Voluspa - The Prophecy of the Seeress
Hear me, all ye hallowed beings,
both high and low of Heimdallr's children:
thou wilt, Valfadhir, that I well set forth
the fates of the world which as first I recall.
I call to mind the kin of Etins
which long ago did give me life.
Nine worlds I know, the nine abodes
of the glorious world-tree the ground beneath.
In earliest times did Ymir live:
was nor sea, nor land, nor salty waves,
neither earth was there, nor upper heaven,
but a gaping nothing, and green things nowhere.
Was the land then lifted aloft by Bur's sons
who made Midgardh, the matchless earth;
shone from the south, the sun on dry land,
on the ground then grew the greensward soft.
From the south the sun, by the side of the moon,
heaved his right hand over heaven's rim;
the sun knew not what seat he had,
the stars knew not what stead they held,
the moon knew not what might she had.
Then gathered together the Gods for counsel,
the Holy Hosts, and held converse;
to night and new moon their names they gave,
the morning named, and midday also,
forenoon and evening, to order the year.
On Itha Plain met the mighty Gods;
shrines and temples they timbered high,
they founded forges to fashion gold,
tongs they did shape and tools they made;
Played at draughts in the gardh: right glad they were,
nor aught lacked they of lustrous gold----
till maidens three, from the Thurses came,
awful in might, from Etin-home.
Then gathered together the Gods for counsel,
the Holy Hosts, and held converse:
who the deep-dwelling dwarfs was to make
of Brimir's blood and Blain's bones.
Motsognir rose, mightiest ruler
of the kin of dwarfs, but Durin next;
molded many manlike bodies
the dwarfs under earth, as Durin bade them.
Nyi and Nithi, Northri and Suthri,
Austri and Vestri, Althjof, Dvalin,
Nar and Nain, Niping, Dain,
Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Nori,
An and Onar, Ai, Mjothvitnir.
Veig and Gandalf, Vindalf, Thrain,
Thekk and Thorin, Thror, Vit, and Lit,
Nar and Regin, Nyrath and Rathsvith;
now is reckoned the roster of dwarfs.
Fili, Kili, Fundin, Nali,
Keptifili, Hanar, Sviur,
Frar, Hornbori, Fraeg and Loni,
Aurvang, Jari, Eikinskjaldi.
The dwarfs I tell now in Dvalin's host,
down to Lofar--- for listening wights---
they who hied them from halls of stone
over sedgy shores to sandy plains.
There was Draupnir and Dolgthrasir,
Har and Haugspori, Hlevang, Gloi,
Skirvir, Virvir, Skafith, Ai,
Alf and Yngvi, Eikinskjaldi,
Fjalar and Frosti, Finn and Ginnar.
Will ever be known, while earth doth last,
the line of dwarfs to Lofar down.
To the coast then came, kind and mighty,
from the gathered gods three great Aesir;
on the land they found, of little strength,
Ask and Embla, unfated yet.
Sense they possessed not, soul they had not,
being nor bearing, nor blooming hue;
soul gave Odhinn, sense gave Hoenir,
being, Lothur, and blooming hue.
An ash I know, called Yggdrasil,
the mighty tree moist with white dews;
thence come the floods that fall adown;
evergreen o'ertops Urth's well this tree.
Thence wise maidens three betake them---
under spreading boughs their bower stands---
[Urth one is called, the other, Verthandi,
Skuld the third: they scores did cut,]
they laws did make, they lives did choose:
for the children of men they marked their fates.
I believe the first war in the world was this,
when the gods Gullveig gashed with their spears,
and in the hall of Har burned her---
three times burned they the thrice reborn,
ever and anon: even now she liveth.
Heith she was called where to houses she came,
the wise seeress, and witchcraft plied----
cast spells where she could, cast spells on the mind:
to wicked women she was welcome ever.
Then gathered together the Gods for counsel,
the Holy Hosts, and held converse:
should the Aesir a truce with tribute buy,
or should all Gods share in the feast.
His spear had Odhinn sped o'er the host:
the first of feuds was thus fought in the world;
was broken in battle the breastwork of Asgardh,
fighting Vanir trod the field of battle.
Then gathered together the Gods for counsel,
the Holy Hosts, and held converse:
who had filled the air with foul treason,
and to uncouth Etins Odh's wife given.
Thewy Thorr then overthrew the foe----
he seldom sits when of such he hears:
were sworn oaths broken, and solemn vows,
Gods' plighted troth, the pedges given.
