Vǫluspá

 

1.
Hljóðs bið ek allar                                                 Hearing I ask for from all
helgar kindir,                                                         hallowed kindreds,
meiri ok minni                                                       greater and lesser
mögu Heimdallar;                                                 offspring of Heimdallr;
viltu at ek, Valföðr,                                               You want, Valfather,
vel fyr telja                                                            that I should well recount
forn spjöll fira,                                                      ancient story of beings[1]
þau er fremst of man.                                            that I remember from longest ago.

2.
Ek man jötna                                                         I remember jǫtuns
ár of borna,                                                            born long ago,      
þá er forðum mik                                                   those who once me
fædda höfðu;                                                        had nurtured;[2]
níu man ek heima,                                                 nine worlds I remember,
níu íviðjur,                                                             nine giantesses inside,[3]
mjötvið mæran                                                      the great Measure Tree[4]
fyr mold neðan.                                                     down under the ground.

3.
Ár var alda,                                                           It was early in the ages,
þar er ekki var,                                                      when nothing was,[5]
var-a sandr né sær                                                 there was neither sand nor sea
né svalar unnir;                                                      nor cool waves;
jörð fannsk æva                                                     Earth was nowhere to be found,
né upphiminn,                                                       nor sky above,
gap var ginnunga                                                   a gap there was of yawning spaces[6]
en gras hvergi.                                                       and nowhere grass.

4.
Áðr Burs synir                                                       Before the sons of Burr
bjöðum of yppðu,                                                  raised up the lands,
þeir er Miðgarð                                                      they who Miðgarð,
mæran skópu;                                                        the glorious, created;
sól skein sunnan                                                    the sun shone from the south
á salar steina,                                                         on the stones of that dwelling-place,[7]
þá var grund gróin                                                 Then the ground was grown-over
grænum lauki.                                                       with the green leek.[8]

5.
Sól varp sunnan,                                                    From the south cast Sól,[9]
sinni mána,                                                            companion of Máni,
hendi inni hægri                                                    her right hand

um himinjöður;                                                      around the edge of the sky;[10]
sól þat né vissi,                                                      Sól did not know
hvar hon sali átti,                                                   where she had halls,
máni þat né vissi,                                                   Máni did not know
hvat hann megins átti,                                           what power he had,
stjörnur þat né vissu                                              the stars did not know
hvar þær staði áttu.                                               where they had places.

6.
Þá gengu regin öll                                                 Then all the regin went
á rökstóla,                                                              to judgement seats,
ginnheilög goð,                                                     the vastly holy[11] gods,
ok um þat gættusk;                                               and considered that;
nótt ok niðjum                                                       to Nótt and her children
nöfn of gáfu,                                                         they gave out names,
morgin hétu                                                           morning they named
ok miðjan dag,                                                      and midday,
undorn ok aftan,                                                   afternoon[12] and evening,
árum at telja.                                                         to reckon by years.

7.
Hittusk æsir                                                           The Æsir gathered
á Iðavelli,                                                              at Iðavǫllr,[13]
þeir er hörg ok hof                                                they who high-timbered   
hátimbruðu;                                                           hǫrgs and hofs;
afla lögðu,                                                             they laid down forges,
auð smíðuðu,                                                         smithied wealth,
tangir skópu                                                          shaped tongs
ok tól gerðu.                                                          and created tools.

8.
Tefldu í túni,                                                         They played tafl in the enclosure,[14]
teitir váru,                                                              were happy,
var þeim vettergis                                                  they had nothing
vant ór gulli,                                                          of lack of gold,
uns þrjár kvámu                                                     until there came three
þursa meyjar                                                          þurs maidens
ámáttkar mjök                                                       very awesomely strong
ór Jötunheimum.                                                   from Jǫtunheim.

---------

9.
Þá gengu regin öll                                                 Then all the regin went
á rökstóla,                                                              to judgement seats,
ginnheilög goð,                                                     the vastly holy gods,
ok um þat gættusk,                                               and considered that:
hverir skyldi dverga                                              who[15] should create         
dróttir skepja                                                         companies of dwarves
ór Brimis blóði                                                      from Brimir's blood
ok ór Bláins leggjum.                                            and from Bláin's legs[16].

10.
Þar var Móðsognir                                                 There Móðsognir had
mæztr of orðinn                                                    become the greatest
dverga allra,                                                          of all dwarves,
en Durinn annarr;                                                  and Durinn the second;
þeir mannlíkun                                                      they made many
mörg of gerðu                                                       in man's likeness,
dvergar í jörðu,                                                      dwarves in the earth[17],
sem Durinn sagði.                                                 as Durinn said.

11.
Nýi, Niði,                                                              Nýi, Niði,
Norðri, Suðri,                                                        Norðri, Suðri,
Austri, Vestri,                                                       Austri, Vestri,[18]
Alþjófr, Dvalinn,                                                   Alþjófr, Dvalinn,
Nár ok Náinn                                                        Nár and Náinn
Nípingr, Dáinn                                                      Nípingr, Dáinn
Bívurr, Bávurr,                                                      Bívurr, Bávurr,
Bömburr, Nóri,                                                      Bömburr, Nóri,
Ánn ok Ánarr,                                                       Ánn and Ánarr,
Óinn, Mjöðvitnir.                                                  Óinn, Mjǫðvitnir.

