The Elder Eddas of Saemund Sigfusson; and the Younger Eddas of Snorre Sturleson
will prove who has to go through ways strewed with gleeds.
32. Friendly counsels, and wisely composed, seven I have imparted to
thee: consider thou them well, and forget them never: they are all
useful to learn.
33. Of that I will speak, how happy I was in the world, and
secondly, how the sons of men reluctantly become corpses.
34. Pleasure and pride deceive the sons of men who after money
crave; shining riches at last become a sorrow: many have riches driven
to madness.
35. Steeped in joys I seemed to men; for little did I see before me:
our worldly sojourn has the Lord created in delights abounding.
36. Bowed down I sat, long I tottered, of life was most desirous;
but He prevailed who was all-powerful: onward are the ways of the
doomed.
37. The cords of Hel were tightly bound round my sides; I would rend
them, but they were strong. 'Tis easy free to go.
38. I alone knew, how on all sides my pains increased. The maids of
Hel each eve with horror bade me to their home.
39. The sun I saw, true star of day, sink in its roaring home; but
Hel's grated doors on the other side I heard heavily creaking.
40. The sun I saw with blood-red beams beset: (fast was I then from
this world declining) mightier she appeared, in many ways, than she
was before.
41. The sun I saw, and it seemed to me as if I saw a glorious god: I
bowed before her, for the last time, in the world of men.
42. The sun I saw: she beamed forth so that I seemed nothing to
know; but Gioll's streams roared from the other side mingled much with
blood.
43. The sun I saw, with quivering eyes, appalled and shrinking; for
my heart in great measure was dissolved in languor.
44. The sun I saw seldom sadder; I had then almost from the world
declined: my tongue was as wood become, and all was cold without me.
45. The sun I saw never after, since that gloomy day; for the
mountain-waters closed over me, and I went called from torments.
46. The star of hope, when I was born, fled from my breast away;
high it flew, settled nowhere, so that it might find rest.
47. Longer than all was that one night, when stiff on my straw I
lay; then becomes manifest the divine word: "Man is the same as
earth."
48. The Creator God can it estimate and know, (He who made heaven
and earth) how forsaken many go hence, although from kindred parted.
49. Of his works each has the reward: happy is he who does good. Of
my wealth bereft, to me was destined a bed strewed with sand.
50. Bodily desires men oftentimes seduce, of them has many a one too
much: water of baths was of all things to me most loathsome.
51. In the Norns' seat nine days I sat, thence I was mounted on a
horse: there the giantess's sun shone grimly through the dripping
clouds of heaven.
52. Without and within, I seemed to traverse all the seven nether
worlds: up and down, I sought an easier way, where I might have the
readiest paths.
53. Of that is to be told, which I first saw, when I to the worlds
of torment came:--scorched birds, which were souls, flew numerous as
flies.
54. From the west I saw Von's dragons fly, and Glæval's paths
obscure: their wings they shook; wide around me seemed the earth and
heaven to burst.
55. The sun's hart I saw from the south coming, he was by two
together led: his feet stood on the earth, but his horns reached up to
heaven.
56. From the north riding I saw the sons of Nidi, they were seven in
all: from full horns, the pure mead they drank from the heaven-god's
well.
57. The wind was silent, the waters stopped their course; then I
heard a doleful sound: for their husbands false-faced women ground
earth for food.
58. Gory stones those dark women turned sorrowfully; bleeding hearts
hung out of their breasts, faint with much affliction.
59. Many a man I saw wounded go on those gleed-strewed paths; their
faces seemed to me all reddened with reeking blood.
60. Many men I saw to earth gone down, who holy service might not
have; heathen stars stood above their heads, painted with deadly
characters.
61. I saw those men who much envy harbour at another's fortune;
bloody runes were on their breasts graved painfully.
62. I there saw men many not joyful; they were all wandering wild:
this he earns, who by this world's vices is infatuated.
63. I saw those men who had in various ways acquired other's
property: in shoals they went to Castle-covetous, and burthens bore of
lead.
64. I saw those men who many had of life and property bereft:
through the breasts of those men passed strong venomous serpents.
65. I saw those men who the holy days would not observe: their hands
were on hot stones firmly nailed.
66. I saw those men who from pride valued themselves too highly;
their garments ludicrously were in fire enveloped.
67. I saw those men who had many false words of others uttered:
Hel's ravens from their heads their eyes miserably tore.
68. All the horrors thou wilt not get to know which Hel's inmates
suffer. Pleasant sins end in painful penalties: pains ever follow
pleasure.
69. I saw those men who had much given for God's laws; pure lights
were above their heads brightly burning.
70. I saw those men who from exalted mind helped the poor to aid:
angels, read holy books above their heads.
71. I saw those men who with much fasting had their bodies wasted:
God's angels bowed before them: that is the highest joy.
72. I saw those men who had put food into their mothers' mouth:
their couches were on the rays of heaven pleasantly placed.
73. Holy virgins had cleanly washed the souls from sin of those men,
who for a long time had themselves tormented.
74. Lofty cars I saw towards heaven going; they were on the way to
God: men guided them who had been murdered wholly without crime.
75. Almighty Father! greatest Son! holy Spirit of heaven! Thee I
pray, who hast us all created; free us all from miseries.
76. Biugvor and Iyistvor sit at Herdir's doors, on resounding seat;
iron gore falls from their nostrils, which kindles hate among men.
