9.4 Fad THE POETIC EDDA VOLUME II MYTHOLOGICAL POEMS Edited with Translation Introduction and Commentary ; b URSULA DRONKE Yk CLARENDON PRESS - OXFORD 1997Oxford Unizersity Pres, Great Clarendon Sire, Oxford 0x3 bor Oxford New York Athen Anctland Banghok Bogota Bombay Buenos Aires Caleta Cape Town Dare Salem Delhi Fence Hong Kong Istanbul Karache ‘ale Lompar Madiat Madr Melbourne Mexico Giy Nairobi Paris Singapore Taipei Too Torn and asoiated companies in ‘erin Dadan Oxford isa rade mark of Oxford University Pres Published in the United States by Orford University Pre Ine, NewYork (© Orford Unicity Pres 1997 Albright rscrod. No part of hs pubicaton may be reproduce, red na erica temo tana in ay frm By ay meas thot the prior permission in ting of Orford UncesiyPres, Within the UR, exception are allowed in recto yf igh he Purpose ofrescarch or pretest oerticam of ese, a pee tundeh Coprigh, Designs and Patents Act, 198 orm he cate af reorographs reproduction in acrdance ih the erm of the he ‘sed bythe Copyright Liensing Agency Enquirer concerning oud hese terms and n ater coun be ‘sett the Righs Department, Oxford Unversity Pres ‘atthe adaresahore ‘British Library Cataloguing in Publication Dats Dataevailable Library of Congres Cataloging in Publication Data Date available ISBNo-1g-811180-9 13579108642 Typeset by Joshua Associates Ltd, Oxford Printed in Great Brain’ ‘on cif paper by Booka Lid, Midomer Norton Someret, GOTT For my daughterPREFACE As the main poems in this volume I have chosen five which are among the greatest of Norse poems and which all relate in some way to the period from the ninth to the eleventh century, when Norsemen were in most familiar contact with the Irish and the Anglo-Saxons. Assimilation of distinct traditions from these neighbour nations is most marked; at the same time all five poems share a mature affinity of style from being con- served as living poetry for two centuries in Iceland. The purpose of this edition is literary: to open up for the common reader the delights of the ‘complexities and felicities of the poems and the beauty of the language, and to show the poets? intellectual command of their themes, mythological, religious, and human. To this end I have tackled in commentary and discussion many problems which I know it is not in my competence to solve, in the hope that other scholars may be able to, ‘The five sections relating to the main poems are each introduced by a detailed table of contents, to clear the approach for the reader. Inevitably the section for Voluspa is the most intricate of all, as it is the most intricate of poems. Text and translation of Baldrs Draumar are given as an Appendix 10 Voluspé. Volumes i and 1v are already well advanced in their preparation. Tam fortunate and delighted to have the counsel of Professor Ingeborg Glier in presenting the Sigurdr poems in relation to German tradition in Volume mt, and of Dr Clive Tolley, who will be co-editor with me of the second collec tion of mythological poems in Volume w. Volume 1 is to be reprinted with corrections and bibliographical up- dating. Towe a very great debt to many people for the enlightenment their work has given me and for their ready advice. Peter Dronke’s deep interest and knowledge in so many fields, literary, artistic, philosophical, have been a constant source of orientation for me when I might otherwise have been lost in the wealth of ideas presented by these Eddic poems. Many other learned friends have advised me and answered my questions with unfailing indness. For their warm letters from Iceland, bringing news of new scholarship, I am particularly indebted to Gudriin Helgadéttir, Sverrir ‘Témasson, Stefin Karlsson. Friends on the Continent have kept me in touch with their work: Kurt Schier, Klaus von See, Gerd Weber, Hubert Seelow, Wilhelm Heizmann, Folke Strim, Lars Lénnroth, Jonna Louis- Jensen. Phe work of Margaret Clunies Ross has been a great stimulus to7 PREFACE Rani vital originality. Ihave benetited much from the insight and wit of Roberta Frank. I am deeply indebted to Sukumari Bhattchasit ioe hor guidance on Indian sources and the generous gift of her writings: remenc ber with delight her swift mind and rare learning in discussion in Outed and her cordial hospitality in Calcutta. Closer to home I have even longer chvs: to Joan Turvile-Petre, Peter Foote, Brian and Gudriin Dodswouh, Michael Lapidge, David Dumwille, Thomas Charles-Edwards, Sebeotet Brock, Arthur Hatto, Michael Barnes, Olive Sayce, Nigel Palmer, Love Motz, Erich Poppe, Jacqueline Simpson, for readily giving me their exper aavice. For the benefits of their scholarly companionship over many years auid forthe freshness of vision in their researches, to which frequent acknowledgement is made inthis volume, I have many younger scholive ey thank, especially Heather O'Donoghue, Diana Whaley, Alison Finkay, Daphne Davidson, Susan Blackall, John Hines, Gudriin Nordal, Carolyne Girtineton, lan Graham, John Enoch, Alan Davey, Peter Robinson, Andy Orchard, Ian Shiels. I thank Richard North for many stimulating sugues, fons and interpretations. To Clive Tolley [ owe a special debt of thank fog his great help in presenting Volume u. He has organized the very complee seri for the printer and watched over its accuracy with impeccable Scholarship; specific ideas that are his are marked CT. What flaws semaig are all mine. The value of Tolley’s own mythological researches for she Content of the volume will be evident from the frequent reference to hig ‘writings in the course of discussion, ‘The work on Rigsbula is dedicated to Gesche Kabler and the late Martin Dreher, who first asked to read the poem with me in Munich in 1973, UD. Cambridge Tune, 1996 CONTENTS PREFACE LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS THE MANUSCRIPTS THE PRINTED TEXT ‘Symbols Used in the Texts ABBREVIATIONS VOLUSPA Contents ‘Text and Translation Introdu: Ae vex Spend: Blds Dmar Test Transition, and Commentary RIGSPULA Contents ‘Text and Translation Introduction ‘Commentary on the Text VOLUNDARKVIDA Contents ‘Text and Translation Introduction Commentary on the Text Index of Personal Names LOKASENNA Contents ‘Text and Translation Introduction Commentary on the Text xi xii xiii 25 105 154 161 162 1% 215 2g 243 255 jot 37 331 32 349 356SKIRNISMAL Contents ‘Text and Translation Introduction ‘Commentary on the Text CONTENTS 1OGRAPHY LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ‘The Franks Casket, front panel. Scene in Weland’s smithy The Franks Casket, front panel. Weland and the Magi Srontispiece 283 THE MANUSCRIPTS ‘Tue four heroic poems edited in Volume rare preserved only in the Codex Regius (R), written in Iceland ¢. 