindest,

thou
hast
been
by
betrayed
ere long shall I see
thy sword, good friend,
lying all bathed in blood.
I

told thee,

tricks

48. (52)

Thy days

the Dread War-father

are run out,

him who

is

slain

by the sword

the spirits are hostile,

more nigh

shalt thou

behold

come

(He makes known

49.

They have

called

now

if

owns

'tis

Odin

thou canst.

his names.)

me Hood- winker,

called

me Wanderer,

Helm-bearer, Lord of the Host,

Well-comer, Third Highest, Wave, and Slender,
High One, Dazzler of Hel.
50.

called me Soothsayer,
On-driver, Eager in War,

They have

True and Fickle,

Bale-worker, Shape-shifter,
Flashing-eyed, Flaming-eyed,
Veiled One, Masked One,
Wile-wise and Much-wise,
Broad-hat, Long-beard,
All-father, Death-father,

was

since

ne'er

45.

War-father, On-thruster,
On-rider, Freight-wafter

by one name alone

passed through the people of men.

called

jEgir's feasting hall, see Ls.

GRIMNISMAL.

22

Grimnir

51. (48)

htumk

at Geirro}>ar,

en Jalkr at Asmundar,
es ek kjalka dro,
en J>d Kjalarr,
Vi)?urr at

pror )>ingum at,

6ski ok 6mi,

vigum,

Jafnhar, Biflindi,

Gondlir ok Harbar)>r me]> gojmm.

es ek het at

Svijmrr ok Svtyrir

52. (49)

Sokkmimis

ok dutyak enn aldna jotun,

j?as

vask ens meera burar

ek Mi)>vitnis
or)?inn einbani.

6|nnn nu

53. (53)

Yggr

heitik,

hetumk pundr
Vakr ok Skilfingr,

]>at,

Vafu)?r ok Hr6ptatyr,

Gautr ok Jalkr me]> goj>um,

es hykk at orjmir se
mer.
af
einum
allir

Ofnir ok Svafnir,

(54)

En

fyr

3)>an hetk,

um
Geirro)>r konungr sat ok haf)>i sver|>
er hann heyr)n at O]?inn var )?ar kominn,

taka 6)nn

fra eldinum.

kne

sr ok

]?a sto)?

Sver)?it slapp or hendi

til

mi|?s.

hann upp ok

vildi

brug|?it

hanum ok

vissu hjoltin

Konungr drap foeti ok steyptiz afram, en sver|>it sto)? i gognum

hann, ok fekk hann bana.
6)>inn hvarf ]?a, en Agnarr var )>ar konungr

ni)>r.

lengi styan.

51.

ViJ?urr

at

L \

vigum A,

not

found

in

SJ

R.

THE SAYINGS OF GRIMNIR.

called

They

51.

me

Jalk was

Keeler once,

Thror

the

Grimnir,

named
when

in council,

23

Masked one,

at Geirrod's,

at
I

Osmund's,
drew the sledge,

in strife the

Wish-giver, Wind-roar,

Stormer,

Tree-rocker, Equal-ranked,

Grey-beard and Wizard of gods.

called

They

52.

me Sage

and Wise when

duped

the old Jotun who dwells 'neath the earth,

the glorious son
and slew single-handed
of that monster who owned the Mead.

me now Odin,
Thund was I called

They

53.

call

but erewhile the Dread One,

before that,

Wafter and Counsellor,

Watcher and Shaker,
Maker and Jalk among gods,
names which I deem
Weaver and Soother,
come all from Myself alone.
King Geirrod was
knees.

When

sitting by with a half-drawn sword across his

he knew that Odin was there, he rose up desiring to

But as he did so the sword slipped out

remove the god from the fire.
of his hand point upwards, while losing his feet he fell forward upon
Then Odin vanished, and
it, and was pierced through and slain.
Agnar was left to rule long time as king.

51.

Another meaning suggested for Biflindi is

Tree-rocker, Odin as Wind god.
The old Jbtun, Suttung, who owned the Song-mead; see Hav.
52.

Shield-shaker.
St.

102.

ALVfSSMAL.
Alviss kvaj?
1.

'

nu skal bntyr me)?

Bekki bretya
heim i sinni snuask

mr,

mun hverjum )?ykkja,

hratat of msegi
heima skalat hvil)? nema.'
p6rr kva)?:
2.

'

Hvat's

]?at fira ?

vastu

Alvissmdl.

In R, No.

)?ykkjumk d ]>r vesa,

)?ursa liki

estat

hvi 'stu svd folr

nott me)? nai

\u

77.

til brii)?ar

borinn.'

Cited in 8n.E.

umb

nasar

THE

WISDOM OF ALL-WISE.
All-wise.

1.

Ere long

we
swift in

deck the bench beside me,

shall a bride

home

will hasten

my

but at

wooing

home none

together

shall

seem

shall hinder

to all beings,

my

peace.

Thor.
2.

What

so pale of hue ?
being art thou
Hast dwelt to-night with the dead ?
likeness to giants
I trow hangs o'er thee

thou wast not born for a bride

ALVISSMAL.

26

Alviss kvaj>:
'

3.

Alviss ek heiti,

ak und

byk

steini staj?

emk

vagna vers

fyr }dr\> nepan,

kominn

vit

breg)>i engi fostu heiti

porr kva]?
'

4.

Ek mun

breg)?a,

flest

of

ek bruj?ar a

}>vit

sem

raj?

vaskak heima,

firar.'

fa)?ir

)>as J?er heitit vas,

sa einn es gjofir me]? go|?um.'

Alviss kva)>
'

5.

Hvat's

rekka

}>at

fljo]?s

es

ens fagrgloa

fjarrafleina

ra)>um telsk

munu

)?ik

hverr hefr

fair

kunna:

Jnk borit

baugum

'

porr kvaj>:
6.

'

ek hef

Ving)?6rr heitik,

sunr
at osatt

ok

emk

Stygrana

minni

skaltu

7.

Sattir )?inar

ok

es vilk

8.

snimma

hafa

et mjallhvita man.'

visi gestr

muna

Meyjar astum
ef or

geta ;
heldr an an vesa

porr kvaj?
'

unga man hafa

et

]?at gjafor)?

eiga viljak
]?at

)?at

geta.'

)?at gjafor)?

Alviss kva)?
'

vi)?a ratat,

)?er ver]?a,

of varit,

heimi kannt

hverjum

at segja

allt )?ats viljak vita.

4.

Gjofir,

R, B. HI.

Gjof's, G.

H.

at fd einn

J?6r gjafor]?,

G.

S.

THE WISDOM OF ALL-WISE.

All-wise.
3.

am

who

All-wise
I

hide

dwell

a rock for

in

far

let

Lord of the goat-wain

look for the Thunderer,

under the Earth,

my home

none break a firm-sworn vow.

Thor.

4.

o'er the bride as father

who rule
he alone among gods is the giver
when that fair maid of mine
was far from home

will

break

it,

was promised thee ever as

bride.

All-wise.
5.

What

hero

who

is this,

holds

in his

that fair glowing maiden as gift

power

none knows who thou

Like a far-straying arrow,
nor whence all the wealth which thou wearest.

art,

Thor.
6.

wide have I wandered,

am I,
son of Sigrani Long-bearded
shalt thou win the young maiden
ne'er with my will
thee
a
wife
and get
among gods.

Winged-thunder

All-wise.
7.

must I speedily gain

good-will then
and win me a wife among gods
in my arms than lack
would liefer hold
that snow-white maiden as mine.

Thy

Thor.
8.

The maiden's

love

stranger,

who

if

thou canst
all

3.

The

that

tell
I

thou shalt not lack,

seemest wise
out of every world
!

long to learn.

goat-wain, Thor's chariot

a name for Odin

in his

form of an

old

see

man

Hym.

st. 7,

38, Introd. jw*.

with a long beard.

6.

Sigrani,

ALVISSMAL.

28
'

g.

611 of rok fira

Seg mer ]?at, Alviss
at
vitir
vorumk, dvergr
hve su jorj> heitir
es Hggr fyr alda sunum,
!

heimi hverjum

'

Alviss kvaj>:
10.

'

J6rj> heitir me|>

en me]> asum fold,

monnum,

kalla vega vanir,

alfar groandi,
igrcen jotnar,
kalla aur uppregin."

porr kva)?:
11.

'

Seg mer )?at, Alviss

vorumk, dvergr
live" sa himinn heitir
heimi hverjum

of rok fira

611

at vitir

'

Alviss kva)>
12.

'

enn Ymi kendi

Himinn

en hlyrnir me\> go]>um,

heitir me]? monnum,

kalla vindofni vanir,

uppheim

alfar fagra rrcfr,

jotnar,

sal.'

dvergar drjupan

porr kva)>:
'

13.

Seg mer j?at, Alviss

vorumk, dvergr
hversu mani

at vitir

sas

heitir,

heimi hverjum

of rok fira

oil

menn

'

sea,

'

Alviss kva]>
14.

Mani

heitir me}? monnum,

en mylinn mej> gojnim,
kalla hvel helju i,
en skin dvergar,
skyndi jotnar,

kalla alfar drtala.'

ii.

Enn Ymi

kendi, S's suggestion for the

//., HI.

E, mylinn, MSS. of Sn. E., G. S.

unknown erakendi o/B,

14.

Mylinn

THE WISDOM OF ALL-WISE.

g.

Tell

me

how

is

since thou art learned

this, All-wise,

of

in the

all

ways
Earth, which

29

beings,

ween

before sons of men,

spread
by the wights of all worlds.

named

lies

All-wise.
10.

named among men,

Wanes call it ever the Way

Earth

but Field

'tis

Jotuns, Fair Green,

high Powers

elves, the

call

it

among

gods,

Grower,

Clay.

Thor.
11.

Tell

me

this, All-wise,

in the

how

is

ways

of

all

since thou art learned

ween
was born

beings

Heaven, which once

named by

the wights of

all

worlds

of

Ymir

All-wise.
12.

Heaven

'tis

Wanes

named among men,

Time-teller among
it Weaver of Wind,

gods,

call

elves, the Fair Roof,

Jotuns, Overworld,
the
dwarfs,
Dripping Hall.

Thor.
13.

Tell

me

this, All-wise,

in the

how

is

the

ways

Moon

named by

since thou art learned

of all beings,

ween

which men behold

the wights of

all

worlds

All-wise.
14.

Moon

'tis named among men,

the Ball among gods,
but the Whirling Wheel in Hel,
of Jotuns, the Hastener,
of dwarfs, the Shimmerer,

'tis

II.

Year-teller called of elves.

Born of Ymir,

see

Grm.

st.

40; Vm.

st.

21 and Introd.

ALVfsSMAL.

30

p6rr kvap:
oil of rok fira
Seg mer )>at, Alviss
vorumk, dvergr at vitir
hve su sol heitir,
es sea alda synir,

'

15.

heimi hverjum

'

Alviss kva)>
16.

'

S')l

heitir mej>

en sunna mej> gojmm,

monnum,

kalla dvergar Dvalins leika,

alfar fagra hvel,
eyglo jotnar,
alskir asa synir.'

porr kva)>
'

17.

Seg mer |?at, Alviss

vorumk, dvergr
hve )>au sky heita,

oil

heimi hverjum

es

'

Sky

'

i ?

kalla

alfar ve)>rmegin,

helju hjalm hulij>s.'

porr kva]?
'

19.

en skurvan me)> go|>um,

heita me}> monnum,

kalla vindflot vanir,

urvan jotnar

skurum blandask,

Alviss kva)>
18.

of rok fira

at vitir

Seg mer ]>a.t, Alviss

vorumk, dvergr
hve sa vindr heitir,
heimi hverjum

611

of rok fira

at vitir

es vtyast ferr,
'

i ?

THE WISDOM OF ALL-WISE.

31

Thor.
15.

me

Tell

how

since thou art learned

this, All-wise,

beings, I ween
ways
of men behold
Sol which the sons

of

in the
is

named by

all

the wights of

all

worlds

All-wise.
16.

Sol

'tis

but Sun

named among men,

dwarfs

call

it

among

gods,

Dallier's playmate,

Fair wheel, the elves,

Ever-glowing, the Jotuns,
All-shine, the children of gods.

Thor.
17.

Tell

me

how

the ways of
beings, I ween
that with showers are mingled,
are Clouds of the sky,
named by the wights of all worlds ?

since thou art learned

this, All-wise,

in

all

All-wise.
18.

They

are clouds

Shower-promise to gods,

among men,

Wind-floater called of Wanes,

Rain-omen

Helm

of Jotuns,
Storm-might of elves,
of the Hidden in Hel.

Thor.
19.

Tell

me

how

is

since thou art learned

this, All-wise,

in the

the

ways of

Wind

I ween
which wanders wide

all

beings,

named by the wights

Ball, a doubtful word.

14.

wolf ;

see

16.

ground

at

Grm.

st.

of

all

worlds

G. V. suggest Fire.

Hastener. because pursued by a

39.

Dallier's playmate.
dawn ; st. 35.

The sun makes sport of dwarfs who are caught above

ALVISSMAL.

32

Alviss kva}>
20.

'

Vindr

'

Seg mer

en vafu]?r me]? go]?um,

heitir me}? monnum,

kalla gneggju}? ginnregin,
alfar dynfara,
cepi jotnar,
kalla i helju hvi]?u]?.'

porr kva]?:
21.

]?at,

Alviss

611

vorumk, dvergr
hve

'

heimi hverjum

Alviss kva)>
22.

'

es liggja skal,

logn heitir,

]?at

of rok fira

at vitir

en

heitir mej? monnum,

kalla vindslot vanir,

Logn

Iscgi

me]? go)?um,

alfar dagsefa,
kalla dvergar dags veru.'

ofhly jotnar,

porr kva]?:
'

23.

Seg mer
live"

J>at,

Alviss

611

vorumk, dvergr
sa marr heitir,

es

menn

Sser heitir me]?

kalla

roa,

i ?

Alviss kva)>
24.

'

heimi hverjum

'

of rok fira

at vitir

en

monnum,

silsbgja me]?

go]?um,

vag vanir,

alfar lagastaf,
alheim jotnar,
kalla dvergar djiipan mar.'
J?6rr kva)?:
'

25.

Seg mer

]?at,

Alviss

vorumk, dvergr
hv6 sa eldr heitir,
heimi hverjum
24.

Silsfegja,

G. /.

oil

of rok fira

at vitir

es brinnr fyr alda

'

sil-aegja, C. ; silegja,

E, B.

sunum,

THE WISDOM OF ALL-WISE.

33

All-wise.
20.

Wind

named among men,

'tis

the wise Powers call

Jotuns, the Howler,

Hel

in

'tis

it

but Waverer of gods,

Whinnier,

Roaring Rider,

elves,

Swooping Storm.

called

Thor.
21.

Tell

me

how

ways of
the Calm,

is

since thou art learned

this, All-wise,

in the

named by

all

beings,

ween

ever wont to

the wights of

all

rest,'

worlds

All-wise.
22.

Calm

'tis

named among men,

Wanes

ever call

it

Sea-rest

among

gods,

Wind-lull,

elves, Day-soother,
Jotuns, the Swelterer,
dwarfs, the Refuge of Day.

Thor.
23.

Tell

me

how

is

since thou art learned

this, All-wise,

in the

ways

the Sea

named by

of all beings, I ween

which is sailed of men,
:

the wights of

all

worlds

All-wise.
24.

Sea

'tis

named among men,

Wide Ocean
call it flowing Wave,

of gods,

Wanes

elves, the Water-stave,

Jotuns, Eel-home,

by dwarfs

'tis

called the Deep.

Thor.
25.

Tell

me

how

is

since thou art learned

this, All-wise,

in the

of all beings,

ways
Fire, which burns

named by the wights

20.

Waverer, one of Odin's names

Water.

as

ween

before men's sons,

of all worlds

Wind-god.

24.

Wide Ocean,

others

suggest Silent

ALVISSMAL.

34
^P*

Alviss kva)?
26.

'

Eldr

heitir mej?

kalla

vag
i

27.

helju hro)?u|?.'

Seg mer ]?at, Alviss

vorumk, dvergr
hve sa vi]?r heitir,
heimi hverjum

oil of

at vitir

28.

Vi]?r heitir me]?

rok

fira

es vex fyr alda

sunum,

i?'

Alviss kva]?
'

funi,

en forbrenni dvergar,

porr kva]?
'

en me|> asum

monnum,

vanir,

freka jotnar,
kalla

en vallar fax me)> go)?um,

monnum,

kalla hli)?)>ang halir,

eldi jotnar,
alfar fagrlima,
kalla

vond

vanir.'

porr kva]?
'

29.

Seg mer J?at, Alviss

vorumk, dvergr
hve su nott heitir,

oil

heimi hverjum

of rok fira

at vitir

en Norvi kenda,
'

i ?

Alviss kva)>:
'

30.

en njol me]? gojmm,

Nott heitir me)? monnum,

kalla

grimu ginnregin,
alfar svefngaman,

61jos jotnar,

kalla dvergar draumnjorun.'

porr kva)>:
'

31.

Seg mer

)?at,

Alviss

hv6

of rok fira

at vitir

es sa alda synir,

]>at sa}? heitir,

heimi hverjum
26.

611

vorumk, dvergr

i?'

Vdg, Mb. H.J.; vag, E, B. Gv. HI.; vgin, S. G.

28.
Fax, so most authorities for far, E.

frekan, E,

Freka, Gv. S. G.

THE WISDOM OF ALL-WISE.

35

All-wise.
26.

Fire

'tis

named among men,

but Flame among
call it leaping Wave,

gods,

Wanes

Hel-folk, the Racer,

Jotuns, the Havener,
the
dwarfs,
Burning Bane.

Thor.
27.

Tell

how

me

since thou art learned

this, All-wise,

in

the ways of

is

Wood

all

which waxes

named by

ween

beings,

before men's sons

the wights of

all

worlds

All-wise.
28.

Wood

'tis

named among men,

Wold-locks among gods,

by heroes Sea-weed of the hills,

elves, the Fair-limbed,
Jotuns, Life-feeder,

Waves

ever call

it

Wand.

Thor.
29.

Tell

me

how

is

since thou art learned

this, All-wise,

in the

ways

Night

of all beings,

who

named by

ween

the daughter of Norr,

is born,
the wights of

all

worlds

All-wise.
30.

She

is

but Mist

Night among men,

among

gods,

the high Powers call her Hood,

the Jotuns, Unlight,
elves, the Sleep-joy,

dwarfs, the Goddess of Dreams.

Thor.
31.

Tell

how

me

since thou art learned

this, All-wise,

in the

all

is

is

ways of
Seed which

named by

beings,

sown

the wights of

ween

by the sons of
all

worlds

men

28.
Heroes, the dead warriors in Hel, Icelandic halir, is used elsewhere for the
dead folk (See Vm. st. 43)' and has probably the same meaning here.

ALVJSSMAL.

36

Alviss kvap:
'

32.

Bygg

heitir me)>

en barr me}> gojmm,

monnum,

kalla voxt vanir,

scti

alfar lagastaf,
jotnar,
kalla i helju hnipinn.'

porr kvap:
'

33.

oil of rok fira

Seg mer )>at, Alviss
vorumk, dvergr at vitir
es drekka alda synir,
hve }>at 61 heitir,
!

heimi hverjum

i?'

Alviss kvaj?
'

34.

Ol heitir me]>

en me|> asum

monnum,

kalla veig vanir,

en

hreina log jotnar,

kalla

sumbl Suttungs

helju mjo|>,
synir.'

porr kvaj?:
35.

ek sak aldrigi

'1 einu brjosti

fleiri

forna

stafi

talum miklum
uppi

est,

nu skinn

ek
dvergr

sol

kve)? tseldan )?ik

!

of daga)?r,

sail.'

bjorr,

THE WISDOM OF ALL-WISE.

37

All-wise.

Tis named Barley among men,

but Bear among gods,
Wanes call it Growth of the ground,

32.

elves, the Sap-staff,

Jotuns, Food-stuff,

Hel-dwellers, Drooping Head.

Thor.
33.

Tell

me

since thou art learned

this, All-wise,
the ways of all beings, I ween
how is Ale which sons
of men drink oft
named by the wights of all worlds ?
in

All-wise.
34.

Ale

'tis

named among men,

but Beer

the Stirring Draught of

among

gods,

Wanes,

of Jotuns, Clear-flowing,
of Hel-folk,
by the Sons of Suttung, Feast.

Mead,

Thor.
35.

Not

e'er

have

found

bosom

in the

more learning of olden

lore

of one

but with wiles art thou duped,

thus dallying here,
while dawn is upon thee, dwarf
!

Behold

Sun

(All-wise the

33.

Bear

is

an old word

shines in the hall.

dwarf

for barley,

is

turned into stone.)

and cognate with

the Icelandic

barn

VAFPRtfPNISMAL.
OJnnn
'

1.

Ra)>

mer

nu, Frigg

kva}>

alls

at vitja Vafyrujmis
forvitni mikla
kvej?k
vty

enn alsvinna

2.

Heima
i

)?vit

gorjmm

mer

Herjafo)?r

hug)>ak
Vaf]?ru|mi vesa.'

In R, No.

3, st.

20

a fornum stofum

engi jotun

sem
Vaf |?ru)?nismdl.

go)?a

fara tijnr

jotun.'

mundak

letja

mik

Frigg kvap
'

to the

jafnramman

end in A, cited in Sn. E.

THE WORDS OF THE MIGHTY WEAVER,

Odin.
1.

Now

counsel me, Frigg

the Mighty
I

Weaver

fain

would seek

with that all-wise giant

yearn to strive
in learning of

for

of words.

olden lore.

Frigg.
2.

Nay, Father of Hosts

home in the
no giant I deem

fain

would keep thee

at

garth of the gods

so dread and wise

as that Mighty

Weaver

of words.

VAFpRUpNISMAL.

40

6j>inn kvap:
'

3.

Fjolj> ek

for,

fjoty freista|>ak,

of reyndak regin
hitt viljak vita
hv Vafyrujmis
fjol}?

salakynni s.'

Frigg kva)>
'

4.

Heill

}>u farir

aptr komir

heill

heill }>u a

sinnum

s6r!

hvars skalt, Aldafoj>r

dugi,
mfcla
or)?um
jotun.'

cej>i }>er

For

5.

J?a

at freista or)>speki

O}>inn

ens alsvinna jotuns

]?ess

at hollu

hann kvam

inn gekk

Yggr

6)nnn
'

6.

Heill

ok

atti

Hyms

fa)>ir,

)?egar.

kva]?:

nu'mk

Vaf)>ruj>nir
)?ik sjalfan at sea
!

J?u,

holl

kominn,

hitt viljak fyrst vita,

ef

)>ij

fr6)?r se"r

'

e)?a alsvi|?r,

jotunn

Vafyrujmir kva)?
'

7.

Hvat's

manna

}>at

verpumk
ut

ne komr

nema

]?ii

or]?i

es

minum

sal

orum hollum fr^

enn snotrari ser.'

6)>inn kvaj?:
8.

'

Gagnra)?r heitik,
]>yrstr

til

nu'mk

]>inna sala

af

gongu kominn

hef ek lengi farit

ok andfanga, jotunn

la]?ar )>urfi

'

5.

emended

Hyms, J
to the

for Ims B,

where the alliteration

more usual gangrdbr by R. G.

Jails.

8.

Gagnrd]?r, B, A,

THE WORDS OF THE MIGHTY WEAVER.

Odin.
3.

much have I ventured,

Far have I fared
oft have I proved the Powers
how the house-folk
this now must I know
in the Mighty Weaver's home.
;

4.

Then

safely go,

and

may

come safely
wend thy way

safely
thy wit avail thee,

again,

Father of beings,

when thou weavest words with

5.

Then Odin went

the wisdom of

to prove with

the giant

One

words

the all-wise giant

he reached the hall
of the Jotun race

the Dread

fare

entered forthwith.

Odin.
6.

Hail,
I

and

Mighty Weaver
have come thyself

here

first will

all-wise

if

try

to see

in this hall

thou art

in truth

and all-knowing, Giant.

Weaver.

7.

What man
to

is

throw

who dares in my
words at me thus ?

here,
his

hall

thou shalt ne'er come forth

again from our courts
if thou be not the wiser of twain.
Odin.
8.

Riddle-reader

am

called,

come from my roaming

thirsty here to thy halls,

in need of welcome
and kindly greeting,

long

way have

wandered, Giant.

41

VAFpRUpNISMAL.

42

Vafyru)>nir kva)>
'

9.

Hvi }m

farjm
|>a

Gagnraj>r

J>a,
i

sess

sal

skal freista,

mE61isk af golfi fyrir

hva}>arr fleira

enn gamli

gestr e)>a

'

es

Oau)>ugr ma)?r,
ofrmrolgi mikil

hveims vty

au)>ugs komr,

til

mroli ]?arft e)?a ]?egi

at ilia geti

hykk

kaldrifja]7an komr.'

Vafyntynir kva)>
11.

'

Seg

mr,

Gagnra)?r

]?ins

of freista

hve sd hestr

Jm

6,

golfi vill

es hverjan dregr

heitir

O|nnn
'

alls

frama
'

dag of drottmogu

12.

viti,

jmlr.'

O)>inn kvaj)
10.

kva)?:

es enn skira dregr

dag of drottmogu

Skinfaxi heitir

hesta baztr

]?ykkir me)? Hrei)>gotum,

ey lysir

mon

af mari.'

Vafj?ru|mir kvaj?:
'

13.

Seg

)?at,

Gagnra)?r

)>ins of freista
hv6 sa j6r heitir

alls ]>u

frama

& golfi

es austan dregr

n6tt of nyt regin

'

vill

THE WORDS OF THE MIGHTY WEAVER.

Weaver.
9.

Why

standing thus
speak, Riddle-reader,
take here thy seat in the hall

and soon

who knows

shall be seen

the more,

stranger or ancient sage.

Odin.
10.

in the house of the rich

Let the penniless wretch
needful
words
or
none
speak
works ill for him
prating, I ween,
:

who comes

to the cold in heart.

I.

(The Proving of Riddle-reader.)

Weaver.
11.

since on the floor

Say, Riddle-reader!

how

thou fain wouldst show thy skill,

the Steed is called
which draws each
over the children of men.

Day

Odin.
12.

'Tis

Shining-Mane
over the children

who draws
of men

bright

Day

of steeds in the host

they hold him best
streams light from his mane evermore.

Weaver.
13.

Say, Riddle-reader

since on the floor

thou fain wouldst show thy skill,

how the Steed is called
who forth from the east
draws Night o'er the blessed Powers.

VAFpRUpNISMAL.

44

6}>inn kva)>:
'

Hrimfaxi

14.

es hverja dregr

heitir

n6tt of nyt regin

fellir

meldropa
J?a)>an

morgin hvern,
komr dogg of dali.'

Vafyrujmir kva)?
'

Seg

15.

)>at,

Gagnra]?r

Jm a

alls

golfi vill

Jnns of freista frama

es deilir mej> jotna
hv6 su a heitir
:

grund auk mej? gojmm

0]?inn kva)>
16.

'

Ifing heitir a

sunum

'

es deilir me]? jotna

sunum

grund auk mety gojmm

hon skal of aldrdaga,
opin rinna
;

ver)>rat iss a a.'

Vaf)?ruJ?nir kva]?
'

Seg

17.

]?at,

Gagnra|?r

)m a

alls

golfi vill

)nns of freista frama

hve sa vollr heitir
es finnask vigi at
:

Surtr ok en svasu go)>

6)>inn
18.

'

kvai\>

'

es finnask vigi at
Vigrtyr heitir vollr
Surtr ok en svasu go}>
;

hann's a hverjan veg,

hundraj? rasta

sa's ]?eim vollr vita)?r.'

Vaf )>ru)mir

kva]^

'

19.

Fr6J?r est, gestr

hofjn vefta

gestr

far|?u

ok msclumsk

vit

a bekk jotuns,

saman
skulum hollu
sessi

of ge]?speki.'

i,

THE WORDS OF THE MIGHTY WEAVER.

45

Odin.

who draws evermore

Rimy- Mane

'Tis

14.

each Night o'er the blessed Powers;

from his bit each dawning
he lets fall drops
thence comes dew

in

the dales.

Weaver.
15.

since on the floor

Say, Riddle-reader
thou fain wouldst show thy skill,
!

how

the River

is

which parts the realm

from the gods.

called

of the Jotun race

Odin.
1 6.

That River

which parts the realm

from the gods

is I ling

of the Jotun race

free shall

it

while

flow

life

days

last

never ice shall come o'er that stream.

Weaver.
17.

Say, Riddle-reader
thou fain wouldst
!

how

the Field

is

since on the floor

show thy skill,

where in strife
called

shall

meet

dark Surt and the gracious gods.

Odin.
f8.

War-path

is

the Field

where

in strife shall

dark Surt and the gracious gods

it measures each way
a hundred miles
'tis the Field marked out by Fate.

meet

Weaver.
19.

but come now and

on
the
Jotun's seat
by my
on wisdom of mind
us talk and wager
our two heads here in the hall.

Wise

art thou, stranger,

side

let

sit

(Odin seats himself by the giant.)

16.
set st.

Ifing

is

probably the river mentioned in Arbl.,

st. 52, 53, Ls. st. 42.

50 and Vsp.

st. 2.

17.

Surt, a fire giant

VAFpRUpNISMAL.

46

6)>inn kva)>
20.

'

Seg

}>at

ok

et eina,
]>u,

J^itt cej^i

Vafyrujmir

hva)>an jor)> of
fyrst,

ef

enn

vitir

kvam

jotunn

'Or Ymis holdi

vas jor]? of skopu)?
en or beinum bjorg,
himinn or hausi
ens hrimkalda jotuns,
en or sveita

sser,'

6}>inn kvaj?
22.

upphiminn

e)?a
'

fro}>i

VafJ?rii)?nir kva)>

21.

dugir

'

Seg

\>at

ok

annat,
}>u,

ef )ntt

Vafj?ru)?nir

dugir

os)?i

vitir

mani of kvam,
e)?a sol et sama ?

s&s ferr

hva)?an

menn

yfir,

'

Vafyrujmir kvaj>
'

23.

Mundilferi heitir

ok sva Solar
himin hverfa

oldum

et

hann
sama

)?au

es

Mdna

fa]?ir

skulu hverjan dag

at artali.'

6j?inn kva)>:
'

24.

Seg

a ^ s fik svinnan kve)?a,

)?at et J?r^J a >

ef

]>u,

Vaf J>ru)?nir

vitir

hva)>an dagr of kvam,

ej>a

nott me)?

'

nijmm

sas ferr drott yfir,

?

THE WORDS OF THE MIGHTY WEAVER.

47

II.

(The Proving of the Mighty Weaver.)

Odin.
if thou hast the wit,
Answer well the first,
and knowest, Mighty Weaver,
from whence the Earth
and the heavens on high,
wise Giant, came once to be.

20.

Weaver.

From

the flesh of Ymir

the world was formed,
from his bones were mountains made,
and Heaven from the skull
of that frost-cold giant,
from his blood the billows of the sea.

21.

Odin.
if thou hast the wit,
Answer well the second,
and knowest, Mighty Weaver,
whence Moon hath come
who fares over men,
and whence Sun hath had her source.

22.

Weaver.

The Mover

is father of Moon,
of the Handle
and the father eke of Sun,
round the heavens
they roll each day
for measuring of years to men.

23.

Odin.

Answer

24.

well the third

if

thou hast the wit,

and knowest, Mighty Weaver,

whence Day arose
to pass o'er the race,
and Night with her waning Moons.
21.

Ymir,

Moon, sun,
Mundilferi

see
is

the first-born of

Grm.

st.

Jutuns

31.

23.

not mentioned elsewhere.

turned by a gigantic world mill.

see st. 29,

Mover

Grm.

st,

40,

Vsp.

st.

3.

22.

This mysterious being

Rydberg traces a belief that the heavens were
of the handle.

(Teutonic Mythology, p. 397).

VAFpRUpNISMAL.

48

Vafyrujmir kva)?
'

hann es Dags
Dellingr heitir,
en Nott vas Norvi borin

25.

fa)?ir,

ny ok nij>
oldum

sko)?u nyt regin

at artali.'

O)?inn kva)?
26.

'

Seg

)?at et fjor)?a,

ef

)>ii,

alls )?ik fro|>an kve)>a,

Vaf]>ru|>nir

hva)>an vetr of

vitir:

kvam

varmt sumar

e)?a
'

fyrst me)? fro]? regin

Vafyrujmir kvaj>
'

27.

hann es Vetrar fa)?ir,

heitir,
en Svosu|?r Sumars
var Vasu|?r of heitinn,
[Vindsvals fa)>ir
Vindsvalr

'

oil

es su aett

til

otul.]

OJ?inn kva]?
28.

'

Seg

]?at et

ef

alls )?ik froj?an kve]?a,

fimta,

VafJ?ru)?nir
hverr asa elztr
ej?a
J?u,

vitir:

Ymis

ni)?ja

'

yr)?i

ardaga

Vaf)?ru)?nir kva)>:
'

29.

Orofi vetra,

a)?r vgeri jor)?

)?d vas Bergelmir borinn

vas ]?ess fa]?ir,
pntygelmir

en Aurgelmir

afi.'

(3j?inn
'

30.

Seg

)?at et setta,

ef

)?u,

hva)?an Aurge,lmir
fyrst,

27.

7V/

gap

in B,

<As

kva)?

alls ]?ik

Vaf)?ru|?nir

enn

skopu]?,
;

vitir

kvam

svinnan kve)?a,
:

me)? jotna

sunum

'

fro)?i

supplied by B. t

jotunn

who paraphrases

the prose of

Sn.E.

THE WORDS OF THE MIGHTY WEAVER.

49

Weaver.
25.

There

the father of Day,

one called Dawning,
but Night was born of Norr;
the wise Powers wrought
new and waning moons
for measuring of years to men.
is

Odin.
26.

if thou hast the wit,

Answer well the fourth,
and knowest, Mighty Weaver,
and warm Summer first
whence Winter came
the wise Powers once among.

Weaver.
27.

There

is

One

the son was he

all fierce

father of

called Sweetsouth,

but Wind-cool

is

Summer,

winter's sire,

of Sorrow-seed

and dread

is

that race.

Odin.
28.

if thou hast the wit,

Answer well the fifth,
and knowest, Mighty Weaver
or of Jotun brood,
who was born of gods
:

the eldest in days of yore

Weaver.
29.

was fashioned
was
born
roaring Bergelm
father was Thrudgelm
of Mighty Voice,
loud-sounding Ymir his grandsire.

Untold winters

ere Earth

his

Odin.
30.

Answer well the sixth,

if thou hast the wit,
and knowest, Mighty Weaver,
whence came Ymir,
loud-sounding Jotun,
the

25.

first

of thy race, wise Giant.

Norr, seeAlv.st. 29. zg.In this passage Ymir is called Aurgelmir; "gelmir"
names seems to signify the roaring, rushing sound of the elemental powers in

in all these

chaos.

VAFpRUpNISMAL.

50

Vafyrujmir kva)>:
'

stukku eitrdropar,
6r Elivagum
svd 6x unz or var)> jotunn

31.

6rar

[J?ar

kvamu

sottir

]?vi's J?at

allar

6]>inn kva)>
'

32.

Seg

)?at et

hv6

ef )m, Vafyntynir
sa born of gat

es

svinnan kve]>a,

alls J?ik

sjaunda,

hann

saman,

se allt til atalt.']

vitir

enn aldni jotunn,

hafyit gygjar

gaman

'

Vafyrujmir kva)>:
'

33.

Und

hendi vaxa

kva)?u hrim)?ursi

mey ok mog saman

gat ens

fotr vi}> foeti

fr6J?a

jotuns

sexhof]?a)?an sun.'

O)?inn kvaj?

a
*

Seg

34.

)>at

ef

et atta,

]?u,

alls )?ik

Vaf)>ru)?nir

hvat fyrst of mant

svinnan kve)>a,

vitir

fremst of veizt

e)?a

'

J?u 'st alsvi]?r,

jotunn

Vafyrujmir kva|?
'

35.

Orofi vetra

OJ?inn kva|>
'

Seg

)?at

ef

et niunda,

}>u,

vitir

komr
menn hann sjalfan

Missing in

A.

frojn

jotunn

alls ]>ik

Vafj?ruJ)nir

hva)?an vindr of

31, lines 3, 4.

ek fyrst of man,
es sa enn
a vas lu]?r of lagijr.'

]>at

3&

of skopu]?,

a)?r veeri jor)>

vas Bergelmir borinn

)>a

svinnan

kvej>a,

sas ferr vag yfir

of sea.'

Supplied from r by B. Gv. L. C.J. G. S.

THE WORDS OF THE MIGHTY WEAVER.

51

Weaver.
31.

From

sprang poison-drops,

Stormy-billow

which waxed into Jotun form,

and from him are come
the whole of our kin
all fierce and dread is that race.

Odin.
32.

Answer

well the seventh,

thou hast the wit,

if

and knowest, Mighty Weaver,

how that ancient Being
begot his children

who knew

not joy of a giantess.

Weaver.
33.

'Tis said that under

grew a boy and

foot with foot begot

arm

the Frost-giant's
girl

together
of that

first

wise giant,

and a six-headed son was born.

Odin.
34.

if thou hast the wit,

Answer well the eighth,
and knowest, Mighty Weaver,
and didst earliest know
what mindst thou of old,
since I ween thou art all wise, giant

Weaver.
35.

was shaped,
was
born
roaring Bergelm
mind me first
when that most wise giant
of old in a cradle was laid.

Untold winters

ere Earth

Odin.
36.

Answer well the ninth,

if thou hast the wit,
and knowest, Mighty Weaver,
whence comes the Wind
which fares o'er the waves,
but which never man hath seen.

Stormy-billow, a mythical river between Asgard and Jotunheim; see Hym.

Sn.E. c. 5.
Icelandic
has various meanings meal-bin
Cradle.
35.
lnj>r

31.
st.

5,

box, boat, ark;

see Introd.

VAFpRUpNISMAL.

52

Vafyntynir kvaj>
'

Hrcesvelgr heitir
jotunn i arnar

37.

af

en

ham

hans vs6ngjum

menn

alia

sitr

'

Seg

)?at et
611,

a himins enda,

koma

kve)>a vind

yfir.'

O)?inn kva)?
38.

alls j?u tiva

tiunda,

Vafyrujmir

vitir

rok

kvam
me]? asa sunum
hofum ok horgum
hann rge)?r hundmorgumok vasat hann asum alinn ?

hva]?an NjorJ>r of

'

Vafyrujmir kva]?
'

39.

Vanaheimi
ok seldu

skopu hann

vis regin

at gislingu go]>um

hann mun aptr koma

heim me)? visum Vonum.'

aldar rok

6j?inn kva]>:
'

Seg

40.

)?at et ellifta,

hverir'u yta.r

svinnan

alls \ik

ef \u, Vafyru\niv

vitir

es 0}>ins

kve}>a,

tunum

'

hoggvask hverjan dag

Vaf]?ruJ?nir kvaj?
'

41.

Allir einherjar

6)?ins

tunum

hoggvask hverjan dag

val )?eir kjosa
ok ri)?a vigi

sitja

40.

41

II.

In

2, 3, 4,

RA

fra,

meirr of sattir saman.'

the strophe runs Seg)>u

|?at ellifta,

hvar

which are again repeated in 41, emended

to agree

)fta tunum i, followed by

with 24, 34, 36, G. H. S.

THE WORDS OF THE MIGHTY WEAVER.

53

Weaver.
.

37.

Corpse-swallower

at the

sits

a Jotun in eagle form

from his wings, they say,

over

all

end of heaven,

comes the wind which

fares

the dwellers of Earth.

Odin.
38.

Answer well the

since all tidings of gods

tenth,
thou knowest, Mighty Weaver,
whence Niord first came
mid the ^Esir kin-

he owns

courts and altars

who was

in

hundreds

not reared in their race.

Weaver.
39.

In

Wane-home once

the wise Powers made him

and gave him as hostage to gods
;

in

the story of time

he shall yet
to the wise foreseeing Wanes.

come home

Odin.
40.

Answer
if

who

well the eleventh,

since they
thou knowest, Mighty Weaver

call

thee wise,

who

are the beings

in the dwellings of

thus do battle
Odin each day ?

Weaver.
41.

All the

Chosen Warriors
are waging war
Odin each day

in the dwellings of

ride home from the

they choose the slain,
then at peace sit again together.

37.

strife,

is perhaps identical with the raven of Vsp. 47.

These are the two races of the gods ; for their war, see Vsp.
Chosen Warriors, see Grin. st. 21.
41.

Corpse-swallower

JEsir, WaiTes.

Introd. to Vsp.

38, 39.
st.

21-24 and

VAFpRUpNISMA'L.

54

6)>inn kva)>
'

42.

Seg

hvi

)>at et tolfta,

Vaf j>ru)mir

oil,

runum

fra jotna

ok

tiva rok

}>u

vitir

allra go)>a

segir ]>u et sannasta,

'

enn alsvinni jotunn

Vafyrujmir kva]>:
'

43.

Fra jotna runum

ok allra go)ra.
ek kann segja satt,
heim of komit
J?vit hvern hefk
niu kvamk heima
fyr Niflhel ne)>an,
:

hinig deyja [or helju]

'

44.

ek

Fjol)?

for,

fjolj?

hvat

lifir

ek

fjol)?

Vafyrujmir
'

Lif ok Lifyrasir,
i

holti

en

en

]>a.u

li)>r

'

kvai\>

Hoddm'imis

morgindoggvar

enn mfcra

)>as

fimbulvetr me]? firum

45.

freista]?ak,

of reyndak regin

manna,

halir.'

]?au

leynask

munu

ser at

mat hafa

)?a]>an af aldir alask.'

OJ?inn kvaj>:
'

46.

FjolJ?

ek

for,

fjolj?

ek

freista)?ak,

of reyndak regin :
a enn sl^tta himin
hva)>an komr sol
'
hefr
Fenrir
farit ?
]?as )>essi
fjol]?

THE WORDS OF THE MIGHTY WEAVER.

55

Odin.
42.

Answer

how

well the twelfth,

all

the story

of the Powers thou knowest, Weaver.

the secrets of Jotuns
Canst thou truly tell me
and all the gods, wise giant ?

Weaver.
43.

truly I can
of Jotuns and

Most

tell

all

thee the secrets

the gods

into every world,

have been
to Mist-Hel beneath
even nine worlds
whither die the dead from Hel.

since

Odin.
44.

much have I ventured,

Far have I fared,
oft have I proved the Powers
when the long Dread Winter
what beings shall live
comes o'er the people of earth ?
:

Weaver.
45.

who hidden shall

Life and Life-craver,
in the boughs of Yggdrasil's Ash
morning dews
they shall have as meat

lie

thence shall come new kindreds of men.

Odin.
46.

much have I ventured,

Far have I fared,
oft have I proved the Powers
in the clear heaven again
whence comes a new Sun
when the Wolf has swallowed the old.
:

Ah.

Nine Worlds. Nine was a mystic number ; Hdv. 137, Skm. 21, 39, 6-c. In
43.
are mentioned worlds of &sir, Wanes, giants, dwarfs, elves, men, and the dead in

Dread Winter or Fimbul-vetr

44.
coming doom of the gods (st. 51) mentioned by Snorri ; see also Hdl. st.
Cf. Mimameid Fj. st. 14
45.
Yggdrasil is suggested by Hodd-mimir's wood
The Wolf, Fenrir.
and Introd. Hdv., which is clearly the World tree.
46.

Hel, but nine are never enumerated; Cf. Vsp. 2.

is

the sign of the

16.
18,

VAFpRUpNISMAL.

56

Vafyntynir kva)>

Eina dottur

'

47.

aj>r

berr Alfrojmll,
henni Fenrir fari
;

su skal rtya,
]>as regin deyja
msbr.'
brautir
mojmr

6)nnn
'

ek

Fjol]>

48.

for,

kvaj?

ek

fjolj?

freista}>ak,

of reyndak regin
es Itya
hverjar 'u meyjar
?ar fara ?
:

fjolj?

mar

yfir,

'

Vafyrujmir kvaj>:
'

falla ]>orp yfir

priar Ylfyir

49.

meyja M6g)?rasis,
)>E6rs i heimi
hamingjur einar
alask.'
]>6 \&r me]? jotnum

'ru,

6)?inn kva]?:
'

50.

Fjol]?

ek

for,

fjoty

ek

fjol]?

freista)?ak,

of reyndak regin

hverir ra]?a sosir

eignum go)?a,
|?as sloknar Surta logi ?
'

Vafj?rti)mir
'

51.

kva]?

byggva v6
Vtyarr ok Vdli
]?ds sloknar Surta logi

go)?a,

ok Magni
Vingnis at

skulu Mjollni hafa

M6J?i

49-

fro)nr,

HI. G. H.J..

j^joj^ar,

vig)?roti.'

A.

THE WORDS OF THE MIGHTY WEAVER.

57

Weaver.
47.

One daughter

shall that Elf-beam bear

swallowed by the Wolf
and the maid shall ride
on the mother's path
after the Powers have perished.

alone

before she

is

Odin.
48.

much have I ventured,

Far have I fared,
oft have I proved the Powers
who pass o'er the sea
who are those maidens
:

wandering, wise

in

mind

Weaver.
49.

There fly three troops

of Mogthrasir's maidens
and hover o'er homes of men
the only guardian
spirits on earth,
and they are of Jotuns born.
;

Odin.
50.

Far have I fared,

much have I ventured,
oft have I proved the Powers
:

who

shall afterwards hold

when

the

fire

the wealth of the gods

of dark Surt is slaked ?

Weaver.
51.

In the fanes of the gods

shall dwell Vidar and Vali
when the fire of dark Surt is slaked
;

to

49.

Modi and Magni

shall Mjollnir be given
when to Thor comes the end of strife.

Mogthrasir

is

unknown.

The

interpretation

" Son-craver "

suggested by G.

is

Grm. 17, Vsp. 54, and Vali, both sons of Odin; set Bdr. st.
51.
doubtful.
11.
Modi, see Hym. st. 35, and Magni, see Hrbl. st. 9; both sons of Thor. Mjollnir,
To Thor comes the end he is slain by the
Thor's hammer ; see Iprk. and Introd.
Vidar,

see

World -serpent, Vsp.

st.

56.

He

is

here called Vingnir

set

A lv.,

st. 6.
1

VAFpRUpNISMAL.

58

OJ>inn kva]?
'

52.

Fjol)?

ek

for,

ek

fjolj?

freistaj^ak,

fjolj? of reyndak regin

at aldrlagi,
hvat verj?r 6jmi
:

)>as

'

of rjufask regin

Vafyrujmir kva]?
'

mun

Ulfr gleypa

53.

mun

J?ess

kalda kjapta
*

Aldafo)?r,

Vtyarr vreka

hann

klyfja

mun

vitnis vigi at.'

6)>inn kva)?:
'

54.

Fjolj?

ek

for,

fjolj?

fjol]>

ek

freistaj^ak,

of reyndak regin

hvat maclti 0|?inn,

a bal

a)>r

stigi,

'

sjalfr

eyra syni

Vafyrujmir kva)>
'

55.

Ey manni

hvat jm

]?at veit,
i

ardaga

eyra syni
mseltak mina forna
feigum munni
sag)?ir

auk of ragna rok.

Nu

vi)?

OJ?in

J?u'st

sc

deildak
visastr vera.'

or)?s)?eki,

stafi

THE WORDS OF THE MIGHTY WEAVER.

Odin.
52.

Far have I fared,

much have I ventured,
oft have I proved the Powers
what foe shall bring,
at the Doom of gods,
to Odin the end of life ?
:

Weaver.
53.

Fenrir shall swallow

the Father of men,

but this shall Vidar avenge

with his sword he shall cleave
of the

mighty monster

the ice-cold jaws

in strife.

Odin.
54.

Far have I fared,

much have I ventured,
oft have I proved the Powers
what spake Odin's self
in the ear of his son,
when Baldr was laid on the bale fire ?
:

Weaver.
55.

That no man knows,

what Thou didst speak

of old in the ear of thy son.

Thus with fated lips
have I uttered old lore

and told the great Doom of the Powers

have striven in word-skill
with Odin's
;

for

thou art ever the wisest of

54.

See Bdr.,

st.

No.

JO.

all.

self

59

i.

Gattir allar,
a]>r

gangi fram,

umb
umb
]?vit

skoj?ask skyli,

skygnask skyli

ovist es,

hvar 6vinir
sitja a fleti

Hdvamdl.

In

R No. 2

cited in

Sn. E.

fyrir.

THE WORDS OF ODIN

THE HIGH ONE.
(Wisdom

for

Wanderers and

Counsel to Guests.)
i.

At every door-way,
ere one enters,
one should spy round,
one should pry round,
for uncertain is the witting
that there be no foeman sitting,
within, before one on the floor.

The High One,

a name for Odin

see

Grm.

st.

49.

HAVAMAL.

62
2.

Gefendr heilir
gestr's inn kominn
hvar skal sitja sja?
!

mjok

es bra|>r

brondum

sas

skal

sins of freista frama.

3.

Elds es J^orf
J>eims inn es kominn
auk a kne kalinn
matar ok vaj>a
es manni )>6rf
;

J>eims hefr of fjall farit.

4.

Vatns es

J>erru

ok

5.

Vits es

ef ser geta mr&tti

)?eims vi]?a ratar,

]?6rf

heima hvat

at augabrag)>i

kann

sitr.

At hyggjandi sinni

skylit ma)>r hrresinn vesa,

heldr gtutinn at
horskr ok ]?6gull

)?vit

ver)>r sas etki

auk me]) snotrum

)?as

komr,

ok endr]7ogu.

drclt es

6.

verj>ar

]>j6)>laj?ar,

goj>s of os)?is
or]>,

til

)>eims

]>6rf

gej?i

komr

heimisgar)>a
sjaldan ver]?r viti vorum.
fser ma]?r aldrigi,
6brig]?ra vin

an manvit mikit.

7.

Enn

es

vari gestr,

til

verj>ar

Jmnnu hljo}>i J>egir,

en augum
eyrum hly)?ir,
sva nysisk fro]?ra hverr
8.

Hinn

es

lof

ok

liknstafi

brondum,

B.;

fyrir.

]?at

annars brjostum

2.

sko|?ar

es ser of getr

sscll

6della er vty

komr,

a brautum, paper

es ma]?r eiga skal

i.

MSS. and K. D. M.

til,

THE WORDS OF ODIN THE HIGH ONE.

2.

Hail, ye Givers

say

Much

pressed

is

would seek

3.

He

a guest is come
he sit within ?

where

63

shall

he
for

who fain on the hearth

warmth and weal.

who now
hath need of fire,
numbed with cold to the knee

come,

is
;

the wanderer craves

food and clothing
who has fared o'er the rimy fell.

4.

5.

He

craves for water,

He

hath need of his wits

who comes for refreshment,

and
drying
friendly bidding,
fair fame if 'tis won,
marks of good will,
welcome
and
once and again.

aught simple

who wanders
home
fool who sits

will serve at

wide,

is the
but a gazing-stock
mid the wise, and nothing knows.

6.

Let no

man

in the greatness of his mind,

glory
rather
watch
o'er his wits.
but
keep

let him enter a dwelling

Cautious and silent
to the heedful comes seldom harm,

for

none can

a more faithful friend

find

than his wealth of mother wit.

7.

who seeks refreshment

Let the wary stranger
with
silent
sharpened hearing
keep
and look with his eyes
with his ears let him listen,
thus each wise man spies out the way.
;

8.

who wins for himself

he
fame and kindly words
which a man doth own
but uneasy is that
Happy

is

fair

while

it lies

in another's breast.

'

HAVAMAL.

64

Sa

9.

es

ill

]?vit

es sjalfir of a

ssoll

ok

lof

vit

ra]>

mej>an lifir,
hefr ma)>r opt

annars brj6stum
10.

berrat majjr brautu at,

Byr)>i betri

an

manvit mikit

betra

au)>i

)>egit

or.

j^ykkir J?at

okunnum

sta)>,

slikt es vala)>s vera.

berrat maj?r
Byr)>i betri
an s6 manvit mikit ;

11.

brautu

vegra hann
an se ofdrykkja 61s.

vegnest verra

12.

(n)

Esa

sv

Jwt

(sera,

sins

13.

(12)

sem
sunum,

gott,

61 alda

velli at,

gott kve]?a,

es fleira drekkr,

veit,
til

at,

gumi.

ge)?s

6minnis hegri heitir

sas of otyrum
hann stelr ge]?i guma

)?rumir,

j?ess

14.

(13)

ek

fugls fjo)?rum
i

gar}?i

Olr ek

fjotra)>r

vask

Gunnla)?ar.
var)> ofrolvi

varj?,

at ens fro}?a Fjalars ;

at aptr of heimtir
]?vi's 6l)?r bazt,

hverr

15.

(14)

sitt ge|>

pagalt ok hugalt

gumi.

skyli )?j6)?ans

barn

ok vigdjarft vesa
skyli gumna hverr
gla)>r ok reifr
unz sinn bi)?r bana.
;

The strophe numbering of

is

marked

in brackets.

THE WORDS OF ODIN THE HIGH ONE.

9.

10.

he
who hath in himself
and
wisdom
in life;
praise
for oft doth a man
ill counsel get
when 'tis born in another's breast.

Happy

is

better burden

can no

on the way than

'tis

man

bear

mother wit
the refuge of the poor,
and richer
than wealth

11.

65

his

it

seems

a world untried.

in

can no man bear

on the way than his mother wit
and no worse provision
can he carry with him
better burden

than too deep a draught of

12.

Less good than they say

ale.

for the sons of

men

the drinking oft of ale

for the more they drink,
the less can they think
and keep a watch o'er their wits.
is

13.

bird of Unmindfulness

flutters o'er ale feasts,

wiling away men's wits

with the feathers of that fowl

in

14.

was

fettered once

the garths of Gunnlod below.