12.
Veggr ok Gandalfr,                                               Veggr and Gandalfr,
Vindalfr, Þorinn,                                                   Vindalfr, Þorinn,
Þrár ok Þráinn,                                                      Þrár and Þráinn,
Þekkr, Litr ok Vitr,                                               Þekkr, Litr and Vitr,
Nýr ok Nýráðr,                                                      Nýr and Nýráðr,
nú hefi ek dverga,                                                 now I have -
Reginn ok Ráðsviðr,                                             Reginn and Ráðsviðr -
rétt of talða.                                                          listed dwarves correctly.

13.
Fíli, Kíli,                                                                Fíli, Kíli,
Fundinn, Náli,                                                       Fundinn, Náli,
Hefti, Víli,                                                             Hefti, Víli,
Hannar, Svíurr,                                                      Hannar, Svíurr,
Billingr, Brúni,                                                      Billingr, Brúni,
Bíldr ok Buri,                                                        Bíldr and Buri,
Frár, Hornbori,                                                      Frár, Hornbori,
Frægr ok Lóni,                                                      Frægr and Lóni,
Aurvangr, Jari,                                                      Aurvangr, Jari,
Eikinskjaldi.                                                          Eikinskjaldi.

14.
Mál er dverga                                                        It is time to list the dwarves
í Dvalins liði                                                          in Dvalin's kindred
ljóna kindum                                                         for the children of men
til Lofars telja,                                                       as far as Lofar,
þeir er sóttu                                                           they who sought out
frá salar steini                                                        from halls of stone
Aurvanga sjöt                                                        the seats[19] of Aurvangar
til Jöruvalla.                                                           to Jöruvellir.

15.
Þar var Draupnir                                                    There was Draupnir
ok Dolgþrasir,                                                       and Dolgþrasir,
Hár, Haugspori,                                                     Hár, Haugspori,
Hlévangr, Glóinn,                                                 Hlévangr, Glóinn,
Dóri, Óri                                                                Dóri, Óri
Dúfr, Andvari                                                       Dúfr, Andvari
Skirfir, Virfir,                                                        Skirfir, Virfir,
Skáfiðr, Ái.                                                           Skáfiðr, Ái.

16.
Alfr ok Yngvi,                                                      Alfr and Yngvi,
Eikinskjaldi,                                                          Eikinskjaldi,
Fjalarr ok Frosti,                                                    Fjalarr and Frosti,
Finnr ok Ginnarr;                                                  Finnr and Ginnarr;
þat mun æ uppi                                                     that will be forever held high
meðan öld lifir,                                                      as long as the age[20] lives,
langniðja tal                                                           the account of the father's line     
Lofars hafat.                                                         of Lofar.

---------

17.
Unz þrír kvámu                                                     Until three[21] came
ór því liði                                                               of that company
öflgir ok ástkir                                                       powerful and dear[22]
æsir at húsi,                                                           Æsir to a house,
fundu á landi                                                         found on the land
lítt megandi                                                           able to do little
Ask ok Emblu                                                       Askr and Embla
örlöglausa.                                                             without orlög.

18.
Önd þau né áttu,                                                   They did not possess ǫnd,[23]
óð þau né höfðu,                                                   they did not have óðr,[24]
lá né læti                                                                no softness, nor activity,[25]
né litu góða;                                                          nor good colouring;[26]
önd gaf Óðinn,                                                      Óðinn gave ǫnd,
óð gaf Hænir,                                                        Hœnir gave óðr,
lá gaf Lóðurr                                                         Lóðurr gave softness
ok litu góða.                                                          and good colouring.

19.
Ask veit ek standa,                                               I know an ash stands,
heitir Yggdrasill,                                                   which is called Yggdrasill,
hár baðmr, ausinn                                                  a tall tree, sprinkled[27]
hvíta auri;                                                              with white clay;[28]
þaðan koma döggvar,                                            from there come the dews
þærs í dala falla,                                                    which fall in the valleys,
stendr æ yfir grænn                                               it stands for ever over the green
Urðarbrunni.                                                          Urðarbrunnr.[29]

20.
Þaðan koma meyjar                                               From there come maidens
margs vitandi                                                        knowing much,
þrjár ór þeim sæ,                                                    three from the lake
er und þolli stendr;                                                which stands under the tree;
Urð hétu eina,                                                       one is called Urðr,
aðra Verðandi,                                                      the second Verðandi,
- skáru á skíði, -                                                     - they risted on a slip of wood -
Skuld ina þriðju;                                                    the third Skuld;
þær lög lögðu,                                                       they laid down laws,
þær líf kuru                                                           they selected lives,
alda börnum,                                                         for the children of mankind,
örlög seggja.                                                          humans' ørlǫg.[30]

21.
Þat man hon folkvíg                                              She remembers the war of peoples,
fyrst í heimi,                                                          the first in the world,
er Gullveigu                                                          when they stuck[31]
geirum studdu                                                       Gullveig with spears
ok í höll Hárs                                                         and in the hall of Hárr[32]
hana brenndu,                                                       burnt her,
þrisvar brenndu,                                                    three times burnt,
þrisvar borna,                                                        three times born,
oft, ósjaldan,                                                         often, not seldom,
þó hon enn lifir.                                                     yet she still lives.

