Poetic Edda - Cottle Trans.
XXII.
Far o'er yon hills old (27) Valgrind stands,
Erected by no mortal hands:
Few know the dome's mysterious ways,
Or how the massy bars to raise.
XXIII.
Behold! Valhalla proudly shrouds,
Her towers in the ambient clouds:
Five hundred portals grace the side,
With forty more unfolding wide.
Thro' ev'ry gate in war array,
With banners streaming to the day,
Eight hundred warriors passage find,
When for matial deeds inclin'd.
XXIV.
Five hundred domes aspiring high,
With forty others pierce the sky:
There, Gods in mazy lab'rynths roam ---
One portal leads to ev'ry dome:
But that which loftiest pillars grace,
Belongs to my illustrious race.
XXV.
(28) Heidruna, wildest of the train,
That sport on hill, or russet plain,
Near Odin's hall falacious breeds,
And on the leaves of Lærad feeds.
His spacious horn shall fill the bowl,
That lifts to rapture Odin's soul;
And ever drinking --- ever dry---
Still the copious stream supply.
XXVI.
There too, forever wand'ring near,
Is seen swift-footed (29) Eikthyrner;
He on Lærad's foliage feeds,
And annually prolific breeds.
Fast in (30) Hrvergelmer's tide,
Dew-drops down his antlers glide;
Whence, winding thro' the porous earth,
Augmented rivers take their birth.
XXVII.
(31) Sider, Vider, Fimbulthuler,
Sækiner, and Geirumuler, ---
These thro' lands immortal, flow,
And plenty on the Gods bestow.
XXVIII.
(32) Viner, Noter, Vegsuonner,
Niter, Stronder, and Heronner, ---
The lands of mortals these divide,
And downward thence to Hela glide.
XXIX.
(33) O'er four fam'd rivers spreading far,
Thor drives on his thundering car;
When to the ash of Yggdrasil,
He goes to tell his wond'rous will.
Then ev'ry bridge th' Asori raise,
Shall smoke in undulating blaze,
Each mortal stream its banks forsake,
And sacred fonts combustion take.
XXX.
(34) Those steeds with unrein'd fury glide,
On which the sons of Asi ride;
When studious of the Thund'rer's will,
They crowd the ash of (35) Yggdrasil.
XXXI.
O'er three fam'd nations wide it shoots,
Three majestic antique roots:
One spreads o'er Hela's confines far;
Another shades the (36) Hrimthursar;
(37) Long will the third a race protect,
That laws nor sacred rites neglect.
XXXII.
The Squirrel who with nimble skill,
Sports thro' the ash of Yggdrasil,
The mandates of the Eagle brings,
That plumes aloft his spreading wings,
To where (38) Nidhogger far beneath,
Coils in many a shining wreath.
XXXIII.
(39) Four Stags protected by its boughs,
With lifted foreheads daily browze.
XXXIV.
Beneath the autumnal leaves that spread
The ground below the forest's head,
More hissing serpents daily glide,
Than e'er unwary (40) Apa spied.
Grafvitner's sons are long decreed,
Daily on the Ash to feed.
XXXV.
The Ash of Yggdrasil sustains
The beasts that range a thousand plains:
Boughs, to the Stag; its bark affords
Protection to the insect hoards;
While at its root with ceaseless bite,
Nidhogger hides his theft in night.
XXXVI.
(41) Hrista and Mista, daily bear
Bowls taht sooth the brow of care;
Ever Odin's cheifs regale,
With soul invigorating ale.
XXXVII.
Yok'd to the chariot of the Sun,
Each day thro' heav'n (42) two coursers run:
Then Gods beneath their helmets love
In iron canopy to rove.
XXXVIII.
Presented to the blazing skies,
The argent shield, (43) Sualiner lies:
Nature would its doom receive,
Were it once the heavens to leave.
XXXIX.
Skoller, the direful wolf whose rage
Devours the monuments of age,
Pursues the God whose eye sublime
Daily surveys each terrene clime.