Drunk was

then,

was over drunk

in that crafty Jotun's court.

But best

is

to call

15.

an ale feast
when
back his wits at once.

able

and thoughtful
and bold in strife
the prince's bairn should be.

Gunnlod

st.

104.

Fjalar in the text also belongs

is

is

Silent

let each
Joyous and generous
until he shall suffer death.

13.

man

14.

That crafty Jotun, Suttung

to Thor's

here used in a general sense for

man show him

famous opponent

see

Hrbl.

st.
st.

102.
26.

The name
Possibly

any Jotun.

it

HAVAMAL.

66
16.

(15)

ef

en

elli

(16)

hanum

hanum

es

einn veit

hverju

es vi)?a ratar
of farit,

fjolj>

gumna

styrir

ge]?i

sas vitandi

(18)

kynnis komr,

til

guma.

)?a ge]>

auk hefr

19.

Haldit ma)>r a keri,

6kynnis

drekki

var

)?ess

)?ik

nema

Gra)?ugr hair,

etr ser aldrtrega

opt

at hofi mjo|>,

engi ma)?r,
at sofa.

ge)>s viti,

es me]?

feer hlscgis,

]>6

snimma

at )>u gangir

(19)

hverr

's vits.

mseli ]?arft e]?a ]>egi

20.

fri)>,

)>ylsk hann umb e]>a )>rumir;

ef hann sylg of getr,
es senn,

uppi's

engi

geirar gefi.

Kopir afglapi,
alt

18 (17)

lifa,

vig varask,

vij>

gefr

}>6t

17.

hyggsk munu ey

6snjallr ma)>r

horskum komr,

manni heimskum magi.

21.

(20)

Hjarjnr

en

22.

(21)

skulu,

kann eevagi
ma)>r
sins of mal maga.
ok

Vesall ma)?r
hitki

ilia

hvivetna

skapi

hann veit,
es hann vita
at hann esa vamma vanr.

Osvtyr ma)?r

ok hyggr
j>a

af grasi

6svi)?r

hleer at

23. (22)

)>a

heim

nscr )>er

]?at vitu,

ok ganga

)>yrfti,

vakir of allar nsetr

at hvivetna

es mo|?r
es at morni komr,
allt es vil sem vas.

THE WORDS OF ODIN THE HIGH ONE.

16.

A coward

he

believes

will ever live

if he keep him safe from strife

not long
but old age leaves him

though spears may spare his

17.

in

peace

life.

when he goes to a friend,

and mumble only, or mope
and all in a moment
but pass him the ale cup
the mind of that man is shown.
fool will

gape

18.

19.

He know s

alone
who has wandered wide,
and far has fared on the way,
a man doth own
what manner of mind
who is wise of head and heart.
r

but drink thy measure

Keep not the mead cup
or
none
words
needful
speak

none

20.

for lack of breeding

upbraid thee
soon thou seek'st thy rest.

shall
if

greedy man,
eats to his

if

own

he be not mindful,

life's

oft the belly of the fool

when he
21.

hurt

will bring

him

to scorn

seeks the circle of the wise.

of their going home

Herds know the hour
and turn them again from the grass
;

but never

is

found

who knows
22.

man

the measure of his

maw.

and evil minded

miserable man
makes of all things mockery,
which he best should know,
and knows not that

The

that he

23.

a foolish

is

not free from faults.

The unwise man

is awake all night,

and ponders everything over
he is weary in mind,
when morning comes
and all is a burden as ever.
;

67

HAVAMAL.

68
24.

(23)

Osnotr ma)>r

hyggr ser

vtyhkejendr vini
hitki

hann

25.

(24)

)?6t

fi)?r,

snotrum

ef me)?

Osnotr ma)?r

alia vesa

hann

of

far lesi,

sitr.

hyggr ser

vi)?hl&jendr vini
es at j?ingi
)?at fi)?r,

alia vesa

)?a

komr,

at a formselendr fa.
26.

(25)

6snotr ma)?r
ef a ser

hitki

hann
ef

27.

(26)

)?ykkisk allt vita,

va veru

hans

engi

kve)?a,

|?at

es me)? aldir komr,

es bazt at J>egi ;
at hann etki kann,
veit,

nema hann
Veita ma]?r
]?6t

(27)

vi)?

freista firar.

6snotr ma)?r,
]>at

28.

hvat hann skal

veit,

hann

mseli til mart.

hinns va3tki veit,

mseli

mart.

til

es fregna
Fr6)>r sa )?ykkisk
ok segja et sama

kann

megu

eyvitu leyna

)ws

gengr of

yta synir

guma.

29.

(28)

CErna mselir

sas cva )?egir

sta)?lausu stafi

nema haldendr

hra]?mclt tunga,

eigi,

opt ser ogott of gelr.

30.

(29)

At augabragjn
]>6t

margr

til

fro)?r

ok nai
31.

(30)

skala maj>r

kynnis komi
]?ykkisk

annan hafa,

ef freginn esat,

j^urrfjallr j^ruma.

sas flotta tekr

Fr6J>r ]?ykkisk
gestr at gest ha;)min
veita gorla
sas of verj?i glissir
;

]?6t

me)? gromxim glami.

THE WORDS OF ODIN THE HIGH ONE.

24.

The unwise man

and

flatter

weens
him are his

how oft
when he sits in

nor notes

25.

smile

they speak him ill

the circle of the wise.

The unwise man

weens
him are his
but when he shall come
and

who

all

friends,

flatter

all

who

friends

smile

into court he shall find

there are few to defend his cause.

26.

The unwise man

while he

thinks

sits in

all to

but he knows not one thing,

if

27.

men

shall put

know,

a sheltered nook

him

what he

shall answer,

to proof.

'tis best to be mute

For the unwise man
when he comes amid the crowd,
of his lack of wit
for none is aware
if he wastes not too many words
;

for

he

who

lacks wit

shall never learn

though his words flow ne'er so

28.

Wise he

is

deemed

who can

fast.

question well,

and also answer back

can no secret make
the sons of men
:

of the tidings told in their midst.

29.

Too many

unstable

by him who

words are spoken

ne'er holds his peace

the hasty tongue

sings
if it be not bridled in.
30.

Let no

man

be held

its

own mishap

as a laughing-stock,

though he come as guest for a meal

wise enough seem many
while they sit dry-skinned
and are not put to proof.
:

31.

guest thinks him witty

and runs from his wrath

but none can be sure

that he

makes not

who mocks
away

at a guest

who jests at a meal

fun among foes.

69

HA'VAMAL.

70
32.

(31)

Gumnar margir
en at

vir)>i

aldar r6g

erusk gagnhollir,

vrekask

mun

]?at

ae

vesa,

orir gestr vty gest.

33.

(32)

Arliga ver^ar

nema
sitr

34.

(33)

(34)

skyli maj>r opt

kynnis komi

Afhvarf mikit

es til ills vinar

a
brautu
bui,
]?6t
en til g6)>s vinar
Hggja gagnvegir,

Ganga
ey

s6 firr farinn.

skala gestr vesa

skal,
i

einum

sta)>

annars fletjum
(35)

Bu

es betra,

(36)

Bu

]>6t litit se,

sal,

betra an been.

es betra,

hair es

ok taugreptan

geitr eigi

|>at's |>6

37.

a.

heima hverr

hair es
J?6t tvsor

ef lengi sitr

Ijiifr verj?r leij^r,

3^>.

6,

ok snopir,
kfctr sem solginn s,
ok kann fregna at fou.

]>6t

35-

til

\>bi litit s6,

heima hverr

blojmgt's hjarta
)?eims bifta skal
ser i mal hvert matar.
38-

(37)

Vapnum sinum
feti

skala ma)?r velli a

ganga framarr,

]?vit ovist's

at vita,

geirs of }?6rf

neer ver)?r a

39.

(38)

vegum

uti

guma.

Fannkak mildan mann

e]?a

sva matargoj?an,

at vaerit J^iggja J?egit,

fear
svagi gjoflan,
e)?a sins
at leij? s laun ef )>egi.

33.

Nema, R,

Dt. HI.; ne dn, B. Gv. S. G.

39.

Gjoflan, G. B. Gv.

Mk.

THE WORDS OF ODIN THE HIGH ONE.

32.

71

lean towards one another,

Oft, though their hearts
friends are divided at table
;

ever the source

of strife 'twill be,

that guest will anger guest.

33.

A man

his meals betimes

should take always

unless he visit a friend,

and half famished seems,

sits and mopes,
and can ask or answer nought.

or he

34.

Long

is

e'en

the round
if

to a false friend leading,

he dwell on the way

to a faithful friend
but though far off fared,
short.
roads
and
are
the
straight
35.

again on his way,

guest must depart
nor stay in the same place ever
;

if

36.

on another's bench
he bide too long
the loved one soon becomes loathed.

One's own house is best,

though small it may be
each man is master at home
and a bark-thatched hut
though he have but two goats
;

'tis

37.

better than craving a boon.

One's own house is best,

though small it may be,
each man is master at home
will he beg, who must,
with a bleeding heart
;

his
38.

meat

at every meal.

on his road a step

Let a man never stir
without his weapons of war
when need shall
for unsure is the knowing
of a spear on the way without.
;

39.

found none so noble

arise

or free with his food,

with a gift,

who was not gladdened

of his
nor one who gave

gifts

such store

but he loved reward, could he win

it.

HAVAMAL.

72
40.

(39)

Fear

es fcngit hefr

sins

skylit ma)>r |>6rf )>ola

opt sparir leijmm

hefr ljufum hugat,

)>ats

mart gengr verr an varer.

41.

(40)

Vapnum ok

skulu vinir gle)>jask,

vajnim

sjolfum synst

)>at's

erusk vinir lengst,

vtyrgefendr [ok endrgefendr]

ef

42.

(41)

btyr at ver]?a vel.

)>at

Vin sinum
skal ma)>r vinr vesa
ok gjalda gjof vty gjof,
hlatr

vi)>

hlatri

skyli hollar taka,

en lausung vty
43.

(42)

Vin sinum
)>eim ok

lygi.

skal ma)>r vinr vesa,

)?ess vin,

en ovinar sins

skyli engi ma)>r

vinar vinr vesa.

44.

(43)

Veiztu, ef vin dtt

ok
ge]?i

vill

skalt

af

j?anns

hdnum

blanda

vij? ]>a.nn

vel truir,

]>u

gott geta,

ok gjofum skipta,

fara at finna opt.

45.

(44)

Ef

att

annan

vill

af

)?anns ]?u

ilia truir,

hanum

]>6 gott geta,

en flatt hyggja
fagrt skalt vty |>ann msela,

ok gjalda lausung
46.

(45)

pat's

enn of

ok

jeer's

vi)? lygi.

es jm

)>ann

ilia truir,

grunr at bans gej>i

ok of hug maMa,
:

hleeja skalt vi}> ]>eim

glik skulu gjold gjofum.

47.

(46)

Ungr vask forjmm,

)>a varj>k vilfr

vega

for ek einn

saman,

es ek annan fann
au)?ugr Jjottumk
es
manns
gaman.
ma)>r

THE WORDS OF ODIN THE HIGH OKE.

40.

Let no

man

stint

him

of the wealth he has

oft is

and

suffer

need

won

in life

what was meant

saved for a foe

73

for a friend,

and much goes worse than one weens.

41.

With raiment and arms

shall friends

so has one proved oneself ;

for friends last longest,
if fate be

who
42.

To

fair,

give and give again.

his friend a

and

gladden each other,

man

gift for gift

should bear him as friend,

bestow,

let him exchange,

laughter for laughter
but leasing pay for a lie.

43.

To

to

but

man
should bear him as friend,
him and a friend of his
him beware
that he be not the friend

his friend a

let

of one

44.

45.

46.

who

is

friend to his foe.

Hast thou a friend

whom thou trustest well,
from whom thou cravest good ?
Share thy mind with him,
gifts exchange with him,
fare to find him oft.

But hast thou one

whom thou trustest ill
from
whom
thou
cravest good ?
yet
Thou shalt speak him fair,
but falsely think,
and leasing pay for a lie.

whom thou trusted ill,

Yet further of him
and whose mind thou dost misdoubt
but withhold thy thought,
thou shalt laugh with him
for gift with like gift should be paid.
;

47.

Young Was

I once,
I walked alone,
and bewildered seemed in the way
then I found me another
and rich I thought me,
for man is the joy of man.
;

L>

HAVAMAL.

74
48.

(47)

menn

Mildir, froeknir

bazt

lifa,

sjaldan sut ala,

en osnjallr ma|?r
sytir

49.

(48)

&

uggir hotvetna,

gloggr

minar

Va)>ir

tveim

gjofum.

vi)?

gaf ek

trm6nnum

velli at
;

rekkar

es |?eir ript hofyu

j?at ]>6ttusk
neiss es nokkvtyr hair.

50.

(49)

Hrornar

sus stendr ]?orpi

barr ;

]>o\\

a,

hlyrat borkr n

sas

sva es ma)?r

manngi ann,

hvat skal hann lengi

51.

(50)

fripr

52.

(51)

brinnr mej? ilium vinum

Eldi heitari

en

fimm daga,

es enn
ok versnar vinskapr

J?a

Mikit

skala

eitt

opt kaupir

fengumk
(52)

s^tti

sloknar,

Litilla

)?vit allir

gefa,

ok me)? hollu

keri

felaga.

sanda

litil

komr,

allr.

manni

litlu lof

me)> holfum hleifi

53.

lifa ?

sseva

litilla

eru ge}>

guma

menn

ur]>ut jafnspakir,

holf es old hvar.

54.

(53)

Me)>alsnotr

&va

til

manna

skyli

snotr

hverr,

)>eim era fyr)?a

fegrst at lifa,
es vel mart vitu.

53.

HI.

er,

Hvar, B's emendation, Dt. HI. L.

E, G. H.

hvar, R,

H. G.

J. S.

54.

Era, Dt.

THE WORDS OF ODIN THE HIGH ONE.

who lives
Most blest is he
and nurses never a grief,

48.

75

and bold

free

man
is dismayed by aught,
and the mean one mourns over giving.

for the fearful

49.

I gave in the field

garments once
two land-marks made as men
heroes they seemed
when once they were clothed
'tis the naked who suffer shame

My

to

50.

The

which is perched on the

pine tree wastes
nor bark nor needles shelter it

hill,

such

is

man
whom none doth love
what should he longer live ?

the

for

Fiercer than

51.

for five

but anon

and

among

fire

days
when the sixth day comes,
quenched,
friendship soon is spoiled.

all

praise oft

is

have found

Little the sand

53.

must one give

earned for nought

with half a loaf

I

friends

'tis

Not great things alone

52.

ill

burn

love will

and a

tilted

me many
if little

to another,

bowl

a friend.
the seas,

are minds of men,

for ne'er in the world
were
little

'tis

Wise

54.

in

but

all equally wise,

shared by the fools and the sage.

measure
let

let

for never the happiest

who knows much

49.

Two

each

man

him not wax too wise

be

men is he
many things.
of

of

On the hill or in the

land-marks, so V. explains two tree-men.
50.
borp has this meaning, beside the more common one of hamlet; G.

Icelandic

open.

The context makes

it

quite clear that an unsheltered spot

is

intended, but as the

Norwegian

pine flourishes on the hill and dies out among houses, we may perhaps infer that the poem
did not originate in Norway.
Five days, the old week before the Christian week
51.
of seven days.
53.
Many useless suggestions have been made to explain this

strophe^

which

is

perhaps only a general reflection on the vanity of

human

nature.

H^VAMAL.

76
55-

sova
)>vit

snotr s

til

manns

snotrs

manna

skyli

Me)>alsnotr

(54)

hverr,

ver}>r sjaldan glatt,

hjarta

ef sa's alsnotr es a.

56.

ecva

til

manna

skyli

Me]>alsnotr

(55)

snotr s6

orlog sin

viti

engi

fyrir,
sefi.

^eim's sorgalausastr

57.

hverr,

brenn unz brunninn

funi kveykisk af funa

Brandr af brandi

(56)

es,

manni

ma)>r af

en

58.

Ar

(57)

til

ver|?r at

mali

ku)?r,

dcelskr af dul.

skal risa
fe e)?a fjor

sas annars

hafa

vill

sjaldan leer of getr

liggjandi ulfr
n6 sofandi maj>r sigr.

59-

Ar

(58)

skal risa

sas a yrkjendr fa

ok ganga sins verka a

mart of dvelr

(59)

61.

(60)

morgin
und hvotum.

ski]?a

jTveginn ok mettr

rtyi

J>6t se"t vffidr til

skua ok br6ka
n

R, Dt. HI.

vel

ma)?r

)>ingi at,

skammisk engi

ma)>r,

bests in heldr,

Jjot

57, line 3.

sefr,

ok ]?akinna nspfra,
kann
]?ess
maj?r mjot,
es vinnask megi
vi)?ar
mal ok misseri.

purra
)?ess

J?anns of

halfr es au]?r

60.

vit

hann

/.,

hafit go)?an.

maj?r manni ver]?r af mali

kuj?r,

A/A. G.

H.

S.

THE WORDS OF ODIN THE HIGH ONE.

55.

Wise

in

but

should each

measure
let

him not wax too wise

seldom a heart
if

56.

Wise

in

measure

but ne'er

who

will sing

the owner be

let

all

be

with joy

too wise.

man

should each

him wax too wise

looks not forward

unburdened heart

57.

man
;

be,

to learn his fate

will bear.

Brand kindles from brand

until it be burned,
kindled
from
spark
spark,
man unfolds him
by speech with man,
but grows over secret through silence.
is

58.

He must
or

rise

life

who

betimes

fain of

or wealth would win

another

scarce falls the prey

to sleeping wolves,
or to slumberers victory in strife.

59.

He must

rise

and see

who

60.

betimes

to his

who hath few

work himself

is hindered
sleeps at morning
to the keen is wealth half-won.

Of dry

logs saved

to serve him,

much,

and roof-bark stored

man

can know the measure,

of fire-wood too
which should last him out
quarter and half years to come.
a

61.

Fed and washed

should one ride to court

though
garments none too new
thou shalt not shame thee
for shoes or breeks,
nor yet for a sorry steed.
in

77

HAVAMAL.

78
62.

(61)

es
Snapir ok gnapir,
orn a aldinn mar

til

sva e? ma|>r
es me)>r
ok a formEclendr fa.

morgum komr

s&var komr,

63.

Fregna ok segja

(62)

sas

n6 annarr

einn vita,
]>)6\>

64.

Riki

(63)

skal,

veit, ef )>rir 'u.

skyli ra)>snotra hverr

sitt
i

skal fr6J?ra hverr,

heitinn horskr

vill

hafa

hofi

es mej> frceknum komr,

at engi's einna hvatastr.

)?a ]?at fi)?r

65. (64)

[Gsetinn ok geyminn
skyli
ok varr at vintrausti]

gumna

hverr

es ma]?r 6)?rum segir,

of getr.

or]?a J^eira,

opt hann gjold

66.

(65)

Mikilsti

en
61

kvamk
snimma
suma
sty

til

(66)

sumt vas 61agat

vas drukkit,

Her ok hvar
ef ]?yrftak at
e)>a

tvau
J>ars

68.

(67)

Iser

and

leif?r

\\\>.

mundi mer heim

malungi mat

hengi

of bo)?it,

at ens tryggva vinar,

eitt etit.

hafyak

2.

ef maj?r hafa nai'r,

sitt

an vty

sta)>i,

Eldr es baztr
me]? yta sunum
auk solar syn,
heilyndi

65, lines

marga

sjaldan hittir

67.

blank

lost at lifa.

in

is

thus supplied by the paper A/SS., B. C. T. S.

THE WORDS OF ODIN THE HIGH ONE.

62.

79

over old ocean,

Like an eagle swooping
after
his
snatching
prey,
so

comes a man

into court

who

finds

there are few to defend his cause.

63.

Each man who

64.

is wise
and would wise be called
and
answer
must ask
aright.
but never a second,
Let one know thy secret,
if three a thousand shall know.

wise counselled

and use
lest

his

will
in

might

when he come
he find others

65.

man

be mild

his fierce foes

fiercer

in

bearing

measure,

among

than he.

Each man should be watchful

and wary

in speech,

and slow to put faith in a friend.

to another speaks
For the words which one
he may win reward of ill.
66.

I was far too late,

At many a feast
and much too soon at some
or yet unserved
drunk was the ale
he
the joint who is hated.
never hits
;

67.

68.

I had haply been asked

Here and there to a home
had I needed no meat at my meals,
in the house of that friend
or were two hams left hanging
where I had partaken of one.

to the sons of men,

Most dear is fire
most sweet the sight of the sun
if one can but
good is health
keep it,
and to live a life without shame.
;

62.
the eagle,

sea; see

head.

The meaning of this strophe is sonit-u-hat obscure, but perhaps the idea is that
wont to seek his food in the quiet mountain pools, is baffled in face of the stormy
66.
Hits the joint
or, as we should say, hits the nail on the
Vsp. 59.
;

HAVAMAL.

80
69.

(68)

Esat ma)>r alls vesall,

sumr's af sunum

sumr af framdum,
sumr af verkum

70.

(69)

se ilia heill

)>6t

sccll,

sumr

af

oernu,

vel.

Betra's lifjmm
an s6 61ifjmm,
ey getr kvikr ku
;

upp brinna
au)?gum manni
en uti vas dau)?r fyr durum.

eld sak

71.

(70)

Haltr

rij?r

hjorj; rekr

hrossi,

daufr vegr ok dugir

blindr es betri
an brendr

fyrir,

handarvanr,

se,

nytr mangi nas.

72.

(71)

Sunr

es betri,

se sty of alinn

)?6t

ept genginn guma

sjaldan bautarsteinar

nema
73.

(72)

Nott

hejrin

ver]?r

standa brautu

naer,

reisi ni)?r at ni]?.

Tveir'u einherjar,

erumk

tunga's h6fu]?s bani

bandar

hverjan

vscni.

sas nesti truir,

feginn

skammar'u skips

rar

hverf es haustgrima
a fimm dogum,
en meira a manajn.
;

fjoty of vi]?rir

(73)

74-

hinns vsetki veit

Veita maj>r

margr

verj^r af 6}?rum api

annarr 6au)?ugr,

ma)>r es au)?ugr,

skylit J?ann vsetkis va.

70.

Dt. HI.

An

Mh

s6 61if)>(im, R's emendation, B. Gv.

Einherjar, A/A. G. H. S.
73.

Mb. L.
-R.

K. D. Mk. B. M.

ojjrnm,
af aurum, Gv. V. J.

aflo)>rum

af

G. G. H. S.J.; ok seellifyum, R,
eins herjar, R, Dt. HI.
Af
74.

16)?rum HI.

af

au]?i

um, H. G.

S.

THE WORDS OF ODIN THE HIGH ONE.

69.

Not

reft of all

for

is

some are

he who

is ill,

blest in their bairns,

and some
some in their kin
and some in working well.

70.

More

in their

than the

blest are the living

wealth,

lifeless,

the living who comes by the cow

in the rich man's hall
saw the hearth-fire burn
'tis

and himself lying dead

71.

The lame can

'tis

72.

81

at the door.

ride horse,

the handless drive cattle,

the deaf one can fight and prevail,

than for him on the bale-fire,
happier for the blind
for no man hath care for a corpse.

Best have a son

though he be late born

and before him the father be dead
seldom are stones
on the wayside raised
save by kinsmen to kinsmen.
:

73.

Two

are hosts against one,

the tongue is the head's bane,
'neath a rough hide a hand may be hid
he is glad at night fall
who knows of his lodging,
;

short

is

the ship's berth,

and changeful the autumn night,

ere the fifth day
much veers the wind
and blows round yet more in a month.

74.

He

will never
that learns nought
how one is the fool of another,
for if one be rich
another is poor

and

72.

road,

for that should bear

know

no blame.

Stones, Icelandic bautarsteinar were monumental stones set upon the high
of which are preserved, some with runic inscriptions.
This
73.

many thousands

man's band may oft be found beneatti*a wolfagrees with the Icelandic proverb :
skin ; but others understand : There is cbanee of a fist from under a cloak.

HAVAMAL.

82
75.

(74)

Deyr

deyja fnendr,

fe",

sjalfr et

deyr
en

sama,

deyr aldrigi

or)?stirr

hveims s6r g6j>an

76.

(75)

getr.

Deyr

f6,
deyja frsendr,
deyr sjalfr et sama
at aldri deyr
ek veit einn
;

d6mr
77.

(76)

of dau)?an hvern.

sak fyr Fitjungs sunum,

Fullar grindr
mi bera vanarvol
;

sem

sva es auj?r

hann

78.

(77)

augabrag)?,
es valtastr vina.

6snotr ma)>r,
fe ej?a fljo)?s

metna)?r Jroask,

ef eignask getr

munug)?,
en manvit

fram gengr hann

79.

(78)

pat's

}>a.

drjiigt

es at

reynt,

enum reginkunnum

aldri,

dul.

runum

spyrr,

)?ejms gor)?u ginnregin,

ok

80.

(79)

fajn fimbul)?ulr,
]?a hefr bazt ef ]?egir.

At kveldi skal dag

is

81.

(80)

es yfir komr,

1 vindi skal

myrkri vty

vi)>

man

konu

leyfa,

mEeki es reyndr es,

mey

es

brend

es,

es gefin es,

61 es drukkit es.

hoggva,

ve]>ri

spjalla,

morg

a skip skal skrtyar orka,

en mey
mseki hoggs,

a sjo roa,

'ru dags augu

en a skjold til hlifar,

til

kossa.

THE WORDS OF ODIN THE HIGH ONE.

75.

and kinsmen

Cattle die

8<

die,

thyself too soon must die,

I ween, will die,
but one thing never,
fair fame of one who has earned.

76.

and kinsmen

Cattle die

die,

thyself too soon must die,

I ween, will die,
but one thing never,
the doom on each one dead.

77.

had the Failing's sons,

Full-stocked folds

who

bear

now

a beggar's staff:
as the winking of an eye,
most faithless ever of friends.

brief is wealth,

78.

should find for himself

haply a fool
wealth or a woman's love,
but wisdom never
pride waxes in him
If

and onward he

79.

fares in his folly.

that thou askest of runes

All will prove true

those that are

come from

the gods,

which the high Powers wrought,

then silence

is

(Maxims
80.

for All Men.)

Praise day at even,

weapon when tried,

ice when 'tis crossed,

81.

and which Odin painted

surely best.

when dead,
a maid when married,
and ale when 'tis drunk.

a wife

Hew wood

in wind,
sail the seas in a breeze,
a maid in the dark,
for day's eyes are many,work a ship for its gliding,
a shield for its shelter,

woo

a sword for

79.

Runes,

st.

139,

its striking,

141.

a maid for her kiss

HAVAMAL.

84
82.

(81)

Vi]> eld skal 61

magran mar kaupa,

heima best feita,

83.

(82)

Meyjar or)mm
ne
)?vit

(83)

brig)?

(84)

skrtya,

trua,

voru )>eim hjortu skopu)>

brjost of lagty.

brinnanda loga,
Brestanda boga,
ulfi,
galandi kraku,
ginanda
r6tlausum vi]?i,
rytanda svini,

vaxanda

85.

manngi

skyli

kona

)>vis kve)>r

isi

;i

en ma>ki saurgan,
en hund a bui.

a hverfanda hv6li

ok

84.

en

drekka,

flj

vellanda katli,

vdgi,

Uganda

fallandi baru,

fleini,

ormi hringlegnum,
bru|>ar be)?malum
e)>a brotnu sverj^i,
leiki
barni
bjarnar
konungs,
e)?a
isi

86.

(85)

einnscttum,

sjukum
volu

(86)

kalfii,

sjalfra)?a

val

vilmffili,

brojmrbana sinum,
husi halfbrunnu,
J>a's

jor 6nytr,

ver)>it

87.

(85)

|?6t

ne

til

a brautu mceti,

hesti alskj6tum
ef einn fotr brotnar

ma|>r svd tryggr,

Akri arsdnum

]>rseli,

nyfeldum

at ]>essu

tru'i ollu.

trui engi ma)>r

snimma

syni

en

ve}>r ra?)?r akri,

vit syni,

hsett es J?eira hvart.

88.

(87)

Sva's frtyr kvenna

sem

aki jo

6bryddum

ok se tamr

teitum, tv^vetrum,
e\>a

byr 6)?um

e)?a skyli haltr

es fldtt hyggja,
a isi halum,
ilia,

beiti stjornlausu,

henda

hrein

}>afjalli.

THE WORDS OF ODIN THE HIGH ONE.

82.

Drink

by the

ale

a steed

but slide on the ice

fire,

when

buy
lanky,
feed thy horse neath a roof,

83.

The speech

should no

nor the words which a

84.

trust

on a whirling wheel

waxing wave,

or seething cauldron,

flying arrows,

or falling billow,

woman's

coiling adder,
or broken blade,

bed-talk,

or a prince's child,

play of bears

or self-willed thrall,
new-slain foe,
flattery,

sickly calf

witches

though seen on the highway,

brother's slayer
half burned house,
useless

were

it

or horse too swift

with one leg broken

be never so trustful

87.

says

or flaring flame,
or croaking raven,
or rootless tree,

Breaking bow,
ravening wolf,

ice of a night time,

86.

man

rusty

in the yard.

fixed in their breasts.

routing swine,

85.

woman

were shaped

and falsehood

'tis

and thy hound

of a maiden

for their hearts

when

a sword

'tis

85

as these to trust.

in the first sown fruit

Let none put faith
nor yet in his son too soon
whim rules the child
and weather the field,
each is open to chance.
;

88.

Like the love of

women

whose thoughts are

lies

the driving un-roughshod

o'er slippery ice
of a two year old,
ill-tamed and gay ;
or in a wild wind steering
a helmless ship,

is

or the lame catching reindeer

in the

rime-thawed

fell.

HAVAMA'L.

86

89.

Bert ek nu mscli

(88)

)>vit

brig)?r es karla hugr

]>&

ver fegrst msclum,

)?at

90.

(89)

fljo]?s

bj6J>a

ast fa,

ens Ijosa mans

liki leyfa

(90)

es ver flast hyggjum,

ok

Fagrt skal msela

sas vill

91.

es friar.

feer

Astar firna

annan

veit,

horska hugi.

taelir

sa

ek bsfyi

konum

skyli engi

aldrigi

opt fa a horskan,
lostfagrir

ma^r

es a

heimskan ne

fa,

litir.

92.

(91)

es ma)?r annan skal

of
margan gengr guma ;
Bess's
heimska or horskum
gorir hol)?a sunu
sa enn matki munr.

93.

(92)

Hugr

Eyvitar firna

einn

einn's

)>at veit,

hann

ong es s6tt verri

an s6r ongu

94.

(93)

pat ek

]>&

se"r

es byr hjarta nser,

of sefa ;

hveim snotrum manni

at una.

reynda,

es ek

reyri sat

ok vsettak mins munar

hold ok hjarta
vorumk en horska mer,
at
heldr
hana hefik.
)?eygi
;

95.

(94)

ek fann be)?jum a
Billings mey
solhvita sofa ;
jarls yn)?i

nema

)?6ttumk etki vesa,

vi}> )?at

lik at lifa.

THE WORDS OF ODIN THE HIGH

OtfE.

87

(Lessons for Lovers.)

89.

Now

since both
plainly I speak,
unfaithful is man to maid ;

we speak them

Let him speak

who

soft

who

he wins
91.

and

woman's

offer

Never a whit

are falsest

wealth

love,

of the shining

praise the shape

of hearts.

words

longs for a

have seen

when thoughts

fairest

and wile the wisest

90.

maid

thus doth woo.

should one blame another

whom love hath brought into bonds

oft a witching form
will fetch the wise
:

which holds not the heart of

92.

Never a whit

fools.

should one blame another

for a folly

which many befalls

makes sons of men
who once were wise.
;

the might of love

into fools

93.

The mind knows

alone
what is nearest the heart
and sees where the soul is turned
no sickness seems
to the wise so sore
:

as in nought to

(Odin's
94.

This once
in

know
Love

when

I felt

Quests.)
I

sat without

the reeds, and looked for

body and soul of me

yet never
95.

content.

won her

my

love

was that sweet maiden

as wife.

I found on her bed,

daughter
than sunlight sleeping,
and the sweets of lordship
seemed to me nought
save I lived with that lovely form.

Billing's

fairer

89.
95.

Odin has

hail

Billing, a dwarf.

many

love adi'tiiturcs in disguise;

see ftrbl. st.

16,

18

30.

HAVAMA'L.
Auk

96.

(95)

nser aptni

kaltu, 6}?inn

man
nema einir

ef ]>u vill ]>er maela

eru 6skop,

allt

koma,

viti

slikan lost saman.'

97.

hitt

(97)

fra

ek hug)>a,
ge)>

g8.

ok unna )?6ttumk,

Aptr ek hvarf
visum vilja

(96)

hennar

Sva kvam ek

ek hafa mynda

at
allt

ok gaman.

at en nyta vas

naest,

vigdrott oil of vakin

ok bornum
me)? brinnondum Ijosum
sva var mer vilstigr vita)?r.

99.

(98)

Auk

]>a

grey

vas saldrott of sofin

eitt

fannk

Morg

(99)

ek

a.

es go)> maer,

hugbrigj?
j?a

vij?

ef

hali

es et ra)>spaka
reynda,
a
teyg)?ak
flasr^ir fljoj? ;

ok hafyak

(100)

gorva kannar,

)?at

hd)>ungar hverrar

101.

Heima

et

horska man,

J?ess veetki vifs.

gla)>r

gumi

ok

minnugr ok malugr,
opt skal g6]>s geta

fimbulfambi heitir
]?at's

mer

leitajri

svi)?r skal of sik vesa

(101)

ennar go]m konu

J?d

bundit beftum

100.

enn of kominn,

es ek vas

naer morni,

vtyi

6snotrs

a)?al.

vi]?

gesti reifr

ef

hann

vill

margfroj?r vesa,

sds fatt

kann

segja,

THE WORDS OF ODIN THE HIGH ONE.

'

96.

Yet nearer evening

come thou, Odin,
if thou wilt woo a maiden
all were undone
save two knew alone
:

such a secret deed of shame.'

97.

So away I turned
from my wise intent,
and deemed my joy assured,
for all her liking
and all her love
I weened that I yet should win.

When

came

the war troop bold

ere long

were watching and waking all

with burning brands
and torches borne
they showed me my sorrowful way.
:

99.

Yet nearer morning

I went, once more,

the housefolk slept in the hall,
but soon I found
a barking dog

tied fast to that fair maid's couch.

100.

Many

a sweet maid

is fickle

when one knows her mind

men
when that prudent lass

found towards

proved it well
I sought to lead astray
shrewd maid, she sought me
with every insult
and I won therewith no wife.
I

(Odin's Quest after the

101.

Song Mead.)

home

be joyous
and generous to guests
in
be
discreet shalt thou
thy bearing,
wouldst thou gain wisdom,
mindful and talkative,
In thy

oft

he

is

'

making mention

Simpleton named

for

'

such

is

of good.

who has nought

to say,

the fashion of fools.

HAVAMAL.

go
102.

(102)

Enn

gatk )>egjandi

(104)

(103)

minn frama

Suttungs solum.

Rata munn
letumk rums of fa
auk of grjot gnaga,
sto)mmk jotna vegir,
yfir ok undir
sva haettak hofyi

104.

|>ar

meeltak

morgum orjmm

103.

nu emk aptr of kominn,

aldna jotun sottak,

fatt

til.

gollnum stoli a
Gunnlo)> gofumk
drykk ens dyra mjaj>ar;
I6tk hana eptir hafa
ill
tygjold
sins ens heila hugar,
sins ens svara sefa.

Vel keypts

hefk vel notit,

fas es fr6Jmm vant

105.

litar

)wt

a alda ves

106.

Ifi

'rumk

nu upp kominn

es

6)>rorir

jaj>ar.

at vserak

a,

jotna gorjnim
ef Gunnla]?ar
)?eirars

or,

n6 nytak,

e)?a hef)?i

MA. Gv. Mk. G. S.

and metre.

107, line 2.

yfir.

gengu hrim)?ursar
fregna]
;

at Bolverki spur)?u,

spoils both sense

ennar go)m konu,

logjmmk arm

Ens hindra dags

[Hava rd)>s at
Hava hollu

107.

enn kominn

ef vseri
me)?

Suttungr of

bondum kominn

soit.

J. agree that this line

is

an

interpolation, as it

THE WORDS OF ODIN THE HIGH ONE.

102.

now safe
sought that old Jotun,
little served my silence there ;

but whispering

my
103.

bored

am

soft speeches

many

91

back,

won

desire in Suttung's halls.

me

a road there

with Rati's tusk

and made room to pass through the rock

while the ways of the Jotuns
stretched over and under
;

dared

my

life

for a draught.

'Twas Gunnlod who gave me

104.

on a golden throne
a draught of the glorious mead,
but with poor reward
did I pay her back
for her true and troubled heart.

105.

In a wily disguise

worked

my

lacking to the wise,

for the Soul-stirrer now,
sweet

will

little is

is

106.

107.

Mead

of Song,

brought to men's earthly abode.

misdoubt me if ever
again I had come
from the realms of the Jotun race,
of Gunnlod, sweet woman,
had I not served me
her whom I held in mine arms.
I

Came

forth, next day,

the dread Frost Giants,

and entered the High One's hall

was the Baleworker
back mid the Powers,
or had Suttung slain him below ?
:

they asked

For Snorri's version of this story,

Suttung, a giant of the underworld,
and cf. Grm. st. 52.
Rati or the Gnawer, a tool.
The
103.
105.
One of Odin's characters is that of Song-giver to man ; see st.
Soul-stirrer, st. 139.
102.

see Introd.

141, 759, Introd.

and Hdl.

himself in disguise.

st.

3.

107.

Baleworker,

the

name which Odin had given

HAVAMAL.

92
108.

Baugety 6)>inn
hykk at unnit hafi,
hvat skal bans trygjmm trua ?
hann I6t sumbli fra
Suttung svikvinn
ok grcetta Gunnlo]?u.

109.

Mai's at

Jmlar st6li a

)>ylja

Ur]?ar brunni at
sak ok )?ag]>ak,
sak ok hugj?ak,
hlyddak a manna mal.

no.

of runar heyr]?ak doema,

Hava hollu at,

Hava

hollu

of ra]?um }>og]>u

heyr]>ak segja sv^.

in. (no)

Rajmmk \r,
njota

munu

}>r
nott

(in)

Ra)?umk

]?6r,

njota
}>6r

g6J>,

(in)

Hon

munu

sva gorir,

]>ings

mat ]m

ne

villat

ef getr

a njosn s6r

Loddfafnir

mundu,

ef

]?ik

sta)?ar.

en

]>u ra]>

getr
skalta
:

faj?mi sofa,

lij?um.

J>u gai'r eigi

mals
n6 mannskis gaman,

]?j6]?ans

ferr ]>u sorgafullr at sofa.

109.

Manna

mal,

R Dt.

nemir,

nemr,

go)?, ef

at

nemir,

ra)>

nemr,

innan ut

fjolkunnigri konu
svat hon lyki

113.

ef

nema

]>u risat

e)>a leitir }>6r

112.

en Jm

Loddfdfnir!

mundu,

Hl.J.; hava mal, M/.

S. G.

H. Mk.

THE WORDS OF ODIN THE HIGH ONE.

108.

ring-oath Odin

how
'twas he

shall

who

one

trow had taken

trust his troth

the

stole

93

and Gunnlod caused

mead from Suttung,

to weep.

(The Counselling of the Stray-Singer.)

109.

from the Sage's Seat

'Tis time to speak

hard by the Well of Weird

I

saw and was

I

no.

silent,

saw and pondered,

men.

listened to the speech of

Of runes they spoke,

and the reading
was little withheld from their lips

of runes

at the
I

in.

High One's

in

hall,

thus heard the High

the

One

High One's

say

hall,

counsel thee, Stray-Singer,

accept my counsels,
they will be thy boon if thou obey'st them,

they will work thy weal if thou win'st them

never at night time
except thou art spying
or seekest a spot without.
:

rise

112.

counsel thee, Stray-Singer,

accept my counsels,
they will be thy boon if thou obey'st them,

they will work thy weal if thou win'st them

thou shalt never sleep
in the arms of a sorceress,
lest she should lock thy limbs
:

113.

So

shall she

charm

that thou shalt not heed

the council or words of the king,

nor care for thy food
or the joys of mankind,
but fall into sorrowful sleep.

Stray-Singer, the meaning of Loddfafnir is not yet fully decided ; see Introd'
the most sacred spot in the world, where the gods meet in
council under Yggdrasil ; see Grm. st. 30, Vsp. st. 19.
108.

log.

Well of Weird,

HAVAMAL.

94
114.

(112)

Ra)>umk
)>er

Loddfafnir

]>r,

munu

Rajmmk
}>r

(114)

mundu,

munu

ef

go)?,

munu
mann

}>er

illan

6hopp
]?vit

nemir,

fara ttyir,

)>ik

vir)>i vel.

mundu,

njota

en

ef getr

Loddfafnir

)?6r,

}>u ra)>

nemr,

ef

fjalli e)?a fir)?i

Ra)>umk

nemir,

}>6r aldrigi

Loddfafnfr

fasktu at

116.

getr

teyg

]>r,

njota

j?u rtty

at.

eyrarunu

(113)

en

nemr,

go]>, ef

annars konu

115.

ef

mundu,

nj6ta

ef

en

]>u raj?

nemir,

nemr,

go)>, ef

getr

Idttu aldrigi

at )>er vita,

af ilium

manni

fgfer

]>u

aldrigi

gjold ens g6]?a hugar.

117.

(115)

Ofafla bita
or]> illrar

ek sa einum hal

konu

tunga
var]? hanum
ok }>eygi of sanna sok.

flara)>

118.

(116)

Rajmmk

)?er,

njota

Loddfdfnir

mundu,

ef

vegr es vsetki
119.

(117)

Rajmmk

J?6r,

nj6ta

}>u ra}>

nemir,

]>u

vel truir,

ok hdvu grasi

vex

hrisi

en

nemr,

\ir munu g6}>, ef getr

veiztu ef vin att
)>anns
far)>u at finna opt,
)>vit

at fjorlagi,

tro]?r.

Loddfafnir

mundu,

ef

en

J>u ra)?

nemir,

nemr,

munu go}>, ef getr

mann
teyg ]>er at gamanrunum
go)>an
ok nem liknargaldr me)?an lifir.
]>6r

THE WORDS OF ODIN THE HIGH ONE.

114.

accept my counsels,
they will be thy boon if thou obey'st them,
they will work thy weal if thou win'st them
to draw to thyself
seek not ever
counsel thee, Stray-Singer,

in

115.

love-whispering another's wife.

counsel thee, Stray-Singer,

accept my counsels,
they will be thy boon if thou obey'st them,

they will work thy weal if thou win'st them

over fell and firth
should thou long to fare
well
with
food.
thee
provide
116.

counsel thee, Stray-Singer,

accept my counsels,
they will be thy boon if thou obey'st them,

tell

they will work thy weal

an evil man
not ever

if

thou win'st them

misfortunes thee befall,

thou needst never seek
from such ill friend
if

return for thy trustful mind.

117.

Wounded

to death,

by the words

have

of an evil

seen a

woman

had bereft him of

a lying tongue
and all without reason of right.
118.

man
life,

counsel thee, Stray-Singer,

accept my counsels,
they will be thy boon if thou obey'st them,

they will work thy weal

hast thou a friend

whom

thou win'st them

thou trustest well,

if

him oft
brushwood grows
and with grasses high
the path where no foot doth pass.

fare thou to find

for with

119.

counsel thee, Stray-Singer,

accept my counsels,
they will be thy boon if thou obey'st them,

they will work thy weal if thou win'st them

sweet converse call
the righteous to thy side,
:

in

learn a healing song while thou livest.

95

HAVAMAL.

96
120.

(118)

Ra}mmk

Loddfafnir

}>6r,

mundu,

njota

ef

en )m

nemir,

ra]>

nemr,

munu

g6]>, ef getr
ves )m aldrigi
fyrri at flaumslitum
}>6r

vin J>inum

sorg etr hjarta,

ef }>u segja
allan
einhverjilm
hug.

121.

(119)

Rajmmk

Loddfafnir

\>6r,

mundu,

njota

munu

]>6r

(119)

|>vit

j?u

6svinna apa

vij?

getr

nemir,

]?u raj?

skalt aldrigi
;

mundu

manni

af ilium

en

nemr,

g6J>, ef

orjmm skipta

122.

ef

na'ir

aldrigi

g6]?s laun of geta,

en

mun

g6]?r ma)?r

liknfastan at

123.

(120)

Sifjum's

einum
allt es

allan

mega

hverrs segja rstyr

blandat,

]?a

gorva

}>ik

lofi.

hug

an se brig]?um at vesa,

betra

esat vinr es vilt eitt segir.

124.

(121)

Rajmmk

Loddfafnir

)>er,

nj6ta

mundu,

munu

}>6r

ef

en

g6]>, ef

getr

enn

125.

(122)

Rajnimk

Loddfafnir

mundu,

munu
j?6r

ef

vty verra

en

]>u ra)>

mann

nemir,

nemr,

g6J>, ef

skdsmijr )?u vesir

nema

j?6r

verri vegr.

j?6r,

njota
J>e"r

rty nemir,

skalta
]?rimr or)?um senna
enn
betri
bilar,
opt
]?as

}>u

nemr,

getr

n6 skeptismi];r,

sjolfum s6r

skcr's skapaj^r ilia

e)?a skapt s6 rangt,
bols be}?it.
J>4's }>6r

THE WORDS OF ODIN THE HIGH ONE.

1 20.

97

counsel thee, Stray-Singer,

accept my counsels,
they will be thy boon if thou obey'st them,

they will work thy weal if thou win'st them

be never the first
with friend of thine
to break the bond of fellowship

care shall
all

121.

heart

gnaw thy

thy mind

if

thou canst not

tell

to another.

counsel thee, Stray-Singer,

accept my counsels,
they will be thy boon if thou obey'st them,

they will work thy weal if thou win'st them

with a foolish knave
never in speech

shouldst thou waste a single word.

122.

From

the lips of such

for reward of thine

thou needst not look

own good

will

but a righteous man

by praise will render thee
firm in favour and love.

123.

There

is

all

mingling

in

friendship
his whole mind to another;

when man can

utter

as a fickle tongue;
is nought so vile
no friend is he who but flatters.

there

124.

counsel thee, Stray-Singer,

accept my counsels,
they will be thy boon if thou obey'st them,

they will work thy weal

strive not in three
oft the

125.

words

if

thou win'st them

man worse than thee
:

with a

worst lays the best one low.

counsel thee, Stray-Singer,

accept my counsels,
if thou obey'st them,
be
boon
will
thy
they

they will work thy weal if thou win'st them

nor yet a shaft maker
be not a shoemaker

save for thyself alone

or crooked the shaft,
the shoe be misshapen,
and a curse on thy head will be called.
:

let

HAVAMAL.
126.

(123)

Rajmmk

Loddfafnir

)>e"r,

ef

nj6ta mundu,

munu

}>&r

en Jm ra> nemir,

nemr,

g6)>, ef

getr

hvars bol kannt,

kvejm
ok gefat fiondum frty.
127.

(124)

Rajmmk

Loddfdfnir!

]>6r,

nj6ta mundu,

munu

]>6r
illu

128.

(125)

ves

lat |>er at

Ra|mmk

upp

129.

(126)

}>itt

Ra)>umk

}>6r,

(127)

munu

Rajmmk

gumna

131.

(128)

RaJumk

et

]>r

ok Idta

ef

gest n

gamanrunum

fast vesa

getr

}>u ra\>

nemir,

ok

ok

ef

en

nemr,
eigi

vi]>

at

LoddfAfnir

ofvaran

}>'\k

]?j6far

en

getr

haf|>u aldrigi

ganganda

annars konu

nemr,

go|>, ef

hlatri

g6tt, ef getr.

]>ri)>ja,

munu

at haj>i n

nemir,

J>u raj?

kvefta at

vesa

mundu,

en

getr

g6]?, ef

]>ik

}>6r,

njota

synir

Loddfafnir

munu

vij? ]?at

nemir,

nemr,

ves vty 61 varastr

ok

]>u ra)>

g6|>, ef

njota mundu,
J?er

getr
orrostu

ef

manngi

}>r,

varan btyk

en

getit.

Loddfafnir

ef vill ]>6r g6)?a konu

ok fd fognu]? af,
fogru skalt heita

130.

nemir,

of heilli halir.

nj6ta mundu,

letyisk

}>u ra)>

nemr,

ver]?a

styr

]?6r

ef

g6)>, ef

gjalti glikir

en

]>u aldrigi,

skalattu

lita

getr

g6)m

mundu,

munu

bolvi at

nemr,

Loddfafnir

}>6r,

nj6ta
)>6r

ef

g6)>, ef

feginn

en

]>er

ne

]>u ra)>

leiki.

nemir,

THE WORDS OF ODIN THE HIGH ONE.

126.

counsel thee, Stray-Singer,

accept my counsels,
be
boon
if
will
thou
thy
obey'st them,
they

they will work thy weal if thou win'st them

in peril thou seest thee,
confess thee in

when

peril,

nor ever give peace to thy foes.

127.

counsel thee, Stray-Singer,

accept my counsels,
if
will
be
boon
thou
thy
they
obey'st them,

they will work thy weal if thou win'st them

at tidings of ill,
rejoice not ever
but glad
128.

let

thy soul be

in

good.

counsel thee, Stray-Singer,

accept my counsels,
they will be thy boon if thou obey'st them
:

they will work thy weal if thou win'st them

when men are as beasts,
look not up in battle
:

lest

129.

the wights bewitch thee with spells.

counsel thee, Stray-Singer,

accept my counsels,
they will be thy boon if thou obey'st them,

they will work thy weal if thou win'st them

of a gentle maiden,
wouldst thou win joy

and lure to whispering of love,

thou shalt make fair promise,
and let it be fast,
none will scorn their weal who can win it.
130.

counsel thee, Stray-Singer,

accept my counsels,
they will be thy boon if thou obey'st them,

they will work thy weal if thou win'st them

pray thee be wary,
yet not too wary,
be wariest of all with ale,

with another's wife,

and a third thing eke,
that knaves outwit thee never.
131.

counsel thee, Stray-Singer,

accept my counsels,
they will be thy boon if thou obey'st them,

they will work thy weal if thou win'st them

hold not in scorn,
nor mock in thy halls
a guest or wandering wight.

99

HAVAMAL.

ioo
132.

opt vitu ogorla

j?eirs sitja inni fyrir,
hvers )?eir'u kyns es koma.
at palli ne fylgi,
Esat ma)?r sva go)?r,

n6 sva
133.

Rajmmk

harum

ef

mundu,

munu

)?er

at einugi dugi.

Loddfafnir

)?er,

njota
at

illr,

en

g6)?, ef

getr

hlac^u aldrigi,

)?ul

opt or skorpum belg

ok

skollir me)?

ok

vafir me)?

)?er,

njdta
gest n

135.

mundu,

Ramt's

)?u

)?at

skram

vilmogum.

ef

)?u

136.

Ra)?umk

getr

es

tre

)>er

hvars

61

[)?vit jor)?

eik
vi)?

ri)?a

munu

ef

drekkr,
tekr vi)?

hyrogi, /.

getr

)?ii

ra)?

nemir,

kjostu

ax

vi)? flo)?i

)?er

jar)?armegin

en aldr

6l)?ri,

abbindi,
haulvi hyrogi,

haulvi

en

nemr,

go)?, ef

vi)?

G. H. Gv.

mun

li)?u.

Loddfafnir

mundu,

fold skal

Vi)?

skal

beiti vi)? bitsottum,

136.

e)?a J?at bi)?ja

hvers a

)?6r,

njota

nemir,

valu)?um vel.

gef,

)?er Ises

)?u ra)?

ne a grind hrokkvir,

ollum at upploki

baug

en

nemr,

g6)?, ef

geyja

get

koma

ham

Loddfafnir

munu

]>6r

skilin or)?

)?eims hangir me)?

Ra)>umk

nemir,

opt's gott J?ats gamlir kve)?a

131.

)?u raj)

nemr,

vi)?

sottum,

fjolkyngi,
heiptum skal mana kve)?ja,
en vi)? bolvi runar ]
vi)?

taka.

hyrogi, V.'s emendation, S.

haull

vi)?

hyrogi, B,

holl

vi)?

THE WORDS OF ODIN THE HIGH ONE.

132.

101

who sit within

come
but some fault attends him,

They know but unsurely

what manner of man

is

found so good
or so ill but he serves for somewhat.

none

133.

is

counsel thee, Stray-Singer,

accept my counsels,
they will be thy boon if thou obey'st them,

they will work thy weal if thou win'st them

the hoary singer;
hold never in scorn
oft the counsel of the old is

good

from the withered

come words of wisdom
of him left to hang among hides,

lips

to rock with the rennets

and swing with the

134.

skins.

counsel thee, Stray-Singer,

accept my counsels,
will
be
boon
if
thou
thy
they
obey'st them,

they will work thy weal if thou win'st them

nor drive them from the gate
growl not at guests
:

but show thyself gentle to the poor.

135.

Mighty

is

to be

the bar

moved away

for the entering in of all.

Shower thy wealth,

every
136.

ill

in

or

men

shall

wish thee

thy limbs.

counsel thee, Stray-Singer,

accept my counsels,
they will be thy boon if thou obey'st them,

they will work thy weal if thou win'st them

call upon earth's might
when ale thou quaffest
'tis earth drinks in the floods.
:

but fire o'er sickness,

[Earth prevails o'er drink,
the earcorn o'er witchcraft,
the oak o'er binding,
the rye spur o'er rupture,

herb o'er cattle plagues,

133.

