HERE BEGINS THE BEGUILING OF GYLFI
I. King Gylfi ruled the land that men now
call Sweden. It is told of him that he gave
to a wandering woman, in return for her merry-making,
a plow-land in his realm, as much as four
oxen might turn up in a day and a night.
But this woman was of the kin of the Ćsir;
she was named Gefjun. She took from the north,
out of Jötunheim, four oxen which were the
soils of a certain giant and, herself, and
set them before the plow. And the plow cut
so wide and so deep that it loosened up the
land; and the oxen drew the land out into
the sea and to the westward, and stopped
in a certain sound. There Gefjun set the
land, and gave it a name, calling it Selund.
And from that time on, the spot whence the
land had been torn up is water: it is now
called the Lögr in Sweden; and bays lie in
that lake even as the headlands in Selund.
Thus says Bragi, the ancient skald:
Gefjun drew from Gylfi gladly the wave-trove's
free-hold, Till from the running beasts sweat
reeked, to Denmark's increase; The oxen bore,
moreover, eight eyes, gleaming brow-lights,
O'er the field's wide: booty, and four heads
in their plowing.
II. King Gylfi was a wise man and skilled
in magic; he was much troubled that the Ćsir-people
were so cunning that all things went according
to their will. He pondered whether this might
proceed from their own nature, or
{p. 14}
whether the divine powers which they worshipped
might ordain such things. He set out on his
way to Ásgard, going secretly, and- clad
himself in the likeness of an old man, with
which he dissembled. But the Ćsir were wiser
in this matter, having second sight; and
they saw his journeying before ever he came,
and prepared against him deceptions of the
eye. When he came into the town, he saw there
a hall so high that he could not easily make
out the top of it: its thatching was laid
with golden shields after the fashion of
a shingled roof. So also says Thjódólfr of
Hvin, that Valhall was thatched with shields:
On their backs they let beam, sore battered
with stones, Odin's hall-shingles, the shrewd
sea-farers.
In the hall-doorway Gylfi saw a man juggling
with anlaces, having seven in the air at
one time. This man asked of him his name.
He called himself Gangleri, and said he had
come by the paths of the serpent, and prayed
for lodging for the night, asking: "Who
owns the hall?" The other replied that
it was their king; "and I will attend
thee to see him; then shalt thou thyself
ask him concerning his; name;" and the
man wheeled about before him into the hall,
and he went after, and straightway the door
closed itself on his heels. There he saw
a great room and much people, some with games,
some drinking; and some had weapons and were
fighting. Then he looked about him, and thought
unbelievable many things which he saw; and
he said:
All the gateways ere one goes out Should
one scan: For 't is uncertain where sit the
unfriendly On the bench before thee.
{p. 15}
He saw three high-seats, each above the other,
and three men sat thereon,-one on each. And
he asked what might be the name of those
lords. He who had conducted him in answered
that the one who, sat on the nethermost high-seat
was a king, "and his name is Hárr;[1]
but the next is named Janhárr;[2] and he
who is uppermost is called Thridi."[3]
Then Hárr asked the newcomer whether his
errand were more than for the meat and drink
which were always at his command, as for
every one there in the Hall of the High One.
He answered that he first desired to learn
whether there were any wise man there within.
Hárr said, that he should not escape whole
from thence unless he were wiser.
And stand thou forth who speirest; Who answers,
he shall sit.
III. Gangleri began his questioning thus:
"Who is foremost, or oldest, of all
the gods?" Hárr answered: cc He is called
in our speech Allfather, but in the Elder
Ásgard he had twelve names: one is Allfather;
the second is Lord, or Lord of Hosts; the
third is Nikarr, or Spear-Lord; the fourth
is Nikudr, or Striker; the fifth is Knower
of Many Things; the sixth, Fulfiller of Wishes;
the seventh, Far-Speaking One; the eighth,
The Shaker, or He that Putteth the Armies
to Flight; the ninth, The Burner; the tenth,
The Destroyer; the eleventh, The Protector;
the twelfth, Gelding."
Then asked Gangleri: "Where is this
god, or what power hath he, or what hath
he wrought that is a glorious deed?"
Hárr made answer: "He lives throughout
all ages and governs all his realm, and directs
all things, great
[1. High.
2. Equally High.
3. Third.]
{p. 16}
and small." Then said Jafnhárr: "He
fashioned heaven and earth and air, and all
things which are in them." Then. spake
Thridi: "The greatest of all is this:
that he made man, and gave him the spirit,
which shall live and never perish, though
the flesh-frame rot to mould, or burn to
ashes; and all men shall live, such as are
just in action, and be with himself in the
place called Gimlé. But evil men go to Hel
and thence down to the Misty Hel; and that
is down in the ninth world." Then said
Gangleri: "What did he before heaven
and earth were made?" And Hárr answered:
"He was then with the Rime-Giants."
IV. Gangleri said: "What was the beginning,
or how began it, or what was before it?"
Hárr answered: "As is told in Völuspá:
Erst was the age when nothing was: Nor sand
nor sea, nor chilling stream-waves; Earth
was not found, nor Ether-Heaven,-- A Yawning
Gap, but grass was none."
Then said Jafnhárr: "It was many ages
before the earth was shaped that the Mist-World
was made; and midmost within it lies the
well that is called Hvergelmir, from which
spring the rivers called Svöl, Gunnthrá,
Fjörm, Fimbulthul, Slídr and Hríd, Sylgr
and Ylgr, Víd, Leiptr; Gjöll is hard by Hel-gates."
And Thridi said: "Yet first was the
world in the southern region, which was named
Múspell; it is light and hot; that region
is glowing and burning, and impassable to
such as are outlanders and have not their
holdings there. He who sits there at the
land's-end, to defend the land, is called
Surtr; he brandishes a flaming
{p. 17}
sword, and at the end of the world he shall
go forth and harry, and overcome all the
gods, and burn all the world with fire; thus
is said in Völuspá:
Surtr fares from the south with switch-eating
flame,-- On his sword shimmers the sun of
the War-Gods; The rock-crags crash; the fiends
are reeling; Heroes tread Hel-way; Heaven
is cloven."
V. Gangleri asked: "How were things
wrought, ere the races were and the tribes
of men increased?" Then said Hárr: "The
streams called Ice-waves, those which were
so long come from the fountain-heads that
the yeasty venom upon them had hardened like
the slag that runs out of the fire,--these
then became ice; and when the ice halted
and ceased to run, then it froze over above.
But the drizzling rain that rose from the
venom congealed to rime, and the rime increased,
frost over frost, each over the other, even
into Ginnungagap, the Yawning Void."
Then spake Jafnhárr: "Ginnungagap, which
faced toward the northern quarter, became
filled with heaviness, and masses of ice
and rime, and from within, drizzling rain
and gusts; but the southern part of the Yawning
Void was lighted by those sparks and glowing
masses which flew out of Múspellheim."
And Thridi said: "Just as cold arose
out of Niflheim, and all terrible things,
so also all that looked toward Múspellheim
became hot and glowing; but Ginnungagap was
as mild as windless air, and when the breath
of heat met the rime, so that it melted and
dripped, life was quickened from the yeast-drops,
by the power of that which sent the heat,
and became a man's form. And that man is
named Ymir, but the Rime-Giants call him
Aurgelimir;
{p. 18}
and thence are come the races of the Rime-Giants,
as it says in Völuspá the Less:
All the witches spring from Witolf, All the
warlocks are of Willharm, And the spell-singers
spring from Swarthead; All the ogres of Ymir
come.
But concerning this says Vafthrúdnir the
giant:
Out of the Ice-waves issued venom-drops,
Waxing until a giant was; Thence are our
kindred come all together,-- So it is they
are savage forever."
Then said Gangleri: "How did the races
grow thence, or after what fashion was it
brought to pass that more men came into being?
Or do ye hold him God, of whom ye but now
spake?" And Jafnhárr answered: "By
no means do we acknowledge him God; he was
evil and all his kindred: we call them Rime-Giants.
Now it is said that when he slept, a sweat
came upon him, and there grew under his left
hand a man and a woman, and one of his feet
begat a son with the other; and thus the
races are come; these are the Rime-Giants.
The old Rime-Giant, him we call Ymir."
VI. Then said Gangleri: "Where dwelt
Ymir, or wherein did he find sustenance?"
Hárr answered: "Straightway after the
rime dripped, there sprang from it the cow
called Audumla; four streams of milk ran
from her udders, and she nourished Ymir."
Then asked Gangleri: "Wherewithal was
the cow nourished?" And Hárr made answer:
{p. 19}
"She licked the ice-blocks, which were
salty; and the first day that she licked
the blocks, there came forth from the blocks
in the evening a man's hair; the second day,
a man's head; the third day the whole man
was there. He is named Búri: he was fair
of feature, great and mighty. He begat a
son called Borr, who wedded the woman named
Bestla, daughter of Bölthorn the giant; and
they had three sons: one was Odin, the second
Vili, the third Vé. And this is my belief,
that he, Odin, with his brothers, must be
ruler of heaven and earth; we hold that he
must be so called; so is that man called
whom we know to be mightiest and most worthy
of honor, and ye do well to let him be so
called."
VII. Then said Gangleri: "What covenant
was between them, or which was the stronger?"
And Hárr answered: "The sons of Borr
slew Ymir the giant; lo, where he fell there
gushed forth so much blood out of his wounds
that with it they drowned all the race of
the Rime-Giants, save that one, whom giants
call Bergelmir, escaped with his household;
he went upon his ship,[1] and his wife with
him, and they were safe there. And from them
are come the races of the Rime-Giants, as
is said here:
Untold ages ere earth was shapen, Then was
Bergelmir born; That first I recall, how
the famous wise giant On the deck of the
ship was laid down."
VIII. Then said Gangleri: "What was
done then by Borr's sons, if thou believe
that they be gods?" Hárr replied: "In
this matter there is no little to be said.
They took
[1. Literally, mill-bench or mortar.]
{p. 20}
Ymir and bore him into the middle of the
Yawning Void, and made of him the earth:
of his blood the sea and the waters; the
land was made of his flesh, and the crags
of his bones; gravel and stones they fashioned
from his teeth and his grinders and from
those bones that were broken." And Jafnhárr
said: "Of the blood, which ran and welled
forth freely out of his wounds, they made
the sea, when they had formed and made firm
the earth together, and laid the sea in a
ring round. about her; and it may well seem
a hard thing to most men to cross over it."
Then said Thridi: "They took his skull
also, and made of it the heaven, and set
it up over the earth with four corners; and
under each corner they set a dwarf: the names
of these are East, West, North, and South.
Then they took the glowing embers and sparks
that burst forth and had been cast out of
Múspellheim, and set them in the midst of
the Yawning Void, in the heaven, both above
and below, to illumine heaven and earth.
They assigned places to all fires: to some
in heaven, some wandered free under the heavens;
nevertheless, to these also they gave a place,
and shaped them courses. It is said in old
"songs, that from these the days were
reckoned, and the tale of years told, as
is said in Völuspá:
The sun knew not where she had housing; The
moon knew not what Might he had; The stars
knew not where stood their places. Thus was
it ere the earth was fashioned."
Then said Gangleri: These are great tidings
which I now hear; that is a wondrous great
piece of craftsmanship, and cunningly made.
How was the earth contrived?" And Hárr
answered: "She is ring-shaped without,
and round about
{p. 21}
her without lieth the deep sea; and along
the strand of that sea they gave lands to
the races of giants for habitation. But on
the inner earth they made a citadel round
about the world against the hostility of
the giants, and for their citadel they raised
up the brows of Ymir the giant, and called
that place Midgard. They took also his brain
and cast it in the air, and made from it
the clouds, as is here said:
Of Ymir's flesh the earth was fashioned,
And of his sweat the sea; Crags of his bones,
trees of his hair, And of his skull the sky.
Then of his brows the blithe gods made Midgard
for sons of men; And of his brain the bitter-mooded
Clouds were all created."
IX. Then said Gangleri: "Much indeed
they had accomplished then, methinks, when
earth and heaven were made, and the sun and
the constellations of heaven were fixed,
and division was made of days; now whence
come the men that people the world?"
And Hárr answered: 'When the sons of Borr
were walking along the sea-strand, they found
two trees, and took up the trees and shaped
men of them: the first gave them spirit and
life; the second, wit and feeling; the third,
form, speech, hearing, and sight. They gave
them clothing and names: the male was called
Askr, and the female Embla, and of them was
mankind begotten, which received a dwelling-place
under Midgard. Next they made for themselves
in the middle of the world a city which is
called Ásgard; men call it Troy. There dwelt
the gods and their kindred; and many tidings
and tales of it have
{p. 22}
come to pass both on earth and aloft. There
is one abode called Hlidskjálf, and when
Allfather sat in the high-seat there, he
looked out over the whole world and saw every
man's acts, and knew all things which he
saw. His wife was called Frigg daughter of
Fjörgvinn; and of their blood is come that
kindred which we call the races of the Ćsir,
that have peopled the Elder Ásgard, and those
kingdoms which pertain to it; and that is
a divine race. For this reason must he be
called Allfather: because he is father of
all the gods and of men, and of all that
was fulfilled of him and of his might. The
Earth was his daughter and his wife; on her
he begot the first son, which is Ása-Thor:
strength and prowess attend him, wherewith
he overcometh all living things.
