Hljóðs bið ek allar
helgar kindir,
meiri ok minni,
mögu Heimdallar.
Vildu at ek, Valföðr,
vel fyr telja
forn spjöll fira,
þau er fremst um man.

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.

Be silent, I pray, all holy creatures!
Greater or small! sons of Heimdallar!
I will tell of the devices of Valfodur;
The ancient discourses of men; the earliest I know.

1. For silence I pray all
sacred children,
great and small,
sons of Heimdall
they will that I Valfather´s
deeds recount,
men´s ancient saws,
those that I best remember.

Ek man jötna
ár um borna,
þá er forðum mik
fœdda höfðu.
Níu man ek heima,
níu íviðjur,
mjötvið mæran,
fyr mold neðan.

I know giants
Early born,
My ancestors
Of former times;
Nine worlds I know,
With their nine poles
Of tender wood,
Beneath the earth.

I know the giants; the early born;
They who formerly instructed me.
I know there are nine world, nine supports.
And the great centre under the earth.

2. The Jötuns I remember
early born,
those who me of old
have reared.
I nine worlds remember,
nine trees,
the great central tree,
beneath the earth.

Ár var alda
þar er Ymir byggði,
vara sandr né sær
né svalar unnir.
Jörð fannsk æva
né upphiminn,
gap var ginnunga,
en gras hvergi.

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:

In the era of the ages when Ymir was dwelling,
There was no sand nor sea,
Nor winds on a vast ocean.
Earth yet was not; nor the heaven above.
Only the abyss of chaos; and no grass.

3. There was in times of old,
where Ymir dwelt,
nor sand nor sea,
nor gelid waves;
earth existed not,
nor heaven above,
‘twas a chaotic chasm,
and grass nowhere.

Áðr Burs synir
bjöðum um yppðu,
þeir er Miðgarð
mæran skópu.
Sól skein sunnan
á salar steina,
þá var grund gróin
grœnum lauki.

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.

Before Bur had raised up the meadows,
And had enlarged Midgard,
The sun shone round the south,
And the ground produced its green fruits.

4. Before Bur´s sons
raised up heaven´s vault,
they who the noble
mid-earth shaped.
The sun shone from the south
over the structure´s rocks:
then was the earth begrown
with herbage green.

Sól varp sunnan,
sinni mána,
hendi inni hœgri
um himinjódyr.
Sól þat né vissi
hvar hon sali átti,
stjörnur þat né vissu
hvar þær staði áttu,
Máni þat né vissi
hvat hann megins átti.

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.

The sun from his noon, threw out the moon
With his right hand, over the steeds of heaven.
The sun knew not where should be his palaces;
The moon knew not where would be her home.
The stars knew not where would be their station.

5. The sun from the south,
the moon´s companion,
her right hand cast
about the heavenly horses.
The sun knew not
where she a dwelling had,
the moon knew not
what power he possessed,
the stars knew not
where they had a station.

Þá gengu regin öll
á rökstóla,
ginnheilög goð,
ok um þat gættusk:
nótt ok niðjum
nöfn um gáfu,
morgin hétu
ok miðjan dag,
undorn ok aptan,
árum at telja.

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.

Then all the Deities moved to their royal stools;
The stupendously-holy Gods considered these things:
They gave names to the night and to the twilight,
They called the morning and mid-day so;
And bade the rise and course of the year to begin.

6. Then went the power all
to their judge-ment seats,
the all-holy gods,
and thereon held council:
to night and to the waning moon
gave names;
morn they named,
and mid-day,
afternoon and eve,
whereby to reckon years.

Hittusk æsir
á Iðavelli,
þeir er hörg ok hof
hátimbruðu,
afla lögðu,
auð smíðuðu,
tangir skópu,
ok tól gørðu.

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.

The Asæ met on the fields of Ida,
And framed their images and temples.
They placed the furnaces. They created money.
They made tongs and iron tools.