Before the gentle Queen of heaven,
To (44) Hater 'tis forever given
Still to advance --- the same we're told,
From Herodvitner sprung of old.
XL.
At first the variegated earth,
From flesh of Ymer had his birth;
His blood supplied the ocean bed;
His bones the rocky mountains bred;
Transform'd to herbs his hair was seen;
His skull o'er-arch'd the blue serene;
For man, propitious Deities
Pluck'd the shadowings of his eyes,
And Midgar form'd that happy zone,
Which heat and cold alike have flown;
Dun vapors from his brain exhaled,
And clouds in scatter'd squadrons sail'd ---
Black clouds that in their bosoms bore
The germs of elemental war.
XLI.
(45) Behold! 'midst circling flames I stand:
The youth who stretch'd his daring hand ---
Him mighty Uller shall applaud,
And crown with favor, ev'ry God.
The great Asori progeny,
Geirrod! shall thy baseness see;
And urg'd at last by Godlike love,
These boiling cauldrons shall remove.
XLII.
Th' (46) Ivaldi sons, in ancient days,
A glorious fabric strove to raise:
(47) Skidbladner was the name they gave ---
The noblest bark that plough'd the wave.
Soon as the wond'rous toil was done,
They gave it to (48) Niorder's Son.
XLIII.
Yggdrasil is chief of trees,
That dallies with the wanton breeze;
Let fam'd Skidbladner ever ride,
The fairest Ship that skims the tide:
Odin among th' Asori claims,
Highest honors --- greatest names:
(49) Sliepner with his thund'ring mane,
Is chief of steeds that scud the plain:
(50) Bifrost stands in swelling pride,
Chief of piles that bridge the tide:
Who like (51) Brag, since earliest time,
Can weave the magic web of rhyme?
What bird like Habroc swift in flight?
Or bold in the aerial fight?
What dog with Garmer scents afar
The victims of the sylvan war?
XLIV.
(52) My various hardships I describe,
Now to the Sigtivori tribe:
Protecting hands approach me near!
Steps of Asori now I hear:
The giants seat shall they ascend,
And inmost halls with clamours rend.
XLV.
When in the nations I am seen,
Mortals who to my fanes convene
(53) Shall hail me with a thousand names,
Great as celestial virtue claims.
(54) Geirrod trembles! does thy soul
Yield the mast'ry to the bowl?
(The bowl can Gods and men deceive):
Or dost thou at thy honours grieve?
What heroes croud thy palace gate,
And Gods thy vengeful malice sate?
XLVI.
Much have I said; but said in vain:
Mem'ry flies thy troubled brain.
Thy friends deceitful press around:
I see thy faulchion on the ground.
The faulchion of my host is dy'd!
The blood runs purpling from his side!
XLVII.
Ygger soon shall point the blade,
For deed of rightful veng'ance made.
Thy days are past, I now predict:
Now the Destinies afflict.
With flames encircled, Odin see!
Geirrod! Geirrod! rescue me.
King Geirrod was sitting with his sword upon his knees, half unsheathed; but when he understood who it was he had been tormenting, he arose to lead him from the fires. The sword fell with the point upwards; and the king, stumbling at the same time, fell upon it, and was pierced through the body. Thus he died: --- Odin then disappeared and Agnarr succeeded to the throne.
