birds1.JPG

Nordic Magic Healing:
runes, charms, incantations, and galdr

 

This version is obsolete, new version: 

http://www.nordic-life.org/nmh/VoluPagaEng.htm

Völuspá - The prediction of the prophetess

Old Norse and English versions with commentary

It is also supplemented, after the poem, by historical indications on Verden massacre, by citations of Gautrek’s saga and finally by a touristic post scriptummore interesting than expected

This translation is not yet completed. If you are interested in the meaning of örlög, go to

"On Örlög". If you are interested in the ‘world’ after Raganrök go to "Gimlé"

 

Here is an nth translation of the Edda poem Völuspá. It is different from the other translations by two aspects.

1. I provide a litteral translation that reveals my grammatical and vocbulary choices. It may look somewhat obscure but it is followed by a translation in a less acrobatic English that should clarify the intended meaning. From time to time two irreducible versions are possible and I will give them.

2. These various possible versions are nevertheless presented from a Heathen-centric (I invented this word) point of view, i.e. the point of view of a committed Heathen. This vocabulary is inspired by English-speaking scholars who start now speaking of a Christo-centric vision to point at a pseudo atheist or objective attitude that in depth relies on concepts firmly defined within the framework of Christendom. The most famous Christo-centric scholar was Ursula Dronke († 2012) who has been able to hold this position merged into a phenomenal knowledge of the Old Norse language. Her translation of Völuspá (1997), so much it abounds in scholarship, has been near me during the present transaltion in spite of its christocentricity. By the way,she has just provided me the occasion of a voluntary christocentrism: the date of her death is indicated by († 2012). This supposes that she obviously is buried as a good Christian woman - what is true in her case, but this small sign of cross can be also used for any atheist.

My presentation of Hávamál  http://www.nordic-life.org/nmh/IntroNewHavamalEng.htm is in done a similar spirit,but in a less argumentative way since all the attempts to spot Christian influences in Hávamál have been ridiculed by the scholars (see the 2nd interlude associated to s. 21 http://www.nordic-life.org/nmh/NewHavamalEng15-35.htm . On the contrary, and relatively recently, Völuspá became for most people a very Christianed piece of lore, yet another incredible miracle.

 

In what follows, no Scandinavian name or concept will appear without explanation. Once explained, I will use some of these names as if they were well-known.

 

When dealing with Eddic poems, one must remember that they are known by a remarkably small number of manuscripts which however present different versions. I will use here as reference Codex Regius, in the version published by Hans Kuhn, Carl Winter, Heidelberg 1962. Kuhn presents a great number of variations which are in the various manuscripts, but I will not give these details. For reasons of the convenience, I will keep the letter ö, used to represent an ‘o tailed’ in Kuhn’s edition.

Once that a manuscript is chosen, the Old Norse language of poetry is hard to understand. For my translation, I used De Vries’ etymological dictionary (noted ‘Devries’), Cleasby-Vigfusson’s  Icelandic-English dictionary (noted C.-V.) and very often also, Sveinbjön Egilsson’s Lexicon poëticum antiquæ linguæ septentrionalis (noted as LexPoet). This last provides the meaning of a greater number of words than C.-V., associated a variety of quotations illustrating the use of the words, mainly in poetry. I also built a reliable, readable and cherchable list of irregular verbs I made available at IRREGULAR VERBS.

 

Some useful preliminary explanations

 

A prophetess was called a völva that gives völu in the singular genitive: this is the “völuin völuspá. She practised a kind of shamanism which resembles much that of North American Indians, which became so popular since a few years. This kind of Scandinavian shamanism is called seiðr or seið – often spelled ‘seidr’. In spite of the scarcity of available testimony, we know that a völva practised seið outside, on a kind of wooden platform, surrounded by all her helpers and customers, and she required someone singing a special song. There is also a solitary form of practice, called “útiseta(outside sitted) to which Völuspa seems to refer

It seems that seidr was practised primarily by women since it is known that the practice of the seidr ‘to perfection’ makes the men impotent where this word can also be understood as ‘homosexual’.

Thus, what had been in the past a highly respected ability, since it was reserved to women or to effeminate men (or, according to my personal interpretation: reserved to the female side of men - and women!), became gradually scorned, and is often used as an insult in texts and runic inscriptions

Note that we will always speak of the mythic Giants and Dwarves in order to single them out of the tall or short individuals. Likewise our gods will never carry a capital letter in order to differentiate them from God.

Óðinn (often written: Odin, or Odhin, or Odhinn) is the main of the Scandinavian gods, the Æsir. There was also another kind of gods, the Vanir who might have been more ancient, but they will be reconcile with the Æsir, after a war evoked below in stanzas 21-26. Lastly, the Giants are also supra human beings who seem to be irreducible enemies to the Æsir. They will cause Ragnarök as described in stanzas 44 to 58

Old Norse civilization was equipped with a spirituality associated to an ancestors’ worship, to which the poems and sagas refer. This worship is also firmly proven by the multitude of offerings found in the howes of the powerful ones and close to the tombs of humble ones, and by the meetings held around these sites during hundreds of years.

Old Norse (ON) from the Codex Regius

Litteral (orð eptir orð)Translation

followed by an

English one

Comments

 

 

 

 

1. Hlióðs bið ec

allar kindir

meiri oc minni,

mögo Heimdalar;

 

vildo at ec, Valföðr,

vel fyrtelia

forn spiöll fira,

þau er fremst um man

 

 

(Your) listening beg I

from all the family

high ones and low ones,

children of Heimdalr;

 

you want that I, Killed-ones’ Father,

well  to tell

old knowledge of the people   

those the ‘most forward’ (that) I remember

****************************

I beg you to  listen ,

you all of the family,

higher and lower ones,

children of Heimdalr;

 

You want, Valföðr, that

I properly tell

ancient knowledge

remotest that I remember.