7. The Æsir met
on Ida’s plain;
they altar-steads and temples
high constructed;
their strength they proved,
all things tried,
furnaces established,
precious things forged,
formed tongs,
and fabricated tools;

Teflðu í túni,
teitir váru,
var þeim vettergis
vant ór gulli,
unz þrjár kvámu
þursa meyjar,
ámáttkar mjök,
ór Jötunheimum.

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:

They played at dice. They were merry.
No vicious desire of gold arose among them,
Till three of the Thursa Virgins come,
Two very powerful from Jotun-heim.

8. at tables played at home;
joyous they were;
to them was naught
the want of gold,
until there came
Thurs-maidens three,
all powerful,
from Jötunheim.

Þá gengu regin öll
á rökstóla,
ginnheilög goð,
ok um þat gættusk,
hverr skyldi dverga
dróttir skepja,
ór Brimis blóði
ok ór Bláins leggjum.

The Gods then went to their divine stools,
Inquiring of the Holy Deities, this,—
Who ought to be the Lord of the Duerga, (the dwarfs,)
Or to create them
From Bruner’s blood and the legs of Blavis.

9. Then went all the powers
to their judgement-seats,
the all-holy gods,
and thereon held council,
who should of the dwarfs
the race create,
from the sea-giant’s blood
and livid bones.

Þar var Mótsognir
mæztr um orðinn
dverga allra,
en Durinn annarr.
Þeir mannlíkön
mörg um gørðu,
dvergar, ór jörðu,
sem Durinn sagði.

There Motsogner obtained the pre-eminence
Of all the Duerga. Durin the next.
They made many images of men,
Dwarfs on the earth, as Durin said.

10. Then was Mötsognir
created greatest
of all the dwarfs,
and Durin second;
there in man’s likeness
they created many
dwarfs from the earth,
as Durin said.

 Nýi ok Niði,
Norðri ok Suðri,
Austri ok Vestri,
Alþjófr, Dvalinn,
[Nár ok Náinn,
Nípingr, Dáinn,]
Bífurr, Báfurr,
Bömburr, Nóri,
Án ok Ánarr,
Ái, Mjöðvitnir.

Nor and Nidi; the northern; the southern;
The east; the west; the hidden Althiofi,
Bivor and Bavor ; Bumbur ; Nori, An, and Anar; Ai; the mead of knowledge.

11. Nýi and Nidi,
Nordri and Sudri,
Asutri and Vestri,
Althiöf, Dvalin
Nár and Náin,
Niping, Dáin,
Bivör, Bavör,
Bömbur, Nori,
An and Anar,
Ai, Miödvitnir,

12. Veig and Gandálf,
Vindálf, Thráin,
Thekk and Thorin,
Thror, Vitr, and Litr,
Núr and Nýrád,
Regin and Rádsvid.
Now of the dwarfs I have
rightly told.

Fíli, Kíli,
Fundinn, Náli,
Hepti, Víli,
Hanarr, Svíorr,
[Nár ok Náinn,
Nípingr, Dáinn,
Billingr, Brúni,
Bíldr ok Búri,]
Frár, Hornbori,
Frægr ok Lóni,
Aurvangr, Jari,
Eikinskjaldi.

Fili; Kili, Fundinn; Nali;
Heiti; Vili; Hanar; Svior;
Frar; Hornbore; Flogur; Lone;
Aurvangur and Eikinskialdi.

13. Fili, Kili,
Fundin, Nali,
Hepti, Vili,
Hanar, Svior,
Billing, Bruni,
Bild, Búri,
Frár, Hornbori,
Fræg and Lóni,
Aurvang, Iari,
Eikinskialdi.

It is time that the dwarfs
From the family of Dualin
Should be reckoned by the kindreds of people,
For an auspicious year;
They go out form the rocks, above ground,
To the seats of the husbandmen.
The sea of the ploughs.

14. Time ´tis of the dwarfs
in Dvalin´s band,
to the sons of men,
to Lofar up to reckon,
those who came forth
from the world´s rock,
earth´s foundation,
to Iora´s plains.