X. "Nörfi or Narfi is the name of a
giant that dwelt in Jötunheim: he had a daughter
called Night; she was swarthy and dark, as
befitted her race. She was given to the man
named Naglfari; their son was Audr. Afterward
she was wedded to him that was called Annarr;
Jörd[1] was their daughter. Last of all Dayspring
had her, and he was of the race of the Ćsir;
their son was Day: he was radiant and fair
after his father. Then Allfather took Night,
and Day her son, and gave to them two horses
and two chariots, and sent them up into the
heavens, to ride round about the earth every
two half-days. Night rides before with the
horse named Frosty-Mane, and on each morning
he bedews the earth with the foam from his
bit. The horse that Day has is called Sheen-Mane,
and he illumines all the air and the earth
from his mane."
[1. Earth.]
{p. 23}
XI. Then said Gangleri: "How does he
govern the course of the sun or of the moon?"
Hárr answered: "A certain man was named
Mundilfari, who had two children; they were
so fair and comely that he called his son
Moon, and his daughter Sun, and wedded her
to the man called Glenr. But the gods were
incensed at that insolence, and took the
brother and sister, and set them up in the
heavens; they caused Sun to drive those horses
that drew the chariot of the sun, which the
gods had fashioned, for the world's illumination,
from that glowing stuff which flew out of
Múspellheim. Those horses are called thus:
Early-Wake and All-Strong; and under the
shoulders of the horses the gods set two
wind-bags to cool them, but in some records
that is called 'iron-coolness.' Moon steers
the course of the moon, and determines its
waxing and waning. He took from the earth-two
children, called Bil and Hjúki, they that
went from the well called Byrgir, bearing
on their shoulders the cask called Sćgr,
and the pole Simul. Their father is named
Vidfinnr. These children follow Moon, as
may be seen from the earth."
XII. Then said Gangleri: "The sun fares
swiftly, and almost as if she were afraid:
she could not hasten her course any the more
if she feared her destruction." Then
Hárr made answer: "It is no marvel that
she hastens furiously: close cometh he that
seeks her, and she has no escape save to
run away." Then said Gangleri: "Who
is he that causes her this disquiet?"
Hárr replied: "It is two wolves; and
he that runs after her is called Skoll; she
fears him, and he shall take her. But he
that leaps before her is called Hati Hródvitnisson.
He is eager to seize the moon; and so it
must be." Then said Gangleri: "What
is the race of the
{p. 24}
wolves?" Hárr answered: "A witch
dwells to the east of Midgard, in the forest
called Ironwood: in that wood dwell the troll-women,
who are known as Ironwood-Women. The old
witch bears many giants for sons, and all
in the shape of wolves; and from this source
are these wolves sprung. The saying runs
thus: from this race shall come one that
shall be mightiest of all, he that is named
Moon-Hound; he shall be filled with the flesh
of all those men that die, and he shall swallow
the moon, and sprinkle with blood the heavens
and all the lair; thereof-shall the sun lose
her shining, and the winds in that day shall
be unquiet and roar on every side. So it
says in Völuspá:
Eastward dwells the Old One in Ironwood,
And there gives birth to Fenrir's brethren;
There shall spring of them all a certain
one, The moon's taker in troll's likeness.
He is filled with flesh of fey men. Reddens
the gods' seats with ruddy blood-gouts; Swart
becomes sunshine in summers after, The weather
all shifty. Wit ye yet, or what?"
XIII. Then said Gangleri: "What is the
way to heaven from earth?" Then Hárr
answered, and laughed aloud: "Now, that
is not wisely asked; has it not been told
thee, that the gods made a bridge from earth,
to heaven, called Bifröst? Thou must have
seen it; it may be that ye call it rainbow.'
It is of three colors, and very strong, and
made with cunning and with more magic art
than other works of craftsmanship. But strong
as it is, yet must it be broken, when the
sons of Múspell shall go forth harrying
{p. 25}
and ride it, and swim their horses over great
rivers; thus they shall proceed." Then
said Gangleri: "To my thinking the gods
did not build the bridge honestly, seeing
that it could be broken, and they able to
make it as they would." Then Hárr replied:
"The gods are not deserving of reproof
because of this work of skill: a good bridge
is Bifröst, but nothing in this world is
of such nature that it may be relied on when
the sons of Múspell go a-harrying."
XIV. Then said Gangleri: "What did Allfather
then do when Ásgard was made?" Hárr
answered: "In the beginning he established
rulers, and bade them ordain fates with him,
and give counsel concerning the planning
of the town; that was in the place which
is called Ida-field, in the midst of the
town. It was their first work to make that
court in which their twelve seats stand,
and another, the high-seat which Allfather
himself has. That house is the best-made
of any on earth, and the greatest; without
and within, it is all like one piece of gold;
men call it Gladsheim. They made also a second
hall: that was a shrine which the goddesses
had, and it was a very fair house; men call
it Vingólf. Next they fashioned a house,
wherein they placed a forge, and made besides
a hammer, tongs, and anvil, and by means
of these, all other tools. After this they
smithied metal and stone and wood, and wrought
so abundantly that metal which is called
gold, that they had all their household ware
and all dishes of gold; and that time is
called the Age of Gold, before it was spoiled
by the coming of the Women, even those who
came out of Jötunheim. Next after this, the
gods enthroned themselves in their seats
and held judgment, and called to mind whence
the dwarves had quickened in the mould and
underneath in the
{p. 26}
earth, even as do maggots in flesh. The dwarves
had first received shape and life in the
flesh of Ymir, and were then maggots; but
by decree of the gods had become conscious
with the intelligence of men, and had human
shape. And nevertheless they dwell in the
earth and in stones. Módsognir was the first,
and Durinn the second; so it says in Völuspá.
Then strode all the mighty to the seats of
judgment, The gods most holy, and together
held counsel, Who should of dwarves shape
the peoples From the bloody surge and the
Blue One's bones. They made many in man's
likeness, Dwarves in the earth, as Durinn
said.
And these, says the Sibyl, are their names:
Nýi and Nidi, Nordri and Sudri, Austri, Vestri,
Althjófr, Dvalinn; Nár, Náinn, Nípingr, Dáinn,
Bifurr, Báfurr, Bömburr, Nóri, Óri, Ónarr,
Óinn, Mjödvitnir, Viggr and Gandálfr, Vindálfr,
Thorinn, Fíli, Kíli, Fundinn, Váli; Thrór,
Thróinn, Thekkr, Litr and Vitr, Nýr, Nýrádr,
Rekkr, Rádsvidr.
And these also are dwarves and dwell in stones,
but the first in mould:
Draupnir, Dólgthvari, Hörr, Hugstari, Hledjólfr,
Glóinn; Dóri, Óri, Dúfr, Andvari, Heptifíli,
Hárr, Svíarr.
{p. 27}
And these proceed from Svarinshaugr to Aurvangar
on Jöruplain, and thence is Lovarr come;
these are their names:
Skirfir, Virfir Skáfidr, Ái, Álfr, Yngvi,
Eikinskjaldi, Falr, Frosti, Fidr, Ginnarr."
XV. Then said Gangleri: "Where is the
chief abode or holy place of the gods?"
Hárr answered: 'That is at the Ash of Yggdrasill;
there the gods must give judgment everyday."
Then Gangleri asked: "What is to be
said concerning that place?" Then said
Jafnhárr: "The Ash is greatest of all
trees and best: its limbs spread out over
all the world and stand above heaven. Three
roots of the tree uphold it and stand exceeding
broad: one is among the Ćsir; another among
the Rime-Giants, in that place where aforetime
was the Yawning Void; the third stands over
Niflheim, and under that root is Hvergelmir,
and Nídhöggr gnaws the root from below. But
under that root which turns toward the Rime-Giants
is Mímir's Well, wherein wisdom and understanding
are stored; and he is called Mímir, who keeps
the well. He is full of ancient lore, since
he drinks of the well from the Gjallar-Horn.
Thither came Allfather and craved one drink
of the well; but he got it not until he had
laid his eye in pledge. So says Völuspá:
All know I, Odin, where the eye thou hiddest,
In the wide-renowned well of Mímir; Mímir
drinks mead every morning From Valfather's
wage. Wit ye yet, or what?
The third root of the Ash stands in heaven;
and under
{p. 28}
that root is the well which is very holy,
that is called the Well of Urdr; there the
gods hold their tribunal. Each day the Ćsir
ride thither up over Bifröst, which is also
called the Ćsir's Bridge. These are the names
of the Ćsir's steeds: Sleipnir[1] is best,
which Odin has; he has eight feet. The second
is Gladr,[2] the third Gyllir,[3] the fourth
Glenr,[4] the fifth Skeidbrimir,[5] the sixth
Silfrintoppr,[6] the seventh Sinir,[7] the
eighth Gisl,[8] the ninth Falhófnir,[9] the
tenth. Gulltoppr,[10] the eleventh Léttfeti.[11]
Baldr's horse was burnt with him; and Thor
walks to the judgment, and wades those rivers
which are called thus:
Körmt and Örmt and the Kerlaugs twain, Them
shall Thor wade Every day when he goes to
doom At Ash Yggdrasill; For the Ćsir's Bridge
burns all with flame, And the holy waters
howl."
Then said Gangleri: "Does fire burn
over Bifröst?" Hárr replied: "That
which thou seest to be red in the bow is
burning fire; the Hill-Giants might go up
to heaven, if passage on Bifröst were open
to all those who would cross. There are many
fair places in heaven, and over everything
there a godlike watch is kept. A hall stands
there, fair, under the ash by the well, and
out of that hall come three maids, who are
called thus: Urdr,[12] Verdandi,[13] Skuld;[14]
these maids determine the period of men's
lives: we call them
[1. The Slipper.
2. Bright or Glad.
3. Golden.
4. The Starer.
5. Fleet Courser.
6 Silver-top.
7 Sinewy.
8. Beam, Ray.
9. Hairy-hoof.
10. Gold-top.
11. Light-stepper.
12. Past.
13. Present.
14. Future.]
{p. 29}
Norns; but there are many norns: those who
come to each child that is born, to appoint
his life; these are of the race of the gods,
but the second are of the Elf-people, and
the third are of the kindred of the dwarves,
as it is said here:
Most sundered in birth I say the Norns are;
They claim no common kin: Some are of Ćsir-kin,
some are of Elf-kind, Some are Dvalinn's
daughters."
Then said Gangleri: "If the Norns determine
the weirds of men, then they apportion exceeding
unevenly, seeing that some have a pleasant
and luxurious life, but others have little
worldly goods or fame; some have long life,
others short." Hárr said: "Good
norns and of honorable race appoint good
life; but those men that suffer evil fortunes
are governed by evil norns."
XVI. Then said Gangleri: "What more
mighty wonders are to be told of the Ash?"
Hárr replied: "Much is to be told of
it. An eagle sits in the limbs of the Ash,
and he has understanding of many a thing;
and between his eyes sits the hawk that is
called Vedrfölnir. The squirrel called Ratatöskr
runs up and down the length of the Ash, bearing
envious words between the eagle and Nídhöggr;
and four harts run in the limbs of the Ash
and bite the leaves. They are called thus:
Dáinn, Dvalinn, Duneyrr, Durathrór. Moreover,
so many serpents are in Hvergelmir with Nídhöggr,
that no tongue can tell them, as is here
said:
Ash Yggdrasill suffers anguish, More than
men know of:
{p. 30}
The stag bites above; on the side it rotteth,
And Nídhöggr gnaws from below.
And it is further said:
More serpents lie under Yggdrasill's stock
Than every unwise ape can think: Góinn and
Móinn (they're Grafvitnir's sons), Grábakr
and Grafvölludr; Ófnir and Sváfnir I think
shall aye Tear the trunk's twigs.
It is further said that these Norns who dwell
by the Well of Urdr take water of the well
every day, and with it that clay which lies
about the well, and sprinkle it over the
Ash, to the end that its limbs shall not
wither nor rot; for that water is so holy
that all things which come there into the
well become as white as the film which lies
within the egg-shell,--as is here said:
I know an Ash standing called Yggdrasill,
A high tree sprinkled with snow-white clay;
Thence come the dews in the dale that fall--
It stands ever green above Urdr's Well.
That dew which falls from it onto the earth
is called by men honey-dew, and thereon are
bees nourished. Two fowls are fed in Urdr's
Well: they are called Swans, and from those
fowls has come the race of birds which is
so called."
XVII. Then said Gangleri: "Thou knowest
many tidings to tell of the heaven. What
chief abodes are there more than at Urdr's
Well?" Hárr said: "Many places
are there,
{p. 31}
and glorious. That which is called Álfheimr[1]
is one, where dwell the peoples called Light-Elves;
but the Dark-Elves dwell down in the earth,
and they are unlike in appearance, but by
far more unlike in nature. The Light-Elves
are fairer to look upon than the sun, but
the Dark-Elves are blacker than pitch. Then
there is also in that place the abode called
Breidablik,[2] and there is not in heaven
a fairer dwelling. There, too, is the one
called Glitnir,[3] whose walls, and all its
posts and pillars, are of red gold, but its
roof of silver. There is also the abode called
Himinbjörg;[4] it stands at heaven's end
by the bridge-head, in the place where Bifröst
joins heaven. Another great abode is there,
which is named Valaskjálf;[5] Odin possesses
that dwelling; the gods made it and thatched
it with sheer silver, and in this hall is
the Hlidskjálf,[6] the high-seat so called.
