Grmnisml (Sayings of Grmnir)

Preserved complete in the Codex Regius manuscript and the Arnamagnaean Codex fragment. In addition, Snorri quotes over 20 stanzas.

The work starts out with a lengthy prose section describing the circumstances leading up to Grmnir's monologue, which comprises 54 stanzas of
poetic verse. The last bit of the poem is also prose, a brief description of Geirrth's demise, his son's ascension, and Odin's disappearance. The
prose sections were most likely not part of the original oral versions of Grmnisml.


Bellows Introduction (1936)

The Grimnismol follows the Vafthruthnismol in the Codex Regius and is also found complete in the Arnamagnaean Codex, where also it
follows the Vafthruthnismol. Snorri quotes over twenty of its stanzas.
Like the preceding poem, the Grimnismol is largely encyclopedic in nature, and consists chiefly of proper names, the last forty-seven
stanzas containing no less than two hundred and twenty-five of these. It is not, however, in dialogue form. As Mullenhoff pointed out, there is
underneath the catalogue of mythological names a consecutive and thoroughly dramatic story. Othin, concealed under the name of Grimnir, is
through an error tortured by King Geirroth. Bound between two blazing fires, he begins to display his wisdom for the benefit of the king's little
son, Agnar, who has been kind to him. Gradually he works up to the great final moment, when he declares his true name, or rather names, to the
terrified Geirroth, and the latter falls on his sward and is killed.
For much of this story we do not have to depend on guesswork, for in both manuscripts the poem itself is preceded by a prose narrative of
considerable length, and concluded by a brief prose statement of the manner of Geirroth's death. These prose notes, of which there are many in
the Eddic manuscripts, are of considerable interest to the student of early literary forms. Presumably they were written by the compiler to whom
we owe the Eddic collection, who felt that the poems needed such annotation in order to be clear. Linguistic evidence shows that they were
written in the twelfth or thirteenth century, for they preserve none of the older word-forms which help us to date many of the poems two or three
hundred years earlier.
Without discussing in detail the problems suggested by these prose passages, it is worth noting, first, that the Eddic poems contain
relatively few stanzas of truly narrative verse; and second, that all of them are based on narratives which must have been more or less familiar to
the hearers of the poems. In other words, the poems seldom aimed to tell stories, although most of them followed a narrative sequence of ideas.
The stories themselves appear to have lived in oral prose tradition, just as in the case of the sagas; and the prose notes of the manuscripts, in so far
as they contain material not simply drawn from the poems themselves, are relics of this tradition. The early Norse poets rarely conceived verse as
a suitable means for direct story telling, and in some of the poems even the simplest action is told in prose "links" between dialogue stanzas.
The applications of this fact, which has been too often over looked, are almost limitless, for it suggests a still unwritten chapter in the
history of ballad poetry and the so-called "popular" epic. It implies that narrative among early peoples may frequently have had a period of prose
existence before it was made into verse, and thus puts, for example, a long series of transitional stages before such a poem as the Iliad. In any
case, the prose notes accompanying the Eddic poems prove that in addition to the poems themselves there existed in the twelfth century a
considerable amount of narrative tradition, presumably in prose form, on which these notes were based by the compiler.
Interpolations in such a poem as the Grimnismol could have been made easily enough, and many stanzas have undoubtedly crept in from
other poems, but the beginning and end of the poem are clearly marked, and presumably it has come down to us with the same essential outline it
had when it was composed, probably in the first half of the tenth century.

Hollanders Introduction (1962)

The "Grimnismal" has a didactic purpose, instruction in the mythology, the heavenly geography, and the nomenclature of the Northern
Olympus.
1
It is conveyed in Othin's monologue, addressed first, as a reward, to young Agnar, who takes pity on his plight, and finally to his
erstwhile favorite Geirroeth, to whom the god gradually reveals his dread identity. The epic framework has elements in common with a fairy
story, still told in our days in northern Norway, of two brothers who sail to a monster-infested island where the one brother abandons the other to
his fate in order to claim the kingdom for himself. And there is a striking similarity between the story of the rivalry of Othin and his wife Frigg, as
told in the Introductory Prose, and the legend about the origin of the Langobards as told in the Edict of their king, Rotharis (644 A.D.), and retold
by the Langobardian monk and historian, Paulus Diaconus (ca. 800):
"The form of the narrative is very symptomatic. The reader is to gather that the old cotter has given Geirroeth the counsel to make away
with his brother; from the conversation between Othin and Frigg, that it was they who fostered the youths; again, that Frigg, in maligning
Geirroeth as a miser had a double purpose In the first place, to induce Othin to visit the king whom by her emissary she renders hostile to the
disguised god; in the second place, to destroy Geirroeth, since Othin would of course not let his ill treatment go unavenged."
2

The poem has suffered chiefly from accretions, which detract seriously from its aesthetic value: its monologic form no doubt tempted
copyists to interpolate stray bits of lore sometimes of great value which they were anxious to have preserved within its framework. For the
most part, these differ in form from the otherwise regular ljodahattr stanzas. There are no positive indications as to time of composition (tenth
century?) or place of origin. Certainly the poem is archheathen. It is handed down completely both in the Codex Regis and the Hauksbok; and
some twenty stanzas are embedded in Snorri's paraphrase in the "Gylfaginning."


Thorpe (1866) Bellows (1936) Hollander (1962)

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King Hraudung had two sons, one named Agnar,
the other Geirrd. Agnar was ten, and Geirrd eight
winters old. They both rowed out in a boat, with
their hooks and lines, to catch small fish; but the
wind drove themout to sea. In the darkness of the
night they were wrecked on the shore, and went up
into the country, where they found a cottager, with
whomthey stayed through the winter. The
cottager's wife brought up Agnar, and the cottager,
Geirrd, and gave himgood advice. In the spring
the man got thema ship; but when he and his wife
accompanied themto the strand, the man talked
apart with Geirrd. They had a fair wind, and
reached their father's place. Geirrd was at the
ship's prow: he sprang on shore, but pushed the
ship out, saying, "Go where an evil spirit may get
thee." The vessel was driven out to sea, but Geirrd
went up to the town, where he was well received;
but his father was dead. Geirrd was then taken for
king, and became a famous man.

Odin and Frigg were sitting in Hlidskilf, looking
over all the world. Odin said, "Seest thou Agnar,
thy foster-son, where he is, getting children with a
giantess in a cave? while Geirrd, my foster-son, is
a king residing in his country." Frigg answered,
"He is so inhospitable that he tortures his guests, if
he thinks that too many come." Odin replied that
that was the greatest falsehood; and they wagered
thereupon. Frigg sent her waiting-maid Fulla to bid
Geirrd be on his guard, lest the trollmann who was
coming should do himharm, and also say that a
token whereby he might be known was, that no
dog, however fierce, would attack him. But that
King Geirrd was not hospitable was mere idle
talk. He, nevertheless, caused the man to be secured
whomno dog would assail. He was clad in a blue
cloak, and was named Grimnir, and would say no
more concerning himself, although he was
questioned. The king ordered himto be tortured to
make himconfess, and to be set between two fires;
and there he sat for eight nights. King Geirrd had
a son ten years old, whomhe named Agnar, after
his brother. Agnar went to Grimnir and gave hima
full horn to drink from, saying that the king did
wrong in causing himto be tortured, though
innocent. Grimnir drank fromit. The fire had then
so approached himthat his cloak was burnt;
whereupon he said:--


Fire! thou art hot, and much too great;
Flame! let us separate.
My garment is singed, although I lift it up,
My cloak is scorched before it.

Eight nights have I sat between fires here,
And to me no one food has offered,
Save only Agnar, the son of Geirrd,
Who alone shall rule over the land of Goths.

Be thou blessed, Agnar! as blessed
As the god of men bids thee to be.
For one draught thou never shalt
Get better recompense.

Holy is the land, which I see lying
To sir and Alfar near;
But in ThrdheimThor shall dwell
Until the powers perish.

Ydalir it is called, where Ullr
Has himself a dwelling made.
Alfheimthe gods to Frey gave

6
King Hrauthung
7
had two sons: one was called
Agnar, and the other Geirroth.
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Agnar was ten
winters old, and Geirroth eight. Once they both
rowed in a boat with their fishing-gear to catch
little fish; and the wind drove themout into the sea.
In the darkness of the night they were wrecked on
the shore; and going up, they found a poor peasant,
with whomthey stayed through the winter. The
housewife took care of Agnar, and the peasant
cared for Geirroth, and taught himwisdom. In the
spring the peasant gave hima boat; and when the
couple led themto the shore, the peasant spoke
secretly with Geirroth. They had a fair wind, and
came to their father's landing-place. Geirroth was
forward in the boat; he leaped up on land, but
pushed out the boat and said, "Go thou now where
evil may have thee!" The boat drifted out to sea.
Geirroth, however, went up to the house, and was
well received, but his father was dead. Then
Geirroth was made king, and became a renowned
man.

