《诗语法》的原典
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古诺尔斯语原文采用冰岛学者 Guðni Jónsson 编订版本的规范拼写。
Einn maðr er nefndr Ægir eða Hlér. Hann bjó í eyju þeiri, er nú er kölluð Hlésey. Hann var mjök fjölkunnigr. Hann gerði ferð sína til Ásgarðs, en æsir vissu fyrir ferð hans, ok var honum fagnat vel ok þó margir hlutir gervir með sjónhverfingum. Ok um kveldit, er drekka skyldi, þá lét Óðinn bera inn í höllina sverð ok váru svá björt, at þar af lýsti, ok var ekki haft ljós annat, meðan við drykkju var setit. Þá gengu æsir at gildi sínu, ok settust í hásæti tólf æsir, þeir er dómendr skyldu vera ok svá váru nefndir: Þórr, Njörðr, Freyr, Týr, Heimdallr, Bragi, Víðarr, Váli, Ullr, Hænir, Forseti, Loki. Slíkt sama ásynjur: Frigg, Freyja, Gefjun, Iðunn, Gerðr, Sigyn, Fulla, Nanna. Ægi þótti göfugligt þar um at sjást. Veggþili öll váru þar tjölduð með fögrum skjöldum. Þar var ok áfenginn mjöðr ok mjök drukkit. Næsti maðr Ægi sat Bragi, ok áttust þeir vit drykkju ok orðaskipti. Sagði Bragi Ægi frá mörgum tíðendum, þeim er æsir höfðu átt.
Hann hóf þar frásögn, at þrír æsir fóru heiman, Óðinn ok Loki ok Hænir, ok fóru um fjöll ok eyðimerkr, ok var illt til matar. En er þeir koma ofan í dal nakkvarn, sjá þeir öxnaflokk ok taka einn uxann ok snúa til seyðis. En er þeir hyggja, at soðit mun vera, raufa þeir seyðinn, ok var ekki soðit. Ok í annat sinn, er þeir raufa seyðinn, þá er stund var liðin, ok var ekki soðit. Mæla þeir þá sín á milli, hverju þetta mun gegna. Þá heyra þeir mál í eikina upp yfir sik, at sá, er þar sat, kvaðst ráða því, er eigi soðnaði á seyðinum. Þeir litu til, ok sat þar örn ok eigi lítill. Þá mælti örninn: "Vilið þér gefa mér fylli mína af uxanum, þá mun soðna á seyðinum." Þeir játa því. Þá lætr hann sígast ór trénu ok sezt á seyðinn ok leggr upp þegar it fyrsta lær uxans tvau ok báða bóguna. Þá varð Loki reiðr ok greip upp mikla stöng ok reiðir af öllu afli ok rekr á kroppinn erninum. Örninn bregzt við höggit ok flýgr upp. Þá var föst stöngin við bak arnarins, en hendr Loka við annan enda stangarinnar. Örninn flýgr hátt svá, at fætr Loka taka niðr grjót ok urðir ok viðu, en hendr hans, hyggr hann, at slitna munu ór öxlum. Hann kallar ok biðr allþarfliga örninn friðar. En hann segir, at Loki skal aldri lauss verða, nema hann veiti honum svardaga at koma Iðunni út of Ásgarð með epli sín, en Loki vill þat. Verðr hann þá lauss ok ferr til lagsmanna sinna, ok er eigi at sinni sögð fleiri tíðendi um þeira ferð, áðr þeir koma heim. En at ákveðinni stundu teygir Loki Iðunni út um Ásgarð í skóg nökkurn ok segir, at hann hefir fundit epli þau, er henni munu gripir í þykkja, ok bað, at hon skal hafa með sér sín epli ok bera saman ok hin. Þá kemr þar Þjazi jötunn í arnarham ok tekr Iðunni ok flýgr braut með ok í Þrymheim til bús síns.
En æsir urðu illa við hvarf Iðunnar, ok gerðust þeir brátt hárir ok gamlir. Þá áttu þeir æsir þing, ok spyrr hverr annan, hvat síðast vissi til Iðunnar, en þat var sét síðast, at hon gekk út ór Ásgarði með Loka. Þá var Loki tekinn ok færðr á þingit, ok var honum heitit bana eða píslum. En er hann varð hræddr, þá kvaðst hann mundu sækja eftir Iðunni í Jötunheima, ef Freyja vill ljá honum valshams, er hon á. Ok er hann fær valshaminn, flýgr hann norðr í Jötunheima ok kemr einn dag til Þjaza jötuns. Var hann róinn á sæ, en Iðunn var ein heima. Brá Loki henni í hnotarlíki ok hafði í klóm sér ok flýgr sem mest. En er Þjazi kom heim ok saknar Iðunnar, tekr hann arnarharminn ok flýgr eftir Loka, ok dró arnsúg í flugnum. En er æsirnir sá, er valrinn flaug með hnotina ok hvar örninn flaug, þá gengu þeir út undir Ásgarð ok báru þannig byrðar af lokarspánum. Ok þá er valrinn flaug inn of borgina, lét hann fallast niðr við borgarvegginn. Þá slógu æsirnir eldi í lokarspánuna, en örninn mátti eigi stöðva sik, er hann missti valsins. Laust þá eldinum í fiðri arnarins, ok tók þá af fluginn. Þá váru æsirnir nær ok drápu Þjaza jötun fyrir innan ásgrindr, ok er þat víg allfrægt. En Skaði dóttir Þjaza jötuns, tók hjálm ok brynju ok öll hervápn ok ferr til Ásgarðs at hefna föður síns. En æsir buðu henni sætt ok yfirbætr ok it fyrsta, at hon skal kjósa sér mann af ásum ok kjósa at fótum ok sjá ekki fleira af. Þá sá hon eins manns fætr forkunnarfagra ok mælti: "Þenna kýs ek. Fátt mun ljótt á Baldri." En þat var Njörðr ór Nóatúnum. Þat hafði hon ok í sættargerð sinni, at æsir skyldu þat gera, er hon hugði, at þeir skyldu eigi mega, at hlægja hana. Þá gerði Loki þat, at hann batt um skegg geitar nökkurrar ok öðrum enda um hreðjar sér, ok létu þau ýmsi eftir ok skrækði hvárt tveggja hátt. Þá lét Loki fallast í kné Skaða, ok þá hló hon. Var þá ger sætt af ásanna hendi við hana.
Svá er sagt, at Óðinn gerði þat til yfirbóta við Skaða, at hann tók augu Þjaza ok kastaði upp á himin ok gerði af stjörnur tvær. Þá mælti Ægir: "Mikill þykkir mér Þjazi fyrir sér hafa verit, eða hvers kyns var hann?" Bragi svarar: "Ölvaldi hét faðir hans, ok merki munu þér at þykkja, ef ek segi þér frá honum. Hann var mjök gullauðigr. En er hann dó ok synir hans skyldu skipta arfi, þá höfðu þeir mæling á gullinu, er þeir skiptu, at hverr skyldi taka munnfylli sína ok allir jafnmargar. Einn þeira var Þjazi annarr Iði, þriði Gangr. En þat höfum vér orðtak nú með oss at kalla gullit munntal þessa jötna, en vér felum í rúnum eða í skáldskap svá, at vér köllum þat mál eða orð eða tal þessa jötna." Þá mælti Ægir: "Þat þykkir mér vel fólgit í rúnum."
Ok enn mælti Ægir: "Hvaðan af hefir hafizt sú íþrótt, er þér kallið skáldskap?" Bragi svarar: "Þat váru upphöf til þess, at goðin höfðu ósætt við þat fólk, er Vanir heita. En þeir lögðu með sér friðstefnu ok settu grið á þá lund, at þeir gengu hvárirtveggju til eins kers ok spýttu í hráka sínum. En at skilnaði þá tóku goðin ok vildu eigi láta týnast þat griðamark ok sköpuðu þar ór mann. Sá heitir Kvasir. Hann er svá vitr, at engi spyrr hann þeira hluta, er eigi kann hann órlausn. Hann fór víða um heim at kenna mönnum fræði, ok þá er hann kom at heimboði til dverga nökkurra, Fjalars ok Galars, þá kölluðu þeir hann með sér á einmæli ok drápu hann, létu renna blóð hans í tvau ker ok einn ketil, ok heitir sá Óðrerir, en kerin heita Són ok Boðn. Þeir blendu hunangi við blóðit, ok varð þar af mjöðr sá, er hverr, er af drekkr, verðr skáld eða fræðamaðr. Dvergarnir sögðu ásum, at Kvasir hefði kafnat í mannviti, fyrir því at engi var þar svá fróðr, at spyrja kynni hann fróðleiks. Þá buðu þessir dvergar til sín jötni þeim, er Gillingr heitir, ok konu hans. Þá buðu dvergarnir Gillingi at róa á sæ með sér. En er þeir fóru fyrir land fram, reru dvergarnir á boða ok hvelfðu skipinu. Gillingr var ósyndr, ok týndist hann, en dvergarnir réttu skip sitt ok reru til lands. Þeir sögðu konu hans þenna atburð, en hon kunni illa ok grét hátt. Þá spurði Fjalarr hana, ef henni myndi hugléttara, ef hon sæi út á sæinn, þar er hann hafði týnzt, en hon vildi þat. Þá mælti hann við Galar, bróður sinn, at hann skal fara upp yfir dyrrnar, er hon gengi út, ok láta kvernstein falla í höfuð henni, ok talði sér leiðast óp hennar. Ok svá gerði hann. Þá er þetta spurði Suttungr jötunn, sonr Gillings, ferr hann til ok tók dvergana ok flytr á sæ út ok setr þá í flæðarsker. Þeir biðja Suttung sér lífsgriða ok bjóða honum til sættar í fóðurgjald mjöðinn dýra, ok þat verðr at sætt með þeim. Flytr Suttungr mjöðinn heim ok hirðir, þar sem heita Hnitbjörg, setr þar til gæzlu dóttur sína, Gunnlöðu. Af þessu köllum vér skáldskap Kvasis blóð eða dvergadrekku eða fylli eða nökkurs konar lög Óðreris eða Boðnar eða Sónar eða farskost dverga, fyrir því at sá mjöðr flutti þeim fjörlausn ór skerinu, eða Suttungamjöð eða Hnitbjargalögr." Þá mælti Ægir: "Myrkt þykkir mér þat mælt at kalla skáldskap með þessum heitum. En hvernig kómuzt þér æsir at Suttungamiði?"
Bragi svarar: "Sjá saga er til þess, at Óðinn fór heiman ok kom þar, er þrælar níu slógu hey. Hann spyrr, ef þeir vili, at hann brýni ljá þeira. Þeir játa því. Þá tekr hann hein af belti sér ok brýndi ljána, en þeim þótti bíta ljárnir miklu betr ok föluðu heinina, en hann mat svá, at sá, er kaupa vildi, skyldi gefa við hóf. En allir kváðust vilja ok báðu hann sér selja, en hann kastaði heininni í loft upp. En er allir vildu henda, þá skiptust þeir svá við, at hverr brá ljánum á háls öðrum. Óðinn sótti til náttstaðar til jötuns þess, er Baugi hét, bróðir Suttungs. Baugi kallaði illt fjárhald sitt ok sagði, at þrælar hans níu höfðu drepizt, en talðist eigi vita sér ván verkmanna. En Óðinn nefndist fyrir honum Bölverkr. Hann bauð at taka upp níu manna verk fyrir Bauga, en mælti sér til kaups einn drykk af Suttungamiði. Baugi kvaðst einskis ráð eiga at miðinum, sagði, at Suttungr vildi einn hafa, en fara kveðst hann mundu með Bölverki, ok freista, ef þeir fengi mjöðinn. Bölverkr vann um sumarit níu manna verk fyrir Bauga, en at vetri beiddi hann Bauga leigu sínnar. Þá fara þeir báðir til Suttungs. Baugi segir Suttungi, bróður sínum, kaup þeira Bölverks, en Suttungr synjar þverliga hvers dropa af miðinum. Þá mælti Bölverkr til Bauga, at þeir skyldu freista véla nökkurra, ef þeir megi ná miðinum, en Baugi lætr þat vel vera. Þá dregr Bölverkr fram nafar þann, er Rati heitir, ok mælti, at Baugi skal bora bjargit, ef nafarrinn bítr. Hann gerir svá. Þá segir Baugi, at gegnum er borat bjargit, en Bölverkr blæss í nafarsraufina, ok hrjóta spænirnir upp í móti honum. Þá fann hann, at Baugi vildi svíkja hann, ok bað bora gegnum bjargit. Baugi boraði enn, en er Bölverkr blés annat sinn, þá fuku inn spænirnir. Þá brást Bölverkr í ormslíki ok skreið inn í nafarsraufina, en Baugi stakk eftir honum nafrinum ok missti hans. Fór Bölverkr þar til, sem Gunnlöð var, ok lá hjá henni þrjár nætr, ok þá lofaði hon honum at drekka af miðinum þrjá drykki. Í inum fyrsta drykk drakk hann allt ór Óðreri, en í öðrum ór Boðn, í inum þriðja ór Són, ok hafði hann þá allan mjöðinn. Þá brást hann í arnarham ok flaug sem ákafast. En er Suttungr sá flug arnarins, tók hann sér arnarham ok flaug eftir honum. En er æsir sá, hvar Óðinn flaug, þá settu þeir út í garðinn ker sín, en er Óðinn kom inn of Ásgarð, þá spýtti hann upp miðinum í kerin, en honum var þá svá nær komit, at Suttungr myndi ná honum, at hann sendi aftr suman mjöðinn, ok var þess ekki gætt. Hafði þat hverr, er vildi, ok köllum vér þat skáldfífla hlut. En Suttungamjöð gaf Óðinn ásunum ok þeim mönnum, er yrkja kunnu. Því köllum vér skáldskapinn feng Óðins ok fund ok drykk hans ok gjöf hans ok drykk ásanna."
Þá mælti Ægir: "Hversu á marga lund breytið þér orðtökum skáldskapar, eða hversu mörg eru kyn skáldskaparins?" Þá mælti Bragi; "Tvenn eru kyn, þau er greina skáldskap allan." Ægir spyrr: "Hver tvenn?" Bragi segir: "Mál ok hættir." "Hvert máltak er haft til skáldskapar?" "Þrenn er grein skáldskaparmáls." "Hver?" "Svá at nefna hvern hlut, sem heitir. Önnur grein er sú, er heitir fornöfn. In þriðja málsgrein er sú, er kölluð er kenning, ok er sú grein svá sett, at vér köllum Óðin eða Þór eða Tý eða einhvern af ásum eða álfum, ok hvern þeira, er ek nefni til, þá tek ek með heiti af eign annars ássins eða get ek hans verka nökkurra. Þá eignast hann nafnit, en eigi hinn, er nefndr var. Svá sem vér köllum sig-Tý eða hanga-Tý eða farma-Týr, þat er þá Óðins heiti, ok köllum vér þat kennt heiti, svá ok at kalla reiðar-Tý."
En þetta er nú at segja ungum skáldum, þeim er girnast at nema mál skáldskapar ok heyja sér orðfjölða með fornum heitum eða girnast þeir at kunna skilja þat, er hulit er kveðit, þá skili hann þessa bók til fróðleiks ok skemmtunar. En ekki er at gleyma eða ósanna svá þessar frásagnir at taka ór skáldskapinum fornar kenningar, þær er höfuðskáld hafa sér líka látit. En eigi skulu kristnir menn trúa á heiðin goð ok eigi á sannyndi þessa sagna annan veg en svá sem hér finnst í upphafi bókar.
Nú skal láta heyra dæmin, hvernig höfuðskáldin hafa látit sér sóma at yrkja eftir þessum heitum ok kenningum, svá sem segir Arnórr jarlaskáld, at Óðinn heiti Alföðr: Nú hykk slíðrhugaðs segja, / síð léttir mér stríða, / þýtr Alföður, ýtum / jarls kostu, brim hrosta. Hér kallar hann ok skáldskapinn hrostabrim Alföður. Hávarðr halti kvað svá: Nú er jódraugum ægis / arnar flaug of hauga; / hygg ek, at heimboð þiggi / Hangagoðs af vangi. Svá kvað Víga-Glúmr: Lattisk herr með höttu / Hangatýs at ganga, / þóttit þeim at hætta / þekkiligt, fyrir brekku. Svá kvað Refr: Oft kom, jarðar leiftra / er Baldr hniginn skaldi, / hollr at helgu fulli / Hrafnásar mér, stafna. Svá kvað Eyvindr skáldaspillir: Ok Sigurð / hinn er svönum veitti / hróka bjór / Haddingja vals / Farmatýs, / fjörvi næmðu / jarðráðendr / á Öglói. Svá kvað Glúmr Geirason: Þar var, þrafna byrjar / þeim stýrðu goð Beima / sjalfr í sæki-alfi / Sigtýr Atals dýra. Svá kvað Eyvindr enn: Göndul ok Skögul / sendi Gautatýr / at kjósa of konunga, / hverr Yngva ættar / skyldi með Óðni fara / ok í Valhöllu vera. Svá kvað Úlfr Uggason: Ríðr at vilgi víðu / víðfrægr, en mér líða, / Hroftatýr, of hváfta / hróðrmál, sonar báli. Svá kvað Þjóðólfr inn hvinverski: Valr lá þar á sandi, / vitinn inum eineygja / Friggjar faðmbyggvi, / fögnuðum dáð slíkri. Þat kvað Hallfreðr: Sannyrðum spenr sverða / snarr þiggjandi viggjar / barrhaddaða byrjar / biðkván und sik Þriðja. Hér er þess dæmi, at jörð er kölluð kona Óðins í skáldskap. Svá er hér sagt, at Eyvindr kvað: Hermóðr ok Bragi, / kvað Hroftatýr, / gangið í gögn grami, / því at konungr ferr, / sá er kappi þykkir, / til hallar hinig. Svá kvað Kormákr: Eykr með ennidúki / jarðhljótr día fjarðar / breyti, hún sá er, beinan, / bindr. Seið Yggr til Rindar. Svá kvað Steinþórr: Forngörvan á ek firnum / farms Gunnlaðar arma / horna fors at hrósa / hlítstyggs ok þó lítinn. Svá kvað Úlfr Uggason: Þar hykk sigrunni svinnum / sylgs valkyrjur fylgja / heilags tafns ok hrafna. / Hlaut innan svá minnum. Svá kvað Egill Skalla-Grímsson: Blætk eigi af því / bróður Vílis, / goðjaðar, / at ek gjarn séa; / þó hefr Míms vinr / mér of fengit / bölva bætr, / er it betra telk. Gafumk íþrótt / ulfs of bági, / vígi vanr, / vammi firrða. Hér er hann kallaðr goðjaðarr ok Míms vinr ok úlfs bági. Svá kvað Refr: Þér eigu vér veigar, / Valgautr, salar brautar, / Fals, hrannvala fannar, / framr, valdi tamr, gjalda. Svá kvað Einarr skálaglamm: Hljóta mun ek, né hlítir, / Hertýs, of þat frýju, / fyrir örþeysi at ausa / austr víngnóðar flausta. Svá kvað Úlfr Uggason: Kostigr ríðr at kesti, / kynfróðs, þeim er goð hlóðu, / Hrafnfreistaðar, hesti / Heimdallr, at mög fallinn. Svá er sagt í Eiríksmálum: Hvat er þat drauma, kvað Óðinn, / ek hugðumk fyrir dag rísa, / Valhöll ryðja / fyrir vegnu fólki, / vekða ek Einherja, / bæða ek upp rísa, / bekki at strá, / bjórker leyðra, / valkyrjur vín bera, / sem vísi kæmi. Þat kvað Kormákr: Algildan bið ek aldar / allvald of mér halda / ýs bifvangi Yngva / ungr. Fór Hroftr með Gungni. Þat kvað Þórálfr: Sagði hitt, er hugði, / Hliðskjalfar gramr sjalfum, / hlífar-styggs þar er höggnir / Háreks liðar váru. Svá kvað Eyvindr: Hinn, er Surts / ór sökkdölum / farmögnuðr / fljúgandi bar. Svá kvað Bragi: Þat erumk sýnt, at snimma / sonr Aldaföðrs vildi / afls við úri þafðan / jarðar reist of freista. Svá kvað Einarr: Því at fjölkostigr flestu / flestr ræðr við son Bestlu, / tekit hefk morðs til mærðar, / mæringr en þú færa. Svá kvað Þorvaldr blönduskáld: Nú hef ek margt / í miði greipat / burar Bors, / Búra arfa.
Hér skal heyra, hvé skáldin hafa kennt skáldskapinn eftir þessum heitum, er áðr eru rituð, svá sem er at kalla Kvasis dreyra ok dverga skip, dverga mjöð, jötna mjöð, Suttunga mjöð, Óðins mjöð, ása mjöð, föðurgjöld jötna, lögr Óðreris ok Boðnar ok Sónar ok fyllr, lögr Hnitbjarga, fengr ok fundr ok farmr ok gjöf Óðins, svá sem hér er kveðit, er orti Einarr skálaglamm: Hugstóran bið ek heyra, / heyr, jarl, Kvasis dreyra, / foldar vörð á fyrða / fjarðleggjar brim dreggjar. Ok sem kvað Einarr enn skálaglamm: Ullar gengr of alla / asksögn þess, er hvöt magnar / byrgis böðvar sorgar, / bergs geymi-lá dverga. Svá sem kvað Ormr Steinþórsson: At væri borit bjórs / bríkar ok mitt lík, / rekkar nemi dauðs drykk / Dvalins, í einn sal. Ok sem Refr kvað: Grjót-aldar ték gildi / geðreinar Þórsteini; / berg-Mæra glymr bára, / bið ek lýða kyn hlýða. Svá sem kvað Egill: Buðumk hilmir löð, / þar á ek hróðrs of kvöð, / bar ek Óðins mjöð / á Engla bjöð. Ok sem kvað Glúmr Geirason: Hlýði, hafta beiðis / hefk, mildingar, gildi; / því biðjum vér þagnar, / þegna tjón at fregnum. Ok sem kvað Eyvindr: Vilja ek hljóð / at Hárs líði, / meðan Gillings / gjöldum yppik, / meðan hans ætt / í hverlegi / galgafarms / til goða teljum. Svá sem Einarr kvað skálaglamm: Eisar vágr fyr vísa, / verk Rögnis mér hagna, / þýtr Óðreris alda, / aldrhafs, við fles galdra. Ok enn sem hann kvað: Nú er þats Boðnar bára, / berg-Saxa, tér vaxa, / gervi í höll ok hlýði / hljóð fley jöfurs þjóðir. Ok sem kvað Eilífr Guðrúnarson: Verðið ér, alls orða / oss grær of kon mæran / á sefreinu Sónar / sáð, vingjöfum ráða. Svá sem kvað Völu-Steinn: Heyr Míms vinar mína, / mér er fundr gefinn Þundar, / við góma sker glymja / glaumbergs, Egill, strauma. Svá kvað Ormr Steinþórsson: Seggir þurfut ala ugg, / engu sný ek í Viðurs feng / háði, kunnum hróðrsmíð / haga, of mínn brag. Svá kvað Úlfr Uggason: Haldrgegnis ték Hildar / hugreifum Áleifi, / hann vil ek at gjöf Grímnis, / geðfjarðar lá, kveðja. Skáldskapr er kallaðr sjár eða lögr dverganna, fyrir því at Kvasis blóð var lögr í Óðreri, áðr mjöðrinn væri gerr, ok þar gerðist hann í katlinum, ok er hann kallaðr fyrir því hverlögr Óðins, svá sem kvað Eyvindr ok fyrr var ritat: Meðan hans ætt / í hverlegi / galgafarms / til goða teljum. Enn er kallaðr skáldskaprinn far eða líð dverganna. Líð heitir öl, ok líð heitir skip. Svá er tekit til dæma, at skáldskapr er nú kallaðr fyrir því skip dverga, svá sem hér segir: Bæði á ek til brúðar / bergjarls ok skip dverga / sollinn vind at senda / seinfyrnd götu eina.
Hvernig skal kenna Þór? Svá, at kalla hann son Óðins ok Jarðar, faðir Magna ok Móða ok Þrúðar, verr Sifjar, stjúpfaðir Ullar, stýrandi ok eigandi Mjöllnis ok megingjarða, Bilskirrnis, verjandi Ásgarðs, Miðgarðs, dólgr ok bani jötna ok trollkvinna, vegandi Hrungnis, Geirröðar, Þrívalda, dróttinn Þjálfa ok Rösku, dólgr Miðgarðsorms, fóstri Vingnis ok Hlóru. Svá kvað Bragi skáld: Vaðr lá Viðris arfa / vilgi slakr, er rakðisk, / á Eynæfis öndri, / Jörmungandr at sandi. Svá kvað Ölvir hnúfa: Æstisk allra landa / umbgjörð ok sonr Jarðar. Svá kvað Eilífr: Vreiðr stóð Vrösku bróðir, / vá gagn faðir Magna; / skelfra Þórs né Þjalfa / þróttar steinn við ótta. Ok sem kvað Eysteinn Valdason: Leit á brattrar brautar / baug hvassligum augum, / æstisk áðr at flausti / öggs búð, faðir Þrúðar. Enn kvað Eysteinn: Sín bjó Sifjar rúni / snarla fram með karli, / hornstraum getum Hrímnis / hræra, veiðarfæri. Ok enn kvað hann: Svá brá viðr, at, sýjur, / seiðr, renndu fram breiðar, / jarðar, út af borði / Ulls mágs hnefar skullu. Svá kvað Bragi: Hamri fórsk í hægri / hönd, þá er allra landa, / ægir öflugbarða, / endiseiðs of kenndi. Svá kvað Gamli: Þá er gramr, hinn er svik samðit, / snart Bilskirrnis hjarta, / grundar fisk með grandi / gljúfrskeljungs nam rjúfa. Svá kvað Þorbjörn dísarskáld: Þórr hefir Yggs með árum / Ásgarð af þrek varðan. Svá kvað Bragi: Ok borðróins barða / brautar hringr inn ljóti / á haussprengi Hrungnis / harðgeðr neðan starði. Enn kvað Bragi: Vel hafið yðrum eykjum / aftr, Þrívalda, haldit / simbli sumbls of mærum, / sundrkljúfr níu höfða. Svá kvað Eilífr: Þröngvir gein við þungum / þangs rauðbita tangar / kveldrunninna kvinna / kunnleggs alinmunni. Svá kvað Úlfr Uggason: Þjokkvöxnum kvaðsk þykkja / þikling firinmikla / hafra njóts at höfgum / hætting megindrætti. Ok enn þetta: Fullöflugr lét fellir / fjall-Gauts hnefa skjalla, / rammt mein var þat, reyni / reyrar leggs við eyra. / (56.) / Víðgymnir laust Vimrar / vaðs af fránum naðri / hlusta grunn við hrönnum. / Hlaut innan svá minnum. Hér er hann kallaðr jötunn Vimrar vaðs. Á heitir Vimur, er Þórr óð, þá er hann sótti til Geirröðargarða. Ok svá kvað Vetrliði skáld: Leggi brauzt þú Leiknar, / lamðir Þrívalda, / steypðir Starkeði, / stéttu of Gjalp dauða. Ok svá kvað Þorbjörn dísarskáld: Ball í Keilu kolli, / Kjallandi brauzt þú alla, / áðr draptu Lút ok Leiða, / léztu dreyra Búseyru; / heftir þú Hengjankjöftu, / Hyrrokkin dó fyrri; / þó var snemr in sáma / Svívör numin lífi.
Hvernig skal kenna Baldr? Svá, at kalla hann son Óðins ok Friggjar, ver Nönnu, faðir Forseta, eigandi Hringhorna ok Draupnis, dólgr Haðar, Heljar sinni, Gráta-goð. Úlfr Uggason hefir kveðit eftir sögu Baldrs langt skeið í Húsdrápu, ok ritat er áðr dæmi til þess, er Baldr er svá kenndr.
Hvernig skal kenna Njörd? Svá, at kalla hann Vanaguð eða Vananið eða Van ok föður Freys ok Freyju, fégjafa guð. Svá segir Þórðr Sjáreksson: Varð sjalf suna, / nama snotr una, / Kjalarr of tamði, / kváðut Hamði, / Goðrún bani, / goðbrúðr Vani, / heldr vel mara, / hjörleik spara. Hér er þess getit, er Skaði gekk frá Nirði, sem fyrr er ritat.
Hvernig skal kenna Frey? Svá, at kalla hann son Njarðar, bróður Freyju ok enn Vanaguð ok Vananið ok Vanr ok árguð ok fégjafa. Svá kvað Egill Skalla-Grímsson: Því at Grjótbjörn / of gæddan hefir / Freyr ok Njörðr / at féarafli. Freyr er kallaðr Belja dólgr, svá sem kvað Eyvindr skáldaspillir: Þá er útröst / jarla bági / Belja dolgs / byggja vildi. Hann er eigandi Skíðblaðnis ok galtar þess, er Gullinbursti heitir, svá sem hér er sagt: Ívalda synir / gengu í árdaga / Skíðblaðni at skapa, / skipa bazt, / skírum Frey, / nýtum Njarðar bur. Svá segir Úlfr Uggason: Ríðr á börg til borgar / böðfróðr sonar Óðins / Freyr ok folkum stýrir / fyrstr inum gulli byrsta. Hann heitir ok Slíðrugtanni.
Hvernig skal Heimdall kenna? Svá, at kalla hann son níu mæðra eða vörð goða, svá sem fyrr er ritat, eða hvíta ás, Loka dólg mensækir Freyju. Heimdallar höfuð heitir sverð. Svá er sagt, at hann var lostinn mannshöfði í gegnum. Um þat er kveðit í Heimdallar galdri, ok er síðan kallat höfuð mjötuðr Heimdallar. Sverð heitir manns mjötuðr. Heimdallr er eigandi Gulltopps. Hann er ok tilsækir Vágaskers ok Singasteins. Þá deilði hann við Loka um Brísingamen. Hann heitir ok Vindlér. Úlfr Uggason kvað í Húsdrápu langa stund eftir þeiri frásögu, ok er þess þar getit, at þeir váru í selalíkjum. Hann er ok sonr Óðins.
Hvernig skal kenna Tý? Svá, at kalla hann einhenda ás ok úlfs fóstra, víga guð, son Óðins.
Hvernig skal kenna Braga? Svá, at kalla hann Iðunnar ver, frumsmið bragar ok inn síðskeggja ás - af hans nafni er sá kallaðr skeggbragi, er mikit skegg hefir - ok sonr Óðins.
Hvernig skal kenna Víðar? Hann má kalla inn þögla ás, eiganda járnskós, dólg ok bana Fenrisúlfs, hefniás goðanna, byggviás föðurtófta ok son Óðins, bróður ásanna.
Hvernig skal kenna Vála? Svá, at kalla hann son Óðins ok Rindar, stjúpson Friggjar, bróður ásanna, hefniás Baldrs, dólg Haðar ok bana hans, byggvanda föðurtófta.
Hvernig skal kenna Höð? Svá, at kalla hann blinda ás, Baldrs bana, skjótanda Mistilteins, son Óðins, Heljar sinna, Vála dólg.
Hvernig skal kenna Ull? Svá, at kalla hann son Sifjar, stjúp Þórs, öndurás, bogaás, veiðiás, skjaldarás.
Hvernig skal kenna Hæni? Svá, at kalla hann sessa eða sinna eða mála Óðins ok inn skjóta ás ok inn langa fót ok aurkonung.
Hvernig skal kenna Loka? Svá, at kalla hann son Fárbauta ok Laufeyjar, Nálar, bróður Býleists ok Helblinda, föður Vánargands, þat er Fenrisúlfr, ok Jörmundgands, þat er Miðgarðsormr, ok Heljar ok Nara ok Ála, frænda ok föðurbróður, vársinna ok sessa Óðins ok ása, heimsæki ok kistuskrúð Geirröðar, þjóf jötna, hafrs ok Brísingamens ok Iðunnar epla, Sleipnis frænda, ver Sigynjar, goða dólgr, hárskaði Sifjar, bölvasmiðr, inn slægi áss, rægjandi ok vélandi goðanna, ráðbani Baldrs, inn bundni áss, þrætudólgr Heimdallar ok Skaða. Svá sem hér segir Úlfr Uggason: Ráðgenginn bregðr ragna / rein at Singasteini / frægr við firnaslægjan / Fárbauta mög vári; / móðöflugr ræðr mæðra / mögr hafnýra fögru, / kynni ek, áðr ok einnar / átta, mærðar þáttum. Hér er þess getit, að Heimdallr er son níu mæðra.
Nú skal enn segja dæmi, af hverju þær kenningar eru, er nú váru ritaðar, er áðr váru eigi dæmi til sögð, svá sem Bragi sagði Ægi, at Þórr var farinn í austrvega at berja troll, en Óðinn reið Sleipni í Jötunheima ok kom til þess jötuns, er Hrungnir hét. Þá spyrr Hrungnir, hvat manna sá er með gullhjálminn, er ríðr loft ok lög, ok segir, at hann á furðugóðan hest. Óðinn sagði, at þar vill hann veðja fyrir höfði sínu, at engi hestr skal vera jafngóðr í Jötunheimum. Hrungnir segir, at sá er góðr hestr, en hafa lézt hann mundu miklu stórfetaðra hest. Sá heitir Gullfaxi. Hrungnir varð reiðr ok hleypr upp á hest sinn ok hleypir eftir honum ok hyggr at launa honum ofrmæli. Óðinn hleypir svá mikit, at hann var á öðru leiti fyrir, en Hrungnir hafði svá mikinn jötunmóð, at hann fann eigi fyrr en hann kom inn of ásgrindr. Ok er hann kom at hallardurum, buðu æsir honum til drykkju. Hann gekk í höllina ok bað fá sér at drekka. Váru þá teknar þær skálir, er Þórr var vanr at drekka af, ok snerti Hrungnir ór hverri. En er hann gerðist drukkinn, þá skorti eigi stór orð. Hann lézt skyldu taka upp Valhöll ok færa í Jötunheima, en sökkva Ásgarði, en drepa goð öll, nema Freyju ok Sif vill hann heim hafa með sér, en Freyja ein þorir þá at skenkja honum, ok drekka lézt hann mundu allt ásaöl. En er ásum leiddust ofryrði hans, þá nefna þeir Þór. Því næst kom Þórr í höllina ok hafði á lofti hamarinn ok var allreiðr ok spyrr, hverr því ræðr, er jötnar hundvísir skulu þar drekka, eða hverr seldi Hrungni grið at vera í Valhöll eða hví Freyja skal skenkja honum sem at gildi ása. Þá svarar Hrungnir ok sér ekki vinaraugum til Þórs, sagði, at Óðinn bauð honum til drykkju ok hann var á hans griðum. Þá mælti Þórr, at þess boðs skal Hrungnir iðrast, áðr hann komi út. Hrungnir segir, at Ása-Þór er þat lítill frami at drepa hann vápnlausan. Hitt er meiri hugraun, ef hann þorir at berjast við hann at landamæri á Grjóttúnagörðum, - "ok hefir þat verit mikit fólskuverk," sagði hann, "er ek lét eftir heima skjöld minn ok hein. En ef ek hefða hér vápn mín, þá skyldum vit nú reyna hólmgönguna, en at öðrum kosti legg ek þér við níðingsskap, ef þú vill drepa mik vápnlausan." Þórr vill fyrir engan mun bila at koma til einvígis, er honum var hólmr skoraðr, því at engi hafði honum þat fyrr veitt. Fór þá Hrungnir braut leið sína ok hleypði ákafliga, þar til er hann kom í Jötunheima, ok varð ferð hans allfræg með jötnum ok þat, at stefnulag var komit á með þeim Þór. Þóttust jötnar hafa mikit í ábyrgð, hvárr sigr fengi. Þeim var ills ván af Þór, ef Hrungnir léti, fyrir því at hann var þeira sterkastr. Þá gerðu jötnar mann á Grjóttúnagörðum af leiri, ok var hann níu rasta hár, en þriggja breiðr undir hönd, en ekki fengu þeir hjarta svá mikit, at honum sómði, fyrr en þeir tóku úr meri nökkurri, ok varð honum þar eigi stöðugt, þá er Þórr kom. Hrungnir átti hjarta þat, er frægt er, af hörðum steini ok tindótt með þrimr hornum, svá sem síðan er gert ristubragð þar, er Hrungnishjarta heitir. Af steini var ok höfuð hans. Skjöldr hans var ok steinn, víðr ok þjokkr, ok hafði hann skjöldinn fyrir sér, er hann stóð á Grjóttatúnagörðum ok beið Þórs, en hein hafði hann fyrir vápn ok reiddi of öxl ok var ekki dælligr. Á aðra hlið honum stóð leirjötunninn, er nefndr er Mökkurkálfi, ok var hann allhræddr. Svá er sagt, at hann meig, er hann sá Þór. Þórr fór til hólmstefnu ok með honum Þjálfi. Þá rann Þjálfi fram at, þar er Hrungnir stóð, ok mælti til hans: "Þú stendr óvarliga, jötunn, hefir skjöldinn fyrir þér, en Þórr hefir sét þik, ok ferr hann it neðra í jörðu, ok mun hann koma neðan at þér." Þá skaut Hrungnir skildinum undir fætr sér ok stóð á, en tvíhendi heinina. Því næst sá hann eldingar ok heyrði þrumur stórar. Sá hann þá Þór í ásmóði. Fór hann ákafliga ok reiddi hamarinn ok kastaði um langa leið at Hrungni. Hrungnir færir upp heinina báðum höndum ok kastar í mót. Mætir hon hamrinum á flugi, ok brotnar sundr heinin. Fellr annarr hlutr á jörð, ok eru þar af orðin öll heinberg. Annarr hlutr brast í höfði Þór, svá at hann fell fram á jörð. En hamarrinn Mjöllnir kom í mitt höfuð Hrungni ok lamði hausinn í smán mola, ok fell hann fram yfir Þór, svá at fótr hans lá of háls Þór. En Þjálfi vá at Mökkurkálfa, ok fell hann við lítinn orðstír. Þá gekk Þjálfi til Þórs ok skyldi taka fót Hrungnis af honum ok gat hvergi valdit. Þá gengu til æsir allir, er þeir spurðu at Þórr var fallinn, ok skyldu taka fótinn af honum ok fengu hvergi komit. Þá kom til Magni, sonr Þórs ok Járnsöxu. Hann var þá þrínættr. Hann kastaði fæti Hrungnis af Þór ok mælti: "Sé þar ljótan harm, faðir, er ek kom svá síð. Ek hygg, at jötun þenna myndak hafa lostit í hel með hnefa mínum, ef ek hefða fundit hann." Þá stóð Þórr upp ok fagnaði vel syni sínum ok sagði, at hann myndi verða mikill fyrir sér, - "ok vil ek," sagði hann, "gefa þér hestinn Gullfaxa, er Hrungnir hefir átt." Þá mælti Óðinn ok sagði, at Þórr gerði rangt, er hann gaf þann inn góða hest gýgjarsyni, en eigi föður sínum.
Þórr fór heim til Þrúðvanga, ok stóð heinin í höfði honum. Þá kom til völva sú, er Gróa hét, kona Aurvandils ins frækna. Hon gól galdra sína yfir Þór, til þess er heinin losnaði. En er Þórr fann þat ok þótti þá ván, at braut myndi ná heininni, þá vildi hann launa Gró lækninguna ok gera hana fegna, sagði henni þau tíðendi, at hann hafði vaðit norðan yfir Élivága ok hafði borit í meis á baki sér Aurvandil norðan ór Jötunheimum, ok þat til jartegna, at ein tá hans hafði staðit ór meisinum, ok var sú frerin, svá at Þórr braut af ok kastaði upp á himin ok gerði af stjörnu þá, er heitir Aurvandilstá. Þórr sagði, at eigi myndi langt til, at Aurvandill myndi heim koma, en Gróa varð svá fegin, at hon mundi enga galdra, ok varð heinin eigi lausari ok stendr enn í höfði Þór, ok er þat boðit til varnanar at kasta hein of gólf þvert, því at þá hrærist heinin í höfði Þór. Eftir þessi sögu hefir ort Þjóðólfr hvinverski í Haustlöng." Þá mælti Ægir: "Mikill þótti mér Hrungnir fyrir sér. Vann Þórr meira þrekvirki nökkut, þá er hann átti við troll?"
Þá svarar Bragi: "Mikillar frásagnar er þat vert, er Þórr fór til Geirröðargarða. Þá hafði hann eigi hamarinn Mjöllni eða megingjarðar eða járngreipr, ok olli því Loki. Hann fór með honum, því ar Loka hafði þat hent, þá er hann flaug einu sinni at skemmta sér með valsham Friggjar, at hann flaug fyrir forvitni sakar í Geirröðargarða ok sá þar höll mikla, settist ok sá inn of glugg. En Geirröðr leit í móti honum ok mælti, at taka skyldi fuglinn ok færa honum, en sendimaðr komst nauðuliga á hallarvegginn, svá var hann hár. Þat þótti Loka gott, er hann sótti erfiðliga til hans, ok ætlaði sér stund at fljúga eigi upp, fyrr en hann hafði farit allt torleiðit. En er maðrinn sótti at honum, þá beinir hann fluginn ok spyrnir við fast, ok eru þá fætrnir fastir. Var Loki tekinn þar höndum ok færðr Geirröði jötni. En er hann sá augu hans, þá grunaði hann, at maðr myndi vera, ok bað hann svara, en Loki þagði. Þá læsti Geirröðr Loka í kistu ok svelti hann þar þrjá mánuðr. En þá er Geirröðr tók hann upp ok beiddi hann orða, þá sagði Loki, hverr hann var, ok til fjörlausnar vann hann Geirröði þess eiða, at hann skyldi koma Þór í Geirröðargarða, svá at hann hefði hvárki hamarinn né megingjarðar. Þórr kom til gistingar til gýgjar þeirar, er Gríðr er kölluð. Hon var móðir Víðars ins þögla. Hon sagði Þór satt frá Geirröði, at hann var jötunn hundvíss ok illr viðreignar. Hon léði honum megingjarða ok járngreipr, er hon átti, ok staf sinn, er heitir Gríðarvölr. Þá fór Þórr til ár þeirar, er Vimur heitir, allra á mest. Þá spennti hann sik megingjörðum ok studdi forstreymis Gríðarvöl, en Loki helt undir megingjarðar. Ok þá er Þórr kom á miðja ána, þá óx svá mjök áin, at uppi braut á öxl honum. Þá kvað Þórr þetta: 65 / Vax-at-tu nú, Vimur, / alls mik þik vaða tíðir / jötna garða í; / veiztu, ef þú, vex, / at þá vex mér ásmegin / jafnhátt upp sem himinn. Þá sér Þórr uppi í gljúfrum nökkurum, at Gjálp, dóttir Geirröðar stóð þar tveim megin árinnar, ok gerði hon árvöxtinn. Þá tók Þórr upp ór ánni stein mikinn ok kastaði at henni ok mælti svá: "At ósi skal á stemma." Eigi missti hann, þar er hann kastaði til. Ok í því bili bar hann at landi ok fekk tekit reynirunn nökkurn ok steig svá ór ánni. Því er það orðtak haft, at reynir er björg Þórs. En er Þórr kom til Geirröðar, þá var þeim félögum vísat fyrst í geitahús til herbergis, ok var þar einn stóll til sætis, ok sat Þórr þar. Þá varð hann þess varr, at stóllinn fór undir honum upp at ræfri. Hann stakk Gríðarveli upp í raftana ok lét sígast fast á stólinn. Varð þá brestr mikill, ok fylgði skrækr. Þar höfðu verit undir stólinum dætr Geirröðar, Gjálp ok Greip, ok hafði hann brotit hrygginn í báðum. Þá lét Geirröðr kalla Þór í höllina til leika. Þar váru eldar stórir eftir endilangri höll. En er Þórr kom gagnvart Geirröði, þá tók Geirröðr með töng járnsíu glóandi ok kastar at Þór, en Þórr tók í móti með járngreipum ok færir á loft síuna, en Geirröðr hljóp undir járnsúlu at forða sér. Þórr kastaði síunni ok laust gegnum súluna ok gegnum Geirröð ok gegnum vegginn ok svá fyrir útan í jörðina." Eftir þessi sögu hefir ort Eilífr Guðrúnarson í Þórsdrápu.
Hvernig skal kenna Frigg? Svá, at kalla hana dóttur Fjörgyns, kona Óðins, móður Baldrs, elju Jarðar ok Rindar ok Gunnlaðar ok Gerðar, sværa Nönnu, dróttning ása ok ásynja, Fullu ok valshams ok Fensala.
Hvernig skal Freyju kenna? Svá, at kalla hana dóttur Njarðar, systur Freys, konu Óðs, móður Hnossar, eigandi valfalls ok Sessrúmnis ok fressa, Brisíngamens, Vanagoð, Vanadís, it grátfagra goð, ástaguð. - Svá má kenna allar ásynjur at nefna annarrar nafni ok kenna við eign eða verk sín eða ættir.
Hvernig skal kenna Sif? Svá, at kalla hana konu Þórs, móður Ullar, it hárfagra goð, elja Járnsöxu, móður Þrúðar.
Hvernig skal kenna Iðunni? Svá, at kalla hana konu Braga ok gætandi eplanna, en eplin ellilyf ásanna. Hon er ok ránfengr Þjaza jötuns, svá sem fyrr er sagt, at hann tók hana braut frá ásum. Eftir þeiri sögu orti Þjóðólfr inn hvinverski í Haustlöng. Ásu er svá rétt at kenna at kalla einn hvern annars nafni ok kenna við verk sín eða eign eða ættir.
Hvernig skal kenna himin? Svá, at kalla hann Ymis haus ok þar af jötuns haus ok erfiði eða byrði dverganna eða hjálm Vestra ok Austra, Suðra, Norðra, land sólar ok tungls ok himintungla, vagna ok veðra, hjálmr eða hús lofts ok jarðar ok sólar. Svá kvað Arnórr jarlaskáld: Ungr skjöldungr stígr aldri / jafnmildr á við skildan / þess var grams, und gömlum, / gnóg rausn, Ymis hausi. Ok enn sem hann kvað: Björt verðr sól at svartri, / sökkr fold í mar dökkvan, / brestr erfiði Austra, / allr glymr sjár á fjöllum. Svá kvað Böðvarr balti: Alls engi verðr Inga / undir sólar grundu / böðvar hvatr né betri / bræðr landreki æðri. Ok sem kvað Þjóðólfr inn hvinverski: Ók at ísarnleiki / Jarðar sunr, en dunði, / móðr svall Meila blóða, / mána vegr und hánum. Svá sem kvað Ormr Barreyjarskáld: Hvégi er, Draupnis drógar / dís, ramman spyr ek vísa, / sá ræðr, valdr, fyr veldi, / vagnbrautar mér fagnar. Svá sem kvað Bragi skáld: Hinn er varp á víða / vinda Öndurdísar / of manna sjöt margra / mundlaug föður augum. Ok sem Markús kvað: Fjarri hefir, at fæðisk dýrri / flotna vörðr á élkers botni, / háva leyfir hverr maðr ævi / hringvarpaðar, gjalfri kringðum. Svá sem kvað Steinn Herdísarson: Hás kveð ek helgan ræsi / heimtjalds at drag þeima, / mærð tésk fram, en fyrða / fyrr, því at hann er dyrri. Ok sem kvað Arnórr jarlaskáld: Hjalp þú, dýrr konungr, dýrum, / dags grundar, Hermundi. Ok enn kvað Arnórr: Saðr stillir, hjalp þú snjöllum, / sóltjalda, Rögnvaldi. Ok sem kvað Hallvarðr: Knútr verr jörð sem ítran / alls dróttinn sal fjalla. Sem Arnórr kvað: Míkáll vegr þat er misgért þykkir / mannvits fróðr ok allt it góða; / tyggi skiptir síðan seggjum / sólar hjalms á dæmistóli.
Hvernig skal jörð kenna? Svá, at kalla hana Ymis hold ok móður Þórs, dóttur Ónars, brúði Óðins, elju Friggjar ok Rindar ok Gunnlaðar, sværu Sifjar, gólf ok botn veðra hallar, sjár dýranna, dóttir Náttar, systir Auðs ok Dags. Svá sem kvað Eyvindr skáldaspillir: Nú er alfröðull elfar / jötna dolgs of folginn, / ráð eru rammrar þjóðar / rík, í móður líki. Sem kvað Hallfreðr vandræðskáld: Ráð lukusk, at sá, síðan, / snjallráðr konungs spjalli / átti einga-dóttur / Ónars viði gróna. Ok enn sagði hann: Breiðleita gat brúði / Báleygs at sér teygða / stefnir stöðvar hrafna / stála ríkismálum. Svá sem kvað Þjóðólfr: Útan bindr við enda / elgvers glöðuðr hersa / hreins við, húfi rónum, / hafs botni far gotna. Sem Hallfreðr kvað: Því hygg fleygjanda frægjan, / ferr jörð und menþverri / ítran, eina at láta / Auðs systur mjök trauðan. Svá kvað Þjóðólfr: Dolgljóss, hefir dási / darrlatr staðit fjarri, / endr þá er elju Rindar / ómynda tók skyndir.