Whenever Allfather sits in that seat, he
surveys all lands. At the southern end of
heaven is that hall which is fairest of all,
and brighter than the sun; it is called Gimlé.[7]
It shall stand when both heaven and earth
have departed; and good men and of righteous
conversation shall dwell therein: so it is
said in Völuspá.--
A hall I know standing than the sun fairer,
Thatched with gold in Gimlé bright; There
shall dwell the doers of righteousness And
ever and ever enjoy delight."
Then said Gangleri: "What shall guard
this place, when the flame of Surtr shall
consume heaven and earth?" Hárr
[1. Elf-home.
2. Broad-gleaming.
3. Glittering.
4. Heaven-crag.
5. Seat or shelf of the Fallen.
6. Gate-seat.
7. Either dative of Himill = Heaven (?) (Cl.-Vig.),
or Gem-decked (Bugge).]
{p. 32}
answered: "It is sad that another heaven
is to the southward and upward of this one,
and it is called Andlangr;[1] but the third
heaven is yet above that, and it is called
Vídbláinn,[2] and in that heaven we think
this abode is. But we believe that none but
Light-Elves inhabit these mansions now."
XVIII. Then said Gangleri: "Whence comes
the wind? It is strong, so that it stirs
great seas, and it swells fire; but, strong
as it is, none may see it, for it is wonderfully
shapen." Then said Hárr: "That
I am well able to tell thee. At the northward
end of heaven sits the giant called Hrćsvelgr:
he has the plumes of an eagle, and when he
stretches his wings for flight, then the
wind rises from under his wings, as is here
said:
Hrćsvelgr hight he who sits at heaven's ending,
Giant in eagle's coat; From his wings, they
say, the wind cometh All men-folk over."
XIX. Then said Gangleri: "Why is there
so much difference, that summer should be
hot, but winter cold?" Hárr answered:
"A wise man would not ask thus, seeing
that all are able to tell this; but if thou
alone art become-so slight of understanding
as not to have heard it, then I will yet
permit that thou shouldst rather ask foolishly
once, than that thou shouldst be kept longer
in ignorance of a thing which it is proper
to know. He is called Svásudr[3] who is father
of Summer; and he is of pleasant nature,
so that from his name whatsoever is pleasant
is called 'sweet.'
[1. Wide-reaching, extensive.
2 Wide-blue.
3 Delightful.]
{p. 33}
But the father of Winter is variously called
Vindljóni[1] or Vindsvalr;[2] he is the son
of Vásadr;[3] and these were kinsmen grim
and chilly-breasted, and Winter has their
temper."
XX. Then said Gangleri: "Who are the
Ćsir, they in whom it behoves men to believe?"
Hárr answered: "The divine Ćsir are
twelve." Then said Jafnhárr: "Not
less holy are the Ásynjur, the goddesses,
and they are of no less authority."
Then said Thridi: "Odin is highest and
eldest of the Ćsir: he rules all things,
and mighty as are the other gods, they all
serve him as children obey a father. Frigg
is his wife, and she knows all the fates
of men, though she speaks no prophecy,--as
is said here, when Odin himself spake with
him of the Ćsir whom men call Loki:
Thou art mad now, Loki, and reft of mind,--
Why, Loki, leav'st thou not off? Frigg, methinks,
is wise in all fates, Though herself say
them not!
Odin is called Allfather because he is father
of all the gods. He is also called Father
of the Slain, because all those that fall
in battle are the sons of his adopt on; for
them he appoints Valhall[4] and Vingólf,[5]
and they are then called Champions. He is
also called God of the Hanged, God of Gods,
God of Cargoes; and he has also been named
in many more ways, after he had come to King
Geirrödr:
[1. Wind-bringer? (Simrock).
2 Wind-chill.
3 Wet and sleety (Cl.-Vig.).
4 Hall of the Slain.
5 Friendly Floor.]
{p. 34}
We were called Grímr and Gangleri, Herjann,
Hjálmberi; Thekkr, Thridi, Thudr, Udr, Helblindi,
Hárr.
Sadr, Svipall, Sann-getall, Herteitr, Hnikarr;
Bileygr, Báleygr, Bölverkr, Fjölnir, Grímnir,
Glapsvidr, Fjölsvidr.
Sídhöttr, Sidskeggr, Sigfödr, Hnikudr, Alfödr,
Atrídr, Farmatýr; Óski, Ómi, Jafnhárr, Biflindi,
Göndlir, Hárbardr.
Svidurr, Svidrir, Jálkr, Kjalarr, Vidurr,
Thrór, Yggr, Thundr; Vakr, Skilfingr, Váfudr,
Hroptatýr, Gautr, Veratýr."
Then said Gangleri: "Exceeding many
names have ye given him; and, by my faith,
it must indeed be a goodly wit that knows
all the lore and the examples of what chances
have brought about each of these names."
Then Hárr made answer: "It is truly
a vast sum of knowledge to gather[1] together
and set forth fittingly. But it is briefest
to tell thee that most of his names have
been given him by reason of this chance:
there being so many branches of tongues in
the world, all peoples believed that it was
needful for them to turn his name into their
own tongue, by which they might the better
invoke him and entreat him on their own
[1. Literally, to rake into rows.]
{p. 35}
behalf. But some occasions for these names
arose in his wanderings; and that matter
is recorded in tales. Nor canst thou ever
be called a wise man if thou shalt not be
able to tell of those great events."
XXI. Then said Gangleri: "What are the
names of the other Ćsir, or what is their
office, or what deeds of renown have they
done?" Hárr answered: "Thor is
the foremost of them, he that is called Thor
of the Ćsir, or Öku-Thor; he is strongest
of all the gods and men. He has his realm
in the place called Thrúdvangar, and his
hall is called Bilskirnir;[2] in that hall
are five hundred rooms and forty. That is
the greatest house that men know of; It is
thus said in Grímnismál:
Five hundred floors and more than forty,
So reckon I Bilskirnir with bending ways;
Of those houses that I know of hall-roofed,
My son's I know the most.
Thor has two he-goats, that are called Tooth-Gnasher
and Tooth-Gritter, and a chariot wherein
he drives, and the he-goats draw the chariot;
therefore is he called Öku-Thor.[3] He has
also three things of great price: one is
the hammer Mjöllnir, which the Rime-Giants
and the Hill-Giants know, when it is raised
on high; and that is no wonder, it has bruised
many a skull among their fathers or their
kinsmen. He has a second costly thing, best
of all: the
[1. Plains of strength.
2. From the flashing of light (Cl.-Vig.).
3. According to Cleasby-Vigfússon, a popular
etymology. "Öku is not to be derived
from áka (to drive), but is rather of Finnish
origin, Ukko being the Thunder-god of the
Chudic tribes." Jónsson, however, allows
Snorri's etymology to stand.]
{p. 36}
girdle of might; and when he clasps it about
him, then the godlike strength within him
is increased by half. Yet a third thing he
has, in which there is much virtue: his iron
gloves; he cannot do without them when he
uses his hammer-shaft. But no one is so wise
that he can tell all his mighty works; yet
I can tell thee so much tidings of him that
the hours would be spent before all that
I know were told."
XXII. Then said Gangleri: "I would ask
tidings of more Ćsir." Hárr replied:
"The second son of Odin is Baldr, and
good things are to be said of him. He is
best, and all praise him; he is so fair of
feature, and so bright, that light shines
from him. A certain herb is so white that
it is likened to Baldr's brow; of all grasses
it is whitest, and by it thou mayest judge
his fairness, both in hair and in body. He
is the wisest of the Ćsir, and the fairest-spoken
and most gracious; and that quality attends
him, that none may gainsay his judgments.
He dwells in the place called Breidablik,[1]
which is in heaven; in that place may nothing
unclean be, even as is said here:
Breidablik 't is called, where Baldr has
A hall made for himself: In that land where
I know lie Fewest baneful runes.
XXIII. "The third among the Ćsir is
he that is called Njördr: he dwells in heaven,
in the abode called Nóatún. He rules the
course of the wind, and stills sea and fire;
on him shall men call for voyages and for
hunting. He is so
[1. Broad-gleaming.]
{p. 37}
prosperous and abounding in wealth, that
he may give them great plenty of lands or
of gear; and him shall men invoke for such
things. Njördr is not of the race of the
Ćsir: he was reared in the land of the Vanir,
but the Vanir delivered him as hostage to
the gods, and took for hostage in exchange
him that men call HSnir; he became an atonement
between the gods and the Vanir. Njördr has
to wife the woman called Skadi, daughter
of Thjazi the giant. Skadi would fain dwell
in the abode which her father had had, which
is on certain mountains, in the place called
Thrymheimr; but Njördr would be near the
sea. They made a compact on these terms:
they should be nine nights in Thrymheimr,
but the second nine at Nóatún. But when Njördr
came down from the mountain back to Nóatún,
he sang this lay:
Loath were the hills to me, I was not long
in them, Nights only nine; To me the wailing
of wolves seemed ill, After the song of swans.
Then Skadi sang this:
Sleep could I never on the sea-beds, For
the wailing of waterfowl; He wakens me, who
comes from the deep-- The sea-mew every morn.
Then Skadi went up onto the mountain, and
dwelt in Thrymheimr. And she goes for the
more part on snowshoes and with a bow and
arrow, and shoots beasts; she is called Snowshoe-Goddess
or Lady of the Snowshoes. So it is said:
{p. 38}
Thrymheimr 't is called, where Thjazi dwelt,
He the hideous giant; But now Skadi abides,
pure bride of the gods, In her father's ancient
freehold.
XXIV. "Njördr in Nóatún begot afterward
two children: the son was called Freyr, and
the daughter Freyja; they were fair of face
and mighty. Freyr is the most renowned of
the Ćsir; he rules over the rain and the
shining of the sun, and therewithal the fruit
of the earth; and it is good to call on him
for fruitful seasons and peace. He governs
also the prosperity of men. But Freyja is
the most renowned of the goddesses; she has
in heaven the dwelling called Fólkvangr,[1]
and wheresoever she rides to the strife,
she has one-half of the kill, and Odin half,
as is here said:
Fólkvangr 't is called, where Freyja rules
Degrees of seats in the hall; Half the kill
she keepeth each day, And half Odin hath.
Her hall Sessrúmnir[2] is great and fair.
When she goes forth, she drives her cats
and sits in a chariot; she is most conformable
to man's prayers, and from her name comes
the name of honor, Frú, by which noblewomen
are called. Songs of love are well-pleasing
to her; it is good to call on her for furtherance
in love."
XXV. Then said Gangleri: "Great in power
do these Ćsir seem to me; nor is it a marvel,
that much authority attends you who are said
to possess understanding of the gods, and
know which one men should call on for what
[1. Folk-plain, Host-plain.
2. Seat-roomy.]
{p. 39}
boon soever. Or are the gods yet more?"
Hárr said: "Yet remains that one of
the Ćsir who is called Týr: he is most daring,
and best in stoutness of heart, and he has
much authority over victory in battle; it
is good for men of valor to invoke him. It
is a proverb, that he is Týr-valiant, who
surpasses other men and does not waver. He
is wise, so that it is also said, that he
that is wisest is Týr-prudent. This is one
token of his daring: when the Ćsir enticed
Fenris-Wolf to take upon him the fetter Gleipnir,
the wolf did not believe them, that they
would loose him, until they laid Týr's hand
into his mouth as a pledge. But when the
Ćsir would not loose him, then he bit off
the hand at the place now called 'the wolf's
joint;' and Týr is one-handed, and is not
called a reconciler of men.
XXVI. "One is called Bragi: he is renowned
for wisdom, and most of all for fluency of
speech and skill with words. He knows most
of skaldship, and after him skaldship is
called bragr,[1] and from his name that one
is called bragr-man or -woman, who possesses
eloquence surpassing others, of women or
of men. His wife is Idunn: she guards in
her chest of ash those apples which the gods
must taste whensoever they grow old; and
then they all become young, and so it shall
be even unto the Weird of the Gods."
Then said Gangleri: "A very great thing,
methinks, the gods entrust to the watchfulness
and good faith of Idunn." Then said
Hárr, laughing loudly: "'T was near
being desperate once; I may be able to tell
thee of it, but now thou shalt first hear
more of the names of the Ćsir.
[1. Bragr, as a noun, means "poetry"
as an adjective, it seems to mean "foremost"
(Cl.-Vig.). Thus the phrase bragr karla seems
to be "foremost of men," with apparent
reference to poetic preëminence.]
{p. 40}
XXVII. "Heimdallr is the name of one:
he is called the White God. He is great and
holy; nine maids, all sisters, bore him for
a son. He is also called Hallinskídi[1] and
Gullintanni;[2] his teeth were of gold, and
his horse is called Gold-top. He dwells in
the place called Himinbjörg,[3] hard by Bifröst:
he is the warder of the gods, and sits there
by heaven's end to guard the bridge from
the Hill-Giants. He needs less sleep than
a bird; he sees equally well night and day
a hundred leagues from him, and hears how
grass grows on the earth or wool on sheep,
and everything that has a louder sound. He
has that trumpet which is called Gjallar-Horn,
and its blast is heard throughout all worlds.
Heimdallr's sword is called Head. It is said
further:
Himinbjörg 't is called, where Heimdallr,
they say, Aye has his housing; There the
gods' sentinel drinks in his snug hall Gladly
good mead.
