Grímnismál (Sayings of Grímnir)

Preserved complete in the Codex Regius manuscript and the Arnamagnaean Codex fragment. In addition, Snorri quotes over 20 stanzas. The work starts out with a lengthy prose section describing the circumstances leading up to Grímnir's monologue, which comprises 54 stanzas of poetic verse. The last bit of the poem is also prose, a brief description of Geirröth's demise, his son's ascension, and Odin's disappearance. The prose sections were most likely not part of the original oral versions of Grímnismál. Bellows’ Introduction (1936)

The Grimnismol follows the Vafthruthnismol in the Codex Regius and is also found complete in the Arnamagnaean Codex, where also it

follows the Vafthruthnismol. Snorri quotes over twenty of its stanzas. Like the preceding poem, the Grimnismol is largely encyclopedic in nature, and consists chiefly of proper names, the last forty-seven

stanzas containing no less than two hundred and twenty-five of these. It is not, however, in dialogue form. As Mullenhoff pointed out, there is underneath the catalogue of mythological names a consecutive and thoroughly dramatic story. Othin, concealed under the name of Grimnir, is through an error tortured by King Geirroth. Bound between two blazing fires, he begins to display his wisdom for the benefit of the king's little son, Agnar, who has been kind to him. Gradually he works up to the great final moment, when he declares his true name, or rather names, to the terrified Geirroth, and the latter falls on his sward and is killed.

For much of this story we do not have to depend on guesswork, for in both manuscripts the poem itself is preceded by a prose narrative of considerable length, and concluded by a brief prose statement of the manner of Geirroth's death. These prose notes, of which there are many in the Eddic manuscripts, are of considerable interest to the student of early literary forms. Presumably they were written by the compiler to whom we owe the Eddic collection, who felt that the poems needed such annotation in order to be clear. Linguistic evidence shows that they were written in the twelfth or thirteenth century, for they preserve none of the older word-forms which help us to date many of the poems two or three hundred years earlier.

Without discussing in detail the problems suggested by these prose passages, it is worth noting, first, that the Eddic poems contain relatively few stanzas of truly narrative verse; and second, that all of them are based on narratives which must have been more or less familiar to the hearers of the poems. In other words, the poems seldom aimed to tell stories, although most of them followed a narrative sequence of ideas. The stories themselves appear to have lived in oral prose tradition, just as in the case of the sagas; and the prose notes of the manuscripts, in so far as they contain material not simply drawn from the poems themselves, are relics of this tradition. The early Norse poets rarely conceived verse as a suitable means for direct story telling, and in some of the poems even the simplest action is told in prose "links" between dialogue stanzas.

The applications of this fact, which has been too often over looked, are almost limitless, for it suggests a still unwritten chapter in the history of ballad poetry and the so-called "popular" epic. It implies that narrative among early peoples may frequently have had a period of prose existence before it was made into verse, and thus puts, for example, a long series of transitional stages before such a poem as the Iliad. In any case, the prose notes accompanying the Eddic poems prove that in addition to the poems themselves there existed in the twelfth century a considerable amount of narrative tradition, presumably in prose form, on which these notes were based by the compiler.

Interpolations in such a poem as the Grimnismol could have been made easily enough, and many stanzas have undoubtedly crept in from other poems, but the beginning and end of the poem are clearly marked, and presumably it has come down to us with the same essential outline it had when it was composed, probably in the first half of the tenth century. Hollander’s Introduction (1962)

The "Grimnismal" has a didactic purpose, instruction in the mythology, the heavenly geography, and the nomenclature of the Northern Olympus.1 It is conveyed in Othin's monologue, addressed first, as a reward, to young Agnar, who takes pity on his plight, and finally to his erstwhile favorite Geirroeth, to whom the god gradually reveals his dread identity. The epic framework has elements in common with a fairy story, still told in our days in northern Norway, of two brothers who sail to a monster-infested island where the one brother abandons the other to his fate in order to claim the kingdom for himself. And there is a striking similarity between the story of the rivalry of Othin and his wife Frigg, as told in the Introductory Prose, and the legend about the origin of the Langobards as told in the Edict of their king, Rotharis (644 A.D.), and retold by the Langobardian monk and historian, Paulus Diaconus (ca. 800):

"The form of the narrative is very symptomatic. The reader is to gather that the old cotter has given Geirroeth the counsel to make away with his brother; from the conversation between Othin and Frigg, that it was they who fostered the youths; again, that Frigg, in maligning Geirroeth as a miser had a double purpose – In the first place, to induce Othin to visit the king whom by her emissary she renders hostile to the disguised god; in the second place, to destroy Geirroeth, since Othin would of course not let his ill treatment go unavenged."2

The poem has suffered chiefly from accretions, which detract seriously from its aesthetic value: its monologic form no doubt tempted copyists to interpolate stray bits of lore – sometimes of great value – which they were anxious to have preserved within its framework. For the most part, these differ in form from the otherwise regular ljodahattr stanzas. There are no positive indications as to time of composition (tenth century?) or place of origin. Certainly the poem is archheathen. It is handed down completely both in the Codex Regis and the Hauksbok; and some twenty stanzas are embedded in Snorri's paraphrase in the "Gylfaginning."

Thorpe (1866) Bellows (1936) Hollander (1962) I II 1 2 3 4 5

King Hraudung had two sons, one named Agnar, the other Geirröd. Agnar was ten, and Geirröd eight winters old. They both rowed out in a boat, with their hooks and lines, to catch small fish; but the wind drove them out to sea. In the darkness of the night they were wrecked on the shore, and went up into the country, where they found a cottager, with whom they stayed through the winter. The cottager's wife brought up Agnar, and the cottager, Geirröd, and gave him good advice. In the spring the man got them a ship; but when he and his wife accompanied them to the strand, the man talked apart with Geirröd. They had a fair wind, and reached their father's place. Geirröd was at the ship's prow: he sprang on shore, but pushed the ship out, saying, "Go where an evil spirit may get thee." The vessel was driven out to sea, but Geirröd went up to the town, where he was well received; but his father was dead. Geirröd was then taken for king, and became a famous man. Odin and Frigg were sitting in Hlidskiâlf, looking over all the world. Odin said, "Seest thou Agnar, thy foster-son, where he is, getting children with a giantess in a cave? while Geirröd, my foster-son, is a king residing in his country." Frigg answered, "He is so inhospitable that he tortures his guests, if he thinks that too many come." Odin replied that that was the greatest falsehood; and they wagered thereupon. Frigg sent her waiting-maid Fulla to bid Geirröd be on his guard, lest the trollmann who was coming should do him harm, and also say that a token whereby he might be known was, that no dog, however fierce, would attack him. But that King Geirröd was not hospitable was mere idle talk. He, nevertheless, caused the man to be secured whom no dog would assail. He was clad in a blue cloak, and was named Grimnir, and would say no more concerning himself, although he was questioned. The king ordered him to be tortured to make him confess, and to be set between two fires; and there he sat for eight nights. King Geirröd had a son ten years old, whom he named Agnar, after his brother. Agnar went to Grimnir and gave him a full horn to drink from, saying that the king did wrong in causing him to be tortured, though innocent. Grimnir drank from it. The fire had then so approached him that his cloak was burnt; whereupon he said:-- Fire! thou art hot, and much too great; Flame! let us separate. My garment is singed, although I lift it up, My cloak is scorched before it. Eight nights have I sat between fires here, And to me no one food has offered, Save only Agnar, the son of Geirröd, Who alone shall rule over the land of Goths. Be thou blessed, Agnar! as blessed As the god of men bids thee to be. For one draught thou never shalt Get better recompense. Holy is the land, which I see lying To Æsir and Alfar near; But in Thrûdheim Thor shall dwell Until the powers perish. Ydalir it is called, where Ullr Has himself a dwelling made. Alfheim the gods to Frey gave