1270. Four of the mythological poems edited in Volume 11 are also preserved in that MS: Voluspa, Volundarkviéa, ‘Skimismal, and Lokasenna. A short description of R and its history is given in Volume t. xi~xiii (R is there referred to as CR). ‘A variant version of Voluspa is preserved on two leaves (H) inserted into an early fourteenth century Icelandic MS., Hauksbok. On the dating of these two leaves see Voluspd Introduction m. a. ‘Two thirds of the text of Voluspd can be found either cited or rendered in prose in Snorri Sturluson’s Gylfaginning, of which there are four main MSS, listed in Voluspa Introduction 1. a, where the relationship of the variant texts of the poem is examined in detail. For a most helpful and lucid account of the SnE MSS. see Faulkes (6), xxix-xxxii; see also G. Lorenz 1-8 for further documentation. A fragmentary MS,, written in Iceland between 1300 and 1325, AM 7481 4° (A), contains on six of its surviving twenty-eight leaves three entire Eadic poems, Baldrs Draumar, Grimnismdl, Hymiskvida, and parts of four others, Héirbardsliod, Skimismél, Vafpridnismal, and Volundarkvida. The first twenty-seven stanzas of Skrnismdl occur in A. Comparison of the two texts of these stanzas is given in Skirnismai Introduction v. Only a few lines of the prose prologue of Volundarkoida are preserved in A at the end of the sixth leaf, when a lacuna begins." Régspula is preserved, with a beginning and middle, but without an ending, only on two sides of a single leaf in the Codex Wormianus, one of the main MSS. of the Snorra Edda, from ¢. 1350 or somewhat later (see Voluspa Introduction ws). The problems of the text and the lost ending are discussed in Rigsbula Introduction u. and 1.8, and commentary to 49/'. Facsimile editions and transcriptions of the MSS. used in the present edition are listed at the beginning of the Bibliography. 1 Inboth Rand A Vio appears tobe considered a mythological rather than a hero poem in R preceded by Pry and followed by le, in A preceded by Hm, That Fo may have been commonly Eopied in calleetons of mthologieal poems would account forthe fact that palaeographically Viv is closer tothe mythological poems than to the heroic (Lindblad 261-2)THE PRINTED TEXT I Have made some small changes to the 1. Thave kept abbreviations for MSS. (e.g. Re 1) (italics) refers tothe edition of Finnur J6 'innur Jonsson. 2. For Voluspd I have used a differet 2 , used a different method of arias, placing the SnE variants separately below those of R sed View make the texal relationships clearer. “ee 3. To the notes in Volume. xiv-xv on the spel wae I. spellings of consonants i ould now add reference tothe fequency with which "is used form rd (rp eanore conventionally, for my): eg moras (for mevan, Vip 2/7), tea Gi 22/0), Klein (Vip 31/4), matkas (Vp 57/4), vana (Shon 189. a Ha Ravencrest, where single stands or mus rangi such spelling i rac pelings among the variants unlessa problem ofinter- 4. MS. abbreviations are expanded usin i ids n 18 superscript characters in atom 9S forms MS. macros and ampersans svete ae listinctions (such as the variant forms of i ined, however; for these, the facsimile edi ves : wever; , the facsimile editions and transcriptions fi in the Bibliography should be consulted. MS. forms are enclaees tee Speech marks when itis clearer soto distinguish them, ie spelling of ON personal names and. plac Ine spel names and place n: en normalized in discussion and commentary, when the fees jgzed (nc text), eg. Freyja / Freya, Geflun / Gefon, 6. When citing in discussion n discussion from a diplomatic text normalized the spelling, unless thee was reason not oe off, tars itroduced tong vowel marks in italicized citations of OF ON leaes ea o.make philological argument and comparisons wth + In the occasional citations of Sanskrit words: dra pened eas fared ses, Ihave standardized OUP ome oe sa agible W.D. O'Flahery’s Aceon and Eracom i the Mytoogy 8. Thave used cross-references t : 2s to sections and subsections rath SARIS general tbl of contents at the begining of the volume lexes of contents that precede the indivi and provide page referen i maf ae and provide page references tothe sections and subsections ‘of te a THE PRINTED TEXT silt 49. In the case of three poems, Voluspa, Volundarkvida, Skirnismdl, Uhave traced the sequence of ideas, or actions, in the Introduction, noting the relevant stanza in the margin, and referring to this stanza as ‘ad loc.’ in sub- sequent discussion. In the case of Rigspula and Lokasenna the same pro- cedure is not so fitting and I have not used it 10. Bibliographical references have been kept as brief as possible. The Bibliography at the end of the volume contains full details of all works cited; in the main text, references are confined to the author’s surname (with initials if necessary), or to the title of the work cited, as appropriate, followed by the volume number and the page reference. Different works by one author are identified as (a), (6), etc., and are so listed in the graphy. The most commonly cited authors and works are abbreviated still further; the abbreviations are included in the Bibliography. Norse and other medieval works are generally listed by their titles, even when the author is known, Symbols used in the texts lies indicate emendation, or MS. rubrics. (1 enclose letters or lines that are not in the MS, but are supplied by conjecture or by analogy with the practice of the text elsewhere, or from another MS. +t enclose text in the edited version transferred from another place in the MS. ++ enclose text in the textual notes written above the line in the MS. $$. enclose text as yet uninterpreted. © indicates an editorial omission from the text of the MS., where the omission alters the sense (other omissions, usually erroneous scribal repetitions or anticipations of the text, are noted in the textual notes only). A line of dots indicates that one or more lines are omitted in the MS. ‘Smaller type indicates lines not considered by the editor to be part of the poet's original text. MSS. make varied use of capital letters: in R, a large capital marks the beginning of a poem, and of a preceding prose prologue. ‘Marginal capitals are used sporadically; these are noted in the textual notes. A capital is used, within the continuous text, to mark the beginnit of a stanza (or, in the prose, of a sentence): these capitals, and their absence, are noted in this edition only when they do not correspond with the beginnings of stanzas (or sentences) as printed here.ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation of a purely bibliographical nature, and abbreviations for Eddic poems, willbe dh ibirph Maman hedar hehe TA ace. accusative neut. neuter adj adjective no. number adv. adverb nom. nominative AM ‘Armamagnaean np. no place ©. century Norw Norwegian ‘ circa OE Old English ch. chapter OF Old French col, column OHG Old High German conj conjunction Oleel_ Old Icelandic Dan Danish om. omitted dat dative ON Old Norse ed. edited by ONorw Old Norwegian edn, edition OS Old Saxon esp. especially OSwed Old Swedish £ following P. page fem, art. participle Fig. PE Poetic Edda fol. Prep. preposition gen, genitive ret. preterite Gme Germanic pl plural hap.leg. hapaxlegomenon,ie. pres. present ‘only occurrence? Pron. pronoun IE Indo-European repr. reprinted indic. indicative Fev. revised by Introd Introduction Sa. sub anno, ‘under the year? L lege, ie. ‘read? sb. substantive Lat Latin Sc. scilicet, ‘namely’ fit, literally sg singular ase, masculine Skr Sanskrit ME Midate English Suppl. Supplement MEG Middle High German sr sub voce, under the word? ModE Modern English trans. translated by/translation, Modicel_ Modern Icelandic x. verse, versus ModNorw Modern Norwegian vb. yer MS. ‘manuscript vi varia lectio, ‘variant reading’ a note vol. volume nd, no date VOLUSPACONTENTS TEXT AND TRANSLATION 1 ' | | ' INTRODUCTION 1. The Structure ofthe Poem A. The grand architecture of Voluspé (x - 20, 43 - 62) 8. The progress to Ragnargk (zr - 42) The sibylline voices 1. The Sequence of Ideas: A Reading ofthe Poem in the Codex Regius Text A. Prologue: the vplva’s authority (x - 2) 8, The establishment of the cosmos (3 ~ 20) 1. The beginnings (3 - 4/4) 2, Sun and moon and the establishment of time (4/5 - 6) 3. The gods and the refrain of power (6, cf. 9, 23, 25) 4. Thegolden age (7 ~ 8) 5. Gold-mining dwarfs (9) 6. Am interpolation and lacuna inthe text (10 ~ 16) 7. The first man and woman and the tree of life (17 - 20) ¢. Progress to Ragnarok and the dissolution of the world (@x~53) 1. Narrative prelude: three events before Ragnarpk (21 - 33) (i) The divine war of sir and Vanir (21 ~ 24) Gi) The giant builders attempt to possess the goddess Freyja (25 - 26) (Gil) The killing of Baldr and its prelude (26 ~ 32) (a) The oaths (6) The vl involved: a vpluspd within Voluspa (2) Heimdallr as watchman (2) Odinn’s old-world runes—Fimbultjs formar rrinar G) The vision of Baldr’s fate—oripgfilgin (iv) Post mortem 30 S SbSSE‘ VOLUSPA 2. Moral prelude: punishments and portents before Ragnargk (34-46) 3. Emotional prelude: compassion forthe fated gods (47 ~ 53) ». After Ragnarok: the ending and renewing of the world (54-62) m. The Texts of Voluspa and their Relationship +. MSS. of the poem used in the present edition 2. The history of the text 1. A general foreword 2. Causes of error in the transmission ofthe text 3: Amoutline of the history ofthe text © Analysis of textual Problems (I-VI) relating to the history of the text Problem: Sribal error in *R ML (i) Scribalerrorin *R 11 transmitted oR and (a) 7/1 (b) 43/1 © 39/7 (ii) Seribalervor in *R AL transmitted to R and SnE Problem Ik: Interpolations (© Tro interpolations common to R, H, and SnE, inherited Jom "RL (a) 5/510: the sun, stars, and moon in uncertainty (0) 10~ 16: the dwarf stanzas (ii) A third interpolation in R Problem II: Divergence from *R Lin H and Sn, () Divergence between R and H, SnE. (verse citations) (a) Standardization of tense in 37 ~ 39 in H, SnE (0) Standardization of stanza sequence in 45 ~ 50 in H, SE (©) Deconstruction in H, SnE of the battle sequence 5 (aX (ii) Divergence between R and H, SnE (prose) (a) Standardization of dwelling place: from lake to hall (20/3) (6) Standardization of vocabulary (57, 58) 8 CONTENTS Tivo substantial substitutions forthe R. text in H, which can be associated with Sn. (a) wig Dh lel (iv) Divergence between Rand H where there sno SnE. para text (other than instances considered under Problems V and V1) (@) 20/g-12 (b) 22/5-6 (0) 43/5-6 Prom: bss carians not shared by R, H (@) y/2 (0) §/5-10 (c) 9/55 10/5-7 (d) 19/1, 3 (©) 26/1 37/1 38/1, 61/1 () 38/7 (A) 53/00 () 61/3 Problem V: Textual laws in R that are not in H () Scribal lips in R (a) Omissions: 1/2, 57/56 (#) Other copying errors: 25/5, 26/1, 40/5, 45/9-12, 38/4 (Gi) Less certain sribal lips in R (a) 26/8 (b) 41/6 ©) 53/11 Problem VI: The further development ofthe H text: changes not directly attributable to Snorri (@) Rearrangement ofthe stanza order 21 ~ 43, causing accidental omission of 28 - 33 (@) 20H, 25-27 H (b) 39-40H (0 2-24H @d) 4H © BH 4- eH (f) 37-38H,43- 44H (Gi). Omission of two stanza sequences (a) 8-33 () 35-36 ASS6 VOLUSPA (Gil) Insertion of two additional instances of Refrain IIT (Gv) Tivo insertions of popular portentous vers in the context of Ragnarpk (@) After 44/10 (b) After 45/12 (6) Insertion ofa Christian stanza between 61 and 62 (si) Tio inept lines substituted for 7/34 (ii) Substitution of pussa meyar for 17/2 >. MS. R corrections ©, MS. variants of the dwarf-names in Voluspé 10-16 Ww. The Christian Context of Voluspa Excursus: some motifs compared in Vpluspd and Sibylline Oracles 1. The Sibyl herself (i) Herorigins (i) Her statusand moral stature 2, The moments oftime @) Grdictime (ii) The present moment and the signs ofthe end The lat battle and the end of the world Gv) The new earth COMMENTARY ON THE TEXT APPENDIX: BALDRS DRAUMAR Text and Translation Commentary 105 154 154 138 VOLUSPA 1 Hli6ds bid ek allar [helgar] kindir meiti ok mini mogo Heimdalfljar. Vildo at ek, Valigor, Task for hearing from all hallowed seed, greater and humbler sons of Heimdallr. You wish me, Sire of the Slain, vel fyr telia well to narrate forn spigll fira, the world’s old news, pau er fremst um man. such as I remember from remotest times. 2 Ekman igtna remember giants ar um borna, born early in time, a er fordom mik who long ago foedda hofdo. had reared me. man ek heima, ‘Nine worlds I remember, ur, nine wood-ogresses, migtvid meran, slorious tree of good measure, fyr mold nedan. under the ground, 3 Arvar alda, Tt was early in the ages par er Ymir byggdi: when Ymir made his dwelling: there was not sand nor sea nor chill waves. Earth was not to be found vara sandr né ser né svalar unnir. Iprd fanz eva né upphiminn: nor above it heaven: gap var ginnunga, a gulf was there of gaping voids en gras hvergi, and grass nowhere, 4 Abr Burs synir Before Burr's sons bipdom um ypédo, lifted up seashores, IaH forsef > /0 canbemuchalite. s/s elga} wo HsomR 1/4 alla Hi daar RO" 1/5 Vda ile Vai] vapors 6 fe] Gam te erekH 2/3 pi) SeMS'R coronts.3/6 iia) sv abe I udu), Se MSR ‘arrectons 2. 