《序言》的原典

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

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

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

2. On the three parts of the world.

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

3. Of the Trojans.

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

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

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

4. Odin's journey into the northern world.

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

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

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

5. Odin made his home at Sigtuna.

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

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

起初，全能的上帝创造了天与地，以及天地间的一切，最后又创造了两个人，亚当和夏娃，世人的族系都由他们而出。他们的后代日益繁衍，散布到整个世界。随着岁月流逝，世人渐渐有了善恶之别。有些人善良而信仰虔正，但更多的人却追随尘世的欲望，违背上帝的诫命。因此，上帝使洪水泛滥，淹没了世界和世间的一切生灵，只有那些与挪亚同在方舟中的得以幸免。挪亚洪水之后，有八个人活了下来，居住在世上，后来的各个族系都由他们而出。然而，情形又与从前一样：当人口增多、世间遍有人居时，绝大多数人都贪恋财富与尊荣，疏于顺从上帝，甚至到了不愿提起上帝的地步。那么，又有谁会向他们的儿子讲述上帝的伟大奇迹呢？于是，他们遗忘了上帝的名字，世间大多数地方都找不到一个认识自身造物主的人。

尽管如此，上帝仍赐给他们尘世的福分、财富和安乐，供他们在世间生活。他也把智慧分给他们，使他们能够理解一切尘世之物，以及天地间一切可见的现象。他们曾思索并惊异于这样一件事：大地、走兽和飞鸟在某些方面具有相同的本性，形态却又不同，这究竟是为什么呢？其中一个共同的本性是，在高高的山顶挖掘大地，那里也会涌出水来，而且挖到水所需的深度并不比在深谷中更大。走兽和飞鸟也是如此，无论在头部还是脚部，触及血液的深度都一样。大地的第二种本性是，每年地上都会长出花草，同一年里，它们又全都凋落枯萎；走兽和飞鸟也一样，毛发和羽毛每年都会长出，又会脱落。大地的第三种本性是，当它被剖开挖掘之后，地表的泥土上又会长出青草。他们把岩石和石块看作与生灵的牙齿和骨骼相对应的东西。由此，他们认为大地是活的，以某种方式拥有生命。他们也知道，大地的年岁极其久远，本性强大。它养育一切生灵，也收纳一切死去的东西。为此，他们给它取了名字，并把自己的世系追溯到它。

他们还从年老的亲族那里听说，数百年前，也同样有这片大地、太阳和天上的星辰，但星辰运行的路程各不相同，有些较长，有些较短。从诸如此类的事情中，他们猜想，必定有一位统御星辰者，能随自己的意愿支配它们的运行，而他必定拥有极大的权势与力量。他们又想，既然他统御着天地间的基本元素，那么他必定在星辰出现之前就已存在。他们也看出，既然他支配星辰的运行，那么他必定也支配太阳的光辉、天空的露水，以及随之而来的大地的物产，同样也支配空中的风和海上的风暴。他们并不知道他的国度在哪里，却相信他统御着地上和空中的万物，统御着天、星辰、大海与风雨。为了更便于讲述和记忆，他们便自行给万物取了名字。随着民族分化、语言分歧，这种信仰也发生了种种变化。然而，他们只凭尘世的认识去理解万物，因为他们并未获赐属灵的智慧。他们认为，一切事物都是用某种材料制造出来的。

2. 世界的三个部分。

世界分为三个部分。从南方到西方，向内直至地中海，这一部分叫作非洲。这一部分的南部炎热无比，烈日如焚。第二部分从西方到北方，向内直至大海，叫作欧洲，或埃涅亚。这里的北部极其寒冷，寸草不生，也无法居住。从北方经过整个东方，直至南方，这一部分叫作亚洲。世间一切美丽华贵之物、丰饶的土地物产、黄金和宝石，都在这一部分。世界的中央也在那里。正如那里的土地比其他地方更美好，各方面的条件也更优越，那里的人也在一切天赋上最为出众，无论智慧、力量、容貌，还是各种技艺，都是如此。

3. 特洛伊人的事迹。

在靠近世界中央的地方，人们建起了一处最负盛名的城郭与居所，名叫特洛伊，位于我们所称的土耳其。这地方的规模远超其他地方，在许多方面也建造得更为精巧，尽用了那里所能取得的资财与物料。那里有十二个王国和一位至高的国王，每个王国都统辖着许多国土。城中有十二位首领。这些首领在人所能有的一切才干上，都胜过世间其他所有的人。

特洛伊有一位国王，名叫穆农，或门农。他娶了至高国王普里阿摩斯的女儿，她名叫特罗安。他们生了一个儿子，名叫特罗尔，就是我们所称的索尔。他在色雷斯长大，由一位名叫洛里库斯的公爵抚养。十岁时，他承接了父亲的武器。他容貌俊美，站在人群中，就像嵌在橡木中的象牙。他的头发比黄金还美。十二岁时，他便已具备全部的力量。那时，他能一次从地上举起十张熊皮。他杀死了养父洛里库斯公爵和公爵的妻子洛拉，或称格洛拉，将色雷斯王国据为己有。我们把那里叫作斯鲁德海姆。随后，他远行各国，遍历世界的每一个部分，独力战胜了一切狂战士和巨人，还杀死了一条极大的龙和许多猛兽。在世界的北部，他遇见一位名叫西比尔的女预言者，就是我们所称的希芙，并娶她为妻。没有人能说出希芙的世系。她是所有女子中最美的，头发如同黄金。