 

The first line is a ritual formula used to ask silence at the beginning of the Icelandic general meeting, or before declaming poetry.

 

Valföðr  = Killed-ones’ Father = Óðinn

 

the ‘most forward’ = the oldest.

 

Another Eddic poem, Rigsþula, also tells us that all kinds of human ones are  Heimdall’s sons.

 

2. Ec man iötna

ár um borna,

þá er forðom mic

fœdda höfðo;

 

nío man ec heima,

nío íviði,

miötvið mœran

fyr mold neðan.

 

 

I remember the giants 

in old times born, 

those who in the past me

nourished to someone adult;

 

nine remember I countries,

nine Giantesses (or ogresses)

the measure-master famous

toward the ground under.

****************************

I remember the giants 

in old times born, 

those who in the past

nourished me to become an adult;

 

I remember nine countries,

nine Giantesses

and the famous measure-master  

still under the ground.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the two words ‘giantessand ‘ogress’ are more or less equivalent in the Norse langage.

 

Here, the master of measurement can only be Yggdrasill, which is still growing under the ground.

This title has been used in Old English to point at God. Yggdrasill is certainly no proper ‘god’ though this way of speech  attributes to it a primary role in Norse mythology.

 

 

 


 

1. Hlióðs bið ec

allar kindir

meiri oc minni,

mögo Heimdalar;

 

vildo at ec, Valföðr,

vel fyrtelia

forn spiöll fira,

þau er fremst um man

 

 

(Your) listening beg I

from all the family

high ones and low ones,

children of Heimdalr;

 

you want that I, Killed-ones’ Father,

well  to tell

old knowledge of the people   

those the ‘most forward’ (that) I remember

****************************

I beg you to  listen ,

you all of the family,

higher and lower ones,

children of Heimdalr;

 

You want, Valföðr, that

I properly tell

ancient knowledge

remotest that I remember.

 

The first line is a ritual formula used to ask silence at the beginning of the Icelandic general meeting, or before declaming poetry.

 

Valföðr  = Killed-ones’ Father = Óðinn

 

the ‘most forward’ = the oldest.

 

Another Eddic poem, Rigsþula, also tells us that all kinds of human ones are  Heimdall’s sons.

 

2. Ec man iötna
ár um borna,
þá er forðom mic
fœdda höfðo;

 nío man ec heima,
nío íviði,
miötvið mœran
fyr mold neðan.

 

 

I remember the giants 
in old times born, 
those who in the past me
nourished to someone adult;

nine remember I countries,
nine Giantesses (or ogresses)
the measure-master famous
toward the ground under.

****************************

I remember the giants 
in old times born, 
these who in the past
nourished me to become an adult;

 I remember nine countries,
nine Giantesses
and the famous measure-master  
still under the ground.

 




the two words ‘giantessand ‘ogress’ are more or less equivalent in the Norse langage.

 

Here, the master of measurement can only be Yggdrasill, which is still growing under the ground.

This title has been used in Old English to point at God. Yggdrasill is certainly no proper ‘god’ though this way of speech  attributes to it a primary role in Norse mythology.

 

 


3.
Ár var alda,
(year was bed-of-river)
þar er Ymir bygði,
(there Ymir settlements)
vara sandr
né sær né svalar unnir,
iörð fannz æva né upphiminn,
gap var ginnunga
enn gras hvergi.

3.
It was in the bed of years flowing,
Ymir was settled there,
No sand nor sea, no cold waves.
No earth nor heaven above,
But a widely open gap and grass nowhere.

 

 

3.
The first giant, Ymir, was licked out of the primordial ice by a magical cow Auðumla. The dryness of the ON words makes the translation always a bit risky. In the case, no translator uses the meaning of "alda" which is "wave" or "bed of a river". It is said that "Ár alda" is an expression meaning "ancient times." I preferred here to dare an approximation that stays nearer to the ON original.

"gap var ginnunga" can also be translated "emptiness was open."

 

4.
Áðr Burs synir
biöðum um ypþo,
þeir er miðgarð
mœran scópo;
sól scein sunnan
á salar steina,
þá var grund gróin
grœnom lauki.

4.
(word for word translation, words in the same order as in ON)
Then Bur's sons
Built the steady ground,
Created Midgard
Magnificent place;
The sun shone from the South
On the hall stones,
From the ground grew
Green leeks.

4.
Burr is Óðinn's father. Following Snorri's Prose Edda, the primal cow Auðumla, after licking the first giant Ymir out of the ice, licked out also the first man, Burr. Midgard is the humans' dwelling, our earth. Green leeks, "grœnom lauki" in the text, is strangely similar in modern English and in ON. Anyhow, this proves that  leek was a very important herb, of mystical importance since it is described here as the "Alfather" of all herbs.
5.
Sól varp sunnan
sinni mána,
hendi inni hœgri
um himiniöður;
sól þat né vissi
hvar hón sali átti,
stiörnor þat ne visso
hvar þær staði átto,
máni þat né vissi
hvat hann megins átti.

5.
Sun turned from the south, sister of Moon,
Her right arm rested on the rim of the sky;
She had no inkling where her hall was,
Nor Moon a notion of his might,
The stars did not know of their places.

 

 

5.
Remember that the sun is a "she" in ON, as in modern German, and the moon is a "he".

 

 

 

6.
Þá gengo regin öll
á röcstóla,
ginnheilög goð,
oc um þat gættuz:
nótt oc niðium
nöfn um gáfo,
morgin héto
oc miðian dag,
undorn og aptan,
árom at telia.

6.
The gods gathered in council
In their hall of judgement, supreme divinities;
To Night and to growing Moon their names gave, They named Morning and Mid-Day,
Dawn and Twilight, for the assigning of time.