Othin and Frigg
9
sat in Hlithskjolf
10
and looked
over all the worlds. Othin said: "Seest thou Agnar,
thy foster ling, how he begets children with a
giantess in the cave? But Geirroth, my fosterling, is
a king, and now rules over his land." Frigg said:
"He is so miserly that he tortures his guests if he
thinks that too many of themcome to him." Othin
replied that this was the greatest of lies; and they
made a wager about this matter. Frigg sent her
maid-servant, Fulla, to Geirroth. She bade the king
beware lest a magician who was come thither to his
land should bewitch him, and told this sign
concerning him, that no dog was so fierce as to leap
at him. Now it was a very great slander that King
Geirroth was not hospitable; but nevertheless he
had themtake the man whomthe dogs would not
attack. He wore a dark-blue mantle and called
himself Grimnir,
11
but said no more about himself,
though he was questioned. The king had him
tortured to make himspeak, and set himbetween
two fires, and he sat there eight nights. King
Geirroth had a son ten winters old, and called
Agnar after his father's brother. Agnar went to
Grimnir, and gave hima full horn to drink from,
and said that the king did ill in letting himbe
tormented without cause. Grimnir drank fromthe
horn; the fire had come so near that the mantle
burned on Grimnir's back. He spake:

Hot art thou, fire! | too fierce by far;
Get ye now gone, ye flames!
The mantle is burnt, | though I bear it aloft,
And the fire scorches the fur.

'Twixt the fires now | eight nights have I sat,
And no man brought meat to me,
Save Agnar alone, | and alone shall rule
Geirroth's son o'er the Goths.
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Hail to thee, Agnar! | for hailed thou art
By the voice of Veratyr;
13

For a single drink | shalt thou never receive
A greater gift as reward.
14


The land is holy | that lies hard by
The gods and the elves together;
And Thor shall ever | in Thruthheim
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dwell,
Till the gods to destruction go.

Ydalir
16
call they | the place where Ull
A hall for himself hath set;
And Alfheim
17
the gods | to Freyr
18
once gave

King Hrauthung had two sons, Agnar and
Geirroeth.
86
Agnar was ten years old, Geirroeth
eight. One day they were rowing in a boat with
their tackle, to catch small fry, when the wind blew
themout to sea. In the darkness of night they were
dashed against the land. They made the shore and
found a cotter. They stayed there that winter. The
goodwife fostered Agnar, the goodman, Geirroeth
and counseled himin shrewdness. In spring he got
thema boat, and when he and his wife led them
down to the shore he spoke secretly with Geirroeth.
They had a fair wind and came to their father's
landing place. Geirroeth was forward in the boat.
He leapt out on shore and thrust the boat back into
the sea and said, "Now go where all trolls may take
thee!" Agnar drifted out to sea; but Geirroeth went
up to the buildings. He was warmly welcomed, and
as his father had died he was made king and
became a famous leader.

One day, Othin and Frigg were sitting in
Hlithskjalf
87
and were looking out upon all the
worlds. Then said Othin: "Dost thou see Agnar, thy
foster son, how he begets children with an ogress in
a cave? But Geirroeth, my foster son, is king in the
land." Frigg answered: "He is so grudging about his
food
88
that he lets his guests die of hunger when he
thinks too many have come." Othin said that this
was a gross lie, and so they laid a wager about this
matter. Frigg sent her chambermaid Fulla to
Geirroeth to tell himto beware lest he be bewitched
by a warlock who was then come into the land. She
told himthat the warlock could be recognized by
this, that no dog was so fierce as to rush at him. But
it was evil slander, to say that King Geirroeth was
not generous about his food. Yet he had that man
taken captive whomhis dogs would not set on. He
was clad in a blue cloak and gave his name as
Grimnir,
89
and said no more about himself though
he was asked. The king tortured himto make him
speak, by setting himbetween two fires; and there
he sate for eight nights. Geirroeth had a son ten
years old, who was named Agnar after his brother.
Agnar went up to Grimnir and gave hima full horn
to drink fromand said that the king did ill to torture
one who had done no wrong. Grimnir emptied it.
By that time the fire had come so near himthat his
cloak began to burn. He said:



Hot art thou, blaze, and too high, withal!
Get, fire, thee farther away!
My frieze coat is singed though I flung it aloft,
Flares up the fur in the flames.

Eight nights famished 'twixt the fires I sate,
Nor did anyone fetch me food,
But Agnar only who after shall rule,
Geirroeth's son, o'er the Goths.
90


All hail to thee, for happiness
Is given thee, Agnar, by Othin.
Better guerdon shalt never get
For one beaker of beer.

The land is holy which lies yonder,
Near to Aesir and alfs;
In Thruthheim,
91
there shall Thor ay dwell,
Till draws nigh the doomof the gods.

On Ydal's plains Ull hath reared him
His hall timbered on high.
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For Frey's
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tooth-fee was fashioned of yore


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In days of yore for a tooth-gift.

The third dwelling is, where the kind powers
Have with silver decked the hall;
Valaskilf 'tis called, which for himself acquired
The As in days of old.

Skkvabekk the fourth is named
O'er which the gelid waves resound;
Odin and Saga there, joyful each day,
Fromgolden beakers quaff.

Gladsheimthe fifth is named,
There the golden-bright Valhall stands spacious,
There Hropt selects each day
Those men who die by weapons.

Easily to be known is, by those who to Odin come,
The mansion by its aspect.
Its roof with spears is laid, its hall with shields is
decked, / With corslets are its benches strewed.

Easily to be known is, by those who to Odin come,
The mansion by its aspect.
A wolf hangs before the western door,
Over it an eagle hovers.

Thrymheimthe sixth is named, where Thiassi dwelt
That all-powerful J tun;
But Skadi now inhabits, the bright bride of gods,
Her father's ancient home.

Breidablik is the seventh, where Baldr has built
For himself a hall,
In that land, in which I know
Exists the fewest crimes.

Himinbirg is the eighth, where Heimdall,
It is said, rules o'er the holy fanes:
There the gods' watchman, in his tranquil home,
Drinks joyful the good mead.

Flkvang is the ninth, there Freyia directs
The sittings in the hall.
She half the fallen chooses each day,
But Odin th' other half.

Glitnir is the tenth; it is on gold sustained,
And eke with silver decked.
There Forseti dwells throughout all time,
And every strife allays.

Natn is the eleventh, there Nird has
Himself a dwelling made,
Prince of men; guiltless of sin,
He rules o'er the high-built fane.

O'ergrown with branches and high grass
Is Vidar's spacious Landvdi:
There will the son descend, fromthe steed's back,
Bold to avenge his father.

Andhrimnir makes, in Eldhrimnir,
Shrimnir to boil, of meats the best;
But few know how many
Einheriar it feeds.

Geri and Freki the war-wont sates,
The triumphant sire of hosts;
But on wine only the famed in arms,
Odin, ever lives.

Hugin and Munin fly each day
Over the spacious earth.
I fear for Hugin, that he come not back,
Yet more anxious amI for Munin.

Thund roars; joyful in Thiodvitnir's water
As a tooth-gift
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in ancient times.

A third home is there, | with silver thatched
By the hands of the gracious gods:
Valaskjolf
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is it, | in days of old
Set by a god for himself.

Sokkvabekk
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is the fourth, | where cool waves
flow, / And amid their murmur it stands;
There daily do Othin | and Saga drink
In gladness fromcups of gold.

The fifth is Glathsheim,
22
| and gold-bright there
Stands Valhall
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stretching wide;
And there does Othin | each day choose
The men who have fallen in fight.

Easy is it to know | for himwho to Othin
Comes and beholds the hall;
Its rafters are spears, | with shields is it roofed,
On its benches are breastplates strewn.

Easy is it to know | for himwho to Othin
Comes and beholds the hall;
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There hangs a wolf
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| by the western door,
And o'er it an eagle hovers.

The sixth is Thrymheim,
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| where Thjazi dwelt,
The giant of marvelous might;
Now Skathi abides, | the god's fair bride,
In the home that her father had.

The seventh is Breithablik;
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| Baldr has there
For himself a dwelling set,
In the land I know | that lies so fair,
And fromevil fate is free.

Himinbjorg
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is the eighth, | and Heimdall there
O'er men holds sway, it is said;
In his well-built house | does the warder of heaven
The good mead gladly drink.

The ninth is Folkvang,
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| where Freyja decrees
Who shall have seats in the hall;
The half of the dead
30
| each day does she choose,
And half does Othin have.

