《吉尔菲的迷惑》的原典

King Gylfi ruled the lands now called Sweden. It is said of him that he gave a wandering woman, as a reward for entertaining him, as much ploughland in his kingdom as four oxen could plough in a day and a night. This woman was of the race of the Aesir; her name was Gefjon. She took four oxen from the north, out of Jotunheim; they were her sons by a certain giant. She harnessed them to a plough, and the plough cut so broadly and deeply that it loosened the land. The oxen dragged that land out to sea and westward, and stopped in a certain strait. There Gefjon set the land down, gave it a name, and called it Zealand. Where the land had been torn up, a lake remained. It is now called Lake Mälaren in Sweden, and the inlets in the lake correspond to the headlands of Zealand. As the poet Bragi the Old says:

Gefjon gladly drew from Gylfi
the deep-soiled round of land,
Denmark's increase, so that the straining
beasts sent up steam.
The oxen bore eight
forehead moons and four heads
as they went before the broad
plundered island of meadows.

King Gylfi was a wise man and skilled in magic. He wondered greatly that the people of the Aesir were so knowledgeable that everything went according to their wishes. He considered whether this came from their own nature or was brought about by the divine powers they worshipped. He set out for Asgard, travelling secretly, and disguised himself by taking on the appearance of an old man. But the Aesir were wiser in this, for they had the gift of prophecy: they saw his journey before he arrived and prepared illusions to meet him.

When he entered the stronghold, he saw a hall so high that he could scarcely see over it. Its roof was laid with gilded shields like shingles. As Thjodolf of Hvin says, Valhalla was roofed with shields:

On their backs the thoughtful warriors
let Svafnir's hall-shingles gleam;
they were battered
with stones.

Gylfi saw a man in the doorway of the hall, juggling short swords, with seven in the air at once. This man was the first to ask the other's name. Gylfi called himself Gangleri and said he had come by out-of-the-way paths. He asked for a night's lodging and asked who owned the hall. The man answered that it belonged to their king: “But I can take you to see him. Then you must ask his name yourself.” The man turned and went ahead of him into the hall, and he followed. At once the door closed behind his heels. There he saw many sections of floor and many people: some were playing games, some drinking, and some fighting with weapons. He looked around, and many things he saw seemed incredible to him. Then he said:

Every doorway,
before going forward,
should be looked about,
for there is no knowing
where enemies sit
in the hall ahead.

He saw three high seats, each above the next, with three men, one in each. He asked the names of their rulers. The man who had led him in answered that the one seated in the lowest high seat was king: “His name is Har; next is the one called Jafnhar, and highest is the one called Thridi.”

Har asked the newcomer whether he had any further business, adding that food and drink were freely available to him, as to everyone there in Har's hall. He said that first he wished to ask whether there was any learned man inside. Har said he would not come out unharmed unless he proved the wiser:

“And stand forward
while you ask;
the one who answers shall sit.”

Gangleri began by asking: “Who is highest or oldest of all the gods?”

Har said: “He is called Allfather in our language, but in ancient Asgard he had twelve names. One is Allfather, the second Herran or Herjan, the third Nikar or Hnikar, the fourth Nikud or Hnikud, the fifth Fjolnir, the sixth Oski, the seventh Omi, the eighth Biflidi or Biflindi, the ninth Svidur, the tenth Svidrir, the eleventh Vidrir, and the twelfth Jalg or Jalk.”

Then Gangleri asked: “Where is this god, what powers does he have, and what great deeds has he done?”

Har said: “He lives through all ages, governs his entire realm, and rules all things, great and small.”

Then Jafnhar said: “He fashioned heaven and earth and the skies, and everything in them.”

Then Thridi said: “Yet his greatest deed was to make humankind and give each person a soul that shall live and never perish, though the body rots into earth or burns to ashes. All people who live rightly shall live on and be with him himself in the place called Gimle or Vingolf. But wicked people go to Hel, and from there into Niflhel, down in the ninth world.”

Then Gangleri said: “What was he doing before heaven and earth were made?”

Har answered: “Then he was among the frost giants.”

Gangleri said: “What was the beginning, how did it begin, and what was there before?”

Har answered: “As it says in the Seeress's Prophecy:

It was early in the ages,
when nothing existed;
there was neither sand nor sea
nor cool waves;
earth was nowhere to be found,
nor heaven above;
there was Ginnungagap,
but no grass.”

Then Jafnhar said: “It was many ages before the earth was created that Niflheim was made. In its centre lies the spring called Hvergelmir, and from it flow the rivers named Svol, Gunnthra, Fjorm, Fimbulthul, Slid and Hrid, Sylg and Ylg, Vid and Leipt. Gjoll is nearest the gates of Hel.”

Then Thridi said: “First, however, there was the world in the southern region called Muspell. It is bright and hot. That region flames and burns, and it is impassable to outsiders who have no ancestral home there. The one who sits at its frontier to defend the land is called Surt. He has a flaming sword, and at the end of the world he will go out to wage war, defeat all the gods, and burn the whole world with fire. As it says in the Seeress's Prophecy:

Surt comes from the south
with the scourge of branches;
from his sword shines
the sun of the gods of the slain;
rocky mountains crash,
and giantesses stumble;
men tread the road to Hel,
and heaven splits apart.”

Gangleri said: “How did things take shape before the races came into being or humankind increased?”

Then Har said: “When the rivers called Elivagar had come so far from their sources that the poisonous fluid flowing with them hardened like the slag that runs from a fire, it became ice. When that ice came to a standstill and no longer flowed, it froze over. The vapour rising from the poison froze into frost, and the frost built up layer upon layer, all the way into Ginnungagap.”

Then Jafnhar said: “The part of Ginnungagap facing north filled with the weight and heaviness of ice and frost, and within it were mist and gusts of wind. But the southern part of Ginnungagap grew light from the sparks and glowing embers that flew out of Muspell's world.”

Then Thridi said: “Just as cold and all things harsh came from Niflheim, everything facing towards Muspell was hot and bright. But Ginnungagap was as mild as windless air. When the frost met the warm breath of heat, so that it melted and dripped, life arose from those flowing drops through the power of the one who sent the heat. It took on a human shape, and this being was named Ymir. The frost giants call him Aurgelmir, and from him descend the races of frost giants, as it says in the Shorter Seeress's Prophecy:

All seeresses descend
from Vidolf,
all wizards
from Vilmeid,
and practitioners of sorcery
from Svarthofdi;
all giants
descend from Ymir.

And here the giant Vafthrudnir says:

From Elivagar
sprang drops of poison,
and grew until a giant emerged;
from there our kindreds
all came together;
that is why they are always so fierce.”

Then Gangleri said: “How did races grow from him, or how did it happen that more people came into being? And do you believe that the one you have just told me about is a god?”

Har answered: “By no means do we acknowledge him as a god. He is evil, as are all his descendants. We call them frost giants. It is said that while he slept, he began to sweat. Then a man and a woman grew beneath his left arm, and one of his feet fathered a son with the other. From these came the races of frost giants. That ancient frost giant we call Ymir.”

Then Gangleri said: “Where did Ymir live, and what did he live on?”

Har answered: “The next thing was that, as the frost dripped, it formed a cow called Audhumla. Four rivers of milk flowed from her teats, and she nourished Ymir.”

Then Gangleri said: “What nourished the cow?”

Har answered: “She licked the frost-covered stones, which were salty. On the first day she licked them, a man's hair emerged from the stone by evening; on the second day, a man's head; and on the third day, a whole man was there. He is called Buri. He was handsome, large, and powerful. He fathered a son called Bor, who married a woman called Bestla, daughter of the giant Bolthorn, and they had three sons. One was called Odin, the second Vili, and the third Ve. It is my belief that this Odin and his brothers are the rulers of heaven and earth. We believe that this is his name. It is the name of the man we know to be greatest and most glorious, and you may well call him by that name.”

Then Gangleri said: “What became of their relations, and which side was stronger?”

Har answered: “Bor's sons killed the giant Ymir. When he fell, so much blood poured from his wounds that in it they drowned the whole race of frost giants, except for one who escaped with his household. The giants call him Bergelmir. He climbed onto his mill-box with his wife and survived there. From them descend the races of frost giants, as it says here:

Countless winters
before the earth was created,
Bergelmir was born;
the first thing I remember
is when that wise giant
was laid upon a mill-box.”

Then Gangleri said: “What did Bor's sons do next, if you believe they are gods?”

Har said: “There is no small tale to tell of that. They took Ymir and carried him into the middle of Ginnungagap, and from him they made the earth, and from his blood the sea and lakes. The earth was made from his flesh, and the mountains from his bones. Stones and scree they made from his teeth and molars and from the bones that had been broken.”

Then Jafnhar said: “From the blood that flowed freely out of his wounds they made the sea, when they formed and joined the earth together. They laid that sea in a ring around it, and most people would think it impossible to cross.”

Then Thridi said: “They also took his skull and made the sky from it, setting it up over the earth with four corners. Beneath each corner they placed a dwarf. Their names are Austri, Vestri, Nordri, and Sudri. Then they took the glowing embers and sparks that flew loose, having been cast out of Muspell's world, and set them in the middle of Ginnungagap, both above and below in the heavens, to light heaven and earth. They assigned places to all the heavenly lights. Some were fixed in the heavens, while others moved freely beneath them; yet even these they assigned their places and appointed their courses. Ancient lore says that from then on days and nights were distinguished and years reckoned. As it says in the Seeress's Prophecy:

The sun did not know
where she had her dwelling;
the moon did not know
what power he had;
the stars did not know
where they had their places.

That was how things were before this happened.”

Then Gangleri said: “These are great tidings that I now hear. That is a tremendous work, and skilfully made. What shape did the earth have?”

Har answered: “It is circular around its outer edge, and the deep sea lies all around it. Along that seashore they gave lands to the races of giants to settle. But farther inland they built a fortification around the world against the hostility of the giants. For this fortification they used the giant Ymir's eyebrows, and they called it Midgard. They also took his brain and threw it into the air, making the clouds from it, as it says here:

From Ymir's flesh
the earth was created,
and from his blood the sea,
mountains from his bones,
trees from his hair,
and from his skull the sky.
And from his eyebrows
the gracious powers made
Midgard for the children of men;
and from his brain
all those fierce-tempered
clouds were created.”

Then Gangleri said: "It seems to me that they had accomplished a great deal by then, when earth and heaven had been made, the sun and heavenly bodies set in place, and day and night divided. But where did the people who inhabit the world come from?"

Then Har said: "As the sons of Bor walked along the seashore, they found two trees, picked them up, and fashioned people from them. The first gave them breath and life, the second understanding and movement, and the third a face, speech, hearing, and sight. They gave them clothes and names. The man was called Ask and the woman Embla, and from them sprang the human race, which was given a dwelling within Midgard. Next they made themselves a stronghold in the middle of the world, called Asgard. We call it Troy. There the gods and their kindreds dwelt, and from there arose many events and happenings, both on earth and in the sky. There is a place there called Hlidskjalf, and when Odin sat there in the high seat, he could see throughout all worlds and see every person's deeds, and he understood everything he saw. His wife was called Frigg, daughter of Fjorgyn, and from their line comes the race we call the kindreds of the Aesir, who have inhabited ancient Asgard and the realms belonging to it. That entire race is of divine descent. And he may be called Allfather because he is the father of all the gods and humans and everything that was brought into being by him and his power. Jord was his daughter and his wife. By her he fathered his first son, who is Thor of the Aesir. Power and strength were his, and with them he overcomes all living creatures.

A giant called Norfi or Narfi lived in Jotunheim. He had a daughter called Night. She was black and dark, as befitted her ancestry. She was married to a man called Naglfari. Their son was called Aud. Next she was married to a man called Anar. Their daughter was called Jord. Last she married Delling, who was of the race of the Aesir. Their son was Day. He was bright and beautiful, taking after his father. Then Allfather took Night and her son Day, gave them two horses and two chariots, and sent them up into the sky to ride around the earth every twenty-four hours. Night rides first, on the horse called Hrimfaxi, and every morning he bedews the earth with the drops of foam from his bit. The horse Day owns is called Skinfaxi, and his mane lights up all the sky and the earth."

Then Gangleri said: "How does he direct the course of the sun or the moon?"

Har said: "There was a man called Mundilfari who had two children. They were so beautiful and fair that he called his son Mani and his daughter Sol, and married her to a man called Glen. But the gods were angered by this arrogance, so they took the brother and sister and placed them up in the sky. They made Sol drive the horses that drew the chariot of the sun, which the gods had fashioned to light the worlds from a glowing ember that flew out of Muspellheim. Those horses are called Arvak and Alsvid. Beneath the horses' shoulders the gods placed two bellows to cool them, though in some accounts this is called Isarnkol. Mani directs the course of the moon and governs its waxing and waning. He took two children from the earth, called Bil and Hjuki, as they were walking away from the well called Byrgir, carrying on their shoulders a tub called Saeg, on a pole called Simul. Their father is called Vidfinn. These children accompany Mani, as can be seen from the earth."

Then Gangleri said: "The sun travels swiftly, almost as though she were afraid, and she could scarcely hasten her course more even if she feared her own death."

Then Har answered: "It is no wonder she travels so swiftly. The one pursuing her is close behind, and she has no escape except to flee."

Then Gangleri said: "Who is it that causes her this trouble?"

Har said: "There are two wolves. The one that follows her is called Skoll. She fears him, and he will catch her. The one running ahead of her is called Hati, son of Hrodvitnir. He wants to catch the moon, and so it will happen."

Then Gangleri said: "What is the wolves' ancestry?"

Har said: "A giantess lives east of Midgard in the forest called Ironwood. In that forest dwell the troll-women called the Ironwood women. The old giantess bears many giants as sons, all in the shape of wolves, and these wolves are descended from them. It is said that the mightiest of that kin will be the one called Managarm. He fills himself with the lifeblood of everyone who dies, and he swallows the moon and spatters blood over heaven and all the sky. Then the sun loses its light, and the winds rage and roar from every side. As it says in the Prophecy of the Seeress:

In the east the old one lives,
in Ironwood,
and there gives birth
to Fenrir's brood;
of them all
one will become
the moon's snatcher
in a troll's shape.

He fills himself with the lifeblood
of doomed people,
reddens the gods' dwelling
with crimson blood;
the sun's rays turn black
in the summers that follow,
all weather treacherous.
Do you know yet—or what?"

Then Gangleri said: "What is the way from earth to heaven?"

Then Har answered with a laugh: "That is not a knowledgeable question. Have you not been told that the gods made a bridge from earth to heaven called Bifrost? You must have seen it. Perhaps you call it the rainbow. It has three colours and is very strong, made with greater skill and knowledge than other works. But strong as it is, it will break when the sons of Muspell advance and ride over it, and their horses will swim across great rivers. That is how they will make their way."

Then Gangleri said: "It seems to me that the gods did not build the bridge faithfully if it can break, when they can make things as they please."

Then Har said: "The gods deserve no blame for this work. Bifrost is a good bridge, but there is nothing in this world that can be relied upon when the sons of Muspell attack."

Then Gangleri said: "What did Allfather do when Asgard had been made?"

Har said: "At first he appointed rulers to their seats and asked them to judge people's fates with him and decide how the stronghold should be arranged. This was at the place called Idavoll, in the middle of the stronghold. Their first work was to build the temple where their twelve seats stand, besides the high seat belonging to Allfather. That building is the finest and largest on earth. Inside and out it is all like pure gold. People call that place Gladsheim. They made another hall, a sanctuary belonging to the goddesses, and it was very beautiful. People call that building Vingolf. Next they made a building in which they set up a forge, and for it they made a hammer, tongs, and an anvil, and then all the other tools. After that they worked metal, stone, and wood, and so abundantly the metal called gold that all their household furnishings and all their equipment were made of gold. That age is called the golden age, before it was spoiled by the coming of the women. They came from Jotunheim.

Next the gods took their seats, gave their judgments, and considered how dwarfs had come to life in the soil and down in the earth, like maggots in flesh. The dwarfs had first taken shape and come to life in Ymir's flesh, and were then maggots, but by the gods' decree they acquired human understanding and human form, though they live in earth and stones. Motsognir was the foremost, and Durin the second. As it says in the Prophecy of the Seeress:

Then all the powers went
to the seats of judgment,
the most holy gods,
and considered this:
who should fashion
the host of dwarfs
from the bloody sea
and from Blain's limbs.

There many forms
of human likeness were made,
dwarfs in the earth,
as Durin said.

And she gives these names of the dwarfs:

Nyi, Nidi,
Nordri, Sudri,
Austri, Vestri,
Althjof, Dvalin,
Nar, Nain,
Niping, Dain,
Bifur, Bafur,
Bombur, Nori,
Ori, Onar,
Oin, Mjodvitnir.

Vigg and Gandalf,
Vindalf, Thorin,
Fili, Kili,
Fundin, Vali,
Thror, Throin,
Thekk, Lit and Vit,
Nyr, Nyrad,
Rekk, Radsvid.

These too are dwarfs, and they live in stones, while the former live in the soil:

Draupnir, Dolgthvari,
Har, Hugstari,
Hledjolf, Gloin,
Dori, Ori,
Duf, Andvari,
Heftifili,
Har, Sviar.

But these came from Svarin's Mound to Aurvangar on Joruvellir, and from them Lofar is descended. These are their names:

Skirfir, Virfir,
Skafid, Ai,
Alf, Yngvi,
Eikinskjaldi,
Fal, Frosti,
Fid, Ginnar."

Then Gangleri said: "Where is the gods' chief seat or holy place?"

Har answered: "It is at the ash Yggdrasil. There the gods must hold their courts each day."

Then Gangleri said: "What is there to tell about that place?"

Then Jafnhar said: "The ash is the greatest and best of all trees. Its branches spread over the whole world and reach above heaven. Three roots support the tree and spread very far apart. One is among the Aesir, another among the frost-giants, where Ginnungagap once was. The third stands over Niflheim, and beneath that root is Hvergelmir, while Nidhogg gnaws at the root from below. Beneath the root that reaches towards the frost-giants is Mimir's Well, in which wisdom and understanding are hidden. The owner of the well is called Mimir. He is full of knowledge because he drinks from the well with the horn Gjallarhorn. Allfather came there and asked for a single drink from the well, but he did not receive it until he had given his eye as a pledge. As it says in the Prophecy of the Seeress:

I know it all, Odin,
where you hid your eye,
in the renowned
Well of Mimir.
Mimir drinks mead
every morning
from the pledge of the Father of the Slain.
Do you know yet—or what?

The ash's third root stands in heaven, and beneath that root is a very holy well called Urd's Well. There the gods have their place of judgment. Every day the Aesir ride up there over Bifrost. It is also called the Aesir's Bridge. The horses of the Aesir have these names: Sleipnir is the best; Odin owns him. He has eight legs. The second is Glad, the third Gyllir, the fourth Glen, the fifth Skeidbrimir, the sixth Silfrintopp, the seventh Sinir, the eighth Gisl, the ninth Falhofnir, the tenth Gulltopp, and the eleventh Lettfeti. Baldr's horse was burned with him, but Thor walks to the court and wades the rivers whose names are these:

Kormt and Ormt
and the two Kerlaugar,
these Thor must wade
every day
when he goes to give judgment
at the ash Yggdrasil,
for the Aesir's Bridge
burns all aflame,
the holy waters seethe."

Then Gangleri said: "Does fire burn over Bifrost?"

Har said: "The red you see in the rainbow is burning fire. Frost-giants and mountain-giants would make their way up into heaven if Bifrost were passable to everyone who wished to cross it. There are many beautiful places in heaven, and divine protection surrounds them all. A beautiful hall stands there beneath the ash beside the well, and from that hall come three maidens called Urd, Verdandi, and Skuld. These maidens shape people's lives. We call them Norns. There are also other Norns, who come to every child that is born to shape its life. Some are of divine descent, others are of the race of elves, and a third kind are of the race of dwarfs, as it says here:

Of widely different births
I say the Norns are;
they have no common kin;
some are descended from the Aesir,
some are descended from elves,
some are Dvalin's daughters."

Then Gangleri said: "If the Norns determine people's fates, they deal them out very unevenly: some have good and prosperous lives, while others have little property or renown; some have long lives, others short."

Har said: "Good Norns of noble descent shape good lives, but when people suffer misfortune, evil Norns are responsible."

Then Gangleri said: “What other remarkable things are there to tell about the ash?”

Har says: “There is much to tell about it. An eagle sits in the branches of the ash, and it knows many things, while between its eyes sits a hawk called Vedrfolnir. A squirrel called Ratatosk runs up and down the ash and carries spiteful words between the eagle and Nidhogg. Four stags run among the branches of the ash and browse on its foliage. Their names are Dain, Dvalin, Duneyr, and Durathror. And so many serpents are in Hvergelmir with Nidhogg that no tongue can count them. As it says here:
The ash Yggdrasil
suffers hardship
greater than people know;
a stag bites it above,
its side rots,
Nidhogg gnaws it below.

And this too is said:
More serpents lie
beneath the ash Yggdrasil
than any foolish ape could imagine.
Goin and Moin,
they are Grafvitnir’s sons,
Grabak and Grafvollud,
Ofnir and Svafnir,
will, I think, forever
eat away the tree’s branches.

It is also said that the Norns who dwell beside Urd’s Well draw water from the well every day, together with the mud that lies around it, and pour it over the ash so that its branches will not wither or rot. This water is so holy that everything that enters the well becomes as white as the membrane called the eggshell lining, which lies against the inside of an eggshell, as it says here:
I know an ash standing,
called Yggdrasil,
a tall, holy tree,
sprinkled with white mud;
from it come dews
that fall in the valleys;
it stands forever green above
Urd’s Well.

The dew that falls from it onto the earth is what people call honeydew, and bees feed on it. Two birds are nourished in Urd’s Well. They are called swans, and from these birds has come the kind of bird that bears that name.”

Then Gangleri said: “You can tell great tidings of heaven. What other chief places are there besides Urd’s Well?”

Har says: “There are many splendid places there. One place there is called Alfheim. The people called Light Elves dwell there, but Dark Elves live down in the earth. They differ from them in appearance, and much more in their nature. Light Elves are fairer to look at than the sun, but Dark Elves are blacker than pitch. There is a place called Breidablik, and no place there is fairer. There is also one called Glitnir, whose walls, posts, and pillars are all of red gold, while its roof is of silver. There is another place called Himinbjorg. It stands at the edge of heaven, at the bridge’s end, where Bifrost reaches heaven. There is also a great place called Valaskjalf. Odin owns that place. The gods built it and roofed it with pure silver, and there in this hall is Hlidskjalf, the high seat so named. When Allfather sits in that seat, he sees over all the worlds. At the southern edge of heaven stands the hall called Gimle, the fairest of all and brighter than the sun. It will stand when both heaven and earth have perished, and good and righteous people will dwell in that place for all ages. As it says in the Seeress’s Prophecy:
I know a hall standing,
fairer than the sun,
roofed with gold,
at Gimle;
there shall faithful
people dwell
and through all time
enjoy delight.”

Then Gangleri said: “What protects that place when Surt’s flame burns heaven and earth?”

Har says: “It is said that there is another heaven to the south and above this heaven, called Andlang, and that a third heaven lies still higher, called Vidblain. We believe this place to be in that heaven. But we believe that only Light Elves dwell in those places now.”

Then Gangleri said: “Where does the wind come from? It is strong enough to stir great seas, and it fans fire. Yet strong as it is, it cannot be seen, so it is strangely made.”

Then Har said: “I can readily tell you that. At the northern edge of heaven sits a giant called Hraesvelg. He has an eagle’s shape, and when he takes flight, winds rise from beneath his wings. As it says here:
Hraesvelg he is called,
who sits at heaven’s edge,
a giant in eagle’s shape;
from his wings
they say the wind comes
over all people.”

Then Gangleri said: “Why is there so great a difference that summer should be hot and winter cold?”