Where Heimdallr's horn is hid, she knows,
under heaven-touching, holy world-tree;
on it are shed showery falls
from Fjolnir's pledge: know ye further, or how?
Alone she sat out when the Lord of Gods,
Odhinn the old, her eye did seek:
"What seekest to know, why summon me?
Well know I, Ygg, where thy eye is hidden:
in the wondrous well of Mimir;
each morn Mimir his mead doth drink
out of Fjolnir's pledge: know ye further, or how?
Gave Ygg to her arm rings and gems
for her seeress' sight and soothsaying:
(the fates I fathom, yet farther I see,)
see far and wide the worlds about.
[The Valkyries' flock from afar she beholds,
ready to ride to the realm of men:
Skuld held her shield, Skogul likewise,
Guth, Hild, Gondul, and Geirskogul:
for thus are called Herjan's maidens,
ready to ride o'er reddened battlefields.]
I saw for Baldr, the blessed god,
Ygg's dearest son, what doom is hidden:
green and glossy, there grew aloft,
the trees among, the mistletoe.
The slender-seeming sapling became
a fell weapon when flung by Hod;
but Baldr's brother was born full soon:
but one night old slew him Odhinn's son.
Neither cleansed his hands nor combed his hair
till Baldr's slayer he sent to Hel;
but Frigg did weep in Fensalir
the fateful deed: know ye further, or how?
A captive lies in the kettle-grove,
like to lawless Loki in shape;
there sits Sigyn, full sad in mind,
by her fettered mate: know ye further, or how?
From the east there flows through fester-dales,
a stream hight Slith, filled with swords and knives.
Waist-deep wade there through waters swift
mainsworn men and murderous,
eke those who betrayed a trusted friend's wife;
there gnaws Nidhhogg naked corpses,
there the Wolf rends men--- wit ye more, or how?
Stood in the north on the Nitha Fields
a dwelling golden which the dwarfs did own;
another stood on Okolnir,
that etin's beer-hall, who is called Brimir.
A hall she saw, from the sun so far,
on Na Strand's shore: turn north its doors;
drops of poison drip through the louver,
its walls are clad with coiling snakes.
In the east sat the old one, in the Iron-Woods,
bred there the bad brood of Fenrir;
will one of these, worse than they all,
the sun swallow, in seeming a wolf.
He feeds on the flesh of fallen men,
with their blood sullies the seats of the gods;
will grow swart the sunshine in summers thereafter,
the weather, woe-bringing: do ye wit more, or how?
His harp striking, on hill there sat
gladsome Eggther, he who guards the ogress;
o'er him gaily in the gallows tree
crowed the fair red cock which is called Fjalar.
Crowed o'er the gods Gullinkambi;
wakes he the heroes who with Herjan dwell;
another crows the earth beneath
in the halls of Hel, of hue dark red.
Garm bays loudly before Gnipa cave,
breaks his fetters and freely runs.
The fates I fathom, yet farther I see:
of the mighty gods the engulfing doom.
Brothers will battle to bloody end,
and sisters' sons their sib betray;
woe's in the world, much wantonness;
[axe-age, sword-age-- sundered are shields--
wind-age, wolf-age, ere the world crumbles;]
will the spear of no man spare the other.
Mimir's sons dance; the downfall bodes
when blares the gleaming old Gjallarhorn;
loud blows Heimdallr, with horn aloft;
in Hel's dark hall horror spread,
once more Odhinn with Mim's head speak
ere Surt's sib swallows him.
Trembles the towering tree Yggdrasil,
its leaves sough loudly: unleashed is the Etin.
What ails the Aesir and what the Alfs?
In uproar all Etins---- are the Aesir met.
At the gates of their grots the wise dwarfs groan
in their fell fastnesses: wit ye further, or how?
Garm bays loudly before Gnipa cave,
breaks his fetters and freely runs.
The fates I fathom, yet farther I see:
of the mighty gods the engulfing doom.
Fares Hrym from the east, holding his shield;
the Midgardh-Worm in mighty rage
scatters the waves; screams the eagle,
his nib tears the dead; Naglfar loosens.
Sails a ship from the east with shades from Hel;
o'er the ocean stream steers it Loki;
in the wake of the Wolf rush witless hordes
who with baleful Byleist's brother do fare.
