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diff --git a/18947-0.txt b/18947-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b55e5be --- /dev/null +++ b/18947-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8625 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 18947 *** + + + + + THE YOUNGER EDDA: + + also called + + SNORRE’S EDDA, OR THE PROSE EDDA. + + An English Version of the Foreword; + The Fooling of Gylfe, The Afterword; + Brage’s Talk, The Afterword to Brage’s Talk, + and the Important Passages in the + Poetical Diction (Skaldskaparmal). + + with an + + Introduction, Notes, Vocabulary, and Index. + + By RASMUS B. ANDERSON, LL.D., + +Formerly Professor of the Scandinavian Languages + in the University of Wisconsin, + Ex-U.S. Minister to Denmark, + Author of “America Not Discovered By Columbus,” +“Norse Mythology,” “Viking Tales Of The North,” etc. + + + Chicago + Scott, Foresman and Company + 1901 + + + + + Copyright, 1879, + By S. C. Griggs and Company. + + + Press of + The Henry O. Shepard Co. + Chicago. + + + + + To + + HON. THOS. F. BAYARD, + + Ambassador to the Court of St. James, + in Grateful Recollection + of Pleasant Official Relations. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +In the beginning, before the heaven and the earth and the sea were +created, the great abyss Ginungagap was without form and void, and the +spirit of Fimbultyr moved upon the face of the deep, until the ice-cold +rivers, the Elivogs, flowing from Niflheim, came in contact with the +dazzling flames from Muspelheim. This was before Chaos. + +And Fimbultyr said: Let the melted drops of vapor quicken into life, and +the giant Ymer was born in the midst of Ginungagap. He was not a god, +but the father of all the race of evil giants. This was Chaos. + +And Fimbultyr said: Let Ymer be slain and let order be established. And +straightway Odin and his brothers--the bright sons of Bure--gave Ymer a +mortal wound, and from his body made they the universe; from his flesh, +the earth; from his blood, the sea; from his bones, the rocks; from +his hair, the trees; from his skull, the vaulted heavens; from his +eye-brows, the bulwark called Midgard. And the gods formed man and woman +in their own image of two trees, and breathed into them the breath of +life. Ask and Embla became living souls, and they received a garden in +Midgard as a dwelling-place for themselves and their children until the +end of time. This was Cosmos. + +The world’s last day approaches. All bonds and fetters that bound the +forces of heaven and earth together are severed, and the powers of good +and of evil are brought together in an internecine feud. Loke advances +with the Fenris-wolf and the Midgard-serpent, his own children, with +all the hosts of the giants, and with Surt, who flings fire and flame +over the world. Odin advances with all the asas and all the blessed +einherjes. They meet, contend, and fall. The wolf swallows Odin but +Vidar, the Silent, sets his foot upon the monster’s lower jaw, he +seizes the other with his hand, and thus rends him till he dies. Frey +encounters Surt, and terrible blows are given ere Frey falls. Heimdal +and Loke fight and kill each other, and so do Tyr and the dog Garm from +the Gnipa Cave. Asa-Thor fells the Midgard-serpent with his Mjolner, but +he retreats only nine paces when he himself falls dead, suffocated by +the serpent’s venom. Then smoke wreathes up around the ash Ygdrasil, +the high flames play against the heavens, the graves of the gods, of +the giants and of men are swallowed up by the sea, and the end has come. +This is Ragnarok, the twilight of the gods. + +But the radiant dawn follows the night. The earth, completely green, +rises again from the sea, and where the mews have but just been rocking +on restless waves, rich fields unplowed and unsown, now wave their +golden harvests before the gentle breezes. The asas awake to a new life, +Balder is with them again. Then comes the mighty Fimbultyr, the god who +is from everlasting to everlasting; the god whom the Edda skald dared +not name. The god of gods comes to the asas. He comes to the great +judgment and gathers all the good into Gimle to dwell there forever, and +evermore delights enjoy; but the perjurers and murderers and adulterers +he sends to Nastrand, that terrible hall, to be torn by Nidhug until +they are purged from their wickedness. This is Regeneration. + +These are the outlines of the Teutonic religion. Such were the doctrines +established by Odin among our ancestors. Thus do we find it recorded in +the Eddas of Iceland. + +The present volume contains all of the Younger Edda that can possibly be +of any importance to English readers. In fact, it gives more than has +ever before been presented in any translation into English, German or +any of the modern Scandinavian tongues. + +We would recommend our readers to omit the Forewords and Afterwords +until they have perused the Fooling of Gylfe and Brage’s Speech. The +Forewords and Afterwords, it will readily be seen, are written by a +later and less skillful hand, and we should be sorry to have anyone lay +the book aside and lose the pleasure of reading Snorre’s and Olaf’s +charming work, because he became disgusted with what seemed to him mere +silly twaddle. And yet these Forewords and Afterwords become interesting +enough when taken up in connection with a study of the historical +anthropomorphized Odin. With a view of giving a pretty complete outline +of the founder of the Teutonic race we have in our notes given all the +Heimskringla sketch of the Black Sea Odin. We have done this, not only +on account of the material it furnishes as the groundwork of a Teutonic +epic, which we trust the muses will ere long direct some one to write, +but also on account of the vivid picture it gives of Teutonic life as +shaped and controlled by the Odinic faith. + +All the poems quoted in the Younger Edda have in this edition been +traced back to their sources in the Elder Edda and elsewhere. + +Where the notes seem to the reader insufficient, we must refer him to +our Norse Mythology, where he will, we trust, find much of the +additional information he may desire. + +Well aware that our work has many imperfections, and begging our readers +to deal generously with our shortcomings, we send the book out into the +world with the hope that it may aid some young son or daughter of Odin +to find his way to the fountains of Urd and Mimer and to Idun’s +rejuvenating apples. The son must not squander, but husband wisely, what +his father has accumulated. The race must cherish and hold fast and add +to the thought that the past has bequeathed to it. Thus does it grow +greater and richer with each new generation. The past is the mirror that +reflects the future. + + R. B. ANDERSON. + University of Wisconsin, + Madison, Wis., _September, 1879_. + + + +CONTENTS. + + +Preface 5 + +Introduction 15 + +Foreword 33 + + +THE FOOLING OF GYLFE. + +CHAPTER I. +Gefjun’s Plowing 49 + +CHAPTER II. +Gylfe’s Journey to Asgard 51 + +CHAPTER III. +Of the Highest God 54 + +CHAPTER IV. +The Creation of the World 56 + +CHAPTER V. +The Creation (continued) 64 + +CHAPTER VI. +The First Works of the Asas--The Golden Age 69 + +CHAPTER VII. +On the Wonderful Things in Heaven 72 + +CHAPTER VIII. +The Asas 79 + +CHAPTER IX. +Loke and his Offspring 91 + +CHAPTER X. +The Goddesses (Asynjes) 97 + +CHAPTER XI. +The Giantess Gerd and Skirner’s Journey 101 + +CHAPTER XII. +Life in Valhal 104 + +CHAPTER XIII. +Odin’s Horse and Frey’s Ship 109 + +CHAPTER XIV. +Thor’s Adventures 113 + +CHAPTER XV. +The Death of Balder 131 + +CHAPTER XVI. +Ragnarok 140 + +CHAPTER XVII. +Regeneration 147 + +Afterword to the Fooling of Gylfe 151 + + +BRAGE’S TALK. + +CHAPTER I. +Æger’s Journey to Asgard 152 + +CHAPTER II. +Idun and her Apples 155 + +CHAPTER III. +How Njord got Skade to Wife 158 + +CHAPTER IV. +The Origin of Poetry 160 + +Afterword to Brage’s Talk 166 + + +EXTRACTS FROM THE POETICAL DICTION. + +Thor and Hrungner 169 +Thor’s Journey to Geirrod’s 176 +Idun 184 +Æger’s Feast 187 +Loke’s Wager with the Dwarfs 189 +The Niflungs and Gjukungs 193 +Menja and Fenja 206 +The Grottesong 208 +Rolf Krake 214 +Hogne and Hild 218 + + +NOTES. + +Enea 221 +Herikon 221 +The Historical Odin 221 +Fornjot and the Settlement of Norway 239 +Notes to the Fooling of Gylfe 242 +Note on the Niflungs and Gjukungs 266 +Note on Menja and Fenja 267 +Why the Sea is Salt 268 + + +VOCABULARY 275 + +INDEX 291 + + + + * * * * * + + + THE YOUNGER EDDA. + + + * * * * * + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +The records of our Teutonic past have hitherto received but slight +attention from the English-speaking branch of the great world-ash +Ygdrasil. This indifference is the more deplorable, since a knowledge of +our heroic forefathers would naturally operate as a most powerful means +of keeping alive among us, and our posterity, that spirit of courage, +enterprise and independence for which the old Teutons were so +distinguished. + +The religion of our ancestors forms an important chapter in the history +of the childhood of our race, and this fact has induced us to offer the +public an English translation of the Eddas. The purely mythological +portion of the Elder Edda was translated and published by A. S. Cottle, +in Bristol, in 1797, and the whole work was translated by Benjamin +Thorpe, and published in London in 1866. Both these works are now out of +print. Of the Younger Edda we have likewise had two translations into +English,--the first by Dasent in 1842, the second by Blackwell, in his +edition of Mallet’s Northern Antiquities, in 1847. The former has long +been out of print, the latter is a poor imitation of Dasent’s. Both of +them are very incomplete. These four books constitute all the Edda +literature we have had in the English language, excepting, of course, +single lays and chapters translated by Gray, Henderson, W. Taylor, +Herbert, Jamieson, Pigott, William and Mary Howitt, and others. + +The Younger Edda (also called Snorre’s Edda, or the Prose Edda), of +which we now have the pleasure of presenting our readers an English +version, contains, as usually published in the original, the following +divisions: + +1. The Foreword. + +2. Gylfaginning (The Fooling of Gylfe). + +3. The Afterword to Gylfaginning. + +4. Brage’s Speech. + +5. The Afterword. + +6. Skaldskaparmal (a collection of poetic paraphrases, and denominations +in Skaldic language without paraphrases). + +7. Hattatal (an enumeration of metres; a sort of Clavis Metrica). + +In some editions there are also found six additional chapters on the +alphabet, grammar, figures of speech, etc. + +There are three important parchment manuscripts of the Younger Edda, +viz: + +1. _Codex Regius_, the so-called King’s Book. This was presented to the +Royal Library in Copenhagen, by Bishop Brynjulf Sveinsson, in the year +1640, where it is still kept. + +2. _Codex Wormianus_. This is found in the University Library in +Copenhagen, in the Arne Magnæan collection. It takes its name from +Professor Ole Worm [died 1654], to whom it was presented by the learned +Arngrim Jonsson. Christian Worm, the grandson of Ole Worm, and Bishop of +Seeland [died 1737], afterward presented it to Arne Magnusson. + +3. _Codex Upsaliensis_. This is preserved in the Upsala University +Library. Like the other two, it was found in Iceland, where it was given +to Jon Rugmann. Later it fell into the hands of Count Magnus Gabriel de +la Gardie, who in the year 1669 presented it to the Upsala University. +Besides these three chief documents, there exist four fragmentary +parchments, and a large number of paper manuscripts. + +The first printed edition of the Younger Edda, in the original, is the +celebrated “Edda Islandorum,” published by Peter Johannes Resen, in +Copenhagen, in the year 1665. It contains a translation into Latin, made +partly by Resen himself, and partly also by Magnus Olafsson, Stephan +Olafsson and Thormod Torfason. + +Not until eighty years later, that is in 1746, did the second edition of +the Younger Edda appear in Upsala under the auspices of Johannes +Goransson. This was printed from the Codex Upsaliensis. + +In the present century we find a third edition by Rasmus Rask, published +in Stockholm in 1818. This is very complete and critical. The fourth +edition was issued by Sveinbjorn Egilsson, in Reykjavik, 1849; the fifth +by the Arne-Magnæan Commission in Copenhagen, 1852.[1] All these five +editions have long been out of print, and in place of them we have a +sixth edition by Thorleif Jonsson (Copenhagen, 1875), and a seventh by +Ernst Wilkin (Paderborn, 1877). Both of these, and especially the +latter, are thoroughly critical and reliable. + + [Footnote 1: The third volume of this work has not yet appeared.] + +Of translations, we must mention in addition to those into English by +Dasent and Blackwell, R. Nyerup’s translation into Danish (Copenhagen, +1808); Karl Simrock’s into German (Stuttgart and Tübingen, 1851); and +Fr. Bergmann’s into French (Paris, 1871). Among the chief authorities to +be consulted in the study of the Younger Edda may be named, in addition +to those already mentioned, Fr. Dietrich, Th. Mobius, Fr. Pfeiffer, +Ludw. Ettmuller, K. Hildebrand, Ludw. Uhland, P. E. Muller, Adolf +Holzmann, Sophus Bugge, P. A. Munch and Rudolph Keyser. For the material +in our introduction and notes, we are chiefly indebted to Simrock, +Wilkin and Keyser. While we have had no opportunity of making original +researches, the published works have been carefully studied, and all we +claim for our work is, that it shall contain the results of the latest +and most thorough investigations by scholars who live nearer the +fountains of Urd and Mimer than do we. Our translations are made from +Egilsson’s, Jonsson’s and Wilkins’ editions of the original. We have not +translated any of the Hattatal, and only the narrative part of +Skaldskaparmal, and yet our version contains more of the Younger Edda +than any English, German, French or Danish translation that has hitherto +been published. The parts omitted cannot possibly be of any interest to +any one who cannot read them in the original. All the paraphrases of the +asas and asynjes, of the world, the earth, the sea, the sun, the wind, +fire, summer, man, woman, gold, of war, arms, of a ship, emperor, king, +ruler, etc., are of interest only as they help to explain passages of +Old Norse poems. The same is true of the enumeration of metres, which +contains a number of epithets and metaphors used by the scalds, +illustrated by specimens of their poetry, and also by a poem of Snorre +Sturleson, written in one hundred different metres. + +There has been a great deal of learned discussion in regard to the +authorship of the Younger Edda. Readers specially interested in this +knotty subject we must refer to Wilkins’ elaborate treatise, +Untersuchungen zur Snorra Edda (Paderborn, 1878), and to P. E. Muller’s, +Die Æchtheit der Asalehre (Copenhagen, 1811). + +Two celebrated names that without doubt are intimately connected with +the work are Snorre Sturleson and Olaf Thordsson Hvitaskald. Both of +these are conspicuous, not only in the literary, but also in the +political history of Iceland. + + [Footnote 2: Keyser.] + +Snorre Sturleson[2] was born in Iceland in the year 1178. Three years +old, he came to the house of the distinguished chief, Jon Loptsson, at +Odde, a grandson of Sæmund the Wise, the reputed collector of the Elder +Edda, where he appears to have remained until Jon Loptsson’s death, in +the year 1197. Soon afterward Snorre married into a wealthy family, and +in a short time he became one of the most distinguished leaders in +Iceland, He was several times elected chief magistrate, and no man in +the land was his equal in riches and prominence. He and his two elder +brothers, Thord and Sighvat, who were but little inferior to him in +wealth and power, were at one time well-nigh supreme in Iceland, and +Snorre sometimes appeared at the Althing at Thingvols accompanied by +from eight hundred to nine hundred armed men. + +Snorre and his brothers did not only have bitter feuds with other +families, but a deadly hatred also arose between themselves, making +their lives a perpetual warfare. Snorre was shrewd as a politician and +magistrate, and eminent as an orator and skald, but his passions were +mean, and many of his ways were crooked. He was both ambitious and +avaricious. He is said to have been the first Icelander who laid plans +to subjugate his fatherland to Norway, and in this connection is +supposed to have expected to become a jarl under the king of Norway. +In this effort he found himself outwitted by his brother’s son, Sturle +Thordsson, and thus he came into hostile relations with the latter. In +this feud Snorre was defeated, but when Sturle shortly after fell in a +battle against his foes, Snorre’s star of hope rose again, and he began +to occupy himself with far-reaching, ambitious plans. He had been for +the first time in Norway during the years 1218-1220, and had been well +received by King Hakon, and especially by Jarl Skule, who was then the +most influential man in the country. In the year 1237 Snorre visited +Norway again, and entered, as it is believed, into treasonable +conspiracies with Jarl Skule. In 1239 he left Norway against the wishes +of King Hakon, whom he owed obedience, and thereby incurred the king’s +greatest displeasure. When King Hakon, in 1240, had crushed Skule’s +rebellion and annihilated this dangerous opponent, it became Snorre’s +turn to feel the effects of the king’s wrath. At the instigation of King +Hakon, several chiefs of Iceland united themselves against Snorre and +murdered him at Reykholt, where ruins of his splendid mansion are still +to be seen. This event took place on the 22d of September, 1241, and +Snorre Sturleson was then sixty-three years old. Snorre was Iceland’s +most distinguished skald and sagaman. As a writer of history he deserves +to be compared with Herodotos or Thukydides. His Heimskringla, embracing +an elaborate history of the kings of Norway, is famous throughout the +civilized world, and Emerson calls it the Iliad and Odyssey of our race. +An English translation of this work was published by Samuel Laing, in +London, in 1844. Carlyle’s Early Kings of Norway (London, 1875) was +inspired by the Heimskringla. + +Olaf Thordsson, surnamed Hvitaskald,[3] to distinguish him from his +contemporary, Olaf Svartaskald,[4] was a son of Snorre’s brother. Though +not as prominent and influential as his uncle, he took an active part in +all the troubles of his native island during the first half of the +thirteenth century. He visited Norway in 1236, whence he went to +Denmark, where he was a guest at the court of King Valdemar, and is said +to have enjoyed great esteem. In 1240 we find him again in Norway, where +he espoused the cause of King Hakon against Skule. On his return to +Iceland he served four years as chief magistrate of the island. His +death occurred in the year 1259, and he is numbered among the great +skalds of Iceland. + + [Footnote 3: White Skald.] + + [Footnote 4: Black Skald.] + +Snorre Sturleson and Olaf Hvitaskald are the two names to whom the +authorship of the Younger Edda has generally been attributed, and the +work is by many, even to this day, called Snorra Edda--that is, Snorre’s +Edda. We do not propose to enter into any elaborate discussion of this +complicated subject, but we will state briefly the reasons given by +Keyser and others for believing that these men had a hand in preparing +the Prose Edda. In the first place, we find that the writer of the +grammatical and rhetorical part of the Younger Edda distinctly mentions +Snorre as author of Hattatal (the Clavis Metrica), and not only of the +poem itself, but also of the treatise in prose. In the second place, the +Arne Magnæan parchment manuscript, which dates back to the close of the +thirteenth or beginning of the fourteenth century, has the following +note prefaced to the Skaldskaparmal. “Here ends that part of the book +which Olaf Thordsson put together, and now begins Skaldskaparmal and the +Kenningar, according to that which has been found in the lays of the +chief skalds, and which Snorre afterward suffered to be brought +together.” In the third place, the Upsala manuscript of the Younger +Edda, which is known with certainty to have been written in the +beginning of the fourteenth century, contains this preface, written with +the same hand as the body of the work: “This book hight Edda. Snorre has +compiled it in the manner in which it is arranged: first, in regard to +the asas and Ymer, then Skaldskaparmal and the denominations of many +things, and finally that Hattatal, which Snorre composed about King +Hakon and Duke Skule.” In the fourth place, there is a passage in the +so-called Annales Breviores, supposed to have been written about the +year 1400. The passage relates to the year 1241, and reads thus: “Snorre +Sturleson died at Reykholt. He was a wise and very learned man, a great +chief and shrewd. He was the first man in this land who brought property +into the hands of the king (the king of Norway). He compiled Edda and +many other learned historical works and Icelandic sagas. He was murdered +at Reykholt by Jarl Gissur’s men.” + +It seems, then, that there is no room for any doubt that these two men +have had a share in the authorship of the Younger Edda. How great a +share each has had is another and more difficult problem to solve. +Rudolf Keyser’s opinion is (and we know no higher authority on the +subject), that Snorre is the author, though not in so strict a sense as +we now use the word, of Gylfaginning, Brage’s Speech, Skaldskaparmal and +Hattatal. This part of the Younger Edda may thus be said to date back to +the year 1230, though the material out of which the mythological system +is constructed is of course much older. We find it in the ancient Vala’s +Prophecy, of the Elder Edda, a poem that breathes in every line the +purest asa-faith, and is, without the least doubt, much older than the +introduction of christianity in the north, or the discovery and +settlement of Iceland. It is not improbable that the religious system of +the Odinic religion had assumed a permanent prose form in the memories +of the people long before the time of Snorre, and that he merely was the +means of having it committed to writing almost without verbal change. + +Olaf Thordsson is unmistakably the author of the grammatical and +rhetorical portion of the Younger Edda, and its date can therefore +safely be put at about 1250. The author of the treatise on the alphabet +is not known, but Professor Keyser thinks it must have been written, its +first chapter, about the year 1150, and its second chapter about the +year 1200. The forewords and afterwords are evidently also from another +pen. Their author is unknown, but they are thought to have been written +about the year 1300. To sum up, then, we arrive at this conclusion: The +mythological material of the Younger Edda is as old as the Teutonic +race. Parts of it are written by authors unknown to fame. A small +portion is the work of Olaf Thordsson. The most important portion is +written, or perhaps better, compiled, by Snorre Sturleson, and the whole +is finally edited and furnished with forewords and afterwords, early in +the fourteenth century,--according to Keyser, about 1320-1330. + +About the name Edda there has also been much learned discussion. Some +have suggested that it may be a mutilated form of the word Odde, the +home of Sæmund the Wise, who was long supposed to be the compiler of the +Elder Edda. In this connection, it has been argued that possibly Sæmund +had begun the writing of the Younger Edda, too. Others derive the word +from _óðr_ (mind, soul), which in poetical usage also means song, +poetry. Others, again, connect Edda with the Sanscrit word Veda, which +is supposed to mean knowledge. Finally, others adopt the meaning which +the word has where it is actually used in the Elder Edda, and where it +means great-grandmother. Vigfusson adopts this definition, and it is +certainly both scientific and poetical. What can be more beautiful than +the idea that our great ancestress teaches her descendants the sacred +traditions, the concentrated wisdom, of the race? To sum up, then, +we say the Younger, or Prose, or Snorre’s Edda has been produced at +different times by various hands, and the object of its authors has been +to produce a manual for the skalds. In addition to the forewords and +afterwords, it contains two books, one greater (Gylfaginning) and one +lesser (Brage’s Speech), giving a tolerably full account of Norse +mythology. Then follows Skaldskaparmal, wherein is an analysis of the +various circumlocutions practiced by the skalds, all illustrated by +copious quotations from the poets. How much of these three parts is +written by Snorre is not certain, but on the other hand, there is no +doubt that he is the author of Hattatal (Clavis Metrica), which gives an +enumeration of metres. To these four treatises are added four chapters +on grammar and rhetoric. The writer of the oldest grammatical treatise +is thought to be one Thorodd Runemaster, who lived in the middle of the +twelfth century; and the third treatise is evidently written by Olaf +Thordsson Hvitaskald, the nephew of Snorre, a scholar who spent some +time at the court of the Danish king, Valdemar the Victorious. + +The Younger Edda contains the systematized theogony and cosmogony of our +forefathers, while the Elder Edda presents the Odinic faith in a series +of lays or rhapsodies. The Elder Edda is poetry, while the Younger Edda +is mainly prose. The Younger Edda may in one sense be regarded as the +sequel or commentary of the Elder Edda. Both complement each other, and +both must be studied in connection with the sagas and all the Teutonic +traditions and folk-lore in order to get a comprehensive idea of the +asa-faith. The two Eddas constitute, as it were, the Odinic Bible. The +Elder Edda is the Old Testament, the Younger Edda the New. Like the Old +Testament, the Elder Edda is in poetry. It is prophetic and enigmatical. +Like the New Testament, the Younger Edda is in prose; it is lucid, and +gives a clue to the obscure passages in the Elder Edda. Nay, in many +respects do the two Eddas correspond with the two Testaments of the +Christian Bible. + +It is a deplorable fact that the religion of our forefathers seems to be +but little cared for in this country. The mythologies of other nations +every student manifests an interest for. He reads with the greatest zeal +all the legends of Rome and Greece, of India and China. He is familiar +with every room in the labyrinth of Crete, while when he is introduced +to the shining halls of Valhal and Gladsheim he gropes his way like a +blind man. He does not know that Idun, with her beautiful apples, might, +if applied to, render even greater services than Ariadne with her +wonderful thread. When we inquire whom Tuesday and Wednesday and +Thursday and Friday are named after, and press questions in reference to +Tyr, Odin, Thor and Freyja, we get at best but a wise and knowing look. +Are we, then, as a nation, like the ancient Jews, and do we bend the +knee before the gods of foreign nations and forsake the altars of our +own gods? What if we then should suffer the fate of that unhappy +people--be scattered over all the world and lose our fatherland? In +these Eddas our fathers have bequeathed unto us all their profoundest, +all their sublimest, all their best thought. They are the concentrated +result of their greatest intellectual and spiritual effort, and it +behooves us to cherish this treasure and make it the fountain at which +the whole American branch of the Ygdrasil ash may imbibe a united +national sentiment. It is not enough to brush the dust off these gods +and goddesses of our ancestors and put them up on pedestals as ornaments +in our museums and libraries. These coins of the past are not to be laid +away in numismatic collections. The grandson must use what he has +inherited from his grandfather. If the coin is not intelligible, then it +will have to be sent to the mint and stamped anew, in order that it may +circulate freely. Our ancestral deities want a place in our hearts and +in our songs. + +On the European continent and in England the zeal of the priests in +propagating Christianity was so great that they sought to root out every +trace of the asa-faith. They left but unintelligible fragments of the +heathen religious structure. Our gods and goddesses and heroes were +consigned to oblivion, and all knowledge of the Odinic religion and of +the Niblung-story would have been well nigh totally obliterated had not +a more lucky star hovered over the destinies of Iceland. In this +remotest corner of the world the ancestral spirit was preserved like the +glowing embers of Hekla beneath the snow and ice of the glacier. From +the farthest Thule the spirit of our fathers rises and shines like an +aurora over all Teutondom. It was in the year 860 that Iceland was +discovered. In 874 the Teutonic spirit fled thither for refuge from +tyranny. Here a government based on the principles of old Teutonic +liberty was established. From here went forth daring vikings, who +discovered Greenland and Vinland, and showed Columbus the way to +America. From here the courts of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, England and +Germany were supplied with skalds to sing their praises. Here was put in +writing the laws and sagas that give us a clue to the form of old +Teutonic institutions. Here was preserved the Old Norse language, and in +it a record of the customs, the institutions and the religion of our +fathers. Its literature does not belong to that island alone,--it +belongs to the whole Teutonic race! Iceland is for the Teutons what +Greece and Rome are for the south of Europe, and she accomplished her +mission with no less efficiency and success. Cato the Elder used to end +all his speeches with these words: _“Præterea censeo Carthaginem esse +delendam.”_ In these days, when so many worship at the shrine of +Romanism, we think it perfectly just to adopt Cato’s sentence in this +form: _Præterea censeo Romam esse delendam_. + + + + +FOREWORD. + + +1. In the beginning Almighty God created heaven and earth, and all +things that belong to them, and last he made two human beings, from whom +the races are descended (Adam and Eve), and their children multiplied +and spread over all the world. But in the course of time men became +unequal; some were good and right-believing, but many more turned them +after the lusts of the world and heeded not God’s laws; and for this +reason God drowned the world in the flood, and all that was quick in the +world, except those who were in the ark with Noah. After the flood of +Noah there lived eight men, who inhabited the world, and from them the +races are descended; and now, as before, they increased and filled the +world, and there were very many men who loved to covet wealth and power, +but turned away from obedience to God, and so much did they do this that +they would not name God. And who could then tell their sons of the +wonderful works of God? So it came to pass that they lost God’s name; +and in the wide world the man was not to be found who could tell of his +Maker. But, nevertheless, God gave them earthly-gifts, wealth and +happiness, that should be with them in the world; he also shared wisdom +among them, so that they understood all earthly things, and all kinds +that might be seen in the air and on the earth. This they thought upon, +and wondered at, how it could come to pass that the earth and the beasts +and the birds had the same nature in some things but still were unlike +in manners. + +One evidence of this nature was that the earth might be dug into upon +high mountain-peaks and water would spring up there, and it was not +necessary to dig deeper for water there than in deep dales; thus, also, +in beasts and birds it is no farther to the blood in the head than in +the feet. Another proof of this nature is, that every year there grow on +the earth grass and flowers, and the same year it falls and withers; +thus, also, on beasts and birds do hair and feathers grow and fall off +each year. The third nature of the earth is, that when it is opened and +dug into, then grass grows on the mould which is uppermost on the earth. +Rocks and stones they explained to correspond to the teeth and bones of +living things. From these things they judged that the earth must be +quick and must have life in some way, and they knew that it was of a +wonderfully great age and of a mighty nature. It nourished all that was +quick and took to itself all that died. On this account they gave it a +name, and numbered their ancestors back to it This they also learned +from their old kinsmen, that when many hundred winters were numbered, +the course of the heavenly bodies was uneven; some had a longer course +than others. From such things they suspected that some one must be the +ruler of the heavenly bodies who could stay their course at his own +will, and he must be strong and mighty; and of him they thought that, if +he ruled the prime elements, he must also have been before the heavenly +bodies, and they saw that, if he ruled the course of the heavenly +bodies, he must rule the sunshine, and the dew of the heavens, and the +products of the earth that follow them; and thus, also, the winds of the +air and therewith the storms of the sea. They knew not where his realm +was, but they believed that he ruled over all things on the earth and in +the air, over the heavens and the heavenly bodies, the seas and the +weather. But in order that these things might be better told and +remembered, they gave him the same name with themselves, and this belief +has been changed in many ways, as the peoples have been separated and +the tongues have been divided. + +2. In his old age Noah shared the world with his sons: for Ham he +intended the western region, for Japheth the northern region, but for +Shem the southern region, with those parts which will hereafter be +marked out in the division of the earth into three parts. In the time +that the sons of these men were in the world, then increased forthwith +the desire for riches and power, from the fact that they knew many +crafts that had not been discovered before, and each one was exalted +with his own handiwork; and so far did they carry their pride, that the +Africans, descended from Ham, harried in that part of the world which +the offspring of Shem, their kinsman, inhabited. And when they had +conquered them, the world seemed to them too small, and they smithied a +tower with tile and stone, which they meant should reach to heaven, on +the plain called Sennar. And when this building was so far advanced that +it extended above the air, and they were no less eager to continue the +work, and when God saw how their pride waxed high, then he sees that he +will have to strike it down in some way. And the same God, who is +almighty, and who might have struck down all their work in the twinkling +of an eye, and made themselves turn into dust, still preferred to +frustrate their purpose by making them realize their own littleness, in +that none of them should understand what the other talked; and thus no +one knew what the other commanded, and one broke what the other wished +to build up, until they came to strife among themselves, and therewith +was frustrated, in the beginning, their purpose of building a tower. And +he who was foremost, hight Zoroaster, he laughed before he wept when he +came into the world; but the master-smiths were seventy-two, and so many +tongues have spread over the world since the giants were dispersed over +the land, and the nations became numerous. In this same place was built +the most famous city, which took its name from the tower, and was called +Babylon. And when the confusion of tongues had taken place, then +increased the names of men and of other things, and this same Zoroaster +had many names; and although he understood that his pride was laid low +by the said building, still he worked his way unto worldly power, and +had himself chosen king over many peoples of the Assyrians. From him +arose the error of idolatry; and when he was worshiped he was called +Baal; we call him Bel; he also had many other names. But as the names +increased in number, so was truth lost; and from this first error every +following man worshiped his head-master, beasts or birds, the air and +the heavenly bodies, and various lifeless things, until the error at +length spread over the whole world; and so carefully did they lose the +truth that no one knew his maker, excepting those men alone who spoke +the Hebrew tongue,--that which flourished before the building of the +tower,--and still they did not lose the bodily endowments that were +given them, and therefore they judged of all things with earthly +understanding, for spiritual wisdom was not given unto them. They deemed +that all things were smithied of some one material. + +3. The world was divided into three parts, one from the south, westward +to the Mediterranean Sea, which part was called Africa; but the southern +portion of this part is hot and scorched by the sun. The second part, +from the west and to the north and to the sea, is that called Europe, or +Enea. The northern portion of this is cold, so that grass grows not, nor +can anyone dwell there. From the north around the east region, and all +to the south, that is called Asia. In that part of the world is all +beauty and pomp, and wealth of the earth’s products, gold and precious +stones. There is also the mid-world, and as the earth there is fairer +and of a better quality than elsewhere, so are also the people there +most richly endowed with all gifts, with wisdom and strength, with +beauty and with all knowledge. + +4. Near the middle of the world was built the house and inn, the most +famous that has been made, which was called Troy, in the land which we +call Turkey. This city was built much larger than others, with more +skill in many ways, at great expense, and with such means as were at +hand. There were twelve kingdoms and one over-king, and many lands and +nations belonged to each kingdom; there were in the city twelve chief +languages.[5] Their chiefs have surpassed all men who have been in the +world in all heroic things. No scholar who has ever told of these things +has ever disputed this fact, and for this reason, that all rulers of the +north region trace their ancestors back thither, and place in the number +of the gods all who were rulers of the city. Especially do they place +Priamos himself in the stead of Odin; nor must that be called wonderful, +for Priamos was sprung from Saturn, him whom the north region for a long +time believed to be God himself. + + [Footnote 5: Dasent translates “hövuðtungur” (chief or head + tongues) with “lords,” which is certainly an error.] + +5. This Saturn grew up in that island in Greece which hight Crete. He +was greater and stronger and fairer than other men. As in other natural +endowments, so he excelled all men in wisdom. He invented many crafts +which had not before been discovered. He was also so great in the art of +magic that he was certain about things that had not yet come to pass. He +found, too, that red thing in the earth from which he smelted gold, and +from such things he soon became very mighty. He also foretold harvests +and many other secret things, and for such, and many other deeds, he was +chosen chief of the island. And when he had ruled it a short time, then +there speedily enough became a great abundance of all things. No money +circulated excepting gold coins, so plentiful was this metal; and though +there was famine in other lands, the crops never failed in Crete, so +that people might seek there all the things which they needed to have. +And from this and many other secret gifts of power that he had, men +believed him to be God, and from him arose another error among the +Cretans and Macedonians like the one before mentioned among the +Assyrians and Chaldeans from Zoroaster. And when Saturn finds how great +strength the people think they have in him, he calls himself God, and +says that he rules heaven and earth and all things. + +6. Once he went to Greece in a ship, for there was a king’s daughter on +whom he had set his heart. He won her love in this way, that one day +when she was out with her maid-servants, he took upon himself the +likeness of a bull, and lay before her in the wood, and so fair was he +that the hue of gold was on every hair; and when the king’s daughter saw +him she patted his lips. He sprang up and threw off the bull’s likeness +and took her into his arms and bore her to the ship and took her to +Crete. But his wife, Juno, found this out, so he turned her (the king’s +daughter) into the likeness of a heifer and sent her east to the arms of +the great river (that is, of the Nile, to the Nile country), and let the +thrall, who hight Argulos, take care of her. She was there twelve months +before he changed her shape again. Many things did he do like this, +or even more wonderful He had three sons: one hight Jupiter, another +Neptune, the third Pluto. They were all men of the greatest +accomplishments, and Jupiter was by far the greatest; he was a warrior +and won many kingdoms; he was also crafty like his father, and took upon +himself the likeness of many animals, and thus he accomplished many +things which are impossible for mankind; and on account of this, and +other things, he was held in awe by all nations. Therefore Jupiter is +put in the place of Thor, since all evil wights fear him. + +7. Saturn had built in Crete seventy-two burgs, and when he thought +himself firmly established in his kingdom, he shared it with his sons, +whom he set up with himself as gods; and to Jupiter he gave the realm of +heaven; to Neptune, the realm of the earth, and to Pluto, hell; and this +last seemed to him the worst to manage, and therefore he gave to him his +dog, the one whom he called Cerberos, to guard hell. This Cerberos, the +Greeks say, Herakles dragged out of hell and upon earth. And although +Saturn had given the realm of heaven to Jupiter, the latter nevertheless +desired to possess the realm of the earth, and so he harried his +father’s kingdom, and it is said that he had him taken and emasculated, +and for such great achievements he declared himself to be god, and the +Macedonians say that he had the members taken and cast into the sea, and +therefore they believed for ages that therefrom had come a woman; her +they called Venus, and numbered among the gods, and she has in all ages +since been called goddess of love, for they believed she was able to +turn the hearts of all men and women to love. When Saturn was +emasculated by Jupiter, his son, he fled from the east out of Crete and +west into Italy. There dwelt at that time such people as did not work, +and lived on acorns and grass, and lay in caves or holes in the earth. +And when Saturn came there he changed his name and called himself Njord, +for the reason that he thought that Jupiter, his son, might afterward +seek him out. He was the first there to teach men to plow and plant +vineyards. There the soil was good and fresh, and it soon produced heavy +crops. He was made chief and thus he got possession of all the realms +there and built many burgs. + +8. Jupiter, his son, had many sons, from whom races have descended; his +son was Dardanos, his son Herikon, his son Tros, his son Ilos, his son +Laomedon, the father of the chief king Priamos. Priamos had many sons; +one of them was Hektor, who was the most famous of all men in the world +for strength, and stature and accomplishments, and for all manly deeds +of a knightly kind; and it is found written that when the Greeks and all +the strength of the north and east regions fought with the Trojans, they +would never have become victors had not the Greeks invoked the gods; and +it is also stated that no human strength would conquer them unless they +were betrayed by their own men, which afterward was done. And from their +fame men that came after gave themselves titles, and especially was this +done by the Romans, who were the most famous in many things after their +days; and it is said that, when Rome was built, the Romans adapted their +customs and laws as nearly as possible to those of the Trojans, their +forefathers. And so much power accompanied these men for many ages +after, that when Pompey, a Roman chieftain, harried in the east region, +Odin fled out of Asia and hither to the north country, and then he gave +to himself and his men their names, and said that Priamos had hight Odin +and his queen Frigg, and from this the realm afterward took its name and +was called Frigia where the burg stood. And whether Odin said this of +himself out of pride, or that it was wrought by the changing of tongues; +nevertheless many wise men have regarded it a true saying, and for a +long time after every man who was a great chieftain followed his +example. + +9. A king in Troy hight Munon or Mennon, his wife was a daughter of the +head-king Priamos and hight Troan; they had a son who hight Tror, him we +call Thor. He was fostered in Thrace by the duke, who is called Loricos. +But when he was ten winters old he took his father’s weapons. So fair of +face was he, when he stood by other men, as when ivory is set in oak; +his hair was fairer than gold. When he was twelve winters old he had +full strength; then he lifted from the ground ten bear skins all at +once, and then he slew Loricos, the duke, his foster-father and his +wife, Lora or Glora, and took possession of Thrace; this we call +Thrudheim. Then he visited many lands and knew the countries of the +world, and conquered single-handed all the berserks and all the giants, +and one very big dragon and many beasts. In the north region he found +that prophetess who hight Sibyl, whom we call Sif, and married her. None +can tell the genealogy of Sif; she was the fairest of all women, her +hair was like gold. Their son was Loride (Hloride), who was like his +father; his son was Henrede; his son Vingethor (Vingthor); his son +Vingener (Vingner); his son Moda (Mode); his son Magi (Magne); his son +Kesfet; his son Bedvig; his son Atra, whom we call Annan; his son +Itrman; his son Heremod (Hermod); his son Skjaldun, whom we call Skjold; +his son Bjaf, whom we call Bjar; his son Jat; his son Gudolf, his son +Fjarlaf, whom we call Fridleif; he had the son who is called Vodin, whom +we call Odin; he was a famous man for wisdom and all accomplishments. +His wife hight Frigida, whom we call Frigg. + +10. Odin had the power of divination, and so had his wife, and from this +knowledge he found out that his name would be held high in the north +part of the world, and honored beyond that of all kings. For this reason +he was eager to begin his journey from Turkey, and he had with him very +many people, young and old, men and women, and he had with him many +costly things. But wherever they fared over the lands great fame was +spoken of them, and they were said to be more like gods than men. And +they stopped not on their journey before they came north into that land +which is now called Saxland; there Odin remained a long time, and +subjugated the country far and wide. There Odin established his three +sons as a defense of the land. One is named Veggdegg; he was a strong +king and ruled over East Saxland. His son was Vitrgils, and his sons +were Ritta, the father of Heingest (Hengist), and Sigar, the father of +Svebdegg, whom we call Svipdag. Another son of Odin hight Beldegg, whom +we call Balder; he possessed the land which now hight Vestfal; his son +was Brander, and his son Frjodigar, whom we call Froda (Frode). His son +was Freovit, his son Yvigg, his son Gevis, whom we call Gave. The third +son of Odin is named Sigge, his son Verer. These forefathers ruled the +land which is now called Frankland, and from them is come the race that +is called the Volsungs. From all of these many and great races are +descended. + +11. Then Odin continued his journey northward and came into the country +which was called Reidgotaland, and in that land he conquered all that he +desired. He established there his son, who hight Skjold; his son hight +Fridleif; from him is descended the race which hight Skjoldungs; these +are the Dane kings, and that land hight now Jutland, which then was +called Reidgotaland. + +12. Thereupon he fared north to what is now called Svithjod (Sweden), +there was the king who is called Gylfe. But when he heard of the coming +of those Asiamen, who were called asas, he went to meet them, and +offered Odin such things in his kingdom as he himself might desire. And +such good luck followed their path, that wherever they stopped in the +lands, there were bountiful crops and good peace; and all believed that +they were the cause thereof. The mighty men of the kingdom saw that they +were unlike other men whom they had seen, both in respect to beauty and +understanding. The land there seemed good to Odin, and he chose there +for himself a place for a burg, which is now called Sigtuna.