 

 

6.
"röcstóla", the "the seat or stool of röc," is the seat of judgement. This word will be found again in strophes 9, 23 and 25, always with the meaning of a place where the wisest decision is taken. Hence the non classical translation of "ragna röc," later in strophe 44.
"regin" is a plural meaning "the gods", with the original meaning of "the advising ones".

 

7.
Hittuz æsir
á Iðavelli,
þeir er hörg oc hof
há timbroðo;
alfla lögðo,
auð smíðoðo,
tangir scópo,
oc tól gorðo.

 

 

7.
The Aesir made haste to Iðavöllr,
They framed ("timbered") sanctuary and farm,
Set up a smithy to forge jewels,
They fashioned tongs and wrought tools.

 

 

 

7.
"Iðavelli" is the locative form of Iðavöllr. It alludes to an evergreen plain where the Gods have been living before the world got a structure.
" hörg oc hof" is often translated by "altar and temple" which is possible. In view of the smithy they will also build, I prefer to keep the ordinary meaning of "hof" as "farm," a meaning still valid in German.

8.
Teflðo í túni,

var þeim vættergis
vant ór gulli,
unz þriár qvómo
(until three came)
þursa meyiar
(Giant maidens)
ámátcar miöc
(giant-strength much)
ór iötunheimom.
(from Jotun-home)

8.
Played chess in the grove, cheerful were;
Gold they lacked not;
Until three came,
Thurs maidens,
Full of strength,
From Giant-home.

 

 

 

8.
The three Giant maidens, "þursa meyiar," coming from Giantland, "iötunheimr," are usually looked upon as being the three Norns. The end of the stanza seems to say that the Gods have been playful and cheerful "until" (!) the Norns' arrival. As we shall see, they are master of humans' and Gods' destiny.

 

 

 

 

9.
Þá gengo regin öll
(then sit gods all)
á röcstóla,
(on council-stool)
ginnheilog goð,
("ginn-"saint gods)
oc um þat gættuz,
hverr scyldi dverga
dróttin scepia
ór Brimis blóði
oc ór Bláins leggiom.

9.
The high Gods gathered in council.
In their hall of judgement;
Which kind the dwarves should craft
From Brimi's blood and Blain's limbs?

 

 

 

9.
Brimir and Bláinn are other names given to the primal Giant, Ymir, who was killed by "the sons of Burr" (thus, including Óðinn), and whose body has been used to build up the world.

Strophe 10 will tell us that the dwarves will craft human shapes out of these ingredients. This solves the ambiguity of v. 7 s. 10: the human shapes are made of earth.

In "ginnheilog" what exactly means "ginn" is unknow.
It applies to the gods only.

 

 

10. Þar Mótsognir
mæztr um orðinn
dverga allra
en Durinn annarr;
þeir manlícon
(they man-shapes)
mörg um gorðo,
(many "around" made)
dvergar, ór iörðo,
(dwarves, of earth,)
sem Durinn sagði.
(as Durinn said)

10. Mótsognir became the greatest of the dwarves, and Durinn after him;
The dwarves did as Durinn directed, of the earth, they made a large number of human shapes.

 

 

 

10.
Mótsognir, or Móðsognir, ?=? "the Tired one" or "Energy Thief."
Durinn ?=? "Sleepy" or "Door Gardian."
As opposed to what is so often said, the völva says here that the humans were shaped by the dwarves. As we shall see in 17, three Gods will give them their real humanity.

 

 

11.
Nýi oc Niði,
Norðri oc Suðri,
Austr og Vestri,
Alþiófr, Dvalinn,
Bívorr, Bávorr,
Bömburr, Nóri,
Án oc Ánarr,
Ái, Miöðvitnir.

11.
Nýi and Niði,
Norðri and Suðri,
Austr and Vestri,
Alþiófr, Dvalinn,
Bívörr, Bávörr,
Bömburr, Nóri,
Án and Ánarr,
Ái, Miöðvitnir.

11.
Nýi = New Moon, Niði = Moonless Night, Nordri = North, Sudri = South , Austri = West, Vestri = East , Alþiófr = , Dvalinn = Numb, Nár = Corpse , Dáinn = Dying, Bömburr ?=? Rude One, Nóri ?=? Anxiety Bringer, Ánarr ?=? Mountain, Ái = Ancestor, Miöðvitnir = Mead's Wolf.

 

12.
Veigr oc Gandálfr,
Vindálfr, Þráinn,
Þeccr oc Þorinn,
Þrór, Vitr oc Litr,
Nár oc Nýráðr -
nú hefi ec dverga
- Reginn oc Ráðsviðr -
rétt um talða.

12.
Veigr and Gandálfr,
Vindálfr, Þráinn,
Þekkr and Þorinn (or Þroinn),
Þrór, Vitr and Litr,
Nár and Nýráðr -
Here are the dwarves
- Reginn and Ráðsviðr -
Rightly accounted.

12.
Veigr = Horse , Gandálfr ?=? Elf of Sorcery, Vindálfr ?=? Elf of the Wind, Þráinn ?=? Burning Desire, Þekkr = Beloved, Þorinn ?=?, Courageous, Vitr = Wise, Litr = Hue, Nár =New, Nýráðr = New counselor, Ráðsviðr = Of Wise Counseling

 

 

13.
Fíli, Kíli,
Fundinn, Náli,
Hepti, Víli,
Hanarr, Svíurr,
Frár, Hornbori,
Frægr oc Lóni,
Aurvangr, Iari,
Eikinscjaldi.

13.
Fíli, Kíli,
Fundinn, Náli,
Hepti, Víli,
Hanarr, Svíorr,
Frár, Hornbori,
Frægr and Lóni,
Aurvangr, Iari,
Eikinskjaldi.

13.
Fíli ?=? File, Kíli ?=? Bras-de-Mer, Fundinn = Found , Hepti ?=? Handle, Víli ?=? Will, Hanarr = Artist with his Hands, Frár = Fast, Hornbori = Horn Bored (pierced), Frægr = Famous , Lóni ?=? Shining One, Aurvangr = Valley of the Gravel, Eikinskjaldi = The Oaken Shield. Here Reginn is obviously a name, still it means "the gods", like regin does.