The tenth is Glitnir;
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| its pillars are gold,
And its roof with silver is set;
There most of his days | does Forseti dwell,
And sets all strife at end.

The eleventh is Noatun;
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| there has Njorth
For himself a dwelling set;
The sinless ruler | of men there sits
In his temple timbered high.

Filled with growing trees | and high-standing grass
Is Vithi, Vithar's land;
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But there did the son | fromhis steed leap down,
When his father he fain would avenge.

In Eldhrimnir | Andhrimnir cooks
Saehrimnir's seething flesh,--
The best of food, | but few men know
On what fare the warriors feast.
34


Freki and Geri | does Heerfather feed,
35

The far-famed fighter of old:
But on wine alone | does the weapon-decked god,
Othin, forever live.

O'er Mithgarth Hugin | and Munin both
36

Each day set forth to fly;
For Hugin I fear | lest he come not home,
But for Munin my care is more.

Loud roars Thund,
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| and Thjothvitnir's fish
38

Alf-Home, as gift by the gods.

A third hall still, all thatched with silver,
Was built by the blessed gods:
In Valaskjalf
94
hall did house himself
Othin in olden days.

Sokkvabekk
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called is the fourth,
Which cool waters ripple round about;
There Othin and Saga
96
all their days drink,
Glad fromgolden cups.

Gladhome is hight the fifth where golden
shimm'ring / Valholl
97
is widely spread out;
Here Othin chooses every day
Weapon-slain warriors.

Easily known to Ygg's chosen
Are the heavenly halls:
The rafters, spearshafts; the roofs, shield-shingled;
And the benches strewn with byrnies.

Easily known to Ygg's chosen
Are the heavenly halls:
A wolf hangeth o'er the western gate,
And hovers an eagle on high.
98


Thrymheimis hight the sixth, where Thjatsi
dwelled, / The etin of awful might;
Njorth's bride there her bower hath,
Skathi,
99
where her father before.

Breithablik
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the seventh; there Baldr the good
Hath reared himhis bright abode:
In that land it lies where least I know
Falsehood and faithlessness.

Himinbjorg
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the eighth; there Heimdall, they say,
Guards the holy hall;
There the gods' warder in goodly stead
The mead drinks, glad in mind.

Folkvang
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the ninth, where Freya
103
chooses
Who seats shall have in her hall:
Half of the slain are hers each day,
And half are Othin's own.

Glitnir the tenth, which with gold is propped,
And is shingled with shining silver;
There Forseti
104
unflagging sits,
The god that stills all strife.

Noatun
105
the eleventh, where Njorth hath him
Reared his bright abode;
The sinless god his seat there has
And rules in high-timbered hall.

Greenwoods grow, and grasses tall,
In Vithi,
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Vithar's land:
Fromhorseback leaps the hero, eager
To avenge his father's fall.

By Andhrimnir
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in Eldhrimnir
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Saehrimnir,
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the boar, is boiled,
The best of bacons; though 'tis barely known
What the Einherjar eat.

Valfather feeds Freki and Geri
On the flesh of the fallen;
But weapon-glad Othin on wine only
Lives forever and ay.

The whole earth over, every day,
Hover Hugin and Munin;
I dread lest Hugin droop in his flight,
Yet I fear me still more for Munin.

Thund roars loudly; sports Thjothvitnir's fish
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Lives the fish;
The rapid river seems too great
For the battle-steed to ford.

Valgrind is the lattice called, in the plain that
stands, / Holy before the holy gates:
Ancient is that lattice,
But few only know how it is closed with lock.

Five hundred doors, and forty eke,
I think, are in Valhall.
Eight hundred Einheriar will at once fromeach
Door go when they issue with the wolf to fight.
3


Five hundred floors, and forty eke, I think,
Has Bilskirnir with its windings.
Of all the roofed houses that I know,
Is my son's the greatest.

Heidrn the goat is called, that stands o'er Odin's
hall, / And bites fromLrd's branches.
He a bowl shall fill with the bright mead;
That drink shall never fail.

Eikthyrnir the hart is called, that stands o'er Odin's
hall, / And bites fromLrd's branches;
Fromhis horns fall drops into Hvergelmir,
Whence all waters rise:--

Sid and Vid, Soekin and Eikin,
Svl and Gunnthr, Firmand Fimbulthul,
Rin and Rennandi,
Gipul and Gpul, Gmul and Geirvimul:
They round the gods' dwelling wind.
Thyn and Vin, Thll and Hll,
Grd and Gunnthorin.

Vina one is called, a second Vegsvin,
A third Thiodnuma;
Nyt and Nn and Hrn,
Slid and Hrid, Sylg and Ylg,
Vd and Vn, Vnd and Strnd,
Gioll and Leipt; these (two) fall near to men,
But fall hence to Hel.

Krmt and Ormt, and the Kerlaugs twain:
These Thor must wade each day,
When he to council goes
At Yggdrasil's ash;
For the As-bridge is all on fire,
The holy waters boil.

Glad and Gyllir, Gler and Skeidbrimir,
Sillfrintopp and Sinir,
Gisl and Falhfnir, Gulltopp and Lettfeti;
On these steeds the sir each day ride,
When they to council go,
At Yggdrasil's ash.

Three roots stand on three ways
Under Yggdrasil's ash:
Hel under one abides, under the second the
Hrimthursar, / Under the third mankind.






Ratatsk is the squirrel named,
Which has to run in Yggdrasil's ash;
He fromabove the eagle's words must carry,
And beneath to Nidhgg repeat.

Harts there are also four, which fromits summits,
Arch-necked, gnaw.
Din and Dvalin,
Duneyr and Durathrr.
joyously fares in the flood;
Hard does it seem| to the host of the slain
To wade the torrent wild.
39


There Valgrind
40
stands, | the sacred gate,
And behind are the holy doors;
Old is the gate, | but few there are
Who can tell how it tightly is locked.

Five hundred doors | and forty there are,
I ween, in Valhall's walls;
Eight hundred fighters | through one door fare
When to war with the wolf they go.
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Five hundred rooms | and forty there are
I ween, in Bilskirnir built;
Of all the homes | whose roofs I beheld,
My son's the greatest meseemed.
42


Heithrun is the goat | who stands by Heerfather's
hall,
43
/ And the branches of Laerath she bites;
The pitcher she fills | with the fair, clear mead,
Ne'er fails the foaming drink.

Eikthyrnir
44
is the hart | who stands by Heerfather's
hall / And the branches of Laerath he bites;
Fromhis horns a stream| into Hvergelmir
45
drops,
Thence all the rivers run.

46
Sith and Vith, | Saekin and Aekin,
Svol and Fimbulthul, | Gunnthro, and Fjorm,
Rin
47
and Rinnandi,
Gipul and Gopul, | Gomul and Geirvimul,
That flow through the fields of the gods;
Thyn and Vin, | Thol and Hol,
Groth and Gunnthorin.

Vino is one, | Vegsvin another,
And Thjothnuma a third;
Nyt and Not, | Non and Hron,
Slith
48
and Hrith, | Sylg and Ylg,
Vith and Von, | Vond and Strond,
Gjol and Leipt,
49
| that go among men,
And hence they fall to Hel.

Kormt and Ormt | and the Kerlaugs twain
Shall Thor each day wade through,
(When dooms to give | he forth shall go
To the ash-tree Yggdrasil;)
For heaven's bridge | burns all in flame,
And the sacred waters seethe.
50


Glath and Gyllir, | Gler and Skeithbrimir,
Silfrintopp and Sinir,
Gisl and Falhofnir, | Golltopp and Lettfeti,
On these steeds the gods shall go
When dooms to give | each day they ride
To the ash-tree Yggdrasil.
51


52
Three roots there are | that three ways run
'Neath the ash-tree Yggdrasil;
'Neath the first lives Hel, | 'neath the second the
frost-giants, / 'Neath the last are the lands of men.

[An eagle sits in the branches of the ash tree,
And he is very wise;
And between his eyes sits the hawk
Who is called Vethrfolnir.]
53


Ratatosk is the squirrel | who there shall run
On the ash-tree Yggdrasil;
Fromabove the words | of the eagle he bears,
And tells themto Nithhogg beneath.
54


55
Four harts there are, | that the highest twigs
56

Nibble with necks bent back;
Dain and Dvalin, | . . . . . .
57

Duneyr and Dyrathror.
In the foaming Rood;
The strong streamseems too stiff to wade
For warriors to Valholl bent.

Valgrind
111
is the gate that wards the gods,
Holy, nigh holy doors;
Old is that wicket, nor wot many
With what bolt that gate is barred.

Five hundred doors and forty withal
I ween that in Valholl be:
Eight hundred warriors through one door hie them
When they fare forth to fight the Wolf.