Har says: “A man so learned would not ask that, for everyone can tell you this. But if you alone have become so ignorant that you have not heard it, I will nevertheless give you credit for asking an ignorant question once rather than remaining any longer unaware of what you ought to know. The father of Summer is called Svasud, and he leads so pleasant a life that from his name whatever is gentle is called ‘pleasant.’ But Winter’s father is called either Vindloni or Vindsval. He is the son of Vasad, and those kinsmen were fierce and cold-hearted, and Winter has their disposition.”

Then Gangleri said: “Who are the Aesir in whom people ought to believe?”

Har says: “There are twelve Aesir of divine lineage.”

Then Jafnhar said: “The goddesses are no less holy, and their power is no less.”

Then Thridi said: “Odin is the highest and oldest of the Aesir. He rules all things, and mighty as the other gods are, they all serve him as children serve their father. Frigg is his wife, and she knows people’s destinies, though she utters no prophecies, as it is said here that Odin himself spoke to the god called Loki:
You are mad, Loki,
and out of your mind;
why will you not stop, Loki?
All destinies Frigg,
I believe, knows,
though she herself says nothing.

Odin is called Allfather because he is the father of all the gods. He is also called Valfather, because all those who fall in battle are his adopted sons. He assigns them Valhalla and Vingolf, and they are then called Einherjar. He is also called Hangagud and Haftagud, Farmagud, and he named himself in still more ways when he came to King Geirrod:
I called myself Grim
and Gangleri,
Herjan, Hjalmberi,
Thekk, Thridi,
Thud, Ud,
Helblindi, Har, Sad, Svipal,
Sanngetal,
Herteit, Hnikar,
Bileyg, Baleyg,
Bolverk, Fjolnir,
Grimnir, Glapsvid, Fjolsvid,
Sidhott, Sidskegg,
Sigfather, Hnikud,
Allfather, Atrid, Farmatyr,
Oski, Omi,
Jafnhar, Biflindi,
Gondlir, Harbard,
Svidur, Svidrir,
Jalk, Kjalar, Vidur,
Thror, Ygg, Thund,
Vakr, Skilfing,
Vafud, Hroftatyr,
Gaut, Veratyr.”

Then Gangleri said: “You have given him an enormous number of names, and on my faith, it must take great learning to know the reasons and accounts behind them, and what events gave rise to each of these names.”

Then Har says: “It takes great understanding to recount that in detail. But the briefest explanation to give you is that most names have been given because, as many languages as there are in the world, all peoples feel the need to adapt his name to their own tongue for their invocations and prayers. But some events that gave rise to these names occurred on his journeys, and these have been set down in stories. You will not be able to call yourself a learned man unless you can tell of those great events.”

Then Gangleri said: “What are the names of the other Aesir, what do they occupy themselves with, and what have they done to win renown?”

Har says: “Thor is foremost among them, he who is called Asa-Thor or Driving-Thor. He is the strongest of all gods and men. He rules the realm called Thrudvangar, and his hall is called Bilskirnir. In that hall are five hundred and forty rooms. It is the largest house known to people. As it says in Grimnir’s Sayings:
Five hundred rooms
and forty more,
so I reckon Bilskirnir with its winding ways;
of all the houses
I know to be roofed,
my son’s I know to be greatest.

Thor has two goats, whose names are Tanngnjost and Tanngrisnir, and a chariot in which he drives, and the goats draw the chariot. That is why he is called Driving-Thor. He also has three treasures. One of them is the hammer Mjolnir, which frost giants and mountain giants recognize when it is raised aloft, and that is no wonder. It has crushed many a skull among their fathers and kinsmen. He has another excellent treasure, his belt of strength, and when he buckles it around himself, his divine strength increases by half. The third thing he owns is also of great value: his iron gloves. He cannot do without them when gripping the hammer’s shaft. But no one is so learned that he can recount all Thor’s great deeds. Yet I can tell you so many stories about him that many hours will pass before everything I know has been told.”

Then Gangleri said: “I would like to hear tidings of more of the Aesir.”

Har says: “Another son of Odin is Baldr, and good things are to be told of him. He is the best, and everyone praises him. He is so fair in appearance and so bright that light shines from him, and there is a plant so white that it is likened to Baldr’s eyelashes. It is the whitest of all plants, and from this you may judge the beauty of both his hair and his body. He is the wisest of the Aesir, the fairest-spoken, and the most merciful, but it is his nature that none of his judgments can hold good. He dwells in the place called Breidablik. It is in heaven. Nothing unclean may be in that place, as it says here:
Breidablik it is called,
where Baldr has
built himself halls,
in that land
where I know there lie
the fewest baleful things.

The third god is the one called Njord. He dwells in heaven, in the place called Noatun. He rules the course of the wind and calms sea and fire. He should be invoked for seafaring and for fishing and hunting. He is so rich and prosperous that he can grant people wealth in lands or movable goods. He should be invoked for this. Njord is not of the lineage of the Aesir. He was brought up in Vanaheim, but the Vanir gave him to the gods as a hostage and received in exchange as a hostage the one called Hoenir. He became a means of reconciliation between the gods and the Vanir.

Njord’s wife is called Skadi, the daughter of the giant Thjazi. Skadi wishes to have the dwelling her father owned, which is in certain mountains, in the place called Thrymheim, but Njord wishes to be near the sea. They agreed that they should stay nine nights in Thrymheim and then another nine at Noatun. But when Njord came back to Noatun from the mountain, he spoke this verse:
Hateful to me are the mountains;
I was not there long,
only nine nights;
the howling of wolves
seemed ugly to me
beside the singing of swans.

Then Skadi spoke this verse:
I could not sleep
in the beds by the sea
for the bird’s crying;
it wakes me,
coming from the sea,
each morning, the gull.

Then Skadi went up into the mountains and settled in Thrymheim, and she often travels on skis and carries a bow and shoots wild animals. She is called the ski god or the ski goddess. As it is said:
Thrymheim it is called,
where Thjazi lived,
that most mighty giant;
but now Skadi dwells,
the bright bride of the gods,
on her father’s ancient homestead.

Njord in Noatun later fathered two children. One was called Frey, and the daughter Freyja. They were beautiful to look at and powerful. Frey is the most renowned of the Aesir. He rules over rain and sunshine, and thereby the earth's produce, and it is good to call upon him for fruitful seasons and peace. He also rules over people's prosperity. Freyja is the most renowned of the goddesses. She has a dwelling in heaven called Folkvang. Whenever she rides into battle, she has half the slain, and Odin half, as it says here:

Folkvang it is called,
and there Freyja decides
the choice of seats in the hall;
half the slain
she chooses each day,
and Odin has half.

Her hall, Sessrumnir, is large and beautiful. When she travels, she drives two cats and sits in a chariot. She is most ready to hear those who call upon her, and from her name comes the title of honour by which women of rank are called ladies. She was very fond of love poetry. It is good to call upon her in matters of love."

Then Gangleri said: "These Aesir seem very mighty to me, and it is no wonder that great power attends you, since you know the nature of the gods and know to whom each prayer should be addressed. Are there still more gods?"

Har said: "There is another of the Aesir called Tyr. He is the boldest and most courageous, and he has great power over victory in battles. It is good for valiant men to call upon him. It is a saying that a man is brave as Tyr when he surpasses other men and holds nothing back. He was also wise, so that a man who is wisest is said to be wise as Tyr. Here is one sign of his boldness: when the Aesir enticed the wolf Fenrir into letting them put the fetter Gleipnir on him, he did not trust them to release him until they placed Tyr's hand in his mouth as a pledge. When the Aesir would not release him, he bit the hand off at the place now called the wolf-joint. Tyr is therefore one-handed, and he is not called a reconciler of men.

One is called Bragi. He is renowned for wisdom, and above all for eloquence and skill with words. He knows most about poetry, and after him poetry is called bragr. From his name, too, a man or woman whose eloquence surpasses that of others is called the bragr of men or women. His wife is Idunn. In her wooden box she keeps the apples that the gods must bite into when they grow old, and then they all become young. So it will be until Ragnarok."

Then Gangleri said: "It seems to me that the gods have a great deal resting on Idunn's care and faithfulness."

Then Har said with a laugh: "That nearly brought disaster once. I shall be able to tell you about it, but first you must hear more names of the Aesir.

One is called Heimdall. He is called the white god. He is great and holy. Nine maidens bore him as their son, and they were all sisters. He is also called Hallinskidi and Gullintanni. His teeth were of gold. His horse is called Gulltopp. He lives at the place called Himinbjorg, beside Bifrost. He is the gods' watchman and sits there at heaven's edge to guard the bridge against the mountain giants. He needs less sleep than a bird. He can see a hundred leagues away, as well by night as by day. He can also hear grass growing on the earth and wool on sheep, and everything that makes a louder sound. He has the trumpet called Gjallarhorn, and its blast is heard throughout all worlds. Heimdall's sword is called a man's head. It is said here:

Himinbjorg it is called,
and there Heimdall
is said to rule the sanctuaries;
there the gods' watchman,
in his peaceful hall,
gladly drinks the good mead.

And he himself says in Heimdall's Chant:

I am the child of nine mothers,
I am the son of nine sisters.

One of the Aesir is called Hod. He is blind. He is very strong, but the gods would wish that there were no need to name this god, for his handiwork will long be remembered among gods and men.

One is called Vidar, the silent god. He has a thick shoe. He is almost as strong as Thor. The gods place great trust in him in every trial.

One is called Ali or Vali, the son of Odin and Rind. He is bold in battle and very fortunate in his shooting.

One is called Ull, the son of Sif and stepson of Thor. He is so good an archer and so skilled on skis that no one can compete with him. He is also handsome and has a warrior's accomplishments. It is also good to call upon him in single combat.

Forseti is the name of the son of Baldr and Nanna, Nep's daughter. He has the hall in heaven called Glitnir. All who come to him with difficult disputes leave reconciled. It is the best place of judgment among gods and men. It says here:

Glitnir is the hall's name;
it is supported by gold
and roofed with silver as well;
there Forseti
dwells most days
and settles every dispute.

There is another counted among the Aesir, whom some call the slanderer of the Aesir, the originator of deceits, and the disgrace of all gods and men. He is named Loki or Lopt, the son of the giant Farbauti. His mother is called Laufey or Nal. His brothers are Byleist and Helblindi. Loki is handsome and beautiful to look at, evil in disposition, and very changeable in his ways. He had more of the wisdom called cunning than other men, and tricks for every purpose. He was always getting the Aesir into serious trouble, and often freed them through his schemes. His wife is called Sigyn, and their son Nari or Narvi.

Loki had still more children. There was a giantess in Jotunheim called Angrboda. With her Loki fathered three children. One was the wolf Fenrir, the second Jormungand, who is the Midgard Serpent, and the third Hel. When the gods learned that these three siblings were being brought up in Jotunheim, and traced through prophecies that great harm and misfortune would come to them from these siblings, they all thought much evil was to be expected, first because of their mother's ancestry, and still worse because of their father's. Then Allfather sent the gods to seize the children and bring them to him. When they came to him, he threw the serpent into the deep sea that surrounds all lands. That serpent grew so large that he lies in the midst of the ocean encircling all lands and bites his own tail.

He threw Hel into Niflheim and gave her authority over nine worlds, so that she should assign lodgings to all who were sent to her, namely those who die of sickness or old age. She has great dwellings there, and her enclosing walls are exceedingly high and her gates large. Her hall is called Eljudnir, her dish Hunger, her knife Famine, her manservant Ganglati, her maidservant Ganglot, her threshold over which one enters Stumbling Pit, her bed Sickbed, and her bed hangings Gleaming Misfortune. She is half blue-black and half flesh-coloured. By this she is easily recognized, and she looks rather downcast and grim.

The Aesir brought the wolf up at home, and Tyr alone had the courage to go to him and give him food. But when the gods saw how much he grew each day, and all prophecies said that he was destined to harm them, the Aesir devised a plan: they made a very strong fetter, which they called Laeding, and brought it to the wolf and asked him to try his strength against it. The wolf thought this was no match for his strength and let them do as they wished. But the first time the wolf strained against it, the fetter broke. Thus he freed himself from Laeding.

Next the Aesir made another fetter, twice as strong, which they called Dromi. Again they asked the wolf to try this fetter, saying that he would become very renowned for his strength if such massive workmanship could not hold him. The wolf reflected that this fetter was very strong, but also that his strength had increased since he broke Laeding. It occurred to him that he would have to take risks if he was to become famous, and he let them put the fetter on him. When the Aesir declared themselves ready, the wolf shook himself, struck the fetter against the ground, strained hard, and kicked against it, breaking the fetter so that its fragments flew far away. Thus he burst out of Dromi. Since then it has been a saying that someone frees himself from Laeding or bursts out of Dromi when something is pursued with great effort.

After that the Aesir feared that they would not be able to bind the wolf. Then Allfather sent the one named Skirnir, Frey's messenger, down into Svartalfheim to some dwarfs, and had them make the fetter called Gleipnir. It was made of six things: the sound of a cat's footfall, a woman's beard, a mountain's roots, a bear's sinews, a fish's breath, and a bird's spittle. And although you have not heard these things before, you can now readily find clear evidence that you are not being lied to. You must have seen that a woman has no beard, that a running cat makes no sound, and that there are no roots beneath a mountain. And on my faith, everything I have told you is equally true, though there are some things you cannot put to the test."

Then Gangleri said: "I can certainly understand that this is true. I can see these things you have now given as examples. But how was the fetter fashioned?"

Har said: "I can readily tell you that. The fetter was smooth and soft as a strip of silk, but as firm and strong as you are now about to hear. When the fetter was brought to the Aesir, they thanked the messenger warmly for carrying out his errand. Then the Aesir went out onto the lake called Amsvartnir, to the islet called Lyngvi, and called the wolf to come with them. They showed him the silken band and asked him to break it, saying that it was somewhat stronger than its thickness might suggest. Each passed it to the next and tested it with the strength of his hands, and it did not break. Even so, they said the wolf would be able to break it.

Then the wolf answered: 'It seems to me that I shall gain no fame from this ribbon, even if I break such a slender band apart. But if it has been made with craft and deceit, though it looks slight, that band shall not go on my legs.'

Then the Aesir said that he would quickly break a slender silken band, since he had previously broken great iron fetters. 'But if you cannot break this band, then you will be unable to frighten the gods. We shall then release you.'

The wolf said: 'If you bind me so that I cannot free myself, you will play such tricks that it will be a long time before I get help from you. I am unwilling to let this band be put on me, but rather than have you question my courage, let one of you put his hand in my mouth as a pledge that this is done without deceit.'

Each of the Aesir looked at the others, and now they felt they faced a double difficulty. None was willing to offer his hand until Tyr held out his right hand and placed it in the wolf's mouth. When the wolf strained against it, the band tightened, and the harder he struggled, the more tightly the band cut into him. Then they all laughed except Tyr. He lost his hand.

When the Aesir saw that the wolf was securely bound, they took the cord attached to the fetter, called Gelgja, and drew it through a great stone slab called Gjoll, and fixed the slab deep down in the earth. Then they took a great stone and drove it still farther into the earth. That stone is called Thviti, and they used it as an anchoring peg. The wolf gaped fiercely and struggled violently, wanting to bite them. They thrust a sword into his mouth. Its hilt rests against his lower jaw and its point against his upper jaw. It is the prop that holds his jaws apart. He howls terribly, and drool runs from his mouth. This is the river called Van. There he lies until Ragnarok."

Then Gangleri said: "Loki fathered an extraordinarily evil brood, but all these siblings are mighty in their own right. Why did the Aesir not kill the wolf, when they expect evil from him?"

Har answered: "The gods held their sanctuaries and places of peace in such reverence that they would not defile them with the wolf's blood, though the prophecies say that he will be Odin's death."

Then Gangleri said: “Who are the goddesses?”

Har says: “Frigg is foremost. She owns the dwelling called Fensalir, and it is very splendid. The second is Saga. She lives at Sokkvabekk, and that is a great place. The third is Eir. She is the best physician. The fourth is Gefjon. She is a virgin, and those who die as virgins serve her. The fifth is Fulla. She too is a virgin and wears her hair loose, with a gold band around her head. She carries Frigg’s casket, looks after her footwear, and shares her secret counsels.

“Freyja ranks highest alongside Frigg. She married a man called Od. Their daughter is Hnoss. She is so beautiful that things which are beautiful and precious are called hnossir after her name. Od went away on long journeys, and Freyja weeps for him, and her tears are red gold. Freyja has many names, because she gave herself various names when she travelled among unfamiliar peoples in search of Od. She is called Mardoll and Horn, Gefn, Syr. Freyja owned Brisingamen. She is also called Vanadis.

“The seventh is Sjofn. She takes great care to turn people’s hearts to love, both women’s and men’s, and from her name love is called sjafni. The eighth is Lofn. She is so gentle and so gracious to those who invoke her that she obtains permission from Allfather or Frigg for women and men to come together, even if this was previously forbidden or flatly refused. From her name comes the word lof, ‘permission’, and also the fact that she is much praised by people. The ninth is Var. She listens to people’s oaths and the private agreements women and men make with one another. For this reason such agreements are called varar. She also takes vengeance on those who break them. The tenth is Vor. She is wise and inquisitive, so that nothing can be hidden from her. It is a saying that a woman becomes vor, ‘aware’, of something when she learns of it.

“The eleventh is Syn. She guards the doors of the hall and shuts them against those who must not enter. She is also appointed to defend at assemblies those cases which she wishes to refute. Hence the saying that syn, ‘denial’, is brought forward when someone denies something. The twelfth is Hlin. She is appointed to watch over those whom Frigg wishes to save from some danger. Hence the saying that someone who finds refuge hleinir. The thirteenth is Snotra. She is wise and gracious in manner. From her name, a woman or man who is restrained in conduct is called snotr. The fourteenth is Gna. Frigg sends her into various worlds on her errands. She has a horse that runs through air and over water, called Hofvarpnir. Once, when she was riding, some Vanir saw her riding through the air. Then one said:

‘What flies there,
what travels there,
or glides through the air?’

“She answers:

‘I do not fly,
though I travel
and glide through the air
on Hofvarpnir,
whom Hamskerpir
sired on Gardrofa.’

“From Gna’s name, something that rises high is said to gnæfa. Sol and Bil are counted among the goddesses, but their nature has been described before.”

“There are still others whose task is to serve in Valhalla, bringing drink and looking after the tableware and drinking vessels. They are named as follows in Grimnismal:

‘Hrist and Mist
I wish to bring me a horn,
Skeggjold and Skogul,
Hild and Thrud,
Hlokk and Herfjotur,
Goll and Geirahod,
Randgrid and Radgrid,
and Reginleif;
they bring ale to the Einherjar.’

“These are called Valkyries. Odin sends them to every battle. They choose which men are to die and determine victory. Gunn and Rota and the youngest of the Norns, called Skuld, always ride out to choose the slain and determine the killings. Jord, Thor’s mother, and Rind, Vali’s mother, are counted among the goddesses.”

“There was a man called Gymir, and his wife was Aurboda. She was of the race of mountain giants. Their daughter is Gerd, who was the most beautiful of all women. One day Frey had gone into Hlidskjalf and was looking out over all the worlds. When he looked north, he saw a great and beautiful house on a certain estate. A woman was walking towards that house, and when she raised her arms and opened the door before her, light shone from her arms over both air and sea, and all the worlds were lit up by her. His great presumption in sitting in that holy seat was thus punished: he went away full of sorrow. When he came home, he said nothing. He did not sleep; he did not drink. Nor did anyone dare to ask him to speak.

“Then Njord had Skirnir, Frey’s attendant, summoned to him and told him to go to Frey, ask him to speak, and find out with whom he was so angry that he would speak to no one. Skirnir said he would go, though unwillingly, and said that he expected harsh answers from him. When he came to Frey, he asked why Frey was so downcast and would speak to no one. Then Frey answered and said that he had seen a beautiful woman, and on her account he was so sorrowful that he would not live long if he could not have her—‘and now you must go and ask for her hand on my behalf and bring her home here, whether her father wishes it or not, and I will reward you well for it.’

“Then Skirnir answered, saying that he would undertake the errand, but Frey must give him his sword. It was such a good sword that it fought by itself. Frey did not let this stand in the way and gave him the sword. Then Skirnir went and asked for the woman’s hand on his behalf and obtained her promise. Nine nights later she was to come to the place called Barrey and there enter into marriage with Frey. When Skirnir told Frey the outcome of his errand, Frey spoke this verse:

‘Long is one night,
long is a second;
how can I endure three?
Often a month
has seemed shorter to me
than this half-night of waiting.’

“This is why Frey was so unarmed when he fought Beli and killed him with a stag’s antler.”

Then Gangleri said: “It is a great wonder that such a lord as Frey should be willing to give away a sword when he had no other equally good. That was a tremendous disadvantage to him when he fought the one called Beli. On my faith, I know he must then have regretted that gift.”

Then Har answers: “It mattered little when he and Beli met. Frey could have killed him with his bare hand. A time will come when Frey will feel the loss of his sword more keenly, when the sons of Muspell come raiding.”

Then Gangleri said: “You say that all those men who have fallen in battle since the beginning of the world have now come to Odin in Valhalla. What does he have to give them for food? I would have thought there must be a very great multitude there.”

Then Har answers: “What you say is true: there is a very great multitude there. But there will be many more yet, and even so they will seem too few when the wolf comes. Yet there is never so great a throng in Valhalla that the meat of the boar called Saehrimnir cannot suffice for them. He is boiled every day and whole again by evening. But as for the question you now ask, I think it likely that few are wise enough to give a true account of this. The cook is called Andhrimnir, and the cauldron Eldhrimnir. As it is said here:

‘Andhrimnir
has Saehrimnir
boiled in Eldhrimnir,
the best of meats;
but few know
on what the Einherjar feed.’”

Then Gangleri said: “Does Odin have the same fare as the Einherjar?”

Har says: “The food set on his table he gives to two wolves he owns, called Geri and Freki. He needs no food: wine is both drink and food to him. As it says here:

‘Geri and Freki
are fed by the battle-seasoned,
glorious Father of Hosts;
but on wine alone
Odin, splendid in arms,
lives forever.

“Two ravens sit on his shoulders and tell into his ears all the news they see or hear. They are called Huginn and Munin. At dawn he sends them to fly over the whole world, and they return at the time of the morning meal. From this he learns much news. For this reason people call him the Raven God, as it is said:

‘Huginn and Munin
fly every day
over the vast earth;
I fear for Huginn,
that he may not return,
yet I fear more for Munin.’”

Then Gangleri said: “What do the Einherjar have to drink that lasts them as plentifully as their food, or is water drunk there?”

Then Har says: “That is a strange question you ask now, whether Allfather would invite kings or earls or other mighty men to his home and give them water to drink. And on my faith, I know that many a man comes to Valhalla who would think he had paid dearly for his drink of water, if there were no better welcome to be found there, after enduring wounds and agony until his death. I can tell you something different about it. A goat called Heidrun stands on top of Valhalla and browses on the foliage of the branches of that very famous tree called Laerad. From her teats flows mead with which she fills a vat every day. There is so much that all the Einherjar can drink their fill.”

Then Gangleri said: “That is an exceedingly useful goat for them. It must be an exceptionally good tree that she browses on.”

Then Har said: “Still more remarkable is the stag Eikthyrnir, who stands on Valhalla and browses on the branches of that tree. From his antlers drips so much liquid that it flows down into Hvergelmir, and from there flow the rivers called Sid, Vid, Saekin, Ekin, Svol, Gunnthro, Fjorm, Fimbulthul, Gipul, Gopul, Gomul, Geirvimul. These flow through the dwellings of the Aesir. These others are also named: Thyn, Vin, Tholl, Holl, Grad, Gunnthrain, Nyt, Not, Nonn, Hronn, Vina, Vegsvinn, Thjodnuma.”