13/3 saz] sior H (Sak) 9/7 ginnunga} See MS. R coectons 5 LYS hverg) ekki H(SaE) 4/1 Burs) borsH (SaE pre) y/2 um of H For SAE reading hace used the txt and varians fF (SE) and Hand the arias Bagge (0), 26-55 ‘and ny sma he MSS. fo ees of partiaar problematic ners, git SaB xt aldalhalda SR y/2 par] vo UspatSR,T,W Yeni ype] chi var So y/3 vara varat W sax] sion Ur sir W 4 unnie] vn Uric Sounds) v/s aval so Wi esl SRT, U |” 3/8 hvergi} wo U, ecki SR, T, W 44/1 Burs) U in caper ie Bore SAE prose 1gpeir er midgard maran sképo. Sél skein sunnan 4 salar steina— pa var grund gr grcenom lauki 5 S6l varp sunnan, sinni mana, hendi inni hoegri tum himinigdur. Al pat né vissi, hhvar hen sali atti, stigrnor pat né visso, ‘mani pat né vissi, hhvat han megins ti. 6 Pa gengo regin oll a rokstola, ginnheilog god, ok um pat gettuz: nott ok nidiom nofn um gafo: morgin héto ok midian dag, undorn ok aptan, rom at telia, 7 Hittoz sir 4 Iéavelli, peir er horg ok hof hatimbrodo. Afla logo, aud smido80, tangir sk6po ok 6 gordo. prt ern] rn iH Co ee iat AE kinins Hd R s/t Sol) marginal opt R Problem 110) (a. 6/1 gengol geal gengo Re 7/3-4 alls risa H. Se Problem 11 (2), VOLUSPA they who moulded glorious Midgard. Sun shone from the south con the stones of that mansion— then the ground was covered with the green leek’s growth, ‘Sun flung from the south moon's partner in travel— her right hand round the rim of the sky. Sun did not know where she had mansions, stars did not know where they had stations, ‘moon did not know what might he had. ‘Then the powers all strode to their thrones of fate, sacrosanct gods, and gave thought to this: to night and her offspring allotted names, called them morning and midday, afternoon and evening, to count in years. Asir met on Eddying Plain, they who built towering altars and temples. ‘They founded forges, fashioned wealth, moulded tongs and made tools. V6 4 salar stein) See MS Rr eis-10 See hatimbrodo fs Kostude 75 Alta] See MSR coreions ‘sIs-t0 Sak 15 (with ine order 5-6, 9-10, 7-8) 8 Tefl6o i tini, teitir voro— var beim vettergis vant 6r gulli— uunz priar kvémo ppursa meyiar, matkar migk, 6rigtunheimom. 9 Pa gengo regin oll 4 rokstéla, ginnheilog god, ok um pat gettuz, hvdrt skyldi dverga drdttir skepia 6r Brimis b16oi ok 6r Blain[s} leggiom. 10 Par [var] Métsognir ‘meztr um ordinn diverge alla, en Durinn annarr. Deir maniikon_ mprg um gordo, dvergar, érigr%0, sem Durinn sagdit W/5 venergis) uetugis H 8/5 beds] on fll Hy R876 urs ft-4 i — ptt] 10 Hi aBbreited Da VOLUSPA 9 ‘They played chequers in the meadow, they were merry— for them there was no want of gold— until there came three ogres’ daughters, of redoubtable strength, from Giant Realms. ‘Then the powers all strode to their thrones of fate, sacrosanct gods, and gave thought to this: whether they should create companies of dwarfs from Brimir’s blood and from Blainn’s limbs. ‘There did Mootsucker become most esteemed of all dwarfs, and Doorward next. ‘They fashioned many figurines, these dwarfs, out of earth, as Dorward told: ‘New Moon and No Moon, ‘North and South, possa H at, Ontedoar/stacay,o~ 1, ee Problem I (3) (0) 9/5 vr 0 FF (8) ad lcs bet R; buer HL. Se Problem I) (8). sli shld HE erga] du"eae HL brim blodgv H Ga) 9/6 dete 0 H (Brot) deotn (i dro) R (9/8 Blins} or sil blams, H (Sub); blam R (¢ Lewiarals 9/7 Bris Bi) Gis) 3016 For dour name variants ie Vip Ir tuk 10/1 vat) (ue), om R 1/26 um]ofH (Sak) 10/5 manlikon) manlkanH 10/7 dvergar|durgaH ori HGae)10/1,23 ob] notin H(SnE) 9/28 SaB 20/14 abbreviated in U, although the ln have mat prviuly been ted 9/4 um] oT, U, Wsof ‘o/s vid bere U,W;atSR, Tews dcot ¢ U sepia) spekin U 9/6 drétic]drot of SR, '977 Bemis blot) so T; brim blodgo SR, U, W 9/8 61] om. U_Bltins leggion) se W olaens); blams legeid T, U; blam sleciv SR ro/s-8 Sa 2x 16/526 Peirmannlion. 2 U;of SR, T,W go] so U; par manlkn gerbe SR to/7 6], T, UW Ure X6 Sak 21,08 fr R, Habove SW 16/6 um) 1/8 sem = sag6i sem peim dysinn kendi sa/na3 ok) oe Ws oti SR, T, UAust ok Vesti Alpioft, Dvalinn, Bivgrr, Bavgrr, Bombarr, Nori, ‘An ok Anarr, Ai, Mipdvitain, 12 Veigr ok Gandalir, Vindalfr, Prainn, Pekkr ok Porinn, ror, Vitr ok Litr, Nair ok Njra6r— iii efi ek dverga —Reginn ok Radsvior— rétt um talda, 13 Fili, Kai, Fundinn, Nai, Hepti, Vili, Hannarr, Sviorr, Fra, Hornbori, Fregr ok Léni, ‘Aurvangr, Tari, Eikinskialdi 14 Mal er dverga i Dvalins lidt jana kindom til Lofars tel, peir er s6tto fri Salarsteini Aurvanga sigt til Iprovalla 15 Par var Draupnir ok Délgprasir, 10/5 Bivge] iia capital H ialiog See MS.-R erections 6 and 7 1/7 Aurvange) iil capital HL ta/t ok] ma it So oeW g/t Mall no ital capt 1/6 fra Salartea} See MS. coreatins 8 12/68. not in SOE prose at 14/6 Salastein] Serins (Svamis U)havgi Sa VOLUSPA East and West, All-thief, Dawdler, Trembler, Trumbler, ‘Tubby, Shipper, Friend and Fighter, (Old Father, Mead Woll, Potion and Sprite Elf Wind Elf, Yearner, Docile and Darer, ‘Thrive, Clever and Colour, Corpse and New Counsellor— now I have the dwarfs Power and Plan-wise— correctly counted. ‘Trunky, Creeky, Found, Needly, Handle, Drudge, Crafisman, Dwindler, Brilliant, Horn Borer, Famous and Lagooner, Loam Lea, Earthy, Oakenshield, It is time to trace the dwarfs in Dawdler’s troop, for men's progeny, ‘back to Praiser— those dwarfs who sought, from Mansion’s Stone, the homes of Loam Leas at Earth Plains. ‘There was Dripper ‘And Strife Eager, raft ok} ot in H (Sa); writen 7|7, the fint dled R 176 erga) rekka Hi (g- SaF serio 12/7) 1W/s pele] bm HL 24/7 Aue] we R; oH 2/4 Reginn ok] Reckr SnE,_r4lg-8 Sak 14/7 Aur 50 SR, 7, U; VOLUSPA " Hir, Haugspori, High, Grave Treader, Hlevangr, Gloi, Shelter Field, Gleamer, Skirvir, Vivi Joiner, Groiner, Skat, Ai, ‘Crooked Finn, Old Father, 16 Afr ok Yogsi, Eifand Yngvi, Eikinskialdi, Oskenshield, Fialarr ok Frost, Hider and Frosty, Finnr ok Ginnarr Finn and Potent. Pat mun uppi, Uplified in memory ‘medan old lifir, as long as the world lives, Tangniia tal will be this list Lofars hafat.” ‘of Praiser’s lineage.” 