There was Draupner and Dolgkrasir;
Har: Haugspore; Hlevangur; Gloe;
Skyver; Vivrir; Safdidur; Ai;
Alfur; Ingve of Eikinskialdr;
Falur; Frosti; Fidur; Sinnar;
Dore; Ore; Dufar; Andvere;
Heph; Fili; Haar; Sviar;

15. There were Draupnir,
and Dólgthrasir,
Hár, Haugspori,
Hlævang, Glói,
Skirvir, Virvir,
Skafid, Ai,
Alf and Yngvi,
Eikinskialdi,

16. Fjalar and Frosti,
Finn and Ginnar,
Heri, Höggstari,
Hliódolf, Móin:
that above shall,
while mortals live,
the progeny of Lofar,
accounted be.

Unz þrír kvámu
ór því liði
öflgir ok ástgir
æsir at húsi,
fundu á landi
lítt megandi
Ask ok Emblu
ørlöglausa.

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.

Until three came from this troop,
The powerful and rich Asæ, to their home,
They found in the land weak and unwarlike one.
Ask and Embla, without a destiny.

17. Until there came three
mighty and benevolent
Æsir to the world
from their assembly.
They found on earth,
nearly powerless,
Ask and Embla,
void of destiny.

Önd þau né áttu,
óð þau né höfðu,
lá né læti
né litu goða.
Önd gaf Óðinn,
óð gaf Hœnir,
lá gaf Lóðurr
ok litu goða.

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.

These had then no soul, they had then no reason;
No blood; no senses, no good colour;
Odin gave them a soul. Hænir gave them reason;
Lodur gave them blood and a good complexion.

18. Spirit they possessed not,
sense they had not,
blood nor motive powers,
nor goodly colour.
Spirit gave Odin,
sense gave Hoenir,
blood gave Lodur,
and goodly colour.

Ask veit ek standa,
heitir Yggdrasill,
hár baðmr ausinn
hvítaauri,
þaðan koma döggvar
þærs í dala falla,
stendr æ yfir grœnn
Urðarbrunni.

I know that an ash existed called Ygdrasil;
Its lofty size covered with white clay.
Then comes the rain that falls in the valleys;
It stands always green over Ordar-brunne [1].

[1] These words mean— “The Fountain of Necessity.”

19. I know an ash standing
Yggdrasil hight,
a lofty tree, laved
with limpid water:
thence come the dews
into the dales that fallæ
ever stands it green
over Urd´s fountain.

Þaðan koma meyjar,
margs vitandi,
þrjár ór þeim sæ
er und þolli stendr.
Urð hétu eina,
aðra Verðandi,
- skáru á skíði -
Skuld ina þriðju.
Þær lög lögðu,
þær líf kuru
alda börnum,
ørlög seggja.

Thence come the maids
Who much do know;
Three from the hall
Beneath the tree;
One they named Was,
And Being next,
The third, Shall be,
On the shield they cut.

Then came the much-knowing virgins;
Three, from that sea
Which extends over the oak:
One is called Urd (necessity);
Another Verdande (the possible);
The third Skuld
They engrave on the shield;
They appoint laws, they chose laws
For the sons of the ages;
The fates of mankind.

20. Thence come maidens,
much knowing,
three from the hall,
which under that tree stands;
Urd hight the one,
the second Verdandi, -
on a tablet they graved -Skuld the third.
Laws they established,
life allotted
to the sons of men;
destinies pronounced.

Þat man hon folkvíg
fyrst í heimi,
er Gullveigu
geirum studdu
ok í höll Hárs
hana brenndu -
þrysvar brenndu
þrysvar borna,
opt, ósjaldan -
þó hon enn lifir.

This one knew the first slaughter
Of the people in the world;
When they supported Gullveig with weapons;
And burnt her in the hall of Har.
Three times they burnt her;
Three times re-born;
Often—again—yet she lived.

25. She that war remembers,
the first on earth,
when Gullveig they
with lances pierced,
and in the high one´s hall
her burnt,
thrice burnt,
thrice brough her forth,
oft not seldom;
yet she still lives.

Heiði hana hétu
hvars til húsa kom,
völu vel spá,
vitti hon ganda.
Seið hon kunni,
seið hon leikin,
æ var hon angan
illrar þjóðar.