Rennets, in Iceland the

dry, and used for curdling milk.

songs rather than here.

maw

the

moon

o'er rages,
o'er
runes
harm.]

rennets of a calf were,

136.

and are

still

hung up

to

Deals with magic, and belongs to the spell

HAVAMAL.

102

137-

(134)

Vej tk at hekk

vindga metyi a

nabtr allar niu,

ok gefinn

geiri unda)>r
sjalfr

(tyni,

sjolfum m6r,

a }>eim mei|i,

es

manngi

veit,

hvers hann af rotum rinn.

1 38-

d35)

mik

Vi}> hleifi

stcldu

nysta ek m\>r

namk upp
fell

139-

(J

36)

runar,

ek aptr

n<

vi|?

hornigi

cepandi

namk

}?a)>an.

namk

FimbulljoJ? niu

af

enum

frsegja syni

B6l)>orns Bestlu fojmr

ok drykk of gatk,
ens dyra mja]?ar
;

ausenn
140.

(137)

6)?r6ri.

ok fr6]?r vesa
pa namk frsevask
ok vaxa ok vel hafask
orj> mer af or)>i
or]?s leita)>i,
:

verk

141.

(138)

mr af verki verks.

Runar munt

finna

stora

mjok
mjok stinna
es

ok ra)>na

stafi,

stafi,

stafi

ok gorjm ginnregin,
fimbul|?ulr
es reist Hroptr ragna

fa)>i

142.

(139)

6}>inn me)? asum,

Dvalinn dvergum
Alsvtyr

jotnum

fyr

reistk sjalfr

137.

Vindga, R, H. G. S. Dt. HI.

en fyr olfum
en fyr yta

sunum

sumar.

vinga meij>i, /.

vinga-mei]?i,

For comments on these

Sseldu, E. Magnusson, G.; seldu, R.
E. Magnusson, " Odin's Horse," and Chadwick " Cult of Odin."
MSS., G.

S. R.

asvij>r,

Damn,

fyrir,

C.

strophes, see

142.

138.

B. Stud.,

Alsvihr, paper

en fyr yta sunum, Mk. S. H. G., missing R.

THE WORDS OF ODIN THE HIGH ONE.

103

(Odin's Quest after the Runes.)

trow

137.

on that windy Tree

hung

nine whole days and nights,

offered to Odin,
stabbed with a spear,

myself to mine
high on that Tree

own
of

from what roots

None

138.

refreshed

me

it

self given,

which none hath heard

rises to

heaven.

with food or drink,

ever

down

in the

deep
peered right
I lifted the Runes,
crying aloud
then back I fell from thence.
I

Nine mighty songs

139.

learned from the great

son of Bale-thorn, Bestla's sire

drank a measure
of the wondrous Mead,
with the Soulstirrer's drops I was showered.
;

Ere long I bare fruit,

and throve full well,
I grew and waxed in wisdom ;
word following word,
I found me words,
deed following deed, I wrought deeds.

140.

Hidden Runes

and interpreted signs,

and
might
power,
many
by the great Singer painted,
by the high Powers fashioned,
graved by the Utterer of gods.

141.

shalt thou seek

symbols of

For gods graved Odin,

142.

for elves graved

Dam,

Dvalin the Dallier for dwarfs,

All-wise for Jotuns,

graved some

and

I,

of myself,

for the sons of

men.

windy Tree, this must be Yggdrasil. The same words are used with regard
137.
tinder the name of Mimir's tree ; see Fj. st. 14.
Back I fell, the attainment
138.
Mimir, who was a Jutun and
139.
of the runes had released him from the tree.
Odin's teacher, is presumably the son of the giant Bale-thorn, the grandfather of Odin

to

it

(RydbergJ, although his name is not given here.

see Fj.
unless identical with Much-wise
;

142.

All-wise, this giant

is

unknown,

HAVAMAL.

104

143.

(140)

Veiztu hve rista skal,

veiztu hv6 r&)>a skal

veiztu hve freista skal

veiztu hv6 fa skal,

hv btyja skal,
veiztu hv6 senda skal,
veiztu

144.

(141)

ey

se'r til

gildis gjof

an

betra's osent

(142)

pau

ljo)>

kannk

146.

(143)

ofblotit,
;

fyr |>j6)>a rok,

es hann aptr of

es kannat J>j6)>ans

n6 mannskis mogr
en
hjolp heitir eitt,
vi]>

ofsoi't

Svd pundr of reist

)?ar hann upp of reis,

145.

skal

veiztu hv6 soa skal

an s6

Betra's 6beJ>it

hv biota

veiztu

kvam.

kona

)>at )?6r

hjalpa

mun

sokum ok sorgum ok sutum gorvollum.

pat kannk annat

es J?urfu yta synir

)>eirs vilja leeknar lifa

147.

(144)

pat kannk et

ef

|>rij>ja,

m^r

ver|?r )?6rf mikil

hapts vty heiptmogu

minna andskota,
eggjar deyfik
bitat )>eim vdpn n6 velir.
:

148.

(145)

pat kannk et

bond

at

sva ek gel,

ef

fj6r)>a,

m6r

boglimum
at ek ganga m&,
:

sprettr af fotum fjoturr,

en af hondum hapt.

fyr)?ar

bera

THE WORDS OF ODIN THE HIGH ONE.

143.

Dost know how to write,

dost
dost
dost

144.

know how
know how
know how

to paint,
to ask,

to send,

Better ask for too

like the gift

little

Thus Odin graved

Then he rose from

than

offer too

much,

than to overspend.

ere the world began

the deep,

(The Song of
145.

know how to read,

know how to prove,
dost know how to offer,
dost know how to spend ?
dost

dost

should be the boon

better not to send

105

and came again.

Spells.)

Those songs I know,

which nor sons of men
nor queen in a king's court knows
the first is Help
which will bring thee help
in all woes and in sorrow and strife.
;

146.

second

must

147.

third

which the son of men

know,

sing,

know

who would

if

heal the sick.

sore need should

come

of a spell to stay my foes ;

when I sing that song,
which shall blunt their swords,
nor their weapons nor staves can wound.

148.

fourth
in

know

if

men make

chains the joints of

my

fast

limbs,

which shall set me free,

sing that song
hands and feet.
the
from
fetters
spring

when

i44.--Odin, here called by his name Thund, the meaning of which

Grm.

st.

is

unknown

3.

see

HAVAMAL.

I0 6
149.

(146)

ef s6k af fari skotinn

pat kannk et fimta,

flein

folki va)?a

at ek sto)>vigak,
flygra svd stint,
ef ek hann sjonum of se"k.

150.

(147)

ef mik
pat kannk et setta,
a rotum ras vtyar

sscrir )>egn

ok )?ann

mik heipta

es

hal,

kve)>r,

eta mein heldr an mik.

151.

(148)

pat kannk et sjaunda,

sal of

sessmogum

ef sek

brinnrat sva breitt,

)?ann

152.

(149)

ek bjargigak

at

kannk galdr

pat kannk et atta,

es ollum es
:

hvars hatr vex

]?at

153.

(150)

mak

me]? hildings
bceta bratt.

pat kannk et niunda,

ok
154.

(151)

ef

minu a

at bjarga fari

vind ek kyrri

at gala.

nema

nytsamlikt at

havan loga

sunum,

mik nau^r of stendr

floti

vagi a,

svsefik allan see.

pat kannk et tiunda,

leika lopti a

ek sva vinnk,

ef

ek

tunri]?ur

at

}>ser

villar fara

sinna heim hama,

sinna heim haga.
155.

(152)

pat kannk et
lei)>a

langvini

und randir

ef skalk

ellifta,

en

gelk,

heilir hildar

)>eir

)>eir

orrostu

me]? riki fara

til,

heihr hildi fra,

koma

til

heilir hva]?an.

THE WORDS OF ODIN THE HIGH ONE.

A

149.

fifth

flies

150.

know

see,

by foes shot,

speeding a shaft through the host,

it never so
I still can
strongly
stay
if I get but a glimpse of its flight.

sixth

know

in runes

on

when

his

107

it,

when some thane would harm me

on a moist

head alone

tree's root,

shall light the

ills

of the curse that he called upon mine.

151.

seventh

know

if I

see a hall

high o'er the bench-mates blaming,

I still can save
flame it ne'er so fiercely
I

An

152.

know how

eighth

it,

to sing that song.

know

for their weal

which

all

can sing

they learn it well ;

where hate shall wax
'mid the warrior sons,
I can calm it soon with that song.
153.

ninth

my

tenth

know

befalls

me

vessel afloat,

on the stormy wave,

hush the wind

and soothe
154.

when need

know:

to save
I

if

all

the sea to rest.

when

at night the witches

and sport in the air,

such spells I weave
that they wander home
out of skins and wits bewildered.
ride

155.

An
I

eleventh

know

if

haply

lead

my old comrades out to war,

and they fare forth mightily
sing 'neath the shields,
safe into battle,
safe out of battle,

and

safe return

from the

strife.

"
witches, or
hedge-riders" who could change their shapes or skins (Icel.
thus
deprived of their magic powers.
hama), were
154.

The

HAVAMAL.

Io8
156-

53)

P at kannk

ef sek a tr6 uppi

et tolfta

vafa virgilna:

sva ek

ok

rist

at sa

ok mselir
1 57-

(*54)

runum

fak,

gengr gumi

P at kannk

mik.

vij>

ef skalk J?egn

et )?rettanda,

verpa vatni a

munat hann

ungan

falla,

)>6t

folk komi,

hnigra sa hair fyr hjorum.

158.

(155)

pat kannk et fjogrtanda,

telja tiva fyrir

ef skalk fyrj?a

ek kann allra
kann osnotr sv&.

asa ok alfa
far

159.

(156)

li)>i

skil,

es gol pj6)roerir
pat kannk et fimtanda,
durum
dvergr fyr Dellings
en olfum frama,
afl gol hann asum,
:

hyggju Hroptat^.
160.

(157)

ef vilk ens svinna

pat kannk et sext&nda,
hafa ge)? allt ok gaman

mans

hugi ek hverfi

hvitarmri konu

ok snyk hennar ollum

161.

(158)

pat kannk et sjautjanda,

svd ek
et

162.

(158)

sefa.

ef

at

mik

mun

seint

manunga man.

Lj6J?a )?essa

mundu, Loddfafnir

lengi vanr vesa,

|>6t J>e*r g6)? s6,

ef J?u getr,

nyt, ef )?u nemr,

ef ]>u )?iggr.
)>6rf,

firrask

THE WORDS OF ODIN THE HIGH ONE.

A

156.

twelfth

know:

if I

109

see in a tree

a corpse from a halter hanging,

I write,
and paint in runes,
that the being descends and speaks.

such spells

157.

thirteenth

know:

of a warrior

if

that youth will not

fail

never slain shall he

158.

fourteenth

the new-born son

sprinkle with water,

know

when he fares to
bow before sword.
if I

war,

needs must number

the Powers to the people of men,

all the nature
of gods and of elves

know

which none can know untaught.

159.

fifteenth

Dawn

Odin who

utters.

and wisdom
160.

which Folk-stirrer sang,

know,

the dwarf, at the gates of

he sang strength to the gods,

to

and

skill to

the elves,

I know
when all sweetness and love
would win from some artful wench,
her heart I turn,
and the whole mind change

sixteenth

of that fair-armed lady

161.

seventeenth
is

162.

slow to

know

shun

love.

so that e'en the shy

my

These songs, Stray-Singer,

which man's son knows

long shalt thou lack in life,

though thy weal if thou win'st them,
thy good if haply thou gain'st them.

156.

fication

Cf.Bdr.st.3.
see

st. 6.
flj>.

157.

159.

maiden

love.

thy boon

Sprinkle with water, an old heathen

Folk-stirrer, this

dwarf

is

not,

[obey'st them,
if

thou

rite of purinot mentioned elsewhere.

no

HAVAMAL.
163.

(159)

pat kannk et attjanda,

mey

betra

allt es

nema

J>eiri

ej>a

164.

(160)

Nu

'ru

es einn of kann,

fylgir lj6J?a

J>at

einni,

min

systir

Hava mal

allj?6rf

6)?6rf

es ek seva kennik

n6 manns konu

lokum
es mik armi verr
s.
kve)?in hollu

yta sunum,

jotna

heill sas kvaj?

njoti sas

sunum

nam

heilir J^eirs

heill sas

hlyddu

kann

i,

THE WORDS OF ODIN THE HIGH ONE.

163.

An

I know
which
maiden or wife of man,

eighteenth
to

save alone to

who
most

my sister,
me fast in

folds

safe are secrets

in

ne'er shall tell

or haply to her
her arms ;

known

to but one

the songs are sung to an end.

164.

Now

the sayings of the

for the weal of men,
Hail, thou

who

High One
for the woe

hast spoken

of Jotuns,

Hail, thou that knowest

Hail, ye that have hearkened

are uttered in the hall

Use, thou

who hast

learned

HYMISKVIPA.
Ar

1.

valtivar

vetyar

ok sumblsamir,

a]?r sa)?ir yr)>i,

ok a hlaut sou

hristu teina

fundu at ^Egis
Sat bergbui

2.

The motive of

hverja,

glikr

from a pre-Norman monument

No. 7 and

Hymiskvijja,
L. F. Magnusson, Hold.

miskorblinda, R.

barnteitr fyrir

this illustration is

in

Carlisle.

orkost hverjan.

Mistorblinda
megi
i
barn
augu
Yggs
)>ra
asum
sumbl
skalt
opt
gorva.'
pu

mjok

leit

'

namu

2.

at Tullie House,
Hverjan, B. G. S. H. Dt. for
Mistorblinda, F. Magnusson, R. Gv. ;
i.

THE LAY OF HYMIR.

Of

i.

in

old when the war-gods

mood for feasting,
and

their prey
still

had won them,

unsated,

scanned the blood drops,

they shook divining twigs,
in ^Egir's halls.
and found all dainties

As the rock-giant sat

and seemed in likeness
came Thor and looked

2.

'

Make now

a goodly

in his

wave-brood rejoicing,

the son of Mist-blind,

in his

eyes with threatening

feast for the

'

gods

i.
Divining twigs, the oracle; see Vsp. st. 63.
-dSgir, a sea god, had nine
"
"
was a poetical synonym for the waves ; see Grm. st.
daughters, and
.<Egir's children
45 ; Ls. and Introd.

H4

HYMISKVIpA.
Onn

fekk jotni

ba.]>
'

or)>bcginn hair,

hefndum

hug)>i at

)>anns ollum yj?r

Ne J?at mattu
ok ginnregin
unz af trygjmm
dstra}?

'

5.

hann

sr

Sifjar ver

Byr

go)?

vi)>

61 of heitak.'

mgerir tivar
of geta hvergi,

Tyr Hlorri|>a
einum sag)>i

mikit

fyr austan

hundviss

nrcst

fcera hver,

Elivaga
at himins enda

Hymir

a minn

faj?ir
moj?ugr ketil,
rastar djupan.'
rumbrugj^inn hver,

p6rr kvaf:
'

6.

Tyr
'

7.

(6)

Ef, vinr

F6ru drjugum
hir)>i

hafra

haf)?i

horngofgasta
es

Strophe numbering of

Hymir
mjok

til.'

R in brackets.

algollin

atti.

letya s6r,

hundru)? niu

en onnur gekk
briinhvit bera

7.

gorvum

dag |>ann framan

unz til Egils kvamu

Mogr fann ommu

hofJa

vit

hurfu at hollu

(7)

]?ann logvelli

kvaj?

velar

Asgarj^i fra,

8.

'

Veiztu ef |?iggjum

fram

bjorveig syni

THE LAY OF HYMIR.

angered the giant,
revenge on the Powers
bring him a cauldron

But the harsh-voiced hero

3.

who

forthwith pondered
bade the Thunderer

He
'

Wherein

for all of

The

glorious gods,
such vessel as this

4.

Tyr the

till

ale

you

trusty

115

'

may brew

the holy Powers

could nowhere find

in secret

whispered

counsel to Thor.

words of friendly

Tyr.
'

5.

There dwells to the east

of

Stormy Billow

at heaven's end,

the all-wise Hymir,

fierce-souled father,

who owns

the kettle,

the broad-roomed cauldron,

mile deep.'

my

full

Thor.
6.

'

Dost know can we win

that water-seether

'

Tyr.
'

7.

we

If

use wiles

thereto,

my

friend

'
!

So forth they drove

through the live-long day
to Egil's home.
they came from Asgarth

till

of the splendid horns,

He stalled the goats
which Hymir owned.
while they turned to the hall

8.

Unsightly seemed
heads she had

for

but another

came

fair-browed, and

4.

Tyr,

the

god of war,

Hymir, a

frost giant,
mentioned in st. 39.

Thor's chariot

st.

39.

is

Tyr

his

granddam
all

all

golden forth,
to her son the ale-cup.
bearing

usually called the son of Odin

who binds

The

to

nine hundred in

the

wintry

goats, called

sea.

7.

Egil

see Ls. st. 38.

is

5.

probably the giant

Tooth -gnasber and Tooth-cracker, drew

u6

HYMISKVIPA.

'

9.

Attntyr jotna
hugfulla tvd

(8)

es

minn

gloggr

10.

En

(9)

und hvera

vaskapa)>r

hugar.'

stybuinn

var)>

heim

Hymir

har)>ra.)>r

ills

gorr

gesti,

setja

sinni

morgu

fri

vij>

ek viljak ykkr

af

vetyum

gekk inn i sal,

glum)m joklar,
vas karls es kvam
kinnskogr frorinn.
Frilla kva)>
11.

'

(10)

Ves

heill,

nti's

sunr kominn

Hymir

fylgir

vinr

12.

(n)

svd

(12)

Veorr

sula

siil fyrir.'

tvau

fyr sj6n jotuns,

dss brotna)?i.

Stukku

atta,

en einn af )>eim

Sagjnt

bajj

hugr

dj>r,

vel )>as sd

a golf kominn
}>rir

senn jotunn

Afr, G. S. Gv. Sv.J.;

heill, af }>o\\i

en forn jotunn
sinn andskota.

hanum

gygjar groeti
varu )>j6rar
J?ar

12.

fram gengu )>eir,

sj6num leiddi
(13)

salar gafli

stendr

hverr har]?sleginn

14.

longum

heitir sa.

und

sitja

for|?a s^r,

en afr

13.

g6)?um

sala )>inna

Hr6]?rs andskoti,

verli)?a,

Sundr stokk

til

af vegi

h&num

Se)m hvar

hugum

sas vit vsettum

sjo)>a

A.

of teknir,

ganga.

THE LAY OF HYMIR.

117

Hymir's wife.
'

Kinsman of giants

9.

'neath yon cauldrons,

for my lord and master

mean

would

hide you
though bold of heart
ofttimes shows him

fain

moved soon

to strangers,

to wrath.'

fierce-mooded Hymir,
from his hunting home.
He entered the hall,
and icicles clashed
all frozen was the bushy
beard on his chin.

10.

Long

ere he

tarried that monster,

came

Wife.
11.

'

Hail to thee,

Hymir

Be gracious in mood
come our offspring

for here in thy halls

whom

long

we awaited

and with him

'

from distant ways;

the foe of giants,

fares

whose name

the friend of man,

12.

is

is

Warder.

Dost see where they hide,

the hall-gable under,
with a pillar between ?
sheltering themselves
But the column was shattered
at the glance of the giant,
'

was

the mighty rafter

13.

Down

from the beam

one, hard-hammered,
Then forth they stepped,

ever followed

14.

For

evil

reft

asunder

eight cauldrons crashed,

alone was whole.

but the ancient Jotun

the foe with his eyes.

his

whispered

mind when he saw

the bane of giant-wives

stand on the hearth
of the oxen three,
yet took they soon

and Hymir bade them

ii.
see

Hrbl.

Warder.
st.

23.

In

cook forthwith.

Thor always appears as the defender of mankind against the giants ;

stanza Hrod, otherwise unknown, is specified, but his name is

this

doubtless used in a general sense.

14.

Bane of giant-wives,

see

Hrbl. 23.

n8

HYMISKVIPA.
15.

hotyi skemra

Hverjan I6tu
auk a seyjri

(14)

16.

(14)

ver)>r
'

a)>r

Hrungnis

spjalla
vel fullmikill
:

Hlorrtya

Munum

at apni

6J?rum ver)>a

v6r

vty vei^imat

Veorr kvazk

17.

'

Hverf

til

kva|>

brj6tr bergdana

)?ars uxi
braut af

'

Verk

(18)

Ba]>

kva)>

J>e"r

myni

verri

an kyrr

hlunngota

litla fysi

at

horna tveggja.

J^ykkja Y\n

dttrunn apa
en sa jotunn

truir,

]mrs ra)?bani

)>j6ri

kj6la valdi,

21.

hug

Hymir
(17)

ef

sveif til skogar,

alsvartr fyrir

st6)>

hatun ofan

20.

au)>feng vesa.'

Sveinn sysliga

(16)

gefefi.

beitur scekja

mik,

ogn af oxa
19.

a vdg roa,

hjar)?ar,

)?ess vsentir

lifa.'

beitur

Hymir
(15)

J?rir

vilja

ef ballr jotunn

18.

sofa gengi,

yxn tva Hymis.

harum

potti

bam

si|>an

at Sifjar verr,
einn mej> ollu

miklu

sitir.'

hafra dr6ttinn
utar foera
sina taljn

lengra at roa.

THE LAY OF HYMIR.

Each one left they
laid them soon

119

by a head,
on the seething tire
then ere he slumbered
the Thunderer ate,

15.

less

and

of the oxen, twain.

himself alone,
16.

But Hymir the hoary

friend of Hrungnir
deemed too ample
the meal of Thor
To-morrow at eve
shall we three have nought
save our hunting spoil
whereon to sup.'
:

'

Spake Thor, and said

17.

if

he would

would

the fierce-souled giant

fish in

find

the sea,

him

bait.

Hymir.
18.

'

Go,

if

thou darest,

for such as

slayer of rock-giants,

from the herd thyself

seek thy bait

thou

ween

that bait from an ox

and soon,

all

swart,

then over

its

horns

struck,

and sundered

seem

were easy to win.'

Forthwith sped Thor,

19.

'twill

bold youth, to the wood

stood an ox before him ;
the slayer of Jotuns
the head, high-towering.

Hymir.
20.

'

Methinks thou art worse

than at table

21.

far afoot

sitting,

Then

bade the low-born churl

the Lord of goats,
drive the launched sea-horse
further from shore ;
but
to

16.

by

Steerer of barks

little

he wished,

row any further

that

wary

giant,

over the ocean.

Hrungnir, a giant of great renown

Hrbl.

st.

15 and Introd.

120

HYMISKVIpA.
22.

Dr6 mg&rr Hymir

mo)mgr
upp senn tva

(19)

einn a ongli
en aptr i skut

Veorr

23.

(20)

UJ?ni sifja)>r

velar

vi)?

vaj? gorj>i se"r.

oxa hotyi

gein vty agni

sus go]?

25.

26.

Dro
orm

(21)

sas

djarfliga
eitrfan

hamri

kni)?i

oflj6tt

ofan

daj^rakkr p6rr

upp

en holkn
oil

saman
mar.

6teitr jotunn,

es aptr roru :
etki malti,

(22)

Hymir

vej?rs

Hymir
'

(23)

Mundu
at

)?u

e)?a

ok

heim

hvali

holtri]>a

til.

kva)?:

of vinna

flotbrusa

annars

verk halft
festir

haf

hver

vij?

mik,

okkarn,

til

bcejar

gognum.'

The reversal of lines 2 and 3 and the transposition of

A, was made by Gv. H. S.

28, line 4, in B,

]>utu,

sa fiskr

veif)?i roe)?i

27.

at bor)>i

hdfjall skarar
ulfs hnitbrojmr.

sok)>isk si]?an

svat at ar

27.

fia

allra landa.

Hreingolkn hlumj^u,
for en forna
fold

(22)

oldum bergr

Egndi a ongul
orms einbani
umbgjor]? ne)?an

24.

hvali
;

line 4,

which comes after

THE LAY OF HYMIR.

and fierce-souled Hymir
two whales at once
the son of Odin

Alone the famous

caught on his hook

22.

but aft

in

the stern

fashioned with craft

Lone

23.

121

his fishing line.

and Shield of Men,

Serpent-slayer,

he baited his hook

with the head of the ox,
and he whom the gods hate
gaped thereat,
the Girdle lying

lands beneath.

all

swift in his doing

Then Thor drew mightily
snake to the side.
the poison-glistening
and struck from on high
His hammer he lifted

24.

the fearful head

Moaned

25.

of Fenrir's brother.

the rocks

the wild monster,

the ancient earth

Then sank

shrank into

down

the serpent

all

rumbled,

itself.

in

the deep.

as back they rowed

So cheerless was the giant
not a word he spake
the tiller of thought.
then anew he turned

26.

that for a while

Hymir.
'

27.

Now
or

half the

moor thou

work
fast

or bear the whales

23.

Wolf;

The Girdle
see

Vsp.

me

to the dwellings home,

of the wooded hills.

through the hollows

all

of Loki's children

shalt thou share with

our floating steed,

st.

is

the

He is one
World-serpent, called also Midgarth's worm.
Fenrir, the famous
24.
Vsp. en skamma st. 8.

see \'sp. st. 55,

skammu st. 8.
26.
Hymir has formed a fresh scheme
G. and others understand simply that he has turned the boat

54, Vsp. en

for defeating Thor (Dt.).

towards land.

HYMISKVIPA.

122
28.

Gekk H16rribi,
vatt meb austri
einn meb arum

(24)

bar

29.

til

greip a stafni,

upp

bcejar

Ok enn
kvabat

mann

vib J)6r senti

bot roa kynni
ramman,
:

nema

kropturligan,

En

(26)

30.

lt bresta

s!6 sitjandi

brattstein gleri
sulur i gognum,

baro bo heilan
31.

Unz

(27)

J>at

en

Drep

vty

frilla

fri|>a

Har)>r reis d kne

(28)

en

vas karli

'

(29)

Morg

(30)

veitk mseti

Jm

ert

)?ui

61J>r

'

'

aptr sevagi

]>u ert,

m6r gengin fra,

kneum hrundit

knakak segja
otyr

of heitt.

ef koma mettij>
pat's til kostar,
ut 6r 6ru
olkjol hofi.'
leita)?i

st6}> at

33.

6r

kva)

karl or)? of kvaj>

Tyr

B. suggests

hjalmstofn ofan,

es kalki s6k

34

asmegin

valr rifna]?i.

vinferill

Hymir
33-

hann's har)>ari

hafra drottinn,

fcer|>isk allra

heill

kalki hverjum.'

kostm6]?s jotuns
32.

kendi

eitt es vissi

haus Hymis

siban.

Hymi

fyr

astraj? mikit
'

kalk bryti.

hondum kvam,

es at

Hlorribi,

bratt

of afrendi

jotunn
bragirni vanr

(25)

logfaki

ok austskotu
brimsvin jotuns.

of bet,

hvaru

heitt,

er abr of h6t, Gv. B. S.

tysvar hroera,
hverr kyrr fyrir.

(p.pt. of heita, to

brew), Sv. G. L. C. J.

THE LAY OF HYMIR.

123

Then

the Thunderer rose,

laid hold on the stem,
he landed the boat
with the water therein,

28.

and the ocean-swine,

with the baler and oars
himself he bore
to the giant's home.

But

29.
'

still

stubborn as ever,

the Thunderer's might.

questioned anew
I deem none strong,
row he ne'er so well,

save he

Then

30.

the Jotun,

who hath power

At length the

secret

my

cup.'

came

it

pillar of stone

to his

hands

the cup through the columns

to

Hymir

again.

with friendly words

fair mistress

made known the

'

when

the Storm god, swift,

dashed into pieces

a
he
hurled
sitting,
yea,
but whole 'twas borne
31.

to break

she only knew :

the food-filled giant's,

Strike at Hymir's skull,

harder than ever
a wine cup was.'

'tis

Then

32.

and

the strong Lord of goats,

the might of the gods
was the head of Hymir,

rose to his knees

girt

him with

all

sound above
shattered below
still

was the shapely wine cup.

Hymir.

'

33.

'

'

34.

I trow is my treasure,
Gone already
now cast by thee kneeling.'
when I see the cup
"
I can say never more,
So spake the churl

Ale

in

my

cauldron

now

art

thou brewed.'

if ye can bear
But 'tis yet to prove
forth from our court.'
the mighty vessel
Twice in vain
sought Tyr to move it ;

ever unstirred

the cauldron stood.

"

HYMISKVIPA.
35-

(3 1 )

fekk a )>remi

FaJ>ir M6}>a

ok

st6

gognum

golf

nij?r

sal

hofsk a haufu)*
hver Sifjar verr,
en a hfclum
hringar skullu.
36.

(32)

Forut lengi,
aptr 6)>ins sunr
sa or

einu sinni

hreysum

mety

folkdr6tt fara

37-

(33)

H6fsk

mor)?gj6rnum fram

hann

Forut lengi,

aj?r

hafr HlorriJ?a
vas skser skokuls

enn

)?vi

39.

(35)

(36)

Hggja

nam

Loki of

olli.

6r heyrt hafi}>
hverr kann of |?at
gorr at skilja ?
go)?malugra
hver af hraunbua
hann laun of fekk,
bse)>i

born sin

gait

prottoflugr

ok

haf)?i

kvam

hver

Skger, Gv. R. S.

H.

J.

a )>ing go)?a
;

otyr at ^Egis

eitt hormeiti]?.

skirr,

B. HI. K. D. S. Sv. Gv., a doubtful word

fyrir.

J>anns Hymir dtti

vel skulu drekka

en vear hverjan

38.

alia drap.

halfdau]?r fyrir;
skakkr a beini

Isevisi

En

es

40.

hver standandi,

af her)>um

ok hraunhvali
(34)

Hymi

austan

fjolhofya^a.

veifjn Mjollni

38.

nam

a)?r lita

A, HI.

40.

Eitt

hormeitij>,

eitr hormeili, /. Thorkelsson,

G.

A,

THE LAY OF HYMIR.

35.

Then

Wrath

the Father of

125

on the rim
on
his
head,
high
laid hold

and heaved the cauldron

the handles clinked,

against his heels
as across the hearth
he strode down the hall.

36.

37.

Far had they fared

ere Odin's son
had turned him once,
to look behind
and eastward saw
from the cairns forthcoming
with Hymir, a war-host
hundred headed.

From

his shoulders raised

swung he Mjollnir,
and the monsters all

38.

he

the resting cauldron,

death-craving hammer,
from the mountains slew.

But they fared not far

ere the Thunderer's goat
had laid him down
half dead in the way
for lame in the leg
was the shaft-bound steed,
'twas the work of Loki,
crafty in wiles.
;

39.

But ye have heard

made

what amends

who
40.

for

who knows

in the lore of the

of sages learned

gods

better
?

the dweller in wastes,

paid to the Thunderer

Swelling with might

it

both his bairns.

to the meeting of gods

which Hymir had owned,

came Thor with the cauldron
shall well drink ale
and the Holy Ones ever
each harvest of

35.

Wrath

or Modi.

in the

flax

This son

is

Sea-god's

mentioned in Vm.

st.

hall.

51.

39.

The dweller

wastes, or mountain giant (presumably Egil), belongs to another story of Thor's

adventures tn Jotunheim; see Introd.
in

PRYMSKVIFA.
Vretyr vas Ving)?6rr

1.

ok sins hamars

nam

skegg

Auk
'

umb

nu, Loki

es engi veit

ne upphimins

Gengu

'

hvat

dyja,

at J^reifask.

alls fyrst of kva]?

!

'

E No.

9.

Freyju tuna,

)>at or|?a

Muntu mer, Freyja

fja)?rhams
ef minn hamar
msettak hitta ?

Jnymskvijja, in

nii msolik,

jar^ar hvergi
ass's stolinn hamri

fagra

ok hann

nam

alls fyrst of kva)>

)>at or]?a

Heyr

skor

hrista,

rfy Jar]?ar burr

2.

es vaknajn

of saknajn

lea,

THE LAY OF THRYM.

Wroth was the Thunderer
aud missed his hammer,
His beard was quivering,
as he groped around him

1.

2.

'

List now, Loki,

these,

'

3.

first

of

to this

Then sought they

these,

first

of

the Son of Earth.

shall tell thee

or earth yet weens

it

of his hammer.'

is reft

the shining
all

!'

he spake

his words,

all

no wight in high heaven

The god of Thunder

and

when he awakened
the mighty Mjollnir.
his locks were shivering,-

halls of Freyja,

his words, spake

Thor

'Wilt than, Freyja,

lend me thy feather-coat,
that perchance I may
find my hammer ?
'

i.
Mjollnir, the Crusher, Thor's thunder hammer;
Earth, or Jord, a wife of Odin ; see Ls. st. 26, Hrbl. 56.

see

Vm.

51,

Ls.

st.

57.

PRYMSKVIPA.

128

Freyja kvaj?
'

4.

5.

Munda ek gefa }>er

)?6t vscri or golli,
ok ]>6 selja
at vs6ri or silfri.'
Flo }?a Loki,
fja)?rhamr dun]?i,
unz fyr utan kvam
asa gar)>a
innan
ok fyr
kvam
jotna heima.
prymr

(4)

sat a haugi,

greyjum sinum
ok morum sinum

6.

(5)

Jmrsa drottinn,
gollbond snori

mon

prymr
'

hvat's me]? olfum

kominn

'

Loki kva]?
lilt's me)? asum,
hefr H16rri)?a

prymer
'

7.

(6)

(7)

jotunheima

me}> olfum
of folginn ?

illt's

hamar
kva)>

'

Ek

hefi H16rri]>a
hamar of folginn
atta rostum
fyr jor)> ne]>an ;
hann engi maj?r
aptr of heimtir,

nema
8.

jafna)>i.

kva)?:

Hvat's me)) asum,

hvi'st einn

'

fceri

m6r

Freyju at kvsen.'

F16 ]?d Loki,

fja)>rhamr dun]?i,
unz fyr utan kvam
jotna heima
ok fyr innan kvam
asa gar|>a
;

mcetti pori

ok hann

9-

mi|?ra gar|?a,

)>at orj^a

alls fyrst of kva|?

THE LAY OF THRYM.

129

Freyja.
'

would give it thee

still would I grant it

though 'twere golden,

though 'twere silver

4.

!'

the feather-coat rustled,

the dwellings of Asgarth,

flew Loki,

Away

he came without
the Jotun
came within

till

Thrym

5.

sat

realms.

on a mound,

the lord of giants,

for his

grayhounds twisting
golden circlets,
the manes of his steeds.
smoothing over

Thrym.
6.

'

How do the gods fare ?

Why alone art come

how do
into

the elves fare

'

Jotunheim

Loki.
'

ill do the elves fare.

do the gods fare,
the Thunderer's hammer
hidden
hast
thou
Speak

111

Thrym.
'

7.

Yea,

the Thunderer's

have hidden

eight miles under,

and never a being
till

he bring

Away

8.

till

me

deep
back

in

the earth

shall

win

hammer
:

it

as bride fair Freyja.'

flew Loki,

he came without

the feather-coat rustled,

the realms of the Jotuns,

came within

the garths of the gods.

the Thunderer met he,
There 'midst the courts

and
'

9.

Hast thou had issue

Tell out aloft

oft

and

when sitting
a
when resting

For

5.

his words, spake

these, first of all

oft

Thrym's name,

meet

for

Thor.

thy labour

at length thy tidings.

a tale is broken
;

lie is

like that of other

spoken.'

Jutuns, signifies noise

see

Vm.

st.

29.

'

I 3o

Loki kva)>
10.

'

(9)

Hefk

ok eyrindi
prymr hefr hamar,
]?ursa dr6ttinn
:

erftyi

hann engi ma]?r

nema hanum
11.

Gengu
'

Freyju at

fceri

Freyju at

fagra

hitta,

ok hann

]?at or)>a

alls fyrst of kva]?

Bitt

Freyja

brityar

vit

]?ik,

skulum aka tvau

lini,

jotunheima.'

ok fnasajn,
Vrety varf> Freyja
allr asa salr
undir bif^isk,

12.

stokk
'

Mik
ef

men

mikla

]?at et

veizt ver)>a

ekk me)?

Brisinga

vergjarnasta,
i

}>6r

jotunheima.'

Senn varu sesir

allir d ]?ingi
ok asynjur
allar d mali,
ok of )>at re\>u
rikir tivar,
hv6 H16rri]?a
hamar of scetti.

13.

pa

14.

hvitastr asa

kva]> Heimdallr,

vissi vel

han

et

sem vanir

fram

Bindum por

men

mikla

ok kvennva)?ir
en a

Brisinga

16.

pa
'

hrynja lukla

brei)?a steina,

of hofu]?

kva)> )?at porr,

Mik munu

of kn6 falla,

brjosti

ok hagliga

aj>rir

bruj^ar lini,

)>a

Latum und hanum

15.

aptr of heimtir,

a^sir

ef bindask lartk

'

typpum

)?ru]>ugr ass

argan

kalla,

bru)?ar

lini.'

THE LAY OF THRYM.

131

Loki.
10.

and issue also.

have had toil
lord of giants
Thrym has thy hammer,
back shall win it
never a being

'

till

he bring him

as bride fair Freyja.'

Forthwith went they

and these, first of all
Bind thee, Freyja,
we twain must drive

11.

'

to find fair Freyja,

his words, spake
in bridal linen,

Thor

into Jotunheim.'

Wroth then was Freyja;

fiercely she panted;
all trembled under,
the halls of Asgarth
necklet of Brisings.
burst that mighty

12.

Know me

'

if I

to be

most wanton of

drive with thee

women

into Jotunheim.'

Straight were gatherecj

gods at the doomstead

in speech together
goddesses all were
and the mighty Powers
upon this took counsel,
how the Thunderer's hammer
they should win again.

13.

all

14.
'

Spake then Heimdal,

even as the Wanes
Come bind we Thor
let

him wear the mighty

Spake the Thunderer

16.
'

Womanish then
if I let

12.

in bridal linen,

Brisinga-men.

to jingle under him,

Let us cause the keys
to dangle round him,
weeds of a woman
and over his breast
lay ample jewels,
hood his head.'
and daintily let us

15.

nieu, like

of gods the fairest

could he see far forward

me

be bound

of gods the sturdiest

the Powers will call

me

in bridal linen.'

This famous mythological treasure, called BrisingaNecklet of Brisings.

many others, was won from the dwarfs ; see IntroJ.

pRYMSKVIpA.

132

pa

17.

Laufeyjar sunr

kva)? J>at Loki,

'

pegi

]>u,

p6rr

)>eira or)?a

J>egar

munu

nema

jnnn hamar

Bundu por

18.

bru)>ar lini

)>a

meni Brisinga.

L6tu und hanum

hrynja lukla
of kn6 falla,
ok kvennva)>ir

(i8j

en a brjosti
ok hagliga
20.

pa

(19)
'

brei)>a steina,

of hofu]? typj^u.

Laufeyjar sunr

Loki,

kva.\> ]?at

Munk auk
vit

21.

Asgar]? bua,
J?6r of heimtir.'

jotnar

auk enu miklu

19.

me)>

skulum aka

]?er

tveer

heim of

pa

kva)>

}?ursa drottinn

'

Standi]? upp, jotnar

nii foeri}?

m6r

23.

Ganga her

(22)

oxn

ok

Freyju

Njar]?ar dottur

or

at gar)?i

strai}?

bekki

at kvscn,

Noatunum.
gollhyrndar kyr,

jotni at

alsvartir,

jor)? loga,

jotunheima.

prymr,

)?at

vreknir,

skyldu vel rinna

brann

bjorg brotnuj?u,
6k OJ?ins sunr
(21)

jotunheima.'

Senn varu hafrar

(20)

ambatt vesa,

skyndir at skoklum,

22.

gamni

fjol)? ak menja,
fjoljj ak mei)?ma,
^vant J>ykkjumk.'
einnar Freyju

24.

Vas

(23)

)?ar

at kveldi

auk fyr jotna

einn at oxa,
krasir allar

drakk

22.

Foeri)>,

61

H.

atta laxa,
j?ers

Sifjar verr

foera, B. G.

of komit snimma
fram borit

S. J.

konur skyldu,
said

Jmu

mja)?ar.

THE LAY OF THRYM.

Spake then Loki,

17.
'

133

the son of Laufey

with
words so witless
Silence,
Soon shall the Jotuns
dwell in Asgarth

Thor

unless thou get thee

again thy hammer.'

18.

Then bound they Thor

in bridal linen,
eke with the mighty
Brisinga-men.

19.

to jingle under him,

They caused the keys
weeds of a woman
to dangle round him,
and over his breast
laid ample jewels
and daintily
they hooded his head.

Spake then Loki,

20.
'

will fare

we twain

the son of Laufey

as thy serving-maiden
:

with thee

will drive into

Jotunheim.'

Forthwith the goats

were homeward driven,
to
the
well must they run
traces,
sped
Rent were the mountains,
earth was aflame ;

21.

fared Odin's son

22.
'

into Jotunheim.

Spake then Thrym,

Stand up, Jotuns

the lord of giants

and strew the benches
:

Now

shall ye bring

me

from Noatun.

daughter of Njord,
'

23.

Golden-horned kine
and oxen all swarthy,
I

own many

24.

17.

are found in

my dwellings
the joy of the giant.

treasures

and Freyja alone

as bride fair Freyja,

to

I rule
many riches,
me seems lacking.'

the day to evening,

Swiftly drew
borne was the ale cup
forth to the Jotuns,
Thor ate an ox
and eight whole salmon,
with dainties all
as should a damsel,
three full cups
of mead he quaffed.

Loki, see Ls. and Introd.

by Snorri.

Art/, or Pine-needle,

Lgufey, or Leaf-isle, Loki's mother; also called

PRYMSKVIPA.

134
25.

pa

(24)
'

sakak
He"

26.

At

ambatt

Hvi

'ru

lysti at kyssa,

endlangan sal
augu Freyju ?
:

ondott

)?ykkjumk or

ambatt

es orj? of fann
'

Svaf

vi|?

bins brujrfear
*

Lat ]>r

30.

pa

(29)
*

kva]> J>at

Berty inn
leggi)>
vigij?

31.

(30)

27.

aett

Mjollni

Eldr, a word missing in

)>ursa drottinn

prymr,

bru]?i at vigja,
i

meyjar kne,
Varar hendi

hugr

'
!

brjosti,

hamar

fyrstan,

jotuns

rau}?a,

minar

alia hylli.'

okkr saman

prym drap

systir,
:

hringa

astir

hamar

H16 H16rriJ?a
es har))huga))r
ok

jotna

bi)?ja )?or|?i

hondum

af

ef 6)?lask vill
astir minar

jotunheima.'

Inn kvam en arma

(28)

fyrir,

jotuns mali

atta nattum,

vsetr

Freyja
sva vas 6)>fus
29.

eldr of brinna.'

augum

Sat en alsnotra

(27)

jotunheima.'

linu,

en utan stokk
'

fyrir,

jotuns mali

atta nattum,

vsetr

Laut und

of drekka.

mey

vi)>

Freyja
sva vas 6)?fus

(26)

bita bretyara,

bru}>ir

Sat en alsnotra

(35)
'

28.

bita hvassara

enn meira mjoj?

es orj? of fann

27.

]?ursa dr6ttinn

kva}> J?at prymr,

satt bntyir

Hvar

of

]?ek)>i

Jmrsa drottin,

alia lamjn.

supplied by paper A/SS.

THE LAY OF THRYM.

25.
1

the lord of giants,

Spake then Thrym,
eat so bravely ?
Didst ever see damsel
bite so boldly,
Ne'er have I seen one
nor a maiden quaff
more cups of mead

who answer found

'

Nought has Freyja

so sore her yearning
Stooped then
back he leapt

27.
'

Why

for Jotunheim.'

'neath the

Thrym

the serving-maiden,
to the giant's asking

Not a whit has Freyja

'

Take the red

if

sister of

all

from off thy fingers

mine affection,

rings

affection,

Jotuns

for a bridal token

thou wilt win thee

mine
30.

for Jotunheim.'

came the wretched

and dared to beg

these eight nights slumbered,

so sore her yearning

In

eyes so fearful ?
a fire is flaming.'
from those eyes

All crafty sat by

29.

to kiss her,

veil,

the hall's whole length

who answer found

'

these eight nights eaten,

are fair Freyja's

Meseems
28.

'
!

the serving-maiden,
to the giant's asking

All crafty sat by

26.

135

my

favour

'
!

the lord of giants

Spake then Thrym,
the bride to hallow.
Bring in the hammer,
on the knee of the maiden
Mjollnir lay
Hallow us twain
with the hand of the Troth-goddess
:

'

31.

Laughed

in his breast

strong was his soul

27.
eyes

He

first

and

all

Eyes so

" so that

smote Thrym,
the Jotun's

fearful.

you could

'
!

the heart of the Thunderer;

when he

spied his hammer.

the lord of giants,

kindred crushed.

When Thor was angry

scarce get a glimpse of them

he
"

let

his

bushy brows drop over his

(Snorri).

30.

Thor was

on by the old Norse peasants to bless their marriage feasts with his hammer.
goddess, or Var, was the guardian of oaths ami plightings.

called

Troth-

PRYMSKVIPA.
32.

(31)

Drap ena oldnu

jotna systur
hinas bru)?fear
of be\>it haf)>i
h6n skell of hlaut
fyr skillinga,
:

en hogg hamars
(32)

Sva kvam

fyr hringa

6]?ins sunr

fjolj*.

endr at hamri.

THE LAY OF THRYM.

32.

Smote he the ancient

137

sister of Jotuns,

for a bridal token.

who had begged
in the place of shillings
She got but a stroke
a ring.
mark
never
and
Mjollnir's

her

And thus Thor won him

again his hammer.

SKIRN1SMAL
Freyr sonr Njar)>ar hafyi einn dag sez Hli)?skjalf ok sa um heima
hann sa i jotunheima ok sa J>ar mey fagra, |?a er hon gekk fra
i

alia

skala fo)mr sins

til

skemmu.

Skirnir h<t skosveinn Freys

maelti Ska]?i

par af fekk hann hugs6ttir miklar.

NjorJ>r ba]>

hann

kve)?a

i.

'

Ris nu, Skirnir!

ok gakk
okkarn mala mog,

ok

)>ess at

fregna,

hveim enn

ofreij>i afi.'

Skirnismil.

In R, No. 5;

st.

at bei|?a

1-27 in A.

fro|?i s

Frey mal?.

pa

THE STORY OF SK1RNIR.

Once Frey, son of Njord, had seated himself on Window-shelf,
When he looked into Jotunheim
and was gazing out over all worlds.
he beheld a fair maiden going from her father's hall to the bower, and
at the sight of her he was seized with great sickness of heart.
Now Prey's servant was called Skirnir, and Njord bade him ask
speech of his master and Skadi, wife of Njord, said
:

I.

Rise, bright Skirnir

run thou swiftly,

and beseech our son to speak

ask the wise youth
to answer thee this,
'gainst whom his wrath is aroused.
:

Frey,
high seat.

set Introd.

Skirnir's

and Ls. st.

name means
t

42.

Njord,

set

Ls.

the Light-bringer.

st.

34.

Window.shelf, Odin's

SKIRNISMAL.

140

Skirnir kva]>
2.

'

erumk 6n

Illra orj>a

ef

ok

at

gengk

J>ess at

nrufela

fregna,

at

ykrum

vi)> mog,
hveim enn

syni,

se

froj>i

ofrei)>i afi.'

Skirnir kva)?:
'

Segj?u

3.

j?at,

folkvaldi goj?a

Freyr,

auk ek

vilja vita

hvi einn sitr

endlanga sali,
of daga ?

'

minn drottinn

Freyr
'

4.

Hvi of segjak

kva|>

seggr enn ungi

}>r,

mikinn mo)?trega

tysir of alia daga,

\>vit alfrojjull

ok

)>eygi at

minum munum.'

Skirnir kva)>:
'

5.

Muni

hykkak sva mikla

|?ina

at meY, seggr
)>vit

n6 segir

vesa,

vdrum i ardaga,
ungir saman
vel maettim tveir truask.
1

Freyr kvaj>
6.

'

Gymis gor)>um
m^r tij^a mey

armar

allt lopt

7.

Msfer's

m6r

at vit

ok

J?a)>an

logr.

tfyari

ungum
asa ok alfa

ek sd ganga

en af

lystu,

ardaga

an manni hveim
;

)?at vil

samt sem.

engi ma)>r,

THE STORY OF

SKIRNIR.

141

Skirnir.
2.

If

with him, your son,

ill words I shall haply win,
to answer me this,
ask the wise youth
seek for speech

if I

whom

'gainst

wrath

his

is

aroused.

(Skirnir (to Frey).

3.

me

Tell

why

thou ruler of gods,

truly, Frey,

what

fain

sitt'st

would learn from thy

thou lone

in the hall,

lingering the live-long day

lips

my

lord,

Frey.
4.

How

shall

ever

own

to thee, youth,

the great heart's burden

the Elf-light shines

but works not yet

bear

each day the same,

my

will.

Skirnir.
5.

Scarce are the longings

but I trow thou canst

of thy love so great

them to me ;

tell

in days of yore,
we were young together
we twain may well trust each other.

Frey.
6.

In the courts of Gymir,

the frost-giant, saw
that maiden most dear to me ;
light

shone out

all

7.

She

is

from her arms and thence

the air and sea were ashine.

dearer to

me

than ever was maiden

to youth in days of yore :

but none among all
the gods and elves

hath willed that

4.
St.

16.

Elf-light, a

name for

the sun

we twain
from

its

should wed.

power over dwarfs or

elves;

set

Alv. t

SKlRNISMAL.

142

Skirnir kvaj>
'

8.

mr

Mar

gef
j>a,
]?anns mik of
visan vafrloga,
ok )>at sver|>,
es sjalft vegisk
t vty

jotna

Mar

'

\>6r

myrkvan

beri

sfctt.'

Freyr
9.

kva)>

es

)>ann gefk,

)?ik

of

myrkvan

berri

visan vafrloga,

ok

mun

es sjalft

]>at sverj>,

vegask,

ef sa's horskr es hefr.'

Skirnir maelti vty hestinn

'

10.

Myrkt es
urig

kve)?k okkr fara

fjoll yfir,

)>ursa
baj>ir vit

mal

uti,

yfir

]?j6]?

komumk,

e)?a

okkr

baj^a tekr

enn amatki jotunn.'

Skirnir

rei)>

ok bundnir fyr

jotunheima

til

Gymis

skij?sgar]?s hli)?i

'

Seg

)>at, hirj>ir

ok
hve

var]?ar alia

at andspilli

es

a haugi

}>u

vega

par varu hundar olmir

sal Ger}>ar var.

hann

at J?ar er fehir)?ir sat a haugi ok kvaddi

11.

gar)?a.

um

)?ess er

sitr

komumk

ens unga

mans

'

fyr

greyjum Gymis

Hirjrir kva)>

12.

'

Hvart

est feigr

estu framgenginn,

e)>a
?

andspillis vanr
go)?rar

]>u

skalt

meyjar Gymis.'

vesa

Hann

reij>

THE STORY OF

SKIRNIR.

143

Skirnir.

safe through the dim

Give me steed to bear me
enchanted flickering flame,
war of itself
and the sword which wages

8.

'gainst the fearful

folk.

Jotun

Frey.

Here is steed to bear thee

safe through the dim
enchanted flickering flame,
and the sword which wages
war of itself,

9.

if

he

who

bears

be bold.

it

Skirnir (speaking to the horse).

Dark

10.

'tis

without

'tis

to fare o'er the

dewy

time,
fells

ween,

we shall both win through,

'mid the throng of giants
or the awful Jotun have both.

Then

rode into Jotunheim to the dwellings of Gymir,

where fierce dogs were chained up before the gate of the enclosure
Skirnir

which surrounded Gerd's

sitting

on a mound, and said

11.

He

hall.

who was

rode up to a herdsman

Speak, thou herdsman,

and watchest every

who
way

sitt'st

on a mound

How,

for Gymir's hounds,

shall I e'er hold speech
with that Jotun's youthful maid ?

Herdsman.
12.

Either

doomed

art thou,

or one of the dead

going forth to the halls of Hel

never a word
shalt thou win, I ween,
with Gymir's goodly maid.
!

8, 9.

of Hel,

The sword,

see Introd.

to

set Ls., st.

Bdr,

42;

Vsfi., st.

53.

12.

Going forth

to the halls

SKIRNISMAL.

144

Skirnir kvaj>
'

13.

heldr an at klokkva s6

Kostir'u betri

hveims fuss es fara

einu dcegri

vorumk

ok

of lagit.'

allt lif

aldr of skapaj>r

Ger)>r kva)>
'

14.

Hvat's

ossum ronnum
en

jor)> bifask,

es ek

hlymja

)>at

hlymja heyri

allir fyrir

skjalfa gar|>ar Gymis.'

Amb6tt
'

15.

stiginn af
Major's her uti,
jo Uetr til jar]?ar taka.'
Ger]?r kva)?

'

16.

kva]?

Inn

mars

baki,

i okkarn
hann ganga
ok drekka enn mscra mjo)>

bi|?

sal

]?o

at her uti s6

ek hitt oumk,

minn

br6]?urbani.'

Ger]?r kva)?
'

17.

Hvat's

]>at

n6 asa suna

alfa

n6 vissa vana
hvi einn of

kvamt

eikinn fur yfir

or salkynni at sea

'

Skirnir kva}>
18.

'

Emkak

alfa

einn of

kvamk

dsa suna

ne vissa vana
}>6

eikinn fur yfir

y|?ur salkynni at sea.

til

THE STORY OF

SKIRNIR.

145

Skirnir.
13.

than to whine makes he

wiser choice

my

who

is

and

my

ready to run his race

time was set
to a certain day
:

length of

decreed.

life

Gerd (within the

14.