Then Gangleri said: “These are marvellous things you have just told me. Valhalla must be an enormous house. There must often be a great crush at its doors.”

Then Har answers: “Why do you not ask how many doors the hall has, or how large they are? If you hear that told, you will say that it would be a wonder if everyone who wished could not go in and out. But it can truly be said that there is no less room to take one’s place inside than to enter it. Here you may hear it in Grimnismal:

‘Five hundred doors
and forty more,
I believe there are in Valhalla;
eight hundred Einherjar
go out at once through a single doorway
when they go to fight the wolf.’”

Then Gangleri said: “There is a very great multitude in Valhalla. On my faith, Odin is a very great chieftain, ruling so vast an army. But how do the Einherjar amuse themselves when they are not drinking?”

Har said: “Every day, when they have dressed, they put on their armour and go out into the courtyard and fight, each striking the other down. That is their sport. And when the time for the morning meal draws near, they ride home to Valhalla and sit down to drink, as it says here:

All the Einherjar
in Odin’s fields
strike one another every day;
they choose the slain
and ride from battle,
then sit together reconciled.

“But what you said is true. Odin is mighty indeed. There are many examples of this. So it is said here in the words of the Aesir themselves:

Yggdrasil’s ash,
it is the foremost of trees,
and Skidbladnir of ships,
Odin of the Aesir,
and Sleipnir of horses,
Bifrost of bridges,
and Bragi of poets,
Habrok of hawks,
and Garm of dogs.”

Then Gangleri said: “Who owns that horse, Sleipnir, and what is there to tell about him?”

Har said: “You know nothing of Sleipnir, nor do you know the events that brought him into being, but you will think them worth telling. It was early in the first days of the gods’ settlement, when the gods had established Midgard and built Valhalla, that a certain builder came there and offered to build them a stronghold in three half-years, so sound that it would be secure and safe against mountain giants and frost giants, even if they made their way into Midgard. But as his payment he stipulated that he should have Freyja, and he also wanted the sun and moon.

“Then the Aesir went into discussion and took counsel, and this bargain was made with the builder: he should have what he asked for if he could finish the stronghold in one winter, but if any part of it remained unfinished on the first day of summer, he would forfeit his payment. He was to accept no man’s help with the work. When they told him these terms, he asked them to allow him the help of his horse, which was called Svadilfari, and it was Loki who advised that this concession be made to him.

“He began building the stronghold on the first day of winter, and at night he hauled stone with the horse. The Aesir thought it a great marvel how huge the rocks were that this horse hauled, and the horse did half as much heavy work again as the builder. Their bargain had been made before reliable witnesses and confirmed with many solemn oaths, for the giant thought it unsafe to be among the Aesir without a pledge of peace if Thor should come home. At that time Thor had gone east to fight trolls.

“As the winter passed, the building of the stronghold advanced rapidly, and it was so high and strong that it could not be stormed. When three days remained before summer, the gateway was nearly finished. Then the gods sat down on their judgment seats and sought counsel, asking one another who had advised giving Freyja in marriage in Jotunheim, or so ruining the sky and heavens as to take the sun and moon from them and give them to the giants. They all agreed that the one who must have advised this was he who advises most evil things, Loki, Laufey’s son. They declared that he deserved a terrible death unless he could find some way for the builder to forfeit his payment, and they threatened Loki with violence. When he grew frightened, he swore oaths that he would arrange for the builder to lose his payment, whatever it cost him.

“That same evening, when the builder drove out to fetch stone with the horse Svadilfari, a mare ran out of a forest towards the horse and neighed at him. When the horse realized what sort of horse this was, he went wild, snapped his ropes and ran towards the mare. She fled into the forest, and the builder followed, trying to catch the horse. These horses ran about all night, and the work was held up that night; the following day, too, less was built than before.

“When the builder saw that the work would not be finished, he flew into a giant’s rage. When the Aesir knew for certain that a mountain giant had come among them, the oaths were no longer respected. They called on Thor, and he came at once, and immediately afterwards the hammer Mjolnir was raised aloft. He paid the builder his wages then, with neither sun nor moon: instead he denied him any further dwelling in Jotunheim, striking the first blow so that his skull shattered into tiny fragments, and sending him down beneath Niflheim.

“But Loki had had such dealings with Svadilfari that some time later he bore a foal. It was grey and had eight legs, and that horse is the best among gods and men. As it says in the Seeress’s Prophecy:

Then all the powers went
to their judgment seats,
the most holy gods,
and considered this:
who had mingled all the sky
with treachery,
or given Od’s bride
to the giant race.

Oaths were broken,
pledges and solemn vows,
all the binding agreements
that had passed between them;
Thor alone struck there,
swollen with rage;
he seldom sits still
when he hears of such things.”

Then Gangleri said: “What is there to tell about Skidbladnir, since it is the best of ships? Is no ship as large as it?”

Har said: “Skidbladnir is the best of ships and made with the greatest craftsmanship, but Naglfar is the largest ship. It belongs to Muspell. Certain dwarfs, the sons of Ivaldi, made Skidbladnir and gave the ship to Frey. It is so large that all the Aesir can board it with their weapons and war gear, and as soon as its sail is raised it has a favourable wind, wherever it is to go. When it is not to be taken to sea, it is made of so many parts and with such skill that it can be folded up like a cloth and kept in one’s pouch.”

Then Gangleri said: “Skidbladnir is a fine ship, but a great deal of magic must have been used before such a thing could be made. Has Thor never travelled anywhere and encountered something so mighty or powerful that it proved too much for him through strength or magic?”

Then Har said: “Few people, I imagine, can tell of that, though many things have seemed difficult to him. But even if something has been so powerful or strong that Thor could gain no victory over it, there is no need to tell of it, for there are many examples showing that Thor is the mightiest, and everyone is bound to believe it.”

Then Gangleri said: “It seems to me that I must have asked you about something no one is capable of recounting.”

Then Jafnhar said: “We have heard accounts of events that seem to us unlikely to be true. But someone sitting close by here will know how to give a true account, and you may believe that he will not lie now for the first time, having never lied before.”

Then Gangleri said: “I will stand here and listen, if any answer can be found to this question. Otherwise I declare you defeated, if you cannot tell me what I ask.”

Then Thridi said: “It is plain now that he wants to know these events, though we take no pleasure in telling them. This tale begins when Thor the Charioteer set out driving his goats, and with him went the god called Loki. In the evening they came to a farmer’s house and found lodging there for the night. That evening Thor took his goats and slaughtered them both. Afterwards they were flayed and put into a kettle. When the meat was cooked, Thor and his companions sat down to supper. Thor invited the farmer, his wife and their children to eat with him. The farmer’s son was called Thjalfi, and his daughter Roskva.

“Then Thor laid the goatskins away from the fire and said that the farmer and his household should throw the bones onto the goatskins. Thjalfi, the farmer’s son, took hold of a goat’s thighbone, split it with his knife and broke it open for the marrow. Thor stayed there that night. In the early hours before dawn he got up and dressed, took the hammer Mjolnir, raised it and hallowed the goatskins. Then the goats stood up, but one was lame in a hind leg. Thor noticed this and said that the farmer or someone in his household must have handled the goat’s bones carelessly. He found that the thighbone was broken.

“There is no need to dwell on this. Everyone can imagine how frightened the farmer must have been when he saw Thor lower his brows over his eyes; from what he could see of the eyes themselves, he thought he would fall dead at their gaze alone. Thor tightened his hands around the hammer’s shaft until his knuckles turned white. The farmer and his whole household did what was to be expected: they cried out desperately, begged to be spared, and offered everything they owned as compensation. When he saw their terror, his rage left him, and he grew calm. He accepted their children, Thjalfi and Roskva, from them in settlement, and they became his bound servants and have followed him ever since.

He left the goats there and began his journey east into Jotunheim, all the way to the sea, and then crossed that deep sea. When he reached land, he went ashore, and with him Loki, Thjalfi and Roskva. When they had walked a little while, they came upon a great forest. They walked all that day until dark. Thjalfi was the swiftest runner of all men. He carried Thor’s provision bag, but food was scarce.

When darkness had fallen, they looked for somewhere to spend the night and came upon an enormous hall. The doorway was at one end and as wide as the hall itself. There they sought a night’s lodging. But around midnight there was a great earthquake. The ground jolted beneath them and the building shook. Then Thor got up and called to his companions. They felt their way about and found a side chamber on the right, halfway along the hall, and went into it. Thor sat in the doorway, while the others stayed farther inside, behind him, and were frightened. Thor gripped the hammer’s shaft, ready to defend himself. Then they heard a great rumbling and roaring.

At daybreak Thor went outside and saw a man lying in the forest a short distance away, and he was no small man. He was asleep and snoring loudly. Then Thor thought he understood what had made the noise during the night. He fastened his belt of strength around himself, and his divine strength increased. Just then the man awoke and quickly stood up, and it is said that for once Thor hesitated to strike him with the hammer, and asked his name. He said his name was Skrymir.

“But I have no need,” he said, “to ask your name. I recognize that you are Thor of the Aesir. But have you dragged my glove away?”

Then Skrymir reached out and picked up the glove. Thor saw that this was what he had taken for a hall during the night, and the side chamber was the thumb of the glove.

Skrymir asked whether Thor would like his company on the journey, and Thor agreed. Then Skrymir untied his provision bag and prepared to eat his morning meal, while Thor and his companions ate elsewhere. Skrymir then suggested that they pool their provisions, and Thor agreed. So Skrymir tied all their provisions into one bag and put it on his back. He walked ahead during the day, taking rather long strides, and late in the evening Skrymir found them a place to sleep beneath a great oak. Then Skrymir told Thor that he wanted to lie down to sleep.

“But you take the provision bag and prepare your supper.”

Immediately afterwards Skrymir fell asleep and snored loudly. Thor took the provision bag and tried to untie it, but, incredible as it may seem, he could undo no knot and move no strap-end so that it was any looser than before. When he saw that this effort was getting him nowhere, he grew angry, seized the hammer Mjolnir in both hands, stepped forward with one foot towards where Skrymir lay, and struck him on the head. But Skrymir awoke and asked whether a leaf had fallen onto his head, or whether they had eaten and were ready for bed. Thor said they were just going to sleep. They then went beneath another oak. To tell you the truth, they did not sleep without fear.

At midnight Thor heard Skrymir snoring and sleeping so soundly that the forest resounded. Then he got up and went over to him, swung the hammer swiftly and fiercely, and struck him squarely on the crown of his head. He felt the face of the hammer sink deep into the head. But at that moment Skrymir awoke and said: “What is it now? Did an acorn fall onto my head, or what is happening with you, Thor?”

Thor quickly stepped back and replied that he had just woken up. He said it was midnight and there was still time to sleep. Then Thor thought that if he got the chance to strike him a third blow, Skrymir should never see him again. He now lay watching to see whether Skrymir fell soundly asleep once more.

A little before dawn he heard that Skrymir must have fallen asleep. Then he got up and rushed over to him, swung the hammer with all his strength, and struck the temple that faced upwards. The hammer sank in up to its shaft. But Skrymir sat up, stroked his cheek and said: “Could there be some birds sitting in the tree above me? When I awoke, I had the feeling that some debris from the twigs had fallen onto my head. Are you awake, Thor? It must be time to get up and dress. You have no long journey ahead of you now to the stronghold called Utgard. I have heard you whispering among yourselves that I was no small man in stature, but you will see larger men there if you come to Utgard.

“Now I will give you some good advice. Do not act too grandly. Utgard-Loki’s retainers will hardly tolerate boastful talk from such little fellows. Otherwise, turn back, and I think that is the better course for you to take. But if you wish to go on, make your way east, while my road now lies north to those mountains you can see.”

Skrymir took the provision bag, threw it onto his back and turned away from them into the forest. There is no mention of the Aesir wishing him a happy reunion.

Thor and his companions continued on their way and walked until midday. Then they saw a stronghold standing on some plains, and they had to tilt their heads back against their backs before they could see over its top. They went up to the stronghold, and there was a barred gate across the entrance, shut fast. Thor went up to the gate and could not open it, but as they struggled to get into the stronghold, they squeezed between the bars and so got inside. They then saw a great hall and went towards it. The door was open. They went in and saw many men sitting along two benches, most of them exceedingly large. Next they came before King Utgard-Loki and greeted him, but he was slow to look at them, and he bared his teeth in a grin and said:

“News takes a long time to travel a long way. Or am I mistaken—is this little fellow Driving-Thor? Still, you must be greater than you look to me. What feats do you and your companions consider yourselves ready to perform? No one may stay here with us unless he has some skill or accomplishment beyond that of most men.”

Then the one who had come in last, whose name was Loki, said: “I have a skill I am quite ready to put to the test: there is no one in here who can eat his food faster than I can.”

Utgard-Loki answered: “That is a skill, if you can make good on it, and we shall put this skill to the test.” He called down the bench that the one named Logi should come out onto the floor and compete against Loki. A trough was brought onto the hall floor and filled with meat. Loki sat down at one end and Logi at the other, and each ate as fast as he could until they met in the middle of the trough. Loki had eaten all the meat off the bones, but Logi had eaten all the meat and the bones as well, and also the trough. It now seemed clear to everyone that Loki had lost the contest.

Then Utgard-Loki asked what feats the young man could perform, and Thjalfi said that he would try running a few races against anyone Utgard-Loki chose. Utgard-Loki said that this was a fine skill, and that there was all the more reason to hope he was well endowed with speed if he was to accomplish this feat. Nevertheless, he would soon have it put to the test. Utgard-Loki stood up and went outside, where there was a good course for running across a level plain. He called over a young fellow named Hugi and told him to race against Thjalfi. They ran the first race, and Hugi was so far ahead that he turned back to meet Thjalfi at the end of the course.

Then Utgard-Loki said: “You will have to exert yourself more, Thjalfi, if you are to win the contest. Still, it is true that no men have come here whom I consider swifter on their feet than you.”

They ran a second race, and when Hugi reached the end of the course and turned back, Thjalfi was a long bowshot away.

Then Utgard-Loki said: “I think Thjalfi runs well, but I do not now believe he will win the contest. Still, we shall see when they run the third race.”

They ran again, but when Hugi reached the end of the course and turned back, Thjalfi had not yet reached the halfway point. Then everyone said that this contest was decided.

Utgard-Loki then asked Thor which of his feats he would wish to display before them, since people had told such great tales of his mighty deeds. Thor said that he would most like to take on someone in a drinking contest. Utgard-Loki said that this could easily be arranged, and he went into the hall and called his cupbearer, telling him to fetch the penalty horn from which the members of his household were accustomed to drink. The cupbearer came forward with the horn and placed it in Thor’s hand.

Then Utgard-Loki said: “It is considered good drinking to empty this horn in a single draught. Some men empty it in two, but no one is so poor a drinker that he cannot empty it in three.”

Thor looked at the horn, and it did not seem large to him, though it was rather long. He was very thirsty, and he began to drink, swallowing in great gulps and thinking that he would not need to bend to the horn again. But when his breath ran out and he lifted his head from the horn and looked to see how his drinking had gone, it seemed to him that there could be very little difference between the level in the horn now and what it had been before.

Then Utgard-Loki said: “Well drunk, though not very much. If I had been told that Thor of the Aesir would drink no more than that, I would not have believed it. Still, I know that you will want to empty it in a second draught.”

Thor made no answer. He put the horn to his mouth, intending now to take a greater draught, and strained at his drinking as long as his breath lasted. Yet he still found that the tip of the horn would not rise as high as he wished. When he took the horn from his mouth and looked into it, it seemed to him that he had lowered the level less than the first time. There was now enough space below the rim to carry the horn without spilling.

Then Utgard-Loki said: “What is this, Thor? Are you holding back more for a single draught than will be to your advantage? It seems to me that if you are now to empty the horn at the third draught, this will have to be reckoned the greatest. But you will not be entitled here among us to be called as great a man as the Aesir call you, unless you achieve more in other contests than it seems to me you will in this one.”

Then Thor grew angry. He put the horn to his mouth and drank as fiercely as he could, straining at the draught with all his might. When he looked into the horn, there was now at last some noticeable difference. He handed the horn back and would drink no more.

Then Utgard-Loki said: “It is clear now that your might is not as great as we thought. But would you like to try more contests? We can see that you will gain nothing from this one.”

Thor answered: “I can still try a few more contests, though when I was at home among the Aesir I would have thought it strange if draughts like these were called so small. But what contest will you offer me now?”

Then Utgard-Loki said: “Young boys here do something that will seem of little account: they lift my cat off the ground. I would never have thought of suggesting such a thing to Thor of the Aesir if I had not already seen that you are much less capable than I thought.”

A grey cat, rather large, then bounded out onto the hall floor. Thor went up to it, put his hand beneath the middle of its belly, and lifted. But the cat arched its back as Thor raised his hand. When Thor reached up as high as he possibly could, the cat lifted one foot, and Thor could accomplish no more in this contest.

Then Utgard-Loki said: “This contest has gone as I expected. The cat is rather large, while Thor is short and small beside the great men who are here with us.”

Then Thor said: “Small as you call me, let someone come forward now and wrestle with me! Now I am angry.”

Utgard-Loki answered, looking along the benches: “I see no man in here who would not consider wrestling with you beneath him.” Then he added: “Let us see first. Call my old foster-mother Elli here, and let Thor wrestle with her if he wishes. She has thrown men who seemed to me no less strong than Thor.”

An old woman then came into the hall. Utgard-Loki said that she was to wrestle with Thor of the Aesir. There is no need to make a long story of it. The wrestling went in such a way that the harder Thor strained, the more firmly she stood. Then the old woman began to try her holds, and Thor grew unsteady on his feet. Their struggle was very fierce, and it was not long before Thor fell onto one knee. Utgard-Loki stepped forward and told them to stop wrestling, saying that Thor would have no need to challenge any more men in his household to wrestle. By then night was approaching. Utgard-Loki showed Thor and his companions to their seats, and they stayed there all night, generously entertained.

In the morning, as soon as day broke, Thor and his companions got up, dressed, and prepared to leave. Utgard-Loki came and had a table set for them. There was no lack of generous hospitality, food, or drink. When they had eaten, they set off on their journey. Utgard-Loki accompanied them outside and walked with them out of the stronghold. At their parting, Utgard-Loki spoke to Thor and asked how he thought his journey had turned out, and whether he had met anyone more powerful than himself. Thor said that he could not deny that he had suffered great disgrace in their dealings.

“But I know that you will consider me a man of little consequence, and that displeases me.”

Then Utgard-Loki said: “Now that you have come out of the stronghold, I shall tell you the truth: if I live and have my way, you will never enter it again. And on my faith, you would never have entered it at all if I had known beforehand that you had such strength in you, and that you would bring us so close to great disaster. But I have deceived your sight. The first time was in the forest, when I came to meet you. When you were to untie the food bag, I had bound it with iron wire, and you could not find where to undo it. After that you struck me three blows with your hammer. The first was the lightest, yet it was so great that it would have been enough to kill me if it had landed. But where you saw a flat-topped mountain beside my hall, and saw three square valleys cut into it, one the deepest, those were the marks of your hammer. I brought the mountain in front of the blows, but you did not see that.

“So it was also with the contests you fought against my household. First there was the one Loki undertook. He was very hungry and ate quickly, but the one called Logi was wildfire, and he burned up the trough no less quickly than the meat. And when Thjalfi raced against the one called Hugi, that was my thought, and Thjalfi could hardly hope to compete with him in speed.

“And when you drank from the horn and thought you were making little headway—on my faith, a marvel happened then which I would not have believed possible. The other end of the horn was out in the sea, but you did not see that. Now, when you reach the sea, you will be able to see how much you have lowered it by your drinking. That is now called the ebb.”

He went on: “I thought it no less remarkable when you lifted the cat, and to tell you the truth, everyone who saw it was frightened when you lifted one of its feet off the ground. For that cat was not what it seemed to you. It was the Midgard Serpent, which lies around all lands, and it was scarcely long enough for its tail and head to touch the earth. You reached up so high that there was little distance left to heaven.

“And it was also a great marvel in the wrestling that you held out so long and fell no further than onto one knee when you wrestled with Elli. For no one has ever existed, and no one ever will, who, if he lives long enough to await old age, will not be brought down by it.

“And now, to tell you the truth, we shall part, and it will be better for both sides if you do not come to visit me again. Another time I shall defend my stronghold with tricks like these, or others, so that you will gain no power over me.”

When Thor heard this speech, he seized his hammer and raised it in the air, but as he was about to strike, Utgard-Loki was nowhere to be seen. He turned back towards the stronghold, intending to smash it. Then he saw broad and beautiful plains, but no stronghold. He turned back again and went on his way until he returned to Thrudvangar. But it must be said that he then resolved to seek an encounter with the Midgard Serpent, if he could bring one about, as later happened. Now I think no one can give you a truer account of this journey of Thor’s.”

Then Gangleri said: “Utgard-Loki is very powerful, but he relies heavily on tricks and magic. Yet it is clear that he is powerful, since he had retainers with such great strength. Has Thor never avenged this?”

Har answered: “It is well known, even among those who are not learned, that Thor made amends for the journey just described. He did not stay home long before preparing for another journey so hastily that he took neither his chariot nor his goats, nor any companions. He went out beyond Midgard in the guise of a young lad and arrived one evening, as night was falling, at the home of a giant named Hymir. Thor stayed there for the night.

“At dawn Hymir got up, dressed, and prepared to row out to sea to fish. Thor sprang up, quickly got ready, and asked Hymir to let him row out to sea with him. But Hymir said that he would be little help, being small and only a youngster—‘and you will get cold if I stay out as long and as far from shore as I usually do.’

“But Thor said that he could certainly row far from land, and that it was not certain which of them would first ask to row back. Thor grew so angry with the giant that he nearly let his hammer crash into him at once. But he let it pass, since he intended to try his strength elsewhere. He asked Hymir what they should use for bait, but Hymir told him to get his own bait.

“Then Thor went off to where he saw a herd of oxen belonging to Hymir. He took the largest ox, which was called Himinhrjod, tore off its head, and carried it down to the sea. Hymir had by then pushed the boat out. Thor went aboard, sat down in the bailing space, took two oars, and rowed. Hymir thought his rowing drove them along at a good pace. Hymir rowed forward in the bow, and they made rapid progress.

“Then Hymir said that they had reached the fishing grounds where he usually sat and caught flatfish, but Thor said that he wanted to row much farther, and they put in another vigorous stretch of rowing. Hymir then said that they had come so far out that it was dangerous to stay any farther out because of the Midgard Serpent. But Thor said that he would row a while longer, and so he did. Hymir was by then very unhappy.

“When Thor shipped his oars, he made ready a very strong fishing line, and the hook was no smaller or less formidable. Thor fixed the ox’s head to the hook and cast it overboard, and the hook went to the bottom. And in truth, Thor now deceived the Midgard Serpent no less than Utgard-Loki had mocked Thor when he lifted the serpent up in his hand.

“The Midgard Serpent opened its jaws over the ox’s head, and the hook struck into the roof of its mouth. When the serpent felt this, it jerked away so hard that both Thor’s fists slammed against the gunwale. Then Thor grew angry and summoned his divine strength, bracing himself so hard that both his feet went through the boat, and he planted them against the seabed. Then he pulled the serpent up to the gunwale. And it may be said that anyone who did not see Thor glaring at the serpent, while the serpent stared back at him from below and blew out venom, has never seen a truly terrible sight.

“It is said that the giant Hymir then changed colour, turned pale, and grew afraid when he saw the serpent and the sea pouring in and out over the boat. At the very moment when Thor seized his hammer and raised it, the giant fumbled for his bait knife and cut Thor’s line at the gunwale, and the serpent sank into the sea. Thor threw his hammer after it, and people say that he struck off its head among the waves. But I believe the truth to tell you is that the Midgard Serpent still lives and lies in the sea encircling the world. Thor swung his fist and struck Hymir by the ear, so that he toppled overboard and the soles of his feet could be seen. Then Thor waded ashore.”