 

14.
Mál er dverga
í Dvalins liði
lióna kindom
til Lofars telia,
þeir er sótto
frá salar steini
Aurvanga siöt
til Iörovalla.

14.
Humans, know of Dvalin' s line that goes down to Lofar's time,
They went to Iörovellir and Aurvangar, leaving their dwellings under the stone.

 

 

14.
Iörovalla = Vale of the Fight

 

 

 

15.
Þar var Draupnir
oc Dólgþrasir,
Hár, Haugspori,
Hlévangr, Glói,
Scirvir, Virvir,
Scáfiðr, Ái,

15.
There was Draupnir
and Dólgþrasir,
Hár, Haugspori,
Hlévangr, Glói,
Skirvir, Virvir,
Skáfiðr, Ái,

15.
Draupnir = Dripping, Dólgþrasir = Fight Drunk, Hár = High, Haugspori ?=? Walking in the Grave

 

16.
Álfr oc Yngvi
Eikinscialdi,
Fialarr oc Frosti,
Finnr oc Ginnarr;
þat mun uppi,
meðan öld lifir,
langniðia tal
Lofars hafat.

16.
Álfr and Yngvi
Eikinskjaldi,
Fialarr and Frosti,
Finnr and Ginnarr;
As long as men will remember,
The line will go down to Lofarr.

 

16.
Álfr = name of the elves , Yngvi = King (often applied to Freyr, when called Ingvi Freyr), Eikinskjaldi = The Oaken Shield (as already said), Fialarr ?=? One who Hides, Finnr = Hunter or Saami?, Ginnarr = Seducer.

 

 

17. Unz þrír qvómo
ór því liði
öflgir oc ástgir,
æsir,at húsi,
fundo á landi
lítt megandi
Asc oc Emblo
ørlöglausa.

 

 

SEE A NEW LITTERAL and COMMENTED VERSION OF s. 17-20

 

 

 

18.
Önd þau né átto,
óð þau né höfðo,
lá né læti
né lito góða;
önd gaf Óðinn,
óð gaf Hœnir,
lá gaf Lóðurr
oc lito góða.

 


 

19.
Asc veit ec standa,
heitir Yggdrasill,
hár baðmr, ausinn
hvítaauri;
þaðan koma döggvar,
þærs í dala falla,
stendr æ yfir, grœnn,
Urðar brunni.

 

 


 


Urd's well is the dwelling of the Norns.

20.
Þaðan koma meyiar,
margs vitandi,
þriár, ór þeim sal
er und þolli stendr;
Urð héto eina,
aðra Verðandi,
- scáro á scíði -
Sculd ena þriðio;
þær lög lögðo,
þær líf kuro
alda börnom,
ørlög seggia.



21.
Þat man hón fólcvíg
fyrst í heimi,
er Gullveigo
geirom studdo
oc í höll Hárs
hána brendo;
þrysvar brendo,
þrysvar borna,
opt, ósialdan;
þó hón enn lifir.

21.
The first war in the world, she well remembers,
When Gullveig was spitted on spear-points
And in Hár's hall, burned her.
Thrice burned, thrice reborn,
Well asserted, she lives yet.

 

21.
"She" here is certainly the völva speaking of herself in this guise.

Gullveig means "Power of the Gold". She is the cause of the war between the Aesir and the Vanir. She is from the Vanir, visiting the Aesir, and these last ones burned her three times, but she was three times reborn. The war begun because of this ill treatment of Gullveig.

 

22.
Heiði hana héto,
hvars er til húsa kom,
völo velspá,
(völva well-wise-speaking)
vitti hon ganda;
(witty her magic-wand)
seið hon, hvars hon kunni,
(seidr she, who-always she knows)
seið hon hug leikinn,
(seidr she meaning carried)
æ var hón angan
(always was she delight)
illrar brúðar.
(of ill young-wives)

22.
They call her Heidi when she visits their homes,
A far seeing völva, wise in talismans.
Caster of spells, cunning in magic.
To wicked women always welcome.

 

 

 

 

22.
 "Heiði" means "The Shining One," which can evoke Freya, but Heidi is noted by Genzmer as being a classical name for seeresses.

To practice "spá" is the job of the seeresses, it amounts to what is called "to journey" in modern shamanism. 


23.
Þá gengo regin öll
á röcstóla,
ginnheilög goð,
oc um þat gættuz,
hvárt scyldo æsir
afráð gialda
eða scyldo goðin öll
gildi eiga.

23.
The gods hastened to their hall of judgement,
Sat in council to decide if
The Aesir would pay a tribute
If all the Gods should receive an offering.

 

 

23.
The Aesir discuss among themselves to decide whether they will accept to pay a tribute for their misbehavior towards Gullveig.

Paying a fee in order to erase a feud is standard practice in the ancient Nordic world.

 

 

24.
Fleygði Óðinn
oc í fólc um scaut,
þat var enn fólcvíg
fyrst í heimi;
brotinn var borðveggr
borgar ása,
knátto vanir vígspá
völlo sporna.

24.
At the host Óðinn hurled his spear
In the first world-battle; broken was the plankwall
Of the gods fortress, the field was left to the winning Vanir.

24.
This action announces the beginning of the fight. It is attested by a saga that describes a warrior hurling his spear over the first rank of his foes as a sign for starting the battle.

The Vanir won the war as the last four verses say, and this is confirmed by Snorri's prose Edda.

25.
Þá gengo regin öll
á röcstóla,
ginnheilog goð,
oc um þat gættuz,
hverir hefði lopt alt
lævi blandit
eða ætt iötuns
Óðs mey gefna.

25.
The gods hastened to their seats of judgement,
Sat in council to discover who
Had tainted all the air with corruption
And Óð's wife offered to the giants.