Hvernig skal sæ kenna? Svá, at kalla hann Ymis blóð, heimsækir goðanna, verr Ránar, faðir Ægisdætra, þeira er svá heita Himinglæva, Dúfa, Blóðughadda, Hefring, Uðr, Hrönn, Bylgja, Bára, Kólga, land Ránar ok Ægisdætra ok skipa ok sæskips heita, kjalar, stála, súða, sýju, fiska, ísa, sækonunga leið ok brautir, eigi síðr hringr eyjanna, hús sanda ok þangs ok skerja, dorgar land ok sæfugla, byrjar. Svá sem kvað Ormr Barreyjarskáld: Útan gnýr á eyri / Ymis blóð fara góðra. Svá kvað Refr: Vágþeysta berr vestan, / vætti ek lands fyr brandi, / hvalmæni skefr, húna / hógdýr of lög bógu. Svá sem kvað Sveinn: Þá er élreifar ófu / Ægis dætr ok tættu / föls, við frost of alnar, / fjallgarðs rokur harðar. Ok sem kvað Refr: Færir björn, þar er bára / brestr, undinna festa / oft í Ægis kjafta / úrsvöl Gymis völva. Hér er sagt, at allt er eitt Ægir ok Hlér ok Gymir. Ok enn kvað hann: En sægnípu Sleipnir / slítr úrdrifinn hvítrar / Ránar, rauðum steini / runnit, brjóst ór munni. Sem kvað Einarr Skúlason: Harðr hefir ört frá jörðu / élvindr, svana strindar / blakkr lætr í sog sökkva / snægrund, skipi hrundit. Ok enn sem hann kvað: Margr ríss, en drífr dorgar / dynströnd í svig löndum, / spend verða stög stundum, / stirðr keipr, fira greipum. Ok enn kvað hann: Grams bera gollna spánu, / göfug ferð er sú jöfri, / skýtr holmfjöturr Heita / hrafni, snekkju stafnar. Enn sem hann kvað: Haustköld skotar hélðum / holmrönd varar öndri. Ok enn svá: Sundr springr svalra landa / sverrigjörð fyr börðum. Sem Snæbjörn kvað: Hvatt kveða hræra Grótta / hergrimmastan skerja / út fyrir jarðar skauti / eylúðrs níu brúðir, / þær er, lungs, fyrir löngu, / líðmeldr, skipa hlíðar / baugskerðir rístr barði / ból, Amlóða mólu. Hér er kallat hafit Amlóða kvern. - Enn sem kvað Einarr Skúlason: Viknar ramr í, Rakna, / reksaumr fluga-straumi, / dúks hrindr böl, Þar er bleikir / bifgrund, á stag rifjum.
Hvernig skal kenna sól? Svá, at kalla hana dóttur Mundilfara, systur Mána, kona Glens, eldr himins ok lofts. Svá sem kvað Skúli Þorsteinsson: Glens beðja veðr gyðju / goðblíð í vé, síðan / ljós kemr gótt með geislum / gránserks ofan Mána. Svá kvað Einarr Skúlason: Hvargi er Beita borgar / bálgrimmustum skála / hár of hnossvin órum / heims vafrlogi sveimar.
Hvernig skal kenna vind? Svá, at kalla hann son Fornjóts, bróður Ægis ok elds, brjót viðar, skaði ok bani eða hundr eð vargr viðar eða segls eða seglreiða. Svá sagði Sveinn í Norðrsetudrápu: Tóku fyrst til fjúka / Fornjóts synir ljótir.
Hvernig skal kenna eld? Svá, at kalla hann bróður vinds ok Ægis, bana ok grand viðar ok húsa, Hálfs bani, sól húsanna.
Hvernig skal kenna vetr? Svá, at kalla hann son Vindsvals ok bana orma, hríðmál. Svá kvað Ormr Steinþórsson: Ræð ek þenna mög manni / Vindvals unað blindum. Svá kvað Ásgrímr: Sigrgæðir var síðan / seimörr í Þrándheimi, / þjóð veit þínar íðir, / þann orms-trega, sannar.
Hvernig skal kenna sumar? Svá, at kalla son Svásaðar ok líkn ormanna ok gróðr manna. Svá sem kvað Egill Skalla-Grímsson: Upp skulum órum sverðum, / ulfs tannlituðr, glitra, / eigum dáð at drýgja / í dalmiskunn fiska.
Hvernig skal kenna manninn? Mann skal kenna við verk sín, þat er hann veitir eða þiggr eða gerir. Hann má ok kenna til eignar sinnar, þeirar er hann á, ok svá ef hann gaf, svá ok við ættir þær, er hann kom af, svá þær, er frá honum kómu. Hvernig skal hann kenna við þessa hluti? Svá, at kalla hann vinnanda eða fremjanda fara sinna eða athafnar, víga eða sæfara eða veiða eða vápna eða skipa. Ok fyrir því at hann er reynir vápnanna ok viðr víganna, allt eitt ok vinnandi. Viðr heitir tré. Reynir heitir ok tré. Af þessum heitum hafa skáldin kallat manninn ask eða hlyn, lund eða öðrum viðarheitum karlkenndum ok kennt til víga eða skipa eða fjár. Mann er ok rétt at kenna til allra ásaheita. Kennt er ok við jötnaheiti, ok er þat flest háð eða lastmæli. Vel þykkir kennt til álfa. Konu skal kenna til alls kvenbúnaðar, gulls ok gimsteina, öls eða víns eða annars drykkjar, þess er hon selr eða gefr, svá ok til ölgagna ok allra þeira hluta, er henni samir at vinna eða veita. Rétt er at kenna hana svá at kalla hana selju eða lág þess, er hon miðlar, en selja eða lág, þat eru tré. Fyrir því er kona kölluð til kenningar öllum kvenkenndum viðarheitum. En fyrir því er kona kennd til gimsteina eða glersteina, at þat var í forneskju kvinnabúnaðr, er kallat var steinasörvi, er þær höfðu á hálsi sér. Nú er svá fært til kenningar, at konan er nú kennd við stein ok við öll steinsheiti. Kona er ok kennd við allar ásynjur eða valkyrjur eða nornir eða dísir. Konu er ok rétt at kenna við alla athöfn sína eða við eign eða ætt.
Hvernig skal kenna gull? Svá, at kalla þat eld Ægis ok barr Glasis, haddr Sifjar, höfuðband Fullu, grátr Freyju, munntal ok rödd ok orð jötna, dropa Draupnis ok regn eða skúr Draupnis eða augna Freyju, otrgjöld, nauðgjald ásanna, sáð Fýrisvalla, haugþak Hölga, eldr allra vatna ok handar, grjót ok sker eða blik handar.
Fyrir hví er gull kallat eldr Ægis? Þessi saga er til þess, er fyrr er getit, at Ægir sótti heimboð til Ásgarðs, en er hann var búinn til heimferðar, þá bauð hann til sín Óðni ok öllum ásum á þriggja mánaða fresti. Til þeirar ferðar varð fyrst Óðinn ok Njörðr, Freyr, Týr, Bragi, Viðarr, Loki, svá ok ásynjur Frigg, Freyja, Gefjun, Skaði, Iðunn, Sif. Þórr var eigi þar. Hann var farinn í austrveg at drepa troll. En er goðin höfðu setzt í sæti, þá lét Ægir bera inn á hallargólf lýsigull, þat er birti ok lýsti höllina sem eldr, ok þat var þar haft fyrir ljós at hans veizlu, sem í Valhöllu váru sverðin fyrir eld. Þá sennti Loki þar við öll goð ok drap þræl Ægis, þann er Fimafengr hét. Annarr þræll hans er nefndr Eldir. Rán er nefnd kona hans, en níu dætr þeira, svá sem fyrr er ritat. At þeiri veizlu vannst allt sjálft, bæði vist ok öl ok öll reiða, er til veizlunnar þurfti. Þá urðu æsir þessir varir, at Rán átti net þat, er hon veiddi í menn alla, þá er á sæ kómu. Nú er þessi saga til þess, hvaðan af þat er, at gull er kallat eldr eða ljós eða birti Ægis, Ránar eða Ægis dætra. Ok af þeim kenningum er nú svá sett, at gull er kallat eldr sævar ok allra hans heita, svá sem Ægir eða Rán eigu heiti við sæinn, ok þaðan af er nú gull kallat eldr vatna eða á ok allra árheita. En þessi heiti hafa svá farit sem önnur ok kenningar, at in yngri skáld hafa ort eftir dæmum inna gömlu skálda, svá sem stóð í þeira kvæðum, en sett síðan út í hálfur þær, er þeim þóttu líkar við þat, er fyrr var ort, svá sem vatnit er sænum, en áin vatninu, en bekkr ánni. Því er þat kallat nýgervingar allt, er út er sett heiti lengra en fyrr finnst, ok þykkir þat vel allt, er með líkendum ferr ok eðli. Svá kvað Bragi skáld: Eld of þák af jöfri / ölna bekks við drykkju; / þat gaf Fjölnis fjalla, / með fulli mér stillir.
Hví er gull kallat barr eða lauf Glasis? Í Ásgarði fyrir durum Valhallar stendr lundr, sá er Glasir er kallaðr, en lauf hans allt er gull rautt, svá sem hér er kveðit, at Glasir stendr / með gullnu laufi / fyrir Sigtýs sölum. Sá er viðr fegrstr með goðum ok mönnum.
Hví er gull kallat haddr Sifjar? Loki Laufeyjarson hafði þat gert til lævísi at klippa hár allt af Sif. En er Þórr varð þess varr, tók hann Loka ok myndi lemja hvert bein í honum, áðr hann svarði þess, at hann skal fá af Svartálfum, at þeir skulu gera af gulli Sifju hadd þann, er svá skal vaxa sem annat hár. Eftir þat fór Loki til þeira dverga, er heita Ívaldasynir, ok gerðu þeir haddinn ok Skíðblaðni ok geirinn, er Óðinn átti, er Gungnir heitir. Þá veðjaði Loki höfði sínu við þann dverg, er Brokkr heitir, hvárt bróðir hans, Sindri, myndi gera jafngóða gripi þrjá sem þessir váru. En er þeir kómu til smiðju, þá lagði Sindri svínskinn í aflinn ok bað blása Brokk ok létta eigi fyrr en hann tæki þat ór aflinum, er hann hafði í lagt. En þegar er hann var genginn ór smiðjunni, en hinn blés, þá settist fluga ein á hönd honum ok kroppaði, en hann blés sem áðr, þar til er smiðrinn tók ór aflinum, ok var þat göltr, ok var burstin ór gulli. Því næst lagði hann í aflinn gull ok bað hann blása ok hætta eigi fyrr blæstrinum en hann kæmi aftr. Gekk hann á braut. En þá kom flugan ok settist á háls honum ok kroppaði nú hálfu fastara en áðr, en hann blés, þar til er smiðrinn tók ór aflinum gullhring þann, er Draupnir heitir. Þá lagði hann járn í aflinn ok bað hann blása ok sagði, at ónýtt myndi verða, ef blástrinn felli. Þá settist flugan milli augna honum ok kroppaði hvarmana, en er blóðit fell í augun, svá at hann sá ekki, þá greip hann til hendinni sem skjótast, meðan belgrinn lagðist niðr, ok sveipði af sér flugunni, ok þá kom þar smiðrinn ok sagði, at nú lagði nær, at allt myndi ónýtast, er í aflinum var. Þá tók hann ór aflinum hamar. Fékk hann þá alla gripina í hendr bróður sínum Brokk ok bað hann fara með til Ásgarðs ok leysa veðjunina. En er þeir Loki báru fram gripina, þá settust æsirnir á dómstóla ok skyldi þat atkvæði standast, sem segði Óðinn, Þórr, Freyr. Þá gaf Loki Óðni geirinn Gungni, en Þór haddinn, er Sif skyldi hafa, en Frey Skíðblaðni ok sagði skyn á öllum gripunum, at geirrinn nam aldri staðar í lagi, en haddrinn var holdgróinn, þegar er hann kom á höfuð Sif, en Skíðblaðnir hafði byr, þegar er segl kom á loft, hvert er fara skyldi, en mátti vefja saman sem dúk ok hafa í pungi sér, ef þat vildi. Þá bar fram Brokkr sína gripi. Hann gaf Óðni hringinn ok sagði, at ina níundu hverja nótt myndi drjúpa af honum átta hringar jafnhöfgir sem hann. En Frey gaf hann göltinn ok sagði, at hann mátti renna loft ok lög nótt ok dag meira en hverr hestr ok aldri varð svá myrkt af nótt eða í myrkheimum, at eigi væri ærit ljós, þar er hann fór; svá lýsti af burstinni. Þá gaf hann Þór hamarinn ok sagði, at hann myndi mega ljósta svá stórt sem hann vildi, hvat sem fyrir væri, at eigi myndi hamarrinn bila, ok ef hann yrpi honum til, þá myndi hann aldri missa ok aldri fljúga svá langt, at eigi myndi hann sækja heim hönd, ok ef þat vildi, þá var hann svá lítill, at hafa mátti serk sér. En þat var lýi á, ar forskeftit var heldr skammt. Þat var dómr þeira, at hamarrinn var beztr af öllum gripunum ok mest vörn í fyrir hrímþursum, ok dæmðu þeir, at dvergrinn ætti veðféit. Þá bauð Loki at leysa höfuð sitt, en dvergrinn sagði, at þess var engi ván. "Taktu mik þá," kvað Loki, en er hann vildi taka hann, þá var hann víðs fjarri. Loki átti skúa þá, er hann rann á loft ok lög. Þá bað dvergrinn Þór, at hann skyldi taka hann, en hann gerði svá. Þá vildi dvergrinn höggva af höfuð hans, en Loki sagði, at hann átti höfuðit, en eigi hálsinn. Þá tók dvergrinn þveng ok kníf ok vill stinga rauf á vörrum Loka ok vill rifa saman munninn, en knífrinn beit ekki. Þá mælti hann, at betri væri þar alr bróður hans, en jafnskjótt sem hann nefndi hann, þá var þar alrinn, ok beit hann varrarnar. Rifaði hann saman varrirnar, ok reif Loki ór æsunum. Sá þvengr, er muðrinn Loka var saman rifaðr, heitir Vartari.
Hér heyrir, at gull er kennt til höfuðbands Fullu, er orti Eyvindr skáldaspillir: Fullu skein á fjöllum / fallsól bráavallar. / Ullar kjóls of allan / aldr Hákunar skaldum. Gull er kallat grátr Freyju, sem fyrr er sagt. Svá kvað Skúli Þorsteinsson: Margr of hlaut of morgin / morðelds, þar er val felldum, / Freyju tár at fleiri / fárbjóðr; at þar várum. Ok sem kvað Einarr Skúlason: Þar er Mardallar milli, / meginhurðar, liggr skurða, / Gauts berum galla þrútinn, / grátr, dalreyðar látri. Ok hér hefir Einarr enn kennt svá Freyju at kalla hana móður Hnossar eða konu Óðs, svá sem hér: Eigi þverr fyrir augna / Óðs beðvinu Róða / ræfrs, eignisk svá, regni / ramsvell, konungr elli. Ok enn svá: Hróðrbarni kná ek Hörnar, / hlutum dýran grip, stýra, / brandr þrymr gjalfrs á grandi / gollvífiðu, hlífar; / sáðs, berr sinnar móður, / svans unni mér gunnar / fóstrgæðandi Fróða, / Freys nift bráa driftir. Hér getr ok þess, at Freyju má svá kenna at kalla hana systur Freys. Ok enn svá: Nýt buðumk Njarðar dóttur, / nálægt var þat stáli / vel of hrósa ek því vísa / vörn, sævar bál barni. Hér er hon kölluð dóttir Njarðar. Ok enn Svá: Gaf, sá er erring ofrar, / ógnprúðr Vanabrúðar / þing Váfaðar þröngvir / þróttöflga mér dóttur; / ríkr leiddi mey mækis / mátvaldr á beð skaldi / Gefnar, glóðum drifna, / Gautreks svana brautar. Hér er hon kölluð Gefn ok Vanabrúðr. Til allra heita Freyju er rétt at kenna grátinn ok kalla svá gullit, ok á marga lund er þessum kenningum breytt, kallat hagl eða regn eða él eða dropar eða skúrir eða forsar augna hennar eða kinna eða hlýra eða brá eða hvarma.
Hér má þat heyra, at kallat er orð eða rödd jötna gullit, svá sem fyrr er sagt. Svá kvað Bragi skáld: Þann átta ek vin verstan / vaströdd en mér baztan / Ála undirkúlu / óniðraðan þriðja. Hann kallaði stein vasta undirkúlu, en jötun Ála steinsins, en gull rödd jötuns.
Hver sök er til þess, at gull er kallat otrgjöld? Svá er sagt, at þá er æsir fóru at kanna heim, Óðinn ok Loki ok Hænir, þeir kómu at á nökkurri ok gengu með ánni til fors nökkurs, ok við forsinn var otr einn ok hafði tekit lax ór forsinum ok át blundandi. Þá tók Loki upp stein ok kastaði at otrinum ok laust í höfuð honum. Þá hrósði Loki veiði sinni, at hann hefði veitt í einu höggvi otr ok lax. Tóku þeir þá laxinn ok otrinn ok báru eftir sér, kómu þá at bæ nökkurum ok gengu inn. En sá búandi er nefndr Hreiðmarr, er þar bjó. Hann var mikill fyrir sér ok mjök fjölkunnigr. Beiddust æsir at hafa þar náttstað ok kváðust hafa með sér vist ærna ok sýndu búandanum veiði sína. En er Hreiðmarr sá otrinn, þá kallaði hann sonu sína, Fáfni ok Regin, ok segir, at Otr, bróðir þeira, var drepinn ok svá, hverir þat höfðu gert. Nú ganga þeir feðgar at ásunum ok taka þá höndum ok binda ok segja þá um otrinn, at hann var sonr Hreiðmars. Æsir bjóða fyrir sik fjörlausn, svá mikit fé sem Hreiðmarr sjálfr vill á kveða, ok varð þat at sætt með þeim ok bundit svardögum. Þá var otrinn fleginn. Tók Hreiðmarr otrbelginn ok mælti við þá, at þeir skulu fylla belginn af rauðu gulli ok svá hylja hann allan, ok skal þat vera at sætt þeira. Þá sendi Óðinn Loka í Svartálfaheim, ok kom hann til dvergs þess, er heitir Andvari. Hann var fiskr í vatni, ok tók Loki hann höndum ok lagði á hann fjörlausn allt þat gull, er hann átti í steini sínum. Ok er þeir koma í steininn, þá bar dvergrinn fram allt gull, þat er hann átti, ok var þat allmikit fé. Þá svipti dvergrinn undir hönd sér einum litlum gullbaug. Þat sá Loki ok bað hann fram láta bauginn. Dvergrinn bað hann eigi bauginn af sér taka ok lézt mega æxla sér fé af bauginum, ef hann heldi. Loki kvað hann eigi skyldu hafa einn penning eftir ok tók bauginn af honum ok gekk út, en dvergrinn mælti, at sá baugr skyldi vera hverjum höfuðsbani, er ætti. Loki segir, at honum þótti þat vel, ok sagði, at þat skyldi haldast mega fyrir því sá formáli, at hann skyldi flytja þeim til eyrna, er þá tæki við. Fór hann í braut ok kom til Hreiðmars ok sýndi Óðni gullit. En er hann sá bauginn, þá sýndist honum fagr ok tók hann af fénu, en greiddi Hreiðmari gullit. Þá fylldi hann otrbelginn, sem mest mátti hann, ok setti upp, er fullr var. Gekk þá Óðinn til ok skyldi hylja belginn með gullinu, ok þá mælti hann við Hreiðmar, at hann skal sjá, hvárt belgrinn er þá allr hulðr. En Hreiðmarr leit til ok hugði at vandliga ok sá eitt granahár ok bað þat hylja, en at öðrum kosti væri lokit sætt þeira. Þá dró Óðinn fram bauginn ok hulði granahárit ok sagði, at þá váru þeir lausir frá otrgjöldunum. En er Óðinn hafði tekit geir sinn, en Loki skúa sína ok þurftu þá ekki at óttast, þá mælti Loki, at þat skyldi haldast, er Andvari hafði mælt, at sá baugr ok þat gull skyldi verða þess bani, er ætti, ok þat helzt síðan. Nú er sagt, af hverju gull er otrgjöld kallat eða nauðgjald ásanna eða rógmálmr.
Hvat er fleira at segja frá gullinu? Hreiðmarr tók þá gullit at sonargjöldum, en Fáfnir ok Reginn beiddust af nökkurs í bróðurgjöld. Hreiðmarr unni þeim enskis pennings af gullinu. Þat varð óráð þeira bræðra, at þeir drápu föður sinn til gullsins. Þá beiddist Reginn, at Fáfnir skyldi skipta gullinu í helminga með þeim. Fáfnir svarar svá, at lítil ván var at hann myndi miðla gullit við bróður sinn, er hann drap föður sinn til gullsins, ok bað Regin fara braut, en at öðrum kosti myndi hann fara sem Hreiðmarr. Fáfnir hafði þá tekit hjálm, er Hreiðmarr hafði átt, ok setti á höfuð sér, er kallaðr var ægishjálmr, er öll kvikvendi hræðast, er sjá, ok sverð þat, er Hrotti heitir. Reginn hafði þat sveð, er Refill er kallaðr. Flýði hann þá braut, en Fáfnir fór upp á Gnitaheiði ok gerði sér þar ból ok brást í ormslíki ok lagðist á gullit. Reginn fór þá til Hjálpreks konungs á Þjóði ok gerðist þar smiðr hans. Þá tók hann þar til fóstrs Sigurð, son Sigmundar, sonar Völsungs, ok son Hjördísar, dóttur Eylima. Sigurðr var ágætastr allra herkonunga af ætt ok afli ok hug. Reginn sagði honum til, hvar Fáfnir lá á gullinu, ok eggjaði hann at sækja gullit. Þá gerði Reginn sverð þat, er Gramr heitir, er svá var hvasst, at Sigurðr brá niðr í rennanda vatn ok tók í sundr ullarlagð, er rak fyrir strauminum at sverðsegginni. Því næst klauf Sigurðr steðja Regins ofan í stokkinn með sverðinu. Eftir þat fóru þeir Sigurðr ok Reginn á Gnitaheiði. Þá gróf Sigurðr gröf á veg Fáfnis ok settist þar í. En er Fáfnir skreið til vatns ok hann kom yfir gröfina, þá lagði Sigurðr sverðinu í gegnum hann, ok var þat hans bani. Kom þá Reginn at ok sagði, at hann hefði drepit bróður hans, ok bauð honum þat at sætt, at hann skyldi taka hjarta Fáfnis ok steikja við eld, en Reginn lagðist niðr ok drakk blóð Fáfnis ok lagðist at sofa. En er Sigurðr steikði hjartat ok hann hugði, at fullsteikt myndi, ok tók á fingrinum, hvé hart var. En er frauðit rann ór hjartanu á fingrinn, þá brann hann ok drap fingrinum í munn sér. En er hjartablóðit kom á tunguna, þá kunni hann fuglsrödd ok skilði, hvat igðurnar sögðu, er sátu í viðnum. Þá mælti ein: Þar sitr Sigurðr / sveita stokkinn, / Fáfnis hjarta / við funa steikir; / spakr þætti mér / spillir bauga / ef fjörsega / fránan æti. Þar liggr Reginn, kvað önnur, / ræðr um við sik, / vill tæla mög, / þann er trúir hánum, / berr af reiði / röng orð saman, / vill bölvasmiðr / bróður hefna. Þá gekk Sigurðr til Regins ok drap hann, en síðan til hests síns, er Grani heitir, ok reið til þess, er hann kom til bóls Fáfnis, tók þá gullit ok batt í klyfjar ok lagði upp á bak Grana ok steig upp sjálfr ok reið þá leið sína. Nú er þat sagt, hver saga til er þess, at gullit er kallat ból eða byggð Fáfnis eða málmr Gnitaheiðar eða byrðr Grana.
Þá reið Sigurðr, til þess er hann fann á fjallinu hús. Þar svaf inni ein kona, ok hafði sú hjálm ok brynju. Hann brá sverðinu ok reist brynjuna af henni. Þá vaknaði hon ok nefndist Hildr. Hon er kölluð Brynhildr ok var valkyrja. Sigurðr reið þaðan ok kom til þess konungs, er Gjúki hét. Kona hans er nefnd Grímhildr. Börn þeira váru þau Gunnarr, Högni, Guðrún, Guðný. Gotthormr var stjúpsonr Gjúka. Þar dvalðist Sigurðr langa hríð. Þá fekk hann Guðrúnar Gjúkadóttur, en Gunnarr ok Högni sórust í bræðralag við Sigurð. Því næst fóru þeir Sigurðr ok Gjúkusynir at biðja Gunnari konu til Atla Buðlasonar, Brynhildar, systur hans. Hon sat á Hindafjalli, ok var um sal hennar vafrlogi, en hon hafði þess heit strengt at eiga þann einn mann, er þorði at ríða vafrlogann. Þá riðu þeir Sigurðr ok Gjúkungar - þeir eru ok kallaðir Niflungar - upp á fjallit, ok skyldi þá Gunnarr ríða vafrlogann. Hann átti hest þann, er Goti heitir, en sá hestr þorði eigi at hlaupa í eldinn. Þá skiptu þeir litum, Sigurðr ok Gunnarr, ok svá nöfnum, því at Grani vildi undir engum manni ganga nema Sigurði. Þá hljóp Sigurðr á Grana ok reið vafrlogann. Þat kveld gekk hann at brúðlaupi með Brynhildi. En er þau kómu í sæing, þá dró hann sverðit Gram ór slíðum ok lagði í milli þeira. En at morgni, er hann stóð upp ok klæddi sik, þá gaf hann Brynhildi at línfé gullbauginn, þann er Loki hafði tekit af Andvara, en tók af hendi henni annan baug til minja. Sigurðr hljóp þá á hest sinn ok reið til félaga sinna. Skipta þeir Gunnarr þá aftr litum ok fóru heim til Gjúka með Brynhildi. Sigurðr átti tvau börn með Guðrúnu, Sigmund ok Svanhildi.
Þat var eitt sinn, at Brynhildr ok Guðrún gengu til vatns at bleikja hadda sína. Þá er þær kómu til árinnar, þá óð Brynhildr út í ána frá landi ok mælti, at hon vildi eigi bera í höfuð sér þat vatn, er rynni ór hári Guðrúnu, því at hon átti búanda hugaðan betr. Þá gekk Guðrún í ána eftir henni ok sagði, at hon mátti fyrir því þvá ofar sinn hadd í ánni, at hon átti þann mann, er eigi Gunnarr ok engi annarr í veröldu var jafnfrækn, því at hann vá Fáfni ok Regin ok tók arf eftir báða þá. Þá svarar Brynhildr: "Meira er þat vert, er Gunnarr reið vafrlogann, en Sigurðr þorði eigi." Þá hló Guðrún ok mælti: "Ætlar þú, at Gunnarr riði vafrlogann? Sá ætlak at gengi í rekkju hjá þér, er mér gaf gullbaug þenna. En sá gullbaugr, er þú hefir á hendi ok þú þátt at línfé, hann er kallaðr Andvaranautr, ok ætlak, at eigi sótti Gunnarr hann á Gnitaheiði." Þá þagnaði Brynhildr ok gekk heim. Eftir þat eggjaði hon Gunnar ok Högna at drepa Sigurð, en fyrir því at þeir váru eiðsvarar Sigurðar, þá eggjuðu þeir til Gotthorm, bróður sinn, at drepa Siguð. Hann lagði Sigurð sverði í gegnum sofanda. En er hann fekk sárit, þá kastaði hann sverðinu Gram eftir honum, svá at sundr sneið í miðju manninn. Þar fell Sigurðr ok sonr hans þrévetr, er Sigmundr hét, er þeir drápu. Eftir þat lagði Brynhildr sik sverði, ok var hon brennd með Sigurði, en Gunnarr ok Högni tóku þá Fáfnisarf ok Andvaranaut ok réðu þá löndum.
Atli konungr Buðlason, bróðir Brynhildar, fekk þá Guðrúnar, er Sigurðr hafði átta, ok áttu þau börn. Atli konungr bauð þá til sín Gunnari ok Högna, en þeir fóru at heimboðinu. En áðr þeir fóru heiman, þá fálu þeir gullit Fáfnisarf í Rín, ok hefir þat gull aldri síðan fundizt. En Atli konungr hafði þar lið fyrir ok barðist við þá Gunnar ok Högna, ok urðu þeir handteknir. Lét Atli konungr skera hjarta ór Högna kykum. Var þat hans bani. Gunnari lét hann kasta í ormgarð, en honum var fengin leyniliga harpa, ok sló hann með tánum, því at hendr hans váru bundnar, en svá lék hann hörpuna, svá at allir ormarnir sofnuðu nema sú naða, er renndi at honum ok hjó svá fyrir flagbrjóskat, at hon steypði höfðinu inn í holit, ok hangði hon á lifrinni, þar til er hann dó. Gunnarr ok Högni eru kallaðir Niflungar ok Gjúkungar. Fyrir því er gull kallat Niflunga skattr eða arfr. Litlu síðar drap Guðrún tvá sonu sína ok lét gera með gulli ok silfri borðker af hausum þeira, ok þá var gert erfi Niflunga. At þeiri veizlu lét Guðrún skenkja Atla konungi með þeim borðkerum mjöð, ok var blandit við blóði sveinanna, en hjörtu þeira lét hon steikja ok fá konungi at eta. En er þat var gert, þá sagði hon honum sjálfum með mörgum ófögrum orðum. Eigi skorti þar áfenginn drykk, svá at flest fólk sofnaði, þar sem sat. Á þeiri nótt gekk hon til konungs, er hann svaf, ok með henni sonr Högna ok vágu at honum. Þat var hans bani. Þá skutu þau eldi í höllina, ok brann þat fólk, er þar var inni. Eftir þat fór hon til sjávar ok hljóp á sæinn ok vildi týna sér, en hana rak yfir fjörðinn, kom þá á þat land, er átti Jónakr konungr. En er hann sá hana, tók hann hana til sín ok fekk hennar. Áttu þau þrjá sonu, er svá hétu: Sörli, Hamðir, Erpr. Þeir váru allir svartir sem hrafn á hárslit sem Gunnarr ok Högni ok aðrir Niflungar. Þar fæddist upp Svanhildr, dóttir Sigurðar sveins, ok var allra kvinna fegrst. Þat spurði Jörmunrekkr konungr inn ríki. Hann sendi son sinn, Randvé, at biðja hennar sér til handa. En er hann kom til Jónakrs, þá var Svanhildr seld honum í hendr. Skyldi hann færa hana Jörmunrekki konungi. Þá sagði Bikki jarl, at þat var betr fallit, at Randvér ætti Svanhildi, er hann var ungr ok bæði þau, en Jörmunrekkr var gamall. Þetta ráð líkaði þeim vel inum ungum mönnum. Því næst sagði Bikki þetta konungi. Þá lét Jörmunrekkr konungr taka son sinn ok leiða til gálga. Þá tók Randvér hauk sinn ok plokkaði af fjaðrarnar ok bað senda feðr sínum. Þá var hann hengðr. En er Jörmunrekkr konungr sá haukinn, þá kom honum í hug, at svá sem haukrinn var ófleygr ok fjaðralauss, svá var ríki hans ófært, er hann var gamall ok sonlauss. Þá leit Jörmunrekkr konungr Svanhildi, er hann reið ór skógi frá veiðum með hirð sína, hvar hon sat at haddbliki. Þá riðu þeir á hana ok tráðu hana undir hestafótum til bana. En er þetta spurði Guðrún, þá eggjaði hon sonu sína til hefndar eftir Svanhildi. En er þeir bjuggust til ferðar, þá fekk hon þeim brynjur ok hjálma svá sterka, at eigi mundi járn á festa. Hon lagði ráð fyrir þá, at þá er þeir kæmi til Jörmunrekks konungs, at þeir skyldu ganga of nótt at honum sofanda. Skyldi Sörli ok Hamðir höggva af honum hendr ok fætr, en Erpr höfuðit. En er þeir kómu á leið, þá spurðu þeir Erp, hver liðsemð þeim myndi at honum, ef þeir hitti Jörmunrekk konung. Hann svarar, at hann myndi veita þeim þvílíkt sem hönd fæti. Þeir segja, at þat var alls ekki, at fótr styddist við hönd. Þeir váru svá reiðir móður sinni, er hon hafði leitt þá út með heiftyrðum, ok þeir vildu gera þat, er henni þætti verst, ok drápu Erp, því at hon unni honum mest. Litlu síðar, er Sörli gekk, skriðnaði hann öðrum fæti, studdi sik með hendinni. Þá mælti hann: "veitti nú höndin fætinum. Betr væri nú, at Erpr lifði." En er þeir kómu til Jörmunrekks konungs of nótt, þar sem hann svaf, ok hjuggu af honum hendr ok fætr, þá vaknaði hann ok kallaði á menn sína, bað þá vaka. Þá mælti Hamðir: "Af myndi nú höfuðit, ef Erpr lifði." Þá stóðu upp hirðmenninir ok sóttu þá ok fengu eigi sótt með vápnum. Þá kallaði Jörmunrekkr, at þá skal berja grjóti. Var svá gert. Þar fellu þeir Sörli ok Hamðir. Þá var ok dauð öll ætt ok afkvæmi Gjúka. Því er brynja kölluð klæði eða váðir Hamðis ok Sörla.
Eftir Sigurð svein lifði dóttir, er Áslaug hét, er fædd var at Heimis í Hlymdölum, ok eru þaðan ættir komnar stórar. Svá er sagt, at Sigmundr Völsungsson var svá máttugr, at hann drakk eitr ok sakaði ekki, en Sinfjötli, sonr hans, ok Sigurðr váru svá harðir á húðna, at þá sakaði ekki eitr, at útan kæmi á þá bera. Því hefir Bragi skáld svá kveðit: Þá er forns Litar flotna / á fangboða öngli / hrökkviáll of hrokkinn / hekk Völsunga drekku. Eftir þessum sögum hafa flest skáld ort ok tekit ýmsa þáttu. Bragi inn gamli orti um fall Sörla ok Hamðis í drápu þeiri, er hann orti um Ragnar loðbrók. Knátti eðr við illan / Jörmunrekkr at vakna / með dreyrfáar dróttir / draum í sverða flaumi; / rósta varð í ranni / Raudvés höfuðniðja, / þá er hrafnbláir hefnðu / harma Erps of barmar. Flaut of set við sveita / sóknar alfs í golfi / hræva dögg, þar er höggnar / hendr sem fætr of kenndusk; / fell í blóði blandinn / brunn ölskála, runna / þat er á Leifa landa / laufi fátt, at höfði. Þar svá at gerðu gyrðan / golfhölkvis sá fylkis / segls naglfara siglur / saums andvanar standa; / urðu snemmst ok Sörli / samráða þeir Hamðir / hörðum herðimýlum / Hergauts vinu barðir. Mjök lét stála stökkvir / styðja Gjúka niðja / flaums, þá er fjörvi næma / Foglhildar mun vildu, / ok bláserkjar birkis, / ball, fagrgötu allir, / ennihögg ok eggjar / Jónakrs sonum launa. Þat sék fall á fögrum / flotna randar botni. / Ræs gafumk reiðar mána / Ragnarr ok fjölð sagna.
Hví er gull kallat mjöl Fróða? Til þess er saga sjá, at Skjöldr hét sonr Óðins, er Skjöldungar eru frá komnir. Hann hafði atsetu ok réð löndum, þar sem nú er kölluð Danmörk, en þá var kallat Gotland. Skjöldr átti þann son, er Friðleifr hét, er löndum réð eftir hann. Sonr Friðleifs hét Fróði. Mann tók konungdóm eftir föður sinn í þann tíð, er Ágústus keisari lagði frið of heim allan. Þá var Kristr borinn. En fyrir því at Fróði var allra konunga ríkastr á Norðlöndum, þá var honum kenndr friðrinn um alla danska tungu, ok kalla menn það Fróðafrið. Engi maðr grandaði öðrum, þótt hann hitti fyrir sér föðurbana eða bróðurbana lausan eða bundinn. Þá var ok engi þjófr eða ránsmaðr, svá at gullhringr einn lá á Jalangrsheiði lengi. Fróði konungr sótti heimboð í Svíþjóð til þess konungs, er Fjölnir er nefndr. Þá keypti hann ambáttir tvær, er hétu Fenja ok Menja. Þær váru miklar ok sterkar. Í þann tíma fundust í Danmörku kvernsteinar tveir svá miklir, at engi var svá sterkr, at dregit gæti. En sú náttúra fylgði kvernunum, at þat mólst á kverninni, sem sá mælti fyrir, er mól. Sú kvern hét Grótti. Hengikjöftr er sá nefndr, er Fróða konungi gaf kvernina. Fróði konungr lét leiða ambáttirnar til kvernarinnar ok bað þær mala gull, ok svá gerðu þær, mólu fyrst gull ok frið ok sælu Fróða. Þá gaf hann þeim eigi lengri hvílð eða svefn en gaukrinn þagði eða hljóð mátti kveða. Þat er sagt, at þær kvæði ljóð þau, er kallat er Gróttasöngr, ok er þetta upphaf at: Nú erum komnar / til konungs húsa / framvísar tvær, / Fenja ok Menja; / þær eru at Fróða / Friðleifs sonar / máttkar meyjar / at mani hafðar. Ok áðr létti kvæðinu, mólu þær her at Fróða, svá at á þeiri nótt kom þar sá sækonungr, er Mýsingr hét, ok drap Fróða, tók þar herfang mikit. Þá lagðist Fróðafriðr. Mýsingr hafði með sér Grótta ok svá Fenju ok Menju ok bað þær mala salt. Ok at miðri nótt spurðu þær, ef eigi leiddist Mýsingi salt. Hann bað þær mala lengr. Þær mólu litla hríð, áðr niðr sökk skipit, ok var þar eftir svelgr í hafinu, er særinn fellr í kvernaraugat. Þá varð sær saltr.
Hví er gull kallat sáð Kraka? Konungr einn í Danmörk er nefndr Hrólfr kraki. Hann var ágætastr fornkonunga fyrst af mildi ok fræknleik ok lítillæti. Þat er eitt mark um lítillæti hans, er mjök er fært í frásagnir, at einn lítill sveinn ok fátækr er nefndr Vöggr. Hann kom í höll Hrólfs konungs. Þá var konungrinn ungr at aldri ok grannligr á vöxt. Þá gekk Vöggr fyrir hann ok sá upp á hann. Þá mælti konungr: "Hvat viltu mæla, sveinn, er þú sér á mik?" Vöggr segir: "Þá er ek var heima, heyrðak sagt, at Hrólfr konungr at Hleiðru var mestr maðr á Norðrlöndum, en nú sitr hér í hásæti kraki einn lítill, ok kallið þér hann konung." Þá svarar konungr: "Þú, sveinn, hefir gefit mér nafn, at ek skal heita Hrólfr kraki, en þat er títt, at gjöf skal fylgja nafnfesti. Nú sé ek þik enga gjöf hafa til at gefa mér at nafnfesti, þá er mér sé þægilig. Nú skal sá gefa öðrum, er til hefir," - tók gullhring af hendi sér ok gaf honum. Þá mælti Vöggr: "Gef þú allra konunga heilastr, ok þess strengi ek heit at verða þess manns bani, er þinn banamaðr verðr." Þá mælti konungr ok hló við: "Litlu verðr Vöggr feginn."
Annat mark var þat sagt frá Hrólfi kraka um fræknleik hans, at sá konungr réð fyrir Uppsölum, er Aðils hét. Hann átti Yrsu, móður Hrólfs kraka. Hann hafði ósætt við þann konung, er réð fyrir Nóregi, er Áli hét. Þeir stefndu orrostu milli sín á ísi vatns þess, er Væni heitir. Aðils konungr sendi boð Hrólfi kraka, mági sínum, at hann kæmi til liðveizlu við hann, ok hét mála öllum her hans, meðan þeir væri í ferðinni, en konungr sjálfr skyldi eignast þrjá kostgripi, þá er hann köri af Svíðjóð. Hrólfr konungr mátti eigi fara fyrir ófriði þeim, er hann átti við Saxa, en þó sendi hann Aðilsi berserki sína tólf. Þar var einn Böðvarr bjarki ok Hjalti hugprúði, Hvítserkr hvati, Vöttr, Véseti, þeir bræðr Svipdagr ok Beiguðr. Í þeiri orrostu féll Áli konungr ok mikill hluti liðs hans. Þá tók Aðils konungr af honum dauðum hjálminn Hildisvín ok hest hans Hrafn. Þá beiddust þeir berserkir Hrólfs kraka at taka mála sinn, þrjú pund gulls hverr þeira, ok um fram beiddust þeir at flytja Hrólfi kraka kostgripi þá, er þeir kuru til handa honum. Þat var hjálmrinn Hildigöltr ok brynjan Finnsleif, er á hvárigu festi járn, ok gullhringr sá, er kallaðr var Svíagríss, er átt höfðu langfeðgar Aðils. En konungr varnaði allra gripanna, ok eigi heldr galt hann málann. Fóru berserkir braut ok unðu illa sínum hlut, sögðu svá búit Hrólfi kraka. Ok jafnskjótt byrjaði hann ferð sína til Uppsala, ok er hann kom skipum sínum í ána Fýri, þá reið hann til Uppsala, ok með honum tólf berserkir hans, allr griðalausir. Yrsa, móðir hans, fagnaði honum ok fylgði honum til herbergis ok eigi til konungs hallar. Váru þá gervir eldar fyrir þeim ok gefit öl at drekka. Þá komu menn Aðils konungs inn ok báru skíð á eldinn ok gerðu svá mikinn, at klæði brunnu af þeim Hrólfi, ok mæltu: "Er þat satt, at Hrólfr kraki ok berserkir hans flýja hvárki eld né járn?" Þá hljóp Hrólfr kraki upp ok allir þeir. Þá mælti hann: "Aukum enn elda / at Aðils húsum," tók skjöld sinn ok kastaði á eldinn ok hljóp yfir eldinn, meðan skjöldrinn brann, ok mælti enn: "Flýra sá eld / er yfir hleypr." Svá fór hverr at öðrum hans manna, tóku þá ok, er eldinn höfðu aukit, ok köstuðu á eldinn. Þá kom Yrsa ok fekk Hrólfi kraka dýrshorn, fullt af gulli, ok þar með hringinn Svíagrís ok bað þá braut ríða til liðsins. Þeir hljópu á hesta sína ok ríða ofan á Fýrisvöllu. Þá sá þeir, at Aðils konungr reið eftir þeim með her sinn alvápnaðan ok vill drepa þá. Þá tók Hrólfr kraki hægri hendi gullit ofan í hornit ok söri allt um götuna. En er Svíar sjá þat, hlaupa þeir ór söðlunum, ok tók hverr slíkt er fekk, en Aðils konungr bað þá ríða ok reið sjálfr ákafliga. Slöngvir hét hestr hans, allra hesta skjótastr. Þá sá Hrólfr kraki, at Aðils konungr reið nær honum, tók þá hringinn Svíagrís ok kastaði til hans ok bað hann þiggja at gjöf. Aðils konungr reið at hringinum ok tók til með spjótsoddinum ok renndi upp á falinn. Þá veik Hrólfr kraki aftr ok sá, er hann laut niðr. Þá mælti hann: "Svínbeygt hefi ek nú þann, er ríkastr er með Svíum." Svá skilðust þeir. Af þessi sök er gull kallat sáð Kraka eða Fýrisvalla. Svá kvað Eyvindr skáldaspillir: Bárum, Ullr, of alla, / ímunlauks, á hauka / fjöllum Fýrisvalla / fræ Hákunar ævi. Svá sem Þjóðólfr kvað: Örð sær Yrsu burðar / inndrótt jöfurr sinni / bjartplógaðan bauga / brattakr völu-spakra. / Eyss landreki ljósu / lastvarr Kraka barri / á hlémyldar holdi, / hauks kölfur mér sjalfum.
Svá er sagt, at konungr sá, er Hölgi er nefndr, er Hálogaland er við kennt, var faðir Þorgerðar Hölgabrúðar. Þau váru bæði blótuð, ok var haugr Hölga kastaðr, önnur fló af gulli eða silfri - þat var blótféit - en önnur fló af moldu ok grjóti. Svá kvað Skúli Þorsteinsson: Þá er ræfrvita Reifnis / rauð ek fyr Svölð til auðar, / herfylgins bar ek Hölga / haugþök saman baugum.
Í Bjarkarmálum inum fornum eru tölð mörg gullsheiti. Svá segir þar: Gramr inn gjöflasti / gæddi hirð sína / Fenju forverki, / Fáfnis Miðgarði, / Glasis glóbarri, / Grana fagrbyrði, / Draupnis dýrsveita, / dúni Grafvitnis. Ýtti örr hilmir, / aldir við tóku, / Sifjar svarðfestum, / svelli dalnauðar, / tregum otrsgjöldum, / tárum Mardallar, / eldi Órunar, / Iðja glysmálum. Gladdi gunnveitir, / gengum fagrbúnir, / Þjaza þingskilum / þjóðir hermargar, / Rínar rauðmalmi, / rógi Niflunga, / vísi inn vígdjarfi. / Varði hann Baldr þeygi. Gull er kallat í kenningum eldr handar eða liðs eða leggjar, því at þat er rautt, en silfr snær eða svell eða héla, því at þat er hvítt. Með sama hætti skal ok kenna gull eða silfr til sjóðs eða diguls eða lauðar, en hvárttveggja silfr ok gull má vera grjót handar eða hálsgjörð nökkurs þess manns, er títt var at hafa men. Men ok hringar eru bæði silfr ok gull, ef eigi er annan veg greint. Sem kvað Þorleikr fagri: Kastar gramr á glæstar / gegn valstöðvar þegnum, / ungr vísi gefr eisu / armleggs, digulfarmi. Ok sem kvað Einarr skálaglamm: Liðbröndum kná Lundar / landfrækn jöfurr granda. / Hykka ek ræsis rekka / Rínar grjót of þrjóta. Svá kvað Einarr Skúlason: Blóðeisu liggr bæði / bjargs tveim megin geima / sjóðs, á ek sökkva stríði, / snær ok eldr, at mæra. Ok enn sem hann kvað: Dægr þrymr hvert, en hjarta / hlýrskildir ræðr mildu / Heita blakks, of hvítum / hafleygr digulskafli. / Aldri má fyr eldi / áls hrynbrautar skála, / öll viðr folka fellir / framræði snæ bræða. Hér er gull kallat eldr áls hrynbrautar, en silfr snær skálanna. Svá kvað Þórðr Mæraskáld: Sér á seima rýri, / sigðis látrs at átti, / hrauns glaðsendir handa, / Hermóðr föður góðan.
Maðr er kallaðr brjótr gullsins, svá sem kvað Óttarr svarti: Góðmennis þarf ek gunnar / glóð-brjótanda at njóta. / Hér er alnennin inni / inndrótt með gram svinnum. Eða gullsendir, sem kvað Einarr skálaglamm: Gullsendir lætr grundar, / glaðar þengill her drengja, / hans mæti kná ek hljóta, / hljót Yggs mjaðar njóta. Gullvörpuðr, sem kvað Þorleikr: Hirð viðr grams með gerðum / gollvörpuðr sér holla. Gullstríðir, sem kvað Þorvaldr blönduskáld: Gullstríðir verpr glóðum, / gefr auð konungr rauðan, / óþjóðar bregðr eyðir, / armleggs, Grana farmi. Gullskati, sem hér er: Gat ek gullskata; / gör er leygs of bör / götu gunnvita / gráps tögdrápa.
Kona er kennd til gulls, kölluð selja gulls, sem kvað Hallar-Steinn: Svalteigar mun selju / salts Viðblinda galtar / rafkastandi rastar / reyrþvengs muna lengi. Hér er kallat hvalir Viðblinda geltir. Hann var jötunn ok dró hvali í hafi út sem fiska. Teigr hvala er sær, röf sævar er gull. Kona er selja gulls þess, er hon gefr, ok samheiti við selju er tré, sem fyrr er ritat, at kona er kennd við alls konar trjáheiti kvenkennd. Hon er ok lág kölluð þess, er hon gefr. Lág heitir ok tré þat, er fellr í skógi. Svá kvað Gunnlaugr ormstunga: Alin var rýgr at rógi, / runnr olli því gunnar, / lág var ek auðs at eiga / óðgjarn, fira börnum. Kona er kölluð mörk. Svá kvað Hallar-Steinn: Ek hefi óðar lokri / ölstafna Bil skafna, / væn mörk skála, verki / vandr stef-knarrar branda. Tróða, enn sem kvað Steinn: Þú munt, fúrs, sem fleiri, / flóðs hirðisif, tróður, / grönn, við gæfu þinni / grjóts Hjaðninga brjótask. Skorða, svá kvað Ormr Steinþórsson: Skorða var í föt færð / fjarðbeins afar hrein. / Nýri slöng nadd-Freyr / nisting of mjaðar Hrist. Stoð, sem Steinarr kvað: Mens hafa mildrar Synjar / mjúkstalls logit allir, / sjá höfumk veltistoð stilltan / straumtungls, at mér draumar. Björk, enn sem Ormr kvað: Því at hols hrynbáls / hramma, þats ek berk fram, / Billings á burar full / bjarkar hefi ek lagit mark. Eik, svá sem hér er: Aura stendr fyr órum / eik fagrbúin leiki. Lind, svá sem hér er: Ógnrakkr, skalat okkur, / almr dynskúrar malma, / svá bauð lind í landi / líns, hugrekki dvína.
Maðr er kenndr til viða, sem fyrr er ritat, kallaðr reynir vápna eða víga, ferða ok athafnar, skipa ok alls þess, er hann ræðr ok reynir. Svá kvað Úlfr Uggason: En stirðþinull starði / storðar leggs fyr borði / fróns á folka reyni / fránleitr ok blés eitri. Viðr ok meiðr, sem kvað Kormákr: Meiðr er mörgum æðri / morðteins í dyn fleina; / hjörr fær hildibörrum / hjarl Sigurði jarli. Lundr, svá kvað Hallfreðr vandræðaskáld: Askþollum stendr Ullar / austr at miklu trausti / rækilundr inn ríki / randfárs brumaðr hári. Hér er ok þollr nefndr. Búss, svá kvað Arnórr: Rökr öndurt bað randir / reggbúss saman leggja, / rógskýja helt, Rygja, / regni haustnótt gegnum. Askr, sem Refr kvað: Gekk í gulli stokkna / gjöfrífr, Háars drífu / askr viðr ærinn þroska, / as-Freyr sæing meyjar. Hlynr, sem hér er: Heill kom þú, handar svella / hlynr kvaddi svá brynju. Börr, sem Refr kvað: Alls böðgæðis bjóða, / börr ræðr til þess hjörva, / ógnstöðvar hefi ek ægi / einráðit Þórsteini. Stafr, sem Óttarr kvað: Heltu, þar er hrafn né svalta, / hvatráðr ertu, láði, / ógnarstafr, fyr jöfrum, / ýgr, tveimr, við kyn beima. Þorn, sem Arnórr kvað: Hlóð, en hála téðu / hirðmenn ara grenni, / auðar þorn fyr örnu / ungr valköstu þunga.