And furthermore, he himself says in Heimdalar-galdr:
I am of nine mothers the offspring, Of sisters
nine am I the son.
XXVIII. "One of the Ćsir is named Hödr:
he is blind. He is of sufficient strength,
but the gods would desire that no occasion
should rise of naming this god, for the work
of his hands shall long be held in memory
among gods and men.
XXIX. "Vídarr is the name of one, the
silent god. He has
[1. Ram (Cl.-Vig.).
2. Golden-teeth.
3. Heaven-fells.]
{p. 41}
a thick shoe. He is nearly as strong as Thor;
in him the gods have great trust in all struggles.
XXX. "One is called Áli or Váli, son
of Odin and Rindr: he is daring in fights,
and a most fortunate marksman.
XXXI. "One is called Ullr, son of Sif,
step-son of Thor; he is so excellent a bowman,
and so swift on snowshoes, that none may
contend with him. He is also fair of aspect
and has the accomplishments of a warrior;
it is well to call on him in single-combats.
XXXII. "Forseti is the name of the son
of Baldr and Nanna daughter of Nep: he has
that hall in heaven which is called Glitnir.
All that come to him with such quarrels as
arise out of law-suits, all these return
thence reconciled. That is the best seat
of judgment among gods and men; thus it is
said here:
A hall is called Glitnir, with gold 't is
pillared, And with silver thatched the same;
There Forseti bides the full day through,
And puts to sleep all suits.
XXXIII. "Also numbered among the Ćsir
is he whom some call the mischief-monger
of the Ćsir, and the first father of falsehoods,
and blemish of all gods and men: he is named
Loki or Loptr, son of Fárbauti the giant;
his mother was Laufey or Nál; his brothers
are Býleistr and Helblindi. Loki is beautiful
and comely to look upon, evil in spirit.,
very fickle in habit. He surpassed other
men in that wisdom which is called 'sleight,'
and had artifices for
{p. 42}
all occasions; he would ever bring the Ćsir
into great hardships, and then get them out
with crafty counsel. His wife was called
Sigyn, their son Nari or Narfi.
XXXIV. Yet more children had Loki. Angrboda
was the name of a certain giantess in Jötunheim,
with whom Loki gat three children: one was
Fenris-Wolf, the second Jörmungandr--that
is the Midgard Serpent,--the third is Hel.
But when the gods learned that this kindred
was nourished in Jötunheim, and when the
gods perceived by prophecy that from this
kindred great misfortune should befall them;
and since it seemed to all that there was
great prospect of ill--(first from the mother's
blood, and yet worse from the father's)-then
Allfather sent gods thither to take the children
and bring them to him. When they came to
him, straightway he cast the serpent into
the deep sea, where he lies about all the
land; and this serpent grew so greatly that
he lies in the midst of the ocean encompassing
all the land, and bites upon his own tail.
Hel he cast into Niflheim, and gave to her
power over nine worlds, to apportion all
abodes among those that were sent to her:
that is, men dead of sickness or of old age.
She has great possessions there; her walls
are exceeding high and her gates great. Her
hall is called Sleet-Cold; her dish, Hunger;
Famine is her knife; Idler, her thrall; Sloven,
her maidservant; Pit of Stumbling, her threshold,
by which one enters; Disease, her bed; Gleaming
Bale, her bed-hangings. She is half blue-black
and half flesh-color (by which she is easily
recognized), and very lowering and fierce.
The Wolf the Ćsir brought up at home, and
Týr alone dared go to him to give him meat.
But when the gods saw. how much he grew every
day, and when all prophecies
{p. 43}
declared that he was fated to be their destruction,
then the Ćsir seized upon this way of escape:
they made a very strong fetter, which they
called Lćdingr, and brought it before the
Wolf, bidding him try his strength against
the fetter. The Wolf thought that no overwhelming
odds, and let them do with him as they would.
The first time the Wolf lashed out against
it, the fetter broke; so he was loosed out
of Lćdingr. After this, the Ćsir made a second
fetter, stronger by half, which they called
Drómi, and bade the Wolf try that fetter,
saying he would become very famous for strength,
if such huge workmanship should not suffice
to hold him. But the Wolf thought that this
fetter was very strong; he considered also
that strength had increased in him since
the time he broke Lćdingr: it came into his
mind, that he must expose himself to danger,
if he would become famous. So he let the
fetter be laid upon him. Now when the Ćsir
declared themselves ready, the Wolf shook
himself, dashed the fetter against the earth
and struggled fiercely with it, spurned against
it, and broke the fetter, so that the fragments
flew far. So he dashed himself out of Drómi.
Since then it passes as a proverb, 'to loose
out of Lćdingr,' or 'to dash out of Drómi,'
when anything is exceeding hard.
"After that the Ćsir feared that they
should never be able to get the Wolf bound.
Then Allfather sent him who is called Skírnir,
Freyr's messenger, down into the region of
the Black Elves, to certain dwarves, and
caused to be made the fetter named Gleipnir.
It was made of six things: the noise a cat
makes in foot-fall, the beard of a woman,
the roots of a rock, the sinews of a bear,
the breath of a fish, and the spittle of
a bird. And though thou understand not these
matters already, yet now thou mayest speedily
find
{p. 44}
certain proof herein, that no lie is told
thee: thou must have seen that a woman has
no beard, and no sound comes from the leap
of a cat, and there are no roots under a
rock; and by my troth, all that I have told
thee is equally true, though there be some
things which thou canst not put to the test."
Then said Gangleri: "This certainly
I can perceive to be true: these things which
thou hast taken for proof, I can see; but
how was the fetter fashioned?" Hárr
answered: "That I am well able to tell
thee. The fetter was soft and smooth as a
silken ribbon, but as sure and strong as
thou shalt now hear. Then, when the fetter
was brought to the Ćsir, they thanked the
messenger well for his errand. Then the Ćsir
went out upon the lake called Ámsvartnir,
to the island called Lyngvi, and summoning
the Wolf with them, they showed him the silken
ribbon and bade him burst it, saying that
it was somewhat stouter than appeared from
its thickness. And each passed it to the
others, and tested it with the strength of
their hands and it did not snap; yet they
said the Wolf could break it. Then the Wolf
answered: 'Touching this matter of the ribbon,
it seems to me that I shall get no glory
of it, though I snap asunder so slender a
band; but if it be made with cunning and
wiles, then, though it seem little, that
band shall never come upon my feet.' Then
the Ćsir answered that he could easily snap
apart a slight silken band, he who had before
broken great fetters of iron,--'but if thou
shalt not be able to burst this band, then
thou wilt not be able to frighten the gods;
and then we shall unloose thee.' The Wolf
said: 'If ye bind me so that I shall not
get free again, then ye will act in such
a way that it will be late ere I receive
help from you; I am unwilling that this band
{p. 45}
should be laid upon me. Yet rather than that
ye should impugn my courage, let some one
of you lay his hand in my mouth, for a pledge
that this is done in good faith.' Each of
the Ćsir looked at his neighbor, and none
was willing to part with his hand, until
Týr stretched out his right hand and laid
it in the Wolf's mouth. But when the Wolf
lashed out, the fetter became hardened; and
the more he struggled against it, the tighter
the band was. Then all laughed except Týr:
he lost his hand.
"When the Ćsir saw that the Wolf was
fully bound, they took the chain that was
fast to the fetter, and which is called Gelgja,
and passed it through a great rock--it is
called Gjöll--and fixed the rock deep down
into the earth. Then they took a great stone
and drove it yet deeper into the earth--it
was called Thviti--and used the stone for
a fastening-pin. The Wolf gaped terribly,
and thrashed about and strove to bite them;
they thrust into his mouth a certain sword:
the guards caught in his lower jaw, and the
point in the upper; that is his gag. He howls
hideously, and slaver runs out of his mouth:
that is the river called Ván; there he lies
till the Weird of the Gods." Then said
Gangleri: 'Marvellous ill children did Loki
beget, but all these brethren are of great
might. Yet why did not the Ćsir kill the
Wolf, seeing they had expectation of evil
from him?" Hárr answered: "So greatly
did the gods esteem their holy place and
sanctuary, that they would not stain it with
the Wolf's blood; though (so say the prophecies)
he shall be the slayer of Odin."
XXXV. Then said Gangleri: "Which are
the Ásynjur? Hárr said: "Frigg is the
foremost: she has that estate which is called
Fensalir, and it is most glorious. The second
is
{p. 46}
Sága: she dwells at Sřkkvabekkr, and that
is a great abode. The third is Fir: she is
the best physician. The fourth is Gefjun:
she is a virgin, and they that die maidens
attend her. The fifth is Fulla: she also
is a maid, and goes with loose tresses and
a golden band about her head; she bears the
ashen coffer of Frigg, and has charge over
her footgear, and knows her secret counsel.
Freyja is most gently born (together with
Frigg): she is wedded to the man named Ódr.
Their daughter is Hnoss: she is so fair,
that those things which are fair and precious
are called hnossir. Ódr went away on long
journeys, and Freyja weeps for him, and her
tears are red gold. Freyja has many names,
and this is the cause thereof: that she gave
herself sundry names, when she went out among
unknown peoples seeking Ódr: she is called
Mardöll and Hörn, Gefn, Sýr. Freyja had the
necklace Brísinga-men. She is also called
Lady of the Vanir. The seventh is Sjöfn:
she is most diligent in turning the thoughts
of men to love, both of women and of men;
and from her name love-longing is called
sjafni. The eighth is Lofn: she is so gracious
and kindly to those that call upon her, that
she wins Allfather's or Frigg's permission
for the coming together of mankind in marriage,
of women and of men, though it were forbidden
before, or seem flatly denied; from her name
such permission is called 'leave,' and thus
also she is much 'loved' of men. The ninth
is Vár: she harkens to the oaths and compacts
made between men and women; wherefore such
covenants are called 'vows.' She also takes
vengeance on those who perjure themselves.
The tenth is Vör: she is wise and of searching
spirit, so that none can conceal anything
from her; it is a saying, that a woman becomes
'ware' of that of which she is informed.
The eleventh is Syn: she keeps
{p. 47}
the door in the hall, and locks it before
those who should not go in; she is also set
at trials as a defence against such suits
as she wishes to refute: thence is the expression,
that syn[1] is set forward, when a man denies.
The twelfth is Hlín: she is established as
keeper over those men whom Frigg desires
to preserve from any danger; thence comes
the saying, that he who escapes 'leans.'
Snotra is thirteenth: she is prudent and
of gentle bearing; from her name a woman
or a man who is moderate is called snotr.[2]
The fourteenth is Gná: her Frigg sends into
divers lands on her errands; she has that
horse which runs over sky and sea and is
called Hoof-Tosser. Once when she was riding,
certain of the Vanir saw her course in the
air; then one spake:
What flieth there? What fareth there, Or
glideth in the air?
She made answer:
I fly not, though I fare And in the air glide
On Hoof-Tosser, him that Hamskerpir Gat with
Gardrofa.
From Gná's name that which soars high is
said to gnćfa.[3] Sól and Bil are reckoned
among the Ásynjur, but their nature has been
told before.
XXXVI. "There are also those others
whose office it is to serve in Valhall, to
bear drink and mind the table-service and
ale-flagons; thus are they named in Grímnismál:
[1. Denial, refutation.
2. Wise, prudent.
3. Project, be eminent, tower.]
{p. 48}
Hrist and Mist I would have bear the horn
to me, Skeggjöld and Skögull; Hildr and Thrúdr,
Hlökk and Herfjötur, Göll and Geirahöd, Randgrídr
and Rádgrídr and Reginleif These bear the
Einherjar ale.
These are called Valkyrs: them Odin sends
to every battle; they determine men's feyness
and award victory. Gudr and Róta and the
youngest Norn, she who is called Skuld, ride
ever to take the slain and decide fights.
Jörd, the mother of Thor, and Rindr, Váli's
mother, are reckoned among the Ásynjur.
XXXVII. "A certain man was called Gýmir,
and his wife Aurboda: she was of the stock
of the Hill-Giants; their daughter was Gerdr,
who was fairest of all women. It chanced
one day that Freyr had gone to Hlidskjálf,
and gazed over all the world; but when he
looked over into the northern region, he
saw on an estate a house great and fair.
And toward this house went a woman; when
she raised her hands and opened the door
before her, brightness gleamed from her hands,
both over sky and sea, and all the worlds
were illumined of her. Thus his overweening
pride, in having presumed to sit in that
holy seat, was avenged upon him, that he
went away full of sorrow. When he had come
home, he spake not, he slept not, he drank
not; no man dared speak to him. Then Njördr
summoned to him Skírnir, Freyr's foot-page,
and bade him go to Freyr and beg speech of
him and ask for whose sake he was so bitter
that he would not speak with men. But Skírnir
said he would go, albeit unwillingly;
{p. 49}
and said that evil answers were to be expected
of Freyr.
"But when he came to Freyr, straightway
he asked why Freyr was so downcast, and spake
not with men. Then Freyr answered and said
that he had seen a fair woman; and for her
sake he was so full of grief that he would
not live long if he were not to obtain her.
'And now thou shalt go and woo her on my
behalf and have her hither, whether her father
will or no. I will reward thee well for it.'
Then Skírnir answered thus: he would go on
his errand, but Freyr should give him his
own sword--which is so good that it fights
of itself;--and Freyr did not refuse, but
gave him the sword. Then Skírnir went forth
and wooed the woman for him, and received
her promise; and nine nights later she was
to come to the place called Barrey, and then
go to the bridal with Freyr. But when Skírnir
told Freyr his answer, then he sang this
lay:
Long is one night, long is the second; How
can I wait through three? Often a month to
me seemed less Than this one night of waiting.
