Poetic Edda - Cottle Trans.
XXIX.
Deeds immortal I unfold!
Mighty deeds remain untold!
To earth my strains do not belong: ---
Other heroes claim my song.
XXX.
Haki, grac'd for virtues mild;
Huda, boasted for her child;
Huda, for female virtue fam'd,
Hiorvard for her sire claim'd;
Hrossthiover, and Heider too,
Life and fame from Hrimner drew.
XXXI.
What females from Vidolva sprung
Magic incantations sung:
Deeply vers'd in mystic spell,
The future, Vilmeid's sons could tell:
The wisest of the human race,
The lineage of Suarthof grace:
And last the giant sons of earth,
From Ymer celebrate their birth.
XXXII.
Deeds immortal I unfold!
Mighty deeds remain untold!
To earth my strains do not belong: ---
Other heroes claim my song.
XXXIII.
Of elder time (17) a hero came
Recorded in the rolls of fame.
The Gods to him reveal'd their lore,
And wisdom open'd every store.
On a green smooth-shaven bank,
Where suns the dews of morning drank,
Nine virgins knew prolific joy,
And bore conjoint the wond'rous boy:
With garlands wreath'd his infant head,
And mildest virtues round him shed.
He was fed by ocean's wave;
Earth to him her tribute gave;
For him rich censers smoak'd around,
And blood sacrific dy'd the ground.
XXXIV.
Deeds immortal I unfold!
Mighty deeds remain untold!
To earth my strains do not belong: ---
Other heroes claim my song.
XXXV.
Father'd by Lok --- the graceless God,
The wolf arose from Angurbod.
That still the sun should yield its light,
And moon irradiate the night,
Lok, compell'd by coward fear,
Led the mare of Sleipner near,
Where journey'd sober on his course
The horse endu'd with magic force.
XXXVI.
Of ev'ry steed, thro' hill or dale
That snuff'd the fragrance of the gale,
Suadilfar highest bore her head,
And fleetest thro' the pastures fled.
A wondrous courser was her sire ---
Byleist with nostrils breathing fire.
XXXVII.
Not Gods above, or man can praise,
Lok, the Imp of evil ways.
Smoking on the cindery ground,
An half-burnt sorceress heart he found.
He by female arts was won,
And all his high-born hopes undone.
Ever from that luckless time
Deep he plung'd in ev'ry crime.
XXXVIII.
Billowed ocean roars aloud,
And lambent sweeps the impending cloud:
Its exhalations round the world
Are by the tempest's fury hurl'd:
From thence the fleecy snows arise,
And angry whirlwinds shake the skies:
Thence round ev'ry mountain's head
Storms dark low'ring first were bred.
XXXIX.
Exalted in celestial state,
(18) One there is supremely great.
To him the Lord of mortal things,
Earth her various tribute brings:
The sons of ages him applaud,
As greatest, wisest, strongest God.
He guides at will the wand'ring spheres,
His voice obedient nature hears.
XL.
(19) In after times, of greater fame,
One shall come I dare not name.
Few there are pretend to see
Farther into destiny,
Than when with inauspicious rage,
Odin shall the wolf engage.
XLI.
(20) Go! to the sovereign of thy heart,
The draught memorial impart,
That mindful he the things may tell
Which from thy lips of wisdom fell;
When he, with Angantyr the bold,
Discourse in ancestry shall hold.
XLII.
Hyndla! hence with speed arise ---
Sleep hangs heavy on my eyes.
The northern teem shall drink the main,
Ere favor thou from me obtain.
To friendship cool, go burn with lust,
Unbosom'd to the midnight gust:
Sport with thy lovers like the fawn,
And curse the prying eye of dawn.
XLIII.
Warm'd with infuriate ardor rove;
Enjoy each unselected love;
List to the stealthy midnight tread,
Of lovers to thy reeking bed.
Delicious wanton! swift, arise,
While shelter'd by still night's disguise.
Sport with thy lovers like the fawn,
And curse the prying eye of dawn.
XLIV.
Thee, ling'ring wood-nymph, I'll surround
With flames deep drawn from hell's profound.
Safe prison'd then, in central fire,
Vain shalt thou struggle to retire.
Haste, hateful trait'ress! burn with lust,
Unbosom'd to the midnight gust:
Sport with thy lovers like the fawn,
And curse the prying eye of dawn.
XLV.
(21) Earth in ruins meets mine eyes!
I see hateful flames arise!
All are doom'd to tread the road
That leads to Hela's dark abode.
But ere on day mine eye-lids close,
And spirit find its last repose,
Kind Goddess! to vile Ottar bear
The goblet drugg'd with bitter'st care.
I the deadly portion view,
Venom'd with dark night-shade dew!
XLVI.
Empty visions round thee press,
To mock thy gaze of wretchedness.
Tho' gigantean be thy train,
Thy imprecations all are vain.
He shall quaff th' immortal bowl,
That glads each high celestial soul:
Ottar, shall the Gods decree
Their comrade in felicity.
Notes:
17. "A hero came" --- Heimdaller. [Back]
18. "One there is." --- Supposed to be meant Thor. [Back]
19. "In after times." --- This is spoken concerning Surtur. [Back]
20. "Go to." --- This verse is spoken by Hyndla. [Back]
21. "Earth in ruins," --- This verse is spoken by Hyndla. [Back]
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