Kildeteksten til «Fortalen»

In the beginning, almighty God created heaven and earth and everything that belongs to them, and last of all two human beings, Adam and Eve, from whom the families of humankind descend. Their offspring multiplied and spread throughout the world. But as time passed, humankind grew divided. Some were good and true in their faith, but far more followed worldly desires and neglected God's commandments. For this reason God drowned the world and all its living creatures in a flood, except those who were in the ark with Noah. After Noah's flood, eight people survived, and they populated the world and became the ancestors of its families. Once again, as before, when people multiplied and the world became settled, the great mass of humankind cherished greed for wealth and honor but neglected obedience to God. This went so far that they would not name God. Who, then, would tell their sons of God's mighty wonders? It came about that they lost God's name, and throughout most of the world no one could be found who knew anything of his creator. Nevertheless, God granted them earthly blessings, wealth and prosperity, to sustain them in the world. He also bestowed wisdom on them, so that they understood all earthly things and all the features of sky and earth that could be seen.

They pondered and wondered what it might mean that the earth, animals and birds shared certain qualities, though their ways differed. One such quality was that when the earth was dug into on high mountain peaks, water sprang up there, and one needed to dig no farther for water there than in deep valleys. So too with animals and birds: the blood lies equally deep in their heads and feet. Another property of the earth is that every year grass and flowers grow upon it, and in that same year they all die down and wither. So too with animals and birds: hair and feathers grow and fall off every year. The earth's third property is that when it is opened and dug into, grass grows on the soil that lies uppermost. They understood rocks and stones as corresponding to the teeth and bones of living creatures. From this they concluded that the earth was alive and possessed life in some fashion. They knew that it was wonderfully ancient in years and mighty in its nature. It nourished all living creatures and took possession of everything that died. For that reason they gave it a name and traced their ancestry to it.

They also learned from their elderly kinsmen that, going back many hundreds of years, the earth, sun and heavenly bodies had been the same, but the courses of the heavenly bodies varied. Some had a longer course and others a shorter one. From such things they suspected that there must be some ruler of the heavenly bodies who directed their courses according to his will, and that he must be very powerful and mighty. They reasoned that if he ruled the elements, he must also have existed before the heavenly bodies. They saw that if he governed the courses of the heavenly bodies, he must govern the sun's shining, the dew from the sky and the fruits of the earth that follow from these, and likewise the winds of the air and with them the storms of the sea. They did not know where his kingdom lay, but they believed that he ruled all things on earth and in the air, heaven and the heavenly bodies, the sea and the weather. To make these things easier to speak of or commit to memory, they gave names among themselves to everything. This belief has changed in many ways as peoples separated and languages grew distinct. But they understood everything in an earthly way, because spiritual wisdom had not been given to them. Thus they understood that all things were fashioned from some material.

2. On the three parts of the world.

The world was divided into three parts. From the south westward and inward to the Mediterranean Sea, that part was called Africa. The southern portion of that division is so hot that it is scorched by the sun. The second part extends from the west to the north and inward to the sea; it is called Europe or Enea. Its northern portion is so cold that no grass grows there and it cannot be inhabited. From the north, around the eastern regions and all the way to the south, the land is called Asia. In that part of the world are all beauty and splendor, the riches of the earth's produce, gold and precious stones. There too is the center of the world. Just as the land there is more beautiful and better in every respect than elsewhere, so too its people were most highly endowed with every gift: wisdom and strength, beauty and every kind of knowledge.

3. Of the Trojans.

Near the center of the world was built the most renowned of all dwellings and settlements, called Troy, in what we call Turkey. This place was built on a far grander scale than others, and in many ways with greater skill, with the expense and resources available there. There were twelve kingdoms and one high king, and many nations belonged to each kingdom. There were twelve chieftains in the city. These chieftains surpassed all other men who have lived in the world in every human accomplishment.

One king in Troy was named Munon or Mennon. He married the daughter of the high king Priam. Her name was Troan. They had a son named Tror, whom we call Thor. He was brought up in Thrace by a duke named Loricus, and when he was ten years old he took up his father's weapons. When he stood among other men, his appearance was as beautiful as ivory inlaid in oak. His hair was more beautiful than gold. When he was twelve years old, he had reached his full strength. Then he lifted ten bearskins from the ground all at once, and then he killed Duke Loricus, his foster father, and his wife, Lora or Glora, and took possession of the kingdom of Thrace. We call it Thrudheim. Then he traveled far and wide through many lands and explored every region of the world, and single-handedly defeated all berserks and all giants, one enormous dragon and many beasts. In the northern part of the world he found a prophetess named Sibyl, whom we call Sif, and married her. No one can tell Sif's ancestry. She was the most beautiful of all women. Her hair was like gold.