22.
Heiði hana hétu                                                     Heiðr they called her
hvars til húsa kom,                                                wherever she came to the houses,
völu velspáa,                                                         a vǫlva of good prophecy,[33]
vitti hon ganda;                                                     she magicked with magic equipment;[34]
seið hon, hvars hon kunni,                                    she practised seiðr wherever she could,[35]
seið hon hug leikinn,                                             she practised seiðr entranced of mind,[36]  
æ var hon angan                                                    always she was the darling[37]
illrar brúðar.                                                           of the wicked wife.

23.
Þá gengu regin öll                                                 Then all the regin went
á rökstóla,                                                              to judgement seats,
ginnheilög goð,                                                     the vastly holy gods,
ok um þat gættusk,                                               and considered that,
hvárt skyldu æsir                                                   whether the Æsir should
afráð gjalda                                                           pay tribute[38]
eða skyldu goðin öll                                              or all the gods should
gildi eiga.                                                              have tribute.[39]

24.
Fleygði Óðinn                                                       Óðinn let fly
ok í folk of skaut,                                                  and shot into the crowd,
þat var enn folkvíg                                                it was still the first
fyrst í heimi;                                                          war of peoples in the world;
brotinn var borðveggr                                           breached was the plank wall
borgar ása,                                                             of the stronghold[40] of the Æsir,
knáttu vanir vígspá                                                The Vanir, with war-magic, kicked
völlu sporna.                                                          the field with their heels.[41]

25.
Þá gengu regin öll                                                 Then all the regin went
á rökstóla,                                                              to judgement seats,
ginnheilög goð,                                                     the vastly holy gods,
ok um þat gættusk,                                               and considered that,
hverjir hefði loft allt                                              who had blended destruction[42]

lævi blandit                                                           into all the heavens
eða ætt jötuns                                                        or to the race of the jǫtunn
Óðs mey gefna.                                                     given Òð's lass.

26.
Þórr einn þar vá                                                     Thor alone there struck
þrunginn móði,                                                      full of fury
- hann sjaldan sitr -                                                - he rarely sits still
er hann slíkt of fregn -:                                         when he hears of such -:
á gengusk eiðar,                                                    oaths were smashed,[43]
orð ok særi,                                                           words and pledges,
mál öll meginlig,                                                    all the forceful pronouncements
er á meðal fóru.                                                     that stood in the way.[44]

27.
Veit hon Heimdallar                                             She knows Heimdal's
hljóð of folgit                                                        ear has been stowed away[45]
und heiðvönum                                                     under the light-lacking
helgum baðmi,                                                       holy tree,
á sér hon ausask                                                    a river she sees rising
aurgum forsi                                                          with clayey rapids
af veði Valföðrs.                                                   from Valfather's pledge.
Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?                                        Do you still seek to know - or what?

28.
Ein sat hon úti,                                                      Alone she sat out,
þá er inn aldni kom                                               when the old man came,
yggjungr ása                                                          terror's son[46] of the Æsir,
ok í augu leit.                                                        and looked into her eyes. 
Hvers fregnið mik?                                               "What are you asking me?
Hví freistið mín?                                                   Why are you testing me?[47]
Allt veit ek, Óðinn,                                               I know everything, Óðinn,
hvar þú auga falt,                                                  where you stowed your eye,[48]
í inum mæra                                                          in the great
Mímisbrunni.                                                         well[49] of Mímir.
Drekkr mjöð Mímir                                               Mímir drinks mead
morgun hverjan                                                     every morning
af veði Valföðrs.                                                   from Valfather's pledge."
Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?                                        Do you still seek to know - or what?

29.
Valði henni Herföðr                                              For her Herfather chose
hringa ok men,                                                      rings and necklaces,
fekk spjöll spaklig                                                 [he] got a wise account[50]
ok spá ganda,                                                        and spæ of spirits,[51]
sá hon vítt ok of vítt                                             she saw far and afar
of veröld hverja.                                                    in every world.[52]

30.
Sá hon valkyrjur                                                    She saw valkyries
vítt of komnar,                                                      coming from afar,
görvar at ríða                                                         prepared to ride
til Goðþjóðar;                                                        to the Land of Gods;
Skuld helt skildi,                                                   Skuld held a shield,
en Skögul önnur,                                                   and Skögul another,
Gunnr, Hildr, Göndul                                           Gunnr, Hildr, Göndul
ok Geirskögul.                                                       and Geirskögul.
Nú eru talðar                                                         Now are recounted
nönnur Herjans,                                                     the Nannas of Herjan,
görvar at ríða                                                         prepared to ride
grund valkyrjur.                                                    the earth, the valkyries.[53]

31.
Ek sá Baldri,                                                         I saw for Baldr,
blóðgum tívur,                                                       for the bloody sacrifice,
Óðins barni,                                                           Óðin's child,
örlög folgin;                                                          ørlǫg stowed away;[54]
stóð of vaxinn                                                       there stood all grown up
völlum hæri                                                           higher than the fields,[55]
mjór ok mjök fagr                                                 slender and very beautiful,
mistilteinn.                                                            the mistletoe.

