Völuspá Codex Regius version

The Manuscript Texts of Völuspá I. Codex Regius: The King's Book The Völuspá Study Guide
	The poem we know today as Völuspá is actually a combination of two different versions of the same poem found in two separate manuscripts: Codex Regius and Hauksbók. While many verses of the two poems are identical, both manuscripts contain unique lines and verses, and arrange the existing verses in different manners. The combined text is then further refined using variant versions of the verses cited by Snorri Sturluson in his Edda. The translations of Voluspa available today are all of this blended nature. Thus the English reader is denied a true picture of what the actual manuscript versions of this important poem look like. This is an attempt to remedy that. This is the Codex Regius Manuscript See Also: Hauksbók Icelandic Text from Jormungrund English Translation modified from that of Benjamin Thorpe 1865 Text in red indicates significant variants from the Hauksbok version
	1. Hliods bið ec allar kindir meiri & miNi mavgo heimdalar vildo at ec ualfa/þ^r uel fyr telia forn spioll fíra þa/ e^r fremst u^m man.	1. A hearing I pray all kind, great and small, sons of Heimdall they will that I Valfather´s [Odin's] deeds recount, men´s ancient saws, those that I best remember.
	2. Ec man iotna ár um borna þa e^r fordo^m mic fodda hofdo nio man æc hei^ma nío iviþi^ur miot uið moraN f^yr mold neðan. *2/6: The reading íviði ['in the wood'] is erroneous, as proven by an x-ray scan of the document.	2. I remember Jötuns early born, those who have reared me of old I remember nine worlds nine wood-ogresses, the great measuring tree, beneath the earth.
	3. Ar uar alda þa^r er ym^ir bygði vara sandr ne ser ne sualar uN^ir iorð faNz eva ne up^p himⁱⁿ gap uar giNvnga eN gras hv^ergi.	3. When time was young, where Ymir dwelt, was no sand, no sea, nor cool waves; earth existed not, nor heaven above, A gap was gaping, and grass nowhere.
	4. Adr bvrs syn^ir bioðo^m u^m ypðo þ^eir er mið garð moran scopo. sol scein suNan a salar steina þa var grvnd groin grono^m lauki.	4. Before Bur´s sons raised up heaven´s vault, they who the noble Midgard shaped. The sun shone from the south over the hall's stones: then was the ground grown with green leeks.
	5. Sol varp svNan siNi mana hendi iNi hogri v^m himⁱⁿ iodyr sol þ^at ne uiSi huar hoⁿ sali at^ti stiornor þ^at ne viSo hvar þer staði atto mani þ^at ne vissi h^vat h^ann megins atti.	5. The sun from the south, the moon´s companion, her right hand cast about the heavenly horse-deer;* The sun did not know what halls she possessed. The stars did not know where they had a station. The moon did not know what power he possessed. The reading himin-jöðurr, "edge of heaven",* is conjectural, based on compounding the readings himinn from K and iodur from H, which is understood as a variant of iaðarr, “edge, rim”.
	6. Þa gengo regin oll ara/k stola giNheilog god & v^m þ^at gettuz not^t & niþio^m na/fn v^m gafo morgin heto & miðian dag vndorn & aptan árom at telia.	6. Then went all the powers went to their judgment seats, the all-holy gods, and thereon held council: to night and waning moon gave names; morn they named, and mid-day, afternoon and eve, to reckon years.
	7. Hittoz æsir a ida uelli þ^eir e^r ha/rg & hof hatimbroðo. afla la/gðo a/ð smiðoþo tang^ir scopo & tól gorðo.	7. The Æsir met on Ida’s plain; they built altars and high temples, furnaces established, precious things forged, shaped tongs, and made tools;
	8. Teflðo itvni teít^ir voro v^ar þei^m vettergis vant or gulli. vNz iii. q^vomo þursa meyiar amatkar mioc or iotvn heimo^m.	8. at tables played at home; joyous they were; to them was naught want of gold, until three came thurs- maidens, all powerful, from Jötunheim.