What

is

the courts of

See

A man

hear in our halls

and before

Gymir

A
15.

and clashing of sounds

the clanking

which echoing
Trembles the earth

it all

are shook.

Serving-maid.

without

which he now

hall).

He

lets

is sprung from his steed,

on
the grass.
graze

Gerd.
16.

Bid.him come
let

Yet

in

let

him quaff the

fear

17.

me much
my

brother should be.

to Skirnir

(who has entered).

Who

comes, nor of elves'

nor yet of the all-wise

why

halls,

glorious mead
lest that man without

the slayer of

Gerd

him enter our

hast fared alone

nor of gods' race seeming,

Wanes

through the raging

to visit the folk in our hails

fire

Skirnir.
18.

nor of gods' race am

come, nor of elves'
nor yet of the all-wise Wanes
through the raging fire
yet have I fared
I

I,

to visit the folk in your halls.

Slayer of

16.

brother

my

brother.

Frcy

but, according to Snorri, this

stag's horn

slew the giant Belt,

was

who was perhaps

Gerd's

ujter the loss of his sword, for he used

see Vsp., st. 53.

rn

-iaii

^fitt
B^rirflt^ijaiBiL
isa -mniit *s: rfsror ^sx,

3C :. Jfe' ?3ey

tuSKst ucescr f^or hrr

r5*^r:

"""'

.-~'

^'

s&an:

" '"

rffefe^"

-.

-.

""

....

^^^^^R ^l ^WOW ^^^^KsS

,

v- A-'-

'

>.

........

-.

v
^

>
^'

<

:~

SKIRNISMAL.

148

Skirnir kvab

'S6r bu benna

25.

es hefk

mr!

msfeki,

hendi

he"r

mj6van, malfan,

bessum eggjum

hnigr sa enn aldni jotunn,

verbr binn feigr fabir.

fyr

Tamsvendi

26.

mser
bar skalt

en ek bik temja mun,

bik drepk,

minum munum
es bik gumna
ganga,
at

synir

siban sova sea.

Ara

27.

)>ufu a

skaltu ar

horfa [heimi

sitja,

snugga] heljar til

an manna hveim

or,

matr s6 )?er lei]?ari

enn frani ormr me\> firum.
At undrsjdnum verjnr,
a ]>ik Hrimnir hari,
a ]?ik hotvetna stari

28.

vtykunnari
gapi
29.

(30)

an

ver|?ir

)?u

grindum

Tramar gneypa
til

J?u

6t komr,

vor)?r mej?

go)mm

fra.

)>ik

jotna gorlpum

es

skulu gorstan dag

hrim]?ursa hallar

J>u

skalt hverjan

dag

kranga kostalaus,
kranga kostavon.
grdt at

ok
30.

(31)

)>itt

yg.Tht

letya me)>

tarum

ge)> gripi,

sem
i

skaltu

Me)? )mrsi J?rih6fj?u|mm

ej>a verlauss vesa ;

ves

HI.

gamni

H.

S.

gogn hafa,

trega.

J>u

skalt

morn morni

sc

nara

sas )>runginn vas

Distill

onn

ofanver|?a.

strophe arrangement of

bik, B. G.

|>ik

A. is

marked in

brackets.

30.

bitt,

R, Dt.

THE STORY OF

SKIRNIR.

149

Skirnir.
25.

See'st thou this sword, maiden,

which here
Before

its

hold in

keen edge

thy father
26.

is

slender, rune-graven,

my hand

shall fall that old Giant,

doomed

With a taming wand

and win thee soon to

to death.
I will

my

touch thee, maid

will.

where thou
never more by the sons of men.

I will

27.

send thee far off

shalt be seen

On

an eagle's mound
shalt thou sit from morn,
gazing out of the world toward Hel
than bright-hued serpent
thy food shall seem loathlier
seemed ever to man among men.
:

28.

[on thee,
all beings shall stare
Sight of wonder when thou walkest,
and the Frost Giant fix thee with his eye
Known wider than Heimdal
the Watchman of gods,
thou shalt gape through the gates of Hel.
!

29.

from morn till eve

realms of the Jotun race,
each day to the dwellings
of Frost giants must thou
Trolls shall torment thee
in the

creep helpless, creep hopeless of love ;

in the stead of joy,
thou shalt weeping have
and sore burden bear with tears.

30.

With

must thou abide

a three-headed giant
or lack ever husband in

life.

shall lay hold

on thy heart and mind,
thou shalt waste with mourning away,
as a thistle shalt be
which hath thrust itself up
in the latter season full late.

Care

27.
30.

The

An

eagle,

Corpse-swallower, who
Others, a

latter season, so Dt. HI.

sits at the

loft,

end of heaven;

under the

roof.

Vm.,

st.

37.

SKIRNISMAL.

150
31.

(35)

Hrimgrimnir

es )nk hafa skal

heitir Jmrs

fyr nagrindr ne)>an

par

}>6r

(36)

ce)>ri

a vtyar r6tum

vilmegir

geita hland

gefi

fd )m aldrigi,
drykkju
mser af Jrinum munum,
mser at minum munum
!

32.

(29)

T6pi ok

tjosull

6pi,

vaxi

}>6r

ok

tar me]> trega

6]?oli
;

mun ek segja \iv

sezktu ntyr,
svaran susbreka
ok tvinnan

Vretyr's

33.

)?er

trega.

6}nnn

vreijjr's J>er

asa bragr,

]nk skal Freyr fiask,

es )?u fengit hefr
en firinilla mger
!

gambanvretyi

go)?a.

Heyri hrimjmrsar,
Suttunga synir,

34.

sjalfir asli]?ar

hv^

hv6 fyrbannak
fyrby)?k,
manna glaum mani,

manna

nyt mani.

\
35-

(32)

heyri jotnar,

ok

Til holts ek gekk

gambantein

at geta

gambantein ek

gat.

til
:

hras

vi|>ar,

THE STORY OF
31.

SKIRNIR.

The Frost-hooded

shall hold thee

giant
beneath the doors of the dead

151
fast

at the tree's roots there

wretched thralls

shall

give thee foul water of goats ;

shalt thou never drink,
and other draught
at thy wish, maiden, with my will, maid.

32.

down

Sit thee

I will

woes two-fold bespeak

further

thee,

a whelming wave of care.

shrieking,
bondage and yearning,
burden thee, with trouble and tears.

May madness and

33.

Wroth

is

Odin

Wroth

is

the Thunderer

shall hate thee, I trow

well hast thou earned
maiden,
the awful anger of the gods

Frey too
thou

evil

34.

Hear now, Jotuns,

Frost-giants hear me,

'neath
sons
the earth,
Suttung's
how
I
too
ban and forbid
ye god-folk,
man's love to the maiden, man's joy to the maid.
!

35.

went to the
a magic

to find

forest

wand

of

might
and
mighty magic wand.
;

to a green-wood tree,
this

31.

At the

got

me

there

Presumably Yggdrasil's root stretching over Jotunheim ;

Thunderer. Thor is here called prince of gods.
These
Odin, Thor, and Frey are usually ranked together, and appear as the chief gods

in temple worship.
35.

tree's roots.

(Nd. D.Alt, xxx.).

three

and fetch

green-wood

33.

34.

Sutting, a giant of the

tree, see

Hdv.,

st.

150.

underworld;

see

Hdv.,

st.

102.

SKIRNISMAL.

I52

36.

purs ristk

(36)

)>6r

ergi ok

sva ek

]>at

ce}>i

af

ok |?ria
ok 6)>ola

stafi
;

sem ek

rist,

ef gorvask )>arfar

'

Heill ves heldr, sveinn

hafyak

at

getlat,

unna vaningja

'Eyrindi min
a]?r
nsfer

'

39.

reist,

ok tak

vi)>

hrimkalki

myndak

aldrigi

vel.'

Skirnir kva]>
38.

fullum forns mja)>ar

)?6

j?at

J?ess.'

Ger)>r kva)>
37.

viljak 611 vita,

rtyak

heim he)?an

at }>ingi
J?u

munt enum

nenna Njar)?ar

syni.'

Ger^r

kva)>

Barri heitir,
es vit
lundr lognfara

|?roska

vitum,

baejri

en ept nsetr niu

Ger)>r

pd
ti}>inda

reij)

|?ar

mun

NjarJ?ar syni

unna gamans.'

Skirnir heim.

Freyr

sto}? uti

ok kvaddi hann ok

40.

'Seg mer }?at, Skirnir!

ok stigir feti framarr
hvat

]>u

aj>r
:

jotunheima
mins munar ?

arna)>ir

'

|?ins e)?a

verpir

so)>li

af

mar

spurj>i

THE STORY OF
36.

SKIRNIR.

and carved thee three

and raving and rage.
so can I cut them off,
Even as I cut them on
if haply I have the will.
I

have cut thee a giant,

staves,

lust

(Gerd
37.

Be gracious
filled

Little
I

offers

rather,

him a foaming

youth

cup.)

Take now

this

rimy cup

with famous old mead.

I thought
that ever in life
should love a Waneling well.

Skirnir.
38.

my

All

errand

before

ride

will I know to the end

homeward hence.

When

wilt thou, maiden,

meet at the trysting
the stalwart son of Njord ?

Gerd.
39.

is the wood
we twain know well

Pine-needle
there shall

Gerd bestow

of peaceful faring,

the

way

on the son of Njord

her heart's love nine nights hence.

Then Skirnir rode home. Frey was standing without, and he

greeted him and asked for tidings.
Frey.
40.

saddle from the steed,

Speak, Skirnir! Cast not
and stir not one step hence
:

what hast thou won

of thy will and

in the realms of the Jotun race ?

36.

Giant

Icelandic

burs.

The name of some

symbol b would represent burs.

st. 35 ; Vm., st. 39.
NjiJrd was a Wane ; see Ls.,
Utter,

and here

the

mine

object

37.

was given

Waneling.

to each runic

Prey's father

SKIRNISMAL.

154

Skirnir kva)>
41.

'Barri heitir,

es vit baj>ir vitum,

lundr lognfara
en ept nsetr niu
Ger)?r

'

Long

es nott,

hv6 of
opt me'r

mun

J>ar

Njar)>ar syni

unna gamans.'
Freyr

42.

kva)>

langar'u tvser,

)?reyjak ]?riar

manner

minni

|?6tti

THE STORY OF

SKIRNIR.

Skirnir.
41.

is the wood
we twain know well

of peaceful faring,
the way:
on the son of Njord
there shall Gerd bestow

Pine-needle

her heart's love nine nights hence.

Freyl
42.

Long is one night,

long are two nights
how shall I live through three
Shorter a month
has seemed to me oft
!

than waiting this half night here.

155

GR0UGALDR.

Svipdagr kva]>
1.

'Vaki

J?ti,

Groa

vekk
ef ]>at

]>ik

at jnnn

'

Hvat's

nti

ant

hverju

'st

bgfe]>ir

minum

MSS.

einga syni,

bolvi borinn

ok 6r Ij6)?heimum
In paper

mog

kvaj?

es ]>u m6|?ur kallar

Gr6galdr.

kona

kumbldysjar koma.'

Gr6a
2.

g6J>

J?ti,

dau)>ra dura

mant,

til

vaki

es

til

moldar es komin
'

li)?in ?

of the seventeenth century.

DAY-SPRING
PART

I.

AND MENGLOD.

THE SPELL-SONGS OF GROA.

Son.

1.

Wake

thou, Groa,

wake, sweet woman,

at the doors of the dead,

Thy

child, thou bad'st me,

come

awake

dost thou not

mind thee?-

to the cairn of thy grave.

Groa.
2.

What

sorrow grieves thee,

mine only son,
with what burden art overborne,
that thou callest thy mother
who is turned to dust

and gone from the folk-world forth

GRdUGALDR.

158

Svipdagr kva)>
3.

'Lj6tu

skaut fyr mik en laevisa kona

minn fojmr
mik koma,
es kva;mtki veit,

leikbor)>i

sus fajjmajn
)>ar ba)>

moti Menglo)m.'

Gr6a
'

4.

Long

es for,

langir'u

kvaj?

langir'u farvegar,

manna munir;
at

ef )>at ver)>r,

ok skeikar

j>6

]m )>inn vilja bi|?r,

Skuldar at skopum.'

Svipdagr kva)>
'

5.

Galdra mer gal

)>&s g6]?ir'u,

bjarg ]m, mo]?ir

vegum

megi

)?ykkjumk

hykk
til ungr

Groa

ek

at

allr

ver)?a

muna,

afi.'

kvaj?

'

6.

pann gelk

]>6r

sjalfr
7.

lei)>

]?ann kve)?a fjolnytan,

fyrstan,

]>ann gol Rindr

at of 6x1 skjotir

Rani

|>vis }>er

sjalfan

)?ik

atalt J>ykkir;

ef ]>u

pann gelk }>r annan,

drna skalt

viljalauss d vegum
haldi }>6r ollum
Ur)>ar lokur
:

es )m d
8.

pann gelk

)>er

sman
enn

s6r

)?rij?ja,

falla at fjorlotum
til

heljar he]?an

en

]?verri

megum,

ef ]>6r j?jo)?aar

snuisk

Horn ok

Ru)>r,

fyr )>r.

Kvffemtki, B. G. S. Gv. J. ; kve)>ki, MSS.

4.
Menglo)?ii, a proper name
^.
sman, MSS., DtG. B. Gv. S. C.; inengl6|>ii(nr, MSS., K. R. M. HI. J.
7.
8.
and HI. a sinnum, Gv. G. S.
Fjorlotum, MSS., HI. J., life-spring from fjor,
S. G,
life, and lota, energy ; Fjor-lokum, B. Gv.

DAY-SPRING AND

MENGLOD.

159

Son.

3.

hath that

fearful task

woman

false

who

set

me,

fondly my father hath clasped

she hath sent me where none
may go, to seek
:

the gay-necklaced maiden Menglod.

Groa.
the faring,
long are the pathways,
are
the
loves of men
long

Long

4.

is

well

that thou gain thy will,

but the end must follow fate.
it

may be

Son.

me

sweet and strong ones

spell-songs,
me
shield
Mother,
thy child
I ween I shall be,
Dead on the way

Sing

5.

for

I feel

me

too young in years.

Groa.
6.

sing thee the

well

first

it

serves, they say

which Rindr sang to Ran

be thy burden too heavy,
may
and may self lead self at will.
:

7.

sing thee the second

joyless

may

if

on journeys

haply thou strayest

far,

be around thy way

the web of Weird
and save thee from shameful plight.

be the paths before thy

6.

feet.

Rindr, another name for Odin as husband of the giantess Rind (Bdr.,

Odin long wooed her in vain,

ments (Saxo Grammaticus) ; cf. the same use of the
Weird
7.
Fjorgynn and Fjorgyn see Ls., st, 26.
8.
Floods of Hel, here called Horn and
Vip., 20.
is

from thy back

if mighty streams
sing thee the third
with their waters o'erwhelm thy life,
flow back, and dry
may those floods of Hel

8.

who

it fall

here called

Ran.

the rivers

which flow from Roaring-kettle

st.

11),

and won her at last by enchantmasculine and feminine forms in

or Urd, the goddess of fate

Kud,

see

not mentioned in the list of

see Grin., st. 28, 29.

GROUGALDR.

160

pann gelk

9.

enn

)>er

ef

fjor)>a,

gorvir a galgvegi

til handa
hugr )>eim hverfi
ok snuisk til satta sefi.

10.

pann gelk

)>er

enn

fiandr standa

)?er

ef \>r fjoturr ver)>r

fimta,

borinn at boglimum

laetk ]?er fyr

leysigaldr

}>ik

legg of kvejnnn,

ok stokkr }>a. lass af limum,

en af fotum fjoturr.
11.

pann gelk

J>er

enn

lopt ok logr

ok
12.

pann gelk

J>er

&

pann gelk

)>er

lu]?r

saman

ef

soekja korar

}>ik

megit

ok haldi

)?er

enn sjaunda,
ha

hraevakul)>i

komr

rij?drj ugrar farar.

frost a fjalli

13.

viti

gangi

16 }>er

ef a sjo

s<tta,

menn

meira an

)>inu

holdi fara,

J?er lik at li|?um.

enn

nemr

ef )>ik uti

atta,

nott a niflvegi

at Jnd firr megi

}>er
kristin dau)> kona.

til

meins gorva

ef vty enn naddgofga

pann gelk J?er enn niunda,
orjmm skiptir jotun
mals ok mannvits
s6 )?er d munn ok hjarta

14.

gn6ga of
15.

gefit.

*****
Far

)?u

nu

seva

ok standit

]>a.s

)>er

a jar}?f6stum steini

meban
io.

logn,

14.

Munn

fyr

munum

st6)>k

innan dura,

galdra g61k.

]?6r

Leysigaldr, B. Gv. S. G. J.

MSS.

fora)? )>ikkir

mein

leifnis elda,

ok, B. Gv. S. G. C.

11.
MSS.
MSS.

minnis,

Lopt, Gv. S. G.

AND MENGLOD.

DAY-SPRING
9.

sing thee the fourth

in

for

thy death,
toward thee turned

be their hearts forthwith

and
10.

their

minds be moved

sing thee the

foes should lurk

if

ambush, armed

fifth

to peace.

men maKe

if

161

fast

charm on the

joints of thy limbs,

that loosening spell
which I sin^ o'er thy legs

from hands and

shall break fetters

11.

sing thee the sixth

if

feet.

thou fare o'er seas

mightier than men do know,

work thy boat,
may wind and wa\e for thee
and make peaceful thy path o'er the deep.
12.

sing thee the seventh

by frost on the rimy
:

may

13.

thy flesh not die

be thou sound in

if

thou art assailed

fell,

in the
life

deadly cold

and limb.

if night o'ertake thee,

sing thee the eighth
wandering on the misty way,
none the more may ghosts
of Christian women

have power to work thy woe.

14.

when thou needs must stand

sing thee the ninth
in speech with that spear-famed giant,
to lips and heart
may words and wisdom

in

15.

abundance be bestowed.

*****

May thou ne'er be

may harm not
At the doors
while

led,

where danger

hinder thy will

stood,

lurks,

on an earth-bound stone,

sang these sonj^s to thee.

Ghosts of Christian women.

This line must have b:e<t written
when Christianity was regarded as a mysterious power of evil.
spear-famed giant must be Much- wise, the warder of Menglod's halls.
13.

days,

in
14.

h.-athen

That

FJOLSVINNSMAL.

162
16.

M6)mr

berjm,

or)?

ok

lat |>er

brjosti

he]>an

bua

skalt of aldr hafa,

heill

i|>n6ga

mogr

me)>an min

or]>

of mant.'

FJOLSVINNSMAL
hann sa upp

fttan gar)>a

1.

of

koma

|>ursa J>j6|>ar sjot.

Svipdagr kva)>
'

(2)

Hvat's

)>at flag|>a,

ok hvarflar

umb

es stendr fyr forgor)>um

'
hscttan loga ?

Fjolsvtyr kva|?
2.

'Hvers

(i)

}>u leitar

e)>a

hvat

ej?a

vilt,

hvers d leitum

vinlauss

vita

urgar brautir
dttat

arnajm aptr he)?an

hr, verndarvanr veru.'

Hvat's

ok

J>at flag]?a,

\o}> ?

hefr

ok haltu heim he]?an

Fjolsvtyr
*

Fjolsvtyr ek heiti,

es stendr fyr forgarjn

by]?rat li)?6ndum

Soemjjaror|>a lauss

4.

j?d,

seggr

ok drif

This transposition from

|NI

kva)>

of

en ek a

nu vargr

'
!

fro|?an sefa,

]?eygi emk mins mildr matar

innan gar]?a
\>u komr aldrijii,

I.

Svipdagr kvaj>
3.

est,

at vegi

MSS. made by B. Mb. Gv.

'
!

C. G.

lifat,

AND MENGLOD.

DAY-SPRING
16.

163

a mother's words,
Child, bear with thee
let them abide in thy breast
!

Wealth enough
if

thou keepst

PART
1.

in life

my

THE

II.

thou shalt win

counsel

in

mind.

SAYINGS OF MUCH-WISE.

Stood Day-spring without

the walls, and saw
loom high the Jotuns' home.
Day-spring.

What monster

who guards

that

is

the threshold,

and prowls round the perilous flames

Much-wise.
2.

Whom

dost thou seek

Of whom

art in search

friendless wight, wouldst thou learn

What,
Back wander hence
not here

is

on thy dewy way

thy haven, lone one

Day-spring.
3.

What monster

is

that

who guards

the threshold

and bids not welcome to wanderers

Lacking

all

speech wert thou born

seemly

hence, speaker, hie thee

home

Much-wise.
4.

Much-wise

am

called,

for

am

wise in mind,

though none too free with my food.

Here in the courts
shalt thou never come
like
a wolf on thy way
get thee hence
!

FJOLSVINNSMAL.

164

Svipdagr kva}>
'

fysir aptr at
hvars getr svast at sea

Augna gamans

5.

fa,

]>ykkjumk of gollna

gar)?ar gloa

mundak

h6r

6.

'

6}>li

una.'

FjolsviJ>r

kva)?

e)?a hverra'st

estu, sveinn

Seg mer, hverjum

manna mogr

Svipdagr kvaj?
'

Vindkaldr
J?ess

of borinn

ht minn

fa)>ir,

faj^ir.

Seg mer ]?at, Fjolsvi)?r

auk ek vilja vita
hverr h6r rej?r
ok
eign ok au)>s6lum ?

7.

'

Varkaldr

heitik,

vas Fjolkaldr

sail,

es ek

]?ik

fregna

mun

8.

'

Mengloj> of
vij?

h6n her

hefr

riki
'

Fj6lsvi)?r

kva)?

heitir,

en hana m6j>ir of gat

Svafn)?orins syni

ok

rse)>r

riki

hefr

eign ok au)?s6lum.'

Svipdagr kva)>

'Seg m6r

Fjolsvi|>r
vilja vita :

j?at,

auk ek

hvat su grind

menn

heitir,

meira

]>ik

fregna

mun

es mej> goj^um sout

'

fora)?

Aptr at fa, HI. and F. adopt this conjecture on the margin of the MS3.
8.
S.
Dt. and HI.
MSS., B. S. L. Gv.
Svafnjjorins,
Svafrjjorins,

5.

fin,

at

es ek

Aptr

DAY-SPRING

AND MENGLOD.

165

Day-spring.
5.

for the light of his eyes,

lover again
with his sweet-heart back in sight

Longs the

glowing are the walls

I

would

fain

of that golden hall

make here my home.

Much- wise.

6.

from whom thou art sprung,

Tell me, bold youth,
son of what being wert born ?

Day-spring.

They

call

me

Wind-cold,

the son of Spring-cold,

whose father was Fierce-cold named.

7.

Now

answer me, Much-wise,

this that I ask
and fain would learn from thy lips
and hold in power
who here doth rule
the wealth and wondrous halls ?
:

Much-wise.
8.

There is one called Menglod,

who of her mother
was born to Sleep-thorn's son
and hold in power
'tis she doth rule
the wealth and wondrous halls.
:

Day-spring.
9.

Now

this that I ask

answer me, Much-wise,
and fain would learn from thy lips
Ne'er among gods
what is that gate called ?
was more fearful barrier found.
:

5.

This strophe,

like 49, suggests thut

Svipdagr and Menglod have met

before.

166

FJOLSVINNSMAL.
Fjolsvtyr kva)?
10.

'prymjjjoll

hon

en hana

heitir,

Solblinda synir

gorjm

J>rir

fjoturr fastr
verj?r vij? faranda hverjan,
es hana hefr frd hlijn.'

Svipdagr

'Seg mer J?at, Fjdlsvi)?r

auk ek vilja vita

11.

kvaj?

es ek

)?ik

fregna

mun

hvat sa gar]?r

menn

et

es mej> go)>um sout

heitir,

meira

'

fora]>

Fjolsvtyr kva]?

en ek hann gorvan hefk

Gaststropnir heitir,
or Leirbrimis limum

'

12.

at hann standa
sva hefk studdan,
e me|>an old lifir.'

Svipdagr
13. (19)

kvaj?

mun

'Seg mer J?at, Fjolsvi)7r!

auk ek vilja vita

es ek

fregna

|?ik

mun

hvat

barr heitir,
lond 611 limar ?

es bretyask of

]>at

'

Fjolsvtyr kvajj
'

14. (20)

MimameiJ^r hann

heitir,

en

hvers hann af rotum rinnr

vty

12.

MSS.

hann fellr,
es fsestan
fleerat hann eldr n6 jam.'

J>at

Gast-stropnir, Dt. and HI.;

13-18.

The transposition of

|?at

mangi

varir

Gat-stropnir, B. Gv. F.;

these strophes, suggested

S. G., gives more sequence to S.'s questions.

veit,

Gastropnir, most

by Mdller, adopted by

DAY-SPRING

AND MENGLOD.

167

Much-wise.
10.

the gate is called,

wrought by three sons of Solblind.
Fast is the chain
to each wanderer who seeks

Sounding-clanger

to

lift

that door from the latch.

Day-spring.
11.

Now

this that I ask

answer me, Much-wise,
and fain would learn from thy lips
Ne'er among gods
what is that wall named ?
was more fearful barrier found.
:

Much-wise.
12.

Guest-crusher
I

'tis

called

from the Clay-giant's limbs

built that barrier myself

so fast have

set

that firm 'twill stand,

it

for ever while life shall last.

Day-spring.
13.

Now

this that
answer me, Much-wise,
from
and fain would learn
thy lips
what is that tree,
which far and wide,

ask

spreads limbs over every land

Much-wise.
14.

but no

'Tis the tree of Mimir,

by what roots

it

'twill fall at last

for nor fire nor

10.- -Solblind

man knows

heaven
by what least one weens,
rises to

weapons

or Snn-blinded must be a

will

wound

it.

dwarf name for one who,

like

All-wise

35), fears the light, and whose children are forgers like Brokk and Sindri ; see Vsp.
The Clay-giant or Leirbrimir. From the giant
12.
37, Grm. st. 43, and Introd.
Ymir or Brimir (Vnt., st. 21 ) was made the whole framework of earth, and the expres(st.

sion
see

is
\

only a poetical term for the solid ground.

'sp.

here, in

19,

29 ; Vm.

45.

Giant-home, the

Mimir' s
tree

would be called

his.

The tree of Mimir, Yggdrasil

Weird, was situated beneath it, and

14.

well, likf that of

68

FJOLSVINNSMAL.
Svipdagr kva]>
15. (21)

es ek ]?ik fregna
'Seg me'r )?at, FjolsviJ>r!
auk ek vilja vita
hvat af mojn verj>r
}>ess ens mscra vtyar,

mun

es

hann

flserat

'

eldr n

jarn

Fjolsvtyr kva)>
16. (22)

'tit af

bans aldni

skal a eld bera

fyr killisjukar

utar hverfa )?ess

sas hann me}?

konur
}>eirs

innar skyldu,

monnum

Svipdagr
17. (23)

kvaj?

'Seg me"r )?at, Fjolsvi)?r

auk ek vilja vita

mjotuj^r.'

es ek

)>ik

fregna

mun

hvat sa hani

es sitr

heitir,

allr vty goll gloi'r ?

Fjolsvi]?r kva}>
18. (24)

enum hava

vijn,

en hann stendr ve)>rglasi

'

Vi]?ofnir heitir,

Mima

a mei]?s kvistum

einum ekka

'

]?ryngr

hann orofsaman

Surt ok Sinmoru.'

Svipdagr kva)>
19. (13)

'Seg me"r
hvat

16.

G.,

|>ess

vilja vita

garmar
gorjmm fyr
)>eir

]?eirs

innar

es ek

Fjolsvi)>r!

]?at,

auk ek

skyli,

]>az

Mjotu|?r, Dt. and HI. suggest mj6tvij?r; see Vsp., 2.

snrtar, B.
3

and

4.

surtar,

These

mun

|>aer

innar
18.

skyli,

Dt.

and HI.

Snrt ok, G. S. Gv.

Sinmoru, G. B. Gv. S.J.; sinmantn, MSS.

19,
are corrupt, and the exact wording has not been determined.

MSS.

lines

fregna

es gifrir rata

heita,

S.

)>ik

lines

AND MENGLOD.

DAY-SPRING

169

Day-spring.
15.

Now

answer me, Much-wise,

this that I ask
and fain would learn from thy lips:
of that famous tree
what befalls the fruit
which nor fire nor weapons will wound ?
Much-wise.

16.

The

must be

laid on the fire

weal of travailing women
who had been within.
they shall then come out
fruit

thereof

for the

To mankind

'tis

the giver of

life.

Day-spring.
17.

Now

answer me, Much-wise,

this that I ask
and fain would learn from thy lips
in yon lofty tree,
what cock sits perched
:

who

is

glistening

with gold

all

Much- wise.
18.

Wood-snake he
in the

is

boughs

called,

who

of Mimir's

with one long dread

storm-bright

Tree

sits

he galls beyond measure

giant and giant-wife.

Day-spring.
19.

Now

this that I ask

answer me, Much-wise,
and fain would learn from thy lips
in front of the courts
what fierce hounds watch
?
and
around
roaming
ravening
:

16.
17.

Giver of

life,

Wood-snake, a

or,

according to another reading, the Fate-tree, as in Vsf>., st. 2.

This cock may be Golden Comb, u-ho
name for bird.

poetical

the gods at the coming of the giants (Vsp., st. 43), and is hence the dread of giant
and giant-wife, or, more probably Fjalar (Vs(>., st. 42), who sits "in the roosting tree,"
The names of Surt and Sininara, found in the text,
and sounds the first note of doom.

wakes

are used in a general sense.

FJOLSVINNSMAL.

I 7o

Fjolsvi]?r kvaj>
20. (14)

en Geri annarr,

'Gifr heitir annarr,

ef }>u vill J>at vita

er }>eir varj?a,
ver]>ir'u oflgir,
:

unz rjufask

regin.'

Svipdagr kva)>
21. (15)

'Seg mer ]>at, Fjolsvij>r

auk ek vilja vita:
hvart S6" manna nekkvat

es ek

)?ats

me)>an sdkndjarfir sofa

annarr of

vas varzla

2 3-

T 7)

vitu)?

lagit,

]?a vsctr, ef

Svipdagr kva)?
'

megi inn koma,

en annarr of daga,
kvam.'

na?tr sefr,

ok komsk

mun

'

vas )>eim mjok of

'Missvefni mikit
sij?ans )?eim

fregna

Fjolsvi]?r kva]>

22. (16)

J>ik

es ek yik fregna
Seg mer ]>at, Fjolsvi]?r
auk ek vilja vita
hvart s6 matar nekkvat
J>ats menn hafi,
ok hlaupi inn, mej?an eta ?
!

mun

'

Fj6lsvij?r kva)?
'

24. (18)

Vengbra)?ir tvser

liggja

ef )?u vill )>at vita

J>at

eitt's

ViJ?ofnis lij?um,

sva matar,

at ]?eim

ok hlaupi inn, me]>an

25.

Seg m6r |?at, Fjolsvi)?r

auk ek vilja vita

menn

of gefi,

eta.'

Svipdagr kvaj?
'

es ek

J>ik

fregna

mun

hvait s6 vapna nekkvat,

hniga a Heljar sjot
20.

S. G.,
var]?ir ellifu,

)?ats
'

MS8., D<. am< HI.

J. B.

knegi Vi]?ofnir fyrir

DAY-SPRING

AND MENGLOD.

171

Much-wise.
20.

One

called Greed,
the other Glutton,
haply thou wouldst hear
mighty warders
they are who watch
for aye till the Powers perish.
is

if

Day-spring.
21.

Now

answer me, Much-wise,

this that
and fain would learn from thy lips

ask

is

there never a being

may pass within
while the fierce hounds are held in sleep

Much-wise.
22.

Division of sleep
was ever their lot
since 'twas given them to guard
:

and the other by day,

and none who comes may win through.

sleeps one by night,

Day-spring.
23.

Now

answer me, Much-wise,

this that I ask
and fain would learn from thy lips
there no food
which man can find them
and dart through the doors while they feast
:

is

Much-wise.
24.

There

lie

two wings

in the

Wood-snake's

sides,

haply thou wouldst hear:

which if man can find,
this alone is that food
he shall dart through the doors while they feast.
if

Day-spring.
25.

Now
is

20.

who

this that I ask

answer me, Much-wise,
and fain would learn from thy lips:
there no weapon
to strike the Wood-snake
down to the halls of Hel ?

Mighty warders,
watch, nanifd perhaps

or,

if

in at.

another reading
.! I.

is

taken, eleven

warders there are

FJOLSVINNSMAL.

172

FjolsviJ>r

26.

'

Lsevateinn heitir,

es gor)>i

fyr nagrindr nej?an

i

Ssogjarns keri

niu.'

Svipdagr kva)>
'Seg m6r

)?at,

auk ek
ok

Fjolsvi]?r

vilja vita

komr

hvart aptr
vill

'Aptr

es ek

)>ik

fregna

mun

}>ik

fregna

mun

sas eptir ferr

'

J>ann tein taka

Fjolsvi^r kva)>
28.

Sinmoru,

liggr hja

ok halda njar)>lasar

27.

Loptr ruinn

mun koma

sas eptir ferr

ok vill |>ann tein taka,

ef }>at frerir,
sem fair eigu,
eiri aurglasis.'

Svipdagr kva}>
'

29.

Seg mer |?at, Fjolsvtyr

auk ek vilja vita

es ek

hvart s6 mseta. nekkvat,

ok

)>ats

ver]?r }>vi

Fjolsvtyr kvaty
'

30.

skaltu

Lj6san lea
|>anns liggr

Sinmoru

vapn

26.

Sa'gjarns, R.

M.;

at selja,
til

menn

en folva gygr fegin

hafi,
'

lu)>r

bera

Vtyofnis volum,
a)?r

h6n som

telisk

vigs at lea.'

saegjarns or segiarns,

MSS.

seig-jarn, B.

DAY-SPRING

AND MENGLOD.

173

Much-wise.
26.

Tis the Wounding

Wand

which Loki plucked

beneath the doors of the dead

Sinmara keeps

with nine fast locks,

it

shut in Sea-lover's chest.

Day-spring.
27.

Now

answer me, Much- wise,

this that I ask
and fain would learn from thy lips
comes he ever again,
who goes to seek,
and craves to win that wand ?
:

Much-wise.
28.

He

shall

who

come again

goes to seek

and craves to win that wand

he brings the treasure
which none doth own,
;

if

the gold-bright goddess to please.

Day-spring.
29.

Now

this that I ask

answer me, Much-wise,
and fain would learn from thy lips
which man can take
there no treasure
:

is

to rejoice that pale-hued giantess

Much-wise.
30.

26.

Snorri

28.
Ititr,

its quill

The Wounding Wand must

tcils

giantess

must thou bear

the bright sickled plume,
which was taken from Wood-snake's tail,
ere she will grant thee
and give to Sinmara
that weapon of war to use.
In

is

us that

it

grew

to

only mentioned in

be the mistletoe with which

st.

18,

where she

is

slain.

see

Gold-bright goddess. A poetical term for woman.

which mean* case or box
but whose significance
;

Baldr was

Sinmara: This
Bdr., st. 9.
coupled with Surt, as though his wife.

the west of Vallhtill

is

30.
Quill, a suggestion for
here doubtful.

FJOLSVINNSMAL.

174

Svipdagr

kvaj?

es ek J>ik fregna
'Seg me'r ]>at, Fjolsvi^rl
auk ek vilja vita
hvat s salr heitir
es slunginn es
visum vafrloga ?

31.

mun

'

Fjolsvi)?r kvaj>
'

32.

Hyrr hann

en hann lengi

heitir,

a brodds oddi bifask

munu

aujjranns

}>ess

fre"tt

eina

of aldr hafa

firar.'

Svipdagr kvaj?
'

33.

mun

Seg mer )?at, Fjolsvtyr

auk ek vilja vita

es ek

\>ik

fregna

mun

fregna

mun

hverr

es fyr gar)? sdk

)>at gor)?i,

innan asmaga

'

FjolsviJ^r kva|>

'Uni ok Iri,
Bari ok Ori,
Varr ok Vegdrasill,
Dori ok Uri, Dellingr, Atvar)>r,

34.

Li)?skjalfr, Loki.'

Svipdagr
'

35.

Seg m^r )?at, Fjols\ i)>r

auk ek vilja vita

kva}>

es ek

)?ik

hvat

)>at

es ek se bru|>i a

bjarg heitir,
'

)?ruma

Fjolsvtyr kva|?
'

36.

Lyfjaberg

heitir,

en

}>at

hefr lengi verit

sjukum ok sarum gaman

heil verj?r hver,

\>6t

hafi +

rs sott,

ef |>at klifr, kona.'

32.

varjter,

Hyrr, MSS., K. M. Dt. and HI. B; Lyr, Gv.

ok var)>ar, MSS. Li)?skjalfr, HI. M. B, C.

S. G.

34.

Atvar)>r. at

DAY-SPRING

AND MENGLOD.

175

Day-spring.

Now

answer me, Much-wise,

this that I ask
and fain would learn from thy lips:
what hall is yonder,
all girt around
enchanted
by
flickering flames ?

31.

Much-wise.
32.

Ember

'tis

called

and long must

it

as though on the spear's point set

far tidings only,

man

throughout

all

quiver
;

time,

hears of this wondrous hall.

Day-spring.
33.

Now

answer me, Much-wise,

this that I ask
and fain would learn from thy lips
what beings, born
of the gods have built
what I saw inside the court ?
:

Much-wise.
34.

Uni and Iri,

Bari and Ori,
Var and Vegdrasil,
Dori and Uri,
Delling, Atvard,
and
Loki were these.
Lidskjalf
Day-spring.

35.

Now

answer me, Much-wise,

this that I ask
and fain would learn from thy lips
what hill is that
on whose height I see
yon wondrous Woman resting ?
:

Much-wise.
36.

'Tis the Hill of

Healing

for the sick

each

woman

is

35.

those of

long hath

it

held,

who climbs

healed

even of year-long

the god.

and sorrowful, joy

its

height,

ills.

Dori, Ori, and Delling are dwarfs (see Vsfr., st. 15; Vm., st. 25); Loki,
The others are unknown ; their names do not seem to indicate their powers like
st.

38.

FJOLSVINNSMAL.

176

Svipdagr kva|>
37.

'Seg m6r

J>at,

auk ek
hvat

J>rer

es ek

Fj6lsvij>r!

meyjar

sitja sattar

38.

)>rij?ja

mun
kneum

'

onnur Hlifyrasa,

Hlif heitir ein,

Bjort ok

fregna

es fyr MenglaJ>ar

heita,

saman

Fjolsvij?r kvaj>
'

]?ik

vilja vita:

pjo]>vara,

ok

Bli]?r

Blij>,

Fri)>,

Eir ok Aurbo)>a.'

Svipdagr kva]?
'

39.

Seg mer j>at, Fjolsvi|?r

auk ek vilja vita

es ek

)?ik

fregna

mun

hvart ]>xr bjarga

ef

]>eims biota }>&r,

'

gorvask

|>arfar |>ess

Fjolsvtyr kva)?
'

40.

Bjarga svinnar

hvars

menn

biota |wer

a stallhelgum sta|?
komr at holj>a sunum,
ey sva hatt fora)?
hverjan or nau)>um nema.'
:

Svipdagr kva|>
41.

'Seg m6r )>at, Fjolsvi]?r!

auk ek vilja vita

es ek )nk fregna

mun

hvart se

manna

nekkvat,

svdsum armi sofa

]>ats

Fjolsvtyr kva)>
'

42.

manna,
svasum armi sofa,

Vsfetr's ]?at

nema Svipdagr
bntyr at

40.

Bjarga svinnar, B. Gv. G. F. /.

es knegi

hdnum

einn,

kvan of

knegi a Mengla|>ar

'

Mengla)>ar

vas en s61bjarta

gefin.'

sumur hvar, MSS.

DAY-SPRING

AND MENGLOD.

177

Day-spring.
37.

Now

answer me, Much-wise,

this that I ask
and fain would learn from thy lips
who are the maidens,
at Menglod's knees
:

all

gathered in peace together

Much-: wise.
38.

are spirits, Sheltering,

Guarding warriors in war,

They

Bright and Tender,

Shielding giants,

Blithe and Peaceful,

Gentle, Generous maids.

Day-spring.
39.

Now

answer me, Much-wise,

this that
and fain would learn from thy lips

ask

will

who make offering to them,

they shelter all
if need thereof arise ?
Much-wise.

40.

Those Wise Ones

where men make

shelter

in the sacred altar-stead

no

peril so

can

mighty

offering

man

befall

but they save him soon from need.

Day-spring.
41.

Now

this that I ask

answer me, Much-wise,
and fain would learn from thy lips
in the world may lie
there never being
in Menglod's soft arms sleeping ?
:

is

Much-wise.
42.

There

is

never being

in

the world

may

lie

in Menglod's soft arms sleeping

save Day-spring, to whom
of yore was given
that sun-bright maiden as bride.

FJOLSVINNSMAL.

i 78

Svipdagr kva)>
'

43.

Hritt a hur)>ir,

lattu

hli|>

h6r matt Svipdag sea

]>6

ef vilja

vita far,

rum

muni

Menglo}> mitt gaman.'

Fjolsvtyr kvaj?
'

Heyr)>u, Menglo)>
gakk gest sea

44.

h6r es ma]>r kominn,

hundar fagna,
bus hefr upp lokizk
at
Svipdagr sei.'
hykk
Menglo]? kva)>
'

45.

Horskir hrafnar

skulu

)?er

ham

galga

slita sjonir or,

at he"r se langt

ef )?at lygr,

mogr

til

Hva)>an jm

46.

at

minna

f6rt,

hvaj^an

\>u

for gorjrir,

hv^ )?ik h^tu hiu ?

sett ok nafni
skalk jartegn vita,
ef ek vas )>er at kvan of kve)>in.'
Svipdagr

47.

kominn

sala.

Ur)?ar

Solbjartr h^t

'Svipdagr heitik,
]>aj>an

kva)>

fa)?ir,

vrakumk vindar kalda vegu

kve)?r engi ma|?r,

se vty lost lagit.'

or|?i

]>6t

Menglo)>
'

48.

Vel

]>u

nu kominn

hefk minn vilja bejnt,

fylgja skal kvej>ju koss;

forkunnar syn
hverrs hefr

mun
vi}>

flestan gla|?a,

annan

^st.

MENGLOD.

DAY-SPRING AND

17$

Day-spring.
43.

make wide

Fling open the door,

Day-spring is here, behold

and find if
Yet hie thee first,

the gate,

Menglod longs

my

for

truth

in

love.

Much-wise to Menglod.
44.

a guest is here
Hearken, Menglod,
Come thou this stranger behold
the hall hath opened.
The hounds are joyous,
!

'Tis Day-spring, well

ween

Menglod.
45.

Now may
if

fierce

ravens

rend thine eyes out,

high on the gallows hanging,

that from
falsely thou sayest
conies Day-spring here to

To
46.

my

far

away

halls

Day-spring.

Whence hast thou come,

whence made thy way,
how do thy home-folk call thee?
ere I know that to thee
Show race and name
in truth

have been betrothed.

Day-spring.

47.

the child of Sun-bright,

Day-spring am I,
by winds on my chill way wafted
the doom of Weird
may no wight withstand
;

e'en

though meted amiss.

Menglod.

48.

Now

welcome

art

thou

My

will is

won

with greeting comes the kiss.

of heart's desire
Never sweeter is sight
than when one brings love to another.
47.

The doom

of Weird,

see Spell-songs, st. 4.

FJOLSVINNSMAL.
49.

Lengi satk

Lyfjabergi

a,

betyk pin doegr ok daga

nu ]?at varj?
es ek vaett hefi,
:

at aptr kvamt,

50.

til

es ek hef til
prar hafyar
en }>u til mins munar;

nu's

es vit slita

)>at satt,

evi

minna

)?ins

sala.

gamans,

skulum

ok aldr saman.'

Ly^abergi, B. Gv. C. G.
MS8.
kominn,
aptr
49.

mogr

S.

liufu bergi,

M8S.

At aptr kvamt

at )>u ert

DAY-SPRING AND
49.

Long have
till

sat

KfENGLOD.

on the Hill of Healing,

awaiting thee day by day ;

that I looked for
at length

thou art back, youth, here

50.

in

is

my

come,
halls.

oft for thy heart,

Yearnings had I
nn i thou didst long for my love
now all is made sure,
we twain shall share
:

together the days of time.

161

HARBARPSLJtiP.
Porr f6r 6r austrvegi ok kom at
sundi einu
6J>rum megum sundsins
var ferjukarlinn
Porr
mej> skipit.
;

kallajn

1.

'Hverr es sa sveinn sveina,

es stendr fyr sundit

Ferjukarlinn kva)>
2.

'

Hverr

H4rbar)>slj6j>.

es s& karl karla,

In R, No.

6, st. J9, lin

es kallar of vaginn

4, to

end in A.

'

handan

'

GREYBEARD AND THOR

As Thor was journeying from the
Eastern Land of the Jotuns he came
to a sound.
On the other side was a
ferryman with his boat.
Thor.
1.

What

swain of swains
art thou who thus
on yonder side of
the sound art standing ?

Greybeard.
2.

Tell

me

rather

what

carle of carles

thus calls across the wave.

Prose.

Presumably Odin

in disguise

see Introd.

HARBARpSLj6p.

184

P6rr kvaj>
3.

fcejnk ]>ik d morgin

'Fer)m mik of sundit
meis hefk a baki
ver]?ra matr enn betri.
At ek i hvity,
a)>r ek heiman for,
sildr ok hafra
sa\>r emk enn ]>ess.'

Ferjukarlinn kva]>
4.

'Arligum verkum hrosar

dopr eru

J>in

)>u

heimkynni,

ver)>inum;
dauj>

Porr kva|>
5.

es

'pat segir }m nu,

mest at

vita,

at

'peygi es sem }>u

berbeinn J>u stendr

veiztattu fyrirgorla:
at )?in

m6)ir

se.'

hverjum

min m6Jnr

hykk

]?ykkir
s6.'

dau]?

Ferjukarlinn kva)>
6.

bu go)? eigir:
ok hefr brautinga gorvi

)?rju

|>atki at )?u hafir broekr )>inar

'
!

Porr
7.

'Styr)?u hingat eikjunni

es
e)?a hverr d skipit

ek

]>u

mun

Ferjukarlinn kvaj?
8.

'

Hildolfr sa heitir,

rekkr enn ra]?svinni,

es

}>&r stoj>na

heldr vty landit

mik halda
es byr

kenna

'

ba)>,

Ra)7seyjarsundi
e]?a hrossa J>jofa,

ba)>at hann hlennimenn flytja

ok }>a.s ek gorva kunna.
g6)?a eina

Seg)>u

til

nafns )nns,

ef }>u vill of sundit fara.

GREYBEARD AND THOR.

185

Thor.
3.

Row me
Here on

my

in

peace

A meal

this morn I'll pay thee,

thou shalt never find thee.
back
there hangs a basket

over!

choicer fare

myself, ere

ate,

started,

and

herrings and goat's flesh,

4.

still

am

sated.

Greybeard.
thou dost boast thy meal

As a morning's work
but thou art not
filled

with care

dead

trow

is

all

forseeing :
at home are thy kindred,

thy mother.

Thor.
5.

art thou telling,

Worst of all tidings
that dead
when thou sayest me now

is

my

mother.

Greybeard.
6.

At least thou lookst not

a

lot of

three fair lands

like

one who owns

clad like a beggar,

bare-legged thou standest,
and not even breeks hast thou on.

Thor.
7.

Steer the bark hither

Who owns yon boat

will

show thee a haven.

which by the brink thou boldest

Greybeard.
8.

Battle-wolf bade

who dwells

me

wise-counselled hero,

Sound
nor rogues nor robbers
and ferry
but the worthy and those I know well.

to

keep

Now

in Counsel-Isle

it

shalt thou tell me

thy name
wouldst hither fare o'er the flood.

if

thou fain

Herrings and goat's flesh. For Thor as a fisherman, see Hym., st. 17-25. He
3.
usually ate his goats for supper, and restored them to life in the morning ; see Introd.
This rendering of bafra seems more probable than the more common alternative
Hym.
oats; for Thor's meal of goat's flesh was famous, and a burlesque like the present poem
8.
would be incomplete without some allusion to it.
Battle-wolf, meaning himself, the
patron of war.
2 B

HARBARPSLJOP.

186

P6rr kva)>
9.

munk

'Segja

ok

til

alls 6)>lis

til

Meila

nafns mins,
]>6t ek sekr seak,
ek em O|>ins sunr,

en

br6j?ir,

]?ru)>valdr go)>a

Hins

viljak

nu

Magna
vi)>

spyrja,

'Hrbarj>r ek

fa)?ir,

p6r knattu he"r doema.

hvat JMJ heitir.'

Ferjukarlinn
10.

"kva)>

11.

Hvat skaltu of nafn

hylja,

nema

kvaj>
12.

'En

}>6t

ek sakar eiga,

munk for)?a ]>6

nema ek feigr seV

'Harm

'

fyr slikum

fjorvi

mer

Ijotan

sakar eigir

]>u

sem

}>u

est

minu,

Porr kvaj>
13.

hylk of nafn sjaldan.'

heiti.

Porr kva)>
'

)?ikkir

]mi at va)>a,

vseta ogur minn ;

til
Jrin
skyldak launa kogursveini )>inum
kanginyrj?i,
ef ek komumk of sundit.'

ok

of vaginn

Harbar|?r kva)?
14.

'He"r

munk

fanntattu

ok

standa

mann enn

)rin

harj>ara

p6rr kva)?
15.

he]?an bi|?a;
at Hrungni dau]?a
:

es vit Hrungnir deildum,

'Hins vildu nu geta,
es 6r steini vas h6fu)?it
sa enn stontygi jotunn,
ok fyrir hniga.
I6tk hann falla
]>6

Hvat vanntu
12, lines

and

2.

'

)>a

me)?an, Harbar]?r

Transposed G. from

J?&

mun

ek forjja fjorvi minu

fyr,

<5-c.,

E.

GREYBEARD AND THOR.

187

Thor.
9.

Were
eke

my

my name

outlawed, yet
race.

am

would

tell

thee,

son of Odin,

and father of Magni,

thou speak'st with Thor.
gods' Strength-wielder
Fain would I know now
thy name and kinship.

the brother of Meili,

Greybeard.
10.

They

call

to hide

me Grey-beard

'tis

my own name from

seldom

care

any.

Thor.
11.

Wherefore shouldst thou

except thou have cause

show thy name,

strife with thy foemen

not
of

Greybeard.
12.

Have

my

life

cause, 'gainst such

unless I be doomed.

as thee will

hold

Thor.
13.

Sore shame 'twould be

wet my burden
in wading thus
thro' the water toward thee.
Those mocking words
would I pay thee, mannikin,
could I but reach
yon side of the sound now.
to

Greybeard.
14.

Here

stand and await thee

hero since Hrungnir was

Ne'er metst thou with sturdier

slain,

Thor.
15.

Dost tell how we once fought,

I and Hrungnir,
that hard-hearted giant
whose head was rock-hewn
Yet did he fall
and bow before me.

What, the
9.

Vm.
old

st.

man.

Meili.

Nothing

51.

10.

n.

while, wast thou

is

known concerning

Greybeard.

Cause of

working, Greybeard

strife,

this son of Odin.

Magni or Might, see
Odin's wonted disguise was that of a t^rey -bearded
see G. gloss.
Hrungnir. The slaying of this
14.

giant was one of Thor's famous deeds

see

Hym.,

st.

16.

HARBARPSLJOP.

188

Harbar]?r
16.

'

Vask me]? Fjolvari

fimm

vetr alia

es Algrcen heitir
eyju ]?eiri
ok val fella,
kn&ttum
vega
)>ar
mans
at kosta.'
margs at freista,

vr

p6rr kva]?
'

Hversu snunujm

17.

y]?r

konur

'

H&rbar]>r kva]>
18.

'

y]>rar

Sparkar attum ver konur,

horskar attum ve"r konur,
or sandi
sima undu
)?ser

ef oss at

spokum

ef oss hollar va>ri

ok or dali djupum
grund of grofu
einn
ollum
ofri at ra)?um,
Var]?k ]?eim
hvildak hja )?eim sy strum sjau
ok haf]?ak gej? )?eira allt ok gaman.

Hvat vanntu

'

me)?an, porr

)>a

P6rr kva)?
'

19.

Ek

enn )>ru|>m6j>ga jotun,

drap pjaza,
Alvalda sunar
ek
upp
varp augum
a )>ann enn hei)?a himin
;

J>au

eru merki mest

)>aus allir

menn

minna verka,

sij^an of se\

Hvat vanntu me)?an, Harbar)>r

Harbar]?r kva)?
20.

'

Miklar manv6lar
}>ds

ek v6lta

}>&r fra

ek hafya

verum

'

vi)?

myrkrij^ur,

hug)?ak Hl^barj? vesa

gaf hann mer gambantein,
en ek velta hann 6r viti.'

har]>an jotun

yrj^i
:

GREYBEARD AND THOR.

189

Greybeard.
16.

dwelt with Wary-wise

whole winters

five

in the island called All-green.

Battles

much

we fought

and

there

daring, and wiling

felled the

doomed,

women.

Thor.
17.

Got ye weal or woe

from those wives of your winning

Greybeard.
18.

had they borne them wisely

Merry wives had we owned
shrewd wives, had they shown them true

out of sand
they spun them ropes
and dug from the deep dales earth.
who with seven sisters slept,
Yet slyest was I,
and won all their liking and love.
What, the while, wast thou
working, Thunderer
all

'

Thor.
19.