32.
Varð af þeim meiði,                                              There came to be of that pole,
er mær sýndisk,                                                     which seemed slender,
harmflaug hættlig,                                                 a dangerous throwing weapon,
Höðr nam skjóta;                                                   Hǫðr did shoot;
Baldrs bróðir var                                                   Baldr's brother was
of borinn snemma,                                                born early,
sá nam Óðins sonr                                                 so Óðin's son took
einnættr vega.                                                       vengeance at one night old.

33.
Þó hann æva hendr                                               Nonetheless he did [not] wash his hands
né höfuð kembði,                                                  or comb his hair,
áðr á bál of bar                                                      before he brought death
Baldrs andskota;                                                   to Baldr's slayer;
en Frigg of grét                                                     and Frigg wept at it
í Fensölum                                                             in Fensalir,
vá Valhallar.                                                          the woe of Valhǫllr.
Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?                                        Do you still seek to know - or what?

34.
Þá kná Váli                                                            Then can Váli[56]
vígbönd snúa,                                                        twist the battle-fetters,
heldr váru harðgör                                                 they were rather hardy,
höft ór þörmum.                                                    bindings made of guts.

35.
Haft sá hon liggja                                                  A captive she saw lying
und Hveralundi,                                                    under Hveralundr,
lægjarns líki                                                           to the form of the guileful
Loka áþekkjan;                                                      Loki similar;
þar sitr Sigyn                                                         there sits Sigyn,
þeygi of sínum                                                      surely not of her
ver vel glýjuð.                                                       husband well content.
Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?                                        Do you still seek to know - or what?

36.
Á fellur austan                                                      A river falls from the east
um eitrdala                                                            through dales of poison,[57]
söxum ok sverðum,                                               with seaxes and swords,
Slíðr heitir sú.                                                        Slíðr is its name.

37.
Stóð fyr norðan                                                     There stood to the north
á Niðavöllum                                                         on Niðavǫllr
salr ór gulli                                                            a hall of gold,
Sindra ættar;                                                         of the kin of Sindri;
en annarr stóð                                                        and another stood
á Ókólni                                                                on Ókólnir,
bjórsalr jötuns,                                                       the beer-hall of a jǫtunn,
en sá Brimir heitir.                                                 and that one is called Brimir.[58]

38.
Sal sá hon standa                                                  A hall she saw standing
sólu fjarri                                                               far from the sun,
Náströndu á,                                                         on Nástrǫnd,
norðr horfa dyrr;                                                   the door facing north;
falla eitrdropar                                                      drops of poison fall
inn um ljóra,                                                          in through the smoke-hole,
sá er undinn salr                                                    that hall is woven
orma hryggjum.                                                     of the backs of serpents.

39.
Sá hon þar vaða                                                     She saw there wading
þunga strauma                                                       the burdensome streams
menn meinsvara                                                    men who were forsworn
ok morðvarga                                                        and outlaw murderers
ok þann er annars glepr                                         and him who beguiles another man's
eyrarúnu;                                                               sweetheart of whispered secrets;[59]
þar saug Niðhöggr                                                 There Niðhǫggr sucked
nái framgengna,                                                    corpses of the dead,
sleit vargr vera.                                                      the wolf tore men.
Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?                                        Do you still seek to know - or what?

40.
Austr sat in aldna                                                  In the east sat the old female
í Járnviði                                                                in Járnviðr
ok fæddi þar                                                         and there bore[60]
Fenris kindir;                                                         Fenrir's kin;
verðr af þeim öllum                                               there will come of them all
einna nokkurr                                                        one particular one
tungls tjúgari                                                         a snatcher of the moon[61]
í trölls hami.                                                          in a troll's form.[62]

41.
Fyllisk fjörvi                                                          It fills itself with the vitals[63]
feigra manna,                                                        of the doomed[64]
rýðr ragna sjöt                                                       reddens the dwellings of the regin
rauðum dreyra;                                                      with red gore;
svört verða sólskin                                                black the sunbeams become
um sumur eftir,                                                      in summers after,
veðr öll válynd.                                                     the weather all shifty.
Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?                                        Do you still seek to know - or what?

42.
Sat þar á haugi                                                      There sat there on a barrow
ok sló hörpu                                                          and struck his harp
gýgjar hirðir,                                                          an ogress' herdsman,
glaðr Eggþér;                                                         the merry Eggþér;
gól of hánum                                                         there crowed above him
í galgviði                                                               in the gallows-wood
fagrrauðr hani,                                                       the bright red[65] rooster
sá er Fjalarr heitir.                                                 who is called Fjalarr.

43.
Gól of ásum                                                          There crowed above the Æsir
Gullinkambi,                                                         Gullinkambi,
sá vekr hölða                                                         who wakens the warriors
at Herjaföðrs;                                                        at Herfather's;
en annarr gelr                                                        and another crows
fyr jörð neðan                                                        underneath the earth
sótrauðr hani                                                         a sooty-red rooster
at sölum Heljar.                                                     in the halls of Hel.

44.
Geyr nú Garmr mjök                                             Now Garmr barks a lot

fyr Gnipahelli,                                                       in front of Gnipahellir,
festr mun slitna,                                                    the tether will break,
en freki renna;                                                       and the ravenous one escape;
fjölð veit ek fræða,                                                Much I know of lore,[66]
fram sé ek lengra                                                   I see far ahead
um ragna rök                                                         to the judgement of the powers[67],
römm sigtíva.                                                        bitter, of the victory-gods.