	9. Þa g. r. a. ar. hv^err scyldi duerga drotin scepia or b^rimis bloði & or blam leGio^m.	9. Then all the powers went to the judgement seats... Who of the dwarves should create men from the blood of Brimir and blue limbs (or: bones)
	10. Þar motsogn^ir moztr v^m orðinⁿ dv^erga allra eN dvriN aNar þ^eir manlicon morg v^m gorðo dv^ergar or iorðo sem duriN sagdi.	10. There Mótsognir the most esteemed of all the dwarves, but Durinn the second. human forms they made many dwarves out of the earth as Durinn commanded.
	11. Nyi & niþi norðri & suðri a/stri & uestri alþiofr dvaliN. biva/R bava/R ba/mbuR nori án & ánaR ai mioðvitn^ir.	11. Nýi and Nidi, Nordri and Sudri, Asutri and Vestri, Althiöf, Dvalin Bivör, Bavör, Bömbur, Nori, An and Anar, Ai, Miödvitnir,
	12. Veigr & gandalfr vindalfr þraiN þeccr & þoriN þror vitr & litr nár & nyraþ^r nú hefi ec dv^erga regiN & raðsuidr rett u^m talþa.	12. Veig and Gandálf, Vindálf Thrain, Thekkr and Thorin, Thror, Vitr, and Litr, Nýr and Nýrád, Now have I dwarves Regin and Rádsvid. tallied up right.
	13. Fili kili fvndiN. náli. hepti. vili. hanaR svioR. frar hornbori fregr & loni a/rvangr. iari eikinscialdi.	13. Fili, Kili, Fundin, Nali, Hepti, Vili, Hanar, Sviðr, Frár, Fornbogi, Fræg and Lóni, Aurvang, Iari, Eikinskialdi.
	14. Mal e^r dv^erga idvaliNs liði liona kindo^m t^il lofars telia. þ^eir e^r sotto fra salar stæini a/rvanga sia/tt t^il ioro valla.	14. Speak of the dwarves in Dvalin´s band, to the sons of men, up to Lofar to reckon, those who came forth from the stone halls, earth´s foundation, to Iora´s plains.
	15. Þar v^ar dra/pn^ir & dolgþrasir hár ha/g spori hlevangr gloi scirv^ir. virvir. scafiþ^r. ai. alfr & yngvi eikinscialdi. fialaR & frostri fiNr & giNaR.	15. There were Draupnir, and Dólgthrasir, Hár, Haugspori, Hlævang, Glóin, Skirvir, Virvir, Skafid, Ai, Alf and Yngvi, Eikinskialdi, Fjalar and Frosti Finr and Ginar
	16. Þat man vppi meðan olld lif^ir langniðia tal lofars hafat.	16. That above shall, while mortals live, be counted, the progeny of Lofar,
	17. Vnz þriár q^uomo or þvi liþi a/flgir oc astgir esir at hvsi. fvndo alandi lit^t megandi asc & emblo orla/gla/sa.	17. Until three came out of that company mighty and benevolent Æsir to the house. They found on land, with little strength, Ask and Embla, örlog (destiny)-less.
	18. ond þau ne attu oð þau ne hofðu laa ne læti ne litv goða. Ond gaf oðinⁿ od gaf hen^ir laa gaf loðvR ok litv goða.	18. önd (spirit/breath) they did not possess, óðr (mind, inspiration) they did not have, blood nor motive powers, nor good colour. Önd gave Odin, óðr gave Hoenir, blood gave Lodur, and good color.
	19. Asc ueit ec standa heit^ir yGdrasill* hárbaðmr ausiN huíta aúri. þ^aðan coma da/Gvar þers idala falla stendr e yf^ir groN vrðar brvNi. In Snorri's Edda, Codex Regius mss. [r], Gylfaginning* 16, reads "heitir Yggdrasils"	19. I know an ash standing named Yggdrasil, a high tree, laved with white mud: thence come the dews that fall into dales stands ever green Urd´s fountain.