[6] He there +established chiefs, like unto what had formerly existed in Troy; he +appointed twelve men in the burg to be judges of the law of the land, +and made all rights to correspond with what had before been in Troy, and +to what the Turks had been accustomed. + + [Footnote 6: Near Upsala.] + +13. Thereupon he fared north until he reached the sea, which they +thought surrounded all lands, and there he established his son in the +kingdom, which is now called Norway; he is hight Saming, and the kings +of Norway count their ancestors back to him, and so do the jarls and +other mighty men, as it is stated in the Haleygjatal.[7] But Odin had +with him that son who is called Yngve, who was king in Sweden, and from +him is descended the families called Ynglings (Yngvelings). The asas +took to themselves wives there within the land. But some took wives for +their sons, and these families became so numerous that they spread over +Saxland, and thence over the whole north region, and the tongue of these +Asiamen became the native tongue of all these lands. And men think they +can understand from the way in which the names of their forefathers is +written, that these names have belonged to this tongue, and that the +asas have brought this tongue hither to the north, to Norway, to Sweden +and to Saxland. But in England are old names of places and towns which +can be seen to have been given in another tongue than this. + + [Footnote 7: A heroic poem, giving the pedigree (tal) of Norse + kings.] + + + + +THE FOOLING OF GYLFE. + +CHAPTER I. + + +GEFJUN’S PLOWING. + +1. King Gylfe ruled the lands that are now called Svithjod (Sweden). Of +him it is said that he gave to a wayfaring woman, as a reward for the +entertainment she had afforded him by her story-telling, a plow-land in +his realm, as large as four oxen could plow it in a day and a night But +this woman was of the asa-race; her name was Gefjun. She took from the +north, from Jotunheim, four oxen, which were the sons of a giant and +her, and set them before the plow. Then went the plow so hard and deep +that it tore up the land, and the oxen drew it westward into the sea, +until it stood still in a sound. There Gefjun set the land, gave it a +name and called it Seeland. And where the land had been taken away +became afterward a sea, which in Sweden is now called Logrinn (the Lake, +the Malar Lake in Sweden). And in the Malar Lake the bays correspond to +the capes in Seeland. Thus Brage, the old skald: + + Gefjun glad + Drew from Gylfe + The excellent land, + Denmark’s increase, + So that it reeked + From the running beasts. + Four heads and eight eyes + Bore the oxen + As they went before the wide + Robbed land of the grassy isle.[8] + + [Footnote 8: Heimskringla: Ynglinga Saga, ch. v.] + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +GYLFE’S JOURNEY TO ASGARD. + + +2. King Gylfe was a wise man and skilled in the black art. He wondered +much that the asa-folk was so mighty in knowledge, that all things went +after their will. He thought to himself whether this could come from +their own nature, or whether the cause must be sought for among the gods +whom they worshiped. He therefore undertook a journey to Asgard. He went +secretly, having assumed the likeness of an old man, and striving thus +to disguise himself. But the asas were wiser, for they see into the +future, and, foreseeing his journey before he came, they received him +with an eye-deceit. So when he came into the burg he saw there a hall so +high that he could hardly look over it. Its roof was thatched with +golden shields as with shingles. Thus says Thjodolf of Hvin, that Valhal +was thatched with shields: + + Thinking thatchers + Thatched the roof; + The beams of the burg + Beamed with gold.[9] + + [Footnote 9: Heimskringla: Harald Harfager’s Saga, ch. xix.] + +In the door of the hall Gylfe saw a man who played with swords so +dexterously that seven were in the air at one time. That man asked him +what his name was. Gylfe answered that his name was Ganglere;[10] that +he had come a long way, and that he sought lodgings for the night. He +also asked who owned the burg. The other answered that it belonged to +their king: I will go with you to see him and then you may ask him for +his name yourself. Then the man turned and led the way into the hall. +Ganglere followed, and suddenly the doors closed behind him. There he +saw many rooms and a large number of people, of whom some were playing, +others were drinking, and some were fighting with weapons. He looked +around him, and much of what he saw seemed to him incredible. Then +quoth he: + + Gates all, + Before in you go, + You must examine well; + For you cannot know + Where enemies sit + In the house before you.[11] + + [Footnote 10: The walker.] + + [Footnote 11: Elder Edda: Havamal.] + +He saw three high-seats, one above the other, and in each sat a man. He +asked what the names of these chiefs were. He, who had conducted him in, +answered that the one who sat in the lowest high-seat was king, and +hight Har; the one next above him, Jafnhar; but the one who sat on the +highest throne, Thride. Har asked the comer what more his errand was, +and added that food and drink was there at his service, as for all in +Har’s hall. Ganglere answered that he first would like to ask whether +there was any wise man. Answered Har: You will not come out from here +hale unless you are wiser. + + And stand now forth + While you ask; + He who answers shall sit. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +OF THE HIGHEST GOD. + + +3. Ganglere then made the following question: Who is the highest and +oldest of all the gods? Made answer Har: Alfather he is called in our +tongue, but in Asgard of old he had twelve names. The first is Alfather, +the second is Herran or Herjan, the third Nikar or Hnikar, the fourth +Nikuz or Hnikud, the fifth Fjolner, the sixth Oske, the seventh Ome, the +eighth Biflide or Biflinde, the ninth Svidar, the tenth Svidrer, the +eleventh Vidrer, the twelfth Jalg or Jalk. Ganglere asks again: Where is +this god? What can he do? What mighty works has he accomplished? +Answered Har: He lives from everlasting to everlasting, rules over all +his realm, and governs all things, great and small. Then remarked +Jafnhar: He made heaven and earth, the air and all things in them. +Thride added: What is most important, he made man and gave him a spirit, +which shall live, and never perish, though the body may turn to dust or +burn to ashes. All who live a life of virtue shall dwell with him in +Gimle or Vingolf. The wicked, on the other hand, go to Hel, and from her +to Niflhel, that is, down into the ninth world. Then asked Ganglere: +What was he doing before heaven and earth were made? Har gave answer: +Then was he with the frost-giants. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE CREATION OF THE WORLD. + + +4. Said Ganglere: How came the world into existence, or how did it rise? +What was before? Made answer to him Har: Thus is it said in the Vala’s +Prophecy: + + It was Time’s morning, + When there nothing was; + Nor sand, nor sea, + Nor cooling billows. + Earth there was not, + Nor heaven above. + The Ginungagap was, + But grass nowhere.[12] + + [Footnote 12: Elder Edda: The Vala’s Prophecy, 6.] + +Jafnhar remarked: Many ages before the earth was made, Niflheim had +existed, in the midst of which is the well called Hvergelmer, whence +flow the following streams: Svol, Gunnthro, Form, Fimbul, Thul, Slid and +Hrid, Sylg and Ylg, Vid, Leipt and Gjoll, the last of which is nearest +the gate of Hel. Then added Thride: Still there was before a world to +the south which hight Muspelheim. It is light and hot, and so bright +and dazzling that no stranger, who is not a native there, can stand it. +Surt is the name of him who stands on its border guarding it. He has a +flaming sword in his hand, and at the end of the world he will come and +harry, conquer all the gods, and burn up the whole world with fire. Thus +it is said in the Vala’s Prophecy: + + Surt from the south fares + With blazing flames; + From the sword shines + The sun of the war-god. + Rocks dash together + And witches collapse, + Men go the way to Hel + And the heavens are cleft.[13] + + [Footnote 13: Elder Edda: The Vala’s Prophecy, 56.] + +5. Said Ganglere: What took place before the races came into existence, +and men increased and multiplied? Replied Har, explaining, that as soon +as the streams, that are called the Elivogs, had come so far from their +source that the venomous yeast which flowed with them hardened, as does +dross that runs from the fire, then it turned into ice. And when this +ice stopped and flowed no more, then gathered over it the drizzling rain +that arose from the venom and froze into rime, and one layer of ice was +laid upon the other clear into Ginungagap. Then said Jafnhar: All that +part of Ginungagap that turns toward the north was filled with thick +and heavy ice and rime, and everywhere within were drizzling rains and +gusts. But the south part of Ginungagap was lighted up by the glowing +sparks that flew out of Muspelheim. Added Thride: As cold and all things +grim proceeded from Niflheim, so that which bordered on Muspelheim was +hot and bright, and Ginungagap was as warm and mild as windless air. And +when the heated blasts from Muspelheim met the rime, so that it melted +into drops, then, by the might of him who sent the heat, the drops +quickened into life and took the likeness of a man, who got the name +Ymer. But the Frost giants call him Aurgelmer. Thus it is said in the +short Prophecy of the Vala (the Lay of Hyndla): + + All the valas are + From Vidolf descended; + All wizards are + Of Vilmeide’s race; + All enchanters + Are sons of Svarthofde; + All giants have + Come from Ymer.[14] + + [Footnote 14: Elder Edda: Hyndla’a Lay, 34.] + +And on this point, when Vafthrudner, the giant, was asked by Gangrad: + + Whence came Aurgelmer + Originally to the sons + Of the giants?--thou wise giant![15] + +he said + + From the Elivogs + Sprang drops of venom, + And grew till a giant was made. + Thence our race + Are all descended, + Therefore are we all so fierce.[16] + + [Footnote 15: Elder Edda: Vafthrudner’s Lay, 30.] + + [Footnote 16: Elder Edda: Vafthrudner’s Lay, 31.] + +Then asked Ganglere: How were the races developed from him? Or what was +done so that more men were made? Or do you believe him to be god of whom +you now spake? Made answer Har: By no means do we believe him to be god; +evil was he and all his offspring, them we call frost-giants. It is said +that when he slept he fell into a sweat, and then there grew under his +left arm a man and a woman, and one of his feet begat with the other a +son. From these come the races that are called frost-giants. The old +frost-giant we call Ymer. + +6. Then said Ganglere: Where did Ymer dwell, and on what did he live? +Answered Har: The next thing was that when the rime melted into drops, +there was made thereof a cow, which hight Audhumbla. Four milk-streams +ran from her teats, and she fed Ymer. Thereupon asked Ganglere: On what +did the cow subsist? Answered Har: She licked the salt-stones that were +covered with rime, and the first day that she licked the stones there +came out of them in the evening a man’s hair, the second day a man’s +head, and the third day the whole man was there. This man’s name was +Bure; he was fair of face, great and mighty, and he begat a son whose +name was Bor. This Bor married a woman whose name was Bestla, the +daughter of the giant Bolthorn; they had three sons,--the one hight +Odin, the other Vile, and the third Ve. And it is my belief that this +Odin and his brothers are the rulers of heaven and earth. We think that +he must be so called. That is the name of the man whom we know to be the +greatest and most famous, and well may men call him by that name. + +7. Ganglere asked: How could these keep peace with Ymer, or who was the +stronger? Then answered Har: The sons of Bor slew the giant Ymer, but +when he fell, there flowed so much blood from his wounds that they +drowned therein the whole race of frost giants; excepting one, who +escaped with his household. Him the giants call Bergelmer. He and his +wife went on board his ark and saved themselves in it. From them are +come new races of frost-giants, as is here said: + + Countless winters + Ere the earth was made, + Was born Bergelmer. + This first I call to mind + How that crafty giant + Safe in his ark lay.[17] + + [Footnote 17: Elder Edda: Vafthrudner’s Lay, 35.] + +8. Then said Ganglere: What was done then by the sons of Bor, since you +believe that they were gods? Answered Har: About that there is not a +little to be said. They took the body of Ymer, carried it into the midst +of Ginungagap and made of him the earth. Of his blood they made the seas +and lakes; of his flesh the earth was made, but of his bones the rocks; +of his teeth and jaws, and of the bones that were broken, they made +stones and pebbles. Jafnhar remarked: Of the blood that flowed from the +wounds, and was free, they made the ocean; they fastened the earth +together and around it they laid this ocean in a ring without, and it +must seem to most men impossible to cross it. Thride added: They took +his skull and made thereof the sky, and raised it over the earth with +four sides. Under each corner they set a dwarf, and the four dwarfs were +called Austre (east), Vestre (West), Nordre (North), Sudre (South). Then +they took glowing sparks, that were loose and had been cast out from +Muspelheim, and placed them in the midst of the boundless heaven, both +above and below, to light up heaven and earth. They gave resting-places +to all fires, and set some in heaven; some were made to go free under +heaven, but they gave them a place and shaped their course. In old songs +it is said that from that time days and years were reckoned. Thus in the +Prophecy of the Vala: + + The sun knew not + Where her hall she had; + The moon knew not + What might he had; + The stars knew not + Their resting-places.[18] + + [Footnote 18: Elder Edda: The Vala’s Prophecy, 8. In Old Norse the + sun is feminine, and the moon masculine. See below, sections 11 + and 12.] + +Thus it was before these things were made. Then said Ganglere: Wonderful +tidings are these I now hear; a wondrous great building is this, and +deftly constructed. How was the earth fashioned? Made answer Har: The +earth is round, and without it round about lies the deep ocean, and +along the outer strand of that sea they gave lands for the giant races +to dwell in; and against the attack of restless giants they built a burg +within the sea and around the earth. For this purpose they used the +giant Ymer’s eyebrows, and they called the burg Midgard. They also took +his brains and cast them into the air, and made therefrom the clouds, +as is here said: + + Of Ymer’s flesh + The earth was made, + And of his sweat the seas; + Rocks of his bones, + Trees of his hair, + And the sky of his skull; + But of his eyebrows + The blithe powers + Made Midgard for the sons of men. + Of his brains + All the melancholy + Clouds were made.[19] + + [Footnote 19: Elder Edda: Grimner’s Lay, 40, 41. Comp. + Vafthrudner’s Lay, 21.] + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE CREATION--(CONTINUED.) + + +9. Then said Ganglere: Much had been done, it seemed to me, when heaven +and earth were made, when sun and moon were set in their places, and +when days were marked out; but whence came the people who inhabit the +world? Har answered as follows: As Bor’s sons went along the sea-strand, +they found two trees. These trees they took up and made men of them. The +first gave them spirit and life; the second endowed them with reason and +power of motion; and the third gave them form, speech, hearing and +eyesight. They gave them clothes and names; the man they called Ask, and +the woman Embla. From them all mankind is descended, and a +dwelling-place was given them under Midgard. In the next place, the sons +of Bor made for themselves in the middle of the world a burg, which is +called Asgard, and which we call Troy. There dwelt the gods and their +race, and thence were wrought many tidings and adventures, both on earth +and in the sky. In Asgard is a place called Hlidskjalf, and when Odin +seated himself there in the high-seat, he saw over the whole world, and +what every man was doing, and he knew all things that he saw. His wife +hight Frigg, and she was the daughter of Fjorgvin, and from their +offspring are descended the race that we call asas, who inhabited Asgard +the old and the realms that lie about it, and all that race are known to +be gods. And for this reason Odin is called Alfather, that he is the +father of all gods and men, and of all things that were made by him and +by his might. Jord (earth) was his daughter and his wife; with her he +begat his first son, and that is Asa-Thor. To him was given force and +strength, whereby he conquers all things quick. + +10. Norfe, or Narfe, hight a giant, who dwelt in Jotunheim. He had a +daughter by name Night. She was swarthy and dark like the race she +belonged to. She was first married to a man who hight Naglfare. Their +son was Aud. Afterward she was married to Annar. Jord hight their +daughter. Her last husband was Delling (Daybreak), who was of asa-race. +Their son was Day, who was light and fair after his father. Then took +Alfather Night and her son Day, gave them two horses and two cars, and +set them up in heaven to drive around the earth, each in twelve hours by +turns. Night rides first on the horse which is called Hrimfaxe, and +every morning he bedews the earth with the foam from his bit. The horse +on which Day rides is called Skinfaxe, and with his mane he lights up +all the sky and the earth. + +11. Then said Ganglere: How does he steer the course of the sun and the +moon? Answered Har: Mundilfare hight the man who had two children. They +were so fair and beautiful that he called his son Moon, and his +daughter, whom he gave in marriage to a man by name Glener, he called +Sun. But the gods became wroth at this arrogance, took both the brother +and the sister, set them up in heaven, and made Sun drive the horses +that draw the car of the sun, which the gods had made to light up the +world from sparks that flew out of Muspelheim. These horses hight Arvak +and Alsvid. Under their withers the gods placed two wind-bags to cool +them, but in some songs it is called ironcold (ísarnkol). Moon guides +the course of the moon, and rules its waxing and waning. He took from +the earth two children, who hight Bil and Hjuke, as they were going from +the well called Byrger, and were carrying on their shoulders the bucket +called Sager and the pole Simul. Their father’s name is Vidfin. These +children always accompany Moon, as can be seen from the earth. + +12. Then said Ganglere: Swift fares Sun, almost as if she were afraid, +and she could make no more haste in her course if she feared her +destroyer. Then answered Har: Nor is it wonderful that she speeds with +all her might. Near is he who pursues her, and there is no escape for +her but to run before him. Then asked Ganglere: Who causes her this +toil? Answered Har: It is two wolves. The one hight Skol, he runs after +her; she fears him and he will one day overtake her. The other hight +Hate, Hrodvitner’s son; he bounds before her and wants to catch the +moon, and so he will at last.[20] Then asked Ganglere: Whose offspring +are these wolves? Said Har; A hag dwells east of Midgard, in the forest +called Jarnved (Ironwood), where reside the witches called Jarnvidjes. +The old hag gives birth to many giant sons, and all in wolf’s likeness. +Thence come these two wolves. It is said that of this wolf-race one is +the mightiest, and is called Moongarm. He is filled with the life-blood +of all dead men. He will devour the moon, and stain the heavens and all +the sky with blood. Thereby the sun will be darkened, the winds will +grow wild, and roar hither and thither, as it is said in the Prophecy of +the Vala: + + In the east dwells the old hag, + In the Jarnved forest; + And brings forth there + Fenrer’s offspring. + There comes of them all + One the worst, + The moon’s devourer + In a troll’s disguise. + + He is filled with the life-blood + Of men doomed to die; + The seats of the gods + He stains with red gore; + Sunshine grows black + The summer thereafter, + All weather gets fickle. + Know you yet or not?[21] + + [Footnote 20: That wolves follow the sun and moon, is a + wide-spread popular superstition. In Sweden, a parhelion is + called Solvarg (sun-wolf).] + + [Footnote 21: Elder Edda: The Vala’s Prophecy, 43, 44.] + +13. Then asked Ganglere: What is the path from earth to heaven? Har +answered, laughing: Foolishly do you now ask. Have you not been told +that the gods made a bridge from earth to heaven, which is called +Bifrost? You must have seen it. It may be that you call it the rainbow. +It has three colors, is very strong, and is made with more craft and +skill than other structures. Still, however strong it is, it will break +when the sons of Muspel come to ride over it, and then they will have to +swim their horses over great rivers in order to get on. Then said +Ganglere: The gods did not, it seems to me, build that bridge honestly, +if it shall be able to break to pieces, since they could have done so, +had they desired. Then made answer Har: The gods are worthy of no blame +for this structure. Bifrost is indeed a good bridge, but there is no +thing in the world that is able to stand when the sons of Muspel come to +the fight. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE FIRST WORKS OF THE ASAS. THE GOLDEN AGE. + + +14. Then said Ganglere: What did Alfather do when Asgard had been built? +Said Har: In the beginning he appointed rulers in a place in the middle +of the burg which is called Idavold, who were to judge with him the +disputes of men and decide the affairs of the burg. Their first work was +to erect a court, where there were seats for all the twelve, and, +besides, a high-seat for Alfather. That is the best and largest house +ever built on earth, and is within and without like solid gold. This +place is called Gladsheim. Then they built another hall as a home for +the goddesses, which also is a very beautiful mansion, and is called +Vingolf. Thereupon they built a forge; made hammer, tongs, anvil, and +with these all other tools. Afterward they worked in iron, stone and +wood, and especially in that metal which is called gold. All their +household wares were of gold. That age was called the golden age, until +it was lost by the coming of those women from Jotunheim. Then the gods +set themselves in their high-seats and held counsel. They remembered how +the dwarfs had quickened in the mould of the earth like maggots in +flesh. The dwarfs had first been created and had quickened in Ymer’s +flesh, and were then maggots; but now, by the decision of the gods, they +got the understanding and likeness of men, but still had to dwell in the +earth and in rocks. Modsogner was one dwarf and Durin another. So it is +said in the Vala’s Prophecy: + + Then went all the gods, + The all-holy gods, + On their judgment seats, + And thereon took counsel + Who should the race + Of dwarfs create + From the bloody sea + And from Blain’s bones. + In the likeness of men + Made they many + Dwarfs in the earth, + As Durin said. + +And these, says the Vala, are the names of the dwarfs: + + Nye, Nide, + Nordre, Sudre, + Austre, Vestre, + Althjof, Dvalin, + Na, Nain, + Niping, Dain, + Bifur, Bafur, + Bombor, Nore, + Ore, Onar, + Oin, Mjodvitner, + Vig, Gandalf, + Vindalf, Thorin, + File, Kile, + Fundin, Vale, + Thro, Throin, + Thek, Lit, Vit, + Ny, Nyrad, + Rek, Radsvid. + +But the following are also dwarfs and dwell in the rocks, while the +above-named dwell in the mould: + + Draupner, Dolgthvare, + Hor, Hugstare, + Hledjolf, Gloin, + Dore, Ore, + Duf, Andvare, + Hepte, File, + Har, Siar. + +But the following come from Svarin’s How to Aurvang on Joruvold, and +from them is sprung Lovar. Their names are: + + Skirfer, Virfir, + Skafid, Ae, + Alf, Inge, + Eikinslgalde, + Fal, Froste, + Fid, Ginnar.[22] + + [Footnote 22: Elder Edda: The Vala’s Prophecy, 12, 14-16, 18, 19.] + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +ON THE WONDERFUL THINGS IN HEAVEN. + + +15. Then said Ganglere: Where is the chief or most holy place of the +gods? Har answered: That is by the ash Ygdrasil. There the gods meet in +council every day. Said Ganglere: What is said about this place? +Answered Jafnhar: This ash is the best and greatest of all trees; its +branches spread over all the world, and reach up above heaven. Three +roots sustain the tree and stand wide apart; one root is with the asas +and another with the frost-giants, where Ginungagap formerly was; the +third reaches into Niflheim; under it is Hvergelmer, where Nidhug gnaws +the root from below. But under the second root, which extends to the +frost-giants, is the well of Mimer, wherein knowledge and wisdom are +concealed. The owner of the well hight Mimer. He is full of wisdom, for +he drinks from the well with the Gjallar-horn. Alfather once came there +and asked for a drink from the well, but he did not get it before he +left one of his eyes as a pledge. So it is said in the Vala’s Prophecy: + + Well know I, Odin, + Where you hid your eye: + In the crystal-clear + Well of Mimer. + Mead drinks Mimer + Every morning + From Valfather’s pledge. + Know you yet or not?[23] + + [Footnote 23: Elder Edda: The Vala’s Prophecy, 24.] + +The third root of the ash is in heaven, and beneath it is the most +sacred fountain of Urd. Here the gods have their doomstead. The asas +ride hither every day over Bifrost, which is also called Asa-bridge. The +following are the names of the horses of the gods: Sleipner is the best +one; he belongs to Odin, and he has eight feet. The second is Glad, the +third Gyller, the fourth Gler, the fifth Skeidbrimer, the sixth +Silfertop, the seventh Siner, the eighth Gisl, the ninth Falhofner, the +tenth Gulltop, the eleventh Letfet. Balder’s horse was burned with him. +Thor goes on foot to the doomstead, and wades the following rivers: + + Kormt and Ormt + And the two Kerlaugs; + These shall Thor wade + Every day + When he goes to judge + Near the Ygdrasil ash; + For the Asa-bridge + Burns all ablaze,-- + The holy waters roar.[24] + + [Footnote 24: Elder Edda: Grimner’s Lay, 29.] + +Then asked Ganglere: Does fire burn over Bifrost? Har answered: The red +which you see in the rainbow is burning fire. The frost-giants and the +mountain-giants would go up to heaven if Bifrost were passable for all +who desired to go there. Many fair places there are in heaven, and they +are all protected by a divine defense. There stands a beautiful hall +near the fountain beneath the ash. Out of it come three maids, whose +names are Urd, Verdande and Skuld. These maids shape the lives of men, +and we call them norns. There are yet more norns, namely those who come +to every man when he is born, to shape his life, and these are known to +be of the race of gods; others, on the other hand, are of the race of +elves, and yet others are of the race of dwarfs. As is here said: + + Far asunder, I think, + The norns are born, + They are not of the same race. + Some are of the asas, + Some are of the elves, + Some are daughters of Dvalin.[25] + + [Footnote 25: Elder Edda: Fafner’s Lay, 13.] + +Then said Ganglere: If the norns rule the fortunes of men, then they +deal them out exceedingly unevenly. Some live a good life and are rich; +some get neither wealth nor praise. Some have a long, others a short +life. Har answered: Good norns and of good descent shape good lives, and +when some men are weighed down with misfortune, the evil norns are the +cause of it. + +16. Then said Ganglere: What other remarkable things are there to be +said about the ash? Har answered: Much is to be said about it. On one of +the boughs of the ash sits an eagle, who knows many things. Between his +eyes sits a hawk that is called Vedfolner. A squirrel, by name Ratatosk, +springs up and down the tree, and carries words of envy between the +eagle and Nidhug. Four stags leap about in the branches of the ash and +bite the leaves.[26] Their names are: Dain, Dvalin, Duney and Durathro. +In Hvergelmer with Nidhug are more serpents than tongue can tell. As is +here said: + + The ash Ygdrasil + Bears distress + Greater than men know. + Stags bite it above, + At the side it rots, + Nidhug gnaws it below. + + [Footnote 26: The Icelandic barr. See Vigfusson, _sub voce_.] + +And so again it is said: + + More serpents lie + ’Neath the Ygdrasil ash + Than is thought of + By every foolish ape. + Goin and Moin + (They are sons of Grafvitner), + Grabak and Grafvollud, + Ofner and Svafner + Must for aye, methinks, + Gnaw the roots of that tree.[27] + + [Footnote 27: Elder Edda: Grimner’s Lay, 35, 34.] + +Again, it is said that the norns, that dwell in the fountain of Urd, +every day take water from the fountain and take the clay that lies +around the fountain and sprinkle therewith the ash, in order that its +branches may not wither or decay. This water is so holy that all things +that are put into the fountain become as white as the film of an +egg-shell As is here said: + + An ash I know + Hight Ygdrasil; + A high, holy tree + With white clay sprinkled. + Thence come the dews + That fall in the dales. + Green forever it stands + Over Urd’s fountain.[28] + + [Footnote 28: Elder Edda: The Vala’s Prophecy, 22.] + +The dew which falls on the earth from this tree men call honey-fall, and +it is the food of bees. Two birds are fed in Urd’s fountain; they are +called swans, and they are the parents of the race of swans. + +17. Then said Ganglere: Great tidings you are able to tell of the +heavens. Are there other remarkable places than the one by Urd’s +fountain? Answered Har: There are many magnificent dwellings. One is +there called Alfheim. There dwell the folk that are called light-elves; +but the dark-elves dwell down in the earth, and they are unlike the +light-elves in appearance, but much more so in deeds. The light-elves +are fairer than the sun to look upon, but the dark-elves are blacker +than pitch. Another place is called Breidablik, and no place is fairer. +There is also a mansion called Glitner, of which the walls and pillars +and posts are of red gold, and the roof is of silver. Furthermore, there +is a dwelling, by name Himinbjorg, which stands at the end of heaven, +where the Bifrost-bridge is united with heaven. And there is a great +dwelling called Valaskjalf, which belongs to Odin. The gods made it and +thatched it with, sheer silver. In this hall is the high-seat, which is +called Hlidskjalf, and when Alfather sits in this seat, he sees over all +the world. In the southern end of the world is the palace, which is the +fairest of all, and brighter than the sun; its name is Gimle. It shall +stand when both heaven and earth shall have passed away. In this hall +the good and the righteous shall dwell through all ages. Thus says the +Prophecy of the Vala: + + A hall I know, standing + Than the sun fairer, + Than gold better, + Gimle by name. + There shall good + People dwell, + And forever + Delights enjoy.[29] + +Then said Ganglere: Who guards this palace when Surt’s fire burns up +heaven and earth? Har answered: It is said that to the south and above +this heaven is another heaven, which is called Andlang. But there is a +third, which is above these, and is called Vidblain, and in this heaven +we believe this mansion (Gimle) to be situated; but we deem that the +light-elves alone dwell in it now. + + [Footnote 29: Elder Edda: The Vala’s Prophecy, 70.] + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE ASAS. + + +18. Then said Ganglere: Whence comes the wind? It is so strong that it +moves great seas, and fans fires to flame, and yet, strong as it is, +it cannot be seen. Therefore it is wonderfully made. Then answered Har: +That I can tell you well. At the northern end of heaven sits a giant, +who hight Hrasvelg. He is clad in eagles’ plumes, and when he spreads +his wings for flight, the winds arise from under them. Thus is it here +said: + + Hrasvelg hight he + Who sits at the end of heaven, + A giant in eagle’s disguise. + From his wings, they say, + The wind does come + Over all mankind.[30] + + [Footnote 30: Elder Edda: Vafthrudner’s Lay, 37.] + +19. Then said Ganglere: How comes it that summer is so hot, but the +winter so cold? Har answered: A wise man would not ask such a question, +for all are able to tell this; but if you alone have become so stupid +that you have not heard of it, then I would rather forgive you for +asking unwisely once than that you should go any longer in ignorance of +what you ought to know. Svasud is the name of him who is father of +summer, and he lives such a life of enjoyment, that everything that is +mild is from him called sweet (svasligt). But the father of winter has +two names, Vindlone and Vindsval. He is the son of Vasad, and all that +race are grim and of icy breath, and winter is like them. + +20. Then asked Ganglere: Which are the asas, in whom men are bound to +believe? Har answered him: Twelve are the divine asas. Jafnhar said: +No less holy are the asynjes (goddesses), nor is their power less. Then +added Thride: Odin is the highest and oldest of the asas. He rules all +things, but the other gods, each according to his might, serve him as +children a father. Frigg is his wife, and she knows the fate of men, +although she tells not thereof, as it is related that Odin himself said +to Asa-Loke: + + Mad are you, Loke! + And out of your senses; + Why do you not stop? + Fortunes all, + Methinks, Frigg knows, + Though she tells them not herself.[31] + + [Footnote 31: Elder Edda. Loke’s Quarrel, 29, 47.] + +Odin is called Alfather, for he is the father of all the gods; he is +also called Valfather, for all who fall in fight are his chosen sons. +For them he prepares Valhal and Vingolf, where they are called einherjes +(heroes). He is also called Hangagod, Haptagod, Farmagod; and he gave +himself still more names when he came to King Geirrod: + + Grim is my name, + And Ganglare, + Herjan, Hjalmbore, + Thek, Thride, + Thud, Ud, + Helblinde, Har, + Sad, Svipal, + Sangetal, + Herteit, Hnikar, + Bileyg, Baleyg, + Bolverk, Fjolner, + Grimner, Glapsvid, Fjolsvid, + Sidhot, Sidskeg, + Sigfather, Hnikud, + Alfather, Atrid, Farmatyr, + Oske, Ome, + Jafnhar, Biflinde, + Gondler, Harbard, + Svidur, Svidrir, + Jalk, Kjalar, Vidur, + Thro, Yg, Thund, + Vak, Skilfing, + Vafud, Hroptatyr, + Gaut, Veratyr.[32] + + [Footnote 32: Elder Edda: Grimner’s Lay, 46-50.] + +Then said Ganglere: A very great number of names you have given him; and +this I know, forsooth, that he must be a very wise man who is able to +understand and decide what chances are the causes of all these names. +Har answered: Much knowledge is needed to explain it all rightly, but +still it is shortest to tell you that most of these names have been +given him for the reason that, as there are many tongues in the world, +so all peoples thought they ought to turn his name into their tongue, in +order that they might be able to worship him and pray to him each in its +own language. Other causes of these names must be sought in his +journeys, which are told of in old sagas; and you can lay no claim to +being called a wise man if you are not able to tell of these wonderful +adventures. + +21. Then said Ganglere: What are the names of the other asas? What is +their occupation, and what works have they wrought? Har answered: Thor +is the foremost of them. He is called Asa-Thor, or Oku-Thor.[33] He is +the strongest of all gods and men, and rules over the realm which is +called Thrudvang. His hall is called Bilskirner. Therein are five +hundred and forty floors, and it is the largest house that men have +made. Thus it is said in Grimner’s Lay: + + Five hundred floors + And forty more, + Methinks, has bowed Bilskirner. + Of houses all + That I know roofed + I know my son’s is the largest.[34] + + [Footnote 33: Oku is derived from the Finnish thunder-god, Ukko.] + + [Footnote 34: Elder Edda: Grimner’s Lay, 24.] + +Thor has two goats, by name Tangnjost and Tangrisner, and a chariot, +wherein he drives. The goats draw the chariot; wherefore he is called +Oku-Thor.[35] He possesses three valuable treasures. One of them is the +hammer Mjolner, which the frost-giants and mountain-giants well know +when it is raised; and this is not to be wondered at, for with it he has +split many a skull of their fathers or friends. The second treasure he +possesses is Megingjarder (belt of strength); when he girds himself with +it his strength is doubled. His third treasure that is of so great value +is his iron gloves; these he cannot do without when he lays hold of the +hammer’s haft. No one is so wise that he can tell all his great works; +but I can tell you so many tidings of him that it will grow late before +all is told that I know. + + [Footnote 35: The author of the Younger Edda is here mistaken. See + note on page 82 {Footnote 33}.] + +22. Thereupon said Ganglere: I wish to ask tidings of more of the asas. +Har gave him answer: Odin’s second son is Balder, and of him good things +are to be told. He is the best, and all praise him. He is so fair of +face and so bright that rays of light issue from him; and there is a +plant so white that it is likened unto Balder’s brow, and it is the +whitest of all plants. From this you can judge of the beauty both of his +hair and of his body. He is the wisest, mildest and most eloquent of all +the asas; and such is his nature that none can alter the judgment he has +pronounced. He inhabits the place in heaven called Breidablik, and there +nothing unclean can enter. As is here said: + + Breidablik it is called, + Where Balder has + Built for himself a hall + In the land + Where I know is found + The least of evil.[36] + + [Footnote 36: Elder Edda: Grimner’s Lay, 12.] + +23. The third asa is he who is called Njord. He dwells in Noatun, which +is in heaven. He rules the course of the wind and checks the fury of the +sea and of fire. He is invoked by seafarers and by fishermen. He is so +rich and wealthy that he can give broad lands and abundance to those who +call on him for them. He was fostered in Vanaheim, but the vans[37] gave +him as a hostage to the gods, and received in his stead as an +asa-hostage the god whose name is Honer. He established peace between +the gods and vans. Njord took to wife Skade, a daughter of the giant +Thjasse. She wished to live where her father had dwelt, that is, on the +mountains in Thrymheim; Njord, on the other hand, preferred to be near +the sea. They therefore agreed to pass nine nights in Thrymheim and +three in Noatun. But when Njord came back from the mountains to Noatun +he sang this: + + [Footnote 37: Compare Vainamoinen, the son of Ukko, in the Finnish + epic Kalevala.] + + Weary am I of the mountains, + Not long was I there, + Only nine nights. + The howl of the wolves + Methought sounded ill + To the song of the swans. + +Skade then sang this: + + Sleep I could not + On my sea-strand couch, + For the scream of the sea-fowl. + _There_ wakes me, + As he comes from the sea, + Every morning the mew. + +Then went Skade up on the mountain, and dwelt in Thrymheim. She often +goes on skees (snow-shoes), with her bow, and shoots wild beasts. She is +called skee-goddess or skee-dis. Thus it is said: + + Thrymheim it is called + Where Thjasse dwelt, + That mightiest giant. + But now dwells Skade, + Pure bride of the gods, + In her father’s old homestead.[38] + + [Footnote 38: Elder Edda: Grimner’s Lay, 11.] + +24. Njord, in Noatun, afterward begat two children: a son, by name Frey, +and a daughter, by name Freyja. They were fair of face, and mighty. Frey +is the most famous of the asas. He rules over rain and sunshine, and +over the fruits of the earth. It is good to call on him for harvests and +peace. He also sways the wealth of men. Freyja is the most famous of the +goddesses. She has in heaven a dwelling which is called Folkvang, and +when she rides to the battle, one half of the slain belong to her, and +the other half to Odin. As is here said: + + Folkvang it is called, + And there rules Freyja. + For the seats in the hall + Half of the slain + She chooses each day; + The other half is Odin’s.[39] + + [Footnote 39: Elder Edda: Grimner’s Lay, 14.] + +Her hall is Sesrynmer, and it is large and beautiful. When she goes +abroad, she drives in a car drawn by two cats. She lends a favorable ear +to men who call upon her, and it is from her name the title has come +that women of birth and wealth are called frur.[40] She is fond of love +ditties, and it is good to call on her in love affairs. + + [Footnote 40: Icel. _frú_ (Ger. _frau_; Dan. _frue_), pl. _frúr_, + means a lady. It is used of the wives of men of rank or title. + It is derived from Freyja.] + +25. Then said Ganglere: Of great importance these asas seem to me to be, +and it is not wonderful that you have great power, since you have such +excellent knowledge of the gods, and know to which of them to address +your prayers on each occasion. But what other gods are there? Har +answered: There is yet an asa, whose name is Tyr. He is very daring and +stout-hearted. He sways victory in war, wherefore warriors should call +on him. There is a saw, that he who surpasses others in bravery, and +never yields, is Tyr-strong. He is also so wise, that it is said of +anyone who is specially intelligent, that he is Tyr-learned. A proof of +his daring is, that when the asas induced the wolf Fenrer to let himself +be bound with the chain Gleipner, he would not believe that they would +loose him again until Tyr put his hand in his mouth as a pledge. But +when the asas would not loose the Fenris-wolf, he bit Tyr’s hand off at +the place of the wolf’s joint (the wrist; Icel. _úlfliðr_[41]). From +that time Tyr is one-handed, and he is now called a peacemaker among +men. + + [Footnote 41: This etymology is, however, erroneous, for the word + is derived from _oln_ or _öln_, and the true form of the word is + _ölnliðr_ = the ell-joint (wrist); thus we have _ölnboge_--the + elbow; _öln_ = _alin_ (Gr. ὠδίνη; Lat. _ulna_; cp. A.-S. + _el-boga_; Eng. _elbow_) is the arm from the elbow to the end of + the middle finger, hence an ell in long measure.] + +26. Brage is the name of another of the asas. He is famous for his +wisdom, eloquence and flowing speech. He is a master-skald, and from him +song-craft is called brag (poetry), and such men or women as distinguish +themselves by their eloquence are called brag-men[42] and brag-women. +His wife is Idun. She keeps in a box those apples of which the gods eat +when they grow old, and then they become young again, and so it will be +until Ragnarok (the twilight of the gods). Then said Ganglere: Of great +importance to the gods it must be, it seems to me, that Idun preserves +these apples with care and honesty. Har answered, and laughed: They ran +a great risk on one occasion, whereof I might tell you more, but you +shall first hear the names of more asas. + + [Footnote 42: Compare the Anglo-Saxon _brego_ = princeps, chief.] + +27. Heimdal is the name of one. He is also called the white-asa. He is +great and holy; born of nine maidens, all of whom were sisters. He hight +also Hallinskide and Gullintanne, for his teeth were of gold. His horse +hight Gulltop (Gold-top). He dwells in a place called Himinbjorg, near +Bifrost. He is the ward of the gods, and sits at the end of heaven, +guarding the bridge against the mountain-giants. He needs less sleep +than a bird; sees an hundred miles around him, and as well by night as +by day. He hears the grass grow and the wool on the backs of the sheep, +and of course all things that sound louder than these. He has a trumpet +called the Gjallarhorn, and when he blows it it can be heard in all the +worlds. The head is called Heimdal’s sword. Thus it is here said: + + Himinbjorg it is called, + Where Heimdal rules + Over his holy halls; + There drinks the ward of the gods + In his delightful dwelling + Glad the good mead.[43] + + [Footnote 43: Elder Edda: Grimner’s Lay, 13.] + +And again, in Heimdal’s Song, he says himself: + + Son I am of maidens nine, + Born I am of sisters nine. + +28. Hoder hight one of the asas, who is blind, but exceedingly strong; +and the gods would wish that this asa never needed to be named, for the +work of his hand will long be kept in memory both by gods and men. + +29. Vidar is the name of the silent asa. He has a very thick shoe, and +he is the strongest next after Thor. From him the gods have much help in +all hard tasks. + +30. Ale, or Vale, is the son of Odin and Rind. He is daring in combat, +and a good shot. + +31. Uller is the name of one, who is a son of Sif, and a step-son of +Thor. He is so good an archer, and so fast on his skees, that no one can +contend with him. He is fair of face, and possesses every quality of a +warrior. Men should invoke him in single combat. + +32. Forsete is a son of Balder and Nanna, Nep’s daughter. He has in +heaven the hall which hight Glitner. All who come to him with disputes +go away perfectly reconciled. No better tribunal is to be found among +gods and men. Thus it is here said: + + Glitner hight the hall, + On gold pillars standing, + And roofed with silver. + There dwells Forsete + Throughout all time, + And settles all disputes.