The Elder Eddas of Saemund Sigfusson; and the Younger Eddas of Snorre Sturleson by Saemund Sigfusson and Snorre Sturleson

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122. I counsel thee, etc. A good man attract to thee in pleasant
converse; and salutary speech learn while thou livest.

123. I counsel thee, etc. With thy friend be thou never first to
quarrel. Care gnaws the heart, if thou to no one canst thy whole mind
disclose.

124. I counsel thee, etc. Words thou never shouldst exchange with a
witless fool;

125. For from an ill-conditioned man thou wilt never get a return
for good; but a good man will bring thee favour by his praise.

126. There is a mingling of affection, where one can tell another
all his mind. Everything is better than being with the deceitful. He
is not another's friend who ever says as he says.

127. I counsel thee, etc. Even in three words quarrel not with a
worse man: often the better yields, when the worse strikes.

128. I counsel thee, etc. Be not a shoemaker, nor a shaftmaker,
unless for thyself it be; for a shoe if ill made, or a shaft if
crooked, will call down evil on thee.

129. I counsel thee, etc. Wherever of injury thou knowest, regard
that injury as thy own; and give to thy foes no peace.

130. I counsel thee, etc. Rejoiced at evil be thou never; but let
good give thee pleasure.

131. I counsel thee, etc. In a battle look not up, (like swine the
sons of men then become) that men may not fascinate thee.

132. If thou wilt induce a good woman to pleasant converse, thou
must promise fair, and hold to it: no one turns from good if it can be
got.

133. I enjoin thee to be wary, but not over wary; at drinking be
thou most wary, and with another's wife; and thirdly, that thieves
delude thee not.

134. With insult or derision treat thou never a guest or wayfarer.
They often little know, who sit within, of what race they are who
come.

135. Vices and virtues the sons of mortals bear in their breasts
mingled; no one is so good that no failing attends him, nor so bad as
to be good for nothing.

136. At a hoary speaker laugh thou never; often is good that which
the aged utter, oft from a shriveled hide discreet words issue; from
those whose skin is pendent and decked with scars, and who go
tottering among the vile.

137. I counsel thee, etc. Rail not at a guest, nor from thy gate
thrust him; treat well the indigent; they will speak well of thee.

138. Strong is the bar that must be raised to admit all. Do thou
give a penny, or they will call down on thee every ill in thy limbs.

139. I counsel thee, etc. Wherever thou beer drinkest, invoke to
thee the power of earth; for earth is good against drink, fire for
distempers, the oak for constipation, a corn-ear for sorcery, a hall
for domestic strife. In bitter hates invoke the moon; the biter for
bite-injuries is good; but runes against calamity; fluid let earth
absorb.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 14: Odin is the "High One." The poem is a collection of
rules and maxims, and stories of himself, some of them not very
consistent with our ideas of a supreme deity.]

[Footnote 15: In the Copenhagen paper Ms. F. this strophe begins with
the following three lines:--

Wit is needful
to him who travels far:
harm seldom befalls the wary:

They are printed in the Stockholm edition of the original Afzelius and
Bask, and in the Swedish translation by Afzelius.]

[Footnote 16: The sense of this line seems doubtful; I have adopted
the version of Finn Magnusen.]

[Footnote 17: The public meeting.]

[Footnote 18: That is dead on the funeral pyre.]

[Footnote 19: This line is evidently an interpolation.]

[Footnote 20: Odln.]

[Footnote 21: From this line it appears that the poem is of Norwegian
or Swedish origin, as the reindeer was unknown in Iceland before the
middle of the 18th century, when it was Introduced by royal command.]

[Footnote 22: The story of Odin and Billing's daughter is no longer
extant; but compare the story of Odin and Rinda in Saxo, p. 126, edit.
Muller & Veleschow.]

[Footnote 23: In the pagan North oaths were taken on a holy ring or
bracelet, as with us on the Gospels, a sacred ring being kept in the
temple for the purpose.]

ODIN'S RUNE-SONG.[24]

140. I know that I hung, on a wind-rocked tree, nine whole nights,
with a spear wounded, and to Odin offered, myself to myself; on that
tree, of which no one knows from what root it springs.