25.
Óð's wife is Freya.

26.
Þórr einn þar vá,
þrunginn móði
hann sialdan sitr
er hann slíct um fregn;
á genguz eiðar,
orð oc sœri,
mál öl meginlig,
er á meðal fóro.

26.
Þórr alone fighted, swolen with anger
- Seldom he stays quiet when of such he hears -
Forgotten the promises, broken oaths and vows,
Solemn agreements sworn between them.

26.
Þórr is the ON spelling of Thor. 

27.Veit hón Heimdalar
hlióð um fólgit
undir heiðvönom
helgom baðmi;
á sér hón ausaz
aurgom forsi
af veði Valföðrs -


vitoð ér enn, eða hvat?

CORRECTED STANZA

She knows (that) Heimdall’s
sound/hearing  (his horn/his fine hearing) is/are hidden
under a bright-used to/needing
holly tree ;
She sees sprinkle (sprinkling)
with a muddy gush
from Valföðr’s pledge –

Will you know more, and what ?

 



28.
Ein sat hon úti,
þá er inn aldni kom,
Yggiungr ása,oc í augo leit:
'Hvers fregnit mic,
Hví freistið mín?
Olt veit eg, Óðinn,
Hvar þú auga falt:
í inom mæra
Mímis brunni.'
Dreccr miöð Mímir.
Morgin hverian
af veði Valföðrs -
Vitoð ér enn, eða hvat?

28.
Outside she sat by herself when you came,
Terror of the gods, and gazed in her eyes.
What do you ask of me? Why taunt me?
Óðinn, I know where your eye is hidden,
Hidden away in the well of Mimir.
Mimir each morning his mead drinks mead in Valföðr's pledge.
Well would you know more?

 

 

2

 

29.
Valdi henni Herföðr
hringa oc men,
fécc spjöll spaclig
og spáganda,
sá hon vítt oc um vítt
of verold hveria.

29.
Arm rings and necklaces, Óðinn gave her
To learn her lore, to learn her magic:
Wider and wider through all worlds she lives.

 


 

 

30.
Sá hon valkyrior,
vítt um komnar,
gorvar at ríða
til Goðþióðar;
Sculd helt scildi,
Enn Scögul önnor,
Gunnr, Hildr, Göndul
oc Geirscögul;
nú ero talðar
nönnor Herians,
gorvar at ríða
grund, valkyrior.

30.
Valkyries she saw, coming from afar,
Eagerly riding towards the Goths [or the Gods];
Skuld bore the shield, another Skogul, Gunn, Hild, Gondul and Geirskögul:
Duly, she named the girls of the Lord of the Armies,
The valiant riders, the Valkyries.

 


31.
Ec sá Baldri,
blóðgum tívor,
Óðins barni,
ørlög fólgin;
stóð um vaxinn
völlom hærri
miór oc mioc fagr
mistilteinn.

SEE A NEW LITTERAL and COMMENTED VERSION OF s. 31

 

 

31.
Baldr is killed by an arrow made of mistletoe.

 

 

 

 

32.
Varð af þeim meiði,
er mær sýndiz,
harmflaug hættlig,
Höðr nam scióta.
Baldurs bróðir var
of borinn snemma,
sá nam, Óðins sonr,
einnættr vega.

32.
From that shrub, slender as it looked, came, shot by Hödr, the
fatal dart that felled the god;
Baldr' s brother was soon born,
Though one night old,
Óðinn's son killed him.

 

32.
Baldr, Hödr, and Vali are all sons of Óðinn. Hödr is blind and kills Baldr pushed by Loki's slyness. Vali, who is aged one night, will avenge Baldr by killing Hödr. In this civilization, the actual murderer is also guilty, as well as the hidden instigator, Loki, as told in Snorri's prose Edda.
Here, "Baldr' s brother" and "Óðin's son" both designate Vali.

 

33.
Þó hann æva hendr
né höfuð kembdi,
áðr á bál um bar
Baldrs andscota;
Enn Frigg um grét
í Fensölum
vá Valhallar -
Vitoð ér enn, eða hvat?

33.
His (her?) hands s/he washed not nor his (her?) hair combed.
Till Bald's killer was not carried to the pyre;
But Frigg was weeping in Fensalir
the woe of Valhöll.
Well, would you know more?

 

33.
Valhöll = Hall of the Killed, the celebrated Valhalla, gathers the warriors dead in combat. The woe of Valhöll is the death of Baldr.

Frigg is the mother of Baldr, and she is weeping for her dead son.

Fensalir = Swamp's Hall, is the name of Frigg's hall. Because of the name of her hall, some hypothesize that she was associated with the ritual drowning.

34.
Þá kná Vála
vígbönd snúa,
heldr vóro harðgerhöpt, ór þörmom.

 

34.
Vali knew how to make the chains of combat,
Strong and rough were
The strings of stretched gut.

 

34.Loki will be punished of this crime by being chained with links made of his sons' intestines.
As you see, I accept Snorri's version saying that Hödr has been pushed by Loki to kill Baldr, thus that Loki is also guilty. Some refuse this version, but I do not see then how they understand s. 34. For a longer argumentation see my summary of Dumézil's Loki on this site (if you read French, better you read it yourself!).

35.
Hapt sá hon liggia
undir hvera lundi,
lægiarns líki
Loca áþeccian;
þar sitr Sigyn,
þeygi um sínom
ver velglýiuð -
Vitoð ér enn, eða hvat?

35.
I see one in bonds by the grove of boiling springs;
A sly-looking shape, like Loki he looks;
There Sigyn sits by her husband,
Even though she does not rejoice in what happens to him.
Well would you know more?

 

35.
hveralundr = the Grove of Boiling Springs. It can also be a name.