[44] + + [Footnote 44: Elder Edda: Grimner’s Lay, 15.] + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +LOKE AND HIS OFFSPRING. + + +33. There is yet one who is numbered among the asas, but whom some call +the backbiter of the asas. He is the originator of deceit, and the +disgrace of all gods and men. His name is Loke, or Lopt. His father is +the giant Farbaute, but his mother’s name is Laufey, or Nal. His +brothers are Byleist and Helblinde. Loke is fair and beautiful of face, +but evil in disposition, and very fickle-minded. He surpasses other men +in the craft called cunning, and cheats in all things. He has often +brought the asas into great trouble, and often helped them out again, +with his cunning contrivances. His wife hight Sygin, and their son, +Nare, or Narfe. + +34. Loke had yet more children. A giantess in Jotunheim, hight +Angerboda. With her he begat three children. The first was the +Fenris-wolf; the second, Jormungand, that is, the Midgard-serpent, and +the third, Hel. When the gods knew that these three children were being +fostered in Jotunheim, and were aware of the prophecies that much woe +and misfortune would thence come to them, and considering that much evil +might be looked for from them on their mother’s side, and still more on +their father’s, Alfather sent some of the gods to take the children and +bring them to him. When they came to him he threw the serpent into the +deep sea which surrounds all lands. There waxed the serpent so that he +lies in the midst of the ocean, surrounds all the earth, and bites his +own tail. Hel he cast into Niflheim, and gave her power over nine +worlds,[45] that she should appoint abodes to them that are sent to her, +namely, those who die from sickness or old age. She has there a great +mansion, and the walls around it are of strange height, and the gates +are huge. Eljudner is the name of her hall. Her table hight famine; her +knife, starvation. Her man-servant’s name is Ganglate; her +maid-servant’s, Ganglot.[46] Her threshold is called stumbling-block; +her bed, care; the precious hangings of her bed, gleaming bale. One-half +of her is blue, and the other half is of the hue of flesh; hence she is +easily known. Her looks are very stern and grim. + + [Footnote 45: Possibly this ought to read the ninth world, which + would correspond with what we read on page 72, and in the Vala’s + Prophecy. See also notes. It may be a mistake of the transcriber.] + + [Footnote 46: Both these words mean sloth.] + +35. The wolf was fostered by the asas at home, and Tyr was the only one +who had the courage to go to him and give him food. When the gods saw +how much he grew every day, and all prophecies declared that he was +predestined to become fatal to them, they resolved to make a very strong +fetter, which they called Lading. They brought it to the wolf, and bade +him try his strength on the fetter. The wolf, who did not think it would +be too strong for him, let them do therewith as they pleased. But as +soon as he spurned against it the fetter burst asunder, and he was free +from Lading. Then the asas made another fetter, by one-half stronger, +and this they called Drome. They wanted the wolf to try this also, +saying to him that he would become very famous for his strength, if so +strong a chain was not able to hold him. The wolf thought that this +fetter was indeed very strong, but also that his strength had increased +since he broke Lading. He also took into consideration that it was +necessary to expose one’s self to some danger if he desired to become +famous; so he let them put the fetter on him. When the asas said they +were ready, the wolf shook himself, spurned against and dashed the +fetter on the ground, so that the broken pieces flew a long distance. +Thus he broke loose out of Drome. Since then it has been held as a +proverb, “to get loose out of Lading” or “to dash out of Drome,” +whenever anything is extraordinarily hard. The asas now began to fear +that they would not get the wolf bound. So Alfather sent the youth, who +is called Skirner, and is Frey’s messenger, to some dwarfs in +Svartalfaheim, and had them make the fetter which is called Gleipner. It +was made of six things: of the footfall of cats, of the beard of woman, +of the roots of the mountain, of the sinews of the bear, of the breath +of the fish, and of the spittle of the birds. If you have not known this +before, you can easily find out that it is true and that there is no lie +about it, since you must have observed that a woman has no beard, that a +cat’s footfall cannot be heard, and that mountains have no roots; and I +know, forsooth, that what I have told you is perfectly true, although +there are some things that you do not understand. Then said Ganglere: +This I must surely understand to be true. I can see these things which +you have taken as proof. But how was the fetter smithied? Answered Har: +That I can well explain to you. It was smooth and soft as a silken +string. How strong and trusty it was you shall now hear. When the fetter +was brought to the asas, they thanked the messenger for doing his errand +so well. Then they went out into the lake called Amsvartner, to the holm +(rocky island) called Lyngve, and called the wolf to go with them. They +showed him the silken band and bade him break it, saying that it was +somewhat stronger than its thinness would lead one to suppose. Then they +handed it from one to the other and tried its strength with their hands, +but it did not break. Still they said the wolf would be able to snap it. +The wolf answered: It seems to me that I will get no fame though I break +asunder so slender a thread as this is. But if it is made with craft and +guile, then, little though it may look, that band will never come on my +feet. Then said the asas that he would easily be able to break a slim +silken band, since he had already burst large iron fetters asunder. But +even if you are unable to break this band, you have nothing to fear from +the gods, for we will immediately loose you again. The wolf answered: If +you get me bound so fast that I am not able to loose myself again, you +will skulk away, and it will be long before I get any help from you, +wherefore I am loth to let this band be laid on me; but in order that +you may not accuse me of cowardice, let some one of you lay his hand in +my mouth as a pledge that this is done without deceit. The one asa +looked at the other, and thought there now was a choice of two evils, +and no one would offer his hand, before Tyr held out his right hand and +laid it in the wolf’s mouth. But when the wolf now began to spurn +against it the band grew stiffer, and the more he strained the tighter +it got. They all laughed except Tyr; he lost his hand. When the asas saw +that the wolf was sufficiently well bound, they took the chain which was +fixed to the fetter, and which was called Gelgja, and drew it through a +large rock which is called Gjol, and fastened this rock deep down in the +earth. Then they took a large stone, which is called Tvite, and drove it +still deeper into the ground, and used this stone for a fastening-pin. +The wolf opened his mouth terribly wide, raged and twisted himself with +all his might, and wanted to bite them; but they put a sword in his +mouth, in such a manner that the hilt stood in his lower jaw and the +point in the upper, that is his gag. He howls terribly, and the saliva +which runs from his mouth forms a river called Von. There he will lie +until Ragnarok. Then said Ganglere: Very bad are these children of Loke, +but they are strong and mighty. But why did not the asas kill the wolf +when they have evil to expect from him? Har answered: So great respect +have the gods for their holiness and peace-stead, that they would not +stain them with the blood of the wolf, though prophecies foretell that +he must become the bane of Odin. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE GODDESSES (ASYNJES). + + +36. Ganglere asked: Which are the goddesses? Har answered: Frigg is the +first; she possesses the right lordly dwelling which is called Fensaler. +The second is Saga, who dwells in Sokvabek, and this is a large +dwelling. The third is Eir, who is the best leech. The fourth is Gefjun, +who is a may, and those who die maids become her hand-maidens. The fifth +is Fulla, who is also a may, she wears her hair flowing and has a golden +ribbon about her head; she carries Frigg’s chest, takes care of her +shoes and knows her secrets. The sixth is Freyja, who is ranked with +Frigg. She is wedded to the man whose name is Oder; their daughter’s +name is Hnos, and she is so fair that all things fair and precious are +called, from her name, Hnos. Oder went far away. Freyja weeps for him, +but her tears are red gold. Freyja has many names, and the reason +therefor is that she changed her name among the various nations to which +she came in search of Oder. She is called Mardol, Horn, Gefn, and Syr. +She has the necklace Brising, and she is called Vanadis. The seventh is +Sjofn, who is fond of turning men’s and women’s hearts to love, and it +is from her name that love is called Sjafne. The eighth is Lofn, who is +kind and good to those who call upon her, and she has permission from +Alfather or Frigg to bring together men and women, no matter what +difficulties may stand in the way; therefore “love” is so called from +her name, and also that which is much loved by men. The ninth is Var. +She hears the oaths and troths that men and women plight to each other. +Hence such vows are called vars, and she takes vengeance on those who +break their promises. The tenth is Vor, who is so wise and searching +that nothing can be concealed from her. It is a saying that a woman +becomes vor (ware) of what she becomes wise. The eleventh is Syn, who +guards the door of the hall, and closes it against those who are not to +enter. In trials she guards those suits in which anyone tries to make +use of falsehood. Hence is the saying that “syn is set against it,” when +anyone tries to deny ought. The twelfth is Hlin, who guards those men +whom Frigg wants to protect from any danger. Hence is the saying that he +hlins who is forewarned. The thirteenth is Snotra, who is wise and +courtly. After her, men and women who are wise are called Snotras. The +fourteenth is Gna, whom Frigg sends on her errands into various worlds. +She rides upon a horse called Hofvarpner, that runs through the air and +over the sea. Once, when she was riding, some vans saw her faring +through the air. Then said one of them: + + What flies there? + What fares there? + What glides in the air? + +She answered + + I fly not, + Though I fare + And glide through the air + On Hofvarpner, + That Hamskerper, + Begat with Gardrofa.[47] + +From Gna’s name it is said that anything that fares high in the air +gnas. Sol and Bil are numbered among the goddesses, but their nature has +already been described.[48] + + [Footnote 47: Elder Edda: Grimner’s Lay, 36] + + [Footnote 48: See page 66.] + +37. There are still others who are to serve in Valhal, bear the drink +around, wait upon the table and pass the ale-horns. Thus they are named +in Grimner’s Lay: + + Hrist and Mist + I want my horn to bring to me; + Skeggold and Skogul, + Hild and Thrud, + Hlok and Heifjoter, + Gol and Geirahod, + Randgrid and Radgrid, + And Reginleif; + These bear ale to the einherjes.[49] + + [Footnote 49: Elder Edda: Grimner’s Lay, 36.] + +These are called valkyries. Odin sends them to all battles, where they +choose those who are to be slain, and rule over the victory. Gud and +Rosta, and the youngest norn, Skuld, always ride to sway the battle and +choose the slain. Jord, the mother of Thor, and Rind, Vale’s mother, are +numbered among the goddesses. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE GIANTESS GERD AND SKIRNER’S JOURNEY.[50] + +38. Gymer hight a man whose wife was Orboda, of the race of the mountain +giants. Their daughter was Gerd, the fairest of all women. One day when +Frey had gone into Hlidskjalf, and was looking out upon all the worlds, +he saw toward the north a hamlet wherein was a large and beautiful +house. To this house went a woman, and when she raised her hands to open +the door, both the sky and the sea glistened therefrom, and she made all +the world bright. As a punishment for his audacity in seating himself in +that holy seat, Frey went away full of grief. When he came home, he +neither spake, slept, nor drank, and no one dared speak to him. Then +Njord sent for Skirner, Frey’s servant, bade him go to Frey and ask him +with whom he was so angry, since he would speak to nobody. Skirner said +that he would go, though he was loth to do so, as it was probable that +he would get evil words in reply. When he came to Frey and asked him why +he was so sad that he would not talk, Frey answered that he had seen a +beautiful woman, and for her sake he had become so filled with grief, +that he could not live any longer if he could not get her. And now you +must go, he added, and ask her hand for me and bring her home to me, +whether it be with or without the consent of her father. I will reward +you well for your trouble. Skirner answered saying that he would go on +this errand, but Frey must give him his sword, that was so excellent +that it wielded itself in fight. Frey made no objection to this and gave +him the sword. Skirner went on his journey, courted Gerd for him, and +got the promise of her that she nine nights thereafter should come to +Bar-Isle and there have her wedding with Frey. When Skirner came back +and gave an account of his journey, Frey said: + + Long is one night, + Long are two nights, + How can I hold out three? + Oft to me one month + Seemed less + Than this half night of love.[51] + + [Footnote 50: This is the Niblung story in a nut-shell.] + + [Footnote 51: Elder Edda: Skirner’s Journey, 42.] + +This is the reason why Frey was unarmed when he fought with Bele, and +slew him with a hart’s horn. Then said Ganglere: It is a great wonder +that such a lord as Frey would give away his sword, when he did not have +another as good. A great loss it was to him when he fought with Bele; +and this I know, forsooth, that he must have repented of that gift. Har +answered: Of no great account was his meeting with Bele. Frey could have +slain him with his hand. But the time will come when he will find +himself in a worse plight for not having his sword, and that will be +when the sons of Muspel sally forth to the fight. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +LIFE IN VALHAL. + + +39. Then said Ganglere: You say that all men who since the beginning of +the world have fallen in battle have come to Odin in Valhal. What does +he have to give them to eat? It seems to me there must be a great throng +of people. Har answered: It is true, as you remark, that there is a +great throng; many more are yet to come there, and still they will be +thought too few when the wolf[52] comes. But however great may be the +throng in Valhal, they will get plenty of flesh of the boar Sahrimner. +He is boiled every day and is whole again in the evening. But as to the +question you just asked, it seems to me there are but few men so wise +that they are able to answer it correctly. The cook’s name is +Andhrimner, and the kettle is called Eldhrimner as is here said: + + Andhrimner cooks + In Eldhrimner + Sahrimner. + ’Tis the best of flesh. + There are few who know + What the einherjes eat.[53] + + [Footnote 52: The Fenris-wolf in Ragnarok.] + + [Footnote 53: Elder Edda: Grimner’s Lay, 18.] + +Ganglere asked: Does Odin have the same kind of food as the einherjes? +Har answered: The food that is placed on his table he gives to his two +wolves, which hight Gere and Freke. He needs no food himself. Wine is to +him both food and drink, as is here said: + + Gere and Freke + Sates the warfaring, + Famous father of hosts; + But on wine alone + Odin in arms renowned + Forever lives.[54] + + [Footnote 54: Elder Edda: Grimner’s Lay, 19.] + +Two ravens sit on Odin’s shoulders, and bring to his ears all that they +hear and see. Their names are Hugin and Munin. At dawn he sends them out +to fly over the whole world, and they come back at breakfast time. Thus +he gets information about many things, and hence he is called Rafnagud +(raven-god). As is here said: + + Hugin and Munin + Fly every day + Over the great earth. + I fear for Hugin + That he may not return, + Yet more am I anxious for Munin.[55] + + [Footnote 55: Elder Edda: Grimner’s Lay, 20.] + +40. Then asked Ganglere: What do the einherjes have to drink that is +furnished them as bountifully as the food? Or do they drink water? Har +answered: That is a wonderful question. Do you suppose that Alfather +invites kings, jarls, or other great men, and gives them water to drink? +This I know, forsooth, that many a one comes to Valhal who would think +he was paying a big price for his water-drink, if there were no better +reception to be found there,--persons, namely, who have died from wounds +and pain. But I can tell you other tidings. A she-goat, by name Heidrun, +stands up in Valhal and bites the leaves off the branches of that famous +tree called Lerad. From her teats runs so much mead that she fills every +day a vessel in the hall from which the horns are filled, and which is +so large that all the einherjes get all the drink they want out of it. +Then said Ganglere: That is a most useful goat, and a right excellent +tree that must be that she feeds upon. Then said Har: Still more +remarkable is the hart Eikthyrner, which stands over Valhal and bites +the branches of the same tree. From his horns fall so many drops down +into Hvergelmer, that thence flow the rivers that are called Sid, Vid, +Sekin, Ekin, Svol, Gunthro, Fjorm, Fimbulthul, Gipul, Gopul, Gomul and +Geirvimul, all of which fall about the abodes of the asas. The following +are also named: Thyn, Vin, Thol, Bol, Grad, Gunthrain, Nyt, Not, Non, +Hron, Vina, Vegsvin, Thjodnuma. + +41. Then said Ganglere: That was a wonderful tiding that you now told +me. A mighty house must Valhal be, and a great crowd there must often be +at the door. Then answered Har: Why do you not ask how many doors there +are in Valhal, and how large they are? When you find that out, you will +confess that it would rather be wonderful if everybody could not easily +go in and out. It is also a fact that it is no more difficult to find +room within than to get in. Of this you may hear what the Lay of Grimner +says: + + Five hundred doors + And forty more, + I trow, there are in Valhal. + Eight hundred einherjes + Go at a time through one door + When they fare to fight with the wolf.[56] + + [Footnote 56: Elder Edda: Grimner’s Lay, 23.] + +42. Then said Ganglere: A mighty band of men there is in Valhal, and, +forsooth, I know that Odin is a very great chief, since he commands so +mighty a host. But what is the pastime of the einherjes when they do not +drink? Har answered: Every morning, when they have dressed themselves, +they take their weapons and go out into the court and fight and slay +each other. That is their play. Toward breakfast-time they ride home to +Valhal and sit down to drink. As is here said: + + All the einherjes + In Odin’s court + Hew daily each other. + They choose the slain + And ride from the battle-field, + Then sit they in peace together.[57] + +But true it is, as you said, that Odin is a great chief. There are many +proofs of that. Thus it is said in the very words of the asas +themselves: + + The Ygdrasil ash + Is the foremost of trees, + But Skidbladner of ships, + Odin of asas, + Sleipner of steeds, + Bifrost of bridges, + Brage of Skalds, + Habrok of hows, + But Garm of dogs.[58] + + [Footnote 57: Elder Edda: Vafthrudner’s Lay, 41.] + + [Footnote 58: Elder Edda: Grimner’s Lay, 44.] + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +ODIN’S HORSE AND FREY’S SHIP. + + +43. Ganglere asked: Whose is that horse Sleipner, and what is there to +say about it? Har answered: You have no knowledge of Sleipner, nor do +you know the circumstances attending his birth; but it must seem to you +worth the telling. In the beginning, when the town of the gods was +building, when the gods had established Midgard and made Valhal, there +came a certain builder and offered to make them a burg, in three half +years, so excellent that it should be perfectly safe against the +mountain-giants and frost-giants, even though they should get within +Midgard. But he demanded as his reward, that he should have Freyja, and +he wanted the sun and moon besides. Then the asas came together and held +counsel, and the bargain was made with the builder that he should get +what he demanded if he could get the burg done in one winter; but if on +the first day of summer any part of the burg was unfinished, then the +contract should be void. It was also agreed that no man should help him +with the work. When they told him these terms, he requested that they +should allow him to have the help of his horse, called Svadilfare, and +at the suggestion of Loke this was granted him. + +On the first day of winter he began to build the burg, but by night he +hauled stone for it with his horse. But it seemed a great wonder to the +asas what great rocks that horse drew, and the horse did one half more +of the mighty task than the builder. The bargain was firmly established +with witnesses and oaths, for the giant did not deem it safe to be among +the asas without truce if Thor should come home, who now was on a +journey to the east fighting trolls. Toward the end of winter the burg +was far built, and it was so high and strong that it could in nowise be +taken. When there were three days left before summer, the work was all +completed excepting the burg gate. Then went the gods to their +judgment-seats and held counsel, and asked each other who could have +advised to give Freyja in marriage in Jotunheim, or to plunge the air +and the heavens in darkness by taking away the sun and the moon and +giving them to the giant; and all agreed that this must have been +advised by him who gives the most bad counsels, namely, Loke, son of +Laufey, and they threatened him with a cruel death if he could not +contrive some way of preventing the builder from fulfilling his part of +the bargain, and they proceeded to lay hands on Loke. He in his fright +then promised with an oath that he should so manage that the builder +should lose his wages, let it cost him what it would. And the same +evening, when the builder drove out after stone with his horse +Svadilfare, a mare suddenly ran out of the woods to the horse and began +to neigh at him. The steed, knowing what sort of horse this was, grew +excited, burst the reins asunder and ran after the mare, but she ran +from him into the woods. The builder hurried after them with all his +might, and wanted to catch the steed, but these horses kept running all +night, and thus the time was lost, and at dawn the work had not made the +usual progress. When the builder saw that his work was not going to be +completed, he resumed his giant form. When the asas thus became sure +that it was really a mountain-giant that had come among them, they did +not heed their oaths, but called on Thor. He came straightway, swung his +hammer, Mjolner, and paid the workman his wages,--not with the sun and +moon, but rather by preventing him from dwelling in Jotunheim; and this +was easily done with the first blow of the hammer, which broke his skull +into small pieces and sent him down to Niflhel. But Loke had run such a +race with Svadilfare that he some time after bore a foal. It was gray, +and had eight feet, and this is the best horse among gods and men. Thus +it is said in the Vala’s Prophecy: + + Then went the gods. + The most holy gods, + Onto their judgment-seats, + And counseled together + Who all the air + With guile had blended + Or to the giant race + Oder’s may had given. + Broken were oaths, + And words and promises,-- + All mighty speech + That had passed between them. + Thor alone did this, + Swollen with anger. + Seldom sits he still + When such things he hears.[59] + +44. Then asked Ganglere: What is there to be said of Skidbladner, which +you say is the best of ships? Is there no ship equally good, or equally +great? Made answer Har: Skidbladner is the best of ships, and is made +with the finest workmanship; but Naglfare, which is in Muspel, is the +largest. Some dwarfs, the sons of Ivalde, made Skidbladner and gave it +to Frey. It is so large that all the asas, with their weapons and +war-gear, can find room on board it, and as soon as the sails are +hoisted it has fair wind, no matter whither it is going. When it is not +wanted for a voyage, it is made of so many pieces and with so much +skill, that Frey can fold it together like a napkin and carry it in his +pocket. + + [Footnote 59: Elder Edda: The Vala’s Prophecy, 29, 30.] + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THOR’S ADVENTURES. + + +Then said Ganglere: A good ship is Skidbladner, but much black art must +have been resorted to ere it was so fashioned. Has Thor never come where +he has found anything so strong and mighty that it has been superior to +him either in strength or in the black art? Har answered: Few men, I +know, are able to tell thereof, but still he has often been in difficult +straits. But though there have been things so mighty and strong that +Thor has not been able to gain the victory, they are such as ought not +to be spoken of; for there are many proofs which all must accept that +Thor is the mightiest. Then said Ganglere: It seems to me that I have +now asked about something that no one can answer. Said Jafnhar: We have +heard tell of adventures that seem to us incredible, but here sits one +near who is able to tell true tidings thereof, and you may believe that +he will not lie for the first time now, who never told a lie before. +Then said Ganglere: I will stand here and listen, to see if any answer +is to be had to this question. But if you cannot answer my question I +declare you to be defeated. Then answered Thride: It is evident that he +now is bound to know, though it does not seem proper for us to speak +thereof. The beginning of this adventure is that Oku-Thor went on a +journey with his goats and chariot, and with him went the asa who is +called Loke. In the evening they came to a bonde[60] and got there +lodgings for the night. In the evening Thor took his goats and killed +them both, whereupon he had them flayed and borne into a kettle. When +the flesh was boiled, Thor and his companion sat down to supper. Thor +invited the bonde, his wife and their children, a son by name Thjalfe, +and a daughter by name Roskva, to eat with them. Then Thor laid the +goat-skins away from the fire-place, and requested the bonde and his +household to cast the bones onto the skins. Thjalfe, the bonde’s son, +had the thigh of one of the goats, which he broke asunder with his +knife, in order to get at the marrow, Thor remained there over night. In +the morning, just before daybreak, he arose, dressed himself, took the +hammer Mjolner, lifted it and hallowed the goat-skins. Then the goats +arose, but one of them limped on one of its hind legs. When Thor saw +this he said that either the bonde or one of his folk had not dealt +skillfully with the goat’s bones, for he noticed that the thigh was +broken. It is not necessary to dwell on this part of the story. All can +understand how frightened the bonde became when he saw that Thor let his +brows sink down over his eyes. When he saw his eyes he thought he must +fall down at the sight of them alone. Thor took hold of the handle of +his hammer so hard that his knuckles grew white. As might be expected, +the bonde and all his household cried aloud and sued for peace, offering +him as an atonement all that they possessed. When he saw their fear, his +wrath left him. He was appeased, and took as a ransom the bonders +children, Thjalfe and Roskva. They became his servants, and have always +accompanied him since that time. + + [Footnote 60: Bonde = peasant.] + +46. He left his goats there and went on his way east into Jotunheim, +clear to the sea, and then he went on across the deep ocean, and went +ashore on the other side, together with Loke and Thjalfe and Roskva. +When they had proceeded a short distance, there stood before them a +great wood, through which they kept going the whole day until dark. +Thjalfe, who was of all men the fleetest of foot, bore Thor’s bag, but +the wood was no good place for provisions. When it had become dark, they +sought a place for their night lodging, and found a very large hall. At +the end of it was a door as wide as the hall. Here they remained through +the night. About midnight there was a great earthquake; the ground +trembled beneath them, and the house shook. Then Thor stood up and +called his companions. They looked about them and found an adjoining +room to the right, in the midst of the hall, and there they went in. +Thor seated himself in the door; the others went farther in and were +very much frightened. Thor held his hammer by the handle, ready to +defend himself. Then they heard a great groaning and roaring. When it +began to dawn, Thor went out and saw a man lying not far from him in the +wood. He was very large, lay sleeping, and snored loudly. Then Thor +thought he had found out what noise it was that they had heard in the +night. He girded himself with his Megingjarder, whereby his asa-might +increased. Meanwhile the man woke, and immediately arose. It is said +that Thor this once forbore to strike him with the hammer, and asked him +for his name. He called himself Skrymer; but, said he, I do not need to +ask you what your name is,--I know that you are Asa-Thor. But what have +you done with my glove? He stretched out his hand and picked up his +glove. Then Thor saw that the glove was the hall in which he had spent +the night, and that the adjoining room was the thumb of the glove. +Skrymer asked whether they would accept of his company. Thor said yes. +Skrymer took and loosed his provision-sack and began to eat his +breakfast; but Thor and his fellows did the same in another place. +Skrymer proposed that they should lay their store of provisions +together, to which Thor consented. Then Skrymer bound all their +provisions into one bag, laid it on his back, and led the way all the +day, taking gigantic strides. Late in the evening he sought out a place +for their night quarters under a large oak. Then Skrymer said to Thor +that he wanted to lie down to sleep; they might take the provision-sack +and make ready their supper. Then Skrymer fell asleep and snored +tremendously. When Thor took the provision-sack and was to open it, then +happened what seems incredible, but still it must be told,--that he +could not get one knot loosened, nor could he stir a single end of the +strings so that it was looser than before. When he saw that all his +efforts were in vain he became wroth, seized his hammer Mjolner with +both his hands, stepped with one foot forward to where Skrymer was lying +and dashed the hammer at his head. Skrymer awoke and asked whether some +leaf had fallen upon his head; whether they had taken their supper, and +were ready to go to sleep. Thor answered that they were just going to +sleep. Then they went under another oak. But the truth must be told, +that there was no fearless sleeping. About midnight Thor heard that +Skrymer was snoring and sleeping so fast that it thundered in the wood. +He arose and went over to him, clutched the hammer tight and hard, and +gave him a blow in the middle of the crown, so that he knew that the +head of the hammer sank deep into his head. But just then Skrymer awoke +and asked: What is that? Did an acorn fall onto my head? How is it with +you, Thor? Thor hastened back, answered that he had just waked up, and +said that it was midnight and still time to sleep. Then Thor made up his +mind that if he could get a chance to give him the third blow, he should +never see him again, and he now lay watching for Skrymer to sleep fast. +Shortly before daybreak he heard that Skrymer had fallen asleep. So he +arose and ran over to him. He clutched the hammer with all his might and +dashed it at his temples, which he saw uppermost. The hammer sank up to +the handle. Skrymer sat up, stroked his temples, and said: Are there any +birds sitting in the tree above me? Methought, as I awoke, that some +moss from the branches fell on my head. What! are you awake, Thor? It is +now time to get up and dress; but you have not far left to the burg that +is called Utgard. I have heard that you have been whispering among +yourselves that I am not small of stature, but you will see greater men +when you come to Utgard. Now I will give you wholesome advice. Do not +brag too much of yourselves, for Utgard-Loke’s thanes will not brook the +boasting of such insignificant little fellows as you are; otherwise turn +back, and that is, in fact, the best thing for you to do. But if you are +bound to continue your journey, then keep straight on eastward; my way +lies to the north, to those mountains that you there see. Skrymer then +took the provision-sack and threw it on his back, and, leaving them, +turned into the wood, and it has not been learned whether the asas +wished to meet him again in health. + +47. Thor and his companions went their way and continued their journey +until noon. Then they saw a burg standing on a plain, and it was so high +that they had to bend their necks clear back before they could look over +it. They drew nearer and came to the burg-gate, which was closed. Thor +finding himself unable to open it, and being anxious to get within the +burg, they crept between the bars and so came in. They discovered a +large hall and went to it. Finding the door open they entered, and saw +there many men, the most of whom were immensely large, sitting on two +benches. Thereupon they approached the king, Utgard-Loke, and greeted +him. He scarcely deigned to look at them, smiled scornfully and showed +his teeth, saying: It is late to ask for tidings of a long journey, but +if I am not mistaken this stripling is Oku-Thor, is it not? It may be, +however, that you are really bigger than you look For what feats are you +and your companions prepared? No one can stay with us here, unless he is +skilled in some craft or accomplishment beyond the most of men. Then +answered he who came in last, namely Loke: I know the feat of which I am +prepared to give proof, that there is no one present who can eat his +food faster than I. Then said Utgard-Loke: That is a feat, indeed, +if you can keep your word, and you shall try it immediately. He then +summoned from the bench a man by name Loge, and requested him to come +out on the floor and try his strength against Loke. They took a trough +full of meat and set it on the floor, whereupon Loke seated himself at +one end and Loge at the other. Both ate as fast as they could, and met +at the middle of the trough. Loke had eaten all the flesh off from the +bones, but Loge had consumed both the flesh and the bones, and the +trough too. All agreed that Loke had lost the wager. Then Utgard-Loke +asked what game that young man knew? Thjalfe answered that he would try +to run a race with anyone that Utgard-Loke might designate. Utgard-Loke +said this was a good feat, and added that it was to be hoped that he +excelled in swiftness if he expected to win in this game, but he would +soon have the matter decided. He arose and went out. There was an +excellent race-course along the flat plain. Utgard-Loke then summoned a +young man, whose name was Huge, and bade him run a race with Thjalfe. +Then they took the first heat, and Huge was so much ahead that when he +turned at the goal he met Thjalfe. Said Utgard-Loke: You must lay +yourself more forward, Thjalfe, if you want to win the race; but this I +confess, that there has never before come anyone hither who was swifter +of foot than you. Then they took a second heat, and when Huge came to +the goal and turned, there was a long bolt-shot to Thjalfe. Then said +Utgard-Loke: Thjalfe seems to me to run well; still I scarcely think he +will win the race, but this will be proven when they run the third heat. +Then they took one more heat. Huge ran to the goal and turned back, but +Thjalfe had not yet gotten to the middle of the course. Then all said +that this game had been tried sufficiently. Utgard-Loke now asked Thor +what feats there were that he would be willing to exhibit before them, +corresponding to the tales that men tell of his great works. Thor +replied that he preferred to compete with someone in drinking. +Utgard-Loke said there would be no objection to this. He went into the +hall, called his cup-bearer, and requested him to take the sconce-horn +that his thanes were wont to drink from. The cup-bearer immediately +brought forward the horn and handed it to Thor. Said Utgard-Loke: From +this horn it is thought to be well drunk if it is emptied in one +draught, some men empty it in two draughts, but there is no drinker so +wretched that he cannot exhaust it in three. Thor looked at the horn and +did not think it was very large, though it seemed pretty long, but he +was very thirsty. He put it to his lips and swallowed with all his +might, thinking that he should not have to bend over the horn a second +time. But when his breath gave out, and he looked into the horn to see +how it had gone with his drinking, it seemed to him difficult to +determine whether there was less in it than before. Then said +Utgard-Loke: That is well drunk, still it is not very much. I could +never have believed it, if anyone had told me, that Asa-Thor could not +drink more, but I know you will be able to empty it in a second draught. +Thor did not answer, but set the horn to his lips, thinking that he +would now take a larger draught. He drank as long as he could and drank +deep, as he was wont, but still he could not make the tip of the horn +come up as much as he would like. And when he set the horn away and +looked into it, it seemed to him that he had drunk less than the first +time; but the horn could now be borne without spilling. Then said +Utgard-Loke: How now, Thor! Are you not leaving more for the third +draught than befits your skill? It seems to me that if you are to empty +the horn with the third draught, then this will be the greatest. You +will not be deemed so great a man here among us as the asas call you, if +you do not distinguish yourself more in other feats than you seem to me +to have done in this. Then Thor became wroth, set the horn to his mouth +and drank with all his might and kept on as long as he could, and when +he looked into it its contents had indeed visibly diminished, but he +gave back the horn and would not drink any more. Said Utgard-Loke: It is +clear that your might is not so great as we thought. Would you like to +try other games? It is evident that you gained nothing by the first. +Answered Thor: I should like to try other games, but I should be +surprised if such a drink at home among the asas would be called small. +What game will you now offer me? Answered Utgard-Loke: Young lads here +think it nothing but play to lift my cat up from the ground, and I +should never have dared to offer such a thing to Asa-Thor had I not +already seen that you are much less of a man than I thought. Then there +sprang forth on the floor a gray cat, and it was rather large. Thor went +over to it, put his hand under the middle of its body and tried to lift +it up, but the cat bent its back in the same degree as Thor raised his +hands; and when he had stretched them up as far as he was able the cat +lifted one foot, and Thor did not carry the game any further. Then said +Utgard-Loke: This game ended as I expected. The cat is rather large, and +Thor is small, and little compared with the great men that are here with +us. Said Thor: Little as you call me, let anyone who likes come hither +and wrestle with me, for now I am wroth. Answered Utgard-Loke, looking +about him on the benches: I do not see anyone here who would not think +it a trifle to wrestle with you. And again he said: Let me see first! +Call hither that old woman, Elle, my foster-mother, and let Thor wrestle +with her if he wants to. She has thrown to the ground men who have +seemed to me no less strong than Thor. Then there came into the hall an +old woman. Utgard-Loke bade her take a wrestle with Asa-Thor. The tale +is not long. The result of the grapple was, that the more Thor tightened +his grasp, the firmer she stood. Then the woman began to bestir herself, +and Thor lost his footing. They had some very hard tussles, and before +long Thor was brought down on one knee. Then Utgard-Loke stepped +forward, bade them cease the wrestling, and added that Thor did not need +to challenge anybody else to wrestle with him in his hall, besides it +was now getting late. He showed Thor and his companions to seats, and +they spent the night there enjoying the best of hospitality. + +48. At daybreak the next day Thor and his companions arose, dressed +themselves and were ready to depart. Then came Utgard-Loke and had the +table spread for them, and there was no lack of feasting both in food +and in drink. When they had breakfasted, they immediately departed from +the burg. Utgard-Loke went with them out of the burg, but at parting he +spoke to Thor and asked him how he thought his journey had turned out, +or whether he had ever met a mightier man than himself. Thor answered +that he could not deny that he had been greatly disgraced in this +meeting; and this I know, he added, that you will call me a man of +little account, whereat I am much mortified. Then said Utgard-Loke: Now +I will tell you the truth, since you have come out of the burg, that if +I live, and may have my way, you shall never enter it again; and this I +know, forsooth, that you should never have come into it had I before +known that you were so strong, and that you had come so near bringing us +into great misfortune. Know, then, that I have deceived you with +illusions. When I first found you in the woods I came to meet you, and +when you were to loose the provision-sack I had bound it with iron +threads, but you did not find where it was to be untied. In the next +place, you struck me three times with the hammer. The first blow was the +least, and still it was so severe that it would have been my death if it +had hit me. You saw near my burg a mountain cloven at the top into three +square dales, of which one was the deepest,--these were the dints made +by your hammer. The mountain I brought before the blows without your +seeing it. In like manner I deceived you in your contests with my +courtiers. In regard to the first, in which Loke took part, the facts +were as follows: He was very hungry and ate fast; but he whose name was +Loge was wildfire, and he burned the trough no less rapidly than the +meat. When Thjalfe ran a race with him whose name was Huge, that was my +thought, and it was impossible for him to keep pace with its swiftness. +When you drank from the horn, and thought that it diminished so little, +then, by my troth, it was a great wonder, which I never could have +deemed possible.. One end of the horn stood in the sea, but that you did +not see. When you come to the sea-shore you will discover how much the +sea has sunk by your drinking; that is now called the ebb. Furthermore +he said: Nor did it seem less wonderful to me that you lifted up the +cat; and, to tell you the truth, all who saw it were frightened when +they saw that you raised one of its feet from the ground, for it was not +such a cat as you thought. It was in reality the Midgard-serpent, which +surrounds all lands. It was scarcely long enough to touch the earth with +its tail and head, and you raised it so high that your hand nearly +reached to heaven. It was also a most astonishing feat when you wrestled +with Elle, for none has ever been, and none shall ever be, that Elle +(eld, old age) will not get the better of him, though he gets to be old +enough to abide her coming. And now the truth is that we must part; and +it will be better for us both that you do not visit me again. I will +again defend my burg with similar or other delusions, so that you will +get no power over me. When Thor heard this tale he seized his hammer and +lifted it into the air, but when he was about to strike he saw +Utgard-Loke nowhere; and when he turned back to the burg and was going +to dash that to pieces, he saw a beautiful and large plain, but no burg. +So he turned and went his way back to Thrudvang. But it is truthfully +asserted that he then resolved in his own mind to seek that meeting with +the Midgard-serpent, which afterward took place. And now I think that no +one can tell you truer tidings of this journey of Thor. + +49. Then said Ganglere: A most powerful man is Utgard-Loke, though he +deals much with delusions and sorcery. His power is also proven by the +fact that he had thanes who were so mighty. But has not Thor avenged +himself for this? Made answer Har: It is not unknown, though no wise men +tell thereof, how Thor made amends for the journey that has now been +spoken of. He did not remain long at home, before he busked himself so +suddenly for a new journey, that he took neither chariot, nor goats nor +any companions with him. He went out of Midgard in the guise of a young +man, and came in the evening to a giant by name Hymer.