141. Bread no one gave me, nor a horn of drink, downward I peered,
to runes applied myself, wailing learnt them, then fell down thence.

142. Potent songs nine from the famed son I learned of Bolthorn,
Bestla's sire, and a draught obtained of the precious mead, drawn from
Odhraerir.

143. Then I began to bear fruit, and to know many things, to grow
and well thrive: word by word I sought out words, fact by fact I
sought out facts.

144. Runes thou wilt find, and explained characters, very large
characters, very potent characters, which the great speaker depicted,
and the high powers formed, and the powers' prince graved:

145. Odin among the AEsir, but among the Alfar, Dain, and Dvalin for
the dwarfs, Asvid for the Jotuns: some I myself graved.

146. Knowest thou how to grave them? knowest thou how to expound
them? knowest thou how to depict them? knowest thou how to prove them?
knowest thou how to pray? knowest thou how to offer? knowest thou how
to send?[25] knowest thou how to consume?

147. 'Tis better not to pray than too much offer; a gift ever looks
to a return. 'Tis better not to send than too much consume. So Thund
graved before the origin of men, where he ascended, to whence he
afterwards came.

148. Those songs I know which the king's wife knows not nor son of
man. Help the first is called, for that will help thee against strifes
and cares.

149. For the second I know, what the sons of men require, who will
as leeches live. * * * *

150. For the third I know,[26] if I have great need to restrain my
foes, the weapons' edge I deaden: of my adversaries nor arms nor wiles
harm aught.

151. For the fourth I know, if men place bonds on my limbs, I so
sing that I can walk; the fetter starts from my feet, and the manacle
from my hands.

152. For the fifth I know, if I see a shot from a hostile hand, a
shaft flying amid the host, so swift it cannot fly that I cannot
arrest it, if only I get sight of it.

153. For the sixth I know, if one wounds me with a green tree's
roots;[27] also if a man declares hatred to me, harm shall consume
them sooner than me.

154. For the seventh I know, if a lofty house I see blaze o'er its
inmates, so furiously it shall not burn that I cannot save it. That
song I can sing.

155. For the eighth I know, what to all is useful to learn: where
hatred grows among the sons of men--that I can quickly assuage.

156. For the ninth I know, if I stand in need my bark on the water
to save, I can the wind on the waves allay, and the sea lull.

157. For the tenth I know, if I see troll-wives sporting in air, I
can so operate that they will forsake their own forms, and their own
minds.

158. For the eleventh I know, if I have to lead my ancient friends
to battle, under their shields I sing, and with power they go safe to
the fight, safe from the fight; safe on every side they go.

159. For the twelfth I know, if on a tree I see a corpse swinging
from a halter, I can so grave and in runes depict, that the man shall
walk, and with me converse.

160. For the thirteenth I know, if on a young man I sprinkle water,
he shall not fall, though he into battle come: that man shall not sink
before swords.

161. For the fourteenth I know, if in the society of men I have to
enumerate the gods, AEsir and Alfar, I know the distinctions of all.
This few unskilled can do.

162. For the fifteenth I know what the dwarf Thiodreyrir sang before
Delling's doors. Strength he sang to the AEsir, and to the Alfar
prosperity, wisdom to Hroptatyr.

163. For the sixteenth I know, if a modest maiden's favour and
affection I desire to possess, the soul I change of the white-armed
damsel, and wholly turn her mind.

164. For the seventeenth I know, that that young maiden will
reluctantly avoid me. These songs, Loddfafnir! thou wilt long have
lacked; yet it may be good if thou understandest them, profitable if
thou learnest them.

165. For the eighteenth I know that which I never teach to maid or
wife of man, (all is better what one only knows. This is the closing
of the songs) save her alone who clasps me in her arms, or is my
sister.

166. Now are sung the High-one's songs, in the High-one's hall, to
the sons of men all-useful, but useless to the Jotuns' sons. Hail to
him who has sung them! Hail to him who knows them! May he profit who
has learnt them! Hail to those who have listened to them!

