Vafþrúðnismál

¹Counsel thou me now, Frigg! as I long to go Vafthrûdnir to visit; great desire, I say, I have, in ancient lore with that all-wise Jötun to contend. _Frigg_. ²At home to bide Hærfather I would counsel, in the gods' dwellings; because no Jötun is, I believe, so mighty as is Vafthrûdnir. _Odin_. ³Much have I journeyed, much experienced, mighty ones many proved; but this I fain would know, how in Vafthrûdnir's halls it is. _Frigg_. ⁴In safety mayest thou go, in safety return; in safety on thy journeyings be; may thy wit avail thee, when thou, father of men! shalt hold converse with the Jötun. ⁵Then went Odin the lore to prove of that all-wise Jötun. To the hall he came which Im's father owned. Ygg went forthwith in. _Odin._ ⁶Hail to thee, Vafthrûdnir! to thy hall I am now come, thyself to see; for I fain would know, whether thou art a cunning and all-wise Jötun. _Vafthrûdnir._ ⁷What man is this, that in my habitation by word addresses me? Out thou goest not from our halls, if thou art not the wiser. _Odin._ ⁸Gagnrâd is my name, from my journey I am come thirsty to thy halls, needing hospitality,--for I long have journeyed--and kind reception from thee, Jötun! _Vafthrûdnir._ ⁹Why then, Gagnrâd! speakest thou from the floor? Take in the hall a seat; then shall be proved which knows most, the guest or the ancient talker. _Gagnrâd._

¹⁰A poor man should, who to a rich man comes, speak usefully or hold his tongue: over-much talk brings him, I ween, no good, who visits an austere man. _Vafthrûdnir._ ¹¹Tell me, Gagnrâd! since on the floor thou wilt prove thy proficiency, how the horse is called that draws each day forth over human kind? _Gagnrâd._ ¹²Skinfaxi he is named, that the bright day draws forth over human kind. Of coursers he is best accounted among the Reid-goths. Ever sheds light that horse's mane. _Vafthrûdnir._ ¹³Tell me now, Gagnrâd! since on the floor thou wilt prove thy proficiency, how that steed is called, which from the east draws night o'er the beneficent powers? _Gagnrâd._ ¹⁴Hrimfaxi he is called, that each night draws forth over the beneficent powers. He from his bit lets fall drops every morn, whence in the dales comes dew. _Vafthrûdnir._ ¹⁵Tell me, Gagnrâd! since on the floor thou wilt prove thy proficiency, how the stream is called, which earth divides between the Jötuns and the Gods? _Gagnrâd._ ¹⁶Ifing the stream is called which earth divides between the Jötuns and the Gods: open shall it run throughout all time. On that stream no ice shall be. _Vafthrûdnir._ ¹⁷Tell me, Gagnrâd! since on the floor thou wilt prove thy proficiency, how that plain is called, where in fight shall meet Surt and the gentle Gods? _Gagnrâd._ ¹⁸Vigrid the plain is called where in fight shall meet Surt and the gentle Gods; a hundred rasts it is on every side. That plain is to them decreed. _Vafthrûdnir._

¹⁹Wise art thou, O guest! Approach the Jötuns bench, and sitting let us together talk; we will our heads in the hall pledge, guest! for wise utterance. _Gagnrâd._ ²⁰Tell me first, if thy wit suffices, and thou, Vafthrûdnir! knowest, whence first came the earth, and the high heaven, thou, sagacious Jötun? _Vafthrûdnir._ ²¹From Ymir's flesh the earth was formed, and from his bones the hills, the heaven from the skull of that ice-cold giant, and from his blood the sea. _Gagnrâd._ ²²Tell me secondly, if thy wit suffices, and thou, Vafthrûdnir! knowest, whence came the moon, which over mankind passes, and the sun likewise? _Vafthrûdnir._ ²³Mundilfoeri hight he, who the moon's father is, and eke the sun's: round heaven journey each day they must, to count years for men. _Gagnrâd._ ²⁴Tell me thirdly, since thou art called wise, and if thou, Vafthrûdnir! knowest, whence came the day, which over people passes, and night with waning moons? _Vafthrûdnir._ ²⁵Delling hight he who the day's father is, but night was of Nörvi born; the new and waning moons the beneficent powers created, to count years for men. _Gagnrâd._ ²⁶Tell me fourthly, since they pronounce thee sage, and if thou, Vafthrûdnir! knowest, whence winter came, and warm summer first among the wise gods? _Vafthrûdnir._ ²⁷Vindsval hight he, who winter's father is, and Svâsud summer's; yearly they both shall ever journey, until the powers perish. _Gagnrâd._