[61] Thor tarried +there as a guest through the night. In the morning Hymer arose, dressed +himself, and busked himself to row out upon the sea to fish. Thor also +sprang up, got ready in a hurry and asked Hymer whether he might row out +with him. Hymer answered that he would get but little help from Thor, as +he was so small and young; and he added, you will get cold if I row as +far out and remain as long as I am wont. Thor said that he might row as +far from shore as he pleased, for all that, and it was yet to be seen +who would be the first to ask to row back to land. And Thor grew so +wroth at the giant that he came near letting the hammer ring on his head +straightway, but he restrained himself, for he intended to try his +strength elsewhere. He asked Hymer what they were to have for bait, but +Hymer replied that he would have to find his own bait. Then Thor turned +away to where he saw a herd of oxen, that belonged to Hymer. He took the +largest ox, which was called Himinbrjot, twisted his head off and +brought it down to the sea-strand. Hymer had then shoved the boat off. +Thor went on board and seated himself in the stern; he took two oars and +rowed so that Hymer had to confess that the boat sped fast from his +rowing. Hymer plied the oars in the bow, and thus the rowing soon ended. +Then said Hymer that they had come to the place where he was wont to sit +and catch flat-fish, but Thor said he would like to row much farther +out, and so they made another swift pull. Then said Hymer that they had +come so far out that it was dangerous to stay there, for the +Midgard-serpent. Thor said he wished to row a while longer, and so he +did; but Hymer was by no means in a happy mood. Thor took in the oars, +got ready a very strong line, and the hook was neither less nor weaker. +When he had put on the ox-head for bait, he cast it overboard and it +sank to the bottom. It must be admitted that Thor now beguiled the +Midgard-serpent not a whit less than Utgard-Loke mocked him when he was +to lift the serpent with his hand. The Midgard-serpent took the ox-head +into his mouth, whereby the hook entered his palate, but when the +serpent perceived this he tugged so hard that both Thor’s hands were +dashed against the gunwale. Now Thor became angry, assumed his asa-might +and spurned so hard that both his feet went through the boat and he +stood on the bottom of the sea. He pulled the serpent up to the gunwale; +and in truth no one has ever seen a more terrible sight than when Thor +whet his eyes on the serpent, and the latter stared at him and spouted +venom. It is said that the giant Hymer changed hue and grew pale from +fear when he saw the serpent and beheld the water flowing into the boat; +but just at the moment when Thor grasped the hammer and lifted it in the +air, the giant fumbled for his fishing-knife and cut off Thor’s line at +the gunwale, whereby the serpent sank back into the sea. Thor threw the +hammer after it, and it is even said that he struck off his head at the +bottom, but I think the truth is that the Midgard-serpent still lives +and lies in the ocean. Thor clenched his fist and gave the giant a box +on the ear so that he fell backward into the sea, and he saw his heels +last, but Thor waded ashore. + + [Footnote 61: Called Ymer in the Younger Edda, but the Elder Edda + calls him Hymer.] + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE DEATH OF BALDER. + + +50. Then asked Ganglere: Have there happened any other remarkable things +among the asas? A great deed it was, forsooth, that Thor wrought on this +journey. Har answered: Yes, indeed, there are tidings to be told that +seemed of far greater importance to the asas. The beginning of this tale +is, that Balder dreamed dreams great and dangerous to his life. When he +told these dreams to the asas they took counsel together, and it was +decided that they should seek peace for Balder against all kinds of +harm. So Frigg exacted an oath from fire, water, iron and all kinds of +metal, stones, earth, trees, sicknesses, beasts, birds and creeping +things, that they should not hurt Balder. When this was done and made +known, it became the pastime of Balder and the asas that he should stand +up at their meetings while some of them should shoot at him, others +should hew at him, while others should throw stones at him; but no +matter what they did, no harm came to him, and this seemed to all a +great honor. When Loke, Laufey’s son, saw this, it displeased him very +much that Balder was not scathed. So he went to Frigg, in Fensal, having +taken on himself the likeness of a woman. Frigg asked this woman whether +she knew what the asas were doing at their meeting. She answered that +all were shooting at Balder, but that he was not scathed thereby. Then +said Frigg: Neither weapon nor tree can hurt Balder, I have taken an +oath from them all. Then asked the woman: Have all things taken an oath +to spare Balder? Frigg answered: West of Valhal there grows a little +shrub that is called the mistletoe, that seemed to me too young to exact +an oath from. Then the woman suddenly disappeared. Loke went and pulled +up the mistletoe and proceeded to the meeting. Hoder stood far to one +side in the ring of men, because he was blind. Loke addressed himself to +him, and asked: Why do you not shoot at Balder? He answered: Because I +do not see where he is, and furthermore I have no weapons. Then said +Loke: Do like the others and show honor to Balder; I will show you where +he stands; shoot at him with this wand. Hoder took the mistletoe and +shot at Balder under the guidance of Loke. The dart pierced him and he +fell dead to the ground. This is the greatest misfortune that has ever +happened to gods and men. When Balder had fallen, the asas were struck +speechless with horror, and their hands failed them to lay hold of the +corpse. One looked at the other, and all were of one mind toward him who +had done the deed, but being assembled in a holy peace-stead, no one +could take vengeance. When the asas at length tried to speak, the +wailing so choked their voices that one could not describe to the other +his sorrow. Odin took this misfortune most to heart, since he best +comprehended how great a loss and injury the fall of Balder was to the +asas. When the gods came to their senses, Frigg spoke and asked who +there might be among the asas who desired to win all her love and good +will by riding the way to Hel and trying to find Balder, and offering +Hel a ransom if she would allow Balder to return home again to Asgard. +But he is called Hermod, the Nimble, Odin’s swain, who undertook this +journey. Odin’s steed, Sleipner, was led forth. Hermod mounted him and +galloped away. + +51. The asas took the corpse of Balder and brought it to the sea-shore. +Hringhorn was the name of Balder’s ship, and it was the largest of all +ships. The gods wanted to launch it and make Balder’s bale-fire thereon, +but they could not move it. Then they sent to Jotunheim after the +giantess whose name is Hyrrokken. She came riding on a wolf, and had +twisted serpents for reins. When she alighted, Odin appointed four +berserks to take care of her steed, but they were unable to hold him +except by throwing him down on the ground. Hyrrokken went to the prow +and launched the ship with one single push, but the motion was so +violent that fire sprang from the underlaid rollers and all the earth +shook. Then Thor became wroth, grasped his hammer, and would forthwith +have crushed her skull, had not all the gods asked peace for her. +Balder’s corpse was borne out on the ship; and when his wife, Nanna, +daughter of Nep, saw this, her heart was broken with grief and she died. +She was borne to the funeral-pile and cast on the fire. Thor stood by +and hallowed the pile with Mjolner. Before his feet ran a dwarf, whose +name is Lit. Him Thor kicked with his foot and dashed him into the fire, +and he, too, was burned. But this funeral-pile was attended by many +kinds of folk. First of all came Odin, accompanied by Frigg and the +valkyries and his ravens. Frey came riding in his chariot drawn by the +boar called Gullinburste or Slidrugtanne. Heimdal rode his steed +Gulltop, and Freyja drove her cats. There was a large number of +frost-giants and mountain-giants. Odin laid on the funeral-pile his gold +ring, Draupner, which had the property of producing, every ninth night, +eight gold rings of equal weight. Balder’s horse, fully caparisoned, was +led to his master’s pile. + +52. But of Hermod it is to be told that he rode nine nights through deep +and dark valleys, and did not see light until he came to the +Gjallar-river and rode on the Gjallar-bridge, which is thatched with +shining gold. Modgud is the name of the may who guards the bridge. She +asked him for his name, and of what kin he was, saying that the day +before there rode five fylkes (kingdoms, bands) of dead men over the +bridge; but she added, it does not shake less under you alone, and you +do not have the hue of dead men. Why do you ride the way to Hel? He +answered: I am to ride to Hel to find Balder. Have you seen him pass +this way? She answered that Balder had ridden over the Gjallar-bridge; +adding: But downward and northward lies the way to Hel. Then Hermod rode +on till he came to Hel’s gate. He alighted from his horse, drew the +girths tighter, remounted him, clapped the spurs into him, and the horse +leaped over the gate with so much force that he never touched it. +Thereupon Hermod proceeded to the hall and alighted from his steed. He +went in, and saw there sitting on the foremost seat his brother Balder. +He tarried there over night. In the morning he asked Hel whether Balder +might ride home with him, and told how great weeping there was among the +asas. But Hel replied that it should now be tried whether Balder was so +much beloved as was said. If all things, said she, both quick and dead, +will weep for him, then he shall go back to the asas, but if anything +refuses to shed tears, then he shall remain with Hel. Hermod arose, and +Balder accompanied him out of the hall. He took the ring Draupner and +sent it as a keepsake to Odin. Nanna sent Frigg a kerchief and other +gifts, and to Fulla she sent a ring. Thereupon Hermod rode back and came +to Asgard, where he reported the tidings he had seen and heard. + +53. Then the asas sent messengers over all the world, praying that +Balder might be wept out of Hel’s power. All things did so,--men and +beasts, the earth, stones, trees and all metals, just as you must have +seen that these things weep when they come out of frost and into heat. +When the messengers returned home and had done their errand well, they +found a certain cave wherein sat a giantess (gygr = ogress) whose name +was Thok. They requested her to weep Balder from Hel; but she answered: + + Thok will weep + With dry tears + For Balder’s burial; + Neither in life nor in death + Gave he me gladness. + Let Hel keep what she has! + +It is generally believed that this Thok was Loke, Laufey’s son, who has +wrought most evil among the asas. + +54. Then said Ganglere: A very great wrong did Loke perpetrate; first of +all in causing Balder’s death, and next in standing in the way of his +being loosed from Hel. Did he get no punishment for this misdeed? Har +answered: Yes, he was repaid for this in a way that he will long +remember. The gods became exceedingly wroth, as might be expected. So he +ran away and hid himself in a rock. Here he built a house with four +doors, so that he might keep an outlook on all sides. Oftentimes in the +daytime he took on him the likeness of a salmon and concealed himself in +Frananger Force. Then he thought to himself what stratagems the asas +might have recourse to in order to catch him. Now, as he was sitting in +his house, he took flax and yarn and worked them into meshes, in the +manner that nets have since been made; but a fire was burning before +him. Then he saw that the asas were not far distant. Odin had seen from +Hlidskjalf where Loke kept himself. Loke immediately sprang up, cast the +net on the fire and leaped into the river. When the asas came to the +house, he entered first who was wisest of them all, and whose name was +Kvaser; and when he saw in the fire the ashes of the net that had been +burned, he understood that this must be a contrivance for catching fish, +and this he told to the asas. Thereupon they took flax and made +themselves a net after the pattern of that which they saw in the ashes +and which Loke had made. When the net was made, the asas went to the +river and cast it into the force. Thor held one end of the net, and all +the other asas laid hold on the other, thus jointly drawing it along the +stream. Loke went before it and laid himself down between two stones, +so that they drew the net over him, although they perceived that some +living thing touched the meshes. They went up to the force again and +cast out the net a second time. This time they hung a great weight to +it, making it so heavy that nothing could possibly pass under it. Loke +swam before the net, but when he saw that he was near the sea he sprang +over the top of the net and hastened back to the force. When the asas +saw whither he went they proceeded up to the force, dividing themselves +into two bands, but Thor waded in the middle of the stream, and so they +dragged the net along to the sea. Loke saw that he now had only two +chances of escape,--either to risk his life and swim out to sea, or to +leap again over the net. He chose the latter, and made a tremendous leap +over the top line of the net. Thor grasped after him and caught him, but +he slipped in his hand so that Thor did not get a firm hold before he +got to the tail, and this is the reason why the salmon has so slim a +tail. Now Loke was taken without truce and was brought to a cave. The +gods took three rocks and set them up on edge, and bored a hole through +each rock. Then they took Loke’s sons, Vale and Nare or Narfe. Vale they +changed into the likeness of a wolf, whereupon he tore his brother Narfe +to pieces, with whose intestines the asas bound Loke over the three +rocks. One stood under his shoulders, another under his loins, and the +third under his hams, and the fetters became iron. Skade took a serpent +and fastened up over him, so that the venom should drop from the serpent +into his face. But Sigyn, his wife, stands by him, and holds a dish +under the venom-drops. Whenever the dish becomes full, she goes and +pours away the venom, and meanwhile the venom drops onto Loke’s face. +Then he twists his body so violently that the whole earth shakes, and +this you call earthquakes. There he will lie bound until Ragnarok. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +RAGNAROK. + + +55. Then said Ganglere: What tidings are to be told of Ragnarok? Of this +I have never heard before. Har answered: Great things are to be said +thereof. First, there is a winter called the Fimbul-winter, when snow +drives from all quarters, the frosts are so severe, the winds so keen +and piercing, that there is no joy in the sun. There are three such +winters in succession, without any intervening summer. But before these +there are three other winters, during which great wars rage over all the +world. Brothers slay each other for the sake of gain, and no one spares +his father or mother in that manslaughter and adultery. Thus says the +Vala’s Prophecy: + + Brothers will fight together + And become each other’s bane; + Sisters’ children + Their sib shall spoil.[62] + Hard is the world, + Sensual sins grow huge. + There are ax-ages, sword-ages-- + Shields are cleft in twain,-- + There are wind-ages, wolf-ages, + Ere the world falls dead.[63] + + [Footnote 62: Commit adultery.] + + [Footnote 63: Elder Edda: The Vala’s Prophecy, 48, 49.] + +Then happens what will seem a great miracle, that the wolf[64] devours +the sun, and this will seem a great loss. The other wolf will devour the +moon, and this too will cause great mischief. The stars shall be Hurled +from heaven. Then it shall come to pass that the earth and the mountains +will shake so violently that trees will be torn up by the roots, the +mountains will topple down, and all bonds and fetters will be broken and +snapped. The Fenris-wolf gets loose. The sea rushes over the earth, for +the Midgard-serpent writhes in giant rage and seeks to gain the land. +The ship that is called Naglfar also becomes loose. It is made of the +nails of dead men; wherefore it is worth warning that, when a man dies +with unpared nails, he supplies a large amount of materials for the +building of this ship, which both gods and men wish may be finished as +late as possible. But in this flood Naglfar gets afloat. The giant Hrym +is its steersman. The Fenris-wolf advances with wide open mouth; the +upper jaw reaches to heaven and the lower jaw is on the earth. He would +open it still wider had he room. Fire flashes from his eyes and +nostrils. The Midgard-serpent vomits forth venom, defiling all the air +and the sea; he is very terrible, and places himself by the side of the +wolf. In the midst of this clash and din the heavens are rent in twain, +and the sons of Muspel come riding through the opening. Surt rides +first, and before him and after him flames burning fire. He has a very +good sword, which shines brighter than the sun. As they ride over +Bifrost it breaks to pieces, as has before been stated. The sons of +Muspel direct their course to the plain which is called Vigrid. Thither +repair also the Fenris-wolf and the Midgard-serpent. To this place have +also come Loke and Hrym, and with him all the frost-giants. In Loke’s +company are all the friends of Hel. The sons of Muspel have there +effulgent bands alone by themselves. The plain Vigrid is one hundred +miles (rasts) on each side. + + [Footnote 64: Fenris-wolf.] + +56. While these things are happening, Heimdal stands up, blows with all +his might in the Gjallar-horn and awakens all the gods, who thereupon +hold counsel. Odin rides to Mimer’s well to ask advice of Mimer for +himself and his folk. Then quivers the ash Ygdrasil, and all things in +heaven and earth fear and tremble. The asas and the einherjes arm +themselves and speed forth to the battle-field. Odin rides first; with +his golden helmet, resplendent byrnie, and his spear Gungner, he +advances against the Fenris-wolf. Thor stands by his side, but can give +him no assistance, for he has his hands full in his struggle with the +Midgard-serpent. Frey encounters Surt, and heavy blows are exchanged ere +Frey falls. The cause of his death is that he has not that good sword +which he gave to Skirner. Even the dog Garm, that was bound before the +Gnipa-cave, gets loose. He is the greatest plague. He contends with Tyr, +and they kill each other. Thor gets great renown by slaying the +Midgard-serpent, but retreats only nine paces when he falls to the earth +dead, poisoned by the venom that the serpent blows on him. The wolf +swallows Odin, and thus causes his death; but Vidar immediately turns +and rushes at the wolf, placing one foot on his nether jaw. On this foot +he has the shoe for which materials have been gathering through all +ages, namely, the strips of leather which men cut off for the toes and +heels of shoes; wherefore he who wishes to render assistance to the asas +must cast these strips away. With one hand Vidar seizes the upper jaw of +the wolf, and thus rends asunder his mouth. Thus the wolf perishes. Loke +fights with Heimdal, and they kill each other. Thereupon Surt flings +fire over the earth and burns up all the world. Thus it is said in the +Vala’s Prophecy: + + Loud blows Heimdal + His uplifted horn. + Odin speaks + With Mimer’s head. + The straight-standing ash + Ygdrasil quivers, + The old tree groans, + And the giant gets loose. + + How fare the asas? + How fare the elves? + All Jotunheim roars. + The asas hold counsel; + Before their stone-doors + Groan the dwarfs, + The guides of the wedge-rock. + Know you now more or not? + + From the east drives Hrym, + Bears his shield before him. + Jormungand welters + In giant rage + And smites the waves. + The eagle screams, + And with pale beak tears corpses, + Naglfar gets loose. + + A ship comes from the east, + The hosts of Muspel + Come o’er the main, + And Loke is steersman. + All the fell powers + Are with the wolf; + Along with them + Is Byleist’s brother.[65] + + From the south comes Surt + With blazing fire-brand,-- + The sun of the war-god + Shines from his sword. + Mountains dash together, + Giant maids are frightened, + Heroes go the way to Hel, + And heaven is rent in twain. + + Then comes to Hlin + Another woe, + When Odin goes + With the wolf to fight, + And Bele’s bright slayer[66] + To contend with Surt. + There will fall + Frigg’s beloved. + + Odin’s son goes + To fight with the wolf, + And Vidar goes on his way + To the wild beast.[67] + With his hand he thrusts + His sword to the heart + Of the giant’s child, + And avenges his father. + + Then goes the famous + Son[68] of Hlodyn + To fight with the serpent. + Though about to die, + He fears not the contest; + All men + Abandon their homesteads + When the warder of Midgard + In wrath slays the serpent. + + The sun grows dark, + The earth sinks into the sea, + The bright stars + From heaven vanish; + Fire rages, + Heat blazes, + And high flames play + ’Gainst heaven itself.[69] + + [Footnote 65: Loke.] + + [Footnote 66: Frey.] + + [Footnote 67: The Fenris-wolf.] + + [Footnote 68: Thor.] + + [Footnote 69: Elder Edda: The Vala’s Prophecy, 50-52, 54-57, 59, + 60, 62, 63.] + +And again it is said as follows: + + Vigrid is the name of the plain + Where in fight shall meet + Surt and the gentle god. + A hundred miles + It is every way. + This field is marked out for them.[70] + + [Footnote 70: Elder Edda: Vafthrudner’s Lay, 18.] + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +REGENERATION. + + +57. Then asked Ganglere: What happens when heaven and earth and all the +world are consumed in flames, and when all the gods and all the +einherjes and all men are dead? You have already said that all men shall +live in some world through all ages. Har answered: There are many good +and many bad abodes. Best it is to be in Gimle, in heaven. Plenty is +there of good drink for those who deem this a joy in the hall called +Brimer. That is also in heaven. There is also an excellent hall which +stands on the Nida mountains. It is built of red gold, and is called +Sindre. In this hall good and well-minded men shall dwell. Nastrand is a +large and terrible hall, and its doors open to the north. It is built of +serpents wattled together, and all the heads of the serpents turn into +the hall and vomit forth venom that flows in streams along the hall, and +in these streams wade perjurers and murderers. So it is here said: + + A hall I know standing + Far from the sun + On the strand of dead bodies. + Drops of venom + Fall through the loop-holes. + Of serpents’ backs + The hall is made. + + There shall wade + Through heavy streams + Perjurers + And murderers. + +But in Hvergelmer it is worst. + + There tortures Nidhug + The bodies of the dead.[71] + + [Footnote 71: Elder Edda: The Vala’s Prophecy, 40, 41.] + +58. Then said Ganglere: Do any gods live then? Is there any earth or +heaven? Har answered: The earth rises again from the sea, and is green +and fair. The fields unsown produce their harvests. Vidar and Vale live. +Neither the sea nor Surfs fire has harmed them, and they dwell on the +plains of Ida, where Asgard was before. Thither come also the sons of +Thor, Mode and Magne, and they have Mjolner. Then come Balder and Hoder +from Hel. They all sit together and talk about the things that happened +aforetime,--about the Midgard-serpent and the Fenris-wolf. They find in +the grass those golden tables which the asas once had. Thus it is said: + + Vidar and Vale + Dwell in the house of the gods, + When quenched is the fire of Surt. + Mode and Magne + Vingner’s Mjolner shall have + When the fight is ended.[72] + + [Footnote 72: Elder Edda: Vafthrudner’s Lay, 51.] + +In a place called Hodmimer’s-holt[73] are concealed two persons during +Surt’s fire, called Lif and Lifthraser. They feed on the morning dew. +From these so numerous a race is descended that they fill the whole +world with people, as is here said: + + Lif and Lifthraser + Will lie hid + In Hodmimer’s-holt. + The morning dew + They have for food. + From them are the races descended.[74] + + [Footnote 73: Holt = grove.] + + [Footnote 74: Elder Edda: Vafthrudner’s Lay, 45.] + +But what will seem wonderful to you is that the sun has brought forth a +daughter not less fair than herself, and she rides in the heavenly +course of her mother, as is here said: + + A daughter + Is born of the sun + Ere Fenrer takes her. + In her mother’s course + When the gods are dead + This maid shall ride.[75] + + [Footnote 75: Elder Edda: Vafthrudner’s Lay, 47.] + +And if you now can ask more questions, said Har to Ganglere, I know not +whence that power came to you. I have never heard any one tell further +the fate of the world. Make now the best use you can of what has been +told you. + +59. Then Ganglere heard a terrible noise on all sides, and when he +looked about him he stood out-doors on a level plain. He saw neither +hall nor burg. He went his way and came back to his kingdom, and told +the tidings which he had seen and heard, and ever since those tidings +have been handed down from man to man. + + + + +AFTERWORD + +TO THE FOOLING OF GYLFE. + + +The asas now sat down to talk, and held their counsel, and remembered +all the tales that were told to Gylfe. They gave the very same names +that had been named before to the men and places that were there. This +they did for the reason that, when a long time has elapsed, men should +not doubt that those asas of whom these tales were now told and those to +whom the same names were given were all identical. There was one who is +called Thor, and he is Asa-Thor, the old. He is Oku-Thor, and to him are +ascribed the great deeds done by Hektor in Troy. But men think that the +Turks have told of Ulysses, and have called him Loke, for the Turks were +his greatest enemies. + + + + +BRAGE’S TALK. + + +CHAPTER I. + +ÆGER’S JOURNEY TO ASGARD. + + +1. A man by name Æger, or Hler, who dwelt on the island called Hler’s +Isle, was well skilled in the black art. He made a journey to Asgard. +But the asas knew of his coming and gave him a friendly reception; but +they also made use of many sorts of delusions. In the evening, when the +feast began, Odin had swords brought into the hall, and they were so +bright that it glistened from them so that there was no need of any +other light while they sat drinking. Then went the asas to their feast, +and the twelve asas who were appointed judges seated themselves in their +high-seats. These are their names: Thor, Njord, Frey, Tyr, Heimdal, +Brage, Vidar, Vale, Uller, Honer, Forsete, Loke. The asynjes (goddesses) +also were with them: Frigg, Freyja, Gefjun, Idun, Gerd, Sigyn, Fulla, +Nanna. Æger thought all that he saw looked very grand. The panels of the +walls were all covered with beautiful shields. The mead was very strong, +and they drank deep. Next to Æger sat Brage, and they talked much +together over their drink. Brage spoke to Æger of many things that had +happened to the asas. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +IDUN AND HER APPLES. + + +2. Brage began his tale by telling how three asas, Odin, Loke and Honer, +went on a journey over mountains and heaths, where they could get +nothing to eat. But when they came down into a valley they saw a herd of +cattle. From this herd they took an ox and went to work to boil it. When +they deemed that it must be boiled enough they uncovered the broth, but +it was not yet done. After a little while they lifted the cover off +again, but it was not yet boiled. They talked among themselves about how +this could happen. Then they heard a voice in the oak above them, and he +who sat there said that he was the cause that the broth did not get +boiled. They looked up and saw an eagle, and it was not a small one. +Then said the eagle: If you will give me my fill of the ox, then the +broth will be boiled. They agreed to this. So he flew down from the +tree, seated himself beside the boiling broth, and immediately snatched +up first the two thighs of the ox and then both the shoulders. This made +Loke wroth: he grasped a large pole, raised it with all his might and +dashed it at the body of the eagle. The eagle shook himself after the +blow and flew up. One end of the pole fastened itself to the body of the +eagle, and the other end stuck to Loke’s hands. The eagle flew just high +enough so that Loke’s feet were dragged over stones and rocks and trees, +and it seemed to him that his arms would be torn from his +shoulder-blades. He calls and prays the eagle most earnestly for peace, +but the latter declares that Loke shall never get free unless he will +pledge himself to bring Idun and her apples out of Asgard. When Loke had +promised this, he was set free and went to his companions again; and no +more is related of this journey, except that they returned home. But at +the time agreed upon, Loke coaxed Idun out of Asgard into a forest, +saying that he had found apples that she would think very nice, and he +requested her to take with her her own apples in order to compare them. +Then came the giant Thjasse in the guise of an eagle, seized Idun and +flew away with her to his home in Thrymheim. The asas were ill at ease +on account of the disappearance of Idun,--they became gray-haired and +old. They met in council and asked each other who last had seen Idun. +The last that had been seen of her was that she had gone out of Asgard +in company with Loke. Then Loke was seized and brought into the council, +and he was threatened with death or torture. But he became frightened, +and promised to bring Idun back from Jotunheim if Freyja would lend him +the falcon-guise that she had. He got the falcon-guise, flew north into +Jotunheim, and came one day to the giant Thjasse. The giant had rowed +out to sea, and Idun was at home alone. Loke turned her into the +likeness of a nut, held her in his claws and flew with all his might. +But when Thjasse returned home and missed Idun, he took on his +eagle-guise, flew after Loke, gaining on the latter with his eagle +wings. When the asas saw the falcon coming flying with the nut, and how +the eagle flew, they went to the walls of Asgard and brought with them +bundles of plane-shavings. When the falcon flew within the burg, he let +himself drop down beside the burg-wall. Then the asas kindled a fire in +the shavings; and the eagle, being unable to stop himself when he missed +the falcon, caught fire in his feathers, so that he could not fly any +farther. The asas were on hand and slew the giant Thjasse within the +gates of Asgard, and that slaughter is most famous. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +HOW NJORD GOT SKADE TO WIFE. + + +Skade, the daughter of the giant Thjasse, donned her helmet, and byrnie, +and all her war-gear, and betook herself to Asgard to avenge her +father’s death. The asas offered her ransom and atonement; and it was +agreed to, in the first place, that she should choose herself a husband +among the asas, but she was to make her choice by the feet, which was +all she was to see of their persons. She saw one man’s feet that were +wonderfully beautiful, and exclaimed: This one I choose! On Balder there +are few blemishes. But it was Njord, from Noatun. In the second place, +it was stipulated that the asas were to do what she did not deem them +capable of, and that was to make her laugh. Then Loke tied one end of a +string fast to the beard of a goat and the other around his own body, +and one pulled this way and the other that, and both of them shrieked +out loud. Then Loke let himself fall on Skade’s knees, and this made her +laugh. It is said that Odin did even more than was asked, in that he +took Thjasse’s eyes and cast them up into heaven, and made two stars of +them. Then said Æger: This Thjasse seems to me to have been considerable +of a man; of what kin was he? Brage answered: His father’s name was +Olvalde, and if I told you of him, you would deem it very remarkable. +He was very rich in gold, and when he died and his sons were to divide +their heritage, they had this way of measuring the gold, that each +should take his mouthful of gold, and they should all take the same +number of mouthfuls. One of them was Thjasse, another Ide, and the third +Gang. But we now have it as a saw among us, that we call gold the +mouth-number of these giants. In runes and songs we wrap the gold up by +calling it the measure, or word, or tale, of these giants. Then said +Æger: It seems to me that it will be well hidden in the runes. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE ORIGIN OF POETRY. + + +3. And again said Æger: Whence originated the art that is called +skaldship? Made answer Brage: The beginning of this was, that the gods +had a war with the people that are called vans. They agreed to hold a +meeting for the purpose of making peace, and settled their dispute in +this wise, that they both went to a jar and spit into it. But at parting +the gods, being unwilling to let this mark of peace perish, shaped it +into a man whose name was Kvaser, and who was so wise that no one could +ask him any question that he could not answer. He traveled much about in +the world to teach men wisdom. Once he came to the home of the dwarfs +Fjalar and Galar. They called him aside, saying they wished to speak +with him alone, slew him and let his blood run into two jars called Son +and Bodn, and into a kettle called Odrarer. They mixed honey with the +blood, and thus was produced such mead that whoever drinks from it +becomes a skald and sage. The dwarfs told the asas that Kvaser had +choked in his wisdom, because no one was so wise that he could ask him +enough about learning. + +4. Then the dwarfs invited to themselves the giant whose name is +Gilling, and his wife; and when he came they asked him to row out to sea +with them. When they had gotten a short distance from shore, the dwarfs +rowed onto a blind rock and capsized the boat. Gilling, who was unable +to swim, was drowned, but the dwarfs righted the boat again and rowed +ashore. When they told of this mishap to his wife she took it much to +heart, and began to cry aloud. Then Fjalar asked her whether it would +not lighten her sorrow if she could look out upon the sea where her +husband had perished, and she said it would. He then said to his brother +Galar that he should go up over the doorway, and as she passed out he +should let a mill-stone drop onto her head, for he said he was tired of +her bawling, Galar did so. When the giant Suttung, the son of Gilling, +found this out he came and seized the dwarfs, took them out to sea and +left them on a rocky island, which was flooded at high tide. They prayed +Suttung to spare their lives, and offered him in atonement for their +father’s blood the precious mead, which he accepted. Suttung brought the +mead home with him, and hid it in a place called Hnitbjorg. He set his +daughter Gunlad to guard it. For these reasons we call songship Kvaser’s +blood; the drink of the dwarfs; the dwarfs’ fill; some kind of liquor of +Odrarer, or Bodn or Son; the ship of the dwarfs (because this mead +ransomed their lives from the rocky isle); the mead of Suttung, or the +liquor of Hnitbjorg. + +5. Then remarked Æger: It seems dark to me to call songship by these +names; but how came the asas by Suttung’s mead? Answered Brage: The saga +about this is, that Odin set out from home and came to a place where +nine thralls were mowing hay. He asked them whether they would like to +have him whet their scythes. To this they said yes. Then he took a +whet-stone from his belt and whetted the scythes. They thought their +scythes were much improved, and asked whether the whet-stone was for +sale. He answered that he who would buy it must pay a fair price for it. +All said they were willing to give the sum demanded, and each wanted +Odin to sell it to him. But he threw the whet-stone up in the air, and +when all wished to catch it they scrambled about it in such a manner +that each brought his scythe onto the other’s neck. Odin sought lodgings +for the night at the house of the giant Bauge, who was a brother of +Suttung. Bauge complained of what had happened to his household, saying +that his nine thralls had slain each other, and that he did not know +where he should get other workmen. Odin called himself Bolverk. He +offered to undertake the work of the nine men for Bauge, but asked in +payment therefor a drink of Suttung’s mead. Bauge answered that he had +no control over the mead, saying that Suttung was bound to keep that for +himself alone. But he agreed to go with Bolverk and try whether they +could get the mead. During the summer Bolverk did the work of the nine +men for Bauge, but when winter came he asked for his pay. Then they both +went to Suttung. Bauge explained to Suttung his bargain with Bolverk, +but Suttung stoutly refused to give even a drop of the mead. Bolverk +then proposed to Bauge that they should try whether they could not get +at the mead by the aid of some trick, and Bauge agreed to this. Then +Bolverk drew forth the auger which is called Rate, and requested Bauge +to bore a hole through the rock, if the auger was sharp enough. He did +so. Then said Bauge that there was a hole through the rock; but Bolverk +blowed into the hole that the auger had made, and the chips flew back +into his face. Thus he saw that Bauge intended to deceive him, and +commanded him to bore through. Bauge bored again, and when Bolverk blew +a second time the chips flew inward. Now Bolverk changed himself into +the likeness of a serpent and crept into the auger-hole. Bauge thrust +after him with the auger, but missed him. Bolverk went to where Gunlad +was, and shared her couch for three nights. She then promised to give +him three draughts from the mead. With the first draught he emptied +Odrarer, in the second Bodn, and in the third Son, and thus he had all +the mead. Then he took on the guise of an eagle, and flew off as fast as +he could. When Suttung saw the flight of the eagle, he also took on the +shape of an eagle and flew after him. When the asas saw Odin coming, +they set their jars out in the yard. When Odin reached Asgard, he spewed +the mead up into the jars. He was, however, so near being caught by +Suttung, that he sent some of the mead after him backward, and as no +care was taken of this, anybody that wished might have it. This we call +the share of poetasters. But Suttung’s mead Odin gave to the asas and to +those men who are able to make verses. Hence we call songship Odin’s +prey, Odin’s find, Odin’s drink, Odin’s gift, and the drink of the asas. + +6. Then said Æger: In how many ways do you vary the poetical +expressions, or how many kinds of poetry are there? Answered Brage: +There are two kinds, and all poetry falls into one or the other of these +classes. Æger asks: Which two? Brage answers: Diction and meter. What +diction is used in poetry? There are three sorts of poetic diction. +Which? One is to name everything by its own name; another is to name it +with a pronoun, but the third sort of diction is called _kenning_ (a +poetical periphrasis or descriptive name); and this sort is so managed +that when we name Odin, or Thor or Tyr, or any other of the asas or +elves, we add to their name a reference to some other asa, or we make +mention of some of his works. Then the appellation belongs to him who +corresponds to the whole phrase, and not to him who was actually named. +Thus we speak of Odin as Sigtyr, Hangatyr or Farmatyr, and such names we +call simple appellatives. In the same manner he is called Reidartyr. + + + + +AFTERWORD + +TO BRAGE’S TALK. + + +Now it is to be said to young skalds who are desirous of acquiring the +diction of poetry, or of increasing their store of words with old names, +or, on the other hand, are eager to understand what is obscurely sung, +that they must master this book for their instruction and pastime. These +sagas are not to be so forgotten or disproved as to take away from +poetry old periphrases which great skalds have been pleased with. But +christian men should not believe in heathen gods, nor in the truth of +these sagas, otherwise than is explained in the beginning of this book, +where the events are explained which led men away from the true faith, +and where it, in the next place, is told of the Turks how the men from +Asia, who are called asas, falsified the tales of the things that +happened in Troy, in order that the people should believe them to be +gods. + +King Priam in Troy was a great chief over all the Turkish host, and his +sons were the most distinguished men in his whole army. That excellent +hall, which the asas called Brime’s Hall, or beer-hall, was King Priam’s +palace. As for the long tale that they tell of Ragnarok, that is the +wars of the Trojans. When it is said that Oku-Thor angled with an +ox-head and drew on board the Midgard-serpent, but that the serpent kept +his life and sank back into the sea, then this is another version of the +story that Hektor slew Volukrontes, a famous hero, in the presence of +Achilleus, and so drew the latter onto him with the head of the slain, +which they likened unto the head of an ox, which Oku-Thor had torn off. +When Achilleus was drawn into this danger, on account of his daring, +it was the salvation of his life that he fled from the fatal blows of +Hektor, although he was wounded. It is also said that Hektor waged the +war so mightily, and that his rage was so great when he caught sight of +Achilleus, that nothing was so strong that it could stand before him. +When he missed Achilleus, who had fled, he soothed his wrath by slaying +the champion called Roddros. But the asas say that when Oku-Thor missed +the serpent, he slew the giant Hymer. In Ragnarok the Midgard serpent +came suddenly upon Thor and blew venom onto him, and thus struck him +dead. But the asas could not make up their minds to say that this had +been the fate of Oku-Thor, that anyone stood over him dead, though this +had so happened. They rushed headlong over old sagas more than was true +when they said that the Midgard-serpent there got his death; and they +added this to the story, that Achilleus reaped the fame of Hektor’s +death, though he lay dead on the same battle-field on that account. This +was the work of Elenus and Alexander, and Elenus the asas call Ale. They +say that he avenged his brother, and that he lived when all the gods +were dead, and after the fire was quenched that burned up Asgard and all +the possessions of the gods. Pyrrhos they compared with the Fenris-wolf. +He slew Odin, and Pyrrhos might be called a wolf according to their +belief, for he did not spare the peace-steads, when he slew the king in +the temple before the altar of Thor. The burning of Troy they call the +flame of Surt. Mode and Magne, the sons of Oku-Thor, came to crave the +land of Ale or Vidar. He is Æneas. He came away from Troy, and wrought +thereupon great works. It is said that the sons of Hektor came to +Frigialand and established themselves in that kingdom, but banished +Elenus. + + + + +EXTRACTS FROM + +THE POETICAL DICTION. + +(SKALDSKAPARMAL.)[76] + + [Footnote 76: This part of the Younger Edda corresponds to the + Latin Ars Poetica, and contains the rules and laws of ancient + poetry.] + + +THOR AND HRUNGNER. + +Brage told Æger that Thor had gone eastward to crush trolls. Odin rode +on his horse Sleipner to Jotunheim, and came to the giant whose name is +Hrungner. Then asked Hrungner what man that was who with a golden helmet +rode both through the air and over the sea, and added that he had a +remarkably good horse. Odin said that he would wager his head that so +good a horse could not be found in Jotunheim. Hrungner admitted that it +was indeed an excellent horse, but he had one, called Goldfax, that +could take much longer paces; and in his wrath he immediately sprang +upon his horse and galloped after Odin, intending to pay him for his +insolence. Odin rode so fast that he was a good distance ahead, but +Hrungner had worked himself into such a giant rage that, before he was +aware of it, he had come within the gates of Asgard. When he came to the +hall door, the asas invited him to drink with them. He entered the hall +and requested a drink. They then took the bowls that Thor was accustomed +to drink from, and Hrungner emptied them all. When he became drunk, he +gave the freest vent to his loud boastings. He said he was going to take +Valhal and move it to Jotunheim, demolish Asgard and kill all the gods +except Freyja and Sif, whom he was going to take home with him. When +Freyja went forward to refill the bowls for him, he boasted that he was +going to drink up all the ale of the asas. But when the asas grew weary +of his arrogance, they named Thor’s name. At once Thor was in the hall, +swung his hammer in the air, and, being exceedingly wroth, asked who was +to blame that dog-wise giants were permitted to drink there, who had +given Hrungner permission to be in Valhal, and why Freyja should pour +ale for him as she did in the feasts of the asas. Then answered +Hrungner, looking with anything but friendly eyes at Thor, and said that +Odin had invited him to drink, and that he was there under his +protection. Thor replied that he should come to rue that invitation +before he came out. Hrungner again answered that it would be but little +credit to Asa-Thor to kill him, unarmed as he was. It would be a greater +proof of his valor if he dared fight a duel with him at the boundaries +of his territory, at Grjottungard. It was very foolish of me, he said, +that I left my shield and my flint-stone at home; had I my weapons here, +you and I would try a holmgang (duel on a rocky island); but as this is +not the case, I declare you a coward if you kill me unarmed. Thor was by +no means the man to refuse to fight a duel when he was challenged, an +honor which never had been shown him before. Then Hrungner went his way, +and hastened with all his might back to Jotunheim. His journey became +famous among the giants, and the proposed meeting with Thor was much +talked of. They regarded it very important who should gain the victory, +and they feared the worst from Thor if Hrungner should be defeated, for +he was the strongest among them. Thereupon the giants made at +Grjottungard a man of clay, who was nine rasts tall and three rasts +broad under the arms, but being unable to find a heart large enough to +be suitable for him, they took the heart from a mare, but even this +fluttered and trembled when Thor came. Hrungner had, as is well known, +a heart of stone, sharp and three-sided; just as the rune has since been +risted that is called Hrungner’s heart. Even his head was of stone. His +shield was of stone, and was broad and thick, and he was holding this +shield before him as he stood at Grjottungard waiting for Thor. His +weapon was a flint-stone, which he swung over his shoulders, and +altogether he presented a most formidable aspect. On one side of him +stood the giant of clay, who was named Mokkerkalfe. He was so +exceedingly terrified, that it is said that he wet himself when he saw +Thor. Thor proceeded to the duel, and Thjalfe was with him. Thjalfe ran +forward to where Hrungner was standing, and said to him: You stand illy +guarded, giant; you hold the shield before you, but Thor has seen you; +he goes down into the earth and will attack you from below. Then +Hrungner thrust the shield under his feet and stood on it, but the +flint-stone he seized with both his hands. The next that he saw were +flashes of lightning, and he heard loud crashings; and then he saw Thor +in his asa-might advancing with impetuous speed, swinging his hammer and +hurling it from afar at Hrungner. Hrungner seized the flint-stone with +both his hands and threw it against the hammer. They met in the air, and +the flint-stone broke. One part fell to the earth, and from it have come +the flint-mountains; the other part hit Thor’s head with such force that +he fell forward to the ground. But the hammer Mjolner hit Hrungner right +in the head, and crushed his skull in small pieces. He himself fell +forward over Thor, so that his foot lay upon Thor’s neck. Meanwhile +Thjalfe attacked Mokkerkalfe, who fell with but little honor. Then +Thjalfe went to Thor and was to take Hrungner’s foot off from him, but +he had not the strength to do it. When the asas learned that Thor had +fallen, they all came to take the giant’s foot off, but none of them was +able to move it. Then came Magne, the son of Thor and Jarnsaxa. He was +only three nights of age. He threw Hrungner’s foot off Thor, and said It +was a great mishap, father, that I came so late. I think I could have +slain this giant with my fist, had I met him. Then Thor arose, greeted +his son lovingly, saying that he would become great and powerful; and, +added he, I will give you the horse Goldfax, that belonged to Hrungner. +Odin said that Thor did wrong in giving so fine a horse to the son of a +giantess, instead of to his father. Thor went home to Thrudvang, but the +flint-stone still stuck fast in his head. Then came the vala whose name +is Groa, the wife of Orvandel the Bold. She sang her magic songs over +Thor until the flint-stone became loose. But when Thor perceived this, +and was just expecting that the flint-stone would disappear, he desired +to reward Groa for her healing, and make her heart glad. So he related +to her how he had waded from the north over the Elivogs rivers, and had +borne in a basket on his back Orvandel from Jotunheim; and in evidence +of this he told her how that one toe of his had protruded from the +basket and had frozen, wherefore Thor had broken it off and had cast it +up into the sky, and made of it the star which is called Orvandel’s toe. +Finally he added that it would not be long before Orvandel would come +home. But Groa became so glad that she forgot her magic songs, and so +the flint-stone became no looser than it was, and it sticks fast in +Thor’s head yet. For this reason it is forbidden to throw a flint-stone +across the floor, for then the stone in Thor’s head is moved. Out of +this saga Thjodolf of Hvin has made a song: + + We have ample evidence + Of the giant-terrifier’s[77] journey + To Grjottungard, to the giant Hrungner, + In the midst of encircling flames. + The courage waxed high in Meile’s brother;[78] + The moon-way trembled + When Jord’s son[79] went + To the steel-gloved contest. + + The heavens stood all in flames + For Uller’s step-father,[80] + And the earth rocked. + Svolne’s[81] widow[82] burst asunder + When the span of goats + Drew the sublime chariot + And its divine master + To the meeting with Hrungner. + + Balder’s brother[83] did not tremble + Before the greedy fiend of men; + Mountains quaked and rocks broke; + The heavens were wrapped in flames. + Much did the giant + Get frightened, I learn, + When his bane man he saw + Ready to slay him. + + Swiftly the gray shield flew + ’Neath the heels of the giant. + So the gods willed it, + So willed it the valkyries. + Hrungner the giant, + Eager for slaughter, + Needed not long to wait for blows + From the valiant friend of the hammer. + + The slayer[84] of Bele’s evil race + Made fall the bear of the loud-roaring mountain;[85] + On his shield + Bite the dust + Must the giant + Before the sharp-edged hammer, + When the giant-crusher + Stood against the mighty Hrungner, + + And the flint-stone + (So hard to break) + Of the friend of the troll-women + Into the skull did whiz + Of Jord’s son,[86] + And this flinty piece + Fast did stick + In Eindride’s[87] blood; + + Until Orvandel’s wife, + Magic songs singing, + From the head of Thor + Removed the giant’s + Excellent flint-stone. + All do I know + About that shield-journey. + A shield adorned + With hues most splendid + I received from Thorleif. + + [Footnote 77: Thor’s.] + + [Footnote 78: Thor.] + + [Footnote 79: Jord’s (= earth’s) son = Thor.] + + [Footnote 80: Thor.] + + [Footnote 81: Odin’s.] + + [Footnote 82: The earth.] + + [Footnote 83: Thor.] + + [Footnote 84: Thor.] + + [Footnote 85: The giant Hrungner.] + + [Footnote 86: Thor.] + + [Footnote 87: Thor’s.] + + +THOR’S JOURNEY TO GEIRROD’S. + +Then said Æger: Much of a man, it seems to me, was that Hrungner. Has +Thor accomplished any other great deeds in his intercourse with trolls +(giants)? Then answered Brage: It is worth giving a full account of how +Thor made a journey to Geirrodsgard. He had with him neither the hammer +Mjolner, nor his belt of strength, Megingjard, nor his steel gloves; and +that was Loke’s fault,--he was with him. For it had happened to Loke, +when he once flew out to amuse himself in Frigg’s falcon-guise, that he, +out of curiosity, flew into Geirrodsgard, where he saw a large hall. He +sat down and looked in through the window, but Geirrod discovered him, +and ordered the bird to be caught and brought to him. The servant had +hard work to climb up the wall of the hall, so high was it. It amused +Loke that it gave the servant so much trouble to get at him, and he +thought it would be time enough to fly away when he had gotten over the +worst. When the latter now caught at him, Loke spread his wings and +spurned with his feet, but these were fast, and so Loke was caught and +brought to the giant. When the latter saw his eyes he suspected that it +was a man. He put questions to him and bade him answer, but Loke refused +to speak. Then Geirrod locked him down in a chest, and starved him for +three months; and when Geirrod finally took him up again, and asked him +to speak, Loke confessed who he was, and to save his life he swore an +oath to Geirrod that he would get Thor to come to Geirrodsgard without +his hammer or his belt of strength. + +On his way Thor visited the giantess whose name is Grid. She was the +mother of Vidar the Silent. She told Thor the truth concerning Geirrod, +that he was a dog-wise and dangerous giant; and she lent him her own +belt of strength and steel gloves, and her staff, which is called +Gridarvol. Then went Thor to the river which is called Vimer, and which +is the largest of all rivers. He buckled on the belt of strength and +stemmed the wild torrent with Gridarvol, but Loke held himself fast in +Megingjard. When Thor had come into the middle of the stream, the river +waxed so greatly that the waves dashed over his shoulders. Then quoth +Thor: + + Wax not Vimer, + Since I intend to wade + To the gards of giants. + Know, if you wax, + Then waxes my asa-might + As high, as the heavens. + +Then Thor looked up and saw in a cleft Gjalp, the daughter of Geirrod, +standing on both sides of the stream, and causing its growth. Then took +he up out of the river a huge stone and threw at her, saying: At its +source the stream must be stemmed.