Hvernig skal kenna orrostu? Svá, at kalla veðr vápna eða hlífa eða Óðins eða valkyrju eða herkonunga eða gný eða glym. Svá kvað Hornklofi: Háði gramr, þar er gnúðu, / geira hregg við seggi, / rauð fnýstu ben blóði, / bengögl at dyn Sköglar. Svá kvað Eyvindr: Ok sá halr / at Háars veðri / hösvan serk / hrísgrímnis bar. Svá kvað Bersi: Þótta ek, þá er æri, / ár, sagt er þat, várum, / hæfr at Hlakkar drífu / hyrrunnum vel gunnar. Svá kvað Einarr: Glymvindi lætr Göndlar, / gnestr hörr, taka mestum / Hildar segl, Þar er hagli, / hraustr þengill, drífr strengjar. Sem kvað Einarr skálaglamm: Né sigbjarka serkir / sómmiðjungum rómu / Hárs við Högna skúrir / hléðut fast of séðir. Svá sem hér: Odda gnýs við æsi / oddnets þinul setja. Ok enn þetta: Hnigu fjandr at glym Göndlar / grams und arnar hramma.
Vápn ok herklæði skal kenna til orrostu ok til Óðins ok valmeyja ok herkonunga, kalla hjálm hött eða fald, en brynju serk eða skyrtu, en skjöld tjald, ok skjaldborgin er kölluð höll ok ræfr, veggr ok gólf. Skildir eru kallaðir ok kenndir við herskip, sól eða tungl eða lauf eða blik eða garðr skipsins. Skjöldr er ok kallaðr skip Ullar eða kennt til fóta Hrungnis, er hann stóð á skildi. Á fornum skjöldum var títt at skrifa rönd þá, er baugr var kallaðr, ok eru við þann baug skildir kenndir. Höggvápn, öxar eða sverð, er kallat eldar blóðs eða benja. Sverð heita Óðins eldar, en öxar kalla menn trollkvinna heitum ok kenna við blóð eða benjar eða skóg eða við. Lagvápn eru vel kennd til orma eða fiska. Skotvápn eru mjök kennd til hagls eða drífu eða rotu. Öllum þessum kenningum er marga lund breytt, því at þat er flest ort í lofkvæðum, er þessar kenningar þarf við. Svá kvað Víga-Glúmr: Lattisk herr með höttu / Hangatýs at ganga, / þóttit þeim at hætta / þekkiligt, fyr brekku. Svá kvað Einarr skálaglamm: Hjalmfaldinn bauð hildi / hjaldrörr ok Sigvaldi, / hinn er fór í gný Gunnar, / gunndjarfr Búi, sunnan. Róða serkr, sem Tindr kvað: Þá er hringfáum Hanga / hrynserk, viðum brynju / hruðusk riðmarar Róða / rastar, varð at kasta. Hamðis skyrta, sem Hallfreðr kvað: Ólítinn brestr úti / unndýrs frömum runnum / hart á Hamðis skyrtum / hryngráp Egils vápna. Sörla föt, enn sem hann kvað: Þaðan verða föt fyrða, / fregn ek görla þat, Sörla / rjóðask björt í blóði / benfúr méil-skúrum. [Hlakkar tjöld], sem Grettir kvað: Heldu Hlakkar tjalda / hefjendr saman nefjum / Hildar veggs ok hjuggusk / hregg-Nirðir til skeggjum. Róða ræfr, sem Einarr kvað: Eigi þverr fyrir augna / Óðs beðvinu Róða / ræfrs, eignisk sá, regni / ramsvell, konungr elli. Hildar veggr, sem kvað Grettir ok áðr er ritat. Skipsól, sem Einarr kvað: Leyg rýðr ætt á ægi / Óláfs skipa sólar. Hlýrtungl, sem Refr kvað: Dagr var fríðr, sá er fögru / fleygjendr alinleygjar / í hangferil hringa / hlýrtungli mér þrungu. Garðr skips, sem hér er: Svá skaut gegn í gögnum / garð steinfarinn barða, / sá var, gnýstærir geira, / gunnar æfr, sem næfrar. Askr Ullar, sem Þjóðólfr kvað: Ganga él of yngva / Ullar skips með fullu, / þar er samnagla siglur / slíðrdúkaðar ríða. Ilja blað Hrungnis, sem Bragi kvað: Vilið, Hrafnketill, heyra, / hvé hreingróit steini / Þrúðar skal ek ok þengil / þjófs ilja blað leyfa? Bragi skáld kvað þetta um bauginn á skildinum: Nema svá at góð ins gjalla / gjöld baugnafaðs vildi / meyjar hjóls inn mæri / mögr Siguðar Högna. Hann kallaði skjöldinn Hildar hjól, en bauginn nöf hjólsins. Baugjörð, sem Hallvarðr kvað: Rauðljósa sér ræsir, / rít brestr sundr in hvíta, / baugjörð brodda ferðar, / bjúgrennd, í tvau fljúga. Svá er enn kveðit: Baugr er á beru sæmstr, / en á boga örvar. Sverð er Óðins eldr, sem Kormákr kvað: Svall, þá er gekk með gjallan / Gauts eld, hinn er styr belldi, / glaðfæðandi Gríðar, / gunnr. Komsk Urðr ór brunni Hjálms eldr, sem kvað Úlfr Uggason: Fullöflug lét fjalla / fram haf-Sleipni þramma / Hildr, en Hrofts of gildar / hjalmelda mar felldu. Brynju eldr, sem kvað Glúmr Geirason: Heinþynntan lét hvína / hryneld at þat brynju / foldar vörðr, sá er fyrðum / fjörn-harðan sik varði. Randar íss ok grand hlífar, sem Einarr kvað: Ráðvöndum þá ek rauðra / randa ís at vísa, / grand berum hjalms í hendi, / hvarmþey drifinn Freyju. Öx heitir trollkona hlífa, sem Einarr kvað: Sjá megu rétt, hvé, Ræfils / ríðendr, við brá Gríðar / fjörnis fagrt of skornir, / foldviggs, drekar liggja. Spjót er ormr kallat, sem Refr kvað: Kná myrkdreki marka / minn, þar er ýtar finnask, / æfr á aldar lófum / eikinn borðs at leika. Örvar eru kallaðar hagl boga eða strengjar eða hlífa eða orrostu, sem Einarr kvað skálaglamm: Brak-Rögnir skók bogna, / barg óþyrmir varga, / hagl ór Hlakkar seglum, / hjörs, rakkliga fjörvi. Ok Hallfreðr: Ok geir-Rótu götvar / gagls við strengjar hagli / hungreyðöndum hanga / hléðut járni séðar. Ok Eyvindr skáldaspillir: Lítt kváðu þik láta, / landvörðr, er brast, Hörða, / brynju hagl í benjum, / bugusk almar, geð falma.
Orrosta er kölluð Hjaðninga veðr eða él ok vápn Hjaðninga eldr eða vendir, en saga er til þess. Konungr sá, er Högni er nefndr, átti dóttur, er Hildr hét. Hana tók at herfangi konungr sá, er Heðinn hét Hjarrandason. Þá var Högni konungr farinn í konunga stefnu. En er hann spuðri, at herjat var í ríki hans ok dóttir hans í braut tekin, þá fór hann með sínu liði at leita Heðins ok spurði til hans, at hann fór norðr með landi. Þá er Högni konungr kom í Nóreg, spurði hann, at Heðinn hafði siglt vestr of haf. Þá siglir Högni eftir honum allt til Orkneyja, ok er hann kom þar, sem heitir Háey, þá var þar fyrir Heðinn með lið sitt. Þá fór Hildr á fund föður síns ok bauð honum men at sætt af hendi Heðins, en í öðru orði sagði hon, at Heðinn væri búinn at berjast ok ætti Högni af honum engrar vægðar ván. Högni svarar stirt dóttur sinni. En er hon hitti Heðin, sagði hon honum, at Högni vildi enga sætt, ok bað hann búast til orrostu, ok svá gera þeir hvárirtveggju, ganga upp á eyna ok fylkja liðinu. Þá kallar Heðinn á Högna, mág sinn, ok bauð honum sætt ok mikit gull at bótum. Þá svarar Högni: "Of síð bauttu þetta, ef þú vill sættast, því að nú hefi ek dregit Dáinsleif, er dvergarnir gerðu, er mannsbani skal verða, hvert sinn er bert er, ok aldri bilar í höggvi ok ekki sár grær, ef þar skeinist af." Þá mælti Heðinn: "Sverði hælir þú þar, en eigi sigri. Þat kallak gott hvert, er dróttinhollt er." Þá hófu þeir orrostu þá, er Hjaðningavíg er kallat, ok börðust þann dag allan, ok at kveldi fóru konungar til skipa. En Hildr gekk of nóttina til valsins ok vakði upp með fjölkynngi alla þá, er dauðir váru. Ok annan dag gengu konungarnir á vígvöllinn ok börðust ok svá allir þeir, er fellu inn fyrra daginn. Fór svá sú orrosta hvern dag eftir annan, at allir, þeir er fellu, ok öll vápn, þau er lágu á vígvelli, ok svá hlífar, urðu, at grjóti. En er dagaði, stóðu upp allir dauðir menn ok börðust, ok öll vápn váru þá nýt. Svá er sagt í kvæðum, at Hjaðningar skulu svá bíða ragnaröks. Eftir þessi sögu orti Bragi skáld í Ragnars drápu loðbrókar.
Orrosta er veðr Óðins, sem fyrr er ritat. Svá kvað Víga-Glúmr: Rudda ek sem jarlar, / orð lék á því, forðum / með veðrstöfum Viðris / vandar mér til landa. Viðris veðr er hér kallat orrusta, en vöndr vígs sverðit, en menn stafir sverðsins. Hér er bæði orrosta ok vápn haft til kenningar mannins. Þat er rekit kallat, er svá er ort. Skjöldr er land vápnanna, en vápn er hagl eða regn þess lands, ef nýgervingum er ort.
Hvernig skal kenna skip? Svá, at kalla hest eða dýr eða skíð sækonunga eða sævar eða skipreiða eða veðrs. Báru fákr, sem Hornklofi kvað: Hrjóðr lét hæstrar tíðar / harðráðr skipa börðum / báru fáks ins bleika / barnungr á lög þrungit. Geitis marr, svá kvað Erringar-Steinn: En þótt ófrið sunnan / öll þjóð segi skaldi, / hlöðum Geitis mar grjóti, / glaðir nennum vér, þenna. Sveiða hreinar: Súðlöngum komt sveiða, / sunds liðu dýr frá grundu, / sigrakkr, Sölsa bekkjar, / Sveins mögr, á tröð hreinum. Svá kvað Hallvarðr. Hér er ok kölluð sunds dýr ok særinn Sölsa bekkr. Svá kvað Þórðr Sjáreksson: Sveggja lét fyr Siggju / sólborðs goti norðan. / Gustr skaut Gylfa rastar / glaumi suðr fyr Aumar / En slóðgoti síðan / sæðings fyr skut bæði, / hestr óð lauks fyr Lista, / lagði Körmt ok Agðir. Hér er skip kallat sólborðs hestr ok sær Gylfa land, sæðings slóð særinn ok hestr skipit ok enn lauks hestr. Laukr heitir siglutré. Ok enn sem Markús kvað: Fjarðlinna óð fannir / fast vetrliði rastar. / Hljóp of húna gnípur / hvals rann íugtanni. / Björn gekk fram á fornar / flóðs hafskíða slóðir. / Skúrörðigr braut skorðu / skers glymfjötur bersi. Hér er skip kallat björn rasta. Björn heitir vetrliði ok íugtanni ok bersi, ok björn skorðu er hér kallat. Skip er ok kallat hreinn, svá kvað Hallvarðr, sem áðr er ritat, ok hjörtr, sem kvað Haraldr konungr Sigurðarson: Sneið fyr Sikiley víða / súð, várum þá prúðir. / Brýnt skreið vel til vánar / vengis hjörtr und drengjum. Ok elgr, sem Einarr kvað: Baugs, getr með þér þeygi, / þýðr, drengr vera lengi, / elg búum flóðs, nema fylgi, / friðstökkvir, því nökkut. Otr, sem Máni kvað: Hvat munt hafs á otri, / hengiligr, með drengjum, / karl, því at kraftr þinn förlask, / kinngrár, mega vinna? Vargr, sem kvað Refr: En hoddvönuðr hlýddi, / hlunnvitnis em ek runni / hollr til hermðar-spjalla / heinvandils, Þórsteini. Ok oxi. Skip er kallat skíð eða vagn eða reið. Svá kvað Eyjólfr dáðaskáld: Meita fór at móti / mjök síð of dag skíði / ungr með jöfnu gengi / útvers frömum hersi. Svá kvað Styrkárr Oddason: Ok eft ítrum stökkvi / ók Högna lið vögnum / hlunns á Heita fannir / hyrjar flóðs af móði. Ok sem Þorbjörn kvað: Hafreiðar var hlæðir / hlunns í skírnar brunni, / Hvíta-Krists sá er hæsta / hoddsviptir fekk giftu.
Hvernig skal Krist kenna? Svá, at kalla hann skapara himins ok jarðar, engla ok sólar, stýranda heims ok himinríkis ok engla, konung himna ok sólar ok engla ok Jórsala ok Jórdánar ok Gríklands, ráðandi postula ok heilagra manna. Forn skáld hafa kennt hann við Urðarbrunn ok Róm, sem kvað Eilífr Guðrúnarson: Setbergs, kveða sitja / sunnr at Urðarbrunni, / svá hefir rammr konungr remmðan / Róms banda sig löndum. Svá kvað Skafti Þóroddsson: Máttr er munka dróttins / mestr, aflar goð flestu. / Kristr skóp ríkr ok reisti / Rúms höll veröld alla. Himna konungr, sem Markús kvað: Gramr skóp grund ok himna / glyggranns sem her dyggvan, / einn stillir má öllu / aldar Kristr of valda. Svá kvað Eilifr kúlnasveinn: Hróts lýtr helgum krúzi / heims ferð ok lið beima. / Sönn er en öll dýrð önnur / einn sólkonungr hreinni. Máríu sonr, enn sem Eilífr kvað: Hirð lýtr himna, dýrðar, / hvein Máríu sveini, / mátt vinnr mildingr dróttar, / maðr er hann ok goð, sannan. Engla konungr, enn sem Eilífr kvað: Máttr er en menn of hyggi / mætr goðs vinar betri. / Þó er engla gramr öllu / örr helgari ok dýrri. Jórdánar konungr, sem kvað Sighvatr: Endr réð engla senda / Jórdánar gramr fjóra, / fors þó hans á hersi / heilagt skoft, ór lofti. Grikkja konungr, sem Arnórr kvað: Bænir hefi ek fyr beini / bragna falls við snjallan / Grikkja vörð ok Garða. / Gjöf launak svá jöfri. Svá kvað Eilífr kúlnasveinn: Himins dýrð lofar hölða, / hann er alls konungr, stilli. Hér kallaði hann fyrst Krist konung manna ok annat sinn alls konung. Enn kvað Einarr Skúlason: Lét, sá er landfolks gætir, / líknbjartr himinríki / umgeypnandi opna / alls heims fyr gram snjöllum.
Þar koma saman kenningar, ok verðr sá at skilja af stöð, er ræðr skáldskapinn, um hvárn kveðit er konunginn, því at rétt er at kalla Miklagarðskeisara Grikkjakonung, ok svá þann konung, er ræðr Jórsalalandi, at kalla Jórsalakonung, svá ok at kalla Rómskonung Rómaborgarkeisara, eða Englakonung, þann er Englandi ræðr. En sú kenning, er áðr var ritat, at kalla Krist konung manna, þá kenning má eiga hverr konungur. Konunga alla er rétt at kenna svá at kalla þá landráðendr eða landsvörðu eða landssæki eða hirðstjóra eða vörð landsfólks. Svá kvað Eyvindr skáldaspillir: Farmatýs / fjörvi næmðu / jarðráðendr / á Öglói. Ok sem Glúmr kvað Geirason: Hilmir rauð und hjalmi / heina laut á Gautum. / Þar varð í gný geira / grundar vörðr of fundinn. Sem Þjóðólfr kvað: Hár skyli hirðar stjóri / hugreifr sonum leifa / arf ok óðaltorfu, / ósk mín er þat, sína. Sem Einarr kvað: Snáks berr fald of fræknu / folkvörðr, konungs Hörða / frama telr greppr fyr gumnum, / geðsnjallr skarar fjalli. Rétt er ok um hann konung, er undir honum eru skattkonungar, at kalla hann konung konunga. Keisari er æðstr konunga, en þar næst er konungr sá, er ræðr fyrir þjóðlandi, jafn í kenningum öllum hverr við annan í skáldskap. Þar næst eru þeir menn, er jarlar heita eða skattkonungar, ok eru þeir jafnir í kenningum við konung, nema eigi má þá kalla þjóðkonunga, er skattkonungar eru. Ok svá kvað Arnórr jarlaskáld of Þorfinn jarl: Nemi drótt, hvé sjá sótti / snarlyndr konungr jarla. / Eigi þraut við ægi / ofvægjan gram bægja. Þar næst eru í kenningum í skáldskap þeir menn, er hersar heita. Kenna má þá sem konung eða jarl, svá at kalla þá gullbrjóta ok auðmildinga ok merkismenn ok fólksstjóra eða kalla hann oddvita liðsins eða orrostu, fyrir því at þjóðkonungr hverr, sá er ræðr mörgum löndum, þá setr hann til landstjórnar með sér skattkonunga ok jarla at dæma landslög ok verja land fyrir ófriði í þeim löndum, er konungi liggja fjarri, ok skulu þeir dómar ok refsingar vera þar jafnréttir sem sjálfs konungs. En í einu landi eru mörg heruð, ok er þat háttr konunga at setja þar réttara yfir svá mörg heruð sem hann gefr til valds, ok heita þeir hersar eða lendir menn í danskri tungu, en greifar í Saxlandi, en barúnar í Englandi. Þeir skulu ok vera réttir dómarar ok réttir landvarnarmenn yfir því ríki, er þeim er fengit til stjórnar. Ef eigi er konungr nær, þá skal fyrir þeim merki bera í orrostum, ok eru þeir þá jafnréttir herstjórar sem konungar eða jarlar. Þar næst eru þeir menn, er hölðar heita. Þat eru búendr þeir, er gildir eru at ættum ok réttum fullum. Þá má svá kenna at kalla þá veitanda fjár ok gætanda ok sætti manna. Þessar kenningar megu ok eiga höfðingjar. Konungar ok jarlar hafa til fylgðar með sér þá menn, er hirðmenn heita ok húskarlar, en lendir menn hafa ok sér handgengna menn, þá er í Danmörku ok í Svíðjóð eru hirðmenn kallaðir, en í Nóregi húskarlar, ok sverja þeir þó eiða svá sem hirðmenn konungum. Húskarlar konunga váru mjök hirðmenn kallaðir í forneskju. Svá kvað Þorvaldr blönduskáld: Konungr heill ok svá snjallir / sókn-örr, við lof görvan / óð hafa menn í munni / mínn, húskarlar þínir. Þetta orti Haraldr konungr Sigurðarson: Fullafli bíðr fyllar, / finn ek oft at drífr minna, / hilmis stóls, á hæla / húskarla lið jarli. Hirðmenn ok húskarla höfðingja má svá kenna at kalla þá inndrótt eða verðung eða heiðmenn. Svá kvað Sighvatr: Þat frá ek víg á vatni / verðung jöfurs gerðu, / nadda él en, nýla, / næst tel ek engi in smæstu. Ok enn þetta: Þági var sem þessum / þengils á jó strengjar / mjöð fyr malma kveðju / mær heiðþegum bæri. Heiðfé heitir máli ok gjöf, er höfðingjar gefa. Svá kvað Óttarr svarti: Góðmennis þarf ek gunnar / glóðbrjótanda at njóta. / Hér er alnennin inni / inndrótt með gram svinnum. Jarlar ok hersar ok hirðmenn eru svá kenndir, kallaðir konungs rúnar eða málar eða sessar. Svá kvað Hallfreðr: Grams rúni lætr glymja / gunnríkr, hinn er hvöt líkar, / Högna hamri slegnar / heiftbráðr of sik váðir. Sem Snæbjörn kvað: Stjórnviðjar lætr styðja / stáls buðlinga máli / hlemmisverð við harðri / húflagan skæ dúfu. Svá kvað Arnórr: Bera sýn of mik mínir / morðkennds taka enda / þess of þengils sessa / Þung mein synir ungir. Konungs spjalli, sem Hallfreðr kvað: Ráð lukusk, at sá, síðan, / snjallráðr konungs spjalli / átti eingadóttur / Ónars viði gróna. Svá skal menn kenna við ættir, sem Kormákr kvað: Heyri sonr á, Sýrar, / sannreynis, fentanna / örr greppa lætk uppi / jast-Rín, Haralds, mína. Hann kallaði jarlinn sannreyni konungsins, en Hákon jarl son Sigurðar jarls. En Þjóðólfr kvað svá um Harald: Vex Óláfs feðr / járnsaxa veðr, / harðræði hvert / svá at hróðrs er vert. Ok enn svá: Jarizleifr of sá, / hvert jöfri brá. / Hófsk hlýri fram / ins helga grams. Ok enn kvað hann: Andaðr er sá, / er of alla brá, / haukstalla konr, / Haralds bróðursonr. Enn kvað svá Arnórr í Rögnvaldsdrápu: Réð Heita konr hleyti / herþarfr við mik gerva. / Styrk lét oss of orkat / jarls mægð af því frægðar. Ok enn kvað hann of Þorfinn jarl: Bitu sverð, en þar þurðu, / þunngör fyr Mön sunnan / Rögnvalds kind, und randir / ramlig folk, ins gamla. Ok enn kvað hann: Ættbæti firr ítran / allríks, en ek bið líkna / trúra tyggja dýrum, / Torf-Einars goð meinum. Ok enn kvað Einarr skálaglamm: Né ættstuðill ættar / ógnherði mun verða, / skyldr em ek hróðri at halda, / Hilditanns in mildri.
Hvernig er ókennd setning skáldskapar? Svá, at nefna hvern hlut sem heitir. Hver eru ókennd nöfn skáldskaparins? Hann heitir bragr ok hróðr, óðr, mærð, lof. Þetta kvað Bragi inn gamli, þá er hann ók um skóg nökkurn síð um kveld. Þá stefjaði trollkona á hann ok spurði, hverr þar fór: Troll kalla mik / tungl sjöt-rungnis, / auðsug jötuns, / élsólar böl, / vílsinn völu, / vörð nafjarðar, / hvélsvelg himins. / Hvat er troll, nema þat? Hann svarði svá: Skald kalla mik / skapsmið Viðurs, / Gauts gjafrötuð, / grepp óhneppan, / Yggs ölbera, / óðs skapmóða, / hagsmið bragar. / Hvat er skald, nema þat? Ok sem Kormákr kvað: Hróðr geri ek of mög mæran / meir Sigröðar fleira; / haftsænis geld ek hánum / heið. Sitr Þórr í reiðu. Ok sem kvað Þórðr Kolbeinsson: Mjök lét margar snekkjur, / mærðar örr, sem knörru, / óðr vex skalds, ok skeiðar / skjaldhlynr á brim dynja. Mærð, sem Úlfr Uggason kvað: Þar kemr á, en æri / endr bar ek mærð af hendi, / ofra ek svá, til sævar, / sverðregns, lofi þegna. Hér er lof kallat skáldskapr.
Hvernig eru nöfn goðanna? Þau heita bönd, sem kvað Eyjólfr dáðaskáld: Dregr land at mun banda / Eiríkr und sik geira / veðmildr ok semr hildi. Ok höft, sem kvað Þjóðólfr inn hvinverski: Tormiðlaðr var tívum / tálhreinn meðal beina. / Hvat kvað hafta snytrir / hjalmfaldinn því valda. Rögn, sem Einarr kvað skálaglamm: Rammaukin kveð ek ríki / rögn Hákunar magna. Jólnar, sem Eyvindr kvað: Jólna sumbl / enn vér gátum, / stillis lof, / sem steina brú. Díar, sem Kormákr kvað: Eykr með ennidúki / jarðhljótr día fjarðar / breyti, hún sá er, beinan, / bindr. Seið Yggr til Rindar.
Þessi nöfn himins eru rituð, en eigi höfum vér fundit í kvæðum öll þessi heiti. En þessi skáldskaparheiti sem önnur þykkir mér óskylt at hafa í skáldskap, nema áðr finni hann í verka höfuðskálda þvílík heiti. Himinn: hlýrnir, heiðþorrnir, hreggmímir, andlangr, ljósfari, drífandi, skatyrnir, víðfeðmir, vetmímir, leiftr, hrjóðr, víðbláinn. Sól: sunna, röðull, eyglóa, alskír, sýni, fagrahvél, líknskin, Dvalins leika, álfröðull, ifröðull, mylin. Tungl: máni, ný, nið, ártali, mulinn, fengari, glámr, skyndir, skjálgr, skrámr.
Hver eru jarðarheiti? Hon heitir jörð, sem Þjóðólfr kvað: Jarl lætr odda skúrar / oft herðir gör verða / hrings, áðr hann of þryngvi, / hörð él, und sik jörðu. Fold, sem Óttarr kvað: Fold verr folk-Baldr, / fár má konungr svá, / örnu reifir Óleifr, / er framr Svía gramr. Grund, sem Hallfreðr kvað: Grund liggr und bör bundin / breið holmfjöturs leiðar, / heinlands hoddum grandar / Höðr, eitrsvélum naðri. Hauðr, sem Einarr kvað: Verja hauðr með hjörvi / hart döglinga bjartra / hjalmr springr oft fyr olmri / egghríð, framir seggir. Land, sem Þórðr Kolbeinsson kvað: En eft víg frá Veigu, / vant er orð at styr, norðan / land eða lengra stundu / lagðisk suðr til Agða. Láð, sem Óttarr kvað: Heltu, þar er hrafn né svalta, / hvatráðr ertu, láði / ógnar stafr, fyr jöfrum, / ýgr, tveimr, við kyn beima. Hlöðyn, sem kvað Völu-Steinn: Man ek þat, er jörð við orða / endr myrk Danar sendi / grænnar gröfnum munni / gein Hlöðynjar beina. Frón, sem kvað Úlfr Uggason: En stirðþinull starði / storðar leggs fyr borði / fróns á folka reyni / fránleitr ok blés eitri. Fjörgyn, sem hér er kveðit: Örgildi var ek, Eldis, / áls Fjörgynjar, mála, / dyggr, sé heiðr ok hreggi, / hrynbeðs, áar steðja.
Vargr heitir dýr. Þat er rétt at kenna við blóð eða hræ, svá at kalla verð hans eða drykk. Eigi er rétt at kenna svá við fleiri dýr. Vargr heitir ok úlfr, sem Þjóðólfr kvað: Gera var gisting byrjuð / gnóg, en ulf ór skógi / sonr á sár at spenja / Sigorðar kom norðan. Hér er hann ok geri kallaðr. Freki, sem Egill kvað: Þá er oddbreki, / sleit und freki, / gnúði hrafni / á höfuðstafni. Vitnir, sem Einarr kvað: Elfr varð unda gjalfri / eitrköld roðin heitu. / Vitnis fell með vatni / varmt ölðr í men Karmtar. Ylgr, sem Arnórr kvað: Svalg áttbogi ylgjar / ógóðr, en varð blóði / græðir grænn at rauðum, / grandauknum ná, blandinn. Vargr, sem Illugi kvað: Vargs var munr þat, er margan, / menskerðir stakk sverði / myrkaurriða markar, / minn dróttinn rak flótta. Þetta er enn vargs heiti, sem Hallr kvað: Heiðingja sleit hungri, / hárr gylðir naut sára, / granar rauð gramr á fenri, / gekk ulfr í ben drekka. Ok enn sem Þórðr kvað: Óð, en ærnu náði / íms sveit freka hveiti, / gera ölðra naut gylðir, / Gjalpar stóð í blóði. Björn heitir fetvíðnir, húnn, vetrliði, bersi, fress, íugtanni, ifjungr, glúmr, jölfuðr, vilskarpr, bera, jórekr, riti, frekr, blómr, ysjungr. Hjörtr heitir mótroðnir, dalarr, dalr, Dáinn, Dvalinn, Duneyrr, Duraþrór.
Þessi eru hesta heiti talið í Þorgrímsþulu: Hrafn ok Sleipnir, / hestar ágætir, / Valr ok Léttfeti, / var þar Tjaldari, / Gulltoppr ok Goti, / getit heyrðak Sóta, / Mór ok Lungr með Mari. Vigg ok Stúfr / var með Skævaði. / Þegn knátti Blakkr bera, / Silfrtoppr ok Sinir, / svá heyrðak Fáks of getit, / Gullfaxi ok Jór með goðum. Blóðughófi hét hestr, / er bera kváðu / öflgan Atriða, / Gísl ok Falhófnir, / Glær ok Skeiðbrimir, / þar var ok Gyllis getit. Þessir eru enn talðir í Kálfsvísu: Dagr reið Drösli, / en Dvalinn Móðni, / Hjalmr Háfeta, / en Haki Fáki, / reið bani Belja / Blóðughófa, / en Skævaði / skati Haddingja. Vésteinn Vali, / en Vífill Stúfi, / Meinþjófr Mói, / en Morginn Vakri, / Áli Hrafni, / er til íss riðu, / en annarr austr / und Aðilsi / grár hvarfaði, / geiri undaðr. Björn reið Blakki, / en Bjárr Kerti, / Atli Glaumi, / en Aðils Slöngvi, / Högni Hölkvi, / en Haraldr Fölkvi, / Gunnarr Gota, / en Grana Sigurð. Árvakr ok Alsviðr draga sólina, sem fyrr er ritat. Hrímfaxi eða Fjörsvartnir draga nóttina. Skinfaxi eða Glaðr fylgja deginum.
Þessi öxnaheiti eru í Þorgrímsþulu: Gamalla öxna nöfn / hefi ek görla fregit / þeira Rauðs ok Hæfis, / Rekinn ok Hýrr, / Himinhrjóðr ok Apli, / Arfr ok Arfuni. Þessi eru orma heiti: dreki, Fáfnir, Jörmungandr, naðr, Níðhöggr, linnr, naðra, Góinn, Móinn, Grafvitnir, Grábakr, Ófnir, Sváfnir, grímr. Naut: kýr, kálfr, yxni, kvíga, vetrungr, griðungr, boli. Sauðr: hrútr, bekri, ær, lamb, veðr. Svín: sýr, gylta, runi, göltr, gríss.
Hver eru heiti lofts ok veðranna? Loft heitir ginnungagap ok meðalheimr, foglheimr, veðrheimr. Veðr heitir hregg, byrr, glygg, hret, gjósta, vindr. Svá segir í Alsvinnsmálum: Vindr heitir með mönnum, / en vönsuðr með goðum, / kalla gneggjuð ginnregin, / æpi jötnar, / en alfar gnýfara, / heitir í helju hlömmuðr. Veðr heitir ok gustr.
Tveir eru fuglar þeir, er eigi þarf at kenna annan veg en kalla blóð eða hræ drykk þeira eða verð. Þat er hrafn ok örn. Alla aðra fugla karlkennda má kenna við blóð eða hræ, ok er þat þá nafn örn eða hrafn, sem Þjóðólfr kvað: Blóðorra lætr barri / bragningr ara fagna. / Gauts berr sigð á sveita / svans örð konungr Hörða. / Geirs oddum lætr greddir / grunn hvert stika sunnar / hirð, þat er hann skal varða, / hrægamms ara sævar. Þessi eru nöfn hrafns: krákr, Huginn, Muninn, borginmóði, árflognir, ártali, holdboði. Svá kvað Einarr skálaglamm: Fjallvönðum gaf fylli, / fullr varð, en spjör gullu, / herstefnandi hröfnum, / hrafn á ylgjar tafni. Svá kvað Einarr Skúlason: Dolgskára kná dýrum / dýrr magnandi stýra, / Hugins fermu bregðr harmi / harmr, bliksólar garmi. Ok enn sem hann kvað: En við hjaldr, þar er hölðar, / hugþrútit svellr, lúta, / Muninn drekkr blóð ór benjum / blásvartr, konungs hjarta. Sem kvað Víga-Glúmr: Þá er dynfúsir dísar / dreyra mens á eyri, / bráð fekk borginmóði / blóðs, skjaldaðir stóðum. Sem Skúli kvað Þorsteinsson: Myndit efst, þar er undir / árflogni gaf ek sárar, / Hlökk í hundraðs flokki / Hvítinga mik líta. Örn heitir svá: ari, gemlir, hreggskornir, eggðir, ginnarr, undskornir, gallópnir. Sem Einarr kvað: Sámleitum rauð sveita, / sleit örn gera beitu, / fekksk arnar matr járnum, / Járnsöxu grön faxa. Sem Óttarr kvað: Örn drekkr, undarn / ylgr fær, af hræum sylg, / oft rýðr ulfr köft, / ari getr verð þar. Sem Þjóðólfr kvað: Segjöndum fló sagna / snótar ulfr at móti / í gemlis ham gömlum / glamma ó fyr skömmu. Ok sem hér er: Hreggskornis vil ek handa / háleitan mjöð vanda. Ok enn sem Skúli kvað: Vaki ek þat er val heltk ekka / víðis áðr ok síðan, / greppr hlýðir þá góðu, / gallópnis vel, spjalli.
Hver eru sævar heiti? Hann heitir: marr, ægir, gymir, hlér, haf, leið, ver, salt, lögr, græðir. Sem Arnórr kvað ok fyrr var ritat: Nemi drótt, hvé sæ sótti / snarlyndr konungr jarla. / Eigi þraut við ægi / óvæginn gram bægja. Hér er nefndr sær ok svá ægir. Marr, sem Hornklofi kvað: Þá er út á mar mætir / mannskæðr lagar tanna / ræsinaðr til rausnar / rak vébrautar Nökkva. Lögr er ok hér nefndr. Svá kvað Einarr: Lögr þvær flaust, en fagrir, / flóðs vaskar brim stóðum, / þar er sær á hlið hvára / hlymr, veðrvitar glymja. Hér er ok flóð kallat. Svá kvað Refr, sem fyrr var ritat: Færir Björn, þar er bára / brestr, undinna festa / oft í ægis kjafta / úrsvöl Gymis völva. Haf, sem Halvarðr kvað: Vestr lézt í haf, hristir, / harðviggs, sikulgjarðar, / umbands allra landa, / íss, framstafni vísat. Leið, sem hér er: Erum á leið frá láði / liðnir Finnum skriðnu. / Austr sé ek fjöll af flausta / ferli geisla merluð. Ver, sem Egill kvað: Vestr fór ek of ver, / en ek Viðris ber / munstrandar mar, / svá er mitt of far. Marr, sem Einarr kvað: Kaldr þvær marr und mildum / margt dægr viðu svarta, / grefr élsnúin, jöfri, / almsorg Manar þjalma. Salt, sem Arnórr kvað: Salt skar húfi héltum / hraustr þjóðkóngr austan / Báru brimlogs rýri / brún veðr at Sigtúnum. Græðir, sem Bölverkr kvað: Leiðangr bjótt af láði, / lögr gekk of skip, fögru, / gjalfrstóðum reist græði / glæstum, ár it næsta. Hér er ok gjálfr kallat særinn. Víðir, sem kvað Refr: Barðristinn nemr brjósti / borðheim drasill skorðu, / nauð þolir viðr, en víði / verpr inn of þröm stinnan. Húmr, sem Brennu-Njáll kvað: Senn jósum vér, svanni, / sextán, en brim vexti, / dreif á hafskips húfa / húm, í fjórum rúmum. Þessi eru enn sævar heiti, svá at rétt er at kenna til skip eða gull. Rán, er sagt, at var kona Ægis, svá sem hér er: Hrauð í himin upp glóðum / hafs, gekk sær af afli. / Börð, hygg ek, at ský skerðu. / Skaut Ránar vegr mána. Dætr þeira Ægis ok Ránar eru níu, ok eru nöfn þeira fyrr rituð: Himinglæva, Dúfa, Blóðughadda, Hefring, Uðr, Hrönn, Bylgja, Dröfn, Kólga. Einarr Skúlason talði í þessi vísu: Æsir hvasst at hraustum / Himinglæva þyt sævar, sex nöfn þeira, [himinglæva, Uðr, Dúfa, Blóðughadda, Kólga, Hefring]. Hrönn, sem Valgarðr kvað: Lauðr var lagt í beðja, / lék sollit haf golli, / en herskipum hrannir / höfuð ógurlig þógu. Bylgja, sem Óttarr svarti kvað: Skáruð sköfnu stýri, / skaut, sylgháar bylgjur, / lék við hún á hreini / hlunns, þat er drósir spunnu. Dröfn, sem Ormr kvað: Hrosta drýgir hvern kost / hauk lúðrs gæiþrúðr, / en drafnar loga Lofn / löstu rækir vinföst. Bára, sem Þorleikr fagri kvað: Sjár þýtr, en berr bára / bjart lauðr of við rauðan, / gránn þar er gulli búnum / gínn hlunnvísundr munni. Lá, sem Einarr kvað: Né framlyndir fundu / fyrr, hykkat lá kyrrðu, / þar er sjár á, við varra, / vini óra fell stórum. Fyllr, sem Refr kvað: Hrynja fjöll á fyllar, / fram æsisk nú Glamma / skeið vetrliði skíða, / skautbjörn Gusis nauta. Boði, sem hér er: Boði fell of mik bráðla. / Bauð heim með sér geimi. / Þá ek eigi löð lægis. Breki, sem Óttarr kvað: Braut, en breki þaut, / borð, óx viðar morð, / meðr fengu mikit veðr, / mjó fyrir ofan sjó. Vágr, sem Bragi kvað: Vildit vröngum ofra / vágs byrsendir ægi, / hinn er mjótygil máva / mærar skar fyr Þóri. Sund, sem Einarr kvað: Skar ek súðum sund / fyr sunnan Hrund, / mín prýddisk mund / við mildings fund. Fjörðr, sem Einarr kvað: Næst sé ek orm á jastar / ítrserki vel merkðan, / nemi bjóðr hvé ek fer, flæðar, / fjarðbáls of þat máli. Sægr, sem Markús kvað: Sægs mun ek síðr en eigi, / sá er illr, er brag spillir, / sólar sverri málan, / sliðráls reginn, níða.
Hver eru elds heiti? Svá sem hér er: Eldr brennat sjá sjaldan, / svíðr dyggr jöfurr byggðir, / blása rönn fyr ræsi / reyk, er Magnús kveykvir. Logi, sem Valgarðr kvað: Snarla skaut ór sóti, / sveyk of hús ok reykir / stóðu stopðir síðan, / steinóðr logi glóðum. Bál, sem hér er: Haki var brenndr á báli, / þar er brimslóðir óðu. Glæðr, sem Grani kvað: Glæðr hygg ek Glamma slóðar, / gramr eldi svá, felldu. Eisa, sem Atli kvað: Öx rýðsk, eisur vaxa, / allmörg, loga hallir, / hús brenna, gim geisar, / góðmennit fellr blóði. Hér er ok gim gallat eldrinn. Eimr, sem hér er: Brunnu allvalds inni, / eldr, hygg ek, at sal felldi, / eimr skaut á her hrími, / halfgör við Nið sjalfa. Hyrr, sem Arnórr kvað: Eymðit ráð við Rauma / reiðr Eydana meiðir. / Heit dvínuðu Heina, / hyrr gerði þá kyrra. Funi, sem Einarr kvað: Funi kyndisk fljótt, / en flýði skjótt / Hísingar herr, / sá er hafði verr. Brími, sem Valgarðr kvað: Bjartr sveimaði brími, / brutu víkingar fíkjum, / vísa styrks of virki, / varp sorg á mey, borgar. Leygr, sem Halldórr skvaldri kvað: Ér knáttuð þar þeira, / þú vart aldrigi, skjaldar / leygr þau of sjöt, sigri / sviptr, gersimum skipta.
Þessi eru nöfn stundanna: öld, forðum, aldr, fyrir löngu, ár, misseri, vetr, sumar, vár, haust, mánuðr, vika, dagr, nótt, morginn, aftann, kveld, árla, snemma, síðla, í sinn, fyrra dag, í næst, í gær, á morgun, stund, mél. Þessi eru enn heiti nætrinnar í Alsvinnsmálum: Nótt heitir með mönnum, / en njóla með goðum, / kalla grímu ginnregin, / ósorg kalla jötnar, / alfar svefngaman, / dvergar draumnjörun. Frá jafndægri er haust, til þess er sól sezt í eykðarstað. Þá er vetr til jafndægris. Þá er vár til fardaga. Þá er sumar til jafndægris. Haustmánuðr heitir inn næsti fyrir vetr, fyrstr í vetri heitir gormánuðr, þá er frermánuðr, þá er hrútmánuðr, þá er þorri, þá gói, þá einmánuðr, þá gaukmánuðr ok sáðtíð, þá eggtíð ok stekktíð, þá er sólmánuðr ok selmánuðr, þá eru heyannir, þá er kornskurðarmánuðr.
Hver eru manna heiti ókennd? Maðr er hverr fyrir sér; it fyrsta ok it æðsta heiti manns, er kallaðr er maðr keisari, því næst konungr, þar næst jarl. Þessir þrír menn eigu saman þessi heiti öll. Allvaldr, svá sem hér er kveðit: Allvalda kann ek alla / austr ok suðr of flausta, / Sveins er sonr at reyna, / setr, hverjum gram betri. Hér er ok gramr kallaðr. Því heitir hann allvaldr, at hann er einvaldi alls ríkis síns. Fylkir, sem Gizurr kvað: Fylkir gleðr í folki / flagðs blakk ok svan Hlakkar, / Óláfr of viðr élum / Yggs gögl fegin Sköglar. Fyrir því er fylkir kallaðr konungr, at hann skipar í fylkingar herliði sínu. Vísi, sem kvað Óttarr svarti: Vísi tekr, víg-Freys, / víst austr munlaust, / aldar hefir allvaldr, / óskvíf, gótt líf. Harri eða herra, sem kvað Arnórr: Harri fekk í hverri / Hjaltlands þrumu branda, / greppr vill grams dýrð yppa, / gagn, sá er hæstr var bragna. Hertogi heitir jarl, ok er konungr svá kallaðr ok, fyrir því er hann leiðir her til orrostu. Svá kvað Þjóðólfr: Ok hertoga hneykir / herfingnum lét stinga, / leyfð ber ek hans, ór höfði / haugs skundaði augu. Sinjór eða senjór, sem Sighvatr kvað: Lát auman nú njóta, / Nóregs, ok gef stórum, / mál halt, svá sem sælan, / sínjór, laga þinna. Mildingr, sem Markús kvað: Mildingr fór of óþjóð eldi, / auðit varð þá flotnum dauða. / Hæstan kynduð, hlenna þrýstir / hyrjar ljóma suðr at Jómi. Mæringr, sem Hallvarðr kvað: Erat und jarðar höslu, / orðbrjótr Dönum forðar / moldreks, munka valdi / mæringr en þú næri. Landreki, sem Þjóðólfr kvað: Eyss landreki ljósu / lastvarr Kraka barri, sem fyrr var ritat. Því heitir hann svá, at hann rekr her um land annarra konunga eða rekr her ór sínu landi.
Konungr er nefndr Hálfdan gamli, er allra konunga var ágætastr. Hann gerði blót mikit at miðjum vetri ok blótaði til þess, at hann skyldi lifa í konungdómi sínum þrjú hundruð vetra. En hann fekk þau andsvör, at hann myndi lifa ekki meir en einn mikinn mannsaldr, en þat myndi þó vera þrjú hundruð vetra, er engi myndi vera í ætt hans kona eða ótiginn maðr. Hann var hermaðr mikill ok fór víða um Austrvegu. Þar drap hann í einvígi þann konung, er Sigtryggr hét. Þá fekk hann þeirar konu, er kölluð er Alvig in spaka, dóttir Emundar konungs ór Hólmgarði. Þau áttu sonu átján ok váru níu senn bornir. Þeir hétu svá: Einn var Þengill, er kallaðr var Manna-Þengill, annarr Ræsir, þriði Gramr, fjórði Gylfi, fimmti Hilmir, sétti Jöfurr, sjaundi Tyggi, átti Skyli eða Skúli, níundi Harri eða Herra. Þessir níu bræðr urðu svá ágætir í hernaði, at í öllum fræðum síðan eru nöfn þeira haldin fyrir tignarnöfn, svá sem konungs nafn eða jarls. Þeir áttu engi börn ok fellu allir í orrostum. Svá kvað Óttarr svarti: Þengill var þegar ungr / þreksgörr vígörr. / Haldask bið ek hans aldr, / hann tel ek yfirmann. Svá kvað Markús: Ræsir lét af roðnum hausi / Rínar sól á marfjöll skína. Svá kvað Egill: Gramr hefir gerðihömrum / grundar upp of hrundit. Svá kvað Eyvindr: Lék við ljóðmögu, / skyldi land verja, / gylfi inn glaðværi, / stóð und gullhjalmi. Svá kvað Glúmr Geirason: Hilmir rauð und hjalmi / heina laut á Gautum. Svá kvað Óttarr svarti: Jöfurr heyri upphaf, / ofrask mun konungs lof, / háttu nemi hann rétt / hróðrs mín, bragar síns. Sem Stúfr kvað: Tíreggjaðr hjó tyggi / tveim höndum lið beima, / reifr gekk herr und hlífar, / hizig suðr fyr Nizi. Svá kvað Hallfreðr: Skiliðr em ek við skylja, / skaldmöld hefir því valdit. / Vætta virða dróttins / vil er mest ok dul flestum. Svá kvað Markús: Harra kveð ek at hróðrgörð dýrri / hauklundaðan Dana grundar. Enn áttu þau Hálfdan aðra níu sonu, er svá heita; Hildir, er Hildingar eru frá komnir, annarr Nefir, er Niflungar eru frá komnir, þriði Auði, er Öðlingar eru frá komnir, fjórði Yngvi, er Ynglingar eru frá komnir, fimmti Dagr, er Döglingar eru frá komnir, sétti Bragi, er Bragningar eru frá komnir. Þat er ætt Hálfdanar ins milda. Sjaundi Buðli, er Buðlungar eru frá komnir. Af Buðlungaætt kom Atli ok Brynhildr. Átti er Lofði. Hann var herkonungr mikill. Honum fylgði þat lið, er Lofðar váru kallaðir. Hans ættmenn eru kallaðir Lofðungar. Þaðan er kominn Eylimi, móðurfaðir Sigurðar Fáfnisbana. Níundi Sigarr, þaðan eru komnir Siklingar. Þat er ætt Siggeirs, er var mágr Völsungs, ok ætt Sigars, er hengði Hagbarð. Af Hildinga ætt var kominn Haraldr inn granrauði, móðurfaðir Hálfdanar svarta. Af Niflunga ætt var Gjúki, af Öðlinga ætt var Kjárr, af Ylfinga ætt var Eiríkr inn málspaki. Þessar eru ok konunga ættir ágætar: frá Yngva, er Ynglingar eru frá komnir, frá Skildi í Danmörk, er Skjöldungar eru frá komnir, frá Völsungi á Fraklandi, þeir heita Völsungar. Skelfir hét einn herkonungr, ok er hans ætt kölluð Skilfinga ætt. Sú kynslóð er í Austrvegum. Þessar ættir, er nú eru nefndar, hafa menn sett svá í skáldskap, at halda öll þessi fyrir tignarnöfn. Svá sem Einarr kvað: Frá ek við holm at heyja / hildingar fram gingu, / lind varð græn, inn grána / geirþing, í tvau springa. Sem Grani kvað: Döglingr fekk at drekka / danskt blóð ara jóði. Sem Gamli kvað Gnævaðarskáld: Öðlingr drap sér ungum / ungr naglfara á tungu / innan borðs ok orða / aflgerð meðalkafla. Sem Jórunn kvað: Bragningr réð í blóði, / beið herr konungs reiði, / hús lutu oft fyr eisum, / óþjóðar slög rjóða. Svá kvað Einarr: Beit buðlungs hjörr, / blóð fell á dörr. / [Raufsk Hildar ský / við Hvítabý.] Svá kvað Arnórr: Siklinga venr snekkjur / sjálútar konr úti. / Hann litar herskip innan, / hrafns góð er þat, blóði. Sem Þjóðólfr kvað: Svá lauk siklings ævi / snjalls, at vér ’rom allir, / lofðungr beið inn leyfði / lífs grand, í stað vöndum. Lofða konungi fylgði þat lið, er Lofðar heita. Sem Arnórr kvað: Skjöldungr mun þér annarr aldri / æðri, gramr, und sólu fæðask. Völsungr, sem kvað Þorkell hamarskáld: Mér réð senda / of svalan ægi / Völsunga niðr / vápn gullbúit. Ynglingr, sem kvað Óttarr svarti: Engi varð á jörðu / ógnbráðr, áðr þér náði, / austr sá er eyjum vestan / Ynglingr und sik þryngvi. Yngvi, þat er ok konungs heiti, sem Markús kvað: Eiríks lof verðr öld at heyra, / engi maðr veit fremra þengil, / Yngvi helt við orðstír langan / jöfra sess, í veröld þessi. Skilfingr, sem Valgarðr kvað: Skilfingr helt, þar er skulfu / skeiðr, fyr lönd in breiðu, / eydd varð, suðr, of síðir / Sikiley, liði miklu. Sínjór, sem Sighvatr kvað ok fyrr var ritat: Lát auman nú njóta / Nóregs ok gef stórum.
