Poetic Edda - Cottle Trans.
King Hraudunger had two Sons, one called Agnarr the other Geirrod. Agnarr was ten years old and Gierrod eight, when they went to sea in a boat for the purpose of fishing. A tempest drove the boat far from their own shore and carried them to a strange country; where they met a certain countryman. There they wintered. The Mistress of the hosue loved Agnarr, but the Master, Geirrod; who taught him to be crafty. The same person in the following spring gave the boys a boat; but when he and his wife had led them to the shore, he spoke something privately to Geirrod. The boys obtaining a favourable wind, returned toward their own coast. Then Geirrod, standing on the prow of the vessel, leaped on shore, and pushing the boat off, said, "now go where the evil Genii may meet with thee." The boat was carried into the ocean; but Geirrod going home, was kindly received. Geirrod therefore was created king and became illustrious. While all this was transacting, Odin and Frigga sitting in Hlidskialfa beheld all the regions of the earth. "See" said Odin "your favourite Agnarr sitting in a cave with his gigantic wife and his children around him; but my favourite Geirrod is become king, and reigns in peace." Frigga answered, "Geirrod is parsimonious and exercises cruelty upon his guests when he thinks too many trouble him." Odin denyed this assertion. They lay a wager concerning it. Frigga sent the nymph Fylla to admonish the king, lest a certain magician who had come into his country should poison him; she informed him that he might be distinguished by this sign, that no dog would bark at his approach. But that was needless, because Geirrod discountenanced the visits of all strangers. He took care however that the man should be seized, whom the dogs refused to hurt. He was dressed in blue apparel and took the name of Grimner. When any one asked questions concerning himself, he refused to answer them. The king examined him by torture between two fires; where he remained eight nights. Geirrod had a son, ten years old, called Agnarr, bearing the name of his Uncle. Agnarr approached Grimner and gave him a cup of water, saying that the king behaved very ill to punish an innocent man. Grimner drank the contents. But by that time the fire burnt his clothes: when he began to speak.
SONG OF GRIMNER
I.
Fire! spare thy fury spare,
Nor thus thy torrents on me bear:
Thy flames fierce flashing from me turn ---
In vain I strive --- my garments burn:
Tho' high in air my cloak I raise,
It wastes before thy scorching blaz.
II.
By the pale fires sullen light,
I've watch'd eight times the round of night.
Mortals on me disdain to think,
Nor offer food, nor offer drink ---
Agnarr except --- who kind of soul,
Gave one cool refreshing bowl:
Thou gentle Youth! so fates have told,
The sceptre of the Goths shalt hold.
III.
The cup was kind, and great's the meed,
That to thy bounty will succeed;
Safe shalt thou reign from ev'ry foe, ---
Smooth shall thy tide of fortune flow.
IV.
Dear are the lands to Gods on high,
That neighb'ring to the Alfi lie.
On plains of (1) Thrudheim (2) Thor shall dwell,
While Gods their golden ages tell.
V.
(3) Uller there hath fix'd his home,
Where the swift Ydali roam.
The Gods when time first sprang to light,
Fair (4) Alfheim gave to (5) Freyer's right;
The honors of his infant state,
Forever to perpetuate.
VI.
The third abode, I know it well,
Is where the Gods benignant dwell,
The roofs with silver radiance shine,
'Tis call'd (6) Valaskialf divine;
Because a God in times unknown,
Chose to make that seat his own.
VII.
Saucquabeccer is the name,
The next immortal, portals claim;
There icy waters ev'ry hour,
Around in horrid diss'nance pour;
While Odin, (7) Saga, orgies hold,
Quaffing libations out of gold.
VIII.
(8) Gladsheimer next succeeds --- the land,
Where bright (9) Valhalla's towers stand:
In burnish'd gold they proudly rise,
And lose their radiance in the skies.
(10) Hropter there with potent word,
Dooms myriads daily to the sword.
IX.
Where Odin's towers rise to view,
Thus may be known by symbols true;
Broken shafts of many a spear
Emblazoning the roofs appear:
The domes with shields are cover'd o'er,
And coats of mail surround the floor.
X.
Where Odin's towers rise to view,
Thus may be known by symbols true;
A gaunt (11) Wolf sits in pend'lous state
Ever o'er the western gate;
While (11) Eagles the wide portals grace.
XI.
Thrymheimer stands the next in place;
Thiaz there has fix'd his throne ---
A giant long to glory known.
But (12) Skada, chaste nymph of the sky,
The honors of her ancestry,
Shall soon possess.