[88] He was not wont to miss his mark. +At the same time he reached the river bank and got hold of a shrub, and +so he got out of the river. Hence comes the adage that _a shrub saved +Thor_.[89] When Thor came to Geirrod, he and his companion were shown to +the guest-room, where lodgings were given them, but there was but one +seat, and on that Thor sat down. Then he became aware that the seat was +raised under him toward the roof. He put the Gridarvol against the +rafters, and pressed himself down against the seat. Then was heard a +great crash, which was followed by a loud screaming. Under the seat were +Geirrod’s daughters, Gjalp and Greip, and he had broken the backs of +both of them. Then quoth Thor: + + Once I employed + My asa-might + In the gards of the giants. + When Gjalp and Greip, + Geirrod’s daughters, + Wanted to lift me to heaven. + + [Footnote 88: Icelandic proverb.] + + [Footnote 89: Icelandic proverb.] + +Then Geirrod had Thor invited into the hall to the games. Large fires +burned along the whole length of the hall. When Thor came into the hall, +and stood opposite Geirrod, the latter seized with a pair of tongs a +red-hot iron wedge and threw it at Thor. But he caught it with his steel +gloves, and lifted it up in the air. Geirrod sprang behind an iron post +to guard himself. But Thor threw the wedge with so great force that it +struck through the post, through Geirrod, through the wall, and then +went out and into the ground. From this saga, Eilif, son of Gudrun, made +the following song, called Thor’s Drapa: + + The Midgard-serpent’s father exhorted + Thor, the victor of giants, + To set out from home. + A great liar was Loke. + Not quite confident, + The companion of the war-god + Declared green paths to lie + To the gard of Geirrod. + + Thor did not long let Loke + Invite him to the arduous journey. + They were eager to crush + Thorn’s descendants. + When he, who is wont to swing Megingjard, + Once set out from Odin’s home + To visit Ymer’s children in Gandvik, + + The giantess Gjalp, + Perjured Geirrod’s daughter, + Sooner got ready magic to use + Than the god of war and Loke. + A song I recite. + Those gods noxious to the giants + Planted their feet + In Endil’s land, + + And the men wont to battle + Went forth. + The message of death + Came of the moon-devourer’s women, + When the cunning and wrathful + Conqueror of Loke + Challenged to a contest + The giantess. + + And the troll-woman’s disgracer + Waded across the roaring stream,-- + Rolling full of drenched snow over its banks. + He who puts giants to flight + Rapidly advanced + O’er the broad watery way, + Where the noisy stream’s + Venom belched forth. + + Thor and his companions + Put before him the staff; + Thereon he rested + Whilst over they waded: + Nor sleep did the stones,-- + The sonorous staff striking the rapid wave + Made the river-bed ring,-- + The mountain-torrent rang with stones. + + The wearer of Megingjard + Saw the flood fall + On his hard-waxed shoulders: + He could do no better. + The destroyer of troll-children + Let his neck-strength + Wax heaven high, + Till the mighty stream should diminish. + + But the warriors, + The oath-bound protectors of Asgard,-- + The experienced vikings,-- + Waded fast and the stream sped on. + Thou god of the bow! + The billows + Blown by the mountain-storm + Powerfully rushed + Over Thor’s shoulders. + + Thjalfe and his companion, + With their heads above water, + Got over the river,-- + To Thor’s belt they clung. + Their strength was tested,-- + Geirrod’s daughters made hard the stream + For the iron rod. + Angry fared Thor with the Gridarvol. + + Nor did courage fail + Those foes of the giant + In the seething vortex. + Those sworn companions + Regarded a brave heart + Better than gold. + Neither Thor’s nor Thjalfe’s heart + From fear did tremble. + + And the war companions-- + Weapons despising-- + ’Mong the giants made havoc, + Until, O woman! + The giant destroyers + The conflict of helmets + With the warlike race + Did commence. + + The giants of Iva’s[90] capes + Made a rush with Geirrod; + The foes of the cold Svithiod + Took to flight. + Geirrod’s giants + Had to succumb + When the lightning wielder’s[91] kinsmen + Closely pursued them. + + Wailing was ’mongst the cave-dwellers + When the giants, + With warlike spirit endowed, + Went forward. + There was war. + The slayer of troll-women, + By foes surrounded, + The giant’s hard head hit. + + With violent pressure + Were pressed the vast eyes + Of Gjalp and Greip + Against the high roof. + The fire-chariot’s driver + The old backs broke + Of both these maids + For the cave-woman. + + The man of the rocky way + But scanty knowledge got; + Nor able were the giants + To enjoy perfect gladness. + Thou man of the bow-string! + The dwarf’s kinsman + An iron beam, in the forge heated, + Threw against Odin’s dear son. + + But the battle-hastener, + Freyja’s old friend, + With swift hands caught + In the air the beam + As it flew from the hands + Of the father of Greip,-- + His breast with anger swollen + Against Thruda’s[92] father. + + Geirrod’s hall trembled + When he struck, + With his broad head, + ’Gainst the old column of the house-wall. + Uller’s splendid flatterer + Swung the iron beam + Straight ’gainst the head + Of the knavish giant. + + The crusher of the hall-wont troll-women + A splendid victory won + Over Glam’s descendants; + With gory hammer fared Thor. + Gridarvol-staff, + Which made disaster + ’Mong Geirrod’s companion, + Was not used ’gainst that giant himself. + + The much worshiped thunderer, + With all his might, slew + The dwellers in Alfheim + With that little willow-twig, + And no shield + Was able to resist + The strong age-diminisher + Of the mountain-king. + + [Footnote 90: A river in Jotunheim.] + + [Footnote 91: Thor’s kinsmen = the asas.] + + [Footnote 92: Thruda was a daughter of Thor and Sif.] + + +IDUN. + +How shall Idun be named? She is called the wife of Brage, the keeper of +the apples; but the apples are called the medicine to bar old age +(ellilyf, elixir vitæ). She is also called the booty of the giant +Thjasse, according to what has before been said concerning how he took +her away from the asas. From this saga Thjodolf, of Hvin, composed the +following song in his Haustlong: + + How shall the tongue + Pay an ample reward + For the sonorous shield + Which I received from Thorleif, + Foremost ’mong soldiers? + On the splendidly made shield + I see the unsafe journey + Of three gods and Thjasse. + + Idun’s robber flew long ago + The asas to meet + In the giant’s old eagle-guise. + The eagle perched + Where the asas bore + Their food to be cooked. + Ye women! The mountain-giant + Was not wont to be timid. + + Suspected of malice + Was the giant toward the gods. + Who causes this? + Said the chief of the gods. + The wise-worded giant-eagle + From the old tree began to speak. + The friend of Honer + Was not friendly to him. + + The mountain-wolf from Honer + Asked for his fill + From the holy table: + It fell to Honer to blow the fire. + The giant, eager to kill, + Glided down + Where the unsuspecting gods, + Odin, Loke and Honer, were sitting. + + The fair lord of the earth + Bade Farbaute’s son + Quickly to share + The ox with the giant; + But the cunning foe of the asas + Thereupon laid + The four parts of the ox + Upon the broad table. + + And the huge father of Morn[93] + Afterward greedily ate + The ox at the tree-root. + That was long ago, + Until the profound + Loke the hard rod laid + ’Twixt the shoulders + Of the giant Thjasse. + + Then clung with his hands + The husband of Sigyn + To Skade’s foster-son, + In the presence of all the gods. + The pole stuck fast + To Jotunheim’s strong fascinator, + But the hands of Honer’s dear friend + Stuck to the other end. + + Flew then with the wise god + The voracious bird of prey + Far away; so the wolf’s father + To pieces must be torn. + Odin’s friend got exhausted. + Heavy grew Lopt. + Odin’s companion + Must sue for peace. + + Hymer’s kinsman demanded + That the leader of hosts + The sorrow-healing maid, + Who the asas’ youth-preserving apples keeps, + Should bring to him. + Brisingamen’s thief + Afterward brought Idun + To the gard of the giant. + + Sorry were not the giants + After this had taken place, + Since from the south + Idun had come to the giants. + All the race + Of Yngve-Frey, at the Thing, + Grew old and gray,-- + Ugly-looking were the gods. + + Until the gods found the blood-dog, + Idun’s decoying thrall, + And bound the maid’s deceiver, + You shall, cunning Loke, + Spake Thor, die; + Unless back you lead, + With your tricks, that + Good joy-increasing maid. + + Heard have I that thereupon + The friend of Honer flew + In the guise of a falcon + (He often deceived the asas with his cunning); + And the strong fraudulent giant, + The father of Morn, + With the wings of the eagle + Sped after the hawk’s child. + + The holy gods soon built a fire-- + They shaved off kindlings-- + And the giant was scorched. + This is said in memory + Of the dwarf’s heel-bridge.[94] + A shield adorned with splendid lines + From Thorleif I received. + + [Footnote 93: A troll-woman.] + + [Footnote 94: Shield.] + + +ÆGER’S FEAST. + +How shall gold be named? It may be called fire; the needles of Glaser; +Sif’s hair; Fulla’s head-gear; Freyja’s tears; the chatter, talk or word +of the giants; Draupner’s drop; Draupner’s rain or shower; Freyja’s +eyes; the otter-ransom, or stroke-ransom, of the asas; the seed of +Fyrisvold; Holge’s how-roof; the fire of all waters and of the hand; +or the stone, rock or gleam of the hand. + +Why is gold called Æger’s fire? The saga relating to this is, as has +before been told, that Æger made a visit to Asgard, but when he was +ready to return home he invited Odin and all the asas to come and pay +him a visit after the lapse of three months. On this journey went Odin, +Njord, Frey, Tyr, Brage, Vidar, Loke; and also the asynjes, Frigg, +Freyja, Gefjun, Skade, Idun, Sif. Thor was not there, for he had gone +eastward to fight trolls. When the gods had taken their seats, Æger let +his servants bring in on the hall floor bright gold, which shone and +lighted up the whole hall like fire, just as the swords in Valhal are +used instead of fire. Then Loke bandied hasty words with all the gods, +and slew Æger’s thrall who was called Fimafeng. The name of his other +thrall is Elder. The name of Æger’s wife is Ran, and they have nine +daughters, as has before been written. At this feast all things passed +around spontaneously, both food and ale and all the utensils needed for +the feasting. Then the asas became aware that Ran had a net in which she +caught all men who perish at sea. Then the saga goes on telling how it +happens that gold is called the fire, or light or brightness of Æger, of +Ran, or of Æger’s daughters; and from these periphrases it is allowed to +call gold the fire of the sea, or of any of the periphrases of the sea, +since Æger and Ran are found in periphrases of the sea; and thus gold is +now called the fire of waters, of rivers, or of all the periphrases of +rivers. But these names have fared like other periphrases. The younger +skald has composed poetry after the pattern of the old skalds, imitating +their songs; but afterward they have expanded the metaphors whenever +they thought they could improve upon what was sung before; and thus the +water is the sea, the river is the lakes, the brook is the river. Hence +all the figures that are expanded more than what has before been found +are called new tropes, and all seem good that contain likelihood and are +natural. Thus sang the skald Brage: + + From the king I received + The fire of the brook. + This the king gave to me + And a head with song. + +Why is gold called the needles or leaves of Glaser? In Asgard, before +the doors of Valhal, stands a grove which is called Glaser, and all its +leaves are of red gold, as is here sung: + + Glaser stands + With golden leaves + Before Sigtyr’s halls. + +This is the fairest forest among gods and men. + + +LOKE’S WAGER WITH THE DWARFS. + +Why is gold called Sif’s hair? Loke Laufey’s son had once craftily cut +all the hair off Sif; but when Thor found it out he seized Loke, and +would have broken every bone in him, had he not pledged himself with an +oath to get the swarthy elves to make for Sif a hair of gold that should +grow like other hair. Then went Loke to the dwarfs that are called +Ivald’s sons, and they made the hair and Skidbladner, and the spear that +Odin owned and is called Gungner. Thereupon Loke wagered his head with +the dwarf, who hight Brok, that his brother Sindre would not be able to +make three other treasures equally as good as these were. But when they +came to the smithy, Sindre laid a pig-skin in the furnace and requested +Brok to blow the bellows, and not to stop blowing before he (Sindre) had +taken out of the furnace what he had put into it. As soon, however, as +Sindre had gone out of the smithy and Brok was blowing, a fly lighted on +his hand and stung him; but he kept on blowing as before until the smith +had taken the work out of the furnace. That was now a boar, and its +bristles were of gold. Thereupon he laid gold in the furnace, and +requested Brok to blow, and not to stop plying the bellows before he +came back. He went out; but then came the fly and lighted on his neck +and stung him still worse; but he continued to work the bellows until +the smith took out of the furnace the gold ring called Draupner. Then +Sindre placed iron in the furnace, and requested Brok to work the +bellows, adding that otherwise all would be worthless. Now the fly +lighted between his eyes and stung his eye-lids, and as the blood ran +down into his eyes so that he could not see, he let go of the bellows +just for a moment and drove the fly away with his hands. Then the smith +came back and said that all that lay in the furnace came near being +entirely spoiled. Thereupon he took a hammer out of the furnace. All +these treasures he then placed in the hands of his brother Brok, and +bade him go with Loke to Asgard to fetch the wager. When Loke and Brok +brought forth the treasures, the gods seated themselves upon their +doom-steads. It was agreed to abide by the decision which should be +pronounced by Odin, Thor and Frey. Loke gave to Odin the spear Gungner, +to Thor the hair, which Sif was to have, and to Frey, Skidbladner; and +he described the qualities of all these treasures, stating that the +spear never would miss its mark, that the hair would grow as soon as it +was placed on Sif s head, and that Skidbladner would always have fair +wind as soon as the sails were hoisted, no matter where its owner +desired to go; besides, the ship could be folded together like a napkin +and be carried in his pocket if he desired. Then Brok produced his +treasures. He gave to Odin the ring, saying that every ninth night eight +other rings as heavy as it would drop from it; to Frey he gave the boar, +stating that it would run through the air and over seas, by night or by +day, faster than any horse; and never could it become so dark in the +night, or in the worlds of darkness, but that it would be light where +this boar was present, so bright shone his bristles. Then he gave to +Thor the hammer, and said that he might strike with it as hard as he +pleased; no matter what was before him, the hammer would take no scathe, +and wherever he might throw it he would never lose it; it would never +fly so far that it did not return to his hand; and if he desired, it +would become so small that he might conceal it in his bosom; but it had +one fault, which was, that the handle was rather short. The decision of +the gods was, that the hammer was the best of all these treasures and +the greatest protection against the frost-giants, and they declared that +the dwarf had fairly won the wager. Then Loke offered to ransom his +head. The dwarf answered saying there was no hope for him on that score. +Take me, then! said Loke; but when the dwarf was to seize him Loke was +far away, for he had the shoes with which he could run through the air +and over the sea. Then the dwarf requested Thor to seize him, and he did +so. Now the dwarf wanted to cut the head off Loke, but Loke said that +the head was his, but not the neck. Then the dwarf took thread and a +knife and wanted to pierce holes in Loke’s lips, so as to sew his mouth +together, but the knife would not cut. Then said he, it would be better +if he had his brother’s awl, and as soon as he named it the awl was +there and it pierced Loke’s lips. Now Brok sewed Loke’s mouth together, +and broke off the thread at the end of the sewing. The thread with which +the mouth of Loke was sewed together is called Vartare (a strap). + + +THE NIFLUNGS AND GJUKUNGS. + +The following is the reason why gold is called otter-ransom: It is +related that three asas went abroad to learn to know the whole world, +Odin, Honer and Loke. They came to a river, and walked along the +river-bank to a force, and near the force was an otter. The otter had +caught a salmon in the force, and sat eating it with his eyes closed. +Loke picked up a stone, threw it at the otter and hit him in the head. +Loke bragged of his chase, for he had secured an otter and a salmon with +one throw. They took the salmon and the otter with them, and came to a +byre, where they entered. But the name of the bonde who lived there was +Hreidmar. He was a mighty man, and thoroughly skilled in the black art. +The asas asked for night-lodgings, stating that they had plenty of food, +and showed the bonde their game. But when Hreidmar saw the otter he +called his sons, Fafner and Regin, and said that Otter, their brother, +was slain, and also told who had done it. Then the father and the sons +attacked the asas, seized them and bound them, and then said, in +reference to the otter, that he was Hreidmar’s son. The asas offered, +as a ransom for their lives, as much money as Hreidmar himself might +demand, and this was agreed to, and confirmed with an oath. Then the +otter was flayed. Hreidmar took the otter-belg and said to them that +they should fill the belg with red gold, and then cover it with the same +metal, and when this was done they should be set free. Thereupon Odin +sent Loke to the home of the swarthy elves, and he came to the dwarf +whose name is Andvare, and who lived as a fish, in the water. Loke +caught him in his hands, and demanded of him, as a ransom for his life, +all the gold that he had in his rock. And when they entered the rock, +the dwarf produced all the gold that he owned, and that was a very large +amount. Then the dwarf concealed in his hand a small gold ring. Loke saw +this, and requested him to hand forth the ring. The dwarf begged him not +to take the ring away from him, for with this ring he could increase his +wealth again if he kept it. Loke said the dwarf should not keep as much +as a penny, took the ring from him and went out. But the dwarf said that +that ring should be the bane of every one who possessed it. Loke replied +that he was glad of this, and said that all should be fulfilled +according to his prophecy: he would take care to bring the curse to the +ears of him who was to receive it. He went to Hreidmar and showed Odin +the gold; but when the latter saw the ring, it seemed to him a fair one, +and he took it and put it aside, giving Hreidmar the rest of the gold. +They filled the otter-belg as full as it would hold, and raised it up +when it was full. Then came Odin, and was to cover the belg with gold; +and when this was done, he requested Hreidmar to come and see whether +the belg was sufficiently covered. But Hreidmar looked at it, examined +it closely, and saw a mouth-hair, and demanded that it should be +covered, too, otherwise the agreement would be broken. Then Odin brought +forth the ring and covered with it the mouth-hair, saying that now they +had paid the otter-ransom. But when Odin had taken his spear, and Loke +his shoes, so that they had nothing more to fear, Loke said that the +curse that Andvare had pronounced should be fulfilled, and that the ring +and that gold should be the bane of its possessor; and this curse was +afterward fulfilled. This explains why gold is called the otter-ransom, +or forced payment of the asas, or strife-metal. + +What more is there to be told of this gold? Hreidmar accepted the gold +as a ransom for his son, but Fafner and Regin demanded their share of it +as a ransom for their brother. Hreidmar was, however, unwilling to give +them as much as a penny of it. Then the brothers made an agreement to +kill their father for the sake of the gold. When this was done, Regin +demanded that Fafner should give him one half of it. Fafner answered +that there was but little hope that he would share the gold with his +brother, since he had himself slain his father to obtain it; and he +commanded Regin to get him gone, for else the same thing would happen to +him as had happened to Hreidmar. Fafner had taken the sword hight +Hrotte, and the helmet which had belonged to his father, and the latter +he had placed on his head. This was called the Æger’s helmet, and it was +a terror to all living to behold it. Regin had the sword called Refil. +With it he fled. But Fafner went to Gnita-heath (the glittering heath), +where he made himself a bed, took on him the likeness of a serpent +(dragon), and lay brooding over the gold. + +Regin then went to Thjode, to king Hjalprek, and became his smith. There +he undertook the fostering of Sigurd (Sigfrid), the son of Sigmund, the +son of Volsung and the son of Hjordis, the daughter of Eylime. Sigurd +was the mightiest of all the kings of hosts, in respect to both family +and power and mind. Regin explained to him where Fafner was lying on the +gold, and egged him on to try to get possession thereof. Then Regin made +the sword which is hight Gram (wrath), and which was so sharp that when +Sigurd held it in the flowing stream it cut asunder a tuft of wool which +the current carried down against the sword’s edge. In the next place, +Sigurd cut with his sword Regin’s anvil in twain. Thereupon Sigurd and +Regin repaired to Gnita-heath. Here Sigurd dug a ditch in Fafner’s path +and sat down in it; so when Fafner crept to the water and came directly +over this ditch, Sigurd pierced him with the sword, and this thrust +caused his death. Then Regin came and declared that Sigurd had slain his +brother, and demanded of him as a ransom that he should cut out Fafner’s +heart and roast it on the fire; but Regin kneeled down, drank Fafner’s +blood, and laid himself down to sleep. While Sigurd was roasting the +heart, and thought that it must be done, he touched it with his finger +to see how tender it was; but the fat oozed out of the heart and onto +his finger and burnt it, so that he thrust his finger into his mouth. +The heart-blood came in contact with his tongue, which made him +comprehend the speech of birds, and he understood what the eagles said +that were sitting in the trees. One of the birds said: + + There sits Sigurd, + Stained with blood. + On the fire is roasting + Fafner’s heart. + Wise seemed to me + The ring-destroyer, + If he the shining + Heart would eat. + +Another eagle sang: + + There lies Regin, + Contemplating + How to deceive the man + Who trusts him; + Thinks in his wrath + Of false accusations. + The evil smith plots + Revenge ’gainst the brother.[95] + + [Footnote 95: Elder Edda: the Lay of Fafner, 32, 33.] + +Then Sigurd went to Regin and slew him, and thereupon he mounted his +horse hight Grane, and rode until he came to Fafner’s bed, took out all +the gold, packed it in two bags and laid it on Grane’s back, then got on +himself and rode away. Now is told the saga according to which gold is +called Fafner’s bed or lair, the metal of Gnita-heath, or Grane’s +burden. + +Then Sigurd rode on until he found a house on the mountain. In it slept +a woman clad in helmet and coat-of-mail. He drew his sword and cut the +coat-of-mail off from her. Then she awaked and called herself Hild. Her +name was Brynhild, and she was a valkyrie. Thence Sigurd rode on and +came to the king whose name was Gjuke. His wife was called Grimhild, and +their children were Gunnar, Hogne, Gudrun, Gudny; Gothorm was Gjuke’s +step-son. Here Sigurd remained a long time. Then he got the hand of +Gudrun, Gjuke’s daughter, and Gunnar and Hogne entered into a sworn +brotherhood with Sigurd. Afterward Sigurd and the sons of Gjuke went to +Atle, Budle’s son, to ask for his sister, Brynhild, for Gunnar’s wife. +She sat on Hindfell, and her hall was surrounded by the bickering flame +called the Vafurloge, and she had made a solemn promise not to wed any +other man than him who dared to ride through the bickering flame. Then +Sigurd and the Gjukungs (they are also called Niflungs) rode upon the +mountain, and there Gunnar was to ride through the Vafurloge. He had the +horse that was called Gote, but this horse did not dare to run into the +flame. So Sigurd and Gunnar changed form and weapons, for Grane would +not take a step under any other man than Sigurd. Then Sigurd mounted +Grane and rode through the bickering flame. That same evening he held a +wedding with Brynhild; but when they went to bed he drew his sword Gram +from the sheath and placed it between them. In the morning when he had +arisen, and had donned his clothes, he gave to Brynhild, as a bridal +gift, the gold ring that Loke had taken from Andvare, and he received +another ring as a memento from her. Then Sigurd mounted his horse and +rode to his companions. He and Gunnar exchanged forms again and went +back to Gjuke with Brynhild. Sigurd had two children with Gudrun. Their +names were Sigmund and Swanhild. + +Once it happened that Brynhild and Gudrun went to the water to wash +their hair. When they came to the river Brynhild waded from the river +bank into the stream, and said that she could not bear to have that +water in her hair that ran from Gudrun’s hair, for she had a more +high-minded husband. Then Gudrun followed her into the stream, and said +that she was entitled to wash her hair farther up the stream than +Brynhild, for the reason that she had the husband who was bolder than +Gunnar, or any other man in the world; for it was he who slew Fafner and +Regin, and inherited the wealth of both. Then answered Brynhild: A +greater deed it was that Gunnar rode through the Vafurloge, which Sigurd +did not dare to do. Then laughed Gudrun and said: Do you think it was +Gunnar who rode through the bickering flame? Then I think you shared the +bed with him who gave me this gold ring. The gold ring which you have on +your finger, and which you received as a bridal-gift, is called +Andvaranaut (Andvare’s Gift), and I do not think Gunnar got it on +Gnita-heath. Then Brynhild became silent and went home. Thereupon she +egged Gunnar and Hogne to kill Sigurd; but being sworn brothers of +Sigurd, they egged Guthorm, their brother, to slay Sigurd. Guthorm +pierced him with his sword while he was sleeping; but as soon as Sigurd +was wounded he threw his sword, Gram, after Guthorm, so that it cut him +in twain through the middle. There Sigurd fell, and his son, three +winters old, by name Sigmund, whom they also killed. Then Brynhild +pierced herself with the sword and was cremated with Sigurd. But Gunnar +and Hogne inherited Fafner’s gold and the Gift of Andvare, and now ruled +the lands. + +King Atle, Budle’s son, Brynhild’s brother, then got in marriage Gudrun, +who had been Sigurd’s wife, and they had children. King Atle invited +Gunnar and Hogne to visit him, and they accepted his invitation. But +before they started on their journey they concealed Fafner’s hoard in +the Rhine, and that gold has never since been found. King Atle had +gathered together an army and fought a battle with Gunnar and Hogne, and +they were captured. Atle had the heart cut out of Hogne alive. This was +his death. Gunnar he threw into a den of snakes, but a harp was secretly +brought to him, and he played the harp with his toes (for his hands were +fettered), so that all the snakes fell asleep excepting the adder, which +rushed at him and bit him in the breast, and then thrust its head into +the wound and clung to his liver until he died. Gunnar and Hogne are +called Niflungs (Niblungs) and Gjukungs. Hence gold is called the +Niflung treasure or inheritance. A little later Gudrun slew her two sons +and made from their skulls goblets trimmed with gold, and thereupon the +funeral ceremonies took place. At the feast, Gudrun poured for King Atle +in these goblets mead that was mixed with the blood of the youths. Their +hearts she roasted and gave to the king to eat. When this was done she +told him all about it, with many unkind words. There was no lack of +strong mead, so that the most of the people sitting there fell asleep. +On that night she went to the king when he had fallen asleep, and had +with her her son Hogne. They slew him, and thus he ended his life. Then +they set fire to the hall, and with it all the people who were in it +were burned. Then she went to the sea and sprang into the water to drown +herself; but she was carried across the fjord, and came to the land +which belonged to King Jonaker. When he saw her he took her home and +made her his wife. They had three children, whose names were Sorle, +Hamder and Erp. They all had hair as black as ravens, like Gunnar and +Hogne and the other Niflungs. + +There was fostered Swanhild, the daughter of Sigurd, and she was the +fairest of all women. That Jormunrek, the rich, found out. He sent his +son, Randver, to ask for her hand for him; and when he came to Jonaker, +Swanhild was delivered to him, so that he might bring her to King +Jormunrek. Then said Bikke that it would be more fitting that Randver +should marry Swanhild, he being young and she too, but Jormunrek being +old. This plan pleased the two young people well. Soon afterward Bikke +informed the king of it, and so King Jormunrek seized his son and had +him brought to the gallows. Then Randver took his hawk, plucked the +feathers off him, and requested that it should be sent to his father, +whereupon he was hanged. But when King Jormunrek saw the hawk, it came +to his mind that as the hawk was flightless and featherless, so his +kingdom was without preservation; for he was old and sonless. Then King +Jormunrek riding out of the woods from the chase with his courtiers, +while Queen Swanhild sat dressing her hair, had the courtiers ride onto +her, and she was trampled to death beneath the feet of the horses. When +Gudrun heard of this, she begged her sons to avenge Swanhild. While they +were busking themselves for the journey, she brought them byrnies and +helmets, so strong that iron could not scathe them. She laid the plan +for them, that when they came to King Jormunrek, they should attack him +in the night whilst he was sleeping. Sorle and Hamder should cut off his +hands and feet, and Erp his head. On the way they asked Erp what +assistance they were to get from him, when they came to King Jormunrek. +He answered them that he would give them such assistance as the hand +gives the foot. They said that the feet got no support from the hands +whatsoever. They were angry at their mother, because she had forced them +to undertake this journey with harsh words, and hence they were going to +do that which would displease her most. So they killed Erp, for she +loved him the most. A little later, while Sorle was walking, he slipped +with one foot, and in falling supported himself with his hands. Then +said he: Now the hands helped the foot; better were it now if Erp were +living. When they came to Jormunrek, the king, in the night, while he +was sleeping, they cut off both his hands and his feet. Then he awaked, +called his men and bade them arise. Said Hamder then: The head would now +have been off had Erp lived. The courtiers got up, attacked them, but +could not overcome them with weapons. Then Jormunrek cried to them that +they should stone them to death. This was done, Sorle and Hamder fell, +and thus perished the last descendants of Gjuke. + +After King Sigurd lived a daughter hight Aslaug, who was fostered at +Heimer’s in Hlymdaler. From her mighty races are descended. It is said +that Sigmund, the son of Volsung, was so powerful, that he drank venom +and received no harm therefrom. But Sinfjotle, his son, and Sigurd, were +so hard-skinned that no venom coming onto them could harm them. +Therefore the skald Brage has sung as follows: + + When the tortuous serpent, + Full of the drink of the Volsungs,[96] + Hung in coils + On the bait of the giant-slayer,[97] + +Upon these sagas very many skalds have made lays, and from them they +have taken various themes. Brage the Old made the following song about +the fall of Sorle and Hamder in the drapa, which he composed about +Ragnar Lodbrok: + + Jormunrek once, + In an evil dream, waked + In that sword-contest + Against the blood-stained kings. + A clashing of arms was heard + In the house of Randver’s father, + When the raven-blue brothers of Erp + The insult avenged. + + Sword-dew flowed + Off the bed on the floor. + Bloody hands and feet of the king + One saw cut off. + On his head fell Jormunrek, + Frothing in blood. + On the shield + This is painted. + + The king saw + Men so stand + That a ring they made + ’Round his house. + Sorle and Hamder + Were both at once, + With slippery stones, + Struck to the ground. + + King Jormunrek + Ordered Gjuke’s descendants + Violently to be stoned + When they came to take the life + Of Swanhild’s husband. + All sought to pay + Jonaker’s sons + With blows and wounds. + + This fall of men + And sagas many + On the fair shield I see. + Ragnar gave me the shield. + + [Footnote 96: The drink of the Volsungs = venom; the tortuous + venom-serpent = the Midgard-serpent.] + + [Footnote 97: Thor.] + + +MENJA AND FENJA. + +Why is gold called Frode’s meal? The saga giving rise to this is the +following: + +Odin had a son by name Skjold, from whom the Skjoldungs are descended. +He had his throne and ruled in the lands that are now called Denmark, +but were then called Gotland. Skjold had a son by name Fridleif, who +ruled the lands after him. Fridleif’s son was Frode. He took the kingdom +after his father, at the time when the Emperor Augustus established +peace in all the earth and Christ was born. But Frode being the +mightiest king in the northlands, this peace was attributed to him by +all who spake the Danish tongue, and the Norsemen called it the peace of +Frode. No man injured the other, even though he might meet, loose or in +chains, his father’s or brother’s bane. There was no thief or robber, +so that a gold ring would be a long time on Jalanger’s heath. King Frode +sent messengers to Svithjod, to the king whose name was Fjolner, and +bought there two maid-servants, whose names were Fenja and Menja. They +were large and strong. About this time were found in Denmark two +mill-stones, so large that no one had the strength to turn them. But the +nature belonged to these mill-stones that they ground whatever was +demanded of them by the miller. The name of this mill was Grotte. But +the man to whom King Frode gave the mill was called Hengekjapt. King +Frode had the maid-servants led to the mill, and requested them to grind +for him gold and peace, and Frode’s happiness. Then he gave them no +longer time to rest or sleep than while the cuckoo was silent or while +they sang a song. It is said that they sang the song called the +Grottesong, and before they ended it they ground out a host against +Frode; so that on the same night there came the sea-king, whose name was +Mysing, and slew Frode and took a large amount of booty. Therewith the +Frode-peace ended. Mysing took with him Grotte, and also Fenja and +Menja, and bade them grind salt, and in the middle of the night they +asked Mysing whether he did not have salt enough. He bade them grind +more. They ground only a short time longer before the ship sank. But in +the ocean arose a whirlpool (Maelstrom, mill-stream) in the place where +the sea runs into the mill-eye. Thus the sea became salt. + + +THE GROTTESONG. + + Now are come + To the house of the king + The prescient two, + Fenja and Menja. + There must the mighty + Maidens toil + For King Frode, + Fridleif’s son. + + Brought to the mill + Soon they were; + The gray stones + They had to turn. + Nor rest nor peace + He gave to them: + He would hear the maidens + Turn the mill. + + They turned the mill, + The prattling stones + The mill ever rattling. + What a noise it made! + Lay the planks! + Lift the stones![98] + But he[99] bade the maids + Yet more to grind. + + They sang and swung + The swift mill-stone, + So that Frode’s folk + Fell asleep. + Then, when she came + To the mill to grind, + With a hard heart + And with loud voice + Did Menja sing: + + We grind for Frode + Wealth and happiness, + And gold abundant + On the mill of luck. + Dance on roses! + Sleep on down! + Wake when you please! + That is well ground. + + Here shall no one + Hurt the other, + Nor in ambush lie, + Nor seek to kill; + Nor shall any one + With sharp sword hew, + Though bound he should find + His brother’s bane. + + They stood in the hall, + Their hands were resting; + Then was it the first + Word that he spoke: + Sleep not longer + Than the cuckoo on the hall, + Or only while + A song I sing: + + Frode! you were not + Wary enough,-- + You friend of men,-- + When maids you bought! + At their strength you looked, + And at their fair faces, + But you asked no questions + About their descent. + + Hard was Hrungner + And his father; + Yet was Thjasse + Stronger than they, + And Ide and Orner, + Our friends, and + The mountain-giants’ brothers, + Who fostered us two. + + Not would Grotte have come + From the mountain gray, + Nor this hard stone + Out from the earth; + The maids of the mountain-giants + Would not thus be grinding + If we two knew + Nothing of the mill. + + Through winters nine + Our strength increased, + While below the sod + We played together. + Great deeds were the maids + Able to perform; + Mountains they + From their places moved. + + The stone we rolled + From the giants’ dwelling, + So that all the earth + Did rock and quake. + So we hurled + The rattling stone, + The heavy block, + That men caught it. + + In Svithjod’s land + Afterward we + Fire-wise women, + Fared to the battle, + Byrnies we burst, + Shields we cleaved, + Made our way + Through gray-clad hosts. + + One chief we slew, + Another we aided,-- + To Guthorm the Good + Help we gave. + Ere Knue had fallen + Nor rest we got. + Then bound we were + And taken prisoners. + + Such were our deeds + In former days, + That we heroes brave + Were thought to be. + With spears sharp + Heroes we pierced, + So the gore did run + And our swords grew red. + + Now we are come + To the house of the king, + No one us pities. + Bond-women are we. + Dirt eats our feet, + Our limbs are cold, + The peace-giver[100] we turn. + Hard it is at Frode’s. + + The hands shall stop, + The stone shall stand; + Now have I ground + For my part enough. + Yet to the hands + No rest must be given, + ’Till Frode thinks + Enough has been ground. + + Now hold shall the hands + The lances hard, + The weapons bloody,-- + Wake now, Frode! + Wake now, Frode! + If you would listen + To our songs,-- + To sayings old. + + Fire I see burn + East of the burg,-- + The warnews are awake. + That is called warning. + A host hither + Hastily approaches + To burn the king’s + Lofty dwelling. + + No longer you will sit + On the throne of Hleidra + And rule o’er red + Rings and the mill. + Now must we grind + With all our might, + No warmth will we get + From the blood of the slain. + + Now my father’s daughter + Bravely turns the mill. + The death of many + Men she sees. + Now broke the large + Braces ’neath the mill,-- + The iron-bound braces. + Let us yet grind! + + Let us yet grind! + Yrsa’s son + Shall on Frode revenge + Halfdan’s death. + He shall Yrsa’s + Offspring be named, + And yet Yrsa’s brother. + Both of us know it. + + The mill turned the maidens,-- + Their might they tested; + Young they were, + And giantesses wild. + The braces trembled. + Then fell the mill,-- + In twain was broken + The heavy stone. + + All the old world + Shook and trembled, + But the giant’s maid + Speedily said: + We have turned the mill, Frode! + Now we may stop. + By the mill long enough + The maidens have stood. + + [Footnote 98: These words are spoken by the maidens while they put + the mill together.] + + [Footnote 99: Frode.] + + [Footnote 100: The mill.] + + +ROLF KRAKE. + +A king in Denmark hight Rolf Krake, and was the most famous of all kings +of olden times; moreover, he was more mild, brave and condescending than +all other men. A proof of his condescension, which is very often spoken +of in olden stories, was the following: There was a poor little fellow +by name Vog. He once came into King Rolf’s hall while the king was yet a +young man, and of rather delicate growth. Then Vog went before him and +looked up at him. Then said the king: What do you mean to say, my +fellow, by looking so at me? Answered Vog: When I was at home I heard +people say that King Rolf, at Hleidra, was the greatest man in the +northlands, but now sits here in the high-seat a little crow (krake), +and it they call their king. Then made answer the king: You, my fellow, +have given me a name, and I shall henceforth be called Rolf Krake, but +it is customary that a gift accompanies the name. Seeing that you have +no gift that you can give me with the name, or that would be suitable to +me, then he who has must give to the other. Then he took a gold ring off +his hand and gave it to the churl. Then said Vog: You give as the best +king of all, and therefore I now pledge myself to become the bane of him +who becomes your bane. Said the king, laughing: A small thing makes Vog +happy. + +Another example is told of Rolf Krake’s bravery. In Upsala reigned a +king by name Adils, whose wife was Yrsa, Rolf Krake’s mother. He was +engaged in a war with Norway’s king, Ale. They fought a battle on the +ice of the lake called Wenern. King Adils sent a message to Rolf Krake, +his stepson, asking him to come and help him, and promising to furnish +pay for his whole army during the campaign. Furthermore King Rolf +himself should have any three treasures that he might choose in Sweden. +But Rolf Krake could not go to his assistance, on account of the war +which he was then waging against the Saxons. Still he sent twelve +berserks to King Adils. Among them were Bodvar Bjarke, Hjalte the +Valiant, Hvitserk the Keen, Vot, Vidsete, and the brothers Svipday and +Beigud. In that war fell King Ale and a large part of his army. Then +King Adils took from the dead King Ale the helmet called Hildesvin, and +his horse called Rafn. Then the berserks each demanded three pounds of +gold in pay for their service, and also asked for the treasures which +they had chosen for Rolf Krake, and which they now desired to bring to +him. These were the helmet Hildegolt; the byrnie Finnsleif, which no +steel could scathe; and the gold ring called Sviagris, which had +belonged to Adils’ forefathers. But the king refused to surrender any of +these treasures, nor did he give the berserks any pay. The berserks then +returned home, and were much dissatisfied. They reported all to King +Rolf, who straightway busked himself to fare against Upsala; and when he +came with his ships into the river Fyre, he rode against Upsala, and +with him his twelve berserks, all peaceless. Yrsa, his mother, received +him and took him to his lodgings, but not to the king’s hall. Large +fires were kindled for them, and ale was brought them to drink. Then +came King Adils’ men in and bore fuel onto the fireplace, and made a +fire so great that it burnt the clothes of Rolf and his berserks, +saying: Is it true that neither fire nor steel will put Rolf Krake and +his berserks to flight? Then Rolf Krake and all his men sprang up, and +he said: + + Let us increase the blaze + In Adils’ chambers. + +He took his shield and cast it into the fire, and sprang over the fire +while the shield was burning, and cried: + + From the fire flees not he + Who over it leaps. + +The same did also his men, one after the other, and then they took those +who had put fuel on the fire and cast them into it. Now Yrsa came and +handed Rolf Krake a deer’s horn full of gold, and with it she gave him +the ring Sviagris, and requested them to ride straightway to their army. +They sprang upon their horses and rode away over the Fyrisvold. Then +they saw that King Adils was riding after them with his whole army, all +armed, and was going to slay them. Rolf Krake took gold out of the horn +with his right hand, and scattered it over the whole way. But when the +Swedes saw it they leaped out of their saddles, and each one took as +much as he could. King Adils bade them ride, and he himself rode on with +all his might. The name of his horse was Slungner, the fastest of all +horses. When Rolf Krake saw that King Adils was riding near him, he took +the ring Sviagris and threw it to him, asking him to take it as a gift. +King Adils rode to the ring, picked it up with the end of his spear, and +let it slide down to his hand. Then Rolf Krake turned round and saw that +the other was stooping. Said he: Like a swine I have now bended the +foremost of all Swedes. Thus they parted. Hence gold is called the seed +of Krake or of Fyrisvold. + + +HOGNE AND HILD. + +A king by name Hogne had a daughter by name Hild. Her a king, by name +Hedin, son of Hjarrande, made a prisoner of war, while King Hogne had +fared to the trysting of the kings. But when he learned that there had +been harrying in his kingdom, and that his daughter had been taken away, +he rode with his army in search of Hedin, and learned that he had sailed +northward along the coast. When King Hogne came to Norway, he found out +that Hedin had sailed westward into the sea. Then Hogne sailed after him +to the Orkneys. And when he came to the island called Ha, then Hedin was +there before him with his host. Then Hild went to meet her father, and +offered him as a reconciliation from Hedin a necklace; but if he was not +willing to accept this, she said that Hedin was prepared for a battle, +and Hogne might expect no clemency from him. Hogne answered his daughter +harshly. When she returned to Hedin, she told him that Hogne would not +be reconciled, and bade him busk himself for the battle. And so both +parties did; they landed on the island and marshaled their hosts. Then +Hedin called to Hogne, his father-in-law, offering him a reconciliation +and much gold as a ransom. Hogne answered: Too late do you offer to make +peace with me, for now I have drawn the sword Dainsleif, which was +smithied by the dwarfs, and must be the death of a man whenever it is +drawn; its blows never miss the mark, and the wounds made by it never +heal. Said Hedin: You boast the sword, but not the victory. That I call +a good sword that is always faithful to its master. Then they began the +battle which is called the Hjadninga-vig (the slaying of the +Hedin_ians_); they fought the whole day, and in the evening the kings +fared back to their ships. But in the night Hild went to the +battlefield, and waked up with sorcery all the dead that had fallen. The +next day the kings went to the battlefield and fought, and so did also +all they who had fallen the day before. Thus the battle continued from +day to day; and all they who fell, and all the swords that lay on the +field of battle, and all the shields, became stone. But as soon as day +dawned all the dead arose again and fought, and all the weapons became +new again, and in songs it is said that the Hjadnings will so continue +until Ragnarok. + + + + +NOTES. + + +ENEA. + +The Enea mentioned in the Foreword to Gylfe’s Fooling refers to the +settlement of western Europe, where Æneas is said to have founded a city +on the Tiber. Bergmann, however, in his Fascination de Gulfi, page 28, +refers it to the Thracian town Ainos. + + +HERIKON. + +Herikon is undoubtedly a mutilated form for Erichthonios. The genealogy +here given corresponds with the one given in the Iliad, Book 20, 215. + + +THE HISTORICAL ODIN. + +The historical or anthropomorphized Odin, described in the Foreword to +the Fooling of Gylfe, becomes interesting when we compare it with +Snorre’s account of that hero in Heimskringla, and then compare both +accounts with the Roman traditions about Æneas. Of course the whole +story is only a myth; but we should remember that in the minds and +hearts of our ancestors it served every purpose of genuine history. Our +fathers accepted it in as good faith as any Christian ever believed in +the gospel of Christ, and so it had a similar influence in moulding the +social, religious, political and literary life of our ancestors. We +become interested in this legend as much as if it were genuine history, +on account of the influence it wielded upon the minds and hearts of a +race destined to act so great a part in the social, religious and +political drama of Europe. We look into this and other ancestral myths, +and see mirrored in them all that we afterward find to be reliable +history of the old Teutons. In the same manner we are interested in the +story told about Romulus and Remus, about Mars and the wolf. This Roman +myth is equally prophetic in reference to the future career of Rome. The +warlike Mars, the rapacity of the wolf, and the fratricide Romulus, form +a mirror in which we see reflected the whole historical development of +the Romans; so that the story of Romulus is a vest-pocket edition of the +history of Rome. + +There are many points of resemblance between this old story of Odin and +the account that Virgil gives us of Æneas, the founder of the Latin +race; and it is believed that, while Virgil imitated Homer, he based his +poem upon a legend current among his countrymen. The Greeks in Virgil’s +poem are Pompey and the Romans in our Teutonic story. The Trojans +correspond to Mithridates and his allies. Æneas and Odin are identical. +Just as Odin, a heroic defender of Mithridates, after traversing various +unknown countries, finally reaches the north of Europe, organizes the +various Teutonic kingdoms, settles his sons upon the thrones of Germany, +England, Denmark, Sweden and Norway, and instructs his people to gather +strength and courage, so as eventually to take revenge on the cursed +Romans; so Æneas, one of the most valiant defenders of Troy, after many +adventures in various lands, at length settles in Italy, and becomes the +founder of a race that in course of time is to wreak vengeance upon the +Greeks. The prophecy contained in the Roman legend was fulfilled by +Metellus and Mummius, in the years 147 and 146 before Christ, when the +Romans became the conquerors of Greece. The prophecy contained in our +Teutonic legend foreshadowed with no less unrelenting necessity the +downfall of proud Rome, when the Teutonic commander Odoacer, in the year +476 after Christ, dethroned, not Romulus, brother of Remus, but Romulus +Augustulus, son of Orestes. Thus history repeats itself. Roman history +begins and ends with Romulus; and we fancy we can see some connection +between Od-in and Od-oacer. “As the twig is bent the tree is inclined.” + +It might be interesting to institute a similar comparison between our +Teutonic race-founder Odin and Ulysses, king of Ithaca, but the reader +will have to do this for himself. + +In one respect our heroes differ. The fall of Troy and the wanderings of +Ulysses became the theme of two great epic poems among the Greeks. The +wanderings and adventures of Æneas, son of Anchises, were fashioned into +a lordly epic by Virgil for the Romans. But the much-traveled man, the +ἀνὴρ πολύτροπος, the weapons and the hero, Odin, who, driven by the +norns, first came to Teutondom and to the Baltic shores, has not yet +been sung. This wonderful expedition of our race-founder, which, by +giving a historic cause to all the later hostilities and conflicts +between the Teutons and the Romans, might, as suggested by Gibbon, +supply the noble ground-work of an epic poem as thrilling as the Æneid +of Virgil, has not yet been woven into a song for our race, and we give +our readers this full account of Odin from the Heimskringla in +connection with the Foreword to Gylfe’s Fooling, with the hope that +among our readers there may be found some descendant of Odin, whose +skaldic wings are but just fledged for the flights he hopes to take, +who will take a draught, first from Mimer’s gushing fountain, then from +Suttung’s mead, brought by Odin to Asgard, and consecrate himself and +his talents to this legend with all the ardor of his soul. For, as +William Morris so beautifully says of the Volsung Saga, this is the +great story of the Teutonic race, and should be to us what the tale of +Troy was to the Greeks, and what the tale of Æneas was to the Romans, +to all our race first and afterward, when the evolution of the world has +made the Teutonic race nothing more than a name of what it has been; a +story, too, then, should it be to the races that come after us, no less +than the Iliad, and the Odyssey and the Æneid have been to us.[101] We +sincerely trust that we shall see Odin wrought into a Teutonic epic, +that will present in grand outline the contrast between the Roman and +the Teuton. And now we are prepared to give the Heimskringla account of +the historical Odin. We have adopted Samuel Laing’s translation, with a +few verbal alterations where such seemed necessary. + + [Footnote 101: Quoted from memory.] + +It is said that the earth’s circle (Heimskringla), which the human race +inhabits, is torn across into many bights, so that great seas run into +the land from the out-ocean. Thus it is known that a great sea goes into +Njorvasound,[102] and up to the land of Jerusalem. From the same sea a +long sea-bight stretches toward the northeast, and is called the Black +Sea, and divides the three parts of the earth; of which the eastern part +is called Asia, and the western is called by some Europe, by some +Enea.[103] Northward of the Black Sea lies Svithjod the Great,[104] or +the Cold. The Great Svithjod is reckoned by some not less than the +Saracens’ land,[105] others compare it to the Great Blueland.[106] The +northern part of Svithjod lies uninhabited on account of frost and cold, +as likewise the southern parts of Blueland are waste from the burning +sun. In Svithjod are many great domains, and many wonderful races of +men, and many kinds of languages. There are giants,[107] and there are +dwarfs,[108] and there are also blue men.[109] There are wild beasts and +dreadfully large dragons. On the north side of the mountains, which lie +outside of all inhabited lands, runs a river through Svithjod, which is +properly called by the name of Tanais,[110] but was formerly called +Tanaquisl or Vanaquisl, and which falls into the ocean at the Black Sea. +The country of the people on the Vanaquisl was called Vanaland or +Vanaheim, and the river separates the three parts of the world, of which +the easternmost is called Asia and the westernmost Europe. + + [Footnote 102: Njorvasound, the Straits of Gibraltar; so called + from the first Norseman who sailed through them. His name was + Njorve. See Ann. for nordisk Oldkyndighed, Vol. I, p. 58.] + + [Footnote 103: See note, page 221.] + + [Transcriber’s Note: + The reference is to the first “Note”, on Enea.] + + [Footnote 104: Svithjod the Great, or the Cold, is the ancient + Sarmatia and Scythia Magna, and formed the great part of the + present European Russia. In the mythological sagas it is also + called Godheim; that is, the home of Odin and the other gods. + Svithjod the Less is Sweden proper, and is called Mannheim; that + is, the home of the kings, the descendants of the gods.] + + [Footnote 105: The Saracens’ land (Serkland) means North Africa + and Spain, and the Saracen countries in Asia; that is, Persia, + Assyria, etc.] + + [Footnote 106: Blueland, the country of the blacks in Africa, the + country south of Serkland, the modern Ethiopia.] + + [Footnote 107: Tartareans.] + + [Footnote 108: Kalmuks.] + + [Footnote 109: Mongolians.] + + [Footnote 110: The Tanais is the present Don river, which empties + into the Sea of Asov.] + +The country east of the Tanaquisl in Asia was called Asaland or Asaheim, +and the chief city in that land was called Asgard.[111] In that city was +a chief called Odin, and it was a great place for sacrifice. It was the +custom there that twelve temple-priests[112] should both direct the +sacrifices and also judge the people. They were called priests or +masters, and all the people served and obeyed them. Odin was a great and +very far-traveled warrior, who conquered many kingdoms, and so +successful was he that in every battle the victory was on his side. +It was the belief of his people that victory belonged to him in every +battle. It was his custom when he sent his men into battle, or on any +expedition, that he first laid his hand upon their heads, and called +down a blessing upon them; and then they believed their undertaking +would be successful. His people also were accustomed, whenever they fell +into danger by land or sea, to call upon his name; and they thought that +always they got comfort and aid by it, for where he was they thought +help was near. Often he went away so long that he passed many seasons on +his journeys. + + [Footnote 111: Asgard is supposed, by those who look for + historical fact in mythological tales, to be the present Assor; + others, that it is Chasgar in the Caucasian ridge, called by + Strabo Aspargum the Asburg, or castle of the asas. We still have + in the Norse tongue the word Aas, meaning a ridge of high land. + The word asas is not derived from Asia, as Snorre supposed. It is + the O.H. Ger. _ans_; Anglo-Sax. _os_ = a hero. The word also + means a pillar; and in this latter sense the gods are the pillars + of the universe. Connected with the word is undoubtedly Aas, a + mountain-ridge, as supporter of the skies; and this reminds us of + _Atlas_, as bearer of the world.] + + [Footnote 112: The temple-priests performed the functions of + priest and judge, and their office continued hereditary throughout + the heathen period of Norse history.] + +Odin had two brothers, the one hight Ve, the other Vile,[113] and they +governed the kingdom when he was absent. It happened once when Odin had +gone to a great distance, and had been so long away that the people of +Asia doubted if he would ever return home, that his two brothers took it +upon themselves to divide his estate; but both of them took his wife +Frigg to themselves. Odin soon after returned home, and took his wife +back. + + [Footnote 113: See Norse Mythology, page 174.] + +Odin went out with a great army against the Vanaland people; but they +were well prepared, and defended their land, so that victory was +changeable, and they ravaged the lands of each other and did great +damage. They tired of this at last, and, on both sides appointing a +meeting for establishing peace, made a truce and exchanged hostages. The +Vanaland people sent their best men,--Njord the Rich and his son Frey; +the people of Asaland sent a man hight Hœner,[114] as he was a stout and +very handsome man, and with him they sent a man of great understanding, +called Mimer; and on the other side the Vanaland people sent the wisest +man in their community, who was called Quaser. Now when Hœner came to +Vanaheim he was immediately made a chief, and Mimer came to him with +good counsel on all occasions. But when Hœner stood in the Things, or +other meetings, if Mimer was not near him, and any difficult matter was +laid before him, he always answered in one way: Now let others give +their advice; so that the Vanaland people got a suspicion that the +Asaland people had deceived them in the exchange of men. They took +Mimer, therefore, and beheaded him, and sent his head to the Asaland +people. Odin took the head, smeared it with herbs, so that it should not +rot, and sang incantations over it. Thereby he gave it the power that it +spoke to him, and discovered to him many secrets.[115] Odin placed Njord +and Frey as priests of the sacrifices, and they became deities of the +Asaland people. Njord’s daughter, Freyja, was priestess of the +sacrifices, and first taught the Asaland people the magic art, as it was +in use and fashion among the Vanaland people. While Njord was with the +Vanaland people he had taken his own sister in marriage, for that was +allowed by their law; and their children were Frey and Freyja. But among +the Asaland people it was forbidden to come together in so near +relationship.[116] + + [Footnote 114: See Brage’s Talk, p. 160; and Norse Mythology, + pp. 247 and 342.] + + [Footnote 115: In the Vala’s Prophecy of the Elder Edda it is + said that Odin talks with the head of Mimer before the coming of + Ragnarok. See Norse Mythology, p. 421.] + + [Footnote 116: This shows that the vans must have belonged to the + mythological system of some older race that, like the ancient + Romans (Liber and Libera), recognized the propriety of marriage + between brothers and sisters, at least among their gods. Such + marriages were not allowed among our Odinic ancestors. Hence we + see that when Njord, Frey and Freyja were admitted to Asgard, they + entered into new marriage relations. Njord married Skade, Frey + married Gerd, and Freyja married Oder. Our ancestors were never + savages!] + +There goes a great mountain barrier from northeast to southwest, which +divides the Great Svithjod from other kingdoms. South of this mountain +ridge is not far to Turkland, where Odin had great possessions.[117] But +Odin, having foreknowledge and magic-sight, knew that his posterity +would come to settle and dwell in the northern half of the world. In +those times the Roman chiefs went wide around the world, subduing to +themselves all people; and on this account many chiefs fled from their +domains.[118] Odin set his brothers Vile and Ve over Asgard, and he +himself, with all the gods and a great many other people, wandered out, +first westward to Gardarike (Russia), and then south to Saxland +(Germany). He had many sons, and after having subdued an extensive +kingdom in Saxland he set his sons to defend the country. He himself +went northward to the sea, and took up his abode in an island which is +called Odinse (see note below), in Funen. Then he sent Gefjun across the +sound to the north to discover new countries, and she came to King +Gylfe, who gave her a ploughland. Then she went to Jotunheim and bore +four sons to a giant, and transformed them into a yoke of oxen, and +yoked them to a plough and broke out the land into the ocean, right +opposite to Odinse, which was called Seeland, where she afterward +settled and dwelt.[119] Skjold, a son of Odin, married her, and they +dwelt at Leidre.[120] Where the ploughed land was, is a lake or sea +called Laage.[121] In the Swedish land the fjords of Laage correspond to +the nesses of Seeland. Brage the old sings thus of it: + + Gefjun glad + Drew from Gylfe + The excellent land, + Denmark’s increase, + So that it reeked + From the running beasts. + Four heads and eight eyes + Bore the oxen, + As they went before the wide + Robbed land of the grassy isle.[122] + + [Footnote 117: Turkland was usually supposed to mean Moldau and + Wallachia. Some, who regard the great mountain barrier as being + the Ural Mountains, think Turkland is Turkistan in Asia. Asia + Minor is also frequently styled Turkland.] + + [Footnote 118: Ancient Norse writers connect this event with + Mithridates and Pompey the Great. They tell how Odin was a heroic + prince who, with his twelve peers or apostles, dwelt in the Black + Sea region. He became straightened for room, and so led the asas + out of Asia into eastern Europe. Then they go on to tell how the + Roman empire had arrived at its highest point of power, and saw + all the then known world--the orbis terrarum--subject to its laws, + when an unforeseen event raised up enemies against it from the + very heart of the forests of Scythia, and on the banks of the Don + river. The leader was Mithridates the Great, against whom the + Romans waged three wars, and the Romans looked upon him as the + most formidable enemy the empire had ever had to contend with. + Cicero delivered his famous oration, Pro lege Manilia, and + succeeded in getting Pompey appointed commander of the third war + against Mithridates. The latter, by flying, had drawn Pompey after + him into the wilds of Scythia. Here the king of Pontus sought + refuge and new means of vengeance. He hoped to arm against the + ambition of Rome all his neighboring nations whose liberties she + threatened. He was successful at first, but all those Scythian + peoples, ill-united as allies, ill-armed as soldiers, and still + worse disciplined, were at length forced to yield to the genius of + the great general Pompey. And here traditions tell us that Odin + and the other asas were among the allies of Mithridates. Odin had + been one of the gallant defenders of Troy, and at the same time, + with Æneas and Anchises, he had taken flight out of the burning + and falling city. Now he was obliged to withdraw a second time by + flight, but this time it was not from the Greeks, but from the + Romans, whom he had offended by assisting Mithridates. He was now + compelled to go and seek, in lands unknown to his enemies, that + safety which he could no longer find in the Scythian forests. He + then proceeded to the north of Europe, and laid the foundations of + the Teutonic nations. As fast as he subdued the countries in the + west and north of Europe he gave them to one or another of his + sons to govern. Thus it comes to pass that so many sovereign + families throughout Teutondom are said to be descended from Odin. + Hengist and Horsa, the chiefs of those Saxons who conquered + Britain in the fifth century, counted Odin in the number of their + ancestors. The traditions go on to tell how he conquered Denmark, + founded Odinse (Odinsve = Odin’s Sanctuary; comp. _ve_ with the + German _Wei_ in _Weinacht_), and gave the kingdom to his son + Skjold (shield); how he conquered Sweden, founded the Sigtuna + temple, and gave the country to his son Yngve; how finally Norway + had to submit to him, and be ruled by a third son of Odin, Saming. + + It has been seriously contended,--and it would form an important + element in an epic based on the historical Odin,--that a desire of + being revenged on the Romans was one of the ruling principles of + Odin’s whole conduct. Driven by those foes of universal liberty + from his former home in the east, his resentment was the more + violent, since the Teutons thought it a sacred duty to revenge all + injuries, especially those offered to kinsmen or country. Odin had + no other view in traversing so many distant lands, and in + establishing with so much zeal his doctrines of valor, than to + arouse all Teutonic nations, and unite them against so formidable + and odious a race as the Romans. And we, who live in the light of + the nineteenth century, and with the records before us, can read + the history of the convulsions of Europe during the decline of the + Roman empire; we can understand how that leaven, which Odin left + in the bosoms of the believers in the asa-faith, first fermented a + long time in secret; but we can also see how in the fullness of + time, the signal given, the descendants of Odin fell like a swarm + of locusts upon this unhappy empire, and, after giving it many + terrible shocks, eventually overturned it, thus completely + avenging the insult offered so many centuries before by Pompey to + their founder Odin. We can understand how it became possible for + “those vast multitudes, which the populous north poured from her + frozen loins, to pass the Rhine and the Danube, and come like a + deluge on the south, and spread beneath Gibraltar and the Libyan + sands;” how it were possible, we say, for them so largely to + remodel and invigorate a considerable part of Europe, nay, how + they could succeed in overrunning and overturning “the rich but + rotten, the mighty but marrowless, the disciplined but diseased, + Roman empire; that gigantic and heartless and merciless usurpation + of soulless materialism and abject superstition of universal + despotism, of systemized and relentless plunder, and of depravity + deep as hell.” In connection with this subject we would refer our + readers to Mallet’s Northern Antiquities, pp. 79-83, where + substantially the same account is given; to Norse Mythology, pp. + 232-236; to George Stephen’s Runic Monuments, Vol. I; and to + Charles Kingsley’s The Roman and the Teuton.] + + [Footnote 119: Compare this version of the myth with the one given + in the first chapter of The Fooling of Gylfe. Many explain the + myth to mean the breaking through of the Baltic between Sweden and + Denmark.] + + [Footnote 120: Leidre or Leire, at the end of Isefjord, in the + county of Lithraborg, is considered the oldest royal seat in + Denmark.] + + [Footnote 121: Laage is a general name for lakes and rivers. It + here stands for Lake Malar, in Sweden.] + + [Footnote 122: The grassy isle is Seeland.] + +Now when Odin heard that things were in a prosperous condition in the +land to the east beside Gylfe, he went thither, and Gylfe made a peace +with him, for Gylfe thought he had no strength to oppose the people of +Asaland. Odin and Gylfe had many tricks and enchantments against each +other; but the Asaland people had always the superiority. Odin took up +his residence at the Malar lake, at the place now called Sigtun.[123] +There he erected a large temple, where there were sacrifices according +to the customs of the Asaland people. He appropriated to himself the +whole of that district of country, and called it Sigtun. To the temple +gods he gave also domains. Njord dwelt in Noatun, Frey in Upsal, Heimdal +in Himinbjorg, Thor in Thrudvang, Balder in Breidablik;[124] to all of +them he gave good domains. + + [Footnote 123: Sigtun. _Sige_, Ger. Sieg, (comp. Sigfrid,) means + victory, and is one of Odin’s names; _tun_ means an inclosure, and + is the same word as our modern English _town_. Thus Sigtun would, + in modern English, be called Odinstown; like our Johnstown, + Williamstown, etc.] + + [Footnote 124: Noatun, Thrudvang, Breidablik and Himinbjorg are + purely mythological names, and for their significance the reader + is referred to The Fooling of Gylfe. Snorre follows the lay of + Grimner in the Elder Edda.] + +When Odin of Asaland came to the north, and the gods with him, he began +to exercise and to teach others the arts which the people long afterward +have practiced. Odin was the cleverest of all, and from him all others +learned their magic arts; and he knew them first, and knew many more +than other people. But now, to tell why he is held in such high respect, +we must mention various causes that contributed to it. When sitting +among his friends his countenance was so beautiful and friendly, that +the spirits of all were exhilarated by it; but when he was in war, he +appeared fierce and dreadful. This arose from his being able to change +his color and form in any way he liked. Another cause was, that he +conversed so cleverly and smoothly, that all who heard were persuaded. +He spoke everything in rhyme, such as is now composed, and which we call +skald-craft. He and his temple gods were called song-smiths, for from +them came that art of song into the northern countries. Odin could make +his enemies in battle blind or deaf, or terror-struck, and their weapons +so blunt that they could no more cut than a willow-twig; on the other +hand, his men rushed forward without armor, were as mad as dogs or +wolves, bit their shields, and were strong as bears or wild bulls, and +killed people at a blow, and neither fire nor iron told upon them. These +were called berserks.[125] + + [Footnote 125: Berserk. The etymology of this word has been much + contested. Some, upon the authority of Snorre in the above quoted + passage, derive it from berr (_bare_) and serkr (comp. _sark_, + Scotch for shirt); but this etymology is inadmissible, because + serkr is a substantive, not an adjective. Others derive it from + berr (Germ. _Bär_ = _ursus_), which is greatly to be preferred, + for in olden ages athletes and champions used to wear hides of + bears, wolves and reindeer (as skins of lions in the south), hence + the names Bjalfe, Bjarnhedinn, Ulfhedinn (hedinn, _pellis_),-- + “pellibus aut parvis rhenonum tegimentis utuntur.” Cæsar, Bell. + Gall. VI, 22. Even the old poets understood the name so, as may be + seen in the poem of Hornklofi (beginning of the 10th century), + a dialogue between a valkyrie and a raven, where the valkyrie says + at berserkja reiðu vil ek þik spyrja, to which the raven replies, + Ulfhednar heita, _they are called wolf coats_. In battle the + berserks were subject to fits of frenzy, called _berserksgangr_ + (_furor bersercicus_), when they howled like wild beasts, foamed at + the mouth, and gnawed the iron rim of their shields. During these + fits they were, according to a popular belief, proof against steel + and fire, and made great havoc in the ranks of the enemy. But when + the fever abated they were weak and tame. Vigfusson Cleasby’s + Icelandic-English Dictionary, _sub voce_.] + +Odin could transform his shape; his body would lie as if dead or asleep, +but then he would be in the shape of a fish, or worm, or bird, or beast, +and be off in a twinkling to distant lands upon his own or other +peoples’ business. With words alone he could quench fire, still the +ocean in tempest, and turn the wind to any quarter he pleased. Odin had +a ship, which he called Skidbladner,[126] in which he sailed over wide +seas, and which he could roll up like a cloth. Odin carried with him +Mimer’s head, which told him all the news of other countries. Sometimes +even he called the dead out of the earth, or set himself beside the +burial-mounds; whence he was called the ghost-sovereign, and the lord of +the mounds. He had two ravens,[127] to whom he had taught the speech of +man; and they flew far and wide through the land, and brought him the +news. In all such things he was preëminently wise. He taught all these +arts in runes and songs, which are called incantations, and therefore +the Asaland people are called incantation-smiths. Odin also understood +the art in which the greatest power is lodged, and which he himself +practiced, namely, what is called magic. By means of this he could know +beforehand the predestined fate[128] of men, or their not yet completed +lot, and also bring on the death, ill-luck or bad health of people, or +take away the strength or wit from one person and give it to another. +But after such witchcraft followed such weakness and anxiety, that it +was not thought respectable for men to practice it; and therefore the +priestesses were brought up in this art. Odin knew definitely where all +missing cattle were concealed under the earth, and understood the songs +by which the earth, the hills, the stones and mounds were opened to him; +and he bound those who dwell in them by the power of his word, and went +in and took what he pleased. From these arts he became very celebrated. +His enemies dreaded him; his friends put their trust in him, and relied +on his power and on himself. He taught the most of his arts to his +priests of the sacrifices, and they came nearest to himself in all +wisdom and witch-knowledge. Many others, however, occupied themselves +much with it; and from that time witchcraft spread far and wide, and +continued long. People sacrificed to Odin, and the twelve chiefs of +Asaland,--called them their gods, and believed in them long after. From +Odin’s name came the name Audun, which people gave to his sons; and from +Thor’s name came Thorer, also Thorarinn; and it was also sometimes +augmented by other additions, as Steinthor, Hafthor, and many kinds of +alterations. + + [Footnote 126: In the mythology this ship belongs to Frey, having + been made for him by the dwarfs.] + + [Footnote 127: Hugin and Munin.] + + [Footnote 128: The old Norse word is órlög, which is plural, (from + ör = Ger. _ur_, and lög, _laws_,) and means the primal law, fate, + weird, doom; the Greek μοῖρα. The idea of predestination was a + salient feature in the Odinic religion. The word örlog, O.H.G. + _urlac_, M.H.G. _urlone_, Dutch _orlog_, had special reference to + a man’s fate in war. Hence Orlogschiffe in German means a naval + fleet. The Danish orlog means warfare at sea.] + +Odin established the same law in his land that had been before in +Asaland. Thus he established by law that all dead men should be burned, +and their property laid with them upon the pile, and the ashes be cast +into the sea or buried in the earth. Thus, said he, everyone will come +to Valhal with the riches he had with him upon the pile; and he would +also enjoy whatever he himself had buried in the earth. For men of +consequence a mound should be raised to their memory, and for all other +warriors who had been distinguished for manhood, a standing stone; which +custom remained long after Odin’s time. Toward winter there should be a +blood-sacrifice for a good year, and in the middle of winter for a good +crop; and the third sacrifice should be in summer, for victory in +battle. Over all Svithjod[129] the people paid Odin a scatt, or tax,--so +much on each head; but he had to defend the country from enemy or +disturbance, and pay the expense of the sacrifice-feasts toward winter +for a good year. + + [Footnote 129: Svithjod, which here means Sweden, is derived from + Odin’s name, Svidr and thjod = folk, people. Svithjod thus means + Odin’s people, and the country takes its name from the people.] + +Njord took a wife hight Skade; but she would not live with him, but +married afterward Odin, and had many sons by him, of whom one was called +Saming, and of this Eyvind Skaldespiller sings thus: + + To Asason[130] Queen Skade bore + Saming, who dyed his shield in gore,-- + The giant queen of rock and snow + Who loves to dwell on earth below, + The iron pine-tree’s daughter she, + Sprung from the rocks that rib the sea, + To Odin bore full many a son,-- + Heroes of many a battle won. + + [Footnote 130: Odin.] + +To Saming Jarl Hakon the Great reckoned up his pedigree.[131] This +Svithjod (Sweden) they call Mannheim, but the great Svithjod they call +Godheim, and of Godheim great wonders and novelties were related. + + [Footnote 131: Norway was given to Saming by Odin.] + +Odin died in his bed in Sweden; and when he was near his death he made +himself be marked with the point of a spear,[132] and said he was going +to Godheim, and would give a welcome there to all his friends, and all +brave warriors should be dedicated to him; and the Swedes believed that +he was gone to the ancient Asgard, and would live there eternally. Then +began the belief in Odin, and the calling upon him. The Swedes believed +that he often showed himself to them before any great battle. To some he +gave victory, others he invited to himself; and they reckoned both of +these to be well off in their fate. Odin was burnt, and at his pile +there was great splendor. It was their faith that the higher the smoke +arose in the air, the higher would he be raised whose pile it was; and +the richer he would be the more property that was consumed with him. + + [Footnote 132: He gave himself nine wounds in the form of the head + of a spear, or Thor’s hammer; that is, he marked himself with the + sign of the _cross_, an ancient heathen custom.] + +Njord of Noatun was then the sole sovereign of the Swedes; and he +continued the sacrifices, and was called the drot, or sovereign, by the +Swedes, and he received scatt and gifts from them. In his days were +peace and plenty, and such good years in all respects that the Swedes +believed Njord ruled over the growth of seasons and the prosperity of +the people. In his time all the diars, or gods, died, and +blood-sacrifices were made for them. Njord died on a bed of sickness, +and before he died made himself be marked for Odin with the spear-point. +The Swedes burned him, and all wept over his grave-mound. + +Frey took the kingdom after Njord, and was called drot by the Swedes, +and they paid taxes to him. He was like his father, fortunate in friends +and in good seasons. Frey built a great temple at Upsala, made it his +chief seat, and gave it all his taxes, his land and goods. Then began +the Upsala domains, which have remained ever since. Then began in his +day the Frode-peace; and then there were good seasons in all the land, +which the Swedes ascribed to Frey, so that he was more worshiped than +the other gods, as the people became much richer in his days by reason +of the peace and good seasons. His wife was called Gerd, daughter of +Gymer, and their son was called Fjolner. Frey was called by another +name, Yngve; and this name Yngve was considered long after in his race +as a name of honor, so that his descendants have since been called +Ynglings (_i.e._ Yngve-lings). Frey fell into a sickness, and as his +illness took the upper hand, his men took the plan of letting few +approach him. In the meantime they raised a great mound, in which they +placed a door with three holes in it. Now when Frey died they bore him +secretly into the mound, but told the Swedes he was alive, and they kept +watch over him for three years. They brought all the taxes into the +mound, and through the one hole they put in the gold, through the other +the silver, and through the third the copper money that was paid. Peace +and good seasons continued. + +Freyja alone remained of the gods, and she became on this account so +celebrated that all women of distinction were called by her name, whence +they now have the title Frue (Germ. _Frau_), so that every woman is +called frue (that is, mistress) over her property, and the wife is +called the house-frue. Freyja continued the blood-sacrifices. Freyja had +also many other names. Her husband was called Oder, and her daughters +Hnos and Gersame. They were so very beautiful that afterward the most +precious jewels were called by their names. + +When it became known to the Swedes that Frey was dead, and yet peace and +good seasons continued, they believed that it must be so as long as Frey +remained in Sweden, and therefore they would not burn his remains, but +called him the god of this world, and afterward offered continually +blood-sacrifices to him, principally for peace and good seasons.[133] + + [Footnote 133: Here ends Snorre’s account of the asas in + Heimskringla. The reader will, of course, compare the account here + given of Odin, Njord, Frey, Freyja, etc., with the purely + mythological description of them in the Younger Edda, and with + that in Norse Mythology. Upon the whole, Snorre has striven to + accommodate his sketch to the Eddas, while he has had to clothe + mythical beings with the characteristics of human kings. Like + Saxo-Grammaticus, Snorre has striven to show that the deities, + which we now recognize as personified forces and phenomena of + nature, were extraordinary and enterprising persons, who formerly + ruled in the North, and inaugurated the customs, government and + religion of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, England, and the + other Teutonic lands.] + + +FORNJOT AND THE SETTLEMENT OF NORWAY. + +In the asa-faith we find various foreign elements introduced. Thus, for +example, the vans did not originally belong to the Odinic system. As the +Teutons came in contact with other races, the religious ideas of the +latter were frequently adopted in some modified form. Especially do +Finnish elements enter into the asa-system. The Finnish god of thunder +was Ukko. He is supposed to have been confounded with our Thor, whence +the latter got the name Öku-Thor (Ukko-Thor). The vans may be connected +with the Finnish Wainamoinen, and in the same manner a number of Celtic +elements have been mixed with Teutonic mythology. And this is not all. +There must have flourished a religious system in the North before the +arrival of Odin and his apostles. This was probably either Tshudic or +Celtic, or a mixture of the two. The asa-doctrine superseded it, but +there still remain traces in some of the oldest records of the North. +Thus we have in the prehistoric sagas of Iceland an account of the +finding of Norway, wherein it is related that Fornjot,[134] in Jotland, +which is also called Finland or Quenland, east of the Gulf of Bothnia, +had three sons: Hler, also called Æger, Loge and Kare.