6King Hrauthung7 had two sons: one was called Agnar, and the other Geirroth.8 Agnar was ten winters old, and Geirroth eight. Once they both rowed in a boat with their fishing-gear to catch little fish; and the wind drove them out into the sea. In the darkness of the night they were wrecked on the shore; and going up, they found a poor peasant, with whom they stayed through the winter. The housewife took care of Agnar, and the peasant cared for Geirroth, and taught him wisdom. In the spring the peasant gave him a boat; and when the couple led them to the shore, the peasant spoke secretly with Geirroth. They had a fair wind, and came to their father's landing-place. Geirroth was forward in the boat; he leaped up on land, but pushed out the boat and said, "Go thou now where evil may have thee!" The boat drifted out to sea. Geirroth, however, went up to the house, and was well received, but his father was dead. Then Geirroth was made king, and became a renowned man. Othin and Frigg9 sat in Hlithskjolf10 and looked over all the worlds. Othin said: "Seest thou Agnar, thy foster ling, how he begets children with a giantess in the cave? But Geirroth, my fosterling, is a king, and now rules over his land." Frigg said: "He is so miserly that he tortures his guests if he thinks that too many of them come to him." Othin replied that this was the greatest of lies; and they made a wager about this matter. Frigg sent her maid-servant, Fulla, to Geirroth. She bade the king beware lest a magician who was come thither to his land should bewitch him, and told this sign concerning him, that no dog was so fierce as to leap at him. Now it was a very great slander that King Geirroth was not hospitable; but nevertheless he had them take the man whom the dogs would not attack. He wore a dark-blue mantle and called himself Grimnir,11 but said no more about himself, though he was questioned. The king had him tortured to make him speak, and set him between two fires, and he sat there eight nights. King Geirroth had a son ten winters old, and called Agnar after his father's brother. Agnar went to Grimnir, and gave him a full horn to drink from, and said that the king did ill in letting him be tormented without cause. Grimnir drank from the horn; the fire had come so near that the mantle burned on Grimnir's back. He spake: Hot art thou, fire! | too fierce by far; Get ye now gone, ye flames! The mantle is burnt, | though I bear it aloft, And the fire scorches the fur. 'Twixt the fires now | eight nights have I sat, And no man brought meat to me, Save Agnar alone, | and alone shall rule Geirroth's son o'er the Goths.12 Hail to thee, Agnar! | for hailed thou art By the voice of Veratyr;13 For a single drink | shalt thou never receive A greater gift as reward.14 The land is holy | that lies hard by The gods and the elves together; And Thor shall ever | in Thruthheim15 dwell, Till the gods to destruction go. Ydalir16 call they | the place where Ull A hall for himself hath set; And Alfheim17 the gods | to Freyr18 once gave

King Hrauthung had two sons, Agnar and Geirroeth.86 Agnar was ten years old, Geirroeth eight. One day they were rowing in a boat with their tackle, to catch small fry, when the wind blew them out to sea. In the darkness of night they were dashed against the land. They made the shore and found a cotter. They stayed there that winter. The goodwife fostered Agnar, the goodman, Geirroeth and counseled him in shrewdness. In spring he got them a boat, and when he and his wife led them down to the shore he spoke secretly with Geirroeth. They had a fair wind and came to their father's landing place. Geirroeth was forward in the boat. He leapt out on shore and thrust the boat back into the sea and said, "Now go where all trolls may take thee!" Agnar drifted out to sea; but Geirroeth went up to the buildings. He was warmly welcomed, and as his father had died he was made king and became a famous leader. One day, Othin and Frigg were sitting in Hlithskjalf87 and were looking out upon all the worlds. Then said Othin: "Dost thou see Agnar, thy foster son, how he begets children with an ogress in a cave? But Geirroeth, my foster son, is king in the land." Frigg answered: "He is so grudging about his food88 that he lets his guests die of hunger when he thinks too many have come." Othin said that this was a gross lie, and so they laid a wager about this matter. Frigg sent her chambermaid Fulla to Geirroeth to tell him to beware lest he be bewitched by a warlock who was then come into the land. She told him that the warlock could be recognized by this, that no dog was so fierce as to rush at him. But it was evil slander, to say that King Geirroeth was not generous about his food. Yet he had that man taken captive whom his dogs would not set on. He was clad in a blue cloak and gave his name as Grimnir,89 and said no more about himself though he was asked. The king tortured him to make him speak, by setting him between two fires; and there he sate for eight nights. Geirroeth had a son ten years old, who was named Agnar after his brother. Agnar went up to Grimnir and gave him a full horn to drink from and said that the king did ill to torture one who had done no wrong. Grimnir emptied it. By that time the fire had come so near him that his cloak began to burn. He said: Hot art thou, blaze, and too high, withal! Get, fire, thee farther away! My frieze coat is singed though I flung it aloft, Flares up the fur in the flames. Eight nights famished 'twixt the fires I sate, Nor did anyone fetch me food, But Agnar only who after shall rule, Geirroeth's son, o'er the Goths.90 All hail to thee, for happiness Is given thee, Agnar, by Othin. Better guerdon shalt never get For one beaker of beer. The land is holy which lies yonder, Near to Aesir and alfs; In Thruthheim,91 there shall Thor ay dwell, Till draws nigh the doom of the gods. On Ydal's plains Ull hath reared him His hall timbered on high. 92 For Frey's93 tooth-fee was fashioned of yore

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

In days of yore for a tooth-gift. The third dwelling is, where the kind powers Have with silver decked the hall; Valaskiâlf 'tis called, which for himself acquired The As in days of old. Sökkvabekk the fourth is named O'er which the gelid waves resound; Odin and Saga there, joyful each day, From golden beakers quaff. Gladsheim the fifth is named, There the golden-bright Valhall stands spacious, There Hropt selects each day Those men who die by weapons. Easily to be known is, by those who to Odin come, The mansion by its aspect. Its roof with spears is laid, its hall with shields is decked, / With corslets are its benches strewed. Easily to be known is, by those who to Odin come, The mansion by its aspect. A wolf hangs before the western door, Over it an eagle hovers. Thrymheim the sixth is named, where Thiassi dwelt That all-powerful Jötun; But Skadi now inhabits, the bright bride of gods, Her father's ancient home. Breidablik is the seventh, where Baldr has built For himself a hall, In that land, in which I know Exists the fewest crimes. Himinbiörg is the eighth, where Heimdall, It is said, rules o'er the holy fanes: There the gods' watchman, in his tranquil home, Drinks joyful the good mead. Fôlkvang is the ninth, there Freyia directs The sittings in the hall. She half the fallen chooses each day, But Odin th' other half. Glitnir is the tenth; it is on gold sustained, And eke with silver decked. There Forseti dwells throughout all time, And every strife allays. Nôatûn is the eleventh, there Niörd has Himself a dwelling made, Prince of men; guiltless of sin, He rules o'er the high-built fane. O'ergrown with branches and high grass Is Vidar's spacious Landvîdi: There will the son descend, from the steed's back, Bold to avenge his father. Andhrimnir makes, in Eldhrimnir, Sæhrimnir to boil, of meats the best; But few know how many Einheriar it feeds. Geri and Freki the war-wont sates, The triumphant sire of hosts; But on wine only the famed in arms, Odin, ever lives. Hugin and Munin fly each day Over the spacious earth. I fear for Hugin, that he come not back, Yet more anxious am I for Munin. Thund roars; joyful in Thiodvitnir's water

As a tooth-gift19 in ancient times. A third home is there, | with silver thatched By the hands of the gracious gods: Valaskjolf20 is it, | in days of old Set by a god for himself. Sokkvabekk21 is the fourth, | where cool waves flow, / And amid their murmur it stands; There daily do Othin | and Saga drink In gladness from cups of gold. The fifth is Glathsheim,22 | and gold-bright there Stands Valhall23 stretching wide; And there does Othin | each day choose The men who have fallen in fight. Easy is it to know | for him who to Othin Comes and beholds the hall; Its rafters are spears, | with shields is it roofed, On its benches are breastplates strewn. Easy is it to know | for him who to Othin Comes and beholds the hall;24 There hangs a wolf25 | by the western door, And o'er it an eagle hovers. The sixth is Thrymheim,26 | where Thjazi dwelt, The giant of marvelous might; Now Skathi abides, | the god's fair bride, In the home that her father had. The seventh is Breithablik;27 | Baldr has there For himself a dwelling set, In the land I know | that lies so fair, And from evil fate is free. Himinbjorg28 is the eighth, | and Heimdall there O'er men holds sway, it is said; In his well-built house | does the warder of heaven The good mead gladly drink. The ninth is Folkvang,29 | where Freyja decrees Who shall have seats in the hall; The half of the dead30 | each day does she choose, And half does Othin have. The tenth is Glitnir;31 | its pillars are gold, And its roof with silver is set; There most of his days | does Forseti dwell, And sets all strife at end. The eleventh is Noatun;32 | there has Njorth For himself a dwelling set; The sinless ruler | of men there sits In his temple timbered high. Filled with growing trees | and high-standing grass Is Vithi, Vithar's land;33 But there did the son | from his steed leap down, When his father he fain would avenge. In Eldhrimnir | Andhrimnir cooks Saehrimnir's seething flesh,-- The best of food, | but few men know On what fare the warriors feast.34 Freki and Geri | does Heerfather feed,35 The far-famed fighter of old: But on wine alone | does the weapon-decked god, Othin, forever live. O'er Mithgarth Hugin | and Munin both36 Each day set forth to fly; For Hugin I fear | lest he come not home, But for Munin my care is more. Loud roars Thund,37 | and Thjothvitnir's fish38