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.

They called her Heid,
Whatever house they came to.

Vola of good omen
Dishonored the divine mysteries,
She knew magic arts.
She could use enchantments,
Always troubling like an evil woman.

26. Heidi they called her,
whithersoe´r she came,
the well-forseeing Vala:
wolves she tamed,
magic arts she knew,
magic arts practised;
ever was she the joy
of evil people.

Þá gengu regin öll
á rökstóla,
ginnheilög goð,
ok um þat gættusk,
hvárt skyldu æsir
afráð gjalda
eða skyldu goðin öll
gildi eiga.

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 :

Then the Deities went each to their judicial stools.
Considering whether mischiefs from bad counsel
Would occur from the Asae;
Or whether all the Gods
Should reserve their banquets to themselves.

27. Then went the powers all
to their judgement-seats,
the all-holy gods,
and thereon held council,
whether the Æsir should
avenge the crime,
or all the gods
receive atonement.

Fleygði Óðinn
ok í folk um skaut,
þat var enn folkvíg
fyrst í heimi.
Brotinn var borðveggr
borgar ása,
knáttu vanir vígspá
völlu sporna.

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.

Odin hastened
And send his darts into the crowd.
This was the first slaughter of men in the world.
The wall of the city of Asæ was broken.
Vaner made the fields to be trampled by war.

28. Broken was the outer wall
of the Æsir´s burgh.
The Vanir, forseeing conflict
tramp oér the plains.
[Odin cast (his spear),
and mid the people hurled it:
that was the first
warfare in the world.]

Þá gengu regin öll
á rökstóla,
ginnheilög goð,
ok um þat gættusk,
hverr hefði lopt allt
lævi blandit
eða ætt jötuns
Óðs mey gefna.

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:

29. Then went the powers all
to their judgement-seats,
the all-holy gods,
and thereon held council:
who had all the air
with evil mingled?
or to the Jötun race
Od´s maid had given?

Þórr einn þar vá,
þrunginn móði,
hann sjaldan sitr
er hann slíkt um fregn.
Á gengusk eiðar,
orð ok sœri,
mál öll meginlig,
er á meðal fóru.

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.

Thor-was one there; turgid with bile
He rarely sat,
When he perceived such things
Oath and compacts were cut thro',
And all the controversies which intervened.

30. There alone was Thor
with anger swollen.
He seldom sits,
when of the like he hears.
Oaths are not held sacred;
nor words, nor swearing,
nor binding compacts
reciprocally made.

Veit hon Heimdallar
hljóð um fólgit
undir heiðvönum
helgum baðmi.
Á sér hon ausask
aurgum forsi
af veði Valföðrs -
vituð ér enn, eða hvat ?

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 ?

She knew;
Heimdallur had the secret song;
Under the same sacred zone
She beheld the river
Flowing with its dark torrent.
From the compact of Valfodur.
Know you more? It is this.

31. She knows that Heimdall’s
horn is hidden
under the heaven-bright
holy tree.
A river she sees flow,
with foamy fall,
from Valfather’s pledge.
Understand ye yet, or what?

She sat without
When th' Ancient came,
The awful god,
And viewed his eye.

She sat alone in the air,
When the old man came,
Yggiongur of the Asæ
And looked her in the face.

21. Alone she sat without,
when came that ancient
dread Æsir´s prince;
and in his eyes she gazed.

"Hvers fregnið mik?
Hví freistið mín?"
Allt veit ek, Óðinn,
hvar þú auga falt:
í inum mæra
Mímis brunni!
Drekkr mjöð Mímir
morgin hverjan
af veði Valföðrs!
Vituð ér enn, eða hvat ?

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?

What do you seek from me?"
"Why do you tempt me?
"I know all. Odin!
Where have you hidden the eye?
In the greater fountain of Mimur.
Mimur every morning drinks mead
From the pledge of Valfodur,
Know you more? What is it?

22. “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.
Understand ye yet, or what?

Valði henni Herföðr
hringa ok men,
fé, spjöll spaklig
ok spáganda:
sá hon vítt ok um vítt
of veröld hverja.