Skáld heita greppar, ok rétt er í skáldskap at kalla svá hvern mann, er vill. Rekkar váru kallaðir þeir menn, er fylgðu Hálfi konungi, ok af þeirra nafni eru rekkar kallaðir hermenn, ok er rétt at kalla svá alla menn. Lofðar heita ok menn í skáldskap, sem fyrr er ritat. Skatnar váru þeir menn kallaðir, er fylgðu þeim konungi, er Skati mildi var kallaðr. Af hans nafni er skati kallaðr hverr, er mildr er. Bragnar heita þeir, er fylgðu Braga konungi inum gamla. Virðar heita þeir menn, er meta mál manna. Fyrðar ok firar ok verar heita landvarnarmenn. Víkingar ok flotnar, þat er skipa herr. Beimar, svá hétu þeir, er fylgðu Beimuna konungi. Gumnar eða gumar heita flokkstjórar, svá sem gumi er kallaðr í brúðför. Gotnar eru kallaðir af heiti konungs þess, er Goti er nefndr, er Gotland er við kent. Hann var kallaðr af nafni Óðins ok dregit af Gauts nafni, því at Gautland eða Gotland var kallat af nafni Óðins, en Svíþjóð af nafni Sviðurs. Þat er ok heiti Óðins. Í þann tíma var kallat allt meginland, þat er hann átti, Reiðgotaland, en eyjar allar Eygotaland. Þat er nú kallat Danaveldi ok Svíaveldi. Drengir heita ungir menn búlausir, meðan þeir afla sér fjár eða orðstír, þeir fardrengir, er milli landa fara, þeir konungsdrengir, er höfðingjum þjóna, þeir ok drengir, er þjóna ríkum mönnum eða bóndum. Drengir heita vaskir menn ok batnandi. Seggir eru kallaðir ok kníar ok liðar, þat eru fylgðarmenn. Þegnar ok hölðar, svá eru búendr kallaðir. Ljónar heita þeir menn, er ganga of sættir manna. Þeir menn eru, er svá eru kallaðir: kappar, kenpur, garpar, snillingar, hreystimenn, harðmenni, afarmenni, hetjur. Þessi heiti standa hér í mót at kalla mann blauðan, veykan, þjarfan, þirfing, blotamann, skauð, skræfu, skrjáð, vák, vám, læra, sleyma, teyða, dugga, dási, dirokkr, dusilmenni, ölmusa, auvirð, vílmögr. Örr maðr heitir mildingr, mæringr, skati, þjóðskati, gullskati, mannbaldr, sælingr, sælkeri, auðkýfingr, ríkmenni, höfðingi. Hér í mót er svá kallat: hnöggvingr, glöggvingr, mælingr, vesalingr, féníðingr, gjöflati. Heitir spekingr ráðvaldr. Heitir ok óvitr maðr fífl, afglapi, gassi, ginningr, gaurr, glópr, snápr, fóli, ærr, óðr, galinn. Snyrtimaðr ofláti, drengr, glæsimaðr, stertimaðr, prýðimaðr. Heitir hraumi, skrápr, skrokkr, skeiðklofi, flangi, slinni, fjósnir, slápr, dröttr. Lýðr heitir landfólk eða ljóðr. Heitir ok þræll kefsir, þjónn, önnungr, þirr.
Maðr heitir einn hverr, / tá, ef tveir eru, / þorp, ef þrír eru, / fjórir eru föruneyti, / flokkr eru fimm menn, / sveit, ef sex eru, / sjau fylla sögn, / átta bera ámælisskor, / nautar eru níu, / dúnn, ef tíu eru, / ærir ro ellifu, / toglöð er, / ef tólf fara, / þyss eru þrettán, / ferð fjórtán, / fundr er þá, / er fimmtán hittask, / seta eru sextán, / sókn eru sautján, / ærnir þykkja óvinir, / þeim er átján mætir, / neyti hefir sá, / er nítján menn hefir, / drótt eru tuttugu menn. / Þjóð eru þrír tigir, / fólk eru fjórir tigir, / fylki eru fimm tigir, / samnaðr eru sex tigir, / sörvar eru sjau tigir, / öld eru átta tigir, / herr er hundrað.
Enn eru þau heiti, er menn láta ganga fyrir nöfn manna. Þat köllum vér viðkenningar eða sannkenningar eða fornöfn. Þat eru viðkenningar at nefna annan hlut réttu nafni ok kalla þann, er hann vill nefna, eiganda eða svá at kalla hann þess, er hann nefndi, föður eða afa. Ái er inn þriði. Heitir ok sonr ok arfi, arfuni, barn, jóð ok mögr, erfingi. Heitir ok bróðir, blóði, barmi, hlýri, lifri. Heitir ok niðr, nefi, áttungr, konr, kundr, frændi, kynstafr, niðjungr, ættstuðill, ættbarmr, kynkvísl, ættbogi, afkvæmi, afspringr, höfuðbaðmr, ofsköft. Heita ok mágar, sifjungar, hleytamenn. Heitir ok vinr ok ráðunautr, ráðgjafi, máli, rúni, spjalli, alda þófti, einkili, sessi, sessunautr. Þófti er hálfrýmisfélagi. Heitir ok óvinr, dólgr, andskoti, fjandi, sökkvi, skaðamaðr, banamaðr, þröngvir, sökkvir, ósvífruðr. Þessi heiti köllum vér viðkenningar ok svá, þótt maðr sé kenndr við bæ sinn eða skip sitt, þat er nafn á, eða eign sína, þá er einkarnafn er gefit. Þetta köllum vér sannkenningar, at kalla menn spekimann, ætlunarmann, orðspeking, ráðsnilling, auðmilding, óslækinn, gæimann, glæsimann. Þetta eru fornöfn.
Þessi eru kvenna heiti ókennd í skáldskap: Víf ok brúðr ok fljóð heita þær konr, er manni eru gefnar. Sprund ok svanni heita þær konr, er mjök fara með dramb ok skart. Snótir heita þær, er orðnæfrar eru. Drósir heita þær, er kyrrlátar eru, svarri ok svarkr þær, er mikillátar eru. Ristill er kölluð sú kona, er sköruglynd er. Rýgr heitir sú, er ríkust er. Feima er sú kölluð, er ófröm er, svá sem ungar meyjar eða þær konur, er ódjarfar eru. Sæta heitir sú kona, er búandi hennar er af landi farinn. Hæll er sá kona kölluð, er búandi hennar er veginn. Ekkja heitir sú, er búandi hennar varð sóttdauðr. Mær heitir fyrst hver, en kerlingar er gamlar eru. Eru enn þau kvenna heiti, er til lastmælis eru, ok má þau finna í kvæðum, þótt þat sé eigi ritat. Þær konur heita eljur, er einn mann eigu. Snör heitir sonarkván. Sværa heitir vers móðir. Heitir ok móðir, amma, þriðja edda. Eiða heitir móðir. Heitir ok dóttir ok barn, jóð. Heitir ok systir, dís, jóðdís. Kona er ok kölluð beðja, mála, rúna búanda síns, ok er þat viðrkenning.
Höfuð heitir á manni. Þat skal svá kenna at kalla erfiði háls eða byrði, land hjálms ok hattar ok heila, hárs ok brúna, svarðar, eyrna, augna, munns. Heimdallar sverð, ok er rétt at nefna hvert sverðsheiti, er vill, ok kenna við eitt hvert nafn Heimdallar. Höfuð heitir ókennt hauss, hjarni, kjannr, kollr. Augu heita sjón ok lit eða viðrlit, örmjót. Þau má svá kenna at kalla sól eða tungl, skjöldu ok gler eða gimsteina eða stein brá eða brúna, hvarma eða ennis. Eyru heita hlustir ok heyrn. Þau skal svá kenna at kalla land eða jarðarheitum nökkurum eða munn eða rás eða sjón eða augu heyrnarinnar, ef nýgervingar eru. Munn skal svá kenna at kalla land eða hús tungu eða tanna, orða eða góma, varra eða þvílíkt, ok ef nýgervingar eru, þá kalla menn munninn skip, en varrarnar borðit, tunga ræðit eða stýrit. Tennr eru stundum kallaðar grjót eða sker orða, munnr eða tunga. Tunga er oft kölluð sverð máls eða munns. Skegg heitir barð, grön eða kanpar, er stendr á vörrum. Hár heitir lá, haddr þat, er konr hafa. Skoft heitir hár. Hár er svá kennt at kalla skóg eða viðarheiti nökkuru, kenna til hauss eða hjarna eða höfuðs, en skegg kenna við höku eða kinnr eða kverkr.
Hjarta heitir negg. Þat skal svá kenna, kalla korn eða stein eða epli eða hnot eða mýl eða líkt ok kenna við brjóst eða hug, kalla má ok hús eða jörð eða berg hugarins. Brjóst skal svá kenna at kalla hús eða garð eða skip hjarta, anda eða lifrar, eljunar land, hugar ok minnis. Hugr heitir sefi ok sjafni, ást, elskhugi, vili, munr. Huginn skal svá kenna at kalla vind trollkvenna, ok rétt at nefna til hverja, er vill, ok svá at nefna jötnana, eða kenna þá til konu eða móður eða dóttur þess. Hugr heitir ok geð, þokki, eljun, þrekr, nenning, minni, vit, skap, lund, tryggð. Heitir ok hugr reiði, fjandskapr, fár, grimmð, böl, harmr, tregi, óskap, grellskap, lausung, ótryggð, geðleysi, þunngeði, gessni, harðgeði, óðværi.
Hönd má kalla mund, arm, lám, hramm. Á hendi heitir ölnbogi, armleggr, úlfliðr, liðr, fingr, greip, hreifi, nagl, gómr, jaðarr, kvikva. Hönd má kalla jörð vápna eða hlífa, við axlar ok ermar, lófa ok hreifa, gullhringa jörð ok vals ok hauks ok allra hans heita, ok í nýgervingum fót axlar, bognauð. Fætr má kalla tré ilja, rista, leista eða þvílíkt, renniflein brautar eða göngu, fets. Má kalla fótinn tré eða stoð þessa. Við skíð ok skúa ok brækr eru fætr kenndir. Á fæti heitir lær, kné, kálfi, bein, leggr, rist, jarki, il, tá. Við þetta allt má fótinn kenna ok kalla hann tré, ok kallat er sigla ok rá fótrinn, ok kenna við þessa hluti.
Mál heitir ok orð ok orðtak ok orðsnilli, tala, saga, senna, þræta, söngr, galdr, kveðandi, skjal, bifa, hjaldr, hjal, skvál, glaumr, þjarka, gyss, þraft, skálp, hól, skraf, dælska, ljóðæska, hégómi, afgelja. Heitir ok rödd, hljómr, rómr, ómun, þytr, göll, gnýr, glymr, þrymr, rymr, brak, svipr, svipun, gangr. Vit heitir speki, ráð, skilning, minni, ætlun, hyggjandi, tölvísi, langsæi, bragðvísi, orðspeki, skörungskapr. Heitir undirhyggja, vélræði, fláræði, brigðræði.
Læti er tvennt. Læti heitir rödd, læti heitir æði, ok æði er ok ólund. Reiði er ok tvíkennt. Reiði heitir þat, er maðr er í illum hug, reiði heitir ok fargervi skips eða hross. Far er ok tvíkennt. Fár er reiði, far er skip. Þvílík orðtök hafa menn mjök til þess at yrkja fólgit, ok er þat kallat mjök ofljóst. Lið kalla menn þat á manni, er leggir mætast, lið heitir skip, lið heitir mannfólk, lið er ok þat kallat, er maðr veitir öðrum liðsinni, líð heitir öl. Hlið heitir á garði, ok hlið kalla menn uxa, en hlíð er brekka. Þessar greinir má setja svá í skáldskap, at gera ofljóst, at vant er at skilja, ef aðra skal hafa greinina en áðr þykki til horfa in fyrri vísuorð. Slíkt sama eru ok önnur mörg nöfn, þau er saman eigu heitit margir hlutir.
本英文译文由 AI 根据古诺尔斯语原文翻译。
A man is named Aegir, or Hler. He lived on the island now called Hlesey. He was highly skilled in magic. He made a journey to Asgard, but the Aesir knew of his coming beforehand, and he was warmly welcomed, though many things were brought about through illusions. In the evening, when it was time to drink, Odin had swords carried into the hall, and they were so bright that they gave light; no other light was used while they sat drinking. Then the Aesir went to their feast, and twelve Aesir took their high seats, those who were to be judges. Their names were Thor, Njord, Frey, Tyr, Heimdall, Bragi, Vidar, Vali, Ull, Hoenir, Forseti, and Loki. Likewise, the goddesses were Frigg, Freyja, Gefjon, Idunn, Gerd, Sigyn, Fulla, and Nanna. Aegir thought it a magnificent sight to look around him there. All the wall panels were hung with beautiful shields. There was strong mead there too, and much drinking. Bragi sat next to Aegir, and they drank together and talked. Bragi told Aegir of many events in which the Aesir had taken part.
He began his account with three Aesir setting out from home: Odin, Loki, and Hoenir. They travelled over mountains and wilderness, and food was hard to find. When they came down into a valley, they saw a herd of oxen, took one of the oxen, and put it in an earth oven. When they thought it must be cooked, they opened the oven, but it was not cooked. A second time, after a while had passed, they opened the oven, and it was still not cooked. They discussed among themselves what could be causing this. Then they heard a voice in the oak above them: whoever was sitting there said that he was responsible for the meat not cooking in the oven. They looked up, and an eagle was sitting there, no small one.
Then the eagle said, “If you will give me my fill of the ox, it will cook in the oven.”
They agreed. Then he let himself down from the tree, settled on the oven, and immediately took both the ox’s thighs and both its shoulders. Loki grew angry, picked up a great pole, swung it with all his strength, and struck the eagle’s body. The eagle recoiled from the blow and flew up. The pole was stuck fast to the eagle’s back, and Loki’s hands to the other end of the pole. The eagle flew at such a height that Loki’s feet struck stones, scree, and trees, and he thought his arms would be torn from his shoulders. He shouted and begged the eagle most urgently for mercy. But the eagle said that Loki would never be free unless he swore an oath to bring Idunn out of Asgard with her apples, and Loki agreed. Then he was released and went to his companions, and for now no more is told of their journey before they came home.
At the appointed time, Loki lured Idunn out of Asgard into a forest, saying that he had found some apples that she would consider treasures. He asked her to bring her own apples with her and compare them with the others. Then the giant Thjazi came there in eagle form, seized Idunn, and flew away with her to his home in Thrymheim.
The Aesir were badly troubled by Idunn’s disappearance, and they soon became grey-haired and old. Then the Aesir held an assembly, and each asked the others what they last knew of Idunn. She had last been seen going out of Asgard with Loki. Loki was seized and brought to the assembly, and he was threatened with death or torture. When he became frightened, he said that he would go after Idunn in Jotunheim if Freyja would lend him the falcon shape she possessed. When he obtained the falcon shape, he flew north into Jotunheim and came one day to the giant Thjazi’s home. Thjazi had rowed out to sea, and Idunn was home alone. Loki changed her into the shape of a nut, held her in his claws, and flew as fast as he could.
When Thjazi came home and found Idunn missing, he took his eagle shape and flew after Loki, raising an eagle’s gale as he flew. When the Aesir saw the falcon flying with the nut, and where the eagle was flying, they went out to the foot of Asgard’s wall and carried loads of wood shavings there. When the falcon flew in over the stronghold, he dropped down beside its wall. Then the Aesir set fire to the wood shavings, but the eagle could not stop himself when he lost the falcon. The fire caught the eagle’s feathers, and his flight came to an end. The Aesir were close by and killed the giant Thjazi inside the gates of Asgard, and that killing is very famous.
But Skadi, the giant Thjazi’s daughter, took a helmet and mail-coat and all her weapons of war and went to Asgard to avenge her father. The Aesir offered her a settlement and compensation, beginning with this: she was to choose herself a husband from among the Aesir, choosing by their feet and seeing nothing else of them. She saw one man’s exceptionally beautiful feet and said, “I choose this one. There can be little that is ugly about Baldr.” But it was Njord of Noatun.
She also made it part of her settlement that the Aesir should do something she thought they would be unable to do: make her laugh. Loki tied a cord around a goat’s beard and the other end around his own testicles, and each gave way in turn, both squealing loudly. Then Loki let himself fall into Skadi’s lap, and she laughed. Thus a settlement was made with her on the Aesir’s behalf.
It is said that Odin gave Skadi this further compensation: he took Thjazi’s eyes, threw them up into the sky, and made two stars from them.
Then Aegir said, “Thjazi seems to me to have been a very powerful being. What was his ancestry?”
Bragi answered, “His father was named Olvaldi, and you will find what I tell you about him remarkable. He was very rich in gold. When he died and his sons were to divide the inheritance, they measured out the gold they shared by each taking a mouthful, all taking the same number of mouthfuls. One of them was Thjazi, the second Idi, and the third Gang. From this we now have an expression among us, calling gold the mouth-count of these giants. We conceal it in riddles or poetry by calling it the speech or words or talk of these giants.”
Then Aegir said, “That seems to me well concealed in riddles.”
Aegir spoke again: “Where did the art that you call poetry originate?”
Bragi answered, “Its beginning was this: the gods were in conflict with the people called the Vanir. They arranged a peace conference and established a truce in this way: both sides went up to a single vessel and spat their spittle into it. When they parted, the gods did not want to let this token of their truce perish, so they made a man from it. His name is Kvasir. He is so wise that no one asks him anything to which he does not know the answer. He travelled widely through the world, teaching people knowledge. When he came as a guest to the home of two dwarfs, Fjalar and Galar, they called him aside for a private conversation and killed him. They let his blood run into two vessels and a kettle. The kettle is called Odrerir, and the vessels are called Son and Bodn. They mixed honey with the blood, and it became a mead that makes everyone who drinks it a poet or a learned man. The dwarfs told the Aesir that Kvasir had suffocated in his own wisdom, because no one there was learned enough to ask him questions that would draw on his knowledge.
“Then these dwarfs invited a giant named Gilling and his wife to their home. The dwarfs invited Gilling to row out to sea with them. As they went along the coast, the dwarfs rowed onto a submerged rock and overturned the boat. Gilling could not swim and drowned, but the dwarfs righted their boat and rowed ashore. They told his wife what had happened, and she was deeply distressed and wept loudly. Fjalar asked her whether she would feel better if she looked out to sea where he had drowned, and she wished to do so. Then he told his brother Galar to go up above the doorway as she went out and drop a millstone on her head, saying that he was tired of her wailing. And Galar did so.
“When the giant Suttung, Gilling’s son, heard of this, he went and seized the dwarfs, took them out to sea, and set them on a skerry that was submerged at high tide. They begged Suttung to spare their lives and offered him the precious mead as compensation for his father, and on these terms they reached a settlement. Suttung took the mead home and stored it in a place called Hnitbjorg, setting his daughter Gunnlod there to guard it.
“Because of this we call poetry Kvasir’s blood, or the dwarfs’ drink or fill, or any kind of liquid of Odrerir or Bodn or Son, or the dwarfs’ passage-price, because that mead bought them their lives and release from the skerry, or Suttung’s mead, or the liquid of Hnitbjorg.”
Then Aegir said, “It seems to me an obscure way of speaking to call poetry by these names. But how did you Aesir obtain Suttung’s mead?”
Bragi answered, “This is the story of it: Odin set out from home and came to a place where nine slaves were mowing hay. He asked whether they wanted him to sharpen their scythes. They agreed. Then he took a whetstone from his belt and sharpened the scythes. They thought their scythes cut much better and offered to buy the whetstone, but he set its price at a fair payment from whoever wished to buy it. All said they wanted it and asked him to sell it to them, but he threw the whetstone up into the air. As they all tried to catch it, they struggled with one another so that each swept his scythe across another’s neck.
“Odin sought lodging for the night with a giant named Baugi, Suttung’s brother. Baugi said that his farming affairs were in a bad way: his nine slaves had killed one another, and he could see no prospect of finding workmen. Odin called himself Bolverk before him. He offered to undertake nine men’s work for Baugi, asking in payment for one drink of Suttung’s mead. Baugi said that he had no control over the mead and that Suttung wanted it all for himself, but he said that he would go with Bolverk and try to obtain the mead.
“Bolverk did nine men’s work for Baugi during the summer, and when winter came he asked Baugi for his wages. They both went to Suttung. Baugi told his brother Suttung of his agreement with Bolverk, but Suttung flatly refused to give a single drop of the mead. Then Bolverk told Baugi that they should try some trick to see whether they could get the mead, and Baugi agreed. Bolverk brought out an auger called Rati and told Baugi to bore through the mountain, if the auger would bite. He did so. Then Baugi said that he had bored through the mountain, but Bolverk blew into the borehole, and the chips flew back towards him. He realized that Baugi meant to deceive him and told him to bore right through the mountain. Baugi bored again, and when Bolverk blew a second time, the chips flew inward. Then Bolverk changed into the shape of a snake and crawled into the borehole. Baugi thrust the auger after him but missed him.
“Bolverk went to where Gunnlod was and lay with her for three nights. Then she allowed him to take three drinks of the mead. With the first drink he drained all of Odrerir, with the second all of Bodn, and with the third all of Son, and then he had all the mead. He changed into eagle form and flew as fast as he could. When Suttung saw the eagle’s flight, he took eagle form himself and flew after him. When the Aesir saw Odin flying, they set their vessels out in the courtyard. When Odin came in over Asgard, he spat the mead up into the vessels. But Suttung had come so close to catching him that he let some of the mead out behind him, and no care was taken of that. Whoever wanted it could have it, and we call it the fool-poets’ share. But Odin gave Suttung’s mead to the Aesir and to those men who knew how to compose poetry. That is why we call poetry Odin’s booty and his find, his drink and his gift, and the drink of the Aesir.”
Then Aegir said: “In how many ways do you vary the expressions of poetry, and how many kinds of poetry are there?”
Then Bragi said: “There are two kinds that distinguish all poetry.”
Aegir asked: “Which two?”
Bragi said: “Language and verse forms.”
“What kinds of expression are used in poetry?”
“Poetic language has three divisions.”
“What are they?”
“To call each thing by its own name. The second division is what is called substitution. The third division of language is what is called a kenning. This division is formed in this way: we name Odin or Thor or Tyr, or someone among the Aesir or elves, and to whichever of them I name I attach a designation for something belonging to another god, or mention some of his deeds. Then the name belongs to that other god, rather than to the one who was named. Thus, when we say Victory-Tyr or Tyr of the Hanged or Tyr of Cargoes, these are names for Odin, and we call them kennings; likewise when we say Chariot-Tyr.”
This must now be said to young poets who wish to learn the language of poetry and acquire a wealth of words through ancient names, or who wish to understand what is composed in veiled language: they should study this book for knowledge and entertainment. But these accounts should not be forgotten or discredited to the point of removing from poetry the ancient kennings that the foremost poets have been pleased to use. Yet Christians should not believe in heathen gods, or in the truth of these accounts in any other way than is set out here at the beginning of the book.
Now examples shall be heard of how the foremost poets have thought it fitting to compose using these names and kennings, as when Arnor, the earls’ poet, says that Odin is called Allfather:
Now I mean to tell men
of the stern-hearted earl’s virtues;
slowly my grief eases;
Allfather’s mash-surf roars.
Here he also calls poetry Allfather’s mash-surf. Havard the Lame composed this:
Now for the sea-horse’s trees
the eagle’s flight has passed over the mounds;
I think they accept an invitation
from the field of the god of the hanged.
Viga-Glum composed this:
The host held back from advancing
beneath the hat of the Tyr of the Hanged;
they thought it no pleasant risk
to venture down the slope.
Ref composed this:
Often, when the Baldr of the gleams
of the prows’ earth had fallen,
the Raven-god’s holy cup
came kindly to me.
Eyvind, the spoiler of poets, composed this:
And Sigurd,
who gave the swans
of the Tyr of Cargoes
the beer of the rooks
of the Haddingjar’s slain,
was robbed of life
by the rulers of the land
at Oglo.
Glum Geirason composed this:
There was Victory-Tyr himself
in the attacking elf of Atal’s beasts;
the gods of Beimi directed
those ravens’ winds for him.
Eyvind also composed this:
Gondul and Skogul
were sent by the Tyr of the Goths
to choose among kings
which of Yngvi’s line
should go with Odin
and dwell in Valhalla.
Ulf Uggason composed this:
Far-famed Hropt-Tyr rides
to his son’s very broad pyre,
while words of praise
flow through my jaws.
Thjodolf of Hvin composed this:
The slain lay there on the sand,
assigned to the one-eyed
dweller in Frigg’s embrace;
we welcomed such a deed.
Hallfred composed this:
With true words the bold receiver
of the sword of the wind’s steed
draws beneath himself Thridi’s
pine-haired, longed-for wife.
Here is an example of the earth being called Odin’s wife in poetry. This is what Eyvind is said to have composed:
“Hermod and Bragi,”
said Hropt-Tyr,
“go to meet the prince,
for a king is coming,
one thought a champion,
here to the hall.”
Kormak composed this:
The land-winner honors with a headband
the dispenser of the gods’ fjord,
he who binds the mast upright.
Ygg won Rind with spells.
Steinthor composed this:
I have an ancient horn-torrent
to praise, though a small one,
of the burden of Gunnlod’s arms,
who shuns contentment.
Ulf Uggason composed this:
There, I think, Valkyries and ravens
follow the wise victory-tree
to the drink of the holy sacrifice.
Thus the hall received its pictures within.
Egil Skallagrimsson composed this:
I do not worship
Vili’s brother,
the gods’ protector,
because I am eager to;
yet Mimir’s friend
has granted me
redress for sorrow
that I count the better gift.
The wolf’s enemy,
accustomed to battle,
gave me an art
free from fault.
Here he is called the gods’ protector, Mimir’s friend, and the wolf’s enemy. Ref composed this:
To you we must render Fal’s drink,
Valgaut of the snow of the path
of the wave-steeds’ hall,
valiant and accustomed to command.
Einar, the bowl-clatterer, composed this:
I shall have to pour out
the bilge-water of Army-Tyr’s wine-vessel
before the generous, swift lord;
blame for that will not suffice.
Ulf Uggason composed this:
Noble Heimdall rides on his horse
to the pyre the gods have built
for the fallen son
of the wise Raven-tester.
This is said in Eirik’s Lay:
“What dream is this?” said Odin.
“I thought I rose before daybreak
to make Valhalla ready
for the slain.
I woke the Einherjar,
bade them rise,
strew the benches,
rinse the beer-cups,
and the Valkyries bear wine,
as though a ruler were coming.”
Kormak composed this:
Young, I ask the ruler of all
to hold me fully honored
on the swaying ground of Yngvi’s fish.
Hropt went with Gungnir.
Thoralf composed this:
The lord of Hlidskjalf himself
said what he had in mind,
where the shield-shunning Harek’s
followers were struck down.
Eyvind composed this:
He who bore,
flying from Surt’s
deep dales,
the burden that gives strength.
Bragi composed this:
It is clear to me that early
the son of the Father of Men wished
to test his strength against
the rain-drenched cord of the earth.
Einar composed this:
For most richly gifted princes
have less to settle with Bestla’s son
than you; I have taken up
the praise of battle.
Thorvald, the blending poet, composed this:
Now I have grasped much
in the mead
of Bor’s son,
Buri’s heir.
Here shall be heard how poets have made kennings for poetry using the names written above: calling it Kvasir’s blood, the dwarfs’ ship, the dwarfs’ mead, the giants’ mead, Suttung’s mead, Odin’s mead, the mead of the Aesir, the giants’ compensation for their father, the liquid and contents of Odrerir, Bodn, and Son, the liquid of Hnitbjorg, Odin’s booty, discovery, cargo, and gift, as in these verses composed by Einar, the bowl-clatterer:
I ask the great-hearted guardian
of the land to hear—hear, earl—
Kvasir’s blood, the dregs-surf
of the men of the fjord-bone.
And as Einar, the bowl-clatterer, also composed:
The dwarfs’ rock-keeping wave
passes over all the company
of Ull’s ash, who strengthens
courage in the shelter of battle-sorrow.
As Orm Steinthorsson composed:
May both the beer-bench’s body
and mine be carried into one hall;
let men receive the drink
of the dead Dvalin.
And as Ref composed:
I offer Thorstein the worth
of the rock-people’s mind-land;
the rock-Maerar’s wave resounds;
I ask humankind to listen.
As Egil composed:
The ruler offered me welcome;
I owe him praise for that.
I bore Odin’s mead
to the English lands.
And as Glum Geirason composed:
Listen, generous princes:
I have the gods’ supplicant’s drink.
For this we ask for silence,
that we may tell of a lord’s loss.
And as Eyvind composed:
I ask for a hearing
for Har’s drink,
while I raise up
Gilling’s compensation,
while in the gallows-burden’s
cauldron-liquid we trace
his lineage
back to the gods.
As Einar, the bowl-clatterer, composed:
The wave of the life-sea surges
before the ruler; Rognir’s deeds serve me;
Odrerir’s wave roars
against the skerry of incantations.
And again, as he composed:
Now that the wave of Bodn,
of the rock-Saxar, begins to swell,
let the prince’s people make
silence in the hall and hear the ship.
And as Eilif Gudrunarson composed:
You must decide on gifts of friendship,
since for us the seed of words
about a famous descendant grows
on Son’s reed-covered land.
As Volu-Stein composed:
Hear, Egil, my streams
of Mimir’s friend’s joy-rock resound
against the gums’ skerry;
Thund’s discovery is given me.
Orm Steinthorsson composed this:
Men need harbor no fear
about my poem; I turn nothing
to mockery in Vidur’s booty;
I know how to fashion praise.
Ulf Uggason composed this:
To cheerful Olaf I offer
the wave of Hild’s helmet-giant’s mind-fjord;
I wish to greet him
with Grimnir’s gift.
Poetry is called the dwarfs’ sea or liquid because Kvasir’s blood was liquid in Odrerir before the mead was made, and it was brewed there in the cauldron. For this reason it is called Odin’s cauldron-liquid, as Eyvind composed in the lines written earlier:
While in the gallows-burden’s
cauldron-liquid we trace
his lineage
back to the gods.
Poetry is also called the dwarfs’ vessel or drink. Líð means ale, and líð means a ship. Thus, as an example, poetry is now called the dwarfs’ ship for this reason, as it says here:
Both to the rock-earl’s bride
I must send the dwarfs’ ship
and the swelling wind
along one long-neglected road.
How should Thor be referred to? By calling him the son of Odin and Jord, the father of Magni, Modi, and Thrud, Sif’s husband, Ull’s stepfather, the wielder and owner of Mjolnir and the belt of strength and Bilskirnir, the defender of Asgard and Midgard, the enemy and slayer of giants and troll-women, the killer of Hrungnir, Geirrod, and Thrivaldi, the lord of Thjalfi and Roskva, the enemy of the Midgard Serpent, and the foster-son of Vingnir and Hlora. Bragi the poet composed this:
The line of Vidrir’s heir
lay far from slack on Eynaefir’s ski
as Jormungand was dragged
toward the sand.
Olvir Hnufa composed this:
The girdle of all lands raged,
and so did Jord’s son.
Eilif composed this:
Roskva’s brother stood angry;
Magni’s father won victory.
Neither Thor’s nor Thjalfi’s courage-stone
trembles with fear.
And as Eystein Valdason composed:
Thrud’s father gazed with sharp eyes
at the ring of the steep road;
the dwelling of the terror had stirred
before the boat.
Eystein also composed:
Sif’s confidant swiftly readied
his fishing gear beside the old man;
we stir Hrimnir’s
horn-stream.
And he also composed:
The earth’s coalfish jerked so
that broad seams sprang apart;
the fists of Ull’s kinsman
struck out over the gunwale.
Bragi composed this:
The terrifier of mighty prow-beasts
took his hammer in his right hand
when he recognized the boundary-fish
of all the lands.
Gamli composed this:
When Bilskirnir’s brave-hearted lord,
who devised no deceit,
began to destroy the earth’s fish
with the ravine-whale’s bane.
Thorbjorn, the poet of the disir, composed this:
Thor has defended Asgard by his might,
with Ygg’s helpers.
Bragi composed this:
And the hideous ring of the path
of the boat with its row of oars,
fierce of mind, stared from below
at the shatterer of Hrungnir’s skull.
Bragi also composed:
You have firmly held back your steeds,
splitter of Thrivaldi’s nine heads,
from the renowned feast-beast’s
festive banquet.
Eilif composed this:
The oppressor of women who roam
at evening opened his arm-mouth
at the heavy, red-hot morsel
of the tongs’ seaweed.
Ulf Uggason composed this:
The goat-user declared that the stout-grown
fat fellow thought the mighty pull
an immense
and dangerous venture.
And also this:
The mighty slayer of the mountain-Gaut
let his fist crash against the ear
of the tester of the reed of the leg;
a grievous hurt it was.
(56.)
The wide sky of Vimur’s ford
struck the ear’s floor against the waves,
away from the gleaming serpent.
Thus the hall received its pictures within.
Here he is called the giant of Vimur’s ford. Vimur is the name of a river that Thor waded when he went to Geirrod’s courts. And Vetrliði the poet composed this:
You broke Leikn’s legs,
battered Thrivaldi,
toppled Starkad,
and trod Gjalp dead.
And Thorbjorn, the poet of the disir, composed this:
A blow rang on Keila’s skull;
you shattered Kjallandi completely;
earlier you killed Lut and Leidi,
and made Buseyra bleed;
you checked Hengjankjapta;
Hyrrokkin died before;
yet sooner still the swarthy
Svivor was robbed of life.
How should Baldr be referred to? By calling him the son of Odin and Frigg, Nanna’s husband, Forseti’s father, owner of Hringhorni and Draupnir, Hod’s enemy, Hel’s companion, god of tears. Ulf Uggason composed a long passage about Baldr’s story in Húsdrápa, and examples in which Baldr is referred to in these ways have already been written above.
How should Njord be referred to? By calling him god of the Vanir, descendant of the Vanir, or a Van, and father of Frey and Freyja, the god who gives wealth. As Thord Sjareksson says:
Gudrun herself became
the slayer of her sons;
the wise bride of gods
could not love the Van;
Kjalar tamed
horses very well;
they did not say Hamdir
held back from sword-play.
This refers to Skadi leaving Njord, as written earlier.
How should Frey be referred to? By calling him Njord’s son, Freyja’s brother, and also god of the Vanir, descendant of the Vanir, a Van, god of fruitful seasons and giver of wealth. As Egil Skallagrimsson composed:
For Grjotbjorn
has been endowed
by Frey and Njord
with abundant wealth.
Frey is called Beli’s enemy, as Eyvind Skaldaspillir composed:
When the earls’ enemy
wished to settle
the outlying land
of Beli’s foe.
He owns Skidbladnir and the boar called Gullinbursti, as is said here:
Ivaldi’s sons
went in ancient days
to fashion Skidbladnir,
the best of ships,
for shining Frey,
Njord’s worthy son.
As Ulf Uggason says:
Battle-wise Frey rides on the boar to the pyre
of Odin’s son,
and leads the hosts,
foremost on the golden-bristled one.
The boar is also called Slidrugtanni.
How should Heimdall be referred to? By calling him the son of nine mothers or the watchman of the gods, as written earlier, or the white god, Loki’s enemy, seeker of Freyja’s necklace. Heimdall’s head is called a sword. It is said that he was pierced through with a human head. This is told in Heimdall’s Chant, and since then a head has been called Heimdall’s doom. A sword is called a man’s doom. Heimdall owns Gulltopp. He is also the visitor to Vagasker and Singastein. There he contended with Loki over Brisingamen. He is also called Vindler. Ulf Uggason composed a long passage in Húsdrápa about this story, and it is mentioned there that they were in the shapes of seals. He is also Odin’s son.
How should Tyr be referred to? By calling him the one-handed god and fosterer of the wolf, god of battles, Odin’s son.
How should Bragi be referred to? By calling him Idunn’s husband, the first maker of poetry, and the long-bearded god—from his name, someone with a great beard is called a beard-Bragi—and Odin’s son.
How should Vidar be referred to? He may be called the silent god, owner of the iron shoe, enemy and slayer of the wolf Fenrir, avenging god of the gods, the god who dwells on his father’s homesteads, and Odin’s son, brother of the Aesir.
How should Vali be referred to? By calling him the son of Odin and Rind, Frigg’s stepson, brother of the Aesir, Baldr’s avenging god, Hod’s enemy and his slayer, dweller on his father’s homesteads.
How should Hod be referred to? By calling him the blind god, Baldr’s slayer, shooter of the mistletoe, Odin’s son, Hel’s companion, Vali’s enemy.
How should Ull be referred to? By calling him Sif’s son, Thor’s stepson, god of skis, god of the bow, god of hunting, god of the shield.
How should Hoenir be referred to? By calling him Odin’s benchmate or companion or confidant, and the swift god, the long-footed one, and mud-king.
How should Loki be referred to? By calling him the son of Farbauti and Laufey, or Nal, brother of Byleist and Helblindi, father of Vanargand, that is, the wolf Fenrir, and of Jormungand, that is, the Midgard Serpent, and of Hel and Nari and Ali; kinsman and paternal uncle, companion and benchmate of Odin and the Aesir; visitor and chest-ornament of Geirrod; thief of giants, a goat, Brisingamen and Idunn’s apples; Sleipnir’s kinsman, Sigyn’s husband, enemy of the gods, destroyer of Sif’s hair, maker of mischief, the cunning god, slanderer and deceiver of the gods, plotter of Baldr’s death, the bound god, contentious enemy of Heimdall and Skadi. As Ulf Uggason says here:
Wise in counsel, the famed guardian of the gods
contends for land at Singastein
with the terribly cunning
son of Farbauti;
the mighty son of eight mothers
and one wins the lovely sea-kidney;
I tell of it beforehand
in strands of praise.
Here it is mentioned that Heimdall is the son of nine mothers.
Now further examples shall be told of the origins of those kennings just written for which examples have not already been given, as Bragi told Aegir: Thor had gone east to fight trolls, while Odin rode Sleipnir into Jotunheim and came to the giant called Hrungnir. Hrungnir then asked who this man with the golden helmet was, riding through air and over water, and said that he had a remarkably good horse. Odin said he would wager his head that no horse in Jotunheim was as good. Hrungnir said that it was a good horse, but declared that he himself had a horse with a much longer stride. It was called Gullfaxi. Hrungnir grew angry, leapt onto his horse and galloped after Odin, intending to repay his boasting. Odin rode so fast that he was a ridge ahead, but Hrungnir was in such a giant’s rage that he did not notice where he was until he had passed through the gates of the Aesir.
When he reached the hall doors, the Aesir invited him to drink. He went into the hall and asked for something to drink. The bowls Thor was accustomed to drinking from were brought out, and Hrungnir drained each one. When he grew drunk, there was no shortage of boasts. He declared that he would pick up Valhalla and carry it to Jotunheim, sink Asgard and kill all the gods, except that he wanted to take Freyja and Sif home with him. Freyja alone then dared to pour his drink, and he declared that he would drink all the Aesir’s ale.
When the Aesir grew tired of his boasts, they called on Thor. At once Thor came into the hall with his hammer raised, furious, and asked who was responsible for allowing giants as cunning as dogs to drink there, who had granted Hrungnir safe conduct to be in Valhalla, and why Freyja should pour his drink as though at a feast of the Aesir. Hrungnir answered, looking at Thor with unfriendly eyes, and said that Odin had invited him to drink and he was under Odin’s protection. Thor said that Hrungnir would regret that invitation before he got out. Hrungnir said it would bring Thor of the Aesir little glory to kill him unarmed. It would be a greater test of his courage if he dared to fight him on the border at Grjotunagardar.
“And it was a very foolish thing,” he said, “to leave my shield and whetstone at home. If I had my weapons here, we would try our strength in single combat now. As things stand, I charge you with dishonour if you mean to kill me unarmed.”
Thor was determined not to fail to come to single combat once challenged, for no one had ever challenged him before. Hrungnir then went on his way and rode hard until he reached Jotunheim. His journey became very famous among the giants, as did the fact that a meeting had been arranged between him and Thor. The giants felt that much depended on which of them won. They expected evil from Thor if Hrungnir fell, since he was the strongest among them.
The giants then made a man of clay at Grjotunagardar, nine leagues tall and three wide beneath the arms. They could find no heart large enough to suit him until they took one from a mare, and it proved unsteady in him when Thor arrived. Hrungnir had his famous heart of hard stone, pointed with three corners, like the carved design made ever since that is called Hrungnir’s heart. His head was also of stone. His shield was stone too, broad and thick, and he held it before him as he stood at Grjotatunagardar awaiting Thor. For a weapon he had a whetstone, which he rested on his shoulder, and he was no easy opponent. Beside him stood the clay giant called Mokkurkalfi, who was very frightened. It is said that he urinated when he saw Thor.
Thor went to the appointed duel, and Thjalfi went with him. Thjalfi ran ahead to where Hrungnir stood and said to him, “You stand unguarded, giant, holding your shield before you. Thor has seen you, and he is travelling underground and will come at you from below.”
Hrungnir thrust his shield beneath his feet and stood on it, taking the whetstone in both hands. At once he saw lightning and heard great peals of thunder. Then he saw Thor in his divine fury. Thor came on fiercely, swung his hammer and hurled it at Hrungnir from far away. Hrungnir raised the whetstone in both hands and threw it to meet the hammer. It struck the hammer in flight, and the whetstone broke apart. One piece fell to the ground, and from it all whetstone rocks have come. The other piece crashed into Thor’s head, so that he fell forward onto the ground. But the hammer Mjolnir struck Hrungnir in the middle of his head and shattered his skull into tiny pieces. He fell forward over Thor, so that his foot lay across Thor’s neck. Thjalfi attacked Mokkurkalfi, who fell with little glory.
Thjalfi then went to Thor to lift Hrungnir’s foot off him, but could not move it at all. All the Aesir came when they heard that Thor had fallen, and tried to lift the foot off him, but could get nowhere. Then Magni, the son of Thor and Jarnsaxa, arrived. He was then three nights old. He flung Hrungnir’s foot off Thor and said, “What a terrible pity, Father, that I came so late. I think I would have struck this giant dead with my fist if I had found him.”
Thor rose and warmly welcomed his son, saying that he would become a mighty man. “And I wish,” he said, “to give you the horse Gullfaxi, which belonged to Hrungnir.”
Then Odin spoke and said that Thor had done wrong to give that fine horse to a giantess’s son rather than to his own father.
Thor went home to Thrudvangar, and the whetstone remained lodged in his head. Then the seeress called Groa, wife of Aurvandil the Bold, came to him. She sang her spells over Thor until the whetstone began to loosen. When Thor felt this and thought there was hope of removing it, he wished to reward Groa for the healing and make her happy. He told her that he had waded south across Elivagar, carrying Aurvandil from Jotunheim in a basket on his back. As proof of this, one of Aurvandil’s toes had stuck out of the basket and frozen, so Thor had broken it off, thrown it up into the sky and made it into the star called Aurvandil’s Toe.
Thor said that it would not be long before Aurvandil came home. Groa became so happy that she could remember none of her spells, and the whetstone grew no looser. It still remains in Thor’s head, and people are warned against throwing a whetstone across the floor, because that makes the whetstone in Thor’s head move. Thjodolf of Hvin composed Haustlöng about this story.”
Then Aegir said, “Hrungnir seems to me to have been very mighty. Did Thor ever perform a greater feat of strength when contending with trolls?”
Then Bragi answers: “The story of Thor’s journey to Geirrod’s courts is well worth telling. He did not have his hammer Mjolnir, his belt of strength, or his iron gloves, and Loki was responsible for that. Loki went with him, for this had happened to Loki once when he flew out for amusement in Frigg’s falcon shape: out of curiosity he flew to Geirrod’s courts, saw a great hall there, perched on it, and looked in through a window. Geirrod looked towards him and ordered someone to catch the bird and bring it to him. The man he sent had great difficulty climbing the hall’s wall, it was so high. Loki enjoyed seeing him struggle to reach him and decided for the moment not to fly away until the man had completed the whole difficult climb. But when the man reached for him, he spread his wings and pushed off hard, only to find his feet stuck fast. Loki was caught there and brought to the giant Geirrod. When Geirrod saw his eyes, he suspected that this must be a person and told him to answer, but Loki remained silent. Then Geirrod locked Loki in a chest and kept him starving there for three months. When Geirrod took him out and demanded that he speak, Loki told him who he was. To save his life, he swore oaths to Geirrod that he would bring Thor to Geirrod’s courts without either his hammer or his belt of strength.
Thor came to lodge with a giantess called Grid. She was the mother of Vidar the Silent. She told Thor the truth about Geirrod: that he was an exceedingly cunning giant and dangerous to deal with. She lent Thor a belt of strength and iron gloves that she owned, and her staff, called Grid’s Staff. Then Thor came to the river called Vimur, the greatest of all rivers. He fastened the belt of strength around himself and braced Grid’s Staff against the current, while Loki held on beneath the belt. When Thor reached the middle of the river, it rose so high that it broke over his shoulders. Then Thor spoke this verse:
65
Do not rise now, Vimur,
since I mean to wade through you
to the giants’ courts;
know that if you rise,
then my divine strength will rise
as high as heaven.
Then Thor looked up into a ravine and saw Gjalp, Geirrod’s daughter, standing astride the river; she was causing it to rise. Thor took a great stone from the river and threw it at her, saying, ‘A river must be stopped at its mouth.’ His throw did not miss its mark. At that moment he was carried towards the bank, managed to catch hold of a rowan bush, and so climbed out of the river. Hence the saying that the rowan is Thor’s salvation.
When Thor reached Geirrod’s, the companions were first shown to a goat-house for their lodging. There was one chair to sit on, and Thor sat there. Then he noticed that the chair was rising beneath him towards the roof. He thrust Grid’s Staff against the rafters and pressed down hard on the chair. There was a great crack, followed by a scream. Geirrod’s daughters Gjalp and Greip had been beneath the chair, and he had broken both their backs.
Then Geirrod had Thor summoned into the hall for games. Great fires burned along the length of the hall. When Thor came opposite Geirrod, Geirrod took a glowing lump of iron with tongs and threw it at Thor. Thor caught it in his iron gloves and raised the lump aloft, while Geirrod leaped behind an iron pillar to protect himself. Thor threw the lump, driving it through the pillar, through Geirrod, through the wall, and into the ground outside.”
Eilif Gudrunarson composed his Thorsdrapa after this story.
How should Frigg be referred to in kennings? By calling her Fjorgyn’s daughter, Odin’s wife, Baldr’s mother, the rival of Jord and Rind and Gunnlod and Gerd, Nanna’s mother-in-law, queen of the Aesir and goddesses, of Fulla, the falcon shape, and Fensalir.
How should Freyja be referred to in kennings? By calling her Njord’s daughter, Frey’s sister, Od’s wife, Hnoss’s mother, possessor of the battle-slain and Sessrumnir and tomcats and Brisingamen, deity of the Vanir, lady of the Vanir, the deity whose tears are beautiful, goddess of love.
All the goddesses may likewise be referred to by naming one with another’s name and identifying her by her own possessions, deeds, or ancestry.
How should Sif be referred to in kennings? By calling her Thor’s wife, Ull’s mother, the deity with beautiful hair, Jarnsaxa’s rival, Thrud’s mother.
How should Idunn be referred to in kennings? By calling her Bragi’s wife and keeper of the apples, and the apples the Aesir’s remedy for old age. She is also the giant Thjazi’s stolen prize, as was told earlier, when he carried her away from the Aesir. Thjodolf of Hvin composed verses in Haustlong after that story.
It is likewise proper to refer to the Aesir by calling any one of them by another’s name and identifying him by his own deeds, possessions, or ancestry.
How should the sky be referred to in kennings? By calling it Ymir’s skull, and hence a giant’s skull, the dwarfs’ toil or burden, or the helmet of Vestri and Austri, Sudri and Nordri; the land of the sun, moon, heavenly bodies, wagons, and weather; the helmet or house of air, earth, and sun. As Arnor the Earls’ Poet said:
No young king so generous ever steps
aboard a planked ship
beneath Ymir’s ancient skull;
that prince’s splendour was abundant.
And again, as he said:
The bright sun turns black,
earth sinks into the dark sea,
Austri’s burden breaks,
the whole sea roars over the mountains.
As Bodvar the Lame said:
For no ruler will ever,
beneath the sun’s ground,
be keener in battle, better,
or nobler than Ingi’s brothers.
And as Thjodolf of Hvin said:
Jord’s son drove to the iron-game,
and the moon’s road thundered
beneath him; the fury
of Meili’s brother swelled.
As Orm, Poet of the Barra Isles, said:
However the lord of the wagon-road
welcomes me, lady of Draupnir’s band,
I hear that the ruler is mighty;
he governs the realm.
As Bragi the poet said:
He who cast the eyes
of the ski-goddess’s father
above the dwelling of many men
onto the winds’ wide washing-bowl.
And as Markus said:
It is long since a nobler guardian of seafarers
was born on the storm-vat’s surf-encircled floor;
every man praises the lofty life
of the ring-flinger.
As Stein Herdisarson said:
I invoke the holy ruler
of the high world-tent in this poem
before men; praise comes forth,
for he is more glorious.
And as Arnor the Earls’ Poet said:
Glorious king of the day’s ground,
help glorious Hermund.
And again Arnor said:
True ruler of the sun’s tents,
help valiant Rognvald.
And as Hallvard said:
Canute guards the land as the lord of all
guards the splendid hall of mountains.
As Arnor said:
Michael, wise in understanding, weighs
what is thought wrongly done and all that is good;
then the ruler of the sun’s helmet separates men
upon the judgment seat.