A serpent spits its venom above Loki's face. Sigyn, Loki's wife, protects him by gathering the venom in a pot before it reaches Loki. Still, her ørlög is not a first choice one!

 

 

36.
Á fellr austan
um eiturdala,
söxom oc sverðom:
Slíðr heitir sú.

36.
From the East through Venom Valley,
Flows Slid, a flow of swords and saxes.

 

36.
Slid = Danger. A sax is a short broad sword very much in use in Viking times.

 

37.
Stóð fyr norðan,
á Niðavöllom
salr úr gulli
Sindra ættar;
Enn annar stóð
Á Ókólni
biórsalr iötuns,
enn sá Brimir heitir.

37.
North, in Nidavellir, stands the dwelling place of Sindri's kin, Covered with gold;
Another hall also in Ókólnir,
The bier hall of the giant called Brimir.

 

 

37.
Nidavellir = Darkdale. Sindri = Never Becoming Cold, is a dwarf. 

 

 

 

38.
Sal sá hon standa
Sólo fiarri
Náströndo á,
norðr horfa dyrr;
féllo eitrdropar
inn um lióra,
sá er undinn salur
orma hryggjom.

38.
A third I see, that no sunlight reaches,
In Náströnd : the doors face northward,
Through its smoke vent venom drips,
Serpent backbones enskein that hall.

 

38.
Náströnd = Dead Man's Shore

 

 

 

39.
Sá hon þar vaða
þunga strauma
menn meinsvara
oc morðvarga,
oc þannz annars glepr eyrarúno;
(and these others making-fall she-beloved)
þar saug Niðhöggr
nái framgengna,
sleit vargr vera -
Vitoð ér enn, eða hvat?

39.
Men wade there tormented by the thick stream,
perjuring men, criminal wolves,
And artful seducers of other men's wives:
Nidhogg sucks blood from the bodies of the dead
The wolf cuts them up. Well, would you know more?

 


40.
Austr sat hin aldna
í Iárnviði
oc fœddi þar
Fenris kindir;
(and feeds there Fenris kind)
verðr af þeim öllom
einna noccorr
tungls tiúgari
í trollz hami.

40.
In the East a crone is sitting, in Ironwood:
The brood of Fenris are bred there
Wolf-monsters, one of whom
Eventually shall devour the sun.

 

 

40.
This crone must be the giantess who mated Loki to produce the wolf Fenrir.

 

 

 

41.
Fylliz fiörvi
Feigra manna,
rýðr ragna siöt
rauðum dreyra;
svort verða sólscin
of sumor eptir,
veðr öll válynd -
Vitoð ér enn, eða hvat?

41.
It gorges upon the flesh of death-promised men,
It bloodies the Gods sit;
Black will shine the sun
During next summers,
Awful all the storms.
Will you know more?

 

 

 

42.
Sat þar á haugi
Oc sló hörpo
gýgiar hirðir,
glaðr Eggþér;
gól um hánom
í gaglviði
fagrrauðr hani,
sá er Fialarr heitir.

42.
The giants watchman, joyful Eggthér
Sits on his hillock and harps well;
The red cock, called Fjalarr
Boldly crows from Gallows wood.

 

 

42.
Eggthér = Sword's Watchman.


 

 

 

43.
Gól um ásom
Gullinkambi,
Sa vecr hölða
At Herjaföðrs;
enn annarr gelr
fyr iörð neðan,
sótrauðr hani,
at sölom Heliar.

43.
Gullinkambi sung at the Aesir's place,
Who wakes the Armies Father's warriors :
A soot red rooster also calls
From Hel's hall, deep under the ground.

 

 

43.
Gullinkambi = Golden crest.

Hel is the dwelling of the dead who did not die in battle. Hel is also the name of the Goddess who reigns in Hel.

 

 

44.
Geyr Garmr miöc
fyr Gnipahelli,
festr mun slitna,
enn freki renna;
fiölð veit hon frœða,
fram sé ec lengra
um ragna röc,
römm, sigtýva.

 

 

44.
Raging howls from Garmr before Gnipahellir,
The fetters will burst, the beast will run:
Many charms I know, further in the future afar I behold
The judgement of the gods who give victory.

 

 

 

44.
Garmr = Dog, the name of a giant dog. Gnipahellir = Open Roc, the opening that drives to Hel.
The famous "ragna röc" most often spelled as Ragnarok, and celebrated by Wagner under the name of the Crepuscule of the Gods, means exactly ragna = of the Gods, röc = judgement, with an undertone of wisdom, as seen in strophes 6, 9, 24, 25. Thus the translation "bitter fate," which is classical, is also very misleading because it gives undertones of revolt against it, while "judgement" gives undertones of acceptation of their fate by the Gods, and this is much more in accordance with our knowledge of the Germanic behavior in front of one's ørlög : dignity and acceptation.
The fetter that bursts is a magical chain that binds Fenrir. Ragna röc occurs when Fenrir frees himself from his chains.

45.
Brœðr muno beriaz
oc at bönum verðaz,
muno systrungar
sifiom spilla;
hart er í heimi,
hórdómr mikill,
sceggöld, scálmöld,
scildir ro klofnir,
vindöld, vargöld,
áðr verold steypiz;
mun engi maðr
öðrom þyrma.

45.
Brother shall strike brother and both fall,
Parents shall defile their kin;
Evil be on earth, an age of adultery,
Axe time, sword time,
Of split shields,
A wind-age, a wolf-age till the world caves in;
No man shall show mercy to another.

 

 

 

46.
Leica Míms synir,
enn miötuðr kyndiz

at ino gamla
Giallarhorni;
hátt blæss Heimdallr,
horn er á lopti,
mælir Óðinn
við Míms höfuð;

Corrected

46;

Sport/Move Mímir’s sons
yet
[while] the measure dispenser  burns
to him ancient

Gjallahorn ;

up blows Heimdallr,

the horn is in the air
speaks Óðinn

with Mímir’s head ;

 

 

 

46.