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 24: The first eight strophes of this composition require an
explanation which I am incompetent to afford. They have had many
interpreters and as many interpretations. The idea of Odin hanging on
a tree would seem to have been suggested by what we read of the grove
at Upsala, or Sigtuna, in which the victims offered to that deity were
suspended from the trees. In the guise of an unknown wanderer, Odin
may be supposed to have been captured and thus offered to himself. It
no doubt refers to some lost legend.]

[Footnote 25: Probably, send them (the runes) forth on their several
missions.]

[Footnote 26: The miraculous powers here ascribed by Odin to himself
bear, in many instances, a remarkable similarity to those attributed
to him by Snorri.]

[Footnote 27: The ancient inhabitants of the North believed that the
roots of trees were particularly fitted for hurtful trolldom, or
witchcraft, and that wounds caused thereby were mortal. In India a
similar superstition prevails of the hurtfulness of the roots of
trees.]

THE LAY OF HYMIR.

1. Once the celestial gods had been taking fish, and were in
compotation, ere they the truth discovered.[28] Rods[29] they shook,
and blood inspected, when they found at Oegir's a lack of kettles.

2. Sat the rock-dweller glad as a child, much like the son of
Miskorblindi. In his eyes looked Ygg's son steadfastly. "Thou to the
AEir shalt oft a compotation give."

3. Caused trouble to the Jotun th' unwelcome-worded As: he forthwith
meditated vengeance on the gods. Sif's husband he besought a kettle
him to bring, "in which I beer for all of you may brew."

4. The illustrious gods found that impossible, nor could the exalted
powers it accomplish, till from true-heartedness, Ty to Hlorridi much
friendly counsel gave.

5. "There dwells eastward of Elivagar the all-wise Hymir, at
heaven's end. My sire, fierce of mood, a kettle owns, a capacious
cauldron, a rast in depth."

_Thor_.

6. "Knowest thou whether we can get the liquor-boiler?"

_Ty_.

"Yes, friend! if we stratagem' employ." Rapidly they drove forward
that day from Asgard, till to the giant's home they came.

7. Thor stalled his goats, splendid of horn, then turned him to the
hall that Hymir owned. The son his granddam found to him most
loathful; heads she had nine hundred.

8. But another came all-golden forth, fair-browed, bearing the
beer-cup to her son:

9. "Ye Jotuns' kindred! I will you both, ye daring pair, under the
kettles place. My husband is oftentimes niggard towards guests, to
ill-humour prone."

10. But the monster, the fierce-souled Hymir, late returned home
from the chase. He the hall entered, the icebergs resounded, as the
churl approached; the thicket on his cheeks was frozen.

11. "Hail to thee, Hymir! be of good cheer: now thy son is come to
thy hall, whom we expected from his long journey; him accompanies our
famed adversary, the friend of man, who Veor hight.

12. See where they sit under the hall's gable, as if to shun thee:
the pillar stands before them." In shivers flew the pillar at the
Jotun's glance; the beam was first broken in two.

13. Eight kettles fell, but only one of them, a hard-hammered
cauldron, whole from the column. The two came forth, but the old Jotun
with eyes surveyed his adversary.

14. Augured to him his mind no good, when he saw the giantess's
sorrow on the floor coming. Then were three oxen taken, and the Jotun
bade them forthwith be boiled.

15. Each one they made by the head shorter, and to the fire
afterwards bore them. Sif's consort ate, ere to sleep he went,
completely, he alone, two of Hymir's beeves.

16. Seemed to the hoary friend of Hrungnir Hlorridi's refection full
well large: "We three to-morrow night shall be compelled on what we
catch to live."

17. Veor said he would on the sea row, if the bold Jotun him would
with baits supply: "To the herd betake thee, (if thou in thy courage
trustest, crusher of the rock-dwellers!) for baits to seek.

18. I expect that thou wilt bait from an ox easily obtain." The
guest in haste to the forest went, where stood an all-black ox before
him.

19. The Thursar's bane wrung from an ox the high fastness of his two
horns. "To me thy work seems worse by far, ruler of keels! than if
thou hadst sat quiet."