Their son was Loridi, who resembled his father. His son was Einridi, his son Vingethor, his son Vingener, his son Moda, his son Magi, his son Seskef, his son Bedvig, his son Athra, whom we call Annan, his son Itrmann, his son Heremod, his son Skjaldun, whom we call Skjold, his son Bjaf, whom we call Bjar, his son Jat, his son Gudolf, his son Finn, his son Friallaf, whom we call Fridleif. He had a son named Voden, whom we call Odin. He was a man renowned for his wisdom and every accomplishment. His wife was named Frigida, whom we call Frigg.

4. Odin's journey into the northern world.

Odin had the gift of prophecy, as did his wife, and through this knowledge he discovered that his name would be celebrated in the northern part of the world and honored above those of all kings. For this reason he wished to begin his journey from Turkey. He took with him a great company, young and old, men and women, and they brought many precious things. Wherever they traveled through the lands, great praise was spoken of them, so that they seemed more like gods than human beings. They did not halt their journey until they came north into the land now called Saxony. Odin stayed there for a long time and took possession of wide stretches of that country. There Odin appointed three of his sons to govern the land.

One was named Vegdeg. He was a powerful king and ruled East Saxony. His son was Vitrgils. His sons were Vitta, the father of Hengest, and Sigar, the father of Svebdeg, whom we call Svipdag. Odin's second son was named Baldeg, whom we call Baldr. He held the land now called Westphalia. His son was Brand, his son Frjodigar, whom we call Frodi. His son was Freovin, his son Uvigg, his son Gevis, whom we call Gave. Odin's third son was named Sigi, and his son was Rerir. These forefathers ruled in what is now called the land of the Franks, and from them descends the family called the Volsungs. From all these men descend many great families.

Then Odin began his journey north and came into the land they called Reidgotaland, and took possession of as much of that land as he wished. He appointed his son named Skjold to rule the lands there. His son was Fridleif. From him descends the family called the Skjoldungs. These are the kings of Denmark, and the land then called Reidgotaland is now called Jutland.

5. Odin made his home at Sigtuna.

After that he traveled north into what is now called Sweden. There was a king there named Gylfi. When he heard of the journey of these men of Asia, who were called Aesir, he went to meet them and offered Odin as much power in his kingdom as he himself wished to have. Such good fortune accompanied their journey that wherever they stayed in the lands, there were fruitful seasons and peace. Everyone believed that they brought these things about, for the powerful men saw that they were unlike any other people they had seen, both in beauty and in wisdom. Odin found the plains there beautiful and the land good, and chose a site for his city at what is now called Sigtuna. He appointed chieftains there, following the pattern that had existed in Troy, and established twelve leaders in the place to administer the laws of the land. He arranged all legal matters as they had formerly been in Troy and as the Turks were accustomed to do.

After that he traveled north until he reached the sea, which they believed encircled all lands, and there he appointed his son to rule the kingdom now called Norway. He is called Saeming, and the kings of Norway trace their ancestry to him, as do earls and other powerful men, as is told in Haleygjatal. Odin had brought with him his son named Yngvi, who was king in Sweden after him, and from him descend the families called Ynglings. These Aesir took wives for themselves within the country, and some for their sons. These families became so numerous that they spread throughout Saxony and from there across the northern regions, until their language, the language of the men of Asia, was the native language throughout all these lands. People believe they can discern, from the written names of their forefathers, that those names have accompanied this language, and that the Aesir brought the language north into this part of the world, into Norway and Sweden, Denmark and Saxony. In England there are ancient names of regions or places that can be recognized as having been given in a language other than this one.

Den almægtige Gud skabte i begyndelsen himlen og jorden og alt, hvad der hører til dem, og til sidst to mennesker, som slægterne nedstammer fra, Adam og Eva, og deres efterkommere blev talrige og spredtes over hele verden. Men som tiden gik, blev menneskene forskellige. Nogle var gode og rettroende, men langt flere fulgte verdens lyster og forsømte Guds bud, og derfor lod Gud verden og alle dens levende væsener drukne i en oversvømmelse, undtagen dem, der var i arken med Noa. Efter syndfloden levede otte mennesker, som befolkede verden, og fra dem nedstammede slægterne. Og det gik atter som før: Da menneskene blev talrige, og verden blev befolket, kom hele menneskeheden til at elske rigdom og ære, men forsømte lydigheden mod Gud. Det gik så vidt, at de ikke ville nævne Gud. Men hvem skulle da fortælle deres sønner om Guds store undere? Sådan gik det til, at de glemte Guds navn, og de fleste steder i verden fandtes der intet menneske, som kendte sin skaber. Alligevel skænkede Gud dem jordiske goder, rigdom og lykke, som de skulle leve af i verden. Han gav dem også visdom, så de forstod alle jordiske ting og alle de enkeltheder ved luften og jorden, som kunne iagttages.