Alf-Home, as gift by the gods. A third hall still, all thatched with silver, Was built by the blessed gods: In Valaskjalf94 hall did house himself Othin in olden days. Sokkvabekk95 called is the fourth, Which cool waters ripple round about; There Othin and Saga96 all their days drink, Glad from golden cups. Gladhome is hight the fifth where golden shimm'ring / Valholl97 is widely spread out; Here Othin chooses every day Weapon-slain warriors. Easily known to Ygg's chosen Are the heavenly halls: The rafters, spearshafts; the roofs, shield-shingled; And the benches strewn with byrnies. Easily known to Ygg's chosen Are the heavenly halls: A wolf hangeth o'er the western gate, And hovers an eagle on high.98 Thrymheim is hight the sixth, where Thjatsi dwelled, / The etin of awful might; Njorth's bride there her bower hath, Skathi,99 where her father before. Breithablik100 the seventh; there Baldr the good Hath reared him his bright abode: In that land it lies where least I know Falsehood and faithlessness. Himinbjorg101 the eighth; there Heimdall, they say, Guards the holy hall; There the gods' warder in goodly stead The mead drinks, glad in mind. Folkvang102 the ninth, where Freya103 chooses Who seats shall have in her hall: Half of the slain are hers each day, And half are Othin's own. Glitnir the tenth, which with gold is propped, And is shingled with shining silver; There Forseti104 unflagging sits, The god that stills all strife. Noatun105 the eleventh, where Njorth hath him Reared his bright abode; The sinless god his seat there has And rules in high-timbered hall. Greenwoods grow, and grasses tall, In Vithi,106 Vithar's land: From horseback leaps the hero, eager To avenge his father's fall. By Andhrimnir107 in Eldhrimnir108 Saehrimnir,109 the boar, is boiled, The best of bacons; though 'tis barely known What the Einherjar eat. Valfather feeds Freki and Geri On the flesh of the fallen; But weapon-glad Othin on wine only Lives forever and ay. The whole earth over, every day, Hover Hugin and Munin; I dread lest Hugin droop in his flight, Yet I fear me still more for Munin. Thund roars loudly; sports Thjothvitnir's fish110

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 [-] 32 33

Lives the fish; The rapid river seems too great For the battle-steed to ford. Valgrind is the lattice called, in the plain that stands, / Holy before the holy gates: Ancient is that lattice, But few only know how it is closed with lock. Five hundred doors, and forty eke, I think, are in Valhall. Eight hundred Einheriar will at once from each Door go when they issue with the wolf to fight.3 Five hundred floors, and forty eke, I think, Has Bilskirnir with its windings. Of all the roofed houses that I know, Is my son's the greatest. Heidrûn the goat is called, that stands o'er Odin's hall, / And bites from Lærâd's branches. He a bowl shall fill with the bright mead; That drink shall never fail. Eikthyrnir the hart is called, that stands o'er Odin's hall, / And bites from Lærâd's branches; From his horns fall drops into Hvergelmir, Whence all waters rise:-- Sid and Vid, Soekin and Eikin, Svöl and Gunnthrô, Fiörm and Fimbulthul, Rin and Rennandi, Gipul and Göpul, Gömul and Geirvimul: They round the gods' dwelling wind. Thyn and Vin, Thöll and Höll, Grâd and Gunnthorin. Vina one is called, a second Vegsvin, A third Thiodnuma; Nyt and Nön and Hrön, Slid and Hrid, Sylg and Ylg, Vîd and Vân, Vönd and Strönd, Gioll and Leipt; these (two) fall near to men, But fall hence to Hel. Körmt and Ormt, and the Kerlaugs twain: These Thor must wade each day, When he to council goes At Yggdrasil's ash; For the As-bridge is all on fire, The holy waters boil. Glad and Gyllir, Gler and Skeidbrimir, Sillfrintopp and Sinir, Gisl and Falhôfnir, Gulltopp and Lettfeti; On these steeds the Æsir each day ride, When they to council go, At Yggdrasil's ash. Three roots stand on three ways Under Yggdrasil's ash: Hel under one abides, under the second the Hrimthursar, / Under the third mankind. Ratatösk is the squirrel named, Which has to run in Yggdrasil's ash; He from above the eagle's words must carry, And beneath to Nidhögg repeat. Harts there are also four, which from its summits, Arch-necked, gnaw. Dâin and Dvalin, Duneyr and Durathrôr.

joyously fares in the flood; Hard does it seem | to the host of the slain To wade the torrent wild.39 There Valgrind40 stands, | the sacred gate, And behind are the holy doors; Old is the gate, | but few there are Who can tell how it tightly is locked. Five hundred doors | and forty there are, I ween, in Valhall's walls; Eight hundred fighters | through one door fare When to war with the wolf they go.41 Five hundred rooms | and forty there are I ween, in Bilskirnir built; Of all the homes | whose roofs I beheld, My son's the greatest meseemed.42 Heithrun is the goat | who stands by Heerfather's hall,43 / And the branches of Laerath she bites; The pitcher she fills | with the fair, clear mead, Ne'er fails the foaming drink. Eikthyrnir44 is the hart | who stands by Heerfather's hall / And the branches of Laerath he bites; From his horns a stream | into Hvergelmir45 drops, Thence all the rivers run. 46Sith and Vith, | Saekin and Aekin, Svol and Fimbulthul, | Gunnthro, and Fjorm, Rin47 and Rinnandi, Gipul and Gopul, | Gomul and Geirvimul, That flow through the fields of the gods; Thyn and Vin, | Thol and Hol, Groth and Gunnthorin. Vino is one, | Vegsvin another, And Thjothnuma a third; Nyt and Not, | Non and Hron, Slith48 and Hrith, | Sylg and Ylg, Vith and Von, | Vond and Strond, Gjol and Leipt,49 | that go among men, And hence they fall to Hel. Kormt and Ormt | and the Kerlaugs twain Shall Thor each day wade through, (When dooms to give | he forth shall go To the ash-tree Yggdrasil;) For heaven's bridge | burns all in flame, And the sacred waters seethe.50 Glath and Gyllir, | Gler and Skeithbrimir, Silfrintopp and Sinir, Gisl and Falhofnir, | Golltopp and Lettfeti, On these steeds the gods shall go When dooms to give | each day they ride To the ash-tree Yggdrasil.51 52Three roots there are | that three ways run 'Neath the ash-tree Yggdrasil; 'Neath the first lives Hel, | 'neath the second the frost-giants, / 'Neath the last are the lands of men. [An eagle sits in the branches of the ash tree, And he is very wise; And between his eyes sits the hawk Who is called Vethrfolnir.]53 Ratatosk is the squirrel | who there shall run On the ash-tree Yggdrasil; From above the words | of the eagle he bears, And tells them to Nithhogg beneath.54 55Four harts there are, | that the highest twigs56 Nibble with necks bent back; Dain and Dvalin, | . . . . . .57 Duneyr and Dyrathror.