20. The lord of goats the apes' kinsman besought the horse of plank
farther out to move; but the Jotun declared his slight desire farther
to row.

21. The mighty Hymir drew, he alone, two whales up with his hook;
but at the stern abaft Veor cunningly made him a line.

22. Fixed on the hook the shield of men, the serpent's slayer, the
ox's head. Gaped at the bait the foe of gods, the encircler beneath of
every land.[30]

23. Drew up boldly the mighty Thor the worm with venom glistening,
up to the side; with his hammer struck, on his foul head's summit,
like a rock towering, the wolf's own brother.

24. The icebergs resounded, the caverns howled, the old earth shrank
together: at length the fish back into ocean sank.[31]

25. The Jotun was little glad, as they rowed back, so that the
powerful Hymir nothing spake, but the oar moved in another course.

26. "Wilt thou do half the work with me, either the whales home to
the dwelling bear, or the boat fast bind?"

27. Hlorridi went, grasped the prow, quickly, with its hold-water,
lifted the water-steed, together with its oars and scoop; bore to the
dwelling the Jotun's ocean-swine, the curved vessel, through the
wooded hills.

28. But the Jotun yet ever frowned, to strife accustomed, with Thor
disputed, said that no one was strong, however vigorously he might
row, unless he his cup could break.

29. But Hlorridi, when to his hands it came, forthwith brake an
upright stone in twain; sitting dashed the cup through the pillars:
yet they brought it whole to Hymir back.

30. Until the beauteous woman gave important, friendly counsel,
which she only knew: "Strike at the head of Hymir, the Jotun with food
oppressed, that is harder than any cup."

31. Rose then on his knee the stern lord of goats, clad in all his
godlike power. Unhurt remained the old man's helm-block, but the round
wine-bearer was in shivers broken.

32. "Much good, I know, has departed from me, now that my cup I see
hurled from my knees." Thus the old man spake: "I can never say again,
beer thou art too hot.

33. "Now 'tis to be tried if ye can carry the beer-vessel out of our
dwelling." Ty twice assayed to move the vessel, yet at each time stood
the kettle fast.

34. Then Modi's father by the brim grasped it, and trod through the
dwelling's floor. Sif's consort lifted the kettle on his head, while
about his heels its rings jingled.

35. They had far journeyed before Odin's son cast one look backward:
he from the caverns saw, with Hymir from the east, a troop of
many-headed monsters coming.

36. From his shoulders he lifted the kettle down; Miollnir hurled
forth towards the savage crew, and slew all the mountain-giants, who
with Hymir had him pursued.

37. Long they had not journeyed when of Hlorridi's goats one lay
down half-dead before the car. It from the pole had sprung across the
trace; but the false Loki was of this the cause.

38. Now ye have heard,--for what fabulist can more fully tell--what
indemnity he from the giant got: he paid for it with his children
both.[32]

39. In his strength exulting he to the gods' council came, and had
the kettle, which Hymir had possessed, out of which every god shall
beer with Oegir drink at every harvest-tide.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 28: To wit, that they were short of kettles for brewing.]

[Footnote 29: That is divining rods.]

[Footnote 30: The great serpent that encircles the earth.]

[Footnote 31: According to the Prose Edda, the giant, overcome with
fright, took out his knife and severed Thor's line.]

[Footnote 32: This strophe belongs apparently to another poem.]

THE LAY OF THRYM, OR THE HAMMER RECOVERED.

1. Wroth was Vingthor, when he awoke, and his hammer missed; his
beard he shook, his forehead struck, the son of earth felt all around
him;

2. And first of all these words he uttered: "Hear now, Loki! what I
now say, which no one knows anywhere on earth, nor in heaven above;
the As's hammer is stolen!"

3. They went to the fair Freyia's dwelling, and he these words first
of all said: "Wilt thou me, Freyia, thy feather-garment lend, that
perchance my hammer I may find?"

_Freyia._

4. "That I would give thee, although of gold it were, and trust it
to thee, though it were of silver."