Then Gangleri said: “Have any greater events taken place among the Aesir? Thor performed a very great feat of strength on this journey.”

Har answered: “There are events to tell of that the Aesir considered of greater consequence. The beginning of this story is that Baldr the Good dreamed great and ominous dreams concerning his life. When he told the Aesir his dreams, they took counsel together, and it was decided to seek protection for Baldr against every kind of danger. Frigg took oaths that fire and water, iron and every kind of metal, stones, earth, trees, diseases, beasts, birds, poison, and serpents would spare Baldr.

“When this had been done and made known, it became a pastime for Baldr and the Aesir that he should stand up at their assemblies while all the others either shot at him, struck at him, or pelted him with stones. Whatever was done to him, he suffered no harm, and everyone thought this a great glory.

“But when Loki, son of Laufey, saw this, he was displeased that Baldr suffered no harm. He went to Frigg at Fensalir, having assumed the shape of a woman. Frigg asked whether the woman knew what the Aesir were doing at the assembly. She said that they were all shooting at Baldr, and that he suffered no harm.

“Then Frigg said: ‘Neither weapons nor wood will harm Baldr. I have received oaths from them all.’

“Then the woman asked: ‘Have all things sworn oaths to spare Baldr?’

“Frigg answered: ‘A shoot of wood grows west of Valhalla. It is called mistletoe. I thought it too young to demand an oath from it.’

“Then the woman went away. Loki took the mistletoe, pulled it up, and went to the assembly. Hod was standing on the outside of the circle of people, because he was blind.

“Loki said to him: ‘Why are you not shooting at Baldr?’

“He answered: ‘Because I cannot see where Baldr is, and also because I have no weapon.’

“Then Loki said: ‘You should still do as the others do and honour Baldr as other people do. I will show you where he is standing. Shoot this twig at him.’

“Hod took the mistletoe and shot at Baldr as Loki directed. The missile flew through Baldr, and he fell dead to the ground. This was the greatest misfortune ever brought about among gods and men.

“When Baldr had fallen, all the Aesir were struck speechless, and their hands failed them when they tried to take hold of him. They looked at one another, and all were of one mind towards the one who had done the deed, but no one could take vengeance: the place was so sacred a sanctuary. When the Aesir tried to speak, weeping came first, so that none could tell another in words of his grief. But Odin bore this loss worst of all, for he understood most fully how great a deprivation and loss Baldr’s death was to the Aesir.

“When the gods recovered their senses, Frigg spoke and asked who among the Aesir wished to gain all her love and favour, and would ride the road to Hel and try to find Baldr, and offer Hel a ransom if she would let Baldr go home to Asgard. The one who undertook this journey was Hermod the Bold, Odin’s son. Then Sleipnir, Odin’s horse, was brought out, and Hermod mounted him and galloped away.

“The Aesir took Baldr’s body and carried it to the sea. Baldr’s ship was called Hringhorni. It was the largest of all ships. The gods wanted to launch it and hold Baldr’s funeral burning aboard it, but the ship would not move. Then word was sent to Jotunheim for a giantess named Hyrrokkin. When she arrived, riding a wolf and using a viper for reins, she sprang off her mount. Odin summoned four berserks to look after the mount, but they could not hold it until they had thrown it to the ground.

“Then Hyrrokkin went to the prow of the ship and shoved it forward at the first push, so that fire flew from the rollers and all the lands shook. Thor grew angry, seized his hammer, and would have smashed her head, had all the gods not begged that she be spared.

“Then Baldr’s body was carried out onto the ship. When his wife Nanna, Nep’s daughter, saw this, her heart burst with grief and she died. She was carried onto the pyre, and it was set alight. Thor stood by and consecrated the pyre with Mjolnir. A dwarf named Lit ran in front of his feet, and Thor kicked him into the fire, where he burned.

“Many kinds of beings attended this burning. First to speak of Odin: with him came Frigg, the Valkyries, and his ravens. Frey drove in a chariot drawn by the boar called Gullinbursti or Slidrugtanni. Heimdall rode the horse called Gulltopp, and Freyja drove her cats. A great host of frost giants and mountain giants also came.

“Odin laid on the pyre the gold ring called Draupnir. It had this property: every ninth night, eight gold rings of equal weight dripped from it. Baldr’s horse was led onto the pyre with all its harness.

“Now it is to be told of Hermod that he rode for nine nights through valleys so dark and deep that he saw nothing until he came to the river Gjoll and rode onto the bridge over it. It was roofed with gleaming gold. The maiden who guards the bridge is called Modgud. She asked his name and lineage, and said that the day before, five companies of dead men had ridden over the bridge—‘yet the bridge thunders no less beneath you alone, and you do not have the colour of dead men. Why are you riding here on the road to Hel?’

“He answered: ‘I am to ride to Hel to seek Baldr. Have you seen anything of Baldr on the road to Hel?’

“She said that Baldr had ridden there across the bridge over Gjoll, ‘but the road to Hel leads down and north.’

“Then Hermod rode on until he came to Hel’s gates. He dismounted and tightened his horse’s girth, mounted again, and spurred him on. The horse leaped so powerfully over the gate that he came nowhere near touching it. Then Hermod rode up to the hall and dismounted. He went inside the hall and saw his brother Baldr sitting there in the seat of honour. Hermod stayed there that night.

“In the morning Hermod asked Hel to let Baldr ride home with him, and told her how great the weeping was among the Aesir. But Hel said that it should be put to the test whether Baldr was as well loved ‘as people say. If all things in the world, living and dead, weep for him, then he shall go back to the Aesir. But he shall remain with Hel if anyone speaks against it or refuses to weep.’

“Then Hermod rose, and Baldr accompanied him out of the hall. He took the ring Draupnir and sent it to Odin as a keepsake. Nanna sent Frigg a linen cloth and other gifts as well, and Fulla a gold finger ring. Then Hermod rode back the way he had come, arrived in Asgard, and told all that he had seen and heard.

“After this the Aesir sent messengers throughout the world to ask that Baldr be wept out of Hel. All did so: people, living creatures, the earth, stones, trees, and every kind of metal, just as you will have seen these things weep when they come out of the frost into warmth.

“As the messengers were returning home, having carried out their errand well, they found a giantess sitting in a cave. She called herself Thokk. They asked her to weep Baldr out of Hel. She said:

‘Thokk will weep
with dry tears
for Baldr’s funeral burning;
living or dead,
the old man’s son brought me no joy.
Let Hel keep what she has.’

“People believe that this was Loki, son of Laufey, who has done the most evil among the Aesir.”

Then Gangleri said: “Loki accomplished a great deal when he first brought about Baldr’s death and then prevented him from being released from Hel. Was any vengeance taken on him for this?”

Har said: “He was repaid for this in a way he will feel for a long time. When the gods had grown as angry with him as might be expected, he ran away and hid on a mountain. There he made a house with four doors so that he could look out of it in every direction. During the day he often took the shape of a salmon and hid in the place called Franang Falls. He pondered what device the Aesir might invent to catch him in the waterfall. While he sat in the house, he took linen thread and knotted it into meshes, as nets have been made ever since, and a fire burned before him. Then he saw that the Aesir were not far away: Odin had seen from Hlidskjalf where he was. He immediately sprang up and out into the river, throwing the net onto the fire.

“When the Aesir reached the house, the first to enter was the wisest of them all, whose name is Kvasir. When he saw in the fire the ash left by the burnt net, he understood that it must be a device for catching fish, and told the Aesir. They then set about making themselves a net, following the pattern they could see in the ashes of the one Loki had made. When the net was ready, the Aesir went to the river and cast it into the waterfall. Thor held one end of the net, while all the other Aesir held the other, and they dragged it along. But Loki moved ahead of it and lay down between two stones. They dragged the net over him and felt that something alive was beneath it. They went up to the waterfall a second time and cast out the net, attaching weights heavy enough to prevent anything from passing underneath. Loki then moved ahead of the net. But when he saw that the sea was close, he leaped over the net’s upper cord and darted back up into the waterfall.

“Now the Aesir saw where he went. They went up to the waterfall again and divided their company into two groups, while Thor waded down the middle of the river, and in this way they moved towards the sea. Loki now saw two choices: to leap into the sea would put his life in danger, while the other choice was to leap over the net again. This he did, leaping over the net’s cord as swiftly as he could. Thor grabbed at him and caught him, but he slipped through Thor’s hand until the hand stopped at his tail. This is why the salmon tapers towards its tail.

“Loki was now captured without any promise of mercy and taken into a cave. They took three stone slabs, set them on edge, and struck a hole through each. Then Loki’s sons, Vali and Nari or Narvi, were seized. The Aesir changed Vali into a wolf, and he tore his brother Narvi apart. Then the Aesir took his entrails and bound Loki with them across the three sharp-edged stones. One stands beneath his shoulders, another beneath his loins, and the third beneath the backs of his knees. These bonds turned to iron. Then Skadi took a venomous snake and fastened it above him so that its venom would drip onto his face. But Sigyn, his wife, stands beside him and holds a basin beneath the drops of venom. When the basin is full, she goes to pour the venom away, and meanwhile the venom drips onto his face. Then he convulses so violently that the whole earth shakes. That is what you call an earthquake. There he lies bound until Ragnarok.”

Then Gangleri said: “What is there to tell of Ragnarok? I have never heard it mentioned before.”

Har said: “There are many great events to tell of. The first is that the winter called Fimbulwinter will come. Snow will drive from every direction. There will be bitter frosts and sharp winds. The sun will give no benefit. Three such winters will follow one another, with no summer between them. But before these will come three other winters, during which great battles will rage throughout the world. Brothers will kill one another out of greed, and no one will spare father or son in murder or the breaking of kinship. As it says in the Seeress’s Prophecy:

Brothers will fight
and kill one another;
sisters’ sons will
betray their kinship.
Hard times among men,
adultery rampant;
an axe-age, a sword-age,
shields are split;
a wind-age, a wolf-age,
before the world falls.

“Then something will happen that will be thought a great event: the wolf will swallow the sun, and people will regard it as a terrible calamity. Then the other wolf will seize the moon, and he too will cause great harm. The stars will vanish from the sky. Then the whole earth and the mountains will shake so violently that trees will be uprooted from the ground, mountains will collapse, and all fetters and bonds will break and snap. Then Fenrir will be free. The sea will surge over the land, for Jormungand will writhe in a giant’s fury and make his way ashore. Then the ship called Naglfar will also break loose. It is made from dead people’s nails, and for this reason it is worth guarding against anyone dying with untrimmed nails: such a person adds greatly to the material for the ship Naglfar, which gods and men would wish never to be finished. In this flooding sea, Naglfar will float. The giant who steers Naglfar is called Hrym.

“Fenrir will advance with his mouth gaping, his lower jaw against the earth and his upper jaw against the sky. He would gape wider if there were room. Flames will blaze from his eyes and nostrils. Jormungand will blow out so much venom that he will spray all the air and sea. He will be utterly terrifying and will advance beside the wolf. Amid this tumult the sky will split apart, and the sons of Muspell will ride out of it. Surt will ride first, with fire blazing before and behind him. His sword is exceedingly fine; it shines more brightly than the sun. When they ride over Bifrost, it will break, as was said before. The sons of Muspell will advance onto the field called Vigrid. Fenrir and Jormungand will also come there. Loki and Hrym will have arrived there too, and with Hrym all the frost-giants, while all Hel’s followers will accompany Loki. But the sons of Muspell will have their own battle formation, and it will be very bright. The field Vigrid is a hundred leagues across in every direction.

“When these events take place, Heimdall will rise and blow mightily into Gjallarhorn, waking all the gods, and they will hold an assembly together. Then Odin will ride to Mimir’s well and seek Mimir’s counsel for himself and his company. Then Yggdrasil’s ash will tremble, and nothing in heaven or on earth will be without fear. The Aesir and all the Einherjar will arm themselves and advance onto the field. Odin will ride first, wearing his golden helmet and fine coat of mail and carrying his spear, called Gungnir. He will make for Fenrir, while Thor advances beside him. Thor will be unable to help him, for he will have his hands full fighting Jormungand. Frey will fight Surt, and their encounter will be fierce before Frey falls. His death will result from his lacking the good sword he gave to Skirnir.

“Then the dog Garm, who is bound before Gnipa Cave, will also have broken free. He is a monstrous creature. He will fight Tyr, and each will kill the other. Thor will slay Jormungand and take nine steps away from him. Then he will fall dead to the ground from the venom the serpent has blown onto him. The wolf will swallow Odin, and that will be his death. But immediately afterwards Vidar will stride forward and set one foot on the wolf’s lower jaw. On that foot he wears the shoe for which material has been gathered throughout all time: the scraps of leather people cut from their shoes at the toes or heels. Anyone wishing to help the Aesir should therefore throw those scraps away. With one hand he will seize the wolf’s upper jaw and tear his mouth apart, and that will be the wolf’s death. Loki will fight Heimdall, and each will kill the other. After that, Surt will fling fire over the earth and burn the whole world. As it says in the Seeress’s Prophecy:

Loudly Heimdall blows,
the horn is raised;
Odin speaks
with Mimir’s head.
Yggdrasil’s ash
trembles where it stands;
the ancient tree groans,
and the giant breaks loose.

What is happening among the Aesir?
What is happening among the elves?
All Jotunheim resounds;
the Aesir are in council.
The dwarfs groan
before their stone doors,
masters of the rocky cliffs.
Do you know yet, or what?

Hrym drives from the east,
raising his shield before him;
Jormungand writhes
in a giant’s fury.
The serpent lashes the waves;
the eagle will shriek,
pale-beaked, tearing corpses;
Naglfar breaks loose.

A ship sails from the east;
Muspell’s people will come
across the sea,
and Loki steers.
There are all the monsters’ sons
with the ravenous wolf;
Byleist’s brother
is with them on their journey.

Surt comes from the south
with the scourge of branches;
from his sword shines
the sun of the battle-gods.
Rocky crags crash,
and giantesses stumble;
men tread the road to Hel,
and the sky splits apart.

Then Hlin’s
second grief comes,
when Odin goes
to fight the wolf,
and Beli’s bright slayer
against Surt;
there Frigg’s beloved
will fall.

Odin’s son goes
to fight the wolf,
Vidar on his way
towards the carrion beast;
with his hand he drives
his sword into the heart
of Hvedrung’s son;
then his father is avenged.

The glorious son
of Hlodyn walks,
hard-pressed by the serpent
that fears no disgrace;
all men will
leave their dwellings
when Midgard’s defender
strikes in fury.

The sun will turn black,
the earth sinks into the sea;
from the sky vanish
the bright stars.
Smoke rages
and life-feeding fire;
high heat plays
against heaven itself.

“And elsewhere it says:

Vigrid is the name of the field
where Surt and the dear gods
will meet in battle;
a hundred leagues
it measures in every direction;
that field is appointed for them.”

Then Gangleri said: “What will remain when the whole world is burned and all the gods and all the Einherjar and all humankind are dead? You have said before that everyone will live in some world for all eternity.”

Then Thridi answered: “There will be many good dwelling places then, and many bad ones. It will be best to be at Gimle in heaven. There will also be an ample supply of good drink for those who enjoy it in the hall called Brimir. It stands at Okolnir. There is also a fine hall standing in Nidafjoll, made of red gold. It is called Sindri. Good and virtuous people will dwell in these halls.

“On Nastrond there is a great and dreadful hall, whose doors face north. It is woven entirely from snakes’ spines, like a house of wattles, but all the snakes’ heads face into the house and blow venom, so that rivers of venom run through the hall. Oath-breakers and murderers wade in those rivers, as it says here:

I know a hall standing
far from the sun
on Nastrond;
its doors face north.
Drops of venom fall
in through the smoke-hole;
that hall is woven
from snakes’ spines.
There must wade
through heavy currents
men who swear false oaths
and murderers.

“But it is worst in Hvergelmir:

There Nidhogg torments
the bodies of the dead.”

Then Gangleri said: "Will any of the gods be alive then, or will there be any earth or heaven?"

Har says: "The earth will rise out of the sea then, green and fair. Fields will grow unsown. Vidar and Vali will live, for neither the sea nor Surt's fire will have harmed them, and they will dwell on Idavoll, where Asgard once stood. Thor's sons, Modi and Magni, will come there too, bringing Mjolnir. Next Baldr and Hod will come there from Hel. They will all sit together and talk, recall their secret counsels, and discuss the events of former times, the Midgard Serpent and Fenrir. Then they will find in the grass the golden gaming pieces that the Aesir once owned. As it is said:

Vidar and Vali
will dwell in the gods' sanctuaries
when Surt's flame darkens;
Modi and Magni
shall have Mjolnir
when Vingnir's fighting ends.

But in the place called Hoddmimir's Wood, two human beings named Lif and Lifthrasir will hide from Surt's fire. They will feed on morning dew, and from these people will come so many descendants that the whole world will be inhabited, as it says here:

Lif and Lifthrasir,
they will hide
in Hoddmimir's wood;
morning dew
they will have for food,
and from them generations will be born.

And you will think this remarkable: Sol will have borne a daughter no less fair than herself, and she will then follow her mother's paths, as it says here:

A single daughter
Alfrodull bears
before Fenrir takes her;
she shall ride,
when the gods die,
the maiden, on her mother's paths.

But if you can ask about anything further into the future, I do not know where that knowledge comes to you from, for I have heard no one tell of the course of the ages beyond this. Now make good use of what you have learned."

Next Gangleri heard great crashing sounds on every side and looked to one side. And when he looked around further, he found himself standing outside on a level plain, with no hall and no stronghold in sight. He then went on his way and returned home to his kingdom, where he told of the things he had seen and heard. After him, each person told these stories to another.

But the Aesir then sat down to talk and take counsel together. They recalled all these accounts that had been told to him and gave the very same names mentioned before to the people and places there, so that, when long ages had passed, people would have no doubt that the Aesir of whom these stories had just been told and those who were then given these same names were all the same beings. There was someone there who was then called Thor, and he is Asa-Thor of old.

吉尔菲国王统治着如今称为瑞典的那片土地。据说，他曾把自己国中一块四头牛一昼夜所能犁出的土地，赐给一个四处游历的女子，作为她为他助兴的报酬。这个女子出自阿萨神族，名叫格еф琼。她从北方的约顿海姆带来四头牛，那是她与某个巨人所生的儿子。她把它们套在犁上，犁得又宽又深，竟把整块土地犁松了。四头牛便把那块土地拖入海中，向西而去，在一道海峡里停了下来。格еф琼把土地安置在那里，给它起名叫西兰岛。土地被拖走的地方留下了一片湖水，如今在瑞典称为梅拉伦湖。湖中的湾汊，恰与西兰岛上的岬角相合。老诗人布拉吉如此说道：

格еф琼欢喜地从吉尔菲那里
拖走深厚的土地，为丹麦增添疆土，
疾行的牲畜奋力拖曳，
浑身蒸腾着热气。
牛儿往前走时，
四颗头上带着八轮额月，
走在那片辽阔的草原岛屿
被夺去的土地之前。

吉尔菲国王聪明睿智，精通法术。他十分惊异，阿萨神族为何如此神通广大，事事都能如愿。他思量着，这究竟出于他们自身的禀赋，还是因为他们所祭拜的神灵赐予了力量。他动身前往阿斯加德，秘密赶路，变作一个老人的模样，以此隐瞒身份。但阿萨神族有预知之能，比他更为明智，在他到来之前便已看见他的行程，于是施展幻术迎接他。

他走进城中，看见一座高大的殿堂，高得几乎望不到顶。屋顶以镀金的盾牌铺成，仿佛铺着木瓦。来自赫温的诗人肖多尔夫如此说，英灵殿以盾牌覆顶：

深思熟虑的战士们
让斯瓦夫尼尔殿堂的屋瓦在背上闪耀，
那些盾牌
遭受着石块的击打。

吉尔菲看见殿门口有个人正在抛接短刀，同时有七把刀在空中飞舞。那人先问他的姓名。他自称冈格勒，说自己沿着偏僻小径而来，请求在此投宿，又问这座殿堂归谁所有。那人回答说，是他们的国王所有：“我可以领你去见他。到时你自己问他的名字。”说罢，那人转身领他进殿，他便跟在后面；他刚进去，门就在他身后关上了。他看见殿中有许多厅室和许多人，有的在游戏，有的在饮酒，有的持着武器搏斗。他环顾四周，觉得眼前许多事物都令人难以置信。于是他说：

每一道门，
在迈步进去之前，
都应仔细察看，
因为谁也无法确知，
敌人坐在何处，
是否就在前面的厅堂里。

他看见三张高座，一张比一张高，每张座上各坐着一个人。他便问，他们的首领叫什么名字。领他进来的那人答道，坐在最低一张高座上的是国王：“他叫哈尔；挨着他上面的那位叫雅夫恩哈尔；最高处的那位叫斯莱德。”

哈尔问来客，除了投宿还有什么事，并说他和哈尔殿中的所有人一样，都可以享用饮食。他说，自己首先想问，这里面可有博学之人。哈尔说，若他不比这里的人更博学，就休想平安出去：

“你提问时，
且站到前面来；
回答的人应当坐着。”

冈格勒这样开口问道：“诸神之中，谁最高贵，谁最年长？”

哈尔说：“用我们的话说，他叫万物之父，但在古老的阿斯加德，他有十二个名字。第一个是万物之父，第二个是赫兰或赫尔扬，第三个是尼卡尔或赫尼卡尔，第四个是尼库德或赫尼库德，第五个是菲约尔尼尔，第六个是奥斯基，第七个是奥米，第八个是比夫利迪或比夫林迪，第九个是斯维杜尔，第十个是斯维德里尔，第十一个是维德里尔，第十二个是雅尔格或雅尔克。”

冈格勒又问：“这位神在哪里？他有什么本领？他立下过什么功业？”

哈尔说：“他生生世世长存，统治自己全部的国度，主宰一切事物，无论大小。”

雅夫恩哈尔说：“他造出了天空、大地、空气，以及其中的一切。”

斯莱德说：“但他最伟大的功业，是创造了人，赋予人一种灵魂；即使肉身腐朽成泥，或烧成灰烬，灵魂也将永远活着，绝不消亡。一切品行端正的人都将长存，与他一同住在名叫金利或温戈尔夫的地方；恶人则前往赫尔那里，再从那里下到尼福尔赫尔，那是在下方的第九个世界。”

冈格勒说：“在天地尚未造成之前，他做些什么？”

哈尔答道：“那时，他与霜巨人在一起。”

冈格勒说：“最初是什么情形？一切如何开始？在那之前有什么？”

哈尔答道：“正如《女先知的预言》中所说：

远古之初，
万物尚无，
没有沙，没有海，
没有清凉的波浪；
大地尚不存在，
上方也没有天空，
唯有金伦加裂隙，
没有青草。”

雅夫恩哈尔说：“大地被创造出来之前许多个世代，尼福尔海姆就已形成。其中有一口泉，名叫赫瓦格密尔，从那里流出的河有这些名字：斯沃尔、贡恩斯拉、弗约尔姆、芬布尔苏尔、斯利德与赫里德、叙尔格与于尔格、维德、雷普特。吉约尔河最靠近赫尔之门。”

斯莱德说：“但最先存在的，是南方那个名叫穆斯贝尔的世界。那里光明而炎热，那一方烈焰熊熊，万物燃烧。凡是外来之人，在那里没有祖传家园的，都无法通行。有个名叫苏尔特的，坐镇边境，守卫那片国土。他手持一柄烈焰之剑，到了世界的末日，他将出征，发动战争，打败所有神灵，用火焚毁整个世界。正如《女先知的预言》中所说：

苏尔特从南方而来，
携着枝条的祸害，
战神的太阳
从剑刃上闪耀；
岩山轰然崩响，
女巨人踉跄倒下，
人们踏上通往赫尔的路，
天空迸裂。”

冈格勒说：“在各个族类尚未出现、人类尚未繁衍之前，一切是怎样形成的？”