In the foaming Rood; The strong stream seems too stiff to wade For warriors to Valholl bent. Valgrind111 is the gate that wards the gods, Holy, nigh holy doors; Old is that wicket, nor wot many With what bolt that gate is barred. Five hundred doors and forty withal I ween that in Valholl be: Eight hundred warriors through one door hie them When they fare forth to fight the Wolf. Five hundred rooms and forty withal I ween that in Bilskirnir be; Of all the halls which on high are reared The greatest I see is my son's. Heithrun, the goat on the hall that stands, Eateth off wrath's112 limbs; The crocks she fills with clearest mead, Will that drink not e'er be drained. Eikthyrnir, the hart on the hall that stands, Eateth off wrath's limbs; Drops from his horns in Hvergelmi fall, Thence wend all the waters their way. 113[Sith and Vith, Soekin and Eikin, Svol and Gunnthro, Fjorm and Fimbulthul, Rin and Rinnandi, Gipul and Gopul, Gomul and Geirvimul, They flow by the garth of the gods; Thyn and Vin, Tholl and Holl, Grath and Gunnthorin. Vina is hight one, Vegsvinn the other, The third, Thjothnuma; Nyt and Not, Nonn and Hronn, Slith and Hrith, Sylg and Ylg, Vil and Van, Vond and Strond, Gjoll and Leiptr, flow in the land of men, But hence flow to Hel.] Kormt and Ormt and the Kerlaugs twain, Thor does wade through every day, To doom when he fares 'Neath the ash Yggdrasil; For the bridge of the gods114 is ablaze with flames – hot are the holy waters.

ler and Skeithbrimir,

sts every day,

eath the ash Yggdrasil.]

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r, Hel, eath the third, Mithgarth's116 men.

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erched, ight Vethrfolnir, and watcheth.)

hight which runneth ay

l eagle e bears to Nithhogg119 beneath.

st shoots th:

115[Glath and Gyllir, GSilfrintopp and Sinir, Gisl and Falhofnir, Golltopp and Lettfeti -- These steeds ride heavenly hoTo the doom when they fare 'N Three roots do spread in threefold wayBeneath the ash Yggdrasil: Dwell etins 'neath one, 'neath the othe'N 117(An eagle sitteth on YggdrasWhose keen eyes widely ken; 'Twixt his eyes a fallow falcon is pH Ratatosk118 the squirrel is About the ash Yggdrasil: The warning words of the watchfuH [Four harts also the higheAy gnaw from beneaDain and Dvalin,120

34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47

More serpents lie under Yggdrasil's ash, Than any one would think of witless mortals: Gôin and Môin, – they are Grafvitnir's sons – Grâbak and Grafvöllud, Ofnir and Svafnir, will, I ween, The branches of that tree ever lacerate. Yggdrasil's ash hardship suffers Greater than men know of; A hart bites it above, and in its side it rots, Nidhögg beneath tears it. Hrist and Mist the horn shall bear me Skeggöld and Skögul, Hlökk and Herfiotur, Hildi and Thrûdi, Göll and Geirölul, Randgríd and Râdgrîd, and Reginleif, These bear beer to the Einheriar. Arvakr and Alsvid, theirs 'tis up hence Fasting the sun to draw: Under their shoulder the gentle powers, The Æsir, have concealed an iron-coolness. Svalin the shield is called, Which stands before the sun, the refulgent deity; Rocks and ocean must, I ween, Be burnt, fell it from its place. Sköll the wolf is named, that the fair-faced goddess To the ocean chases; Another Hati hight, he is Hrôdvitnir's son; He the bright maid of heaven shall precede. Of Ymir's flesh was earth created, Of his blood the sea, of his bones the hills, Of his hair trees and plants, Of his skull the heaven; And of his brows the gentle powers formed Midgard for the sons of men; But of his brain The heavy clouds are all created. Ullr's and all the gods' favour shall have, Whoever first shall look to the fire; For open will the dwelling be, to the Æsir's sons, When the kettles are lifted off.4 Ivaldi's sons went in days of old Skidbladnir to form, Of ships the best, for the bright Frey, Niörd's benign son. Yggdrasil's ash is of all trees most excellent, And of all ships, Skidbladnir, Of the Æsir, Odin, and of horses, Sleipnir, Bifröst of bridges, and of skallds, Bragi, Hâbrôk of hawks, and of dogs, Garm, [Brimir of swords.] Now I my face have raised to the gods' triumphant sons, / At that will welcome help awake; From all the Æsir, that shall penetrate, To Oegir's bench, To Oegir's compotation.5 I am called Grim, I am called Gangleri, Herian and Hiâlmberi, Thekk and Thridi, Thund and Ud, Helblindi and Har, Sad and Svipall, and Sanngetall, Herteit and Hnikar Bileyg, Bâleyg, Bölverk, Fiölnir, Grîm and Grimnir, Glapsvid and Fiölsvid,

More serpents there are | beneath the ash Than an unwise ape would think; Goin and Moin, | Grafvitnir's sons, Grabak and Grafvolluth, Ofnir and Svafnir | shall ever, methinks, Gnaw at the twigs of the tree.58 Yggdrasil's ash | great evil suffers, Far more than men do know; The hart bites its top, | its trunk is rotting, And Nithhogg gnaws beneath.59 Hrist and Mist | bring the horn at my will, Skeggjold and Skogul; Hild and Thruth, | Hlok and Herfjotur, Gol and Geironul, Randgrith and Rathgrith | and Reginleif Beer to the warriors bring.60 Arvak and Alsvith | up shall drag Weary the weight of the sun; But an iron cool | have the kindly gods Of yore set under their yokes.61 In front of the sun | does Svalin62 stand, The shield for the shining god; Mountains and sea | would be set in flames If it fell from before the sun. 63Skoll is the wolf | that to Ironwood64 Follows the glittering god, And the son of Hrothvitnir, | Hati, awaits The burning bride of heaven. 65Out of Ymir's flesh | was fashioned the earth, And the ocean out of his blood; Of his bones the hills, | of his hair the trees, Of his skull the heavens high. Mithgarth the gods | from his eyebrows made, And set for the sons of men; And out of his brain | the baleful clouds They made to move on high. His the favor of Ull | and of all the gods Who first in the flames will reach; For the house can be seen | by the sons of the gods If the kettle aside were cast.66 67In days of old | did Ivaldi's68 sons Skithblathnir69 fashion fair, The best of ships | for the bright god Freyr, The noble son of Njorth. 70The best of trees | must Yggdrasil be, Skithblathnir best of boats; Of all the gods | is Othin the greatest, And Sleipnir71 the best of steeds; Bifrost72 of bridges, | Bragi73 of skalds, Hobrok of hawks, | and Garm of hounds. 74To the race of the gods | my face have I raised, And the wished-for aid have I waked; For to all the gods | has the message gone That sit in Aegir's seats, That drink within Aegir's75 doors. 76Grim is my name, | Gangleri am 1, Herjan and Hjalmberi, Thekk and Thrithi, | Thuth and Uth, Helblindi and Hor; 77Sath and Svipal | and Sanngetal, Herteit and Hnikar, Bileyg, Baleyg, | Bolverk, Fjolnir, Grim and Grimnir, | Glapsvith, Fjolsvith.

Duneyr and Dyrathror.]

tree beneath

rafvitnir's sons,

, n that tree's twigs will batten.]

de,

rotting, nd Nithhogg gnawing beneath.

shall bear me,

, Hlokk and Herfjotur,

eginleif,122 the einherjar ale shall bear.

ey up shall draw

ssed gods ave hidden the "icy irons."

sea and land, om him it ever should fall.

ogs him

's son, llows the fair orb too.

hills of his bones, ut of his skull the sky.

ods made

menacing clouds hich in the heavens hover.

ll the gods,

hen kettles are heaved from the hearth.126

ing Frey, e noble son of Njorth.]

best;

128

f hawks, Habrok;130 of hounds all, Garm.]

ft to the gods:131

ich in shall come

t Aegir's feast.132

angleri,134

Thuth and Uth, elblindi and Har.138

nngetal,140

146 rim and Grimnir, Glapsvith, Fjolsvith,

[More worms do lie the world-Than unwise apes may ween: Goin and Moin, which are GGrabak and Grafvolluth; Ofnir and Svafnir121 ay, I fear meO The ash Yggdrasil doth ill abiMore than to men is known: The hart browsing above, its bole A Hrist and Mist the horn Skeggjold and Skogul; But Hild and ThruthGoll and Geironul, Randgrith and Rathgrith and RTo Arvakr and Alsvith, 123 thThe sun's wain wearily; But under their bellies the bleH Svalin is hight, the Sun before, A shield from the shining god. Would smoke and smolder bothIf fr Skoll the wolf, in the sky dTo the warding woods;124 But Hati125 the other, HrothvitnirFo Of Ymir's flesh the earth was shaped, Of his blood, the briny sea, Of his hair, the trees, the O But of his lashes the loving gMithgarth for sons of men; From his brow they made the W Will Ull befriend him, and aWho erst the fire clenches; For open lie to the Aesir all worlds, W [In earliest times Ivaldi's sons127 Skithblathnir, the ship, did shape, The best of boats, for beamTh [The ash Yggdrasil is of all treesSkithblathnir, the best of boats; Of holy gods, Othin; of horses, Sleipnir;Of bridges, Bifrost; of skalds, Bragi;129 O Now my looks have I lifted aloHelp will come from on high, From all the Aesir whOn Aegir's benches,A Grim133 is my name, and GHerjan135 and Hjalmberi, Thekk136 and Thrithi,137