17 Unz rit kvsmo Until three came érpvi out of that company, oflgir ok astgir mighty and loving sir at husi. sir to a house. Fundo 4 landi ‘They found on land, litt megandi little capable, ‘Ask ok Emblo Ash and Embla, orlpglausa. without destiny. 18 Ond pau né ditto, Breath they had not, 65 pau né hof8o, spirit they had not, lané let no film of flesh nor cry of voice, né lito g6d: nor comely hues. nd gaf Odin, Breath Odinn gave, 68 gaf Heenir, spirit Hoenir gave, 1a gaf Lédurr film of flesh Lédurr gave ok lito géda. and comely hues. 19 Ask veit ek standa, An Ash I know there stands, heitir Yggdrasill, ‘Yggdrasil is its name, 16/+ Ale no intl apt R 16/5 Pal] initial capital mun) man 2 s6—17 Theres vindication inthe MSS ofalucuna betwen hee sane. 17/1 ri] pd R; iar (a erased) 19/2 or bi ii pussa meyar (erased, ut no text subinted) HL 19/3 ogi gh asa ok ge 70 On nlp RH 85 nd) na apd 19/t-8 Sak 25 1/s stands] se U;avsinn SR, 7, W Yedrasils SR ‘9/2 Yaxdrasl] 0 T,U, Wshar badmr, ausinn hvitaauri, Padan koma dogevar pers i dala falla. Stendr a yfir grenn Urdar brunni. 20 Padan koma meyiar margs vitandi, briar, 6r beim sa, er und polli stendr. Ur6 héto eina, a6ra Verdandi =skiro a skidi Skuld ena pridio. Par log logo, bar litkuro alda bornom, orlog seggia. i at man hén folkvig. fyrst i heimi, er Gullveigo geirom studdu ok { holl Hrs hana brendo— brysvar brendo rysvar borna, opt, ésialdan— ‘po hén enn lifir. 22, Hei6i hana héto hhvars til hiisa kom, volo vel spa 1/3 babs] See MSR corecins 9. 102) ay sa sal H (Sa). Se Proton I) (a. 2ao/r2 sega atsegia H, Se Prolom (2) (a). SHanzas nH diserges fom hatin R Se Problem 1) ‘arrecions 12. 4/4 stud studs nia capital R vOLUSPA a tall tree, showered with shining loam. From there come the dews that drop in the valleys. Itstands forever green over Urér’s well. From there come m: deep in knowledge, three, from the lake that lies under the tree. Urér they called one, ‘Had to be’, the second Verdandi, ‘Coming to be? they incised the slip of wood— ‘Skuld the third, ‘Has to be’. ‘They laid down laws, they chose out lives for mankind’s children, ‘men’s destinies. She remembers the war, the first in the world, when Gold Brew they studded with spears and burned her in Harr’s hall, three times burned her three times reborn —often, not stinting— yet she still lives. Bright Heidr they called her at all the houses she came to, good seer of fair fortunes 20/1 Daan) marginal capital R. See MS.R corrections ao/4.und)2H 20/9 Dar) 21 Heretheorderof 11/3 Gullveigo) gullucig H. See SR 21/7 bys] initial apttalR; rysvarbrendo ‘iter tice HL” 22/3 vol] ok vplu 1/3 bab borinn U —ausinn} helage SE 7 Stendr} se U, W; send hann SR, T 20/3 or beim se} r pei sal Sak dala] T; dal SR, U, W BerT | 20 SnE prose 33 19/6 pers) se Ws bar Us e epee —witti hon ganda. Seid hén kunni, sei6 hén leikin. var hon angan illrar briar. 23 Pé gengo regin gll a rokstéla, ginnheilog g06, ok um pat geettuz: hvért skyldo eesir afraé gialda 6a skyldo godin gll gildi eiga. 24 Fleygdi Odinn ok {folk um skaut— pat var enn folkvig fyrst i heimi. Brotinn var bor6veg(g}r borgar asa. Knatto vanir vigspa vpllo sporna. 25 Pa gengo regin gl arrokstdla, ginnheilog god, ok um pat geettuz, hhverr hef6i lopt alt levi blandit ea att igtuns Ods mey gefna. 26 Pérr einn par vd, runginn m66i 22/4 viel) vit VOLUSPA 8B —she conjured spirits who told her. Sorcery she had skill in, sorcery she practised, possessed. ‘She was ever the darling ofan evil wife. ‘Then the powers all strode to their thrones of fate, sacrosanct gods, and gave thought to this: whether the AEsir should pay such a price and all the gods get recognition? Odinn flung and shot into the host— it was war stil, the first in the world. ‘Torn was the timber wall of the Aisir’s stronghold. Vanir were—by a war charm— live and kicking on the plain. Then all the powers strode to their thrones of fate, sacrosanct gods, and gave thought to thi who had laced all the air with ruin and to the giant's kin wedded Oér’s girl? Porr alone smote there, swollen with wrath 22/5 seid hd kuna] sei6 hon hears (h cored fom X) vm kus H 22/6 Jeikin) lek; holetkin H. The R reading (ith or see HV 611) mut Become secon mentary alo and Problem II (2) (0) marina capital Re 23/1—4 aH 24/s vege] ao Hi-vegr 29/5 hverd] 0 H Gab); bee R as/s-8 Sak 47 2 UW; of SRF SR, 1, Us 5-8 are notin W 25/14 DA — gerne] SRT, 29/5 hverr]@ SME able ‘0: ar] bat SR, W 22/8 brat] SeeMS.R comecions 2. 29/1 DA ‘= gxtuz] o Hy abbroiaed Pag.t.a.aR 29/4 Syst) 25/tmg Pa— gattz) oH; abbreviad Dag ra R 26/1 vi) Hak; R party abbreviated 25/4 um) Sak 47 26/1-4 follow 5-8in 50 TU, Ws van SR4 —hann sialdan sitr, ‘er hann slikt um fregn! A gengoz eidar— ord ok sceri, mil oll meginli er 4 meal véro. 27 Veit hon Heimdal{ljar ‘lid um folgit undir heidvonom helgom badmi. Assér hon ausaz aurgom forsi af vedi Valfgdrs. Vitod ér enn, eda hvat? 28 Ein sat hén titi, éerinn aldni kom, Yggiungr asa, ‘ok { augo leit: ‘Hivers fregnié mik? Hv freisti6 min? Alt veit ek, Odinn, bar pai auga fat: ienom mara Mimis brunni Drekkr migd Mi morgin hverian af vebi Valfgdrs!” Vitod ér enn, eda hvat? 26/4 um] of H (Sa) 7/1 Vell marina 27/8 Vivod ée] itu pH 2W/8 SeeMS.R corectons 13. 28/s Yasiure tong voLUsPA —he seldom sits idle when he hears such a thing! Oaths paid for oaths, the vows and sworn pledges, all the words of weight that intervened. ‘She knows Heimdallr’s hearing is couched beneath the bright-nurtured holy tree. A stream she sees springing with loamy flood from Sire of the Slain’s forfeit. Do you still seek to know? And what? Alone she held séance out in the night, when the old fellow came, &ssir’s Son of Dread, and looked into her eyes. “What do you ask me? Why do you try me? Tknow it all, Odin, where you lodged your eye: in the famed fountain of Mimir! ‘Mimir drinks mead ‘every morning from Sire of the Slain’s forfeit? Do you still seek to know? And what? 26/8 véro) s0 H (yoru) (SAB); fro R. See Problem Vi) (e). 27 in lar 27/6 aungom)erg® Ri orgs 28— 33 not in H. See Problem VI (i) (a) 28/13 Valipbrs) abbreviated TeR(Gkay/7) 28/44 Vito — bea) abbreviated yee. R 26/y um) of Sa. aisha UNAS imei ws 26/8 véro) se T (vora)s forv SR, U ‘2/9 {enon hina W; pm end T,U;vrp= end’ SR rmigd] mo6 SR i ages ha] bbs SE aBlgn14 Sa 22 a 28/13 vedi) T, U, Ws cored from veibi SR 28/14 Vitob és; vivd per SR; wit er 29 Val6i henne Herfgdr hringa ok men. Féfkk] spigll spaklig ok spaganda: sé hén vitt ok um vitt— of vergld hveria. 