Slew

Thiazi,

son of All-wielder,

and flung

strong-souled Jotun,

where men

shall

behold

his eyes

in the shining

up
heavens

the tokens great

of my deeds hereafter.
the
thou
wast
What,
while,
working, Greybeard

Greybeard.
20.

had dealings in love

with the dark witch-riders,
I
husbands
wiled
them away
from their
till his wand he. gave
stout giant seemed Hlebard
and I wiled him out of his wits.
I

16.

skamnta,

Wary-wise, unknown.
st. 3,

19.

Thiazi.

See

I.s., st.

50,

and Introd.

me

Vsp. en

HARBARPSLJOP.

igo

P6rr kvaj>
21.

'

Ilium huga launa)>ir

}>u ]?a

g6J>ar gjafar.'

Harbar)>r kva)?
'

es af annarri skefr

pat hefr eik

22..

of sik es hverr

P6rr kvaj>
'

Ek

vsetr

'

ok jotna bar)>ak
es til bjargs gengu

vas austr

bru)?ir bolvisar

mikil

'

mej>an, Hdrbar)>r

Harbar)7r kra)>
'

Vask a Vallandi

es ]>u

'Ojafnt skipta

mundir me)> asum

*p6rr d

hvarki

]>u \>a

p6rr vesa

]>u j?a )?or)?ir

hnjosa ne

fisa,

en etki hjarta
vas }>er

afl oerit,

af hrsbzlu ok hugbley|?i

[ok )>6ttiska

lij?i,

vilgi mikils vald.'

Hdrbar)?r kva)>
26.

fylg)>ak,

val falla,

porr kva)>

gfettir

ok vigum

6)>inn d jarla
)>as
en porr & Arabia kyn.'

ef }>u

en aldri ssettak.

attak j of rum,

25.

ef allir lif|?i,
mundi sett jotna,
und mi]?garj?i.
mundi manna

Hvat vanntu

24.

sliku.

Hvat vanntu me)>an, p6rr ?

23.

hanzka

;]

fyr hrE&zlu )>inni

svat Fjalarr heyr)?i.'

tro}>it

GREYBEARD AND THOR.

191

Thor.
21.

Then

spite for those

goodly

gifts

thou gavest

Greybeard.
22.

Let one oak take

what it scrapes off another,
and let each man seek his own.
What, the while, wast thou
working, Thunderer

Thor.
23.

Slew

the evil

far in the east,

wives of Jotuns,
as they fled to the mountains
in the land of the living,

were they all left

the host of giants,
huge would have been now
and never a man
would there be in Midgarth.
What, the while, wast thou
working, Greybeard

Greybeard.
24.

In the

Land

of the Slain

warred and stirred up

princes to strife without peace.

who fall on the

Odin has earls
Thor has the race of thralls.

battlefield,

Thor.
25.

Unfairly wouldst thou

among gods

if

divide the slain

too great were given thee

power

Greybeard.
26.

Strength enough has the Thunderer,

nought of daring
from fear and faintness of heart
in a glove-thumb once,
thou wert thrust, I ween,
deem
scarce
couldst
and
thyself Thor
for fright thou durst not
lest Fjalar should hear thee,
:

sneeze nor

26.

stir

a hair.

Fjalar, a giant, otherwise

known

as Utgard-loki

set Introd.

HARBARPSLJOP.

IQ2

porr kva)>
'

27.

ek munda
Harbar)>r eiin ragi
ek martta seilask of sund.'
!

j?ik

hel drepa,

ef

Hdrbar]?r kva)>
28.

'

Hvat skyldir
Hvat vanntu

j?u

of sund seilask,

'

Ek

vas austr

J?as

mik

j?a,

porr

ok ana

sottu

J^eir

30.

'Ek vas

varj>ak,
;

mik bor)?u,
mik fyrri

Hvat vanntu

me)>an, Harbar)?r

Harbar]?r kvaj?

ok

austr

vij?

einhverja doem)>ak,

ok laun)?ing

mankynni

'

un)?i.'

|?ar )?a.'

Harbar)?r kva)>
32.

ha]?ak,

gamni mser

porr kva)>
G6}> attuj? 6r

fegnir,

'

|?a

gladdak ena gollbjortu,

31.

J>6 litt

frij^ar at bij?ja.

16k ek vty ena linhvitu

'

Svarangs synir
gagni ur)m }>eir

]>eir

grj6ti }>eir

ur)m

es sakar'u alls ongvar

'

p6rr kvaj?
29.

Li]?s ]?ins veerak )?a )?urfi,

porr

et

ek helda

j?eiri

enni

linhvitu mey.'

porr kva]?
'

33.

Ek munda

}?er ]?a

\>a.t

veita,

ef

ek

vij>r

of kvremumk.'

GREYBEARD AND THOR.

193

Thor.
27.

Could
would smite thee

Greybeard, thou craven

o'er the

sound

but stretch

soon into Hel-home.

Greybeard.
28.

Why shouldst thou stretch

No

we

reason have

What, the

o'er the

sound and smite

me

for wrath.

while, wast thou

working, Thunderer

Thor.
29.

Eastward held

the flood of Ifing

of Svarang the Whelmer

against the sons
with stones they beset me
but small gain got they
and first were found
to ask peace of foemen.
;

What, the

while, wast thou

working, Greybeard

Greybeard.
30.

In the East
I

with one,

dallied

played with that linen-fair

my

chosen

lass,

and gladdened the gold-bright

kept secret trysting,
in
the
maiden, merry
game.
Thor.
31.

had ye there with maidens

Glad meetings of love

Greybeard.
32.

Need had

of help from Thor,

then

to have kept that linen-fair lass.

Thor.
33.

29.

river

is

Fain would

Ifing.

The name

give

is

it

thee

could

but get there.

not mentioned in the text, but

that which flowed between the realms of gods

it

and giants

may
;

see

be

assumed that

Vm.

the

16.

aC

HARBARPSLJOP.

194

Harbar)?r kva)>

Ek munda

'

34.

nema

)>6r |>a trua,

Porr kva)>

Emkat ek

'

35.

sem

sd hsolbitr

Hvat vanntu

36.

mik

trygj> veltir.

hu)>sk6r forn a var.'

'

me)>an, p6rr

p6rr
37.

j>u

Harbarj?r kvaj>
'

kva]>

barj>ak i Hl^seyju,
'Bruj?ir berserkja
verst
unnit
vilta }>']6}> alia.'
)?er hof)?u

Harbar)?r
'

Klseki

38.

vanntu

}?d,

]?6rr

es

)?u

konum

bar)>ir.'

porr
39.

'Vargynjur varu

en varla konur;

J>sfer,

es ek skor)>at hafyak
en eltu pjalfa.
larnlurki,

skeldu skip mitt

ceg\>u

m6r

Hvat vanntu me)>an, Harbar)?r

HdrbarJ^r kvaj?

Ek

'

40.

vask

hernum

gnsefa gunnfana,

'pess vildu nu geta, es

42.

Boeta skal

)>er )?at )>a

sem jafnendr unnu

'

es hingat gorjnsk
geir at rj6)>a.'

Porr kva|>
41.

J?u fort

oss 61jufan at

munda
]?eirs

okkr

bjojra..'

baugi,
vilja ssetta.'

GREYBEARD AND THOR.

195

Greybeard.
34.

Fain would I now

put trust in thy
wert thou not wont to betray me.

faith,

Thor.
35.

No

heelbiter

I,

like

an old shoe

in spring-time!

Greybeard.
36.

What,

working, Thunderer

the while, wast thou

Thor.
37.

Slew
vile

berserk-wives

in

the Isle of JEgir

men-folk wiling.

all

things wrought they,

Greybeard.
38.

base deed then

wast thou doing, Thunderer

waging war with women

Thor.
39.

and scarcely women.

on
the
shore they shattered,
up
My
with clubs they threatened me,
Thialfi chased they.
What, the while, wast thou
working, Greybeard ?
She- wolves were they,
ships laid

Greybeard.
40.

To

war flag
and redden the
came in the host.

raise the

hither

spear,

Thor.
41.

Wouldst

tell

how with

thou cam'st to harm us

hate

Greybeard.
42.

34.
Introd.

Let a ring make atonement

who sought to set us at peace.

Wont
37.

as the

daysmen meted,

to betray me.
This rendering seems justified by the ensuing
.<Bgir, here called by his other name H16r.

st. ;

see

HARBARPSLJOP.

196

P6rr kvaj>

Hvar namtu

'

43.

]?essi

en hncefiligu

or}?,

in hnoefiligri

'

es ek heyr]?a aldri

H&rbar|>r kva)>
'

44.

Nam
es

ek at

bua

monnum

enum aldrcenum

]>e'\m

heimis haugum.'

Porr kva)>
45.

'pa gefr

gott nafn dysjum,

}>u

es Jm kallar

heimis hauga.'

j?ser

Hdrbar|?r kva)?

Sva dcemi ek of

'

46.

slikt far.'

porr kva)>

mun

'

Or|?kringi

47.

ef ek
ulfi

rse]?

|?in

]?6r ilia

a vag at va]?a

hsera

koma,

hykk )?ik cepa munu,

hamri hogg.'

ef }>u hlytr af

Hdrbar)?r kva)>
'

48.

Sif d

hor heima,

)>ann

mundu

bans mundu fund

]?rek drygja,

p6rr kvaj?
49.

'Mselir }>u at

munns

hair enn hugblau^i

44.

Haugum

ra)>i,
!

J>at

vilja,

es }>r skyldara.'

svat me"r skyldi verst J?ykkja,

hykk at }>u ljugir.'

45, bauga, B. Gv. G. S. C. J.

Skogum, skogu, R.

GREYBEARD AND THOR.

197

Thor.
43.

Where

didst thou learn

those scornful speeches

more wounding

Never were words

said me.

Greybeard.
44.

learnt

who

them once

dwell

the hills

in

from ancient beings

of home.

Thor.
45.

Fair

name

for cairns

to call

them home-hills

Greybeard.
46.

'Tis even as

think

concerning such things.

Thor.
47.

in

Sorely thy skill

could I but wade

Louder,
if

I ween,
haply thou get'st

words should serve

thee,

to thee through the water.

than a wolf wilt thou howl

a stroke from

my hammer.

Greybeard.
48.

Sif has a lover,

thy wife at home,

thou not eager to meet him ?
That a deed of daring
now must thou do,
art

a work which well befits thee.

Thor.
49.

Speak'st thou
the
by
cojunsel of thy lips

Faint-heart

44.
st.

54.

Hills of

home,

the ancestral graves.

as worst meseems,
for

48.

trow thou

Sif s

lover, is

liest

Loki

see Ls.,

HARBARPSLJOP.

ig8

Harbar)>r kva|>
50.

seinn estu
hykk mik segja;
nu
kominn, J>6rr
langt mundir }>u

'Satt

P6rr kva}>
51.

'Harbar)>r enn ragi

heldr hefr

H6rbar)>r kva]>
52.

hugj>ak aldri

'Asa)>6rs

glepja

at for )>inni;
ef }>u litum fcerir.'

)>u nii

mik

dvatyan.'

mundu

farhir)>i farar.'

P6rr
'

53.

Ra)>

munk

]?er nii ra]?a

hsettum hoetingi,

Magna

kvaj?
*

54.

Far)>u

firr

sundi

}>6r

55.

Visa

)>6

m6r

'
!

skal fars synja.'

p6rr kvaj?
'

b&tinum

r6 )?u hingat

hittu fo]?ur

alls

nii lei]>ina,

)>ii

vill

mik

eigi of

vaginn
'

ferja

Harbar)?r kva)?
'

56.

Litit es at synja,

stund es
haltu sva

til

langt es at fara

onnur

stokksins,

til

steinsins,

unz ]>u hittir Verland.

vinstra vegsins,
hitta p6r sun sinn
Fjorgyn
til

par mun
ok mun hon kenna hanum attunga brautir

P6rr kvaj?
'

57.

Mun

ek taka |>angat

'

dag

til

6j>ins
landa.'

GREYBEARD AND THOR.

199

Greybeard.
50.

ween that

my words are spoken

Truly
too slow art thou in thy travelling.
Far on thy way
hadst thou fared now, Thor,
if thou hadst but gone in disguise.
I

Thor.
51.

Greybeard, thou craven

Too

long thou delay'st me.

Greybeard.
52.

had ne'er weened boatman

would hinder the way
Thunderer of gods.

of Thor, the

Thor.
53.

Now

will

counsel thee

come

in

thy boat hither

and cease we from mocking.

fetch Magni's father,

Greybeard.
54.

Hie thee hence

The

away from the sound

ferry to thee

is

refused.

Thor.
55.

Show me a path
ferry me over

since thou wilt not

then,
the flood betwixt us.

Greybeard.
56.

Tis

little to withhold,

'tis

far to fare

a while to the stock and the stone

thus shalt thou hold

till

thou light on

to the left-hand path,

the Land of Men ;

there will Earth meet her son

and show him the way

of his race to the realms of Odin.

Thor.
57.

56.
ft.

26.

Shall

to-day reach

Earth, or Jord, who

is

the dwellings of Odin

here called Fjbrgyn,

is

one of Odin's wives

see Ls.,

200

HARBARPSLJOP.
Harbar)>r kva)>
58.

'Taka
at

vi\>

vil

ok

uppvesandi

erfi)>i

solu, es ek get )>ana.'

POIT kva)?
'

59.

Skamt mun nu mal okkat,

launa

munk

)>r farsynjun,

alls ]?u

mer

ef vit

Harbarj?r
60.

58.

'

Far^u nu

)?dna,

]?ars J?ik hafi allan

E, B. Gv.J. C.

)?a-na,

G.

'

gramir

skcetingu einni svarar

i sinn annat.'

finnumsk

GREYBEARD AND THOR.

201

Greybeard.
58.

With weariness and

at sunrise,

when the dew

toil

is

wet

ween, thou wilt win them.

Thor.

59.

Short be our speech now,

When we

meet next

I'll

with but jeering thou answerest.

pay thee

for

denying

me

passage.

Greybeard.
60.

Hie thee hence

may
58.

When

seize thee,

the

dew

is

away where the

body and soul

fiends

wet, B's interpretation

about that time, G.

RfGSFULA.
Sva segja menn
Heimdallr

kom
)>etta

at

fornum sogum,

ok fram me)? sjovarstrondu nokkurri,

h6t, f6r fer)>ar sinnar

einum

hiisaboe

einhverr af asum, sa er

at

ok nefndiz Rigr.

Eptir

sogu er

)>eiri

AT

ganga
grcenar brautir
ok aldinn
as kunnigan,
ramman ok roskvan
Rig stiganda,

1.

kvo)?u

oflgan

Gekk meirr at ]>a.t

kvam harm at htisi,

2.

inn

nam

ganga,

hj6n sdtu )?ar

Ai ok Edda

Rigsjmla.

In

W.

2.

mij>rar brautar

hur)> vas d gaetti

eldr vas a golfi,

bar at ami.
aldinfalda.

At ami, R.

S.

H. G. Gv.

af ami,

W,

HI. J.

kvae)>i

THE SONG OF
It

is

told

in

RIG.

the sagas of old .time that a certain god called

Heimdal was passing on. his way along the sea shore when he came to
He entered, calling himself Rig according to the story which
a farm.
thus relates

I.

i.

2.

THE BIRTH

Once walked,

'tis

OF THRALL.
the green ways along,

said,

mighty and ancient,

a god most glorious

strong and vigorous,

striding, Rig.

Ever on he went
till

in the

he came to a house

middle of the way,

with door unclosed.

there was fire on the floor

He entered straight
and a hoary couple
sitting by the hearth,
and
mother
in ancient guise.
Great-grandfather
;

Heimdal.

Set Vsp. en

called his children.

skamma,

Rig or King.

st.

14

Grm.

Celtic

13

word.

and

.,

st.

1,

where nun art

RIGSPULA.

204

Rigr kunni J>eim

meirr settisk hann

3.

en a

hlij>

raj>

hvara

hjon salkynna.

okkvinn hleif,
pa tok Edda
ok
}>runginn sa}>um
J?ykkvan,
Jwngan

4.

bar meirr at
so]?

vas

(5)

meirr
en a

setti

bolla,

hlij?

li)m

meirr at

mi}?rar rekkju,

mdnu)?r niu.
josu vatni,

h^tu

kropnir knuar,

..

langir hselar.

Nam

meirr at

megins of kosta,

}?at

par

kvam

byrjrar gorva,

hris gorstan dag.

)>at

at garj>i

nefndisk pir.

Meirr settisk hon

ok pir
Followed by a
in brackets.

line in

gengilbeina,

armr solbrunninn,

mi)>ra fletja,

sunr huss,

roeddu ok ryndu,

lutr hryggr,

sat hja henni

vf

fulligt andlit,

orr vas a iljum,

ni)?rbjugt es nef,

marked

fingr digrir,

bar heim at

4, line 4.

prsfel.

ok vel dafna,
hrokkit skinn,
.

bast at binda,

8.

saman,

mi)?rar brautar,

]?at

)>at

Hann nam at vaxa

vas }>ar a hondum

7.

sofna;

at segja,

j?riar na3tr

horvi svartan

(7)

b']6\>.

hjon salkynna.

Edda,

J6)> 61

6.

raj?

hvara

par vas at J>at

gekk meirr at

re"zk at

hann

lag)>isk

mtyra skutla,

J>at

Reis upp )>a}>an,

Rigr kunni j?eim

5. (4)

is

at segja,

mif>ra fletja,

rekkju gor)>u

)>rungin doegr.

W,

transposed to

st,

15.

5.

Strophe numbering

THE SONG OF
how

Well knew Rig

he sat him down

3.

to give

RIG.

205

them counsel,

the middle of the floor,

in

with the home-folk twain

upon either

side.

a coarse-baked loaf,
Great-grandmother fetched
and crammed with husk:
all heavy and thick
in the middle of the dish,
she bore it forth
and laid the board.
with broth in a bowl,

4.

Thence Rig uprose,

5.

well he

he laid

prepared to rest

and the home-folk twain

Thus he

tarried

then on he strode
while thrice three
6.

how to give them counsel

knew
in the middle of the bed
him down
upon either

side.

three nights together,

in the middle of the road

moons

were gliding by.

a swarthy boy
Great-grandmother bore
called him Thrall.
with water they sprinkled him,
and well he throve,
Forthwith he grew
with wrinkled skin,
but rough were his hands
and
knuckles
with
fingers thick
knotty
his back was humpy,
his face was ugly,
his heels were long.
to prove his strength,
Straightway 'gan he
;

"

with bast a-binding

he bore home faggots

7.

There came

8.

She

loads a-making,
the livelong day.

to the dwellings
a wandering maid,
with wayworn feet,
and sunburned arms,
with down-bent nose,
the Bond-maid named.
sat her

down

beside her sat

in

the middle of the floor

the son of the house

their bed preparing

they chatted and whispered,
Thrall and Bond-maid
the long day through.

6.

were

Sprinkled him with water,

little

better than .slaves.

7.

see

Hdv.,

st.

Wandering.

cam*, not on foot, but driving to their husbands.

157.

Thrall, the lowest class,

The other brides

(st.

who

18 and 30)

RIGSpULA.

206
9.

(8)

bjuggu ok un)m
Hreimr ok Fjosnir,

Born alu |?au,

hykk at hti

Klurr ok Kleggi,

Kefsir, Fulnir,

Drottr ok Hosvir,

Drumbr, Digraldi,

Liitr, Leggjaldi
log)>u gar]?a,
unnu at svinum,
akra toddu,
:

10.

(9)

gr6fu

Dcetr varu )>&r

Okkvinkalfa

Drumba ok Kumba,
ok Arinnefja,

Ysja ok Ambatt,
eru

]?a)>an

12. (10)

Eikintjasna,

ok Tronubeina

Totrughypja

11. (10)

komnar

inn

nam

Afi

ok

ganga,

Amma

Hjon satu

]?ar,

telg]?i ]>ar

vas skegg skapat,

skyrtu )?r6ngva,

(n)

Sat

)>ar

kona,

breiddi fajjm,
(12)

sveigr vas a

dukr vas a
14.

n,

in

hofjri,

halsi,

r6ttar brautir;
hur]> vas

eldr vas a golfi

attu bus.

ski)?i

heldu a syslu:
mei]?

til

rifjar

skor vas fyr enni,

skokkr vas a golfi.

sveig]?i rokk,

bjo

til

va)?ar

smokkr vas a bringu,

dvergar a oxlum.

rd]? at segja,
Rigr kunni )>eim
meirr settisk hann
mtyra fletja,
en a hli^ hvara
hjon salkynna.

Transposed from st. 13 by S. B. G.

other parts of the poem, B. S. G.
from
supplied
line 4.

)>rsela settir.

Gekk Rigr at )>at

kvam hann at hollu,

ma)?r

13.

torf.

geita gsettu,

14, lines 2

and

3.

Not found

THE SONG OF
9.

them

called

207

and reared their children.

Joyous lived they

Thus they

RIG..

Brawler, Cowherd,

Lewd and

Boor and Horsefly,

Stout and Stumpy,
Lout and Leggy.

Lustful,

Sluggard, Swarthy,

They fashioned

fences,

swine they herded,

they dunged the meadows,
and turf they dug.
goats they tended
10.

Lggv and Cloggy,

Daughters were there,
and
Eagle-nose,
Lumpy-leggy,
Whiner, Bondwoman,
Oaken-peggy,
Tatter-coat
and the Crane-shanked maid.
Thence

are

come

II.

11.

the generations of thralls.

THE BIRTH OF CHURL.

Ever on went Rig

the straight roads along

he came to a dwelling

with door unclosed

he entered straight
there was fire on the floor
Grandfather and Grandmother
owned the house.
till

12.

The home-folk

sat there
hard aworking
on the floor a box
by them stood
hewed the husband
wood for a warp-beam
trim his beard
and the locks o'er his brow,
but mean and scanty
the shirt he wore.
;

13.

The

wife sat by him

swaying her arms

plying her distaff,

to weave the cloth,

with snood on her head

studs on her shoulders,

14.

and smock on her breast,

and scarf on her neck.

Well knew Rig

how to give them counsel
he sat him down
in the middle of the floor,
and the home-folk twain
upon either side.
;

pa t6k

15.

fram

Amma
h6n

setti

fulla skutla,

vas kalfr so)?inn

Reis fr& borj>i,

krasa baztr.
re"zk at sofna,

Rigr kunni ]>eim

meirr lag]?isk hann
en a

hvara

par vas at J>at

gekk meirr at

16.

\tyu

T 7-

hlij?

J 5)

meirr at

kollujju Karl

rau)>an ok

mtyrar rekkju,

J>riar nsctr

at

manu]?r niu.

)>at

josu vatni,

kona sveip

j?d

geitakyrtlu,

Snor

heitir

ar)>r at

gorva,
.

settisk

sti,

breiddu blsejur

Born

vel dafna,

hanginluklu,
giptu Karli

bjuggu hj6n,

19. (16)

ok

ok hlojmr smtya,
ok keyra plog.

timbra

Heim oku

ripti

rijmjm augu.

rj6]>an,

karta at gorva
18. (16)

saman,

mtyrar brautar,

)?at

Hann nam at vaxa

nam temja,

oxn
bus

at segja,

hj6n salkynna.

Amma,

Jo)7 ol

ra)>

und

ripti,

bauga deildu,
ok bii gor|?u.

Bui ok Boddi,

bjuggu ok un|?u
Hotyr, pegn ok Smij>r,
Bundinskeggi,
Brattskeggr ok Seggr.

Enn

6|?rum

olu ]>au,

h6t Hair ok Drengr,

Bretyr, Bondi,

20. (16)

h^tu sva

Sn6t, Bru)?r, Svanni,

Fljo)?,
J>a)?an

15, lines 3
;

and

4.

supplied B. S. G,

nofnum

Svarri, Sprakki,

Feima,
Sprund ok Vif,
eru komnar
karla settir.

Transposed from

st.

4,

B. S. G. J.

Ristill

16, line 2.

Not found

in

THE SONG OF

209

15.

Grandmother set forth

plenteous dishes
cooked was the calf,
of dainties best.
Thence Rig uprose
prepared to rest.
Well he knew
how to give them counsel
he laid him down
in the middle of the bed
and the home-folk twain
upon either side.

16.

Thus he

tarried

three nights together,

in the middle of the road

then on he strode
while thrice three

17.

moons

child had Grandmother,

Churl they called him,
and sprinkled with water
and swathed in linen,
with sparkling eyes.
rosy and ruddy,
He grew and throve,
and forthwith 'gan he
to build

to shape the harrow,

and barns to raise him,

him houses

to fashion carts

18.

and follow the plough.

Then home they drove

They wed her to Churl
the twain made ready,
kept house together,

in

her bridal

.linen

their wealth a-sharing,

and joyous lived.

thus they called them

Children reared they
Youth and Hero,
Thane, Smith, Yeoman,

Broad-limb, Peasant,

Farmer, Speaker
20.

with a key-hung maiden

named Daughter-in-Law.

in goat-skin kirtle,

19.

were gliding by.

to break in oxen,

Churl or

Sheaf-beard, Neighbour,

and Stubbly-beard.

other names

were the daughters called

Dame, Bride, Lady,
Gay, and Gaudy,
Bashful, Slender.
Maid, Wife, Woman,

By

Thence are come

17.

RIG.

the kindreds of churls.

karl, tht fret-born peasant proprietor.

RIGSPULA.

210

21. (17)

Gekk Rigr J>aJ>an

kvam hann at sal,

rettar brautir,

su)>r horf jm dyrr

vas hur)> hnigin,
hringr vas i gsetti,
golf vas strait.
gekk inn at )>at
sousk i augu,
Satu hj6n,

Fa]?ir

fingrum at leika.
ok snori streng,

ok M6)>ir,

Sat husgumi

orvar skepti

aim of bendi,
en huskona
strauk of

hug)>i at ormum,
sterti ermar,

ripti,

kinga a bringu,
serk blafaan,

keistr vas faldr,

styar slcejmr
briin bjartari,

brjost Ijosara,

hreinni mjollu.

hals hvitari

22. (18)

Rigr kunni )?eim

meirr settisk hann
mi|>ra fletja,
en a hli]? hvara
hj6n salkynna.

23. (19)

pa tok M6)?ir

raj? at segja,

merk)?an duk,

hvitan af horvi,

h6n tok

hul)?i bjo)?

hleifa

at |?at

setti

h6n

vin vas

fulla skutla
setti

silfri var]?a,

fa'in fleski,

konnu,

Rigr kunni )?eim

hann

bj6)?,

fogla steik]?a

varj^ir kalkar,

dagr vas d sinnum.

drukku ok dosmjm,
24. (21)

Jmnna,

ok hutyi duk.

hvita af hveiti,

Fram

ra)>

at segja,

at

reis
rekkju gor)?i
)>at,
meirr lag)>isk hann
mi)?rar rekkju,
en a hlij? hvara
hj6n salkynna.

21.

in

Keistr vas faldr, C. G. S.

supplied B. G. S.

keisti falld,

W.

24, lines 3

and

4.

Not found

THE SONG OF
III.

21.

RIG.

211

THE BIRTH OF EARL.

on went Rig
the straight roads along
he came to a hall
whose gates looked south.
Pushed was the door to,
a ring in the post set
he forthwith entered
the rush-strewn room.
Still

till

Each other

the home-folk sat there

eyeing,

Father and Mother,

twirling their fingers.

There was the husband,

string a-twining,
and shaping bows
shafting arrows
and there was the wife
o'er her fair arms wondering,
her
linen,
smoothing
stretching her sleeves.
A high-peaked coif
and a breast-brooch wore she,
and a blue-tinged sark.
trailing robes
was
her breast was fairer,
Her brow
brighter,
than driven snow.
her throat was whiter
:

22.

how to give them counsel

Well knew Rig
in the middle of the floor,
sat him down
and the home-folk twain
upon either side.
;

he

23.

Then

took Mother

white, of linen,

a figured cloth,

and covered the board

thereafter took she

a fine-baked

loaf,

a.nd covered the cloth

white, of wheat
next she brought forth
plenteous dishes,
and spread the board
set with silver,
:

and roasted birds.

with brown-fried bacon
and rich-wrought goblets
There was wine in a vessel
revelled
while
and
drank
day went by.
they
24*

how to give them counsel

Well knew Rig
and prepared his couch
he rose ere long
in the middle of the bed,
he laid him down
and the home-folk twain
upon either side.
;

21.

is usually rendered open in this passage, but

or shut, suggests a contrast to the humbler dwellings ;
"
"
The ring was for the visitor to tirl at, as in old ballads.

Pushed to:

Icelandic hnigin,

Vigfusson's, the door was

st. 2, 1 /.

down

RIGSPULA.

212
25. (22)

Jmar nsfetr saman,

par vas at ]>at
meirr
at
gekk
mtyrar brautar,
J?at
meirr
at
manu)>r niu.
Ityu
J>at

26. (23)

Svein 61 M6J>ir,
silki vafjn,
heita ;
I6tu
j6su vatni,
Jarl
bleikt vas bar,
bjartir vangar,

otul varu

Upp

27. (24)

6x

sem yrmlingi.

augu

Jarl a fletjum,

)>ar

lind

nam

aim

at beygja,

skelfa

leggja strengi,

fleini fleygja,

orvar skepta,
frokkur dyja,

hestum

hundum

rij?a,

28. (25-27)

Kvam

)>ar

6r runni

Rigr gangandi,

Rigr gangandi,
rUnar kendi ;

)>ann ba]? eignask

6]?alv6llu,

Skapt

nam

nam
nam

myrkvan

vi)>,

unz at hollu kvam.

skelfyi lind,

dyja

okhjorvibrd;
voll

vekja,

va

fella,

(29)

Re)> einn at

(30)

au]?

nam

byg]?ir.

}>a.]>a.n

hesti hleyp)>i

vig
val

6)?alv6llu,

aldnar

Rety meirr
h^lug fjoll,

at fremja.

sun kvezk eiga,

sitt-gaf heiti,

29. (28)

verpa,

sund

sver)?um breg^a,

til

nam

atjan

|>at

rj6)?a,

landa.

buum,

ollum veita

skipta,

mara svangrifja
metymar ok mosma,
hringum hreytti,
hjo sundr baug.

3'

(3 1 )

^^u serir
urgar brautir,
kvamu at hollu
J?ars Hersir
hann
atti
mey
mj6fingra)?a,
hvita ok horska

30.

Mey

6tti

he"tu

bjo

Ernu.

hann, B. Gv. G, S.J. C.; moetti hann,

W,

THE SONG OF
25.

Thus he

213

three nights together;

in the middle of the road

tarried

then on he strode

moons

while thrice three

26.

RIG.

Then

were gliding by.

a boy had Mother

she swathed him* in silk,
and with water sprinkled him
called him Earl.
were
his
and
fair
his
locks,
cheeks,
Light
;

like a serpent's shone.

flashing his eyes

27.

Grew

Earl forthwith

in

to

swing the shield,

to bend the bow,

to hurl the dart,

to ride the horse,

the halls and 'gan

the string,

fit

to shaft the arrow,

to shake the spear,
to loose the hounds,

draw the sword,

to

28.

to

and to swim the stream.

came Rig a-striding,

and taught him runes,
his own name gave him,
as son he claimed him,
and bade him hold
the ancestral fields,
the ancestral fields
and the ancient home.
Forth from the thicket

Rig

a-striding,

29.

Then on rode Earl

through the murky wood,

till he reached a hall.
his shield he brandished,
his steed he galloped,
his sword he drew
war he wakened,
the field he reddened,
the doomed he slew,
and won him lands
till alone he ruled
over eighteen halls.
Gold he scattered
and gave to all men
through the rimy fells
His shaft he shook,

30.

and slender-ribbed horses

and sundered rings.

Along dewy roads

his messengers drove

till

30.

and trinkets

wealth he strewed

treasures

the hall they reached

daughter owned

fair

and

Erna.

No

skilful,

satisfactory

he,

Erna

where Ruler dwelt.

dainty fingered,
called.

meaning has been suggested for

this

name.

RfGSpULA.

214

ok heim 6ku,
gekk und lini
saman bjuggu )>au
ok ser un\>u,
settir j6ku
ok aldrs nutu.

Btyu hennar

31. (32)

giptu Jarli,

Burr vas enn elzti,

en Barn annat,
ok
Arfi,
Aj?al,
Mogr,
J6J?
(namu leika)
Ntyr ok Nij>jungr
Sunr ok Sveinn
(sund ok tafl)
Kundr het einn,
Konr vas enn yngsti.

32. (33)

6xu

Upp

33- (34)

hesta tomjm

Jarli bornir,
hlifar bendu,

skeyti sk6fu,

skelfjm aska.

)>ar

En Konr

kunni runar,
ungr
ok aldrrunar
meirr kunni hann
monnum bjarga,
Eefinrunar

eggjaf deyfa,

Klok nam

eegi lefegja.

sefa of svefja,
afl

vi]>

brogjmm

Rig Jarl
beitti

)>a 6)?la)jisk

Rigr at heita,
"

35.

sorgir l&gja
atta manna.

ok eljun

Hann

34. (34)

Rei]?

'

kjorr ok skoga,
kyr]?i fogla

hvat skalt, Konr ungr

[hjorum of breg)?a]
35.

S.

H.

think five

half lines are

sat a kvisti ein

kraka,

Heldr msottty 6r

B. Gv. S. J.

runar deildi,
ok betr kunni
;

Konr ungr

kva]? ]?at

ok eiga gat
runar kunna.

kolfi fleyg)?i,
J?&

kyrra elda,

fogla,

kyrra fogla

hestum

ri]?a

ok her
missing.

fella.

Hjorum

of bregj?a supplied by

THE SONG OF
31.

RIG.

215

home
They wooed her and brought her
in veil fine- woven
wed her

a-driving

to Earl they

husband and wife

their children waxed
IV.
32.

33.

lived

happy together,
and life enjoyed.

THE BIRTH

OF KING.

Bairn the second,

Heir was the eldest,
Inheritor, Boy,
Babe, Successor,
Descendent, Offspring,
Son, Youth, Kinsman

Kon

the kingly

was youngest born.

the sons of Earl ;

Forthwith grew up
and sports and swimming,
learned,
games they
round
shields bending,
taming horses,
ash spears shaking
war shafts smoothing.
alone knew runes,
but King the youngest
runes eternal
and runes of life.
how to shelter men,
Yet more he knew,
;

and calm the sea

to blunt the sword-edge

he learnt bird language,

heal

all

sorrows

quench the
and soothe the heart ;

strength and might

Then he

to

fire

flame,

of eight he owned.

34.

with Rig, the Earl,

he used a/id won,
crafty wiles
held the right thus
so gained his heritage,
to
"be
called
and
runes
to know.
Rig

35.

Young King rode once

strove in runes

through thicket and wood,

arrows
and
shooting
slaying birds,
till spake a crow,
perched lone on a bough :
kill birds, young
'Why wilt thou thus
King ?

'Twould
to

Kon

fit

thee rather

draw the sword

and

to ride on horses,
to slay the foe.

is the masculine of kona, a woman.

It is a word only found in
poetry
men of gentle or royal birth.
The poet plays upon its resemblance to konungr,
a king, and suggests a false derivation from kon and ungr, the young in order to show
that Kon rose to the highest rank and became Rig, the king; st. 34.
33, line 2.
Transposed from 32. For the power of runes, see Hdv. st. 145-163 and Introd.

32.

applied to

216
36.

Danr ok Danpr

)?eir

kunnu

dyrar

an 6r hafty

ce)>ra 6}>a\

vel

egg at kenna,

hallir,

kj61 at rtya,

undir

rjufa.'

THE SONG OF
36.

'Dan and

Damp

have

homesteads fairer
and well they know
the sword to prove

36.
this

poem

Dan and Damp

is

RIG.

417

dwellings goodlier,
than ye do hold
;

the keel to ride,

and wounds to

strike.

appear as Danish kings in the historical sagas.

missing, which

tells

o/Kon's descendants, and probably of

The end of
and

his invasion

conquest of Denmark.

VOLUSPA
.

(28)

Varu

ellifu

EN

scsir tatyir,

Baldr es hn6
j?ess

vi)>

I6zk Vali

3. (29)

Vas Baldrs

Freyr

slo

handbana.

vas

vas SkaJ?i dottir.

st. 29 in F, is
generally regarded as an independent work ;
The strophe numbering of Hdl. in F is marked in brackets.

S.

Line 4

followed by alt's ]?at sett ]?in Ottar heimski

is

i.

dottir,

J?eira freendi,

B.Mh. G.

H.J.

Gymis

ok AurboJ>u

skautgjarn jotunn,
This poem, found after

Burs arf J>egi

fa]?ir

atti Ger)>i,

jotna aettar
J?a vas pjazi

bana)>ufu

ver]?r at hefna,

es sins br6]?ur
2. (29)

SKAMMA,

F.

THE VALA'S SHORTER SOOTHSAYING

the war gods numbered
on the bale fire down

Eleven only

1.

when Baldr sank

but Vali showed him

and slew ere long

it

his brother's slayer.

was Odin, Bur's

Father of Baldr

2.

strong to avenge

son.

she was Gymir's daughter,

Frey wedded Gerd
and Aurboda's
of Jotun race

3.

Thiazi also

came

of their kindred,

the shape-shifting giant,

Skadi's

sire.

^.
i.
Bdr, st. 4.
Vali, see Bdr., st. 11 ; Vm., st. 51.
to
the
and
the
the
Snorri,
race,
first-born
Buri,
according
son, e.g. of
god's
of
Gerd, see Skm. Aur3.
grandfather of Odin ; see Vsp. st. 4 and Introd. to Vm.

Vala or Witch,

see

Bur means

boda, or Moist ure-bringer

and Hrbl.

st.

19.

Thiazi took the form o an eagle

; see

Ls.

st.

50, Introd.,

VOLUSPA EN SKAMMA.

220
4. (30)

Mart segjum

vorumk
5. (31)

6. (31)

munum

ok

J>6r

at viti sva,

vilt

Hrimnis kindar.

Hetyr ok Hrossftofr

Eru volur

fleira

enn lengra

frd Vtyolfi,
frd Vilmetyi,
fra Svarthofya,
en setyberendr
fra
Ymi
komnir.
allir
jotnar
allar

vitkar allir

7. (32)

Mart segjum

vorumk
8. (38)

at viti sv&,

6l ulf Loki

]?at

9. (39)

vilt

enn lengra

skars

allra feiknast,

Byleists komit.

brendu
hugstein konu
af konu illri
Loptr kvijmgr
lindi

at hjarta

fann halfsvi|?inn
var]?

J?a)>an's

10. (34)

ii- (35)

& foldu

Mart segjum

vorumk

flag)?

ok

]>er

at viti sva,
i

rammaukinn mjok
niu baru )>ann,

12. (35)

For

munum

fleira

enn lengra

ardaga
ragna kindar;

naddgofgan mann,
vi|>

jar|?ar )>r6rn.

hann Greip of bar,

Hann Gjolp of bar,
ok Eyrgjafa,
bar hann Eistla
ok Angeyja,
hann bar Ulfrun
ImTpr ok Atla

5.

hvert komit.

vilt

Var)? einn borinn

jotna meyjar

vty Svajnlfera;

vas brojmr frd

Loki

fleira

Angrbojm,

v\}>

en Sleipni gat
eitt }>6tt\

munum

ok

)>6r

the transposed lines, see

ok larnsaxa.

Hdl. 28-

6.

Also found in

Wr.

THE
4.

SHORTER SOOTHSAYING.

VALA'S

Much have

told thee,

needs must one know

5.

Witch and Horse-thief

6.

All the

8.

more

remember;

wilt thou yet further

are sprung from Rime-bringer,

sprung from Forest-wolf,

sprung from Wish-giver,
all the sorcerers
sprung from Swart-head
come from Ymir.
and all the Jotuns

all

7.

yet
thus,

it

221

Valas

the wizards

Much have

told thee,

yet

more

remember;

needs must one know

it

Woe-bringer bore

the wolf to Loki,

thou yet further

wilt

thus,

begat he Sleiphir.
the deadliest of
But one was deemed

with Swadilfari

9.

When

the heart of a

woman

he ate half-burned

Much have

in

One was
girt

12.

yet

it

there born

more

thus,
in

days of

remember

wilt thou yet further

old,

of the kindred of gods.

bore that being

with great power,

Nine giant maidens

armed with glory

of love

the world are sprung.

told thee,

needs must one know

n.

home

with linden wood,

a loathly being

and bore ere long

whence witches all
10.

all

from Loki born.

the monster brood

on the rim of earth.

Yelper bore him,

Foamer bore him,

Griper bore him,

Sand-strewer bore him,
She-wolf bore him,
Sorrow-whelmer,
Dusk and Fury
and Ironsword.
Vm.

21.
8.
Ymir,
Woe-bringer, or Angrbo]?a, a giantess, who
mother of Fenrir, the World Serpent and Hel (Sn. E.). Sleipnir, see Bdr., st. 2.
This strophe is perhaps explained by I'sp. st. 21, when the gods burn Golden-draught,
g.
the witch who is ever born anew.
No name is mentioned in the text, but these
11-14.
6.

see

was

st.

the

strophes clearlv refer to

Heimdal

01

Rig

see Introd.,

Vsp.

st.

7,

and Rb.

VOLUSPA EN SKAMMA.

222
13. (36)

Sa vas aukinn
svalkoldum

14. (41)

megni,
ok sonardreyra.

jarj>ar

sse

ollum meiri,
Var)? einn borinn
sa vas aukinn
jarj>ar megni ;
|>ann kve)>a

stilli

sif sifja)>an,

15- (37)

Mart segjum

vorumk
16. (40)

)?6r

at viti sva,

}?a's

ra]?i,

sea nu

an 6)>inn

vi)>

fleira;

enn lengra

himin

sjalfan,

|?6 ]?orik eigi

After 16 in

vilt

en lopt bilar
yfir,
ok snarir vindar,
koma snjovar
at regin of |?rj6ti.

pa komr annarr
fai'r

munum

lond

J?a)>an

14.

ok

Haf gengr hrijmm

Ityr

17. (44)

storu^gastan,

sjotum gorvollum.

mun

enn matkari,

]?ann at nefna
fram of lengra,
ulfi

moSta.

placed after 13 by Gv. S. G.,

who

connect

it

with 11.

THE VALA'S SHORTER SOOTHSAYING.

13.

He was

girt

with

the power of Earth,

and of sacred swine-blood.

all

of the ice-cold sea,

14.

He was

the

One born

girt with

all

Men

him

call

greater than any

the power of Earth.
ever
the richest ruler,

Rig, the kinsman

15.

16.

Much have

told thee,

yet

more

remember,

it

thus,

The

in

storms to heaven

in

sea shall rise

shall

at the

sweep

Doom

wilt thou yet further

and the skies

and biting blasts

o'er the land

showers of snow

of every race.

needs must one know

it

17.

of the Powers,

shall yield

the gods of war.

another mightier
There shall come hereafter
now make known
whose name I dare not
few there are
who may see beyond
to fight with the Wolf.
when Odin fares
:

17.

Another mightier probably

223

anticipates the

coming of Christianity.

HYNDLULJdP.
Freyja kva)>
1.

'Vaki, mser meyja

Hyndla

es

systir,

nu's rokkr rokkra

til

2.

Valhallar,

Btyjum Herfo|>r
hann geldr ok gefr

vaki,

min vina

belli

byr

rtya vit

til

skulum

ves heilags.
i

hugum
goll

sitja

gaf Herm6}n

hjalm ok brynju,
sver)> at |>iggja.

W.

Freyja kva)?,

verjmngu

en Sigmundi
Hyndluljo]?. In F. and
assigned in the MSS.

etc., is

supplied.

The speeches are not

THE LAY

HYNDLA.

OF
Freyja.

1.

Wake, maid

of maidens,

friend,

awaken,

a rock-hole biding
Comes the gloom of gloaming,
we twain together
must ride to Valholl,
the holy dwelling.
sister

2.

2.

hero.

Hyndla,

in

The War-father bid we

who grants and gives
he gave to Hermod
and to Sigmund gave

Hrrmod

to his followers gold

a helm and byrnie
a sword to take.

belongs to some lost tradition.

In the Prose

poem of Beowolf

be mild in his mood,

he

Edda
is

he

is

the son of

Odin

He

appears

(see Introd.

now

as a

Bdr.)

god and now as a

in the old

English

a Danish King, mighty and

beneficent in his youth, but a blooda

HYNDLULJOP.

226

Gefr

3.

sigr

mrclsku

en sumum aura,
ok mannvit firum
en brag skoldum,

sonum,

morgum

gefr

brognum
mannsemi
morgum

por

mun

byri gefr

4.

at

5.

hanum

otitt

Nu

tak ulf jnnn

lat

hann rinna

'

lati

vij>

jotuns

kvaj?

msetan

Fla

es freistar min,

Freyja

est,

go]?veg

valsinni,

Innsteins bur.'

Freyja kvaj?

Dulin

Hyndla
minn

est,

gloar
as

draums

es kve)>r ver
)>ars goltr

tro)?a,

hloe)>a.'

a oss )>anig,

augum

Ottar unga,

8.

stalli,

mej> runa minum.

es hefr ver j>inn

7.

bru)>ir.

seinn es goltr )>inn

vilkak mar minn

visar

'

bi)>ja,

einn af

Hyndla

6.

munk

]>ess

einart

y\k

vi)>

}>6's

biota,

rekki.

setlak ]>ir,

valsinni,

gollinbursti,

Hildisvini,

mer hagir gorjm

dvergar tveir

Damn

Sennum
auk of

gumna

vit 6r

jofra
]?eira

sodium
sfettir

ok Nabbi.

dcema

sitja

skulum

es fra goj^um

kvamu

These lines are assigned

Sv. S.J.; mun hon, F.
5, lines i and 2.
Lines
to
G.
Sitfirock.
H.
HI.
B.
Gv.
;
Hyndla,
3 and 4.
Spoken by
Freyja by
Hyndla, B. Gv. Dt. HI. ; by Freyja, G. S. /., who have minn for Jrinn.
4.

to

Mun,

THE LAY OF HYNDLA.

To some

3.

grants he wealth,

word-skill to
fair

winds to sea-farers,

To Thor

will

Now

and

let

many

a warrior.

this will

ask him,

take one from the

of thy wolves

and swift

men

ever toward thee,

of the wives of Jotuns.

truly
e'en though foe

5.

to

offer

him

to bear

to

song-craft to skalds,

and might of manhood

4.

to his children war-fame,

and wisdom

many

227

him run

by the side of

stall

my

boar.

Hyndla.

Nay

loth

nor will

is

thy swine,

burden

my

False art thou, Freyja

thine eyes betray thee

6.

to

to tread the gods' way,

noble beast.

thou fain wouldst tempt

thou turnest ever

where on the Dead's way

Ottar the youthful,

thy lover

is

me

with thee,

Instein's son.

Freyja.

Dull art thou, Hyndla

I trow thou art dreaming,
when thou deemst my lover
is here on the Dead's road,
where Golden-bristle,
the boar, is glowing,
!

7.

which once they made me,

the swine of battle

Dain and Nabbi,

Let us now strive
and hold converse

8.

heroes

all

who

when old, who is

At a wedding feast Odin

thirsty tyrant

25).

Sigmund,

6.

sitting,

the long long lines of kings,

are come from the gods.

draw

it.

3.

Song-craft to skalds,

see

to

Hdv.,

st.

to Valhull.
7.

The

which was forged by the dwarfs ; see

Dam, the Dead one, is
Snorri, rode on a cat.

the boar called Golden-bristle,

Grm.
Freyja, according
mentioned in Vsp.

Introd.

our saddles

deserted by his subjects.

Sigmund, father of Sigurd (st.
entered and thrust his sword into a tree from which only

the gods' favourite, could

Ottar
boar Frey owned
:

in

o'er

The Dead's way A road by which the dead warriors went

The story of Freyja's human lover Ottar or Odd is told by Snorri.

105, 139.

the crafty dwarfs.

HYNDLULJOP.

228
9.

(8)

Vala malmi,
peir hafa veftat
ok Angantyr
Ottarr ungi
svat skati enn ungi
skylt's at veita,
:

ept fraendr sina.

fojmrleify hafi

Horg

10.

nu es grj6t
(10)

11.

)>at

Nu

lat

nauta

nyju
tru)n Ottarr

rauj?

of hlaVinn steinum
at gleri or)?it

me"r gor)>i

forna

ni]?ja tal|?a
sottir

hvat's Skjoldunga,
hvat's hotyborit,

Mojmr
hykk

Alfi

menjum

attir

at heti

rau)?a.

gofga,

Hledis gy]?ja
en t Friaut mojnr
;

fa)?ir,

oil ]?6tti fctt

gamla,

Svan enum

Fro)>i vas

14. (17)

kva)?

Ulfr Sahara,

Alfr vas Ulfi,

13.

'

borinn Innsteini,

Ottarr!

en Innsteinn vas

en Ssefari

und mtygarjn

val

Hyndla

'pii est,

manna

hvat's Skilfinga,
hvat's Ynglinga,
hvat's hersborit,

hvat's O\>linga,

12.

a asynjur.

ok upp bornar

mest manna

blo)>i

su

me}> yfirmonnum.

hennar moj^ir,
Vas Hildigunn
ok Scckonungs
Svavu barn
;

allt's |?at

e6jtt

)?in,

var)>ar at viti sva,

vilt

enn lengra

Hvat's Ojrtinga, B. Gv. H. C. S. C., missing in F

ynglinga/or ylfinga, F
20.
13.
14, etc.
M6]?ur attir, Sv. S. G. ; atti fajjir J?inn, F, HI. /.

ii.

see st.

Ottarr heimski

The rearrangement of strophes has been made for the sake of clearness in the translation
show the probable connection of names in Ottar's line. The numbers in brackets, F.

to

THE LAY OF HYNDLA.

g.

and Angantyr

Ottar the youthful,

on this have wagered
needs must

their wealth of gold

He

built

help

me an

after his fathers.

with stone o'erlaid

altar

like glass all riven

he reddened

for

it

is

Come now

that rock with

kinsman be numbered,

ancient

let

the long lines of

be told

Ottar was true.

men
of
who
who is of Skjoldungs,
Skilfings,
who of Ynglings,
who is of Athlings,
who is gentleborn,
who is freeborn,
the men under Midgarth
choicest of all
and

let

fire,

with the fresh blood of oxen

oft

aye to the goddesses

11.

the youthful hero

to hold the heritage

10.

229

Hyndla.
(6ttar's race.)
12.

Thou

born of Instein
from Alf the Old,
Wolf from Seafarer,
Alf was from Wolf,
from Swan the Red.
and Seafarer sprang
art Ottar,

Instein

13.

came

Thou hadst

a mother

shining in jewels,
she
was
Hledis,
ween,
named, the priestess;
and Friaut her mother.
her father was Frodi,
I

All of this race

14.

Hildigunn was
child

was she

All this race

is

among

the mother of Friaut;

of Svafa

thine

9.

Gold

is

it

here called foreign metal.

n.

Skjoldings,

and Sea-king.

Ottar the Simple

wilt thou yet further
thus,
!

Needs must one know

meant foreign.

lords are reckoned.

etc., see

;
English Welsh originally
Intrud. fur these traditional race names.

Icelandic Valsk

HYNDLULJOP.

230
15. (19)

Ketill vas vinr J>eirar,

Klypps

vas mo|>urfa]7ir
vas Fr6J>i
J?ar

)>innar

enn

eldri vas

Nanna

16.

vas

m6jmr
fyrr

vas nsbst

Nokkva

]?ar

mogr hennar

magr

ok Asolfr
ok Skurhildar
telja

Ali vas a)?r

Halfdanr
frseg

fyrri

skatna margra
6ttarr heimski
:

oflgastr manna,
hsestr Skjoldunga

Efldisk

vi}>

]>aus framir gorj^u,

voru folkvig

hvarfla ]>6ttu bans verk

19. (15)

6lmo)?s synir
Skekkils dottur,

allt's )>at eett Jrin,

18. (14)

Isolfr

til

dottir,

}nns fojmr

fram telk lengra

Ottarr heimski

allt's )?at sett )?in,

skalt

an Kari,

Alfr of getinn.

fyrnd es su mjg)>,

17.

artyegi,
;

me)? himins skautum.

oeztan

Eymund,

manna,

en Sigtrygg slo
mej? svolum eggjum
cezta kvenna,
atti Almveigu,
61u ok dttu
atjan sunu.
20. (16)

pa]?an Skjoldungar,

]?a)?an Skilfingar,
}>aj>an

|>a)?an hol)?borit,

)?aj?an hersborit,

mest manna val

und

Dagr

atti

olusk

poru

ett )?ar

var]?ar at viti sva,

1 5<

3,

_p e rar)
i

5.

G.;

J>eirra,

F.

mi)>gar)M

Ottarr heimski

drengja m6)mr,
ceztir

Fra|?marr ok Gyr]?r
Amr ok Josurmarr,

F.

Ynglingar,

]?a]?an 0}>lingar,

allt's j^at sett Yin,

21. (18)

kappar
ok Frekar bd)?ir,
Alfr enn gamli
vilt enn lengra ?

16, line 3.

Followed by a repetition of 24,

line

THE LAY OF HYNDLA.

15.

was spouse of Hildigun

Klyp's son Ketil

he was the father

Older than Karl
but Alf was of
16.

of thy mother's mother.

yet was Prodi,

the eldest born.

all

Next came Nanna,

the daughter of Nokkvir;
her son was thy father's
brother by wedlock.
Old is that kindship,
still on will I tell thee,
for all this race

17.

231

is

Ottar the Simple.

thine,

Isolf and Osolf

were sons of Olmod,
and born of Skurhild,
daughter of Skekkil.

Thou

shalt reckon

All this race

is

back

to

many

a chieftain.

Ottar the Simple

thine

(Halfdan's Race.)
18.

Far back was Ali,

mightiest of men
Halfdan before him
highest of Skjoldungs,
whirled were his deeds
round the skirts of heaven,
:

great wars of nations

19.