XII.
Seventh in fame,
(13) Breidabliker mortals name:
Within whose consecrated walls
Stand (14) Balder's hospitable halls.
There smiling peace has ever shone,
And virtue calls the place her own.
XIII.
Himinbiörga eighth I sing,
Where o'er the lands, propitious king,
(15) Heimdaller reigns. There mindful he,
Of every holy mystery.
On downy couches spends his hours,
And copiously metheglin pours.
XIV.
Falcvanger's towers claim my song,
These to (16) Freya's right belong;
Who chief presiding at each feast,
Appoints his place to ev'ry guest:
Half of the slain by her's possest,
But Odin daily claims the rest.
XV.
Tenth house of fame, lo! Glitner shines,
Blest with the wealth of golden mines;
Bright molten silver crowns the dome,
(17) Forester proudly calls his own:
There on soft rose-leaf beds he lies,
While suns successive set and rise.
XVI.
(18) Noathuna the eleventh place,
The mansions of Niorder grace:
He, blameleless king of men, presides
O'er domes whose summits touch the skies.
XVII.
The lands of (19) Vidar far are seen,
Beset with thorny brakes obscene;
Rank herbage shoots aloft in air,
And marshy sallows flourish there.
Vidar, descending from his steed,
Swift in pursuit scarce bends the reed;
A parent's wrongs provoke his ire,
And vengeance from his arm require.
XVIII.
(20) Andhrimner speedily returns:
The fire beneath (21) Eldhrimner burns:
Sæhrimner (22) smokes in floods below ---
The best reflection heroes know.
Few think how many warriors dine,
From off his wide extended chine.
XIX.
(23) The chief inur'd to toils in war,
Removing from the feast afar,
Bids (24) Gerr and Freker daily eat,
The smoking honors of the treat:
But Odin, great in martial deeds,
With mead, immortal vigor feeds.
XX.
(25) Hugo, in azure fields of air,
And (25) Mumin too each day appear:
I fear lest Hugo safe return,
But more for Mumin inly mourn.
XXI.
Lo! Thunda's waters rend my ear,
While tranquil stands Thiodvitner:
Smooth in the lake the fish are seen,
Gliding thro' the liquid green.
Thunda's waters hast'ning fleet,
Touch not (26) Valgom! with thy feet.
Notes:
1. Thrudheim, lay between the confines of the Asi and Alfi. [Back]
2. Thor, the eldest son of Odin; strength and valor are the attendants of this God, therefore he triumphs over every thing that has life. When the Northern nations adopted the Roman Calender, that day which was consecrated to Jupiter or master of thunder, was assigned to Thor and was called Thorsdag or Thursday. The Laplanders to this day have a God answering to Thor, whom they worship under the name of Horagalles. They depict him with a double-headed mallet, and invoke him chiefly not to injure with his thunder their Raindeer as they wander exposed upon the wide and desolate mountains. Lem: de Lappon: [Back]
3. Uller, a God the offspring of Sifia and son-in-law of Thor. He is so quick in shooting his arrows, and so nimble in the use of his skates, that nothing can stand before him. He is also very handsome in his person, and possesses every quality of the Hero; wherefore he was invoked in duels or single combats. [Back]
4. Alfheim, signifies in Gothic, the abode of the Genii or the faries of the male sex. Of these some are good and some bad. With regard to the bad they were particularly dreaded about the hour of noon. This superstition has prevailed no less in France than elsewhere; though it came from the east. St. Bazil recommends us to pray to God some time before noon, to avert this danger. The Celts with the same view offered sacrifices. One says pleasantly, "The true Demon of noon is hunger when one has nothing to satisfy it." [Back]
5. Freyer, son of Niorder. [Back]
6. Valaskialf, a palace of Odin. [Back]
7. Saga, A Goddess. [Back]
8. Gladsheimer, (the abode of joy.) [Back]
9. Valhalla, The palace of Odin, where that God receives all such as die in a violent manner from the beginning to the end of the world. [Back]
10. Hropter, one of the names of Odin. [Back]
11. Wolf and Eagles, these were statues. [Back]
12. Skada, daughte of Thiaz and wife of Niorder. She prefers dwelling on the spot where her father inhabits, which is in the land of mountains; but Niorder loves to reside near the sea; yet they came at length to this agreement between themselves, that they should pass together nine nights among the mountains, and three on the shore of the sea. One day, Niorder, returning from the mountains, composed this song: "How do I hate the abode of the mountains! I have only pass'd nine nights there; but how long and tedious did they seem! There one hears nothing but the howling of wolves, instead of the sweet singing of the swans, who dwell on the sea shores." In answer to this, Skada composed the following verses: "How is it possible for me to enjoy my rest on the couch of the God of the Ocean; whilst birds in flocks, returning each morning, awake me with their screamings?" Then Skada returned to the mountains where her father dwelt; there snatching up her bow, and fastening on her snow-skates, she employed herself in chase of savage beasts. [Back]