30 Sa hén valkyrior vitt um komnar, gorvar at rida til godpidéar. Skuld helt skildi, en Skpgul gnnor, Gunnr, Hildr, Gondul ok Geirskpgul Ni ero tal6ar nonnor Herians, sgprvar at riba sgrund, valkyrior. Ek sé Baldri, ‘l65g0m tivor, Obins barni, orlog félgi ‘St66 um vaxinn, vollofm] hari mi6r ok mistilteinn. 3 er mar sjndiz, harmflaug hattlig: Ho6r nam skit Baldrs br6dir var of borin snemma: sd nam, Oéins sonr, einnartr vega. 29/1 Val6i] merginal capt R Problem (i). 3/6 pln) volloR VOLUSPA 15 ‘War Sire chose for her rings and necklaces. He got wise news and spirits of prophecy. ‘She saw far, and far beyond— over every world. She saw valkyries ‘come from afar, ready to ride to the realm of the gods. ‘Skuld bore a shield, and Skpgul was with her, Gunn, Hildr, Gondul and Spear-Skogul. Now are listed the ladies of War Lord, ready to ride, valkyties, over the earth, I saw for Baldr— for the bloodstained sacrifice, Obinn’s child. the fates set hidden. There stood full-grown, higher than the plains, slender and most fair, the mistletoe. ‘There formed from that stem, which was slender-seeming, a shaft of anguish, perilous: Ho9r started shooting. A brother of Baldr was born quickly: he started—Odiinn’s son— slaying, at one night old. 29/3 FE] fe R, See commentary. ga/gnsa See 32/1 Var6] marginal capital R 32/2 mar] im, fe mer or mas, R. JH 8 compares (Hpgna) mze HH IT 17, which has the same abbreviation. Soli] See MS. conection 1.6 33 P6 hann eva hendr né hofud kembdi, Or 4 bal um bar Baldrs andskota— en Frigg um grét i Fensplom va Valhallar. ‘Vitod ér enn, eda hvat? 34 Hapt sé én ligeia undir Hveralundi, Jegiarn(s} Liki Loka apekkian. Par sitr Sigyn, peygi um sinom ver velelyio6. Vitod ér enn, eda hvs 35 A fellraustan um eitrdala, soxom ok sverdom: Sli6r heitir si. 36 St6d fyr nordan, a NiGavpllom, sale 6r gulli Sindra wttar; fen annarr st66 4 Okolni, bidrsalrigtuns, cn si Brimir heiti. 3/7 vil See MS. wing Ha ‘eldia) re rend Da bt sala vigbond sous elds hardgiorgft ot VOLUSPA He never washed hands, never combed head, till he bore to the pyre Baldr’s adversary— while Frigg wept in Fen Halls for Valhgll’s woe. Do you still seek to know? And what? A captive she saw lying under Cauldrons’ Grove, in the shape of malignant Loki, unmistakable. ‘There Sigyn sits, surely with litle delight in her husband, Do you still seek to know? And what? A river falls from the east through venom-cold dales, with knives and swords: Savage is its name. ‘There stood to the north on Dark of the Moon Plains the hall made of gold of Sindri’s race. Yet another stood on Never Cold, the beer hall of a giant, and he is named Brimir. 9/8 Vitod — brat) abbreiated vee eh R Dp. See Probie 1) (a). 34/3 agar] Seecommenary. 34/7 veefod] vel | lyut H 3/8 Vitod — hvat]abbrecaad ve b. Ks vita er en eba hat H “Afr and bore 14 ‘raul econ of Refine Probe VT (i). Onsite Ose textual sarin 43 Rand Prob lem I (i) () Ie notable that in the rt instanceof Refrain Hand in R (43/1), 0 somite ee Probe I() (6 36/2 vollom) creed ron flo 136 SaE prose 74 135,36 nor am Hse Probl i) (8) (ESE pr), See MS.R corecions 1. "yt St) me iia cpa 36/2 -rllom) -flolom SR, Wi gf a follom nockurum T 37 Sal si hén standa sélo fiarri, Nastrondo 4, nordr horfa dyrr. Fello eitrdropar inn um lidra. Sa er undinn salr orma hryggiom. 38 Sa hon par vada punga strauma menn meinsvara ok mordvarga ok pannz annars glepr eyrarino. Par saug Nidhoggr nai framgengna, sleit vargr vera. Vitod ér enn, e6a hvat? 39 Austr sat in aldna i Tarnvidi, ‘ok feeddi par Fenris kindir. Verér af beim gllom inna nokkorr tungls tidgari i trollz hai, 31/1 sil sie H, On the dicegea of tense in 37, 38 39st Problem IT) (3), HGaE) yi/r Sil Ser 386 eyranino)eymna tuna H ‘ted vee. view Pc HL 39/3 fed fe0" H Sn) S08 Sa 7g sstravnd T, U Gd Sal. pre) aBlr-4.7-8 Sak 75 ‘mordinglar U in W aldna] arma U 39/5 af] o UWi6rSR,T Theangl gan U 38/7 saug] o Misi 3 Mier 38 and before 44H ces Refrain IT ins rg abbreviated Gegr nu garmr miok P gn. b. man seh 37/1 si hin] vet ec SaE 39/3 27/5 fel fala Sa 3M Sé fon) Skolv SAE 'W/7 save) qr 39/2 -vi6i] -vidiom T; voia W 39/6 nobort) hea T 9/8 rola] VOLUSPA ” A hall she saw standing remote from the sun on Dead Body Shore. Its door looks north. ‘There fell drops of venom in through the roof vent. ‘That hall is woven, of serpents’ spines. She saw there wading ‘onerous streams men perjured and wolfish murderers and the one who seduces another's close-trusted wife. ‘There Malice Striker sucked corpses of the dead, the wolf tore men. Do you still seek to know? And what? In the east she sat, the old one, in Iron Wood, and bred there the broods of Fenrir. ‘There will come from them all one of that number to be a moon-snatcher in troll’s skin, 37/5 flo fala [8/504 eins ok mortar] See MSR sme (38/4 mordvarga] so H; mordvargar R (SnE) i 38/5 pannz] See MSR comecions 1 38/10 Vitod — beat] abbrevie “yt sat] byr H(SaE) in) hin H (Sa) 39/8 wll] tpl H (aE) tyndo] so SR, W (strynd); "37/6 um] 'U, W: of Ry T rmordvarga) mordegar SR, T, W; 39/r8 SaE 1g 3y't sail bjeSn " in} 39/3 Fea feb Sak 30/7 tung tiga) sung! rgan tell SR, T, W8 40 Fylliz figrvi feigra manna, jr ragna sigt raudom dreyra. Svort verda sélskin of sumor eptir, vedr oll valynd. Vitod ér enn, e6a hvat? 41 Sat par 4 haugi ok sl6 horpo sigiar hirdir, gladr Egebér. Gél um hanom i Galgvidi fagrraudr hani, sé er Fialarr heitir. 42 Gél um asom Gullinkambi— sé vekr hla at Heriafpérs— en annarr gelr fyr igrd nedan, sétraudr hani, at solom Heliar. 43 Geyr [nil] Garmr migk fyr Gnipahelli— festr mun slitna, en freki renna. Figl6 veit hon freeda— soft Eyl) capa itil HL as ub saer] ch HO 09) Ieiafw0rs (xa aration mars) {o/s Sor verbs] H (So srt aR val GAB)” Wt — a abt RS pie ee Os Non ye V8 eo Pie ntl REL Se Pond) Oph] Se voLusPA It sates itself on the life-blood of fated men, paints red the powers’ homes with crimson gore Black become the sun's beams in the summers that follow, weathers all treacherous. Do you still seek to know? And what? ‘There sat on the grave-mound and struck his harp the ogress’s herdsman, happy Egebér. Above him crew in Gallows Wood the gleaming red cock that is named Fiala. Over the Asir crew Comb of Gold —he wakes the warriors at War Sire’s dwelling— while another crows beneath the earth, a rust-red cock at the halls of Hel. Now Garmr bays loud before Looming Cave— the fetter will break and the ravener run free. ‘Much she knows of old knowledge, 42/4 at HeriafOrs) at blatar at Coectons 19. 