He

joined him to Eymund,

highest of heroes
with the icy sword-edge,
Sigtrygg slew

wedded Almveig,
so he begat him
20.

loftiest of ladies

sons eighteen.

Thence are the Skjoldungs,

thence the Skilfings,

thence are the Athlings,
thence the Ynglings,
thence are freeborn,
thence are gentleborn,
all

the choicest

All this race

21.

the chieftains waged.

is

of
thine,

Dag's wife was Thora,

reared in that race

men under Midgarth.

Ottar the Simple

mother of warriors
were the mightiest heroes,
and both the Wolf-cubs,

Fradmar and Gyrd,

and Alf the Old.
Josurmar, Am,
Needs must one know it thus,
wilt thou

yet further

18.
Halfdan, a mythical King of Denmark.
19.
Eymund, King of Novgorod
and father of Almveig (Skaldskmj.
21.
Dag, son of Halfdan, father of Arngrim
(st.

22).

HYNDLULJOP.

232

22. (23)

\)eir i

Boltn austr

bornir varu

ok Eyfuru
bols margskonar,

Arngrims synir
brokun berserkja,
of lond ok of log

sem

logi foeri

23. (25)

Hrani, Angantyr,
Barri ok Reifnir,

Hervar]>r, Hjorvarfyr,

Bui ok Brami,
Tindr ok Tyrfingr,

tveir

Haddingjar
Ottarr heimski

allt's )>at sett jnn,

24. (22)

Gunnarr

Grimr

balkr,

varu

25. (27)

(24)

Hrolfs ens gamla.

hirj>

peir varu gumnar

gojmm signa^ir,
allir bornir
Jormunreki,
Sigur)?ar magi,

hlyj?

folkum grims
26. (25)

Sa vas

visir

ok Hjordis
en Eylimi

fra

fra

Hraujmngi,

Got]>ormr

vas bro)>ir

allt's ]?at sett Jnn,

Ottarr heimski

Gunnarr ok Hogni
et sama Guj?run,

}>6

Volsungi

fra O}?lingum

ok

eigi vas

sogu minni

es Faini va.

allt's J>at ectt Yin,

27. (26)

Brodd ok Horvi,

baj>a

)>eir

harj^skafi,

Ulfr ginandi

jarnskjoldr porir,

kunnak

Gjuka

arfar

systir ]>eira

Gjuka

settar,

beggja )?eira
Ottarr heimski
:

B. G. S. /.'s emendation to agree with Orvar Odd's S., ani 6mi varu
Line ^.Followed by allt's, etc., F, om. G S.J.
23, line i.
Supplied
B. suggests
24.
from Orvar Odds S., C. 14, and Hervarar S., B. Gv. H. C. G. S.J.
this transposition, because Grim and Thorir are mentioned at Hrolfs Court in Forn. S.,
III., 57, G. H. S. /.
25, lines i and 2.
Transposed by B. G. H. S. J.
22, line

bornir, F.

i.

THE LAY OF HYNDLA.

233

(The Berserks.)
22.

in the eastern land

Born in Bolm
and Eyfora's;
were Arngrim's sons
the berserks worked,
woes unnumbered
o'er land and sea.
like the faring of fire

23.

Hrani, Angantyr,
Hervard, Hjorvard,
Bui and Brami,
Barri and Reifnir,

and Haddungs twain.

Ottar the Simple

Tind and Tyrfing,

All this race

24.

is

thine,

Brod and Horvi,

Grim Strongminded,
Wolf the Gaper
once I knew them,

both

of Hrolf the Old.

Gunnar

Battle-wall,

Thorir Iron-shield,
in

the train

(The Volsung
25.

Given to the gods

all

race.)

were the warrior sons,

the children

of Jormunrek,
list to

the kinsman of Sigurd

who

Fear of Nations,
26.

is

thine,

Ottar the Simple

were sons of Gjuki

was eke his offspring

but not of their kin

was Guthorm Battle-snake,

he was held the brother.

All this race

22-23.

Gunnar and Hogni

Gudrun their sister,
though of the twain

Orvar Odds

saga

That ruler was born

of the race of Volsungs,
and Hjordis came,
his mother, of Hraudungs,
and Eylimi,
her sire, of Athlings.
All this race

27.

my

Fafnir slew.

is

thine,

The story of Angantyr and

Ottar the Simple

the famous berserks is told in

Hervarar S. and

King of Gauta-land, and hero

25.
Jbrmunrek, the heruicised Ermanric, King of the Goths in the fourth
of Hdlfs S.
century.
Sigurd, the hero of the Vulsunga S., and later Niebelungen lied.
Gjuki,
27.
S.

of Niflung race, a

.24.

Hrolf, probably Half, a famous

King of

the desire of Hrynliild.

the

Burgundians.

Guthorm,

his stef>son, slew

Sigurd

2H

at

HYNDLULJOP.

234
28.

(31)

Haki vas Hvejmu

hoti baztr sona,

en Hvejmu Vas

29. (27)

HjorvarJ?r

borinn Hrcereki

Haraldr hilditonn

sunr vas hann AuJ>ar,

slongvanbauga,

Ivars d6ttir,

AuJ?r djupujjga

Randv^s

en RaJ?barJ>r vas

Freyja kvaf>

minum

'Berminnisol
svat 611

muni
a

J>ri|>ja

'

Snu]?u braut he]?an

far fdtt af me'r
hleypr, e|?lvina

Rannat

at O)>i

skutusk

}>&r fleiri

hleypr, e]?lvina

sem

me)>

gelti,

morni,

kva|>

fri|?ra

und
uti

hofrum

28.

Transposed by

E.G.

komsk

S.J.

nattum,
fari.

ey |>reyjandi

'Ekslseeldi
svat eigi

kosta

Hei]?run

fyrirskyrtu

a nattum,

Hei)?run

Freyja kva]>
33.

sofa lystir mik,

uti a

sem me]> hofrum

32.

'
!

attir rekja.'

Angantyr

Hyndla
31.

or)? at tina,

)?essa roe)>u,
]?as )?eir

fa)?ir

Ottarr heimski

allt's )?at sett |>in,

30.

faj?ir

fari.'

of iviftu,

obrend he)>an.

THE LAY OF HYNDLA.

28.

Best was Haki

the father of

235

of Hvedna's children

Hvedna

was Hjorvard.

(Race of Harald War-tooth.)

29.

Born from Aud

was Harald War-tooth,

son of Hrderik,

Slinger of Rings.

Aud Deep-thoughted
and Randver the son

was Ivar's daughter,

of Radbard born.

All this race

Ottar the Simple

is

thine,

Freyja.
30.

To my

boar

so shall he

now bear

the ale of memory,

forth

tell

all this tale

when the third morn comes,

he shall trace back the mighty

and with Angantyr

men

of their race.

Hyndla.
31.

Hie away hence!

and few fair words

Thou gaddest
like

32.

for

fain

good

forth,

a she-goat straying

thou

Yearning ever

many
Thou gaddest

would

sleep,

bold

h.ist

among

followed
in

bucks.

Odd;

thine arms.

friend, at nights

good

forth,

a she-goat straying

from me.

friend, at nights

has slept

a sweetheart

like

shalt thou win

bold

amonx

bucks.

Freyja.
33.

will strike tire

so that unburnt

29.

Harald War-tooth, a King of Denmark.

husband of Aud.

The saga of

Graminaticus.

31.

25)

is

about thee, giantess,

thou hie not hence.

Hruirik, a

King of Sweden,
Sogubrut and by Saxo
The name of the mythical goat Heidnui (Grm., st.

these mythical personages is told in

she-goat

here used in a general sense.

HYNDLULJOp.

236

Hyndla

kva|>
uti

'Hleypr, e]>lvina!

sem me]? hofrum

'

34.

Hyr

her Ottari

fjorlausn j?ola

bjor at

Hleypr, e)?lvina
me]?

illu heilli

Hei]?run

'Or]?heill )?in skal

|?6t,

bru}>r jotuns

hann

skal drekka

bi]?k 6ttari

a nattum

uti

hofrum

hendi

Freyja kvaj>
35.

fari.'

en hau)?r loga,

eitrblandinn mjok,

sem

nattum,

Hei]?run

s6k brinna

verj>a flestir

fari.'

ongu

ra)?a,

bolvi heitir

dyrar veigar,

oil go]?

duga.'

THE LAY OF HYNDLA.

237

Hyndla.

Thou gaddest

34.

good

forth,

a she-goat straying

like

Lo all around us
Many must render
Bear now the ale-cup
!

friend, at nights

bold

the earth

among
is

bucks.

flaming

their lives as ransom.

to Ottar's hand,

and omens of ill.

mingled with poison
Thou gaddest forth,
good friend, at nights

all

like

a she-goat straying

bold

among

bucks.

Freyja.
35.

The word
albeit

of thine

thou cursest,

omen

sweet shall the draught be

for I pray all the

shall

work no

vile wife of

Powers

evil,

Jotuns
that Ottar drinks,

to shield

him

well.

BALDRS DRAUMAR.
Senn varu

1.

ok asynjur
ok of }>at re}>u
hvi

vseri

Upp

2.

reis 6]>inn,

moetti hvelpi

(3)

Sa vas blo)?ugr
ok galdrs fo)?ur
fram

hann
Baldrs Draumar.

j>ingi

rikir tivar,

ballir

draumar.

aldinn gautr,
so|?ul of lag)>i

reij? ni)?r J>a)?an

(2)

allar a mali,

Baldri

auk a Sleipni

3.

allir

sesir

Niflheljar til,
es or helju kvam.
of brjost framan
go of lengi
;

foldvegr dun)?i,
O)?inn
kvam at havu
Heljar ranni.

rei)>

In A.

3.

Strophe numbering in

marked

in brackets.

DREAMS.

BALDR'S
1.

Straight were gathered

goddesses

all

were

all

in

and the mighty Powers

why
2.

Up
he

Odin

the ancient creator

laid the saddle

and downward rode

Met him a hound
3.

all its

long

breast

it

bayed

Sleipnir:

skamma,

on gliding Sleipnir,
into Misty Hel.
from a cavern coming

Father of Spells.
way rumbled,
of Hel came Odin.

at the

the Earth's

rode,
to the lofty hall

2.

was blood-besprinkled,

Onward he

The dwelling

speech together
over this took counsel,

came dreams forboding.

to Baldr

rose

gods at the doomstead,

Odin's eight-footed steed; see Vsp. en skamma,

st.

8.

Misty. Hel:

Hd, daughter of Loki and Angrbofya ; see Vsp. en

The father of spells
A hound Garm ; see Vsp. 44.
3.

place of the goddess

st. 8,

or magic, as in

Ls. Introd.

Hdv.

Odin sang some such song as that mentioned

in

Hdv.,

st.

156.

BALDRS DRAUMAR.

240

4.

(4)

]?ars

hann

nam

vittugri

'

volvii letyi,

vissi

unz nau)>ug
5.

fyr austan dyrr,

rety 6)>inn

valgaldr kvej>a,
nas orj> of kva)?

reis

Hvat's

(5)

vask snivin snj6vi

es

mr 6kunnra

manna )>at
hofumk aukit

(4)

ok

drifin

erfitt sinni ?

ok slegin regni
dau} vask

doggu,

OJrinn kvaj>
'

6.

sunr

Vegtamr heitik,
seg mer 6r helju,
hveim eru bekkir

lengi.'

ek

emk Valtams
mun 6r heimi

baugum

sanir.

'

flet

fagrliga

Volva
*

7.

(6)

gulli

floij?

kvsi\>

Hr stendr Baldri
skirar veigar,

en dsmegir

of brugginn mjoj>r,

'pegjat, volva!

unz alkunna,
hverr

mun

Baldri

ok 6)nns sun
Volva
'

9.

(7)

nii

H6|>r berr havan

hann mun Baldri

)>ik

vilk

munk

FloiJ?,

B. G. S.;

ftfy,

A.

)>egja.'

vilk fregna,

enn vita
at bana verj>a
:

aldri rsena

kvaj>

'

hr6)?rba)?m ]?inig,

at bana
aldri rsena.
ok O)>ins sun
nu munk
Nau)?ug sag|?ak,

6.

ofvaeni.

O]?inn kva)>
(6)

liggr skjoldr yfir

Nau]>ug sag|>ak,

8.

verj?a

)egja.'

DREAMS.

fcALDR'S
4.

Round he rode

to a door on the eastward

where he knew

was a witch's grave.

He

of the dead to the Vala

sang there spells

needs she must rise

5.

241

and answer

a corpse

this

to

me unknown,

who torment adds

to

my

'What man
I
I

is

toilsome

was snowed on with snow,

was drenched with dew,

way

and dashed with rain,

have long been dead.'

Odin.
6.

'

call me Way wont

I
me tidings of Hel,
For whom are the benches

am

Warwont

son of

They

tell

will tell of the world.

for

whom

is

strewn with rings,

flooded with gold

the fair dais

'

Vala.
'

7.

Here stands

for

the shining cup,

but the gods' race

Needs have

brewed the mead,

Baldr

the shield

lies over,

are in despair.

all

now

spoken,

will

cease.'

Odin.
8.

'Cease not, Vala

I

still

will

must see yet onward

who
who

ask thee,

till all

know

be

the slayer of Baldr,

will of life bereave?
Odin's son
will

'

Vala.
'

9.

Hod
he

shall bear thither

the high-grown Fame-bough,

be

the slayer of Baldr,

will of life bereave.
son
Odin's
yea,
will

Needs have
6.

Way wont

bough or
see

now

spoken,

Odin as wanderer;

st.

28, Fj.

st.

cease.'

The FameGrm., st. 49.

9.
Loki puts "into the hands of blind Hud ;

Cf. Gangleri,

mistletoe which, according to Snorri,

Vsp. 32, Ls.

will

26.

BALDRS DRAUMAR.

242

Oj?inn
10.

'pegjat, volva

(7)

kva]>

hverr

vilk fregna,

}>ik

unz alkunna,

enn vita:

vilk

mun

hefnt of vinna
heiptar [HeJ>i]
Baldrs bana
a bal vega ?
'

ej>a

Volva
11.

'

Rindr berr Vala

(8)

sa

mun

bond of
a)?r

)n gerat

a bdl of berr

Naujmg

12.

(8)

peg] at, volva

einnsettr vega
ne hofu)> kembir,
Baldrs andskota.

nu munk

sag}>ak,

O)?inn
'

kva|?

vilk

kvaj?

Heim

rty,

6)?inn

14.

Ok

'

S.,

kva)>

ok ves hr6jmgr
meirr aptr a vit,
:

lij?r

ragna rok

ragna rok, B. G.

Jmrsa moj?ir

manna

es lauss Loki

ok

'
!

n6 vis kona,

Volva

sva komir

hugj?a,

aldinn gautr

heldr est ]?riggja

'

sem ek

'Estat Vegtamr,
heldr est OJ>inn,

'Estat volva

(ii)

enn vita

kvaj?

OJ?inn

14.

muni grata
halsa skautum ?

hverjar'u meyjar

Volva
(10)

)>egja.'

es at

ok a himin verpa

13.

vilk fregna,

]>ik

unz alkunna,
(9)

vestrsolum,

Ojnns sunr
r

kvaj?

or

bondum

rjufendr koma.'
ok ragna rok, Dt. and HI.

'

BALDR'S DREAMS.

243

Odin.

'Cease not, Vala,

10.

will I ask thee,

still

must see yet onward

who shall work revejige
and lay on the bale fire

till all

for the

know

woe on Hod,
'

Baldr's foe

Vala.
'

11.

Rind

shall bear Vali

he, Odin's son,

Nor hand

will

the western halls;

in

shall fi^ht

he lay on the bale

Needs have I spoken,

till

one night

old.

nor head will he

he wash,

comb

Baldr's foe.

fire

now

will

cease.'

Odin.

'Cease not, Vala,

12.

ask thee,

will I

still

must see yet onward

who are the maidens
and up toward heaven

till all

who weep

know

at will,

their neck veils fling

'

Vala.

'Not

13.

Waywont

art

as

thou

had weened,

the ancient creator

but thou art Odin,

'
!

Odin.

No

'

nor

Vala art thou

woman

wise,

thou art mother

but of three giants

'
!

Vala.
'

Ride homeward, Odin,

glorying in thy gain
ever meet me more,
no being
from his fetters free,
ere Loki roves
at the Powers' great Doom.'
and the Destroyers come
!

14.

for thus shall

it.

skamma,
meaning.

woman's
nautical,

Vm. 57;

Vsp. en
of uncertain
Skaut is used for sheet, corner, quarter of the heavens, sail, part of a
Dt. inclines to the above ; G., sail corners.
dress.
// the expression is

Rind, the giant wife of Odin;

st.

1.

Wimmcr

12.

Their neck

see

veils

Gi,'.,

st.

6.

Vali, see

Icelandic, balsa

suggests that the maidens are

skautum,

wave daughters of &gir ;

is

see

Hym.,st.

2.

LOKASENNA.
FRA
ir,

hafj?i fengit ketil

kom

6]>inn

var

j?ar,

Gymir, hann hafyi buit dsum 61, )>6 er

Til |>eirar veizlu
inn mikla, sem nu er sagt.

er ojmi nafni h6t

hann

austrvegi.

OK GOPUM.

1EGI

ok Frigg kona bans.

Sif var

J?ar,

kona

J)6rs

hann var einhendr:

porr

kom

eigi,

Jmiat

hann var

Bragi ok I)?unn kona bans.

Fenrisulfr

sleit

bond

af

Tyr

hanum, \&

er

par var Njor]?r ok kona bans SkaJ^i, Freyr ok

Loki var )>ar, ok |?j6nustumenn Freys
Freyja, Vtyarr sonr 6j?ins.

hann var bundinn.

Mart var

Byggvir ok Beyla.
Lokasenna,

In

"Si,

No,

8.

)?ar

asa ok

alfa.

-^Egir atti

tw^

]>jonustu-

MOCKING

LOKI'S

AT THE BANQUET OF ,EGIR.

,

who

is

also called

Gymir

(the Binder),

bade the gods to an

he had got possession of the great cauldron as already

Thor came
banquet came Odin and Frigg, his wife.
not because he was journeying in the East-country, but his wife Sif
was there, and Bragi, with his wife Idun Tyr also, who was onehanded, because the wolf Fenrir had torn off the other hand while the
There were Njord and his wife Skadi, Frey
gods were binding him.
and
his
servants
and
Barley
Beyla, Freyja, Vidar, the son of Odin,

ale feast after

To

told

this

with

many

other gods and elves

had two servants

As already

told.

there, moreover,

Nimble-snatcherand
See

Hm.

was Loki.

Fire-stirrer.

East-country, or Jutunheim.

^gir

Shining gold was

LOKASENNA.

246

menn

Fimafengr ok Eldir.
var

par var lysigull haft

sjalft

barsk

go)>ir

jjjonustumenn JEgis varu.

)>ar 61

J>ar

gri]?sta)>r mikill.

Menn

Loki matti

fyrir elds Ij6s

heyra

eigi

)>at,

ok

hann Fimafeng.
pa skoku cesir skjoldu sina ok oep)>u at Loka ok
Loki hvarf aptr ok
hann braut til sk6gar, en ]>eir faru at drekka.
uti

Eldi

Loki kvaddi hann

Loki
1.

'Seg

]?at,

kva)>

svat

Eldir!

|>u

einugi

gangir framarr
hafa at olmalum
hvat he"r inni
feti

'

sigtiva synir

Eldir kva]?:
2.

'Of vapn

doema

sin

ok of

sigtiva synir
asa ok alfa
es he"r inni

vigrisni sina

mangi's

)?6r

Loki
'

3.

'rti

orTpi vinr.'

kva]?

Inn skal ganga

^Egis hallir i
a ]?at sumbl at sea
fosrik asa sunum
joll ok dfu
ok blentk ]?eim meini mjojj.'
;

Eldir kva]?:
4.

'Veiztu, ef inn gengr

a J?at sumbl at sea,

^gis

hallir

ef )m eyss a holl regin,

hr6Jn ok r6gi
inunu
a ^iT
]?erra ]?at.'

Loki
5.

'Veizt

)>at,

kva]>

Eldir!

ef vit einir

skulum

saryrjmm sakask,
auj?ugr ver]?a
ef )?u mselir

munk andsvorum,
i

til

mart.'

lofujm mjok hversu

dra)>

eltu
hitti

MOCKING.

LORI'S

247

in the hall for the light of fire, the ale bore itself, and the place
Men praised ^Egir's servants, and
was held as a holy peace-stead.
but Loki could not brook this, and he
said oft how good they were
slew Nimble-snatcher. The gods all shook their shields and cried out
against Loki, and chased him away to the woods, and then betook
But Loki turned back, and finding Firethemselves again to drink.
he
hailed
him
stirrer standing without,

used

Loki.
1.

but whence thou standest

Tell me, Fire-stirrer
move not a single step
of the war-gods saying
what are the sons
o'er the ale-cup here within

Fire-stirrer.
2.

Of

weapons are speaking

their

the sons of the war-gods,

they boast of their battle-fame

who within are gathered,
but 'mid gods and elves
not one is thy friend in his words.
;

Loki.
3.

shall

now

this

enter

the halls of JEgir

banquet to behold

will I bring to the god's

mockery and strife
and mingle sorrow with their mead.

sons,

Fire-stirrer.
4.

Know,

if

this
if

thou enter

the halls of

Mgir

banquet to behold,

on the blest Powers thou pour

reproach and slander
they shall wipe out thy words upon thee.
Loki.

5.

Know
if

if we twain must
fight
with
together
wounding words,
thou talk too freely
thou soon shalt find me

in

thou, Fire-stirrer,

answering ready and

rich.

LOKASENNA.

24$
Styan gekk Loki inn
inn var kominn, ]?6gnujni

en er

hollina,

'

er fyrir varu, hverr

J>eir allir.

Loki
6.

sa,

]>eir

pyrstr ek

kvaj>

kom

)>essar hallar

til,

Loptr, of langan veg,

asu at bij>ja,
at mer einn gefi

mseran drykk mja)>ar.

7.

Hvi

)>egi|? ^r svd,
)>rungin go]?
at 6r msela ne megu)> ?
sessa ok sta]?i
sumbli at,
veli|>

(6)

mr

mik

ej?a heitij?

he]?an.'

Bragi kvaj>
8.

'

(7)

Sessa ok

velja )>6r sumbli at

sta]?i

sesir aldrigi

hveim

J?vit sesir vitu,

gambansumbl
Loki
'

9.

(8)

10.

(9)

alda skulu

kva)>

Mant )?at, 6}?inn

es vit
ardaga
blendum b\6]>i saman ?
\izi eigi mundu,
olvi bergja
nema okkr vaeri bajmm borit.'

Ris

)>a,

Vtyarr
sumbli

si}?r

ok

sitja

7.

)>eir

of geta.'

oss Loki kvejn

is hollu i.'

Strophe numbering of

Idt ulfs fojmr

at,

brackets.

lastastofum

MOCKING.

LORI'S
Then Loki entered the
was come in they all became

249

and when those assembled saw who

hall,

silent.

Loki.
6.

come

the Rover of Air,

to this feasting hall from afar
would ask the gods
to give me but one

Thirsty

I,

sweet draught of the mead to drink.

7.

Why

all silent

ye sullen gods

Can ye speak no single word ?

Make me room on the bench,
give me
or bid me hie homeward hence.

place at the banquet,

Bragi.
8.

Nor place

at the

nor room on the bench

banquet

the gods shall give to thee

well they

know

for

what manner

they should spread so

fair

of wight

a feast.

Loki.
9.

how we twain

Mindest thou, Odin,

like brothers

Then

mingled our blood

saidst thou that never

of old

was ale-cup sweet

unless 'twere borne to us both.

Odin.
10.

and give the Wolf's father

bench-room at the banquet,
with scornful speeches
Loki shame us

Rise up, Vidar,

lest

here in

.<Egir's halls.

The mingling of blood sealed a brotherhood in

9.
Bragi, the god of poetry.
10.
Loki, Odin, and Hcenir were companions in many strange adventures.
the
see
st.
39
was
Loki
st.
54.
see
Grm.
;
Fenrir,
Vsp. en
Vidar,
77; Vsfi.,
father of
8.

arms.

skamma,

st. 8.

LOKASENNA.

25 o

pa st6|> Vtyarr upp ok skenkjn Loka

hann asuna

en

hann drykki, kvaddi

a)>r

n.

'

Heilir

(10)

nema

heilar asynjur

sfesir,

ok

611

ginnheilug goj>
es innar
einn ass
!

Bragi,

bekkjum

Bragi kva|>
12.

sitr,

a.'

(n) 'Mar ok mseki

gefk |>er mins fear
ok bcetir sva baugi Bragi,
ofund of gjaldir
styr )>u asum
;

'

go]? at )>6r

gremjat

Loki
'

13. (12)

kva|>

mundu

J6s ok armbauga

beggja vanr, Bragi

inni
asa ok alfa
es

se

vesa

hr

j?u'st vi)>

ok skjarrastr vty

skot.'

Bragi kva]?
14. (13)

bsferak

'Snjallr est

hendi m6r

kva)>

skalta sva gora,

sessi,

ef }>u vreij?r
gakk,
hyggsk vetr hvatr fyrir.'
)>u

kvaj?

'Bi)>k

]?ik,

ok
at ]>u

Bragi

allra

Loka

Bragi, bekkskrautuj^r

vega

fyr innan

fyr lygi.'

)>at

Loki

16. (15)

sem

'Veitk, ef fyr utan veerak,

Mgis holl of kominn,
haufu)> y\tt
I6tak ]>6r

15. (14)

'rti

vig varastr

barna

sei'r

sifjar

duga

oskmaga,

kve]?jat

hollu

i,'

lastastofum

emk

MOCKING.

LORI'S
Then Vidar

arose and poured out ale for Loki,

the gods before he drank

11.

251

who

thus greeted

and goddesses,
Powers

Hail, ye gods,

hail all ye holy

who

save only one

hail

sits

within,
the
bench
thou, Bragi, upon

Bragi.
12.

from

Steed and sword

my store will I give thee

well
thee
with
and reward
rings
on the gracious Powers.
lest thou pour thy hate
Rouse not

their

wrath against thee

Loki.
13.

steeds nor rings

wilt thou ever own
as long as thou livest, Bragi
thou art wariest in war,
and shyest at shot

Nor

of all gods

and elves

herein.

Bragi.
14.

Were

without

now

even

in

such

mood

as within the halls of ^Egir,

would I hold in
that head of thine
'twere

little

reward for thy

lie

my hand

Loki.
15.

but slack art thou doing,

Bold seemst thou sitting,
Bragi, thou pride of the bench
if in truth thou art wroth
Come forth and fight
!

a bold warrior bides not to think.

Idun.
16.

Nay

Bragi,

and of

beg

all

upbraid not Loki

here in ^Egir's
16.

Idun, Bragi's wife.

for the sake of blood-kindred,

the war-sons of Odin,

with bitter speeches

halls.

The myth of

st.

17

is

unknown.

LOKASENNA.

252

Loki kva)>
17. (16)

'pegi

|>u,

Ijnmn

kve}>k allra

]?ik

kvenna

vergjarnasta vesa,

arma Jnna

siztu

umb

lag)>ir itr)>vegna

bro)mrbana.'

)>inn

Ijnmn
18. (17)

kva)>

Loka ek

'

kve)?ka
/Egis hollu

lastastofum
i

Braga ek kyrri

bj6rreifan
vilkak at vrei]?ir vegisk.'

Gefjun kvajj
'

19. (18)

Hvi

saryrjmm sakask

Loka

at

J?at veit,

ok hann

hann

fjorg oil

Loki
20. (19)

skuluj? inni her

tveir

it sesir

leikinn es

fiar.'

kva]?

J>ess munk nu geta,

]>u, Gefjun
hverr J?ik glap)>i at ge]?i

'pegi

sveinn enn hviti

ok

)>6r sigli

6)?inn kva]?
21. (20)

'(Err

est,

es
]>vit

feer )>er

aldar orlog

hykk

sem

opt

O)?inn
deila vig me}?

)?u

gaft

enum
Loka, Gv.
Hverr };ik, Gv.

19.

zo.

S.

}>u,

]>u

kunnir aldri

verum

j?eims gefa n6 skyldir

slsevurum

G.; Lopzki, R.
; er )?ik, E.

S. G.

at oil of viti

ek.'

Loki kva}>
'pegi

ok orviti,
Gefjun at gremi

Loki!

]>u

jafngorla

22. (21)

gaf

leer yfir.'
]?u lag)?ir

sigr.'

Fiar, Kolbing, S. G.;

fria,

E;

fia,

Sv. J.

MOCKING.

LORI'S

353

Loki.
Silence, Idun

17.

swear, of

all

thou the most wanton art

who

women

arms of thine

couldst fling those fair-washed

about thy brother's slayer.

Idun.
18.

blame thee

with bitter speeches

not, Loki,
here in ^Egir's halls.
seek but to sooth
the ale-stirred Bragi,
lest in

your fierceness ye

fight.

Gefjon.

with wounding words

Wherefore, ye gods twain
strive ye here in the hall ?
Who knows not Loki,
that he loathes all beings

19.

and mocks

in his

madness of soul

Loki.
20.

I will tell that tale

Silence, Gefjon
of him who once stole thy heart,
a shining necklace,
that fair swain who gave thee
him thou didst hold in thine arms.
!

Odin.

Wild

21.

and

art thou, Loki,

witless

now,

thus rousing Gefjon to wrath

all the fate of the world
ween she knows
even as surely as I.
!

Loki.
22.

Silence,

Odin

rule battles of

When
men

Oft hast thou given

couldst thou ever

aright ?
to them

who had earned

not,

to the slothful victory in strife.

20.
i>/

Freyju

Gefjon
;

see

is

\rk

only mentioned here in the Poetical Edda.

st.

12 and Introd.

The myth

is

usually told

LOKASENNA.

254

6]>inn kva)>:
'

)>eims gefa ne skyldak,

Veizt, ef ek gaf

23. (22)

enum

slsDvurum sigr
vastu fyr jorj> nej>an
:

atta vetr

kyr molkandi ok kona

ok hefr )>ar born of borit,
ok hugjjak )>at args a)>al.'

Loki
24. (23)

'En

kva)>

kva]>u Sdmseyju
ok drapt a v6tt sem volur

jnk stya

vitka

fortu ver^j6|? yfir,

liki

ok hugj^ak

)>at

args

Frigg kva]?
'

25. (24)

Orlogum ykkrum
hvat

tveir

it sesir

firrisk

gfe

26. (25)

frd

ardaga,

firar.'

kvaj>

Jm'st Fjorgyns mscr

pegi jm, Frigg
ok hefr sfe vergjorn verit,
!

es

]?a

V6 ok

ba)?a

Vilja

I6ztu )?r, ViJ>ris kvsen

baj>m of tekit.'

Frigg kva)?
'

27. (26)

<lryg]?u)?

forn rok

Loki

a]?al.'

skyli)? aldrigi

segja seggjum

'

i,

sfettak
^Egis hollum
Baldri glikan bur,
fra Asa sunum,
ne kvsemir

Veizt, ef inni

lit

ok

vseri at )?er

vrei|?um vegit.'

MOCKING.

LORI'S

255

Odin.
23.

Know,

if

ever

to

gave

them who had earned

not,

to the slothful victory in strife,

below in the earth

eight winters wert thou
like a maiden, milking kine,
birth to bairns,
and there thou gavest
woman's lot.
weened
was
a
which I

Loki.
24.

wast weaving magic

But thou in Samsey
and making spells like a witch
:

through the world of men,

thou didst pass as wizard

which

weened was a woman's way.

Frigg.
25.

the shameful tale

Tell ye to no man
of the deeds ye did of old,

how ye two gods wrought

what

is

gone

is

in ancient

time

best forgot.

Loki.
26.

Silence, Frigg

V6

who

Earth's spouse for a husband,

hast

and hast ever yearned after men

and Vili the lustful

the holy,

both lay

in thine

arms, wife of Odin.

Frigg.

27.

had but

in ^Egir halls,
the slain,
Baldr,
[gods
my
the
of
host
the
thou wouldst ne'er come whole
through

Know,

if I

a son like

but fiercely thou shouldst be assailed.

This strophe perhaps alludes to another version of the myth of Vsp. en skamma,
This line has
26, line i.
Samsey, modern Samsu, north of Funen.
24.
and
art
Snorri
later
critic*.
The
literal
thou
been
misunderstood,
Fjorgynn's
by
often
maid has been rendered thou art Fjbrgynn's daughter. But Fjorgynn is only another
23.

st. 9.

name for Odin

of Thor.

same god.

in his

V6 and

character as the husband of Fjbrgyn or Jord, the Earth, and mother

Odin, may also be taken as different aspects of the

Vili, the brothers of

The name used

in the text for

Odin

is

Vidrir, the

Stonner

see

Grm.,

st.

51.

LOKASENNA.

256

Loki
28. (27)

'

Enn

vill

Frigg

J>u,

kva)>

at ek

mina meinstafi
ek

}>vi

es

r}>,

si]?an

s6rat

)>u rij>a

Baldr at solum.'
Freyja kvaj?

'

29. (28)

CErr

est,

Loki

es

Ij6ta letystafi

hon

'pegi

)>6r

at oil viti,

kva]?

Freyja!

]>u,

esa

}>u y)>ra telr

sjolfgi segi.'

Loki
30. (29)

hykk

orlog Frigg
]>6t

fleiri telja

)>ik

vamma

asa ok alfa

kannk

vant

es h6r inni

hverr hefr horr

fullgorva,

'rti

)>inn verit.'

Freyja kva)>:
'

31. (30)

Fid's

)>er

hykk

tunga,

of gala

myni 6gott
vrei)>ir'u ]?6r

at \>6r

fremr

ok asynjur,

gfesir

hryggr munt heim

Loki

fara.'

kvaj?

'

32. (31)

pegi

)?ii,

Freyja

fordse^a

\>&'st

ok meini blandin mjok

siz Jrik at brcej^r )?inum

ok mundir

Njorj^r
33- (32)

'pat's

va

litil,

stoj^u blty regin,

Freyja

]?a,

}>6t

varjnr, h6ss e|?a

kva)?

frata.'

ser vers fai

hvars

es h6r inn of kominn

undr's at ass ragr
ok hefr sa born of borit.'

32.

Stojw,

B. Gv. H. Sv. G.

S. J.

styu,

R.

MOCKING.

LORI'S

257

Loki.
28.

Wouldst have me, Frigg,

tell

a few more yet

of these shameful stories of mine

'Twas

that henceforth thou

wrought the Woe,
see Baldr ride back to the halls.
I

wilt not

Freyja.
29.

Mad

to tell thus the

art thou, Loki,

shame

and grim deeds wrought by you gods

all the fate of the world
Frigg knows, I ween,
though she whispers thereof to none.
!

Loki.
30.

Silence, Freyja

and

Full well

faultless art

know

thou not found

thee

and elves
who here are gathered
each one hast thou made thy mate.

of the gods

Freyja.
31.

False thy tongue

its

Wroth

own song

is

Too soon

of woe, as

'twill

sing

ween.

and the goddesses wroth,

home.

are the gods,

rueful thou soon shalt run

Loki.
32.

Silence, Freyja
all

once

with

Thou

evil blent

art a sorceress

the blithe gods caught

at thy brother's
and then wast thou frightened, Freyja

thee,

Njord.
33.

if
Small harm it seems
haply a woman
both lover and husband have
now in the halls,
but behold the horror
the vile god who bairns hath borne
;

The only

28.
see

29.

allusion in the Poetical

Bdr. Introd.

By you gods

Freyja

is

Possibly
:

so

it

only

Edda

refers

Gering and Dt. HI. take

mentioned elsewhere.

to Loki's share in the death of

to Loki's

y|>ra.

refusal to weep
32.

No

Baldr

(Nd. Dalt., 41 j.

such myth of Frey or

z

LOKASENNA.

258

Loki kvaj?
34-

03) P e S'

Njor)>r!

l>u,

gisl of

jje'r

hofj>u

munn

35- (34)

)>a

ek

mog

ok

sendr at
gat

munkak
ok esa

j>6

asa gor]?um

ok

38. (37)

mog

kvaj?

allra baldrij>a
i

n6 manns konu,

grcetir

leysir or

]>ik

verr.'

hvern.'

hoptum

Loki
'

fiar,

kva)>

gaztu slikan

6nu

Freyr es baztr

mey ne

manngi

haf a h6fi

Tyrr
37- (36)

go)mm

Jnd leyna lengr

vty systur J?inni

'

J?ykkir sa asa ja)>arr.'

Hsett nu, Njor^r

36. (35)

kva}?

)>anns

Loki
'

at hlandtrogi

}>ik

es vask langt he^an

likn,

gisl of

migu.'

Njor}>r

'Su erumk

vast austr he]>an

}>u

sendr at goj>um

Hymis meyjar
ok

kva)?

}>u kunnir aldri

pegi |>u, Tyr
bera tilt me)> tveim
bandar hcegri
munk hinnar geta
es J?e"r sleit Fenrir fra.'
!

Tyrr
'

39- (38)

Handar emk

vanr,
bol es beg^ja J?ra :
es
ulfgi hefr ok vel
bij>a

34.

At go|;um

denote source (Dt.).

an allusion

to

Vm.

kva)>

bondum

skal

ragna rokkrs.'

B. suggests af
go]?um, but at

G. and others take

39.

en Jm Hro)wtnis,

it

is

occasionally used, as

in the ordinary

meaning

to,

here,

to

and understand

MOCKING.

LORI'S

259

Loki.
34.

Thou wast eastward sent

Silence, Njord
as hostage from hence by the gods
!

there into thy mouth

flowed the maids of
and used thee as trough for their floods.

Hymir

Njord.
35.

when sent afar,

gladdened
as hostage from hence by the gods
there a son I got me,
the foe of none,

Yet was

and highest held among gods.

Loki.
36.

Silence now, Njord

I

will

with thine

Set bounds to thy lying

be hid

no longer

own

though he

that son thou gottest,

sister
is

let this

not worse than one weened.

Tyr.
37.

Nay

Frey

who

is

of

the best

all

bold riders

enter the garths of the gods

he makes to weep,

nor wife nor maiden

but he breaks the prisoner's bonds.

Loki.
38.

Silence,

Tyr

Who

in truth

will betwixt

bring good
the tale will I tell

which Fenrir

couldst never

twain

of that right
reft

hand

from thee once.

Tyr.

39.

If

want

for a

hand

for thy Wolf-son, thou

we both bear burden of want

who must bide
and 'tis ill with the Wolf
till the twilight come of the Powers.

in

bonds

Njord figures here in his character of sea god ; see Fragments from Sn. \
son, presumably got with the giantess Skaiii, but in Ynglinga S. it is stated that
Njord was married to his sister, and had a son and daughter, Frey and Freyja, before
even he was sent as hostage by the Wanes to the &sir.
See Introd.
38.
39.
34.

36.

Twilight of the Powers or

Ragna rokr

This

is

has given rise to the phtase "twilight of the gods."

the only use of

rokr

in the

poems, which

The more usual form was rok or

fate.

LOKASENNA.

260

Loki
40. (39)

'pegi

j>u,

at

oln

ne"

Tyr

hon

]?at varj> J>inni

&tti

mog

penning

Freyr
41. (40)

vi]>

me"r

hatyir

vanre"ttis, vesall

'

kva)>

Ulf s6k liggja

munt

J>u )>ess

aldrigi

'
!

kva)>

ar6si fyrir,

unz of rjufask regin

\>vi

konu,

nema nu

nscst,

|?egir,

'

bundinn, bolvasmtyr

Loki
42. (41)

'Golli keypta

ok

seldir

kva)?

svd sver]?

en es Muspells synir
veizta

}>&,

vesall

Byggvir
'

43. (42)

Veizt, ef

6]>\i

ok sva

Gymis d6ttur

leztu
)>itt

ri]?a
!

hv6

kva]?

Myrkvty

yfir,

vegr.'

sem Ingunar-Freyr,

settak

sacllikt setr,

mergi smsera mol)?ak

]?a meinkraku
ok lem)?a alia i li)>u.'

Loki
'

44. (43)

kvaj?

es ek )>at loggra
)?at et litla,
ok snapvist snapir ?
at eyrum Freys
mundu set vesa
auk und kvernum klaka.'

Hvat's

s^k,

MOCKING.

LORI'S

261

Loki.
40.

Be

silent,

while

Tyr,

whom

I tell

of the son

thy wife got once by

not even a penny

or

ell

me

of cloth

didst thou get for thy wrong, poor wretch

Frey.
41.

see Fenrir lying

he shall bide

mouth

at the
till

and thou, mischief-maker,

if

of the flood

the Powers perish

shalt

meet with

like fate

thou hold not herewith thy peace.

Loki.

42.

Wealth

for
gav'st thou, Frey,
thou didst sell thy sword for

but

how

shalt thou fight

through the

Gymir's maid,

Gerd
when the sons

Murk-wood

ride,

of

fire

poor wretch

Barley.
43.

Were

of Ing's race

owned
I

even as Frey

a land blest as Elfhome

would crush like marrow

yon croaker
and break all his bones into bits.

of

ill,

Loki.
44.

What

wee thing
whining and fawning,
and
snuffling
snapping, I see ?
Ever at Frey's ear,
flattering and chattering,
or

40.

lost

that

is

murmuring under the

myth.

Hel proceeding from

lay bound in torture.

41.

mill

flood, called Vamm or Van by Snorri, is a river of

which flowed out of Fenrir 's jaws while the great Wolf

The

the moisture

42.
Frey is slain by Surt, the Fire-giant, at the Doom of the
43.
Ing was the half divine ancestor of
Vsp. 54. Gymir, Gerd, see Skm.
the Germanic race who gave his name to the Ynglings or Swedes (Hdl., st. 1 J) and to
In Sweden he became associated with Frey, who
the Ingvines mentioned by Tacitus.

gods

h-iis

see

there the chief god.

Elf-home,

see

Grm.,

st. 5.

LOKASENNA.

262

Byggvir
45. (44)

'Byggvir

en mik bra)?an kve)?a

heitik,

ok furnar

go)> oil

Jm emk

h6r hrojnigr,
allir 61 saman.'

Loki
46. (45)

'pegi

J?ik

kva)>

es

47. (46)

Olr

]?vit

'pegi

kva)?

svat

]?u'st orviti,

kvaj?

Heimdallr!

]>u,

lif

6rJ?gu baki

ok vaka

}>&r

of lagit
]?u

munt

EC

vesa

gornum binda
Loki
50. (49)

ardaga

munattu lengi sva

lausum hala
a hjorvi skulu
ens hrimkalda magar

leika
J?ik

vorj?r go]?a.'

Lett's ]>r, Loki

)wt

vas

Ska]?i kva]?

49. (48)

hvi n6 lezkat, Loki ?

veldr alda hveim,
ofdrykkja
es sina msclgi n manat.'

et Ijota

'

mattu,

verar.'

Loki
48. (47)

kunnir aldri

finna n

vagu

Loki

est,

]>u

Heimdallr
'

drekka Hropts megir

monnum mat

flets strai
J?a

at

Byggvir!

)?u,

deila me)?

kva)?

go)?.'

kvaj?

mik d hjorvi skulu

gornum binda go)?

'Veizt, ef

ens hrimkalda magar

fyrstr

ok ofstr

\nirs

vask at fjorlagi,

ver a pjaza Jm'fum.'

MOCKING.

LORI'S

263

Barley.
45.

Barley,
I

Here

am named,

too bold and brisk

am called by gods and men

am

all

that Odin's sons

I
glorying
are drinking ale together
!

Loki.
46.

Silence, Barley-corn
even serve meat

Never couldst thou

among men

and when they fought

thou couldst scarce be found,

safe 'neath the bed-straw hiding.

Heimdal.
47.

thou hast lost thy wits

why wilt thou not cease from thy scoffing ?
so masters man
Ale beyond measure
that he keeps no watch on his words.

So drunk

art thou, Loki,

Loki.
48.

Heimdal

Silence,

was

That hard

life

settled for thee long since

of thine

must thou ever bide,

with weary back
and keep watch, thou warder of gods

Skadi.
49.

B4ithe are thou, Loki,

with free

tail frolic

but brief while shalt thou

thus

shall bind thee with guts

ere long the gods
rime-cold
son
to a sword.
of thy

Loki.
50.

If in truth

of

my

shall bind me with guts

the gods
rime-cold son to a rock,

was I found
know that first and last
when we set upon Thiaxi, thy sire.
49.
50.

A sword

Thiazi

if as

at the

death

we are told by Snorri that Loki is bound to three sharp

Thor ; see Hrbl., st. 19 ; Vsp. en skamma, st. 3.

slain by

stones.

LOKASENNA.

264

kvaj>

Ska)>i
'

Veizt, ef fyrstr ok ofstr

)>as er a pjaza J>rifu)>

51. (50)

fra

veum minum
J>e"r

so

kold

'Lettari

ok vongum skulu

vastu vty Laufeyjar sun,

mer a

be)? J>inn bo)?it

ef ver

getit ver)>r oss sliks,

telja

pd gekk

Sif

53- (52)

vomm

enn

gorva skulum

var.'

fram ok byrla|n Loka

hrimkalki mjo)> ok maelti

ok tak \ty hrimkalki

Heill ves nu, Loki
fullum forns mja)?ar,
!

heldr hana eina

vammalausa

Hann

kva)>

malum

)?as ]>u l^zt

vast at fjorlagi,
:

koma.'

ra)>

Loki
52. (511

latir me]>

t6k vty horni ok drakk af

'

54. (53)

Ein }m

VEerir,

vor ok

grom

einn ek veit,

asa

sunum

vesa.'

ef ]>u sva vserir

at veri
:

svat.ek vita Jjykkjumk

h6r ok af Hlorrtya
ok vas )at sa enn Isevisi Loki.

Beyla
'

55 (54)

hykk a for vesa

heiman Hlorri|>a;
hann rstyr TO
]?eims roegir her
ok
611
guma.'
goj>
Fjoll oil skjalfa,

Loki
56. (55)

kvaj?

kva)>

J^u'st Byggvis kvsen

)>u, Beyla!
ok meini blandin mjok
kvama me)? asa sunum,
dkynjan meira

'pegi

oil est,

deigja

dritin.'

MOCKING.

LORI'S

1265

Skadi.
51.

and

If first

thou wert found at the death

last

when ye set upon

know that in house

Thiazi, my sire,
or home of mine

shown thee

shall be

little

love

Loki.
52.

Milder were thy words

to Loki once
when thou badst him come to thy bed
for

such
if

Then

Sif

will be told of us twain,

ween,
all our acts of shame.

tales, I

we own

came

forth,

and poured out mead

Loki

for

in

the

foaming cup.
Sif.

53.

Hail now, Loki

quaff this rimy cup
filled with the old mead full.
!

At

least grant that

alone

am

free

of the kindred of gods

I,

from

all fault.

Loki took the horn and quaffed

54.

Thou

alone wert blameless

hadst thou in bearing
been sly and shrewish with men
but Thor's wife had one lover
at least, as I know,
even Loki the wily-wise.
;

Beyla.
55.

All the fells are quaking,

fast is the

trow, from home

faring,
will soon bring to silence
I

He

all

beings here

in

Thunderer

him who thus slanders

the hall.

Loki.
56.

wife of Barley-corn
Silence, Beyla,
all with foulness filled
!

Ne'er 'mid the gods

came one so uncouth,
thou bond-maid stained and soiled.
52.

Atwthei

/os/

myth.

53.

Sif,

Thor's wife

see Introd. to

Gm. HrM.,

st.

48.

LOKASENNA.

266

kom

porr at ok kva)>
'pegi

57- (56)

rog

)>ti,

vjfcttr

j>e"r

minn

skal

)>ru|>hamarr

Mjollnir mal fyrnema;

drepk

her|>aklett

(57)

ok

ver]>r )>a ]>inu fjorvi of farit.'

Loki
'

kvaj>

es her

Jar]>ar burr

58.

halsi af,

J>e"r

nu inn kominn

hvi

en

|>a

|>rasir J>u sva, porr ?

es skalt
}>or\r ]>u etki

ok svelgr hann allan

porr kva)>
'pegi

59.

rog

}>u,

vffcttr!

vi)> ulf

Vega,

Sigfo]>ur.'

skal

)?6r

minn

)>ru]>hamarr

Mjollnir mal fyrnema

ok d austrvega,
upp }>6r verpk
si|>an ]?ik manngi sdr.'
;

Loki
'

60.

kva)>

skaltu aldrigi
'Austrforum )>inum
frd
segja seggjum
siz i hanzka |mmlungi
hnuk]?ir ]?u, einheri
:

ok

]>6ttiska

p6rr vesa.'

porr kva]>
'

61.

pegi

J>u,

rog vacttr

hendi hregri
|>er

drepk

'

Lifa tctlak

mer

j^ottu hoetir
-

kvaty

Burr

}>ruj>hamarr

Hrungnis bana,

langan aldr,
hamri me"r
;

skarpar alar
)?6ttu ]?er Skrymis vesa
ok mattira nesti naa

ok svalztu hungri
58.

)>ik

minn

brotnar beina hvat.'

Loki
6?.

skal

|>6r

Mjollnir mal fyrnema

svat

A word

is

missing in R,

heill.'

MOCKING.

LOKI'S
Then came
57.

the Thunderer

Silence, vile being

in,

and spake

My hammer

267

of might,

Mjollnir, shall spoil thee of speech.

I

will strike that

and soon

from off thy shoulders,

thy life-days be spent.

rock-head

will

58.

'Tis the

Loki.

who

Son of Earth

Why

enters the hall

dost thou threaten so,

Thor

to fight with the Wolf

he shall swallow the War-father whole.

Ne'er wilt thou venture

Thor.
59.

Silence, vile being

My hammer

of might,

Mjollnir, shall spoil thee of speech.

will drive thee forth
to the eastern land

and no man

shall see thee

more.

Loki.
60.

Of thy

eastern journeys
unto men the tale

tell

how once

never shouldst thou

;

a glove-thumb
thou, warrior, didst crouch,
and scarce couldst think thyself Thor.
in

Thor.
61.

Silence, vile being

My hammer

of might,

Mjollnir, shall spoil thee of speech ;

hand shall smite thee
with Hrungnir's slayer,
till each bone of thee shall be broke.

this right

Loki.
62.

Though haply thou

threat'nest

with'thy

hammer of might,

ween

;
long
my
mindst thou,
sharp were Skrymir's thongs,
thou couldst not get at the food ?

will

life be, I

when

starving

LOKASENNA.

2 68

porr kvap
63.

'pegi

rog vccttr

)>u,

minn pruj'hamarr

skal

J>er

Mjollnir mal fyrnema

mun |>er.i
Hrungnis bani
;

koma

hel

fyr nagrindr nepan.'

Loki kvap
'

64.

asum,
kvapk
hvatti
mik
hugr
pats
munk
en fyr p6r einum

Kvapk

fyr

fyr asa

sunum

)>vit

65.

01 gorpir, JEgir

styan sumbl

eiga Yin

lit

ganga,

ek veit at vegr.

611,

en

|>u

aldri

munt

of gora
es h6r inni es,
:

leiki yfir logi

ok brinni

En

Hann

hann.

bans

eptir J>etta falz

eitr.

eitrit,

en er munnlaugin var

pat eru

nu

Prose.

forsi

lax

liki,

J>ar

toku asir

pa

ok

festi

yfir annlit

upp

Loka

Sigyn kona Loka sat par ok belt munnlaug undir

|>ar

a Loka.

Franangrs

Skaj?i tok eitrorm

draup

eitrit

'

a baki

var bundinn mej> J7ormum sonar sins Narfa, en Vali sonr

var|? at vargi.

or

Loki

)?6r

kiptiz

full,

bar hon ut

hann sva hart

vi)?,

eitrit

W,

r,

S.

en mepan draup

at J?a]?an af skalf jorp oil

kallapir landskjalftar.

Narfa, en Vali,

Nara, en Narfi, R.

LORI'S

MOCKING.

269

Thor.
63.

Silence, vile being

My hammer

of might,

Mjollnir, shall spoil thee of speech.

With Hrungnir's
down 'neath

slayer

will

smite thee to Hel,

the gates of the dead.

Loki.
64.

of gods have
He fore sons and daughters
even as I was moved by my mind

spoken,

now

at length

for well,

65.

Thou

and for thee alone,

wilt fight.
thou
ween,
go,

hast brewed thine ale,

but such banquet,

-fligir,

never more shalt thou make.

May

flames play high

o'er thy

wealth

and scorch the skin of thy back

in the hall

Then Loki went forth and hid himself in Franang's stream in the
form of a salmon, where the gods caught him and bound him with the
But his other son Vali was turned into a wolf.
guts of his son Narfi.
Skadi took a poisonous snake and fastened it up over Loki, so that
poison dripped from it upon his face.
Sigyn, his wife, sat by, and
And when the basin was full she cast
held a basin under the drops.
the poison away, but meanwhile the drops fell upon Loki, and he
struggled so fiercely against it that the whole earth shook with his
strivings,

which are now called earthquakes.

FRAGMENTS FROM THE SNORRA EDDA.

i.

En
ferr

til

bcetr,

Ska)>i, dottir jotuns, tok

Asgar)>s at hefna foj?ur sins

ok

ok maelti

en

aesir bu)>u

oil

henni

hervapn ok

saett

ok

yfir-

hon skal kj6sa ser mann af asum ok kjosa at

fleira.
Pa sa hon eins manns fcetr forkunnarfagra

et fyrsta, at

fotum, ok sja ekki af

:

)?enna kys ek, fatt

Noatunum.