This was to blame for Freyr's being so weaponless,
when he fought with Beli, and slew him with
the horn of a hart." Then said Gangleri:
"'T is much to be wondered at, that
such a great chief as Freyr is would give
away his sword, not having another equally
good. It was a great privation to him, when
he fought with him called Beli; by my faith,
he must have rued that gift." Then answered
Hárr: "There was small matter in that,
when he and Beli met; Freyr could have killed
him with his hand. It shall come to pass
{p. 50}
that Freyr will think a worse thing has come
upon him, when he misses his sword on that
day that the Sons of Múspell go a-harrying."
XXXVIII. Then said Gangleri: "Thou sayest
that all those men who have fallen in battle
from the beginning of the world are now come
to Odin in Valhall. What has he to give them
for food? I should think that a very great
host must be there." Then Hárr answered:
"That which thou sayest is true: a very
mighty multitude is there, but many more
shall be, notwithstanding which it will seem
all too small, in the time when the Wolf
shall come. But never is so vast a multitude
in Valhall that the flesh of that boar shall
fail, which s called Sćhrímnir; he is boiled
every day and is whole at evening. But this
question which thou askest now: I think it
likelier that few may be so wise as to be
able to report truthfully concerning it.
His name who roasts is Andhrímnir, and the
kettle is Eldhrímnir; so it is said here:
Andhrímnir has in Eldhrímnir Sćhrímnir sodden,
Best of hams; yet how few know With what
food the champions are fed."
Then said Gangleri: "Has Odin the same
fare as the champions?" Hárr answered:
"That food which stands on his board
he gives to two wolves which he has, called
Geri[1] and Freki;[2] but no food does he
need; wine is both food and drink to him;
so it says here:
[1. Ravener.
2. Glutton, greedy.]
{p. 51}
Geri and Freki the war-mighty glutteth, The
glorious God of Hosts; But on wine alone
the weapon-glorious Odin aye liveth.
The ravens sit on his shoulders and say into
his ear all the tidings which they see or
hear; they are called thus: Huginn[1] and
Muninn.[2] He sends them at day-break to
fly about all the world, and they come back
at undern-meal; thus he is acquainted with
many tidings. Therefore men call him Raven-God,
as is said:
Huginn and Muninn hover each day The wide
earth over; I fear for Huginn lest he fare
not back,-- Yet watch I more for Muninn."
XXXIX. Then said Gangleri: "What have
the champions to drink, that may suffice
them as abundantly as the food? Or is water
drunk there?"' Then said Hárr: "Now
thou askest strangely; as if Allfather would
invite to him kings or earls or other men
of might and would give them water to drink!
I know, by my faith! that many a man comes
to Valhall who would think he had bought
his drink of water dearly, if there were
not better cheer to be had there, he who
before had suffered wounds and burning pain
unto death. I can tell thee a different tale
of this. The she-goat, she who is called
Heidrún, stands up in Valhall and bites the
needles from the limb of that tree which
is very famous, and is called Lćrádr; and
from her udders mead runs so copiously, that
she fills a tun every day. That tun is so
great
[1. Thought. 2. Memory.]
{p. 52}
that all the champions become quite drunk
from it." Then said Gangleri: "That
is a wondrous proper goat for them; it must
be an exceeding good tree from which she
eats." Then spake Hárr: "Even more
worthy of note is the hart Eikthyrni, which
stands in Valhall and bites from the limbs
of the tree; and from his horns distils such
abundant exudation that it comes down into
Hvergelmir, and from thence fall those rivers
called thus: Síd, Víd, Sřkin, Eikin, Svöl,
Gunnthrá, Fjörm, Fimbulthul, Gípul, Göpul,
Gömul, Geirvimul. Those fall about the abodes
of the Ćsir; these also are recorded: Thyn,
Vín, Thöll, Höll, Grád, Gunnthráin, Nyt,
Nöt, Nönn, Hrönn, Vína, Vegsvinn, Thjódnuma."
XL. Then said Gangleri: "These are marvellous
tidings which thou now tellest. A wondrous
great house Valhall must be; it must often
be exceeding crowded before the doors."
Then Hárr answered: "Why dost thou not
ask how many doors there are in the hall,
or how great? If thou hearest that told,
then thou wilt say that it is strange indeed
if whosoever will may not go out and in;
but it may be said truly that it is no more
crowded to find place therein than to enter
into it; here thou mayest read in Grímnismál:
Five hundred doors and forty more So I deem
stand in Valhall; Eight hundred champions
go out at each door When they fare to fight
with the Wolf."
XLI. Then said Gangleri: "A very mighty
multitude of men is in Valhall, so that,
by my faith, Odin is a very great
{p. 53}
chieftain, since he commands so large an
army. Now what is the sport of the champions,
when they are not fighting?" Hárr replied:
"Every day, as soon as they are clothed,
they straightway put on their armor and go
out into the court and fight, and fell each
other. That is their sport; and when the
time draws near to undern-meal, they ride
home to Valhall and sit down to drink, even
as is said here:
All the Einherjar in Odin's court Deal out
blows every day; The slain they choose and
ride from the strife, Sit later in love together.
But what thou hast said is true: Odin is
of great might. Many examples are found in
proof of this, as is here said in the words
of the Ćsir themselves:
Ash Yggdrasill's trunk of trees is foremost,
And Skídbladnir of ships; Odin of Ćsir, of
all steeds Sleipnir, Bifröst of bridges,
and Bragi of skalds; Hábrók of hawks, and
of hounds Garmr."
XLII. Then said Gangleri: "Who owns
that horse Sleipnir, or what is to be said
of him?" Hárr answered: "Thou hast
no knowledge of Sleipnir's points, and thou
knowest not the circumstances of his begetting;
but it will seem to thee worth the telling.
It was early in the first days of the gods'
dwelling here, when the gods had established
the Midgard and made Valhall; there came
at that time a certain wright and offered
to build them a citadel in three seasons,
so good that it should be staunch and proof
against the Hill-Giants and the Rime-Giants,
though they should
{p. 54}
come in over Midgard. But he demanded as
wages that he should have possession of Freyja,
and would fain have had the sun and the moon.
Then the Ćsir held parley and took counsel
together; and a bargain was made with the
wright, that he should have that which he
demanded, if he should succeed in completing
the citadel in one winter. On the first day
of summer, if any part of the citadel were
left unfinished, he should lose his reward;
and he was to receive help from no man in
the work. When they told him these conditions,
he asked that they would give him leave to
have the help of his stallion, which was
called Svadilfari; and Loki advised it, so
that the wright's petition was granted. He
set to work the first day of winter to make
the citadel, and by night he hauled stones
with the stallion's aid; and it seemed very
marvellous to the Ćsir what great rocks that
horse drew, for the horse did more rough
work by half than did the wright. But there
were strong witnesses to their bargain, and
many oaths, since it seemed unsafe to the
giant to be among the Ćsir without truce,
if Thor should come home. But Thor had then
gone away into the eastern region to fight
trolls.
"Now when the winter drew nigh unto
its end, the building of the citadel was
far advanced; and it was so high and strong
that it could not be taken. When it lacked
three days of summer, the work had almost
reached the gate of the stronghold. Then
the gods sat down in their judgment seats,
and sought means of evasion, and asked one
another who had advised giving Freyja into
Jötunheim, or so destroying the air and the
heaven as to take thence the sun and the
moon and give them to the giants. The gods
agreed that he must have counselled this
who is wont to give evil advice, Loki Laufeyarson,
and they declared
{p. 55}
him deserving of an ill death, if he could
not hit upon a way of losing the wright his
wages; and they threatened Loki with violence.
But when he became frightened, then he swore
oaths, that he would so contrive that the
wright should lose his wages, cost him what
it might.
"That same evening, when the wright
drove out after stone with the stallion Svadilfari,
a mare bounded forth from a certain wood
and whinnied to him. The stallion, perceiving
what manner of horse this was, straightway
became frantic, and snapped the traces asunder,
and leaped over to the mare, and she away
to the wood, and the wright after, striving
to seize the stallion. These horses ran all
night, and the wright stopped there that
night; and afterward, at day, the work was
not done as it had been before. When the
wright saw that the work could not be brought
to an end, he fell into giant's fury. Now
that the Ćsir saw surely that the hill-giant
was come thither, they did not regard their
oaths reverently, but called on Thor, who
came as quickly. And straightway the hammer
Mjöllnir was raised aloft; he paid the wright's
wage, and not with the sun and the moon.
Nay, he even denied him dwelling in Jötunheim,
and struck but the one first blow, so that
his skull was burst into small crumbs, and
sent him down bellow under Niflhel. But Loki
had such dealings with Svadilfari, that somewhat
later he gave birth to a foal, which was
gray and had eight feet; and this horse is
the best among gods and men. So is said in
Völuspá:
Then all the Powers strode to the seats of
judgment, The most holy gods council held
together: Who had the air all with evil envenomed,
Or to the Ettin-race Ódr's maid given.
{p. 56}
Broken were oaths then, bond and swearing,
Pledges all sacred which passed between them;
Thor alone smote there, swollen with anger:
He seldom sits still when such he hears of."
XLIII. Then said Gangleri: "What is
to be said of Skídbladnir, that which is
best of ships? Is there no ship equally great?"
Hárr replied: "Skídbladnir is best of
ships and made with most skill of craftsmanship;
but Naglfar is the largest ship; Múspell
has it. Certain dwarves, sons of Ívaldi,
made Skídbladnir and gave the ship to Freyr.
It is so great that all the Ćsir may man
it, with their weapons and armaments, and
it has a favoring wind as soon as the sail
is hoisted, whithersoever it is bound; but
when there is no occasion for going to sea
in it, it is made of so many things and with
so much cunning that then it may be folded
together like a napkin and kept in one's
pouch."
XLIV. Then spake Gangleri: "'A good
ship is Skídbladnir, but very great magic
must have been used upon it before it got
to be so fashioned. Has Thor never experienced
such a thing, that he has found in his path
somewhat so mighty or so powerful that it
has overmatched him through strength of magic?"
Then said Hárr: "Few men, I ween, are
able to tell of this; yet many a thing has
seemed to him hard to overcome. Though there
may have been something so powerful or strong
that Thor might not have succeeded in winning
the victory, yet it is not necessary to speak
of it; because there are many examples to
prove, and because all are bound to believe,
that Thor is mightiest." Then said Gangleri:
"It seems to me that I must have asked
you touching this matter what no one is able
{p. 57}
to tell of. Then spake Jafnhárr: "We
have heard say concerning some matters which
seem to us incredible, but here sits one
near at hand who will know how to tell true
tidings of this. Therefore thou must believe
that he will not lie for the first time now,
who never lied before." Gangleri said:
"Here will I stand and listen, if any
answer is forthcoming to this word; but otherwise
I pronounce you overcome, if ye cannot tell
that which I ask you."
Then spake Thridi: "Now it is evident
that he is resolved to know this matter,
though it seem not to us a pleasant thing
to tell. This is the beginning of this tale:
Öku-Thor drove forth with his he-goats and
chariot, and with him that Ás called Loki;
they came at evening to a husbandman's, and
there received a night's lodging. About evening,
Thor took his he-goats and slaughtered them
both; after that they were flayed and borne
to the caldron. When the cooking was done,
then Thor and his companion sat down to supper.
Thor invited to meat with him the husbandman
and his wife, and their children: the husbandman's
son was called Thjálfi, and the daughter
Röskva. Then Thor laid the goat-hides farther
away from the fire, and said that the husbandman
and his servants should cast the bones on
the goat-hides. Thjálfi, the husbandman's
son, was holding a thigh-bone of the goat,
and split it with his knife and broke it
for the marrow.
"Thor tarried there overnight; and in
the interval before day he rose up and clothed
himself, took the hammer Mjöllnir, swung
it up, and hallowed the goat-hides; straightway
the he-goats rose up, and then one of them
was lame in a hind leg. Thor discovered this,
and declared that the husbandman or his household
could not have dealt wisely with the bones
of the goat: be knew that the thighbone
{p. 58}
was broken. There is no need to make a long
story of it; all may know how frightened
the husbandman must have been when he saw
how Thor let his brows sink down before his
eyes; but when he looked at the eyes, then
it seemed to him that he must fall down before
their glances alone. Thor clenched his hands
on the hammer-shaft so that the knuckles
whitened; and the husbandman and all his
household did what was to be expected: they
cried out lustily, prayed for peace, offered
in recompense all that they had. But when
he saw their terror, then the fury departed
from him, and he became appeased, and took
of them in atonement their children, Thjálfi
and Röskva, who then became his bond-servants;
and they follow him ever since.
XLV. "Thereupon he left his goats behind,
and began his journey eastward toward Jötunheim
and clear to the sea; and then he went out
over the sea, that deep one; but when he
came to land, he went up, and Loki and Thjálfi
and Röskva with him. Then, when they had
walked a little while, there stood before
them a great forest; they walked all that
day till dark. Thjálfi was swiftest-footed
of all men; he bore Thor's bag, but there
was nothing good for food. As soon as it
had become dark, they sought themselves shelter
for the night, and found before them a certain
hall, very great: there was a door in the
end, of equal width with the hall, wherein
they took up quarters for the night. But
about midnight there came a great earthquake:
the earth rocked under them exceedingly,
and the house trembled. Then Thor rose up
and called to his companions, and they explored
farther, and found in the middle of the hall
a side-chamber on the right hand, and they
went in
{p. 59}
thither. Thor sat down in the doorway, but
the others were farther in from him, and
they were afraid; but Thor gripped his hammer-shaft
and thought to defend himself. Then they
heard a great humming sound, and a crashing.