	20. Þaðan co^ma meyiar margs uitandi þriar or þei^m se er und þolli stendr vrð héto eina aðra v^erþandi scáro asciði scvld ena þriðio. Þer la/g la/gðo þer líf kvro alda bornom órla/g seGia.	20. Thence come maidens, much knowing, three from the sea, which under tree stands; Urd hight one, the second Verdandi, - on a tablet they graved - Skuld the third. they laid down laws, they allotted life human born; örlog (destiny) pronounced.
	21. Þa^t man hoⁿ folc uíg fyrst ihe^imi er gvll ueigo geiro^m stvddv & iha/ll hárs h^aná brendo. Þrysvar brendo þrysvar borna opt osialdan þo hoⁿ eN lif^ir.	21. She remembers that folk-war, the first in the world, when Gullveig was studded with spears, and in the High One´s hall burnt her, thrice burnt, thrice born, often not seldom; yet she still lives.
	22. Heidi hána heto hvars t^il hvsa co^m uólo vel spá uitti hoⁿ ganda seiþ hoⁿ kvNi seiþ hoⁿ leikiN e var hoⁿ angan illrar þioðar.	22. Heid they called her, to whatever house she came, the well-foreseeing Vala: she enchanted gandr* sorcery she knew, sorcery she played; she was ever the "sweet scent" of evil people. *a wand or other magical object; a wolf or monster.
	23. Þa g. r. a. a. huart scyldo esir afrað gialda eþ^a scyldo goðin a/ll gildi eiga.	23. Then all the powers went to their judgment-seats, the high-holy gods And thereon held counsel; whether the Æsir should pay a fine, or all the gods pay tribute.
	24. Fleygði oðiN & ifolc u^m scá/t þ^at var eN folc vig fyrst ihe^imi. brotiN var borð uegr borgar asa knatto van^ir uigspá uollo sporna.	24. Odin cast (his spear), and shot into the people that was the folk-war first in the world. Broken was the board wall of the Æsir´s burgh. The Vanir, prophetic in war, tramp the plains.
	25. Þa g. r. a. hv^erir hefði lopt alt levi blandit eþ^a et^t iotvns oþs mey gefna.	25. Then all the powers went to their judgment-seats, the high-holy gods and thereon held council: who had mingled all the air with evil? or to the Jötun race had given Od´s maid [Freyja]?
	26. Þor^r eiN þar v^ar þ^rungin móði haⁿⁿ sialdan sitr e^r haⁿⁿ slict v^m fregn agengoz eiðar orð & seri mál a/ll megin lig er amedal fóro.	22. Thor was there alone swollen with anger. He seldom sits, when he hears of the like. Oaths are not held sacred; nor words, nor swearing, nor binding compacts reciprocally made.
	27. Veit hoⁿ hei^mdalar hlioð v^m folgit und^ir heiðvono^m helgom baðmi. á sér hoⁿ a/saz a/rgo^m forsi af ueði val fa/drs uitoþ e^r eⁿ e. h^vat.	27. She knows that Heimdall’s hearing is hidden under the heaven-bright holy tree. A river she sees flow, with foamy falls, from Valfather’s pledge. Know ye yet, or what?
	28. Eín sat hoⁿ úti þa e^r iN aldni co^m yGióngr asa & ia/go leit. hv^ers fregnit mic hvi freistiþ miⁿ alt ueit ec oðiN hvar þv a/ga falt ieno^m mera mimis b^ruNi dreckr mióð mim^ir morgin hv^erian af veþi v. v. e. e. h.	28. Alone she sat without, when came that ancient dread Æsir´s prince; and in his eyes she gazed. “Of what wouldst thou ask me? Odin! I know all, where thou thine eye didst sink in the pure well of Mim.” Mim drinks mead each morn from Valfather’s pledge. Know ye yet, or what?
	29. Valþi h^enne herfa/ðr h^ringa & men fe spioll spaclig & spa ganda sa hoⁿ uit^t & v^m vit^t of v^erold hv^eria.	29. The Host-father gave to her rings and a necklace, useful discourse, and a divining spirit: she saw wide and far over every world.