De tænkte over og undrede sig over, hvordan det kunne være, at jorden og dyrene og fuglene i visse henseender havde samme natur og dog var forskellige i deres væsen. Et fællestræk var, at når man gravede i jorden på høje bjergtoppe, sprang der vand frem, og dér behøvede man ikke grave længere ned efter vand end i dybe dale. Sådan er det også med dyr og fugle: Der er lige langt ind til blodet i hovedet og fødderne. Et andet naturtræk ved jorden er, at der hvert år vokser græs og blomster på den, og samme år falder det alt sammen og visner. Sådan er det også med dyr og fugle: Hår og fjer vokser frem og falder af hvert år. Jordens tredje naturtræk er, at når den åbnes og graves op, vokser der græs i den muld, som ligger øverst på jorden. Klipper og sten opfattede de som svarende til levende væseners tænder og knogler. Heraf sluttede de, at jorden var levende og på en vis måde havde liv, og de vidste, at den var overordentlig gammel og mægtig af natur. Den nærede alle levende væsener, og den tog alt det til sig, der døde. Derfor gav de den et navn og regnede deres slægt tilbage til den.

De hørte også af deres gamle slægtninge, at selv om der var gået mange hundrede vintre, var jorden og solen og himmellegemerne stadig de samme, men himmellegemernes baner var forskellige. Nogle havde en længere bane, andre en kortere. Sådanne forhold fik dem til at ane, at der måtte være en, som styrede himmellegemerne og ordnede deres gang efter sin vilje, og at han måtte være meget mægtig og stærk. De mente, at hvis han rådede over elementerne, måtte han også have været til før himmellegemerne, og de indså, at hvis han styrede himmellegemernes gang, måtte han også råde over solens skin og luftens dug og jordens afgrøde, som følger deraf, og ligeledes over luftens vinde og dermed havets storme. De vidste ikke, hvor hans rige var, men de troede, at han rådede over alt på jorden og i luften, over himlen og himmellegemerne, havet og vejret. Men for lettere at kunne fortælle om tingene eller fæstne dem i hukommelsen gav de indbyrdes alle ting navne, og denne tro har ændret sig på mange måder, efterhånden som folkene skiltes og sprogene blev forskellige. Men alle ting forstod de med jordisk forstand, for den åndelige visdom var ikke blevet dem givet. De mente således, at alle ting var dannet af et eller andet stof.

2. Om verdens tre dele.

Verden blev delt i tre dele. Fra syd mod vest og ind til Middelhavet lå den del, som blev kaldt Afrika. Den sydlige del af dette område er så hed, at solen svider alt. Den anden del strækker sig fra vest mod nord og ind til havet; den kaldes Europa eller Enea. Den nordlige del er dér så kold, at der ikke vokser græs, og ingen kan bo der. Fra nord og gennem alle de østlige egne helt til syd ligger det, der kaldes Asien. I denne del af verden findes al skønhed og pragt og al rigdom på jordens afgrøder, guld og ædelsten. Dér ligger også verdens midte. Og ligesom jorden dér er smukkere og i alle henseender bedre end andre steder, sådan var menneskene dér også mest begavede med alle lykkens gaver, visdom og styrke, skønhed og al slags kunnen.

3. Om trojanerne.

Nær verdens midte blev det hus og hjemsted bygget, som har været det berømteste, og som kaldes Troja, dér hvor vi kalder landet Tyrkiet. Dette sted var langt prægtigere bygget end andre og på mange måder med større kunstfærdighed, med de midler og materialer, som fandtes dér. Dér var tolv kongeriger og én overkonge, og til hvert kongerige hørte mange folkeslag og lande. I byen var der tolv høvdinger. Disse høvdinger har overgået alle andre mennesker, som har levet i verden, i alle mandige færdigheder.

En konge i Troja hed Munon eller Mennon. Han var gift med overkongen Priamos’ datter. Hun hed Troan. De havde en søn. Han hed Tror, som vi kalder Thor. Han blev opfostret i Thrakien hos en hertug ved navn Lorikus, og da han var ti år gammel, overtog han sin fars våben. Når han stod blandt andre mennesker, var han så smuk at se på som elfenben indlagt i egetræ. Hans hår var smukkere end guld. Da han var tolv år gammel, havde han sin fulde styrke. Da løftede han ti bjørneskind fra jorden på én gang, og derpå dræbte han hertug Lorikus, sin fosterfar, og hans kone, Lora eller Glora, og tog riget Thrakien i besiddelse. Det kalder vi Trudheim. Så rejste han vidt omkring i landene og udforskede alle verdensdele og besejrede ene mand alle bersærker og alle jætter og en vældig drage og mange dyr. I verdens nordlige del fandt han den spåkvinde, som hed Sibyl, og som vi kalder Sif, og giftede sig med hende. Ingen kan fortælle om Sifs slægt. Hun var den smukkeste af alle kvinder. Hendes hår var som guld.