H Sath and Svipal139 and SaHerteit141 and Hnikar,142 Bileyg,143 Baleyg,144 Bolverk,145 Fjolnir,G

48 49 50 51 52 53 54 III

Sîdhött, Sîdskegg Sigfödr, Hnikud, Alfodr, Valfödr, Atrid and Farmatyr; By one name I never have been called, Since among men I have gone. Grimnir I am called at Geirröd's, And at Asmund's Jâlk And Kialar, when a sledge I drew; Thrôr at the public meetings, Vidur in battles, Oski and Omi, Jafnhâr and Biflindi, Gôndlir and Harbard with the gods. Svidur and Svidrir I was at Sökkmimir's called, And beguiled that ancient Jötun, When of Midvitnir's renowned son I was the sole destroyer. Drunken art thou, Geirröd, thou hast drunk too much, / Thou art greatly by mead beguiled. / Much didst thou lose, when thou wast of my help bereft, Of all the Einheriar's and Odin's favour. Many things I told thee, but thou hast few remembered: / Thy friends mislead thee. My friend's sword lying I see, With blood all dripping. The fallen by the sword Ygg shall now have; Thy life is now run out: Wroth with thee are the Dîsir: Odin thou now shalt see: / Draw near to me if thou canst. Odin I now am named, Ygg I was called before, Before that, Thund, Vakr and Skilfing, Vâfudr and Hrôptatyr, With the gods, Gaut and Jâlk, Ofnir and Svafnir, all which I believe To be names of me alone. King Geirröd was sitting with his sword lying across his knees, half drawn from the scabbard, but on finding that it was Odin, he rose for the purpose of removing him from the fires, when the sword slipt from his hand with the hilt downwards; and the king having stumbled, the sword pierced him through and killed him. Odin then vanished, and Agnar was king for a long time after.

78Sithhott, Sithskegg, | Sigfather, Hnikuth, Allfather, Valfather, | Atrith, Farmatyr: A single name | have I never had Since first among men I fared. 79Grimnir they call me | in Geirroth's hall, With Asmund Jalk am I; Kjalar I was | when I went in a sledge, At the council Thror am I called, As Vithur I fare to the fight; Oski, Biflindi, | Jafnhor and Omi, Gondlir and Harbarth midst gods. I deceived the giant | Sokkmimirold As Svithur and Svithrir of yore; Of Mithvitnir's son | the slayer I was When the famed one found his doom.80 81Drunk art thou, Geirroth, | too much didst thou drink, / [Greatly by me art beguiled]82 Much hast thou lost, | for help no more From me or my heroes thou hast. Small heed didst thou take | to all that I told, And false were the words of thy friends; For now the sword | of my friend I see, That waits all wet with blood. Thy sword-pierced body | shall Ygg83 have soon, For thy life is ended at last; The maids84 are hostile; | now Othin behold! Now come to me if thou canst! 85Now am I Othin, | Ygg was I once, Ere that did they call me Thund; Vak and Skilfing, | Vofuth and Hroptatyr, Gaut and Jalk midst the gods; Ofnir and Svafnir, | and all, methinks, Are names for none but me. King Geirroth sat and had his sword on his knee, half drawn from its sheath. But when he heard that Othin was come thither, then he rose up and sought to take Othin from the fire. The sword slipped from his hand, and fell with the hilt down. The king stumbled and fell forward, and the sword pierced him through, and slew him. Then Othin vanished, but Agnar long ruled there as king.

Sithhott,147 Sithskegg, Sigfather, Hnikuth,148

lcomed ever,

nce among folk I fared.

roeth's hall,

the hand sled I drew, hings,

ondlir153 and Harbarth among gods.

Sokkmimir's was I,

nir's, the mighty one's, on I slew alone.

ou losest thin's and the Einherjars' favor.

indest:

ord, ipping with blood.

soon drink with Ygg:156

n mayst see; me thou near if thou canst.157

s I hight,

d Hroptatyr,159

they all have become ne with me, I ween.

t

d.

ut Agnar was king in that land for a ng time.

Alfather, Valfather, Atrith,149 Farmatyr:150

By one name was I not weSi Grimnir my name in GeirBut Jalk in Asmund's.151 Was I Kjalar hight whenBut Thror152 at TVithur in wars, Oski and Omi, Jafnhar, Biflindi, G Svithur and Svithrir154 atWhen the old etin I hid, And when MithvitS Thou art muddled, Geirroeth!Too much thou hast drunk; Of much art robbed since rashly thO Full long I spake, but little thou mFaithless friends155 betray thee: Before me I see my foster son's swIts blade all dr A death-doomed man will Not long the life left thee. The norns wish thee ill: now OthiCo Now Othin's my name. Ygg waThund was my name ere then; Vak and Skilfing, Vafuth158 anGaut160 and Jalk among gods.

2Ofnir161 and Svafnir,16

O King Geirroeth was sitting with his sword on his knees half unsheathed. But when he heard that iwas Othin who had come to him, he arose and wanted to take him from between the fires. His sword slid from his hands with its hilt downwarThe king stumbled and fell forward, the sword pierced him, and so he lost his life. Then Othin vanished; blo

1 Some scholars see in the p em an Othin monologue of great impressiveness, with no breaks in its unity – one which originally had nothing to do with the King

reference to a lost myth. It would seem that, through the intervention of the kettles, the Æsir were unable to see

er the name of Oegir, Gierrod is genera understood: I rather think the meaning to be, that all the Æsir who [sit at] Oegir's compotation

r details.

hin's watch-tower in heaven, whence he can overlook all the nine worlds; cf. Skirnismol, introductory prose.

s" nately to any South-Germanic people, including the Burgundians as well as the

ecific application; cf. Gripisspo, 35 and note.

among the gods, a son of Thor's wife, Sif, by another marriage. The wood of the yew-tree was used for bows in the in England.

oGeirroeth motif. 2 Detter and Heinzel II, 172. 3 That equals 432,000 warriors total [my note]. 4 What in this strophe is said of Ullr has apparentlyOdin's unpleasant position between the two fires. 5 My version of this strophe is not in accordance with those of other interpreters. Odin raises his countenance to heaven, in full confidence that when seen help will forthwith be afforded him. Und llywill forthwith come to his aid. 6 Prose. The texts of the two manuscripts differ in many mino7 Hrauthung: this mythical king is not mentioned elsewhere. 8 Geirroth: the manuscripts spell his name in various ways . 9 Frigg: Othin's wife. She and Othin nearly always disagreed in some such way as the one outlined in this story. 10 Hlithskjolf ("Gate-Shelf"): Ot11 Grimnir: "the Hooded One." 12 In the original lines 2 and 4 are both too long for the meter, and thus the true form of the stanza is doubtful. For line 4 both manuscripts have "the land of the Gothinstead of simply "the Goths." The word "Goths" apparently was applied indiscrimi

actual Goths, and thus here has no sp13 Veratyr ("Lord of Men"): Othin. 14 The "gift" which Agnar receives is Othin's mythological lore. 15 Thruthheim ("the Place of Might"): the place where Thor, the strongest of the gods, has his hall, Bilskirnir, described in stanza 24. 16 Ydalir ("Yew-Dales"): the home of Ulf, the archer

North just as it was long afterwards17 Alfheim: the home of the elves.

n's home, in which is his watch-tower, Hlithskjolf. Gering identifies this with Valhall, and as that is mentioned in stanza 8,

there, little is known. Saga may be an hypostasis of Frigg, but Snorri calls her a

slain heroes are br by the Valkyries, but also a favorite home of Othin.

e)

un, but neither could endure the surroundings of the other's home, so Skathi returned to

e as warder of the

eyja's hall, Sessrymnir ("Rich in Seats"). Freyja, the sister of Freyr, is the fairest of the goddesses, and the most

mind her attributes as Othin's wife. Snorri has this same confusion, but there is no reason why the Freyja who was

ti is the son of Baldr and Nanna, daughter of Nep. and men."