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.

Herfodur delivered to him
The rings and the bracelets.
The spell of riches; wisdom;
And the staffs of prophecy.
He saw these well and widely
Over all the earth.
Know you more? What is it?

23. The chief of hosts gave her
rings and necklace,
useful discourse,
and a divining spirit:
wide and far she saw
o’er every world.

Sá hon valkyrjur
vítt um komnar,
görvar at ríða
til Goðþjóðar.
Skuld helt skildi,
en Skögul önnur,
Gunnr, Hildr, Göndul
ok Geirskögul.
Nú eru talðar
nönnur Herjans,
görvar at ríða
grund, valkyrjur.

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.

He saw the Valkyriar
Immediately coming.
Adorned on steeds; they went to Gothiod.
Skuld held the shield;
Scogul wasthe other,
Ginnur; Helldur;
Gondull and Geirskiald.
Now the maidens of Odin are told:
The Valkyrear: instructed to ride over the ground.

24. She the Valkyriur saw
from afar coming,
ready to ride
to the gods’ people:
Skuld held a shield,
Skögul was second,
then Gunn, Hild, Göndul,
and Geirskögul.
Now are enumerated
Herian´s maidens,
the Valkyriur, ready
over the earth to ride.

Ek sá Baldri,
blóðgom tívur,
Óðins barni,
ørlög fólgin:
stóð um vaxinn
völlum hærri
mjór ok mjök fagr
mistilteinn.

I saw
The secret destinies of Balder.
The bleeding warrior, the son of Odin.
The slender and polished weapon
That killed him
Stood in the field growing upwards.

36. I saw of Baldr,
the blood-stained god,
Odin’s son,
the hidden fate.
There stood grown up,
high on the plain,
slender and passing fair,
the mistletoe.

Varð af þeim meiði,
er mær sýndisk,
harmflaug hættlig:
Höðr nam skjóta.
Baldrs bróðir var
of borinn snemma,
sá nam, Óðins sonr,
einnættr vega.

37. From that shrub was made,
as to me it seemed,
a deadly, noxious dart.
Hödr shot it forth;...

Þó hann æva hendr
né höfuð kembði,
áðr á bál um bar
Baldrs andskota.
En Frigg um grét
í Fensölum
vá Valhallar -
vituð ér enn, eða hvat?

Then he would not raise his hands
Nor comb his head
Before he should carry
The foe of Balder to the pile.
Frigga grieved in her Fensola,
The keeper of Valhalla.
Know you more? What is it?

39. Then the Vala knew
the fatal bonds were twisting,
most rigid,
bonds from entrails made.

Hapt sá hon liggja
undir hvera lundi,
lægjarns líki
Loka áþekkjan.
Þar sitr Sigyn,
þeygi um sínum
ver velglýjuð -
vituð ér enn, eða hvat ?

She saw the bound one
Lying under the grove of the Huns
The perfidious funeral.
One like Lok.
There sat as Sigynia
Never dear to her husband.
Know you more? What is it?

38. Bound she saw lying,
under Hveralund,[16]
a monstrous form,
to Loki like.
There sits Sigyn,
for her consort’s sake,
not right glad.
Understand ye yet, or what?

[16] The hot spring’s grove.

A river flows from the east
Over poisoned vales,
Carrying mud and turf
It is called Slidur.

40. From the east a river falls,
through venom dales,
with mire and clods,
Slid is its name.

Stóð fyr norðan,
á Niðavöllum,
salr ór gulli
Sindra ættar,
en annarr stóð
á Ókólni,
bjórsalr jötuns,
en sá Brimir heitir.

There stands towards the north,
In Nidafiollum,
A golden palace named Sindra;
But another exists in Okolni.
The ale cellars of the Jotun
Which is called Brimir.

41. On the north there stood,
on Nida-fells,
a hall of gold,
for Sindri’s race;
and another stood
in Okolnir,
the Jötuns beer-hall
which Brimir hight.

Sal sá hon standa
sólu fjarri
Náströndu á,
norðr horfa dyrr.
Fellu eitrdropar
inn um ljóra,
sá er undinn salr
orma hryggjum.