45.
Bræðr munu berjask                                              Brothers will fight each other      
ok at bönum verðask,                                            and be each other's bane,
munu systrungar                                                    sisters' children
sifjum spilla;                                                          ravage kinship;[68]
hart er í heimi,                                                       in the world it is hard,
hórdómr mikill,                                                     great whoredom,
skeggöld, skalmöld,                                              an axe age, a sword age,
skildir ro klofnir,                                                   shields are cloven,
vindöld, vargöld,                                                  a wind age, a wolf age,
áðr veröld steypisk;                                               before the world collapses.
mun engi maðr                                                      No one will
öðrum þyrma.                                                        spare another.

46.
Leika Míms synir,                                                 Mím's sons play,
en mjötuðr kyndisk                                               but fate's measure is lit
at inu galla                                                             at the clarion call
Gjallarhorni;                                                          of Gjallarhorn;
hátt blæss Heimdallr,                                            high[69] blows Heimdallr,
horn er á lofti,                                                       the horn is raised aloft,
mælir Óðinn                                                          Óðinn consults
við Míms höfuð.                                                    with Mím's head.

47.
Skelfr Yggdrasils                                                  Shudders the ash
askr standandi,                                                      Yggdrasill[70], standing there,
ymr it aldna tré,                                                     the old tree cries,
en jötunn losnar;                                                    and the jǫtunn gets free;
hræðask allir                                                          all are frightened
á helvegum                                                            on the path to Hel
áðr Surtar þann                                                      before Surtr's kinsman
sefi of gleypir.                                                       swallows it.[71]

48.[72]
Hvat er með ásum?                                               What ails the Æsir?
Hvat er með alfum?                                              What ails the Álfar?
Gnýr allr Jötunheimr,                                            All Jǫtunheimr resounds,
æsir ro á þingi,                                                       Æsir are in Thing,
stynja dvergar                                                       dwarves groan
fyr steindurum,                                                     before the doors of stone,
veggbergs vísir.                                                     wise in the ways of their rock walls.
Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?                                        Do you still seek to know - or what?

49.
Geyr nú Garmr mjök                                             Now Garmr barks a lot
fyr Gnipahelli,                                                       in front of Gnipahellir,
festr mun slitna                                                     the tether will break,
en freki renna;                                                       and the ravenous one escape;
fjölð veit ek fræða,                                                Much I know of lore,
fram sé ek lengra                                                   I see far ahead,
um ragna rök                                                         to the judgement of the powers,
römm sigtíva.                                                        bitter, of the victory-gods.

50.
Hrymr ekr austan,                                                 Hrymr drives from the east,
hefisk lind fyrir,                                                    lifts his shield in front of him,
snýsk Jörmungandr                                               Jǫrmungandr writhes
í jötunmóði;                                                           in jǫtunn-fury;
ormr knýr unnir,                                                    the serpent churns the waves,
en ari hlakkar,                                                        and the eagle screams,[73]
slítr nái niðfölr,                                                      pitch-dark-pale[74], rends corpses,
Naglfar losnar.                                                      Naglfar casts off.

51.
Kjóll ferr austan,                                                   The ship[75] sails from the east,
koma munu Múspells                                            will come Múspell's
of lög lýðir,                                                           people over water,
en Loki stýrir;                                                        and Loki steers;
fara fíflmegir                                                         ogre-kin[76] travel
með freka allir,                                                      all with the ravener, 
þeim er bróðir                                                        in their group
Býleists í för.                                                         is the brother of Býleistr.[77]

52.
Surtr ferr sunnan                                                   Surtr travels from the south
með sviga lævi,                                                     with the destruction of switches,[78]
skínn af sverði                                                       there shines from his sword
sól valtíva;                                                             the sun of the val-gods;
grjótbjörg gnata,                                                    the rocky cliffs clash,
en gífr rata,                                                            and fiends are on the way,
troða halir helveg,                                                 men tread the road to Hel,
en himinn klofnar.                                                 and the heavens split open.

53.
Þá kemr Hlínar                                                      Then comes Hlín's
harmr annarr fram,                                                second grief to pass,
er Óðinn ferr                                                         when Óðinn goes
við ulf vega,                                                          into combat with the wolf,
en bani Belja                                                         and Beli's bane
bjartr at Surti;                                                        bright against Surtr;
þá mun Friggjar                                                     then will Frigg's
falla angan.                                                            sweetie[79] fall.

54.
Geyr nú Garmr mjök                                             Now Garmr barks a lot
fyr Gnipahelli,                                                       in front of Gnipahellir,
festr mun slitna                                                     the tether will break,
en freki renna;                                                       and the ravenous one escape;
fjölð veit ek fræða,                                                Much I know of lore,
fram sé ek lengra                                                   I see far ahead,
um ragna rök                                                         to the judgement of the powers,
römm sigtíva.                                                        bitter, of the victory-gods.

55.
Þá kemr inn mikli                                                  Then comes the great
mögr Sigföður,                                                      offspring of Sigfather,
Víðarr, vega                                                          Víðarr, to attack
at valdýri.                                                              the slaughter-beast.
Lætr hann megi Hveðrungs                                  With his hand he shoves home
mundum standa                                                    in Hveðrung's offspring's[80]
hjör til hjarta,                                                         heart the blade,
þá er hefnt föður.                                                  then is his father avenged.