s' boar Saehrimnir ("The Blackened"). His flesh suffices for all the heroes there gathered, and each

"): the two wolves who sit by Othin's side at the feast, and to whom he gives all the food set before him, since wine is

Earth. Hugin ("Thought") and Munin ("Memory" or "Remembrance"): the two ravens who sit on Othin's shoulders, and fly forth

ch was caught by the wolf Skoll (cf. Voluspo 40), Thjothvitnir meaning "the mighty wolf." Such a phrase, characteristic of

d in reversed order in Regius. Snorri quotes stanza 23 as a proof of the vast size of Valhall. The last two lines refer to the final battle

se of stanza 23. Its description of Thor's house, Bilskirnir

e

whether the heroes drink water, whereto Har replies, "Do you imagine that Othin invites kings and earls and other noble men, and then gives

antlers, "thorns," like an oak): this animal presumably represents the clouds. The first line, like that of stanza 25, is too long

world of darkness and the dead, beneath the third root of the

s. It is enting similar problems, cf. Voluspo, 10-16 [the so-called Catalogue of

s, but the similarity is doubtless purely accidental.

th is sworn, and Gering points the parallel to the significance of the

ee

the rainbow-

all. se his teeth were of gold, he was also called Gullintanni ("Gold-Toothed").

noteworthy recorded.

The hypothesis that Ratatosk "represents the undying hatred between the

ding them.

18 Freyr: cf. Skirnismol, introductory prose and note. 19 Tooth-gift: the custom of making a present to a child when it cuts its first tooth is, according to Vigfusson, still in vogue in Iceland. 20 Valaskjolf ("the Shelf of the Slain"): Othihe believes stanza 6 to be an interpolation. 21 Sokkvabekk ("the Sinking Stream"): of this spot and of Saga, who is said to livedistinct goddess, and the name suggests some relation to history or story-telling. 22 Glathsheim ("the Place of Joy"): Othin's home, the greatest and most beautiful hall in the world.

23 Valhall ("Hall of the Slain"): not only the hall whither the ought 24 The opening formula is abbreviated in both manuscripts. 25 A wolf: probably the wolf and the eagle were carved figures above the door. 26 Thrymheim ("the Home of Clamor" or “Noise-Home”): on this mountain the giant Thjazi built his home. The god, or rather Wane, Njorth (cf. Voluspo, 21, notmarried Thjazi's daughter, Skathi. She wished to live in her father's hall among the mountains, while Njorth loved his home, Noatun, by the sea. They agreed to compromise by spending nine nights at Thrymheim and then three at Noat Thrymheim, while Njorth stayed at Noatun. Snorri quotes stanzas 11-15. 27 Breithablik ("Wide-Shining"): the house in heaven, free from everything unclean, in which Baldr (cf. Voluspo, 32, note), the fairest and best of the gods, lived. 28 Himinbjorg ("Heaven's Cliffs"): the dwelling at the end of the bridge Bifrost (the rainbow), where Heimdall (cf. Voluspo, 27) keeps watch against the coming of thgiants. In this stanza the two functions of Heimdall--as father of mankind (cf. Voluspo, 1 and note, and Rigsthula, introductory prose and note) and gods--seem both to be mentioned, but the second line in the manuscripts is apparently in bad shape, and in the editions is more or less conjectural. 29 Folkvang ("Field of the Folk): here is situated Frkindly disposed to mankind, especially to lovers. 30 Half of the dead: Mogk has made it clear that Freyja represents a confusion between two originally distinct divinities: the wife of Othin (Frigg) and the northern goddess of love. This passage appears to have inFreyr's sister should share the slain with Othin. 31 Glitnir ("the Shining"): the home of Forseti, a god of whom we know nothing beyond what Snorri tells us: "ForseAll those who come to him with hard cases to settle go away satisfied; he is the best judge among gods 32 Noatun ("Ships'-Haven"): the home of Njorth, who calms the waves; cf. stanza 11 and Voluspá, 21. 33 Vithi: this land is not mentioned elsewhere. Vithar avenged his father, Othin, by slaying the wolf Fenrir. 34 Stanzas 18-20 appear also in Snorri's Edda. Very possibly they are an interpolation here. Eldhrimnir ("Sooty with Fire"): the great kettle in Valhall, wherein the godcook, Andhrimnir ("The Sooty-Faced") daily cooks the flesh of theevening he becomes whole again, to be cooked the next morning. 35 Freki ("The Greedy") and Geri ("The Ravenousfood and drink alike for him. Heerfather: Othin. 36 Mithgarth ("The Middle Home"): thedaily to bring him news of the world. 37 Thund ("The Swollen" or "The Roaring"): the river surrounding Valhall. 38 Thjothvitnir's fish: presumably the sun, whiall Skaldic poetry, is rather rare in the Edda. 39 The last two lines refer to the attack on Valhalla by the people of Hel (cf. Voluspá 51). 40 Valgrind ("The Death-Gate"): the outer gate of Valhall; cf. Sigurtharkvitha en skamma, 68 and note. 41 This and the following stanza stanwith Fenrir and the other enemies. 42 This stanza is almost certainly an interpolation, brought in through a confusion of the first two lines with tho(cf. stanza 4 and note) has nothing to do with that of Valhall. Snorri quotes the stanza in his account of Thor. 43 The first line in the original is, as indicated in the translation, too long, and various attempts to amend it have been made. Heithrun: the she-goat who lives on thtwigs of the tree Laerath (presumably the ash Yggdrasil), and daily gives mead which, like the boar's flesh, suffices for all the heroes in Valhall. In Snorri's Edda Gangleri foolishly asks them water to drink?" 44 Eikthyrnir ("The Oak-Thorned," i.e., with in the original. Laerath: cf. stanza 25, note. 45 Hvergelmir: according to Snorri, this spring, "the Cauldron-Roaring," was in the midst of Niflheim, theash Yggdrasil. Snorri gives a list of the rivers flowing thence nearly identical with the one in the poem. 46 The entire passage from stanza 27 through stanza 35 is confused. The whole thing may well be an interpolation. Bugge calls stanzas 27-30 an interpolation, and editors who have accepted the passage as a whole have rejected various lines. The spelling of the names of the rivers varies greatly in the manuscripts and editionneedless here to point out the many attempted emendations of this list. For a passage presDwarves]. Snorri virtually quotes stanzas 27-29 in his prose, though not consecutively. 47 The name Rin, in line 3, is identical with that for the River Rhine which appears frequently in the hero poem48 Slith may possibly be the same river as that mentioned in Voluspo, 36, as flowing through the giants' land. 49 Leipt: in Helgakvitha Hundingsbana II, 29, this river is mentioned as one by which a solemn oaStyx among the Greeks. The other rivers here named are not mentioned elsewhere in the poems. 50 This stanza looks as though it originally had nothing to do with the two preceding it. Snorri quotes it in his description of the three roots of Yggdrasil, and the thrsprings beneath them. "The third root of the ash stands in heaven and beneath this root is a spring which is very holy, and is called Urth's well." (Cf. Voluspo, 19) "There the gods have their judgment-seat, and thither they ride each day over Bifrost, which is also called the Gods' Bridge." Thor has to go on foot in the last days of the destruction, when the bridge is burning. Another interpretation, however, is that when Thor leaves the heavens (i.e., when a thunder-storm is over)bridge becomes hot in the sun. Nothing more is known of the rivers named in this stanza. Lines 3-4 are almost certainly interpolated from stanza 30. 51 This stanza, again possibly an interpolation, is closely paraphrased by Snorri following the passage quoted in the previous note. Glath ("Joyous"): identified in the Skaldskaparmal with Skinfaxi, the horse of day; cf. Vafthruthnismol, 12. Gyllir: "Golden." Gler: "Shining." Skeithbrimir: "Swift-Going." Silfrintopp: "Silver-Topped." Sinir: "Sinewy." Gisl: the meaning is doubtful; Gering suggests "Gleaming." Falhofnir: "Hollow-Hoofed." Golltopp ("Gold-Topped"): this horse belonged to HeimdIt is noteworthy that gold was one of the attributes of Heimdall's belongings, and, becauLettfeti: "Light-Feet." Othin's eight footed horse, Sleipnir, is not mentioned in this list. 52 The first of these roots is the one referred to in stanza 26; the second in stanza 29 (cf. notes). Of the third root there is nothing53 After stanza 31 it is more than possible that one has been lost, [provided here as] paraphrased in the prose of Snorri's Edda. 54 Ratatosk ("The Swift-Tusked"): concerning this squirrel, the Prose Edda has to add only that he runs up and down the tree conveying the abusive language of the eagle (see note on stanza 31) and the dragon Nithhogg (cf. Voluspo 39 and note) to each other. sustaining and the destroying elements – the gods and the giants," seems a trifle far-fetched. 55 Stanzas 33-34 may well be interpolated, and are certainly in bad shape in the Mss. Bugge points out that they are probably of later origin than those surrounSnorri closely paraphrases stanza 33, but without elaboration, and nothing further is known of the four harts. It may be guessed, however, that they are a late

just as the list of dragons in stanza 34 seems to have been expanded out of Nithhogg, the only authentic dragon

rs have altered it in various ways in an attempt to regularize the meter. Goin and Moin: meaning obscure. Grafvitnir: "The Gnawing Wolf." Grabak: "Gray-

). Hild: "Warrior." Thruth: "Might." Hlok: "Shrieking." Herfjotur: "Host-Fetter." Gol: "Screaming." Geironul: "Spear-Bearer."