哈尔说：“那些叫作埃利瓦加尔的河流，流到远离源头之处时，其中夹带的毒液便硬化起来，如同从炉火中流出的熔渣，继而化为冰。冰停住，不再流动，表面便冻结起来；毒液散出的水汽凝结为霜，霜一层层叠起，遍布金伦加裂隙。”

雅夫恩哈尔说：“金伦加裂隙朝北的一面，塞满了沉重的冰霜，更深处还有水汽和寒风；而金伦加裂隙的南部，迎着从穆斯贝尔海姆飞来的火星与火屑，却渐渐消融。”

斯莱德说：“正如尼福尔海姆散发着寒气，一切都凛冽严酷，靠近穆斯贝尔的一切则炎热而明亮；金伦加裂隙之中，却温和得如同无风的空气。霜与暖流相遇，便融化滴落；那些流动的水滴，凭借送来热力者的力量，萌生了生命，化成一个人形，名叫尤弥尔，霜巨人则称他为奥尔格尔米尔。霜巨人的族类都由他而来，正如《女先知的短篇预言》中所说：

所有女先知
都出自维多尔夫，
所有巫师
都出自维尔梅德，
施行赛德巫术的人
都出自斯瓦尔特霍夫迪，
所有巨人
都出自尤弥尔。

巨人瓦夫苏鲁德尼尔又这样说：

从埃利瓦加尔
迸出毒液的水滴，
不断长大，直到化为巨人；
我们所有的族类
全都由此而来，
所以一向如此凶恶。”

冈格勒说：“族类怎样从那里繁衍出来？又是怎样产生出更多人的？你相信刚才所说的那一位是神吗？”

哈尔答道：“我们绝不承认他是神。他很邪恶，他的所有族人也都如此。我们称他们为霜巨人。据说，他睡着时出了汗，于是左臂下面长出一男一女，他的一只脚又与另一只脚生了一个儿子，各个族类便由此而来。这些就是霜巨人。那个古老的霜巨人，我们称他为尤弥尔。”

冈格勒说：“尤弥尔住在哪里？他靠什么为生？”

哈尔答道：“接着，霜融化滴落，便从中生出一头母牛，名叫欧德姆布拉。四道乳河从她的乳头流出，她就这样养活了尤弥尔。”

冈格勒说：“那母牛又靠什么为生？”

哈尔答道：“她舔食带咸味的霜石。舔石头的第一天，到了晚上，石中露出了一个人的头发；第二天，露出了一个人的头；第三天，整个人都出来了。他名叫布利，容貌俊美，身材高大，力量强盛。他生了一个儿子，名叫博尔。博尔娶了巨人博尔索恩的女儿贝斯特拉，他们生了三个儿子，一个叫奥丁，一个叫维利，第三个叫维。我相信，这位奥丁和他的兄弟们，就是天地的主宰。我们认为，他应当就叫这个名字。我们所知最伟大、最卓越的那个人，便是这个名字；你们也尽可这样称呼他。”

冈格勒说：“那么，他们之间相处得怎样？哪一方更强大？”

哈尔答道：“博尔的儿子们杀死了巨人尤弥尔。他倒下时，伤口中涌出了如此多的血，他们借这血淹死了霜巨人全族，只有一个带着家眷逃了出去。巨人们称他为贝格尔米尔。他和妻子爬上自己的木槽，在那里保住了性命；后来的霜巨人各族，都由他们而来，正如这里所说：

在大地尚未造成之前，
无数个寒暑以前，
贝格尔米尔便已出生；
我最早记得的，
便是那位睿智的巨人
被安放到木槽之中。”

冈格勒说：“既然你相信博尔的儿子们是神，那么他们后来做了些什么？”

哈尔说：“那可有许多事可讲。他们抬起尤弥尔，把他搬到金伦加裂隙中央，用他的身体造出大地，用他的血造出海洋和湖泊。大地用他的肉造成，山峦用他的骨头造成；他的牙齿、臼齿和碎骨，则被他们做成石块和碎石堆。”

雅夫恩哈尔说：“从伤口中流出、四处奔涌的血，被他们用来造成大海。他们造好大地，使其牢固相连，又让海水环绕在大地周围。大多数人都会觉得，那片大海是无法渡越的。”

斯莱德说：“他们又取下他的头颅，造出天空，把它架在大地上方，撑开四角，在每一角下面安置一个矮人。他们分别叫奥斯特里、韦斯特里、诺德里、苏德里。随后，他们取来从穆斯贝尔海姆抛出、四散飞舞的火屑和火星，放在金伦加裂隙中央的天空之中，有的在高处，有的在低处，以照亮天地。他们给所有发光的天体各定了位置，有些固定在天上，有些在天下自由运行，但他们仍给这些天体划定位置，安排运行的轨道。古老的记载说，从那时起，才分出了昼夜，算出了年岁。正如《女先知的预言》中所说：

太阳不知道
自己的居所在哪里，
月亮不知道
自己有何力量，
星辰不知道
自己的位置在哪里。

在这些事发生之前，情形便是如此。”

冈格勒说：“我如今听到的，真是重大的事。这番创造何其宏伟，做得又何其精巧！大地是什么样子的？”

哈尔答道：“大地的外围是圆的，外面环绕着深海。他们把沿海的土地分给巨人各族居住。但在大地内侧，他们为世界筑起了一道围墙，以防巨人侵扰。他们用巨人尤弥尔的眉毛造了这道围墙，称它为米德加尔特。他们还取出他的脑髓，抛向空中，化成云彩，正如这里所说：

尤弥尔的血肉
被造成大地，
他的血成为海洋，
骨头成为山峦，
毛发成为树木，
头颅成为天空。
善意的诸神
又用他的眉毛
为人类造出米德加尔特，
而他的脑髓
则被造成了那些
阴沉凶猛的云。”

于是冈格勒说：“依我看来，他们造好了大地和天空，安置了太阳和天上的星辰，又划分了昼夜，已经成就了许多大事。那么，居住在世上的人又是从哪里来的呢？”

哈尔说：“博尔的儿子们沿着海岸行走时，发现了两棵树。他们拾起树木，用它们造出人来。第一个赋予他们气息和生命，第二个赋予他们心智和行动，第三个赋予他们容貌、言语、听觉和视觉。他们又给了两人衣服和名字。男子名叫阿斯克，女子名叫恩布拉；人类便从他们繁衍而来，并获准在米德加尔特居住。

“随后，他们在世界中央为自己建起一座城，叫作阿斯加德。我们称它为特洛伊。诸神和他们的族裔住在那里，从此，地上和空中发生了许多事件与变故。那里有个地方叫希利兹凯夫，奥丁坐上那里的高座时，就能看见所有世界，以及每个人的所作所为；凡他看见的事，他都了然于心。

“他的妻子名叫弗丽嘉，是弗约尔金的女儿。我们称为阿萨神族的那些族裔，便出自他们的血脉；他们曾居住在古老的阿斯加德及其所属的国土上，全都是神圣的族裔。他之所以可以称为万物之父，是因为他是一切神与人的父亲，也是一切由他和他的力量造就之物的父亲。大地娇德既是他的女儿，也是他的妻子。他与她生下了头一个儿子，那就是阿萨神族的索尔。索尔生来便有力量和强健的体魄，凭此战胜一切生灵。

有个巨人名叫诺尔菲，也叫纳尔菲，住在约顿海姆。他有个女儿，名叫黑夜。她生得黝黑晦暗，与她的血统相称。她嫁给了一个名叫纳格尔法利的男子，两人的儿子名叫奥德。此后，她又嫁给一个名叫阿纳尔的男子，两人的女儿名叫娇德。最后娶她的是戴林，他出身阿萨神族。两人的儿子是白昼，随父亲生得明亮俊美。

万物之父将黑夜和她的儿子白昼召来，给了他们两匹马和两辆车，把他们送上天空，让他们每隔两个半日绕大地一周。黑夜先行，驾着名叫赫利姆法克西的马；每天清晨，这匹马从嚼子上滴下的沫水便化作露珠，洒在大地上。白昼的马名叫斯基法克西，它的鬃毛照亮了整个天空和大地。”

于是冈格勒说：“他怎样掌管太阳和月亮的运行呢？”

哈尔说：“有个人名叫蒙迪尔法利，他有两个孩子。他们生得如此美丽俊秀，他便给儿子取名玛尼，给女儿取名太阳，又把她嫁给了一个名叫格伦的男子。诸神被他这番狂妄激怒，便把这对兄妹带走，安置到天上，让太阳驾驭拉着太阳车的马。那太阳是诸神用穆斯贝尔海姆飞出的火星造出来的，用来照亮各个世界。那两匹马名叫阿尔瓦克和阿尔斯维德。诸神在马的肩下放了两个风囊，为它们降温；在某些传说里，这叫作伊萨恩科尔。

“玛尼掌管月亮的运行，决定月亮的盈亏。他从地上带走了两个孩子，名叫碧尔和休基。当时，他们正从名叫比尔吉尔的井边回来，肩上抬着一只名叫塞格的桶，抬桶的杆子名叫西穆尔。他们的父亲名叫维德芬。这两个孩子一直跟随着玛尼，从地上就能看见他们。”

于是冈格勒说：“太阳走得飞快，简直像是受了惊吓；即便她害怕自己会丧命，也不能跑得更快了。”

哈尔回答：“她跑得这样急，并不奇怪。追赶她的家伙紧逼在后，她除了逃跑，别无出路。”

冈格勒说：“是谁给她惹来这样的麻烦？”

哈尔说：“那是两匹狼，追在她后面的那匹叫斯库尔。她害怕他，而他终将捉住她。跑在她前面的那匹叫哈提，是赫罗德维特尼尔的儿子。他想吞掉月亮，最终也会如愿。”

冈格勒说：“这些狼出自什么族裔？”

哈尔说：“米德加尔特以东，有个女巨人住在一片名叫铁森林的林子里。那片林子里住着一些女妖，叫作铁森林女妖。那老女巨人生下许多巨人儿子，全都长着狼的模样，这些狼便是他们的后裔。据说，这一族中最强大的一个名叫玛纳加姆。他以一切死者的生命为食，吞掉月亮，又把鲜血喷遍天空和整个苍穹。此后太阳便失去光辉，狂风动荡不息，从四面八方呼啸而来。《女巫的预言》中这样说：

东方住着那老妇，
住在铁森林里，
她在那里养育
芬里尔的子孙；
他们之中
将有一个
披着妖怪的形体，
夺去月亮。
他饱食
将死之人的生命，
以殷红鲜血
染赤诸神的居所；
此后几个夏天，
日光变得昏黑，
一切风候皆险恶。
你们还想知道些什么？”

于是冈格勒说：“从大地通往天空的路在哪里？”

哈尔笑着回答：“这问题问得可不聪明。难道你没有听说，诸神造了一座从大地通往天空的桥，名叫比弗罗斯特？你一定见过它。或许你把它叫作彩虹。它有三种颜色，十分坚固，建造它所用的技艺与智慧，胜过其他一切造物。不过，它虽然如此坚固，等到穆斯贝尔的子民前来，骑马踏上桥面时，它还是会断裂。他们的马便游过大河，就这样继续前进。”

冈格勒说：“依我看来，诸神造这桥时并不尽心。他们本来想怎样造就能怎样造，桥却还是会断。”

哈尔说：“诸神不该因这件造物受到责难。比弗罗斯特是一座好桥；可等到穆斯贝尔的儿子们出兵攻伐时，世上没有一样东西能够靠得住。”

于是冈格勒说：“阿斯加德建成之后，万物之父做了些什么？”

哈尔说：“起初，他让掌事者各就其位，请他们与自己一同裁定人类的命运，商议城中的安排。那地方就在城中央，名叫伊达沃尔。他们最先做的事，是建造一座神殿，里面除了万物之父的高座之外，还设有他们的十二个座位。这座殿宇是大地上建造得最好、也最大的一座，内外仿佛全由黄金铸成。人们把那地方叫作格拉兹海姆。

“他们又造了一座殿堂，那是女神们的圣所，十分美丽。人们把这座殿堂叫作温戈尔夫。接着，他们造了一间屋子，在里面安置炉火，又为此做了锤子、钳子和铁砧，随后做出了其他一切工具。此后，他们加工金属、石头和木材；他们加工了大量叫作黄金的金属，所有家用器具和装备都是黄金做的。因此，这个时代被称为黄金时代，直到那些女人到来，才遭到败坏。她们来自约顿海姆。

“接着，诸神坐上各自的座位，施行裁断，并想起矮人是怎样在泥土和大地深处生出来的，就像肉里的蛆虫。矮人最初在尤弥尔的肉中成形，获得生命，那时还是蛆虫；后来，经诸神裁定，他们有了人的智慧和人的形体，却仍住在泥土和岩石里。摩索尼尔是他们的首领，都林位居其次。《女巫的预言》中这样说：

于是所有神明，
都走向裁断之座，
那些至圣的诸神，
共同商议，
该由谁来造出
矮人的族群，
用那血色的海潮，
用布莱因的腿骨。
在那里，许多
人形被造了出来，
那是地下的矮人，
正如都林所说。

“她说出了这些矮人的名字：

尼伊、尼迪，
诺德里、苏德里，
奥斯特里、韦斯特里，
阿尔索夫、德瓦林，
纳尔、纳因，
尼平、达因，
比弗尔、巴弗尔，
邦布尔、诺里，
奥里、奥纳尔，
奥因、米约德维特尼尔。
维格和甘道夫，
温达尔夫、索林，
菲利、基利，
芬丁、瓦利，
索尔、索因，
塞克、利特和维特，
尼尔、尼拉德，
雷克、拉兹维德。

“下面这些也是矮人，住在岩石里；前面那些则住在泥土里：

德罗普尼尔、多尔格斯瓦里，
哈尔、胡格斯塔里，
赫莱迪约尔夫、格洛因，
多里、奥里，
杜夫、安德瓦利，
赫夫提菲利，
哈尔、斯维阿尔。

“下面这些则从斯瓦林丘来到约鲁平原的奥尔旺加，洛法尔便出自这一支。他们的名字是：

斯基尔菲尔、维尔菲尔，
斯卡菲德、阿伊，
阿尔夫、英格维，
艾金斯基亚尔迪，
法尔、弗罗斯蒂，
菲德、金纳尔。”

于是冈格勒说：“诸神最主要的居所，或是他们的圣所，在哪里？”

哈尔回答：“在白蜡树尤克特拉希尔那里。诸神每天都要在那里举行审判。”

冈格勒说：“那地方有什么可讲的？”

雅夫恩哈尔说：“那棵白蜡树是所有树木中最大、最好的一棵。它的枝条伸展到整个世界，耸立在天空之上。树有三条根支撑着，伸向极远的地方。一条在阿萨神族那里，另一条在霜巨人那里，也就是从前金伦加裂隙所在的地方。第三条伸到尼福尔海姆上方，这条根下面是赫瓦格密尔，尼德霍格从下方啃噬树根。

“伸向霜巨人的那条根下面，有密米尔之泉，其中蕴藏着智慧与才识。泉水的主人名叫密米尔。他满腹智慧，因为他用加拉尔号角饮取泉水。万物之父曾来到那里，请求喝一口泉水；直到他拿出自己的一只眼睛作抵押，才得以饮用。《女巫的预言》中这样说：

奥丁，我全都知道，
知道你把眼睛藏在哪里，
藏在那闻名遐迩的
密米尔之泉里。
密米尔每天清晨
都饮着蜜酒，
饮自阵亡者之父的抵押。
你们还想知道些什么？

“白蜡树的第三条根立在天上，根下有一眼极其神圣的泉水，名叫乌尔德之泉。诸神的审判之地就在那里。阿萨神族每天都骑马，经比弗罗斯特上到那里。这桥也叫阿萨之桥。阿萨诸神的马有这些名字：斯雷普尼尔是最好的，归奥丁所有，有八条腿。第二匹叫格拉德，第三匹叫吉利尔，第四匹叫格伦，第五匹叫斯凯德布里米尔，第六匹叫西尔弗林托普，第七匹叫西尼尔，第八匹叫吉斯尔，第九匹叫法尔霍夫尼尔，第十匹叫古尔托普，第十一匹叫莱特费蒂。巴德尔的马已与他一同焚烧；索尔则步行去审判之地，涉过下面这些河流：

科尔姆特和厄尔姆特，
还有两条科尔劳加尔，
索尔必须涉过它们，
每一天，
当他前去审判，
到白蜡树尤克特拉希尔那里，
因为阿萨之桥
通体烈焰燃烧，
神圣的河水沸腾。”

冈格勒说：“比弗罗斯特上有火在烧吗？”

哈尔说：“你在虹上看到的红色，就是燃烧的火。如果所有想过桥的都能走上比弗罗斯特，霜巨人和山巨人就会登上天空。天上有许多美丽的地方，到处都有神力守卫。

“白蜡树下、泉水旁边，立着一座美丽的殿堂，三位少女从那殿堂里出来，名字分别是乌尔德、薇尔丹蒂、诗寇蒂。她们决定人的一生，我们称她们为诺伦。还有更多的诺伦，每逢孩子出生，便来到他身边，决定他的一生。这些诺伦有的出身神族，有的出身精灵族，还有的出身矮人族，正如这里所说：

我说诺伦们
出身大不相同，
她们并非同族；
有的出身阿萨神族，
有的出身精灵族，
有的是德瓦林的女儿。”

冈格勒说：“如果诺伦掌管人的命运，她们分配得也太不公平了：有的人一生安乐富足，有的人却少有财产或声望；有的人长寿，有的人短命。”

哈尔说：“善良而出身高贵的诺伦赐予美好的一生；那些遭受厄运的人，则是邪恶的诺伦所致。”

冈格勒问道：“关于那棵白蜡树，还有什么奇事可讲？”

哈尔说：“可讲的事很多。有一只鹰栖在白蜡树的枝头，它知道许多事情；在它两眼之间，栖着一只名叫维德佛尔尼尔的隼。一只名叫拉塔托斯克的松鼠沿着白蜡树上下奔跑，在鹰与尼德霍格之间传递恶言。另有四只牡鹿在白蜡树的枝间奔跑，啃食嫩叶。它们的名字是：达因、德瓦林、杜奈尔、杜拉斯罗尔。在赫瓦格密尔，与尼德霍格同处的蛇多得任何舌头都数不清。这里这样说道：
尤克特拉希尔白蜡树
承受的苦难，
远比世人所知的更多；
牡鹿从上方啃咬，
树干侧面腐朽，
尼德霍格从下方啮噬。

又有这样的诗句：
盘踞在
尤克特拉希尔白蜡树下的蛇，
多过任何愚蠢的傻瓜所能想见。
戈因与莫因，
它们是格拉夫维特尼尔的儿子，
格拉巴克与格拉夫沃卢德，
奥夫尼尔与斯瓦夫尼尔，
我想，它们将永远
蚕食这棵树的枝条。

还有这样的说法：住在乌尔德之泉旁的诺伦，每天都从泉中取水，连同泉边的泥浆，一起浇到白蜡树上，使它的枝条不至枯萎或腐朽。那泉水十分神圣，凡是进入泉中的东西，都会变得像蛋壳内那层叫作卵膜的薄膜一样洁白。正如这里所说：
我知道一棵白蜡树，
名叫尤克特拉希尔，
高大而神圣的树，
浇灌着洁白的泥浆；
露水从那里降下，
落进山谷；
它永远青翠地立在
乌尔德之泉上方。

从树上落到大地的露水，人们称作蜜露，蜜蜂便靠它为食。乌尔德之泉中养育着两只鸟。它们叫作天鹅，所有叫这个名字的鸟，都是从这两只鸟繁衍而来的。”

冈格勒说道：“你能讲出许多天上的大事。除了乌尔德之泉，那里还有什么重要的处所？”

哈尔说：“那里有许多尊贵的地方。其中一处叫阿尔夫海姆。名叫光明精灵的族类住在那里，黑暗精灵则住在地下。他们与光明精灵容貌不同，性情更是大相径庭。光明精灵的容貌比太阳更美，黑暗精灵却比沥青更黑。那里有一处叫布列达布利克，没有别的地方比它更美。还有一处叫格利特尼尔，它的墙壁、所有支座和柱子都是赤金造的，屋顶则是银的。另有一处叫希敏约格。它位于天的尽头、桥的末端，也就是比弗罗斯特通到天上的地方。那里还有一处宏伟的所在，叫瓦拉斯凯拉夫，归奥丁所有。诸神建造了它，用纯银铺盖屋顶。那座厅堂中有希利兹凯夫，就是那张如此命名的高座；万物之父坐在那张座椅上时，便能看遍所有世界。在天空南端，有一座厅堂，名叫金利，它比所有厅堂都美，比太阳更明亮。当天地都已毁灭时，它仍将屹立，善良正直的人将永世居住在那里。《女先知的预言》中这样说道：
我知道有一座厅堂屹立，
比太阳更美，
屋顶铺满黄金，
坐落在金利；
忠厚的人们
将在那里居住，
世世代代
享受欢乐。”

冈格勒问道：“苏尔特的烈焰焚烧天地时，是什么保护着那个地方？”

哈尔说：“据说，在这层天空的南方、更高的地方，还有第二层天空，名叫安德朗；在它上面还有第三层天空，名叫维德布莱因。我们认为，那地方就在那层天空中。我们也认为，如今只有光明精灵居住在那些地方。”

冈格勒问道：“风从哪里来？它力量强大，能搅动浩瀚的海洋，又能助长火势。然而，它虽有如此大的力量，人却看不见它，它的形体实在奇异。”

哈尔说道：“这我很能告诉你。在天空北端，坐着一个名叫赫拉斯瓦尔格的巨人。他有鹰的形体，每当他振翅欲飞，风就从他的翅膀下涌出。这里这样说道：
他名叫赫拉斯瓦尔格，
坐在天的尽头，
是披着鹰身的巨人；
据说，从他的翅膀下
吹出了风，
掠过所有人。”

冈格勒问道：“为什么差别如此之大，夏天炎热，冬天寒冷？”

哈尔说：“有学问的人不会这样问，因为这些事人人都能说得出来。不过，倘若唯独你如此无知，连这也没有听说过，我倒仍愿赞许你：你宁肯无知地问上一回，也不愿对本该知道的事情继续蒙在鼓里。夏天的父亲名叫斯瓦苏德，他一生如此幸福安乐，以至凡是温柔宜人的事物，人们都从他的名字取了‘斯瓦斯利格’这个称呼。冬天的父亲，有时叫温德洛尼，有时叫温德斯瓦尔。他是瓦萨德的儿子，他们这一族都凶狠而心肠冰冷，冬天也继承了他们的性情。”

冈格勒问道：“人们应当信奉的阿萨神族，都有哪些神？”

哈尔说：“出身神裔的阿萨男神共有十二位。”

雅夫恩哈尔说道：“阿萨女神也同样神圣，力量同样强大。”

斯莱德说道：“奥丁是阿萨神族中最尊贵、最年长的。他统御万事万物，其余诸神虽然强大，却都侍奉他，如同儿女侍奉父亲。他的妻子是弗丽嘉，她知道世人的命运，却不说出预言。正如这里所述，奥丁亲自对那位名叫洛基的阿萨神说道：
洛基，你疯了，
神志昏乱，
洛基，你为何还不住口？
我想，弗丽嘉
知道一切命运，
只是她自己不肯说出。