	30. Sa hoⁿ valkyrior vít^t v^m komnar ga/rvar at riða t^il goðþioðar. scvld helt scildi enⁿ sca/gul a/Nor gvNr. hildr ga/ndul & geir sca/gul. nv ero talþar na/Nor h^erians gorvar at ríþa grvnd valkyrior.	30. She saw Valkyriur coming from afar , ready to ride to the gods’ people: Skuld held a shield, and Skögul another. Gunn, Hild, Göndul, and Geirskögul. Now are tallied Herian´s maidens, ready to ride over the earth the Valkyriur.
	31. Ec sa baldri blodgo^m tivor odins barni or log folgiN stóð v^m vaxiN vollo heri miór & mioc fagr mistilteiN.	31. I saw Baldr, the bloody god's, Odin’s son, hidden fate. stand grown high on the plain, slender and very fair, mistletoe.
	32. Varð af þei^m meiði e^r m^er syndiz harmfla/g hettlig ha/þr na^m scióta. baldrs broðir vár of boriN snem^ma sa na^m oþiⁿs sónr ein nettr vega.	32. Of that shrub became, it seems to me, a deadly dart. Hödr took the shot; Baldur's brother was born quickly so Odin's son one night old began to fight.
	33. Þo h^ann eva hendr ne ha/f^uþ kembþi aþ^r a bál v^m bar baldrs andscota. en friG u^m grét ifensa/lo^m ua val hallar v. e. e. e. h.	33. He never washed hands nor combed head till he bore to the bale Baldur's adversary— When Frigg cried in Fensalir for Valhall's woe. Know ye yet, or what?
	34. Hapt sa hoⁿ liGia und^ir hv^era lundi le giarn lici loca aþeckian. þar sitr sigyn þeygi v^m sino^m ver velglyioð v. þ. e. h.	34. Bound she saw lying, under Hvera-lund (Kettle-grove), a monstrous form, like unto Loki. There sits Sigyn, for her husband's sake, not right glad. Know ye yet, or what?
	35. A fellr a/stan u^m eitr dala sa/xo^m & sv^erþo^m sliþ^r heit^ir sv.	35. A river east, through venom dales, with knives and swords, Slid is its name.
	36. stod fyr norðan aniþa vollo^m salr or gv^lli sindra ettar. enⁿ aNaR stoð a okolni bior salr iotvns eⁿ sa b^rim^ir heit^ir.	36. Stood facing north on Niði's plains halls of gold Sindri's clans'; And another stood on Okolnir (Not-Cold) the giant's beer-hall and so called Brimir.
	37. Sal sa hoⁿ standa solo fiáRi na strondo a norþ^r horfa dyR fello eitr dropar iN v^m lióra sa e^r undiN salr orma hryGio^m.	37. She saw a hall standing, far from the sun, on Náströnd (Corpse-beach); its doors face northward, venom-drops fall in through apertures: So that hall is woven of serpent’s backs.
	38. Sa hoⁿ þar vaþa þvnga stra/ma m^enn meinsvara & morð vargar. & þaNz aNars glepr eyra rúno þar súg niþ ha/Gr nái f^ram gengna sleit vargr v^era v. e. e. e. h.	38. There she saw wade sluggish streams bloodthirsty men and perjurers, and him who begiles the ear of another’s wife. There Nidhögg sucks the corpses of the dead; the wolf tears men. Know ye yet, or what?
	39. Avstr sát in aldna i iarn uiþi & foddi þar fenris kind^ir. v^erþr af þei^m a/llo^m eiNa noccor^r tvngls tivgari itrollz hami.	39. East sat the crone, in Ironwood, and bore there Fenrir´s progeny: of them all one especially shall be the moon’s devourer, in a troll’s guise.
	40. Fylliz fiorvi feig^ra m^anna ryþ^r ragna siót ra/ðo^m dreyra svart v^ar þa sol scín of svmor ept^ir veþ^r oll valynd v. e. h.	40. Sated with the last fated breath; the gods’ seat he defiles with red blood: swart was the sunshine then for summers after; weather all wicked. Know ye yet, or what?