How should the earth be referred to in kennings? By calling her Ymir’s flesh and Thor’s mother, Onar’s daughter, Odin’s bride, the rival of Frigg and Rind and Gunnlod, Sif’s mother-in-law, the floor and bottom of the hall of weather, the sea of animals, Night’s daughter, the sister of Aud and Day. As Eyvind the Spoiler of Poets said:
Now the river’s sun is hidden
in the body of the giants’ enemy’s mother;
the counsels of a mighty people
are powerful.
As Hallfred the Troublesome Poet said:
Their plans came to pass: afterwards
that wise-counselling confidant of the king
possessed the only daughter
of Onar, overgrown with trees.
And again he said:
The steerer of the ravens’ resting-place
drew Baleyg’s broad-faced bride
to himself with the mighty speech
of steel.
As Thjodolf said:
The gladdener of lords moors
the Goths’ vessel, with riveted hull,
at the outer edge of the elk-sea,
against the clear sea’s floor.
As Hallfred said:
Thus I think the famous flinger
very reluctant to leave Aud’s sister alone;
the earth passes beneath
the glorious diminisher of necklaces.
As Thjodolf said:
The spear-sluggish fool stood far away
when the hastener of battle-light
once took Rind’s rival
without a bride-price.
How should the sea be referred to in kennings? By calling it Ymir’s blood, visitor to the gods, Ran’s husband, father of Aegir’s daughters, whose names are Himinglaeva, Dufa, Blodughadda, Hefring, Ud, Hronn, Bylgja, Bara, and Kolga; the land of Ran and Aegir’s daughters, of ships and terms for seagoing ships, of keels, prows, planking, seams, fish, and ice; the sea-kings’ way and roads; likewise the ring of islands, the house of sands, seaweed, and skerries, the land of fishing-lines, seabirds, and fair winds. As Orm, Poet of the Barra Isles, said:
Ymir’s blood roars from offshore
on the sandbank of good ships.
As Ref said:
The gentle beast of mastheads bears from the west
its wave-driven shoulders across the water;
I expect land before the prow;
it shaves the whale’s ridge.
As Svein said:
Then Aegir’s storm-rejoicing daughters
were woven and torn
by fierce, frost-bred squalls
from the pale mountain-wall.
And as Ref said:
Gymir’s spray-cold prophetess brings
the bear of twisted cables,
where the wave breaks,
often into Aegir’s jaws.
Here it is said that Aegir, Hler, and Gymir are all the same. And again he said:
But the sea-peak’s Sleipnir,
drenched in spray, tears its breast,
coloured with red stone,
from white Ran’s mouth.
As Einar Skulason said:
A fierce storm-wind has swiftly
thrust the ship away from land;
the horse of the swans’ field lets the snow-land
sink into the sea’s undertow.
And again, as he said:
Many a stiff oar rises
in men’s hands, while the fishing-line’s roaring shore
sweeps round the lands;
at times the stays are stretched taut.
And again he said:
The king’s longship’s prows carry golden plates;
that is a noble voyage for the prince;
the island-fetter propels
Heiti’s raven.
Again, as he said:
The autumn-cold island-rim thrusts
the frosted ski of the wake.
And again:
The swelling girdle of cool lands
splits apart before the prows.
As Snaebjorn said:
They say nine brides of the island-quern-frame
swiftly turn the most war-fierce
Grotti of skerries
out beyond the earth’s edge;
they who long ago ground
Amlodi’s ale-grist; the ring-diminisher
cleaves with his ship’s prow
the dwelling of ships’ sides.
Here the sea is called Amlodi’s mill. Again, as Einar Skulason said:
Strong driven nails loosen
in the rushing current, where Rakni’s
heaving ground turns pale; the sail’s bane
thrusts the reefed sail against the stay.
How should the sun be referred to in kennings? By calling her Mundilfari’s daughter, Mani’s sister, Glen’s wife, the fire of sky and air. As Skuli Thorsteinsson said:
Glen’s bedmate, gracious to the gods,
wades into the goddess’s sanctuary; then
the good light comes down with the rays
of grey-shirted Mani.
As Einar Skulason said:
Wherever the world’s lofty flickering flame
hovers over our treasure-friend,
most fierce against the blaze
of Beiti’s stronghold’s hall.
How should wind be described in kennings? By calling it Fornjot's son, the brother of Aegir and fire, the breaker of trees, the harm and death of trees or sails or rigging, or their hound or wolf. As Svein said in Nordrsetudrapa:
Fornjot's ugly sons
first began to blow.
How should fire be described in kennings? By calling it the brother of wind and Aegir, the death and destruction of trees and houses, Half's slayer, the sun of houses.
How should winter be described in kennings? By calling it Vindsval's son and the death of serpents, the season of storms. As Orm Steinthorsson said:
I offer the blind man this comfort:
the son of Vindval.
As Asgrim said:
The victory-bringer, generous with gold,
was afterwards in Trondheim—
the people know your deeds are true—
through that torment of serpents.
How should summer be described in kennings? By calling it Svasud's son, the relief of serpents and the growth of men. As Egil Skallagrimsson said:
Let us make our swords flash on high,
reddener of the wolf's teeth;
we have brave deeds to perform
in the mercy of the valley-fish.
How should a man be described in kennings? A man should be described through his deeds: what he gives or receives or does. He may also be described through the possessions he owns, and likewise through what he has given, and through the families he descends from and those descended from him.
How should he be described through these things? By calling him the performer or accomplisher of his journeys or activities, battles or sea voyages or hunting, or of weapons or ships. For he is a tester, reynir, of weapons and a doer, viðr, of battles, both meaning a performer. Viðr is a word for a tree. Reynir is also the name of a tree. From these terms poets have called a man an ash or maple, a grove, or other masculine names for trees, and associated them with battles or ships or wealth. It is also proper to describe a man through any of the names of the Aesir. He is also described through giants' names, though this is mostly mockery or abuse. Describing him through elves is considered fitting.
A woman should be described through all kinds of women's finery, gold and jewels, ale or wine or any other drink she serves or gives, and likewise through ale vessels and all the things it is fitting for her to make or provide. It is proper to describe her by calling her the willow or felled tree of what she distributes; selja and lág are trees. For this reason a woman is described in kennings through all feminine names for trees. A woman is described through jewels or glass stones because in ancient times women wore an ornament called a stone necklace around their necks. This has now been extended in kennings so that a woman is described through stone and all names for stones. A woman is also described through all the goddesses or Valkyries or Norns or disir. It is also proper to describe a woman through any of her activities, possessions or family.
How should gold be described in kennings? By calling it Aegir's fire and Glasir's needles, Sif's hair, Fulla's headband, Freyja's weeping, the speech and voice and words of giants, Draupnir's drops and the rain or shower of Draupnir or Freyja's eyes, otter compensation, the Aesir's forced payment, the seed of Fyrisvellir, the roof of Holgi's mound, the fire of all waters and of the hand, the stones and skerries or gleam of the hand.
Why is gold called Aegir's fire? The explanation is the story mentioned earlier: Aegir accepted an invitation to Asgard, and when he was ready to return home, he invited Odin and all the Aesir to visit him three months later. Foremost among those who made this journey were Odin and Njord, Frey, Tyr, Bragi, Vidar and Loki, and also the goddesses Frigg, Freyja, Gefjon, Skadi, Idunn and Sif. Thor was not there. He had gone east to kill trolls.
When the gods had taken their seats, Aegir had shining gold brought onto the hall floor. It brightened and lit the hall like fire, and served as light at his feast, just as swords served in place of fire in Valhalla. Then Loki quarrelled there with all the gods and killed Aegir's thrall, whose name was Fimafeng. Another of his thralls is named Eldir. His wife is named Ran, and they have nine daughters, as written earlier. At that feast everything provided itself: the food, the ale and all the equipment needed for the feast. Then these Aesir discovered that Ran owned a net in which she caught everyone who went to sea.
This story explains why gold is called the fire or light or radiance of Aegir, Ran or Aegir's daughters. From these kennings the practice has now developed of calling gold the fire of the sea and of all its names, since Aegir and Ran have names associated with the sea. From this, gold is now called the fire of lakes or rivers and of all river names. These terms have developed like other terms and kennings: younger poets have composed after the examples of older poets, as found in their poems, and then extended them into areas they considered similar to what had been composed before, as a lake resembles the sea, a river a lake, and a brook a river. Thus everything in which a term is extended further than is found before is called a new creation, and all of it is considered good when it accords with likeness and nature. As Bragi the poet said:
I received from the prince the fire
of the mackerels' bench for the drink
of the mountains' Fjolnir; the ruler
gave it to me with a cup.
Why is gold called Glasir's needles or leaves? In Asgard, before the doors of Valhalla, stands a grove called Glasir, and all its foliage is red gold, as is said here:
Glasir stands
with golden leaves
before Sigtyr's halls.
It is the most beautiful tree among gods and men.
Why is gold called Sif's hair? Loki, Laufey's son, had maliciously cut off all Sif's hair. When Thor discovered this, he seized Loki and would have broken every bone in his body before Loki swore that he would get the dark elves to make Sif hair of gold that would grow like other hair. After this Loki went to the dwarfs called Ivaldi's sons, and they made the hair, Skidbladnir and the spear Odin owned, called Gungnir.
Then Loki wagered his head with the dwarf called Brokk on whether Brokk's brother Sindri could make three treasures as good as these. When they came to the smithy, Sindri put a pigskin in the forge and told Brokk to work the bellows without stopping until he took out what he had put in. As soon as Sindri had left the smithy, while Brokk worked the bellows, a fly settled on Brokk's hand and bit him. But he kept working the bellows as before until the smith took something out of the forge. It was a boar, and its bristles were gold.
Next Sindri put gold in the forge and told Brokk to work the bellows without stopping until he returned. He went away. Then the fly came and settled on Brokk's neck and now bit twice as hard as before. But Brokk kept working the bellows until the smith took from the forge the gold ring called Draupnir.
Then Sindri put iron in the forge and told Brokk to work the bellows, saying that it would be ruined if the blowing stopped. Then the fly settled between Brokk's eyes and bit his eyelids. When the blood ran into his eyes so that he could not see, he snatched up his hand as quickly as he could, while the bellows sank down, and swept the fly away. Then the smith came back and said that everything in the forge had come close to being ruined. He took a hammer out of the forge.
He then placed all the treasures in his brother Brokk's hands and told him to take them to Asgard and settle the wager. When Brokk and Loki presented the treasures, the Aesir sat on their judgment seats, and the decision pronounced by Odin, Thor and Frey was to stand.
Loki gave Odin the spear Gungnir, Thor the hair that Sif was to have, and Frey Skidbladnir. He explained the properties of all the treasures: the spear never stopped in its thrust; the hair took root in the flesh as soon as it was placed on Sif's head; and Skidbladnir had a favourable wind as soon as its sail was raised, wherever it was to go, but could be folded up like a cloth and kept in one's pouch if desired.
Then Brokk brought forward his treasures. He gave Odin the ring and said that every ninth night eight rings of equal weight would drip from it. He gave Frey the boar and said that it could run through air and over water, night and day, faster than any horse. It would never be so dark at night or in the worlds of darkness that there would not be ample light wherever it went, so brightly did its bristles shine.
Then he gave Thor the hammer and said that he could strike as hard as he wished, whatever was before him, and the hammer would not fail. If he threw it at something, it would never miss and never fly so far that it would not return to his hand. If he wished, it could become so small that he could keep it inside his shirt. It had one flaw: its handle was rather short.
Their judgment was that the hammer was the best of all the treasures and offered the greatest protection against the frost giants, and they ruled that the dwarf should have his winnings. Then Loki offered to ransom his head, but the dwarf said there was no prospect of that.
“Catch me, then,” said Loki. But when the dwarf tried to catch him, he was already far away. Loki had shoes in which he could run through air and over water. Then the dwarf asked Thor to catch him, and Thor did so. The dwarf wanted to cut off Loki's head, but Loki said that he was entitled to the head, but not the neck.
Then the dwarf took a thong and a knife and tried to pierce holes in Loki's lips and lace his mouth shut, but the knife would not cut. Then he said that his brother's awl would be better for this. As soon as he mentioned it, the awl was there, and it pierced the lips. He laced the lips together, and Loki tore himself free of the stitches. The thong with which Loki's mouth was laced shut is called Vartari.
Here one can hear gold described through Fulla's headband, in what Eyvind the Poet-spoiler composed:
Fulla's brow-field's setting sun
shone on the mountains of Ull's ship
for poets throughout
the whole of Hakon's life.
Gold is called Freyja's weeping, as said earlier. As Skuli Thorsteinsson said:
Many a bringer of slaughter-fire's peril
won that morning, where we felled the slain,
still more of Freyja's tears;
we were there.
And as Einar Skulason said:
There Mardoll's weeping lies
between the grooves; we carry
the destroyer of Gaut's mighty door,
swollen with the valley-char's lair.
Here Einar has also described Freyja by calling her Hnoss's mother or Od's wife, as here:
The mighty ice of Rodi's roof
does not melt beneath the rain
of Od's bedfellow's eyes;
may the king thus reach old age.
And again:
I can wield Horn's glorious child;
we received a precious treasure.
The surf's firebrand rests on the shield's
destroyer, wrapped in gold.
The nurturer of the battle-swan
granted me Frodi's seed;
Frey's niece bears the drifting snow
of her mother's eyelashes.
Here it is also mentioned that Freyja may be described by calling her Frey's sister. And again:
In the child of Njord's daughter
a useful defence was offered me;
the sea's fire lay close to the steel;
I praise the ruler well for that.
Here she is called Njord's daughter. And again:
The battle-proud impeller of Vafud's assembly,
who displays courage,
gave me the mightily strong daughter
of the bride of the Vanir.
The mighty wielder of the sword
led Gefn's maiden to the poet's bed,
strewn with embers of the path
of Gautrek's swans.
Here she is called Gefn and Bride of the Vanir. It is proper to associate weeping with any of Freyja's names and so describe gold. These kennings are varied in many ways: it is called the hail or rain or sleet or drops or showers or torrents of her eyes or cheeks or cheekbones or eyelashes or eyelids.
Here one can hear that gold is called the word or voice of giants, as was said before. Thus spoke Bragi the poet:
I had him as a friend, worst
to the voice—but best to me—
of Ali of the fishing grounds’ under-globe,
a blameless third.
He called a stone the fishing grounds’ under-globe, a giant Ali of the stone, and gold the giant’s voice.
Why is gold called otter-payment? It is said that when the Aesir Odin, Loki, and Hoenir went to explore the world, they came to a river and walked along it to a waterfall. Beside the waterfall was an otter, which had caught a salmon in the falls and was eating with its eyes closed. Loki picked up a stone, threw it at the otter, and struck it on the head. Then Loki boasted of his catch, saying that he had caught an otter and a salmon with a single blow. They took the salmon and the otter and carried them along, until they came to a farm and went inside. The farmer who lived there was named Hreidmar. He was a powerful man and very skilled in magic. The Aesir asked to stay there for the night, saying that they had brought ample food, and showed the farmer their catch. When Hreidmar saw the otter, he called his sons, Fafnir and Regin, and told them that their brother Otr had been killed, and who had done it.
Now the father and sons went at the Aesir, seized and bound them, and told them that the otter was Hreidmar’s son. The Aesir offered a ransom for their lives, as much wealth as Hreidmar himself wished to demand. They agreed on this settlement and bound it with oaths. Then the otter was skinned. Hreidmar took the otter’s skin and told them that they must fill it with red gold and also cover it completely, and that this should be their settlement.
Then Odin sent Loki to Svartalfheim, and he came to the dwarf named Andvari. He was a fish in a pool, and Loki caught him and demanded as ransom for his life all the gold he possessed in his rock. When they came into the rock, the dwarf brought out all the gold he owned, and it was a very great treasure. Then the dwarf slipped a small gold ring under his arm. Loki saw this and told him to hand over the ring. The dwarf begged him not to take the ring away, saying that he could increase his wealth with it if he kept it. Loki said that he should not have a single penny left, took the ring from him, and went out. But the dwarf said that the ring should bring death to whoever owned it. Loki said that this suited him well, and that the curse could remain in force, since he would pass it on to the ears of whoever received it.
He went away and came to Hreidmar, and showed Odin the gold. When Odin saw the ring, he thought it beautiful and took it out of the treasure, but handed the gold over to Hreidmar. Hreidmar filled the otter’s skin as full as he could and stood it upright when it was full. Then Odin went up to it and was to cover the skin with the gold. He told Hreidmar to see whether the skin was now completely covered. Hreidmar looked and examined it carefully, and saw a single whisker. He demanded that it be covered, or else their settlement would be void. Then Odin brought out the ring and covered the whisker, and said that they were now released from the otter-payment.
When Odin had taken his spear and Loki his shoes, and they no longer had anything to fear, Loki said that what Andvari had declared should hold true: that the ring and the gold should bring death to whoever owned them. And so it proved afterwards. Now it has been told why gold is called otter-payment, or the Aesir’s forced payment, or the metal of strife.
What more is there to tell about the gold? Hreidmar took the gold as compensation for his son, but Fafnir and Regin demanded some of it as compensation for their brother. Hreidmar would not grant them a single penny of the gold. The brothers conceived the wicked plan of killing their father for the gold. Then Regin demanded that Fafnir divide the gold equally between them. Fafnir replied that there was little chance that he would share the gold with his brother, when he had killed his father for it. He told Regin to go away, or else he would meet the same fate as Hreidmar. Fafnir had taken a helmet that had belonged to Hreidmar and put it on his head. It was called the Helm of Terror, and every living creature that saw it was afraid. He had also taken the sword called Hrotti. Regin had the sword called Refil. He fled, while Fafnir went up onto Gnitaheid, made himself a lair there, changed into a serpent’s shape, and lay down upon the gold.
Regin went to King Hjalprek in Thjod and became his smith. There he took into his fostering Sigurd, the son of Sigmund, son of Volsung, and of Hjordis, daughter of Eylimi. Sigurd was the most outstanding of all warrior kings in lineage, strength, and courage. Regin told him where Fafnir lay upon the gold and urged him to go and win it. Then Regin made the sword called Gram. It was so sharp that when Sigurd lowered it into running water, it cut through a tuft of wool that drifted with the current against its edge. Next Sigurd split Regin’s anvil with the sword, right down into its wooden block.
After that, Sigurd and Regin went to Gnitaheid. Sigurd dug a pit in Fafnir’s path and sat down in it. When Fafnir crawled to the water and passed over the pit, Sigurd thrust the sword through him, and that killed him. Then Regin came up and said that Sigurd had killed his brother. As a settlement, he required Sigurd to take Fafnir’s heart and roast it over a fire. Regin lay down, drank Fafnir’s blood, and settled down to sleep.
As Sigurd roasted the heart, he thought it must be fully cooked and touched it with his finger to see how firm it was. When the froth from the heart ran onto his finger, he burned himself and put his finger into his mouth. When the heart’s blood touched his tongue, he understood the speech of birds and knew what the nuthatches sitting in the tree were saying. Then one spoke:
There sits Sigurd,
spattered with blood,
roasting Fafnir’s heart
beside the fire;
wise I would think
the breaker of rings
if he ate the gleaming
muscle of life.
There lies Regin, said another,
plotting to himself;
he means to betray the young man
who trusts him.
In anger he puts
crooked words together;
the smith of evil means
to avenge his brother.
Then Sigurd went to Regin and killed him. Afterwards he went to his horse, named Grani, and rode until he came to Fafnir’s lair. He took the gold, tied it into packs, and loaded them onto Grani’s back. Then he mounted himself and rode on his way. Now the story has been told that explains why gold is called Fafnir’s lair or dwelling, or the metal of Gnitaheid, or Grani’s burden.
Then Sigurd rode until he found a house on the mountain. Inside, a woman lay asleep, wearing a helmet and a coat of mail. He drew his sword and cut the mail off her. Then she awoke and said her name was Hild. She is called Brynhild and was a Valkyrie.
Sigurd rode away from there and came to a king named Gjuki. His wife was named Grimhild. Their children were Gunnar, Hogni, Gudrun, and Gudny. Guttorm was Gjuki’s stepson. Sigurd stayed there a long time. He married Gudrun, Gjuki’s daughter, and Gunnar and Hogni swore brotherhood with Sigurd.
Next Sigurd and Gjuki’s sons went to Atli, Budli’s son, to ask for his sister Brynhild as a wife for Gunnar. She lived on Hindarfjall, and a wavering flame surrounded her hall. She had sworn a vow to marry only the man who dared to ride through the wavering flame. Then Sigurd and the Gjukungs—they are also called Niflungs—rode up onto the mountain, and Gunnar was to ride through the wavering flame. He owned the horse called Goti, but that horse did not dare to leap into the fire. Then Sigurd and Gunnar exchanged appearances and names, because Grani would carry no man but Sigurd. Sigurd mounted Grani and rode through the wavering flame.
That evening he celebrated his wedding with Brynhild. When they came to bed, he drew the sword Gram from its sheath and laid it between them. In the morning, when he rose and dressed, he gave Brynhild as a bridal gift the gold ring that Loki had taken from Andvari, and took another ring from her hand as a keepsake. Sigurd then mounted his horse and rode to his companions. He and Gunnar exchanged appearances again, and they went home to Gjuki with Brynhild. Sigurd had two children with Gudrun, Sigmund and Svanhild.
Once Brynhild and Gudrun went to the water to bleach their hair. When they came to the river, Brynhild waded out from the bank and said that she would not put on her head water that ran from Gudrun’s hair, because she had a braver husband. Gudrun followed her into the river and said that she had the right to wash her hair farther upstream, because she had a husband whose courage neither Gunnar nor anyone else in the world could equal, since he had killed Fafnir and Regin and taken the inheritance of them both.
Then Brynhild replied, “It is worth more that Gunnar rode through the wavering flame, while Sigurd did not dare.”
Then Gudrun laughed and said, “Do you think Gunnar rode through the wavering flame? I believe the man who went to bed beside you was the one who gave me this gold ring. And the gold ring you have on your hand, which you received as a bridal gift, is called Andvaranaut, and I do not believe Gunnar went to Gnitaheid to fetch it.”
Then Brynhild fell silent and went home. After that she urged Gunnar and Hogni to kill Sigurd, but because they were bound to Sigurd by sworn oaths, they urged their brother Guttorm to kill him. He thrust a sword through Sigurd as he slept. When Sigurd received the wound, he threw the sword Gram after him, cutting the man in two at the waist. There Sigurd fell, and his three-year-old son, named Sigmund, whom they killed. After that Brynhild ran herself through with a sword and was burned with Sigurd. Gunnar and Hogni then took Fafnir’s inheritance and Andvaranaut, and ruled the lands.
King Atli, son of Budli and brother of Brynhild, then married Gudrun, who had been Sigurd's wife, and they had children. King Atli invited Gunnar and Hogni to visit him, and they accepted the invitation. Before leaving home, however, they hid the gold, Fafnir's inheritance, in the Rhine, and that gold has never since been found. King Atli had a force waiting there and fought against Gunnar and Hogni, and they were taken prisoner. King Atli had Hogni's heart cut out while he was alive. This killed him. He had Gunnar thrown into a snake-pit, but a harp was secretly brought to him, and he played it with his toes, since his hands were bound. He played the harp so that all the snakes fell asleep except one viper, which darted at him and struck him below the breastbone, thrusting its head into his body. It clung to his liver until he died. Gunnar and Hogni are called Niflungs and Gjukungs. For this reason gold is called the Niflungs' treasure or inheritance.
A little later Gudrun killed two of her sons and had drinking cups made from their skulls, adorned with gold and silver. Then the funeral feast for the Niflungs was held. At that feast Gudrun had King Atli served mead in those cups, mixed with the boys' blood, and she had their hearts roasted and given to the king to eat. When this was done, she told him herself, with many harsh words. There was no shortage of strong drink, and most people fell asleep where they sat. That night she went to the king as he slept, accompanied by Hogni's son, and they struck him down. This killed him. Then they set fire to the hall, and the people inside were burned.
After this she went to the sea and threw herself into it, intending to end her life, but she was washed across the fjord and reached the land ruled by King Jonakr. When he saw her, he took her into his household and married her. They had three sons, named Sorli, Hamdir, and Erp. Their hair was all as black as a raven, like Gunnar's and Hogni's and that of the other Niflungs. Svanhild, the daughter of young Sigurd, was brought up there, and she was the most beautiful of all women.
King Jormunrek the Mighty heard of this. He sent his son Randver to ask for her hand on his behalf. When Randver came to Jonakr, Svanhild was entrusted to him. He was to bring her to King Jormunrek. Then Earl Bikki said that it would be more fitting for Randver to marry Svanhild, since he was young, as she was, whereas Jormunrek was old. The young people liked this advice. Bikki then told the king about it. King Jormunrek had his son seized and led to the gallows. Randver then took his hawk, plucked out its feathers, and asked that it be sent to his father. Then he was hanged. When King Jormunrek saw the hawk, it occurred to him that just as the hawk was flightless and featherless, so his kingdom was helpless, since he was old and without a son. Then, as King Jormunrek rode out of the forest with his retainers after hunting, he saw Svanhild sitting bleaching her hair. They rode her down and trampled her to death beneath their horses' hooves.
When Gudrun heard this, she urged her sons to avenge Svanhild. As they prepared to leave, she gave them mail-coats and helmets so strong that iron could make no impression on them. She instructed them that when they reached King Jormunrek, they should approach him at night while he slept. Sorli and Hamdir were to cut off his hands and feet, and Erp his head. Once they were on their way, they asked Erp what help he would give them if they encountered King Jormunrek. He replied that he would help them as a hand helps a foot. They said that a foot received no support at all from a hand. They were so angry with their mother, who had sent them off with bitter words, that they wanted to do what would hurt her most, and they killed Erp, because she loved him best. A little later, as Sorli was walking, one foot slipped, and he supported himself with his hand. Then he said, "The hand has helped the foot now. It would be better now if Erp were alive."
When they came by night to King Jormunrek where he slept and cut off his hands and feet, he awoke and called to his men, telling them to wake. Then Hamdir said, "His head would be off now if Erp were alive." The retainers rose and attacked them, but could do nothing against them with weapons. Then Jormunrek shouted that they must be battered with stones. This was done. Sorli and Hamdir fell there. By then all Gjuki's family and descendants were dead. For this reason a mail-coat is called the clothing or garments of Hamdir and Sorli.
Young Sigurd was survived by a daughter named Aslaug, who was brought up at Heimir's in Hlymdalir, and great lineages have descended from her. It is said that Sigmund, son of Volsung, was so powerful that he could drink poison without harm, while his son Sinfjotli and Sigurd had such tough skin that poison did them no harm if it touched their bare bodies from outside. Thus the poet Bragi has composed:
When, on the hook of the wrestling challenger
of ancient Lit's men,
the coiling eel hung curled,
the eel of the Volsungs' drink.
Most poets have composed from these stories, taking up various episodes. Bragi the Old composed about the fall of Sorli and Hamdir in the praise-poem he made about Ragnar Lodbrok:
And Jormunrek awoke
from a dreadful dream,
amid blood-stained troops
in the surge of swords;
uproar arose in the hall
of Raudve's foremost kinsman,
when Erp's raven-black brothers
avenged their sorrows.
Corpse-dew flowed over the benches
on the battle-elf's hall-floor;
there, amid gore, severed
hands and feet could be seen.
He fell, mingled with blood,
headfirst into the ale-bowls' pool;
this is painted on the leaf
of the trees of Leifi's lands.
There stood, encircling
the prince's tub of the floor-steed,
the masts of Naglfari's sail,
with no nails in them;
and soon Sorli and Hamdir,
united in purpose, were battered
with the hard shoulder-knobs
of Hergaut's beloved.
The scatterer of the surge of steel
had Gjuki's descendants hard pressed,
when they sought to rob
Foglhild's beloved of life;
and all repaid Jonakr's sons
for the dark-shirted birches'
fiercely gleaming blows to the brow
and the blades' edges.
I see that fall of men
on the fair surface of the shield.
Ragnar gave me the moon of Rae's carriage
and a wealth of stories.
Why is gold called Frodi's meal? This is the story behind it: Odin had a son named Skjold, from whom the Skjoldungs are descended. He lived and ruled in the lands now called Denmark, but then called Gotland. Skjold had a son named Fridleif, who ruled the lands after him. Fridleif's son was named Frodi. He succeeded his father as king at the time when Emperor Augustus established peace throughout the world. Christ was born then. Because Frodi was the most powerful of all kings in the northern lands, the peace was attributed to him throughout the Danish-speaking world, and people call it Frodi's Peace. No one harmed another, even if he came upon his father's or brother's killer, free or bound. There were no thieves or robbers either, so that a gold ring lay on Jalangrsheid for a long time.
King Frodi went to Sweden as the guest of the king named Fjolnir. There he bought two slave-women named Fenja and Menja. They were large and strong. At that time two millstones were found in Denmark, so large that no one was strong enough to turn them. These millstones had the property that the mill would grind whatever the person turning it commanded. The mill was called Grotti. The man who gave the mill to King Frodi was named Hengikjopt. King Frodi had the slave-women brought to the mill and told them to grind gold. They did so, first grinding gold and peace and prosperity for Frodi. He allowed them no longer rest or sleep than the cuckoo was silent, or than it took to sing a song. It is said that they sang the lay called Grotti's Song, which begins:
Now we have come
to the king's halls,
we two who know the future,
Fenja and Menja;
with Frodi,
Fridleif's son,
these mighty maidens
are kept as slaves.
Before the lay ended, they ground out an army against Frodi, so that that night a sea-king named Mysing arrived, killed Frodi, and took much plunder. Then Frodi's Peace ended. Mysing took Grotti with him, along with Fenja and Menja, and told them to grind salt. At midnight they asked whether Mysing had had enough salt. He told them to grind longer. They had been grinding only a little while when the ship sank, and a whirlpool remained there in the sea, where the water pours into the millstone's eye. Then the sea became salty.
Why is gold called Kraki's seed? There was a king in Denmark named Hrolf Kraki. He was the most renowned of the ancient kings, above all for his generosity, courage, and humility. One sign of his humility, often recounted in stories, concerns a poor little boy named Vogg. He came into King Hrolf's hall. The king was then young and slender. Vogg walked up before him and looked up at him. The king said, "What do you want to say, boy, looking at me like that?"
Vogg said, "When I was at home, I heard it said that King Hrolf at Hleidra was the greatest man in the northern lands, but now a little sapling sits here in the high seat, and you call him king."
The king replied, "Boy, you have given me a name: I shall be called Hrolf Kraki. But it is customary for a gift to accompany the giving of a name. Now I see that you have no gift to give me for my naming that would please me. So the one who has something to give must give to the other." He took a gold ring from his hand and gave it to him.
Then Vogg said, "May you give with the greatest good fortune of all kings, and I vow to kill the man who kills you."
The king laughed and said, "Vogg is pleased with little."
Another example is told of Hrolf Kraki’s courage. A king named Adils ruled at Uppsala. He was married to Yrsa, Hrolf Kraki’s mother. He was at odds with a king named Ali, who ruled over Norway. They arranged to fight a battle on the ice of the lake called Vänern. King Adils sent word to Hrolf Kraki, his stepson, asking him to come to his assistance. He promised wages to his entire army for the duration of the expedition, while the king himself was to receive three treasures of his own choosing from Sweden. King Hrolf could not go because of his war with the Saxons, but he nevertheless sent Adils his twelve berserks. Among them were Bodvar Bjarki and Hjalti the Stout-hearted, Hvitserk the Bold, Vott, Veseti, and the brothers Svipdag and Beigud.
King Ali and a large part of his army fell in that battle. King Adils then took from his dead body the helmet Hildisvin and his horse Hrafn. Hrolf Kraki’s berserks then asked to receive their wages, three pounds of gold apiece, and also asked to take Hrolf Kraki the treasures they had chosen for him. These were the helmet Hildigolt and the mail-coat Finnsleif, neither of which iron could pierce, and the gold ring called Sviagris, which Adils’s forefathers had owned. But the king refused to surrender any of the treasures, nor did he pay their wages. The berserks left, displeased with their lot, and told Hrolf Kraki what had happened.
He immediately set out for Uppsala. When he had brought his ships into the river Fyris, he rode to Uppsala with his twelve berserks, all without a promise of safe conduct. Yrsa, his mother, welcomed him and accompanied him to his lodgings, rather than to the king’s hall. Fires were lit for them there, and they were given ale to drink. Then King Adils’s men came in, piled logs on the fire, and made it so large that the clothes of Hrolf and his men began to burn. They said, “Is it true that Hrolf Kraki and his berserks flee neither fire nor iron?”
Then Hrolf Kraki sprang up, and all his men with him. He said:
“Let us heap the fires still higher
in Adils’s houses.”
He took his shield, threw it onto the fire, and leaped over the fire while the shield was burning. He said further:
“He does not flee the fire
who leaps over it.”
His men followed, one after another. They also seized those who had built up the fire and threw them onto it. Then Yrsa came and gave Hrolf Kraki an animal’s horn full of gold, together with the ring Sviagris, and told them to ride away to their army. They sprang onto their horses and rode down onto Fyrisvellir. Then they saw King Adils riding after them with his army fully armed, intending to kill them.
Hrolf Kraki reached his right hand down into the horn and scattered the gold all along the road. When the Swedes saw it, they leaped from their saddles, and each took whatever he could get. But King Adils told them to ride on and himself rode hard. His horse was called Slongvir, the swiftest of all horses. Hrolf Kraki then saw King Adils riding close behind him. He took the ring Sviagris, threw it towards him, and told him to accept it as a gift. King Adils rode up to the ring, reached for it with his spear-point, and slid it up onto the socket. Hrolf Kraki turned back and saw him bend down. Then he said, “Now I have made the mightiest of the Swedes stoop like a swine.” Thus they parted.
For this reason gold is called Kraki’s seed or the seed of Fyrisvellir. As Eyvind Skaldaspillir said:
“We bore, Ull of the battle-leek,
throughout Hakon’s life,
the seed of Fyrisvellir
on the mountains of hawks.”
As Thjodolf said:
“The prince sows Yrsa’s son’s grain
for his household upon the steep field,
brightly ploughed with rings,
of the knuckle-wise birds.
The blameless ruler showers
Kraki’s bright barley
on the flesh of the sea-earth,
the hawk’s perch, for me myself.”
It is said that the king named Holgi, after whom Halogaland is named, was the father of Thorgerd Holgabrud. Sacrifices were offered to both of them. Holgi’s burial mound was built with alternating layers: one of gold or silver—this was the sacrificial wealth—and another of earth and stones. As Skuli Thorsteinsson said:
“When I reddened Reifnir’s roof-beacon
off Svolder to win wealth,
I gathered in rings the mound-thatch
of Holgi, who follows the army.”
In the ancient Bjarkamal many names for gold are listed. It says there:
“The most generous king
enriched his household
with Fenja’s toil,
Fafnir’s Midgard,
Glasir’s glowing foliage,
Grani’s fair burden,
Draupnir’s precious sweat,
Grafvitnir’s down.
The generous ruler gave out,
and men received,
Sif’s scalp-bonds,
the ice of the bow’s distress,
the sorrowful otter-payment,
Mardoll’s tears,
Orun’s fire,
Idi’s glittering speech.
The giver of battle gladdened—
we went finely dressed—
very many hosts
with Thjazi’s assembly-speech,
the Rhine’s red ore,
the Niflungs’ strife,
the battle-bold prince.
Yet he did not protect Baldr.”
In kennings gold is called the fire of the hand, joint, or arm, because it is red; silver is called snow, ice, or frost, because it is white. In the same way gold or silver may be described in relation to a purse, crucible, or bowl. Both silver and gold may be the stones of the hand, or the neckband of any man accustomed to wearing a necklace. Necklaces and rings may be either silver or gold unless otherwise specified. As Thorleik the Fair said:
“The king casts the crucible’s cargo
onto his men’s gleaming falcon-perches;
the young ruler gives
the fire of the arm.”
And as Einar Skalaglamm said:
“The land-valiant prince destroys
Lund’s fires of the wrist.
I do not think the ruler’s warriors
will run short of the Rhine’s stones.”
As Einar Skulason said:
“On either side of the purse’s expanse
lie snow and fire
of the blood-ember’s rock;
I must praise the destroyer of treasures.”
And again, as he said:
“Every day the sea-flame thunders
above the crucible’s white snowdrift,
while Heiti’s horse’s side-shield
rules a generous heart.
The fire of the eel’s rushing road
can never melt the bowls’ snow;
the feller of hosts undertakes
every bold enterprise.”
Here gold is called the fire of the eel’s rushing road, and silver the snow of the bowls. As Thord Maeraskald said:
“Hermod, the glad sender
of the hands’ lava, sees
in the destroyer of threads a good father,
who owned the serpent’s lair.”
A man is called a breaker of gold, as Ottar the Black said:
“I need to enjoy the generosity
of the breaker of battle’s embers.
Here within is a most vigorous
household with a wise king.”
Or a sender of gold, as Einar Skalaglamm said:
“The sender of gold lets me enjoy
the ground’s lot of Ygg’s mead;
the king gladdens his band of warriors;
I may receive his favour.”
A flinger of gold, as Thorleik said:
“The flinger of gold makes
the king’s household loyal to him with gifts.”
An enemy of gold, as Thorvald Blonduskald said:
“The enemy of gold flings the embers
of the arm; the king gives red wealth;
the destroyer of wicked men distributes
Grani’s burden.”
A lord of gold, as here:
“I found a lord of gold;
a tugging-song is made
of the flame of the shower’s path,
the battle-beacon’s tree.”
A woman is described in relation to gold and called a willow of gold, as Hallar-Stein said:
“The caster of the amber of the cool,
salt field of Vidblindi’s boar
will long remember the willow
of the reed-thong’s land.”
Here whales are called Vidblindi’s boars. He was a giant and drew whales out of the sea like fish. The field of whales is the sea; the amber of the sea is gold. A woman is the willow of the gold she gives, and a synonym for willow is tree, as was written earlier: a woman is described by all kinds of feminine tree-names. She is also called a log of what she gives. A log is also a tree that falls in the forest. As Gunnlaug Serpent-tongue said:
“The woman was born to bring strife
among men’s children; the bush
of battle caused it; I was eager
to possess the log of wealth.”
A woman is called a forest. As Hallar-Stein said:
“With poetry’s plane I have smoothed
Bil of the ale-prows,
fair forest of bowls, careful in my work
on the stems of the refrain-ship.”
A pole, again as Stein said:
“You, slender guardian-Sif
of the flood’s fire, will, like other
poles of the Hjadnings’ stone,
struggle against your fortune.”
A prop, as Orm Steinthorsson said:
“The very pure prop of the fjord’s bone
was dressed in clothes.
The spear-Frey cast new stitching
around the Hrist of mead.”
A support, as Steinar said:
“All my dreams of the gentle Syn
of the necklace’s soft resting-place have lied;
this swaying support of the stream’s moon
has brought me to submission.”
A birch, again as Orm said:
“For upon the cup of the hollow,
roaring fire of hands, which I present,
I have placed the image of the birch
of Billing’s son’s drink.”
An oak, as here:
“The finely dressed oak
of riches stands against our pleasure.”
A linden, as here:
“Battle-bold elm of the metal shower,
our courage must not fail:
so the linden of linen commanded
in the land.”
A man is described in relation to trees, as was written earlier, and called a tester of weapons or battles, journeys and deeds, ships and everything he commands and puts to the test. As Ulf Uggason said:
“And the stiff cord of earth’s leg
stared over the gunwale
at the tester of the land’s hosts,
gleaming-eyed, and blew venom.”
A tree or trunk, as Kormak said:
“The trunk of the slaughter-twig
surpasses many in the din of spears;
the sword wins land
for Earl Sigurd, the tree of battle.”
A grove, as Hallfred the Troublesome Poet said:
“In the east the mighty nurturing grove
of the shield’s peril, budding with hair,
stands as a great support
for the firs of Ull’s ship.”
Here fir is also named.
A box-tree, as Arnor said:
“The bold box-tree of men bade the Rygir
bring their shields together at dawn;
he kept the rain of strife-clouds falling
throughout the autumn night.”
An ash, as Ref said:
“The generous ash of Haar’s snowstorm,
the rushing Frey, went
into the maiden’s gold-strewn bed;
the tree has ample vigour.”
A maple, as here:
“‘Welcome,’ the maple of the hand’s ice
thus greeted the mail-coat.”
A tree, as Ref said:
“For I have resolved to offer
all praise of battle’s feeder to Thorstein,
the terrifier of the battle-place;
the tree of swords brings this about.”
A stave, as Ottar said:
“You held the land there against two princes,
where the raven did not starve;
fierce stave of battle, you are swift in counsel,
against the race of men.”
A thorn, as Arnor said:
“The young thorn of wealth heaped
heavy piles of slain before the eagle,
while his retainers showed
slippery slopes to the eagle’s feeder.”
How should battle be referred to? By calling it the weather of weapons or shields or Odin or a Valkyrie or warrior-kings, or their din or clamor. As Hornklofi said:
The king waged a spear-storm
against men, where wound-goslings
screeched at Skogul's din;
red wounds snorted blood.
As Eyvind said:
And that man,
in Har's weather,
wore the dusky shirt
of Hrisgrimnir.
As Bersi said:
Once, when I was younger—
so the story goes—I was thought
well suited to Hlokk's snowstorm
among the trees of battle-fire.
As Einar said:
The bold ruler lets Hild's sail
catch Gondul's mightiest roaring wind;
the linen cracks where
hail from the bowstring drives.
As Einar Skalaglamm said:
Nor did the shirts of victory-trees,
carefully wrought, firmly shelter
the honored men from Hogni's showers
in Har's tumult.
As here:
To set the edge-net's cord
against the rousers of spear-din.
And this too:
At Gondul's clamor the king's enemies
sank beneath the eagle's claws.
Weapons and armor should be referred to through battle, Odin, Valkyries, and warrior-kings: a helmet is called a hat or headdress, a mail-coat a shirt or tunic, and a shield a tent; the shield-wall is called a hall and roof, wall and floor. Shields are also named and referred to through warships, as the ship's sun or moon or leaf or gleam or fence. A shield is also called Ull's ship, or referred to through Hrungnir's feet, since he stood on a shield. On ancient shields it was customary to paint a border called a ring, and shields are referred to through that ring. Cutting weapons, axes or swords, are called fires of blood or wounds. Swords are called Odin's fires, while axes are given the names of troll-women and referred to through blood or wounds or forest or wood. Thrusting weapons are aptly referred to through serpents or fish. Missiles are often referred to through hail or driving snow or sleet. All these kennings are varied in many ways, for most poetry in which these kennings are needed is composed in praise-poems. As Viga-Glum said:
The army hesitated to advance
before the slope in Hanged-Tyr's hats;
they did not find it pleasant
to venture into danger.
As Einar Skalaglamm said:
Battle-eager Sigvaldi,
helmet-crowned, offered combat,
and battle-bold Bui, who came
from the south into Gunn's din.
Rodi's shirt, as Tind said:
Then the trees of mail had to cast off
Hangi's ring-patterned, rattling shirt,
when the riding-steeds of Rodi's
road were stripped of men.
Hamdir's tunic, as Hallfred said:
Outside, the ring-hail of Egil's weapons
breaks hard and fiercely
against Hamdir's tunics
upon the noble trees of the wave-beast.
Sorli's clothes, as he also said:
From there the bright clothes
of Sorli's men—I hear it clearly—
are reddened with blood
in the file-showers of wound-fire.
Hlokk's tents, as Grettir said:
The raisers of Hlokk's tents
held the noses of Hild's wall together,
and the storm-Njords struck
at one another's beards.
Rodi's roof, as Einar said:
The strong ice of Rodi's roof
never dwindles before the rain
of the eyes of Od's bedmate;
may that king attain old age.
Hild's wall, as Grettir said in what was written above.
Ship-sun, as Einar said:
Olaf's kin reddens the flame
of the ships' sun upon the sea.
Bow-moon, as Ref said:
Fair was the day when the flingers
of the arm's flame pressed upon me
a beautiful bow-moon
in the hanging path of rings.
The ship's fence, as here:
Thus he shot straight through
the stone-painted fence of the prow;
that battle-fierce sweller of spear-din
pierced it as though it were birch bark.
Ull's vessel, as Thjodolf said:
Storms rage in full force
around the ruler's ship of Ull,
where the masts with joining nails,
sheathed in scabbard-cloths, sway.
The leaf beneath Hrungnir's soles, as Bragi said:
Will you hear, Hrafnkel,
how I shall praise the ruler
and the leaf beneath the soles of Thrud's thief,
brightly covered with paint?
Bragi the poet said this about the ring on the shield:
Unless the famed son of Sigurd
wished good recompense
for the ringing, ring-hubbed
wheel of Hogni's daughter.
He called the shield Hild's wheel, and the ring the wheel's hub.
Ring-land, as Hallvard said:
The ruler sees the red-bright,
curved ring-land of the spear-host
fly apart in two;
the white shield bursts asunder.
This too is said:
A ring best suits a shield,
and arrows a bow.
A sword is Odin's fire, as Kormak said:
Battle swelled when the feeder
of Grid's steed, who stirred up strife,
advanced with Gaut's ringing fire.
Urd came out of the well.
Helmet-fire, as Ulf Uggason said:
The mighty Hild of the mountains
made the sea-Sleipnir stride forward,
while the mighty wielders of Hroft's
helmet-fire felled her steed.
Mail-coat's fire, as Glum Geirason said:
The land's guardian made the hone-thinned,
ringing fire of mail shriek then;
he defended himself against men,
stubbornly holding to life.
Shield-ice and shield's destruction, as Einar said:
From the upright ruler I received
ice of red shields, sprinkled
with Freyja's eyelid-thaw;
we bear the helmet's destruction in our hand.
An axe is called the troll-woman of shields, as Einar said:
The riders of Raefil's land-steed
can clearly see how finely carved
the dragons lie beside the eyelash
of the helmet's Grid.
A spear is called a serpent, as Ref said:
My fierce, oaken dark dragon
of the shield's forests can play
upon men's palms
where men meet.
Arrows are called the hail of the bow or bowstring or shields or battle, as Einar Skalaglamm said:
The Rognir of the sword's crash
boldly shook the hail of bows
out of Hlokk's sails;
the wolves' benefactor saved his life.
And Hallfred:
And the iron-covered garments
of the hunger-banishing feeders
of spear-Rota's gosling
failed to shelter them from bowstring-hail.
And Eyvind Skaldaspillir:
They said you scarcely let your spirit
falter, guardian of the Hordar's land,
when mail-hail broke in wounds
and the elm bows bent.
Battle is called the weather or storm of the Hjadnings, and weapons the fires or wands of the Hjadnings, and there is a story behind this. A king named Hogni had a daughter called Hild. A king named Hedin, son of Hjarrandi, carried her off as plunder. King Hogni was then away at a meeting of kings. When he learned that his kingdom had been raided and his daughter taken away, he set out with his forces to seek Hedin and heard that he was traveling north along the coast. When King Hogni reached Norway, he learned that Hedin had sailed west across the sea. Hogni then sailed after him all the way to the Orkneys, and when he reached the place called Hoy, Hedin was there with his forces.
Hild then went to meet her father and offered him a necklace on Hedin's behalf as a settlement, but in the same breath she said that Hedin was ready to fight and that Hogni could expect no mercy from him. Hogni answered his daughter harshly. When she met Hedin, she told him that Hogni wanted no settlement, and urged him to prepare for battle. Both sides did so, going ashore on the island and drawing up their forces.
Then Hedin called out to Hogni, his father-in-law, and offered him a settlement and much gold in compensation. Hogni answered: “You have offered this too late if you wish to make peace, for now I have drawn Dainsleif, which the dwarfs made. It must kill a man every time it is drawn, and it never fails in its stroke, and no wound heals if it is made by this sword.”
Then Hedin said: “You are praising your sword, but not your victory. I call any sword good that is faithful to its lord.”
Then they began the battle called the Battle of the Hjadnings, and fought all that day. In the evening the kings went to their ships. But during the night Hild went among the slain and by sorcery raised up all those who were dead. The next day the kings went onto the battlefield and fought, as did all those who had fallen the previous day. This battle continued day after day in such a way that all who fell, and all the weapons lying on the battlefield, and likewise the shields, turned to stone. But at dawn all the dead men rose and fought, and all the weapons were serviceable again. It is said in poems that the Hjadnings will remain like this until Ragnarok. Bragi the poet composed his praise-poem for Ragnar Lodbrok from this story.
Battle is Odin's weather, as was written earlier. As Viga-Glum said:
Like earls, I once cleared
my way to lands—
word went around of it—
with the staves of Vidrir's weather-wand.
Vidrir's weather here means battle, the wand of battle means the sword, and men are the staves of the sword. Here both battle and weapons are used in a kenning for a man. When poetry is composed in this way, it is called extended. A shield is the land of weapons, and weapons are the hail or rain of that land, if the imagery is developed further.
How should a ship be referred to? By calling it the horse or beast or ski of sea-kings or the sea or ships' equipment or the wind.
Wave-steed, as Hornklofi said:
The hard-minded clearer
of the pale wave-steed,
still a child, had ships' prows
thrust onto the sea at highest tide.
Geiti's horse, as Erringar-Stein said:
Though all the people tell the poet
of war coming from the south,
we load this horse of Geiti with stones;
gladly we make the effort.
Sveidi's reindeer:
Victory-bold son of Svein, you came
with long-planked reindeer onto the path
of Solsi's stream; the beasts
of the sound glided from the land.
So Hallvard said. Here they are also called beasts of the sound, and the sea Solsi's stream. As Thord Sjareksson said:
He made the shield-board's horse
sway from the north past Siggja.
The wind drove the delight of Gylfi's league
south past Aumar.
Then the horse of the seagull's path
left both Karmt and Agdir astern;
the leek's horse waded
past Lista.