[135] Of Loge it +is related that he was of giant descent, and, being very tall of +stature, he was called Haloge, that is High Loge; and after him the +northern part of Norway is called Halogaland (now Helgeland). He was +married to Glod (a red-hot coal), and had with her two daughters, Eysa +and Eimyrja; both words meaning glowing embers. Haloge had two jarls, +Vifil (the one taking a vif = wife) and Vesete (the one who sits at the +ve = the sanctuary, that is, the dweller by the hearth, the first +sanctuary), who courted his daughters; the former addressing himself to +Eimyrja, the latter to Eysa, but the king refusing to give his consent, +they carried them away secretly. Vesete settled in Borgundarholm +(Bornholm), and had a son, Bue (one who settles on a farm); Vifil sailed +further east and settled on the island Vifilsey, on the coast of Sweden, +and had a son, Viking (the pirate). + + [Footnote 134: The word fornjot can be explained in two ways: + either as for-njot = the first enjoyer, possessor; or as forn-jot, + the ancient giant. He would then correspond to Ymer.] + + [Footnote 135: Notice this trinity: Hler is the sea (comp. the + Welsh word _llyr_ = sea); Loge is fire (comp. the Welsh _llwg_), + he reminds us both by his name and his nature of Loke; Kare is the + wind.] + +The third son, Kare, had a numerous offspring. He had one son by name +Jokul (iceberg), another Froste (frost), and Froste’s son was named Sna +(snow). He had a third son, by name Thorri (bare frost), after whom the +mid-winter month, Thorra-month, was called; and his daughters hight Fonn +(packed snow), Drifa (snow-drift), and Mjoll (meal, fine snow). All +these correspond well to Kare’s name, which, as stated, means wind. +Thorri had two sons, Nor and Gor, and a daughter, Goe. The story goes on +to tell how Goe, the sister, was lost, and how the brothers went to +search for her, until they finally found him who had robbed her. He was +Hrolf, from the mountain, a son of the giant Svade, and a grandson of +Asa-Thor. They settled their trouble, and thereupon Hrolf married Goe, +and Nor married Hrolf’s sister, settled in the land and called it after +his own name, Norvegr, that is, Norway. By this story we are reminded of +Kadmos, who went to seek his lost sister Europa. In the Younger Edda the +winds are called the sons of Fornjot, the sea is called the son of +Fornjot, and the brother of the fire and of the winds, and Fornjot is +named among the old giants. This makes it clear that Fornjot and his +offspring are not historical persons, but cosmological impersonations. +And additional proof of this is found by an examination of the beginning +of the Saga of Thorstein, Viking’s Son. (See Viking Tales of the North, +pp. 1 and 2). + + +THE FOOLING OF GYLFE. + +CHAPTER I. + +This story about the ploughing of Gylfe reminds us of the legend told in +the first book of Virgil’s Æneid, about the founding of Carthage by +Dido, who bought from the Libyan king as much ground as she could cover +with a bull’s hide. Elsewhere it is related that she cut the bull’s hide +into narrow strips and encircled therewith all the ground upon which +Carthage was afterward built. Thus Dido deceived the Libyan king nearly +as effectually as Gefjun deluded King Gylfe. The story is also told by +Snorre in Heimskringla, see p. 231. + +The passage in verse, which has given translators so much trouble in a +transposed form, would read as follows: Gefjun glad drew that excellent +land (djúpródul = the deep sun = gold; öðla = udal = property; djúpródul +öðla = the golden property), Denmark’s increase (Seeland), so that it +reeked (steamed) from the running oxen. The oxen bore four heads and +eight eyes, as they went before the wide piece of robbed land of the +isle so rich in grass. + +Gefjun is usually interpreted as a goddess of agriculture, and her name +is by some derived from γῆ; and _fjon_, that is, _terræ separatio_; +others compare it with the Anglo-Saxon _geofon_ = the sea. The etymology +remains very uncertain. + +CHAPTER II. + +It is to the delusion or eye-deceit mentioned in this chapter that +Snorre Sturlasson refers in his Heimskringla, in Chapter VI of Ynglinga +Saga. + +Thjodolf of Hvin was a celebrated skald at the court of Harald Fairhair. + +Thinking thatchers, etc. Literally transposed, this passage would read: +Reflecting men let shields (literally Svafner’s, that is Odin’s +roof-trees,) glisten on the back. They were smitten with stones. To let +shields glisten on the back, is said of men who throw their shields on +their backs to protect themselves against those who pursue the flying +host. + +Har means the High One, Jafnhar the Equally High One, and Thride the +Third One. By these three may be meant the three chief gods of the +North: Odin, Thor and Frey; or they may be simply an expression of the +Eddic trinity. This trinity is represented in a number of ways: by Odin, +Vile and Ve in the creation of the world, and by Odin, Hœner and Loder +in the creation of Ask and Embla, the first human pair. The number three +figures extensively in all mythological systems. In the pre-chaotic +state we have Muspelheim, Niflheim and Ginungagap. Fornjot had three +sons: Hler, Loge and Kare. There are three norns: Urd, Verdande and +Skuld. There are three fountains: Hvergelmer, Urd’s and Mimer’s; etc. +(See Norse Mythology, pp. 183, 195, 196.) + +Har being Odin, Har’s Hall will be Valhal. You will not come out from +this hall unless you are wiser. In the lay of Vafthrudner, of the Elder +Edda, we have a similar challenge, where Vafthrudner says to Odin: + + Out will you not come + From our halls + Unless I find you to be wiser (than I am). + +CHAPTER III. + +This chapter gives twelve names of Odin. In the Eddas and in the skaldic +lays he has in all nearly two hundred names. His most common name is +Odin (in Anglo-Saxon and in Old High German _Wodan_), and this is +thought by many to be of the same origin as our word _god_. The other +Old Norse word for god, _tivi_, is identical in root with Lat. _divus_; +Sansk. _dwas_; Gr. Διός (Ζεύς); and this is again connected with _Tyr_, +the Tivisco in the Germania of Tacitus. (See Max Müller’s Lectures on +the Science of Language, 2d series, p. 425). Paulus Diakonus states that +Wodan, or Gwodan, was worshiped by all branches of the Teutons. Odin has +also been sought and found in the Scythian _Zalmoxis_, in the Indian +_Buddha_, in the Celtic Budd, and in the Mexican Votan. Zalmoxis, +derived from the Gr. Ζαλμός, helmet, reminds us of Odin as the +helmet-bearer (Grimm, Gesch. der Deutschen Sprache). According to +Humboldt, a race in Guatemala, Mexico, claim to be descended from +Votan (Vues des Cordillères, 1817, I, 208). This suggests the question +whether Odin’s name may not have been brought to America by the Norse +discoverers in the 10th and 11th centuries, and adopted by some of the +native races. In the Lay of Grimner (Elder Edda) the following names of +Odin are enumerated: + + Grim is my name + And Ganglere, + Herjan and Helmet-bearer, + Thekk and Thride, + Thud and Ud, + Helblinde and Har, + + Sad and Svipal, + And Sanngetal, + Herteit and Hnikar, + Bileyg and Baleyg, + Bolverk, Fjolner, + Grim and Grimner, + Glapsvid and Fjolsvid, + + Sidhot, Sidskeg, + Sigfather, Hnikud, + Alfather, Valfather, + Atrid and Farmatyr. + With one name + Was I never named + When I fared ’mong the peoples. + + Grimner they called me + Here at Geirrod’s, + But Jalk at Asmund’s, + And Kjalar the time + When sleds (kjalka) I drew, + And Thror at the Thing, + Vidur on the battle-field, + Oske and Ome, + Jafnhar and Biflinde, + Gondler and Harbard ’mong the gods. + + Svidur and Svidre + Hight I at Sokmimer’s, + And fooled the ancient giant + When I alone Midvitne’s, + The mighty son’s, + Bane had become. + + Odin I now am called, + Ygg was my name before, + Before that I hight Thund, + Yak and Skilfing, + Vafud and Hroptatyr, + Got and Jalk ’mong the gods, + Ofner and Svafner. + All these names, I trow, + Have to me alone been given. + +What the etymology of all these names is, it is not easy to tell. The +most of them are clearly Norse words, and express the various activities +of their owner. It is worthy of notice that it is added when and where +Odin bore this or that name (his name was Grim at Geirrod’s, Jalk at +Asmund’s, etc.), and that the words sometimes indicate a progressive +development, as Thund, then Ygg, and then Odin. First he was a mere +sound in the air (Thund), then he took to thinking (Ygg), and at last he +became the inspiring soul of the universe. Although we are unable to +define all these names, they certainly each have a distinct meaning, and +our ancestors certainly understood them perfectly. Har = the High One; +Jafn-har = the Equally High One; Thride = the Third (Ζεὺς ἄλλος and +Τρίτος); Alfather probably contracted from _Alda_father = the Father of +the Ages and the Creations; Veratyr = the Lord of Beings; Rögner = the +Ruler (from regin); Got (Gautr, from _gjóta_, to cast) = the Creator, +Lat. Instillator; Mjotud = the Creator, the word being allied to +Anglo-Saxon _meotod_, _metod_, Germ. _Messer_, and means originally +cutter; but to cut and to make are synonymous. Such names as these have +reference to Odin’s divinity as creator, arranger and ruler of gods and +men. Svid and Fjolsvid = the swift, the wise; Ganglere, Gangrad and +Vegtam = the wanderer, the waywont; Vidrer = the weather-ruler, together +with serpent-names like Ofner, Svafner, etc., refer to Odin’s knowledge, +his journeys, the various shapes he assumes. Permeating all nature, he +appears in all its forms. Names like Sidhot = the slouchy hat; Sidskeg = +the long-beard; Baleyg = the burning-eye; Grimner = the masked; Jalk +(Jack) = the youth, etc., express the various forms in which he was +thought to appear,--to his slouchy hat, his long beard, or his age, etc. +Such names as Sanngetal = the true investigator; Farmatyr = the +cargo-god, etc., refer to his various occupations as inventor, +discoverer of runes, protector of trade and commerce, etc. Finally, all +such names as Herfather = father of hosts; Herjan = the devastator; +Sigfather = the father of victory; Sigtyr = god of victory; Skilfing = +producing trembling; Hnikar = the breaker, etc., represent Odin as the +god of war and victory. Oske = wish, is thus called because he gratifies +our desires. Gimle, as will be seen later, is the abode of the blessed +after Ragnarok. Vingolf (Vin and golf) means _friends’ floor_, and is +the hall of the goddesses. Hel is the goddess of death, and from her +name our word _hell_ is derived. + +Our ancestors divided the universe into nine worlds: the uppermost was +Muspelheim (the world of light); the lowest was Niflheim (the world of +darkness). Compare the Greek word νεφέλη = mist. (See Norse Mythology, +p. 187.) + +GINUNGAGAP. Ginn means wide, large, far-reaching, perhaps also void +(compare the Anglo-Saxon _gin_ = gaping, open, spacious; ginian = to +gap; and ginnung = a yawning). Ginungagap thus means the yawning gap or +abyss, and represents empty space. The poets use ginnung in the sense of +a fish and of a hawk, and in geographical saga-fragments it is used as +the name of the Polar Sea. + +HVERGELMER. This word is usually explained as a transposition for +Hvergemler, which would then be derived from Hver and gamall (old) = the +old kettle; but Petersen shows that gelmir must be taken from galm, +which is still found in the Jutland dialect, and means a gale (compare +Golmstead = a windy place, and _golme_ = to roar, blow). Gelmer is then +the one producing galm, and Hvergelmer thus means the roaring kettle. +The twelve rivers proceeding from Hvergelmer are called the Elivogs +(Élivágar) in the next chapter. Éli-vágar means, according to Vigfusson, +ice-waves. The most of the names occur in the long list of river names +given in the Lay of Grimner, of the Elder Edda. Svol = the cool; +Gunnthro = the battle-trough. Slid is also mentioned in the Vala’s +Prophecy, where it is represented as being full of mud and swords. Sylg +(from _svelgja_ = to swallow) = the devourer; Ylg (from _yla_ = to roar) += the roaring one; Leipt = the glowing, is also mentioned in the Lay of +Helge Hunding’s Bane, where it is stated that they swore by it (compare +Styx); Gjoll (from _gjalla_ = to glisten and clang) = the shining, +clanging one. The meaning of the other words is not clear, but they +doubtless all, like those explained, express cold, violent motion, etc. +The most noteworthy of these rivers are Leipt and Gjoll. In the Lay of +Grimner they are said to flow nearest to the abode of man, and fall +thence into Hel’s realm. Over Gjoll was the bridge which Hermod, after +the death of Balder, crossed on his way to Hel. It is said to be +thatched with shining gold, and a maid by name Modgud watches it. In the +song of Sturle Thordson, on the death of Skule Jarl, it is said that +“the king’s kinsman went over the Gjoll-bridge.” The farther part of the +horizon, which often appears like a broad bright stream, may have +suggested this river. + +SURT means the swarthy or black one. Many have regarded him as the +unknown (dark) god, but this is probably an error. But there was some +one in Muspelheim who sent the heat, and gave life to the frozen drops +of rime. The latter, and not Surt, who is a giant, is the eternal god, +the mighty one, whom the skald in the Lay of Hyndla dare not name. It is +interesting to notice that our ancestors divided the evolution of the +world into three distinct periods: (1) a pre-chaotic condition +(Niflheim, Muspelheim and Ginungagap); (2) a chaotic condition (Ymer and +the cow Audhumbla); (3) and finally the three gods, Odin (spirit), Vile +(will) and Ve (sanctity), transformed chaos into cosmos. And away back +in this pre-chaotic state of the world we find this mighty being who +sends the heat. It is not definitely stated, but it can be inferred from +other passages, that just as the good principle existed from everlasting +in Muspelheim, so the evil principle existed co-eternally with it in +Hvergelmer in Niflheim. Hvergelmer is the source out of which all matter +first proceeded, and the dragon or devil Nidhug, who dwells in +Hvergelmer, is, in our opinion, the evil principle who is from eternity. +The good principle shall continue forever, but the evil shall cease to +exist after Ragnarok. + +YMER is the noisy one, and his name is derived from _ymja_ = to howl +(compare also the Finnish deity Jumo, after whom the town Umea takes its +name, like Odinse). + +AURGELMER, THRUDGELMER and BERGELMER express the gradual development +from aur (clay) to thrud (that which is compressed), and finally to berg +(rock). + +VIDOLF, VILMEIDE and SVARTHOFDE are mentioned nowhere else in the +mythology. + +BURE and BORE mean the bearing and the born; that is, father and son. + +BOLTHORN means the miserable one, from bol = evil; and Bestla may mean +that which is best. The idea then is that Bor united himself with that +which was best of the miserable material at hand. + +That the flood caused by the slaying of Ymer reminds us of Noah and his +ark, and of the Greek flood, needs only to be suggested. + +CHAPTER IV. + +ASK means an ash-tree, and EMBLA an elm-tree. + +While the etymology of the names in the myths are very obscure, the +myths themselves are clear enough. Similar myths abound in Greek +mythology. The story about Bil and Hjuke is our old English rhyme about +Jack and Gill, who went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. + +CHAPTER V. + +In reference to the golden age, see Norse Mythology, pp. 182 and 197. + +In the appendix to the German so-called Hero-Book we are told that the +dwarfs were first created to cultivate the desert lands and the +mountains; thereupon the giants, to subdue the wild beasts; and finally +the heroes, to assist the dwarfs against the treacherous giants. While +the giants are always hostile to the gods, the dwarfs are usually +friendly to them. + +DWARFS. Both giants and dwarfs shun the light. If surprised by the +breaking forth of day, they become changed to stone. In one of the poems +of the Elder Edda (the Alvismál), Thor amuses the dwarf Alvis with +various questions till daylight, and then cooly says to him: With great +artifices, I tell you, you have been deceived; you are surprised here, +dwarf, by daylight! The sun now shines in the hall. In the Helgakvida +Atle says to the giantess Hrimgerd: It is now day, Hrimgerd! But Atle +has detained you, to your life’s perdition. It will appear a laughable +harbor-mark, where you stand as a stone-image. + +In the German tales the dwarfs are described as deformed and diminutive, +coarsely clad and of dusky hue: “a little black man,” “a little gray +man.” They are sometimes of the height of a child of four years, +sometimes as two spans high, a thumb high (hence, Tom Thumb). The old +Danish ballad of Eline of Villenwood mentions a troll not bigger than an +ant. Dvergmál (the speech of the dwarfs) is the Old Norse expression for +the echo in the mountains. + +In the later popular belief, the dwarfs are generally called the +subterraneans, the brown men in the moor, etc. They make themselves +invisible by a hat or hood. The women spin and weave, the men are +smiths. In Norway rock-crystal is called dwarf-stone. Certain stones are +in Denmark called dwarf-hammers. They borrow things and seek advice from +people, and beg aid for their wives when in labor, all which services +they reward. But they also lame cattle, are thievish, and will carry off +damsels. There have been instances of dwarf females having married and +had children with men. (Thorpe’s Northern Mythology.) + +WAR. It was the first warfare in the world, says the Elder Edda, when +they pierced Gullveig (gold-thirst) through with a spear, and burned her +in Odin’s hall. Thrice they burned her, thrice she was born anew: again +and again, but still she lives. When she comes to a house they call her +Heide (the bright, the welcome), and regard her as a propitious vala or +prophetess. She can tame wolves, understands witchcraft, and delights +wicked women. Hereupon the gods consulted together whether they should +punish this misdeed, or accept a blood-fine, when Odin cast forth a +spear among mankind, and now began war and slaughter in the world. The +defenses of the burgh of the asas was broken down. The vans anticipated +war, and hastened over the field. The valkyries came from afar, ready to +ride to the gods’ people: Skuld with the shield, Skogul, Gunn, Hild, +Gondul and Geirr Skogul. (Quoted by Thorpe.) + +CHAPTER VI. + +In reference to Ygdrasil, we refer our readers to Norse Mythology, pp. +205-211, and to Thomas Carlyle’s Heroes and Hero-worship. + +A connection between the norns Urd, Verdande and Skuld and the weird +sisters in Shakspeare’s _Macbeth_ has long since been recognized; but +new light has recently been thrown upon the subject by the philosopher +Karl Blind, who has contributed valuable articles on the subject in the +German periodical “Die Gegenwart” and in the “London Academy.” We take +the liberty of reproducing here an abstract of his article in the +“Academy”: + + * * * * * * + + The fact itself of these Witches being simply transfigurations, or + later disguises, of the Teutonic Norns is fully established--as may + be seen from Grimm or Simrock. In delineating these hags, Shakspeare + has practically drawn upon old Germanic sources, perhaps upon + current folk-lore of his time. + + It has always struck me as noteworthy that in the greater part of + the scene between the Weird Sisters, Macbeth and Banquo, and + wherever the Witches come in, Shakspeare uses the staff-rime in a + remarkable manner. Not only does this add powerfully to the archaic + impressiveness and awe, but it also seems to bring the form and + figure of the Sisters of Fate more closely within the circle of the + Teutonic idea. I have pointed out this striking use of the + alliterative system in _Macbeth_ in an article on “An old German + Poem and a Vedic Hymn,” which appeared in _Fraser_ in June, 1877, + and in which the derivation of the Weird Sisters from the Germanic + Norns is mentioned. + + The very first scene in the first act of _Macbeth_ opens strongly + with the staff-rime: + + _1st Witch_. When shall we three meet again-- + In thunder, lightning or in rain? + + _2d Witch_. When the hurly-burly’s done, + When the battle’s lost and won. + + _3d Witch_. That will be ere set of sun. + + _1st Witch_. Where the place? + + _2d Witch_. Upon the heath. + + _3d Witch_. There to meet with Macbeth. + + _1st Witch_. I come, Graymalkin! + + _All_. Paddock calls. Anon. + Fair is foul, and foul is fair. + Hover through the fog and filthy air. + + Not less marked is the adoption of the fullest staff-rime--together + (as above) with the end-rime--in the third scene, when the Weird + Sisters speak. Again, there is the staff-rime when Banquo addresses + them. Again, the strongest alliteration, combined with the end-rime, + runs all through the Witches’ spell-song in Act iv, scene 1. This + feature in Shakspeare appears to me to merit closer investigation; + all the more so because a less regular alliteration, but still a + marked one, is found in not a few passages of a number of his plays. + Only one further instance of the systematic employment of + alliteration may here be noted in passing. It is in Ariel’s songs in + the _Tempest_, Act i, scene 2. Schlegel and Tieck evidently did not + observe this alliterative peculiarity. Their otherwise excellent + translation does not render it, except so far as the obvious + similarity of certain English and German words involuntarily made + them do so. But in the notes to their version of _Macbeth_ the + character of the Weird Sisters is also misunderstood, though + Warburton is referred to, who had already suggested their + derivations from the Valkyrs or Norns. + + It is an error to say that the Witches in _Macbeth_ “are never + called witches” (compare Act i, scene 3: “‘Give me!’ quoth I. + ‘A-roint thee, _witch_!’ the rump-fed ronyon cries”). However, their + designation as Weird Sisters fully settles the case of their + Germanic origin. + + This name “Weird” is derived from the Anglo-Saxon Norn Wyrd (Sax. + _Wurth_; O.H. Ger. _Wurd_; Norse, _Urd_), who represents the Past, + as her very name shows. Wurd is _die Gewordene_--the “Has Been,” or + rather the “Has Become,” if one could say so in English. + + * * * * * * + + In Shakspeare the Witches are three in number--even as in Norse, + German, as well as in Keltic and other mythologies. Urd, properly + speaking, is the Past. Skuld is the Future, or “That Which shall + Be.” Verdandi, usually translated as the Present, has an even deeper + meaning. Her name is not to be derived from _vera_ (to be), but from + _verda_ (Ger. _werden_). This verb, which has a mixed meaning of “to + be,” “to become,” or to “grow,” has been lost in English. Verdandi + is, therefore, not merely a representative of present Being, but of + the process of Growing, or of Evolution--which gives her figure a + profounder aspect. Indeed, there is generally more significance in + mythological tales than those imagine who look upon them chiefly as + a barren play of fancy. + + Incidentally it may be remarked that, though Shakspeare’s Weird + Sisters are three in number--corresponding to Urd, Verdandi and + Skuld--German and Northern mythology and folk-lore occasionally + speak of twelve or seven of them. In the German tale of + _Dornröschen_, or the Sleeping Beauty, there are twelve good fays; + and a thirteenth, who works the evil spell. Once, in German + folk-lore, we meet with but two Sisters of Fate--one of them called + _Kann_, the other _Muss_. Perhaps these are representatives of man’s + measure of free will (that which he “can”), and of that which is his + inevitable fate--or, that which he “must” do. + + Though the word “Norn” has been lost in England and Germany, it is + possibly preserved in a German folk-lore ditty, which speaks of + three Sisters of Fate as “Nuns.” Altogether, German folk-lore is + still full of rimes about three Weird Sisters. They are sometimes + called Wild Women, or Wise Women, or the Measurers + (_Metten_)--namely, of Fate; or, euphemistically, like the + Eumenides, the Advisers of Welfare (_Heil-Räthinnen_), reminding us + of the counsels given to Macbeth in the apparition scene; or the + Quick Judges (_Gach-Schepfen_). Even as in the Edda, these German + fays weave and twist threads or ropes, and attach them to distant + parts, thus fixing the weft of Fate. One of these fays is sometimes + called Held, and described as black, or as half dark half + white--like Hel, the Mistress of the Nether World. That German fay + is also called Rachel, clearly a contraction of Rach-Hel, i.e. the + Avengeress Hel. + + Now, in _Macbeth_ also the Weird Sisters are described as “black.” + The coming up of Hekate with them in the cave-scene might not + unfitly be looked upon as a parallel with the German Held, or + Rach-Hel, and the Norse Hel; these Teutonic deities being originally + Goddesses of Nocturnal Darkness, and of the Nether World, even as + Hekate. + + In German folk-lore, three Sisters of Fate bear the names of Wilbet, + Worbet and Ainbet. Etymologically these names seem to refer to the + well-disposed nature of a fay representing the Past; to the warring + or worrying troubles of the Present; and to the terrors (_Ain_ = + _Agin_) of the Future. All over southern Germany, from Austria to + Alsace and Rhenish Hesse, the three fays are known under various + names besides Wilbet, Worbet, and Ainbet--for instance, as Mechtild, + Ottilia, and Gertraud; as Irmina, Adela, and Chlothildis, and so + forth. The fay in the middle of this trio is always a good fay, + a white fay--but blind. Her treasure (the very names of Ottilia and + Adela point to a treasure) is continually being taken from her by + the third fay, a dark and evil one, as well as by the first. This + myth has been interpreted as meaning that the Present, being blinded + as to its own existence, is continually being encroached upon, + robbed as it were, by the dark Future and the Past. Of this + particular trait there is no vestige in Shakspeare’s Weird Sisters. + They, like the Norns, “go hand in hand.” But there is another point + which claims attention Shakspeare’s Witches are bearded. (“You + should be women, and yet your beards forbid me to interpret that you + are so.” Act i, scene 3.) + + It need scarcely be brought to recollection that a commingling of + the female and male character occurs in the divine and semi-divine + figures of various mythological systems--including the Bearded + Venus. Of decisive importance is, however, the fact of a bearded + Weird Sister having apparently been believed in by our heathen + German forefathers. + + Near Wessobrunn, in Upper Bavaria, where the semi-heathen fragment + of a cosmogonic lay, known as “Wessobrunn Prayer,” was discovered, + there has also been found, of late, a rudely-sculptured three-headed + image. It is looked upon as an ancient effigy of the German Norns. + The Cloister of the three Holy Bournes, or Fountains, which stands + close by the place of discovery, is supposed to have been set up on + ground that had once served for pagan worship. Probably the later + monkish establishment of the Three Holy Bournes had taken the place + of a similarly named heathen sanctuary where the three Sisters of + Fate were once adored. Indeed, the name of all the corresponding + fays in yet current German folk-lore is connected with holy wells. + This quite fits in with the three Eddic Bournes near the great Tree + of Existence, at one of which--apparently at the oldest, which is + the very Source of Being--the Norns live, “the maidens that over the + Sea of Age travel in deep foreknowledge,” and of whom it is said + that: + + They laid the lots, they ruled the life + To the sons of men, their fate foretelling. + + Now, curiously enough, the central head of the slab found near + Wessobrunn, in the neighborhood of the Cloister of the Three Holy + Bournes, is _bearded_. This has puzzled our archæologists. Some of + them fancied that what appears to be a beard might after all be the + hair of one of the fays or Norns, tied round the chin. By the light + of the description of the Weird Sisters in Shakspeare’s _Macbeth_ + we, however, see at once the true connection. + + In every respect, therefore, his “Witches” are an echo from the + ancient Germanic creed--an echo, moreover, coming to us in the + oldest Teutonic verse-form; that is, in the staff-rime. + + KARL BLIND. + +ELVES. The elves of later times seem a sort of middle thing between the +light and dark elves. They are fair and lively, but also bad and +mischievous. In some parts of Norway the peasants describe them as +diminutive naked boys with hats on. Traces of their dance are sometimes +to be seen on the wet grass, especially on the banks of rivers. Their +exhalation is injurious, and is called _alfgust_ or _elfblæst_, causing +a swelling, which is easily contracted by too nearly approaching places +where they have spat, etc. They have a predilection for certain spots, +but particularly for large trees, which on that account the owners do +not venture to meddle with, but look on them as something sacred, on +which the weal or woe of the place depends. Certain diseases among their +cattle are attributed to the elves, and are, therefore, called elf-fire +or elf-shot. The dark elves are often confounded with the dwarfs, with +whom they, indeed, seem identical, although they are distinguished in +Odin’s Raven’s Song. The Norwegians also make a distinction between +dwarfs and elves, believing the former to live solitary and in quiet, +while the latter love music and dancing. (Faye, p. 48; quoted by +Thorpe.) + +The fairies of Scotland are precisely identical with the above. They are +described as a diminutive race of beings of a mixed or rather dubious +nature, capricious in their dispositions and mischievous in their +resentment. They inhabit the interior of green hills, chiefly those of a +conical form, in Gaelic termed _Sighan_, on which they lead their dances +by moonlight; impressing upon the surface the marks of circles, which +sometimes appear yellow and blasted, sometimes of a deep green hue, and +within which it is dangerous to sleep, or to be found after sunset. +Cattle which are suddenly seized with the cramp, or some similar +disorder, are said to be _elf-shot_. (Scott’s Minstrelsy of the Scottish +Border; quoted by Thorpe.) + +Of the Swedish elves, Arndt gives the following sketch: Of giants, of +dwarfs, of the alp, of dragons, that keep watch over treasures, they +have the usual stories; nor are the kindly elves forgotten. How often +has my postillion, when he observed a circular mark in the dewy grass, +exclaimed: See! there the elves have been dancing. These elf-dances play +a great part in the spinning-room. To those who at midnight happen to +enter one of these circles, the elves become visible, and may then play +all kinds of pranks with them; though in general they are little, merry, +harmless beings, both male and female. They often sit in small stones, +that are hollowed out in circular form, and which are called elf-querns +or mill-stones. Their voice is said to be soft like the air. If a loud +cry is heard in the forest, it is that of the Skogsrå (spirit of the +wood), which should be answered only by a _He!_ when it can do no harm. +(Reise durch Sweden; quoted by Thorpe.) + +The elf-shot was known in England in very remote times, as appears from +the Anglo-Saxon incantation, printed by Grimm in his Deutsche +Mythologie, and in the appendix to Kemble’s Saxons in England: Gif hit +wœre esa gescot oððe hit wœre ylfa gescot; that is, if it were an +asa-shot or an elf-shot. On this subject Grimm says: It is a very old +belief that dangerous arrows were shot by the elves from the air. The +thunder-bolt is also called elf-shot, and in Scotland a hard, sharp, +wedge-shaped stone is known by the name of elf-arrow, elf-flint, +elf-bolt, which, it is supposed, has been sent by the spirits. (Quoted +by Thorpe.) + +CHAPTER VII. + +Our ancestors divided the universe into nine worlds, and these again +into three groups: + +1. Over the earth. Muspelheim, Ljosalfaheim and Asaheim. + +2. On the earth. Jotunheim, Midgard and Vanheim. + +3. Below the earth. Svartalfaheim, Niflheim and Niflhel. + +The gods had twelve abodes: + +1. THRUDHEIM. The abode of Thor. His realm is Thrudvang, and his palace +is Bilskirner. + +2. YDALER. Uller’s abode. + +3. VALASKJALF. Odin’s hall. + +4. SOKVABEK. The abode of Saga. + +5. GLADSHEIM, where there are twelve seats for the gods, besides the +throne occupied by Alfather. + +6. THRYMHEIM. Skade’s abode. + +7. BREIDABLIK. Balder’s abode. + +8. HIMMINBJORG. Heimdal’s abode. + +9. FOLKVANG. Freyja’s abode. + +10. GLITNER. Forsete’s abode. + +11. NOATUN. Njord’s abode. + +12. LANDVIDE. Vidar’s abode. + +According to the Lay of Grimner, the gods had twelve horses, but the +owner of each horse is not given: + +(1) Sleipner (Odin’s), (2) Goldtop (Heimdal’s), (3) Glad, (4) Gyller, +(5) Gler, (6) Skeidbrimer, (7) Silvertop, (8) Siner, (9) Gisl, (10) +Falhofner, (11) Lightfoot, (12) Blodughofdi (Frey’s). + +The owners of nine of them are not given, and, moreover, it is stated +that Thor had no horse, but always either went on foot or drove his +goats. + +The favorite numbers are three, nine and twelve. Monotheism was +recognized in the unknown god, who is from everlasting to everlasting. +A number of trinities were established, and the nine worlds were +classified into three groups. The week had nine days, and originally +there were probably but nine gods, that is, before the vans were united +with the asas. The number nine occurs where Heimdal is said to have nine +mothers, Menglad is said to have nine maid-servants, Æger had nine +daughters, etc. When the vans were united with the asas, the number rose +to twelve: + +(1) Odin, (2) Thor, (3) Tyr, (4) Balder, (5) Hoder, (6) Heimdal, (7) +Hermod, (8) Njord, (9) Frey, (10) Uller, (11) Vidar, (12) Forsete. + +If we add to this list Brage, Vale and Loke, we get fifteen; but the +Eddas everywhere declare that there are twelve gods, who were entitled +to divine worship. + +The number of the goddesses is usually given as twenty-six. + +CHAPTER VIII. + +Loke and his offspring are so fully treated in our Norse Mythology, that +we content ourselves by referring our readers to that work. + +CHAPTER IX. + +Freyja’s ornament Brising. In the saga of Olaf Tryggvason, there is a +rather awkward story of the manner in which Freyja became possessed of +her ornament. Freyja, it is told, was a mistress of Odin. Not far from +the palace dwelt four dwarfs, whose names were Alfrig, Dvalin, Berling +and Grer; they were skillful smiths. Looking one day into their stony +dwelling, Freyja saw them at work on a beautiful golden necklace, or +collar, which she offered to buy, but which they refused to part with, +except on conditions quite incompatible with the fidelity she owed to +Odin, but to which she, nevertheless, was tempted to accede. Thus the +ornament became hers. By some means this transaction came to the +knowledge of Loke, who told it to Odin. Odin commanded him to get +possession of the ornament. This was no easy task, for no one could +enter Freyja’s bower without her consent. He went away whimpering, but +most were glad on seeing him in such tribulation. When he came to the +locked bower, he could nowhere find an entrance, and, it being cold +weather, he began to shiver. He then transformed himself into a fly and +tried every opening, but in vain; there was nowhere air enough to make +him to get through [Loke (fire) requires air]. At length he found a hole +in the roof, but not bigger than the prick of a needle. Through this he +slipt. On his entrance he looked around to see if anyone were awake, but +all were buried in sleep. He peeped in at Freyja’s bed, and saw that she +had the ornament round her neck, but that the lock was on the side she +lay on. He then transformed himself to a flea, placed himself on +Freyja’s cheek, and stung her so that she awoke, but only turned herself +round and slept again. He then laid aside his assumed form, cautiously +took the ornament, unlocked the bower, and took his prize to Odin. In +the morning, on waking, Freyja seeing the door open, without having been +forced, and that her ornament was gone, instantly understood the whole +affair. Having dressed herself, she repaired to Odin’s hall, and +upbraided him with having stolen her ornament, and insisted on its +restoration, which she finally obtained. (Quoted by Thorpe.) + +Mention is also made of the Brósinga-men in the Beowulf (verse 2394). +Here it is represented as belonging to Hermanric, but the legend +concerning it has never been found. + +CHAPTER X. + +This myth about Frey and Gerd is the subject of one of the most +fascinating poems in the Elder Edda, the Journey of Skirner. It is, as +Auber Forestier, in Echoes from Mistland, says, the germ of the Niblung +story. Frey is Sigurd or Sigfrid, and Gerd is Brynhild. The myth is also +found in another poem of the Elder Edda, the Lay of Fjolsvin, in which +the god himself--there called Svipday (the hastener of the +day)--undertakes the journey to arouse from the winter sleep the cold +giant nature of the maiden Menglad (the sun-radiant daughter), who is +identical with Freyja (the goddess of spring, promise, or of love +between man and woman, and who can easily be compared with Gerd). Before +the bonds which enchain the maiden can in either case be broken, Bele +(the giant of spring storms, corresponding to the dragon Fafner in the +Niblung story,) must be conquered, and Wafurloge (the wall of bickering +flames that surrounded the castle) must be penetrated. The fanes +symbolize the funeral pyre, for whoever enters the nether world must +scorn the fear of death. (Auber Forestier’s Echoes from Mistland; +Introduction, xliii, xliv.) We also find this story repeated again and +again, in numberless variations, in Teutonic folk-lore; for instance, +in The Maiden on the Glass Mountain, where the glass mountain takes the +place of the bickering flame. + +CHAPTER XI. + +The tree Lerad (furnishing protection) must be regarded as a branch of +Ygdrasil. + +CHAPTER XII. + +In Heimskringla Skidbladner is called Odin’s ship. This is correct. All +that belonged to the gods was his also. + +CHAPTER XIII. + +For a thorough analysis of Thor as a spring god, as the god who dwells +in the clouds, as the god of thunder and lightning, as the god of +agriculture, in short, as the god of culture, we can do no better than +to refer our readers to Der Mythus von Thor, nach Nordischen Quellen, +von Ludwig Uhland, Stuttgart, 1836; and to Handbuch der Deutschen +Mythologie, mit Einschluss der Nordischen, von Karl Simrock, Vierte +Auflage, Bonn, 1874. + +CHAPTER XIV. + +The death of Balder is justly regarded as the most beautiful myth in +Teutonic mythology. It is connected with the Lay of Vegtam in the Elder +Edda. Like so many other myths (Frey and Gerd, The Robbing of Idun, +etc.) the myth symbolizes originally the end of summer and return of +spring. Thus Balder dies every year and goes to Hel. But in the +following spring he returns to the asas, and gladdens all things living +and dead with his pure shining light. Gradually, however, the myth was +changed from a symbol of the departing and returning summer, and applied +to the departing and returning of the world year, and thus the death of +Balder prepares the way for Ragnarok and Regeneration. Balder goes to +Hel and does not return to this world. Thokk refuses to weep for him. +His return is promised after Ragnarok. The next spring does not bring +him back, but the rejuvenated earth. Thus the death of Balder becomes +the central thought in the drama of the fate of the gods and of the +world. It is inseparably connected with the punishment of Loke and the +twilight of the gods. The winter following the death of Balder is not an +ordinary winter, but the Fimbul-winter, which is followed by no summer, +but by the destruction of the world. The central idea in the Odinic +religion, the destruction and regeneration of the world, has taken this +beautiful sun-myth of Balder into its service. Balder is then no more +merely the pure holy light of heaven; he symbolizes at the same time the +purity and innocence of the gods; he is changed from a physical to an +ethical myth. He impersonated all that was good and holy in the life of +the gods; and so it came to pass that when the golden age had ceased, +when thirst for gold (Gulveig), when sin and crime had come into the +world, he was too good to live in it. As in Genesis fratricide (Cain and +Abel) followed upon the eating of the forbidden fruit, and the loss of +paradise; so, when the golden age (paradise) had ended among the asas, +Loke (the serpent) brought fratricide (Hoder and Balder) among the gods; +themselves and our ancestors regarded fratricide as the lowest depth of +moral depravity. After the death of Balder + + Brothers slay brothers, + Sisters’ children + Shed each other’s blood, + Hard grows the world, + Sensual sin waxes huge. + + There are sword-ages, ax-ages-- + Shields are cleft in twain,-- + Storm-ages, murder-ages,-- + Till the world falls dead, + And men no longer spare + Or pity one another. + +Upon the whole we may say that a sun-myth first represents the death of +the day at sunset, when the sky is radiant as if dyed in blood. In the +flushing morn light wins its victory again. Then this same myth becomes +transferred to the death and birth of summer. Once more it is lifted +into a higher sphere, while still holding on to its physical +interpretation, and is applied to the world year. Finally, it is clothed +with ethical attributes, becomes thoroughly anthropomorphized, and +typifies the good and the evil, the virtues and vices (light and +darkness), in the character and life of gods and of men. Thus we get +four stages in the development of the myth. + +CHAPTER XV. + +RAGNAROK. The word is found written in two ways, Ragnarok and ragnarökr. +Ragna is genitive plural, from the word regin (god), and means of the +gods. Rok means reason, ground, origin, a wonder, sign, marvel. It is +allied to the O.H.G. _rahha_ = sentence, judgment. Ragnarök would then +mean _the history of the gods_, and applied to the dissolution of the +world, might be translated _the last judgment_, _doomsday_, _weird of +gods and the world_. Rokr means _twilight_, and Ragnarokr, as the +Younger Edda has it, thus means _the twilight of the gods_, and the +latter is adopted by nearly all modern writers, although Gudbr. +Vigfusson declares that Ragnarok (doomsday) is no doubt the correct +form. And this is also to be said in favor of doomsday, that Ragnarok +does not involve only the _twilight_, but the whole _night_ of the gods +and the world. + + +THE NIFLUNGS AND GJUKUNGS. + +This chapter of _Skaldskaparmal_ contains much valuable material for a +correct understanding of the Nibelungen-Lied, especially as to the +origin of the Niblung hoard, and the true character of Brynhild. The +material given here, and in the Icelandic Volsunga Saga, has been used +by Wm. Morris in his Sigurd the Volsung and the Fall of the Niblungs. +In the Nibelungen-Lied, as transposed by Auber Forestier, in Echoes from +Mist-Land, we have a perfect gem of literature from the middle high +German period, but its author had lost sight of the divine and mythical +origin of the material that he wove into his poem. It is only by +combining the German Nibelungen-Lied with the mythical materials found +in Norseland that our national Teutonic epic can be restored to us. +Wagner has done this for us in his famous drama; Jordan has done it in +his Sigfrid’s saga; Morris has done it in the work mentioned above; but +will not Auber Forestier gather up all the scattered fragments relating +to Sigurd and Brynhild, and weave them together into a prose narrative, +that shall delight the young and the old of this great land? + +We are glad to welcome at this time a new book in the field of Niblung +literature. We refer to Geibel’s Brunhild, translated, with introduction +and notes, by Prof. G. Theo. Dippold, and recently published in Boston. + + +MENJA AND FENJA. + +This is usually called the peace of Frode, which corresponds to the +golden age in the life of the asas. Avarice is the root of crime, and +all other evils. Avarice is at the bottom of all the endless woes of the +Niblung story. The myth explaining why the sea is salt is told in a +variety of forms in different countries. In Germany there are several +folk-lore stories and traditions in regard to it. In Norway, where +folk-lore tales are so abundant, we find the myth about Menja and Fenja +recurring in the following form: + + +WHY THE SEA IS SALT. + +Long, long ago there were two brothers, the one was rich and the other +was poor. On Christmas eve the poor one had not a morsel of bread or +meat in his house, and so he went to his brother and asked him for +mercy’s sake to give him something for Christmas. It was not the first +time the brother had had to give him, and he was not very much pleased +to see him this time either. + +“If you will do what I ask of you, I will give you a whole ham of pork,” +said he. + +The poor man promised immediately, and was very thankful besides. + +“There you have it, now go to hell,” said the rich one, and threw the +ham at him. + +“What I have promised, I suppose, I must keep,” said the other. He took +the ham and started. He walked and walked the whole day, and at twilight +he came to a place where everything looked so bright and splendid. + +“This must be the place,” thought the man with the ham. + +Out in the wood-shed stood an old man with a long white beard, cutting +wood for Christmas. + +“Good evening,” said the man with the ham. + +“Good evening, sir. Where are you going so late?” said the man. + +“I am on my way to hell, if I am on the right road,” said the poor man. + +“Yes, you have taken the right road; it is here,” said the old man. “Now +when you get in, they will all want to buy your ham, for pork is rare +food in hell; but you must not sell it, unless you get the hand-mill +that stands back of the door for it. When you come out again I will show +you how to regulate it. You will find it useful in more than one +respect.” + +The man with the ham thanked the old man for this valuable information, +and rapped at the devil’s door. + +When he came in it happened as the old man had said. All the devils, +both the large ones and the small ones, crowded around him like ants +around a worm, and the one bid higher than the other for the ham. + +“It is true my wife and I were to have it for our Christmas dinner, but, +seeing that you are so eager for it, I suppose I will have to let you +have it,” said the man. “But if I am to sell it, I want that hand-mill +that stands behind the door there for it.” + +The devil did not like to spare it, and kept dickering and bantering +with the man, but he insisted, and so the devil had to give him the +hand-mill. When the man came out in the yard he asked the old +wood-chopper how he should regulate the mill; and when he had learned +how to do it, he said “thank you,” and made for home as fast as he +could. But still he did not reach home before twelve o’clock in the +night Christmas eve. + +“Why, where in the world have you been?” said the woman. “Here I have +been sitting hour after hour waiting and waiting, and I haven’t as much +as two sticks to put on the fire so as to cook the Christmas porridge.” + +“Oh, I could not come any sooner. I had several errands to do, and I had +a long way to go too. But now I will show you,” said the man. He set the +mill on the table, and had it first grind light, then a table-cloth, +then food and ale and all sorts of good things for Christmas, and as he +commanded the mill ground. The woman expressed her great astonishment +again and again, and wanted to know where her husband had gotten the +mill, but this he would not tell. + +“It makes no difference where I have gotten it; you see the mill is a +good one, and that the water does not freeze,” said the man. + +Then he ground food and drink, and all good things, for the whole +Christmas week, and on the third day he invited his friends: he was +going to have a party. When the rich brother saw all the nice and good +things at the party, he became very wroth, for he could not bear to see +his brother have anything. + +“Christmas eve he was so needy that he came to me and asked me for +mercy’s sake to give him a little food, and now he gives a feast as +though he were both count and king,” said he to the others. + +“But where in hell have you gotten all your riches from?” said he to his +brother. + +“Behind the door,” answered he who owned the mill. He did not care to +give any definite account, but later in the evening, when he began to +get a little tipsy, he could not help himself and brought out the mill. + +“There you see the one that has given me all the riches,” said he, and +then he let the mill grind both one thing and another. When the brother +saw this he was bound to have the mill, and after a long bantering about +it, he finally was to have it; but he was to pay three hundred dollars +for it, and his brother was to keep it until harvest. + +“When I keep it until then, I shall have ground food enough to last many +years,” thought he. + +Of course the mill got no chance to grow rusty during the next six +months, and when harvest-time came, the rich brother got it; but the +other man had taken good care not to show him how to regulate it. It was +in the evening that the rich man brought the mill home, and in the +morning he bade his wife go and spread the hay after the mowers,--he +would get dinner ready, he said. Toward dinner he put the mill on the +table. + +“Grind fish and gruel: Grind both well and fast!” said the man, and the +mill began to grind fish and gruel. It first filled all the dishes and +tubs full, and after that it covered the whole floor with fish and +gruel. The man kept puttering and tinkering, and tried to get the mill +to stop; but no matter how he turned it and fingered at it, the mill +kept on, and before long the gruel got so deep in the room that the man +was on the point of drowning. Then he opened the door to the +sitting-room, but before long that room was filled too, and the man had +all he could do to get hold of the door-latch down in this flood of +gruel. When he got the door open he did not remain long in the room. He +ran out as fast as he could, and there was a perfect flood of fish gruel +behind, deluging the yard and his fields. + +The wife, who was in the meadow making hay, began to think that it took +a long time to get dinner ready. “Even if husband does not call us, we +will have to go anyway. I suppose he does not know much about making +gruel; I will have to go and help him,” said the woman to the mowers. + +They went homeward, but on coming up the hill they met the flood of fish +and gruel and bread, the one mixed up with the other, and the man came +running ahead of the flood. + +“Would that each one of you had an hundred stomachs, but have a care +that you do not drown in the gruel flood,” cried the husband. He ran by +them as though the devil had been after him, and hastened down to his +brother. He begged him in the name of everything sacred to come and take +the mill away immediately. + +“If it grinds another hour the whole settlement will perish in fish and +gruel,” said he. + +But the brother would not take it unless he got three hundred dollars, +and this money had to be paid to him. + +Now the poor brother had both money and the mill, and so it did not take +long before he got himself a farm, and a much nicer one than his +brother’s. With his mill he ground out so much gold that he covered his +house all over with sheets of gold. The house stood down by the +sea-shore, and it