"But when it drew near dawn, then Thor
went out and saw a man lying a little way
from him in the wood; and that man was not
small; he slept and snored mightily. Then
Thor thought he could perceive what kind
of noise it was which they had heard during
the night. He girded himself with his belt
of strength, and his divine power waxed;
and on the instant the man awoke and rose
up swiftly; and then, it is said, the first
time Thor's heart failed him, to strike him
with the hammer. He asked him his name, and
the man called himself Skrýmir,--'but I have
no need,' he said, 'to ask thee for thy name;
I know that thou art Ása-Thor. But what?
Hast thou dragged. away my glove?' Then Skrýmir
stretched out his hand and took up the glove;
and at once Thor saw that it was that which
he had taken for a hall during the night;
and as for the side-chamber, it was the thumb
of the glove. Skrýmir asked whether Thor
would have his company, and Thor assented
to this. Then Skrýmir took and unloosened
his provision wallet and made ready to eat
his morning meal, and Thor and his fellows
in another place. Skrýmir then proposed to
them to lay their supply of food together,
and Thor assented. Then Skrýmir bound all
the food in one bag and laid it on his own
back; he went before during the day, and
stepped with very great strides; but late
in the evening Skrýmir found them night-quarters
under a certain great oak. Then Skrýmir said
to Thor that he would lay him down to sleep,--'and
do ye take the provision-bag and make ready
for your supper.'
{p. 60}
"Thereupon Skrýmir slept and snored
hard, and Thor took the provision-bag and
set about to unloose it; but such things
must be told as will seem incredible: he
got no knot loosened and no thong-end stirred,
so as to be looser than before. When he saw
that this work might not avail, then he became
angered, gripped the hammer Mjöllnir in both
hands, and strode with great strides to that
place where Skrýmir lay, and smote him in
the head. Skrýmir awoke, and asked whether
a leaf had fallen upon his head; or whether
they had eaten and were ready for bed? Thor
replied that they were just then about to
go to sleep; then they went under another
oak. It must be told thee, that there was
then no fearless sleeping. At midnight Thor
heard how Skrýmir snored and slept fast,
so that it thundered in the woods; then he
stood up and went to him, shook his hammer
eagerly and hard, and smote down upon the
middle of his crown: he saw that the face
of the hammer sank deep into his head. And
at that moment Skrýmir awoke arid said: 'What
is it now? Did some acorn fall on my head?
Or what is the news with thee, Thor?' But
Thor went back speedily, and replied that
he was then but new-wakened; said that it
was then midnight, and there was yet time
to sleep.
"Thor meditated that if he could get
to strike him a third blow, never should
the giant see himself again; he lay now and
watched whether Skrýmir were sleeping soundly
yet. A little before day, when he perceived
that Skrýmir must have fallen asleep, he
stood up at once and rushed over to him,
brandished his hammer with all his strength,
and smote upon that one of his temples which
was turned up. But Skrýmir sat up and stroked
his cheek, and said: 'Some birds must be
sitting in the tree above me; I imagined,
{p. 61}
when I awoke, that some dirt from the twigs
fell upon my head. Art thou awake, Thor?
It will be time to arise and clothe us; but
now ye have no long journey forward to the
castle called Útgardr. I have heard how ye
have whispered among yourselves that I am
no little man in stature; but ye shall see
taller men, if ye come into Útgardr. Now
I will give you wholesome advice: do not
conduct yourselves boastfully, for the henchmen
of Útgarda-Loki will not well endure big
words from such swaddling-babes. But if not
so, then turn back, and I think it were better
for you to do that; but if ye will go forward,
then turn to the east. As for me, I hold
my way north to these hills, which ye may
how see.' Skrýmir took the provision-bag
and cast it on his back, and turned from
them across the forest; and it is not recorded
that the Ćsir bade him god-speed.
XLVI. "Thor turned forward on his way,
and his fellows, and went onward till mid-day.
Then they saw a castle standing in a certain
plain, and set their necks down on their
backs before they could see up over it. They
went to the cattle; and there was a grating
in front of the castle-gate, and it was closed.
Thor went up to the grating, and did not
succeed in opening it; but when they struggled
to make their way in, they crept between
the bars and came in that way. They saw a
great hall and went thither; the door was
open; then they went in, and saw there many
men on two benches, and most of them were
big enough. Thereupon they came before the
king Útgarda-Loki and saluted him; but he
looked at them in his own good time, and
smiled scornfully over his teeth, and said:
'It is late to ask tidings of a long journey;
or is it otherwise than I think: that this
toddler is Öku-Thor? Yet thou mayest
{p. 62}
be greater than thou appearest to me. What
manner of accomplishments are those, which
thou and thy fellows think to be ready for?
No one shall be here with us who knows not
some kind of craft or cunning surpassing
most men.'
"Then spoke the one who came last, 'Who
was called Loki: 'I know such a trick, which
I am ready to try: that there is no one within
here who shall eat his food more quickly
than I.' Then Útgarda-Loki answered: 'That
is a feat, if thou accomplish it; and this
feat shall accordingly be put to the proof.'
He called to the farther end of the bench,
that he who was called Logi should come forth
on the floor and try his prowess against
Loki. Then a trough was taken and borne in
upon the hall-floor and filled with flesh;
Loki sat down at the one end and Logi at
the other, and each ate as fast as he could,
and they met in the middle of the trough.
By that time Loki had eaten all the meat
from the bones, but Logi likewise had eaten
all the meat, and the bones with it, and
the trough too; and now it seemed to all
as if Loki had lost the game.
"Then Útgarda-Loki asked what yonder
young man could play at; and Thjálfi answered
that he would undertake to run a race with
whomsoever Útgarda-Loki would bring up. Then
Útgarda-Loki said that that was a good accomplishment,
and that there was great likelihood that
he must be well endowed with fleetness if
he were to perform that feat; yet he would
speedily see to it that the matter should
be tested. Then Útgarda-Loki arose and went
out; and there was a good course to run on
over the level plain. Then Útgarda-Loki called
to him a certain lad, who was named Hugi,
and bade him run a match against Thjálfi.
Then they held the first heat; and Hugi was
so much
{p. 63}
ahead that he turned back to meet Thjálfi
at the end of the course. Then said Útgarda-Loki:
'Thou wilt need to lay thyself forward more,
Thjálfi, if thou art to win the game; but
it is none the less true that never have
any men come hither who seemed to me fleeter
of foot than this.' Then they began another
heat; and when Hugi had reached the course's
end, and was turning back, there was still
a long bolt-shot to Thjálfi. Then spake Útgarda-Loki:
'Thjálfi appears to me to run this course
well, but I do not believe of him now that
he will win the game. But it will be made
manifest presently, when they run the third
heat.' Then they began the heat; but when
Hugi had come to the end of the course and
turned back, Thjálfi had not yet reached
mid-course. Then all said that that game
had been proven.
"Next, Útgarda-Loki asked Thor what
feats there were which he might desire to
show before them: such great tales as men
have made of his mighty works. Then Thor
answered that he would most willingly undertake
to contend with any in drinking. Útgarda-Loki
said that might well be; he went into the
hall and called his serving-boy, and bade
him bring the sconce-horn which the henchmen
were wont to drink off. Straightway the serving-lad
came forward with the horn and put it into
Thor's hand. Then said Útgarda-Loki: 'It
is held that this horn is well drained if
it is drunk off in one drink, but some drink
it off in two; but no one is so poor a man
at drinking that it fails to drain off in
three.' Thor looked upon the horn, and it
did not seem big to him; and yet it was somewhat
long. Still he was very thirsty; he took
and drank, and swallowed enormously, and
thought that he should not need to bend oftener
to the horn. But when his breath failed,
and he raised his
{p. 64}
head from the horn and looked to see how
it had gone with the drinking, it seemed
to him that there was very little space by
which the drink was lower now in the horn
than before. Then said Útgarda-Loki: 'It
is well drunk, and not too much; I should
not have believed, if it had been told me,
that Ása-Thor could not drink a greater draught.
But I know that thou wilt wish to drink it
off in another draught.' Thor answered nothing;
he set the horn to his mouth, thinking now
that he should drink a greater drink, and
struggled with the draught until his breath
gave out; and yet he saw that the tip of
the horn would not come up so much as he
liked. When he took the horn from his mouth
and looked into it, it seemed to him then
as if it had decreased less than the former
time; but now there was a clearly apparent
lowering in the horn. Then said Útgarda-Loki:
'How now, Thor? Thou wilt not shrink from
one more drink than may he well for thee?
If thou now drink the third draught from
the horn, it seems to me as if this must
he esteemed the greatest; but thou canst
not be called so great a man here among us
as the Ćsir call thee, if thou give not a
better account of thyself in the other games
than it seems to me may come of this.' Then
Thor became angry, set- the horn to his mouth,
and drank with all his might, and struggled
with the drink as much as he could; and when
he looked into the horn, at least some space
had been made. Then he gave up the horn and
would drink no more.
"Then said Útgarda-Loki: Now it is evident
that thy prowess is not so great as we thought
it to be; but wilt thou try thy hand at more
games? It may readily be seen that thou gettest
no advantage hereof.' Thor answered: "will
make trial of yet other games; but it would
have
{p. 65}
seemed wonderful to me, when I was at home
with the Ćsir, if such drinks had been called
so little. But what game will ye now offer
me?' Then said Útgarda-Loki: 'Young lads
here are wont to do this (which is thought
of small consequence): lift my cat up from
the earth; but I should not have been able
to speak of such a thing to Ása-Thor if I
had not seen that thou hast far less in thee
than I had thought.' Thereupon there leaped
forth on the hall-floor a gray cat, and a
very big one; and Thor went to it and took
it with his hand down under the middle of
the belly and lifted up. But the cat bent
into an arch just as Thor stretched up his
hands; and when Thor reached up as high as
he could at the very utmost, then the cat
lifted up one foot, and Thor got this game
no further advanced. Then said Útgarda-Loki:
'This game went even as I had foreseen; the
cat is very great, whereas Thor is low and
little beside the huge men who are here with
us.'
"Then said Thor: 'Little as ye call
me, let any one come up now and wrestle with
me; now I am angry.' Then Útgarda-Loki answered,
looking about him on the benches, and spake:
'I see no such man here within, who would
not hold it a disgrace to wrestle with thee;'
and yet he said: 'Let us see first; let the
old woman my nurse be called hither, Elli,
and let Thor wrestle with her if he will.
She has thrown such men as have seemed to
me no less strong than Thor.' Straightway
there came into the hall an old woman, stricken
in years. Then Útgarda-Loki said that she
should grapple with Ása-Thor. There is no
need to make a long matter of it: that struggle
went in such wise that the harder Thor strove
in gripping, the faster she stood; then the
old woman essayed a hold, and then Thor became
totty on his feet, and their tuggings were
{p. 66}
very hard. Yet it was not long before Thor
fell to his knee, on one foot. Then Útgarda-Loki
went up and bade them cease the wrestling,
saying that Thor should not need to challenge
more men of his body-guard to wrestling.
By then it had passed toward night; Útgarda-Loki
showed Thor and his companions to a seat,
and they tarried there the night long in
good cheer.
XLVII. "But at morning, as soon as it
dawned, Thor and his companions arose, clothed
themselves, and were ready to go away. Then
came there Útgarda-Loki and caused a table
to be set for them; there was no lack of
good cheer, meat and drink. So soon as they
had eaten, he went out from the castle with
them; and at parting Útgarda-Loki spoke to
Thor and asked how he thought his journey
had ended, or whether he had met any man
mightier than himself. Thor answered that
he could not say that he had not got much
shame in their dealings together. 'But yet
I know that ye will call me a man of little
might, and I am ill-content with that.' Then
said Útgardi-Loki: 'Now I will tell thee
the truth, now that thou art come out of
the castle; and if I live and am able to
prevail, then thou shalt never again come
into it. And this I know, by my troth! that
thou shouldst never have come into it, If
I had known before that thou haddest so much
strength in thee, and that thou shouldst
so nearly have had us in great peril. But
I made ready against thee eye-illusions;
and I came upon you the first time in the
wood, and when thou wouldst have unloosed
the provision-bag, I had bound it with iron,
and thou didst not find where to undo it.
But next thou didst smite me three blows
with the hammer; and the first was least,
and was yet so great that it would have sufficed
{p. 67}
to slay me, if it had come upon me. Where
thou sawest near my hall a saddle-backed
mountain, cut at the top into threesquare
dales, and one the deepest, those were the
marks of thy hammer. I brought the saddle-back
before the blow, but thou didst not see that.
So it was also with the games, in which ye
did contend against my henchmen: that was
the first, which Loki did; he was very hungry
and ate zealously, but he who was called
Logi was "wild-fire," and he burned
the trough no less swiftly than the meat.
But when Thjálfi ran the race with him called
Hugi, that was my "thought," and
it was not to be expected of Thjálfi that
he should match swiftness with it.