他们的儿子是洛里迪，容貌与父亲相似。洛里迪的儿子是埃因里迪，他的儿子是温格索尔，他的儿子是温格内尔，他的儿子是莫达，他的儿子是马吉，他的儿子是塞斯凯夫，他的儿子是贝德维格，他的儿子是阿斯拉，就是我们所称的安南；他的儿子是伊特尔曼，他的儿子是赫雷莫德，他的儿子是斯基亚尔敦，就是我们所称的斯基约尔德；他的儿子是比亚夫，我们称他为比亚尔；他的儿子是亚特，他的儿子是古多尔夫，他的儿子是芬恩，他的儿子是弗里亚拉夫，就是我们所称的弗里德莱夫。他有一个儿子，名叫沃登，我们称他为奥丁。他智慧超群，各种才干都十分出众。他的妻子名叫弗里吉达，就是我们所称的弗丽嘉。

4. 奥丁前往世界北方。

奥丁具有预知的能力，他的妻子也是如此。凭借这些预见，他得知自己的名字将传扬于世界北部，受到的尊崇将超过一切国王。因此，他萌生了离开土耳其、踏上旅途的愿望。他带上大批随从，有青年，也有老人，有男人，也有女人，还携带了许多珍宝。他们无论经过哪个国家，人们都盛传他们的非凡之处，认为他们更像神明。他们一路不停，直到来到北方如今称为萨克森的地方。

奥丁在那里停留了很长时间，取得了大片土地。他派自己的三个儿子镇守那里。其中一个名叫韦格德格，是一位强大的国王，统治东萨克森。他的儿子是维特尔吉尔斯。维特尔吉尔斯的儿子是维塔和西加尔，维塔是亨格斯特的父亲，西加尔是斯韦布德格的父亲，斯韦布德格就是我们所称的斯维普达格。奥丁的第二个儿子名叫巴尔德格，就是我们所称的巴德尔。他拥有如今称为威斯特伐利亚的土地。他的儿子是布兰德，他的儿子是弗里奥迪加尔，就是我们所称的弗罗迪；他的儿子是弗雷奥温，他的儿子是乌维格，他的儿子是格维斯，就是我们所称的加韦。奥丁的第三个儿子名叫西吉，他的儿子是雷里尔。这些先祖统治着如今称为法兰克的地方，称为沃尔松的族系便源出于此。上述诸人都传下了许多强盛的家族。

随后，奥丁启程北行，来到他们称为雷德哥特兰的地方，在那里取得了自己想要的一切。他派儿子斯基约尔德统治那片土地。斯基约尔德的儿子是弗里德莱夫。称为斯基约尔德家族的世系便源出于此，他们就是丹麦诸王。当时称为雷德哥特兰的地方，就是如今的日德兰。

5. 奥丁在锡格蒂纳定居。

此后，他向北行进，来到如今称为瑞典的地方。那里有一位国王，名叫吉尔菲。当他听说这些被称为阿萨神族的亚洲人正在前来，便出迎他们，表示奥丁可以在他的国土上随心所欲地掌握权柄。他们所到之处，都适逢丰年与和平；无论他们在哪一国停留，那里都是如此。众人都相信，这是由他们掌管的，因为当地的权贵看出，他们无论容貌还是智慧，都与自己见过的其他人不同。

奥丁觉得那里的原野秀美，土地条件优良，便选定如今称为锡格蒂纳的地方作为建城之所。他在那里任命首领，仿照特洛伊的制度，在城中设置十二位首领，依照国法裁断事务。他也依照特洛伊原有的制度和土耳其人的习惯，安排了一切法度。此后，他继续北行，直到面前出现大海；他们以为这片海环绕着所有陆地。他派自己的一个儿子统治那里，也就是如今称为挪威的国土。这个儿子名叫塞明。挪威诸王都将自己的世系追溯到他，诸位雅尔和其他权贵也是如此，正如《哈洛加兰世系诗》中所说的。

奥丁还带着一个名叫英格维的儿子，他在奥丁之后成为瑞典的国王，称为英格林王朝的各支世系便由他而出。这些阿萨神族在当地娶妻，有些也为自己的儿子娶妻。这些家族人丁兴旺，遍布萨克森，并从那里散布到整个北方，以至于他们这些亚洲人的语言成了所有这些地方共同的语言。人们认为，从他们记载下来的祖先姓名中，也能看出这一点：这些姓名一直随这种语言流传，是这些阿萨神族把这种语言带到了我们这世界的北方，带到挪威、瑞典、丹麦和萨克森。而在英格兰，还有一些古老的地域名称或地名，可以看出是用另一种语言命名的。