56.
Þá kemr inn mæri                                                  Then comes the great       
mögr Hlóðynjar,                                                    offspring of Hlóðyn,
gengr Óðins sonr                                                   Óðin's son goes
við orm vega,                                                        to attack the serpent,
drepr af móði                                                        He strikes in fury,
Miðgarðs véurr,                                                     Miðgarð's hallower,[81]
munu halir allir                                                      all humans will
heimstöð ryðja;                                                      clear out of their homestead;
gengr fet níu                                                          he walks nine paces,
Fjörgynjar burr                                                      Fjǫrgyn's son,
neppr frá naðri                                                       barely that, from the viper
níðs ókvíðnum.                                                      that did not shrink from vileness[82].

57.
Sól tér sortna,                                                        Sól is seen to blacken,
sígr fold í mar,                                                       the earth sinks in the sea,
hverfa af himni                                                      fall from the sky
heiðar stjörnur;                                                      the bright stars;
geisar eimi                                                             there rage smoke
ok aldrnari,                                                            and flame,[83]
leikr hár hiti                                                           the heat rises high
við himin sjalfan.                                                   to the sky itself.

58.                                                                                                                  
Geyr nú Garmr mjök                                             Now Garmr barks a lot
fyr Gnipahelli,                                                       in front of Gnipahellir,
festr mun slitna                                                     the tether will break,
en freki renna;                                                       and the ravenous one escape;
fjölð veit ek fræða                                                 Much I know of lore,
fram sé ek lengra                                                   I see far ahead,
um ragna rök                                                         to the judgement of the powers,
römm sigtíva.                                                        bitter, of the victory-gods.

59.
Sér hon upp koma                                                 She sees coming up
öðru sinni                                                              a second time
jörð ór ægi                                                             an earth from ocean[84]
iðjagræna;                                                              again green;
falla forsar,                                                            waterfalls tumble,
flýgr örn yfir,                                                        eagles fly above,
sá er á fjalli                                                            who are in the hills
fiska veiðir.                                                           hunting fish.

60.
Finnask æsir                                                          Æsir come together
á Iðavelli                                                               at Iðavǫllr[85]
ok um moldþinur                                                   and on the earth-thong
máttkan dæma                                                      mighty they pass judgement[86]
ok minnask þar                                                      and remember there
á megindóma                                                         powerful decisions[87]
ok á Fimbultýs                                                      and Fimbultýr's
fornar rúnir.                                                           ancient runes.

61.
Þar munu eftir                                                       There will afterwards
undrsamligar                                                         the wondrous
gullnar töflur                                                         golden tafl pieces
í grasi finnask,                                                       be found in the grass,
þærs í árdaga                                                         which in days of yore
áttar höfðu.                                                           they had owned.

62.
Munu ósánir                                                          Unsowed the fields
akrar vaxa,                                                             will grow,
böls mun alls batna,                                               all misfortune will be abated,
Baldr mun koma;                                                  Baldr will come;
búa þeir Höðr ok Baldr                                         they dwell, Hǫðr and Baldr,
Hrofts sigtoftir,                                                     in Hropt's victory dwellings,
vé valtíva.                                                              the vé of the slaughter-gods.[88]
Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?                                        Do you still seek to know - or what?

63.
Þá kná Hænir                                                        Then Hœnir knows how to[89]
hlautvið kjósa                                                        choose the lots[90]
ok burir byggja                                                      and they inhabit, the sons
bræðra tveggja                                                      of the two brothers,
vindheim víðan.                                                    the wide wind-home.
Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?                                        Do you still seek to know - or what?

64.
Sal sér hon standa                                                 A hall she sees standing
sólu fegra,                                                             fairer than the sun,
gulli þakðan                                                           roofed with gold,
á Gimléi;                                                                at Gimlé;
þar skulu dyggvar                                                 there are the worthy
dróttir byggja                                                        hosts to dwell
ok um aldrdaga                                                     and in all the days of their lives
ynðis njóta.                                                            enjoy bliss.

65.
Þá kemr inn ríki                                                     Then comes the powerful one
at regindómi                                                          to the divine judgement,
öflugr ofan,                                                           a strong one from above,
sá er öllu ræðr.                                                       who rules over all.

66.
Þar kemr inn dimmi                                               Then comes the dusky
dreki fljúgandi,                                                     dragon flying,
naðr fránn, neðan                                                  a gleaming serpent, up
frá Niðafjöllum;                                                    from Niðafjǫll;
berr sér í fjöðrum,                                                  he carries in his feathers
- flýgr völl yfir, -                                                   - he flies over the field -
Niðhöggr nái.                                                        Niðhǫggr, corpses.
Nú mun hon sökkvask.                                         Now she will lie down.



[1] spjǫll: both history and an account of history, news, a tale. firar: used of humans, of gods, and of both humans and gods; the last seems most appropriate here.

[2] fædda: can mean anything from "gave birth to" through "raised" to "fed", so it could be rendered "parented" or "took care of"; the ending tells us the speaker is female.