Mímir is a wise Giant keepr of knowledge.
His sons might be Giants who move towards battle.

Miötuðr can carry its proper meaning (mjöt is a measure) or point at fate, Urðr, or at Yggdrasill


Gjallarhorn =horn of a shriek/song.

Ragnarök starts and ,  Óðinn discuss with Mímir the best behavior.

47.
Scelfr Yggdrasils
ascr standandi,
ymr iþ aldna tré,
enn iötunn losnar;
hræðaz allir
á helvegom,
áðr Surtar þann
sefi of gleypir.

47.
Yggdrasil shakes, the erected ash, groans the old trunk;
the giant is loose; all shake on Hel's way,
Before he is swallowed by Surt's kin.

 

47.
The giant is the wolf Fenrir.

Surt ?=? The Black One. Surt's kin is the fire.

"he" here is certainly Yggdrasil that will be swallowed = devoured by Surt's kin = the flames, a classical skaldic image.

48.
Hvat er með ásom,
hvat er með álfom?
gnýr allr iötunheimr,
æsir ro á þingi;
stynia dvergar
fyr steindurom,
veggbergs vísir -
Vitoð ér enn, eða hvat?

48.
What of the Aesir? What of the elves?
Jötunheimr groans, the Aesir are in council
The dwarves grumble before their door of stone,
Masters of cliffs.
Well, would you know more?

 

48.
Elves are another kind of divine creatures, of which we now few details.

Iötunheimr is the home (= heimr) of the iötun (= the Giants). It is spelled "jötun" nowadays.

 

49 = 44.  

 

50.
Hrymr ecr austan,
hefiz lind fyrir,
snýz iörmungandr
í iötunmóði;
ormr knýr unnir,
enn ari hlaccar,
slítr nái neffölr,
Naglfar losnar.

50.
From the East drives Hrym, lifts up his shield;
Jórmungandr squirms with rage
Taken by the giants' frenzy.
The great worm whips the waves
The pale-beaked eagle Niðfölr pecks at the dead,
The ship Naglfari is free.

50.

Jórmungandr is the large serpent who encircles Midgard.
The Edda often refers to someone becoming frenzy when being opposed. Þórr in battle is taken by his Aesir's frenzy as well.
It is classical to say that the wolf, the raven, or the eagle gorge on dead warrior's corpse.
Niðfölr ?=? The Yellow-Grey One, Naglfari = Nail Ship, is a giant ship made of the nails of the dead.

51.
Kjóll ferr austan,
koma muno Muspellz
um lög lýðir,
enn Loki stýrir;
fara fífls megir
með freca allir,
þeim er bróðir
Býleiptz í for.

51.
The ship sails out from the east, at its helm Loki
With the children of Muspell,
Offspring of monsters, allies of the wolf,
All who follow the brother of Býleistr.

 

51.
Muspell is what symbolizes the fire in the giants, and the children of Muspell points at the giants of the fire.

Býleistr = the brother of Loki's borther.

 

52.
Surtr ferr sunnan
með sviga lævi,
scínn af sverði
sól valtíva;
griótbjörg gnata,
enn gífr rata,
troða halir helveg,
enn himinn klofnar.

52.
Surtr comes from the South with the bane of branches
Hel's sword generates the sun,
Crags topple, monsters move,
Men walk on Hel's road, the Heavens split open.

 

52.
Surtr = name of the main fire Giant. There is in Iceland a set of volcanic caves called Surtshellir, Surt's caves, that suggests that the fire Giants could well be linked to the volcanoes.

The bane of branches = the fire.

 

53.
Þá kømr Hlínar
harmr annarr fram,
er Óðinn ferr
við úlf vega,
enn bani Belia
biartr, at Surti;
þá mun Friggiar
falla angan.

53.
A further woe falls upon Hlin
As Óðinn comes forth to fight the wolf;
The shining killer of Beli battles with Surt;
Now shall fall Frigg's beloved.

 

 

53.
Hlin is another name of Frigg, wife of Óðinn. Frigg's first woe is the death of her son Baldr, and the further one  is the death of her husband, Óðinn.
Beli = Mooer, a giant who was killed by Freyr with a doe ram. Thus the shining killer of Beli is Freyr.
Frigg's beloved is Óðinn.

 

54 = 44.    

55.
Þá kømr inn micli
mögr Sigföður,
Víðarr, vega
At valdýri;
Lætr hann megi Hveðrungs
Mund um standa
Hiör til hiarta,
Þá er hefnt föður.

55.
Now valiant comes Sigföd's son,
Vidarr, to kill the vulture,
Plunges his sword in the heart of Hvedrung 's son,
Avenging his father with a thrust.

 

55.
Sigföðr = Of Victory Father, i.e., Óðinn. He has indeed many different names that express the many different ways he can apply his power. Many other names of Óðinn will still follow.
The vulture is here a wolf, i.e., Fenrir who killed Óðinn in 53. Vidarr kills Fenrir in this stanza.
Hveðrung = Foaming, is another name of Loki. The wolf Fenrir, who kills Óðinn in stanza 53, is his son.

55'.
Gínn lopt yfir
(jaws-gaping in the air over)
lindi iarðar,
(belt of the earth)
gapa ýgs kiaptar
(gape frightening the jaws)
orms í hæðom;
(of the worm in the heights)
mun Óðins sonr
(will Odin's son)
eitri mœta
(poison meet (or weaken))
vargs at dauða
(of the monster at the death)
Víðars niðja.
(of Vidar's family)

55'.
High up in the air,
the belt of the earth,
his mouth wide open,
the frightening worm's jaw gapes.
Odin's son will meet the monster's poison at Vidar's sons death.

 

 

 

 

 

55'.
This strophe has been late deciphered this is why it is called 55'.  

The belt of the earth designates the serpent that circles the earth, Jórmungandr.

