The Elder Eddas of Saemund Sigfusson; and the Younger Eddas of Snorre Sturleson
29. There were eleven Æsir reckoned, when Baldr on the pile was
laid; him Vali showed himself worthy to avenge, his own brother: he
the slayer slew. All that race is thine, Ottar Heimski!
30. Baldr's father was son of Bur: Frey to wife had Gerd, she was
Gymir's daughter, from Jotuns sprung and Aurboda; Thiassi also was
their relation, that haughty Jotun; Skadi was his daughter.
31. We tell thee much, and remember more: I admonish thee thus much
to know. Wishest thou yet a longer narrative?
32. Haki was not the worst of Hvedna's sons, and Hiorvard was
Hvedna's father; Heid and Hrossthiof were of Hrimnir's race.
33. All the Valas are from Vidolf; all the soothsayers from
Vilmeidr, all the sorcerers from Svarthofdi; all the Jotuns come from
Ymir.
34. We tell thee much, and more remember, I admonish thee thus much
to know. Wishest thou yet a longer narrative?
35. There was one born, in times of old, with wondrous might
endowed, of origin divine: nine Jotun maids gave birth to the gracious
god, at the world's margin.
36. Gialp gave him birth, Greip gave him birth, Eistla gave him
birth, and Angeia; Ulfrun gave him birth, and Eyrgiafa, Imd and Atla,
and Jarnsaxa.
37. The boy was nourished with the strength of earth, with the
ice-cold sea, and with Son's blood. We tell thee much, and more
remember. I admonish thee thus much to know. Wishest thou a yet longer
narrative?
38. Loki begat the wolf with Angrboda, but Sleipnir he begat with
Svadilfari: one monster seemed of all most deadly, which from
Byleist's brother sprang.
39. Loki, scorched up in his heart's affections, had found a
half-burnt woman's heart. Loki became guileful from that wicked woman;
thence in the world are all giantesses come.
40. Ocean towers with storms to heaven itself, flows o'er the land;
the air is rent: thence come snows and rapid winds; then it is decreed
that the rain should cease.
41. There was one born greater than all, the boy was nourished with
the strength of earth; he was declared a ruler, mightiest and richest,
allied by kinship to all princes.
42. Then shall another come, yet mightier, although I dare not his
name declare. Few may see further forth than when Odin meets the wolf.
_Freyia_.
43. Bear thou the memory-cup to my guest, so that he may all the
words repeat of this, discourse, on the third morn, when he and
Angantyr reckon up races.
_Hyndla_.
44. Go thou quickly hence, I long to sleep; more of my wondrous
power thou gettest not from me. Thou runnest, my hot friend, out at
nights, as among he-goats the she-goat goes.
45. Thou hast run thyself mad, ever longing; many a one has stolen
under thy girdle. Thou runnest, my hot friend, out at nights, as among
he-goats, the she-goat goes.
_Freyia_.
46. Fire I strike over thee, dweller of the wood! so that thou goest
not ever away from hence.
_Hyndla_.
47. Fire I see burning, and the earth blazing; many will have their
lives to save. Bear thou the cup to Ottar's hand, the mead with venom
mingled, in an evil hour!
_Freyia_.
48. Thy malediction shall be powerless; although thou, Jotun-maid!
dost evil threaten. He shall drink delicious draughts. All the gods I
pray to favour Ottar.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 42: That is, with a rein inscribed with runes.]
[Footnote 43: The road to Valhall.]
THE INCANTATION OF GROA.
_Son_.
1. Wake up, Groa! wake up, good woman! at the gates of death I wake
thee! if thou rememberest, that thou thy son badest to thy grave-mound
to come.
_Mother_.
2. What now troubles my only son? With what affliction art thou
burthened, that thou thy mother callest, who to dust is come, and from
human homes departed?
_Son_.
3. A hateful game thou, crafty woman, didst set before me, whom my
has father in his bosom cherished, when thou badest me go no one knows
whither, Menglod to meet.
_Mother_.
4. Long is the journey, long are the ways, long are men's desires.
If it so fall out, that thou thy will obtainest, the event must then
be as it may.
_Son_.
5. Sing to me songs which are good. Mother! protect thy son. Dead on
my way I fear to be. I seem too young in years.
_Mother_.
6. I will sing to thee first one that is thought most useful, which
Rind sang to Ran; that from thy shoulders thou shouldst cast what to
thee seems irksome: let thyself thyself direct.
7. A second I will sing to thee, as thou hast to wander joyless on
thy ways. May Urd's protection hold thee on every side, where thou
seest turpitude.
8. A third I will sing to thee. If the mighty rivers to thy life's
peril fall, Horn and Rud, may they flow down to Hel, and for thee ever
be diminished.
9. A fourth I will sing to thee. If foes assail thee ready on the
dangerous road, their hearts shall fail them, and to thee be power,
and their minds to peace be turned.
10. A fifth I will sing to thee. If bonds be cast on thy limbs,
friendly spells I will let on thy joints be sung, and the lock from
thy arms shall start, [and from thy feet the fetter].
11. A sixth I will sing to thee. If on the sea thou comest, more
stormy than men have known it, air and water shall in a bag attend
thee, and a tranquil course afford thee.
12. A seventh I will sing to thee. If on a mountain high frost
should assail thee, deadly cold shall not thy carcase injure, nor draw
thy body to thy limbs.
13. An eighth I will sing to thee. If night overtake thee, when out
on the misty way, that the dead Christian woman no power may have to
do thee harm.