She saw a palace stand far from the sun
In Nastrondum.
It looks at the doors to the north.
The building is twisted from the spines of serpents:
Poisoned torrents .
Flow thro' its windows

42. She saw a hall standing,
far from the sun,
in Náströnd;
its doors are northward turned,
venom-drops fall
in through its apertures:
entwined is that hall
with serpent’s backs.

Sá hon þar vaða
þunga strauma
menn meinsvara
ok morðvarga
ok þanns annars glepr
eyrarúnu.
Þar saug Niðhöggr
nái framgengna,
sleit vargr vera -
vituð ér enn, eða hvat ?

There she saw amid the dreadful stream!
The perjured and the murderers:
And those who pull the cars
Of another's wife
Their Nidhoggur
Tore the flesh from their corpses,
The fierce Wolf devoured the men.
Know you more? It is this.

43. She there saw wading
the sluggish streams
bloodthirsty men
and perjurers,
and him who the ear beguiles
of another’s wife.
There Nidhögg sucks
the corpses of the dead;
the wolf tears men.
Understand ye yet, or what?

Austr sat in aldna
í Járnviði
ok fœddi þar
Fenris kindir.
Verðr af þeim öllum
einna nøkkurr
tungls tjúgari
í trolls hami.

There sat an old man
Towards the east in a wood of iron.
Where he nourished the sons of Fenris.
Everyone of these grew up prodigous;
A giant form;
The persecutor of the moon.

32. East sat the crone,
in Iárnvidir,
Fenrir´s progeny:
of all shall be
one especially
the moon’s devourer,
in a troll’s semblance

Fyllisk fjörvi
feigra manna,
rýðr ragna sjöt
rauðum dreyra.
Svört verða sólskin
of sumur eptir,
veðr öll válynd -
vituð ér enn, eða hvat?

He was saturated
With the lives of dying men.
He sprinkled the host of the Deities with blood.
He darken'd the light of the sun in the summer.
All the winds were malignant.
Know you more ? It is this.

33. He is sated with the last breath
of dying men;
the gods’ seat he
with red gore defiles:
swart is the sunshine then
for summers after;
all weather turns to storm.
Understand ye yet, or what?

Sat þar á haugi
ok sló hörpu
gýgjar hirðir,
glaðr Eggþér.
Gól um hánum
í Gaglviði
fagrrauðr hani,
sá er Fjalarr heitir.

He sat on a mound and struck the harp.
Gygas the herdsman.
The glad Egder (the eagle)
Sand before him on the boughs of the tree,
The purple cock named Fialer.

34. There on a height sat,
striking a harp,
the giantess’s watch,
the joyous Egdir;
by him crowed,
in the bird-wood,
the bright red cock,
which Fialar hight.

Gól um ásum
Gullinkambi,
sá vekr hölða
at Herjaföðrs,
en annarr gelr
fyr jörð neðan,
sótrauðr hani,
at sölum Heljar.

The golden-haired bird
Sang with the Asæ.
He roused the heroes with Herfadur.
But another crowed below the earth,
The yellow cock in the palace of Hela

35. Crowed o’er the Æsir
Gullinkambi,
which wakens heroes
with the sire of hosts;
but another crows
beneath the earth,
a soot-red cock,
in the halls of Hel.

Geyr garmr mjök
fyr Gnipahelli,
festr mun slitna,
en freki renna...
 

Garmur barked horribly
Before the cave of Gnipa.
The chains will be broken:
Freco will rush out,
Wise, she knows many things.

44. Further forward I see,
much can I say
of Ragnarök
and the gods´conflict.

Brœðr munu berjask
ok at bönom verðask,
munu systrungar
sifjum spilla.

Hart er í heimi,
hórdómr mikill,
skeggöld, skálmöld,
skildir ro klofnir,
vindöld, vargöld
áðr veröld steypisk,
[grundir gjalla,
gífr fljúgandi]
mun engi maðr
öðrum þyrma.