Five hundred rooms and forty withal
I ween that in Bilskirnir be;
Of all the halls which on high are reared
The greatest I see is my son's.

Heithrun, the goat on the hall that stands,
Eateth off wrath's
112
limbs;
The crocks she fills with clearest mead,
Will that drink not e'er be drained.

Eikthyrnir, the hart on the hall that stands,
Eateth off wrath's limbs;
Drops fromhis horns in Hvergelmi fall,
Thence wend all the waters their way.

113
[Sith and Vith, Soekin and Eikin,
Svol and Gunnthro, Fjormand Fimbulthul,
Rin and Rinnandi,
Gipul and Gopul, Gomul and Geirvimul,
They flow by the garth of the gods;
Thyn and Vin, Tholl and Holl,
Grath and Gunnthorin.

Vina is hight one, Vegsvinn the other,
The third, Thjothnuma;
Nyt and Not, Nonn and Hronn,
Slith and Hrith, Sylg and Ylg,
Vil and Van, Vond and Strond,
Gjoll and Leiptr, flow in the land of men,
But hence flow to Hel.]

Kormt and Ormt and the Kerlaugs twain,
Thor does wade through every day,
To doomwhen he fares
'Neath the ash Yggdrasil;
For the bridge of the gods
114
is ablaze with flames

hot are the holy waters.
ler and Skeithbrimir,
sts every day,
eath the ash Yggdrasil.]
s
r, Hel,
eath the third, Mithgarth's
116
men.
il's limbs,
erched,
ight Vethrfolnir, and watcheth.)
hight which runneth ay
l eagle
e bears to Nithhogg
119
beneath.
st shoots
th:

115
[Glath and Gyllir, G
Silfrintopp and Sinir,
Gisl and Falhofnir, Golltopp and Lettfeti --
These steeds ride heavenly ho
To the doomwhen they fare
'N

Three roots do spread in threefold way
Beneath the ash Yggdrasil:
Dwell etins 'neath one, 'neath the othe
'N

117
(An eagle sitteth on Yggdras
Whose keen eyes widely ken;
'Twixt his eyes a fallow falcon is p
H

Ratatosk
118
the squirrel is
About the ash Yggdrasil:
The warning words of the watchfu
H

[Four harts also the highe
Ay gnaw frombenea
Dain and Dvalin,
120


34






35




36






37




38




39




40




41




42




43




44






45





46




47





More serpents lie under Yggdrasil's ash,
Than any one would think of witless mortals:
Gin and Min, they are Grafvitnir's sons
Grbak and Grafvllud,
Ofnir and Svafnir, will, I ween,
The branches of that tree ever lacerate.

Yggdrasil's ash hardship suffers
Greater than men know of;
A hart bites it above, and in its side it rots,
Nidhgg beneath tears it.

Hrist and Mist the horn shall bear me
Skeggld and Skgul,
Hlkk and Herfiotur, Hildi and Thrdi,
Gll and Geirlul,
Randgrd and Rdgrd, and Reginleif,
These bear beer to the Einheriar.

Arvakr and Alsvid, theirs 'tis up hence
Fasting the sun to draw:
Under their shoulder the gentle powers,
The sir, have concealed an iron-coolness.

Svalin the shield is called,
Which stands before the sun, the refulgent deity;
Rocks and ocean must, I ween,
Be burnt, fell it fromits place.

Skll the wolf is named, that the fair-faced goddess
To the ocean chases;
Another Hati hight, he is Hrdvitnir's son;
He the bright maid of heaven shall precede.

Of Ymir's flesh was earth created,
Of his blood the sea, of his bones the hills,
Of his hair trees and plants,
Of his skull the heaven;

And of his brows the gentle powers formed
Midgard for the sons of men;
But of his brain
The heavy clouds are all created.

Ullr's and all the gods' favour shall have,
Whoever first shall look to the fire;
For open will the dwelling be, to the sir's sons,
When the kettles are lifted off.
4


Ivaldi's sons went in days of old
Skidbladnir to form,
Of ships the best, for the bright Frey,
Nird's benign son.

Yggdrasil's ash is of all trees most excellent,
And of all ships, Skidbladnir,
Of the sir, Odin, and of horses, Sleipnir,
Bifrst of bridges, and of skallds, Bragi,
Hbrk of hawks, and of dogs, Garm,
[Brimir of swords.]

Now I my face have raised to the gods' triumphant
sons, / At that will welcome help awake;
Fromall the sir, that shall penetrate,
To Oegir's bench,
To Oegir's compotation.
5


I amcalled Grim, I amcalled Gangleri,
Herian and Hilmberi,
Thekk and Thridi, Thund and Ud,
Helblindi and Har,

Sad and Svipall, and Sanngetall,
Herteit and Hnikar
Bileyg, Bleyg, Blverk, Filnir,
Grmand Grimnir, Glapsvid and Filsvid,


More serpents there are | beneath the ash
Than an unwise ape would think;
Goin and Moin, | Grafvitnir's sons,
Grabak and Grafvolluth,
Ofnir and Svafnir | shall ever, methinks,
Gnaw at the twigs of the tree.
58


Yggdrasil's ash | great evil suffers,
Far more than men do know;
The hart bites its top, | its trunk is rotting,
And Nithhogg gnaws beneath.
59


Hrist and Mist | bring the horn at my will,
Skeggjold and Skogul;
Hild and Thruth, | Hlok and Herfjotur,
Gol and Geironul,
Randgrith and Rathgrith | and Reginleif
Beer to the warriors bring.
60


Arvak and Alsvith | up shall drag
Weary the weight of the sun;
But an iron cool | have the kindly gods
Of yore set under their yokes.
61


In front of the sun | does Svalin
62
stand,
The shield for the shining god;
Mountains and sea | would be set in flames
If it fell frombefore the sun.

63
Skoll is the wolf | that to Ironwood
64

Follows the glittering god,
And the son of Hrothvitnir, | Hati, awaits
The burning bride of heaven.

65
Out of Ymir's flesh | was fashioned the earth,
And the ocean out of his blood;
Of his bones the hills, | of his hair the trees,
Of his skull the heavens high.

Mithgarth the gods | fromhis eyebrows made,
And set for the sons of men;
And out of his brain | the baleful clouds
They made to move on high.

His the favor of Ull | and of all the gods
Who first in the flames will reach;
For the house can be seen | by the sons of the gods
If the kettle aside were cast.
66


67
In days of old | did Ivaldi's
68
sons
Skithblathnir
69
fashion fair,
The best of ships | for the bright god Freyr,
The noble son of Njorth.

70
The best of trees | must Yggdrasil be,
Skithblathnir best of boats;
Of all the gods | is Othin the greatest,
And Sleipnir
71
the best of steeds;
Bifrost
72
of bridges, | Bragi
73
of skalds,
Hobrok of hawks, | and Garmof hounds.

74
To the race of the gods | my face have I raised,
And the wished-for aid have I waked;
For to all the gods | has the message gone
That sit in Aegir's seats,
That drink within Aegir's
75
doors.

76
Grimis my name, | Gangleri am1,
Herjan and Hjalmberi,
Thekk and Thrithi, | Thuth and Uth,
Helblindi and Hor;

77
Sath and Svipal | and Sanngetal,
Herteit and Hnikar,
Bileyg, Baleyg, | Bolverk, Fjolnir,
Grimand Grimnir, | Glapsvith, Fjolsvith.

Duneyr and Dyrathror.]
tree beneath
rafvitnir's sons,
,
n that tree's twigs will batten.]
de,
rotting,
nd Nithhogg gnawing beneath.
shall bear me,
, Hlokk and Herfjotur,
eginleif,
122

the einherjar ale shall bear.
ey up shall draw
ssed gods
ave hidden the "icy irons."
sea and land,
omhimit ever should fall.
ogs him
's son,
llows the fair orb too.
hills of his bones,
ut of his skull the sky.
ods made
menacing clouds
hich in the heavens hover.
ll the gods,
hen kettles are heaved fromthe hearth.
126

ing Frey,
e noble son of Njorth.]
best;
128

f hawks, Habrok;
130
of hounds all, Garm.]
ft to the gods:
131

ich in shall come

t Aegir's feast.
132

angleri,
134

Thuth and Uth,
elblindi and Har.
138

nngetal,
140

146

rimand Grimnir, Glapsvith, Fjolsvith,

[More worms do lie the world-
Than unwise apes may ween:
Goin and Moin, which are G
Grabak and Grafvolluth;
Ofnir and Svafnir
121
ay, I fear me
O

The ash Yggdrasil doth ill abi
More than to men is known:
The hart browsing above, its bole
A