	41. Sat þar a ha/gi & sló ha/rpo gygiar hirþ^ir gladr eGþér. gól v^m hano^m igagl viþi fagr ra/dr háni sa e^r fialaR heit^ir.	41. Sat there on a mound, and striking a harp, the giantess’s herder, the joyous Egthir; over him crowed, in the gosling-wood, the bright red cock, so named Fjalar.
	42. Gól u^m áso^m gullinca^mbi sa uecr ha/lþa at hiarar at h^eriafa/drs. eN aNaR gelr f^yr iorð neðan sót rá/þr háni at sa/lom heliar.	42. Crows over the Æsir Gullinkambi (Gold-comb), which wakens heroes at Host-father's; but another crows down below earth, a soot-red cock, in the halls of Hel.
	43. Geyr garmr mioc f^yr gnipa helli festr mvn slitna eN freki reNa fiolþ veit hoⁿ froða fram se ec leng^ra v^m ragna ra/c ra/m sigtyva.	43. Loud bays Garm before the Gnipa-cave, his bonds he rends asunder; and the wolf runs. Further forward I see, much can I say of Ragnarök and the gods´conflict.
	44. Broþr mvno b^eriaz & at ba/no^m v^erþa mvno systrvngar sifio^m spilla hárt e^r i he^imi hór domr micill sceGa/ld scalm a/ld scild^ir ro klofn^ir viⁿda/ld varga/ld aþ^r v^erold steypiz mvⁿ engi maþ^r oðro^m þyrma.	44. Brothers shall fight, and slay each other; sisters’ children shall violate kinship; Hard is the world much whoredom an axe age, a sword age Shields are cloven. A wind age, a wolf age, before the world sinks. no man will spare another.
	45. Leica mims syn^ir eN miotvðr kyndiz at en galla giallar horni hat^t ble^ss heimdallr horn e^r alopti melir oðiN við mims ha/f^uþ	45. Mim’s sons play, and the fate-tree kindles at the resounding Gjallar-horn. Hard blows Heimdall, his horn is aloft; Odin speaks with Mim’s head.
	46. ymr iþ aldna tre eN iótvN losnar scelfr yGdrasils ascr standandi.	46. groans that aged tree, and the jötun is loosed. Trembles Yggdrasil’s ash yet standing;
	47. Geyr nv g.	47. Bays Garm now.
	48. Hrymr ekr a/stan hefiz lind f^yr snyz iormvngandr i iotvn moði. ormr knyr vN^ir eN ari hlaccar slitr nai nef fa/lr nagl far losnar.	48. Hrym steers from the east, his shield raised in front, Jormungandr is coiled in jötun-rage. The worm beats the waves, and the eagle screams: pale-beak tears carcasses; Naglfar is loosed.
	49. Kioll feR a/stan koma mvno mvspellz vm la/g lyd^ir eN loki styr^ir fara fifls meg^ir m^eþ freka all^ir þei^m er brod^ir by leipz ifór.	49. The ship fares from the east: Muspell’s men will come over the waves, and Loki steers. Fifel's kin fares all with Freki; in their company is the brother of Byleist.
	50. Hvat er m^eþ aso^m hvat e^r m^eþ alfo^m gnyr allr iotvn hei^mr esir ro aþingi stynia dv^ergar f^yr stein dvro^m veG b^ergs visir v. e. e. h.	50. How is it with the Æsir? How with the Alfar? All Jötunheim roars; the Æsir are in council. The dwarfs groan before stone doors, the wise ones of the rock-wall. Know ye yet, or what?
	51. Surtr feR svNan m^eþ sviga lefi sciN af sv^erþi sol valtífa. griot biorg gnata eN gífr rata troþa halir helveg en himⁱⁿ clofn^ar.	51. Surt fares from the south with the bane of branches; shines from the sword the Val-god’s (or Valgods') sun The stony hills gnash, gifur totter; men tread the Hel-way, and heaven is cloven.