Notes:
27. Valgrind, the fortress of select heroes. [Back]
28. Heidruna, the Goat. From her paps flows Hydromel and Mead in such great abundance, that it fills every day a pitcher large enought to inebriate all the heroes. [Back]
29. Eikthyrner, the Stag. [Back]
30. Hrvergelmer, the father of rivers. [Back]
31. Sider, &c. Names of celestial rivers. There are fifteen beside these, but they are not enumerated in the translation, on account of their harsh and unusual sounds. For the curious therefore, they are put in the notes; viz: Eikin, Suöl, Gimnthro, Fiorm, Rin, Rennandi, Gipul, Gaupul, Gaumul, Din, Vin, Davll, Havll, Grap, Gunndorin. [Back]
32. Viner. The names of many terrestrial rivers are here omitted; viz: Naunn, Hraun, Slid, Hrid, Sylgr, Ylgr, Vid, Van, Vaund, Straund, Giaull, and Serptr. [Back]
33. "O'er four fam'd rivers," --- Their names are Kaurmt, Aurmt, and the two Herlaugars. [Back]
34. "Those steeds," --- Their names are Gladr, Gyllr, Gler, Sceidbrimur, Silferintoppr, Sinir, Gisl, Falhofner, Gulltoper, Lettfeti. [Back]
35. Yggdrasil. It is the greatest of all trees, its branches cover the surface of the earth, its top reaches to heaven, it is supported by three vast roots, one of which extends to the ninth world, or Hell. An Eagle, whose piercing eye discovers all things, perches on his branches. A Squirrel is continually running up and down to bring news; while a parcel of serpents, fastened to the trunk, endeavour to destroy him. From under one of the roots runs a fountain wherein wisdom is concealed. From a neighbouring spring (the fountain of past things) three virgins are continually drawing a precious water, with which they refresh the Ash-tree; this water keeps up the beauty of its foliage, and, after having refreshed its leaves, falls back again to the earth, where it forms the dew of which the bees make their honey. These three virgins always keep under the ash; and it is they who dispense the days and ages of men. Every man hath a destiny appropriated to himself, who determines the duration and events of his life. But the three destinies of more especial note are Urd (the past,) Werandi (the present,) and Sculde (the future.) The Mohammedans have also in their mythology a Tree very similar to this, called Tuba or the tree of happiness. It is said to stand in the palace of Mohammed, though a branch of it will reach to the house of every true believer; that it is loaden with pomegranates, grapes, dates, and other fruit, of surprising bigness and of tastes unknown to mortals. So that if a man desire to eat of any particular kind of fruit, it will immediately be presented to him; or if he chuse flesh, birds ready dressed will be set before him according to his wish. They add, that the boughs of this tree will spontaneously bend down to the hand of the person who would gather of its fruits, and that it will supply the blest not only with food, but also with silken garments, and beasts to ride on ready saddled and bridled, and adorned with rich trappings, which will burst forth from its fruits; and that this tree is so large, that a person mounted on the fleetest horse, would not be able to gallop from one end of its shade to the other in an hundred years. [Back]
36. Hrimthursar, a nation of one-eyed inhabitants; this is said of them because they are great marksmen and shut one eye when they take aim; they dwelt in the East. [Back]
37. "Long will the third a race," --- This means the inhabitants of Southern regions. [Back]
38. Nidhogger, the name of a serpent. [Back]
39. "Four Stags," --- Their names are, Dainn, Dualinn, Duneyrr, and Duradror. [Back]
40. Apa, Apes. [Back]
41. Hrista and Mista, these Goddesses are called Valkyries, Odin sends them into the field of battle to make choice of those who are to be slain, and to bestow the victory. [Back]
42. "Two Coursers," --- Arvacer and Alsuither, the horses of the Sun. [Back]
43. Sualiner, the solar shield or fabulous refrigerator of the world. [Back]
44. Hater, another wolf who is the precursor of the Moon. [Back]
45. "Behold!" --- Over the fires which surrounded Odin, the Cooks had put cauldrons to boil: Odin wished Geirrod or his servants to remove them that the Asori when they drew near, might at once see and rescue him: or perhaps the coming of the Asori was all a pretence, meant only to intimidate Geirrod. [Back]
46. Ivaldi, a Nation of Dwarfs. [Back]