Comes Surt from the South with the singer-of-twigs,
the war god's sword like a sun doth shine;
the tall hills totter, and trolls stagger,
men fare to Hel, the heavens rive.
Another woe awaits Hlin,
when forth goes Odhinn to fight the Wolf,
and the slayer of Beli to battle with Surt:
then Frigg's husband will fall lifeless.
Strides forth Vidhar, Valfadhir's son,
the fearless fighter, Fenrir to slay;
to the heart he hews the Hvethrung's son;
avenged is then Vidhar's father.
Comes then Mjollnir's mighty wielder;
gapes the grisly earth-girdling Serpent
when strides forth Thorr to stay the Wyrm.
Mightily mauls Midgardh's warder---
shall all wights in the world wander from home---;
back falls nine steps Fjorgyn's offspring---
nor fears for his fame--- from the frightful wyrm.
'Neath sea the land sinks, the sun dims,
from the heavens fall the fair bright stars;
gusheth forth steam and gutting fire,
to very heaven soar the hurtling flames.
Garm bays loudly before Gnipa cave,
breaks his fetters and freely runs.
The fates I fathom, yet farther I see:
of the mighty gods the engulfing doom.
I see green again with growing things
the earth arise from out of the sea;
fell torrents flow, overflies them the eagle,
on hoar highlands which hunts for fish.
Again the Aesir on Itha Plain meet,
and speak of the mighty Midgardh-Wyrm---
again go over the great world-doom,
and Fimbultyr's unfathomed runes.
Then in the grass the golden figures,
the far-famed ones, will be found again,
which they had owned in olden days.
On unsown acres the ears will grow,
all ill grow better; will Baldr come then.
Both he and Hod will in Hropt's hall dwell,
the war gods' fane: do ye wit more, or how?
Then will Hoenir handle the blood-wands,
and Ygg's brothers' sons will forever dwell
in wide Wind-Home: do ye wit more, or how?
I see a hall than the sun more fair,
thatched with red gold, which is called Gimle.
There will the Gods all guiltless throne,
and live forever in ease and bliss.
Adown cometh to the doom of the world
the great Godhead which governs all.
Comes the darksome dragon flying,
Nidhhogg, upward from the Nitha Fells;
he bears in his pinions as the plains he o'erflies,
naked corpses: now he will sink.
both high and low of Heimdallr's children:
thou wilt, Valfadhir, that I well set forth
the fates of the world which as first I recall.
I call to mind the kin of Etins
which long ago did give me life.
Nine worlds I know, the nine abodes
of the glorious world-tree the ground beneath.
In earliest times did Ymir live:
was nor sea, nor land, nor salty waves,
neither earth was there, nor upper heaven,
but a gaping nothing, and green things nowhere.
Was the land then lifted aloft by Bur's sons
who made Midgardh, the matchless earth;
shone from the south, the sun on dry land,
on the ground then grew the greensward soft.
From the south the sun, by the side of the moon,
heaved his right hand over heaven's rim;
the sun knew not what seat he had,
the stars knew not what stead they held,
the moon knew not what might she had.
Then gathered together the Gods for counsel,
the Holy Hosts, and held converse;
to night and new moon their names they gave,
the morning named, and midday also,
forenoon and evening, to order the year.
On Itha Plain met the mighty Gods;
shrines and temples they timbered high,
they founded forges to fashion gold,
tongs they did shape and tools they made;
Played at draughts in the gardh: right glad they were,
nor aught lacked they of lustrous gold----
till maidens three, from the Thurses came,
awful in might, from Etin-home.
Then gathered together the Gods for counsel,
the Holy Hosts, and held converse:
who the deep-dwelling dwarfs was to make
of Brimir's blood and Blain's bones.
Motsognir rose, mightiest ruler
of the kin of dwarfs, but Durin next;
molded many manlike bodies
the dwarfs under earth, as Durin bade them.
Nyi and Nithi, Northri and Suthri,
Austri and Vestri, Althjof, Dvalin,
Nar and Nain, Niping, Dain,
Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Nori,
An and Onar, Ai, Mjothvitnir.
Veig and Gandalf, Vindalf, Thrain,
Thekk and Thorin, Thror, Vit, and Lit,
Nar and Regin, Nyrath and Rathsvith;
now is reckoned the roster of dwarfs.
Fili, Kili, Fundin, Nali,
Keptifili, Hanar, Sviur,
Frar, Hornbori, Fraeg and Loni,
Aurvang, Jari, Eikinskjaldi.