5. Flew then Loki--the plumage rattled--until he came beyond the
AEsir's dwellings, and came within the Jotun's land.

6. On a mound sat Thrym, the Thursar's lord, for his greyhounds
plaiting gold bands and his horses' manes smoothing.

7. "How goes it with the AEsir? How goes it with the Alfar? Why art
thou come alone to Jotunheim?"

_Loki_.

8. "Ill it goes with the AEsir, Ill it goes with the Alfar. Hast thou
Hlorridi's hammer hidden?"

_Thrym_.

9. "I have Hlorridi's hammer hidden eight rasts beneath the earth;
it shall no man get again, unless he bring me Freyia to wife."

10. Flew then Loki--the plumage rattled--until he came beyond the
Jotun's dwellings, and came within the AEsir's courts; there he met
Thor, in the middle court, who these words first of all uttered.

11. "Hast thou had success as well as labour? Tell me from the air
the long tidings. Oft of him who sits are the tales defective, and he
who lies down utters falsehood."

_Loki_.

12. "I have had labour and success: Thrym has thy hammer, the
Thursar's lord. It shall no man get again, unless he bring him Freyia
to wife."

13. They went the fair Freyia to find; and he those words first of
all said: "Bind thee, Freyia, in bridal raiment, we two must drive to
Jotunheim."

14. Wroth then was Freyia, and with anger chafed, all the AEsir's
hall beneath her trembled: in shivers flew the famed Brisinga
necklace. "Know me to be of women lewdest, if with thee I drive to
Jotunheim."

15. Straightway went the AEsir all to council, and the Asyniur all to
hold converse; and deliberated the mighty gods, how they Hlorridi's
hammer might get back.

16. Then said Heimdall, of AEsir brightest--he well foresaw, like
other Vanir--"Let us clothe Thor with bridal raiment, let him have the
famed Brisinga necklace.

17. "Let by his side keys jingle, and woman's weeds fall round his
knees, but on his breast place precious stones, and a neat coif set on
his head."

18. Then said Thor, the mighty As: "Me the AEsir will call womanish,
if I let myself be clad in bridal raiment."

19. Then spake Loki, Laufey's son: "Do thou, Thor! refrain from
suchlike words: forthwith the Jotuns will Asgard inhabit, unless thy
hammer thou gettest back."

20. Then they clad Thor in bridal raiment, and with the noble
Brisinga necklace, let by his side keys jingle, and woman's weeds fall
round his knees; and on his breast placed precious stones, and a neat
coif set on his head.

21. Then said Loki, Laufey's son: "I will with thee as a servant go:
we two will drive to Jotunheim."

22. Straightway were the goats homeward driven, hurried to the
traces; they had fast to run. The rocks were shivered, the earth was
in a blaze; Odin's son drove to Jotunheim.

23. Then said Thrym, the Thursar's lord: "Rise up, Jotuns! and the
benches deck, now they bring me Freyia to wife, Niord's daughter, from
Noatun.

24. "Hither to our court let bring gold-horned cows, all-black oxen,
for the Jotuns' joy. Treasures I have many, necklaces many, Freyia
alone seemed to me wanting."

25. In the evening they early came, and for the Jotuns beer was
brought forth. Thor alone an ox devoured, salmons eight, and all the
sweetmeats women should have. Sif's consort drank three salds of mead.

26. Then said Thrym, the Thursar's prince: "Where hast thou seen
brides eat more voraciously? I never saw brides feed more amply, nor a
maiden drink more mead."

27. Sat the all-crafty serving-maid close by, who words fitting
found against the Jotun's speech: "Freyia has nothing eaten for eight
nights, so eager was she for Jotunheim."

28. Under her veil he stooped desirous to salute her, but sprang
back along the hall. "Why are so piercing Freyia's looks? Methinks
that fire burns from her eyes."

29. Sat the all-crafty serving-maid close by, who words fitting
found against the Jotun's speech: "Freyia for eight nights has not
slept, so eager was she for Jotunheim."

30. In came the Jotun's luckless sister, for a bride-gift she dared
to ask: "Give me from thy hands the ruddy rings, if thou wouldst gain
my love, my love and favour all."