Hrist and Mist the horn
Skeggjold and Skogul;
But Hild and Thruth
Goll and Geironul,
Randgrith and Rathgrith and R
To

Arvakr and Alsvith,
123
th
The sun's wain wearily;
But under their bellies the ble
H

Svalin is hight, the Sun before,
A shield fromthe shining god.
Would smoke and smolder both
If fr

Skoll the wolf, in the sky d
To the warding woods;
124

But Hati
125
the other, Hrothvitnir
Fo

Of Ymir's flesh the earth was shaped,
Of his blood, the briny sea,
Of his hair, the trees, the
O

But of his lashes the loving g
Mithgarth for sons of men;
Fromhis brow they made the
W

Will Ull befriend him, and a
Who erst the fire clenches;
For open lie to the Aesir all worlds,
W

[In earliest times Ivaldi's sons
127

Skithblathnir, the ship, did shape,
The best of boats, for beam
Th

[The ash Yggdrasil is of all trees
Skithblathnir, the best of boats;
Of holy gods, Othin; of horses, Sleipnir;
Of bridges, Bifrost; of skalds, Bragi;
129

O


Now my looks have I lifted alo
Help will come fromon high,
Fromall the Aesir wh
On Aegir's benches,
A

Grim
133
is my name, and G
Herjan
135
and Hjalmberi,
Thekk
136
and Thrithi,
137
H

Sath and Svipal
139
and Sa
Herteit
141
and Hnikar,
142

Bileyg,
143
Baleyg,
144
Bolverk,
145
Fjolnir,
G
48




49







50




51




52




53




54






III

Sdhtt, Sdskegg Sigfdr, Hnikud,
Alfodr, Valfdr, Atrid and Farmatyr;
By one name I never have been called,
Since among men I have gone.

Grimnir I amcalled at Geirrd's,
And at Asmund's J lk
And Kialar, when a sledge I drew;
Thrr at the public meetings,
Vidur in battles,
Oski and Omi, J afnhr and Biflindi,
Gndlir and Harbard with the gods.

Svidur and Svidrir I was at Skkmimir's called,
And beguiled that ancient J tun,
When of Midvitnir's renowned son
I was the sole destroyer.

Drunken art thou, Geirrd, thou hast drunk too
much, / Thou art greatly by mead beguiled. / Much
didst thou lose, when thou wast of my help bereft,
Of all the Einheriar's and Odin's favour.

Many things I told thee, but thou hast few
remembered: / Thy friends mislead thee.
My friend's sword lying I see,
With blood all dripping.

The fallen by the sword Ygg shall now have;
Thy life is now run out:
Wroth with thee are the Dsir: Odin thou now shalt
see: / Draw near to me if thou canst.

Odin I now amnamed, Ygg I was called before,
Before that, Thund,
Vakr and Skilfing, Vfudr and Hrptatyr,
With the gods, Gaut and J lk,
Ofnir and Svafnir, all which I believe
To be names of me alone.

King Geirrd was sitting with his sword lying
across his knees, half drawn fromthe scabbard, but
on finding that it was Odin, he rose for the purpose
of removing himfromthe fires, when the sword
slipt fromhis hand with the hilt downwards; and
the king having stumbled, the sword pierced him
through and killed him. Odin then vanished, and
Agnar was king for a long time after.

78
Sithhott, Sithskegg, | Sigfather, Hnikuth,
Allfather, Valfather, | Atrith, Farmatyr:
A single name | have I never had
Since first among men I fared.

79
Grimnir they call me | in Geirroth's hall,
With Asmund J alk amI;
Kjalar I was | when I went in a sledge,
At the council Thror amI called,
As Vithur I fare to the fight;
Oski, Biflindi, | J afnhor and Omi,
Gondlir and Harbarth midst gods.

I deceived the giant | Sokkmimirold
As Svithur and Svithrir of yore;
Of Mithvitnir's son | the slayer I was
When the famed one found his doom.
80


81
Drunk art thou, Geirroth, | too much didst thou
drink, / [Greatly by me art beguiled]
82

Much hast thou lost, | for help no more
Fromme or my heroes thou hast.

Small heed didst thou take | to all that I told,
And false were the words of thy friends;
For now the sword | of my friend I see,
That waits all wet with blood.

Thy sword-pierced body | shall Ygg
83
have soon,
For thy life is ended at last;
The maids
84
are hostile; | now Othin behold!
Now come to me if thou canst!

85
Now amI Othin, | Ygg was I once,
Ere that did they call me Thund;
Vak and Skilfing, | Vofuth and Hroptatyr,
Gaut and J alk midst the gods;
Ofnir and Svafnir, | and all, methinks,
Are names for none but me.

King Geirroth sat and had his sword on his knee,
half drawn fromits sheath. But when he heard that
Othin was come thither, then he rose up and sought
to take Othin fromthe fire. The sword slipped from
his hand, and fell with the hilt down. The king
stumbled and fell forward, and the sword pierced
himthrough, and slew him. Then Othin vanished,
but Agnar long ruled there as king.


Sithhott,
147
Sithskegg, Sigfather, Hnikuth,
148


lcomed ever,
nce among folk I fared.
roeth's hall,
the hand sled I drew,
hings,
ondlir
153
and Harbarth among gods.
Sokkmimir's was I,
nir's, the mighty one's,
on I slew alone.

ou losest
thin's and the Einherjars' favor.
indest:
ord,
ipping with blood.
soon drink with Ygg:
156

n mayst see;
me thou near if thou canst.
157

s I hight,
d Hroptatyr,
159

they all have become
ne with me, I ween.
t
d.
ut Agnar was king in that land for a
ng time.

Alfather, Valfather, Atrith,
149
Farmatyr:
150
By one name was I not we
Si

Grimnir my name in Geir
But J alk in Asmund's.
151

Was I Kjalar hight when
But Thror
152
at T
Vithur in wars,
Oski and Omi, J afnhar, Biflindi,
G

Svithur and Svithrir
154
at
When the old etin I hid,
And when Mithvit
S

Thou art muddled, Geirroeth!
Too much thou hast drunk;
Of much art robbed since rashly th
O

Full long I spake, but little thou m
Faithless friends
155
betray thee:
Before me I see my foster son's sw
Its blade all dr

A death-doomed man will
Not long the life left thee.
The norns wish thee ill: now Othi
Co

Now Othin's my name. Ygg wa
Thund was my name ere then;
Vak and Skilfing, Vafuth
158
an
Gaut
160
and J alk among gods.
2
Ofnir
161
and Svafnir,
16
O

King Geirroeth was sitting with his sword on his
knees half unsheathed. But when he heard that i
was Othin who had come to him, he arose and
wanted to take himfrombetween the fires. His
sword slid fromhis hands with its hilt downwar
The king stumbled and fell forward, the sword
pierced him, and so he lost his life. Then Othin
vanished; b
lo


1
Some scholars see in the p eman Othin monologue of great impressiveness, with no breaks in its unity one which originally had nothing to do with the King
reference to a lost myth. It would seemthat, through the intervention of the kettles, the sir were unable to see
er the name of Oegir, Gierrod is genera understood: I rather think the meaning to be, that all the sir who [sit at] Oegir's compotation
r details.
hin's watch-tower in heaven, whence he can overlook all the nine worlds; cf. Skirnismol, introductory prose.
s"
nately to any South-Germanic people, including the Burgundians as well as the
ecific application; cf. Gripisspo, 35 and note.
among the gods, a son of Thor's wife, Sif, by another marriage. The wood of the yew-tree was used for bows in the
in England.
o
Geirroeth motif.
2
Detter and Heinzel II, 172.
3
That equals 432,000 warriors total [my note].
4
What in this strophe is said of Ullr has apparently
Odin's unpleasant position between the two fires.
5
My version of this strophe is not in accordance with those of other interpreters. Odin raises his countenance to heaven, in full confidence that when seen help will
forthwith be afforded him. Und lly
will forthwith come to his aid.
6
Prose. The texts of the two manuscripts differ in many mino
7
Hrauthung: this mythical king is not mentioned elsewhere.
8
Geirroth: the manuscripts spell his name in various ways .
9
Frigg: Othin's wife. She and Othin nearly always disagreed in some such way as the one outlined in this story.
10
Hlithskjolf ("Gate-Shelf"): Ot
11
Grimnir: "the Hooded One."
12
In the original lines 2 and 4 are both too long for the meter, and thus the true formof the stanza is doubtful. For line 4 both manuscripts have "the land of the Goth
instead of simply "the Goths." The word "Goths" apparently was applied indiscrimi
actual Goths, and thus here has no sp
13
Veratyr ("Lord of Men"): Othin.
14
The "gift" which Agnar receives is Othin's mythological lore.
15
Thruthheim("the Place of Might"): the place where Thor, the strongest of the gods, has his hall, Bilskirnir, described in stanza 24.
16
Ydalir ("Yew-Dales"): the home of Ulf, the archer
North just as it was long afterwards
17
Alfheim: the home of the elves.