14. A ninth I will sing to thee. If with a far-famed spear-armed
Jotun thou words exchangest, of words and wit to thy mindful heart
abundance shall be given.
15. Go now ever where calamity may be, and no harm shall obstruct
thy wishes. On a stone fast in the earth I have stood within the door,
while songs I sang to thee.
16. My son! bear hence thy mother's words, and in thy breast let
them dwell; for happiness abundant shalt thou have in life, while of
my words thou art mindful.
THE SONG OF THE SUN.
This singular poem, the authorship of which is, in some manuscripts,
assigned to Sæmund himself, may be termed a Voice from the Dead, given
under the form of a dream, in which a deceased father is supposed to
address his son from another world. The first 7 strophes seem hardly
connected with the following ones, which, as far as the 32nd consist
chiefly in aphorisms with examples, some closely resembling those in
the Havamal. In the remaining portion is given the recital of the last
illness of the supposed speaker, his death, and the scenes his soul
passed through on the way to its final home.
The composition exhibits a strange mixture of Christianity and
Heathenism, whence it would seem that the poet's own religion was in a
transition state. Of the allusions to Heathenism it is, however, to be
observed that they are chiefly to persons and actions of which there
is no trace in the Odinic mythology, as known to us, and are possibly
the fruits of the poet's own imagination. The title of the poem is no
doubt derived from the allusion to the Sun at the beginning of
strophes 39-45.
For an elaborate and learned commentary, with an interlinear version
of "the Song of the Sun," the reader may consult "Les Chants de Sol,"
by Professor Bergmann, Strasbourg & Paris, 1858.
1. Of life and property a fierce freebooter despoiled mankind; over
the ways beset by him might no one living pass.
2. Alone he ate most frequently, no one invited he to his repast;
until weary, and with failing strength, a wandering guest came from
the way.
3. In need of drink that way-worn man, and hungry feigned to be:
with trembling heart he seemed to trust him who had been so
evil-minded.
4. Meat and drink to the weary one he gave, all with upright heart;
on God he thought, the traveller's wants supplied; for he felt he was
an evil-doer.
5. Up stood the guest, he evil meditated, he had not been kindly
treated; his sin within him swelled, he while sleeping murdered his
wary cautious host.
6. The God of heaven he prayed for help, when being struck he woke;
but he was doomed the sins of him on himself to take, whom sackless he
had slain.
7. Holy angels came from heaven above, and took to them his soul: in
a life of purity it shall ever live with the almighty God.
8. Riches and health no one may command, though all go smoothly with
him. To many that befalls which they least expect. No one may command
his tranquillity.
9. Unnar and Sævaldi never imagined that happiness would fall from
them, yet naked they became, and of all bereft, and, like wolves, ran
to the forest.
10. The force of pleasure has many a one bewailed. Cares are often
caused by women; pernicious they become, although the mighty God them
pure created.
11. United were Svafud and Skarthedin, neither might without the
other be, until to frenzy they were driven for a woman: she was
destined for their perdition.
12. On account of that fair maid, neither of them cared for games or
joyous days; no other thing could they in memory bear than that bright
form.
13. Sad to them were the gloomy nights, no sweet sleep might they
enjoy: but from that anguish rose hate intense between the faithful
friends.
14. Hostile deeds are in most places fiercely avenged. To the holm
they went,[44] for that fair woman, and each one found his death.
15. Arrogance should no one entertain: I indeed have seen that those
who follow her, for the most part, turn from God.
16. Rich were both, Radey and Vebogi, and thought only of their
well-being; now they sit and turn their sores to various hearths.
17. They in themselves confided, and thought themselves alone to be
above all people; but their lot Almighty God was pleased otherwise to
appoint.
18. A life of luxury they led, in many ways, and had gold for
sport. Now they are requited, so that they must walk between frost and
fire.
19. To thy enemies trust thou never, although they speak thee fair:
promise them good: 'tis good to have another's injury as a warning.
20. So it befell Sorli the upright, when he placed himself in
Vigolf's power; he confidently trusted him, his brother's murderer,
but he proved false.
21. Peace to them he granted, with heart sincere; they in return
promised him gold, feigned themselves friends, while they together
drank; but then came forth their guile.
22. Then afterwards, on the second day, when they in Rygiardal rode,
they with swords wounded him who sackless was, and let his life go
forth.
23. His corpse they dragged (on a lonely way, and cut up piecemeal)
into a well, and would it hide; but the holy Lord beheld from heaven.
24. His soul summoned home the true God into his joy to come; but
the evil doers will, I wean, late be from torments called.
25. Do thou pray the Disir of the Lord's words to be kind to thee in
spirit: for a week after, all shall then go happily, according to thy
will.
26. For a deed of ire that thou hast perpetrated, never atone with
evil: the weeping thou shalt soothe with benefits: that is salutary to
the soul.
27. On God a man shall for good things call, on him who has mankind
created. Greatly sinful is every man who late finds the Father.
28. To be solicited, we opine, is with all earnestness for that
which is lacking: of all things may be destitute he who for nothing
asks: few heed the wants of the silent.
29. Late I came, though called betimes, to the supreme Judge's door;
thitherward I yearn; for it was promised me, he who craves it shall of
the feast partake.
30. Sins are the cause that sorrowing we depart from this world: no
one stands in dread, if he does no evil: good it is to be blameless.
31. Like unto wolves all those seem who have a faithless mind: so he