77. Odin's wife rows in earth's ship, eager after pleasures; her
sails are reefed late, which on the ropes of desire are hung.
78. Son! I thy father and Solkatla's sons have alone obtained for
thee that horn of hart, which from the grave-mound bore the wise
Vigdvalin.
79. Here are runes which have engraven Niord's daughters nine,
Radvor the eldest, and the youngest Kreppvor, and their seven sisters.
80. How much violence have they perpetrated Svaf and Svaflogi!
bloodshed they have excited, and wounds have sucked, after an evil
custom.
81. This lay, which I have taught thee, thou shalt before the living
sing, the Sun-Song, which will appear in many parts no fiction.
82. Here we part, but again shall meet on the day of men's
rejoicing. Oh Lord! unto the dead grant peace, and to the living
comfort.
83. Wondrous lore has in dream to thee been sung, but thou hast seen
the truth: no man has been so wise created that has before heard the
Sun-song.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 44: That is, _they engaged in single combat_; the spot for
such encounters being called a _holm_, consisting of a circular space
marked out by stones.]
THE LAY OF VOLUND.
There was a king in Sweden named Nidud: he had two sons and a
daughter, whose name was Bodvild. There were three brothers, sons of a
king of the Finns, one was called Slagfid, the second Egil, the third
Volund. They went on snow-shoes and hunted wild-beasts. They came to
Ulfdal, and there made themselves a house, where there is a water
called Ulfsiar. Early one morning they found on the border of the lake
three females sitting and spinning flax. Near them lay their
swan-plumages: they were Valkyriur. Two of them, Hladgud-Svanhvit and
Hervor-Alvit, were daughters of King Hlodver; the third was Olrun, a
daughter of Kiar of Valland. They took them home with them to their
dwelling. Egil had Olrun, Slagfid Svanhvit, and Volund Alvit. They
lived there seven years, when they flew away seeking conflicts, and
did not return. Egil then went on snow-shoes in search of Olrun, and
Slagfid in search of Svanhvit, but Volund remained in Ulfdal. He was a
most skilful man, as we learn from old traditions. King Nidud ordered
him to be seized, so as it is here related.
1. Maids flew from the south, through the murky wood, Alvit the
young, fate to fulfil. On the lake's margin they sat to repose, the
southern damsels; precious flax they spun.
2. One of them, of maidens fairest, to his comely breast Egil
clasped. Svanhvit was the second, she a swan's plumage bore; but the
third, their sister, the white neck clasped of Volund.
3. There they stayed seven winters through; but all the eighth were
with longing seized; and in the ninth fate parted them. The maidens
yearned for the murky wood, the young Alvit, fate to fulfil.
4. From the chase came the ardent hunters, Slagfid and Egil, found
their house deserted, went out and in, and looked around. Egil went
east after Olrun, and Slagfid west after Svanhvit;
5. But Volund alone remained in Ulfdal. He the red gold set with the
hard gem, well fastened all the rings on linden bast, and so awaited
his bright consort, if to him she would return.
6. It was told to Nidud, the Niarars' lord, that Volund alone
remained in Ulfdal. In the night went men, in studded corslets, their
shields glistened in the waning moon.
7. From their saddles they alighted at the house's gable, thence
went in through the house. On the bast they saw the rings all drawn,
seven hundred, which the warrior owned.
8. And they took them off, and they put them on, all save one, which
they bore away. Came then from the chase the ardent hunter, Volund,
gliding[45] on the long way.
9. To the fire he went, bear's flesh to roast. Soon blazed the
brushwood, and the arid fir, the wind-dried wood, before Volund.
10. On the bearskin sat, his rings counted, the Alfar's companion:
one was missing. He thought that Hlodver's daughter had it, the young
Alvit, and that she was returned.
11. So long he sat until he slept; and he awoke of joy bereft: on
his hands he felt heavy constraints, and round his feet fetters
clasped.
12. "Who are the men that on the rings' possessor have laid bonds?
and me have bound?"
13. Then cried Nidud, the Niarars' lord: "Whence gottest thou,
Volund! Alfars' chief![46] our gold, in Ulfdal?"
14. "No gold was here in Grani's path, far I thought our land from
the hills of Rhine. I mind me that we more treasures possessed, when,
a whole family, we were at home.
15. Hladgud and Hervor were of Hlodver born; known was Olrun, Kiar's
daughter, she entered into the house, stood on the floor, her voice
moderated: Now is he not mirthful, who from the forest comes."
King Nidud gave to his daughter Bodvild the ring which had been taken
from the bast in Volund's house; but he himself bore the sword that
had belonged to Volund. The queen said:
16. His teeth he shows, when the sword he sees, and Bodvild's ring
he recognizes: threatening are his eyes as a glistening serpent's: let
be severed his sinews' strength; and set him then in Sævarstad.
This was done; he was hamstrung, and then set on a certain small
island near the shore, called Sævarstad. He there forged for the king
all kinds of jewellery work. No one was allowed to go to him, except
the king. Volund said:
17. "The sword shines in Nidud's belt, which I whetted as I could
most skilfully, and tempered, as seemed to me most cunningly. That
bright blade forever is taken from me: never shall I see it borne into
Volund's smithy.
18. Now Bodvild wears my consort's red-gold rings: for this I have
no indemnity." He sat and never slept, and his hammer plied; but much
more speedy vengeance devised on Nidud.