n's home, in which is his watch-tower, Hlithskjolf. Gering identifies this with Valhall, and as that is mentioned in stanza 8,
there, little is known. Saga may be an hypostasis of Frigg, but Snorri calls her a
slain heroes are br by the Valkyries, but also a favorite home of Othin.
e)
un, but neither could endure the surroundings of the other's home, so Skathi returned to
e
as warder of the
eyja's hall, Sessrymnir ("Rich in Seats"). Freyja, the sister of Freyr, is the fairest of the goddesses, and the most
mind her attributes as Othin's wife. Snorri has this same confusion, but there is no reason why the Freyja who was
ti is the son of Baldr and Nanna, daughter of Nep.
andmen."
s'
boar Saehrimnir ("The Blackened"). His flesh suffices for all the heroes there gathered, and each
"): the two wolves who sit by Othin's side at the feast, and to whomhe gives all the food set before him, since wine is
Earth. Hugin ("Thought") and Munin ("Memory" or "Remembrance"): the two ravens who sit on Othin's shoulders, and fly forth
ch was caught by the wolf Skoll (cf. Voluspo 40), Thjothvitnir meaning "the mighty wolf." Such a phrase, characteristic of
d in reversed order in Regius. Snorri quotes stanza 23 as a proof of the vast size of Valhall. The last two lines refer to the final battle
se of stanza 23. Its description of Thor's house, Bilskirnir
e
whether the heroes drink water, whereto Har replies, "Do you imagine that Othin invites kings and earls and other noble men, and then gives
antlers, "thorns," like an oak): this animal presumably represents the clouds. The first line, like that of stanza 25, is too long
world of darkness and the dead, beneath the third root of the
s. It is
enting similar problems, cf. Voluspo, 10-16 [the so-called Catalogue of
s, but the similarity is doubtless purely accidental.
th is sworn, and Gering points the parallel to the significance of the
ee
the rainbow-
all.
se his teeth were of gold, he was also called Gullintanni ("Gold-Toothed").
noteworthy recorded.
The hypothesis that Ratatosk "represents the undying hatred between the
ding them.
18
Freyr: cf. Skirnismol, introductory prose and note.
19
Tooth-gift: the customof making a present to a child when it cuts its first tooth is, according to Vigfusson, still in vogue in Iceland.
20
Valaskjolf ("the Shelf of the Slain"): Othi
he believes stanza 6 to be an interpolation.
21
Sokkvabekk ("the Sinking Stream"): of this spot and of Saga, who is said to live
distinct goddess, and the name suggests some relation to history or story-telling.
22
Glathsheim("the Place of J oy"): Othin's home, the greatest and most beautiful hall in the world.

23
Valhall ("Hall of the Slain"): not only the hall whither the ought
24
The opening formula is abbreviated in both manuscripts.
25
A wolf: probably the wolf and the eagle were carved figures above the door.
26
Thrymheim("the Home of Clamor" or Noise-Home): on this mountain the giant Thjazi built his home. The god, or rather Wane, Njorth (cf. Voluspo, 21, not
married Thjazi's daughter, Skathi. She wished to live in her father's hall among the mountains, while Njorth loved his home, Noatun, by the sea. They agreed to
compromise by spending nine nights at Thrymheimand then three at Noat
Thrymheim, while Njorth stayed at Noatun. Snorri quotes stanzas 11-15.
27
Breithablik ("Wide-Shining"): the house in heaven, free fromeverything unclean, in which Baldr (cf. Voluspo, 32, note), the fairest and best of the gods, lived.
28
Himinbjorg ("Heaven's Cliffs"): the dwelling at the end of the bridge Bifrost (the rainbow), where Heimdall (cf. Voluspo, 27) keeps watch against the coming of th
giants. In this stanza the two functions of Heimdall--as father of mankind (cf. Voluspo, 1 and note, and Rigsthula, introductory prose and note) and
gods--seemboth to be mentioned, but the second line in the manuscripts is apparently in bad shape, and in the editions is more or less conjectural.
29
Folkvang ("Field of the Folk): here is situated Fr
kindly disposed to mankind, especially to lovers.
30
Half of the dead: Mogk has made it clear that Freyja represents a confusion between two originally distinct divinities: the wife of Othin (Frigg) and the northern
goddess of love. This passage appears to have in
Freyr's sister should share the slain with Othin.
31
Glitnir ("the Shining"): the home of Forseti, a god of whomwe know nothing beyond what Snorri tells us: "Forse
All those who come to himwith hard cases to settle go away satisfied; he is the best judge among gods
32
Noatun ("Ships'-Haven"): the home of Njorth, who calms the waves; cf. stanza 11 and Volusp, 21.
33
Vithi: this land is not mentioned elsewhere. Vithar avenged his father, Othin, by slaying the wolf Fenrir.
34
Stanzas 18-20 appear also in Snorri's Edda. Very possibly they are an interpolation here. Eldhrimnir ("Sooty with Fire"): the great kettle in Valhall, wherein the god
cook, Andhrimnir ("The Sooty-Faced") daily cooks the flesh of the
evening he becomes whole again, to be cooked the next morning.
35
Freki ("The Greedy") and Geri ("The Ravenous
food and drink alike for him. Heerfather: Othin.
36
Mithgarth ("The Middle Home"): the
daily to bring himnews of the world.
37
Thund ("The Swollen" or "The Roaring"): the river surrounding Valhall.
38
Thjothvitnir's fish: presumably the sun, whi
all Skaldic poetry, is rather rare in the Edda.
39
The last two lines refer to the attack on Valhalla by the people of Hel (cf. Volusp 51).
40
Valgrind ("The Death-Gate"): the outer gate of Valhall; cf. Sigurtharkvitha en skamma, 68 and note.
41
This and the following stanza stan
with Fenrir and the other enemies.
42
This stanza is almost certainly an interpolation, brought in through a confusion of the first two lines with tho
(cf. stanza 4 and note) has nothing to do with that of Valhall. Snorri quotes the stanza in his account of Thor.
43
The first line in the original is, as indicated in the translation, too long, and various attempts to amend it have been made. Heithrun: the she-goat who lives on th
twigs of the tree Laerath (presumably the ash Yggdrasil), and daily gives mead which, like the boar's flesh, suffices for all the heroes in Valhall. In Snorri's Edda
Gangleri foolishly asks
themwater to drink?"
44
Eikthyrnir ("The Oak-Thorned," i.e., with
in the original. Laerath: cf. stanza 25, note.
45
Hvergelmir: according to Snorri, this spring, "the Cauldron-Roaring," was in the midst of Niflheim, the
ash Yggdrasil. Snorri gives a list of the rivers flowing thence nearly identical with the one in the poem.
46
The entire passage fromstanza 27 through stanza 35 is confused. The whole thing may well be an interpolation. Bugge calls stanzas 27-30 an interpolation, and
editors who have accepted the passage as a whole have rejected various lines. The spelling of the names of the rivers varies greatly in the manuscripts and edition
needless here to point out the many attempted emendations of this list. For a passage pres
Dwarves]. Snorri virtually quotes stanzas 27-29 in his prose, though not consecutively.
47
The name Rin, in line 3, is identical with that for the River Rhine which appears frequently in the hero poem
48
Slith may possibly be the same river as that mentioned in Voluspo, 36, as flowing through the giants' land.
49
Leipt: in Helgakvitha Hundingsbana II, 29, this river is mentioned as one by which a solemn oa
Styx among the Greeks. The other rivers here named are not mentioned elsewhere in the poems.
50
This stanza looks as though it originally had nothing to do with the two preceding it. Snorri quotes it in his description of the three roots of Yggdrasil, and the thr
springs beneath them. "The third root of the ash stands in heaven and beneath this root is a spring which is very holy, and is called Urth's well." (Cf. Voluspo, 19)
"There the gods have their judgment-seat, and thither they ride each day over Bifrost, which is also called the Gods' Bridge." Thor has to go on foot in the last days of
the destruction, when the bridge is burning. Another interpretation, however, is that when Thor leaves the heavens (i.e., when a thunder-stormis over)
bridge becomes hot in the sun. Nothing more is known of the rivers named in this stanza. Lines 3-4 are almost certainly interpolated fromstanza 30.
51
This stanza, again possibly an interpolation, is closely paraphrased by Snorri following the passage quoted in the previous note. Glath ("J oyous"): identified in the
Skaldskaparmal with Skinfaxi, the horse of day; cf. Vafthruthnismol, 12. Gyllir: "Golden." Gler: "Shining." Skeithbrimir: "Swift-Going." Silfrintopp: "Silver-Topped."
Sinir: "Sinewy." Gisl: the meaning is doubtful; Gering suggests "Gleaming." Falhofnir: "Hollow-Hoofed." Golltopp ("Gold-Topped"): this horse belonged to Heimd
It is noteworthy that gold was one of the attributes of Heimdall's belongings, and, becau
Lettfeti: "Light-Feet." Othin's eight footed horse, Sleipnir, is not mentioned in this list.
52
The first of these roots is the one referred to in stanza 26; the second in stanza 29 (cf. notes). Of the third root there is nothing
53
After stanza 31 it is more than possible that one has been lost, [provided here as] paraphrased in the prose of Snorri's Edda.
54
Ratatosk ("The Swift-Tusked"): concerning this squirrel, the Prose Edda has to add only that he runs up and down the tree conveying the abusive language of the
eagle (see note on stanza 31) and the dragon Nithhogg (cf. Voluspo 39 and note) to each other.
sustaining and the destroying elements the gods and the giants," seems a trifle far-fetched.
55
Stanzas 33-34 may well be interpolated, and are certainly in bad shape in the Mss. Bugge points out that they are probably of later origin than those surroun
Snorri closely paraphrases stanza 33, but without elaboration, and nothing further is known of the four harts. It may be guessed, however, that they are a late