The dwarfs I tell now in Dvalin's host,
down to Lofar--- for listening wights---
they who hied them from halls of stone
over sedgy shores to sandy plains.
There was Draupnir and Dolgthrasir,
Har and Haugspori, Hlevang, Gloi,
Skirvir, Virvir, Skafith, Ai,
Alf and Yngvi, Eikinskjaldi,
Fjalar and Frosti, Finn and Ginnar.
Will ever be known, while earth doth last,
the line of dwarfs to Lofar down.
To the coast then came, kind and mighty,
from the gathered gods three great Aesir;
on the land they found, of little strength,
Ask and Embla, unfated yet.
Sense they possessed not, soul they had not,
being nor bearing, nor blooming hue;
soul gave Odhinn, sense gave Hoenir,
being, Lothur, and blooming hue.
An ash I know, called Yggdrasil,
the mighty tree moist with white dews;
thence come the floods that fall adown;
evergreen o'ertops Urth's well this tree.
Thence wise maidens three betake them---
under spreading boughs their bower stands---
[Urth one is called, the other, Verthandi,
Skuld the third: they scores did cut,]
they laws did make, they lives did choose:
for the children of men they marked their fates.
I believe the first war in the world was this,
when the gods Gullveig gashed with their spears,
and in the hall of Har burned her---
three times burned they the thrice reborn,
ever and anon: even now she liveth.
Heith she was called where to houses she came,
the wise seeress, and witchcraft plied----
cast spells where she could, cast spells on the mind:
to wicked women she was welcome ever.
Then gathered together the Gods for counsel,
the Holy Hosts, and held converse:
should the Aesir a truce with tribute buy,
or should all Gods share in the feast.
His spear had Odhinn sped o'er the host:
the first of feuds was thus fought in the world;
was broken in battle the breastwork of Asgardh,
fighting Vanir trod the field of battle.
Then gathered together the Gods for counsel,
the Holy Hosts, and held converse:
who had filled the air with foul treason,
and to uncouth Etins Odh's wife given.
Thewy Thorr then overthrew the foe----
he seldom sits when of such he hears:
were sworn oaths broken, and solemn vows,
Gods' plighted troth, the pedges given.
Where Heimdallr's horn is hid, she knows,
under heaven-touching, holy world-tree;
on it are shed showery falls
from Fjolnir's pledge: know ye further, or how?
Alone she sat out when the Lord of Gods,
Odhinn the old, her eye did seek:
"What seekest to know, why summon me?
Well know I, Ygg, where thy eye is hidden:
in the wondrous well of Mimir;
each morn Mimir his mead doth drink
out of Fjolnir's pledge: know ye further, or how?
Gave Ygg to her arm rings and gems
for her seeress' sight and soothsaying:
(the fates I fathom, yet farther I see,)
see far and wide the worlds about.
[The Valkyries' flock from afar she beholds,
ready to ride to the realm of men:
Skuld held her shield, Skogul likewise,
Guth, Hild, Gondul, and Geirskogul:
for thus are called Herjan's maidens,
ready to ride o'er reddened battlefields.]
I saw for Baldr, the blessed god,
Ygg's dearest son, what doom is hidden:
green and glossy, there grew aloft,
the trees among, the mistletoe.
The slender-seeming sapling became
a fell weapon when flung by Hod;
but Baldr's brother was born full soon:
but one night old slew him Odhinn's son.
Neither cleansed his hands nor combed his hair
till Baldr's slayer he sent to Hel;
but Frigg did weep in Fensalir
the fateful deed: know ye further, or how?
A captive lies in the kettle-grove,
like to lawless Loki in shape;
there sits Sigyn, full sad in mind,
by her fettered mate: know ye further, or how?
From the east there flows through fester-dales,
a stream hight Slith, filled with swords and knives.
Waist-deep wade there through waters swift
mainsworn men and murderous,
eke those who betrayed a trusted friend's wife;
there gnaws Nidhhogg naked corpses,
there the Wolf rends men--- wit ye more, or how?
Stood in the north on the Nitha Fields
a dwelling golden which the dwarfs did own;
another stood on Okolnir,
that etin's beer-hall, who is called Brimir.
A hall she saw, from the sun so far,
on Na Strand's shore: turn north its doors;
drops of poison drip through the louver,
its walls are clad with coiling snakes.