"Moreover, when thou didst drink from
the horn, and it seemed to thee to go slowly,
then, by my faith, that was a wonder which
I should not have believed possible: the
other end of the horn was out in the sea,
but thou didst not perceive it. But now,
when thou comest to the sea, thou shalt be
able to mark what a diminishing thou hast
drunk in the sea: this is henceforth called
"ebb-tides."'
"And again he said: 'It seemed to me
not less noteworthy when thou didst lift
up the cat; and to tell thee truly, then
all were afraid who saw how thou didst lift
one foot clear of the earth. That cat was
not as it appeared to thee: it was the Midgard
Serpent, which lies about all the land, and
scarcely does its length suffice to encompass
the earth with head and tail. So high didst
thou stretch up thine arms that it was then
but a little way more to heaven. It was also
a great marvel concerning the wrestling-match,
when thou didst withstand so long, and didst
not fall more than on one knee, wrestling
with Elli; since none such has ever been
and none shall be, if he become so old as
to abide "Old Age," that she shall
not cause him to fall. And now
{p. 68}
it is truth to tell that we must part; and
it will be better on both sides that ye never
come again to seek me. Another time I will
defend my castle with similar wiles or with
others, so that ye shall get no power over
me.'
"When Thor had heard these sayings,
he clutched his hammer and brandished it
aloft; but when he was about to launch it
forward, then he saw Útgarda-Loki nowhere.
Then he turned back to the castle, purposing
to crush it to pieces; and he saw there a
wide and fair plain, but no castle. So he
turned back and went his way, till he was
come back again to Thrúdvangar. But it is
a true tale that then he resolved to seek
if he might bring about a meeting between
himself and the Midgard Serpent, which after
ward came to pass. Now I think no one knows
how to tell thee more truly concerning this
journey of Thor's."
XLVIII. Then said Gangleri: "Very mighty
is Útgarda-Loki, and he deals much in wiles
and in magic; and his might may be seen in
that he had such henchmen as have great prowess.
Now did Thor ever take vengeance for this?"
Hárr answered: "It is not unknown, though
one be not a scholar, that Thor took redress
for this journey of which the tale has but
now been told; and he did not tarry at home
long before he made ready for his journey
so hastily that he had with him no chariot
and no he-goats and no retinue. He went out
over Midgard in the guise of a young lad,
and came one evening at twilight to a certain
giant's, who was called Hymir. Thor abode
as guest there overnight; but at dawn Hymir
arose and clothed himself and made ready
to row to sea a-fishing. Then Thor sprang
up and was speedily ready, and asked Hymir
to let him row to sea with him. But Hymir
said that Thor would
{p. 69}
be of little help to him, being so small
and a youth, 'And thou wilt freeze, if I
stay so long and so far out as I am wont.'
But Thor said that he would be able to row
far out from land, for the reason that it
was not certain whether he would be the first
to ask to row back. Thor became so enraged
at the giant that he was forthwith ready
to let his hammer crash against him; but
he forced himself to forbear, since he purposed
to try his strength in another quarter. He
asked Hymir what they should have for bait,
but Hymir bade him get bait for himself.
Then Thor turned away thither where he, saw
a certain herd of oxen, which Hymir owned;
he took the largest ox, called Himinbrjotr,[1]
and cut off its head and went therewith to
the sea. By that time Hymir had shoved out
the boat.
"Thor went aboard the skiff and sat
down in the stern-seat, took two oars and
rowed; and it seemed to Hymir that swift
progress came of his rowing. Hymir rowed
forward in the bow, and the rowing proceeded
rapidly; then Hymir said that they had arrived
at those fishing-banks where he was wont
to anchor and angle for flat-fish. But Thor
said that he desired to row much further,
and they took a sharp pull; then Hymir said
that they had come so far that it was perilous
to abide out farther because of the Midgard
Serpent. Thor replied that they would row
a while yet, and so he did; but Hymir was
then sore afraid. Now as soon as Thor had
laid by the oars, he made ready a very strong
fishing-line, and the hook was no less large
and strong. Then Thor put the ox-head on
the hook and cast it overboard, and the hook
went to the bottom; and it is telling thee
the truth to say that then Thor beguiled
the Midgard Serpent no less than Útgarda-Loki
had mocked
[1. Heaven-bellowing?]
{p. 70}
Thor, at the time when he lifted up the Serpent
in his hand.
"The Midgard Serpent snapped at the
ox-head, and the hook caught in its jaw;
but when the Serpent was aware of this, it
dashed away so fiercely that both Thor's
fists crashed against the gunwale. Then Thor
was angered, and took upon him his divine
strength, braced his feet so strongly that
he plunged through the ship with both feet,
and dashed his feet against the bottom; then
he drew the Serpent up to the gunwale. And
it may be said that no one has seen very
fearful sights who might not see that: bow
Thor flashed fiery glances at the Serpent,
and the Serpent in turn stared up toward
him from below and blew venom. Then, it is
said, the giant Hymir grew pale, became yellow,
and was sore afraid, when he saw the Serpent,
and how the sea rushed out and in through
the boat. In the very moment when Thor clutched
his hammer and raised it on high, then the
giant fumbled for his fish-knife and hacked
off Thor's line at the gunwale, and the Serpent
sank down into the sea. Thor hurled his hammer
after it; and men say that he struck off
its head against the bottom; but I think
it were true to tell thee that the Midgard
Serpent yet lives and lies in the encompassing
sea. But 'Thor swung his fist and brought
it against Hymir's ear, so that he plunged
overboard, and Thor saw the soles of his
feet. And Thor waded to land."
XLIX. Then spake Gangleri: "Have any
more matters of note befallen among the Ćsir?
A very great deed of valor did Thor achieve
on that journey." Hárr made answer:
"Now shall be told of those tidings
which seemed of more consequence to the Ćsir.
The beginning of the
{p. 71}
story is this, that Baldr the Good dreamed
great and perilous dreams touching his life.
When he told these dreams to the Ćsir, then
they took counsel together: and this was
their decision: to ask safety for Baldr from
all kinds of dangers. And Frigg took oaths
to this purport, that fire and water should
spare Baldr, likewise iron and metal of all
kinds, stones, earth, trees, sicknesses,
beasts, birds, venom, serpents. And when
that was done and made known, then it was
a diversion of Baldr's and the Ćsir, that
he should stand up in the Thing,[1] and all
the others should some shoot at him, some
hew at him, some beat him with stones; but
whatsoever was done hurt him not at all,
and that seemed to them all a very worshipful
thing.
"But when Loki Laufeyarson saw this,
it pleased him ill that Baldr took no hurt.
He went to Fensalir to Frigg, and made himself
into the likeness of a woman. Then Frigg
asked if that woman knew what the Ćsir did
at the Thing. She said that all were shooting
at Baldr, and moreover, that he took no hurt.
Then said Frigg: 'Neither weapons nor trees
may hurt Baldr: I have taken oaths of them
all.' Then the woman asked: 'Have all things
taken oaths to spare Baldr?' and Frigg answered:
'There grows a tree-sprout alone westward
of Valhall: it is called Mistletoe; I thought
it too young to ask the oath of.' Then straightway
the woman turned away; but Loki took Mistletoe
and pulled it up and went to the Thing.
"Hödr stood outside the ring of men,
because he was blind. Then spake Loki to
him: 'Why dost thou not shoot at Baldr?'
He answered: 'Because I see not where Baldr
[1. The Thing was the legislative assembly
of Iceland; less specifically, a formal assembly
held for judicial purposes or to settle questions
of moment; an assembly of men.]
{p. 72}
is; and for this also, that I am weaponless.'
Then said Loki: 'Do thou also after the manner
of other men, and show Baldr honor as the
other men do. I will direct thee where he
stands; shoot at him with this wand.' Hödr
took Mistletoe and shot at Baldr, being guided
by Loki: the shaft flew through Baldr, and
he fell dead to the earth; and that was the
greatest mischance that has ever befallen
among gods and men.
"Then, when Baldr was fallen, words
failed all the, Ćsir, and their hands likewise
to lay hold of him; each looked at the other,
and all were of one mind as to him who had.
wrought the work, but none might take vengeance,
so great a sanctuary was in that place. But
when the Ćsir tried to speak, then it befell
first that weeping broke out, so that none
might speak to the others with words concerning
his grief. But Odin bore that misfortune
by so much the worst, as he had most perception
of how great harm and loss for the Ćsir were
in the death of Baldr.
"Now when the gods had come to themselves,
Frigg spake, and asked who there might be
among the Ćsir who would fain have for his
own all her love and favor: let him ride
the road to Hel, and seek if he may find
Baldr, and offer Hel a ransom if she will
let Baldr come home to Ásgard. And he is
named Hermódr the Bold, Odin's son, who undertook
that embassy. Then Sleipnir was taken, Odin's
steed, and led forward; and Hermódr mounted
on that horse and galloped off.
"The Ćsir took the body of Baldr and
brought it to the sea. Hringhorni is the
name of Baldr's ship: it was greatest of
all ships; the gods would have launched it
and made Baldr's pyre thereon, but the ship
stirred not forward. Then word was sent to
Jötunheim after that giantess who
{p. 73}
is called Hyrrokkin. When she had come, riding
a wolf and having a viper for bridle, then
she leaped off the steed; and Odin called
to four berserks to tend the steed; but they
were not able to hold it until they had felled
it. Then Hyrrokkin went to the prow of the
boat and thrust it out at the first push,
so that fire burst from the rollers, and
all lands trembled. Thor became angry and
clutched his hammer, and would straightway
have broken her head, had not the gods prayed
for peace for her.
"Then was the body of Baldr borne out
on shipboard; and when his wife, Nanna the
daughter of Nep, saw that, straightway her
heart burst with grief, and she died; she
was borne to the pyre, and fire was kindled.
Then Thor stood by and hallowed the pyre
with Mjöllnir; and before his feet ran a
certain dwarf which was named Litr; Thor
kicked at him with his foot and thrust him
into the fire, and he burned. People of many
races visited this burning: First is to be
told of Odin, how Frigg and the Valkyrs went
with him, and his ravens; but Freyr drove
in his chariot with the boar called Gold-Mane,
or Fearful-Tusk, and Heimdallr rode the horse
called Gold-Top, and Freyja drove her cats.
Thither came also much people of the Rime-Giants
and the Hill-Giants. Odin laid on the pyre
that gold ring which is called Draupnir;
this quality attended it, that every ninth
night there dropped from it eight gold rings
of equal weight. Baldr's horse was led to
the bale-fire with all his trappings.
"Now this is to be told concerning Hermódr,
that he rode nine nights through dark dales
and deep, so that he saw not before he was
come to the river Gjöll and rode onto the
Gjöll-Bridge; which bridge is thatched with
glittering gold. Módgudr is the maiden called
who guards the
{p. 74}
bridge; she asked him his name and race,
saying that the day before there had ridden
over the bridge five companies of dead men;
but the bridge thunders no less under thee
alone, and thou hast not the color of dead
men. Why ridest thou hither on Hel-way?'
He answered: 'I am appointed to ride to Hel
to seek out Baldr. Hast thou perchance seen
Baldr on Hel-way?' She said that Baldr had
ridden there over Gjöll's Bridge,--'but down
and north lieth Hel-way.'
'Then Hermódr rode on till he came to Hel-gate;
he dismounted from his steed and made his
girths fast, mounted and pricked him with
his spurs; and the steed leaped so hard over
the gate that he came nowise near to it.
Then Hermódr rode home to the hall and dismounted
from his steed, went into the hall, and saw
sitting there in the high-seat Baldr, his
brother; and Hermódr tarried there overnight.
At morn Hermódr prayed Hel that Baldr might
ride home with him, and told her how great
weeping was among the Ćsir. But Hel said
that in this wise it should be put to the
test, whether Baldr were so all-beloved as
had been said: 'If all things in the world,
quick and dead, weep for him, then he shall
go back to the Ćsir; but he shall remain
with Hel if any gainsay it or will not weep.'
Then Hermódr arose; but Baldr led him out
of the hall, and took the ring Draupnir and
sent it to Odin for a remembrance. And Nanna
sent Frigg a linen smock, and yet more gifts,
and to Fulla a golden finger-ring.
"Then Hermódr rode his way back, and
came into Ásgard, and told all those tidings
which he had seen and heard. Thereupon the
Ćsir sent over all the world messengers to
pray that Baldr be wept out of Hel; and all
men did this, and quick things, and the earth,
and stones,
{p. 75}
and trees, and all metals,--even as thou
must have seen that these things weep when
they come out of frost and into the heat.
Then, when the messengers went home, having
well wrought their errand, they found, in
a certain cave, where a giantess sat: she
called herself Thökk. They prayed her to
weep Baldr out of Hel; she answered:
Thökk will weep waterless tears For Baldr's
bale-fare; Living or dead, I loved not the
churl's son; Let Hel hold to that she hath!
And men deem that she who was there was Loki
Laufeyarson, who hath wrought most ill among
the Ćsir."
L. Then said Gangleri: "Exceeding much
Loki had brought to pass, when he had first
been cause that Baldr was slain, and then
that he was not redeemed out of Hel. Was
any vengeance taken on him for this?"
Hárr answered: "This thing was repaid
him in such wise that he shall remember it
long. When the gods had become as wroth with
him as was to be looked for, he ran off and
hid himself in a certain mountain; there
he made a house with four doors, so that
he could see out of the house in all directions.