[3] íviðjur: a rare word for "giantesses" that begins with the prefix í-, "in" - usually here rendered "rooms", but Dronke points out the poet is either punning on viðr, "wood, tree" or using the word in its original precise sense, for the giantesses from whom the roots of the World Tree grow. Cleasby-Vigfússon also has "giantesses."

[4] mjǫtvið: "measure-wood," the World Tree. In Cleasby-Vigfússon this is seen as an error for mjǫtuðr, which occurs in verse 46. Olive Bray has "Fate Tree."

[5] þar er ekki var, reading taken from the Prose Edda; most editions follow the Codex Regius and have þar er Ymir byggði, "when Ymir dwelt," for this line.

[6] A reference to Ginnungagap; but it is unclear whether it is a reversal of the name or whether there was actually an Old Norse verb ginna, "to yawn, gape"; Dronke suspects that ginnunga- was borrowed from Old High German ginung (a word for Chaos derived from a verb "to gape") just as Muspell was borrowed from Old High German Muspilli or Mutspilli.

[7] salar: literally "hall."

[8] The leek, laukr, here deliberately chosen to stand for all plants because of its size and nobility, commonly contrasted with grass (mentioned at the end of verse 3), as Guðrún says that Sigurðr towered over other men like the leek over grass.

[9] Sól is both the name of the goddess and the word "sun"; however, Máni is almost always the god rather than the moon itself (Cleasby-Vigfússon). I have therefore treated both as deities, and also Nótt (night) in the following verse.

[10] The rest of the verse is only in the Prose Edda and Dronke regards it as interpolation by Snorri replacing something more about the cosmic mill turning the heavens.

[11] The first element in ginnheilög is related to that in Ginnungagap, although it is usually taken as simply an intensifier.

[12] Undorn and its cognates have shifted in meaning but appear to have originally meant mid-afternoon.

[13] Iðavǫllr has been translated "Plain of Activity" or "Plain that Renews Itself"; Dronke calls it "Eddying Plain." Hollander translates it "Shining Plain."

[14] The base meaning of tún is the fenced-in plot around a farmhouse; it can be used specifically as "meadow" or "home-field."

[15] This is plural. Another manuscript variant has it as singular; and Finnur Jónsson suggested amending it to hvárt, "whether [they] should. . . ."

[16] or "arms and legs" or the bones of them.

[17] Some manuscripts have ór jörðu, which would mean "made out of earth."

[18] North, South, East, and West.

[19] Sjöt can mean both a dwelling and a host, a horde of people.

[20] The word ǫld can also mean "world."

[21] The manuscripts have a feminine form here, þriar.

[22] ǫflugr is otherwise applied to none of the gods except twice to Heimdallr; ástkir is a hapax legomenon, I am using Cleasby-Vigfusson's interpretation.

[23] Roughly, "breath"

[24] Roughly, "spirit"

[25] : "the line of foam that edges the shore"; in Modern Icelandic it is used of a film on liquid. In one saga it appears to be used of complexion. Since the trees did have a skin, a hard one, I have used "softness". læti: all human behaviour.

[26] Plural; often used specifically for "complexion"

[27] ausinn: the same verb as in the vatni ausa, the sprinkling of a baby with water at name-giving

[28] aurr: wet clay or humus

[29] spring-fed pool or well of Urðr.

[30] Ørlǫg is always (neuter) plural, so this could be that of humans in general or of individuals. (In this word, the two mutated sounds need to be distinguished, so I have used the stricter spelling. Elsewhere I follow the Old Norse text we are using in using modern Icelandic ö)

[31] Styðia can be "to stab" or "to prop up".

[32] Hárr, "Hoary," is of course a name of Óðinn, but so is Hár, which can mean "High One" but is also an old word for "Blind." The metre requires two syllables on the name here. Also the word used here for "hall," hǫll, is the word that appears in Valhǫll and that it has been suggested originally referrred to an underground cavern; previously in the poem the word salr has been used.

[33] This could mean either that her spá-work was good or that it always forecast nice things. vel spá is two words in the manuscript, but compound words were not usually written joined together. 

[34] Vitti (written vítti by Dronke) is the past tense of an otherwise unknown vitta, presumably related to vitka, "to bewitch", vitki, "sorceror," and vítt, "equipment for magic or heathenry." In the Historia Norvegiæ, gandr has the specific meaning of fylgja or fetch-form, but elsewhere it is used very generally of sorcerors' equipment. So this could also be "summoned spirits."

[35] Divergent manuscript readings. In the Codex Regius this line reads seið hon kunni - "she knew seiðr."

[36] Again Codex Regius varies, omitting hug: "she practised seiðr entranced."

[37] angan, literally "sweet smell" since it derives from the verb anga, "to smell nice", occurs only here and in verse 53, both times as a metaphor.

[38] afráð is a legal term for a tax paid to a king, but afráð gjalda can also be an idiom for "get the short end of the stick."

[39] gildi here has also been interpreted as "an association," as in English "guild."

[40] Borg basically means a fort. It has been translated "citadel."

[41] vígspá, technically "war-spá"; knáttu . . . vǫllu sporna, as Dronke says, recalls knátti . . . moldveg sporna, "kicked the earth with their heels" of the two children born healthy in "Oddrúnargrátr," which suggests rebirth after they are cut down in battle. However, the two half-lines have also been read as "the Vanir worked war-magic, bestrode the field", with knáttu taken with vígspá.