	52. Þa co^mr hlinar harmr aNaR f^ram er oðiN feR við ulf vega en bani belia biartr at surti þa mvn f^riGiar fa^lla angan tyr.	52. Then comes Hlin´s second grief, when Odin goes to fight with the wolf, and the bright slayer of Beli with Surt. Then will Frigg´s 'sweet scent' god fall.
	53. Þa ko^mr iN micli ma/gr sigfa/d^ur víðar vega at val dyri. letr h^ann megi hvedrvngs mvnd v^m standa hiór t^il hiarta þa e^r hefnt fa/d^ur.	53. Then comes the great Victory-father's son, Vidar, to fight with the deadly beast. In the mouth of Hvethrung's [Loki's] son, he made stand a sword in the heart; Then he avenges his father.
	54. Þa ko^mr iN mori ma/gr hlodyniar geⁿg^r oþins soⁿr vid ulf vega drepr h^ann af moþi miðgarz ueor mvno halir allir hei^m stod ryþia gengr fet nío fiorgyniar bvR neppr f^ra naðri niðs oqviðno^m.	54. Then comes the mighty son of Hlódyn: Odin’s son goes to fight with the wolf; in his rage will slay the worm. Midgárd´s Veor All men will abandon their homes. Nine feet will go Fiörgyn´s son, bowed by the serpent, who feared no foe.
	55. Sol ter sortna sigr fold imar hv^erfa af hi^mni heiðar stiornor. geisar eími viþ aldr nara leicr har hiti uið himⁱⁿ sialfan.	55. Sun turns dark, earth sinks in sea, hurl from heaven the bright stars, fire´s breath assails the all-nourishing tree, high flames play against heaven itself.
	56. Geyr n.	56. Bays now ....
	57. Ser hoⁿ up^p koma a/ðro siNi iorð or egi iþia grona fa^lla forsar flygr a/rn yf^ir sa er afialli fisca ueiðir.	57. She sees arise, a second time, earth from ocean, beauteously green, waterfalls descending; the eagle flying over, which in the fell captures fish.
	58. FiNaz esir aiþa velli & v^m mold þinvr matkaN do^ma & a fimbvltys fornar rvnar.	The Æsir are found on Ida´s plain, and of the mighty earth-encircler speak, and of the great-god’s ancient runes.
	59. Þar mvno ept^ir vndr samligar gv^llnar ta/flor igrasi fiNaz. þers i ardaga attar hofðo.	59. Then again shall the wondrous golden tables be found in the grass; those they had owned in early days.
	60. Mvno osánir acrar uaxa ba/ls mvn allz batna baldr m^un co^ma. bva þ^eir ha/þ^r & baldr hroptz sigtopt^ir vel valtivar v. e. e. h.	60. Unsown shall fields produce, bale may all be better; Baldr shall come; They inhabit, Hödr and Baldr, Hropt´s victory-walls the sanctuaries of the gods of the slain Know ye yet, or what?
	61. Þa kna hon^ir hla/t viþ kiosa & byrir byGia brodra tveGia. vind hei^m vidan v. e. e. h.	61. Then can Hoenir choose by lot, and the sons of two brother´s inhabit wide Windheim. Know ye yet, or what?
	62. Sal ser hon standa solo fegra gvlli þacþan agimlé. þar sc^olo dyGvar drótt^ir byGia & vm aldr daga ynþis niota.	62. She a hall sees standing brighter than the sun, bedecked with gold, on Gimle: there shall the righteous people dwell, and forever more enjoy happiness.
	63. Þar ko^mr iN di^mmi dreki flivgandi naþ^r fraN neþan fra niþa fiollo^m. beR ser ifioþro^m flygr va/ll yf^ir niþha/Gr nai nv m^un h^on seyq^uaz.	63. There comes the dark dragon flying the snake from below, from Nida-fells. Bearing on his wings flying over the plain, Nidhögg, a corpse. Now she will sink.

The Völuspá Study Guide Germanic Mythology