The Prophetess, having imposed silence on all intellectual beings, declares that she is going to reveal the decrees of the Father of Nature, the actions and operations of the gods, which no person ever knew before herself. She then begins with a description of the chaos; and proceeds to the formation of the world, and of that of its various species of inhabitants, giants, men, and dwarfs. She then explains the employments of the fairies, or destinies; the functions of the gods; their most remarkable adventures; their quarrels with Loke, and the vengeance that ensued. At last she concludes with a long description of the final state of the universe, its dissolution and conflagration; the battle of the inferior deities and the evil beings; the renovation of the world; the happy lot of the good, and the punishment of the wicked— The text is taken from the edition of the Edda just published in Stockholm.

Give silence, all Ye sacred race. Both great and small, Of Heimdal sprung: Vol-father's deeds I will relate, The ancient tales Which first I learned. I know giants Early born, My ancestors Of former times; Nine worlds I know, With their nine poles Of tender wood, Beneath the earth. In early times, When Ymer lived, Was sand, nor sea, Nor cooling wave; No earth was found, Nor heaven above; One chaos all, And nowhere grass: Until Bor's sons Th' expanse did raise, By whom Midgard The great was made. From th' south the sun Shone on the walls; Then did the earth Green herbs produce. The sun turned south, The moon did shine; Her right hand held The horse of heaven. The sun knew not His proper sphere; The stars knew not Their proper place; The moon knew not Her proper power. Then all the powers Went to the throne, The holy gods, And held consult: Night and cock-crowing Their names they gave, Morning also, And noon-day tide, And afternoon, The years to tell. The Asas met On Ida's plains, Who altars raised And temples built; Anvils they laid, And money coined; Their strength they tried In various ways, When making songs, And forming tools. On th' green they played In joyful mood, Nor knew at all The want of gold, Until there came Three Thursa maids, Exceeding strong, From Jotunheim: *   *   * Until there came Out of the ranks, Powerful and fair, Three Asas home, And found on shore, In helpless plight, Ask and Embla Without their fate. They had not yet Spirit or mind, Blood, or beauty, Or lovely hue. Odin gave spirit, Heinir gave mind, Lothur gave blood And lovely hue. I know an ash, Named Ygg-drasill, A stately tree, With white dust strewed. Thence come the dews That wet the dales; It stands aye green O'er Urda's well. Thence come the maids Who much do know; Three from the hall Beneatli the tree; One they named Was, And Being next, The third, Shall be, On the shield they cut. She sat without When th' Ancient came, The awful god, And viewed his eye. What ask ye me? Why tempt ye me? Full well I know, Great Odin, where Thine eye thou lost; In Mimi's well, The fountain pure, Mead Mimir drinks Each morning new, With Odin's pledge. Conceive ye this? To her the god Of battles gave Both costly rings And shining gold, The art of wealth, And witchcraft wise, By which she saw Through every world. She saw Valkyries Come from afar, Ready to ride To th' tribes of god; Skuld held the shield, Skaugul came next, Gunnr, Hildr, Gaundul, And Geir-skaugul. Thus now are told The Warrior's Norns, Ready to ride The Valkyries. Heith she was named Where'er she came; The prophetess Of cunning arts. She knew right well Bad luck to seethe, And mischief was Her only sport. She murder saw, The first that e'er Was in the world, When Gullveig was Placed on the spear, When in Harr's hall They did her burn: Thrice she was burnt, Thrice she was born, Oft, not seldom, And yet she lives. When all the powers Went to the throne, The holy gods, And held consult: What punishment They should inflict On th' Asas now For bad advice; Or whether all The gods should hold Convivial feasts : Were broken now The castle-walls Of Asaborg, By murderous Vanes Who took the field: Forth Odin flew And shot around: This murder was The first that e'er Was in the world. When all the powers Went to the throne, The holy gods, And held consult: Who had the air Involved in flames, Or Odder's maid To giants given: There Thor alone Was in ill mood; He seldom sits When told the like; Broken were oaths And promises And all contracts That had been made. She knows where hid Lies Heimdal's horn, Full deep beneath The sacred tree: She sees a flood Rush down the fall From Odin's pledge: Conceive ye yet ?        *     *    * The sun turns pale; The spacious earth The sea ingulfs; From heaven fall The lucid stars: At the end of time, The vapors rage, And playful flames Involve the skies. She sees arise, The second time, From th' sea, the earth Completely green: Cascades do fall; The eagle soars, That on the hills Pursues his prey. The gods convene On Ida's plains, And talk of man, The worm of dust: They call to mind Their former might, And th' ancient runes Of Fimbultyr. The fields unsown Shall yield their growth; All ills shall cease; Balder shall come, And dwell with Hauthr In Hropt's abodes. Say, warrior-gods, Conceive ye yet? A hall she sees Outshine the sun, Of gold its roof, It stands in heaven: The virtuous there Shall always dwell, And evermore Delights enjoy.