[42] could be specifically "treachery" or generally "evil."

[43] the simpler interpretation; Dronke points out it could also be "oaths collided".

[44] The simpler reading here would be "that were between them [the gods and the giant-builder]", but there is a parallel passage cited by Dronke from a grammatical treatise, and it is fóro, "came", not vóro, "were".

[45] Hljóð is a famous problem; it can be "hearing" (as in verse 1), "ear", or "voice". Folgit is past participle of fela, which can mean either "conceal, hide" or "give for safekeeping, entrust".

[46] Yggr, "the terrible", is a name of Óðinn; the force of the ending -ungr is unclear here, but etymologically it is a patronymic, like -ing.  

[47] Both these verbs are in the plural - "you all".

[48] fala again, as in 27.2.

[49] Brunnr: a pool from which a river rises.

[50] Fékk is an emendation; the manuscript has fe (, "wealth"). Two half-lines may have been lost. There is obvious punning on spaklig and spá, in the next half-line.

[51] Ganda  (genitive plural of gandr) is more clearly "spirits" here than in verse 22.

[52] Verǫld can signify "age of mankind" but here probably means "world".

[53] These last 4 halflines are usually seen as an interpolation. Note the kenning, "Nannas (females) of Herjan (Lord of Hosts, Army-Leader - another name of Óðinn, as are of course Valfather and Her (Army)father.

[54] Tívur/Tívor is a unique word (hapax legomenon) in Old Norse but appears to be cognate with A-S tíber/tífer and ON tafn, both of which mean a creature that is sacrificed, and possibly Old High German ceburhaftiu, with a similar meaning. It is probably not formed from tívar, the plural of týr, "god". Folgin: same word as folgit in verse 27.

[55] Vǫllum; same word as vǫllu in verse 24, but here plural.

[56] This half stanza only appears in the Hauksbók version of the poem, where it replaces the first half of verse 35. The manuscript actually reads vala - which would leave the verb with no subject and is thus amended to Váli.

[57] Based on literary parallels, this is often taken to mean the water is so cold it sears the flesh like poison.

[58] i.e., the jótunn; Brimir is also mentioned in stanza 9. Snorri takes Sindri as the name of the first hall.

[59] Eyrarúna, "woman who whsipers in your ear", is only found here and in Hávamál.

[60] fæddi: either "bore," "nursed," or "reared."

[61] Tungl can theoretically be any heavenly body, but had already become the word for the moon in ON prose; máni is only used in poetry. Also explicit mentions of the sun follow.

[62] hamr: skin, usually referring to the form one takes on when shapeshifting.

[63] fjǫr is cognate with A-S feorh, "life," and in modern Icelandic is used for "vitality," but in poetry generally refers to the body.

[64] feigr, "doomed to die." Manna means people of both sexes.

[65] fagrrauðr: light red as opposed to dark red.

[66] The manuscript has veit hón, "she knows".

[67] Rǫk is the same word as in á rǫkstóla, referring to "judgement seats." In this combination, ragna rǫk or ragnarǫk, it is usually rendered with the older word "doom," but I have kept the translation consistent to show the irony of the poet's wording.

[68] Since spilla is the common verb for "defiling" a woman sexually, this is often taken as distinct from the previous 2 halflines and about incest, not kin-killing.

[69] Either in pitch or in loudness.

[70] Literally: Yggdrasil's ash.

[71] These last 4 problematic half-lines are only in Hauksbók.

[72] From here through verse 54, the manuscripts vary considerably in the order of verses.

[73] Hlakka has connotations of exulting, screaming with joy

[74] Niðfǫlr is the H and Prose Edda reading; nið is properly the dark of the moon. The Codex Regius has neffǫlr, "pale-beaked"; níðfǫlr, "pale in malice", has been suggested.

[75] or "a ship".

[76] or "monster-men".

[77] Loki.

[78] sviga læ: kenning for fire.

[79] Angan, as in verse 22, is a metaphorical use of a word meaning "sweet smell".

[80] Hveðrungr is another name for Loki, based on Ynglingatál 32, where Hel is called Hveðrungs mær.

[81] or perhaps "defender of the vés"

[82] Níð here refers to Jǫrmungand's intent, but also possibly connotes the actual poison. The line is difficult; despite agreeing in case with naðri, it has often been taken as "not concerned about malice", referring to Thor being fearless or having no reason to worry about not being remembered well.

[83] In Faroese, eimi means "hot ash"; aldrnari, "saving of mankind, nourisher of life", is found only here and in the list of kennings for fire in the þulur, but the cognate and related words occur in Anglo-Saxon.

[84] A rare poetic word that is the same as Ægir's name.

[85] Compare the opening of verse 7; Hauksbók has the same verb, hittaz.

[86] máttkan moldþinur: i.e. Jǫrmungandr. Dæma can also mean "discuss, converse" in poetry.

[87] These two halflines are in Hauksbók but not in the main Codex Regius manuscript.

[88] The manuscript reads vel valtivar, so an alternative amendment is vés valtívar, "slaughter-gods of the vé".

[89] Kná is sometimes just an intensifying "does".

[90] In hlautvið, hlautr presumably has its primary meaning, denoting use to draw lots or in divination, rather than the meaning given to it in Heimskringla, the blood from the blót (used in divination).