Hard will be the world:
Many the adulteries;
A bearded age: an age of swords:
Shields will be cloven.
An age of winds; an age of wolves.
Till the world shall perish
There will not be one that will spare another.

46. Hard is it in the world,
great whoredom,
an axe age, a sword age,
shields will be cloven,
a wind age, a wolf age,
ere the world sinks.
45/5-8  [The earth resounds,
the giantesses flee;
no man will
another spare.]

Leika Míms synir,
en mjötuðr kyndisk
at inu galla
Gjallarhorni.
Hátt blæss Heimdallr,
horn er á lopti,
mælir Óðinn
við Míms höfuð.

The sons of Mimur will sport;
But the bosom of the earth will burn.
Hear the sound of the Mystic horn,
Heimdallar will blow on high
The elevated horn,
Odin will speak by the head of Mimer.

47. Mim’s sons dance,
but the central tree takes fire,
at the resounding
Gjallar-horn.
Loud blows Heimdall,
his horn is raised;
Odin speaks
with Mim’s head.

The ancient tree will sound ominously.
The Jotuns will be dissolved.
The ash Ygdrasil erected
Will become terrible.

Hrymer will drive from the east
Jormungandus will revolve round
With the rage of the Jotun(giants),
The serpent will move the seas;
But the eagle flies

49. Hrym steers from the east,
the waters rise,
the mundane snake is coiled
in jötun-rage.
The worm beats the water,
and the eagle screams:
the pale of beak tears carcases;
Naglfar is loosed.

Hvat er með ásum ?
Hvat er með álfum ?
Gnýr allr jötunheimr,
æsir ro á þingi,
stynja dvergar
fyr steindurum,
veggbergs vísir -
vituð ér enn, eða hvat ?

What is there among the Asæ?
What among the Alfi?
All the house of the Jotun trembles;
The Dvergi (the dwarfs) groan
Before the doors of the rocks :
Their stony asylum.
Know you more? What is it?

52. How is it with the Æsir?
How with the Alfar?
All Jötunheim resounds;
the Æsir are in council.
The dwarfs groan
before their stony doors,
the sages of the rocky walls.
Understand ye yet, or what?

Surtur comes from the south
With Swiga—lesi
The sword of the Valtivi radiates like the sun;
The stony rocks glide away:
The Deities are enraged;
Men tread the way of Hela:
But the heaven is cleft in twain.

51. Surt from the south comes
with flickering flame;
shines from his sword
the Val-god’s sun.
The stony hills are dashed together,
the giantesses totter;
men tread the path of Hel,
and heaven is cloven.

Þá kømr Hlínar
harmr annarr fram,
er Óðinn ferr
við úlf vega,
en bani Belja
bjartr at Surti,
þá mun Friggjar
falla angan.

Then Hlinar, the other grief goes forth.
When Odin goes to battle with the Wolf,
The striker of Beli shining
Opposes Surtur.
Then the husband of Frigga falls.

53. Then arises
Hlin´s second grief,
when Odin goes
with the wolf to fight,
and the bright slayer
of Beli with Surt.
Then will Frigg´s
beloved fall.

Þá kømr inn mikli
mögr Sigföður,
Víðarr, vega
at valdýri.
Lætr hann megi Hveðrungs
mund um standa
hjör til hjarta:
þá er hefnt föður.

Then will come Sigfodr
The greater son of Odin:
Vidar, to fight the fatal animal.
Who with her broad hand,
In the middle of her jaws,
Pierces his heart with a sword.
Thus avenging the death of her father

54. Then comes the great
victor-sire’s son,
Vidar, to fight
with the deadly beast.
He with his hands will
make his sword pierce
to the heart of the giant’s son:
then avenges he his father.

Gínn lopt yfir
lindi jarðar,
gapa ýgs kjaptar
orms í hæðum.
Mun Óðins son
eitri mœta
vargs at dauða
Víðars niðja.

Þá kømr inn mæri
mögr Hlöðynjar,
gengr Óðins sonr
við orm vega,
drepr hann af móði
Miðgarðs véur,
- munu halir allir
heimstöð ryðja -
gengr fet níu
Fjörgynjar burr
neppr frá naðri
níðs ókvíðnum.