43/2 Ganipac) grypa- (of gpa te ime subsequent), 43/3 fst] ‘SeeMSR cormecons 20,” mi} man H 8 SAB sohp te a Wye sk, 2 ial © SR, T; itu Perec W;v. cin G Svpre verb] 50 Sn £5 valynd] ‘so T; va. ly. U; valvnd SR, W 40/8 Vitod = {49/3 FiglO— fred fra seek Tenge Ft 4/6 of] so SR; um T, UW re) oh. VOLUSPA 9 ahead I see further, over the fate of the powers, virulent fate of victory's gods. Brothers will fight, and kill each other, sisters’ children will defile kinship. Itis harsh in the world, whoredom rife —an axe age, a sword age —shields are riven— fram sé ek lengra, tum ragna rok romm, sigtiva. 4 Broeor muno beriaz ok at bonom verda(z}, ‘muno systrungar sifiom spilla. Hart eri heimi, hérdémr miki —skeggold, skélmpld —skildir ro klofnir— indgld, vargold— awind age, a wolf age— ar vergld steypiz. before the world goes headlong. Mun engi madr No man will have ‘grom pyrma. ‘mercy on another. 45 Leika Mims synir, ‘en migtudr kyndiz at enfo] galla Giallarhorni. Hitt blaess Heimdallr horn er 4 lopti— Mimr’s sons sport, ‘but fate’s measure is it at the sound of the clear-ringing Clarion Horn. Loud blows Heimdallr =the horn points to the sky— matlir Odinn Odinn talks ‘vid Mims hofud, with Mimr’s head. +Skelfr Yegdrasils +Yegdrasill shivers, askr standandi,t the ash, as it stands. ymnr it aldna tré en iptunn losnar. The old tree groans, and the giant slips fre. 44/6 fram — lengra} fil ka ek segia HL. Sce Probie IIc) (e). 43/8 iva) -trva R 44/2 verdaz} on H;verdaR (SnE) 44/7 skegepld] mivmritenshegepll "44/8 ro notin Hak) 44/9 vindpl inialcgpial H4y/10 steypiz} hee H add rund” gala gift fiugandh. See Problem VT(is) (a). 44/14 mun} man 45/1 Leska) marginal capital R 45/3 eno gall] en gallaR;hinu gamla H 45/q-12 Skelf— losnar] 0 H (Shelf th nial ital) Fa R 9 folie r= 13.SeeMS.R comatons21._— 49/12 lost] here Wad bree alr hee mesure ofp" SP 7) (0) 01 gfe ersecunder a Wiis SaE 70 y/2 verdar] 0 SR,W: 0a T,U y/s iim) 1 U; med belo SR, T (rads), W 44/7 skoggold) se Us sheciolld SR, Wy shegild. ok T 4/8 ro} morn SE" Mlofnir] 9 SRT, Wy klfna U gyro r] © SR, T, Wi unde U 4/11-12 mun ~ pyrma} myn ena mabe obevm pyema U; notin SR, T, W (Dat prose inradacng )aghg-aa Sab 7345/6 lop} T,U,WeloptSR 43/7 mali» UW; ated mey SR, me (miseriten nie) 42/8 Mims] mimis'T,U "49/11 aldnal » TW; Ina SR,U 4/12 en —losnar]asireVaingl U (romgo/4) Aer 45/12 aseuenceaf ight sens flows (on the mdr 4047 ~ 9, 50~ 54 R) withou prose inerrupion. U has only 49a $446 Geyr mi Garmr migk fyr Gnipahelli festr mun slitna, cn freki renna. Figlé veit hén freeda— fram sé ek lengra, ‘um ragna rok romm, sigtiva. 47 Hrymr ekr austan, hetiz lind fyrir. injz Tormungandr ‘ iptunmééi. Ormr knjr unnir, enari hlakkar— slitr ndi neffglr. Naglfar losnar. 48 Kioll ferr austan: koma muno Muspellz ‘um log Iyéir, cen Loki stfrir. Fara fifls megir med freka allir— peim er brodir Byleipz i for. 49 Hvat er meé asom? Hyat er med dlfom? Gnjr allr igtunheimr. sic ro 4 pingi. Stynia dvergar Lay ait Ge 42/7 nef] nig H Sn) felteat (47 Sak 73(a0tU) idiwie SR,'T,W Wypareo SRT prot 4 ble feat med asynis U SR, Tero W ‘ni 47/6 en — blakkar} » Warn mi lacka SR, T 48 SnE 73 (aot U) SRW; fis-T RT (ly), W; byeiper 1493-4 Gas — ping notin U vOLUSPA Now Garmr bays loud before Looming Cave— the fetter will break and the ravener run free. Much she knows of old knowledge, ahead I see further, over the fate of the powers, virulent fate of victory’s gods. Hrymr drives from the east, hoists his shield before him. ‘Mighty Wraith coils in giant wrath. ‘The snake flails the waves, and the eagle exults— pale-beaked rips corpses. Nail Boat slips free. A ship moves from the east: there shall come Muspell’s levies by water, and Loki is pilot. ‘The giant’s sons are journeying all with the ravener— Bgleiptr’s brother keeps them company. What troubles the sir? What troubles the Elves? Giant Realm is all aroar. ‘The Asir are in council. Dwarfs groan righ] abbreviated Geyr ny g. R. No more of the sanca is given. Ws Fara) Grae Sher HM (prohay fw writen a see Hib 29, m6) "49 mF (SnE) follows 45 R_ Se Problem II (2) (8) Fis meg] fitmeg H. 49/4 ro} eru ais um s0 T,WeofSR lg Fa “agit-8 SaE 73 ‘Gael so Ws ym SIT 36 allie) "408 Bsleipa] byleste H (Sn) 49/7 vetle) 8 Bsleip) byleist Ws byleiz SRT (Sa {4/2 Hat ~ fom} “oh £9) 2 fyr steindurom, veggbergs visir. ‘Vitod ér enn, e6a hvat? 0 Surtrferr sunnan ‘med sviga levi: skinn af sverdi 61 valtiva. Gridtbigrg gnata, cn gift rata, ‘Troda halir helveg, en himinn Klofnar. st Pa komr Hiinar hharmr annarr fram, er Odinn ferr vid tlf vega, cen bani Belia biartr at Sur. Dé mun Friggiar falla angan, © 52 Pé komr inn mikli mogr SigfgSur, Vidarr, vega at valdyri. Letr hann megi Hvedrungs mund um standa VOLUSPA a at the granite doors, well knowing their immuring rock. Do you still seek to know? And what? ‘Surtr moves from the south with the scathe of branches: there shines from his sword the sun of Gods of the Slain. Stone peaks clash, and troll wives take to the road. Warriors tread the path ftom Hel, and heaven breaks apart. ‘Then is fulfilled Hiin’s second sorrow, when Odinn goes to fight with the wolf, and Beli’s slayer, bright, against Surt. Then shall Frige’s sweet friend fall. Then comes the tall child of Triumph’s Sire, ‘Vidar, to strike at the beast of slaughter. Into Hvedrungr’s son with his hand he sets the sword 49/6 -durom] ~dyev H 49/7 vegabergs] vegbgs H (SnE), of borOveer, -veser 2/5 49/8 Vitod ~ hvat] abbreviated vc ine 1-5 abbreviated: Geye m4 a (ee Hi tor, 9) 51/1 DA) marginal capital R 50/8 angan] so; angan| ye 49/6 steindurom] 50 SRT; ste vege] so SR; veg- T, W s0/t-8 Saf ¢2 (2) and (notin U): Usleif SR (y, Tei SR (2) GWE 51/2 harm wo Ts hamr SR, W §2/1-8 SAE (aot in U) 74 SRT (on, W 52% um ol se/6 rata) braa H(SaE) scribe has aiet-minddly read arare words part of "name. Afr sand before 52 HH ct Refi I ines replaced nH bya arian stance (32 50/7 Teoda — helveg) tas ~ helvega U ech. Re Ui etc Afer 4 and ejoe 47 H le Rein sme miok P* gnipa heli Cm. 50/2 Tei Ip Re levi Hd 51-3 See Prom IH (i) (0) oun} man H 5i/3 esleaHsi/7 bij par H (Sak) 1H), See Problem II (i) (0). indyré W; teins dye U 49/7 seuabergs visi] notin U 1498 Vitod ~ hat] w SR; view Bets Wy 73(@) 50/1 Sure] Stare 50/6 silt ube U bere U 0/2 levi so W; lest rata} SR, T(1), W ();heata T(@)U_ gi/t-8 SaE (not in U) 73, 51/7 Da] par SAE 51/8 angan] w SR, Wy ahah 5 ic3 PA veal peg obo son 0 vgn What of nghigr til hiarta— péer hefnt fur! 53 Pa komr inn mati mogr Higdyniar, gengr Odins sonr vi6 orm vega Drepr han af mdi midgarz véor{r] —muno halir allir heimstgd rydia— sgengr fet nio Figrgyniar burr neppr fra nadri ids ékviGnom. 54 Sél tér sortna, sigr fold i mar, hverfa af himni heidar stigrnor. Geisar eimi i6 aldrnar leikr har iti vi6 himin sidlfan. 