Here a ship is called the horse of the shield-board, and the sea Gylfi's land; the seagull's path is the sea and the horse the ship, and it is also called the leek's horse. The mast is called a leek. And again, as Markus said:
The bold winter-wanderer of the sea-road
waded through the snows of fjord-serpents.
Snarling-tooth ran over the masthead-high peaks
of the whale's dwelling.
The bear advanced upon the ancient
paths of the flood's sea-skis.
The storm-hardy bruin of the prop
broke the skerry's resounding fetter.
Here a ship is called the bear of sea-roads. A bear is called winter-wanderer and snarling-tooth and bruin, and here it is called the bear of the prop. A ship is also called a reindeer, as Hallvard said in what was written above, and a stag, as King Harald Sigurdsson said:
The planking cut a wide course past Sicily;
we were splendid then.
The expanse's splendid stag glided
well beneath the men, as we hoped.
And an elk, as Einar said:
Kindly breaker of the ring's peace,
a man cannot stay long with you—
we fit out the elk of the flood—
unless something comes of it.
An otter, as Mani said:
What work can you do with the men
aboard the otter of the sea,
drooping, gray-cheeked old man,
now that your strength is failing?
A wolf, as Ref said:
And the waster of the hone-wand's treasure
listened to Thorstein;
I am loyal to the tree of the roller-wolf
in tales of sorrow.
And an ox. A ship is called a ski or wagon or carriage. As Eyjolf Dadaskald said:
Very late in the day the young man
went on the ski of Meiti's offshore domain,
with equal strength, to meet
the noble chieftain.
As Styrkar Oddason said:
And after the noble scatterer
of the flood's fire, Hogni's host
furiously drove the rollers' wagons
onto Heiti's snows.
And as Thorbjorn said:
The loader of the roller's sea-carriage
was in the spring of baptism;
that scatterer of treasure gained
the highest grace of White Christ.
How should Christ be referred to in kennings? By calling him creator of heaven and earth, of angels and the sun; ruler of the world, the kingdom of heaven, and angels; king of heaven, the sun, angels, Jerusalem, the Jordan, and Greece; master of the apostles and saints. Poets of old have referred to him through Urd’s well and Rome, as Eilif Gudrunarson said:
They say he sits south at Urd’s well;
so far has the mighty king of Rome
extended his dominion over the lands
of the gods of the mountain plateau.
Thus said Skafti Thoroddsson:
The might of the monks’ lord
is greatest; God accomplishes most.
Mighty Christ created the whole world
and raised the hall of Rome.
King of heaven, as Markus said:
The king of the storm-house made earth and heaven,
as well as the faithful host.
One ruler can govern everything:
Christ, lord of mankind.
Thus said Eilif kulnasvein:
The world’s host and the ranks of men
bow before the holy cross.
Heaven’s sun-king alone is purer
than all other true glory.
Mary’s son, as Eilif also said:
Heaven’s pure host bows
to Mary’s son.
The lord of hosts performs true, glorious deeds;
he is both man and God.
King of angels, as Eilif also said:
The glorious power of God’s friend
is greater than men imagine.
Yet the generous king of angels
is holier and more glorious than all.
King of the Jordan, as Sighvat said:
The king of the Jordan once commanded
four angels to be sent from heaven;
a cascade washed the holy hair
upon the lord’s head.
King of the Greeks, as Arnor said:
For kindness I offer prayers
to the wise guardian of Greeks and Gardar
for the slayer of men.
Thus I repay the prince’s gift.
Thus said Eilif kulnasvein:
Heaven’s glory praises the ruler of men;
he is king of all.
Here he first called Christ king of men, and the second time king of all. Einar Skulason also said:
He who guards the people,
bright in mercy, who embraces
the whole world, had heaven’s kingdom opened
for the valiant prince.
Here the kennings overlap, and whoever interprets the poetry must determine from the context which king is meant. For it is correct to call the emperor of Constantinople king of the Greeks, and likewise to call the king who rules the land of Jerusalem king of Jerusalem; likewise to call the king of Rome emperor of the city of Rome, or the ruler of England king of the English. But the kenning written above, calling Christ king of men, can apply to any king. It is correct to refer to all kings by calling them rulers of the land, defenders of the land, seekers of land, leaders of the royal household, or guardians of the people. Thus said Eyvind skaldaspillir:
The rulers of the land
deprived the Cargo-god
of his life
at Oglo.
And as Glum Geirason said:
Beneath his helmet the ruler reddened
the whetstones’ hollow against the Gauts.
There, in the clash of spears,
the land’s guardian was overtaken.
As Thjodolf said:
May the noble leader of the household,
glad at heart, leave his sons
his inheritance and ancestral soil;
that is my wish.
As Einar said:
The brave-hearted guardian of the people wears
the snake’s headgear upon his bold mountain of hair;
the poet recounts before men
the glory of the king of the Hordar.
It is also correct to call a king who has tributary kings beneath him king of kings. An emperor is highest among kings; next comes a king who rules a nation, and all such kings are equal to one another in all poetic kennings. Next come those men called earls or tributary kings. They are equal to kings in kennings, except that tributary kings cannot be called kings of nations. Thus Arnor the earls’ poet said of Earl Thorfinn:
Let the court learn how this
bold-spirited king of earls attacked.
He did not fail to contend
with the overbearing prince’s terror.
Next in poetic kennings come the men called hersirs. They may be referred to like kings or earls, by calling them breakers of gold, lavish givers of wealth, men of the standard, or leaders of the host, or by calling a man leader of the troop or of the battle. For every king of a nation who rules many lands appoints tributary kings and earls to govern alongside him, to administer the law of the land and defend against warfare those lands that lie far from the king. Their judgments and punishments must have the same authority there as the king’s own.
But within one country there are many districts, and kings customarily appoint a judge over as many districts as they place under his authority. These men are called hersirs or landed men in the Danish tongue, counts in Saxony, and barons in England. They too must be lawful judges and lawful defenders of the territory entrusted to their government. If the king is absent, a standard must be carried before them in battle, and they then have the same authority as military commanders as kings or earls.
Next come the men called freeholders. These are farmers of established lineage who possess full legal rights. They may be referred to as givers and guardians of wealth and reconcilers of men. These kennings may also apply to chieftains.
Kings and earls have in their following men called retainers and housecarls. Landed men also have men who have entered their service, called retainers in Denmark and Sweden but housecarls in Norway; nevertheless, they swear oaths just as retainers do to kings. Kings’ housecarls were very commonly called retainers in ancient times. Thus said Thorvald blonduskald:
King eager for battle, be fortunate,
and so too your brave housecarls.
Men have on their lips my poem,
filled with praise.
King Harald Sigurdsson composed this:
Full of power, he waits to fill
the ruler’s throne; I often see
a smaller band of housecarls
following at an earl’s heels.
The retainers and housecarls of chieftains may be referred to by calling them the inner household, the following, or paid men. Thus said Sighvat:
I heard that the prince’s following
recently fought a battle on the water;
the storms of spearheads that I next recount
were none of the smallest.
And also this:
Then, on the prince’s horse of the cable,
it was as though no maiden
were serving mead to these paid men
before the greeting of weapons.
The pay and gifts that chieftains give are called service-money. Thus said Ottar the Black:
I need to enjoy the goodwill
of the breaker of battle’s embers.
Here within, with the wise prince,
is a household eager for every deed.
Earls, hersirs, and retainers are referred to as the king’s confidants, conversation-companions, or benchmates. Thus said Hallfred:
The king’s confidant, mighty in battle,
who delights in daring, lets the garments
forged with Hogni’s hammer ring
around him, swift to anger.
As Snaebjorn said:
The kings’ conversation-companion has
the resounding swords of the prow
of the long-sided horse of the steering-band
pressed against the hard wave.
Thus said Arnor:
My young sons show
heavy sorrow on my behalf
at the death of that battle-famed
benchmate of the prince.
The king’s companion, as Hallfred said:
The agreement was concluded: thereafter
that wise-counselling companion of the king
possessed Onar’s only daughter,
grown over with woodland.
Men should also be referred to through their ancestry, as Kormak said:
Let the generous son of Harald’s
true-proven friend listen;
I proclaim my yeast-Rhine of the men
of the Syr of fen-teeth.
He called the earl the king’s true-proven friend, and Earl Hakon the son of Earl Sigurd. But Thjodolf said this about Harald:
Every hard trial increases
Olaf’s father’s storm of iron swords,
so that it is worthy
of praise.
And also this:
Jarizleif saw
how the prince fared.
The holy king’s brother
advanced.
And he also said:
Dead is the one
who surpassed all,
the descendant of hawk-perches,
Harald’s brother’s son.
Arnor also said this in Rognvaldsdrapa:
Heiti’s descendant, a boon to armies,
chose to establish kinship with me.
Through this, the earl’s marriage-kinship
helped me win renown.
And he also said of Earl Thorfinn:
Thin-forged swords bit south of Man,
and there beneath the shields
powerful armies fell
before old Rognvald’s descendant.
And he also said:
God, keep harm from the splendid
ennobler of mighty Torf-Einar’s line;
I ask mercy for the faithful,
noble ruler.
And Einar skalaglamm also said:
No pillar of Hilditann’s line
will be more generous
than the battle-promoter;
I am bound to uphold his praise.
How is poetry phrased without kennings? By naming each thing by its own name. What are the names for poetry without kennings? It is called verse, praise, song, eulogy, and commendation. Bragi the Old spoke this when he was driving through a forest late one evening. A troll-woman then addressed him in verse and asked who was passing:
They call me troll,
moon of dwelling-Rungnir,
sucker of a giant’s wealth,
ruin of the storm-sun,
the seeress’s affliction,
guardian of the navel-earth,
swallower of heaven’s wheel.
What is a troll, if not that?
He answered:
They call me poet,
Vidur’s thought-smith,
finder of Gaut’s gift,
a poet of no small worth,
bearer of Ygg’s ale,
creator of song,
skilled smith of verse.
What is a poet, if not that?
And as Kormak said:
I make still more praise
about Sigrod’s famous son;
I pay him the holy drink’s honour.
Thor sits in his chariot.
And as Thord Kolbeinsson said:
The shield-maple, lavish in glorious deeds,
had many warships, as well as merchant ships
and longships, thunder upon the surf;
the poet’s song grows.
Eulogy, as Ulf Uggason said:
There the river of sword-rain reaches
the sea; earlier I delivered eulogy.
Thus I offer
a commendation of warriors.
Here poetry is called commendation.
What are the names of the gods? They are called bonds, as Eyjolf dadaskald said:
Eirik, generous with the spear’s pledge,
brings land beneath himself
at the bonds’ pleasure, and makes battle.
And fetters, as Thjodolf of Hvin said:
The bait-reindeer among the bones
was hard for the gods to share.
The helmeted adorner of the fetters
asked what caused this.
Powers, as Einar skalaglamm said:
I say the mightily strengthened powers
increase Hakon’s dominion.
Yule-gods, as Eyvind said:
Once more we have fashioned
the Yule-gods’ feast,
the ruler’s praise,
like a bridge of stones.
Divinities, as Kormak said:
With a headband the land-winner
enriches the wielder of the divinities’ fjord,
he who binds the straight mast.
Ygg worked spells to win Rind.
These names for the sky are recorded, but we have not found all these terms in poems. Yet I think there is no obligation to use these poetic terms, any more than others, in poetry unless one has first found such terms in the works of leading poets.
Sky: twin-faced, bright-clouded, storm-Mimir, far-reaching, light-farer, drifter, Skatyrnir, wide-embracer, winter-Mimir, lightning, coverer, wide-blue.
Sun: sunna, wheel, eye-glow, all-bright, sight, fair-wheel, comforting light, Dvalin’s plaything, elf-wheel, Ifrodul, Mylin.
Moon: Mani, new moon, waning moon, year-counter, Mulin, Fengari, Glam, hastener, squinter, Skram.
What are the names for the earth? It is called earth, as Thjodolf said:
The earl, the ring's hardener,
often raises fierce storms
of spear-points before he forces
the earth beneath himself.
Soil, as Ottar said:
The battle-Baldr defends the soil;
few kings can do as much.
Olaf gladdens the eagles;
the Swedes' ruler is valiant.
Ground, as Hallfred said:
The broad ground lies beneath the tree
of the island-fetter's road, bound
by the venom-cunning serpent; the Hod
of the whetstone-land destroys treasures.
Land, as Einar said:
Brave warriors fiercely defend
the land of illustrious princes with swords;
helmets often split before the raging
storm of edges.
Country, as Thord Kolbeinsson said:
After the battle the country, from Veiga
in the north—words are hard to find for warfare—
lay subdued southward to Agdir,
or farther still, for a time.
Territory, as Ottar said:
You held, where the raven did not starve—
you are bold in counsel—the territory,
fierce staff of terror, against two princes
and the race of men.
Hlodyn, as Volu-Stein said:
I remember when the dark earth
once gaped with a dug mouth
for the sender of the words of the Dan
of green Hlodyn's bones.
Earth, as Ulf Uggason said:
The stiff cord of earth stared
across the gunwale at the tester
of the hosts of the land's bone,
gleaming-eyed, and blew venom.
Fjorgyn, as is said here:
I was loyal to the lavish giver
of the sounding bed of Fjorgyn's eel;
may honor attend the storm of the words
of Eldir of the anvil's river.
The wolf is a beast. It is proper to form kennings for blood or carrion by calling them its food or drink. It is not proper to form such kennings with other beasts. The wolf is also called Ulf, as Thjodolf said:
A plentiful feast was prepared for Geri,
when Sigurd's son came from the north
to entice the wolf out of the forest
to the wounds.
Here it is also called Geri. Freki, as Egil said:
When the spear-breaker
—Freki tore the wound—
rubbed the raven
on the head's prow.
Vitnir, as Einar said:
The venom-cold river was reddened
with the hot surge of wounds.
Vitnir's warm drink flowed with the water
into Kormt's necklace.
Ylgr, as Arnor said:
The she-wolf's evil brood swallowed
carrion piled high with slaughter,
and the green sea became mingled
with red blood.
Varg, as Illugi said:
It pleased the wolf when my lord
put the fugitives to flight; the necklace-destroyer
pierced many a dusky trout
of the forest with his sword.
These too are names for the wolf, as Hall said:
He relieved the heath-dweller's hunger;
the gray howler enjoyed the wounds.
The prince reddened Fenrir's muzzle;
the wolf went to drink from wounds.
And again, as Thord said:
Gjalp's herd waded in blood,
while the dusky pack gained plenty
of Freki's wheat; the howler enjoyed
Geri's drink.
A bear is called Fetvidnir, Hunn, Vetr lidi, Bersi, Fress, Iugtanni, Ifjung, Glum, Jolfud, Vilskarp, Bera, Jorek, Riti, Frek, Blom, Ysjung. A stag is called Motrodnir, Dalar, Dal, Dain, Dvalin, Duneyr, Durathror.
These names of horses are listed in Thorgrim's Thula:
Hrafn and Sleipnir,
excellent horses,
Val and Lettfeti;
Tjaldari was there,
Gulltopp and Goti;
I heard Soti mentioned,
Mor and Lung with Mar.
Vigg and Stuf
were with Skaevad.
Blakk could carry a warrior;
Silfrtopp and Sinir;
I also heard Fak mentioned,
Gullfaxi and Jor among the gods.
Blodughofi was the horse's name
that they said carried
the mighty Atridi;
Gisl and Falhofnir,
Glaer and Skeidbrimir;
Gyllir was mentioned there too.
These others are listed in Kalf's Verse:
Dag rode Drosul,
and Dvalin Modnir,
Hjalm Hafeti,
and Haki Fak;
Beli's slayer rode
Blodughofi,
and the Haddingjar's prince
rode Skaevad.
Vestein rode Val,
and Vifil Stuf,
Meinthjof Mor,
and Morgin Vakr,
Ali Hrafn,
when they rode to the ice;
and another, eastward
beneath Adils,
a gray horse, wheeled about,
wounded by a spear.
Bjorn rode Blakk,
and Bjar Kert,
Atli Glaum,
and Adils Slongvir,
Hogni Holkvir,
and Harald Folkvir,
Gunnar Goti,
and Sigurd Grani.
Arvak and Alsvid draw the sun, as was written earlier. Hrimfaxi or Fjorsvartnir draws Night. Skinfaxi or Glad accompanies Day.
These names of oxen occur in Thorgrim's Thula:
The names of ancient oxen
I have learned thoroughly:
Raud and Haefir,
Rekin and Hyr,
Himinhrjod and Apli,
Arf and Arfuni.
These are names for serpents: dragon, Fafnir, Jormungand, adder, Nidhogg, serpent, viper, Goin, Moin, Grafvitnir, Grabak, Ofnir, Svafnir, Grim.
Cattle: cow, calf, oxen, heifer, yearling, young bull, bull.
Sheep: ram, wether, ewe, lamb, tup.
Swine: sow, young sow, boar, hog, piglet.
What are the names for the air and the weather? The air is called Ginnungagap and Middle-world, Bird-world, Weather-world. Weather is called storm, fair wind, tempest, squall, gust, wind. So it says in Alsvinn's Sayings:
Wind it is called among men,
but Waverer among the gods;
the mighty powers call it Neigher,
the giants Howler,
the elves Roaring Traveler;
in Hel it is called Blusterer.
Wind is also called a blast.
There are two birds for which no further qualification is needed when calling blood or carrion their drink or food. These are the raven and the eagle. Any other masculine bird-name may be used in a kenning with blood or carrion, and then it signifies an eagle or raven, as Thjodolf said:
The prince makes the blood-grouse
rejoice in the eagle's barley.
The king of the Hordar carries Gaut's sickle
against the blood-swan's fodder.
The feeder of the carrion-vulture of the eagles' sea
makes his followers mark out with spear-points
every stretch farther south
that he must defend.
These are names for the raven: Krak, Huginn, Munin, Borginmodi, Arflognir, Artali, Holdbodi. So said Einar skalaglamm:
The army-leader gave the mountain-wonted
ravens their fill; the raven grew full
on the she-wolf's food,
while spears rang out.
So said Einar Skulason:
The worthy strengthener can steer
the precious beast of the battle-starling;
sorrow disturbs the gleam-sun's hound
with grief for Huginn's cargo.
And again, as he said:
In battle, where men fall,
the king's heart swells with courage;
blue-black Munin drinks
blood from wounds.
As Viga-Glum said:
When, eager for the din of the goddess
of the blood-necklace, we stood shielded
on the gravel-bank, Borginmodi
gained a meal of blood.
As Skuli Thorsteinsson said:
You would have seen me last, where I gave
Arflognir sore wounds,
among a hundred warriors
beneath the Hvitings' Hlokk.
The eagle is called Ari, Gemlir, Hreggskornir, Eggdir, Ginnar, Undskornir, Gallopnir. As Einar said:
He reddened the dusky muzzle
of Jarnsaxa's horse with blood;
the eagle tore Geri's bait;
the eagle's food was gained with iron.
As Ottar said:
The eagle drinks a draught from corpses;
the she-wolf gets her meal.
The wolf often reddens its jaws;
the eagle finds food there.
As Thjodolf said:
The wolf of the giantess flew to meet
the tellers of tales,
in an ancient eagle's shape,
not long ago.
And as it says here:
I wish to perfect the lofty mead
of Hreggskornir's hands.
And again, as Skuli said:
I keep watch, as before and since,
when I held the sea-hawk's sorrow;
the poet listens well then
to Gallopnir's good discourse.
What are the names for the sea? It is called Mar, Aegir, Gymir, Hler, ocean, road, fishing-ground, salt, water, sea. As Arnor said, and as was written earlier:
Let the company hear how the bold
king of earls ventured out to sea.
The unyielding prince did not lack
struggles against Aegir.
Here it is named sea, and also Aegir. Mar, as Hornklofi said:
When the deadly driver of the rush-serpent
of the sanctuary-road drove Nokvi's
steeds of the water's teeth
out onto the sea to win glory.
Water is also named here. So said Einar:
Water washes the vessels; the flood's surf
cleanses the steeds, while the fair
weather-vanes ring out where the sea
thunders against either side.
Here it is also called flood. So said Ref, as was written earlier:
Often Gymir's spray-cold prophetess
carries Bjorn, where the wave breaks,
into Aegir's jaws,
the jaws of twisted cables.
Ocean, as Hallvard said:
Westward into the ocean you directed
the prow, shaker of the hard steed
of the glittering belt, the ice
of the girdle of all lands.
Road, as it says here:
We have traveled onto the road from the land
the Sami traverse on skis.
Eastward, from the vessels' path,
I see mountains glittering with rays.
Fishing-ground, as Egil said:
Westward I went over the sea,
and I carry Vidrir's
sea of the mind's shore;
such is my voyage.
Mar, as Einar said:
The cold sea washes the black timbers
beneath the generous prince for many a day;
the storm-twisted sorrow of the elm
cuts into the jaws of Mon.
Salt, as Arnor said:
The valiant high king cut the salt
from the east with a sloping hull;
a sharp wind carried the destroyer
of the wave's surf-fire to Sigtuna.
Sea, as Bolverk said:
The following year you fitted out a levy
from the fair land; water washed over the ships;
you plowed the sea with splendid
steeds of the surge.
Here the sea is also called surge. Expanse, as Ref said:
The prow-cutting steed of the stay
strikes the planking-world with its breast;
the timber suffers hardship, and flings
the expanse inward over its stiff edge.
Dusk, as Njal of the Burning said:
Together we sixteen bailed, woman,
in four rowing-spaces, while the surf rose;
the dusk swept over
the ocean-ship's hull.
These too are names for the sea, with which it is proper to form kennings for ships or gold. Ran is said to have been Aegir's wife, as here:
The sea flung embers into the sky;
the ocean surged with force.
The prows, I think, sliced the clouds.
Ran's road struck at the moon.
Aegir and Ran have nine daughters, and their names were written earlier: Himinglaeva, Dufa, Blodughadda, Hefring, Udr, Hronn, Bylgja, Drofn, Kolga. Einar Skulason counted in this verse:
Himinglaeva fiercely rouses
the sea's roar against the brave,
six of their names, [Himinglaeva, Udr, Dufa, Blodughadda, Kolga, Hefring].
Hronn, as Valgard said:
Foam lay in the bedding;
the swollen ocean played over gold,
and the waves washed the fearsome
heads of the warships.
Bylgja, as Ottar the Black said:
You cut the draught-high waves
with a smooth-planed rudder; the sheet
of what women spun played by the masthead
on the roller's reindeer.
Drofn, as Orm said:
The guarding Thrud of the hawk's perch
practices every virtue,
and the steadfast Lofn of the wave's flame
shuns faults.
Wave, as Thorleik the Fair said:
The sea roars, and the wave carries
bright foam over the red timber,
where the roller-bison, adorned with gold,
gapes with its gray mouth.
Shore-water, as Einar said:
Nor had bold men ever before found
our friends on a ship's prow
where the sea fell so heavily;
I think they did not calm the shore-water.
Swell, as Ref said:
Mountains of water crash upon the swell;
now the winter-traveler of Glammi's skis
surges forward, the sheet-bear
of Gusir's cattle.
Breaker, as it says here:
A breaker suddenly fell over me.
The ocean invited me home with it.
I did not accept the sea's invitation.
Surf, as Ottar said:
Planks broke while the surf roared;
the slaughter of timber increased.
Men met with mighty weather;
the strakes stood low above the sea.
Wave, as Bragi said:
The sender of the wave's breeze would not
lift it against the crooked sea-monster,
he who cut the gulls' land's
slender cord for Thor.
Sound, as Einar said:
I cut the sound with planking
south of Hrund;
my hand was adorned
at my meeting with the generous ruler.
Fjord, as Einar said:
Next I see a serpent finely drawn
on the splendid shirt of the yeasty flood;
let the giver of fjord-fire grasp
how I treat that subject.
Sea, as Markus said:
I will certainly not slander
the shaker of the sea's sun in my speech,
god of the sheath-eel;
a man who spoils poetry is wicked.
What are the terms for fire? As here:
This fire burns often;
the worthy prince scorches settlements.
Houses breathe out smoke before the ruler
when Magnus kindles it.
Flame, as Valgard said:
Swiftly from the soot shot
the raging flame with embers;
it swept over houses, and smoke
stood in columns afterward.
Pyre, as here:
Haki was burned on a pyre
where the paths of the surf surged.
Embers, as Grani said:
The embers of Glammi’s path, I think,
brought ruin; so the prince set fires.
Blaze, as Atli said:
The axe reddens; blazes grow,
very many; halls flare,
houses burn, fire rages,
the noble company falls bleeding.
Here the fire is also called a conflagration. Smoke, as here:
The sovereign’s dwellings burned;
fire, I think, brought down the hall.
Smoke flung frost upon the host
beside the Nid itself, where the buildings were half finished.
Fire, as Arnor said:
Angry, the destroyer of the island-Danes
spared no measures against the Raumar.
The Heinir’s threats dwindled;
fire made them quiet.
Flame, as Einar said:
Flame was swiftly kindled,
and swiftly fled
the host of Hisingen,
which had the worse of it.
Blaze, as Valgard said:
Brightly the blaze swept about;
the mighty ruler’s Vikings eagerly
broke the strongholds of the city;
it cast sorrow upon the maiden.
Fire, as Halldor Skvaldri said:
There you could divide
their treasures; never were you
robbed of victory; the shield’s
fire swept over those dwellings.
These are the names of periods of time: age, formerly, lifetime, long ago, year, half-year, winter, summer, spring, autumn, month, week, day, night, morning, evening, dusk, early, soon, late, at a time, the day before, next, yesterday, tomorrow, while, moment.
These are further terms for night in Alsvinnsmal:
It is called Night among men,
and Darkness among the gods;
the mighty powers call it Mask,
the giants call it Freedom from Care,
the elves Delight in Sleep,
the dwarfs Dream-Njorun.
Autumn lasts from the equinox until the sun sets in the southwestern quarter. Then winter lasts until the equinox. Then spring lasts until the moving days. Then summer lasts until the equinox. The month immediately before winter is called Autumn-month; the first month of winter is called Slaughter-month, then comes Frost-month, then Ram-month, then Thorri, then Goi, then Lone-month, then Cuckoo-month and Seedtime, then Egg-time and Lambfold-time, then Sun-month and Shieling-month, then Haymaking, then Grain-harvest-month.
What are the unqualified terms for men? Each individual is a man; the first and highest title a man is called is emperor, next king, and next earl. These three men share all the following titles.
All-ruler, as is said here:
I know all the sovereigns
east and south of the fleets’ seats;
Svein’s son proves himself
better than every prince.
Here he is also called prince. He is called all-ruler because he alone rules over his whole kingdom.
Host-leader, as Gizur said:
The host-leader gladdens in battle
the troll-woman’s steed and Hlokk’s swan;
Olaf makes Ygg’s geese glad
in Skogul’s storms.
A king is called host-leader because he arranges his army in battle formations.
Leader, as Ottar the Black said:
The leader takes battle-Frey’s
desired bride in the east, surely against her will;
the all-ruler has
a good life among men.
Lord or master, as Arnor said:
The lord won victory in every
Shetland thunder of swords;
the poet wishes to proclaim the prince’s glory,
he who was highest among men.
An earl is called duke, and a king is also called this because he leads an army into battle. So Thjodolf said:
The humbler of dukes had
the eyes of the mound’s hastener,
taken captive, gouged from his head;
I proclaim his praise.
Signor or senior, as Sighvat said:
Let the wretched now enjoy,
lord of Norway, your laws
as well as the fortunate; keep your word
and give generously.
Generous one, as Markus said:
The generous one assailed the hostile people with fire;
death was then allotted to the seafarers.
You kindled the highest gleam of flame,
crusher of thieves, south at Jomsborg.
Illustrious one, as Hallvard said:
Beneath earth’s hazel there is
no illustrious one nearer the lord of monks
than you, breaker of the land-ruler’s word,
who protects the Danes.
Land-ruler, as Thjodolf said:
The blameless land-ruler scatters
the bright grain of Kraki,
as was written earlier. He is called this because he drives an army through other kings’ lands or drives an army out of his own land.
There was a king named Halfdan the Old, who was the most renowned of all kings. He held a great sacrifice at midwinter and sacrificed so that he might live for three hundred years in his kingship. But he received the answer that he would live no longer than one long human lifetime, yet for three hundred years there would be no woman or untitled man in his family. He was a great warrior and traveled widely in the eastern lands. There he killed in single combat a king named Sigtrygg. Then he married a woman called Alvig the Wise, daughter of King Emund of Holmgard. They had eighteen sons, and nine were born at one time. These were their names: one was Thengill, who was called Thengill of Men; the second Raesir; the third Gram; the fourth Gylfi; the fifth Hilmir; the sixth Jofur; the seventh Tyggi; the eighth Skyli or Skuli; the ninth Harri or Herra. These nine brothers became so renowned in warfare that in all learned writings since, their names have been used as titles of rank, like the title king or earl. They had no children and all fell in battle.
So Ottar the Black said:
The prince was already in youth
full of strength, eager for battle.
I pray that his life may endure;
I count him a leader of men.
So Markus said:
The ruler made the Rhine’s sun shine
from a reddened skull upon the sea-mountains.
So Egil said:
The prince has thrust up
the enclosure-cliffs of the ground.
So Eyvind said:
The cheerful king
played with the sons of men;
he was to defend the land
and stood beneath a golden helmet.
So Glum Geirason said:
Beneath his helmet the ruler reddened
the whetstone’s hollow upon the Geats.
So Ottar the Black said:
Let the prince hear the beginning;
the king’s praise will grow.
Let him rightly learn the measures
of my praise, his poem.
As Stuf said:
With both hands the glory-eager ruler
hewed down the company of men;
joyfully the host advanced beneath shields
there, south off the Nissan.
So Hallfred said:
I am parted from the ruler;
the age’s harvest of poets has caused it.
The lord of men’s disposition
is far beyond most men’s hopes and understanding.
So Markus said:
I summon the hawk-spirited lord
of the Danes’ land to a costly work of praise.
Halfdan and Alvig also had nine other sons, whose names were these: Hildir, from whom the Hildings descend; the second Nefir, from whom the Niflungs descend; the third Audi, from whom the Odlings descend; the fourth Yngvi, from whom the Ynglings descend; the fifth Day, from whom the Doglings descend; the sixth Bragi, from whom the Bragnings descend. This is the family of Halfdan the Generous. The seventh was Budli, from whom the Budlungs descend. Atli and Brynhild came from the Budlung family. The eighth was Lofdi. He was a great warrior-king. The company who were called Lofdar followed him. His kinsmen are called Lofdungs. From them descends Eylimi, the maternal grandfather of Sigurd, Fafnir’s slayer. The ninth was Sigar; from him descend the Siklings. This is the family of Siggeir, who was Volsung’s son-in-law, and the family of Sigar, who hanged Hagbard. Harald the Red-bearded, Halfdan the Black’s maternal grandfather, descended from the Hilding family. Gjuki was of the Niflung family, Kjar of the Odling family, and Eirik the Wise-spoken of the Ylfing family.
These are also renowned royal families: the descendants of Yngvi, from whom the Ynglings descend; the descendants of Skjold in Denmark, from whom the Skjoldungs descend; the descendants of Volsung in the land of the Franks, who are called Volsungs. There was a warrior-king named Skelfir, and his family is called the Skilfing family. That lineage is in the eastern lands. Men have used these family names just mentioned in poetry so that all of them serve as titles of rank.
As Einar said:
I have heard that princes went forward
to wage the grey spear-assembly
by the island; the green linden
was split in two.
As Grani said:
The prince gave the eagle’s offspring
Danish blood to drink.
As Gamli, the poet of Gnaevad, said:
The young prince struck down
for me, young then, the strength
of the middle sections of words upon the tongue
of the nail-ship within its boards.
As Jorunn said:
The prince resolved to redden in blood
the hostile people’s battlefields;
the host suffered the king’s anger;
houses often bowed before blazes.
So Einar said:
The prince’s sword bit;
blood fell upon spears.
[Hild’s cloud was torn
at Whitby.]
So Arnor said:
The ruler’s son accustoms princes’ warships
to pitching out at sea.
He stains the warship’s interior
with blood; that is the raven’s good fortune.
As Thjodolf said:
Thus ended the brave prince’s life,
so that we are all in a difficult position;
the praised ruler suffered
the destruction of his life.
The company called Lofdar followed King Lofdi.
As Arnor said:
Another Skjoldung higher than you, prince,
will never be born beneath the sun.
Volsung, as Thorkel Hamarskald said:
The descendant of Volsungs
had a gold-adorned weapon
sent to me
across the cool sea.
Yngling, as Ottar the Black said:
Before you, there was on earth
no Yngling eager for battle
who subdued the islands
from the west to the east.
Yngvi is also a term for a king, as Markus said:
People shall hear Eirik’s praise;
no man knows a more excellent prince
in this world; Yngvi held
the princes’ seat with lasting renown.
Skilfing, as Valgard said:
The Skilfing steered south with a great host
past the broad lands, where warships shook;
in the end Sicily
was laid waste.
Signor, as Sighvat said, and as was written earlier:
Let the wretched now enjoy,
lord of Norway, and give generously.
Poets are called bards, and in poetry it is proper to call any man this if one wishes. Those men who followed King Half were called warriors, and from their name fighting men are called warriors; it is proper to call all men this. Men are also called Lofdar in poetry, as was written earlier. Those men who followed the king called Skati the Generous were called generous men. From his name, everyone who is generous is called a generous man. Those who followed King Bragi the Old are called champions. Those men who judge men’s cases are called worthies. Defenders of the land are called fighters, men, and husbands. Vikings and seafarers are a shipborne army. Those who followed King Beimuni were called heroes. Leaders of companies are called men or bridegrooms, just as a man is called a bridegroom at a wedding.
Men are called Goths after the name of the king called Goti, after whom Gotland is named. He was named after Odin, his name being derived from the name Gaut, for Gautland or Gotland was named after Odin, and Sweden after Svidur. That is also a name of Odin. At that time all the mainland he possessed was called Reidgotaland, and all the islands Eygotaland. This is now called the Danish realm and the Swedish realm.
Young men without farms are called gallants while they are acquiring wealth or renown: those who travel between countries are traveling gallants; those who serve princes are royal gallants; those who serve powerful men or farmers are also gallants. Valiant men who are making their way are called gallants. Men are also called fellows, stalwarts, and retainers; these are followers. Farmers are called thanes and freeholders. Those men who work to reconcile people are called mediators.
There are men who are called these things: champions, combatants, heroes, men of prowess, men of valor, hardy men, mighty men, warriors. Opposed to these are the following terms for a man: soft, weak, timid, a weakling, a coward, a wretch, a craven, a scarecrow, a feeble fellow, a miserable fellow, a sluggard, a good-for-nothing, a dastard, a dullard, a dawdler, a do-nothing, a paltry fellow, a beggar, a contemptible fellow, a son of misery.
A generous man is called a liberal man, an illustrious man, a generous one, a people’s benefactor, a gold-giver, a Baldr among men, a prosperous man, a lover of good living, a wealthy man, a rich man, a chieftain. Opposed to these are the following terms: miser, skinflint, niggard, wretch, money-grubber, reluctant giver.
A wise man is called a master of counsel. An unwise man is also called a fool, an idiot, a lout, a dupe, a boor, a simpleton, a dolt, a jester, a madman, a frenzied man, a lunatic.
A well-dressed man is called a dandy, a gallant, a splendid fellow, a fop, a man of finery. A man is called a sloven, a ragged fellow, a clumsy fellow, a straddle-legs, a vagabond, a loafer, a byre-dweller, a slouch, a laggard.
The people of a country are called a populace or a folk. A thrall is also called a bondman, a servant, a laborer, a slave.
Each single person is called a man,
a pair if there are two,
a throng if there are three;
four are a fellowship,
five men are a band,
a troop if there are six;
seven fill a crew,
eight bear the tally of accusation;
nine are companions,
a gathering if there are ten;
eleven are messengers;
a train it is
if twelve travel;
thirteen are a crowd,
fourteen a travelling party;
a meeting it is
when fifteen meet;
sixteen are a garrison,
seventeen an attacking force;
enemies seem plentiful
to one who meets eighteen;
he has a company
who has nineteen men;
twenty men are a retinue.
Thirty are a nation,
forty a people,
fifty a battalion,
sixty an assembly,
seventy are warriors,
eighty a multitude,
a hundred a host.
There are also terms that people use in place of men's names. We call these relational descriptions, true descriptions, or substitute names. Relational descriptions consist in naming another thing by its proper name and calling the person one wishes to name its owner, or calling him the father or grandfather of what one has named. Great-grandfather is the third. He is also called son and heir, inheritor, child, infant and boy, successor. He is also called brother, blood-brother, bosom-brother, brother, brother. He is also called descendant, nephew, relation, son, offspring, kinsman, scion, descendant, pillar of the family, member of the family, branch of the kin, branch of the family, offspring, progeny, chief scion, offshoot. There are also relatives by marriage, connections by marriage, and those joined by marriage. He is also called friend and fellow counsellor, adviser, interlocutor, confidant, companion in conversation, old benchmate, shipmate, seatmate, companion on a bench. A benchmate is a companion who shares one's half of a rowing bench. He is also called enemy, foe, opponent, adversary, destroyer, harm-doer, slayer, oppressor, overthrower, ruthless attacker.
We call these terms relational descriptions, and likewise when a man is described by reference to his farm or his ship, which has a name, or to a possession of his that has been given a proper name. We call it true description to call men wise men, thoughtful men, men wise in speech, skilled counsellors, generous with wealth, untiring, heedful men, splendid men. These are substitute names.
These are unqualified terms for women in poetry: wife and bride and lady are names for women who are given in marriage. Damsel and belle are names for women much given to pride and finery. Gentlewomen are those who are deft with words. Ladies are those who are quiet; proud women and grand dames are those who are haughty. A woman of forceful temperament is called a spirited woman. The most powerful is called a matron. A shy woman is called a modest maiden, as are young maidens or women who are timid. A woman whose husband has gone abroad is called a waiting wife. A woman whose husband has been slain is called a bereaved wife. A woman whose husband died of sickness is called a widow. Each is first called a maiden, and those who are old are called old women.
There are also terms for women that are insulting, and these may be found in poems, although they are not written here. Women who share one husband are called rival wives. A son's wife is called a daughter-in-law. A husband's mother is called a mother-in-law. There are also mother, grandmother, and third, great-grandmother. A mother is called a mam. There are also daughter and child, infant. There are also sister, lady, sister by birth. A woman is also called her husband's bedfellow, companion in conversation, confidante, and this is a relational description.
A person has what is called a head. It should be described by calling it the neck's toil or burden, the land of helmet and hat and brain, of hair and brows, scalp, ears, eyes, mouth; Heimdall's sword—and it is correct to use any term for a sword one wishes and qualify it with any name of Heimdall. Unqualified terms for the head are skull, brainpan, pate, crown.
Eyes are called sight and glance or gaze, aimers. They may be described by calling them the sun or moon, shields and glass or gemstones or the stone of lashes or brows, eyelids or forehead. Ears are called listening organs and hearing. They should be described by calling them the land of hearing, or using any other term for earth, or its mouth or channel or sight or eyes, when creating new metaphors.
The mouth should be described by calling it the land or house of tongue or teeth, words or gums, lips or the like; and when creating new metaphors, people call the mouth a ship, the lips its planking, and the tongue its oar or rudder. Teeth are sometimes called the stones or skerries of words, mouth, or tongue. The tongue is often called the sword of speech or of the mouth.
A beard is called a fringe, and what grows on the lips is called a moustache or whiskers. Hair is called locks, and what women have is called tresses. Hair is also called a head of hair. Hair is described by calling it a forest or using any term for trees, qualifying it by reference to skull or brainpan or head; a beard is qualified by reference to chin or cheeks or throat.
The heart is called the core. It should be described by calling it a grain or stone or apple or nut or ball or the like, qualifying it by reference to breast or mind; it may also be called the house or earth or rock of the mind. The breast should be described by calling it the house or enclosure or ship of heart, spirit, or liver, the land of energy, mind, and memory.
The mind is called thought and affection, love, fondness, will, desire. The mind should be described by calling it the wind of troll-women, and it is correct to name whichever one wishes; likewise one may name giants, or describe them by reference to a giant's wife or mother or daughter. The mind is also called disposition, liking, energy, strength, willingness, memory, understanding, temper, mood, loyalty. The mind is also called anger, hostility, malice, fierceness, misery, grief, sorrow, ill temper, irritability, deceit, faithlessness, lack of spirit, fickleness, insolence, hard-heartedness, agitation.
The hand may be called hand, arm, paw, fist. Parts of the hand and arm are called elbow, forearm, wrist, joint, finger, grip, flipper, nail, fingertip, edge, quick. The hand may be called the earth of weapons or shields, the tree of shoulder and sleeve, palm and flipper, the earth of gold rings and of falcon and hawk and all its names; and in new metaphors, the foot of the shoulder, the bow-bender.
Feet may be called trees of soles, insteps, stockings, or the like, the running spear of the road or of walking, of a step. The foot may be called the tree or pillar of these. Feet are described by reference to skis and shoes and trousers. Parts of the foot and leg are called thigh, knee, calf, bone, shin, instep, outer edge, sole, toe. The foot may be described by reference to all these things and called their tree; the foot is also called a mast and a yard, qualified by reference to these things.
Speech is also called words and expression and eloquence, talk, tale, altercation, dispute, song, incantation, chanting, chatter, quavering, din, babble, squalling, merriment, wrangling, mockery, prattle, boasting, praise, gossip, foolish talk, dialect speech, idle talk, blather. It is also called voice, sound, vocal tone, resonance, rushing, shrill crying, roaring, clanging, thundering, rumbling, crashing, swishing, swooshing, movement.
Understanding is called wisdom, counsel, comprehension, memory, judgement, thoughtfulness, skill in reckoning, foresight, resourcefulness, wisdom in speech, ability. It is also called cunning, scheming, guile, treachery.
Læti has two meanings. Læti means voice; læti means behaviour, and æði also means ill temper. Reiði also has two meanings. Reiði is what it is called when a person is angry; reiði also means the equipment of a ship or horse. Far also has two meanings. Fár is anger; far is a ship. People make much use of such expressions to compose in a concealed manner, and this is called very over-obvious. People call the place in a person's body where bones meet a lið; lið means a ship; lið means people; lið is also what it is called when a person gives another assistance; líð means ale. Hlið is a gate in a fence, and people call an ox hlið, but hlíð is a slope.
These distinctions can be used in poetry to make it so over-obvious that it is difficult to understand, if one is to take a meaning different from the one the preceding lines initially seem to suggest. The same applies to many other terms whose names are shared by several things.
本简体中文译文由 AI 根据古诺尔斯语原文翻译,并参考英文译文。
有一个人,名叫埃吉尔,也叫赫勒尔。他住在一座如今叫作赫勒尔岛的岛上。他精通巫术。他动身前往阿斯加德,阿萨神族预先知道他要来,热情地接待了他,不过许多景象都是用幻术造出的。到了晚上,该饮酒时,奥丁命人把宝剑搬进大厅;那些剑明亮得足以照明,整个饮宴期间都没有另用灯火。随后,阿萨神族入席赴宴,十二位担任裁决者的男神坐上高座,他们的名字是:索尔、尼约德、弗雷、提尔、海姆达尔、布拉吉、维达尔、瓦利、乌勒尔、海尼尔、福尔塞提、洛基。女神也同样入座,她们是:弗丽嘉、芙蕾雅、格еф琼、伊登、格尔德、西格恩、芙拉、南娜。埃吉尔环顾四周,觉得这里气象非凡。所有墙壁上都挂着美丽的盾牌。席间还有醉人的蜜酒,大家喝了许多。布拉吉紧挨着埃吉尔坐着,两人一边饮酒,一边交谈。布拉吉向埃吉尔讲述了阿萨神族经历过的许多事情。
他先讲了这样一件事:有一次,三位阿萨神离家出行,他们是奥丁、洛基和海尼尔。他们穿越山岭与荒野,很难找到食物。后来,他们下到一处山谷,看见一群牛,便捉住其中一头公牛,放进土坑里焖煮。他们以为牛肉已经熟了,便揭开土坑,却发现还没有熟。过了一阵,他们第二次揭开土坑,肉仍然没有熟。他们彼此议论,不知道这是怎么回事。这时,他们听见头顶的橡树上传来说话声,坐在树上的那位说,肉在坑里煮不熟,是他在作祟。他们抬头望去,只见那里栖着一只硕大的鹰。
鹰说:“你们若答应让我把牛肉吃个够,坑里的肉就会熟。”他们答应了。于是,鹰从树上落下来,停在土坑边,一上来就取走公牛的两条后腿和两块肩肉。洛基顿时大怒,抓起一根大棒,使尽全力挥去,打在鹰的身上。鹰挨了这一击,猛然腾空飞起。大棒粘在鹰的背上,洛基的双手则粘在大棒的另一端。鹰飞在半空,洛基的双脚一路撞着岩石、碎石堆和树木,他觉得自己的双臂都要从肩头扯下来了。他大声呼喊,苦苦求鹰饶了他。鹰却说,除非洛基发誓把伊登和她的苹果一起诱出阿斯加德,否则他永远也别想脱身。洛基答应了。这才得以脱身,回到同伴身边。在他们回到家之前,这趟旅途便没有别的事情要讲了。
到了约定的时刻,洛基把伊登诱出阿斯加德,带进一片树林,说他发现了一些苹果,她一定会觉得十分珍贵,又让她带上自己的苹果,好拿来比较。这时,巨人夏基披着鹰衣飞来,抓住伊登,带着她飞走,回到他在索列姆海姆的住处。
伊登失踪,令阿萨神族十分不安,他们很快便头发花白,衰老起来。于是,阿萨神族召开集会,彼此询问,最后一次听到伊登的消息是什么时候。人们最后看见她,是她同洛基一起走出阿斯加德的时候。于是洛基被抓住,押到集会上,众神威胁要杀死他,或让他受酷刑。他害怕了,便说,只要芙蕾雅愿意把她的隼衣借给他,他就去约顿海姆寻回伊登。
他得到隼衣以后,便向北飞往约顿海姆,有一天来到巨人夏基的住处。夏基已经划船出海,只有伊登独自在家。洛基把她变成一颗坚果,抓在爪中,竭力飞去。夏基回家后,发现伊登不见了,便披上鹰衣,追赶洛基,飞行时激起一阵鹰风。
阿萨神族看见隼抓着坚果飞来,也看见了鹰飞来的位置,便走到阿斯加德城墙外,把一捆捆刨花搬到那里。隼飞进城内,便贴着城墙落下。阿萨神族随即点燃刨花;鹰失去了隼的踪影,却已无法止住去势。火焰烧上鹰的羽毛,使他再也飞不起来。阿萨神族就在近旁,便在神城门内杀死了巨人夏基,这场诛杀极为有名。
巨人夏基的女儿斯卡蒂戴上头盔,披上铠甲,带齐武器,前往阿斯加德为父报仇。阿萨神族却提出同她和解,并给予赔偿,首先让她从阿萨神族中挑选一位丈夫,不过只能看他们的脚,其余部位一概不能看。她看见其中一人的双脚格外美丽,便说:“我选这个。巴德尔身上想必没有多少难看的地方。”可那却是来自诺阿通的尼约德。
她还在和解条件中提出,阿萨神族必须逗她发笑;她认为这件事他们绝对做不到。于是洛基拿来绳子,一头系在一只山羊的胡须上,另一头系在自己的睾丸上,他和山羊轮流拉扯,双方都高声尖叫。接着,洛基倒在斯卡蒂膝上,她便笑了。这样,阿萨神族便与她达成了和解。
据说,奥丁为了补偿斯卡蒂,取来夏基的双眼,抛上天空,化作两颗星。
这时,埃吉尔说:“在我看来,夏基生前想必是个了不起的人物。他出自什么家族呢?”
布拉吉答道:“他的父亲叫厄尔瓦尔迪,我若把他的事情讲给你听,你一定会觉得非同寻常。他拥有极多黄金。他死后,儿子们分遗产时,用这样的办法计量黄金:每人各取满满一口,取的次数都一样多。他们一个叫夏基,一个叫伊迪,第三个叫冈格尔。因此,我们如今有一种说法,把黄金叫作这些巨人的口中计量之物;而在隐语或诗歌中,我们又把意思藏起来,称黄金为这些巨人的言语、话语或谈话。”
埃吉尔说:“我觉得这隐语藏得很巧妙。”
埃吉尔又说:“你们称作诗艺的这门本领,起源于何处?”
布拉吉答道:“事情起于众神与一个名叫华纳神族的族群不和。后来双方举行和谈,用这样的方式缔结和平:两边的人都走到同一只容器前,把唾沫吐进去。临别时,众神不愿让这和平的信物白白消失,便用它造出一个人,名叫克瓦希尔。他智慧过人,无论谁问他什么,他都能解答。他游历世界各地,向人们传授学问。后来,他应邀来到两个侏儒法亚拉和加拉尔家里,他们把他叫到一旁密谈,杀死了他,把他的血放进两只容器和一口釜里。釜名叫奥德雷里尔,两只容器分别叫松和博德恩。他们把蜂蜜掺进血里,酿成一种蜜酒,凡喝下它的人,都会成为诗人或学者。侏儒们对阿萨神族说,克瓦希尔是被智慧憋死的,因为没有人学问高深到能够向他请教学识。
“随后,这两个侏儒邀请一个叫吉林的巨人和他的妻子来家中做客。他们又请吉林同他们一起划船出海。沿着海岸航行时,侏儒们把船划上暗礁,弄翻了船。吉林不会游泳,便淹死了;侏儒们却把船扶正,划回岸上。他们把这件事告诉吉林的妻子,她悲痛万分,放声大哭。法亚拉便问她,要是出去看看丈夫淹死的那片海面,是否会觉得好受一些,她说愿意。于是,法亚拉对弟弟加拉尔说,让他爬到门上方,等她出门时,把一块磨石砸到她头上,并说自己听厌了她的哭喊。他便照做了。
“吉林的儿子、巨人苏图恩听说此事,便赶来抓住两个侏儒,把他们带到海上,放在一块涨潮时就会淹没的礁石上。他们求苏图恩饶命,提出把珍贵的蜜酒交给他,作为杀父的赔偿,以求和解。双方就此达成了和解。苏图恩把蜜酒带回家,藏在一个叫赫尼特比约格的地方,派自己的女儿贡露在那里看守。
“因此,我们把诗歌称作克瓦希尔之血,或侏儒之饮,或侏儒的酣饮,或奥德雷里尔、博德恩、松中的某种液体,或侏儒的渡海工具,因为那蜜酒使他们得以从礁石上赎回性命;又称它为苏图恩之蜜酒,或赫尼特比约格之液。”
埃吉尔说:“用这些名称来称呼诗歌,我觉得含义很晦涩。不过,你们阿萨神族又是怎样得到苏图恩之蜜酒的呢?”