13. Breidabliker, the palace of Balder. This place is in heaven and nothing impure can have admittance there; within are columns, upon which are engraved verses, capable of recalling the dead to life. [Back]
14. Balder, the second son of Odin. He is of an excellent natural temper; and has the universal praise of mankind; so handsome in his person, and of so dazzling a look, that he seems to dart forth rays of light. To comprehend the beauty of his hair it is necessary to know that the whitest of all vegetables is called the "eye-brow of Balder." It seems probable that Balder is the same God whom the Noricians and Gauls worshipped under the name of Belenus. He was the Apollo of the Greeks and Romans. [Back]
15. Heimdaller, a sacred and powerful deity. He is the son of nine virgins who are sisters. He is likewise called the "God with the golden teeth," because his teeth are of that metal. He dwells at the end of the bridge Bifrost or the Rain-bow, in a castle called the "Celestial Fort." He is the sentinel or watchman of the Gods. The post assigned to him is to abide at the entry into heaven, to prevent the giants from forcing their way over the bridge. He sleeps less than a bird; and sees by night as well as by day, more than an hundred leagues around him. So acute is his ear that he hears the grass growing on the earth, and the wool on the sheeps back; nor does the smallest sound escape him. Besides this, he has a trumpet which is heard through all worlds. This God is celebrated in the following verses. "The Celestial Fort is the castle where Heimdaller resides, that sacred guardian of heaven, who drinks divine hydromel in the secure and tranquil palaces of the Gods!" [Back]
16. Freya, the daughter of Niorder; she is the most propitious of the goddesses. The place which she inhabits in heaven, is called falcvanger, or Union of the People. She goes on horseback to every place where battles are fought, and asserts her right to one half of the slain; the other half belongs to Odin. Her palace is large and magnificent; thence the sallies forth in a chariot drawn by two cats. She lends a favourable ear to those who sue to her for assistance. From her were the Scandinavian ladies named. She is very much delighted with the songs of lovers; and such as would be happy in their amours worship this Goddess. [Back]
17. Forester, a God, the Son of Balder. He possesses the palace in heaven called Glitnir. All who refer to him the decision of their controversies, return from his tribunal mutually satisfied. It is the most excellent tribunal found amongst Gods or men, according to these verses: "Glitnir is the name of a palace which is upheld by pillars of gold, and covered with a roof of silver. There it is that Forester resides the greatest part of his time, who reconciles and appeases all sorts of quarrels." [Back]
18. Noathuna, the palace of Niorder the God of the sea. The Chinese, as well as the Grecians and Northern nations, have their Neptune, whose name is Toong-hai-vaung, or king of the eastern sea. The temple where he is worshipped is called Ta-coo; he is there represented as sitting on the waves with firmness, ease, and dignity, holding a dolphin in one hand and a magnet in the other. Staunton's Account of China. [Back]
19. Vidar, mentioned before as the God of Silence, is represented as living in such a situation that by its inaccessibility he might avoid the converse of men. He was despised by the other Gods, and for that reason supposed to be more assiduous in revenging his father Odin's death. [Back]
20. Andhrimner, the Cook of the Asori. [Back]
21. Eldhrimner, the Cauldron. [Back]
22. Sæhrimner, the Boar. [Back]
23. The chief, Odin. [Back]
24. Gerr and Freker, two wolves kept by Odin, to whom he consigns all the food brought to his table. [Back]
25. Hugo and Mumin, the ravens of Odin. He lets them loose every day; and they, after having made their excursions over the whole world, return again at night about the hour of repast. Hence it is that this God knows so many things, and is called the king of the ravens. Hugo, signifies spirit or thought, and Mumin, memory. Thor made Thialfe contend with Hugo in swiftness: but Hugo so far outstript him, that in returning to the barrier whence they set out, they met face to face. It was the opinion of the Northern writers, that if reason and memory were once lost, they would never be thoroughly recovered again. [Back]
26. Valgom, one of Odin's horses. [Back]
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