奥丁名叫万物之父，因为他是所有神的父亲。他也叫阵亡者之父，因为所有战死的人都是他的义子。他为他们安排英灵殿和温戈尔夫，他们便称作英灵战士。他也叫悬吊之神、囚徒之神、负载之神。他来到盖尔罗德国王那里时，还给自己报出过更多的名字：
我曾名叫格里姆，
也叫冈格勒，
赫尔扬、希亚尔姆贝里，
塞克、斯莱德，
苏德、乌德，
赫尔布林迪、哈尔、萨德、斯维帕尔，
桑恩盖塔尔，
赫尔泰特、赫尼卡尔，
比莱格、巴莱格，
博尔维克、菲约尔尼尔，
格里姆尼尔、格拉普斯维德、菲约尔斯维德，
西德霍特、西德斯凯格，
西格弗德、赫尼库德，
万物之父、阿特里德、法尔马提尔，
奥斯基、奥米，
雅夫恩哈尔、比夫林迪，
贡德利尔、哈尔巴德，
斯维杜尔、斯维德里尔，
亚尔克、基亚拉尔、维杜尔，
斯罗尔、伊格、松德，
瓦克、斯基尔芬，
瓦夫德、赫罗夫塔提尔，
高特、维拉提尔。”

冈格勒说道：“你们给他的名字真是多得惊人。我敢说，谁若能明白这些名字的缘由，并讲出每个名字各自源于什么事情，那必定有极渊博的学识。”

哈尔说：“要把那些事情逐一细细追述，需要很深的学问。不过，可以最简要地告诉你：他的大多数名字都出于这样的缘故，世上有多少种不同的语言，各民族便都觉得，必须把他的名字变为自己的语言，好让自己呼求他、向他祈祷。另有一些名字所由来的事情，发生在他的旅途中，都已记入故事。倘若你不会讲述那些大事，就不能称为有学问的人。”

冈格勒问道：“其他阿萨神叫什么名字？他们从事什么事情，又建立过什么功业？”

哈尔说：“他们之中最杰出的是索尔，人称阿萨神族的索尔，或驾车的索尔。他是所有神与人之中力量最强大的。他拥有一片名叫斯罗德万的领地，他的厅堂叫毕尔斯基尔尼尔。那座厅堂中有五百四十间房室，是人们所知最大的建筑。《格里姆尼尔之歌》中这样说道：
五百间房室，
再加四十间，
我想，毕尔斯基尔尼尔的曲折厅室便有这么多；
我所知道的
一切架梁建成的屋宇中，
我儿子的这一座最大。

索尔有两只公山羊，名叫坦格尼奥斯特和坦格里斯尼尔；他还有一辆乘坐的车，由这两只山羊拉着。因此，他被称为驾车的索尔。他另有三件宝物。其中一件是锤子妙尔尼尔，霜巨人和山巨人一见它举到空中，便认得它，这毫不奇怪：它已经砸碎了他们许多父辈或亲族的头颅。他还有一件极好的宝物，那便是力量腰带；他把它束在身上时，神力便增加一半。他拥有的第三件东西也极为珍贵，那便是一双铁手套。他握住锤柄时，少不了它们。没有谁有那么渊博的学问，能数清他所有的伟业。不过，我能给你讲的关于他的事如此之多，要把我知道的全讲完，得花上很长时间。”

冈格勒说道：“我还想听听更多阿萨神的事。”

哈尔说：“奥丁的另一个儿子是巴德尔，关于他，可讲的都是好事。他是最好的神，人人都赞美他。他的容貌如此美丽、明亮，身上都放出光辉。有一种草白得可以比作巴德尔的眉毛，它是所有草木中最白的；由此，你便能想见他的头发和身体有多么美丽。他是阿萨神族中最睿智、言语最优美、最仁慈的一位，可他却有这样一种命数：他的裁断没有一项能够实现。他住在名叫布列达布利克的地方，那里位于天上。在那个地方，任何不洁之物都不能存在。正如这里所说：
那地方叫布列达布利克，
巴德尔在那里
为自己建起厅堂，
在那片土地上，
据我所知，
凶兆最为稀少。

第三位阿萨神名叫尼约德。他住在天上一个叫诺阿通的地方。他掌管风的运行，平息海浪和烈火。航海和渔猎时，应当向他祈求。他如此富有、财运亨通，能够赐给人们丰厚的土地或财物；为此也应当向他祈求。尼约德并非出身阿萨神族。他在华纳海姆长大，华纳神族把他交给诸神作人质，换取了名叫海尼尔的那位作为人质。他促成了诸神与华纳神族的和解。

尼约德的妻子名叫斯卡蒂，是巨人夏基的女儿。斯卡蒂想住在父亲从前的居所，那地方在山中，名叫索列姆海姆；尼约德却想住在海边。他们约定，在索列姆海姆住九夜，再到诺阿通住九夜。但当尼约德从山中回到诺阿通时，他吟道：
我厌恶群山，
在那里住得不久，
不过九夜；
狼的嗥叫
在我听来十分刺耳，
怎比得上天鹅的歌声。

斯卡蒂便吟道：
我无法安睡
在海边的床榻上，
因为鸟的啼叫；
每天清晨，
那从海上飞来的鸥鸟
都把我唤醒。

随后，斯卡蒂上了山，住在索列姆海姆。她常常踏着滑雪板，带着弓，射猎野兽。她被称为滑雪之神或滑雪女神。有诗这样说道：
那地方叫索列姆海姆，
夏基曾住在那里，
那力量强大的巨人；
如今斯卡蒂住在那里，
诸神明丽的新娘，
住在父亲古老的居所。

尼约德后来在诺阿通生了两个孩子，一个儿子名叫弗雷，女儿名叫芙蕾雅。他们容貌俊美，力量强大。弗雷是阿萨神族中最卓越的神。他掌管雨水、阳光以及大地的收成，祈求丰年与和平，向他祷告最为合宜。他还掌管人们的财富与兴旺。芙蕾雅则是女神中最卓越的一位。她在天上有一处居所，名叫弗尔克范格。无论她骑马前往何处的战场，阵亡者都由她与奥丁各得一半，正如这里所说：

那地方名叫弗尔克范格，
芙蕾雅在那里安排
殿堂中的座次；
阵亡者的一半，
由她每日挑选，
另一半归奥丁所有。

她的殿堂名叫塞斯鲁姆尼尔，宏大而美丽。她出行时坐在车上，由两只猫拉车。人们向她祈求，她最乐于回应。贵妇被尊称为“夫人”，这个称号便源于她的名字。她很喜爱情歌。祈求爱情，向她祷告最为合宜。”

冈格勒说道：“我觉得这些阿萨神个个本领非凡。你们既然通晓诸神的情形，知道每一种祈愿应向谁祷告，那么你们具有强大的力量，也就不足为奇了。还有别的神吗？”

哈尔说：“还有一位阿萨神，名叫提尔。他最勇敢，也最有胆魄，战场上的胜负很大程度上由他决定。勇士向他祷告最为合宜。有句俗语说，一个人若胜过旁人，毫不瞻前顾后，便是‘如提尔般勇猛’。他也很有智慧，所以又有一种说法，称最聪慧的人‘如提尔般睿智’。有一件事足以显出他的胆量：阿萨神族诱使巨狼芬里尔同意让他们给它套上格莱普尼尔这条缚索时，它不相信他们会将它解开，除非他们把提尔的手放进它嘴里作为抵押。后来阿萨神族不肯解开它，它便在如今称为‘狼关节’的地方咬断了那只手。因此提尔只有一只手，也不被称作人们的调解者。

有一位神名叫布拉吉。他以智慧著称，尤其擅长辞令，言语流利。他最精通诗艺，诗歌因他而称为‘布拉格’。无论男女，若口才胜过旁人，也会因他的名字而被称为男子中的布拉格或女子中的布拉格。他的妻子是伊登。她在自己的白蜡木匣中保存着那些苹果，诸神衰老时，便须咬食这些苹果，于是全都恢复青春。直到诸神黄昏来临，一直如此。”

冈格勒说道：“在我看来，诸神实在把太多事情寄托在伊登的看护与忠诚上了。”

哈尔笑着说：“有一次，这件事险些酿成大祸。我能讲给你听，不过现在你得先听听更多阿萨神的名字。

有一位神名叫海姆达尔，被称为白色的阿萨神。他伟大而神圣。九位少女共同生下了他，她们全是姐妹。他又名哈尔林斯基迪和古林坦尼。他的牙齿是金子做的。他的马名叫古尔托普。他住在比弗罗斯特旁边的希敏约格。他是诸神的守卫，坐镇天际，守护那座桥，防备山巨人。他所需的睡眠比鸟还少。无论白昼黑夜，他都能看清百拉斯特（古北欧长度单位）以外的事物。他还能听见地上青草生长、羊身上羊毛生长的声音，以及一切比这更响的声音。他有一支号角，名叫加拉尔号角，吹响时，所有世界都能听见。海姆达尔的剑被称为‘人的头颅’。这里这样说道：

那地方名叫希敏约格，
人们说海姆达尔
在那里掌管圣所；
诸神的守卫在那里，
于安宁的殿堂之中，
欢然畅饮甘美的蜜酒。

他自己又在《海姆达尔之歌》中说：

我是九位母亲的孩子，
我是九位姐妹的儿子。

有一位阿萨神名叫霍德尔。他双目失明，力气极大。然而诸神宁愿不必提起这位神，因为他的所作所为，将长久留在诸神与人类的记忆之中。

有一位神名叫维达尔，是沉默的阿萨神。他穿着一只厚鞋。他力大无比，仅次于索尔。每逢危难，诸神都极为倚重他。

有一位神名叫阿利，又名瓦利，是奥丁与琳德的儿子。他作战勇猛，射击极为精准。

有一位神名叫乌勒尔，是希芙的儿子、索尔的继子。他精于射箭，善于滑雪，无人能与他匹敌。他容貌俊美，具备战士的种种本领。在决斗时向他祈求，也最为合宜。

福尔塞提是巴德尔与内普之女南娜的儿子。他在天上有一座殿堂，名叫格利特尼尔。凡带着难解的争端前来找他的人，离去时无不和解。对诸神与人类来说，那里是最好的裁判之所。这里这样说道：

那殿堂名叫格利特尼尔，
以黄金为支柱，
又以白银覆顶；
福尔塞提在那里，
长日居于其中，
平息一切争端。

还有一位也列在阿萨神族之中，有人称他为阿萨神族的挑拨者、欺诈的始作俑者，以及一切神与人的耻辱。他名叫洛基，又名洛夫特，是巨人法布提的儿子。他的母亲名叫劳菲，又名纳尔。他的兄弟是比莱斯特与赫尔布林迪。洛基容貌俊秀，面目好看，性情却邪恶，行事变化多端。他有一种胜过旁人的才智，叫作狡诈，凡事都能想出诡计。他常使阿萨神族陷入极大的困境，又时常用计谋替他们解围。他的妻子名叫西格恩，他们的儿子名叫纳利，又名纳尔维。

洛基还有别的孩子。约顿海姆有个女巨人，名叫安格尔伯达。洛基与她生了三个孩子：第一个是巨狼芬里尔，第二个是耶梦加得，也就是米德加尔特巨蛇，第三个是赫尔。诸神得知这三个兄妹正在约顿海姆长大，又从预言中推知，他们将给自己带来极大的祸害与不幸。众神都觉得，单看他们母亲的血统，就足以料到许多恶事，父亲的血统则更加糟糕。于是万物之父派诸神前去，把这些孩子带到自己面前。等他们被带来，他便把巨蛇扔进环绕所有陆地的深海。那条蛇长得如此巨大，盘踞在大海之中，环绕所有陆地，咬住了自己的尾巴。

他把赫尔扔进尼福尔海姆，赐给她统治九个世界的权力，让她给所有被送到她那里的人分配食宿；那些人都是因疾病或衰老而死的。她在那里拥有广大的居所，围墙高得出奇，大门也十分巨大。她的殿堂名叫埃琉德尼尔，盘子叫饥饿，小刀叫饥荒，男奴叫迟行，女奴叫缓步，入口的门槛叫坠落危坑，床叫病榻，床帷叫闪耀的灾殃。她半边身子青黑，半边是血肉的颜色，因此很容易辨认，神情颇为阴沉而凶狠。

巨狼则由阿萨神族养在自己的住处，只有提尔敢走近它，给它喂食。诸神眼见它一天比一天长得巨大，而所有预言都说，它注定要给他们带来灾祸，于是阿萨神族想出一个办法，打造了一条极为坚固的锁链，称为莱丁。他们把锁链拿给巨狼，要它试试自己的力气能否挣断。巨狼觉得这并非力所不及，便任他们施为。然而巨狼第一次发力挣扎，那锁链便断了。它就这样挣脱了莱丁。

随后，阿萨神族又打造了一条强度加倍的锁链，称为德罗米，又让巨狼试试这条锁链，还说，若连这样粗大的器物也锁不住它，它必将因力大无穷而声名远扬。巨狼心想，这条锁链确实十分坚固，但自从挣断莱丁之后，自己的力量也增长了；它又想到，若想扬名，就必须冒险，于是便让他们给自己套上锁链。阿萨神族自以为一切已经就绪，巨狼便抖动身体，将锁链猛摔在地上，拼命使力，蹬腿挣扎，终于把锁链挣断，碎片飞向远处。它就这样猛然挣脱了德罗米。从此，人们全力以赴地做成某件事时，便用‘挣脱莱丁’或‘冲破德罗米’这两句话来形容。

此后，阿萨神族担心自己再也无法缚住巨狼。于是万物之父派出弗雷的使者斯基尔尼尔，让他下到斯瓦尔塔尔夫海姆，去找几个侏儒，命他们制作一条名叫格莱普尼尔的缚索。它由六样东西制成：猫的脚步声、女人的胡须、山的根、熊的筋腱、鱼的呼吸和鸟的唾液。你从前即便不知道这些事，如今也很容易从眼前找到确凿的证据，明白我没有骗你。你一定见过，女人没有胡须，猫奔跑时没有脚步声，山底下也没有根。我敢担保，我告诉你的一切都同样真实，尽管其中有些事情你无法亲自查验。”

冈格勒说道：“我确实能明白这些都是真的。你刚才举作例子的那些事情，我都能看见。不过，那条缚索做成了什么样子？”

哈尔说：“这我很能告诉你。那条缚索平滑柔软，像一条丝带，但它究竟有多坚韧牢固，你马上就会听到。缚索送到阿萨神族手中后，他们十分感谢使者办成了这件差事。随后，阿萨神族来到阿姆斯瓦尔特尼尔湖中的一座小岛，名叫林格维。他们把巨狼也叫了来，给它看那条丝带，要它将丝带扯断，还说这带子虽细，却比看上去坚韧些。他们轮流接过带子，用双手使劲拉扯，带子始终不断，但他们仍说巨狼一定能把它扯断。

巨狼回答：‘依我看，像这样一条窄带，即便我把它扯断，也不会得到什么名声。但如果这东西虽小，却是用法术和诡计做成的，那就休想把它套在我的腿上。’

阿萨神族便说，它从前连粗大的铁链都挣断过，如今一条细细的丝带，自然一下就能扯断。‘不过，倘若你连这条带子也挣不断，那你就无法威胁诸神。到时我们便会放开你。’

巨狼说：‘倘若你们把我绑得无法挣脱，你们就会耍赖，我恐怕得等很久才能得到你们的帮助。我不愿让你们把这条带子套在我身上。不过，为免你们讥笑我胆怯，你们须有一个人把手放进我的嘴里，作为毫无欺诈的抵押。’

阿萨诸神面面相觑，觉得如今又添了一重难处，谁也不肯伸出自己的手，直到提尔伸出右手，放进巨狼嘴里。巨狼一蹬腿，带子便收紧了；它挣扎得越厉害，带子便勒得越紧。这时，除了提尔，所有神都笑了。他失去了自己的手。

阿萨神族见巨狼已被牢牢缚住，便拿起缚索上伸出的那条绳子，名叫盖尔吉亚，将它穿过一块名叫吉约尔河的大石板，再把石板深深埋入地下。随后，他们又拿来一块名叫斯维提的巨石，将它打进更深的地下，用作固定绳索的桩石。巨狼大张着嘴，拼命挣扎，想要咬他们。他们便把一把剑塞进它嘴里，剑柄抵住下颚，剑尖顶住上颚，撑住了它的嘴。它凄厉地嗥叫，涎水从嘴里流出，汇成了一条名叫万的河。它就躺在那里，直到诸神黄昏。”

冈格勒说道：“洛基生的孩子实在恶劣得惊人，不过这几个兄妹个个都本领非凡。既然阿萨神族料定巨狼将给他们带来灾祸，为什么不杀死它呢？”

哈尔回答：“诸神如此敬重自己的圣所与庇护之地，不愿以巨狼的血玷污它们，尽管预言说，它将成为奥丁的死因。”

冈格勒问道：“女神们都是谁？”哈尔说：“弗丽嘉地位最高。她的居所名叫芬萨里尔，十分宏伟。第二位是萨迦。她住在瑟克瓦贝克，那是个广大的地方。第三位是埃尔。她是最好的医者。第四位是格еф琼。她是处女，那些以处女之身死去的女子都侍奉她。第五位是芙拉。她也仍是处女，披散着头发，头上束着金带。她为弗丽嘉捧着匣子，照管她的鞋履，也知晓她的秘密谋划。芙蕾雅与弗丽嘉同为最尊贵的女神。她嫁给了一个名叫奥德的男子。他们的女儿名叫赫诺丝。她十分美丽，因此，凡是美丽而珍贵的东西，都依她的名字称为珍宝。奥德远行去了，芙蕾雅为他哭泣，流下的泪水是赤金。芙蕾雅有许多名字，这是因为她到陌生的各族中寻找奥德时，给自己取了不同的称号。她又叫玛尔德尔、赫恩、盖芬、叙尔。芙蕾雅拥有布里希嘉曼项链。她也被称为华纳女神。

第七位是修芬。她一心致力于使人们，无论男女，都心生爱意，因此，爱恋便依她的名字称为夏夫尼。第八位是洛芬。她十分温柔，对祈求者十分友善，因此能从万物之父或弗丽嘉那里得到许可，让男女结合，即使这结合先前曾遭禁止，或被坚决拒绝。‘许可’一词便来自她的名字，而她也因此广受人们赞颂。第九位是瓦尔。她倾听人们的誓言，以及男女之间彼此许下的私约。因此，这些约定便称为瓦拉尔。她也惩罚背约的人。第十位是沃尔。她聪慧而好问，没有什么能瞒过她。因此有个说法，当一个女子知晓了某事，便说她对此‘有所察觉’。第十一位是辛。她看守殿堂的门户，将不该进入的人关在门外；在庭会上，她还负责为那些她想要驳斥的案件辩护。因此，当一个人否认时，便有‘拒绝挡在前头’的说法。第十二位是赫琳。她受命保护那些弗丽嘉想使之免遭危险的人。因此便有个说法，逃过灾难的人是‘得到了庇护’。第十三位是斯诺特拉。她聪慧而举止端庄。因此，凡是谦和有节的男女，都会依她的名字被称为明智之人。第十四位是格娜。弗丽嘉派她到各个世界办事。她有一匹马，能驰骋于天空和海面，名叫霍夫瓦尔普尼尔。有一次，她骑马出行，几个华纳神看见她在空中驰骋。其中一个说道：
‘什么在那里飞翔，
什么在那里行进，
或在空中飘过？’
她回答：
‘我并未飞翔，
虽然我在行进，
也在空中飘过，
骑着霍夫瓦尔普尼尔，
那是哈姆斯凯尔皮尔
与加尔德罗法所生。’
凡是高高耸起的东西，都依格娜的名字说它‘耸立’。太阳和碧尔也被列在女神之中，她们的身世先前已经说过了。”

“还有另一些女子，职责是在英灵殿中侍奉，端送饮品，照管餐具和酒器。《格里姆尼尔之歌》中这样列举她们的名字：
赫莉丝特与米斯特，
我愿她们为我捧来酒角，
斯凯格约尔德与斯科古尔，
希尔德与斯鲁德，
赫洛克与赫尔菲约特尔，
格尔与盖拉赫德，
兰德格里德与拉德格里德，
还有雷金蕾芙，
她们为英灵战士端来啤酒。
这些女子被称为女武神。奥丁派她们前往每一场战斗。她们选定哪些人将死，决定谁将获胜。贡恩、萝塔，以及最年轻、名叫诗寇蒂的诺伦，总是骑马出行，挑选战死者，裁定战斗的结局。索尔的母亲娇德和瓦利的母亲琳德，也被列在女神之中。”

“有个人名叫吉密尔，他的妻子叫奥尔伯达。她出身于山巨人一族。他们的女儿格尔德，是所有女子中最美的。有一天，弗雷登上希利兹凯夫，俯瞰所有世界。当他望向北方时，看见一处庄园里有座宏大而美丽的房屋，一个女子正走向那座房屋。她举起双手，为自己打开房门时，双臂放出的光芒照亮了天空和海洋，所有世界都因她而明亮。他竟坐上那神圣的座位，这般狂妄便给他招来了惩罚：他离开时，心中充满忧伤。回到家后，他一言不发，不睡觉，也不饮水。谁也不敢叫他开口。

于是尼约德叫来弗雷的侍从斯基尔尼尔，要他去见弗雷，设法让他开口，问他究竟对谁如此恼怒，以至于不肯与人说话。斯基尔尼尔说自己会去，却并不情愿，还说恐怕只会得到他恶劣的回答。他来到弗雷面前，问弗雷为何如此垂头丧气，不肯与人交谈。弗雷回答说，他看见了一位美丽的女子，为她忧伤至此，若不能得到她，自己便活不了多久——‘如今你要去替我向她求婚，把她带回这里，无论她父亲愿不愿意，我都会好好报答你。’

斯基尔尼尔回答说，他可以去办这件事，但弗雷必须把自己的剑交给他。那是一把极好的剑，能够自行作战。弗雷不肯让这件事成为阻碍，便把剑给了他。斯基尔尼尔于是出发，替他向那女子求婚，并得到了她的应允。九夜之后，她会来到名叫巴雷的地方，在那里与弗雷成婚。斯基尔尼尔向弗雷报告此行的结果时，弗雷吟道：
一夜漫长，
再一夜也漫长，
我怎能熬过三夜？
我常觉得一个月
也不及
这半个相思之夜漫长。
正是这个缘故，弗雷与贝利交战时才会没有武器，只能用鹿角将他杀死。”

冈格勒说：“像弗雷这样的首领，竟肯送出自己的剑，而他又没有另一把同样好的剑，这真是件怪事。他与那个名叫贝利的家伙交战时，这必定给他带来了极大的麻烦。我敢断言，他那时一定后悔送出了剑。”

哈尔回答：“他与贝利交手时，那倒算不了什么。弗雷徒手也能杀死他。待到穆斯贝尔的儿子们前来征战时，他失去了这把剑，那时才会觉得更加难以应付。”

冈格勒说：“照你所说，自开天辟地以来，所有在战斗中阵亡的人，如今都到了奥丁的英灵殿。他用什么给他们做食物？我想那里的人必定极多。”

哈尔回答：“你说得对，那里的人确实极多。然而还会多得多，可等到那匹狼来临时，仍会嫌人太少。不过，英灵殿里无论有多少人，那头名叫沙赫利姆尼尔的公猪，其肉总够他们吃。它每天都被煮熟，到傍晚又恢复完整。不过，你现在问起的这件事，我想很少有人能聪明到说出其中的实情。厨师名叫安德赫利姆尼尔，锅名叫埃尔德赫利姆尼尔。诗中这样说：
安德赫利姆尼尔
在埃尔德赫利姆尼尔锅中
煮熟沙赫利姆尼尔，
那是最好的猪肉，
可很少有人知道，
英灵战士靠什么养活。”

冈格勒问：“奥丁吃的也和英灵战士一样吗？”

哈尔说：“他把摆在自己桌上的食物，给了他养的两匹狼，名叫格里和弗雷基。他自己不需要食物，葡萄酒对他而言，既是饮品，也是食物。诗中这样说：
格里与弗雷基，
由惯于征战、
荣耀的众军之父喂饱；
而武威赫赫的
奥丁，永远只靠
葡萄酒为生。
两只乌鸦栖在他的肩上，把它们所见所闻的一切消息，都说进他的耳中。它们名叫福金和穆宁。黎明时，他派它们飞遍整个世界，到早饭时分，它们便回来了。他因此得知许多消息。所以，人们称他为乌鸦之神，正如诗中所说：
福金与穆宁
每天飞过
辽阔的大地；
我担心福金
不能回来，
却更为穆宁忧虑。”