31. Then said Thrym, the Thursar's lord: "Bring the hammer in, the
bride to consecrate; lay Miollnir on the maiden's knee; unite us each
with other by the hand of Vor."

32. Laughed Hlorridi's soul in his breast, when the fierce-hearted
his hammer recognized. He first slew Thrym, the Thursar's lord, and
the Jotun's race all crushed;

33. He slew the Jotun's aged sister, her who a bride-gift had
demanded; she a blow got instead of skillings, a hammer's stroke for
many rings. So got Odin's son his hammer back.

THE LAY OF THE DWARF ALVIS.

_Alvis_.

1. The benches they are decking, now shall the bride[33] with me
bend her way home. That beyond my strength I have hurried will to
every one appear: at home naught shall disturb my quiet.

_Vingthor_.

2. What man is this? Why about the nose art thou so pale? Hast thou
last night with corpses lain? To me thou seemst to bear resemblance to
the Thursar. Thou art not born to carry off a bride.

_Alvis_.

3. Alvis I am named, beneath the earth I dwell, under the rock I own
a place. The lord of chariots I am come to visit. A promise once
confirmed let no one break.[34] _Vingthor_.

4. I will break it; for o'er the maid I have, as father, greatest
power. I was from home when the promise was given thee. Among the gods
I the sole giver am.

_Alvis_.

5. What man is this, who lays claim to power over that fair, bright
maiden? For far-reaching shafts few will know thee. Who has decked
thee with bracelets?

_Vingthor_.

6. Vingthor I am named, wide I have wandered; I am Sidgrani's son:
with my dissent thou shalt not that young maiden have, nor that union
obtain.

_Alvis_.

7. Thy consent I fain would have, and that union obtain. Rather
would I possess than be without that snow-white maiden.

_Vingthor_.

8. The maiden's love shall not, wise guest! be unto thee denied, if
thou of every world canst tell all I desire to know.

_Alvis_.

9. Vingthor! thou canst try, as thou art desirous the knowledge of
the dwarf to prove. All the nine worlds I have travelled over, and
every being known.

_Vingthor_.

10. Tell me, Alvis!--for all men's concerns I presume thee, dwarf,
to know--how the earth is called, which lies before the sons of men,
in every world.

_Alvis_.

11. Jord among men 'tis called, but with the AEsir fold; the Vanir
call it vega, the Jotuns igroen, the Alfar groandi, the powers supreme
aur.

_Vingthor_.

12. Tell me, Alvis, etc. how the heaven is called, which is
perceptible in every world.

_Alvis_.

13. Himinn 'tis called by men; but hlyrnir with the gods; vindofni
the Vanir call it, uppheimr the Jotuns, the Alfar fagraraefr, the
dwarfs driupansal.

_Vingthor_.

14. Tell me, Alvis! etc., how the moon is called, which men see in
every world.

_Alvis_.

15. Mani 'tis called by men, but mylinn with the gods, hverfanda
hvel in Hel[35] they call it, skyndi the Jotuns, but the dwarfs skin;
the Alfar name it artali.

_Vingthor_.

16. Tell me, Alvis! etc., how the sun is called, which men's sons
see in every world.

_Alvis_.

17. Sol among men 'tis called, but with the gods sunna, the dwarfs
call it Dvalinn's leika, the Jotuns eyglo, the Alfar fagrahvel, the
AEsir's sons alskir.

_Vingthor_.

18. Tell me, Alvis, etc., how the clouds are called, which with
showers are mingled in every world.

_Alvis_.

19. Sky they are called by men, but skurvan by the gods; the Vanir
call them vindflot, the Jotuns urvan, the Alfar vedrmegin; in Hel they
are called hialm hulids.

_Vingthor_.

20. Tell me, Alvis! etc., how the wind is called, which widely
passes over every world.

_Alvis_.

21. Windr 'tis called by men, but vavudr by the gods, the
wide-ruling powers call it gneggiud, the Jotuns oepir, the Alfar
dynfari, in Hel they call it hvidudr.

_Vingthor_.

22. Tell me, Alvis! etc., how the calm is called, which has to rest
in every world.

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