In the east sat the old one, in the Iron-Woods,
bred there the bad brood of Fenrir;
will one of these, worse than they all,
the sun swallow, in seeming a wolf.
He feeds on the flesh of fallen men,
with their blood sullies the seats of the gods;
will grow swart the sunshine in summers thereafter,
the weather, woe-bringing: do ye wit more, or how?
His harp striking, on hill there sat
gladsome Eggther, he who guards the ogress;
o'er him gaily in the gallows tree
crowed the fair red cock which is called Fjalar.
Crowed o'er the gods Gullinkambi;
wakes he the heroes who with Herjan dwell;
another crows the earth beneath
in the halls of Hel, of hue dark red.
Garm bays loudly before Gnipa cave,
breaks his fetters and freely runs.
The fates I fathom, yet farther I see:
of the mighty gods the engulfing doom.
Brothers will battle to bloody end,
and sisters' sons their sib betray;
woe's in the world, much wantonness;
[axe-age, sword-age-- sundered are shields--
wind-age, wolf-age, ere the world crumbles;]
will the spear of no man spare the other.
Mimir's sons dance; the downfall bodes
when blares the gleaming old Gjallarhorn;
loud blows Heimdallr, with horn aloft;
in Hel's dark hall horror spread,
once more Odhinn with Mim's head speak
ere Surt's sib swallows him.
Trembles the towering tree Yggdrasil,
its leaves sough loudly: unleashed is the Etin.
What ails the Aesir and what the Alfs?
In uproar all Etins---- are the Aesir met.
At the gates of their grots the wise dwarfs groan
in their fell fastnesses: wit ye further, or how?
Garm bays loudly before Gnipa cave,
breaks his fetters and freely runs.
The fates I fathom, yet farther I see:
of the mighty gods the engulfing doom.
Fares Hrym from the east, holding his shield;
the Midgardh-Worm in mighty rage
scatters the waves; screams the eagle,
his nib tears the dead; Naglfar loosens.
Sails a ship from the east with shades from Hel;
o'er the ocean stream steers it Loki;
in the wake of the Wolf rush witless hordes
who with baleful Byleist's brother do fare.
Comes Surt from the South with the singer-of-twigs,
the war god's sword like a sun doth shine;
the tall hills totter, and trolls stagger,
men fare to Hel, the heavens rive.
Another woe awaits Hlin,
when forth goes Odhinn to fight the Wolf,
and the slayer of Beli to battle with Surt:
then Frigg's husband will fall lifeless.
Strides forth Vidhar, Valfadhir's son,
the fearless fighter, Fenrir to slay;
to the heart he hews the Hvethrung's son;
avenged is then Vidhar's father.
Comes then Mjollnir's mighty wielder;
gapes the grisly earth-girdling Serpent
when strides forth Thorr to stay the Wyrm.
Mightily mauls Midgardh's warder---
shall all wights in the world wander from home---;
back falls nine steps Fjorgyn's offspring---
nor fears for his fame--- from the frightful wyrm.
'Neath sea the land sinks, the sun dims,
from the heavens fall the fair bright stars;
gusheth forth steam and gutting fire,
to very heaven soar the hurtling flames.
Garm bays loudly before Gnipa cave,
breaks his fetters and freely runs.
The fates I fathom, yet farther I see:
of the mighty gods the engulfing doom.
I see green again with growing things
the earth arise from out of the sea;
fell torrents flow, overflies them the eagle,
on hoar highlands which hunts for fish.
Again the Aesir on Itha Plain meet,
and speak of the mighty Midgardh-Wyrm---
again go over the great world-doom,
and Fimbultyr's unfathomed runes.
Then in the grass the golden figures,
the far-famed ones, will be found again,
which they had owned in olden days.
On unsown acres the ears will grow,
all ill grow better; will Baldr come then.
Both he and Hod will in Hropt's hall dwell,
the war gods' fane: do ye wit more, or how?
Then will Hoenir handle the blood-wands,
and Ygg's brothers' sons will forever dwell
in wide Wind-Home: do ye wit more, or how?
I see a hall than the sun more fair,
thatched with red gold, which is called Gimle.
There will the Gods all guiltless throne,
and live forever in ease and bliss.
Adown cometh to the doom of the world
the great Godhead which governs all.
Comes the darksome dragon flying,
Nidhhogg, upward from the Nitha Fells;
he bears in his pinions as the plains he o'erflies,
naked corpses: now he will sink.