²⁸Tell me fifthly, since they pronounce thee sage, and if thou, Vafthrûdnir! knowest, which of the Æsir earliest, or of Ymir's sons, in days of old existed? _Vafthrûdnir._ ²⁹Countless winters, ere earth was formed, was Bergelmir born; Thrûdgelmir was his sire, his grandsire Aurgelmir. _Gagnrâd._ ³⁰Tell me sixthly, since thou art called wise, and if thou, Vafthrûdnir! knowest, whence first came Aurgelmir, among the Jötun's sons, thou sagacious Jötun? _Vafthrûdnir._ ³¹From Elivâgar sprang venom drops, which grew till they became a Jötun; but sparks flew from the south-world: to the ice the fire gave life. _Gagnrâd_. ³³Under the armpit grew, 'tis said, of the Hrîmthurs, a girl and boy together; foot with foot begat, of that wise Jötun, a six-headed son. _Gagnrâd_. ³⁴Tell me eighthly, since thou art called wise, and if thou knowest, Vafthrûdnir! what thou doest first remember, or earliest knowest? Thou art an all-wise Jötun. _Vafthrûdnir_. ³⁵Countless winters, ere earth was formed, Bergelmir was born. That I first remember, when that wise Jötun in an ark was laid. _Gagnrâd_. ³⁶Tell me ninthly, since thou art called wise, and if thou knowest, Vafthrûdnir! whence the wind comes, that over ocean passes, itself invisible to man? _Vafthrûdnir_.

³⁷Hraesvelg he is called, who at the end of heaven sits, a Jötun in an eagle's plumage: from his wings comes, it is said, the wind, that over all men passes. _Gagnrâd_. ³⁸Tell me tenthly, since thou all the origin of the gods knowest, Vafthrûdnir! whence Niörd came among the Æsir's sons? O'er fanes and offer-steads he rules by hundreds, yet was not among the Æsir born. _Vafthrûdnir_. ³⁹In Vanaheim wise powers him created, and to the gods a hostage gave. At the world's dissolution, he will return to the wise Vanir. _Gagnrâd_. ⁴⁰Tell me eleventhly, since all the condition of the gods thou knowest, Vafthrûdnir! what the Einheriar do in Haerfather's halls, until the powers perish? _Vafthrûdnir_. ⁴¹All the Einheriar in Odin's halls each day together fight; the fallen they choose, and from the conflict ride; beer with the Æsir drink, of Saehrimnir eat their fill, then sit in harmony together. _Gagnrâd_. ⁴²Tell me twelfthly, as thou all the condition of the gods knowest, Vafthrûdnir! of the Jötuns' secrets, and of all the gods', say what truest is, thou all-knowing Jötun! _Vafthrûdnir_. ⁴³Of the secrets of the Jötuns and of all the gods, I can truly tell; for I have over each world travelled; to nine worlds I came, to Niflhel beneath: here die men from Hel. _Gagnrâd_. ⁴⁴Much have I journeyed, much experienced, mighty ones many proved. What mortals will live, when the great "Fimbul"-winter shall from men have passed? _Vafthrûdnir_. ⁴⁵Lif and Lifthrasir; but they will be concealed in Hoddmimir's holt. The morning dews they will have for food. From, them shall men be born. _Gagnrâd_.

⁴⁶Much have I journeyed, much experienced, mighty ones many proved. Whence will come the sun in that fair heaven, when Fenrir has this devoured? _Vafthrûdnir_. ⁴⁷A daughter shall Alfrödull bear, ere Fenrir shall have swallowed her. The maid shall ride, when the powers die, on her mother's course. _Gagnrâd_. ⁴⁸Much have I journeyed, etc. Who are the maidens that o'er the ocean travel, wise of spirit, journey? _Vafthrûdnir_. ⁴⁹O'er people's dwellings three descend of Mögthrasir's maidens, the sole Hamingiur who are in the world, although with Jötuns nurtured. _Gagnrâd_. ⁵⁰Much have I journeyed, etc. Which of the Æsir will rule o'er the gods' possession, when Surt's fire shall be quenched? _Vafthrûdnir_. ⁵¹Vidar and Vali will the gods' holy fanes inhabit, when Surt's fire shall be quenched. Môdi and Magni will Miöllnir possess, and warfare strive to end. _Gagnrâd_. ⁵²Much have I journeyed, etc. What of Odin will the life's end be, when the powers perish? _Vafthrûdnir_. ⁵³The wolf will the father of men devour; him Vidar will avenge: he his cold jaws will cleave, in conflict with the wolf. _Gagnrâd_. ⁵⁴Much have I journeyed, etc. What said Odin in his son's ear, ere he on the pile was laid? _Vafthrûdnir_.

⁵⁵That no one knoweth, what thou in days of old saidst in thy son's ear. With dying mouth my ancient saws I have said, and the gods' destruction. With Odin I have contended in wise utterances: of men thou ever art the wisest!