Deres søn var Loride, som lignede sin far. Hans søn var Einride, hans søn Vingethor, hans søn Vingener, hans søn Moda, hans søn Magi, hans søn Seskef, hans søn Bedvig, hans søn Athra, som vi kalder Annan, hans søn Itrmann, hans søn Heremod, hans søn Skjaldun, som vi kalder Skjold, hans søn Bjaf, som vi kalder Bjar, hans søn Jat, hans søn Gudolf, hans søn Finn, hans søn Friallaf, som vi kalder Fridleif. Han havde en søn, som hed Voden. Ham kalder vi Odin. Han var en fremragende mand i visdom og alle færdigheder. Hans kone hed Frigida, som vi kalder Frigg.

4. Odins rejse mod nord i verden.

Odin havde spådomsevne, og det havde hans kone også, og gennem denne indsigt fandt han ud af, at hans navn ville blive husket i verdens nordlige del og æret frem for alle kongers. Derfor fik han lyst til at begynde sin rejse fra Tyrkiet og tog en stor skare mennesker med sig, unge og gamle, mænd og kvinder, og de medbragte mange kostbarheder. Hvor de end drog gennem landene, blev der fortalt så meget om deres storhed, at de blev anset for at ligne guder mere end mennesker. Og de standser ikke deres rejse, før de kommer nordpå til det land, som nu kaldes Saksen. Dér opholdt Odin sig i lang tid og tog store dele af landet i besiddelse. Dér satte Odin tre af sine sønner til at styre landet.

Den ene hed Vegdeg. Han var en mægtig konge og rådede over Østsaksen. Hans søn var Vitrgils. Hans sønner var Vitta, far til Hengest, og Sigar, far til Svebdeg, som vi kalder Svipdag. Odins anden søn hed Baldeg, som vi kalder Balder. Han ejede det land, som nu hedder Westfalen. Hans søn var Brand, hans søn Frjodigar, som vi kalder Frode. Hans søn var Freovin, hans søn Uvigg, hans søn Gevis, som vi kalder Gave. Odins tredje søn hed Sigi, hans søn Rerir. Disse forfædre herskede dér, hvor landet nu kaldes Frankrig, og derfra stammer den slægt, som kaldes Vølsunger. Fra dem alle nedstammer mange store slægter.

Så begyndte Odin sin rejse mod nord og kom til det land, som de kaldte Reidgotaland, og tog dér alt det i besiddelse, som han ønskede. Han satte sin søn, som hed Skjold, til at råde over landet. Hans søn var Fridleif. Derfra stammer den slægt, som hedder Skjoldunger. Det er de danske konger, og det land, som dengang blev kaldt Reidgotaland, hedder nu Jylland.

5. Odin tog bolig i Sigtuna.

Derefter drog han nordpå til det sted, som nu hedder Sverige. Dér var der en konge ved navn Gylfe. Da han hørte om disse asiaters rejse, de som blev kaldt aser, drog han dem i møde og tilbød Odin så stor magt i sit rige, som han selv ønskede. Og deres rejse var ledsaget af så gode tider, at hvor de end opholdt sig i landene, var der godt år og fred, og alle troede, at det var dem, der rådede for det, for de mægtige mænd så, at de i skønhed og forstand var forskellige fra alle andre mennesker, de havde set.

Odin syntes, at der var smukke sletter og gode landsforhold, og han valgte sig dér et sted til en by, som nu hedder Sigtuna. Han indsatte høvdinger dér, og efter forbillede fra Troja satte han tolv overhoveder i byen til at dømme efter landets lov, og han indrettede alle retsforhold, som de før havde været i Troja, og som tyrkerne var vant til. Derefter drog han nordpå, indtil han kom til havet, det som de mente omgav alle lande, og satte dér sin søn over det rige, som nu hedder Norge. Han kaldes Sæming, og Norges konger fører deres slægter tilbage til ham, og det gør også jarler og andre mægtige mænd, sådan som det fortælles i Háleygjatal.

Men Odin havde den søn med sig, som hed Yngve, og som var konge i Sverige efter ham, og fra ham nedstammer de slægter, som kaldes Ynglinger. Disse aser tog sig hustruer dér i landet, og nogle fandt også hustruer til deres sønner, og disse slægter blev så talrige, at de spredtes over Saksen og derfra over alle de nordlige egne, så deres sprog, asiaternes, blev det hjemmehørende sprog i alle disse lande. Og folk mener at kunne forstå af deres nedskrevne forfædres navne, at disse navne har fulgt dette sprog, og at aserne har ført sproget her nordpå i verden, til Norge og Sverige, Danmark og Saksen, og i England findes gamle landsnavne eller stednavne, som man kan forstå er givet på et andet sprog end dette.