just as the list of dragons in stanza 34 seems to have been expanded out of Nithhogg, the only authentic dragon
rs have altered it in various ways in an attempt to regularize the meter. Goin and Moin: meaning obscure. Grafvitnir: "The Gnawing Wolf." Grabak: "Gray-

). Hild: "Warrior." Thruth: "Might." Hlok: "Shrieking." Herfjotur: "Host-Fetter." Gol: "Screaming." Geironul: "Spear-Bearer."
,
up in heaven; and they bade Sol drive the horses that drew the car of the sun which the gods had made to light the world fromthe
under their yokes the gods set two bellows to cool them, and in some songs
ld is in Sigrdrifumol 15.
Hrothvitnir ("The Mighty Wolf," i. e. Fenrir); cf. Voluspo 40, and
closely parallel to Vafthruthnismol 21, which see, as also Voluspo 3. Snorri, following this account, has a few details to add. The
ill reach into the fire and
.
ecified here apparently for no better reason than that his name fits the initial-rhyme.

ngnir, and the
nza. Like stanza 43 an almost certain interpolation, it was probably drawn in by the reference to Skithblathnir in the stanza interpolated earlier. It
built a fortress
ed reward Freyja and the sun and moon. To
ater figures among the gods, and is mentioned only three times in the poems of the Edda. In Snorri's Edda, however, he is
the Norwegian skald Bragi Boddason, the oldest recorded skaldic poet, had been traditionally
ithi. J ust what this tripartite formof Othin signifies has been the source of endless debate. Probably this line is late

"The Changing." Sanngetal: "The Truth-Teller." Herteit: "Glad of the Host." Hnikar: "The Overthrower." Bileyg: "The Shifty-Eyed."
a sledge" as Kjalar ("Ruler of Keels"?). Thror and Vithur are also of

Bearer." Harbarth: "Graybeard" (cf. Harbarthsljoth, introduction).
ithvitnir's son. Snorri quotes the names Svithur and Svithrir, but omits all the
direct action, Othin addressing the terrified Geirroth.
una. Some editors supply the second line frompaper manuscripts.
pt. Thund: "The Thunderer." Vak: "The Wakeful." Skilfing: "The Shaker." Vofuth: "The Wanderer." Hroptatyr:
at is, peace gained by the spear.
n he seats himself in the high-seat he can see all the world and the doings of every man"
thin. He is frequently pictured as concealing his countenance by a wide cowl.
90
Here, as frequently, used in a general and honorific sense for "warriors."
multiplication of the single hart mentioned in stanza 26,
under the root of the ash.
56
Highest twigs: a guess; the Mss. words are baffling.
57
Something has apparently been lost fromlines 3-4, but there is no clue as to its nature.
58
Cf. note on previous stanza. Nothing further is known of any of the serpents here listed, and the meanings of many of the names are conjectural. Snorri quotes this
stanza. Edito
Back." Grafvolluth: "The Field Gnawer." Ofnir and Svafnir ("The Bewilderer" and "The Sleep-Bringer"): it is noteworthy that in stanza 54 Othin gives himself these
two names.
59
Snorri quotes this stanza, which concludes the passage, beginning with stanza 25, describing Yggdrasil. If we assume that stanzas 27-34 are later interpolations
possibly excepting 32 this section of the poemreads clearly enough.
60
Snorri quotes this list of the Valkyries, concerning whomcf. Voluspo, 31 and note, where a different list of names is given. Hrist: "Shaker." Mist: "Mist." Skeggjold:
"Ax-Time." Skogul: "Raging" (?
Randgrith: "Shield-Bearer." Rathgrith: Gering guesses "Plan-Destroyer." Reginleif: "Gods'-Kin." Manuscripts and editions vary greatly in the spelling of these names,
and hence in their significance.
61
Mullenhoff suspects stanzas 37-41 to have been interpolated, and Edzardi thinks they may have come fromthe Vafthruthnismol. Snorri closely paraphrases stanzas
37-39, and quotes 40-41. Arvak ("Early Waker") and Alsvith ("All Swift"): the horses of the sun, named also in Sigrdrifumol, 15. According to Snorri: "There was a
man called Mundilfari, who had two children; they were so fair and lovely that he called his son Mani and his daughter Sol. The gods were angry at this presumption
and took the children and set them
sparks which flew out of Muspellsheim. The horses were called Alsvith and Arvak, and
these are called 'the cold iron.'"
62
Svalin ("The Cooling"): the only other reference to this shie
63
Skoll and Hati: the wolves that devour respectively the sun and moon. The latter is the son of
Vafthruthnismol 46-47, in which Fenrir appears as the thief.
64
Ironwood: a conjectural emendation of an obscure phrase; cf. Voluspo 40.
65
This and the following stanza are quoted by Snorri. They seemto have come froma different source fromthe others of this poem; Edzardi suggests an older version
of the Vafthruthnismol. This stanza is
stones were made out of Ymir's teeth and such of his bones as were broken. Mithgarth was a mountain-wall made out of Ymir's eyebrows, and set around the earth
because of the enmity of the giants.
66
With this stanza Othin gets back to his immediate situation, bound as he is between two fires. He calls down a blessing on the man who w
pull aside the great kettle which, in Icelandic houses, hung directly under the smoke vent in the roof, and thus kept any one above fromlooking down into the interior
On Ull, the archer-god, cf. stanza 5 and note. He is sp
67
This and the following stanza are certainly interpolated, for they have nothing to do with the context, and stanza 45 continues the dramatic conclusion of the poem
begun in stanza 42. This stanza is quoted by Snorri.
68
Ivaldi ("The Mighty"): he is known only as the father of the craftsmen-dwarfs who made not only the ship Skithblathnir, but also Othin's spear Gu
golden hair for Thor's wife, Sif, after Loki had maliciously cut her own hair off.
69
Skithblathnir: this ship ("Wooden-Bladed") always had a fair wind, whenever the sail was set; it could be folded up at will and put in the pocket.
70
Snorri quotes this sta
is presumably in faulty condition. One Ms. has after the fifth line half of a sixth, "Brimir of swords." Yggdrasil: cf. stanzas 25-35. Skithblathnir: cf. stanza 43, note.
Garm: cf. Voluspo 44.
71
Sleipnir: Othin's eight-legged horse, one of Loki's numerous progeny, borne by himto the stallion Svathilfari. This stallion belonged to the giant who
for the gods, and came so near to finishing it, with Svathilfari's aid, as to make the gods fear he would win his promis
delay the work, Loki turned himself into a mare, whereupon the stallion ran away, and the giant failed to complete his task within the stipulated time.
72
Bilrost: probably another formof Bifrost (which Snorri has in his version of the stanza), on which cf. stanza 29.
73
Bragi: the god of poetry. He is one of the l
of great importance. His wife is Ithun, goddess of youth. Perhaps
apotheosized as early as the tenth century.
74
With this stanza the narrative current of the poemis resumed.
75
Aegir: the sea-god; cf. Lokasenna, introductory prose.
76
Concerning the condition of stanzas 46-50, quoted by Snorri, nothing definite can be said. Lines and entire stanzas of this "catalogue" sort undoubtedly came and
went with great freedomall through the period of oral transmission. Many of the names are not mentioned elsewhere, and often their significance is sheer guesswork.
As in nearly every episode Othin appeared in disguise, the number of his names was necessarily almost limitless. Grim: "The Hooded." Gangleri: "The Wanderer."
Herjan: "The Ruler." Hjalmberi: "The Helmet-Bearer." Thekk: "The Much-Loved." Thrithi: "The Third" (in Snorri's Edda the stories are all told in the formof answers
to questions, the speakers being Har, J afnhar and Thr
enough to betray the somewhat muddled influence of early Christianity.) Thuth and Uth: both names defy guesswork. Helblindi: "Hel-Blinder" (two manuscripts have
Herblindi "Host-Blinder"). Hor: "The High One."
77
Sath: "The Truthful." Svipal:
Baleyg: "The Flaming-Eyed." Bolverk: "Doer of Ill" (cf. Hovamol 104 and note). Fjolnir: "The Many-Shaped." Grimnir: "The Hooded." Glapswith: "Swift in Deceit."
Fjolsvith: "Wide of Wisdom."
78
Sithhott: "With Broad Hat." Sithskegg: "Long-Bearded." Sigfather: 'Father of Victory." Hnikuth: "Overthrower." Valfather: 'Father of the (Battle-)Slain." Atrith: "The
Rider." Farmatyr: "Helper of Cargoes" (i. e., god of sailors).
79
Nothing is known of Asmund, of Othin's appearance as J alk, or of the occasion when he "went in
uncertain meaning. Oski: "God of Wishes." Biflindi: the manuscripts vary widely in the formof this name. J afnhor: "Equally High" (cf. note on stanza 46). Omi: "The
Shouter." Gondlir: "Wand
80
Nothing further is known of the episode here mentioned. Sokkmimir is presumably M
remainder of the stanza.
81
Again the poemreturns to the
82
The manuscripts show no lac
83
Ygg: Othin ("The Terrible").
84
The maids: the three Norns.
85
Possibly out of place, and probably more or less corru
"Crier of the Gods." Gaut: "Father." Ofnir and Svafnir: cf. stanza 34.
86
"Spear-Peace" (?), th
87
"Hall of Gates" or "Gate-Tower," Othin's seat in Valholl. "Whe
(Gylfaginning, Ch.8).
88
A cardinal sin in a king, according to Old Norse conceptions.
89
"The Masked One," O