, up in heaven; and they bade Sol drive the horses that drew the car of the sun which the gods had made to light the world from the

under their yokes the gods set two bellows to cool them, and in some songs

ld is in Sigrdrifumol 15. Hrothvitnir ("The Mighty Wolf," i. e. Fenrir); cf. Voluspo 40, and

closely parallel to Vafthruthnismol 21, which see, as also Voluspo 3. Snorri, following this account, has a few details to add. The

ill reach into the fire and .

ecified here apparently for no better reason than that his name fits the initial-rhyme.

ngnir, and the

nza. Like stanza 43 an almost certain interpolation, it was probably drawn in by the reference to Skithblathnir in the stanza interpolated earlier. It

built a fortress ed reward – Freyja and the sun and moon. To

ater figures among the gods, and is mentioned only three times in the poems of the Edda. In Snorri's Edda, however, he is the Norwegian skald Bragi Boddason, the oldest recorded skaldic poet, had been traditionally

ithi. Just what this tripartite form of Othin signifies has been the source of endless debate. Probably this line is late

"The Changing." Sanngetal: "The Truth-Teller." Herteit: "Glad of the Host." Hnikar: "The Overthrower." Bileyg: "The Shifty-Eyed."

a sledge" as Kjalar ("Ruler of Keels"?). Thror and Vithur are also of

Bearer." Harbarth: "Graybeard" (cf. Harbarthsljoth, introduction). ithvitnir's son. Snorri quotes the names Svithur and Svithrir, but omits all the

direct action, Othin addressing the terrified Geirroth. una. Some editors supply the second line from paper manuscripts.

pt. Thund: "The Thunderer." Vak: "The Wakeful." Skilfing: "The Shaker." Vofuth: "The Wanderer." Hroptatyr:

at is, peace gained by the spear. n he seats himself in the high-seat he can see all the world and the doings of every man"

thin. He is frequently pictured as concealing his countenance by a wide cowl. 90 Here, as frequently, used in a general and honorific sense for "warriors."

multiplication of the single hart mentioned in stanza 26, under the root of the ash. 56 Highest twigs: a guess; the Mss. words are baffling. 57 Something has apparently been lost from lines 3-4, but there is no clue as to its nature. 58 Cf. note on previous stanza. Nothing further is known of any of the serpents here listed, and the meanings of many of the names are conjectural. Snorri quotes this stanza. EditoBack." Grafvolluth: "The Field Gnawer." Ofnir and Svafnir ("The Bewilderer" and "The Sleep-Bringer"): it is noteworthy that in stanza 54 Othin gives himself thesetwo names. 59 Snorri quotes this stanza, which concludes the passage, beginning with stanza 25, describing Yggdrasil. If we assume that stanzas 27-34 are later interpolations – possibly excepting 32 – this section of the poem reads clearly enough. 60 Snorri quotes this list of the Valkyries, concerning whom cf. Voluspo, 31 and note, where a different list of names is given. Hrist: "Shaker." Mist: "Mist." Skeggjold: "Ax-Time." Skogul: "Raging" (?Randgrith: "Shield-Bearer." Rathgrith: Gering guesses "Plan-Destroyer." Reginleif: "Gods'-Kin." Manuscripts and editions vary greatly in the spelling of these names, and hence in their significance. 61 Mullenhoff suspects stanzas 37-41 to have been interpolated, and Edzardi thinks they may have come from the Vafthruthnismol. Snorri closely paraphrases stanzas 37-39, and quotes 40-41. Arvak ("Early Waker") and Alsvith ("All Swift"): the horses of the sun, named also in Sigrdrifumol, 15. According to Snorri: "There was a man called Mundilfari, who had two children; they were so fair and lovely that he called his son Mani and his daughter Sol. The gods were angry at this presumptionand took the children and set themsparks which flew out of Muspellsheim. The horses were called Alsvith and Arvak, andthese are called 'the cold iron.'" 62 Svalin ("The Cooling"): the only other reference to this shie63 Skoll and Hati: the wolves that devour respectively the sun and moon. The latter is the son of Vafthruthnismol 46-47, in which Fenrir appears as the thief. 64 Ironwood: a conjectural emendation of an obscure phrase; cf. Voluspo 40. 65 This and the following stanza are quoted by Snorri. They seem to have come from a different source from the others of this poem; Edzardi suggests an older version of the Vafthruthnismol. This stanza isstones were made out of Ymir's teeth and such of his bones as were broken. Mithgarth was a mountain-wall made out of Ymir's eyebrows, and set around the earth because of the enmity of the giants. 66 With this stanza Othin gets back to his immediate situation, bound as he is between two fires. He calls down a blessing on the man who wpull aside the great kettle which, in Icelandic houses, hung directly under the smoke vent in the roof, and thus kept any one above from looking down into the interiorOn Ull, the archer-god, cf. stanza 5 and note. He is sp67 This and the following stanza are certainly interpolated, for they have nothing to do with the context, and stanza 45 continues the dramatic conclusion of the poembegun in stanza 42. This stanza is quoted by Snorri. 68 Ivaldi ("The Mighty"): he is known only as the father of the craftsmen-dwarfs who made not only the ship Skithblathnir, but also Othin's spear Gugolden hair for Thor's wife, Sif, after Loki had maliciously cut her own hair off. 69 Skithblathnir: this ship ("Wooden-Bladed") always had a fair wind, whenever the sail was set; it could be folded up at will and put in the pocket. 70 Snorri quotes this stais presumably in faulty condition. One Ms. has after the fifth line half of a sixth, – "Brimir of swords." Yggdrasil: cf. stanzas 25-35. Skithblathnir: cf. stanza 43, note. Garm: cf. Voluspo 44. 71 Sleipnir: Othin's eight-legged horse, one of Loki's numerous progeny, borne by him to the stallion Svathilfari. This stallion belonged to the giant whofor the gods, and came so near to finishing it, with Svathilfari's aid, as to make the gods fear he would win his promisdelay the work, Loki turned himself into a mare, whereupon the stallion ran away, and the giant failed to complete his task within the stipulated time. 72 Bilrost: probably another form of Bifrost (which Snorri has in his version of the stanza), on which cf. stanza 29. 73 Bragi: the god of poetry. He is one of the lof great importance. His wife is Ithun, goddess of youth. Perhaps apotheosized as early as the tenth century. 74 With this stanza the narrative current of the poem is resumed. 75 Aegir: the sea-god; cf. Lokasenna, introductory prose. 76 Concerning the condition of stanzas 46-50, quoted by Snorri, nothing definite can be said. Lines and entire stanzas of this "catalogue" sort undoubtedly came and went with great freedom all through the period of oral transmission. Many of the names are not mentioned elsewhere, and often their significance is sheer guesswork. As in nearly every episode Othin appeared in disguise, the number of his names was necessarily almost limitless. Grim: "The Hooded." Gangleri: "The Wanderer." Herjan: "The Ruler." Hjalmberi: "The Helmet-Bearer." Thekk: "The Much-Loved." Thrithi: "The Third" (in Snorri's Edda the stories are all told in the form of answers to questions, the speakers being Har, Jafnhar and Threnough to betray the somewhat muddled influence of early Christianity.) Thuth and Uth: both names defy guesswork. Helblindi: "Hel-Blinder" (two manuscripts haveHerblindi – "Host-Blinder"). Hor: "The High One." 77 Sath: "The Truthful." Svipal: Baleyg: "The Flaming-Eyed." Bolverk: "Doer of Ill" (cf. Hovamol 104 and note). Fjolnir: "The Many-Shaped." Grimnir: "The Hooded." Glapswith: "Swift in Deceit." Fjolsvith: "Wide of Wisdom." 78 Sithhott: "With Broad Hat." Sithskegg: "Long-Bearded." Sigfather: 'Father of Victory." Hnikuth: "Overthrower." Valfather: 'Father of the (Battle-)Slain." Atrith: "The Rider." Farmatyr: "Helper of Cargoes" (i. e., god of sailors). 79 Nothing is known of Asmund, of Othin's appearance as Jalk, or of the occasion when he "went in uncertain meaning. Oski: "God of Wishes." Biflindi: the manuscripts vary widely in the form of this name. Jafnhor: "Equally High" (cf. note on stanza 46). Omi: "TheShouter." Gondlir: "Wand80 Nothing further is known of the episode here mentioned. Sokkmimir is presumably Mremainder of the stanza. 81 Again the poem returns to the 82 The manuscripts show no lac83 Ygg: Othin ("The Terrible"). 84 The maids: the three Norns. 85 Possibly out of place, and probably more or less corru"Crier of the Gods." Gaut: "Father." Ofnir and Svafnir: cf. stanza 34. 86 "Spear-Peace" (?), th87 "Hall of Gates" or "Gate-Tower," Othin's seat in Valholl. "Whe(Gylfaginning, Ch.8). 88 A cardinal sin in a king, according to Old Norse conceptions. 89 "The Masked One," O