Since Þórr will kill Jórmungandr at ragna röc, Óðinn's son is here Þórr.

The expression "Vidar's family death" designates ragna röc : Vidar's family are the gods.

 

 

56.
Þá kømr inn mœri
mögr Hlöðyniar,
gengr Óðins sonr
við orm úlf vega,
(in-order-to worm wolf fight)
drepr hann af móði
(strikes he on with-anger)
Miðgarðz véor,
(Midgard’s véor)
Muno halir allir
heimstöð ryðia,
gengr fet nío
Fiörgyniar burr
neppr frá naðri
níðs óqvíðnom.

56.
Now comes the son of Hlódyn, comes Óðinn's son, fiercest of warriors
To fight the serpent; He mauls in his rage Midgard's "veor",
Men all flee their homesteads;
Fjörgyn's son steps back nine paces
Retreats from the worm with no fear of being shamed.

 

 

56. Hlóðyn = She-Stormy, the earth, the mother of God Þórr . Óðinn is the father of Þórr .

Fjörgyn = Earth.

The serpent, the worm both designate a dragon who must be Jórmungandr, eventually killed by Þórr.

We do not know what a "véor" is. If it qualifies Jórmungandr, then something like "belt" could be ok.

In this single stanza Þórr is called by three different names.

 

57.
Sól tér sortna,
sígr fold í mar,
hverfa af himni
heiðar stjörnor;
geisar eimi
við aldrnara,
leicr hár hiti
við himin siálfan.

57.
Earth sinks in the sea, the sun turns black,
The shining stars shake in the sky,
Fumes rage, flames grumble,
The sky is scorched with fire.

 

 

 
58 = 44.    

59.
Sér hon upp koma
öðro sinni
iörð ór ægi
iðiagrœna;
falla fossar,
flýgr örn yfir,
sá er á fialli
fisca veiðir.

A new, largely commentated version of these stanzas is available HERE 


 

 

59.
"she" is the völva.

 

 

 

60.
Finnaz æsir
á Iðavelli
og um moldþinur
mátcan, dœma
oc minnaz þar
á megindóma
oc á Fimbultýs
fornar rúnar.


 

60.
As already said in 7, Íðavöllr is a valley where the Aesir meet.

Fimbultýr = Supreme God. Tyr is the name of a very ancient God who seems to have been a sky-God, master of the battle, somewhat as Óðinn became. Fimbul expresses the idea of vastness.

Another poem says that the runes have been created by the "Powers," and shouted by Óðinn. Since he is the one who acquired of the magical secret power of the runes, the High God must be here Óðinn.

 

61.
Þar muno eptir
undrsamligar
Gullnar töflor
í grasi finnaz,
þærs í árdaga
áttar höfðo.


 

62.
Muno ósánir
Acrar vaxa,
böls mun allz batna,
Baldr mun koma;
búa þeir Höðr oc Baldr
Hroptz sigtóptir,
Vel valtívar -
Vitoð ér enn, eða hvat?


 

62.
As we said, Hroptr is another name of Óðinn, whose hall, Valhöll, gathers the dead warriors.

 

 

 

63.
Þá kná Hœnir
(After-that knows Hœnir)
hlautvið kiósa
(wood-fate choose)
oc byrir byggja
brœðra tveggja
vindheim víðan -
Vitoð ér enn, eða hvat?


 

 

63.
Hœnir is one of the twelve Aesir who plays a role symmetrical to Njörð's in the ending of the war between the Aesir and the Vanir: he was given in hostage to the Vanir.
Nordic magicians often use a wand, and many magical operation are performed by engraving runes on a stick of wood.
The two brothers might be Baldr and Hödr. One thing is sure: these verses say that the future humanity will have its dwelling in Wind-home, the sky.

64.
Sal sér hon standa,
sólo fegra,
gulli þacþan
á Gimlé;
þar scolo dyggvar
dróttir byggja
oc um aldrdaga
ynðis nióta.


 

 

64. Gimlé = Protected from the Fire. Another text says that Gimlé is in the sky.

The second half of this stanza and stanza 65 smell strongly of Christianity and are often called a late adjunction.

 

 

65.
Þá kømr inn ríki
at regindómi,
öflugr, ofan,
sá er öllo ræðr.


 

65.
This all ruler might be Christ if the stanza is of Christian origin, but he might still be Fimbultýr, met in stanza 60.

 

66.
Þar kømr inn dimmi
dreki fliúgandi,
naðr fránn, neðan
frá Niðafiöllom;
berr sér í fiöðrom -
flýgr völl yfir -
Niðhöggr, nái -
Nú mun hon søcqvaz.


 

66.
Nidafjöll = Dark Mount, where it can be supposed that the corpses were before stored.


"She" is again the völva who has finished and will go away.

 

References.

De Vries "Altnordisches etymologisches Wörterbuch" Leiden 1961.

Snorri Sturluson, Edda, Prologue and Gylfaginning, edited by A. Faulkes, Clarendon Press, Oxford 1982. Presents an Old Norse version of the text, with commentaries and a glossary.

Snorri Sturluson, L'Edda, translation F. X. Dillmann, Gallimard, 1991 contains a large number of fascinating explanations.

Poetic Edda:

The Poetic Edda, Carolyne Larrington Translation, 1996, Oxford University Press

Norse Poems, W. H. Auden & P. B. Taylor, Faber and Faber, London 1986.

Hans Kuhn, Edda, Codex Regius, Vol. I. Texts; Vol. II. Short Dictionary, Carl Winter, Heidelberg 1962.

Die Edda, F. Genzmer, Eugen Diederichs, München 1992.

The Elder Edda, Andy Orchard, Penguin  2011.

The Poetic Edda Vol. II,  Ursula Dronke,  Clarendon 1997.

The Elder Edda, Andy Orchard, Penguin 2011. 



copyright © 1998-2015 Yves Kodratoff