( Bragarce\>ur

er a fjollum
sjo.

heimi en

|>a )?rjar

af fjallinu,

J?a

Pau
at

kva)?

sem

]>ar

ssetuz a

)?at,

Noatunum.

hann

'

(i)

a Baldri

NjorJ>r a

LVI.)

nokkurum

vera naer

mun Gott

J?a

en

var Njor|>r or

)?at

konu er

Ska)>i

heitir,

Ska)>i vill hafa bustap )?ann er haf)?i faj?ir hennar,

dottir Pjaza jotuns.

J?at

hjalm ok brynja ok

Lei)>

}?etta

erumk

heitir

en Njor)>r

at )>au skyldu vera niu na>tr

En

er Njorj?r

kom

aptr

vaska

fjoll,

nsetr einar niu

ulfa }>ytr

Prymheimr

)>ar

]>6ttumk

hja songvi svana.'

illr

vesa

lengi a,

til

vill

PrymNoatuna
i

FRAGMENTS FROM SNORRI'S EDDA.

I.

HOW

NjORD WAS MADE SKADl'S SPOUSE.

Then

Skadi, daughter of the giant Thiazi [when she heard ho\v

the gods had slain her father], donned helm and byrnie and all her
For the sake
weapons of war, and went to revenge him in Asgarth.
of peace they offered her as weregild the choice of a spouse

gods, but

And when
she cried

among

the

her choosing she should behold no more than their feet.

she saw that the feet of one were exceeding fair and shapely,

in

"Him

choose, for scant is the blemish in Baldr;"

but
it was Njord out of Noatun.
Thus he took to wife Skadi,
She would fain keep the dwellings
daughter of the Jotun Thiazi.
of her father among the mountains in the land called Sound-home, but
lo

will

Njord desired to be near the

sea, so

they

made agreement thus

nine

and afterwards three in

But when Njord came back to Noatun from the mountains,

nights they should dwell in Sound-home,

Noatun.
he said

'

Hateful the

hills
though not long I lingered,
nights only nine I dwelt there
the howling of wolves
was ill. meseemed,
!

beside the song of the swans.'

FRAGMENTS FROM THE SNORRA EDDA.

272

Pa

kva]? Ska)>i ]?etta

'

Sofa ne makat

(2)

sscvar be)>jum d

fogls jarmi fyrir

sa

mik vekr,
es af vtyi komr,
morgin hverjan mar.' Gylfaginuing

xxiii.

II.

Hana (Gnd)

sendir Frigg

ymsa heima

at

eyrindum sinum.

Hon

a )?ann best er rennr lopt ok log, ok heitir Hofvarpnir.

Pat var eitt
sinn er hon reij>, at vanir nokkurir sa reij> hennar i loptinu, )>a maelti

einn

'

(1)

Hvat

hvat

)?ar flygr,

e]>a at lopti li|>r

Hon

svarajn
'

(2)

}?ar ferr

'

N< ek

flyg,

auk

}>6

a Hofvarpni

gat

ek fer

at lopti \ty

vi|?

J>eims

Hamskerpir,

Gar)?rofu.'

Gylfaginning xxxv.

III.

PVI naest sendu aesir um allan heim eyrindreka at bij>ja, at Baldr

menninir ok kykvendin ok
vseri gratinn or helju, en allir gor]?u ]?at
:

jor|>in

ok steinarnir ok

tr6

ok

allr

malmr

sva sem

munt

]>ii

set hafa, at

ok i hita.
Pa er sendi)>essir hlutir grata )?a er J?eir koma 6r frosti
menn foru heim ok hof]?u vel rekit sin eyrindi, finna )?eir i belli nok-

kurum hvar gygr

or helju.

Hon

sat,

hon nefndiz pokk

svarar
'

]?eir

bij^ja

hana grata Baldr

Pokk mun grata

Baldrs balfarar

]?urrum tarum
;

nautka karls sonar,

n6" dau]?s
haldi hel )MS hefir.'

kviks

En
hefir

illt

)>ess

geta menn, at

gort me]? asum.

)?ar hafi

verit

Loki Laufeyjar sonr er

flest

FRAGMENTS FROM SNORRI'S EDDA.

And Skadi spake
'

on ocean's couch

could not

Sleep

thus

273

for the wailing cry of the gull

from the wide sea faring,

that bird awoke
when he came each day at dawn.'

me

CONCERNING THE GODDESS GNA.

II.

Frigg sends Gna, the Floater, on errands into

many

She

worlds.

which fares through the sky and over

was passing, certain of the Wanes saw her riding

rides a horse called Hoof-flinger

Once

the sea.
in the air,

as she

and one said

'

What

flies

what

And

she

what

there,
flits

made answer

there aloft

fly not,

'

am

'

fares there,

yet

faring,

and I flit here aloft,

who was of Hedge-breaker
high on the Hoof-flinger,
and
the
Fine-flanked
steed.'
born,
III.

How THE WORLD WEPT

The gods sent messengers throughout

Baldr might be wept out of Hel.
And
living creatures, the e:irth

all

FOR BALDR.
the world to plead that

all

beings wept
and rocks and trees and metals
;

men and
even as

such things weep when after being fast bound with frost they become
warm. When the messengers had well done their errand they returned
and found a certain giantess called Thokk sitting in a cave.
They
bade her weep Baldr out of Hel, but she answered
:

'

Thokk

shall

weep

that Baldr

is

laid

with dry tears alone

on the bale-fire
:

from man living or dead

Never joy have I had
let Hel hold fast what she hath.'

who

Thus they knew

was ever wont

that Loki, son of Laufey, had been there,

to work most evil among the gods.
2

FRAGMENTS FROM THE SNORRA EDDA.

274

IV.
for Porr

Pa
hann

sik

til

ar )?eirar er

heitir, allra a

megingjorjmm ok studdi forstreymis

undir megingjar)>ar
din, at

Vimur

ok

)>a

er P6rr

uppi braut a 6x1 honum.

P&

Vaxat nu, Vimur

kom

jotna gar)>a

kva)>

P6rr

mik

Pa

Gri]?arvol, en

mtyja ana,

alls

mest.

]>etta

)?ik

)?a

?penti

Loki helt

6x sva mjok

va)>a ttyir

at |?a vex m^r asmegin

himinn.'
sem
jafnhatt upp

veiztu ef vex,

En
gestahus

Pa

var)?

er Porr
til

kom

til

Geirroj^ar, |?a var

Veim felogum visat

herbergis, ok var )>ar einn st611

hann

for
]?ess varr, at stollinn

til

undir

satis,

ok

hanum upp

fyrst

sat ]?ar Porr.

at raefri

hann

stakk Grtyarveli upp i raptana ok \6t sigaz fast a stolinn

var|> )?a
verit
undir
stolinum
doetr
brestr mikill ok fylgjri skrakr
)?ar hof)?u
i
hann
brotit
ok
ok
Pa
hrygginn ba|>um.
Greip,
haf)?i
Geirro)?ar Gjolp
;

kva}> porr:
'

Einu

sinni

neyttak

jotna gorjmm
J?as

Gjolp ok Greip
vildu hefja

mik

alls

megins

til

Geirro)>ar doStr,
himins.'

V.
Asgar]?i fyrir durum Valhallar stendr lundr sa er Glasir er
allt er gull rautt, sva sem h^r er kve)>it, at
kalla)?r, en lauf hans
f

'Glasir stendr
firir

me)? gullnu laufi

solum.'
Sigtys

FRAGMENTS FROM
How THOK M

IV.

i:w

EDDA.

StfORRt'S

275

THE DAUGHTERS OF GEIRROD.

When Thor was

Vimur, of

faring once into Jotunheim he came to the river

rivers the greatest.
There he girt him with his belt of

all

ami Ir.mt on Gridar's staff as he went down-stream.

Loki
held on under the belt.
When Thor had come into the midst of the
flood it had risen so high that it flowed over his shoulders.
Then he
stivnt;tli.

spake

'

Wax

Vimur,

not,

needs must wade thee

to reach the Jotun-realms

know

if

my

thou wax

And when Thor had reached

down upon

wax

god's might high as heaven.'

taken to lodge in the guest-house.

Thor

forthwith shall

Geirrod's court, he and Loki were

There was but one stool there, and

But presently he became aware that it was

He thrust Gridar's staff against the
rising up to the roof under him.
rafters and pushed the stool down, and then came a great crash, and a
shriek was heard for the daughters of Geirrod
Yelper and Gripper
had been under the stool, and both their backs were broken.
Then
sat

it.

spake Thor

'

Once only

I used
my god's might all
the realms of the Jotun race
When Yelper and Gripper,
Geirrod's maids,
would have raised me high to heaven.

in

V.

THE GLISTENER.

In Asgarth, before the gates of Valholl, there stands a wood called

Glistener, whose leaves are all of red gold, as here is written
:

'

Glistener stands
in front of the

with golden leaves

War-father's halls.'

VOLUSPA.
i.

Hlj6j>s bij?k allar

helgar kindir,

meiri ok minni

mogu Heimdallar

viltu at ek, Valf6J7r,

2.

forn spjoll fira

vel fyr telja

fremst
of mank.
)?aus

Ek man

ar of borna

jotna

]?as

for)mm mik

niu

mank heima,

fcedda hofyu,
niu i vi)n,

mjotvi)> msbran

3.

Voluspd.
v6l, Dt.

makes

HI.

In

Ar vas alda

mold

fyr

)?ars

Ymir

nej'an.

byg)>i,

vasa sandr ne sser

jorj? fannsk seva

ne svalar unnir
ne upphiminn,

gap vas ginnunga,

en gras hvergi.

H, No.

1 ;

cited in Sn. E.

vildu at ek Valfo)>r vel,

this suggestion

with hesitation for

Ginnunga, Mk., a proper name.

i.

viltu

ivfyi,

E.

B. S. Gv. H., vildu Valfo]>rs

1 vij?i Dt.
H.
2.

valfo}>rs,
3.

Ginnunga, S. G. Dt. HI.

THE SOOTHSAYING OF THE VALA.

1.

Hearing

ask

all

high and low-born,

Thou too, Odin,
the oldest tidings

holy kindreds,
sons of Heimdal

who bidst me utter

of men that I mind

(The World's beginning.)

I

2.

remember

who

of yore
aforetime

they
nine worlds

were born the Jotuns,

fostered

remember,
the glorious Fate Tree

i.

137

me

nine in the Tree,

that springs 'neath the Earth.

when Ymir lived

'Twas the earliest of times
nor
sea
was
sand
nor
then
cooling wave,
nor Heaven on high,
nor was Earth found ever,
and nowhere grass
there was Yawning of Deeps

3.

worlds;

Sons of Heimdal or Rig, hence men are called holy; see

see Vm.,st,43.
Fate Tree, Yggdrasil see st. 19; Grm.,

Fj.,

st.

14.

3.

Ymir

see I'm., st. 21, 29.

2.

/?JJ.

st.

31

Nine

Hdv.,

st.

VOLUSPA.

278
Af>r

4.

Burs synir

bjojmm of

5.

a salar steina,

vas grund groi'n

Tpa

ypj^u

maeran skopu

es mi)?gar}>
s6l skein sunnan
}>eir

groenum

lauki.

Sol varp sunnan,

sinni mana,
hendi hcegri
umb himinj6J>ur;
sol

n6

hvar

vissi,

sali atti,

hvar sta)?i attu,

stjornur ne vissu,
mani ne vissi,
hvat megins atti.

6.

pa gengu regin
ginnheilug

a rokstola,

oil

ok of J?at gaittusk
nofn of gafu,

go}>,

natt ok ntyjum

ok mi]?jan dag,
morgin hetu
undorn ok aptan,
arum at telja.

Hittusk

7.

J>eirs

aosir

afla log)?u,

Tefldu

hatimbru)?u

ok

unz )?riar kvamu

amatkar mjok,

pa gengu regin
ginnheilug

go)>,

t61 gor)?u.

teitir

tuni,

vas ]>eim vattergis

9.

au)? smi)?u)7u,

tangir .skopu
8.

I|?avelli

horg ok hof

611

varu

vant 6r

golli-

)?ursa meyjar,

or jotunheimum.

a rokstola,
ok of j^at gscttusk

drott of skepja
hvern skyldi dverga
or
blam leggjum.
ok
Brimis
6r
bloj^i

9.

Hvern, Dt.

hverr,

The sense evidently requires

the accusative case.

THE SOOTHSAYING OF THE

4.

5.

'

VALA.

279

ere the sons of the god

had uplifted the world-plain,
the glorious Earth.
and fashioned Midgarth,
Sun shone from the south,
on the world's bare stones
with herb of green.
then was Earth o'crgrown

out of the south

Sun, Moon's companion,
round the rim of heaven.
her right hand flung
Sun knew not yet
where she had her hall
;

nor knew the stars

Moon

nor ever the

where they had their place;

what might he owned.

(Ordering of Times and Seasons.)

6.

Then went

all

the Powers

to their thrones of

doom

the most holy gods

and o'er this took coun-el
names they gave:
to Night and the New-Moons

and named the Mid-day,

they named the Morning,
the years.
count
to
Afternoon, Evening,
(The Golden Age
7.

the coming of Fate.)

till

on the Fields of Labour

Gathered the gods
set
on
their
courts and temples
high
they
wrought rich treasures,
they founded forges,
and fashioned tools.
tongs they hammered

8.

They played
little

at tables

they wanted

in court,

were joyous,

for wealth of gold.

Till there

came

all fearful

maidens,

of the giant race,

forth three

from Jotunheim.

(Creation of the Dwarfs.)

9.

Then went

all

the Powers

to their thrones of

the most holy gods,

and

doom,

o'er this took counsel

whom

should they make

the lord of dwarfs
out of Ymir's blood,
and his swarthy limbs.
4.

The sons

Thrones of doom,

Bur ;

of the god, or sons of

beneath Yggdrasil

Cf. t this stanza with 60, 61

the

Norns,

see
st.

Grm.,

20.

see
st.

9.

Vsp. en
30.

Ymir

skamma,
8.

is

st.

6.

2.

All-fearful

maidens:

here called Brimir.

VOLUSPA.

280
10.

msfeztr of or)>inn
par vas M6tsognir
en Durinn annarr;
dverga allra,
\>e'\r

mannlikun

dvergar
11.

Nyi ok

morg of gor]?u
sem Durinn sag)>i.

jorjni,

Ntyi,

Nor)>ri

Austri ok Vestri,

Nar ok

ok

Su]>ri,

Alftofr, Dvalinn,

Bifurr, Bafurr,

Nipingr, Dai'nn,
Bomburr, N6ri,

Ann ok

Ai, Mj6J>vitnir.

Nai'nn,

6narr,

12.

Vindalfr, prai'nn,
Viggr ok Gandalfr,
pror, Vitr ok Litr,
pekkr ok p6rinn,
nii hefk dverga
Nyr ok Nyra)>r,
r^tt of tatya.
Reginn ok Rtysvtyr

13.

Fili, Kili,

Fundinn, Nali,
Hannarr, Sviurr,
Frar, Hornbori,
Frcegr ok Loni,
Heptifili,

Aurvangr,
14.

Mai

es dverga

Aurvanga

til

sjot

ok Dolg)>rasir,
Hl^vangr, Gloiinn,
Skafi)?r, Ai.

ok Yngvi,

Eikinskjaldi,

Fjalarr ok Frosti,
)>at

sb

uppi,

langni]?ja tal

lij>i,

til

Fi)>r

ok Ginnarr

R.

me}?an old lifir,

Lofars hafat.

Regarded by most authorities as an interpolation.

H.J6.
HI.

Joruvalla.

Dufr, Andvari,

Dori, 6ri,

mun

fra salar steini

par vas Draupnir

Har, Haugspori,

Alfr

li)n

Lofars telja

til

Skirfir, Virfir,

16.

Dvalins

Ijona kindum
j?eir es sottu

15.

Eikinskjaldi.

Jari,

14.

LiJ?i,

Dt. and

THE SOOTHSAYING OF THE

10.

11.

was made the

Mead-drinker then

VALA.

highest,

the dwarfs

but Durin second

of

and out of the earth

in form like man,

these twain-shaped beings

as Durin bade.

all

281

New Moon, Waning-moon,

All-thief, Dallier,
and East and West.
North and South
Corpse-like, Death-like,

Damn,

Niping,

Bombur, Nori,

Bifur, Bafur,

Ann and Onar,

AI,

Mead-wolf.

12.

Wind-elf, Thrai'nn,
Vigg and Wand-elf,
Thekk and Thorin,
Thror, Vit, and Lit,
and
New-counsel, Wise-counsel,
Regin,
Nyr
now have I numbered
the dwarfs aright.

13.

Fili, Kili,

Fundin, Nali,

Hannar, Sviur,
Fraeg and Loni,

Heptifili,

Frar, Hornbori,

Aurvang,
14.

'Tis time to
all

Oaken-shield.

Jari,

number

who

the Sandy-realms.

There were Draupnir

Har and Haugspori,
Dori, Ori,

Skafid, Ai.

Elf and Yngvi,

Fjalar and Frost,

Thus

shall be told

the line

and Dolgthrasir,

Hlevang, Gloin,
Duf, Andvari,

Skirfir, Virfir,

16.

song-mead

of Lofar's race,
from earth's threshold,
the Plains of Moisture,

sought below
15.

in Dallier's

the dwarf-kind

Oaken-shield,
Fin and Ginar.

throughout

who were born

all

time

of Lofar's race.

11-16.
A translation of these obscure names has only been given where it seems to
Dallier's song-mead is thus taken by Dt.
suggest the character of the dwarfs.
14.
and HI. as a synonym for poetry ; cf. Snorri's " Dallier's drink."
Dallier is a dwarf

well

known

in the

Edda, and

is

chosen to represent his race

This dwarf migration from the earth's surface

is

who brewed

also suggested by Dt,

the

mead (Sn.E.),

and HI,
2

VOLUSPA.

282

17.

Unz

j>rir

kv&mn

6r

ok astkir

oflgir

fundu a landi
Ask ok Emblu

18.

Ond

ne"

ond gaf
Id

19.

6}> ne"

O|>inn,

6|>

ok

heitir Yggdrasil,

20.

Skuld ena )>ri]?ju

j?ecr lif kuru

alda bornum,

orlog seggja.

pat

man

folkvig

39.

RH

fyrst

heimi,

geirum studdu
hana brendu,

brendu

opt osjaldan

|>rysvar borna,

]>6

enn

lifir.

U Yggdrasils, r, H. G. Sv. Magn.

21.
Man,
hon, R. H. has the third person, as in st. 27, 28, 29,31, 32, 35, 38

Heitir Yggdrasil,

man

margs vitandi
und ]?olli stendr

}>&r log log)?u,

|?rysvar

19.

dali falla,

a]?ra VerJ?andi,

es Gollveigu
ok i hollo Hars

S. /.;

Ur]?ar brunni.

pa|>an koma meyjar

es
j?riar 6r ]>eim sal

skaru a'ski^i,

Mh.

es

of groenn

Ur]> h^tu eina,

21.

hvita auri

koma doggvar
fc

gaf Hoenir,

litu go|?a.

veitk standa,

stendr

hofyu,

litu go)>a

bar ba|>mr ausinn

)?a|>an

orloglausa.

gaf Lojnirr

Ask

husi

megandi

litt

attu,

la ne" larti

]>vi lij>i

resir at

THE SOOTHSAYING OF THE

VALA.

283

(Creation of Men.)
17.

18.

of the jEsir kindred,

Then came three gods
towards their home.
mighty and blessed,
wanting power,
They found on the seashore,
an Ash and Elm.
with fate unwoven,

had

Spirit they

and mind they owned

not,

nor

blood, nor voice

fair

not,

appearance.

and mind gave Honir,

and aspect fair.

Spirit gave Odin,

blood gave Lodur,

(The Tree of Life and Fate.)

19.

'tis called Yggdrasil,

An ash I know standing,
with shining drops
a high tree sprinkled
which fall in the dales
come dews therefrom
;

it

20.

o'er the well of

stands ever green

all things knowing,

There are the Maidens,
in
hall
which
stands
'neath the Tree.
the
three
the second Being
One is named Weird,'
but Shall the third.
who grave on tablets
'

down

laws,

they speak the

doom

They

lay

(The

War

oft,

of the Gods.)

war

in the world,
with spears,
pierced
they
of Odin the High One

great

in the hall

burned
not seldom

thrice they

'

they choose out life,

of the sons of men.

I remember the first

when Golden-draught

and burned

'

'

'

21.

Weird.

the three times born,

she lives.
still
yet

her,

Hbnir a god of
18.
Elm: the meaning of Icelandic embla is doubtful.
Lodur probably stands for Loki, for these three were always companions.
The story of this war between the /Esir ami Wanes
21.
Weird, see Gg., st. 7.
:

17.

wisdom.
20.
is

n.ver fully told, but is the subject of constant allusions;

see V'sp. en skamma, st. 9.

draught,

see

I'm.,

Jy.

Golden

VOLUSPA.

284
22.

vas angan

a>

23.

vitti

sei|>

skyldu go}>

ok of

oil

pa gengu regin

26.

27.

|"6rr

folk of skaut

heimi

)>ar

borgar asa,
vollu sporna.

a rokstola,

ok of

]>at

g^ttusk

lavi blandit

jotuns

einn

gjalda

fyrst

oil

ginnheilug go}>,
hverr lopt hef)?i

gacttusk

]?at

gildi eiga.

ok
Fleygjn 6]>inn
enn
vas
folkvig
)?at

ej^a sett

hugleikin,

afraj?

brotinn vas borjweggr

knattu vanir vigska

25.

a rokstola,

oil

ginnheilug go)?,
hvart skyldu eesir

24.

ganda

illrar bru]?ar.

pa gengu regin

e)>a

kvam

hvars husa

Hei|?i he"tu

volu velspaa,
sei)> hvars kunni,

O)?s

va

mey

gefna.

jmmginn

mo]?i
es slikt of fregn-

hann sjaldan sitr

a gengusk ei)>ar,
mal 611 meginlig

or]>

Veit Heimdallar

hljoj? of folgit

ok

sosri,

es a me)7al foru.

und heijwjnum

helgum ba)>mi
aurgum forsi
vitu}> enn e)?a hvat
ValfoJ^rs
;

a s6 ausask
af

42.

Hugleikin,

ve}>i

H. B. Gv. ; hon

leikinn,

R, M. L.

THE SOOTHSAYING OF THE

22.

Men called her

Witch,'

Then went

all

the Powers

the most holy gods,

whether the JEsir

and

24.

all

to their thrones of

and

doom,

o'er this took counsel

should pay a were-gild

Powers together

make

peaceful offering.

and shot 'mid the host

But Odin hurled
and still raged the first
great war in the world.
were
bulwarks
of Asgard,
Broken then
the
the Wanes, war wary,
trampled the field.
;

(War with
25.

Then went

all

the Powers

the Jotuns.)
to their thrones of

doom,

and o'er this took counsel

the most holy gods,
had mingled with poison
who all the air
to the race of Jotuns.
and Freyja had yielded
26.

285

when she came to their dwellings,

wands she enchanted,
light-hearted wove them,
spells many wove she,
was ever the joy.
and of evil women
'

flattering seeress

23.

VALA.

Alone fought the Thunderer

with raging heart
when he hears such tidings.
seldom he rests
words and swearing,
Oaths were broken,
made betwixt them.
all solemn treaties

(The Secret Pledges of the Gods.)

27.

22.

For

know where Heimdal's

hearing is hidden
under the heaven-wont
holy tree,
with falling streams
which I see ever showered
[what ?
Would ye know further, and
from All-father's pledge.

Witch, of Vala.

23.

Snorri's account, see Introd.

Udl

Lines 2 and 3 are thus understood by HI.

25.
is here called the bride of Ud or Ottar ; see

Freyja

VOLUSPA.

286
28.

enn aldni kvam

ok i augu leit.

Ein sat uti,

Yggjungr asa

Hvers

es

fregnij>

min

freistij;

29.

hvi

mik,

hvar auga fait,

Mimis brunni
drekkr mjoj> Mimir
morgin hverjan
af vej>i Valfo|?rs
vitu)> enn e^a hvat
Allt veit, Ojrinn

enom

ms&ra

30.

31.

fyr spjoll spaklig

hringa ok men
ok spa ganda.

s& vitt ok vitt

of verold hverja.

Val|>i Herfo)>r

Sa valkyrjur
gorvar at

vitt of
til

ri)>a

Skuld belt

komnar,

Got}?j6}>ar

en Skogul onnur,
Gondul
ok Geirskogul.
Hildr,
Gu)?r,

Nu
Ek

nonnur Herjans,
grund valkyrjur.

'ru talj^ar

gorvar at
32.

skildi,

rij>a

sa Baldri

blo)?gum tivur,

6)?ins barni
stoj> of vaxinn

mar ok mjok
33.

orlog folgin

vollum

Varj? af meij>i

harmflaug hsottlig
Baldrs bro)>ir vas
sa

34.

nam

a bal of bar

en Frigg of gret
va Valhallar
:

Fyr

3 o.
spioll,

spjoll,

Gv.

hseri

mistilteinn.

es meer syndisk

H6)?r

nam

of borinn

O]?ins sunr

po hendr icva
a)>r

fagr

skjota

snimma,

einnsettr vega.

n6 hofo}? kembj^i,
Baldrs andskota

Fensolum
vituj? enn e]?a hvat

fekk spjoll, E. Mh. G. S. J.

fespjbll,

B. C. Sv. R.

fe

THE SOOTHSAYING OF THE

28.

sat lone

'

2*7

when came the Dread One,

enchanting

the ancient god,

and gazed in my eyes:
What dost thou ask of me ?
why dost thou prove

know

All

29.

VALA.

Odin,

I,

me

where thou hast hidden

yea,

thine eye in the wondrous

well of Mimir,
who each morn
from the pledge of All-father
"
drinks the mead
Would ye know further, and what

Then Odin bestowed on me

30.

rings and trinkets

and the wisdom of wands.
magic spells
saw far and wide
into every world.

for
I

31.

From

far

saw

the Valkyries coming

to the hero host.

ready to ride

Fate held a shield,

War

and

and Lofty followed

Bond and

Battle,

Numbered now
Valkyries, ready
32.

I saw for Baldr,

the child of Odin,

High

33.

And

the bleeding god,

his doom concealed.

o'er the fields,

most slender and

there

Spearpoint.

are the Warfather's maidens,

to ride o'er Earth.

fair,

came from

there stood upgrown,

the mistletoe.

though slender
which Hod did shoot.
But Baldr's brother
was born ere long
that son of Odin
fought one night old;

the

fell

that plant,

it

seemed,

woe-shaft

34.

for never

hand

he bathed, nor head,

ere he laid on the bale-fire

But Frigg long wept

in

Fen's moist halls

horn

of Id. hljoj).

and counsellor of

See Bdr,,

st.

8-12.

34.

woe

of Valholl

Would ye know

Heirndal's hearing was celebrated.

28.

accepted translation

teacher

Baldr's foe.

o'er the

Dt.

and HI. thus

the gods, although a Jiitiin

:

the

see

Hdv.,

home of Frigg,

and what

correct the hitherto

Mimir, a water giant.

29.

Fen's moist halls

further,

st.

He
139.

is

the wise

3 2 '34-

VOLUSPA.

288

35.

Hapt

und hvera lundi

sa Hggja

Loka

la-gjarns liki
)?ar sitr

ver vel glyjuj?

36.

fellr

vitu)>

austan

a>ttar,

a Okolni

st6]>

sa Brimir heitir.

bj6rsalr jotuns,

Sal sa standa

s6lu fjarri

Nastrondu

nor]?r horfa dyrr;

a,

inn of Ijora,

fellu eitrdropar

sa
39.

Slij>r heitir su.

Sindra

salr 6r golli

38.

Sa

's

undinn

d Ni]?av6llum

Stoj> fyr nor]>an

en annarr

sinum
enn e}?a hvat

of eitrdali

soxum ok sver)>um

37.

a)>ekkjan

)>eygi of

Sigyn

orma hryggjum.

salr

)>unga strauma

]?ar va)?a

menn meinsvara

ok morjjvarga
ok ]?anns annars glepr
eyrarunu
na'i framgengna,
)>ar so Ni]?h6ggr
sleit vargr vera
vitu)> enn e]?a hvat
;

40.

41.

i
Austr sat en aldna
Jarnvi]>i
ok fceddi )?ar
Fenris kindir;
einna nekkverr
ver]?r af ollum
i trolls hami.
tungls tjugari

ry)>r

ragna

sjot

svort ver)?a solskin

ve)?r oil

valynd

manna,
raujmm dreyra
of sumur eptir,

feigra

Fyllisk fjorvi

vitu]>

enn

e\>a

hvat

THE SOOTHSAYING OF THE

VALA.

289

(Vision into Hel and Jotunheim.)

35.

saw lying bound

one

like the

And

From

Cauldron-grove

of guile-loving Loki.

yet o'er her husband

there sat Sigyn,

rejoicing
36.

in

form

Would ye know

little.

To

the Stream of Fear,

through Poison-dales.

the eastward a flood,

bore swords and daggers

37.

and what

further,

on the Moonless Plains,

the northward stood

the golden hall

of the Sparkler's race
and a second stood
in the Uncooled realm,
;

'

a feast-hall of Jotuns,
38.

and far from the sun

on the Strand of Corpses,

down through
for that hall
39.

the roof

saw a third
with doors

set

northward

dripped poison-drops,
with serpents' backs.

was woven

saw there wading

Fire,' 'tis called

the whelming streams

men

wolf-like murderers,

forsworn,
love-whisperer had wiled.
The dragon, Fierce-stinger,
fed on corpses,
a wolf tore men.
Would ye know further, and what

and those who another's

40.

Far east

in

Iron-wood

doth one come forth,

all

to snatch the sun.

in guise of a troll,

41.

an old giantess,

she fostered there.

Fenrir's offspring

From among them

sat

He is gorged, as on lives
of dying men
he reddens the place
of the Powers like blood.
of summer after,
Swart grows the sunshine
;

all

Would

baleful the storms.

ye

know

further,

and what ?

The Sparkler: a dwarf and forger of the gods'

Set Ls. prose ending.
35.
37.
Ironwood
treasures; see Grm., st. 43.
40.
Fierce-stinger, see Grm., st. 35.
39.
:

a famous mythical forest in Jotunheim.

and Hati, who followed

the

moon

see

Fenrir's offspring

Grm.,

st.

Skoll,

who

pursiuil the sun,

39.

VOLUSPA.

2 go

42.

ok

Sat bar a haugi

gygjar

hirbir,

g6l of

hanum

fagrraubr hani

43.

G61 of asum

solum Heljar.

at

festr

mun

fjolj?

veitk

umb

ragna rok,

Brce]?r

frce)?a,

romm

sifjum spilla

h6rd6mr
aj^r

engi ma]?r

mikill

verj>ask,

skildir 'u klofnir,

skeggjold, skalmold,

46.

sigtiva.

ok at bonum

berjask

vindold, vargold,

mun

fram s6k lengra

systrungar
i heimi,

hart's

fyr Gnipahelli,

en freki rinna

slitna,

munu

fyr jorb nej^an

Geyr nu Garmr mjok

munu

gaglvibi
sas Fjalarr heitir.

at Herjafobrs

en annarr gelr
s6trau|?r hani

45.

glabr

horpu

Eggbr

Gollinkambi,

sa vekr holba

44.

sl6

verold steypisk

6)?rum ]?yrma.

en mjotvij?r kyndisk
Leika Mims synir,
enu gamla
Gjallarhorni

at

hatt blsess Heimdallr,

mselir OJ^inn

Veitk, /. Sv. G.
44.
HI. (notes) ;
mjotujjr, R,

vij?

47.

hrge)?ask

hofu|>.

so aho st. 49, 58.

46.
Losnar in H is followed by

veit hon, R.

etc.

Mims

horn's a lopti,

allir

4 helvegum

br Surtar ban sevi of gleypir.

Mjotvi|?r,

Dt. and

THE SOOTHSAYING OF THE

VALA.

291

(Signs of Doom.)
Sits

42.

on a mound

and

strikes his

harp

warder of giant-wives;
Swordsman,
in
the
him crows
roosting tree

the gleeful
o'er

who

the fair red cock

Fjalar

is

called.

the Golden-combed
Crows o'er the gods
in War-father's dwellings
he wakes the heroes
beneath the earth,
and crows yet another
in the halls of Hel.
a dark red cock

43.

Loud bays Garm

before Gaping- Hel

the Wolf run free.
the bond shall be broken

44.

still onward I see

Hidden things I know ;
the gods of war.
the great Doom of the Powers,

and be as murderers

Brothers shall fight

45.

sisters'

'Tis

ill

with

shall stain their kinship.

the world ;
comes fearful whoredom,

a Sword age, Axe age,

a Wind age, Wolf age,
Never shall man then

46.

Mim's sons

arise

at the roaring

shields are cloven,

ere the world sinks.

spare another.

the Fate Tree kindles

sound

of Gjalla-horn.

the horn

Loud blows Heimdal,

and Odin speaks

42.

The

gleeful

children

Swordsman

Heimdal, the watchman of

Garm, the Hel hound ;
44.

is

the

the gods.t
see

is aloft,

with Mimir's head.

Bdr.,

warder of Jotunheim, and corresponds with

43.

st.

2.

The Golden-combed, see

He and Tyr fight and slay

Fj.,

st.

17.

one another

.)
Gaping-hel, Icelandic Gnipa-hel, is descriptive of the craggy rock entrance
Mini or Mimir : his sons
which forms the month of Hel. The Wolf, see Ls. 39.
46.
must be the waters of the well, or the streams that flow from it.
Compare s-Egir and
Mimir's
head is told in Yngst.
34.
The
st.
Ls.
2,
;
story
of
Hytn.
Hymir's daughters

(Sn.

the myth
linga S. (see Introd.J, but here an earlier form of
is

a well-spring of wisdom.

suggested various renderings

The Fate Tree

is

implied, in which the head

unemended

the
mjotujjr of
the judge appears; fate approaches.
:

the

MSS.

has

VOLUSPA.
47.

48.

Ymr

en jotunn losnar,
askr standandi,
skelfr Yggdrasils
aldit tr6,

Hvat's me}> asum

gnyr

allr

veggbergs

50.

visir

nii

festr

mun

fjolj?

veitk

umb

ragna rok,

Hrymr

frce]?a,

Kjoll ferr nor]>an ;

en
of log ly]>ir,

]?&

48.
J.

Friggjar

koma munu Heljar

Loki styrir

B and other MSS.

allir,
i

for.

me]? sviga

Isevi,

en gifr hrata,
en himina klofnar.

harmr annarr fram,

vty ulf vega,
bjartr at Surti
falla

angan.

Placed here by B. G. S.; fallows 51 in R.

austan,

MSS.

mun

jotunmojn

ari hlakkar,

s61 valtiva

tro]?a halir helveg,

en bani Belja

en

Byleists

sver]?i

es 6]?inn ferr

me)? freka

Surtr ferr sunnan

pa komr Hlinar

sigtiva.

Naglfar losnar.

grjotbjorg gnata,

53.

hefsk lind fyrir

ekr austan,

skinn af

hvat

e]>a

fyr Gnipahelli,

romm

fara fiflmegir
)?eim es br6|?ir
52.

fram sek lengra

snysk jormungandr
ormr knyr unnir,

51.

}>ingi

en freki rinna

slitna,

slitr na'i ni)?f6lr

enn

vituj?

Garmr mjok

Geyr

Eesir'u

fyr steindurum,

stynja dvergar

49.

hvat's me]? olfum

jotunheimr,

Heljar, B. N. G. Sv.

51.

Mh.

J.

Norman, B. N. G. Sv. Mh.

and other
;
Muspellz,

THE SOOTHSAYING OF THE

47.

freed,

How

how do

All

the gods are in council ;

the dwarfs are groaning,

do the gods fare,

Jotunheim rumbles,

before the stone doors

Loud bays Garm

and what

still

Doom

further,

before Gaping-hel
the Wolf run free.

the bond shall be broken,

Hidden things I know
the great

the elves fare

Would ye know

a rock-wall finding
49.

is

293

Yggdrasil's ash.

shivers, yet standing,

48.

Fenrir

Groans the Ancient Tree,

VALA.

onward

see

the gods of war.

of the Powers,

(Gathering of the Destroyers.)

50.

51.

from the East

holding shield on high

in Jotun-rage;
the World-serpent writhes
screams a pale-beaked eagle,
he lashes the waves ;
the
Death
boat is launched.
rending corpses,

Drives

Hrym

from the North

the hosts of Hel
and
Loki
coming,
steering,
he fares on the way
brother of Byleist,
the monster kinsmen.
with Fenrir and all
Sails the bark

o'er the sea are

52.

Rides Surt from the South

fire, bane of branches,
sun of the war gods,
gleams from his sword.

The rock-hills crash,

men flock Helward,
(The

last battles of

Soon comes to pass

53.

when Odin

fares

then must he

and

the troll-wives totter,

and heaven

fall,

is cleft.

the Gods.)

Frigg's second woe,

to fight with the wolf ;
her lord beloved,

Beli's bright slayer

must bow before Surt.

Fenrir, not Loki. must be intended by Jotun of the text, for Loki was always
50.
among the gods.
Hrym, the leader of the Frost-giants. A pale-beaked
Death-boat or Naglfar, the Nail-ferry, said by
eagle, Corpse-swallower ; see Vm. 37.
Snorri to be made oj the nails of dead men.
51.
Byleist is unknown except as Loki's
47.

reckoned

brother.

52.

Surt, see Vm.,

st.

53.

53.

Beli's bright slayer, or Frey.

was a giant whom Frey slew with a stag's horn for lack of
which he had given for Gerd ; see Skin. st. 16, Ls. st. 42.

Snorri

tells

us,

the

Beli,

sword

VOLUSPA.

294
54.

Komr enn

mikli

mogr

Sigfojmr,

at valdyri
Vtyarr, vega
Ijctr megi hvej>rungs
mund of standa
;

til

hjor
55.

hjarta

Komr enn

)>a's

mEcri

mogr

Drepr

munu

af mo]>i
halir allir

har

58.

59.

hiti

fjol]?

veitk frce)>a,

umb

ragna rok,

slitna,

55, lines 3

doubtful

and

sjalfan.

fyr Gnipahelli,

romm

sigtiva.

6}>ru sinni
;

flygr orn yfir,

fiska veijnr.

a tyavelli
Finnask sesir
matkan dcema,
ok of mold]?inur
a megindoma
ok minnask |?ar
fornar runar.
ok a Fimbultys
4.

trace of these missing lines

ginn lopt

mar,

en freki rinna
fram sek lengra

i]?jagrcena

fjalli

upp koma

sas a

heij>ar stjornur

mun

jor|> or segi

60.

sigr fold

festr

falla forsar,

ntys 6kvi)mum.

Geyr nu Garmr mjok

Se"k

yfir

lif>r

is

found

in

frdnn ne)?an
G.

59.

Sk,

G.

Fjorgynjar burr

ok aldrnari,
vi}> himin

geisar eimi

veur

heimstoj? ry]?ja

Sol t6r sortna,

hverfa af himni

leikr

H16j>ynjar

mij?gar)>s

gengr fet niu

neppr fra na)?ri

57.

foj^ur.

ormi mceta.

gengr 6]>ins sunr

56.

hefnt

ser hon, R.

H.

so also

st.

64.

H,

but the reading

is

THE SOOTHSAYING OF THE

54.

Comes

VALA.

295

son of the War-father,

with the deadly beast

forth the stalwart

Vidar, to strive
he the sword

lets

into Fenrir's heart,

from his right hand leap

and avenged is the father.

Comes

55.

forth the glorious

offspring of Earth,
with
the
Thor, to strive
glistening Serpent.

56.

Strikes in his wrath

while mortals

Warder of Midgard,
homes forsake

the
their

all

the son of Odin,

nine feet recoils he,
who fears not shame.
from
the
bowed,
dragon

(The End of the World.)

57.

The sun

Earth sinks in the sea,

darkened,
the bright stars away.
from heaven turn
is

Rages smoke

with

58.

fire,

the life-feeder,

against heaven

high flame plays

Loud bays Garm

itself.

before Gaping-hel,
the Wolf run free

the bond shall be broken,

hidden things

know

Doom

the great

still

onward

see

the gods of war.

of the Powers,

(The new World.)

59.

I see uprising
a second time
earth from the ocean,
green anew
the waters fall,
on high the eagle

flies o'er

60.

the

The gods

and catches

fell

are gathered

they speak concerning

and remember there

and the Mightiest God's
55.

The

Serpent,

see

Hym.,

st.

23.

fish.

on the Fields of Labour

the great World Serpent,

things of former fame
old mysteries.

VOLUSPA.

296
61.

munu

par

undrsamligar

eptir

grasi finnask
attar hoffm.

gollnar toflur
)>ajrs

62.

ardaga

Munu 6sanir
mun batna,

akrar vaxa,

mun

bols

bua Holpr ok Baldr

vel valtivar

63.

vituj>

pd kna Hcenir

vitu)?

Sal sek standa

skulu dyggvar

ok of aldrdaga

65.

Komr enn

65.

bersk

at

frann nej?an
i

fjo]?rum
Ni]?h6ggr nai ;

62.

Found

Vel valtivar, R,

only in

H.

Dt., HI.

byggva

reginddmi

sds ollu rstyr.

Komr enn dimmi

na.\>r

dr6ttir

yn]?is nj6ta.

riki

oflugr ofan

s61u fegra,

d Giml6

golli |>ak)?an

Tveggja
enn e|>a hvat

brce)?ra

)>ar

Hropts sigtoptir,
enn e)>a hvat ?

hlautvif? kj6sa

ok burir byggva
vindheim vtyan
64.

Baldr koma,

dreki fljugandi,
frd Ni)?afj6llum

flygr voll yfir

nu mun sokkvask.

v6 valtiva, R. G. H. S.

65, lines

and

2.

THE SOOTHSAYING OF THE

61.

Then

shall

be found

VALA.

297

the wondrous-seeming

hid in the grass,

in days of yore.
those they had used

golden tables

62.

And
all

there

harm

unsown

shall the fields bring forth

shall be healed

Hod and Baldr

at

63.

and the sons

in

64.

shall dwell in Valholl,

shall dwell

Wind-home

blest with joy

(Coming

66.

of the

more

62.

fair

further,

than the sun,

realm

and what

'

all

holy beings,

through the days of time.

new Power,

Comes from on high

passing of the old.)

to the great

Assembly

the Mighty Ruler

who

Fares from beneath

a glistening snake

a dim dragon flying,

from the Moonless Fells.
the dead on his pinions
I sink now and cease.

away

and what ?

further,

in the Fire-sheltered

Fierce-stinger bears

Hym.,

know

Would ye know

wide.

I see yet a hall

roofed with gold

ye

the twigs of divining,

of Odin's brothers

shall cast

ever shall dwell there

65.

Would

peace the war gods.

Then Honir

Baldr will come

o'er the plains.

orders

all.

The twigs, set

Valholl, called here the victory halls of Hropt (Odin).
63.
Fire-sheltered realm, Icelandic (Giml6 from gim, fire, and h!6,
64.

st. 1.

shelter; Dt. and HI.), which has often been translated jewelled
this hall in contrast to the others of st. 37 and 38.

but the above meaning

shows

2Q

BIBLIOGRAPHY
WITH LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS.
I.

MSS. OF THE EDDA.

R CODEX REGIUS OF THE ELDER EDDA,
MS.

of the I3th-i4th centuries, in the

a parchment

Copenhagen Library.

Facsimile by Finnur Jonsson, 1896.

A CODEX ARNAMAGN^ANUS,
containing fragments of

parchment of the I4th century,

Vm., Grm., Hym., Skm., Hrbl., Bdr.

Copenhagen.

HAUKSB6K,

CODEX REGIUS OF SNORRA EDDA,

parchment of the I4th century, containing Volnspa.

Copenhagen.
I4th century, containing

a parchment of the
few strophes quoted from the

Saemundar Edda and unknown sources.

U CODEX UPSALIENSIS OF SNORRA

EDDA,

a parchment

CODEX WORMIANUS OF SNORRA EDDA,

a parchment

MS.

of the I4th century.

Upsala.

of the late I4th century, containing R]>.

FLATEYJARBOK,

Copenhagen.

a parchment of the I4th century, containing

Hdl. Copenhagen.

B, C, B, L,

Paper MSS. of the iyth century, containing

O, S, St.

Gg. and

Fj.
II.

EDDIC POEMS.
Alv.

Alvissmal.

Hym.

Bdr.

Baldrs Draumar.

Ls.

Fj.

Fjolsvinnsmal.

Gg.

Grougaldr.
Grimnismal.

Grm.
Hav.

Havamal.

Hdl.

Hyndluljo)>.

Hrbl.

Harbar)>slj6J>.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

299

III.

TEXTS AND TRANSLATIONS.

B.

S.

Buggc,

"

"

Saemundar Edda bins

(Christiania, 1867).

fr6}>a

Text.
F.

/.'/;/.

W. Bergmann,

Hrbl. (Strassburg, 187^), Gg. and Fj. (1874),

R\>. and Hdl. (1876), Hav. (1877), Alv.,

Bdr:

(1875),

prk.,

Hym., Ls.

Text (greatly emended) and

(1878).

translation.

"

C.

Corpus Poeticum
Vigfusson and York Powell,
translation.
Text
and
(Oxford, 1883).

D.

F. E. C. Dietrich,

"

Altnordisches Lesebuch

Boreale

"

"

(Leipzig, 1864).

Text, selections.
Dt.

&

F. Better

HI.

E.

and R. Heinzel, " Ssemundar Edda,"

vol. i (Leipzig,

Text.

1903).

"

L. Etmuller,

Lesebuch" (Zurich,

Altnord.

1861).

Text,

(Christiania, 1889).

Text,

selections.

F.

H.

"

S. Falk,

"

Oldnorsk Laesebog

selections.
1 ; . \liitftt.

G.

"

Den aeldere Edda, etc. "'(1821-23). Text.

F. Magnusen,
"
H. Gering, Die Lieder der alteren Edda" (Padeborn, 1904).
Text.
H. Gering,

"

Die Edda
"

H.

Hold.

A. Holder and A.

Hildebrand,
Text.

"

Translation.

(Leipzig, 1892).

Lieder der alteren

Holtzmann

Edda

(Leipzig,

"

(Padeborn, 1876).

1875).

Text and

translation.

"

H.

A. Heusler,

/.

Finnur Jonsson, "Saemundar Edda" (Reykjavik, 1905). Text.

K.

Copenhagen Edition (1787-1828).

L.

H. Liining, " Die Edda" (Zurich, 1859).

M.

P. A.

Mb.

Voluspa"

Munch, "Den

Th. Mobius,

"

(Berlin, 1887).

aeldere

Edda"

Edda Saemundar

Text and translation.

Text.

(Christiania, 1847).

"

(Leipzig, 1860).

Text.

Text.

THE POETIC EDDA.

"

Edda Saemundar" (Stockholm,

Jl.

R. Rask,

S.

B. Sijmons,
Text.

"Die Lieder der Edda"

1818).

(Halle, 1888), vol. 2.

Simr.

K. Simrock, "Die Edda, die altere

Translation.
1882).

u. die jiingere" (Stuttgart.

Th.

B. Thorpe,

"

L.

of

Saemund the Learned

"

(London,

Translation.

1866).

W.

The Edda

Wimmer,

"

Oldnordisk Laesebog

"

(Copenhagen, 1889).

Text, selections.

IV.

GLOSSARIES.
D.

Dietrich

E.

Etmiiller.

G.

Gering,

"

glossary to

See E.

"

Lesebuch."

See D.

III.

III.

Vollstandiges Worterbuch zu den Liedern der

Edda"

(Halle, 1903).

F.Magn.F. Magnusen, Lexicon,

1821.

See L. III.

L.

Liining

N.

M. Nygaard

F.

G. Vigfusson, "Icelandic-English Dictionary" (Oxford, 1874).

Wk.

E. Wilken, Glossar.

glossary to text.
:

has been

glossary to text (Bergen, 1882).

made

(Padeborn, 1883).

An

abridged edition

of this work.

V.

COMMENTARIES.

(i)

Anderson.

GENERAL WORKS.

"Norse Mythology"

(1875).

Home of the Eddie Poems" (1899). " Studien iiber die

Bugge, S.
"
(German
Entstehung der nordischen Gotter- u. Heldensagen
trans, by O. Brenner, Munchen, 1889).
"

BIBLIOGRAPHY.
W.

Craigie,

301

"Religion of the Ancient Scandinavians" (London,

A.

1906).
"

W.

Cox, G.

Mythology of the Aryan Nations

Detter, F. and R.
Dt. HI. in III.

Heinzel.

"

Anmerkungen

"The Golden Bough

Frazer, J. G.

Faraday, Winifred.

"

"

"

(London, 1870).
to text, vol. 2.

See

"

(1900).

The Divine Mythology

of the

North

"

(London,

1902).

Gering, H.
Golther,

'Grimm,

See G.

Introduction to translation.
"

W.

in III.

Handbuch der Germanischen Mythologie "

"

Deutsche Mythologie,"

J.

Holzmann, A.

Commentary
"

J6nsson, F.

Den

trans,

by

J. S. Stallybrass, 1883.

See Hold,

to text.

(Leipzig, 1895).

in III.

oldnorske ok oldislandske Literaturs Historic."

Copenhagen.
"

Kauffmann, F.
Ker,

W.

"

P.

Lang, A.

"

Epic and Romance

Miiller,

"

(1900).

(London, 1897).
"

Myth, Ritual and Religion

"

Meyer, E. H.

Mogk, E.

"

Northern Mythology

"

(London, 1887).

Germanische Mythologie" (2nd

Germanische Mythologie

"

edition, 1903).

(2nd edition, Strassburg, 1907).

"Chips from a German Workshop,"

Max.

vol.

4 (1868).

"

Petersen, H.

Uber den Gottesdienst u. den Gotterglauben des

Nordens wahrend der Heidenzeit " (Copenhagen, 1876).
"

Teutonic Mythology," English version by R. B.

Rydberg, A. V.
Anderson (London, 1889).

Saxo Qrammaticus. " Danish History."

(London, 1894).

Books

Sijmons, B.

See S.

Ten

Brink.

Introduction to text, vol.

"

Quellen

York Powell, F.
Weinhold.

"

u.

I.

Forschungen,"

ix trans,

in III.

vol. 10.

Introduction and Excursus to text.

Altnordische Leben."

by Elton

See C.

in III.

THE POETIC EDDA.

302

SPECIAL SUBJECTS.

(2)

Commentary on Hdrbar}>sljo}>, Grougaldr, Fjolsvinnsmdl,

Baldrsdraumar, Rigs\>ula, Hyndlulj6\>, Hdvamdl, Alvissmdl, ]>rymsSee Bm. III.
kvi\>a, Hymiskvtya, Lokasenna.

Bergmann.

"

Cassel, P.

Eddische Studien

Chadwick, H. M.
"

Better, F.
"

"

The Cult

"

(1856) on Fjolsvinnsmdl.

of Othin," 1899.

Die Voluspd."

Die Walkyrien der skandinavisch-germanischen CotterHeldensagen."

Frauer.

"

Heusler, A.

Weissagen der Seherin."

commentary.

translation

Voluspd,

u.

and

"

Eddastudien " 1889 on Voluspd.

"
Balder " 1902.

Hoffory. J.

Kauffmann.

"

Meyer, E. H.

"

Voluspd
1889.
"
Odin's Horse

"

"

On disputed
passages in Hdvamdl"
Cambridge Phil. Society,
" Edda
"
:
its Derivation and
1885).
Meaning (Saga-Book of the
London, 1896).
Viking Club, Nov. 1895
separate issue

Magnusson, E.

Yggdrasill
(Proceedings of the

"

Rupp, Th.

1895.'

Eddische Studien," 1869, on Fjolsvinnsmdl, Baldr, and

Freyja.
"

Siecke, E.

Mythologische Briefe," 1901.

study of Thor.
"

Uhland.

Criticism of Uhland's

Mythus von Thor," 1836.

"

Die Riesin der germanischen Mythus

Weinhold.
Wissensch. Wien. xxvi., p. 233-306).
Wilkinson.

"
(in

Voluspd.

SEE ALSO THE FOLLOWING PERIODICALS

Z.f.d.A.

the Acad. der

ZEITSCHRIFT FUR DEUTSCHES ALTERTHUM

(*P.P. 4650, 1856, &c.).

Vol.
:;:

iii.,

To

p. 385.

Explanatory notes on Hdvamdl, by Dietrich.

facilitate reference to these

date in the British

Museum

Library.

works, we have given their number, shelf-mark and

BIBLIOGRAPHY.
Vol.

v.
Interpretations of Voluspd,
nismdl, by K. Mtillenhoff.

On

Vol. xxx., p. 217.

303

Havamdl, Grimniswdl, Vaf\>nty-

Freyja as a sun-goddess

myth

of Brisingar-men,

Mttllenhoff.

by

commentary and

Skirnismdl,

132.

p.

rearrangement

of

strophes, by F. Niedner.

Notes on Iprymskvtya, Voluspd,

Vol. xxxvi., p. 278-295.

Hdr barestjo]>,

Skirnismdl, by Niednec.

Vol. xxxviii, p.
Vol.

i.

On

32.

xli., p.

Ymir as a

by R. M. Meyer.

doubtful passages in Voluspd, by Niedner.

On

p. 305.

personification of earth,

Baldr and Hod, criticism on Bugge's hypothesis,

by Niedner.
Vol.

xlii., p.

Vol.

xlvi., p.

Anz.

277.

Fylgienglauben, by Rieger.

509.

On

f.d. Alt.

the historical origin of Grimnismdl, by Much.

ANZEIGER FUR DEUTSCHES ALTERTHUM

(P.P. 4650).

Vol.

Criticism of Rydberg's Teutonic Mythology,

xviii.

Ark.

f.n. Fil.

ARKIV.

FUR NORDISK FILOLOGI

(P.P. 5044,

Vol.

vi., p.

Vol.

ix.,

Vol.

x.,

108.