Often throughout the day he turned himself
into the likeness of a salmon and hid himself
in the place called Fránangr-Falls; then
he would ponder what manner of wile the gods
would devise to take him in the water-fall.
But when he sat in the house, he took twine
of linen and knitted meshes as a net is made
since; but a fire burned before him. Then
he saw that the Ćsir were close upon him;
and Odin had seen from Hlidskjálf where
{p. 76}
he was. He leaped up at once and out into
the river, but cast the net into the fire.
"When the Ćsir had come to the house,
he went in first who was wisest of all, who
is called Kvasir; and when he saw in the
fire the white ash where the net had burned,
then he perceived that that thing must be
a device for catching fish, and told it to
the Ćsir. Straightway they took hold, and
made themselves a net after the pattern of
the one which they perceived, by the burnt-out
ashes, that Loki had made. When the net was
ready, then the Ćsir went to the river and
cast the net into the fall; Thor held one
end of the net, and all of the Ćsir held
the other, and they drew the net. But Loki
darted ahead and lay down between two stones;
they drew the net over him, and perceived
that something living was in front of it.
A second time they went up to the fall and
cast out the net, having bound it to something
so heavy that nothing should be able to pass
under it. Then Loki swam ahead of the net;
but when he saw that it was but a short distance
to the sea, then he jumped up over the net-rope
and ran into the fall. Now the Ćsir saw where
he went, and went up again to the fall and
divided the company into two parts, but Thor
waded along in mid-stream; and so they went
out toward the sea. Now Loki saw a choice
of two courses: it was a mortal peril to
dash out into the sea; but this was the second--to
leap over the net again. And so he did: be
leaped as swiftly as he could over the net-cord.
Thor clutched at him and got hold of him,
and he slipped in Thor's hand, so that the
hand stopped at the tail; and for this reason
the salmon has a tapering back.
"Now Loki was taken truceless, and was
brought with
{p. 77}
them into a certain cave. Thereupon they
took three flat stones, and set them on edge
and drilled a hole in each stone. Then were
taken Loki's sons, Vili and Nari or Narfi;
the Ćsir changed Váli into the form of a
wolf, and he tore asunder Narfi his brother.
And the Ćsir took his entrails and bound
Loki with them over the three stones: one
stands under his shoulders, the second under
his loins, the third under his boughs; and
those bonds were turned to iron. Then Skadi
took a venomous serpent and fastened it up
over him, so that the venom should drip from
the serpent into his face. But Sigyn, his
wife, stands near him and holds a basin under
the venom-drops; and when the basin is full,
she goes and pours out the venom, but in
the meantime the venom drips into his face.
Then he writhes against it with such force
that all the earth trembles: ye call that
'earthquakes.' There he lies in bonds till
the Weird of the Gods."
LI. Then said Gangleri: "What tidings
are to be told concerning the Weird of the
Gods? Never before have I heard aught said
of this." Hárr answered: "Great
tidings are to be told of it, and much. The
first is this, that there shall come that
winter which is called the Awful Winter:
in that time snow shall drive from all quarters;
frosts shall be great then, and winds sharp;
there shall be no virtue in the sun. Those
winters shall proceed three in succession,
and no summer between; but first shall come
three other winters, such that over all the
world there shall be mighty battles. In that
time brothers shall slay each other for greed's
sake, and none shall spare father or son
in manslaughter and in incest; so it says
in Völuspá:
{p. 78}
Brothers shall strive and slaughter each
other; Own sisters' children shall sin together;
Ill days among men, many a whoredom: An axe-age,
a sword-age, shields shall be cloven; A wind-age,
a wolf-age, ere the world totters.
Then shall happen what seems great tidings:
the Wolf shall swallow the sun; and this
shall seem to men a great harm. Then the
other wolf shall seize the moon, and he also
shall work great ruin; the stars shall vanish
from the heavens. Then shall come to pass
these tidings also: all the earth shall tremble
so, and the crags, that trees shall be torn
up from the earth, and the crags fall to
ruin; and all fetters and bonds shall be
broken and rent. Then shall Fenris-Wolf get
loose; then the sea shall gush forth upon
the land, because the Midgard Serpent stirs
in giant wrath and advances up onto the land.
Then that too shall happen, that Naglfar
shall be loosened, the ship which is so named.
(It is made of dead men's nails; wherefore
a warning is desirable, that if a man die
with unshorn nails, that man adds much material
to the ship Naglfar, which gods and men were
fain to have finished late.) Yet in this
sea-flood Naglfar shall float. Hrymr is the
name of the giant who steers Naglfar. Fenris-Wolf
shall advance with gaping mouth, and his
lower jaw shall be against the earth, but
the upper against heaven,--he would gape
yet more if there were room for it; fires
blaze from his eyes and nostrils. The Midgard
Serpent shall blow venom so that he shall
sprinkle all the air and water; and he is
very terrible, and shall be on one side of
the Wolf. In this din shall the heaven be
cloven, and the Sons of Múspell ride thence:
Surtr shall ride first, and both before him
and after him
{p. 79}
burning fire; his sword is exceeding good:
from it radiance shines brighter than from
the sun; when they ride over Bifröst, then
the bridge shall break, as has been told
before. The Sons of Múspell shall go forth
to that field which is called Vígrídr, thither
shall come Fenris-Wolf also and the Midgard
Serpent; then Loki and Hrymr shall come there
also, and with him all the Rime-Giants. All
the champions of Hel follow Loki; and the
Sons of Múspell shall have a company by themselves,
and it shall be very bright. The field Vígrídr
is a hundred leagues wide each way.
"When these tidings come to pass, then
shall Heimdallr rise up and blow mightily
in the Gjallar-Horn, and awaken all the gods;
and they shall hold council together. Then
Odin shall ride to Mímir's Well and take
counsel of Mímir for himself and his host.
Then the Ash of Yggdrasill shall tremble,
and nothing then shall be without fear in
heaven or in earth. Then shall the Ćsir put
on their war-weeds, and all the Champions,
and advance to the field: Odin rides first
with the gold helmet and a fair birnie, and
his spear, which is called Gungnir. He shall
go forth against Fenris-Wolf, and Thor stands
forward on his other side, and can be of
no avail to him, because he shall have his
hands full to fight against the Midgard Serpent.
Freyr shall contend with Surtr, and a hard
encounter shall there be between them before
Freyr falls: it is to be his death that he
lacks that good sword of his, which he gave
to Skírnir. Then shall the dog Garmr be loosed,
which is bound before Gnipa's Cave: he is
the greatest monster; he shall do battle
with Týr, and each become the other's slayer.
Thor shall put to death the Midgard Serpent,
and shall stride away nine paces from that
spot; then shall he fall dead to the earth,
because of the venom which the
{p. 80}
Snake has blown at him. The Wolf shall swallow
Odin; that shall be his ending But straight
thereafter shall Vídarr stride forth and
set one foot upon the lower jaw of the Wolf:
on that foot he has the shoe, materials for
which have been gathering throughout all
time. (They are the scraps of leather which
men cut out: of their shoes at toe or heel;
therefore he who desires in his heart to
come to the Ćsir's help should cast those
scraps away.) With one hand he shall seize
the Wolf's upper jaw and tear his gullet
asunder; and that is the death of the Wolf.
Loki shall have battle with Heimdallr, and
each be the slayer of the other. Then straightway
shall Surtr cast fire over the earth and
burn all the world; so is said in Völuspá:
High blows Heimdallr, the horn is aloft;
Odin communes with Mimir's head; Trembles
Yggdrasill's towering Ash; The old tree wails
when the Ettin is loosed.
What of the Ćsir? What of the Elf-folk? All
Jötunheim echoes, the Ćsir are at council;
The dwarves are groaning before their stone
doors, Wise in rock-walls; wit ye yet, or
what?
Hrymr sails from the east, the sea floods
onward; The monstrous Beast twists in mighty
wrath; The Snake beats the waves, the Eagle
is screaming; The gold-neb tears corpses,
Naglfar is loosed.
From the east sails the keel; come now Múspell's
folk Over the sea-waves, and Loki steereth;
There are the warlocks all with the Wolf,--
With them is the brother of Býleistr faring.
{p. 81}
Surtr fares from southward with switch-eating
flame; On his sword shimmers the sun of the
war-gods; The rocks are falling, and fiends
are reeling, Heroes tread Hel-way, heaven
is cloven.
Then to the Goddess a second grief cometh,
When Odin fares to fight with the Wolf, And
Beli's slayer, the bright god, with Surtr;
There must fall Frigg's beloved.
Odin's son goeth to strife with the Wolf,--
Vídarr, speeding to meet the slaughter-beast;
The sword in his hand to the heart he thrusteth
Of the fiend's offspring; avenged is his
Father.
Now goeth Hlödyn's glorious son Not in flight
from the Serpent, of fear unheeding; All
the earth's offspring must empty the homesteads,
When furiously smiteth Midgard's defender.
The sun shall be darkened, earth sinks in
the sea,-- Glide from the heaven the glittering
stars; Smoke-reek rages and reddening fire:
The high heat licks against heaven itself.
And here it says yet so:
Vígrídr hight the field where in fight shall
meet Surtr and the cherished gods; An hundred
leagues it has on each side: Unto them that
field is fated."
LII. Then said Gangleri: 'What shall come
to pass
{p. 82}
afterward, when all the world is burned,
and dead are all the gods and all the champions
and all mankind? Have ye not said before,
that every man shall live in some world throughout
all ages?" Then Thridi answered: "In
that time the good abodes shall be many,
and many the ill; then it shall be best to
be in Gimlé in Heaven. Moreover, there is
plenteous abundance of good drink, for them
that esteem that a pleasure, in the hall
which is called Brimir: it stands in Ókólnir.
That too is a good hall which stands in Nida
Fells, made of red gold; its name is Sindri.
In these halls shall dwell good men and pure
in heart.
"On Nástrand[1] is a great hall and
evil, and its doors face to the north: it
is all woven of serpent-backs like a wattle-house;
and all the snake-heads turn into the house
and blow venom, so that along the hall run
rivers of venom; and they who have broken
oaths, and murderers, wade those rivers,
even as it says here:
I know a hall standing far from the sun,
In Nástrand: the doors; to northward are
turned; Venom-drops fill down from the roof-holes;
That hall is bordered with backs of serpents.
There are doomed to wade the weltering streams
Men that are mansworn, and they that murderers
are.
But it is worst in Hvergelmir:
There the cursed snake tears dead men's corpses."
LIII. Then spake Gangleri: "Shall any
of the gods live
[1. Strand of the Dead.]
{p. 83}
then, or shall there be then any earth or
heaven?" Hárr answered: "In that
time the earth shall emerge out of the sea,
and shall then be green and fair; then shall
the fruits of it be brought forth unsown.
Vídarr and Váli shall be living, inasmuch
as neither sea nor the fire of Surtr shall
have harmed them; and they shall dwell at
Ida-Plain, where Ásgard was before. And then
the sons of Thor, Módi and Magni, shall come
there, and they shall have Mjöllnir there.
After that Baldr shall come thither, and
Hödr, from Hel; then all shall sit down together
and hold speech. with one another, and call
to mind their secret wisdom, and speak of
those happenings which have been before:
of the Midgard Serpent and of Fenris-Wolf.
Then they shall find in the grass those golden
chess-pieces which the Ćsir had had; thus
is it said:
In the deities' shrines shall dwell Vídarr
and Váli, When the Fire of Surtr is slackened;
Módi and Magni shall have Mjöllnir At the
ceasing of Thor's strife.
In the place called Hoddmímir's Holt there
shall lie hidden during the Fire of Surtr
two of mankind, who are called thus: Líf
and Lífthrasir, and for food they shall have
the morning-dews. From these folk shall come
so numerous an offspring that all the world
shall be peopled, even as is said here:
Líf and Lífthrasir, these shall lurk hidden
In the Holt of Hoddmímir; The morning dews
their meat shall be; Thence are gendered
the generations.
{p. 84}
And it may seem wonderful to thee, that the
sun shall have borne a daughter not less
fair than herself; and the daughter shall
then tread in the steps of her mother, as
is said here:
The Elfin-beam shall bear a daughter, Ere
Fenris drags her forth; That maid shall go,
when the great gods die, To ride her mother's
road.
But now, if thou art able to ask yet further,
then indeed I know not whence answer shall
come to thee, for I never heard any man tell
forth at greater length the course of the
world; and now avail thyself of that which
thou hast heard."
LIV. Thereupon Gangleri heard great noises
on every side of him; and then, when he had
looked about him more, lo, he stood out of
doors on a level plain, and saw no hall there
and no castle. Then he went his way forth
and came home into his kingdom, and told
those tidings which he had seen and heard;
and after him each man told these tales to
the other.
{p. 87}
[Here Wilken closes his edition; Jónsson
admits the following:
But the Ćsir sat them down to speak together,
and took counsel and recalled all these tales
which had been told to him. And they gave
these same names that were named before to
those men and places that were there, to
the end that when long ages should have passed
away, men should not doubt thereof, that
those Ćsir that were but now spoken of, and
these to whom the same names were then given,
were all one. There Thor was so named, and
he is the old Ása-Thor.
All reject what follows:
He is Öku-Thor, and to him are ascribed those
mighty works which Hector wrought in Troy.
But this is the belief of men: that the Turks
told of Ulysses, and called him Loki, for
the Turks were his greatest foes.]
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