Then comes
The beautiful son Hlodynia.
The son of Odin combated the Wolf.
He slew in wrath the serpent Midgard.
Men state the prop of the world.
The offspring of Fiogunar
Stepped nine steps.
Weakened by the black and hungry snake,

55. Then comes the mighty
son of Hlódyn:
(Odin’s son goes
with the monster to fight);
Midgárd´s Veor in his rage
will slay the worm.
Nine feet will go
Fiörgyn´s son,
bowed by the serpent,
who feared no foe.
All men will
their homes forsake.

Sól tér sortna,
sígr fold í mar,
hverfa af himni
heiðar stjörnur,
geisar eimi
við aldrnara,
leikr hár hiti
við himin sjálfan.

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.

56. The sun darkens,
earth in ocean sinks,
fall from heaven
the bright stars,
fire´s breath assails
the all-nourishing tree,
towering fire plays
against heaven itself.

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.

She sees at last emerge from the ocean,
An earth in every part flourishing.
The cataracts flow down:
The eagle flies aloft;
And hunt the fishes in the mountains.

57. She sees arise,
a second time,
earth from ocean,
beauteously green,
waterfalls descending;
the eagle flying over,
which in the fell
captures fish.

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 Asæ met in Ida Valle,
And talked of the world’s great calamities;
And of the ancient runæ of Fimbultyr.

58. The Æsir meet
on Ida´s plain,
and of the mighty
earth-encircler speak,
and there to memory call
their mighty deeds,
and the supreme god’s
ancient lore.

These things done, the wonderful dice
Are found gilt in the grass,
Which those of the former days possessed.

59. There shall again
the wondrous
golden tables
in the grass be found,
which in days of old
had possessed
the ruler of the gods,
and Fjölnir´s race.

Munu ósánir
akrar vaxa,
böls mun alls batna,
Baldr mun koma.
Búa þeir Höðr ok Baldr
Hropts sigtóptir
vel, valtívar -
vituð ér enn, eða hvat ?

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?

There were fields without sowing;
All adverse things became prosperous.
Baldur will come again.
Haudur and Baldur;
Hroptr and Sigroptr;
The Asæ will dwell without evils.
Do you yet understand?

60. Unsown shall
the fields bring forth,
all evil be amended;
Baldr shall come;
Hödr and Baldr,
the heavenly gods,
Hropt´s glorious dwellings shall inhabit.
Understand ye yet, or what?

Þá kná Hœnir
hlautvið kjósa,
ok burir byggja
brœðra tveggja
vindheim víðan -
vituð ér enn, eða hvat?

Then Heinar shares the power of chosing Vidar
And the sons of the two brothers
Inhabit the vast mansion of the winds.
Do you know more?

61. Then can Hoenir
choose his lot,

and the two brother´s
sons inhabit
the spacious Vindheim.
Understand ye yet, or what?

Sal sér hon standa
sólu fegra,
gulli þakðan,
á Gimléi:
þar skulu dyggvar
dróttir byggja
ok um aldrdaga
yndis njóta.

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.

A hall stands brighter than the sun;
Covered with gold in Gimle.
There virtuous people will dwell;
And for the ages will enjoy every good.

62. She a hall sees standing
than the sun brighter,
with gold bedecked,
in Gimill:
there shall the righteous
people dwell,
and for evermore
happiness enjoy.

Þar kømr inn dimmi
dreki fljúgandi,
naðr fránn, neðan
frá Niðafjöllum.
Berr sér í fjöðrum
- flýgr völl yfir -
Níðhöggr nái -
nú mun hon søkkvask.

Then will come the obscene dragon flying,
The serpent from Nidar-fiolli.
He carries the corpses in his wings;
He flies over the ground;
The infernal serpent, Nidhoggur;
Now the earth gapes for him.

65. There comes the dark
dragon flying from beneath,
the glistening serpent,
from Nida-fells.
On his wings bears Nidhögg,
flying oér the plain,
a corpse.
Now she will descend.