" Ull, "Glorious," is the god of archery. His weapon, the longbow, was made out of the yew. He is, possibly, a hypostasis of Othin, or of Tyr, the god of

. Like Njorth (see Vafprudnismal, Sts.38-39), his father, he is said to be of Vanir origin. The "tooth-fee" is a gift to an

word for "history,” “story."

ages adorn the gable ends of his hall. kasenna, St.50.

ice, and light. untains." Concerning Heimdall, see Voluspá, St. 1, note.

dess of love. She is the daughter of Njorth and the sister of Frey. n of Baldr and Nanna.

r."

alholl.

i.e. Fenrir; his "fish," is possibly the Mithgarth Serpent. But the whole stanza presents great difficulty.

owing catalog of rivers is plainly interpolated. Their names refer, some to swiftness, others to coldness and depth. For Leiptr, see Helgakvida Hundingsbana

d. Their names refer to speed, bright appearance, and similar qualities.

original. We are able to reconstruct it from Snorri's close paraphrase (Gylfaginning, Ch.15). The eagle and the falcon possibly symbolize of the gods.

gon is here conceived as gnawing the roots of Yggdrasil. See St. 36.

he last two are names of Othin; see St. 55 and note.

ismil, St.12, and Sigrdrifumal, St.17.

f swallows the sun).

ever its sail is raised, and can sail both on sea and over land. It may be laid together

ginning, Ch.41, it was begotten on Loki by the stallion of the giant who built the wall

signifies "poetry." It is uncertain whether Bragi Boddason (ninth century), the first skald whose name and verses have come

s somewhat of a guess, no interpretation being altogether acceptable.

nir (see the Prose above). A number of the following names cannot be satisfactorily explained. .”

evidenced by Jafnhar, "Equally High" (St.50), the name was at an early time confused with the homonymous word meaning "high." le."

yed” (?) my note]

"

nikar at St.47)

is epithet shows Othin in his role (historically earlier) as god of the merchants. Compare with Mercury-Hermes with whom he shares other

are known. zljod St.24 and Note.

r minion who, we are to understand, had made Geirrroeth go counter to Othin's instruction, given him the time he was fostered by the god, to

91 "Land of Strength." 92 "Yew Dales.war. 93 "Lord." He is the god of fertility and prosperityinfant when he cuts his first tooth. 94 "Hall of Slain Warriors" (?), the first of Othin's three halls. 95 "Sunken Hall" (?). Compare with Fensalir in Voluspa, St. 33.

96 "Seeress," Frigg. The name is etymologically connected, but not identical, with the Norse97 "Hall of Slain Warriors." See Valaskjalf, in St. 6 above, and, Vafprudnismal Sts. 40-41. 98 Wolf and eagle, as scavengers of the battlefield, are symbolic of Othin's warlike activities. Their carved im99 "Scathe." She is Thjatsi's daughter and Njorth's wife. See also Harbarzljod, St.19, and Lo100 "The Far-Shining"; properly the seat of Baldr, the god of innocence, just

101 "Heavenly Mo102 “Battlefield.” 103 "Mistress," "Queen" (feminine of Frey), the god104 "The Presiding One," so105 "Shipstead," "harbo106 “Wide-Land” (?).

107 "Sooty in the Face," the cook of V108 "Sooty from the Fire," the kettle.109 "Sooty Black" (?). 110 Thjothvitnir: "The Great Wolf," 111 “The Gate of the Battle Slain.” 112 Laerath seems to be identical with the tree Yggdrasil, which suffers still other harm. See Sts. 26 and 33 ff. 113 The follII, St. 30. 114 Bifrost, "The Quaking Bridge" (see St. 45). The bearing of the passage is not clear.

115 The catalog of steeds likewise is interpolate116 The "Middle World" or "The Enclosure." 117 This stanza is lacking in thethe watchfulness118 "Rat Tusk."

119 See "Voluspa," Note 46. The dra120 These are, rather, dwarf names. 121 Several of these names have reference to the burrowing activities of worms and snakes. T122 The names of the valkyries indicate their warlike activities, like those of Voluspa, St.30. 123 "Early-Awake" and "Very Swift," the sun horses. See Vafprudn124 This passage, as well as the following, is of doubtful meaning.

125 "Hater," the son of Hrothvitnir, "the Famous Wolf," that is, Fenrir (who according to Vafprudnismal St.46-47, himsel126 The words of the second part of the stanza seem clear, but their meaning has so far resisted convincing explanation. 127 According to Gylfaginning Ch.42, they are skilful dwarfs who make a present of the ship Skithblathnir, "the Thin-Planked," to Frey. "It is so large that all the gods may find room in it with all their equipment." Also, it has a favorable breeze whenlike a cloth and put in one's pocket. Stanzas 44 and 45 are evidently interpolated. 128 "The Runner," Othin's horse. It has eight feet. According to the story in Gylfaaround Asgarth. See Voluspa, St.25 and note, and Voluspa hin skamma, St.12. 129 The god of poetry and eloquence. Bragrdown to us, was the prototype of the god. 130 "High-Leg." Nothing further is known of him.

131 The translation here offered i132 As in the Hymiskvida, St.1. 133 Grim is short for Grim134 “The Way-Weary135 “War God” (?). 136 "The Welcome One." 137 "The Third," (with Har, below, and Jafnhar in St.50). This trinity seems to betray Christian influence. 138 "One-Eyed"; but, as 139 "The Changeab140 "Truthfinder." 141 “Glad in Battle.” 142 "[Spear-]Thruster." 143 “One-Eyed.” [“Bale-E144 “Fiery-Eyed.” 145 "Bale-Worker."

146 "The Concealer.147 “Long-Hood.” 148 "[Spear-]Thruster." (cf. H149 "Attacker by Horse" (?). 150 "Lord of Boatloads." Thimportant characteristics. 151 None of the several adventures of Othin here alluded to 152 "Inciter to Strife" (?). See Harbar153 "Bearer of the [Magic] Wand." 154 Both epithets signify "the Wise." 155 Probably Frigg and hebe hospitable to guests. 156 That is, in Othin's (Ygg's) hall.

or s Othin probably vanishes as, in a similar situation, he vanishes in the hall of King Heithrek, Hervarar saga, Ch.9. The last stanza, which botches

, is no doubt a later ad ition.

161 "The Entangler," that is, in questions (see the translation for Vafthruthnir, in Vafprudnismal). 162 "He Who Lulls to Sleep or to Dreams."

157 After these w dthis excellent ending d158 "Wayfarer." 159 “God of Gods.” 160 "The God of Goths"; that is, of men (?).