glistened far out upon the sea. All who sailed past +had to go ashore and visit the rich man in the golden house, and all +wanted to see the wonderful mill, for its fame spread far and wide, and +there was none who had not heard speak of it. + +After a long time there came a sea-captain who wished to see the mill. +He asked whether it could grind salt. + +“Yes, it can grind salt,” said he who owned the mill; and when the +captain heard this, he was bound to have it, let it cost what it will. +For if he had that, thought he, he would not have to sail far off over +dangerous waters after cargoes of salt. At first the man did not wish to +sell it, but the captain teased and begged and finally the man sold it, +and got many thousand dollars for it. When the captain had gotten the +mill on his back, he did not stay there long, for he was afraid the man +might reconsider the bargain and back out again. He had no time to ask +how to regulate it; he went to his ship as fast as he could, and when he +had gotten some distance out upon the sea, he got his mill out. + +“Grind salt both fast and well,” said the captain. The mill began to +grind salt, and that with all its might. When the captain had gotten the +ship full he wanted to stop the mill; but no matter how he worked, and +no matter how he handled it, the mill kept grinding as fast as ever, and +the heap of salt kept growing larger and larger, and at last the ship +sank. The mill stands on the bottom of the sea grinding this very day, +and so it comes that the sea is salt. + + + + +VOCABULARY. + + +ADILS. A king who reigned in Upsala. +AE. A dwarf. +ÆGER. The god presiding over the stormy sea. +ALF. A dwarf. +ALFATHER. A name of Odin. +ALFHEIM. The home of the elves. +ALFRIG. A dwarf. +ALSVID. One of the horses of the sun. +ALTHJOF. A dwarf. +ALVIS. A dwarf. +AMSVARTNER. The name of the lake in which the island was situated where + the wolf Fenrer was chained. +ANDHRIMNER. The cook in Valhal. +ANDLANG. The second heaven. +ANDVARE. A dwarf. +ANDVARE-NAUT. The ring in the Niblung story. +ANGERBODA. A giantess; mother of the Fenris-wolf. +ANNAR. Husband of Night and father of Jord. +ARVAK. The name of one of the horses of the sun. +ASAHEIM. The home of the asas. +ASALAND. The land of the asas. +ASAS. The Teutonic gods. +ASA-THOR. A common name for Thor. +ASGARD. The residence of the gods. +ASK. The name of the first man created by Odin, Honer and Loder. +ASLAUG. Daughter of Sigurd and Brynhild. +ASMUND. A man visited by Odin. +ASYNJES. The Teutonic goddesses. +ATLE. Gudrun’s husband after the death of Sigurd. +ATRID. A name of Odin. +AUD. The son of Night and Naglfare. +AUDHUMBLA. The cow that nourished the giant Ymer. +AUDUN. A name derived from Odin. +AURGELMER. A giant; grandfather of Bergelmer; the same as Ymer. +AURVANG. A dwarf. +AUSTRE. A dwarf. + +BAFUR. A dwarf. +BALDER. Son of Odin and Frigg, slain by Hoder. +BALEYG. A name of Odin. +BAR-ISLE. A cool grove in which Gerd agreed with Skirner to meet Frey. +BAUGE. A brother of Suttung. Odin worked for him one summer, in order to + get his help in obtaining Suttung’s mead of poetry. +BEIGUD. One of Rolf Krake’s berserks. +BELE. A giant, brother of Gerd, slain by Frey. +BERGELMER. A giant; son of Thrudgelmer and grandson of Aurgelmer. +BERLING. A dwarf. +BESTLA. Wife of Bure and mother of Odin. +BIFLIDE. A name of Odin. +BIFLINDE. A name of Odin. +BIFROST. The rainbow. +BIFUR. A dwarf. +BIKKE. A minister of Jormunrek; causes Randver to be hanged, and + Svanhild trodden to death by horses. +BIL. One of the children that accompany Moon. +BILEYG. A name of Odin. +BILSKIRNER. Thor’s abode. +BLAIN. A dwarf. +BLODUGHOFDE. Frey’s horse. +BODN. One of the three jars in which the poetic mead is kept. +BODVAR BJARKE. One of Rolf Krake’s berserks. +BOL. One of the rivers flowing out of Hvergelmer. +BOLTHORN. A giant; father of Bestla, mother of Odin. +BOLVERK. A name of Odin. +BOMBUR. A dwarf. +BOR. Son of Bure; father of Odin. +BRAGE. A son of Odin; the best of skalds. +BREIDABLIK. The abode of Balder. +BRIMER. One of the heavenly halls after Ragnarok. +BRISING. Freyja’s necklace. +BROK. A dwarf. +BRYNHILD. One of the chief heroines in the Niblung story. +BUDLE. Father of Atle and Brynhild. +BUE. A son of Vesete, who settled in Borgundarholm. +BURE. Grandfather of Odin. +BYLEIST. A brother of Loke. +BYRGER. A well from which Bil and Hjuke were going when they were taken + by Moon. + +DAIN. A dwarf. +DAIN. One of the stags that bite the leaves of Ygdrasil. +DAINSLEIF. Hogne’s sword. +DAY. Son of Delling. +DAYBREAK. The father of Day. +DELLING. Daybreak. +DOLGTHVARE. A dwarf. +DORE. A dwarf. +DRAUPNER. Odin’s ring. +DROME. One of the fetters with which the Fenris-wolf was chained. +DUF. A dwarf. +DUNEY. One of the stags that bite the leaves of Ygdrasil. +DURATHRO. One of the stags that bite the leaves of Ygdrasil. +DURIN. A dwarf. +DVALIN. One of the stags that bite the leaves of Ygdrasil. +DVALIN. A dwarf. + +EIKINSKJALDE. A dwarf. +EIKTHYRNER. A hart that stands over Odin’s hall. +EILIF. Son of Gudrun; a skald. +EIMYRJA. One of the daughters of Haloge and Glod. +EINDRIDE. A name of Thor. +EIR. An attendant of Menglod, and the best of all in the healing art. +EKIN. One of the rivers flowing from Hvergelmer. +ELDER. A servant of Æger. +ELDHRIMNER. The kettle in which the boar Sahrimner is cooked in Valhal. +ELIVOGS. The ice-cold streams that flow out of Niflheim. +ELJUDNER. Hel’s hall. +ELLE. An old woman (old age) with whom Thor wrestled in Jotunheim. +EMBLA. The first woman created by Odin, Honer and Loder. +ENDIL. The name of a giant. +ERP. A son of Jonaker, murdered by Sorle and Hamder. +EYLIME. The father of Hjordis, mother of Volsung. +EYSA. One of the daughters of Haloge and Glod. + +FAFNER. Son of Hreidmar, killed by Sigurd. +FAL. A dwarf. +FALHOFNER. One of the horses of the gods. +FARBAUTE. The father of Loke. +FARMAGOD. One of the names of Odin. +FARMATYR. One of the names of Odin. +FENJA. A female slave who ground at Frode’s mill. +FENRIS-WOLF. The monster wolf, son of Loke. +FENSALER. The abode of Frigg. +FID. A dwarf. +FILE. A dwarf. +FIMAFENG. Æger’s servant. +FIMBUL. One of the streams flowing from Hvergelmer. +FIMBULTHUL. One of the streams flowing from Hvergelmer. +FIMBUL-TYR. The unknown god. +FIMBUL-WINTER. The great and awful winter of three years duration + preceding Ragnarok. +FINNSLEIF. A byrnie belonging to King Adils, of Upsala. +FJALAR. A dwarf. +FJOLNER. A name of Odin. +FJOLSVID. A name of Odin. +FJORGVIN. The mother of Frigg and of Thor. +FJORM. One of the streams flowing from Hvergelmer. +FOLKVANG. Freyja’s abode. +FORM. One of the streams flowing from Hvergelmer. +FORNJOT. The ancient giant; the father of Æger. +FORSETE. The peace-maker; son of Balder and Nanna. +FRANANGER FORCE. The waterfall into which Loke cast himself in the + likeness of a salmon. +FREKE. One of Odin’s wolves. +FREY. Son of Njord and husband of Skade. +FREYJA. The daughter of Njord and sister of Frey. +FRIDLEIF. A son of Skjold. +FRIGG. Wife of Odin and mother of the gods. +FRODE. Grandson of Skjold. +FROSTE. A dwarf. +FULLA. Frigg’s attendant. +FUNDIN. A dwarf. +FYRE. A river in Sweden. + +GAGNRAD. A name of Odin. +GALAR. A dwarf. +GANDOLF. A dwarf. +GANG. A giant. +GANGLARE. A name of Odin. +GANGLATE. Hel’s man-servant. +GANGLERE. A name of Odin. +GANGLOT. Hel’s maid-servant. +GANGRAD. A name of Odin. +GARDROFA. A horse. +GARM. A dog that barks at Ragnarok. +GAUT. A name of Odin. +GEFJUN. A goddess; she is present at Æger’s feast. +GEFN. One of the names of Freyja. +GEIRAHOD. A valkyrie. +GEIRROD. A giant visited by Thor. +GEIR SKOGUL. A valkyrie. +GEIRVIMUL. One of the streams flowing from Hvergelmer. +GELGJA. The fetter with which the Fenris-wolf was chained. +GERD. A beautiful giantess, daughter of Gymer. +GERE. One of Odin’s wolves. +GERSAME. One of the daughters of Freyja. +GILLING. Father of Suttung, who possessed the poetic mead. +GIMLE. The abode of the righteous after Ragnarok. +GINNAR. A dwarf. +GINUNGAGAP. The premundane abyss. +GIPUL. One of the streams flowing from Hvergelmer. +GISL. One of the horses of the gods. +GJALLAR-BRIDGE. The bridge across the river Gjol, near Helheim. +GJALLAR-HORN. Heimdal’s horn. +GJALLAR-RIVER. The river near Helheim. +GJALP. One of the daughters of Geirrod. +GJUKE. A king in Germany, visited by Sigurd. +GLADSHEIM. Odin’s dwelling. +GLAM. The name of a giant. +GLAPSVID. A name of Odin. +GLASER. A grove in Asgard. +GLEIPNER. The last fetter with which the wolf Fenrer was bound. +GLENER. The husband of Sol (sun). +GLER. One of the horses of the gods. +GLITNER. Forsete’s hall. +GLOIN. A dwarf. +GNA. Frigg’s messenger. +GNIPA-CAVE. The cave before which the dog Garm barks. +GNITA-HEATH. Fafner’s abode, where he kept the treasure of the Niblungs. +GOIN. A serpent under Ygdrasil. +GOL. A valkyrie. +GOLDFAX. The giant Hrungner’s horse. +GOMUL. One of the streams flowing from Hvergelmer. +GONDLER. One of the names of Odin. +GONDUL. A valkyrie. +GOPUL. One of the streams flowing from Hvergelmer. +GOT. A name of Odin. +GOTE. Gunnar’s horse. +GOTHORM. A son of Gjuke; murders Sigurd, and is slain by him. +GRABAK. One of the serpents under Ygdrasil. +GRAD. One of the streams flowing from Hvergelmer. +GRAFVITNER. A serpent under Ygdrasil. +GRAFVOLLUD. A serpent under Ygdrasil. +GRAM. Sigurd’s sword. +GRANE. Sigurd’s horse. +GREIP. One of the daughters of Geirrod. +GRID. A giantess visited by Thor. +GRIDARVOL. Grid’s staff. +GRIM. A name of Odin. +GRIMHILD. Gjuke’s queen. +GRIMNER. One of the names of Odin. +GRJOTTUNGARD. The place where Thor fought with Hrungner. +GROA. A giantess, mother of Orvandel. +GROTTE. The name of King Frode’s mill. +GUD. A valkyrie. +GUDNY. One of the children of Gjuke. +GUDRUN. The famous daughter of Gjuke. +GULLINBURSTE. The name of Frey’s boar. +GULLINTANNE. A name of Heimdal. +GULLTOP. Heimdal’s horse. +GULLVEIG. A personification of gold; she is pierced and burnt. +GUNGNER. Odin’s spear. +GUNLAT. The daughter of the giant Suttung. +GUNN. A valkyrie. +GUNNAR. The famous son of Gjuke. +GUNTHRAIN. One of the rivers flowing from Hvergelmer. +GWODAN. An old name for Odin. +GYLFE. A king of Svithjod, who visited Asgard under the name of + Ganglere. +GYLLER. One of the horses of the gods. +GYMER. Another name of the ocean divinity Æger. + +HABROK. A celebrated hero. +HALLINSKIDE. Another name of Heimdal. +HALOGE. A giant, son of Fornjot; also called Loge. +HAMDER. Son of Jonaker and Gudrun, incited by his mother to avenge his + sister’s death. +HAMSKERPER. A horse; the sire of Hofvarpner, which was Gna’s horse. +HANGAGOD. A name of Odin. +HANGATYR. A name of Odin. +HAPTAGOD. A name of Odin. +HAR. The High One; applied to Odin. +HARBARD. A name assumed by Odin. +HATE. The wolf bounding before the sun, and will at last catch the moon. +HEIDE. Another name for Gullveig. +HEIDRUN. A goat that stands over Valhal. +HEIMDAL. The god of the rainbow. +HEIMER. Brynhild’s foster-father. +HEL. The goddess of death; daughter of Loke. +HELBLINDE. A name of Odin. +HELMET-BEARER. A name of Odin. +HENGEKJAPT. The man to whom King Frode gave his mill. +HEPTE. A dwarf. +HERAN. A name of Odin. +HERFATHER. A name of Odin. +HERJAN. A name of Odin. +HERMOD. The god who rode on Sleipner to Hel, to get Balder back. +HERTEIT. A name of Odin. +HILD. A valkyrie. +HILDESVIN. A helmet, which King Adils took from King Ale. +HIMINBJORG. Heimdal’s dwelling. +HINDFELL. The place where Brynhild sat in her hall, surrounded by the + Vafurloge. +HJALMBORE. A name of Odin. +HJALPREK. A king in Denmark; collects a fleet for Sigurd. +HJATLE THE VALIANT. One of Rolf Krake’s berserks. +HJORDIS. Married to Sigmund, and mother of Sigurd. +HJUKE. One of the children that accompany Moon. +HLEDJOLF. A dwarf. +HLER. Another name of Æger. +HLIDSKJALF. The seat of Odin, whence he looked out over all the world. +HLIN. One of the attendants of Frigg; Frigg herself is sometimes called + by this name. +HLODYN. Thor’s mother. +HLOK. A valkyrie. +HLORIDE. A name of Thor. +HNIKER. A name of Odin. +HNIKUD. A name of Odin. +HNITBJORG. The place where Suttung hid the poetic mead. +HNOS. Freyja’s daughter. +HODER. The slayer of Balder; he is blind. +HODMIMER’S-HOLT. The grove where the two human beings, Lif and + Lifthraser, were preserved during Ragnarok. +HOFVARPNER. Gna’s horse. +HOGNE. A son of Gjuke. +HONER. One of the three creating gods; with Odin and Loder he creates + Ask and Embla. +HOR. A dwarf. +HORN. A name of Freyja. +HRASVELG. A giant in an eagle’s plumage, who produces the wind. +HREIDMAR. The father of Regin and Fafner. +HRIB. One of the streams flowing from Hvergelmer. +HRIMFAXE. The horse of Night. +HRINGHORN. The ship upon which Balder’s body was burned. +HRIST. A valkyrie. +HRODVITNER. A wolf; father of the wolf Hate. +HRON. One of the streams flowing from Hvergelmer. +HROPTATYR. A name of Odin. +HROTTE. Fafner’s sword. +HRUNGNER. A giant; Thor slew him. +HRYM. A giant, who steers the ship Naglfar at Ragnarok. +HVERGELMER. The fountain in the middle of Niflheim. +HUGE. A person (Thought) who ran a race with Thjalfe, in Jotunheim. +HUGIST. One of Odin’s ravens. +HUGSTORE. A dwarf. +HYMER. A giant with whom Thor went fishing when he caught the + Midgard-serpent. +HYNDLA. A vala visited by Freyja. +HYRROKEN. A giantess who launched the ship on which Balder was burned. + +IDA. A plain where the gods first assemble, and where they assemble + again after Ragnarok. +IDAVOLD. The same. +IDE. A giant, son of Olvalde. +IDUN. Wife of Brage; she kept the rejuvenating apples. +IRONWOOD. The abode of giantesses called Jarnveds. +IVA. A river in Jotunheim. +IVALD. The father of the dwarfs that made Sif’s hair, the ship + Skidbladner, and Odin’s spear Gungner. + +JAFNHAR. A name of Odin. +JALG. A name of Odin. +JALK. A name of Odin. +JARNSAXA. One of Heimdal’s nine giant mothers. +JARNVED. The same as Ironwood. +JARNVIDJES. The giantesses dwelling in Ironwood. +JORD. Wife of Odin, mother of Thor. +JORMUNGAND. The Midgard-serpent. +JORMUNREK. King of Goths, marries Svanhild. +JORUVOLD. The country where Aurvang is situated. Thence come several + dwarfs. +JOTUNHEIM. The home of the giants. + +KERLAUGS. The rivers that Thor every day must cross. +KILE. A dwarf. +KJALER. A name of Odin. +KORMT. A river which Thor every day must cross. +KVASER. The hostage given by the vans to the asas; his blood, when + slain, was the poetical meed kept by Suttung. + +LADING. One of the fetters with which the Fenris-wolf was bound. +LANDVIDE. Vidar’s abode. +LAUFEY. Loke’s mother. +LEIPT. One of the rivers flowing out of Hvergelmer. +LERAD. A tree near Valhal. +LETFET. One of the horses of the gods. +LIF. } The two persons preserved in Hodmimer’s-holt during +LIFTHRASER.} Ragnarok. +LIT. A dwarf. +LJOSALFAHEIM. The home of the light elves. +LODER. One of the three gods who created Ask and Embla. +LOFN. One of the asynjes. +LOGE. A giant who tried his strength at eating with Loke in Jotunheim. +LOKE. The giant-god of the Norse mythology. +LOPT. Another name for Loke. +LOVAR. A dwarf. +LYNGVE. The island where the Fenris-wolf was chained. + +MAGNE. A son of Thor. +MANNHEIM. The home of man; our earth. +MARDOL. One of the names of Freyja. +MEGINGJARDER. Thor’s belt. +MEILE. A son of Odin. +MENGLAD. Svipdag’s betrothed. +MENJA. A female slave who ground at Frode’s mill. +MIDGARD. The name of the earth in the mythology. +MIDVITNE. A giant. +MIMER. The name of the wise giant; keeper of the holy well. +MIST. A valkyrie. +MJODVITNER. A dwarf. +MJOLNER. Thorn’s hammer. +MJOTUD. A name of Odin. +MODE. One of Thor’s sons. +MODGUD. The may who guards the Gjallar-bridge. +MODSOGNER. A dwarf. +MOIN. A serpent under Ygdrasil. +MOKKERKALFE. A clay giant in the myth of Thor and Hrungner. +MOON, brother of Sun. Both children of Mundilfare. +MOONGARM. A wolf of Loke’s offspring; he devours the moon. +MORN. A troll-woman. +MUNDILFARE. Father of the sun and moon. +MUNIN. One of Odin’s ravens. +MUSPEL. The name of an abode of fire. +MUSPELHEIM. The world of blazing light before the creation. + +NA. A dwarf. +NAGLFAR. A mythical ship made of nail-parings; it appears in Ragnarok. +NAIN. A dwarf. +NAL. Mother of Loke. +NANNA. Daughter of Nep; mother of Forsete, and wife of Balder. +NARE. Sod of Loke; also called Narfe. +NARFE. _See_ Nare. +NASTRAND. A place of punishment for the wicked after Ragnarok. +NEP. Father of Nanna. +NIBLUNGS. Identical with Gjukungs. +NIDA MOUNTAINS. A place where there is, after Ragnarok, a golden hall + for the race of Sindre (the dwarfs). +NIDE. A dwarf. +NIDHUG. A serpent in the nether world. +NIFLHEIM. The world of mist before the creation. +NIFLUNGS. Identical with Niblungs. +NIGHT. Daughter of Norfe. +NIKAR. A name of Odin. +NIKUZ. A name of Odin. +NIPING. A dwarf. +NJORD. A van; husband of Skade, and father of Frey and Freyja. +NOATUN. Njord’s dwelling. +NON. One of the streams flowing from Hvergelmer. +NOR. The man after whom Norway was supposed to have been named. +NORDRE. A dwarf. +NORFE. A giant, father of Night. +NORNS. The weird sisters. +NOT. One of the streams flowing from Hvergelmer. +NY. A dwarf. +NYE. A dwarf. +NYRAD. A dwarf. + +ODER. Freyja’s husband. +ODIN. Son of Bor and Bestla; the chief of Teutonic gods. +ODRARER. One of the vessels in which the poetic mead was kept. +OFNER. A serpent under Ygdrasil. +OIN. A dwarf. +OKU-THOR. A name of Thor. +OLVALDE. A giant; father of Thjasse, Ide and Gang. +OME. A name of Odin. +ONAR. A dwarf. +ORBODA. Wife of the giant Gymer. +ORE. A dwarf. +ORMT. One of the rivers that Thor has to cross. +ORNER. The name of a giant. +ORVANDEL. The husband of Groa, the vala who sang magic songs over Thor + after he had fought with Hrungner. +OSKE. A name of Odin. +OTTER. A son of Hreidmar; in the form of an otter he was killed by Loke. + +QUASER. _See_ Kvaser. + +RADGRID. A valkyrie. +RADSVID. A dwarf. +RAFNAGUD. A name of Odin. +RAGNAROK. The last day; the dissolution of the gods and the world; the + twilight of the gods. +RAN. The goddess of the sea; wife of Æger. +RANDGRID. A valkyrie. +RANDVER. A son of Jormunrek. +RATATOSK. A squirrel in Ygdrasil. +RATE. An auger used by Odin in obtaining the poetic mead. +REGIN. Son of Hreidmar. +REGINLEIF. A valkyrie. +REIDARTYR. A name of Odin. +REK. A dwarf. +RIND. Mother of Vale. +ROGNER. A name of Odin. +ROSKVA. Thor’s maiden follower. + +SAHRIMNER. The boar on which the gods and heroes in Valhal live. +SAD. A name of Odin. +SAGA. The goddess of history. +SAGER. The bucket carried by Bil and Hjuke. +SANGETAL. A name of Odin. +SEKIN. One of the streams flowing from Hvergelmer. +SESSRYMNER. Freyja’s palace. +SIAR. A dwarf. +SID. A stream flowing from Hvergelmer. +SIDHOT. A name of Odin. +SIDSKEG. A name of Odin. +SIF. Thor’s wife. +SIGFATHER. A name of Odin. +SIGFRID. The hero in the Niblung story; the same as Sigurd. +SIGMUND. Son of Volsung. Also son of Sigurd and Gudrun. +SINDRE. A dwarf. +SIGTYR. A name of Odin. +SIGYN. Loke’s wife. +SIGURD. The hero in the Niblung story; identical with Sigfrid. +SILVERTOP. One of the horses of the gods. +SIMUL. The pole on which Bil and Hjuke carried the bucket. +SINFJOTLE. Son of Sigmund. +SINER. One of the horses of the gods. +SJOFN. One of the asynjes. +SKADE. A giantess; daughter of Thjasse and wife of Njord. +SKEGGOLD. A valkyrie. +SKEIDBRIMER. One of the horses of the gods. +SKIDBLADNER. Frey’s ship. +SKIFID. A dwarf. +SKIFIR. A dwarf. +SKILFING. A name of Odin. +SKINFAXE. The horse of Day. +SKIRNER. Frey’s messenger. +SKOGUL. A valkyrie. +SKOL. The wolf that pursues the sun. +SKRYMER. The name assumed by Utgard-Loke; a giant. +SKULD. The norn of the future. +SLEIPNER. Odin’s eight-footed steed. +SLID. One of the streams flowing from Hvergelmer. +SLIDRUGTANNE. Frey’s boar. +SNOTRA. One of the asynjes. +SOKMIMER. A giant slain by Odin. +SOKVABEK. A mansion, where Odin and Saga quaff from golden beakers. +SOL. Daughter of Mundilfare. +SON. One of the vessels containing the poetic mead. +SORLE. Son of Jonaker and Gudrun; avenges the death of Svanhild. +SUDRE. A dwarf. +SUN. Identical with Sol. +SURT. Guards Muspelheim. A fire-giant in Ragnarok. +SUTTUNG. The giant possessing the poetic mead. +SVADE. A giant. +SVADILFARE. A horse, the sire of Sleipner. +SVAFNER. A serpent under Ygdrasil. +SVANHILD. Daughter of Sigurd and Gudrun. +SVARIN. A dwarf. +SVARTALFAHEIM. The home of the swarthy elves. +SVARTHOFDE. The ancestor of all enchanters. +SVASUD. The name of a giant; father of summer. +SVIAGRIS. A ring demanded by the berserks for Rolf Krake. +SVID. A name of Odin. +SVIDAR. A name of Odin. +SVIDR. A name of Odin. +SVIDRE. A name of Odin. +SVIDRIR. A name of Odin. +SVIDUR. A name of Odin. +SVIPDAG. The betrothed of Menglad. +SVIPOL. A name of Odin. +SVOL. One of the streams flowing from Hvergelmer. +SVOLNE. A name of Odin. +SYLG. A stream flowing from Hvergelmer. +SYN. A minor goddess. +SYR. A name of Freyja. + +TANGNJOST. } Thor’s goats. +TANGRISNER. } +THEK. A dwarf; also a name of Odin. +THJALFE. The name of Thor’s man-servant. +THJASSE. A giant; the father of Njord’s wife, Skade. +THJODNUMA. One of the streams flowing from Hvergelmer. +THOK. Loke in the disguise of a woman. +THOL. One of the streams flowing from Hvergelmer. +THOR. Son of Odin and Fjorgyn. The god of thunder. +THORIN. A dwarf. +THORN. A giant. +THRIDE. A name of Odin. +THRO. A dwarf; also a name of Odin. +THROIN. A dwarf. +THROR. A name of Odin. +THRUD. A valkyrie. +THUD. A name of Odin. +THUL. A stream flowing from Hvergelmer. +THUND. A name of Odin. +THVITE. A stone used in chaining the Fenris-wolf. +THYN. One of the streams flowing from Hvergelmer. +TYR. The one-armed god of war. + +UD. A name of Odin. +UKKO. The god of thunder in Tshudic mythology. +UKKO-THOR. A name for Thor. +ULLER. Son of Sif and step-son of Thor. +URD. The norn of the past. +UTGARD. The abode of the giant Utgard-Loke. +UTGARD-LOKE. A giant visited by Thor; identical with Skrymer. + +VAFTHRUDNER. A giant visited by Odin. +VAFUD. A name of Odin. +VAFURLOGE. The bickering flame surrounding Brynhild on Hindfell. +VAK. A name of Odin. +VALASKJALF. One of Odin’s dwellings. +VALE. Brother of Balder; kills Hoder. +VALFATHER. A name of Odin. +VALHAL. The hall to which Odin invites those slain in battle. +VANADIS. A name of Freyja. +VANAHEIM. The home of the vans. +VAR. The goddess of betrothals and marriages. +VARTARE. The thread with which the mouth of Loke was sewed together. +VASAD. The grandfather of Winter. +VE. A brother of Odin. (Odin, Vile and Ve). +VEDFOLNER. A hawk in Ygdrasil. +VEGSVIN. One of the streams flowing from Hvergelmer. +VEGTAM. A name of Odin. +VERATYR. A name of Odin. +VERDANDE. The norn of the present. +VESTRE. A dwarf. +VID. One of the streams flowing from Hvergelmer. +VIDAR. Son of Odin and the giantess Grid. +VIDBLAIN. The third heaven. +VIDFIN. The father of Bil and Hjuke. +VIDOLF. The ancestor of the valas. +VIDRER. A name of Odin. +VIDUR. A name of Odin. +VIG. A dwarf. +VIGRID. The field of battle where the gods and the hosts of Surt meet in + Ragnarok. +VILE. Brother of Odin and Ve. +VILMEIDE. The ancestor of all wizards. +VIMER. A river that Thor crosses. +VIN. A river that flows from Hvergelmer. +VINA. A river that flows from Hvergelmer. +VINDALF. A dwarf. +VINDLONG. One of the names of the father of winter. +VINDSVAL. One of the names of the father of winter. +VINGNER. A name of Thor. +VINGOLF. The palace of the asynjes. +VINGTHOR. A name of Thor. +VIRFIR. A dwarf. +VIT. A dwarf. +VOLSUNGS. The descendants of Volsung. +VON. A river formed by the saliva running from the mouth of the chained + Fenris-wolf. +VOR. One of the asynjes. + +WODAN. A name of Odin. + +YDALER. Uller’s dwelling. +YG. A name of Odin. +YGDRASIL. The world-embracing ash-tree. +YLG. One of the streams flowing from Hvergelmer. +YMER. The huge giant out of whose body the world was created. + + + + +INDEX. + + [Transcriber’s Note: + + Page references in the 5-10 range do not correspond reliably to actual + citations; pages 5 and 6 do not exist at all. It is possible that the + Preface was rewritten and repaginated between 1879 (the original date + of the book) and 1901 (the date of the printing used as the basis for + this e-text).] + + +A + +Abel, 265. +Academy (London), 252. +Achilleus, 167, 168. +Adam, 33. +Adela, 255. +Adils, 215, 217. +Ae, 71. +Æger, 153, 154, 159, 160, 162, 164, 169, 176-189, 196, 240, 260. +Æneas, 168, 221-224, 229, 242. +Africa and Africans, 36, 38, 225. +Ainbet, 255. +Ainos, 221. +Aldafather, 246. +Ale, 89, 168, 215. +Alf, 71. +Alfather, 65, 69, 72, 77, 80, 81, 92, 94, 98, 106, 245, 246, 259. +Alfheim, 77, 183. +Alfrig, 261. +Alsace, 255. +Alsvid, 66. +Althjof, 70. +Alvis, 251. +America, 30, 244. +Amsvartner, 94. +Anchises, 223, 229. +Andhrimner, 104. +Andlang, 78. +Andvare, 71, 194, 195, 199-201. +Andvarenaut, 200. +Angerboda, 91. +Anglo-Saxon, 258. +Annan, 45. +Annar, 65. +Argulos, 41. +Ariadne, 29. +Ariel, 253. +Ark, 33. +Arndt, 257, 258. +Arvak, 66. +Asaheim, 226, 259. +Asaland, 226, 234. +Asas, 79-90. +Asa-Thor, 241. +Asburg, 226. +Asgard, 6, 7, 51, 54, 64, 65, 69, 133, 136, 148, 153, 156-158, 164, + 168-176, 181, 189, 191, 224, 226, 228, 230, 237. +Asia, 38, 43, 166, 225-229. +Asiamen, 46, 48. +Ask, 5, 64, 243, 250. +Aslaug, 204. +Asmund, 245, 246. +Aspargum, 226. +Asov, 225. +Assor, 229. +Asynjes, 97-100. +Assyrians, 37, 40, 225. +Atlas, 226. +Atle, 198-202, 251. +Atra, 45. +Atrid, 81, 245. +Aud, 65. +Audhumbla, 59, 246. +Audun, 235. +Aurgelmer, 58, 250. +Aurvang, 71. +Austre, 61, 70. +Austria, 255. + + +B + +Baal, 37. +Babylon, 39. +Bafur, 70. +Balder, 6, 7, 8, 46, 83, 84, 89, 131-136, 148, 158, 175, 232, 249, 259, + 260, 264, 265. +Baleyg, 81, 245, 247. +Baltic, 223, 231. +Banquo, 253. +Bar, 61, 64, 250. +Bar-Isle, 102. +Bauge, 162, 163. +Bavaria, 256. +Bedvig, 45. +Beigud, 215. +Bel, 37. +Beldegg, 46. +Bele, 102, 103, 145, 175, 262. +Beowulf, 262. +Bergelmer, 60, 250. +Bergmann, Fr., 18, 221. +Berling, 261. +Bestla, 60, 250. +Biflide, 54. +Biflinde, 54, 81, 245. +Bifrost, 68, 73, 74, 77, 88, 108, 142. +Bifur, 70. +Bikke, 202, 203. +Bil, 66, 99, 250. +Bileyg, 81, 245. +Bilskirner, 82, 259. +Bjaf, 45. +Bjalfe, 233. +Bjar, 45. +Bjarnhedinn, 233. +Black Sea, 225, 229. +Blackwell, W. L., 15, 18. +Blain, 70. +Blind, Karl, 252-256. +Blodughofde, 260. +Blueland, 225, 226. +Bodn, 160-165. +Bodvar Bjarke, 215. +Bol, 106. +Bolthorn, 60, 250. +Bolverk, 81, 162, 163, 245. +Bombur, 70. +Bor, 50, 61, 64, 250. +Borgundarholm, 240. +Bornholm, 240. +Bothnia, 240. +Brage, 6, 9, 16, 25, 50, 87, 108, 153, 154, 159, 160, 164, 166, 169, + 184, 187, 189, 205, 231, 260. +Brander, 46. +Breidablik, 77, 84, 232, 259. +Brimer, 147, 166. +Brising, 97, 186, 261, 262. +Britain, 230. +Brok, 190-192. +Brynhild, 198-201, 262, 267. +Budd, 244. +Buddha, 244. +Budle, 198, 201. +Bue, 240. +Bugge, Sophus, 18. +Bure, 5, 60, 250. +Byleist, 91, 144. +Byrger, 66. + + +C + +Cæsar, 233. +Cain, 265. +Carlyle, Sir Thomas, 22, 252. +Carthage, 31, 242. +Cato, the Elder, 31. +Caucasian, 226. +Celtic, 239, 240, 244. +Cerberos, 41. +Chaldeans, 40. +Chasgar, 226. +China, 28. +Chlotildis, 255. +Christ, 201, 221, 223. +Cicero, 229. +Columbus, 30. +Cottle, A. S., 15. +Crete, 28, 39-42. + + +D + +Dain, 70, 75. +Dainsleif, 219. +Dane, 46. +Danube, 230. +Dardanos, 42. +Dasent, G. W., 15, 16, 18. +Day, 65, 66. +Daybreak, 65. +Delling, 65. +Denmark, 50, 206, 207, 214, 222, 230, 231, 239, 242, 251. +Dido, 242. +Dietrich, Fr., 18. +Dippold, G. Theo., 267. +Dolgthvare, 71. +Don, 225, 229. +Dore, 71. +Dornröschen, 254. +Draupner, 71, 134, 136, 187. +Drome, 93. +Duf, 71. +Duney, 75. +Durathro, 75. +Durin, 70. +Dvalin, 70, 74, 75, 261. + + +E + +Egilsson, S., 18, 19. +Eikenskjalde, 71. +Eikthyrner, 106. +Eilif, 179. +Eimyrja, 240. +Eindride, 175. +Eir, 97. +Ekin, 106. +Elder, 188. +Eldhrimner, 104. +Elenus, 168. +Eline, 251. +Elivogs, 5, 57, 59, 173, 248. +Eljudner, 92. +Elle, 124, 127. +Embla, 5, 64, 243, 250. +Emerson, R. W., 22. +Endil, 180. +Enea, 38, 221, 225. +England, 30, 48, 222, 232, 239, 250, 258. +Erichthonios, 221. +Erp, 202-205. +Ethiopia, 225. +Ettmüller, Ludw., 18. +Europe, 38, 221-230, 241, 254. +Eve, 33. +Eylime, 196. +Eysa, 240. +Eyvind Skaldespiller, 236. + + +F + +Fafner, 193-201, 263. +Fal, 71. +Falhofner, 73, 260. +Farbaute, 91, 185. +Farmagod, 81, 247. +Farmatyr, 81, 165, 245. +Faye, A., 257. +Fenja, 206-208, 267. +Fenris-wolf, 8, 87, 91-96, 104, 141, 142, 148, 149, 168. +Fensaler, 97, 132. +Fid, 71. +File, 71. +Fimafeng, 188. +Fimbul, 56. +Fimbulthul, 106. +Fimbul-tyr, 5, 6, 8. +Fimbul-winter, 7, 140, 264. +Finnish, 239, 240, 241, 250. +Finnsleif, 215. +Fjalar, 160, 161. +Fjarlaf, 45. +Fjolner, 54, 81, 207, 238, 245. +Fjolsvid, 81, 245, 246. +Fjorgvin, 65. +Fjorm, 106. +Folkvang, 86, 259. +Forestier, Auber, 262, 263, 266, 267. +Form, 56, 241. +Fornjot, 239-243. +Forsete, 89, 90, 153, 259, 260. +Frananger Force, 137. +Frankland, 46. +Fraser’s Magazine, 253. +Freke, 105. +Freovit, 46. +Frey, 6, 7, 8, 85, 86, 94, 101-103, 109-112, 134, 142, 143, 153, 187, + 191, 192, 227, 228, 237-239, 243, 260, 262, 264. +Freyja, 6, 7, 29, 85, 86, 97, 110, 134, 153, 157, 170, 183, 187, 228, + 232, 239, 259, 261, 262. +Fridleif, 45, 46, 206, 218. +Frigialand, 168. +Frigg, 6, 7, 43, 45, 65, 80, 94, 97, 98, 131-136, 145, 153, 176, 187, + 227. +Frigia, 43. +Frigida, 45. +Frjodiger, 46. +Frode, 41, 206-213, 238, 267. +Froste, 71, 240, 241. +Fulla, 97, 136, 153, 187. +Fundin, 71. +Funen, 231. +Fyre, 216. +Fyrisvold, 187, 217. + + +G + +Gaelic, 257. +Gagnrad, 247. +Galar, 160, 161. +Gandolf, 70. +Gandvik, 179. +Gang, 159. +Ganglare, 81. +Ganglate, 92. +Ganglere, 245, 246, 247. +Ganglot, 92. +Gangrad, 58. +Gardarike, 230. +Gardie, de la, 17. +Gardrofa, 99. +Garm, 8, 108, 143. +Gaut, 81. +Gave, 46. +Gefjun, 49, 50, 97, 153, 187, 231, 242. +Gefn, 97. +Gegenwart, Die, 252. +Geibel, Em., 267. +Geir, 46. +Geirabod, 99. +Geirrod, 81, 176-183, 245, 246. +Geir Skogul, 252. +Geirvimul, 106. +Gelgja, 96. +Gelmer, 248. +Gerd, 101-113, 153, 228, 238, 262, 265. +Gere, 105, 261. +Germania (of Tacitus), 244. +Germany, 30, 222, 230, 239, 250-256. +Gersame, 238. +Gertraud, 255. +Gibraltar, 225, 230. +Gill, 250. +Gilling, 161. +Gimle, 9, 54, 77, 78, 147, 247. +Ginnar, 71. +Ginungagap, 5, 56, 57, 58, 61, 72, 243, 247-249. +Gipul, 106. +Gisl, 73, 260. +Gissur, Jarl, 24. +Gjallar-bridge, 135, 249. +Gjallarhorn, 72, 88, 142. +Gjallar-river, 135. +Gjalp, 178, 179, 180, 182. +Gjoll, 56, 96, 248. +Gjuke, 199, 204, 206, 266. +Gjukungs, 193-201. +Glad, 73, 260. +Gladsheim, 28, 69, 259. +Glam, 183. +Glapsvid, 81, 245. +Glaser, 187, 199. +Gleipner, 87, 94. +Glener, 66. +Gler, 73, 260. +Glitner, 77, 89, 90, 259. +Glod, 240. +Gloin, 71. +Glora, 44. +Gna, 98, 99. +Gnipa-cave, 8, 143. +Gnita-heath, 196-200. +God, 33-40, 54. +Godheim, 225, 236. +Goe, 241. +Goin, 75. +Gol, 99. +Golden Age, 69-71. +Goldfax, 169, 176. +Gomul, 106. +Gondler, 81, 245. +Gondul, 252. +Gopul, 106. +Gor, 241. +Got, 246. +Gote, 199. +Gothorm, 198-211. +Gotland, 206. +Goransson, J., 18. +Grabak, 76. +Grad, 106. +Grafvitner, 75. +Grafvollud, 76. +Gram, 199, 200. +Grane, 198. +Grave, 199. +Gray, 16. +Greece and Greeks, 28, 31, 39-43, 222-229, 250. +Greenland, 30. +Greip, 178-183. +Grid, 177. +Gridarvol, 177, 181. +Grim, 81, 245, 246. +Grimhild, 198. +Grimm (Brothers), 244, 253, 258. +Grimner, 81, 244, 245, 247, 248. +Grjottungard, 171, 174. +Groa, 173, 174. +Grotte, 207, 210. +Grottesong, 207, 208. +Guatemala, 88, 244. +Gud, 100. +Gudny, 198. +Gudolf, 45. +Gudrun, 179-203. +Gullinburste, 134. +Gullintanne, 88. +Gulltop, 73, 88, 134, 259. +Gullveig, 252, 265. +Gungner, 142, 189-192. +Gunlad, 160-165. +Gunn, 252. +Gunnar, 198-203. +Gunnthro, 56, 248. +Gunthrain, 106. +Gwodan, 244. +Gylfe, 9, 16, 46, 49, 50, 51, 52, 151, 221, 224, 231, 232, 242. +Gyller, 73, 260. +Gymer, 101, 103, 238. + + +H + +Ha, 218. +Habrok, 108. +Hafthor, 235. +Hakon, 21-24, 236. +Haleygjatal, 47. +Halfdan, 213. +Hallinskide, 88. +Haloge, 240. +Halogeland, 240. +Ham, 35, 36. +Hamder, 202, 206. +Hamskerper, 99. +Hangagod, 81. +Hangatyr, 165. +Haptagod, 81. +Har, 71, 81, 243-246. +Harald Harfager, 51, 243. +Harbard, 245. +Hate, 67. +Haustlong, 184. +Hebrew, 37. +Hedin, 218, 219. +Hedinians, 219. +Heide, 252. +Heidrun, 106. +Heimdal, 6, 8, 88, 89, 134, 142, 143, 153, 232, 259, 260. +Heimer, 204. +Heimskringla, 10, 22, 50, 57, 221, 224, 239, 242, 243, 263. +Hekate, 255. +Hektor, 43, 151, 167, 168. +Hel, 6, 7, 55, 56, 57, 91-96, 133, 135-137, 142, 144, 148, 248, 255, + 264. +Helblinde, 81, 91, 245. +Held, 255. +Helge Hundings-Bane, 248. +Helgeland, 240. +Helmet-bearer, 245. +Henderson, 16. +Hendride, 44. +Hengekjapt, 207. +Hengist, 46, 229. +Hepte, 71. +Herakles, 41. +Heran, 54. +Herbert, 16. +Herfather, 247. +Herfjoter, 99. +Herikon, 43, 221. +Herjan, 54, 81, 245, 247. +Hermanric, 262. +Hermod, 45, 133, 135, 136, 249, 260. +Hero-book, 250. +Herodotos, 22. +Herteit, 81, 245. +Hesse (Rhenish), 255. +Hild, 99, 198, 218, 219, 252. +Hildebrand, Karl, 18. +Hildesvin, 215. +Himminbjorg, 77, 88, 89, 232, 259. +Hindfell, 199. +Hjaddingavig, 219. +Hjalmbore, 81. +Hjalprek, 196. +Hjalte the Valiant, 215. +Hjarrande, 218. +Hjordis, 196. +Hjuke, 66, 250. +Hledjolf, 71. +Hleidre, 212, 214. +Hler, 153, 240, 243. +Hlidskjalf, 64, 77, 101, 137. +Hlin, 98, 145. +Hlodyn, 145. +Hlok, 99. +Hloride, 44. +Hlymdaler, 204. +Hnikar, 54, 81, 245, 247. +Hnikud, 54, 81, 245. +Hnitbjorg, 161, 162. +Hnos, 97, 238. +Hoder, 7, 89, 132, 148, 260, 265. +Hodmimer’s-holt, 149. +Hofvarpner, 99. +Hogne, 198-218. +Holge, 187. +Holzmann, A., 18. +Homer, 222. +Honer, 84, 153, 155, 157, 184-186, 193, 227, 243. +Hor, 71. +Horn, 97. +Hornklofe, 233. +Horsa, 229. +Howitts, the, 16. +Hrasvelg, 79. +Hreidmar, 193-196. +Hrid, 56. +Hrimfaxe, 65. +Hrimgerd, 251. +Hringhorn, 133. +Hrist, 99. +Hrodvitner, 67. +Hrolf, 241. +Hron, 106. +Hroptatyr, 81, 246. +Hrotte, 196. +Hrungner, 7, 169-176, 210. +Hrym, 141-144. +Hvergelmer, 56, 72, 75, 106, 148, 243, 248, 249. +Hvitserk, 215. +Huge, 121, 126. +Hugin, 105. +Hugstare, 71. +Humboldt, 244. +Hymer, 128-133, 167, 186. +Hyndla, 249. +Hyrrokken, 133, 134. + + +I + +Iceland, 240. +Ida, 148. +Idavold, 69. +Ide, 159. +Idun, 6, 7, 10, 28, 87, 88, 153, 155, 157, 184-187, 264. +Iliad, 22, 221, 224. +Ilos, 43. +India, 28, 244. +Irmina, 255. +Ironwood, 57. +Isefjord, 231. +Italy, 42, 222. +Ithaca, 223. +Itrman, 45. +Iva, 182. +Ivalde, 112, 189. + + +J + +Jack, 247, 250. +Jafnhar, 81, 243, 245, 246. +Jalanger, 207. +Jalg, 54. +Jalk, 54, 81, 245-247. +Jamieson, 16. +Japhet, 35. +Jarnsaxa, 173. +Jarnved, 67. +Jarnvidjes, 67. +Jat, 45. +Jerusalem, 225. +Jews, 29. +Johnstown, 232. +Jokul, 240. +Jonaker, 202, 206. +Jonsson (Arngrim), 17. +Jonsson (Th.), 18, 19. +Jord, 65, 100, 174, 175. +Jormungand, 91-96, 144. +Jormunrek, 202-206. +Joruvold, 71. +Jotland, 240. +Jotunheim, 49, 65, 69, 91, 110, 111, 115, 133, 144, 157, 169, 176, 185, + 187, 231, 259. +Juno, 40, 250. +Jupiter, 41, 42. +Jutland, 46, 247. + + +K + +Kadmos, 241. +Kalevala, 84. +Kalmuks, 225. +Kann, 254. +Kare, 240-243. +Kemble, 258. +Kerlangs, 73. +Keyser (Rud.), 18, 19, 20, 23, 25, 26. +Kesfet, 45. +Kile, 71. +Kingsley (Chas.), 230. +Kjalar, 81, 245. +Knue, 211. +Kormt, 73. +Kvaser, 137, 160-165, 227. + + +L + +Laage, 231. +Lading, 93. +Laing (Samuel), 22, 224. +Landvide, 259. +Laomedon, 43. +Latin, 222. +Laufey, 91, 110, 113, 137. +Leidre (See Hleidre), 231. +Leipt, 56, 248. +Lerad, 106, 263. +Letfet, 73, 260. +Liber, 228. +Libera, 228. +Lif, 149. +Lifthraser, 149. +Lit, 71, 134. +Lithraborg, 231. +Ljosalfaheim, 259. +Loder, 243. +Lofn, 98. +Loge, 120, 126, 240, 243. +Logrinn, 49. +Loke, 6-8, 80, 91-96, 109-145, 151, 153, 155-158, 176-187, 188-199, 240, + 260, 261, 264, 265. +Lopt, 91, 186. +Loptsson (Jon), 20. +Lora, 44. +Loricos, 44. +Loride, 44. +Lovar, 71. +Lybia, 230, 242. +Lyngve, 94. + + +M + +Macbeth, 252-265. +Macedonians, 39, 40, 42. +Maelstrom, 208. +Magi, 45. +Magne, 45, 48, 149, 168, 173. +Magnusson (Arne), 17, 18, 23. +Malar, 49, 231, 232. +Mallet, 16, 230. +Manilius, 229. +Mannheim, 225, 236. +Mardol, 97. +Mars, 222. +Mechtild, 255. +Mediterranean Sea, 38. +Megingjarder, 83, 106, 176, 180. +Meile, 174. +Menglad, 260, 262. +Menja, 206-209, 267. +Menon, 44. +Metellus, 223. +Mexican, 244. +Midgard, 5, 62, 63, 67, 109, 128, 145, 259. +Midvitne, 245. +Mimer, 10, 19, 72, 73, 142, 143, 224, 227, 228, 234, 243. +Mist, 99. +Mithridates, 222, 229. +Mjodvitner, 70. +Mjoll, 241. +Mjolner, 6-8, 64, 83, 111-130, 134, 148, 149, 171, 176. +Mjotud, 246. +Möbius (Th.), 18. +Mode, 45, 148, 149, 168. +Modgud, 135, 249. +Modsogner, 70. +Moin, 75. +Mokkerkalfe, 171, 173. +Moldau, 228. +Mongolians, 225. +Moon, 66. +Moongarm, 67. +Morn, 185, 186. +Morris (Wm.), 224, 266. +Müller (Max), 244. +Müller (P. E.), 18, 20. +Mummius, 223. +Munch (P. A.), 18. +Mundilfare, 66. +Munin, 105. +Munon, 44. +Muspel, 68, 103, 112, 142, 144. +Muspelheim, 5, 56, 58, 61, 66, 243, 247, 249, 259. +Muss, 254. +Mysing, 207. + + +N + +Na, 70. +Naglfar, 65, 112, 141, 144. +Nain, 70. +Nal, 91. +Nanna, 81, 134, 136, 153. +Nare, 91, 139. +Narfe, 65, 91, 139. +Nastrand, 9, 147. +Nep, 89, 134. +Neptune, 41. +Niblungs, 101, 193, 199, 201, 202, 262, 263, 266. +Niblung Story, 30, 266, 267. +Nida Mountains, 147. +Nide, 70. +Nidhug, 9, 72, 75, 148, 249. +Niflheim, 5, 56, 58, 72, 92, 243, 247, 249, 259. +Niflhel, 55, 111, 259. +Niflungs, 193-199, 201, 202, 266. +Night,65. +Nikar, 54. +Nikuz, 54. +Nile, 41. +Niping, 70. +Njord, 6, 42, 84, 85, 101, 153, 158, 159, 187, 227, 228, 232, 236, 237, + 239, 259, 260. +Njorvasnud, 225. +Njorve, 225. +Noah, 33, 35, 225. +Noatun, 84, 85, 158, 232, 237, 259. +Non, 106. +Nor, 241. +Nordre, 61, 70. +Norfe, 65. +Norns, 73-78. +Norway, 215, 218, 222, 230, 236, 239, 240, 241, 251, 256, 257. +Not, 106. +Ny, 71. +Nye, 70. +Nyrad, 71. +Nyerup (R.), 18. + + +O + +Oder, 97, 112, 228, 238. +Odin, 5-10, 29, 39, 43, 45-47, 60, 65, 73, 77, 80, 83, 86, 89, 96, 100, + 104-112, 132-134, 137, 142, 143, 145, 153, 155, 157, 158, 160-165, + 168-176, 181, 185, 186, 187, 189-192, 194, 195, 206, 221, 239, 240, + 243-263. +Odinse, 230, 231, 250. +Odinstown, 232. +Odoacer, 223. +Odrarer, 160-165. +Odyssey, 22, 224. +Ofner, 76, 245, 247. +Oin, 70. +Oku-Thor, 82, 151, 167, 168, 209. +Olafsson (Magnus), 17. +Olafsson (Stephan), 17. +Olaf (Thordsson), 9, 20, 22, 23-27. +Olaf (Tryggvason), 261. +Olvalde, 159. +Ome, 54, 81, 245. +Onar, 70. +Orboda, 101. +Ore, 70, 71. +Orestes, 223. +Orkneys, 218. +Ormt, 73. +Orner, 210. +Orvandel, 173-175. +Oske, 54, 81, 245, 247. +Otter, 193. +Ottilia, 255. + + +P + +Paulus (Diakonos), 244. +Persia, 225. +Petersen (N. M.), 248. +Pfeiffer (Fr.), 18. +Pigott, 16. +Pluto, 49. +Poetry (origin of), 161-165. +Polar Sea, 248. +Pompey, 43, 222, 229, 230. +Pontus, 229. +Priamos, 39, 43, 44, 166, 167. +Pyrrhus, 168. + + +Q + +Quaser (see Kvaser). +Quenland, 240. + + +R + +Rachel, 255. +Radgrid, 99. +Redsvid, 71. +Rafn, 215. +Rafnagud, 105. +Ragnar, 206. +Ragnar (Lodbrok), 205. +Ragnarok, 8, 88, 96, 104, 139-145, 167, 219, 228, 247, 249, 264, 266. +Ran, 188. +Randgrid, 99. +Randver, 202-205. +Rask (Rasmus), 18. +Ratatosk, 75. +Rate, 163. +Refil, 196. +Regin, 193-200. +Reginleif, 99. +Reidartyr, 165. +Reidgotaland, 46. +Rek, 71. +Remus, 222, 223. +Resen (P. J.), 17. +Rhine, 201, 230. +Rind, 89, 100. +Ritta, 46. +Roddros, 167. +Rolf Krake, 214-217. +Rogner, 246. +Rome, 31, 43, 221-230. +Romulus, 222, 223. +Romulus (Augustulus), 223. +Roskva, 114, 115. +Rosta, 100. +Rugman (Jon), 17. +Russia, 225, 230. + + +S + +Sad, 81, 245. +Saga, 97, 259. +Sager, 66. +Sahrimner, 104. +Saming, 47, 230, 236. +Samund the Wise, 20, 26. +Sangetal, 81, 245, 247. +Saracens, 225. +Sarmatia, 225. +Saturn, 38, 40, 41, 42. +Saxland, 45, 48, 230, 231. +Saxo-Grammaticus, 239. +Saxons, 215, 229. +Schlegel, 253. +Scotland, 257, 258. +Scott (Walter), 257, 258. +Scythia (Magna), 225, 229, 244. +Seeland, 49, 50, 231, 242. +Sekin, 106. +Sennar, 36. +Serkland, 225. +Sessrymner, 86. +Shakspeare, 252-256. +Shem, 36. +Siar, 71. +Sibyl, 44. +Sid, 106. +Sidhot, 81, 245, 247. +Sidskeg, 81, 245, 247. +Sif, 44, 89, 170, 187, 189-192. +Sigar, 46. +Sigfather, 81, 245, 247. +Sigfrid, 19, 232, 263. +Sigge, 46. +Sighan, 257. +Sighvat, 20. +Sigmund, 196-204. +Sigtuna, 47, 230, 232. +Sigtyr, 165, 189, 247. +Sigurd, 196-204, 262, 267. +Sigyn, 139, 153, 185. +Silvertop, 73, 260. +Simrock (K.), 18, 19, 253, 263. +Simul, 66. +Sindre, 147, 190-192. +Siner, 73, 260. +Sinfjotle, 204. +Sjafne, 98. +Sjofn, 98. +Skade, 84, 85, 139, 158, 159, 185, 187, 228, 236, 259. +Skeggold, 99. +Skeidbrimer, 73, 200. +Skidbladner, 108-113, 189-192, 234, 263. +Skifid, 71. +Skilfing, 81, 246, 247. +Skinfaxe, 66. +Skirfir, 71. +Skirner, 94, 101-103, 143, 263. +Skjaldun, 45. +Skjold, 45, 46, 206, 230, 231. +Skogul, 99, 252. +Skol, 67. +Skrymer, 116-127. +Skuld, 74, 100, 243, 252, 256. +Skule (Jarl), 21-24, 249. +Sleeping Beauty, 254. +Sleipner, 73, 108-112, 133, 169-176, 259. +Slid, 56, 248. +Slidrugtanne, 134. +Sna, 241. +Snorre, 9, 19-27, 221, 226, 233, 239, 242, 243. +Snotra, 98. +Sokmimer, 245. +Sokvabek, 97, 259. +Sol, 99. +Solvarg, 67. +Son, 164, 165. +Sorle, 202-206 +Spain, 225. +Steinthor, 235. +Stephens (Geo.), 230. +Strabo, 226. +Sturle (Thordsson), 21, 249. +Styx, 248. +Sudre, 61, 70. +Sun, 66. +Surt, 8, 57, 78, 142-149, 168, 249. +Suttung, 164, 165. +Svade, 241. +Svadilfare, 110, 111. +Svafner, 76, 243, 246, 247. +Svanhild, 199-206. +Svarin, 71, 259. +Svartalfaheim, 94. +Svarthofde, 58, 250. +Svasud, 80. +Sveinsson (Br.), 17. +Sviagris, 215, 217. +Svid, 246. +Svidar, 54. +Svidr, 236. +Svidrer, 54, 245. +Svidrir, 81. +Svidur, 245. +Svipdag, 46, 215, 262. +Svipol, 81, 245. +Svithjod, 46, 49, 181, 207, 211, 225, 228, 236. +Svebdegg, 46. +Svol, 56, 106, 248. +Svolne, 174. +Sylg, 56, 248. +Syn, 98. +Syr, 97. + + +T + +Tacitus, 244. +Tanais, 225. +Tanaquisl, 225, 226. +Tangnjost, 83. +Tangrisner, 83. +Tartareans, 225. +Taylor (W.), 16. +Testament (New), 28. +Testament (Old), 28. +Teutons, 222-224, 229, 230, 239, 244, 253, 263, 264. +Thek, 71, 81, 245. +Thjalfe, 114, 115, 120, 121, 126, 171, 173, 181. +Thjasse, 84, 85, 155-158, 184-187, 210. +Thjode, 196. +Thjodnuma, 106. +Thjodolf, 51, 174, 184, 243. +Thok, 136, 137, 264. +Thol, 106. +Thor, 6, 8, 29, 41, 44, 65, 73, 82, 83, 89, 100, 109-153, 165-192, + 205-243, 251, 259, 260, 263. +Thorarin, 235. +Thord, 20. +Thorer, 235. +Thorin, 70. +Thorleif, 176, 184, 187. +Thorn, 179. +Thorodd (Runemaster), 27. +Thorpe (Benjamin), 15, 252, 257, 259, 262. +Thorre, 241. +Thorstein (Viking’s son), 241. +Thrace, 44, 221. +Thride, 81, 243-246. +Thro, 71, 81. +Throin, 71. +Thror, 245. +Thrud, 99. +Thruda, 183. +Thrudgelmer, 250. +Thrudheim, 44, 259. +Thrudvang, 82, 127, 173, 232, 259. +Thrym, 7. +Thrymheim, 84, 85, 156, 259. +Thucydides, 22. +Thud, 81, 245. +Thul, 56. +Thule, 30. +Thund, 81, 246. +Thvite, 96. +Thyn, 106. +Tiber, 221. +Tieck, 250. +Tivisco, 244. +Tom Thumb, 251. +Torfason (T.), 17. +Tror, 44. +Tros, 43. +Troy, 38, 43, 44, 47, 64, 151, 166, 167, 168, 222-224, 229. +Tshudic, 240. +Turkey, 38, 45, 47, 151, 166. +Turkistan, 228, 229. +Turkland, 229. +Tyr, 6, 8, 29, 87, 92, 95, 143, 153, 165, 187, 244, 260. + + +U + +Ud, 81, 245. +Uhland (Ludw.), 18, 263. +Ukko, 82, 84, 239. +Ukko-Thor, 239. +Ulfhedinn, 233. +Uller, 89, 153, 174, 183, 259, 260. +Ulysses, 151, 223. +Umea, 250. +Upsala, 47, 215, 216, 232, 237. +Ural Mountains, 229. +Urd, 10, 19, 73, 74, 76, 243, 252-256. +Utgard, 118-127. +Utgard-Loke, 119-130. + + +V + +Vafthrudner, 58, 243, 244. +Vafud, 81, 246. +Vafurloge, 199, 200. +Vag, 214, 215. +Vainamoinen, 84. +Vak, 81, 246. +Valaskjalf, 77, 80, 259. +Valdemar (King), 23, 27. +Vale, 71, 89, 100, 139, 148, 153, 260. +Valfather, 73, 243. +Valhal, 6, 7, 28, 51, 81, 99, 104-109, 132, 170-176, 188, 235, 243. +Vanadis, 97. +Vanaheim, 226, 227, 259. +Vanaland, 226-228. +Vanaquisl, 225-226. +Var, 98. +Vartare, 192. +Vasad, 80. +Ve, 60, 227, 230, 243, 249. +Vedas, 253. +Vedfolner, 75. +Veggdegg, 45. +Vegsvin, 106. +Vegtam, 247, 264. +Venus, 42, 256. +Veratyr, 81, 247. +Verdande, 74, 243, 252, 256. +Verer, 46. +Vesete, 240. +Vestfal, 46. +Vestre, 61. +Vid, 56, 106. +Vidar, 8, 89, 143, 145, 148, 153, 168, 177, 187, 259, 260. +Vidblain, 78. +Vidfin, 66. +Vidolf, 58, 250. +Vidrer, 54, 247. +Vidsete, 215. +Vidur, 81. +Vifil, 240. +Vifilsey, 240. +Vig, 70. +Vigfusson (G.), 9, 26, 75, 223, 248, 265. +Vigrid, 142, 146. +Viking, 240. +Vile, 60, 230, 243, 249, 277. +Villenwood, 251. +Vilmeide, 58, 250. +Vimer, 177, 178. +Vin, 106. +Vina, 106. +Vindalf, 70. +Vindlone, 80. +Vindsval, 80. +Vingener, 45, 149. +Vingethor, 44. +Vingolf, 54, 69, 81, 247. +Vinland, 30. +Virfir, 71. +Virgil, 222, 223, 242. +Vit, 71. +Vitrgils, 46. +Vodin, 45. +Vog, 214, 215. +Volsungs, 46, 196-205. +Volsung saga, 224, 266. +Volukrontes, 167. +Von, 96. +Vor, 98. +Vot, 215. +Votan, 244. + + +W + +Wafurloge, 263. +Wainamoinen, 239. +Wallachia, 228. +Warburton, 253. +Weird Sisters, 253-256. +Welsh, 240. +Wenern, 215. +Wessebrun Prayer, 256. +Wilbet, 255. +Wilkin (E.), 18, 19, 20. +Williamstown, 232. +Witches, 253-256. +Wodan, 244. +Worbet, 255. +Worm (Chr.), 17. +Worm (Ole), 17. + + +Y + +Ydaler, 259. +Yg, 81, 246. +Ygdrasil, 6, 8, 15, 29, 72, 73-78, 108, 142, 143, 252, 263. +Ylg, 56, 248. +Ymer, 5, 24, 58-63, 70, 128, 179, 240, 249, 250. +Ynglinga saga, 50, 243. +Ynglings, 47, 238. +Yngve, 47, 230, 238. +Yngve-Frey, 186. +Yrsa, 213-216. +Yvigg, 46. + + +Z + +Zalmoxis, 244. +Zeus, 244, 246. +Zoroaster, 37, 40. + + * * * * * + * * * * + * * * * * + +Errors and anomalies noted by transcriber: + +A few paragraph-ending periods (full stops) have been supplied. + +The author omitted vowel modifiers and diacritics from all names in +the body text: Hakon, Malar, Mjolnir. The footnotes are generally more +linguistically precise. + +The name “Svanhild/Swanhild” is spelled “Swanhild” in the body text, +“Svanhild” in the Vocabulary (all occurrences) and Index. The spelling +“skees” is used consistently. + + +Ambiguous stanzas in verse: + The king saw + ... + ’Round his house. + ... + Struck to the ground. + ... + With blows and wounds. + _page break after “his house”; no stanza break in printed text until + after “blows and wounds”_ + + +Typographical errors (all from “Notes”, Vocabulary and Index): + +a great sea goes into / Njorvasound +Footnote 102: Njorvasound ... + _spelling as in original: should probably be “Njorvasund”_ + +Chapter VI of Ynglinga / Saga + _text reads “Ynglingla”_ + +the much-traveled man, the / ἀνὴρ πολύτροπος + _text reads “πολύθροπος”_ + +the valkyrie says / at berserkja reiðu vil ek þik spyrja + _text reads “pik spyrja”_ + +identical in root with Lat. _divus_; / Sansk. _dwas_ + _so in original; the Sanskrit is usually given as “dyaus”_ + +Zalmoxis, derived from the Gr. Ζαλμός, helmet + _so in original. Ζαλμός is defined by Liddell and Scott-- + a dictionary available to the author-- as Thracian for “a skin.”_ + +Compare the Greek word νεφέλη = mist. + _text reads “νεφέλγ”_ + +and then cooly says to him + _spelling as in original_ + +Through this he / slipt. + _variant spelling in original_ + +He impersonated all that was good and holy + _text reads “al”_ + +This chapter of _Skaldskaparmal_ + _text reads “Skaldkaparmal”_ + +Echoes from Mistland; Echoes from Mist-Land + _inconsistent forms in original_ + +JARNVIDJES. The giantesses dwelling in Ironwood. + _text reads “JARNVIDJIS”_ + +JORMUNGAND. The Midgard-serpent. + _text reads “JORMUNDGAND”_ + +... from the mouth {of the} chained Fenris-wolf. +... out of whose body the world was cr{eated.} + _page image incomplete; words and letters in braces supplied from + context_ + +Randver, 202-205. + _text reads “22-205”_ + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 18947 *** |