冈格勒问：“英灵战士喝什么，能像食物一样充足，足够他们享用？还是他们在那里喝水？”

哈尔说：“你这问题问得真奇怪，难道万物之父会把国王、雅尔或其他权贵请到自己那里，却给他们水喝吗？我敢断言，许多来到英灵殿的人，生前受尽伤痛，直至死去，若到那里得不到更好的款待，必定会觉得这口水买得太贵。我还能告诉你那里的另一件事。有一只母山羊，名叫海德伦，站在英灵殿顶上，啃食一棵极有名的树上枝条的叶子，那棵树名叫莱拉德。从它的乳头中流出蜜酒，每天都能装满一大缸。那酒多得足以让所有英灵战士喝个酩酊大醉。”

冈格勒说：“这山羊对他们可真有用。它啃食的那棵树，一定是棵极好的树。”

哈尔说：“还有一件更值得一提的事。雄鹿艾克瑟尼尔站在英灵殿上，也啃食那棵树的枝叶。它的角上滴下大量水滴，落入赫瓦格密尔，从那里流出这些河流：希德、维德、赛金、埃金、斯沃尔、贡恩斯罗、菲约尔姆、芬布尔苏尔、吉普尔、格普尔、格穆尔、盖尔维穆尔。这些河流穿过阿萨神族的居地。另外还有这些河流的名字：辛、温、瑟尔、赫尔、格拉德、贡恩斯拉因、尼特、讷特、嫩恩、赫伦、维纳、韦格斯温、提奥德努马。”

冈格勒说：“你刚才讲的这些事真奇妙。英灵殿一定是座无比巨大的房屋。门前想必时常十分拥挤。”

哈尔回答：“你为什么不问问，那殿堂有多少扇门，门又有多大？要是听人说过，你就会觉得，若不能任人自由出入，那才是怪事。不过，实话说，殿内容纳这些人，并不比让他们进入更拥挤。你可以听听《格里姆尼尔之歌》中怎么说：
五百扇门，
再加四十，
我想英灵殿便有这么多；
八百名英灵战士
同时从一扇门出去，
奔赴与狼的战斗。”

冈格勒说道：“英灵殿里的人真多。我敢以自己的信仰起誓，奥丁统率着如此庞大的军队，确是一位了不起的首领。不过，英灵战士不饮酒时，以什么为乐呢？”

哈尔说：“每天，他们穿好衣服，便披挂武装，走到庭院里相互厮杀，彼此击倒。这就是他们的游戏。等到用早饭的时候，他们便骑马回到英灵殿，坐下饮酒，正如这里所说：
所有英灵战士，
在奥丁的庭院里，
日日挥刃相击；
他们拣选阵亡者，
骑马离开战场，
随后又和睦地坐在一起。

你说得确实不错。奥丁的确威势非凡，有许多事例可以为证。阿萨神族自己也曾这样说：
尤克特拉希尔白蜡树，
是树木中最尊贵的，
斯基德布拉德尼尔是船中之最，
奥丁是阿萨神族之最，
斯雷普尼尔是马中之最，
比弗罗斯特是桥中之最，
布拉吉是诗人之最，
哈布罗克是鹰中之最，
加姆是犬中之最。”

冈格勒说道：“那匹斯雷普尼尔是谁的马？关于它，又有什么可说的呢？”

哈尔说：“你不了解斯雷普尼尔，也不知道它是怎样来到世上的。不过，你会觉得这件事值得一听。那是在诸神定居之初，诸神已经建起米德加尔特，造好英灵殿。一个工匠来到他们那里，提出用三个半年为他们筑起一道城墙，坚固得足以抵御山巨人和霜巨人，即使他们闯进米德加尔特，也无须担忧。但他提出的报酬是得到芙蕾雅，还要得到太阳和月亮。

阿萨神族于是聚在一起商议，定下计策，同工匠订立了契约：只要他能在一个冬天之内筑好城墙，就能得到他索要的东西；但到了夏季的第一天，若城墙还有任何一处没有完工，他就得不到报酬。他也不得接受任何人的帮助。

他们向他说明这些条件时，他请求准许自己的马帮忙，那匹马名叫斯瓦迪尔法利。洛基主张答应他，于是便添上了这一条。他在冬季的第一天开始筑墙，夜里则用马运来石料。阿萨神族看到那匹马拖运的巨石，无不惊异；那匹马干的重活，比工匠多出一倍。

他们订立契约时，有可靠的见证，也发下许多誓言，因为巨人觉得，若没有和约保障，待在阿萨神族中就不安全，万一索尔回来了便更是如此。当时索尔去了东方，击打巨魔。

冬天一天天过去，城墙的修筑进展迅速，墙体又高又坚固，根本无法攻打。离夏季只剩三天时，城门也已经快造好了。诸神于是坐上各自的审判席，商议对策，彼此追问：是谁出的主意，要把芙蕾雅嫁到约顿海姆？又是谁要毁坏天空和苍穹，从那里取走太阳和月亮，交给巨人？

众神一致认定，这必定是那个一向策划种种坏事的家伙——劳菲之子洛基的主意。他们说，若洛基想不出办法，让工匠拿不到报酬，就该让他惨死，并上前威逼他。洛基害怕了，便发誓说，无论付出什么代价，他都会设法使工匠拿不到报酬。

就在当天晚上，工匠带着斯瓦迪尔法利出去运石头时，一匹母马从树林里跑出来，奔到公马跟前，朝它嘶鸣。公马认出这是一匹母马，顿时狂躁起来，挣断绳索，朝母马奔去。母马逃进树林，工匠跟在后面，想抓住公马。然而两匹马跑了一整夜，那个晚上工程便耽搁了；第二天，筑墙也不如从前顺利。

工匠看出工程无法如期完成，便大发巨人之怒。阿萨神族这时确知来的是一个山巨人，便不再顾惜那些誓言，呼唤索尔。索尔立刻赶到，随即举起妙尔尼尔锤子。他就这样付给工匠报酬，给的并非太阳或月亮，反而使他连约顿海姆也住不成了：第一锤就将他的头骨打得粉碎，把他送到尼福尔海姆之下。

洛基同斯瓦迪尔法利有过那番来往，不久之后，便生下一匹马驹。那马是灰色的，长着八条腿，是诸神和人类之中最好的马。《女先知的预言》中这样说：
众位统治者，
至圣的诸神，
走上议事的座席，
共同商议此事：
是谁使整个天空
掺入了诡诈，
又将奥德的女子
许给了巨人的族类。
誓言被践踏，
诺言与盟誓，
彼此订立的
一切庄严契约，都被抛弃；
唯有索尔在那里出手杀戮，
满腔怒火，
每逢听到这等事，
他便很少安坐不动。”

冈格勒说道：“关于斯基德布拉德尼尔，有什么可说的呢？既然它是最好的船，难道就没有同它一样大的船吗？”

哈尔说：“斯基德布拉德尼尔是最好的船，造得也极其精巧，但最大的船是纳吉尔法，归穆斯贝尔所有。几个矮人，也就是伊瓦尔迪的儿子们，造出了斯基德布拉德尼尔，把它送给弗雷。这船大得足以载下所有披挂武装的阿萨神族；无论要去哪里，只要扬起帆来，就会有顺风。不出海时，由于它以众多部件巧妙制成，便可以像布一样折叠起来，装进自己的袋子里。”

冈格勒说道：“斯基德布拉德尼尔真是一艘好船，不过，要造出这样的船，必定用了很高深的法术。索尔出行时，可曾碰上过什么如此强大或凶猛的对手，凭力量或法术压倒了他？”

哈尔说道：“我想，能讲出这种事的人很少，不过，索尔也曾觉得许多事情难以应付。然而，即使真有什么东西如此强大或坚固，使索尔无法战胜，也没有必要讲出来，因为有许多事例证明，索尔的力量最强，人人都应当相信这一点。”

冈格勒说道：“看来，我向你们问了一件谁也讲不出来的事。”

雅夫恩哈尔说道：“我们听人讲过一些事情，觉得令人难以相信会是真的。不过，这里坐着一位，想必能把实情讲出来。你也该相信，一个从未说过谎的人，不会偏偏到这时才第一次说谎。”

冈格勒说道：“若这问题能有个解答，我就站在这里听着。否则，你们若讲不出我所问的事，我就要说你们被难倒了。”

斯莱德说道：“现在很清楚，他是一定要知道这些事了，尽管我们觉得讲出来并不光彩。事情的开头是这样：驾车的索尔赶着山羊，乘车出行，同他一起的还有一位名叫洛基的阿萨神。他们傍晚来到一个农夫家里，在那里借宿。

当晚，索尔捉住自己的两只山羊，将它们都宰了。随后，山羊被剥了皮，放进锅里。肉煮熟后，索尔便同伴侣们坐下吃晚饭。他邀请农夫和农夫的妻儿同自己一起吃。农夫的儿子名叫夏尔维，女儿名叫罗斯克瓦。索尔把山羊皮铺在离火堆稍远的地方，吩咐农夫和他的家人把骨头扔到山羊皮上。农夫的儿子夏尔维拿着一根山羊腿骨，用自己的小刀劈开，敲碎取髓。

索尔在他们家里过了夜。天还没亮，他就起身穿衣，拿起妙尔尼尔锤子，举起来为山羊皮祝圣。两只山羊随即站起来，其中一只却瘸了一条后腿。索尔察觉了，说农夫或他家里的人必定没有妥善处置山羊的骨头。他看出那根腿骨已经断了。

这事无须多说。人人都能明白，农夫看见索尔压低眉头，双眉垂到眼睛上方时，会有多害怕。而从眉下露出的那双眼睛，又使他觉得，单凭那目光就足以将自己击倒。索尔双手紧攥锤柄，攥得指节发白。

农夫和全家人果然如人所料，急切地呼喊，乞求饶恕，愿拿出所有财物作赔偿。索尔见他们如此害怕，怒气便消退了，平静下来，收下他们的孩子夏尔维和罗斯克瓦，作为和解的条件。从此，两人便成了必须服侍他的仆从，始终跟随在他身边。”

“索尔把山羊留在那里，动身向东，前往约顿海姆，一直走到海边，随后渡过那片深海。抵达陆地后，他便上岸步行，洛基、夏尔维和罗斯克瓦同他一起。他们走了不久，面前出现一片大森林。他们走了一整天，直到天黑。夏尔维是所有人中跑得最快的，背着索尔的行囊，不过，他们的食物不太充足。

天黑以后，他们寻找过夜的地方，发现面前有一座极大的厅堂。门开在一端，和整座厅堂一样宽。他们便在那里安身过夜。到了半夜，忽然发生一场大地震，脚下的大地一阵阵颠簸，房屋也随之摇晃。索尔起身，呼唤同伴，四下摸索，在厅堂中段右侧找到一间侧室，便走了进去。索尔坐在门口，其余的人躲在他身后，心中害怕。索尔握着锤柄，准备自卫。他们听见巨大的轰鸣和喧响。

天亮时，索尔走了出去，看见离自己不远的树林里躺着一个人，个头可不小。他睡着了，鼾声震耳。索尔这才明白，夜里的动静是从哪里来的。他束紧力量腰带，神力便增长了。

就在这时，那人醒来，迅速站起身。据说，索尔这一次竟有些畏缩，没有用锤子打他，而是问他叫什么名字。那人说自己叫斯克里米尔，又说：‘不过，我不必问你的名字。我认得出，你是阿萨神族的索尔。可是，你把我的手套拖到哪里去了？’

斯克里米尔伸手拿起手套。索尔这才发现，自己夜里当作厅堂的，原来就是那只手套，而那间侧室则是手套的拇指。

斯克里米尔问索尔是否愿意与他同行，索尔答应了。斯克里米尔便解开自己的食物包，准备吃早饭；索尔和同伴则在另一处吃。斯克里米尔提出，让他们把食物合在一起，索尔也答应了。于是，斯克里米尔将他们所有的食物扎成一包，背在背上。

白天，他走在前面，步子迈得很大。到了傍晚，斯克里米尔在一棵大橡树下为他们找好了过夜的地方。他对索尔说，自己要躺下睡觉，‘你们拿食物包去，准备自己的晚饭吧。’

随后，斯克里米尔便睡着了，鼾声大作。索尔拿起食物包，想把它解开。说来令人难以置信，他竟连一个结也解不开，连一根皮带头也挪不动，丝毫不能使它比原先松些。

他见这样做毫无用处，顿时大怒，双手抓住妙尔尼尔锤子，向斯克里米尔躺着的地方迈出一只脚，一锤打在他头上。斯克里米尔醒来，问是否有一片树叶掉在自己头上，又问他们是否已经吃过饭，准备睡觉了。索尔说，他们这就去睡。他们便走到另一棵橡树下。实话告诉你，他们这时睡觉，心里可并不安稳。

到了半夜，索尔听见斯克里米尔睡得正沉，鼾声震得森林轰响。他于是起身，走到斯克里米尔身边，迅猛地挥起锤子，直击他的头顶正中。他感觉到锤头深深陷进了那人的脑袋。然而就在这时，斯克里米尔醒了，说：‘怎么回事？是不是有颗橡子掉在我头上？索尔，你那里出了什么事？’

索尔急忙退回去，回答说自己刚刚醒来，又说这时才是半夜，还该继续睡觉。索尔心想，若能找到机会再打他第三锤，一定不能让他再看见自己。于是，他躺着留意斯克里米尔是否又已睡熟。

天快亮时，他听出斯克里米尔大概已经睡着，便起身冲过去，使出全身力气挥起锤子，打向他朝上的那侧太阳穴。锤子一直陷到锤柄处。斯克里米尔却坐起身，抚摸着脸颊，说：‘是不是有几只鸟栖在我上方的树上？我醒来时，觉得好像有些碎屑从枝头落到我头上。索尔，你醒着吗？该起来穿衣服了。你们到那座名叫乌特加德的城，已经没有多远了。我听见你们彼此低声说，我的个头可不小。可你们要是到了乌特加德，还会看见更高大的人。

如今，我给你们一个忠告：别自高自大。乌特加德·洛基的侍从，可不会轻易容忍你们这些小不点说狂话。要不然，你们就掉头回去，我看那样对你们更好。不过，你们要是还想往前走，就朝东去；我现在得向北，到你们眼前看得见的那些山里去。’

斯克里米尔拿起食物包，甩到背上，转身离开他们，径直走进树林。至于阿萨神族有没有祝愿将来再与他平安相见，故事里并没有提到。”

索尔和同伴们继续赶路，一直走到正午。他们看见一座城堡矗立在一片平原上，得把头仰得后脑勺贴住背，才能望见城堡顶端。他们走到城堡前，城门口有一道栅门，紧紧关着。索尔上前推门，却打不开。他们设法进城，便从栅条之间钻了进去，随后看见一座大殿，就朝那里走去。殿门敞开着。他们走进去，看见许多人分坐在两排长凳上，大多数都身形硕大。

接着，他们来到国王乌特加德·洛基面前，向他致意。他过了好一会儿才转眼看他们，咧嘴冷笑着说：“远道而来的消息，等得可真久啊。莫非我看错了，这个小毛孩子竟是驾车的索尔？不过，你的本领想必比看上去大些。你们几个自以为有什么拿手的技艺呢？谁若没有一种胜过大多数人的本领或才艺，就不能留在我们这里。”

走在最后的那个名叫洛基的人说：“我有一种本领，随时可以一试：这屋里没有谁能比我吃得更快。”

乌特加德·洛基回答：“你若做得到，这倒是种本领，那就试一试吧。”他朝长凳远端喊道，要那个名叫洛吉的人走到殿堂中央，和洛基比试。于是有人拿来一只木槽，放在殿堂的地上，装满了肉。洛基坐在一头，洛吉坐在另一头，两人都尽可能快地吃起来，在木槽中央碰到了一起。这时，洛基已经把骨头上的肉全吃光了，洛吉却不仅吃光了肉，还把骨头连同木槽也一起吃掉了。众人都觉得，洛基已经输了这场比赛。

接着，乌特加德·洛基问那个年轻人有什么本领。夏尔维说，他愿意与乌特加德·洛基指派的任何人赛跑几趟。乌特加德·洛基说，这是种好本领，不过，要想比试这一项，想必得跑得十分出色才行；但他仍叫他们立即比试。他站起身，走到外面，那里有一片平坦的场地，很适合赛跑。乌特加德·洛基把一个名叫胡吉的小伙子叫到跟前，要他和夏尔维赛跑。

他们跑了第一趟，胡吉领先得那么多，到达终点时，还转过身来迎着夏尔维跑。乌特加德·洛基说：“夏尔维，你若想赢，就得再加把劲。不过，说实在的，来到这里的人当中，我还没见过谁跑得比你更快。”

他们又跑了第二趟。胡吉到达终点，转过身时，夏尔维离他还有远远的一箭之地。乌特加德·洛基说：“我觉得夏尔维跑得很好，不过，我现在不相信他能赢了。等他们跑第三趟，就见分晓了。”

他们又跑了一趟。胡吉到达终点，转过身时，夏尔维还没跑到一半。于是众人都说，这场比赛已经分出胜负了。

接着，乌特加德·洛基问索尔，既然人们对他的丰功伟绩传扬得如此厉害，他打算向他们显露哪一种本领。索尔说，他最愿意和人比试酒量。乌特加德·洛基说，这当然可以，便走进殿堂，叫来侍酒的仆人，要他把侍从们平常喝罚酒用的角杯拿来。仆人随即捧着角杯上前，交到索尔手中。

乌特加德·洛基说：“这只角杯，一口喝干就算喝得好。有些人分两口喝干，但没有谁的酒量小到三口还喝不完。”

索尔看了看角杯，觉得它并不大，只是长了些。他十分口渴，便开始喝酒，大口大口地吞咽，心想自己用不着再举杯喝第二次。等他一口气耗尽，把头从角杯上抬起来，看看喝下了多少，却觉得杯里的酒比先前几乎没低多少。

乌特加德·洛基说：“喝得不错，只是喝得不多。若有人告诉我，阿萨神族的索尔一口只能喝下这么一点，我还真不会相信。不过，我知道你一定想在第二口把它喝干。”

索尔一言不发，把角杯放到嘴边，心想这次一定要喝得更多。他尽力喝下去，直到气息用尽，却仍觉得角杯的尖端翘得不够高。他把角杯从嘴边移开，往里面一看，觉得这次喝下去的比上次还少。不过，杯口上方这时已经空出了不少，端着也不容易洒了。

乌特加德·洛基说：“怎么了，索尔，你莫非打算把太多的酒留到最后一口，到时可就难办了？依我看，你若想在第三口喝干这角杯，这一口就得喝得最多。不过，你要是在别的比试中，也拿不出比这次更好的本领，在我们这里，你可就配不上阿萨神族给你的那种盛名了。”

索尔动了怒，把角杯放到嘴边，拼命猛喝，竭尽全力喝下去。等他往角杯里看时，这一回酒总算明显少了一些。他便把角杯递回去，不肯再喝了。

乌特加德·洛基说：“现在很清楚了，你的力量并不像我们原先想的那么大。不过，你还想试试别的比赛吗？看来你在这一项上是占不了上风了。”

索尔回答：“我还可以试试别的比赛。不过，我在阿萨神族家中时，若有人把这样的酒量说成微不足道，我一定会觉得奇怪。你们现在要我比试什么？”

乌特加德·洛基说：“这里的小孩子常做一件事，大概算不得什么本领，就是把我的猫从地上抱起来。要不是我已经看出你的本领远比我想的小，我还真不知该怎么向阿萨神族的索尔提出这种比试。”

这时，一只灰猫跳到殿堂的地上，个头相当大。索尔走过去，把一只手伸到它肚子中间下方，往上托举。索尔的手抬得越高，那猫就把背弓得越高。索尔把手伸到再也不能更高时，猫才有一只脚离开了地面，索尔也只能做到这一步了。

乌特加德·洛基说：“这场比赛果然如我所料。猫的个头是大了些，而索尔同我们这里这些高大的人相比，又矮又小。”

索尔说：“无论你们把我说得多么矮小，现在就来个人和我摔跤吧！我已经动怒了。”

乌特加德·洛基环视长凳，回答说：“这屋里的人，我看谁都会觉得，和你摔跤有失身份。”他又说：“先看看吧，把我的老乳母埃莉叫来；索尔若愿意，就和她摔跤。她摔倒过的人，在我看来，体格并不比索尔弱。”

随后，一位老妇人走进殿堂。乌特加德·洛基让她和阿萨神族的索尔摔跤。这场比试不必多说：索尔使的劲越大，她就站得越稳。随后，老妇人开始施展招数，索尔便站不稳了。两人扭打得十分激烈，没过多久，索尔便一条腿屈下，单膝跪地。乌特加德·洛基上前叫他们住手，说索尔不必再向他的其他侍从挑战摔跤了。这时夜色已临，乌特加德·洛基为索尔和他的同伴们安排了座位。他们在那里过了一夜，受到盛情款待。

第二天早晨，天刚亮，索尔和同伴们就起床穿衣，准备动身。这时乌特加德·洛基来了，吩咐给他们摆上饭桌。他们受到盛情款待，美食美酒一应俱全。吃过饭，他们便启程上路。乌特加德·洛基送他们出门，陪着他们走出城堡。临别时，乌特加德·洛基问索尔，觉得这次出行如何，有没有遇到比自己更强大的人。索尔说，他不能说自己在双方的较量中没有大丢脸面。“不过，我知道，你们一定觉得我的本领微不足道，这让我很不痛快。”

乌特加德·洛基说：“如今你已经出了城堡，我就把实情告诉你：只要我还活着，还能做主，你就休想再进这座城堡。我敢发誓，若我早知道你有这么大的力量，几乎使我们遭到大祸，我绝不会让你进来。不过，我对你施了幻术。最初在树林里，是我前去与你们相遇。你要解开干粮袋时，我已用铁丝把它捆住了，而你没找到解开的地方。随后你用锤子打了我三下，第一下最轻，可即使那一下，要是打中了，也足以要我的命。你在我殿堂附近看见一座平顶岩山，还看见山顶上有三道四四方方的深谷，其中一道最深，那就是你的锤痕。我把那座岩山移来挡住了锤击，你却没有看见。

“你们和我的侍从们比赛时，也同样如此。先说洛基的那场比赛：他非常饥饿，吃得很快，但那个名叫洛吉的，其实是熊熊烈火，烧掉木槽和烧掉肉一样快。夏尔维与那个名叫胡吉的赛跑，那其实是我的念头；夏尔维要同它比快，自然没有获胜的指望。

“你用角杯喝酒，觉得酒迟迟不见少，我敢发誓，那时发生了一件奇事，我原本绝不相信会有这种事。角杯的另一端通到大海里，你却没有看见。如今你走到海边，就能看见你把海水喝下去多少。现在，人们把那叫作退潮。”

他又说：“你把猫举起来，我觉得同样了不起。实话告诉你，你把它一只脚抬离地面时，看见的人都吓坏了。那只猫并非你看见的模样，而是环绕所有陆地的米德加尔特巨蛇耶梦加得。它几乎伸尽了身子，头和尾才勉强够得着地面；你把它举得那么高，离天空已经不远了。

“还有摔跤那场，也是极大的奇迹。你和埃莉角力，竟能坚持那么久，最后也只是单膝跪地。因为无论过去还是将来，凡是活到衰老之年的人，没有谁能免于被衰老摔倒。

“如今实话说来，我们就此分别，对双方都更好的是，你们别再来找我。下一次，我仍会用这样的诡计，或是别的诡计来守卫城堡，让你们无法奈何我。”