55 Geyr ni Garmr migk fyr Gnipahelli— festr mun slitna, en freki renna. Figl6 veit hon freeda— fram sé ek lengra, 5V8 nti W saltcarera7 85-6 SA (ootin V) 24 Fase af opt Sepr SHE_ lone 7-8) 55 Ra n ot cag ‘heimsteid SR_ den rt rn SR, Wohi T bb gr Ur tack SRT. W Be 88 akan ok adnan Sa: 34 hat al Taegu pre Por. 38 nengealW syed wo 53/3 gener] See MS R caret 2 ce ‘Se MSR comecion 2p. S16 wi aldrare ok allen H a rte Gey sige) abled Geye 8B; Gey [0 omamey] gar mink VOLUSPA to halt in the heart— then his sire is avenged! ‘Then comes the glorious child of Hlpdyn, Odinn’s son strides to fight the serpent. He smites in fury, shrine-guarder of Midgardr all heroes will abandon the homestead of earth— he steps nine paces, Figrgyn’s child, faling leaving slain the snake that had not feared its ‘The sun starts to blacken, land sinks into sea, the radiant stars recoil from the sky. Fume rages against fire, fosterer of life, the heat soars high against heaven itself. Now Garmr bays loud before Looming Cave— the fetter will break and the ravener run free. Much she knows of old knowledge, ahead I see further, /4 orm uf R (of 53/1-2 SaE) 59/6 xéor] in 59/12 ride] See MS.R cormcion: a. 5/1 Geyel menial 1 bikome]gengr Sa mei} mei T i Tene 6 voor) Sa s/o gegen) nt in SH 74 sv/u sep i nepe a SR ep pee Sab ng set te] sa Mipibar} baa. (2c. him) W ee ‘um ragna rok romm, sigtiva 56 Sér hén upp koma gro sini igrd 6r gi idiagraena Falla forsar, fiver orn yfir, sa er 4 fialli fiska veidir. 57 Finnaz esir 4 Tavelli ok um moldpinur matkan doema [ok minnaz par 4 megindéma] ok a Fimbultys fornar rinar. 58 Par muno eptir vundrsam! gullnar toflor fgrasi finnaz, pars ardaga attar hpfbo, 59 Muno ésénir akrar vaxa— bols mun allz batna, Baldr mun koma. Baia beir Hor ok Baldr Hroptz sigtoptir, vés valtivar. ‘Vitod ér enn, e6a hvat? 6/t Séx] marginal capital R; Se ten apay H ~ megindmal so H; atin naz} fina H ‘man ball Ht JH 1g.) See Probe 1) (0. 8/1 Par muno eptir] Pa muna 2serH 59/1 Muno} marginal capita 50/7 veevalivar el val VOLUSPA 3 over the fate of the powers, virulent fate of victory’s gods. She sees come up a second time earth out of ocean once again green. ‘The waterfalls flow, an eagle flies over, in the hills hunting fish. Asir meet on Eddying Plain and discourse on the mighty enmesher of earth, and call to mind there ‘the momentous judgements and the Gigantine God's ancient runes, ‘There will once more the miraculous golden chequers be found, in the grass, those that in the old days they had owned. Without sowing cornfields will grow— all harm will be healed, Baldr will come. ‘They inhabit, Hp6r and Baldr, Hroptr’s walls of triumph, gods of the sanctuary. Do you still seek to know? And what? 7/1 Pinas) Hinaz H ok 58/4 fine 39/3 mun] man H 59/4 Baldr mun] ar RH (oa comected fom Pull se HBB 1, 19: "0/8 Vitod — bvat] abrvitd vc, e.b. Ritu Pete.4 60 Pé kna Heenir hlautvi6 kidsa, ok burir byggia brasdra tveggia vindheim vidan, \Vitod ér enn, eda hvat? 61 Sal sér hén standa sélo fegra, gull bakéan, 4 Gimle. Par skolo dyggvar dréttir byggia ok um aldrdaga yndis nidta, 62 Par komr inn dimmi dreki fliigandi, na6r frénn, ne6an fra Nidafigllom. Berr sér { figdrom flyer voll yfir— Niohoger, nai NG mun hén sokkvaz. 60/2 hlauwvig)hlwvid HE timsas. Go/6 tos in i; marginal capital R ‘Se MSR comection? 27; nid H. oul os ‘Sa 26 _6x/1 sér hon] vit ec SnE. ar] 0 SK, U; bana (sal) T,W VOLUSPA ‘Then Heenir picks out the twig of augury, and sons of the two brothers set up their home in the wide wind realm, Do you still seek to know? And what? A hall she sees standing, brighter than the sun, roofed with gold, on Refuge from the Flames. ‘There shall the worthy warrior bands dwell and all their days of life enjoy delight. ‘There comes the shadowy dragon flying, glittering serpent, up from Dark of the Moon Hills. He carries in his pinions he flies over the field— Malice Striker, corpses. Now will she sink. 60/3 ok] er Hurt] so H and originally, R; see MSR core Vito8 — hvat}aBiresaad vce. hit ete ‘adds Da kere hi iki at regindomipfuge ofan sero rb. See Problem 1(e) (2/3 ean] See MS. caretions 26. "62/8 mun] man H 61/8 nia hee 62/1 Par] 2/4 Niall] 61/3 pakOan] so U, Ws betra SR, T mae oe a : INTRODUCTION 1. The Structure ofthe Poem Vpluspé, after the manner of visionary poems, is often allusive and enigmatic, with abrupt, unexplained transitions of scene and thought. The structure, or sequence of meaning, is not, therefore, always clear beyond question. For the text of Voluspa we have three main sources, and some of the dif- ferences between them in order and content are substantial. Without a conception of the structure of the poem we have no basis for determining the best text. At the same time, without some evaluation of the texts we can= not determine the structure. The two studies, poetical and textual, must develop alongside each other. A tracing of the poet’s sequence of thought through each stanza of the poem is given in Vpluspd Introduction n. A detailed comparison of the variant texts, R, H, SnE, is given in Voluspd Introduction ut. As a preface to these two detailed studies, I outline now the broader framework of the poem and the broader differences between its texts. A. The grand architecture of Voluspa (x - 20, 43 - 62) ‘The grand architecture of the poem is confirmed by all three sources. R and H present a virtually identical text of the opening and close of the oem, the first and last third of it: the birth of the world and its gods is seen to pass into their death, and from that death a fresh world, younger gods, spring. The new world rouses echoes of the old: lines at the close of the poem strike chords that were heard in the beginning. The movement of growth and time is punctuated by refrains, one supplanting, or intruding "upon, another, as the sedateness of established order disintegrates before the threat of change, and that threat fulfilled in turn becomes the promise of limitless Futurity." One divergence between the texts of R and H could affect our perception of the structure of the poem. Before what is the final stanza in both MSS. (62), a four-line stanza is included in H but not in R. The lines proclaim the ‘coming of an unnamed ‘Powerful One’, all-ruling, from above, to the * ‘The refrains will be referred to in discussion as Refrain I (Dé geno rpg... 6/14. 9/1—$ 29/124, 29/104), Reftain I (Vid econ, ea heal? 29/8 24 39/8 3/408, 49/8 597%, 60), tnd Reean TH (Gr mi Garr migk