布拉吉答道:“事情是这样的:奥丁离家出行,来到一处地方,那里有九个奴隶正在割草。他问他们,愿不愿意让他替他们磨镰刀。他们答应了。他便从腰带上取下一块磨刀石,磨利镰刀。他们觉得镰刀锋利了许多,便想买下磨刀石。他开价说,想买的人应当付出相称的价钱。他们都说愿意,争着要他卖给自己,他却把磨刀石抛向空中。人人都想抢到手,结果争抢之间,各自挥起镰刀,割向别人的脖子。
“奥丁来到一个名叫巴乌吉的巨人家中借宿,他是苏图恩的兄弟。巴乌吉抱怨自己的家业不顺,说他的九个奴隶都死了,自己不知道还能从哪里找到人手。奥丁向他自称博尔维克,说愿意替巴乌吉承担九个人的工作,但要求以一口苏图恩之蜜酒作为报酬。巴乌吉说,他对那蜜酒毫无支配之权,苏图恩要独自占有,不过他愿意同博尔维克一起去,试试能不能求到蜜酒。
“博尔维克整个夏天都替巴乌吉干着九个人的活,到了冬天,便向巴乌吉索取报酬。于是,两人一起前往苏图恩那里。巴乌吉向兄弟苏图恩说明了自己和博尔维克的约定,苏图恩却断然拒绝,连一滴蜜酒也不肯给。博尔维克便对巴乌吉说,他们应当试些计策,看看能不能弄到蜜酒,巴乌吉表示赞同。
“博尔维克拿出一把名叫拉提的钻子,说如果钻子钻得动,巴乌吉就得把山岩钻穿。巴乌吉照做了。随后他说,山岩已经钻穿了,博尔维克却朝钻孔里吹了一口气,石屑迎面飞了出来。他便知道巴乌吉想骗他,命他把山岩钻透。巴乌吉继续钻,博尔维克第二次吹气时,石屑便向里面飞去。于是,博尔维克变成蛇,钻进孔中。巴乌吉用钻子往里刺他,却没有刺中。
“博尔维克来到贡露所在之处,与她同寝了三夜,她便答应让他喝三口蜜酒。第一口,他喝光了奥德雷里尔中的酒;第二口,喝光了博德恩中的酒;第三口,喝光了松中的酒。这样,所有蜜酒便都归他了。随后,他披上鹰衣,拼命飞去。苏图恩看见鹰飞走,也披上鹰衣,紧追而来。
“阿萨神族看见奥丁飞来,便把容器摆到院子里。奥丁飞进阿斯加德,便把蜜酒吐进那些容器。可苏图恩已逼得那么近,眼看就要抓住他,他便从身后排出了一些蜜酒,那部分酒没有人看管,谁想要都可以拿去,我们称之为拙劣诗人的份额。至于苏图恩之蜜酒,奥丁把它赐给阿萨神族和那些会作诗的人。因此,我们把诗歌称作奥丁的所得、所获、他的饮品、他的赠礼,以及阿萨神族的饮品。”
于是埃吉尔说:“你们用多少种方式变换诗歌的措辞,或者说,诗艺共有多少门类?”布拉吉说:“统摄一切诗艺的,有两类。”埃吉尔问:“哪两类?”布拉吉说:“措辞与格律。”“作诗采用哪些措辞方式?”“诗歌的语言分为三种。”“哪三种?”“第一,依照事物本来的名称称呼它。第二,称为别称。第三种措辞称为隐喻,其构成是这样:我们称说奥丁、索尔、提尔,或阿萨神族、精灵中的某一位;无论我举出的是谁,随后都附上另一位神的某件所有物的名称,或提到他的某项事迹。于是,这名称便属于后者,而非起初提到的那一位。譬如我们说‘胜利之提尔’、‘悬者之提尔’或‘载物之提尔’,这些便是奥丁的称号,我们称之为隐喻称号;称说‘战车之提尔’,也是如此。”
现在,要向那些渴望学习诗歌语言、借古老称谓丰富自己辞汇,或渴望理解诗中隐晦之语的年轻诗人说明:应当研读此书,从中求取知识与乐趣。然而,不可把这些故事忘却或斥为虚妄,以致从诗歌中剔除那些杰出诗人乐于采用的古老隐喻。不过,基督徒不应信奉异教诸神;对于这些故事的真实性,也只应按照本书开篇所述的方式理解。
现在,应当听听实例,看杰出的诗人怎样认为采用这些称谓和隐喻作诗是合宜的。譬如,雅尔诗人阿诺尔称奥丁为万物之父:
如今我想述说这位心志刚毅的
雅尔的德行;悲苦迟迟不肯离我,
万物之父的醪粕之浪
为众人轰鸣。
这里,他也把诗歌称为万物之父的醪粕之浪。跛子哈瓦尔德这样吟道:
如今,雄鹰飞越坟丘,
给海上骏马的树干们带来凶兆;
我想,它要离开田野,
接受悬者之神的家宴。
维加·格卢姆这样吟道:
军众不肯戴着
悬者之提尔的帽子登上山坡;
他们觉得,冒这样的危险
并不令人欢喜。
雷夫这样吟道:
船首之地闪电的巴德尔
倒下以后,他常常
友善地来到我这诗人身旁,
面对乌鸦之神的神圣酒杯。
毁诗人埃温德这样吟道:
那位西格尔德,
曾把载物之提尔的
哈丁吉之鹰的
白嘴鸦之啤酒
赐给天鹅;
诸地的统治者
在厄格洛伊
夺去了他的性命。
盖里之子格卢姆这样吟道:
战斗骏马的乘者中,
胜利之提尔亲自在场;
这位勇士之神,引领他们
驾驭阿塔尔的兽群,掀起渡鸦之风。
埃温德又这样吟道:
贡杜尔与斯科古尔,
被哥特人之提尔派遣,
前去在诸王中拣选:
英格维的后裔之中,谁
应当随奥丁而去,
住进英灵殿。
乌尔夫·乌加松这样吟道:
名扬四方的赫罗夫特之提尔,
骑向儿子宽广的火葬柴堆;
赞颂的言辞
从我两颊之间流出。
赫温的肖多尔夫这样吟道:
阵亡者躺在那里的沙上,
注定归于那独眼的、
居于弗丽嘉怀抱中的神;
我们为这样的功业欢欣。
哈尔弗雷德吟道:
迅捷的剑之骏马的受领者,
以真切的言语,
把斯莱德那长着松针头发的
求婚之妻引到自己身下。
这里举出的例子,是在诗中把大地称为奥丁的妻子。此处又记载埃温德吟道:
“赫尔莫德与布拉吉,”
赫罗夫特之提尔说,
“去迎接那位君王,
因为有一位国王,
一位公认的勇士,
正向这座殿堂走来。”
科尔马克这样吟道:
占有土地者,以诸神峡湾的额巾,
使赐予者的荣耀增长;
她将它系上——那是挺直的桅顶。
伊格向琳德施展巫术。
斯泰因索尔这样吟道:
我有那性情不羁者的角杯之瀑,
是贡露双臂中的负载所赐,
虽早已酿成,分量又少,
仍足以颂扬非凡的功业。
乌尔夫·乌加松这样吟道:
我想,女武神与乌鸦
跟随那睿智的胜利之树,
渴求神圣祭牲的饮汁。
厅内有了这样的画面。
埃吉尔·斯卡拉格里姆松这样吟道:
我祭奉维利的兄弟,
那诸神的屏障,
并非由于
我心甘情愿;
然而密米尔的朋友
给了我
灾祸的补偿,
我视之为更好的赐予。
惯于征战的
狼之仇敌,
赐我一种
无可指摘的技艺。
这里,他被称为诸神的屏障、密米尔的朋友和狼之仇敌。雷夫这样吟道:
阵亡者的高特啊,豪勇的神,
我已驯熟那股力量,
应向你献上法尔殿堂之路上
浪隼之雪的酒液。
埃纳尔·斯卡拉格拉姆这样吟道:
我必为慷慨的勇士倾注
军旅之提尔的酒船舱水;
为此受人责难,
也是无妨。
乌尔夫·乌加松这样吟道:
慷慨的海姆达尔骑马
来到诸神堆起的柴堆旁,
凭吊那位深知族系的
乌鸦试探者死去的儿子。
《埃里克之歌》中这样说:
“那是什么梦?”奥丁说,
“我梦见自己在天明前起身,
清扫英灵殿,
迎接战死的人们;
我唤醒英灵战士,
叫他们起来,
把座椅铺好,
把啤酒杯洗净,
让女武神奉上葡萄酒,
仿佛有君王将至。”
科尔马克吟道:
我这年轻人祈求世间的主宰,
使我在英格维之鳕的
颤动原野上始终安好。
赫罗夫特携冈格尼尔而行。
索拉尔夫吟道:
希利兹凯夫的君主
把自己的心意告诉了他;
就在那儿,厌弃盾牌的
哈雷克的部众被杀。
埃温德这样吟道:
那位飞翔着
从苏尔特深陷的
山谷中带出它的
载物之神。
布拉吉这样吟道:
我看得分明:人类之父的儿子
早早便想试试力量,
对付那条遍身湿透的
大地长带。
埃纳尔这样吟道:
因为诸事上,众人往往
胜过贝斯特拉之子;
高贵的君主,我已着手颂扬战事,
却少有人能胜过你这多才者。
布兰达诗人索尔瓦尔德这样吟道:
如今我已把许多事物
刻入博尔之子、
布利继承人的
蜜酒之中。
这里应当听听诗人怎样依照前面写下的称谓,用隐喻称说诗歌,譬如称它为克瓦希尔之血、矮人之船、矮人之蜜酒、巨人之蜜酒、苏图恩之蜜酒、奥丁之蜜酒、阿萨神族之蜜酒、巨人的杀父赔偿、奥德勒里尔、博德恩和颂恩的液体与满盛之物、赫尼特比约格之液、奥丁的所得、所获、负载与赠礼。埃纳尔·斯卡拉格拉姆所作的诗中这样吟道:
我请胸怀壮志的土地守护者
聆听克瓦希尔之血;雅尔,请听:
峡湾之骨的众人面前,
酒糟的浪潮翻涌。
埃纳尔·斯卡拉格拉姆又吟道:
矮人的岩山所藏之浪,
流过每一棵乌勒尔之白蜡树;
那战斗悲苦的屏障,
鼓起了他们的勇气。
斯泰因索尔之子奥尔姆这样吟道:
愿啤酒长凳之女的遗体
与我的遗体被抬入同一厅堂;
让众人领会
死去的德瓦林的饮料。
雷夫吟道:
我献给索尔斯泰因
石中族类心田的盛宴;
岩中梅里尔人的波涛轰鸣,
我请人类侧耳倾听。
埃吉尔这样吟道:
君王邀我赴宴,
我有责任献上颂歌;
我把奥丁的蜜酒
带到英格兰的土地。
盖里之子格卢姆吟道:
诸位君主,请听:
我备有众神索求者的宴饮;
因此我们请求肃静,
来听臣民的噩耗。
埃温德吟道:
我要众人肃静,
听哈尔的酒,
容我献上
吉林的赔偿,
容我们在绞架负载者的
锅中液里,
把他的家系
上溯到诸神。
埃纳尔·斯卡拉格拉姆吟道:
长生之海的波浪在君王面前奔涌,
勒格尼尔的功业助我成诗;
奥德勒里尔的浪头
拍打咒歌的礁石,轰然作响。
他又吟道:
如今,岩中萨克西的
博德恩之浪开始上涨;
愿君王的民众在厅中肃静,
听这艘诗船驶来。
古德伦之子埃利夫吟道:
你们应当决定给我怎样的友人之礼,
因为我的言辞种子
在颂恩的芦苇田里生长,
颂扬那位显赫的后裔。
沃卢斯泰因吟道:
埃吉尔,请听密米尔朋友的
欢乐之岩的流水,在我牙龈的
礁石旁轰鸣;
松德尔的收获已赐给我。
斯泰因索尔之子奥尔姆这样吟道:
众人无需为我的诗篇忧惧,
我在维德里尔的所得中
不夹杂丝毫嘲弄;
我懂得如何锻造颂歌。
乌尔夫·乌加松这样吟道:
我把希尔德盔甲使者的
心意峡湾之浪献给欢悦的奥拉夫;
我愿以格里姆尼尔的赠礼,
向他致意。
诗歌被称为矮人的海或液体,因为在蜜酒制成以前,克瓦希尔的血便是奥德勒里尔中的液体;蜜酒是在那口锅中酿成的,所以它被称为奥丁的锅中液。正如埃温德所吟,前面已经写过:
容我们在绞架负载者的
锅中液里,
把他的家系
上溯到诸神。
诗歌也被称为矮人的船或“利德”。“利德”既指啤酒,也指船。因此,这里举例说明,诗歌如今被称为矮人之船,正如此处所说:
我须沿着同一条久远的路,
向岩石雅尔的新娘
同时送去鼓荡的风
与矮人的船。
应当怎样用隐喻称说索尔?可以称他为奥丁与娇德之子,曼尼、莫迪和斯鲁德之父,希芙之夫,乌勒尔的继父,妙尔尼尔、力量腰带和毕尔斯基尔尼尔的掌管者与所有者,阿斯加德、米德加尔特的捍卫者,巨人和巨女的仇敌与杀戮者,赫朗格尼尔、盖尔罗德和斯里瓦尔迪的诛杀者,夏尔维与罗斯克瓦的主人,米德加尔特巨蛇的仇敌,温格尼尔与赫洛拉的养子。诗人布拉吉这样吟道:
维德里尔继承人的钓线
丝毫不曾松弛;
当耶梦加得被拖向岸边时,
钓线在埃纳维尔的滑雪板上绷紧。
厄尔维尔·赫努瓦这样吟道:
环绕一切陆地的腰带
与娇德之子一同震怒。
埃利夫这样吟道:
罗斯克瓦的兄长愤怒地站着,
曼尼之父奋力出击;
索尔与夏尔维的勇气之石,
绝不因恐惧而颤动。
瓦尔迪之子埃斯泰因吟道:
他以锐利的双眼望着
陡峭道路的圆环;
斯鲁德之父尚未动手,
恐怖的居所已在船边翻腾。
埃斯泰因又吟道:
希芙的密友随那老人,
迅速把自己的渔具
放到船外;我们要搅动
赫里姆尼尔角杯中的水流。
他又吟道:
大地之鱼猛然挣动,
宽广的船板向前冲去,
乌勒尔姻亲的双拳
重重撞在船舷外侧。
布拉吉这样吟道:
慑服强大巨人的神,
当他认出环绕一切陆地的
长鱼时,
右手握锤挥去。
加姆利这样吟道:
那位从不施行诡计的君主,
毕尔斯基尔尼尔之心,
用峡谷贝壳的祸害,
奋力劈开大地之鱼。
女神诗人索尔比约恩这样吟道:
索尔凭着勇力,与伊格的使者们
一同守护着阿斯加德。
布拉吉这样吟道:
桨推之船所行道路上
那丑恶的圆环,
从下面恶狠狠地瞪着
击碎赫朗格尼尔头颅的神。
布拉吉又吟道:
劈开斯里瓦尔迪九颗头颅的神啊,
在那著名的宴会中,
你把自己的山羊
管束得好。
埃利夫这样吟道:
暮行妇人的压服者,
张开臂端那熟悉的嘴,
接住铁钳递来的
沉重、赤红的钳草之块。
乌尔夫·乌加松这样吟道:
那身躯粗壮的君王说,
山羊的主人奋力拉拽,
这样巨大的危险,
在他看来着实可怕。
还有这一段:
山中高特的击倒者
让全力挥出的拳头轰响;
芦苇之骨的花楸耳边,
这一击造成了重创。
(56.)
维穆尔渡口的巨人,从闪亮的蛇旁,
隔着波浪,打中了
那双耳的基座。
厅内有了这样的画面。
这里,他被称为维穆尔渡口的巨人。维穆尔是一条河,索尔前往盖尔罗德的宅院时,曾涉水渡过。诗人韦特尔利迪这样吟道:
你折断莱克恩的双腿,
击倒斯里瓦尔迪,
推翻斯塔尔卡德,
把盖尔普践踏至死。
女神诗人索尔比约恩又这样吟道:
你击中凯拉的头颅,
把凯亚兰迪浑身打碎;
此前你杀死卢特与莱迪,
让布塞拉血流不止;
你制服了亨吉安克娅芙塔,
希尔罗金更早已经死去;
然而,那黝黑的斯维沃尔
也早早被夺去了性命。
该如何用代称称呼巴德尔?可以称他为奥丁与弗丽嘉之子、南娜之夫、福尔塞提之父、赫林霍尼与德罗普尼尔的主人、霍德尔之敌、赫尔的同伴、悲泣之神。乌尔夫·乌加松在《厅堂颂》中用了很长的篇幅吟咏巴德尔的故事;前文已经引过诗例,说明巴德尔如何被这样称呼。
该如何用代称称呼尼约德?可以称他为华纳之神、华纳族的后裔,或华纳族人,以及弗雷与芙蕾雅之父、赐予财富之神。索尔德·夏雷克松如此吟道:
她亲自成了儿子们的——
聪慧的女子不能爱悦——
基亚拉尔驯服着——
人们说哈姆迪尔不曾——
古德伦,杀手;
神的新娘,华纳神;
他极善于驭马;
在刀剑之戏中惜力。
这里说的是斯卡蒂离开尼约德一事,正如前文所记。
该如何用代称称呼弗雷?可以称他为尼约德之子、芙蕾雅之兄弟,也可以称他为华纳之神、华纳族的后裔、华纳族人、丰年之神、财富的赐予者。埃吉尔·斯卡拉格里姆松如此吟道:
因为格里约特比约恩
已经得到
弗雷与尼约德
赐下的丰厚财富。
弗雷被称为贝利之敌,正如埃温德·斯卡尔达斯皮利尔所吟:
那时,边远的疆土,
诸雅尔的敌手
想在贝利仇敌的
领地上安居。
他是斯基德布拉德尼尔的主人,也是那头名叫古林布尔斯蒂的公猪的主人,正如此处所言:
伊瓦尔迪的儿子们
在远古之时
着手造出斯基德布拉德尼尔,
最好的船,
献给光辉的弗雷,
尼约德那有为的儿子。
乌尔夫·乌加松如此吟道:
骑着公猪,奔向
奥丁之子的葬火,
精于战阵的弗雷率领众军,
骑那金鬃之兽走在最前。
这头公猪也叫斯利德鲁格坦尼。
该如何用代称称呼海姆达尔?可以称他为九位母亲之子,或众神的守卫,正如前文所记;也可以称他为白色的阿萨神、洛基之敌、芙蕾雅项链的寻回者。剑被称为海姆达尔之头。据说,他曾被一颗人头击穿身躯。《海姆达尔咒歌》吟咏了这件事;此后,头便被称为海姆达尔的命数之定夺者。剑则被称为人的命数之定夺者。海姆达尔是古尔托普的主人。他也被称为瓦加礁与辛加石的争夺者。那时,他与洛基争夺布里辛加曼。他也叫温德莱尔。乌尔夫·乌加松在《厅堂颂》中用了很长的篇幅吟咏这个故事,诗中提到,他们当时都化作了海豹。他也是奥丁之子。
该如何用代称称呼提尔?可以称他为独手的阿萨神、狼的养育者、战斗之神、奥丁之子。
该如何用代称称呼布拉吉?可以称他为伊登之夫、诗歌的最初创造者、长须的阿萨神——胡须浓密的人依他的名字被称为胡须布拉吉——以及奥丁之子。
该如何用代称称呼维达尔?可以称他为沉默的阿萨神、铁鞋的主人、芬里尔狼的敌人与杀死它的人、为众神复仇的阿萨神、居于父亲故居的阿萨神,以及奥丁之子、阿萨诸神的兄弟。
该如何用代称称呼瓦利?可以称他为奥丁与琳德之子、弗丽嘉的继子、阿萨诸神的兄弟、为巴德尔复仇的阿萨神、霍德尔的敌人与杀死他的人、父亲故居的居住者。
该如何用代称称呼霍德尔?可以称他为盲眼的阿萨神、巴德尔的杀害者、槲寄生的射出者、奥丁之子、赫尔的同伴、瓦利之敌。
该如何用代称称呼乌勒尔?可以称他为希芙之子、索尔的继子、滑雪的阿萨神、弓箭的阿萨神、狩猎的阿萨神、盾牌的阿萨神。
该如何用代称称呼海尼尔?可以称他为奥丁的同席者、同伴或交谈者,以及迅捷的阿萨神、长脚者、泥土之王。
该如何用代称称呼洛基?可以称他为法布提与劳菲——又名纳尔——之子、比莱斯特与赫尔布林迪的兄弟、瓦纳尔甘德——也就是芬里尔狼——以及耶梦加得——也就是米德加尔特之蛇——和赫尔、纳利、阿利之父、亲属与伯叔、奥丁及阿萨诸神的旅伴与同席者、盖尔罗德的访客与箱中之物、巨人、公山羊、布里辛加曼与伊登的苹果的窃贼、斯雷普尼尔的亲属、西格恩之夫、众神之敌、希芙头发的损毁者、祸患的制造者、狡猾的阿萨神、众神的诋毁者与欺骗者、谋害巴德尔的人、被捆绑的阿萨神、海姆达尔与斯卡蒂的争斗之敌。正如乌尔夫·乌加松在此所吟:
谋虑深远、声名显赫的诸神
领地的守卫,在辛加石上,
与极其狡诈的
法布提之子交锋;
气魄雄强的儿子,
九位母亲所生,取得美丽的海之肾;
我先前已用颂诗的篇章
讲述此事。
这里提到,海姆达尔是九位母亲之子。
现在还要讲述一些故事,说明方才记下的那些代称的由来,其中有些此前尚未举出故事为例。正如布拉吉对埃吉尔所说,索尔已经前往东方去打巨怪,奥丁则骑着斯雷普尼尔来到约顿海姆,到了一个名叫赫朗格尼尔的巨人那里。赫朗格尼尔问,那戴着金盔、骑马驰过天空与海面的是什么人,并说他有一匹好得出奇的马。奥丁说,他愿拿自己的脑袋打赌,约顿海姆没有一匹马能与这匹一样好。赫朗格尼尔说,那确实是匹好马,但他自称有一匹步幅大得多的马,名叫古尔法克西。赫朗格尼尔动了怒,跃上自己的马,策马追赶,想要报复奥丁的狂言。奥丁策马疾驰,已经越过前方的一道山脊;赫朗格尼尔却怒气冲天,直到冲进阿萨诸神的大门才发觉。
他来到厅门前,阿萨诸神便请他饮酒。他走进厅堂,叫人拿酒来喝。于是众神取出索尔惯用的酒碗,赫朗格尼尔把每一碗都喝了。他醉了以后,狂言便接连不断。他声称要搬起英灵殿,将它运到约顿海姆,把阿斯加德沉入水底,杀光所有神,只留下芙蕾雅与希芙,要把她们带回家。那时只有芙蕾雅敢给他斟酒;他声称要喝光阿萨诸神所有的啤酒。阿萨诸神听厌了他的狂言,便呼唤索尔。
紧接着,索尔来到厅堂,高举锤子,怒不可遏,问是谁作主,让这些狡诈如狗的巨人在这里饮酒;又是谁给了赫朗格尼尔留在英灵殿的安全保证;为什么芙蕾雅要给他斟酒,如同在阿萨诸神的宴席上一样。赫朗格尼尔用毫无善意的目光看着索尔,回答说,是奥丁请他来饮酒,他受奥丁的保护。索尔说,赫朗格尼尔还没走出这里,就会为这次邀请后悔。
赫朗格尼尔说,阿萨神索尔杀死手无寸铁的他,算不得什么荣耀;若敢在边界的格里约特图纳加尔德与他交战,才更能考验胆量。他说:“我把盾牌和磨刀石留在家里,真是一件蠢事。若我的武器在这里,我们现在就该决斗一场;否则,你若要杀死手无寸铁的我,我便要指你为卑鄙之徒。”索尔既然受到了决斗的挑战,便无论如何也不愿失约,因为此前从没有人这样挑战过他。
赫朗格尼尔随即动身离去,一路策马狂奔,直到回到约顿海姆。他这趟出行,以及他与索尔约定决斗的事,在巨人中传得沸沸扬扬。巨人们觉得,谁胜谁负,对他们关系重大。他们料想,赫朗格尼尔若战死,索尔便会给他们带来灾祸,因为赫朗格尼尔是他们当中最强大的。
于是巨人们在格里约特图纳加尔德用泥塑造了一个人,高九拉斯特(古北欧长度单位),腋下宽三拉斯特(古北欧长度单位)。可是他们找不到一颗与他身躯相称的大心脏,最后从一匹母马身上取了一颗;索尔到来时,这颗心便不再安稳。赫朗格尼尔有一颗闻名遐迩的心,由坚硬的石头构成,尖突而有三个角,后来人们照着它刻出一种图案,叫作赫朗格尼尔之心。他的头也是石头做的。他的盾也是石头,又宽又厚。他站在格里约特图纳加尔德等候索尔时,把盾挡在身前,拿一块磨刀石作武器,扛在肩上,模样十分凶悍。泥巨人站在他的一侧,名叫莫克卡尔维,害怕得厉害。据说,他一看见索尔便尿了出来。
索尔前往约定决斗的地方,夏尔维与他同行。夏尔维跑到赫朗格尼尔站立的地方,对他说:“巨人,你这样站着可不够小心,把盾挡在身前;索尔已经看见你了,他正在地下穿行,要从你下面钻出来。”赫朗格尼尔便把盾放到脚下,站在上面,双手握住磨刀石。紧接着,他看见电光,听见巨大的雷声。他看见索尔带着神怒冲来,来势猛烈,挥起锤子,从远处向赫朗格尼尔掷去。赫朗格尼尔双手举起磨刀石,迎面投出。磨刀石在空中撞上锤子,碎裂开来。一部分落到地上,所有的磨刀石岩便由此而生;另一部分撞进索尔的头里,使他向前倒在地上。妙尔尼尔锤则击中赫朗格尼尔的头顶,把他的头骨打得粉碎。他向前倒在索尔身上,一只脚压住了索尔的脖子。夏尔维攻打莫克卡尔维,后者毫无光彩地倒下了。
夏尔维随后走到索尔身边,想把赫朗格尼尔的脚从他身上搬开,却怎么也搬不动。阿萨诸神听说索尔倒下,全都赶来,要把那只脚搬开,却始终无能为力。这时,索尔与雅恩萨克莎之子曼尼来了。他那时才出生三夜。他把赫朗格尼尔的脚从索尔身上扔开,说:“父亲,我来得这么迟,真是令人痛惜。我想,要是让我碰上这巨人,我一拳就能把他打死。”
索尔于是站起身来,十分高兴地迎接儿子,说他将来必定大有本领。他说:“我要把赫朗格尼尔原有的那匹古尔法克西送给你。”奥丁却说,索尔做得不对,竟把那匹好马送给女巨人的儿子,却不给自己的父亲。
索尔回到斯罗德万,磨刀石仍嵌在他头里。这时,一位名叫格罗娅的女巫来了,她是勇士奥尔万迪尔的妻子。她对着索尔吟唱咒语,直到磨刀石松动。索尔觉察到这一点,觉得有望取出磨刀石,便想报答格罗娅的医治,让她高兴,于是告诉她一个消息:他曾从北方涉过埃利瓦加尔河,把奥尔万迪尔放在背后的背篓里,从北方的约顿海姆背回来。他还说了一件事作为凭据:奥尔万迪尔的一根脚趾露在背篓外面,冻坏了,索尔便把它折下来,抛上天空,化作一颗星,名叫奥尔万迪尔之趾。索尔说,奥尔万迪尔不久就会回家。格罗娅高兴得忘光了咒语,磨刀石便没有再松动,至今还嵌在索尔头里。因此,人们告诫不要把磨刀石横着扔过地面,因为那样会使索尔头里的磨刀石晃动。赫温的提奥多尔夫依据这个故事写了《秋长颂》。”
埃吉尔于是说道:“在我看来,赫朗格尼尔实在很有本领。索尔与巨怪交手时,可曾做过比这更显神力的壮举?”
布拉吉答道:“索尔前往盖尔罗德庄园的事,很值得详述一番。那时他没有带妙尔尼尔锤子,也没有带力量腰带和铁手套;这是洛基造成的。洛基与他同行,因为洛基曾遇到这样一件事:有一次,他披上弗丽嘉的隼羽衣飞出去游玩,出于好奇,飞到了盖尔罗德庄园,看见那里有一座大殿,便停下来,透过窗子往里看。盖尔罗德也看见了他,吩咐人把那只鸟捉来交给自己。派去的人好不容易才爬上殿墙,因为墙实在太高了。洛基见他爬得吃力,心里十分得意,打算暂且不飞走,等那人把这段难走的路全走完再说。可是那人靠近时,他振翅欲飞,双脚使劲一蹬,却发现脚被牢牢粘住了。洛基就这样被捉住,送到了巨人盖尔罗德面前。盖尔罗德看见他的眼睛,便疑心他原是个人,叫他开口回答,洛基却一言不发。于是盖尔罗德把洛基锁进箱子里,饿了他三个月。等盖尔罗德把他放出来,再叫他开口时,洛基才说出了自己的身份。为了保住性命,他向盖尔罗德立誓,要把索尔带到盖尔罗德庄园来,让他既不带锤子,也不带力量腰带。
索尔来到一个名叫格莉德的女巨人家里投宿。她是沉默的维达尔的母亲。她把盖尔罗德的实情告诉索尔,说他是个极其狡诈、难以对付的巨人。她把自己的力量腰带、铁手套和一根名叫格莉德杖的手杖借给了他。随后索尔来到一条名叫维穆尔的河边,那是所有河流中最大的一条。他束上力量腰带,把格莉德杖撑在下游一侧,洛基则抓住力量腰带。索尔走到河中央时,河水猛涨,浪头打上了他的肩膀。于是索尔吟道:
65
维穆尔,如今莫再上涨,
因为我正要涉过你,
前往巨人的庭院;
你须知道,倘若你上涨,
我的神力也将随之增长,
一直高达苍天。
这时索尔望见上游的一道峡谷里,盖尔罗德的女儿吉亚尔普两腿分跨河流两岸,正是她使河水暴涨。索尔便从河里拾起一块大石头,朝她掷去,说道:‘堵河就要堵住源口。’他掷出的石头正中目标。就在这时,他被水冲到岸边,抓住一丛花楸,便这样爬出了河。因此有一句俗话说:花楸是索尔的救星。
索尔到了盖尔罗德家,他们这两个同伴先被领到羊舍里住宿。那里只有一把椅子,索尔便坐了上去。不久,他察觉身下的椅子正向屋顶升去。他把格莉德杖抵住椽木,用力向下压住椅子。随即传来一声巨响,紧接着便是尖叫。原来椅子下面是盖尔罗德的两个女儿吉亚尔普和格雷普,他把她们俩的脊背都压断了。
随后盖尔罗德叫索尔到大殿里去比试。殿里沿着长轴燃着一堆堆大火。索尔走到盖尔罗德对面时,盖尔罗德用火钳夹起一块烧得通红的铁,朝索尔掷去。索尔用铁手套接住,把铁块举到空中;盖尔罗德则跳到一根铁柱后面躲避。索尔把铁块掷了出去,铁块穿透了柱子,穿透了盖尔罗德,又穿透了墙壁,最后扎进了屋外的地里。”
埃利夫·古德鲁纳尔松依据这个故事,作了《索尔颂》。
应当怎样用代称称呼弗丽嘉?可以称她为弗约尔金的女儿,奥丁的妻子,巴德尔的母亲,娇德、琳德、贡露和格尔德的情敌,南娜的婆母,阿萨男神与女神的王后,芙拉、隼羽衣和芬萨里尔的女主人。
应当怎样用代称称呼芙蕾雅?可以称她为尼约德的女儿,弗雷的姐妹,奥德的妻子,赫诺丝的母亲,阵亡者、塞斯鲁姆尼尔、雄猫和布里希嘉曼项链的主人,华纳神,华纳女神,泪水美丽的神,爱神。所有阿萨女神都可以这样称呼:用另一位女神的名字来称她,再配上她自己的所有物、事迹或族属。
应当怎样用代称称呼希芙?可以称她为索尔的妻子,乌勒尔的母亲,秀发美丽的神,雅恩萨克莎的情敌,斯鲁德的母亲。
应当怎样用代称称呼伊登?可以称她为布拉吉的妻子,苹果的守护者,而苹果则是阿萨神族抵御衰老的药。她也是巨人夏基掳走的战利品,正如前面说过的,他把她从阿萨神族那里劫走。来自赫温的提约多尔夫依据这个故事,作了《秋长颂》。称呼阿萨诸神时,同样可以用一位神的名字称呼另一位,再配上他自己的事迹、所有物或族属。
应当怎样用代称称呼天空?可以称它为尤弥尔的头骨,并由此称为巨人的头骨,矮人的劳役或重负,韦斯特里、奥斯特里、苏德里、诺德里的头盔,太阳、月亮、星辰、天车与风暴的土地,空气、大地与太阳的头盔或屋宇。伯爵诗人阿尔诺尔这样吟道:
年轻的斯基约尔德后裔,永不会有
同样慷慨的一位登上蒙盾的战船,
那位君王豪气丰足,
身在尤弥尔古老的头骨之下。
他又这样吟道:
明亮的太阳将变得乌黑,
大地沉入幽暗的海洋,
奥斯特里的重负迸裂,
整片海洋在群山上轰鸣。
贝尔蒂的博德瓦尔这样吟道:
因为在太阳的土地之下,
没有哪位国君
比英吉和他的兄弟更勇于征战,
更优秀,更高贵。
来自赫温的提约多尔夫这样吟道:
娇德之子驱车前往兵铁的游戏,
月亮的道路在他身下轰鸣,
梅利兄弟的怒气
汹涌高涨。
巴尔岛诗人奥尔姆这样吟道:
德罗普尼尔金链的女神啊,无论
天车之道的主宰如何眷顾我,
我听说那强大的君王
统治着他的疆土。
诗人布拉吉这样吟道:
他把滑雪女神父亲的双眼
掷到辽阔的风之洗手盆上,
高高悬在
众多人的居所之上。
马尔库斯这样吟道:
在风暴之器的底部,这片波涛环绕之地,
远不会诞生更尊贵的人群守护者;
人人都赞颂那位赠环者
崇高的一生。
斯泰因·赫尔迪萨尔松这样吟道:
我在这首颂歌中,先于凡人,
歌咏高高世界之帐的神圣君王;
赞歌流淌而出,
因为他更加尊贵。
伯爵诗人阿尔诺尔这样吟道:
白昼之地的尊贵君王,
请救助尊贵的赫尔蒙德。
阿尔诺尔又吟道:
太阳帷帐的真正统治者,
请救助英勇的勒格恩瓦尔德。
哈尔瓦尔德这样吟道:
克努特守卫国土,正如万物之主
守卫群山辉煌的厅堂。
阿尔诺尔这样吟道:
智慧深厚的米迦勒,称量一切被视为罪恶之事,
也称量一切善行;
随后,太阳之盔的君王坐在审判席上,
将人们分别裁定。
应当怎样用代称称呼大地?可以称她为尤弥尔的血肉,索尔的母亲,奥纳尔的女儿,奥丁的新娘,弗丽嘉、琳德和贡露的情敌,希芙的婆母,风暴厅堂的地板与底部,走兽的海洋,黑夜的女儿,奥德与白昼的姐妹。毁诗者埃温德这样吟道:
如今,巨人仇敌的河流之太阳,
已藏进他母亲的身体;
强大族众的谋划
威力深厚。
烦恼诗人哈尔弗雷德这样吟道:
谋划终获成就,此后,
那谋略精明的君王之友
占有了奥纳尔唯一的女儿,
她身上长满林木。
他又说道:
钢铁乌鸦栖所的驾驭者,
凭借权势的言辞,
把巴莱格面容宽广的新娘
引到了自己身边。
提约多尔夫这样吟道:
使众领主欢悦的人,在海底之外,
把戈蒂的行具系在
麋鹿栖地之驯鹿的末端;
那船身由桨推动。
哈尔弗雷德这样吟道:
因此我想,那位著名的投掷者,
极不情愿放弃奥德唯一的姐妹;
大地归服于
那高贵的项链挥霍者。
提约多尔夫这样吟道:
昔日,战光的催动者
未付聘礼便娶了琳德的情敌;
那懒于挥矛的懦夫
一直远远站着。
应当怎样用代称称呼大海?可以称它为尤弥尔的血,诸神的来客,澜的丈夫,埃吉尔众女儿的父亲;她们的名字是希明格莱娃、杜法、布洛杜格哈达、赫夫琳、乌德、赫伦、比尔吉娅、巴拉、科尔加。也可以称它为澜与埃吉尔众女儿的土地,船的土地,以及各种海船名称的土地,龙骨、船首、船舷、船板接缝、鱼、冰的土地,海王的道路与路径,也可以称它为诸岛之环,沙、海藻与礁石的屋宇,钓线、海鸟和顺风的土地。巴尔岛诗人奥尔姆这样吟道:
尤弥尔的血在沙洲外轰响,
拍打着优良的船只。
雷夫这样吟道:
桅顶温驯的兽,破浪自西而来,
我望见船首前方的陆地;
鲸鱼的屋脊冲刷着
船舷掠过海面的地方。
斯温这样吟道:
埃吉尔那些在寒霜中长大的女儿,
编织又撕碎
浪峰上暴风雪般的帷幕,
卷起山墙般的凶猛飞沫。
雷夫又这样吟道:
盖密尔那冰冷潮湿的女巫,
在浪涛迸裂之处,
常把绞索之熊送进
埃吉尔的口中。
这里说的是,埃吉尔、赫勒尔与盖密尔都是同一位。他又吟道:
海峰的斯雷普尼尔,溅满水沫,
把涂着红色颜料的胸膛,
从苍白的澜的
口中挣脱出来。
埃纳尔·斯库拉松这样吟道:
猛烈的暴风把船迅速推离岸边,
天鹅原野的骏马
让积雪的土地
沉入涌流之中。
他又这样吟道:
坚硬的桨架多次在人们掌中升起,
钓线的喧响海岸绕着陆地飞驰;
支索不时
绷得紧紧。
他又吟道:
长船的艏柱载着君王的金色木片,
这航行对君主何等光荣;
岛屿的锁链推送着
海提的乌鸦。
他又这样吟道:
秋日寒冷的岛屿边缘,
把白霜泼向船首的滑雪板。
又这样吟道:
船首之前,冰冷土地的
强大腰带迸裂开来。
斯奈比约恩这样吟道:
据说,岛屿磨箱的九位新娘,
在大地边缘之外,
猛烈推动着礁石的格罗蒂,
那磨盘对军伍最为凶险;
她们很久以前便磨着
阿姆洛迪的酒浆磨料;
赠环者以船首犁开
船舷所居的田地。
这里把大海称作阿姆洛迪的磨。埃纳尔·斯库拉松又这样吟道:
拉克尼的急流之中,坚实的
长钉弯曲;帆布的灾祸
撞击着支索,苍白的波浪
在那里摇动船肋的大地。
应当怎样用代称称呼太阳?可以称她为蒙迪尔法利的女儿,玛尼的姐妹,格伦的妻子,天空与空气的火。斯库利·索尔斯泰因松这样吟道:
格伦的新娘,受诸神喜爱,
走进女神的圣所;随后,
灰衫玛尼的美好光明
带着光芒自天而降。
埃纳尔·斯库拉松这样吟道:
贝提城堡的厅堂中,那最猛烈的
烈火——世界高悬的游焰,
无论在哪里徘徊,都照不见
比我们恩主更尊贵的人。
该怎样以隐喻称呼风?可以称它为福尔尼约特之子、埃吉尔与火的兄弟、树木的摧折者、树木的祸害与杀手,或树木、船帆、帆具的狗或狼。斯韦因在《北地颂》中这样说:
福尔尼约特凶恶的儿子们,
起初便掀起了飞扬的风暴。
该怎样以隐喻称呼火?可以称它为风与埃吉尔的兄弟、树木与房屋的杀手和毁灭者、哈尔夫的杀手、屋宇的太阳。
该怎样以隐喻称呼冬天?可以称它为温德斯瓦尔之子、蛇的杀手、暴风雪的时节。奥尔姆·斯泰因索尔松这样吟道:
在我看来,温德斯瓦尔这位儿子的欢愉,
对那人是盲目的。
阿斯格里姆这样吟道:
那位助人得胜者,此后
在特隆赫姆度过了蛇的苦难之时,慷慨赠金;
人民知道你的事迹,
确凿无疑。
该怎样以隐喻称呼夏天?可以称它为斯瓦苏德之子、蛇的慰藉、人们的生长之时。埃吉尔·斯卡拉格里姆松这样吟道:
让我们高举刀剑,使它们闪耀,
染红狼牙的人啊;
我们应当施展勇武,
趁着山谷之鱼蒙受恩泽的时节。
该怎样以隐喻称呼人?应当用他的行为来称呼他,也就是他所给予、接受或从事的事。也可以用他拥有的财物,以及他曾赠出的财物来称呼他;还可以用他出身的家族,以及由他繁衍的后裔来称呼他。该怎样用这些事物称呼他?可以称他为自身行程或事务、战斗、航海、狩猎、武器或船只的实行者或推动者。又因为他是武器的试用者、战斗的从事者,这些都与实行者同义。Viðr也是树的名称,reynir也是树的名称。诗人依据这些称谓,把人称作白蜡树、槭树、树丛,或用其他阳性的树木名称称呼他,并以战斗、船只或财富加以限定。用所有阿萨男神的名字来构成人的隐喻,也是恰当的。也有人用巨人的名字来构成隐喻,但大多带有嘲弄或辱骂的意味。用精灵的名字构成隐喻,则被认为很好。
应当以女子的一切装饰、黄金与宝石、啤酒、葡萄酒或其他由她递送或赠予的饮料,以及酒器和一切适宜由她操持或供应的事物,来构成女子的隐喻。可以称她为所分赠之物的分赠者或安置者;而selja与lág又是树木的名称。因此,构成女子的隐喻时,可以用所有阴性的树木名称。用宝石或玻璃珠来构成女子的隐喻,是因为古时候女子佩戴一种称作石珠项链的饰物,戴在自己的颈上。如今,这种隐喻的用法已经扩展,以至于可以用石头和一切石头的名称来称呼女子。也可以用所有阿萨女神、女武神、诺伦或狄丝女神的名字来称呼女子。以女子的一切行为、财产或家世来构成她的隐喻,也是恰当的。
该怎样以隐喻称呼黄金?可以称它为埃吉尔之火、格拉希尔的针叶、希芙的秀发、芙拉的额带、芙蕾雅的眼泪、巨人的言语、声音或话语、德罗普尼尔的滴落之物,以及德罗普尼尔或芙蕾雅双眼的雨或骤雨、水獭的赔偿金、阿萨神族被迫交付的赎金、菲里原野的种子、霍尔吉坟冢的覆顶、一切水域之火、手之火、手的石块、礁石或光辉。
为什么黄金被称为埃吉尔之火?缘由在于前面提到的这个故事:埃吉尔应邀前往阿斯加德做客。待他准备回家时,他邀请奥丁和所有阿萨神族三个月后到自己家中赴宴。参加这次行程的,首先有奥丁,以及尼约德、弗雷、提尔、布拉吉、维达尔、洛基,还有女神弗丽嘉、芙蕾雅、格еф琼、斯卡蒂、伊登、希芙。索尔不在那里,他已经到东方去杀巨怪了。
众神落座之后,埃吉尔命人把发光的黄金搬进大厅,放在地上。黄金如火一般照亮了厅堂,在他的宴席上用作灯火,正如英灵殿中以剑代火照明一样。洛基在那里与所有神争吵,并杀了埃吉尔一个名叫菲马丰的奴仆。他的另一个奴仆名叫埃尔迪尔。他的妻子名叫澜,他们的九个女儿如前文所记。在那场宴席上,食物、啤酒以及宴会所需的一切器具,都会自行备妥。阿萨神族便在那里得知,澜有一张网,用来捕捉所有出海的人。
这个故事说明了黄金为何被称为埃吉尔、澜或埃吉尔女儿们的火、光或光辉。由这些隐喻,又形成了这样的用法:黄金被称为海之火,也可以用海的一切名称来构成这种隐喻,因为埃吉尔或澜的名字也用来称海。由此,黄金如今又被称为湖水之火、河流之火,并可用一切河流的名称来称呼。
这些称谓和其他称谓与隐喻一样,经历了这样的变化:后来的诗人以古代诗人的诗作为范本,随后把其中的称谓推广到他们认为与旧诗所咏事物相似的事物上;如同湖水与海相似,河流与湖水相似,溪流又与河流相似。凡把称谓的使用范围扩展到前人未曾使用之处,都称为新造隐喻;只要符合事物的相似关系与本性,便都被认为是好的。诗人布拉吉这样吟道:
饮宴时,我从君王那里领受了
肘弯之溪的火;
君王将它赐给我,
连同菲约尔尼尔山岳的一杯酒。
为什么黄金被称为格拉希尔的针叶或树叶?在阿斯加德,英灵殿的门前,长着一片名叫格拉希尔的树林,它的叶子全是赤金,正如这里所吟唱的:
格拉希尔挺立,
披着金色的叶子,
在胜利之神的殿堂前。
这是众神与人间最美的树木。
为什么黄金被称为希芙的秀发?劳菲之子洛基曾恶作剧,把希芙的头发全剪掉了。索尔得知此事,便抓住洛基,要打碎他身上的每一根骨头;直到洛基发誓,他会让黑暗精灵用黄金为希芙造一头秀发,使它能像别的头发一样生长,索尔才肯罢休。此后,洛基去找那些被称为伊瓦尔迪之子的矮人。他们造出了那头秀发、斯基德布拉德尼尔,以及奥丁所有、名叫冈格尼尔的长矛。
随后,洛基拿自己的头同名叫布洛克的矮人打赌,赌他的兄弟辛德里能否造出三件同样精良的宝物。他们来到铁匠铺后,辛德里把一张猪皮放进炉中,吩咐布洛克鼓风,在他把放进去的东西取出来之前,不得停下。辛德里刚离开铁匠铺,布洛克正鼓着风,一只苍蝇便落在他的手上叮咬;但他仍像先前一样鼓风,直到铁匠从炉中取出一头公猪,猪鬃是黄金制成的。
接着,辛德里把黄金放进炉中,吩咐布洛克鼓风,在他回来以前不得停下。他走了以后,那只苍蝇又飞来,落在布洛克的脖子上,叮咬得比先前厉害一倍;但他仍继续鼓风,直到铁匠从炉中取出那枚名叫德罗普尼尔的金环。
随后,辛德里把铁放进炉中,吩咐布洛克鼓风,并说只要风一停,东西就会作废。那只苍蝇便落在布洛克的两眼之间,叮咬他的眼皮。血流进眼里,使他看不见东西,他便趁风箱瘪下去时,飞快地伸手挥走苍蝇。就在这时,铁匠回来了,说炉里的东西险些全都毁掉。随后,他从炉中取出一把锤子。他把所有宝物交到兄弟布洛克手中,叫他带去阿斯加德,判定这场赌局的胜负。
布洛克与洛基呈上宝物时,阿萨神族坐上审判席,约定以奥丁、索尔和弗雷所下的裁决为准。洛基把冈格尼尔长矛献给奥丁,把应归希芙所有的秀发献给索尔,把斯基德布拉德尼尔献给弗雷,并说明了各件宝物的特性:长矛刺出时,没有什么能挡住它;秀发一放到希芙头上,就会生根于皮肉;斯基德布拉德尼尔只要扬起船帆,无论要去哪里,便会得到顺风,若是愿意,还能把它像布一样折叠起来,放进自己的袋子里。
随后,布洛克呈上自己的宝物。他把金环献给奥丁,说每隔九夜,就会从中滴出八枚同样重的金环。他把公猪献给弗雷,说它无论昼夜,都能在空中与水上奔跑,比任何马都快;无论黑夜还是幽暗之境,都不会暗到使它所到之处没有充足的光亮,因为它的鬃毛就是这样光芒四射。
随后,他把锤子献给索尔,说无论面前是什么,他都可以随意使尽力气击打,锤子绝不会损坏;若把它掷出,它绝不会落空,也绝不会飞得太远而不回到他手里;若他愿意,锤子还能变得很小,藏进自己的衬衣里。不过它有个缺陷,就是锤柄略短。
他们裁定,锤子是所有宝物中最好的,也是抵御霜巨人最有力的武器,因此判定矮人应当得到赌注。洛基便提出赎回自己的头,矮人却说绝无可能。
“那你就来抓我吧。”洛基说。可矮人要去抓他时,他已经远远地跑开了。洛基有一双鞋,穿上便能在空中与水上奔跑。矮人于是请索尔抓住他,索尔照办了。矮人正要砍下他的头,洛基却说,他赢得的是头,并不是脖子。
矮人便取出一根皮条和一把小刀,想在洛基嘴唇上刺孔,把他的嘴缝起来,但刀子刺不进去。他便说,要是有他兄弟的锥子就好了。他刚一提到,锥子便到了那里,刺穿了嘴唇。他把洛基的两片嘴唇缝在一起,洛基却从穿孔处将皮条扯脱。那根用来缝住洛基嘴巴的皮条,名叫瓦尔塔里。
这里可以听到以芙拉的额带来隐喻黄金的诗句,出自毁诗者埃温德:
芙拉眉野的落日,闪耀在
乌勒尔之舟的山岳上;
哈康在世的所有岁月,