" Ull, "Glorious," is the god of archery. His weapon, the longbow, was made out of the yew. He is, possibly, a hypostasis of Othin, or of Tyr, the god of
. Like Njorth (see Vafprudnismal, Sts.38-39), his father, he is said to be of Vanir origin. The "tooth-fee" is a gift to an
word for "history, story."
ages adorn the gable ends of his hall.
kasenna, St.50.
ice, and light.
untains." Concerning Heimdall, see Volusp, St. 1, note.
dess of love. She is the daughter of Njorth and the sister of Frey.
n of Baldr and Nanna.
r."
alholl.

i.e. Fenrir; his "fish," is possibly the Mithgarth Serpent. But the whole stanza presents great difficulty.
owing catalog of rivers is plainly interpolated. Their names refer, some to swiftness, others to coldness and depth. For Leiptr, see Helgakvida Hundingsbana
d. Their names refer to speed, bright appearance, and similar qualities.
original. We are able to reconstruct it fromSnorri's close paraphrase (Gylfaginning, Ch.15). The eagle and the falcon possibly symbolize
of the gods.
gon is here conceived as gnawing the roots of Yggdrasil. See St. 36.
he last two are names of Othin; see St. 55 and note.
ismil, St.12, and Sigrdrifumal, St.17.
f swallows the sun).
ever its sail is raised, and can sail both on sea and over land. It may be laid together
ginning, Ch.41, it was begotten on Loki by the stallion of the giant who built the wall
signifies "poetry." It is uncertain whether Bragi Boddason (ninth century), the first skald whose name and verses have come
s somewhat of a guess, no interpretation being altogether acceptable.
nir (see the Prose above). A number of the following names cannot be satisfactorily explained.
.
evidenced by J afnhar, "Equally High" (St.50), the name was at an early time confused with the homonymous word meaning "high."
le."
yed (?) my note]
"
nikar at St.47)
is epithet shows Othin in his role (historically earlier) as god of the merchants. Compare with Mercury-Hermes with whomhe shares other
are known.
zljod St.24 and Note.
r minion who, we are to understand, had made Geirrroeth go counter to Othin's instruction, given himthe time he was fostered by the god, to
91
"Land of Strength."
92
"Yew Dales.
war.
93
"Lord." He is the god of fertility and prosperity
infant when he cuts his first tooth.
94
"Hall of Slain Warriors" (?), the first of Othin's three halls.
95
"Sunken Hall" (?). Compare with Fensalir in Voluspa, St. 33.

96
"Seeress," Frigg. The name is etymologically connected, but not identical, with the Norse
97
"Hall of Slain Warriors." See Valaskjalf, in St. 6 above, and, Vafprudnismal Sts. 40-41.
98
Wolf and eagle, as scavengers of the battlefield, are symbolic of Othin's warlike activities. Their carved im
99
"Scathe." She is Thjatsi's daughter and Njorth's wife. See also Harbarzljod, St.19, and Lo
100
"The Far-Shining"; properly the seat of Baldr, the god of innocence, just

101
"Heavenly Mo
102
Battlefield.
103
"Mistress," "Queen" (feminine of Frey), the god
104
"The Presiding One," so
105
"Shipstead," "harbo
106
Wide-Land (?).

107
"Sooty in the Face," the cook of V
108
"Sooty fromthe Fire," the kettle.
109
"Sooty Black" (?).
110
Thjothvitnir: "The Great Wolf,"
111
The Gate of the Battle Slain.
112
Laerath seems to be identical with the tree Yggdrasil, which suffers still other harm. See Sts. 26 and 33 ff.
113
The foll
II, St. 30.
114
Bifrost, "The Quaking Bridge" (see St. 45). The bearing of the passage is not clear.

115
The catalog of steeds likewise is interpolate
116
The "Middle World" or "The Enclosure."
117
This stanza is lacking in the
the watchfulness
118
"Rat Tusk."

119
See "Voluspa," Note 46. The dra
120
These are, rather, dwarf names.
121
Several of these names have reference to the burrowing activities of worms and snakes. T
122
The names of the valkyries indicate their warlike activities, like those of Voluspa, St.30.
123
"Early-Awake" and "Very Swift," the sun horses. See Vafprudn
124
This passage, as well as the following, is of doubtful meaning.

125
"Hater," the son of Hrothvitnir, "the Famous Wolf," that is, Fenrir (who according to Vafprudnismal St.46-47, himsel
126
The words of the second part of the stanza seemclear, but their meaning has so far resisted convincing explanation.
127
According to Gylfaginning Ch.42, they are skilful dwarfs who make a present of the ship Skithblathnir, "the Thin-Planked," to Frey. "It is so large that all the gods
may find roomin it with all their equipment." Also, it has a favorable breeze when
like a cloth and put in one's pocket. Stanzas 44 and 45 are evidently interpolated.
128
"The Runner," Othin's horse. It has eight feet. According to the story in Gylfa
around Asgarth. See Voluspa, St.25 and note, and Voluspa hin skamma, St.12.
129
The god of poetry and eloquence. Bragr
down to us, was the prototype of the god.
130
"High-Leg." Nothing further is known of him.

131
The translation here offered i
132
As in the Hymiskvida, St.1.
133
Grimis short for Grim
134
The Way-Weary
135
War God (?).
136
"The Welcome One."
137
"The Third," (with Har, below, and J afnhar in St.50). This trinity seems to betray Christian influence.
138
"One-Eyed"; but, as
139
"The Changeab
140
"Truthfinder."
141
Glad in Battle.
142
"[Spear-]Thruster."
143
One-Eyed. [Bale-E
144
Fiery-Eyed.
145
"Bale-Worker."

146
"The Concealer.
147
Long-Hood.
148
"[Spear-]Thruster." (cf. H
149
"Attacker by Horse" (?).
150
"Lord of Boatloads." Th
important characteristics.
151
None of the several adventures of Othin here alluded to
152
"Inciter to Strife" (?). See Harbar
153
"Bearer of the [Magic] Wand."
154
Both epithets signify "the Wise."
155
Probably Frigg and he
be hospitable to guests.
156
That is, in Othin's (Ygg's) hall.

or s Othin probably vanishes as, in a similar situation, he vanishes in the hall of King Heithrek, Hervarar saga, Ch.9. The last stanza, which botches
, is no doubt a later ad ition.
161
"The Entangler," that is, in questions (see the translation for Vafthruthnir, in Vafprudnismal).
162
"He Who Lulls to Sleep or to Dreams."
157
After these w d
this excellent ending d
158
"Wayfarer."
159
God of Gods.
160
"The God of Goths"; that is, of men (?).