47. Skidbladner, A Ship so large, that all the Gods completely armed might find room to fit in it at their ease. As soon as ever it sails are unfurled, a favourable gale arises and carries it of itself to whatsoever place it is destined. And when the Gods have no mind to sail, they can take it into pieces so small, that being folded one upon another, the whole will go into a pocket. [Back]
48. Niorder's Son, Freyer. [Back]
49. Sliepner, a Horse with eight feet. His origin is thus related in the Edda of Snorro. One day a certain Architect offered his services to the Gods to build them in the space of two years a City, so well fortified, that they should be perfectly safe from the incursions of the Giants, even although they should have already penetrated within the enclosure of Midgard; but he demanded for his reward the Goddess Freya, together with the Sun and Moon: After long deliberation, the Gods agreed to his terms, provided he would finish the whole himself without any one's assistance, and all within the space of one single Winter: But if any thing should remain to be finished on the first day of Summer, he should entirely forfeit the recompence agreed on. On being acquainted with this, the Architect stipulated that he should be allowed the use of his horse. And to this, by the advice of Lok, the Gods assented. This agreement was confirmed by many oaths, and concluded in the presence of many witnesses; for without this precaution, a Giant would not have thought himself safe among the Gods, especially if Thor had been returned from the journey he had then taken into the East, to conquer the Giants. From the very first night, this Giant caused his horse to draw stones of an immense bulk; and the Gods saw with surprise, that this creature did more work than the master himself. The Winter however, was far advanced, and towards the latter end of it, this impregnable City had almost attained the summit of perfection. In short, when the full time was now expired, all but three days, nothing was wanting to complete the work, except the gates. Then the Gods entered into consultation, and enquired of one another who among them it was, that could have advised to marry Freya into the Country of the Giants; and to plunge the sky and heavens into darkness, by permitting the Sun and Moon to be carried away. They all agreed that Lok was the author of that bad council, and that he should be put to a most cruel death, if he did not contrive some way to prevent the workman from accomplishing his undertaking. Immediately they laid hands on Lok; who in his fright promised on oath to do whatever they desired, let it cost him what it would. That very night while the workman was employing his horse as usual in conveying stones, there suddenly leaped forth a mare from the neighbouring forest, which allured the horse with her neighings. The animal no sooner saw her, but giving way to his ardor, broke his bridle, and began to run after the mare. This obliged the workman also to run after his horse, and thus between one and the other, the whole night was lost, so that the progress of the work was delayed till next morning. The Architect perceiving that he had no other means to finish his undertaking, resumed his own proper shape; and the Gods perceiving that it was really a Giant with whom they had made the contract, paid no longer any regard to their oath; but calling the God Thor, he came and shattered the head of the workman to pieces with his mallet. Shortly after, Lok came and reported that the Mare had a foal, which after proved to be the famous Sliepner. [Back]
50. Bifrost, the Rain-bow. [Back]
51. Brag, a God celebrated for his wisdom, eloquence, and majestic air. He is not only eminently skilled in poetry, but the Art itself is called from his name Brager, and the most distinguished poets receive their names from him. [Back]
52. "My various", --- Odin now begins to assume his true character, and asserts that he is instilling into the minds of his distant friends an idea of his sufferings. [Back]
53. "Shall hail &c." --- The names of Odin are the following: Grimer, Gangler, Herian, Hialmber, Theccer, Thrid, Thud, Uder, Helblind, Harr, Sader, Snipal, Sann-getal, Herteiter, Hnicarr, Bileyger, Bal-eyger, Baulvercer, Fiolner, Grimar, Grimner, Glapsuid, Fiolsuid, Sithaviter, Sidsceggar, Sigfander, Henikuder, Alfander, Valfander, Atrid, Farmat, Jale, Rialer, Vider, Osci, Omi, Jafnhar, Biflinder, Gondler, Harbard, Suidur, Suidner, Ygger, Thunder, Vacer, Hropter, Gauten, Jalcer, Ofner, Suafner. [Back]
54. "Geirrod trembles." --- He now begins to discover who it is he has been tormenting. The latter part of this verse seems to have been spoken in a strain of Ridicule. [Back]
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