Rydberg

Z.f.d.Ph.

criticised

e.

1883, &c.).'

by Detter.

Notes on Havamdl, by Olsen.

p. 221.

p. 26.

by Meyer.

Svipdagsmdl, by Falk.

ZEITSCHRIFT FUR DEUTSCHE PHILOLOGIE

(P.P. 5043, af. 1869, &c.).

Vol.

iii.,

p. 1-84.

On

the

Home,

Date, and Characteristics of Edda, by

Jessen.

Vol.

The myth of Fenrir and

xviii., p. 156-297.
nating in a star-myth, by Wilken.

Vol.

xxiii., p. i.

The

original Voluspd,

Garm shown

by Wilken.

as origi-

THE POETIC EDDA.

304

On

Vol. xxxi.

the

Wonders

in

the Edda, a study of Magic and Runes,

R. M. Meyer.

BEITRAGE ZUR GESCHICHTE DER DEUTSCHEN

SPRACHE (12,962, o, 1874, &c.).

Beit.

Vol.

xii.,

p. 383.

On

the late historical origin of the god Bragi, by

Mogk.
Vol.

On the correspondence between the War between

542.
and
Wanes, and Saxo's history of Fridlevus, by Detter and
gods
xviii., p.

Heinzel.

Vo.

xix.

Odin not Loki the author

GERMANIA

Germ.
Vol.

xxiii.,

p.

of Baldr's death,

(P.P. 4652, 1850, etc).

Sif as a sun-goddess, by

155.

by Detter.

Blaas

p.

406-440,

Hymiskvtya.
Vol.

On Voluspd
xxiv., p. 46-64.
Vaf]>ru)mismal, by Edzardi.

Vol. xxvii., p. 330-9.

Edzardi.
Vol. xxviii., p. 17.
Act.
Vol.

Germ.

on Loki.

On

and

the

missing

strophes

in

Frigg as the goddess of springs and wells, by

Hyndluljty.

ACTA GERMANICA

(12963 dd. 40, 1890).

INDEX.
i.

ICELANDIC TEXT.

Afi, 206.

Agnarr, 2, 4, 22.
Ai, a peasant, 202.

Arngrimr, 232.
Arvakr, 16.
AsaJ>6rr, 198.

Ai, a dwarf, 280,

Asgarj>r, 114, 132, 274.

Aldafo)>r, 40, 58.

Askr, 282.

Alfajrir, 20.

Asmundr,

Alfheimr,

6.

22.

As61fr, 230.

Atla, 220.

Alfr, 230.
-

a dwarf, 280.
Alfr enn gamli, son of Dagr, 230.
- son of Ulfr, 228.

Atrtyr, 20.
Atvar}>r, 174.

Aurboj>a, one of Menglod's hand-

maidens, 176.

Alfrojnill, 56, 140.

Algrcen, 188.

wife of Gymir, 218.

All, 230.

Aurgelmir, 48.

Allvaldi, 188.

Aurvangr, 280.

Almveig, 230.

Austri, 280.

Alsvi)>r, a horse, 16.

- a
giant, 102.

AJ>al, 214.

Au)>r djupu}>ga, 234.

Alviss, 24-36.
Al}>j6fr, 280.

Bafurr, 280.

Ambatt, 206.

Baldr, 8, 218, 238-242, 254, ^56,

270, 272, 286, 296.

Amma,
Amr,

206, 208.

B&leygr, 20.

230.

Andhrimnir,

10.

Bari, 174.

Andvari, 280.

Angantyr, Ottar's

- a

Barn, 214.
rival, 228, 234.

berserk, 232.

Barri, a berserk, 232.

- a
grove, 152, 154.

Angeyja, 220.

Beli, 292.

Angrbo)?a, 220.
Ann, 280.

Bergelmir, 48, 50.

Arfi, 214.
Arinnefja, 206.

Beyla, 244, 264.

Bestla, 102.

Biflindi, 22.
*

THE POETIC EDDA.

306
Bifrost, 18.

Dellingr, 48, 108.

Bifurr, 280.

Dellingr, possibly

Bileygr, 20.
Billingr, 86.

B% 176,

Dori, 174, 280.

Draupnir, 280.

Bltyr, 176.

Drengr, 208.

Bjort, 176.

Drumba,
Drumbr,

B61m, 232.
B6ndi, 208.
Bragi, 18, 244, 248, 250, 252.

Brami, 232.
Brattskeggr, 208.
Bretyablik, 8.
Bretyr, 208.

Brimir=Ymir,

206.
206.

Drottr, 206.
Dufr, 280.

Duneyrr, 14.
Durinn, 280.
Dvalinn, a hart,

14.

a dwarf, 30, 102, 208.

278.

Dyra)?r6r, 14.

a hall, 288.
Brisingar, 130, 132.

Edda, 202, 204.

Broddr, 232.

Eggjje'r, 290.

Bntyr, 208.
Bui, son of Karl, 208.
a berserk, 232.

Egill, 114.

Bundinskeggi, 208.
Burr, son of Karl, 214.
the god, 218, 278.
Byggvir, 244, 260, 262, 264.

Eikinskjaldi, 280.
Eikintjasna, 206.
Eik)>yrnir, 12.

Eir, 176.
Eistla, 220.

Eldhrimnir, 10.

Byleistr, 220, 292.

Eldir, 246.

Bolverkr, 20, 90.

Elivagar, 50, 114.

Botyorn, 102.

Embla,

Bomburr,

280.

282.

Erna, 212.
Eyfura, 232.

Dagr, Day, 46, 48.

-

a warrior, 280.
Dainn, a hart, 14.

Eylimi, 232.

Eymundr,

230.
Eyrgjafa, 220.

a dwarf, 102, 226, 280.

Danpr, 216.
Danr, 216.

as above,

Digraldi, 206.
D61g]?rasir, 280.

Bilskirnir, 10.

Boddi, 208.

same

175.

Fafnir, 232.

Falh6fnir, 14.

INDEX.
20.

Farmatyr,

Frty, 176.
Frosti, 280.

Faj>ir, 210.
Feima, 208.

grandfather of Ottar, 228.

Fr6j>i,

Fenrir,

Fenrisulfr,

54,

56,

244,

258, 288.
Fensalir, 286.
Fill,

307

280.

Fimafengr, 244, 246.

Fimbultyr, 294.
Fimbuljml, 12.
Fitjung, 82.
Fi|>r, 280.

Fr6}>i, 230.

Frsegr, 280.

Fulla, 4.
Fulnir, 206.
Fundinn, 280.

Gagnra}>r, 40-44.
Gandalfr, 280.

Gangleri, 20.

Fjalarr=Suttung, 64.
giant, 190.
dwarf, 280.

Garmr,

18, 290, 292, 294.

Garj>rofa, 272.
Gastropnir, 166.

cock, 290.
Fjosnir, 206.

Gautr, 22.

Fjolkaldr, 164.
Fjolnir, 20.

Geirro|?r, jotun, 274.

Fjolsvtyr, giant, 162-176.

Odin, 20.

Gefjun, 252.

king, 2, 4, 20, 22.

Geirskogul, 286.

Geirvimul, 12.

Fjolvarr, 188.

Geironul, 16.

Fjorgyn, 198, 294.

Geri, wolf, 10.

Fjorgynn, 254.
Fjorm, 12.

Gerj?r, 142-154, 218.

F1J6K 208.

Gifr, 170.

Folkvangr,

8.

Forseti, 8.

dog, 170.

Giml6, 296.
Ginnar, 280.

Franangrsfors, 268.
Frar, 280.

Gipul, 12.

Fra)>marr, 230.

Gjallarhorn, 290.

Freki, 10.

Gjuki, 232.

Freyja,

8,

126-134, 226, 244, 256.

Gisl, 14.

Gjoll, 12.

Freyr, 6, 18, 138-154, 218, 244,

258, 260.

Gjolp, mother of Heimdall, 220.

daughter of Geirroj^r, 274.

Friaut, 228.

GlapsviJ?r, 20.

Frigg, 4

38, 244, 254, 256, 272,

286, 292.

Glasir, 274.
Glaj>r, 14.

THE POETIC EDDA.

308

Habr6k,

Gla|>sheimr, 6.
Gler, 14.

Haddingjar, 232.
Haki, 234.

Glitnir, 8.

Gloinn, 280.

Halfdanr, 230.
Hair, 208.

Gna, 272.
Gnipahellir, 290, 292, 294.

Goinn,

18.

16.

Hamskerpir, 272.
Hannar, 280.
Har, Odin,

Gollinkambi, 290.

no,

20, 90, 92,

282.

dwarf, 280.

Golltoppr, 14.
Gollveig, 282.

Haraldr Hilditonn, 234.

Gotar,

Harbar}>r, 22, 186-200.

4.

GotJ>ormr, 232.

Hati, 16.

GojjjTJdfar, 286.
Grabakr, 16.

Haugspori, 280.
Heimdallr, 8, 130, 202, 262, 276,

Grafvitnir, 16.

284, 290.
Hei)?r, 220.

GrafvolluJ>r, 16.
Gra)>, 12.

vala, 284.

Hei]?run, 12, 234, 236.

Greip, 220-274.

Grimnir, Grimr,

Grimr

2, 4,

20, 22.

harjjskafi, 232.

Hel, goddess, 14, 238, 272.

- a region, 12, 28-38, 54, 170,

Groa, 156.

192, 240, 272, 292.

Helblindi, 20.

Gunnar

Heplifili, 280.

Grty, 274.
balkr, 232.

Gunnar, 232.

Herfjotur, 16.

Gunnlo|>, 64, 90, 92.

Herfo]?r,

Gunn]?orin,

12.

GunnJ>ro, 12.
Guj?r, 286.

Herjaf6J?r,

224, 286, 290.

Herjan, 20, 286.

Gu)>run, 232.

Herm6J?r, 224.
Hersir, 212.

Gyllir, 14.

Herteitr, 20.

Gymir, 140, 146, 218, 260.

Hervar)?r, 232.
Hildigunn, 228.

244.
Gyr)>r, 230.
G611, 16.

Gomul,

12.

Gondlir, 22.

Hildisvini, 226.

Hildolfr, 184.
Hildr, 16.

Himinbjorg,

8.

Gondul, 286.

Hjalm-beri, 20.

Gopul, 12.

Hjordis, 232.

10,

12,

38,

Hj6rvar|>r, berserk, 232.

Hjovarj>r, possibly

same as above,

Hrymr,

292.

Hrcesvelgr, 52.

Hraerekr, 234.

234.
Hlebarjir, 188.
Hindis, 228.

Hronn,

H16sey, 194.
Hlvangr, 280.

Hveralundr, 288.

12.

Hve)?na, 234.

Hvergelmir, 12.

Huginn,

Hlif, 176.

-Hlityrasa, 176.

12.

Hymir, 114-124, 258.

Hlin, Frigg, 292.

Hymr,

Hltyskjalf, 4, 138.

Hyndla, 224-236.

Hlorrtyi, 114, 118, 122, 124, 128,

Hyrr, 174.

130, 134, 264.

16.

Hol^r, 208.
Horvir, 232.

Hnikarr, 20.
Hniku)?r, 20.

Hoddmimir,

Hoenir, 282, 296.

Hogni, 232.
H611, 12.

H16J>yn, 294.

Hlokk,

40.

54.

Hosvir, 206.

H6fvarpnir, 272.

Horn, 158.

larnsaxa, 220.

Hornbori, 280.

Ifing, 44.

Hrani, 232.

Im)>r, 220.

Hraujmngr,

king, 2.

chieftain, 232.

Ingunarfreyr, 260.
Innsteinn, 226, 228.

Hreimr, 206.

Iri,

Hretygotar, 42.

fsolfr, 230.

Hrimfaxi, 44.

Ivaldr, 18.

Hrimgrimnir, 150.
Hrimnir, 148, 220.

Ivarr, 234.

Hrist, 16.

IJmnn, 244, 250, 252.

174.

tyarvollr, 278, 294.

Hri)>, 12.

Hr61f enn gamli, 232.

Jafnhar, 22.

Hr6j?tatyr, 22, 108.

Jalk, 22.
Jari, 280.

262, 296.
Hr6ptr,
220.
Hrossfa6fr,
Hr6j>r, 116.
6, 102,

Jarl, 212, 214.

Jarnvi)?r, 288.

Hr6j>vitnir, 16, 258.

J6J>,

Hrungnir, 118, 186, 266, 268.

Jormunrekr, 232.

214.

THE POETIC EDDA.

Jor|>, 126, 266.

Josurmarr, 230.

Magni, 56, 186, 198.

Mani, 46.
Meili, 186.

Kari, 230.

Mengloj>, 158, 164, 176, 178.

Karl, 208.

Mimametyr,

Kefsir, 206.

Mimir, Mim, 168, 286, 290.

Kerlaugar, 12.

Mist, 16.

Ketill, 230.

Mistorblindi, 112.

Kjalarr, 22.

Mi)>garJ?r,

Kili, 280.

Mijwitnir, 22.

Kleggi, 206.
Klur, 206.

Mjollnir, 56, 124, 134, 266, 268.

Mjojwtnir, 280.

Klyppr, 230.
Konr, 214.

Moinn,

Kumba,

206.

Kundr, 214.
Kormt, 12.

166.

18, 190, 228, 230, 278.

16.

M6tsognir, 22, 280.

M6)>i, 56, 124.

M6]?ir, 210, 212.

Mundilferi, 46.

Muninn,

12.

Laufey, 132, 264, 272.

Muspell, 260.

Leggjaldi, 206.

Myrkvif>r, 260.

Leiptr, 12.

Mogr, 214.

Leir-brimir, 166.

M6g]?rasir, 56.

Lttfoti, 14.
Lif, 54.

Nabbi, 226.

Lifyrasir, 54.
Litr, 280.

Naglfar, 292.
Nainn, 280.

Li]?skjalfr, 174.

Nali, 280.

Loddfafnir, 92-100, 108.

Lofarr, 280.

Nanna, 230.

Loki, 124, 126-134, 174, 220, 242,

Narfi, 268.

244-268, 272, 274, 288, 293.

L6ni, 280.

Nastrond, 288.

Loptr, 172, 220, 248.

L6j?urr, 282.

Nipingr, 280.

Liitr, 206.

Ni))avellir, 288.

Lyfjaberg, 174-180.

Ntyhoggr, 14, 16, 288, 296.

Lsera)>r, 12.

Ni)>i,

L&vateinn, 172.

NiJ>jungr, 214.

Nar, 280.

Niflhel, 54, 238.

Ni)?afj611, 296.

280.

INDEX.
214.

NjorJ>r, 8, 52, 138, 244. 256, 258,

Ranr, 158.

270.
NjarJ>ar burr, sunr, Frey, 18, 152,
154-

N6H,

Ratatoskr, 14.
Rati, 90.

Njar)>ar d6ttir, Freyja, 132.

N6atun,

Randgrty, 16.
Randvdr, 234.

8, 132,

Ra)>bar)>r, 234.
Ra)>gri}>, 16.

270.

280.

R)>seyjarsund 184.
t

Ra)?svi|>r, 280.

Norj'ri, 280.

N6tt, 34, 46, 48.

Reginn, 280.

Njfi, 280.
N^r, 280.

Reginleif, 16.
Reifnir, 232.

Nyra)>r, 280.

Rigr, 202-216.

12.

Rigr

Nyt,
Nokkvi, 230.

Norm,

Jarl, 214.

Rin, 12.

12.

Rindr, 158, 242.

Rinnandi,

Norr, 34, 48.

Not, 12.

12.

Ristill, 208.

Ru)>r, 158.

Ofnir, snake, 16.

Odin, 22.

Saga,

6kolnir, 288.

Omi,

6.

Samsey, 254.
Sanngetall, 20.

22.

Onarr, 280.

Sa)?r, 20.

6ski, 22.

Seggr, 208.

Ottarr, 226-236.

Sif, 196,

OJ>inn, 4-10, 18-22, 40, 52, 58, 88,

Sifjar verr,

92,

102, 150,

igo, 198, 222,

244, 264.

238, 242, 244, 248, 252, 282,

Sigfa]>ir, 20,

284, 286, 290, 292.

mogr

O|>ins

barn,

sunr-Baldr,

146,

240, 286.
sifja)>r-Thor, 120.

sunr-Thor, 124, 132, 136,

186, 294.

sunr, Vali, 286.

Thor, 114, 118, 124,

132.

266.

Sigfo)?ur=Vi)>arr, 294.

Sigmund, 224.
Sigtrygg, 230.
Sigtyr, 274.
Sigur)?r, 232.

Sigyn, 268, 288.

6|>r=6ttar, 234, 284.

Silfrintoppr, 14.
Sindri, 288.

6}>r6rir, 90, 102.

Sinir, 14.

THE POETIC EDDA.

312

Sinmara, 168, 172.

Suttungr, 36, 90, 92, 150.

Sty, 12.

Sityri, 280.

Sigrani, 26.
Styhottr, 20.

Svadilfari, 220.

Svafnir, Odin, 22.

Styskeggr, 20.
Sk&ftyr, 280.

SvafnJ>orinn, 164.

SkaJ>i, 8, 138, 218, 244, 262, 264,

Svalinn, 16.

268, 270, 272.

Skeggjold,

1 6.

Sketybrimir, 14.
Skekkil, 230.

16.

Svanni, 208.

Svanr enn

rauj?i,

Svarangr, 192.
Svarri, 208.

Skilfingar, 228, 230.

Svarthotyi, 220.

Skinfaxi, 42.

Svdva, 228.

Skirnir, 138-154.

Svadilfari, 220.

Skirvir, 280.

Sveinn, 212, 214.

Sktyblajmir,
Skjoldr,

18.

1 6.

Svipall, 20.

Svipdagr, 176; 178.

Skoldungar, 228, 230.

Sviurr, 280.

Skrymir, 266.
Skuld, norn, 158, 282.

Svi]?rir, 22.

valkyrie, 286.

Skurhildr, 230.
Skogul, 16.
Skoll, 16.

Sleipnir, 18, 220, 238.

Slty, 12.
Sltyr, 288.
Smtyr, 208.

Sn6t, 208.

Snor, 208.

228.

Svi)>urr, 22.

Sv6suj>r, 48.
Svol, 12.

Sylgr, 12.
Ssefari, 228.
Ssegjarn, 172.
Ssekin, 12.

Saekonungr, 228.
Sgehrimnir, 10.

Sokkmimir, 22.
Sokkvabekkr, 6.

S61, 46.

Solbjartr, 178.
Solblindi, 166.

Tindr, 232.

Sprakki, 208.
Sprund, 208.

Tveggi, 296.

Strond, 12.

Tyr, 114, 122, 144, 258, 260.

Tronubeina, 206.

Sumarr, 48.

Tyrfingr, 232.

Surtr, 44, 56, 168, 292.

Totrughypja, 206.

INDEX.
Ulfr, Fenrir, 58, 260.
-

father of Alfr, 228.

313

Vestri, 280.

Vetr, 48.

ginandi, 232.
Ulfrun, 220.

Ve)>rf6lnir, 14.

Ullr, 6, 18.

Vigrtyr, 44.

Uni, 174.

Viggr, 280.

Uri, 174.

Vili, 254.

UrJ>r, 92, 158, 178, 282.

UJr,

Vif, 208.

Vilmei)?r, 220.

Vimur, 274.

20.

Vin, 12.
Vindalfr, 280.

Vafu)>r, 22.

Vafyrujmir, 38-58.

Vindkaldr, 164.

Vakr, 22.

Vindsvalr, 48.

Valaskjalf, 6.

Ving)>6rr=Thor, 26, 126.

Valfo)>r, 20, 276, 284, 286.

Vingnir, 56.
Virfir, 280.

Valgrind,

10.

Valholl, 6, 10, 224, 274, 286.

Vitnir, 10.

Vali, the god, 56, 218, 242.

- Loki's
son, 268.

Vitr, 280.

Valir, 228.

Vij>arr, 8, 56, 58, 244, 248, 250,

Valland, 190.

Vi\>, 12.

294.

Valtamr, 240.

Vtyi, 8.

Van, 12.
Vanaheimr,

ViJ>ofnir, 168, 170, 172.

52.

Vi}?61fr,

220.

Vanir, 28-36, 52, 144, 272, 284.

Vi)?rir,

Var, 134-

Vi];urr, 22.

254.

Varnavij>r, 16.

VaengbraJ?ir, 178.

Varkaldr, 164.
Varr, 174.

Volsungr, 232.

Vond,

12.

Vasu]>r, 48.
'

V<, 254.

Ydalir, 6.

Vegdrasill, 174.

Yggr, 20, 22, 40, 112.

Vegsvinn, 12.

Yggdrasill, 12-18, 282, 292.

Yggjungr, 286.

Vegtamr,. 240-242.
Veorr, 116, 120.

Yrnir, 18, 28, 46, 48, 220, 276.

Veratyr, 4.
Verland, 198.

YngHngar, 228, 230.

Ver);andi, 282.

Ysja, 206.

Yngvi, 280.

THE POETIC EDDA.

3*4
pegn, 208.
pekkr, Odin, 20.

prityheimr,

6.

prymgjoll, 166.

- dwarf, 280.
pir, 204.

Prymheimr, 8, 264.
Prymr, 128-134.

pj&lfi, 194.

Praol, 204.

pjazi, 8, 188, 218, 262, 264, 270.

pj6j?numa, 12.

Pund, 10.
pundr, 22, 104.

pjo)>reyrir, 108.

Pu]>r, 20.

Pjo)>vara, 176.

Pyn, 12.
Pokk, 272.

pj6)?vitnir, 10.

p6ra, 230.
porinn, 280.

Poll, 12.

porir, 232.

JEgir, 20, 112, 124, 244 et seq.

p6rr, 6, 12, 120, 122, 130, 132, 182-

JEkin, 12.

200, 226, 244, 266, 274, 284.

prainn, 280.

01m6J?r, 230.

pri)?r, 20.

Okkvinkdlfr, 206.

pror, Odin, 22.

Ormt,

dwarf, 280.

12.

0)>lingar, 228, 230, 232.

prujjgelmir, 48.

2.

TRANSLATION.

a sea giant, 21, 113, 195,

245-269.
^Esir, the race of gods,

distin-

guished from Wanes, 53, 283,

285.

Agnar, brother of Geirrod, 3,

son of Geirrod, 5, 23.

5.

name

of two dwarfs, 281.

Alf, kinsman of Ottar, 231.
Alf the Old, son of Dag and

Ai,

Thora, 231.
grandfather of Ottar, 229.
kinsman
of Ottar, 231.
Ali,
All-father,
All-fleet,

Odin, 21, 285, 287.

a horse, 17.

All-green, an island, 189.

All-thief, a dwarf, 281.

All-wielder,

giant,

father of

Thiazi, 189.
All-wise (Alviss) a dwarf, 25-37.
(Alsvtyr) a jotun, 103.

Almveig, wife of Halfdan, 231.

Am, son of Dag and Thora, 231.
Andvari, a dwarf, 281.

Angantyr, Ottar's

rival,

229, 235.

- a

Ann,

berserk, 233.
a dwarf, 281.

Arngrim,

father

of twelve

ber-

serks, 233.

Asgarth, dwelling of the ^Esir or

gods, 115, 129, 131, 133, 271,
275. 285.

INDEX.
Ash, the
Athlings,

man, 283.
a mythical lace, 229,

first

231, 233.

Atvard, one of the builders of

Menglod's

Aud,

hall, 175.

mother of Harald

War-

tooth, 235.

Aurboda, mother of Gerd, 219.

Anrvang, a dwarf, 281.

315

Chosen Warriors, heroes of the

battle field bidden to Valholl

by Odin, n, 17, 53.

son of Rig and Grandmother, father of all freeborn

Churl,

peasants, 209.
Clay-giant, Ymir, 167.
Cloggy, daughter of Thrall, 207.
Cooler, shelterer from the sun, 17,
Corpse-like, a dwarf, 281.

Babe, son of Earl, 215.

Hafur, a dwarf, 281.
Bairn, son of Earl, 215.

Corpse-swallower, a giant eagle,

maker of the wind, 53.
Counsel-fierce, a Valkyrie, 17.

Baldr, the god, son of Odin, 9,

Counsel-isle-sound,

59, 219, 239-243,

255, 257,

271, 273, 287, 297.

Bale-thorn, a giant, grandfather

of Odin, 103.

Bale-worker, Odin, 21, 91.

Bari, a builder of Menglod's hall,
Barley, Frey's servant, 245, 261,

Thrall, 207.

race,

231.

Dain, a hart, 15.

263, 265.

Barri, a berserk, 233.

Bashful, daughter of Churl, 209.

Bathtubs, two rivers, 13.

Battle, (Hildr) a valkyrie,

17,

Being, one of the Norns, 283.

Beli, a giant slain

by Frey, 293.
Bergelm, forefather of all Jotuns,
49 51Bestla, a giantess,
Odin, 103.

an

elf or

dwarf, 103, 281.

Dallier, a dwarf, 31, 103, 281.

a hart, 15.

287.
Battle-wolf, a ferryman, 185.

289.

of

Counsellor, Odin, 23.

Cow-herd, son of Thrall, 207.
Crane-shanked maid, daughter of

Dag, a chieftain of Halfdan's

175-

Cauldron-grove,

home

Battle-wolf, 185.

Dame, daughter of Churl,

Damp, a chieftain, 217.

209.

Dan, a chieftain, 217.

Daughter-in-law, wife of Churl,
209.

Dawning, Dawn, father

of

Day,

49, 109.

mother of

Loki's

Day, personification of Day,

47,

49-.
Day-spring, Menglod's lover, 163,
prison,

177, 179.

Dazzler of Hel, Odin, 21.

THE POETIC EDDA.

3i6

Dead's Way, road to Valholl, 227.

Egil, a giant,

father of Thjalfi,

Death-barrier, the gate of Valholl,

Elf, a dwarf, 281.

ii.

Death-father, Odin, 21.

Elf-beam, Elf-light, the sun, 57,

Death-like, a dwarf, 281.

Delling, a builder of Menglod's

Elf-home,

hall,

probably

the

same

141.

Prey's

being as Dawning, 175.

Descendent, son of Earl, 215.

Elm, the

first

Elves,

29

Dolgthrasir, a dwarf, 281.

Doom of the gods or Ragnarok,

Ember, Menglod's

59, 243, 259, 291, 293, 295.

Dori, 175, 281.

Draupnir, a dwarf, 281.

Dread One, Odin,

21, 23, 41, 287.

Duf, a dwarf, 281.

Duneyr, a hart, 15.

221.

woman,

seq., 103, 279, 281,

293-

Dyrathror, a hart, 15.

War, Odin,

hall, 175.

Equal-ranked, Odin, 23.

Eyfora, wife of Arngrim, 233.
Eylimi, a hero of the Athling
race, 233.

Eymund,

a chieftain, Halfdan's

by Sigurd,

233-

Saga,

home

of

Odin and

7.

Fame-bough, the mistletoe shot

by Hod, 241.
Farmer, son of Churl, 209.
Fate, a Valkyrie, 287.

21.

Eagle-nose, dau. of Thrall, 207.

Earl, son of Rig and Mother, 213,
215.

Early-woke, a horse, 17.

Earna, wife of Earl, 213.
Earth, a goddess, wife of Odin

and mother of Thor, 127,

199, 255, 267, 295.
East, a dwarf, 281.

Eastern land, the East, Jotunheim, giant-land, 183, 193,

245, 281, 293.

283.

et seq., 103, 109.

Falling-brook,

Dvalin, Dallier, a hart, 15.

in

7,

Fafnir, a dragon slain

Dusk, one of Heimdal's mothers,

Eager

7,

ally, 231.

Durin, a dwarf, 281.

Dwarfs, 29 et

dwelling,

261.

Fate-tree, Yggdrasil, 291.

Father, a nobleman, 211.

Father of Beings, Odin, 41.

Father of Hosts, Odin, n, 39.
Father of Men, Odin, 59.
Father of Spells, Odin, 239.
Father of Wrath, Thor, 125.
Fear, a river, 289.
Fenrir, the great Wolf;

son of

Loki, 17, 59, 121, 245, 259,

261, 289, 293, 295.

Fen's Moist
287.

halls, Frigg's

home,

INDEX.
Frar, a dwarf, 281.

Fickle, Odin, 21.

Fields of Labour, first

the gods, 279, 295.

home

Fierce-cold, grandfather of

of

Freight-wafter, Odin, 21.

Frey, a god, son of Njord, 7, 19,

Day-

I39-I55 219, 245, 259, 261,

(See Njord, son of).
Freyja, a goddess, daughter of
293.

spring, 165.

the

Fierce-stinger,

gnaws the

dragon who

roots of Yggdrasil,

15, 17, 289, 297.

a dwarf, 281.
a
dwarf, 281.
Fin,

Fine-flanked-steed,
horse,

Njord,

9, 127, 135,

227, 245,

Friaut, Ottar's grandmother, 229.

Frigg, a goddess, wife of Odin,

grandsire of

5.

Hoof-flinger,

287.

273Fire, feasting hall of the Jotuns,

39.

245,

255,

257,

273,

Frodi, a hero of Ottar's line, 231.

Ottar's grandfather, 229.
Frost, a dwarf, 281.

289.

habitation

Fire-sheltered-realm,
of the good after Ragnarok,
297.
Fire-stirrer, ^Egir's

serving-man,

Fjalar, a giant

Frost-giants, 15, 51, 91, 149, 151.

handmaiden, 5.
Fundin, a dwarf, 281.
Fury, one of Heimdal's mothers,
Fulla, Frigg's

221.

245. 247.

who hoodwinked

Thor, called by Snorri Utgard-loki, 191.

Fjalar, a cock, 291.
- a dwarf, 281.

mothers, 221.

home

of Freyja,

9.

Folk-stirrer, a dwarf, 109.

Forest- wolf, forefather of all Valas,

221.
Forseti, a god, 9.

Fradmar, son of Dag, 231.

Franang's-stream, where Loki hid
in the form of a salmon, 269.
Fraeg, a dwarf, 281.

Gaping-hel, the rock-entrance of

Hel, 291, 293, 295.
Garm, the watch-dog of Hel,
19, 291, 293, 295.

Flaming-eyed, Odin, 21.

Flashing-eyed, Odin, 21.
Foamer, one of Heimdal's
Folk-field,

257, 285.

Fili,

Gna's

317

Gaudy, daughter of Churl, 209.

Gay, daughter of Churl, 209.
Gefjon, a goddess, 253.
Geirrod, a Jotun, 275.

King of the Goths,

3, 5,

21, 23.

Generous, one of Menglod's handmaidens, 176.

Gentle, one of Menglod's handmaidens, 176.
Gerd, a giant maiden, daughter
of Gymir,

wooed by Frey,

143-155, 219, 261.

THE POETIC EDDA.

3 i8

Ginar, a dwarf, 281.

Girdle (the), the World-serpent,
121.

Grimnir, Odin,

3, 5, 23.

Grim Strongminded,

berserk,

233.

HeimdaPs horn,

HeimdaPs mothers,

Gjuki, King of the Goths, 233.

Griper, one of
221.

Glad-home, Odin's dwelling,

Gripper, one of Geirrod's daugh-

Gjallahorn,

Glad-one, a horse, 15.

Gleamer, a horse, 15.
Glistener (Glasir), a grove

291.

7.

ters, 275.

Groa, the dead mother of Dayin front

mansion,

spring, 157.

Guarding-warriors, one of Men-

of Valholl, 275.
(Glitnir), Forseti's

glod's handmaidens, 177.

Gudrun, daughter of Gjuki and

9.

Gloin, a dwarf, 281.

wife of Sigurd the Volsung,

Glutton, a watch-dog of

Men-

233-

Guest-crusher, the rocky barrier

in front of Menglod's hall,

glod's hall, 171.

Gna, a goddess, 273.

Goin, a serpent, 17.

167.

Golden-bristle, Freyja's boar, 227.

Golden-comb, a cock, 291.

Gunnar

Golden-draught, a Vala, 283.

Gunnar, son of Gjuki, brother of

Gudrun, 233.
Gunnlod, a giantess, guardian of
the Mead, 65, 91, 93.

Gold-lock, a horse, 15.

Goldy, a horse, 15.

Grand-father, a free-born peasant,

Battle-wall,

berserk,

233-

Gymir, JEgir, 245.

207.

Grand-mother, mother of Churl,

207, 209.

Grave-haunting worm, a serpent,

Great-grand-father, a

thr.all,

Great-grand-mother,

mother

203.
of

Thrall, 203, 205.

Greed, a watch-dog of Menglod's.
hall, 171.

one of Odin's wolves, n.

Grey-back, a serpent, 17.
Grey-beard, Odin, 23, 187-201.
Gridar; a giantess, 275.

father

of

Gerd, 141-147, 219, 261.

Gyrd, son of Dag, 231.

Guthorm

17-

Grave-monster, a serpent, 17.

frost-giant,

Battle-snake, step-son

of Gjuki, 233.
Habrok, a hawk, 19.

Haddings, two berserks, 233.

Haki, son of Hvedna, 235.
Halfdan, a king, of the Skjoldung
race, 231.

Hannar, a dwarf, 281.

Har, a dwarf, 281.
Harald War-tooth, King of Denmark, 238.

INDEX.
Haugspori, a dwarf, 281.
Heaven-hill, Heimdall's home,

9.

Hedge-breaker, a horse, 273.

Heimdall, watchman of the gods,
9,

131, 203, 263, 277,

285,

291.

Hoof-flinger, Gna's horse, 273.

Hornbori, a dwarf, 281.

Horse-thief, a giant, son of

bringer, 221.

Rime-

Horvi, a warrior in the train of

Hrolf the Old, 233.

Heir, son of Earl, 215.

Hrani, a berserk, 233.

Hel, a goddess, 15, 239, 273.

home of the dead, 29-37, 55,

Hraudung, a king, father

Agnar and Geirrod, 3.
Hraudungs, a race, 233.

159, 171, 193, 241, 273, 291,

Hrist, a Valkyrie, 17.

Hroerik, a king, father of Harald

293-

Helm-bearer, Odin, 21.

Heptifili, a dwarf, 281.

Hermod, a warrior, given sword

and armour by Odin, 225.
Hero, son of ChurP, 209.
Hervard, a berserk, 233.
High One (the), Odin, 21, 91, 93,

in,

283.
Hildigun, Ottar's

great-grand-

War-tooth, 235.
Hrolf the Old, a chieftain, 233.
Hrungnir, a giant slain by Thor,
119, 187, 267, 269.

Hrym, one

of the giant destroyers

at Ragnarok, 293.
Hugin, a raven, 13.
Hvedna, daughter of

mother, 229, 231.

Hjovard,

235-

Hill of Healing, the

mountain on

which Menglod

sat, 175, 181.

Hjordis, a lady of the

of

Hraudung

Hymir,

frost-giant,

115-125,

259-

Hyndla, a giantess, 225-237.

race, 233.

Hjorvard, a berserk, 233, 235.

Hlebard, a giant, 189.
Hledis, a priestess, mother of
Ottar, 229.
Hlevang, a dwarf, 281.

Idun,

a*

Ifing,the river between the realms

of giants and gods, 45, 193.

Ing,

Hod, a god, slayer of Baldr, 241,

261.

243, 287, 295.

Hrenir, a god, 283, 295.
Hogni, son of Gjuki, brother of

Innstein,

Gudrun, 233.

Home

21.

227,

229.
a builder of Menglod's hall,
175-

Ironsword,

ing, 7-

Hoodwinker, Odin,

mythical race founder,

Inheritor, son of Earl, 215.

father of Ottar,

Iri,

of Strength, Thor's dwell-

goddess, wife of Bragi,

245, 251, 253.

one

mothers, 221.

of

Heimdal's

THE POETIC EDDA.

320

Iron -wood, a forest in Jotunheim,

289.
a hero of Ottar's line, 231.

Lit, a dwarf, 281.

Lodur, a god, 283.

Isolf,

Lofar, a dwarf, 281.

Jalk, Odin, 23.

Lofty, a Valkyrie, 287.

Loggy, daughter of Thrall, 207.
Loki, a god, father of Fenrir, Hel

Jb'rmunrek, King of the

Goths,

and the World-serpent,

233-

125,

Josurmar, son of Dag, 231.

127-137, 173, 175, 221, 243,

Jotuns, 29-37, 45, 51, 55, 57, 103,

245-269, 273, 275, 289, 293.

133, 143, 219, 221, 275, 277,

285, 289.
Kari, a warrior of Ottar's

line,

Lord of the Host, Odin, 21.

Lord of goats, Lord of the goat's
wain, Thor, 27, 119, 123.
Lout, son of Thrall, 207.

231.
Keeler, Odin, 23.
Ketil, great

Long-beard, Odin, 21, 27.

Loni, a dwarf, 281.

grandfather of Ottar,

231.

King, the most famous of Earl's

Lumpy-leggy, daughter of Thrall,

207.
Lustful, son of Thrall, 207.

sons, 215.

Kinsman, son of Earl, 215.

Magni, a god, son of Thor, 57,

Klyp, great grandfather of Ottar,

187, 199.

Maker, Odin, 23.

Maid, daughter of Churl, 209.
Masked One, Odin, 21, 23.

231.

Kon, King, 215.

Kormt, a river, 13.

Mead
Lady, daughter of Churl, 209.
Land of Men, 199.

Land

of the Slain, the battlefield,

= Soul-stirrer,

the

song-mead, 23, 91, 93, 103.

Mead-drinker, a dwarf, 281.
Mead-wolf, a dwarf, 281.
Meili, a god, Thor's brother, 187.

191.

Laufey, Loki's mother, 133, 273.

Leggy, son of Thrall, 207.

Lewd, son

of Thrall, 207.
a
builder of Menglod's
Lidskjalf,
hall, 175.

Life, Life-craver, the

(the)

new beings

born after Ragnarok, 55.

hall,

13.

Menglod, a giantess or goddess

wooed by Day-spring, 159,
165, 177.179Midgarth, man's dwelling, the
Earth,

19,

191,

229,

279, 295.

Light-foot, a horse, 15.

Lightning-abode, Thor's

Memory, a raven,

n.

Might, a Valkyrie, 17.

Mightiest god, Odin, 295.

231,

INDEX.

321

Mighty Weaver, a giant who con-

Night,

tends with Odin, 39-59.

Mimir, a giant, guardian of the

35. 47 49Nimble-snatcher, one of ^igir's

well of wisdom, 287, 291.

serving men, 245, 247.

Niping, a dwarf, 281.
Njord, a god, a hostage from the

Mimir's

Tree,

Yggdrasil,

167,

169.
Mist, a Valkyrie, 17.
Mist-blind, a Jotun, 113.
Mist-hel, home of the dead, 55,

Wanes,

hammer,

57, 125,

of night,

19, 53, 133, 139,

9,

245, 257, 259, 271.

(son of)

Noatun,

239Mjollnir, Thor's

personification

= Frey,

153, 155.

Njord's home,

133,

9,

271.

135. i37 265, 267.

Modi, Wroth, son of Thor, 57.

Nokkvir, father of Nanna, 231.

Nori, a dwarf, 281.

Mogthrasir, Son-craver, a Jotun,

Norr, father of Night, 35, 49.

North, a dwarf, 281.

57-

Moin, a serpent,

Moon,

Nyr, a dwarf, 281.

17.

47.

Moon-hater, a wolf, 17.

Moonless Plains, Fells, regions of

Oaken-peggy, daughter of Thrall,

the underworld, 289, 297.

Mother, mother of Earl, 211, 213.

Oaken-shield, a dwarf, 281.

Oak-thorn, a hart, 13.

Mover of the Handle,

Moon, 47.

Odin, the god,

father of

Much-wise, a giant, 163-177.

Odin, 21.
Munin, a raven=Memory, 13.

Murk-wood, through which the

Sons of Fire ride to Ragnarok, 261.

207.

53. 59

5, 7,

n,

19-23, 41,

8 3> 89, 93, 103, 105,

109, 151, 191, 199, 219, 223,

239-245,

249-255, 277, 283,

285, 287, 291, 293.

See also All-father, Bale-worker,

Counseller, Dazzler of Hel, Deathfather,

Dread One, Eager

in

War,

Nabbi, a dwarf, 227.

Equal-ranked, Father of Beings,

Father of Hosts, Father of Men,

Nali, a dwarf, 281.

Father of Spells, Fickle, Flaming-

Nanna, a kinswoman of Ottar,

eyed, Flashing-eyed, Grey-beard,

231Narfi, son of Loki, 269.

Neighbour, son of Churl, 209.
New-counsel, a dwarf, 281.
New-moon, a dwarf, 281.

Grimnir, Helm-bearer, High One,

Hood-winker, Jalk, Keeler, LongMasked One,

Maker,

beard,

Mightiest god, Much- wise, OnOn-rider,

On-thruster,

driver,

THE POETIC EDDA.

322
Riddle-reader,

Shaker,

Rindr,

Shape-shifter,

Sage,
Sigrani,

Slender,
(the
Singer
great),
Soother, Sooth-sayer, Stormer,
Thror,
Thund,
Third-highest,
Tree-rocker, True, Utterer of

gods, Veiled One, Wafter,

Wan-

War-father,
War-wont,
Watcher,
Wave,
Way-wont,
Weaver, Well-comer, Wile-wise,
Wind-roar, Wise, Wish-giver,
Wizard.
Odin's brother's, Vili and Ve,
derer,

297.

Odin's son Baldr, 147, 241, 287.

Odin's son=Thor, 121-125, 133,
187, 295.

Odin's sons, the chosen warriors,

251, 263.

Powers, High Powers, the gods,

7,

17,

59

19, 29, 35, 41-49, 53,

103,

83,

171, 223,

247,

279, 285.

Race-giant, a horse, 15.

Radbard, a hero of Harald

War-

tooth's line, 235.

Ran, one of Odin's wives

159.

Randver, a hero of Harald Wartooth's line, 235.

Ratatosk, the squirrel gnawing

Yggdrasil, 15.
Rati, an awl, 91.
Ravener, a wolf,

n.

Regin, a dwarf, 281.

Reifnir, a berserk, 233.
Riddle-reader, Odin, 41-45.

Rig=Heimdal, 203-217,

223.

Odin's son, Vali, 287.

Olmod, a kinsman of Ottar, 231.
Onar, a dwarf, 281.

Rime-bringer,

On-driver, On-rider, On-thruster,

Rimy-mane, a horse of Night,

Odin, 21.
Ori, a dwarf, builder of Menglod's
hall, 175, 281.

Ormt, a

river, 13.

a giant ? 23.
Osolf, a hero of Ottar's line, 231.

Osmund,

Ottar, Freyja's lover, 227-237.

father of

maidens, 177.
Peasant, son of Churl, 209.
Pine-needle, a grove, 153, 155.
Plains of Moisture, the surface of
the earth ? 281.

Frost-giant

Witch and Horse-

thief, 221.

45.

Rind, a giantess, 159, 243.

Rindr, Odin as husband of Rind,
159Roaring-kettle, a spring, whence
flow the rivers of Hel, 13.

Rover of

Air, Loki, 249.

Ruler, father of Erna, 213.

Runes
Pale-hoof, a horse, 15.
Peaceful, one of Menglod's hand-

(the), 103.

Saga, a goddess, wife of Odin,

Sage, Odin, 23.

Samsey, an

7.

island, 255.

Sand-strewer, one of Heimdal's

mothers, 221.

Sandy-realms.home of dwarfs,28i.

INDEX.
Sea-farer,

one of Ottar's

fore-

fathers, 229.

one

of

Singer (the great), Odin, 103.

Sinmara, a giantess, 173.

daughter of the giant

Thia^i, wife of Njord, 9, 139,

Skadi,

Sea-god, ;gir, 125.

Sea-king,

323

Ottar's

fore-

fathers, 229.

219, 245, 263, 265, 269-273.

Skafid, a dwarf, 281.

Sea-lover, a giant, 173.

Serpent (the), the World-serpent,

Skekkil, a

son of Loki, 295.

Serpent-slayer, Thor, 121.

Skidbladnir, a ship, 19.

Skirfir, a dwarf, 281.

Shaker, Odin, 23.

one of the Norns, 283.

Skilfings,

Shape-shifter, Odin, 21.

Sheaf-beard, son of Churl, 209.
Shelterer (the), Yggdrasil, 13.

Skirnir, Prey's servant, 139-155.

Shall,

Sheltering

Sheltering-grove, a wood,
refuge of Sun, 17.

one

of

the

Heimdal's

Shield-fierce, a Valkyrie, 17.

Shield of Men, Thor, 121.

one

Skjoldungs, a mythical race born

of Skjold, 229, 231.
Skoll, a wolf, 17.

of

267.

Skurhild,

mothers, 221.

Shielding-giants,

mythical race, 229,

Skrymir, a giant (=Fjalarp. 191),

glod's maidens, 177.

She-wolf,

231.

one of Men-

Spirit,

kinsman of Ottar, 231.

Men-

maidens, 177.

glod
Shiner, a horse, 15.
Shining-mane, the horse of Day,
43-

Shrieker, a Valkyrie, 17.

Sif, wife of Thor, 197, 245, 265.
Sigrani, Odin, 27.
Sigmund, son of Volsung, 225.
Sigtrygg, a warrior slain by Half-

dan, 231.
Sigurd, son of Sigmund, slayer of

of

daughter

231Skybright, a goat, 13.

Slayer of Jotuns, Slayer of Rockgiants, Thor, 119.

Sleep-thorn, grandfather of

Men-

glod, 165.
Sleipnir,

Odin's horse, 19, 221,

239Slender, daughter of Churl, 209.

Odin, 21.
Sluggard, son of Thrall, 207.
Smith, son of Churl, 209.
Solblind, a dwarf? 167.

Son, son of Earl, 215.

Son of Earth, Thor, 267.
Soother, Odin, 23.
a serpent, 17.

Fafnir, 233.
Sigyn, wife of Loki, 269, 289.
Silvery-lock, a horse, 15.

Soothsayer, Odin, 21.

Sooty-black, a boar, n.

Sinewy, a horse,

Sooty-face, a cook,

15.

Skekkil,

n.

THE POETIC EDDA.

324

Sooty-flame, a cauldron, n.
Sorrow-seed, a Jotun, grandfather
of Winter, 49.

Sorrow-whelmer, one of Heimdal's mothers, 221.

Soul-stirrer,

Sun-bright, father of Day-spring,

179.
Surt, a fire-giant, 45, 57, 293.
Suttung, a giant, owner of the

song-mead, 37, 91, 93, 151.

the song-mead, 91,

103.

Sound-home, Thiazi's dwelling,

Svafa, mother of Hildigunn, of

Ottar's line, 229.

Svarang, a water-giant, 193.

Sviur, a dwarf, 281.

9-

Sounding-clanger, the barrier in

front of Menglod's hall, 167.

South, a dwarf, 281.

Sparkler, a dwarf, forger of trea-

Swadilfari,

mare,

mother of

Sleipnir, 221.
Swan the Red, ancestor of Ottar,

229.

Swart-head, father of all sorcerers,

sures, 289.

Speaker, son of Churl, 209.

Spear-fierce, a Valkyrie, 17.

Sweet-south, father of

Spear-point, a Valkyrie, 17, 287.

Spring-cold, father of Wind-cold

Swordsman,

221.

of

the

207.

Tender, one of Menglod's maid-

the river from

which Ymir was formed, 51,

Stormy-billow,

Strand of corpses, a region

in

Hel, 289.
Stray-singer, a poet, 93-101, 109.

Strength-maiden, a Valkyrie, 17.

Strength-wielder, Thor, 187.
Stout, son of Thrall, 207.

Stubbly-beard, son of Churl, 209.

Stumpy, son of Thrall, 207.
Successor, son of Earl, 215.

mer, 49.
Sun, a goddess,

watchman

Tattet-coat, daughter of Churl,

Storm-god, (Thor), 123.

Storm-pale, a hawk, 15.
Stormer, Odin, 23.

personification of

49-

giants, 291.

(Day-spring), 165.
Steerer of barks, Thor, 119.

Summer,

Summer,

sum-

17, 47, 55, 279.

ens, 177.

Thane, son of Churl, 209.

Thekk, a dwarf, 281.
Thor's servant, 195.
Thiazi, a Jotun-father of Skadi,
Thialfi,

9, 189, 219, 263, 265, 271.

Third Highest, 21.

Thokk, a witch, 273.
Thor, the god, 57, 113-125, 127137, 183-201, 227, 245, 265-

269, 275, 295.

See also Father of
of goats,

Wrath, Lord
Lord of the goat's wain,

Odin's son, Serpent-slayer, Shield

of men, Slayer of Jotuns, Slayer

INDEX.

325

of Rock-giants, Son of Earth,

Steerer of barks,
Storm-god,

Uri, one of the builders of

Thunderer,
\\\irder, Winged Thunder.
Thora, wife of Dag, mother of

Utterer of gods, Odin, 103.

Strength

wielder,

many

heroes, 231.
Thorin, a dwarf, 281.
Thorir Iron-shield, a berserk, 233.
Thram, a dwarf, 281.
Thrall,

father

race

the

of

of

Valas, wise

home

Vala-shelf,

gods,

Odin

of one of the
?

7.

Valgrind, the gates of Valholl,

Valholl, Odin's dwelling,

7,

a god, son of Odin

Vali,

Thrudgelm, a Jotun, son of Ymir,

n.
n,

who stole Thor's

Thrym,
hammer, 129-135.
Thund, Odin, 23.
Thunderer, Thor,

7,

and

Rind, 57, 219, 243.

son of Loki, 269.
Valkyries,

49.

Odin's

war-maidens,

17, 287.

Var, one of the builders of Menglod's hall, 175.

n,

13, 27,

115-127, 127-137, 151, 189-

n.

Thunder-flood, a river,
Tind, a berserk, 233.

hall, 175.

Veiled One, Odin, 21.

Vidar, a god, son of Odin,

Yggdrasil, 103, 277-

283, 293.

Tree-rocker, Odin, 23.

Troth-goddess of oaths

Ve, brother of Odin, 255.

Vegdrasil, one of the builders of

Menglod's

195, 199, 265, 267, 285.

(the),

221, 241-243,

13, 225, 275, 287, 297.

Thror, Odin, 23.

a dwarf, 281.

Tree

women,

277-297.

thralls, 205.

a Jotun,

Men-

glod's hall, 175.

and

9, 57,

59, 245, 249, 251, 295.

Vigg, a dwarf, 281.

Vili, brother of Odin. 255.
Vimur, a river, 275.
a dwarf, 281.
a
Vit,
dwarf, 233.
Volsungs, the race born of VolVirfir,

plightings, 135.
True, Odin, 21.

Tyr, god of war, 115-123, 245,

259, 261.

sung, 233.

Tyrfing, a berserk, 233.

Ull, a god, 7, 17.
Uncooled-realm,

Wafter, Odin, 23.

Wand-elf, a dwarf, 281.
a

region

in

Jotunhcim, 289.
Uni, one of the builders of Menglod's hall, 175.

Wanderer, Odin, 21.

Wanes, a race of gods, 29-37, 53>
131, M5> 273, 285.
Wane-home,land of the Wanes,53.

THE POETIC EDDA.

326

Waneling, son of a Wane, here

Winter, personification of winter,

Frey, son of Njord, 152.

Waning-moon, a dwarf, 281.
War, a Valkyrie, 287.

Wise, Odin, 23.

War-father,

Odin,

49-

Wise-counsel, a dwarf, 281.

21,

9,

225,

- (son

of) =Vidar, 295.

War-fetter, a Valkyrie, 17.
War-path, the battle-field at Rag-

narok, 45.

iMenglod's maidens,

Wish-giver, Odin, 23.

Witch, a giantess, ? daughter of

Rime-bringer, 221.

Golden-draught, 285.
Wizard, Odin, 23.
Woe-bringer, a giantess, mother

War-wont, Odin, 241.

Warder, Thor, 117, 295.
Wary-wise, a warrior, 189.
Watcher, Odin, 23.
Watchman of gods, Heimdal,
149.

Wave, Odin,

Wise Ones,
177.

267, 275, 287, 291.

21.

of Fenrir, 221.

Wolf

(the),

n,

Fenrir,

55,

57,

223, 249, 259, 267, 291-295.

Wolf, great-grandfather of Ottar,
229.

Wolf-cubs, sons of Dag, 231.

Wolf the Gaper, a berserk, 233.

Way- wont,

Odin, 241.
Weaver, Odin, 23.
a serpent, 17.

Woman,

Weird, one of the Norns, 93, 159,

a daughter of

Churl,

209.

Wood-home,

Well-comer, Odin, 21.

Vidar's home, 9.
Wood-snake, a cock, 169, 171,

West, a dwarf, 281.

Whiner, daughter of Thrall, 207.
Wielder, a dwarf, 19.

World-serpent, the encircler of

the world, son of Loki. See

Wife, daughter of Churl, 209.

Wile-wise, Odin, 21.

Wounding-wand, the

179, 283.

173-

also Girdle, 293, 295.

mistletoe,

Wind-cold, Dayspring, 165.

Wind-cool, father of Winter, 49.
Wind-elf, a dwarf, 281.
Wind-home, home of the sons of

and Ve,
World, 297.
Vili

Window-shelf,

in

Odin's

the

New

seat,

139-

Wind-roar, Odin, 23.

Winged-thunder, Thor, 27.

5,

Yari, a dwarf, 281.

Yelper, one of Heimdal's mothers,

221.
a giantess,

daughter of

Geirrod, 275.
Yeoman, son of Churl, 209.
Yewdale, home of Ull, 7.

INDEX.
Yggdrasil,

the World-tree.

See

also Fate-tree, 13-19, 55, 283,

293.

Ymir,

the

first-born

of Jotuns.

See also Clay-giant, 19, 29,

47, 49, 221, 277, 279.

327

Ynglings, a race descended from

Yng, 229, 231.

Yngvi, a dwarf, 281.
Youth, son of Churl, 209.
- son of Earl, 215.

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