索尔听完这番话，便抓起锤子，高高举起，可等他要挥锤打去时，却已四下看不见乌特加德·洛基。他转身望向城堡，打算把它摧毁，却只看见辽阔秀美的平原，城堡已无影无踪。于是他转身上路，一直回到斯罗德万。不过，确实可以说，那时他已决意寻找机会，要与米德加尔特巨蛇耶梦加得相遇，后来也果然如此。我想，关于索尔这次出行，谁也不能比我告诉你的更确实了。”

这时冈格勒说：“乌特加德·洛基本领确实高强，不过他多用诡计和巫术。他手下有那些力大无穷的侍从，也足见他势力之大。难道索尔没有为此报仇吗？”

哈尔答道：“即使不是博学之士，也知道索尔后来挽回了方才所说的那次出行所失的颜面。他在家中没待多久，便又动身，而且走得十分仓促，既没乘车，也没带上山羊，更没有同伴。他像个年轻小伙子一样，步行出了米德加尔特，一天傍晚来到一个巨人的住处。这个巨人名叫希密尔。索尔在那里借宿了一夜。

“天一亮，希密尔便起床穿衣，准备划船出海捕鱼。索尔也一跃而起，很快收拾停当，请希密尔让自己随他一同划船出海。希密尔却说，他个子小，又只是个年轻人，帮不上什么忙——‘要是我像往常那样，在离岸很远的地方待上那么久，你会冻坏的。’

“索尔却说，尽管往远离陆地的地方划去，究竟谁会先提出往回划，还说不定。他对巨人十分恼怒，几乎当场就要让锤子砸到他身上，但还是忍住了，因为他打算到别处试试自己的力量。他问希密尔，他们该用什么作钓饵，希密尔叫他自己去找。索尔便转身走向他看到的一群公牛，那是希密尔的牛群。他抓住其中最大的一头，名叫希敏赫里奥德，扯下牛头，带到海边。这时希密尔已经把小船推下了水。

“索尔上船，在舀水的舱位坐下，拿起两支桨划了起来。希密尔觉得，他这一划，船便跑得飞快。希密尔在前面的船首处划桨，两人很快便划出了很远。这时希密尔说，他们已到了他惯常停船垂钓比目鱼的海域。索尔却说，他还要往远处划，于是他们又奋力划了一阵。希密尔说，他们已出海这么远，再往外停留，就有遇上米德加尔特巨蛇的危险。索尔说还要再划一会儿，也确实如此做了，希密尔这时已十分不快。

“索尔收起船桨，备好一根十分结实的钓线，钓钩也同样硕大坚固。他把牛头挂在钩上，抛出船外，钓钩便沉到了海底。实话告诉你，索尔这次引诱米德加尔特巨蛇上钩的手段，丝毫不逊于乌特加德·洛基当初让他用一只手托起巨蛇时戏弄他的手段。米德加尔特巨蛇张口吞下牛头，钓钩便刺进了它的上腭。巨蛇一觉察，猛地挣扎起来，力道之大，使索尔的双拳都撞到了船舷上。

“索尔顿时大怒，使出神力，双脚猛蹬，竟把船底踏穿，两脚直抵海底，然后把巨蛇拉到了船边。可以说，凡是没有看见索尔怒目瞪着巨蛇，而巨蛇从下方回瞪他、喷吐毒液的人，都没有见过真正骇人的景象。据说巨人希密尔见到巨蛇，又见海水在小船内外翻涌，便吓得脸色骤变，惨白如土。就在索尔抓起锤子，高高举起的一刻，巨人摸到切饵刀，在船舷上砍断了索尔的钓线，巨蛇便沉入海中。

“索尔把锤子朝它掷去。有人说，他在翻滚的海浪间打掉了它的脑袋；不过我想，实情应当是，米德加尔特巨蛇至今仍活着，盘踞在环绕大地的海中。索尔接着挥起拳头，打在希密尔耳边，把他打得翻出船外，连脚底都露了出来。索尔则涉水回到陆地。”

这时冈格勒说：“阿萨神族中还发生过什么更大的事情吗？索尔这次出行，确实干下了极其英勇的壮举。”

哈尔答道：“该讲一讲那些在阿萨神族看来更为重大的事情了。故事的开端是，善良的巴德尔做了几个重大的凶梦，梦见自己的性命将有危险。他把梦告诉阿萨神族后，众神便共同商议，决定为巴德尔求得庇护，使他免受一切灾祸。于是弗丽嘉让火与水、铁与各种金属、石头、大地、树木、疾病、走兽、飞鸟、毒物和蛇都立下誓言，绝不伤害巴德尔。

“这件事办成并传开后，巴德尔和阿萨神族便有了一种消遣：让巴德尔站在集会上，其他众神有的向他射击，有的挥兵器砍他，有的拿石头打他。无论怎样对付他，他都毫发无损，众神都觉得这是极大的荣耀。劳菲之子洛基看见巴德尔安然无恙，心中十分不快。他来到芬萨里尔见弗丽嘉，变作一个女人的模样。

“弗丽嘉问那女人，可知道阿萨神族在集会上做什么。她说，大家都在向巴德尔射击，他却毫发无伤。弗丽嘉便说：‘兵器和木头都伤不了巴德尔，我已让它们全都起过誓。’女人问：‘所有东西都立过誓，不伤害巴德尔吗？’弗丽嘉答道：‘英灵殿西边长着一株嫩枝，叫作槲寄生。我觉得它太幼小，便没有要它起誓。’

“那女人随即离去。洛基取来槲寄生，将它拔起，走到集会上。霍德尔站在人圈外围，因为他双目失明。洛基对他说：‘你为什么不向巴德尔射击？’他答道：‘因为我看不见巴德尔在哪里，再说我也没有兵器。’洛基说：‘你也该学着旁人的样子，像大家一样向巴德尔表示敬意。我会指给你看他站在哪里。拿这根枝条射他吧。’

“霍德尔接过槲寄生，照洛基指引的方向射向巴德尔。枝条穿透巴德尔的身体，他倒地身亡。这是神与人之间发生过的最大灾祸。

“巴德尔倒下时，阿萨诸神全都说不出话，双手也无力伸向他，只能彼此相望。对于干下这件事的凶手，众神心中怀着同样的愤恨，却谁也不能报仇，因为那地方极其神圣，严禁杀伤。等到他们试着开口，哭声却先涌了出来，谁也无法用言语向旁人诉说自己的悲痛。奥丁最为这场灾祸所苦，因为他最清楚，巴德尔之死给阿萨神族带来了多么深重的损害与丧失。

“众神回过神来后，弗丽嘉开口问，阿萨神族中有谁愿意赢得她全部的爱与眷顾，骑马走上通往赫尔的道路，设法找到巴德尔，并向赫尔提出赎价，看她是否愿意让巴德尔回到阿斯加德。承担这趟旅程的，是奥丁之子、勇敢的赫尔莫德。于是众神牵来奥丁的坐骑斯雷普尼尔，赫尔莫德跨上马背，疾驰而去。

“阿萨诸神则抬起巴德尔的遗体，送到海边。巴德尔的船名叫赫林霍尼，是所有船中最大的一艘。众神想把它推下水，在船上为巴德尔举行火葬，但船纹丝不动。于是他们派人前往巨人国，去请一个名叫希尔罗金的女巨人。她骑着狼，以毒蛇为缰绳，来到这里，从坐骑上一跃而下。奥丁叫来四名狂战士看管她的坐骑，但他们非得把它摔倒在地，才能制住它。

“希尔罗金走到船首，头一下便把船推了出去，力道之大，使滚木迸出火花，所有大地都为之震动。索尔勃然大怒，抓起锤子，正要砸碎她的脑袋，众神便一齐为她求情。

“接着，巴德尔的遗体被抬上船。他的妻子、内普之女南娜见到这一幕，悲痛得心碎而死。众神把她也抬上柴堆，点起了火。索尔站在旁边，用妙尔尼尔为火葬堆祝圣。有个名叫利特的侏儒从他脚前跑过，索尔抬脚把他踢进火里，他便被烧死了。

“前来参加这场火葬的有各族生灵。先说奥丁，与他同行的有弗丽嘉、女武神和他的乌鸦。弗雷乘着一辆车，拉车的野猪名叫古林布尔斯提，又名斯利德鲁格坦尼。海姆达尔骑着名叫古尔托普的马，芙蕾雅则乘着由她的猫拉的车。还有大批霜巨人和山巨人到来。

“奥丁把名叫德罗普尼尔的金环放在柴堆上。这只金环有一种特性：每逢第九夜，便会从它身上滴下八只同样重的金环。巴德尔的马也连同全套鞍具，一起被牵上了柴堆。

“再说赫尔莫德，他骑马穿行于幽暗深邃的山谷，走了九夜，一路什么也看不见，直到来到吉约尔河，骑上吉约尔河桥。桥上铺着闪亮的黄金。守桥的姑娘名叫莫德古德。她问他的姓名和出身，并说前一天曾有五队死人骑马过桥——‘可他们让桥发出的响声，还不及你一个人。你的脸色也不像死人。你为什么骑马来到这条通往赫尔的路上？’

“他答道：‘我要骑马到赫尔那里，寻找巴德尔。你可曾在通往赫尔的路上见过巴德尔？’她说，巴德尔已骑马经过吉约尔河桥，‘通往赫尔的路向下，朝着北方。’

“赫尔莫德继续骑行，直到来到赫尔的大门前。他下马，将肚带束紧，重新上马，用马刺催动坐骑。马猛地一跃，越过大门，一点也没有碰到门。赫尔莫德骑到殿堂前，下马走进殿内，看见他的兄弟巴德尔坐在上座。他在那里住了一夜。

“第二天早晨，赫尔莫德请求赫尔让巴德尔随自己骑马回家，并告诉她阿萨神族哭得多么悲痛。赫尔说，要用下面的办法，试试巴德尔是否真如传闻中那样受人爱戴——‘倘若世间万物，无论有生命的还是无生命的，都为他哭泣，他就可以回到阿萨神族那里；倘若有任何一样东西反对，或不肯哭泣，他就得留在赫尔这里。’

“赫尔莫德随后起身，巴德尔送他走出殿堂，取下德罗普尼尔金环，托他带给奥丁，留作纪念。南娜送给弗丽嘉一块细麻布和另外一些礼物，又送给芙拉一枚金戒指。赫尔莫德沿原路骑马返回，来到阿斯加德，将自己的所见所闻全部说了出来。

“阿萨神族随即派使者走遍世界，请求万物哭泣，使巴德尔得以离开赫尔。所有东西都照做了：人、动物、大地、石头、树木和一切金属。你想必也见过，这些东西从寒冷之处来到温暖之处时，都会流泪。

“使者们办妥差事，回去的路上，在一个山洞里发现一个坐着的女巨人。她自称索克。他们请她哭泣，使巴德尔得以离开赫尔。她说：

索克将以
干涸的泪水
哭悼巴德尔的火葬；
无论他生前还是死后，
卡尔之子都未曾使我受惠，
让赫尔留住所拥有的吧。

“人们猜想，那就是劳菲之子洛基，他在阿萨神族中干下的坏事最多。”

于是冈格勒说：“洛基先是使巴德尔遭到杀害，随后又使他无法从赫尔那里获释，着实做下了大事。他可曾为此受到什么报应？”

哈尔说：“他为此付出的代价，足够让他长久铭记。诸神对他怒不可遏，这也是理所当然的；他便逃走，藏在一座山上，在那里造了一所房子，开了四道门，以便从屋里望见四面八方。白天，他常常变成鲑鱼，藏在一个名叫弗拉南格瀑布的地方。他反复思量，阿萨神族会想出什么计策，在瀑布中捉住他。他坐在屋里时，拿来亚麻线，将它编成网眼，就像后来人们编织的渔网那样；他面前燃着一堆火。这时，他看见阿萨神族已经离他不远了，原来奥丁从希利兹凯夫上看到了他的藏身之处。他立刻跳起身来，跃入河中，将那张网扔进了火里。

“阿萨神族来到屋前，最先进去的是他们当中最有智慧的一位，名叫克瓦希尔。他看见火中渔网烧成的灰烬，便明白那是一种捕鱼的器具，于是告诉了众神。接着，他们照着灰烬中显出的模样，仿照洛基的做法，织成了一张网。网织好了，阿萨神族便来到河边，将网撒进瀑布里。索尔握着网的一端，其余阿萨神族一同握着另一端，拖着网前行。洛基游在网前，伏在两块石头之间。他们将网从他上方拖过，觉察到前面有个活物，便第二次来到瀑布上头，撒下网，又在网上系了重物，使他无法从网下钻过。洛基于是游在网前。眼看离大海已经不远，他便跃过网纲，逆流游回瀑布。阿萨神族看见了他的去向，再次来到瀑布上头，将人手分成两队，索尔则在河中央涉水而行，就这样一同向大海推进。

“洛基见自己只有两条路可走：一是跃入大海，那就有性命之忧；二是再跃过渔网。他选择了后者，以最快的速度跃过网纲。索尔伸手去抓，一把攥住了他。他在索尔手中滑动，直到那只手卡在尾部才停住。鲑鱼的后身因此变得细窄。

“洛基就这样被捉住，得不到任何赦免，被押进一座洞穴。他们取来三块石板，侧立起来，在每块石板上凿了一个孔。随后，他们抓来洛基的两个儿子，瓦利和纳利，后者也叫纳尔维。阿萨神族将瓦利变成狼，他便将自己的兄弟纳尔维撕成碎片。阿萨神族取出他的肠子，用来将洛基绑在那三块侧立的石头上。一块托着他的肩膀，一块托着他的腰，一块托着他的膝弯；那些绳索随即变成了铁。斯卡蒂拿来一条毒蛇，固定在他上方，让毒液从蛇口滴到他脸上。他的妻子西格恩站在身旁，用一只盆接住滴下的毒液。盆满了，她便走开，将毒液倒掉；就在这时，毒液便滴到他脸上。他猛烈抽搐，震得整个大地颤抖。你们将这称为地震。他就这样被缚在那里，直到诸神黄昏。”

于是冈格勒说：“关于诸神黄昏，有什么事情可讲？我从前不曾听说过。”

哈尔说：“那时会发生许多重大的事情。最先到来的是一个名叫芬布尔之冬的寒冬。雪从四面八方飘来，严霜酷烈，狂风呼啸，太阳也无济于事。这样的冬天接连三个，中间没有夏天。而在此之前，还会有另外三个冬天，那时整个世界战乱不休。兄弟因贪欲而自相残杀，无论杀人还是断绝亲情，都没有人顾惜父子。《女先知的预言》中这样说：

兄弟将彼此争斗，
互相夺去性命，
姐妹的儿子们
将毁弃亲缘；
人世严酷，
淫乱盛行，
斧之世，剑之世，
盾牌迸裂，
风之世，狼之世，
直到世界倾覆。

“随后将发生一件被视为大事的事：狼吞下太阳，人们认为这是莫大的灾祸。另一只狼攫去月亮，也造成极大的祸害。群星从天上消失。随后，整个大地和群山剧烈震动，树木从地里连根拔起，山岩崩塌，一切镣铐和绳索都断裂挣开。芬里尔狼于是获得自由。大海涌上陆地，因为米德加尔特巨蛇发起巨人般的狂怒，向陆地逼近。与此同时，名叫纳吉尔法的船也挣脱了束缚。这艘船由死人的指甲造成，因此应当留心，不可让人死时还留着未剪的指甲，因为那样的人会为纳吉尔法添上许多造船的材料，而诸神与人都盼望这艘船越迟造好越好。在这场海潮之中，纳吉尔法浮了起来。一个名叫赫列姆的巨人掌着纳吉尔法的舵。

“芬里尔狼张着大口前行，下颚抵着大地，上颚顶着天空。若有余地，它还会张得更大。它的双眼和鼻孔喷出火焰。米德加尔特巨蛇喷吐毒液，洒遍天空和海洋，模样极其可怖；它行进在狼的一侧。就在这片轰鸣中，天空裂开，穆斯贝尔的儿子们从那里骑马而来。苏尔特骑在最前头，他身前身后烈火熊熊。他的剑极为精良，光芒比太阳还要明亮。他们骑过比弗罗斯特时，桥便断裂，正如前面说过的那样。

“穆斯贝尔的儿子们向名叫维格利德的原野进发。芬里尔狼和米德加尔特巨蛇也来到那里。洛基和赫列姆此时也已到达，所有霜巨人都跟随赫列姆，赫尔的所有随从都跟随洛基。穆斯贝尔的儿子们自成一阵，那阵列光耀无比。维格利德原野向每个方向都延伸一百拉斯特（古北欧长度单位）。

“这些事情发生时，海姆达尔便站起身来，奋力吹响加拉尔号角，唤醒所有神明，诸神随即聚集议事。奥丁骑马前往密米尔之泉，就自己和部众的命运向密米尔求取指点。尤克特拉希尔白蜡树于是颤抖，天上地下，无一物不心怀恐惧。阿萨神族和所有英灵战士披挂武装，向原野进发。奥丁骑马走在最前头，戴着金盔，身披华美的铠甲，手执名叫冈格尼尔的长矛，直奔芬里尔狼而去。索尔在他身旁前进，却无法援助他，因为他已全力应付与米德加尔特巨蛇的搏斗。弗雷迎战苏尔特，经过一场恶斗，弗雷倒下了。他之所以丧命，是因为失去了那把赠给斯基尔尼尔的好剑。

“这时，被缚在格尼帕洞穴前的猎犬加姆也挣脱了束缚。它是极其凶恶的怪物。它与提尔交战，双方同归于尽。索尔杀死了米德加尔特巨蛇，向外走了九步，便因巨蛇喷到他身上的毒液倒地而死。狼吞下奥丁，奥丁就此丧命。紧接着，维达尔冲上前，将一只脚踏进狼的下颚。他这只脚上穿的鞋，用自古以来积攒的材料制成，也就是人们从鞋的脚尖或脚跟处剪下的皮革碎片。因此，凡想帮助阿萨神族的人，都应当把这些皮革碎片扔掉。他用一只手抓住狼的上颚，将狼嘴撕裂，狼便这样死去。洛基与海姆达尔交战，彼此杀死对方。随后，苏尔特将火焰抛向大地，焚毁整个世界。《女先知的预言》中这样说：

海姆达尔高声吹响，
号角举向天空，
奥丁与
密米尔的头颅交谈；
耸立的尤克特拉希尔
白蜡树颤抖，
古树呻吟，
巨人挣脱束缚。

阿萨神族怎么了？
精灵怎么了？
整个约顿海姆轰然作响，
阿萨神族聚集议事，
侏儒们呻吟着，
站在石门之前，
他们是岩壁之主。
你们可还想知道些什么？

赫列姆从东方驶来，
举起椴木盾牌，
耶梦加得翻腾，
大发巨人的狂怒；
巨蛇击打波涛，
鹰将尖声啼叫，
苍白的喙撕扯尸体，
纳吉尔法挣脱束缚。

船从东方驶来，
穆斯贝尔的子民
将渡海而至，
洛基掌舵；
所有怪物之子
都与贪狼同行，
他们随比莱斯特的
兄弟一道出发。

苏尔特从南方而来，
携着枝条的灾星，
从剑上闪耀出
战神的太阳；
岩山碰撞轰鸣，
女巨人踉跄而行，
人们踏上赫尔之路，
天空裂开。

于是赫琳的
第二重悲伤来临，
奥丁前往
与狼交战，
贝利的杀手光芒灿然，
迎向苏尔特；
弗丽嘉的挚爱
将在那里倒下。

奥丁之子前往
与狼交战，
维达尔踏上征途，
迎向那食尸之兽；
他用手将剑
刺入赫韦德龙之子的
心脏；
父仇就此得报。

赫洛丁那位
声名显赫的儿子走来，
被巨蛇逼入绝境，
却无惧于耻辱；
所有人都将
离开家园，
米德加尔特的守护者
在狂怒中将它杀死。

太阳将变黑，
大地沉入海中，
明亮的群星
从天空消失，
浓烟与养育生命的烈火
翻腾肆虐，
高耸的热焰
直扑天空。

“另有诗这样说：

维格利德是那片原野之名，
苏尔特与慈爱的诸神
将在那里交战；
一百拉斯特（古北欧长度单位），
它向每个方向延伸；
那是为他们命定的战场。”

于是冈格勒说：“整个世界烧尽，所有神明、所有英灵战士和全体人类都死去之后，还会剩下什么？你们先前又说，每个人都会在某个世界里永远活下去。”

斯莱德回答：“那时仍有许多美好的居所，也有许多邪恶的居所。最好的去处是天上的金利。对于喜欢饮酒的人，名叫布里米尔的厅堂里有充足的美酒。它坐落在奥科尔尼尔。尼达山上也有一座美好的厅堂，以赤金建成，名叫辛德里。善良而品行端正的人将居住在这些厅堂中。

“纳斯特隆德有一座巨大而邪恶的厅堂，门朝着北方。整座厅堂以蛇的脊背编成，如同枝条编成的房屋，所有蛇头都朝向屋里，喷吐毒液，使厅堂中流淌起毒河。背誓者和杀人凶徒将在那些河中跋涉，正如这里所说：

我知道有一座厅堂，
远离太阳，
坐落在纳斯特隆德，
门朝着北方；
毒液一滴滴
落入天窗；
那座厅堂
以蛇的脊背编成。

在那里涉过
湍急河流的，
将是发伪誓的人
和杀人凶徒。

“赫瓦格密尔的境况最为恶劣：

尼德霍格在那里折磨
死去之人的尸体。”

于是冈格勒问道：“那时还有神活着吗？还会有大地或天空吗？”

哈尔说：“那时，大地会从海中升起，青翠而美丽。田野不经播种便会长出庄稼。维达尔和瓦利活了下来，海水和苏尔特的烈焰都不曾伤害他们。他们住在伊达沃尔，也就是从前阿斯加德所在的地方。索尔的儿子莫迪和曼尼也来到那里，带着妙尔尼尔。接着，巴德尔和霍德尔从赫尔那里归来。众神坐在一起交谈，回忆自己的卢恩符文，谈论往昔发生的事情，谈论米德加尔特之蛇和巨狼芬里尔。随后，他们在草中找到了阿萨神族从前拥有的黄金棋子。诗中这样说道：

维达尔和瓦利
将居住在众神的圣所，
当苏尔特的烈焰暗淡之时；
莫迪和曼尼
将拥有妙尔尼尔，
当温格尼尔的征战告终之时。

在一个名叫霍德密米尔林的地方，有两个人躲过了苏尔特的烈焰，他们名叫利夫和利夫萨拉西尔，以晨露为食。他们的后裔将繁衍得如此众多，遍布整个世界，正如这里所说：

利夫和利夫萨拉西尔，
他们将藏身于
霍德密米尔的树林；
清晨的露水，
便是他们的食粮，
人类的后世将由他们繁衍。

还有一件事，你会觉得奇妙：太阳生下了一个女儿，容貌丝毫不逊于她，后来沿着母亲的道路运行，正如这里所说：

一个女儿，
将由普照万物者生下，
在芬里尔将她吞噬之前；
当众神死去，
那位少女将驰行于
母亲走过的道路。

倘若你还能问到更遥远的将来，我便不知道你这些问题从何而来，因为我从未听过有人把世事的未来说得更远了。如今，就让你学到的这些使你受益吧。”

随后，冈格勒听见四面八方传来巨大的轰鸣，便转头向旁边望去。等他再环顾四周时，自己已站在一片平坦的原野上，既看不见厅堂，也看不见城堡。他于是上路，回到自己的国度，讲述了自己的所见所闻。此后，人们便依照他的讲述，将这些故事口耳相传。

阿萨神族则坐下来交谈，商议对策，回顾讲给他的所有故事，又将前面提到的那些名字，赋予身边的人和地方，好让漫长的岁月过去以后，人们不会怀疑：故事里说到的那些阿萨神族，与当时获赐这些名字的人，全都是同一批神。其中有一人被称为索尔，他便是古时的阿萨索尔。