我们诗人都曾享有这光辉。
黄金被称为芙蕾雅的眼泪,如前所述。斯库利·索尔斯泰因松这样吟道:
那天清晨,许多以杀戮之火
招致灾祸的人,得到了更多
芙蕾雅的眼泪,我们在那里斩倒死者;
我们当时就在场。
埃纳尔·斯库拉松这样吟道:
那里,玛尔德尔的眼泪
躺在雕纹之间;
我们携着盖特坚门的破坏者,
上面满嵌山谷之鱼的卧床。
这里,埃纳尔又这样以隐喻称呼芙蕾雅,称她为赫诺丝之母或奥德之妻,正如下文:
罗迪屋顶的坚冰,不因
奥德枕边女伴眼中
落下的雨而减少;
愿国王如此得享高寿。
又有这样的诗句:
我能挥动赫尔恩荣耀的孩子,
我们得了这珍贵的宝物;护盾之刃
在海浪之地上鸣响,
它的女子身躯裹着黄金;
她带着母亲眉间的雪堆,
弗雷的女亲属;战斗天鹅的
饲养者,把这位承载
弗罗迪种子的女子赐给了我。
这里也提到,可以称芙蕾雅为弗雷的姐妹,以此构成隐喻。又有这样的诗句:
他把尼约德之女那有用的孩子赐给我,
海之火紧挨着钢刃;
我为此盛赞那位君王,
这武器善能护身。
这里称她为尼约德之女。又有这样的诗句:
那位增添声威、勇于临敌的君王,
催迫瓦瓦德集会的人,
把华纳新娘强有力的女儿
赐给了我;
那位威势强大的剑之主宰,
将盖芙恩的少女引上诗人的床榻,
她浑身洒满盖特雷克天鹅
所经道路上的炭火。
这里称她为盖芙恩和华纳新娘。可以把眼泪同芙蕾雅的一切名字相联,以此称呼黄金。这些隐喻有许多变化:可以称黄金为她眼睛、面颊、双颊、眉毛或眼睑的冰雹、雨水、风雪、水滴、骤雨或瀑流。
由此可以看出,黄金被称为巨人的言语或声音,正如前面所说的。诗人布拉吉如此吟道:
我有这样一位朋友,他对那声音最坏,
却对我最好——那是
鱼群底下圆石之阿利的声音;
他是我第三位无可指摘的朋友。
他把石头称为鱼群底下的圆石,把巨人称为石头的阿利,把黄金称为巨人的声音。
黄金为何被称为水獭的赔偿金?传说,阿萨神族的奥丁、洛基和海尼尔出游探察世界时,来到一条河边,沿河走到一处瀑布。瀑布旁有一只水獭,从瀑布里捉到了一条鲑鱼,正眯着眼睛吃鱼。洛基便拾起一块石头,朝水獭掷去,打中了它的头。洛基随即夸耀自己的猎获,说他一击便得到了水獭和鲑鱼。他们拿起鲑鱼和水獭,带着上路,来到一处农庄,走了进去。住在那里的农夫名叫赫瑞德玛。他是个很有势力的人,也精通巫术。阿萨神族请求在那里过夜,说自己带着充足的食物,并向农夫展示了猎物。赫瑞德玛一看见水獭,就叫来自己的儿子法夫尼尔和雷金,告诉他们,他们的兄弟奥特尔被杀了,又说出是谁下的手。于是父子三人上前抓住众神,把他们捆绑起来,随后告诉他们,这只水獭就是赫瑞德玛的儿子。阿萨神族提出用财物赎命,数目由赫瑞德玛自行决定。他们就此达成和解,并立誓为约。
随后,水獭被剥了皮。赫瑞德玛拿起水獭皮,对他们说,必须用赤金将皮囊装满,再把整张皮都覆盖起来,以此作为双方和解的条件。于是奥丁派洛基前往斯瓦特阿尔夫海姆,洛基在那里找到了名叫安德瓦利的矮人。他化作一条鱼,待在水里。洛基徒手捉住了他,索取他岩洞里所有的黄金作为赎命的钱。他们进了岩洞,矮人便把自己所有的黄金都拿了出来,那是一大笔财富。接着,矮人迅速将一枚小金环藏到腋下。洛基看见了,命他交出金环。矮人求他别拿走金环,说只要留着它,便能重新积聚财富。洛基说,一个钱也不许他留下,便夺走金环,往外走去。矮人说,无论谁拥有这枚金环,它都将使那人丧命。洛基说,他觉得这样很好,又说,这道诅咒尽可应验,因为他会把它传到接收金环的人耳中。
洛基离开那里,回到赫瑞德玛家,把黄金拿给奥丁看。奥丁看见金环,觉得它很美,便从财宝中取出来,随后将黄金交给赫瑞德玛。赫瑞德玛尽可能地将水獭皮囊填满,装满后便把它竖了起来。奥丁随后上前,用黄金覆盖皮囊,接着让赫瑞德玛查看,皮囊是否已被全部盖住。赫瑞德玛仔细察看,发现还有一根胡须露在外面,便要求把它也盖住,否则他们的和解便告作废。于是奥丁取出金环,盖住那根胡须,说他们如今已偿清了水獭的赔偿金。等奥丁拿回自己的长矛,洛基拿回自己的鞋子,不必再有所畏惧时,洛基便说,安德瓦利的话必将应验:这枚金环和这些黄金,都将使拥有它们的人丧命。后来果然如此。如今已经讲明,黄金为何被称为水獭的赔偿金、阿萨神族被迫缴纳的赎金,或纷争之金属。
关于黄金,还有什么可讲的?赫瑞德玛收下黄金,作为儿子的偿命金,法夫尼尔和雷金则要求分得一些,作为兄弟的偿命金。赫瑞德玛连一个钱也不肯分给他们。兄弟俩于是生出恶念,为夺黄金杀了父亲。随后雷金要求法夫尼尔将黄金与他平分。法夫尼尔回答说,他既然为了黄金连父亲都杀了,就别指望他会把黄金分给兄弟;他又命雷金离开,否则就让他落得赫瑞德玛同样的下场。法夫尼尔这时拿了赫瑞德玛原有的一顶头盔,戴在头上。这顶头盔叫作恐惧之盔,一切生灵见了都会害怕。他还拿了那柄名叫赫罗蒂的剑。雷金则拿着名叫雷菲尔的短剑。他随即逃走了,法夫尼尔则上到格尼塔荒原,在那里筑起巢穴,化作巨蛇,盘踞在黄金之上。
雷金来到蒂奥德的希亚尔普雷克国王那里,做了他的铁匠。他在那里收养了西格尔德。西格尔德的父亲是沃尔松之子西格蒙德,母亲是埃利米之女希约尔迪丝。无论论出身、力量还是勇气,西格尔德都是所有征战之王中最出众的。雷金告诉他法夫尼尔盘踞黄金的所在,怂恿他去夺取黄金。随后雷金铸成了那柄名叫格拉姆剑的宝剑。它锋利无比,西格尔德将剑探入流水,一团顺流漂向剑刃的羊毛便被切成两半。接着,西格尔德用这柄剑将雷金的铁砧直劈到底下的木座中。此后,西格尔德和雷金前往格尼塔荒原。西格尔德在法夫尼尔必经的路上挖了一个坑,藏身其中。法夫尼尔爬去饮水,经过坑的上方时,西格尔德便举剑刺穿了它的身体,使它丧了命。
雷金随后走过来,说西格尔德杀了他的兄弟,要求他取出法夫尼尔的心,放在火上烤,作为和解的条件。雷金自己则俯下身去,喝了法夫尼尔的血,随后躺下睡了。西格尔德烤着心,觉得大概已经熟透,便用手指去摸,试试它有多硬。心上冒出的汁沫流到手指上,烫伤了他,他便把手指放进嘴里。心血一碰到舌头,他就通晓了鸟语,听懂了栖在树上的鳾鸟所说的话。一只鸟说道:
西格尔德坐在那里,
浑身溅满鲜血,
把法夫尼尔的心
放在火上烤;
在我看来,分赠金环的人
若吃下那闪亮的
生命之筋,
才算明智。
另一只说道:雷金躺在那里,
心中暗自盘算,
想要欺骗那位
信赖他的青年;
他满怀愤怒,
编造不实的言语,
这作恶之人
想为兄弟报仇。
于是西格尔德走到雷金身边,杀了他,然后来到自己的马格拉尼那里,骑马来到法夫尼尔的巢穴,取出黄金,捆成驮包,装到格拉尼背上,自己也骑了上去,随后继续赶路。如今已经讲明,黄金被称为法夫尼尔的巢穴或住所、格尼塔荒原的金属,或格拉尼的负载,背后有怎样的故事。
西格尔德继续骑行,直到在山上发现一座房屋。里面睡着一个女人,戴着头盔,穿着锁子甲。他拔出剑,割开她身上的锁子甲。她随即醒来,自称希尔德。她又被称为布伦希尔德,是一位女武神。西格尔德骑马离开那里,来到名叫吉尤基的国王处。他的妻子名叫格里姆希尔德。他们的孩子是贡纳尔、霍格尼、古德伦和古德妮。古特霍姆是吉尤基的继子。西格尔德在那里住了很久。后来,他娶了吉尤基之女古德伦,贡纳尔和霍格尼则与西格尔德立誓结为兄弟。
此后,西格尔德和吉尤基的儿子们前往布德利之子阿特利那里,为贡纳尔求娶阿特利的妹妹布伦希尔德。她住在欣达尔山上,厅堂四周环绕着腾跃的火焰。她曾立誓,只嫁给敢骑马穿过这片火焰的人。于是西格尔德和吉尤基的子孙们——他们也被称为尼伯龙根——骑马上山,要由贡纳尔骑马穿过火焰。他有一匹名叫戈蒂的马,可那匹马不敢跃入火中。于是西格尔德和贡纳尔交换了容貌,也交换了名字,因为格拉尼只肯让西格尔德一人骑乘。随后西格尔德跃上格拉尼,骑马穿过了火焰。当天晚上,他与布伦希尔德举行了婚礼。两人上床时,他便拔出格拉姆剑,放在他们中间。早晨,他起身穿衣时,将洛基从安德瓦利那里夺来的金环送给布伦希尔德,作为新婚赠礼,又从她手上取下另一枚指环,作为纪念。西格尔德随后跃上坐骑,回到同伴那里。他与贡纳尔再次交换容貌,然后带着布伦希尔德回到吉尤基家。西格尔德与古德伦生有两个孩子,西格蒙德和斯万希尔德。
有一次,布伦希尔德和古德伦去水边洗亮头发。到了河边,布伦希尔德离岸涉入河中,说她不愿让从古德伦头发上流下的水沾到自己头上,因为她嫁的丈夫更有勇气。古德伦便跟着她走进河里,说自己才有资格在上游洗头,因为她的丈夫,无论贡纳尔还是世上任何人,都无法与他比肩勇武:他杀了法夫尼尔和雷金,取得了他们两人的遗产。布伦希尔德回答:“贡纳尔骑马穿过了腾跃的火焰,这比什么都值得称道,西格尔德却不敢。”古德伦笑着说:“你以为骑马穿过火焰的是贡纳尔吗?我想,与你同床的人,正是把这枚金环送给我的人。至于你戴在手上、作为新婚赠礼收下的那枚金环,它名叫安德瓦拉诺特。我想,贡纳尔可没有到格尼塔荒原去取过它。”布伦希尔德便不再说话,回家去了。
此后,她怂恿贡纳尔和霍格尼杀死西格尔德。但他们与西格尔德立过誓,便转而怂恿自己的兄弟古特霍姆去杀他。古特霍姆趁西格尔德熟睡,用剑刺穿了他的身体。西格尔德受创之际,将格拉姆剑朝他掷去,把他拦腰斩成两段。西格尔德就此死去,他那名叫西格蒙德的三岁儿子也被他们杀了。随后布伦希尔德用剑自尽,与西格尔德一同火葬。贡纳尔和霍格尼于是取得了法夫尼尔的遗产和安德瓦拉诺特,统治着他们的国土。
布德利之子阿特利国王是布伦希尔德的兄弟,他娶了西格尔德的遗孀古德伦,两人生了孩子。阿特利国王邀请贡纳尔和霍格尼前来做客,他们便应邀前往。离家之前,他们把法夫尼尔遗下的黄金藏进莱茵河,此后那些黄金再也没有被找到。阿特利国王预先在那里部署了军队,与贡纳尔和霍格尼交战,将他们生擒。阿特利国王命人把霍格尼的心脏从活生生的身体里剜出来,霍格尼就这样死了。他又命人把贡纳尔扔进蛇窟,但有人暗中给贡纳尔送去一把竖琴。贡纳尔双手被缚,便用脚趾弹奏。他弹得所有的蛇都睡着了,只有一条毒蛇例外。那条蛇向他窜来,咬穿他的胸骨下端,将头钻进胸腔,咬住他的肝脏不放,直到他死去。贡纳尔和霍格尼被称为尼伯龙根族人,也被称为吉尤基族人。因此,黄金被称为尼伯龙根族的宝藏或遗产。
不久之后,古德伦杀死了自己的两个儿子,命人用金银镶饰他们的头骨,制成饮器,随后为尼伯龙根族举行丧宴。在宴会上,古德伦命人用这些饮器给阿特利国王斟上蜜酒,酒中掺了两个男孩的血;她又命人把他们的心脏烤熟,给国王吃。等这些事都做完,她才用许多恶毒的话亲口告诉他。宴上烈酒充足,大多数人都坐在原处睡着了。那天夜里,她和霍格尼的儿子来到熟睡的国王身边,向他挥下利刃,将他杀死。随后,两人放火焚烧厅堂,里面的人都被烧死了。
此后,她来到海边,跳进海里,想要自尽,却被海水冲过峡湾,漂到了约纳克国王的领土。国王看见她,便收留了她,娶她为妻。他们生了三个儿子,名叫索尔利、哈姆迪尔和埃尔普。他们的头发都像乌鸦一样黑,如同贡纳尔、霍格尼和其他尼伯龙根族人一样。西格尔德青年的女儿斯万希尔德也在那里长大,她是所有女子中最美的。
强大的约尔蒙雷克国王听说了她,便派自己的儿子兰德韦尔前去替他求婚。兰德韦尔到了约纳克那里,斯万希尔德便被交到他手中,由他带去见约尔蒙雷克国王。这时,比基伯爵说,兰德韦尔娶斯万希尔德更合适,因为他们两人都年轻,而约尔蒙雷克已经老了。这两个年轻人很赞同这个主意。紧接着,比基就把这件事告诉了国王。约尔蒙雷克国王于是命人抓住自己的儿子,押往绞架。兰德韦尔拿起自己的鹰,拔掉它的羽毛,吩咐人把它送给父亲,随后便被绞死了。约尔蒙雷克国王看见那只鹰,便想到:这只鹰失去羽毛,无法飞翔,就像他自己年老无子,王国也已无力自持。
后来,约尔蒙雷克国王带着侍从打猎归来,骑马走出森林,看见斯万希尔德正坐在那里晾晒头发。他们便纵马冲向她,将她践踏在马蹄之下,直到她死去。
古德伦听说这件事,便激励儿子们为斯万希尔德报仇。他们准备出发时,她给了他们极为坚固的锁子甲和头盔,铁刃无法伤及分毫。她为他们定下计策:到了约尔蒙雷克国王那里,要在夜里趁他熟睡时上前,由索尔利和哈姆迪尔砍去他的手脚,埃尔普砍下他的头。
他们上路后,问埃尔普,倘若遇上约尔蒙雷克国王,他能给他们什么帮助。他回答说,他能给予的帮助,就像手给予脚的帮助。他们说,脚根本用不着手来支撑。母亲送他们出门时说了许多怨毒的话,他们对她十分愤怒,想做一件最能使她痛苦的事,便杀死了埃尔普,因为她最疼爱他。不久,索尔利走路时一只脚滑了一下,便用手撑住身体。他说:“这下手帮了脚。埃尔普若还活着就好了。”
他们夜里来到约尔蒙雷克国王熟睡的地方,砍掉他的手脚。他醒来,呼喊自己的部下,叫他们醒来。哈姆迪尔这时说:“埃尔普若还活着,这颗头现在也已经落地了。”侍从们起身围攻他们,却无法用兵器伤到他们。约尔蒙雷克于是高喊,要用石头砸他们。众人照办了,索尔利和哈姆迪尔便在那里死去。至此,吉尤基的整个家族和后裔也都死绝了。因此,锁子甲被称为哈姆迪尔和索尔利的衣服或衣裳。
西格尔德青年死后,留下一个女儿,名叫阿斯劳格,在赫吕姆达利尔的海米尔家中抚养成人,许多显赫的家族都出自她。相传,沃尔松之子西格蒙德强健无比,喝下毒液也不会受伤;他的儿子辛菲特利和西格尔德的皮肤则坚韧无比,即使毒液从外面接触他们裸露的身体,也不会伤害他们。因此,诗人布拉吉这样吟道:
那时,古老利特的舟民之
搏斗使者的钩上,
盘曲的鳗鱼蜷缩着悬挂,
那是沃尔松族之饮中的鳗鱼。
大多数诗人都曾依据这些故事作诗,从中选取不同的片段。老布拉吉在为拉格纳·洛德布罗克所作的颂诗中,吟咏了索尔利和哈姆迪尔的覆亡:
约尔蒙雷克从一场
噩梦中惊醒,
周围是染血的人群,
刀剑的洪流翻涌;
劳德韦尔首要后裔的
厅堂里爆发了争斗,
乌鸦般黝黑的埃尔普兄弟
前来报偿悲苦。
尸体的露水伴着
进攻精灵的鲜血,漫过厅中座席,
地板上清晰可见
砍落的手脚;
武士头朝下跌进
混着鲜血的酒碗之泉,
这一幕画在莱菲之土的
叶片之上。
人们在那里看见
那被围住的君王,
厅堂之舟的首领身旁,
钉船的无钉盾帆之桅挺立;
不久,索尔利和哈姆迪尔
这对同谋的兄弟,
便被赫尔高特爱侣的
坚硬肩骨砸倒。
钢铁洪流的挥洒者下令
狠狠击打吉尤基的后裔,
因为他们想要夺去
福格尔希尔德爱人的性命;
蓝衫桦树的美丽道路
迸出石弹,众人以此
回报约纳克儿子们的
额上重击与锋刃。
我看见这场覆亡画在
武士美丽的盾面之上。
拉格纳赠我战车之月,
还有许许多多的故事。
黄金为什么被称为弗罗迪的面粉?这要说到下面这个故事。奥丁有一个儿子,名叫斯基约尔德,斯基约尔德王族就是他的后裔。他居住并统治的土地,如今叫丹麦,那时却叫哥特兰。斯基约尔德有个儿子,名叫弗里德莱夫,在他之后统治这片土地。弗里德莱夫的儿子名叫弗罗迪。他继承父亲王位的时候,正值奥古斯都皇帝使全世界归于和平之时,基督便在那时降生。因为弗罗迪是北方诸国最强大的国王,所有说丹麦语的地方都把这场和平归功于他,人们称之为弗罗迪之和平。谁都不会伤害别人,即使遇见杀父或杀兄弟的仇人,无论仇人自由自在还是被捆绑着,也都如此。那时也没有窃贼或强盗,一只金环在耶林荒原上放了很久,都无人拿走。
弗罗迪国王应邀去瑞典拜访一位名叫菲约尔尼尔的国王。在那里,他买下两个女奴,名叫芬妮雅和梅尼娅。她们身材高大,力气惊人。当时,丹麦发现了两块磨石,大得无人有力气推动。这副磨具有一种特性:磨的人说要磨出什么,它就会磨出什么。它名叫格罗蒂。把这副磨献给弗罗迪国王的人,名叫亨吉克约夫特。弗罗迪国王命人把两个女奴带到磨旁,叫她们磨黄金。她们照办了,起初为弗罗迪磨出黄金、和平与幸福。他只许她们在杜鹃不啼的时候,或唱完一首歌的工夫里休息睡觉。据说,她们唱起了那些被称为《格罗蒂之歌》的诗篇,开头是这样的:
如今我们已来到
国王的屋宇,
两个能预知未来的女子,
芬妮雅和梅尼娅;
在弗里德莱夫之子
弗罗迪的家中,
这两个强壮的姑娘
被当作奴婢。
歌还没有唱完,她们就磨出了一支攻打弗罗迪的军队。就在那天夜里,一个名叫米辛的海王来到这里,杀死弗罗迪,夺走了大量战利品。弗罗迪之和平就此终结。米辛带走了格罗蒂,也带走了芬妮雅和梅尼娅,叫她们磨盐。到了半夜,她们问米辛,盐是不是已经够多,叫他厌烦了。他让她们继续磨。她们只又磨了一小会儿,船就沉了下去。此后,那里留下一个海中漩涡,海水不断流进磨眼。从此,海水变咸了。
黄金为什么被称为克拉基的种子?丹麦有一位国王,名叫赫罗尔夫·克拉基。他是古代国王中最负盛名的一位,首先是因为慷慨、勇武和谦逊。有一件事很能说明他的谦逊,人们常常讲述这个故事。有个贫穷的小男孩,名叫沃格,来到赫罗尔夫国王的厅堂。当时国王还年轻,身材瘦削。沃格走到他面前,抬头打量他。国王说:“孩子,你这样看着我,想说什么?”
沃格说:“我在家时,听说赫莱德拉的赫罗尔夫国王是北方诸国最伟大的人。可如今坐在这里高座上的,只是一根小小的细杆,你们却称他为国王。”
国王回答:“孩子,你给了我一个名字,我从此就叫赫罗尔夫·克拉基。按照惯例,命名总该附上一件礼物。如今看来,你没有什么能让我喜欢的东西,可以送给我作命名礼。那么,就让有东西的人送给另一个人吧。”说着,他从手上取下一只金环,送给了男孩。
沃格说:“愿你成为所有国王中最有福的施赠者!我在此立誓:谁杀死你,我就杀死谁。”
国王笑着说:“一点小东西就能让沃格欢喜。”
关于赫罗尔夫·克拉基的勇武,还讲述过这样一件事:当时有一位名叫阿迪尔斯的国王统治乌普萨拉。他娶了赫罗尔夫·克拉基的母亲于尔莎。他与统治挪威的阿利国王不和。两人约定在名叫维尼的湖上交战,战场就在湖面的冰上。阿迪尔斯国王派人向他的姻亲赫罗尔夫·克拉基传话,请他前来助战,许诺在远征期间给他的全军支付军饷,而国王本人则可以从瑞典任选三件珍宝归己。赫罗尔夫国王正与萨克森人交战,无法亲自前去,但仍把自己的十二名狂战士派给了阿迪尔斯。其中有贝德瓦尔·比亚尔基、勇敢的希亚尔蒂、骁勇的赫维特塞尔克、沃特、韦塞蒂,以及斯维普达格和贝古德兄弟。在那场战斗中,阿利国王阵亡,他的军队也死伤大半。阿迪尔斯国王从他的尸身上取走了名叫希尔迪斯温的头盔,又夺得他的马赫拉芬。
随后,赫罗尔夫·克拉基的狂战士们要求领取军饷,每人三磅黄金,此外还要求把他们替赫罗尔夫·克拉基挑选的珍宝带回去。那是名叫希尔迪戈尔特的头盔和名叫芬斯莱夫的铠甲,铁器都伤不了它们,还有一枚叫作斯维亚格里斯的金环,是阿迪尔斯的祖先世代相传的。可是国王不肯交出任何珍宝,也不支付军饷。狂战士们愤愤不平地离去,把事情原委告诉了赫罗尔夫·克拉基。他立即动身前往乌普萨拉。他把船驶入菲里河之后,便骑马前往乌普萨拉,十二名狂战士随他同行,个个都未获安全保证。他的母亲于尔莎迎接他,把他领到住处,并未带他进入国王的大厅。有人为他们生起火,又送来啤酒供他们饮用。
这时,阿迪尔斯国王的手下走进来,往火上添柴,把火烧得极旺,以至赫罗尔夫一行人的衣服都烧了起来。他们说道:“赫罗尔夫·克拉基和他的狂战士既不躲火,也不躲铁器,这是真的吗?”赫罗尔夫·克拉基和他的同伴们全都跳了起来。他说道:
让我们再添旺火焰,
烧在阿迪尔斯的屋中。
他拿起盾牌,扔到火上,趁盾牌燃烧时跃过火堆,又说道:
跃过火焰的人,
并没有逃避火焰。
他的手下一个接一个地照做,还抓住那些添火的人,把他们扔进火里。
这时于尔莎来了,把一只盛满黄金的兽角交给赫罗尔夫·克拉基,同时交给他斯维亚格里斯金环,叫他们骑马离去,回到军队那里。他们跃上马背,向下驰往菲里原野。这时他们看见阿迪尔斯国王带着全副武装的军队追来,要杀死他们。赫罗尔夫·克拉基便伸右手到兽角里抓出黄金,沿路撒得遍地都是。瑞典人见状,纷纷跳下马鞍,各自尽力拾取。阿迪尔斯国王叫他们继续追赶,自己也策马疾驰。他的马名叫斯伦格维尔,是所有马中跑得最快的。赫罗尔夫·克拉基见阿迪尔斯国王渐渐追近,便拿出斯维亚格里斯金环,向他扔去,叫他收下这份礼物。阿迪尔斯国王骑到金环旁,伸出矛尖挑起它,让它滑到矛头的銎管上。赫罗尔夫·克拉基回头,看见他俯下身去,便说道:“如今我已叫瑞典人中最有权势的人像猪一样弯下腰了。”两人就此分开。因此,黄金被称作克拉基的种子,或菲里原野的种子。
败诗者埃温德这样吟道:
战葱的乌勒尔啊,在哈康
有生之年的每个时候,
我们都曾在鹰的山峦上
佩戴菲里原野的种子。
正如提约多尔夫所吟:
君王向自己的近臣撒下
于尔莎之子的种子,
把明亮的环犁过的谷粒
撒在知腕者的陡峭田地上。
无可指责的国土之主
把克拉基闪亮的麦粒,
把鹰的籽实,倾给我,
落在我肩土的肉地上。
据说,霍洛加兰因之得名的霍尔吉国王,是索尔格尔德·霍尔加布鲁德的父亲。他们父女二人都受人祭祀。霍尔吉的坟丘是一层黄金或白银、一层泥土和石块交替堆成的;那些金银就是祭物。斯库利·索尔斯泰因松这样吟道:
当我在斯沃尔德前,为求财富,
染红雷夫尼尔屋顶的火焰,
我便将随军的霍尔吉的墓顶
化作金环,一一聚拢。
古老的《比亚尔基之歌》中列举了许多黄金的名称。其中这样说道:
最慷慨的君王
厚赐他的侍从,
以芬妮雅的苦役,
法夫尼尔的米德加尔特,
格拉希尔的灿灿树叶,
格拉尼的美丽负载,
德罗普尼尔的珍贵汗滴,
格拉夫维特尼尔的绒毛。
豪爽的君王分发,
人们伸手领受,
希芙头顶的系物,
弓弦之苦的冰层,
悲伤的水獭赔金,
玛尔德尔的眼泪,
奥伦的火焰,
伊迪闪亮的话语。
赐战者使众人欢喜,
我们走着,衣饰华美;
那敢于作战的君王,
以夏基议会的裁断,
以莱茵河的红色矿石,
以尼伯龙根的纷争,
使众多的军士欢喜。
他却没有护住巴德尔。
在代称中,黄金被称为手、关节或臂的火,因为它是红色的;白银则被称为雪、冰或霜,因为它是白色的。同样,黄金或白银也可以用钱袋、坩埚或熔渣来构成代称。白银和黄金都可以称作手的石头,或某个惯常佩戴项链之人的颈饰。项链和环既可以是银的,也可以是金的,除非另有说明。正如俊美的索尔莱克所吟:
君王把坩埚的载物
掷向正直的臣下闪亮的鹰栖地;
年轻的君主赐下
臂膀的余烬。
也如鳞响者埃纳尔所吟:
在陆地上英勇的君王
能使隆德的腕火消损。
我想,君主的战士们
不会缺少莱茵河的石头。
埃纳尔·斯库拉松这样吟道:
钱袋之岩的血焰两旁,
各有一片雪与火的海域;
我须赞颂这两者,
也赞颂那使珍宝受苦的人。
他又这样吟道:
每日,海火都在
坩埚的白雪堆上喧腾;
海提之马的舷盾之主
怀有慷慨的心。
鳗鱼鸣响之路的火焰
永远不能熔去碗中的雪;
那击倒众军的人
施尽一切慷慨。
这里,黄金被称为鳗鱼鸣响之路的火焰,而白银被称为碗中的雪。梅里诗人索尔德这样吟道:
赫尔莫德在挥霍金线的人身上,
看见了自己的好父亲;
那欢然送出臂上熔岩的人,
本来拥有蛇的卧榻。
男子被称为黄金的折断者,正如黑色的奥塔尔所吟:
我须得到那折断炭火者
在战斗中的善意相助。
这里,贤明的君王身边,
满是精力充沛的近臣。
或称黄金的送出者,正如鳞响者埃纳尔所吟:
黄金的送出者让大地
承受尤克的蜜酒;
君王使勇士的军队欢喜,
我能得到他的敬重。
黄金的抛掷者,正如索尔莱克所吟:
黄金的抛掷者以作为
使君王的侍从忠于自己。
黄金的仇敌,正如布兰达诗人索尔瓦尔德所吟:
黄金的仇敌抛出
臂膀的炭火;国王赐下红色财富;
恶徒的毁灭者挥洒
格拉尼的负载。
黄金的慷慨施予者,如这里所吟:
我遇见了黄金的慷慨施予者;
为战火之路的火焰之树,
已编成这首十节颂歌,
歌咏那阵雨。
女子可以用黄金来构成代称,被称作黄金的柳树,正如哈尔的斯泰因所吟:
芦苇绳索之路的琥珀抛掷者,
将长久思念那柳树,
她属于维德布林迪野猪的
冰冷咸田中的黄金。
这里把鲸称为维德布林迪的野猪。他是一个巨人,在外海拖捕鲸鱼,如同捕鱼。鲸的田地就是海,海的琥珀就是黄金。女子是她所赠黄金的柳树,而柳树也是树的一种名称。正如前面所写,女子可以用各种阴性树名来构成代称。她也被称为她所赠之物的倒木。倒木也是林中倒下的树的名称。蛇舌贡劳格这样吟道:
女子生来便使世人的孩子
陷入争端;战斗之树造成此事。
我曾热切渴望
拥有那财富的倒木。
女子被称为树林。哈尔的斯泰因这样吟道:
我用诗歌的钻子雕成
麦酒船首的碧尔;
精于副歌船首之作的我,
雕出酒碗的美丽树林。
也称木杆,正如斯泰因又吟道:
苗条的、海流之火的
守护女神啊,你也会像
其他许多木杆一样,
为希亚德宁之石的命运挣扎。
也称支架。奥尔姆·斯泰因索尔松这样吟道:
峡湾之骨的支架
穿上了极为洁净的衣裳。
矛尖的弗雷为蜜酒的赫莉丝特
披上了新衣。
也称支柱,正如斯泰纳尔所吟:
关于温柔的辛,关于项链
柔软的卧榻,我所有的梦都说了谎;
那条河月的转动支柱
使我平静了下来。
也称桦树,正如奥尔姆又吟道:
因为我已把标记刻在
比林之子的满杯上,
献给掌心空处鸣响之火的桦树;
如今我将它呈上。
也称橡树,如这里所吟:
黄金的橡树盛装而立,
阻碍着我们的欢娱。
也称椴树,如这里所吟:
勇于临危的金属骤雨的榆树啊,
我们的勇气不应消减;
那亚麻的椴树
在陆地上曾这样嘱咐。
男子可以用树木来构成代称,正如前面所写,被称为武器或战斗、旅途或行动、船只以及他所掌管和尝试的一切事物的花楸树。乌尔夫·乌加松这样吟道:
大地之腿的僵硬绳索
从船舷前怒目凝视
大地军众的花楸树,
眼光闪耀,喷吐毒液。
也称树木和大树,正如科尔马克所吟:
杀戮之枝的大树
在矛声中胜过众人;
刀剑为好战的
西格尔德雅尔赢得土地。
也称树林。难诗者哈尔弗雷德这样吟道:
乌勒尔的白蜡树干们
在东方深有所恃:
那强大的盾害栽培之林,
发间萌生枝叶。
这里也提到了树干。也称灌木。阿尔诺尔这样吟道:
在秋夜的开端,
吕吉尔人灌木的主人命人合起盾牌;
争战之云的雨
整整下了一夜。
也称白蜡树,正如雷夫所吟:
慷慨的疾驰弗雷步入
哈尔之雪的少女那洒金的床榻;
那棵白蜡树
已获得充足的成长。
也称枫树,如这里所吟:
“愿你平安归来!”
臂冰的枫树这样向铠甲致意。
也称树,正如雷夫所吟:
我决意向索尔斯泰因,
向军阵的威慑者,献上全部战歌;
刀剑之树
使我作出了这个决定。
也称杖,正如奥塔尔所吟:
凶猛的恐怖之杖啊,你果断勇敢,
你抗击两位君王,守住国土;
在那里,乌鸦不曾挨饿,
你对抗世人的族类。
也称荆棘,正如阿尔诺尔所吟:
年轻的财富荆棘
为雄鹰垒起沉重的尸堆;
侍从们把阵亡者的坡地
献给使鹰饱食的人。
该如何用代称指称战斗?可以称它为武器、盾牌、奥丁、女武神或战王的风暴,也可以称它为喧声或轰鸣。霍恩克洛菲如此吟道:
君王在人群间掀起
长矛的暴风,那里
伤口流血,染红的伤口之鹅
在斯科古尔的轰鸣中嘶叫。
埃温德如此吟道:
那位勇士
在哈尔的风暴中
身披灌木面具者的
灰黑衣衫。
贝尔西如此吟道:
从前,我们尚且年轻时,
据说我曾被视为
善于应对赫拉克的飞雪,
堪与战火之树并肩。
埃纳尔如此吟道:
勇敢的君王让希尔德之帆
迎住贡杜尔最猛烈的鸣风,
亚麻布噼啪作响,那里
弓弦的冰雹纷纷落下。
埃纳尔·斯卡拉格拉姆如此吟道:
胜利之桦的衣衫,
在哈尔喧声与霍格尼骤雨中,
未能严密庇护
那些战斗的贵人。
又如这里所吟:
须将矛尖之网的边绳
迎向矛尖轰鸣的激荡者。
还有这一段:
在君王的贡杜尔轰鸣中,
仇敌倒在雄鹰爪下。
武器和铠甲应以战斗、奥丁、女武神和战王来构成代称。头盔可称为帽子或头巾,锁子甲可称为长衫或衬衣,盾牌可称为帐篷,而盾阵可称为厅堂、屋顶、墙壁和地板。盾牌也可借战船来命名和构成代称,称为船的太阳、月亮、叶片、闪光或围墙。盾牌也可称为乌勒尔的船,或借赫朗格尼尔的脚来构成代称,因为他曾站在盾牌上。古时常在盾牌上画一道边纹,称为环,盾牌的代称也由这道环而来。劈砍的武器,斧或剑,称为鲜血之火或伤口之火。剑称为奥丁之火,斧则用女巨人的名字命名,并借鲜血、伤口、树林或树木来构成代称。刺击的武器宜以蛇或鱼来构成代称。投射的武器多借冰雹、飞雪或暴雨来构成代称。这些代称都有种种变化,因为颂诗中所吟咏的,多半都用得上这些代称。维加—格卢姆如此吟道:
军队戴着悬吊之神的帽子,
不愿走上山坡;
他们觉得以身犯险
并非可喜之事。
埃纳尔·斯卡拉格拉姆如此吟道:
头裹盔巾、勇于交锋的西格瓦尔迪,
邀人前来交战,
还有从南方赶来、投身贡恩喧声的
勇猛战士布伊。
罗迪的长衫,如廷德所吟:
当披甲之树不得不抛下
悬吊者缀环鸣响的长衫,
罗迪之地的奔马
便被杀得空无一人。
哈姆迪尔的衬衣,如哈尔弗雷德所吟:
在外面,埃吉尔武器的鸣雹
砸在哈姆迪尔的衬衣上,
在海兽上那些英勇的树木间,
猛烈迸发不小的巨响。
索尔利的衣裳,仍如他所吟:
从此,战士们明亮的索尔利衣裳,
我已确切得知,
在伤口之火的缰绳骤雨中,
都被鲜血染红。
赫拉克的帐篷,如格雷蒂尔所吟:
举起赫拉克帐篷的人们,
将希尔德之墙的鼻端紧紧相抵,
风暴中的尼约德们
挥斧劈向彼此的胡须。
罗迪的屋顶,如埃纳尔所吟:
奥德尔卧伴眼中的坚冰,
在罗迪屋顶的雨中
并不减少;愿那国王
得享高寿。
希尔德的墙壁,如格雷蒂尔所吟,上文已录。船的太阳,如埃纳尔所吟:
奥拉夫的族人将船上太阳的火焰
染红在海上。
船舷的月亮,如雷夫所吟:
那一天真美好,
臂上火焰的投掷者们
把美丽的船舷月亮送到我手中,
挂在臂环悬垂的道路上。
船的围墙,如这里所吟:
那壮大长矛喧声的人,
在战斗中如此凶猛,
一箭穿透船上涂彩的石墙,
如同穿透桦树皮。
乌勒尔的白蜡树,如提奥多尔夫所吟:
乌勒尔之船的暴雪
猛烈地围住君王,
那里,共钉的桅杆摇荡,
披着剑鞘里的帆布。
赫朗格尼尔脚掌的叶片,如布拉吉所吟:
赫拉夫恩凯蒂尔,你愿听我
如何赞颂那块色泽鲜明的叶片——
索鲁德窃贼脚掌下的叶片,
以及那位君王吗?
诗人布拉吉曾如此吟咏盾牌上的环:
除非西格尔德那闻名的儿子
愿如此酬谢我,
赠来那鸣响而有环毂的
霍格尼女儿之轮的厚礼。
他称盾牌为希尔德之轮,称环为轮毂。环之地,如哈尔瓦尔德所吟:
君王看见泛着红光、周缘弯曲的
环之地,在矛尖行列中
裂成两半飞开;
白色的盾牌迸裂了。
又有这样的诗句:
环最适合安在盾上,
箭最适合搭在弓上。
剑是奥丁之火,如科尔马克所吟:
当那挑起战争的人手持
高鸣的高特之火前进,
格莉德坐骑的欢喜饲养者掀起大战,
战斗沸腾了。乌尔德走出了泉水。
头盔之火,如乌尔夫·乌加松所吟:
山峦中力大无穷的希尔德
使海上的斯雷普尼尔向前奔行,
而霍罗普特那些强健的头盔之火
将她的坐骑打倒。
锁子甲之火,如格卢姆·盖拉松所吟:
大地的守护者让磨石磨薄的
锁子甲鸣火呼啸,
他凭着坚韧的性命
抵御众多敌人。
盾缘之冰与盾牌之害,如埃纳尔所吟:
我从正直的君王手中
接过红盾之冰,
它沾着芙蕾雅眼睑的暖风;
我手持头盔之害。
斧称为盾牌的女巨人,如埃纳尔所吟:
雷菲尔陆地骏马的骑乘者们,
尽可看清那些雕刻精美的龙,
如何横卧在头盔的格莉德
闪亮的目光之前。
矛称为蛇,如雷夫所吟:
我这凶猛的盾缘暗龙,
在众人相逢之处,
能在人的掌上
恣意嬉游。
箭称为弓、弦、盾牌或战斗的冰雹,如埃纳尔·斯卡拉格拉姆所吟:
弓弦轰鸣中的勒格尼尔,
奋勇抖落赫拉克帆上的冰雹;
那不肯怜悯剑之恶狼的人,
保住了自己的性命。
哈尔弗雷德又吟道:
矛之罗塔的鹅的铁饰衣衫,
在弓弦的冰雹下,
未能庇护
悬吊者的饥饿消除者们。
诗人之敌埃温德又吟道:
霍达兰的守护者,人们说你
在锁子甲冰雹破入伤口时,
也少有心神动摇,
榆木弓都已弯曲。
战斗称为希亚德宁的风暴或骤雪,武器称为希亚德宁的火焰或枝条,这背后有一段故事。有一位名叫霍格尼的国王,他有个女儿,名叫希尔德。一位名叫赫定、希亚兰迪之子的国王将她掳走。当时霍格尼国王去参加诸王的会盟。他听说自己的国土遭到劫掠,女儿被人带走,便率领部众去寻找赫定,打听到他正沿海岸向北行进。霍格尼国王到了挪威,又听说赫定已向西驶过大海。于是霍格尼扬帆追赶,一直追到奥克尼群岛。他来到一个名叫哈岛的地方,赫定和他的部众已在那里。
希尔德前去见父亲,代表赫定献上项链求和;可她话锋一转,又说赫定已准备战斗,霍格尼休想得到他的半点宽容。霍格尼冷冷地回答女儿。她回到赫定那里,便告诉他霍格尼不肯和解,叫他备战。双方于是都登上岛屿,列好阵势。
赫定向自己的岳父霍格尼喊话,提出和解,并愿以大量黄金赔偿。霍格尼回答:“你若要和解,这话说得太迟了。我已拔出矮人打造的达因斯莱夫。它每次出鞘,必取一条人命;挥斩从不落空,被它割出的伤口也永不愈合。”
赫定说:“你夸耀的是剑,并非胜利。我认为,凡忠于主人的剑,都是好剑。”
于是他们展开了那场称为希亚德宁之战的战斗,厮杀了整整一天,傍晚两位国王各自回到船上。希尔德却在夜间走到阵亡者中间,以巫术唤醒了所有死去的人。第二天,两位国王又来到战场交战,前一天倒下的人也都一同参战。
这场战斗就这样日复一日地进行:所有倒下的人、留在战场上的武器和盾牌,都化作石头。天一亮,所有死者又站起来战斗,所有武器也都恢复可用。诗歌中说,希亚德宁的人们将这样一直等到诸神黄昏。诗人布拉吉依据这个故事,在《拉格纳尔·洛德布罗克颂歌》中作了诗。
战斗是奥丁的风暴,前文已有记述。维加—格卢姆如此吟道:
从前,我像诸位雅尔一样,
为自己开辟土地,此事传为话谈;
随我同行的,是维德里尔风暴之杖的
一株株树干。
这里将战斗称为维德里尔的风暴,将剑称为战斗之杖,将人称为剑的树干。这里同时借战斗与武器来构成人的代称。如此作诗,称为延展代称。盾牌是武器的土地,而运用新的比拟作诗时,武器便是这片土地上的冰雹或雨水。
该如何用代称指称船?可以称它为海王、大海、船队或风的马、兽或滑雪板。波浪的骏马,如霍恩克洛菲所吟:
那年少而决断严厉的清船者,
在潮水最高之时,
使浅色波浪骏马的船首
奋力冲入海浪。
盖蒂尔的马,埃林加—斯泰因如此吟道:
尽管人人都向诗人传报
南方将有战事,
我们仍兴高采烈,乐意以石块
装满这匹盖蒂尔的马。
斯韦迪的驯鹿:
斯温之子,求胜心切的人,
你驾着长舷的斯韦迪驯鹿来到;
海峡的走兽离岸而行,
驶上瑟尔西溪流的道路。
哈尔瓦尔德如此吟道。这里也称船为海峡的走兽,称大海为瑟尔西的溪流。索尔德·夏雷克松如此吟道:
他让太阳之板的骏马从北方
绕过西吉亚,迎浪颠簸。
吉尔菲之路上的狂风
将欢腾的船推过奥马尔南方。
随后,海鸟之路的骏马
将科尔姆特和阿格迪尔都留在船尾;
韭葱之马涉水
经过利斯塔。
这里将船称为太阳之板的马,将海称为吉尔菲的土地;海鸟之路是海,马是船,又称船为韭葱之马。桅杆称为韭葱。又如马库斯所吟:
海道的冬居者奋力涉过
峡湾蛇的积雪。
鲸鱼厅堂的怒牙者
跃过桅顶的峰峦。
洪流中的熊向前走上
海上滑雪板的古老道路。
那惯经风雨的支架之熊
冲破礁石的鸣响枷锁。
这里将船称为海道的熊。熊又称冬居者、怒牙者和雄熊,这里也称船为支架之熊。船也称为驯鹿,如哈尔瓦尔德所吟,前文已录;也称为鹿,如国王哈拉尔德·西格尔德松所吟:
船舷远远地绕过西西里,
我们当时意气风发。
这匹涂过焦油的平野之鹿载着勇士,
驶向美好的希望。
也称为驼鹿,如埃纳尔所吟:
仁厚的臂环驱散者,
我们备好了洪流中的驼鹿;
若无相应的馈赠,
战士便无法长久留在你身边。
水獭,如马尼所吟:
灰颊而低垂着头的老人,
你的力气已渐渐衰退,
你在海上的水獭中,
还能与勇士们一道做些什么?
狼,如雷夫所吟:
而耗散财宝的索尔斯泰因
听取了磨石之杖的争战言辞;
我忠于这位
船辊之狼的树木。
也称为公牛。船称为滑雪板、车或车乘。功业诗人埃约尔夫如此吟道:
那年轻人乘着梅蒂的滑雪板,
在一日将尽时,
率一支势均力敌的队伍,
去迎战外海渔场上英勇的领主。
斯蒂尔卡尔·奥达松如此吟道:
追随那尊贵的洪流之火驱散者,
霍格尼的部众勇猛地
驾着船辊之车,
驶向海蒂的积雪。
又如索尔比约恩所吟:
那位将海上车乘装满的人,
在洗礼的泉水中,
得到了纯白基督的最高恩宠,
他正是那位财宝驱散者。
应当怎样称说基督?可以称他为天地、天使与太阳的创造者,世界、天国与天使的主宰,诸天、太阳、天使、耶路撒冷、约旦与希腊的君王,使徒与圣徒的统治者。古时的诗人曾以乌尔德之泉和罗马来称说他,正如埃利夫·古德鲁纳尔松所吟:
据说他坐镇岩山之国,
在南方的乌尔德之泉旁;
罗马众神的强大君王,
如此巩固了对诸国的统治。
斯卡夫蒂·索罗德松这样吟道:
修士之主的力量
最为强大,神能成就万事。
强大的基督创造并建立了
整个世界,罗马的殿堂。
诸天之王,正如马库斯所吟:
风暴殿堂的君王创造大地与诸天,
也创造忠贞的众生;
唯有世人的统治者基督,
能够主宰一切。
埃利夫·库尔纳斯韦恩这样吟道:
世上的人群与众生,
向天穹之主的圣十字架俯首。
唯独太阳之王的纯洁,
胜过其余一切真正的荣光。
玛利亚之子,又如埃利夫所吟:
诸天的荣耀之众
向玛利亚的真子俯首;
众生的仁君施展权能,
他既是人,也是神。
天使之王,又如埃利夫所吟:
神之友的力量可贵,
比人们所能想象的更为强大。
然而慷慨的天使之王,
比一切都更神圣、更荣耀。
约旦之王,正如西格瓦特所吟:
昔日约旦之王,
曾从天上遣来四位天使;
当时泉水洗过这位君主
神圣的头发。
希腊人之王,正如阿尔诺尔所吟:
我向希腊与加尔达的英明守护者
献上祈祷,为那阵亡的
勇士求得恩惠。
我以此报答君王的赠礼。
埃利夫·库尔纳斯韦恩这样吟道:
诸天的荣耀赞颂世人的君主,
他是一切的君王。
这里,他先称基督为世人之王,继而又称他为一切之王。
埃纳尔·斯库拉松又吟道:
守护世人的主,
怀着光明的慈悲,
这包容全世界的主,
为英明的君王开启了天国。
这些隐喻称谓彼此重合,解读诗歌的人必须根据上下文,辨明诗中说的是哪一位君王。因为把米克拉加德的皇帝称为希腊人之王,是恰当的;把统治耶路撒冷之地的君王称为耶路撒冷之王,也同样恰当;还可以把罗马城的皇帝称为罗马之王,把统治英格兰的人称为英格兰人之王。然而前面所写的那一种称谓,即称基督为世人之王,也适用于任何君王。所有君王都可以恰当地称为国土的统治者、国土的守护者、国土的夺取者、侍从的首领,或国民的守护者。埃温德·斯卡尔达斯皮利尔这样吟道:
载货之神的
性命,
国土的统治者们
在厄格洛伊夺去。
又如格卢姆·盖拉松所吟:
君王头戴战盔,在约特人身上
染红了磨石的谷地。
在长矛的喧响中,
大地的守护者遭到了袭击。
正如肖多尔夫所吟:
愿这位高贵而欢欣的侍从之主,
把自己的遗产与祖传土地
留给儿子们;
这便是我的心愿。
正如埃纳尔所吟:
英勇而明智的国民守护者,
头颅的山峰上戴着蛇的头巾;
诗人在众人面前讲述
霍达兰君王的功业。
若一位君王之下另有纳贡的君王,也可以恰当地称他为众王之王。皇帝是君王中地位最高的,其次是统治一个国家的君王;在诗歌的一切隐喻称谓中,这些君王彼此平等。再其次,是称作雅尔或纳贡之王的人;在隐喻称谓中,他们与君王平等,只是纳贡之王不能称为一国之君。宫廷诗人阿尔诺尔这样吟咏索尔芬雅尔:
愿众人听闻,这位
果断的雅尔之王如何进攻。
这位威猛的君主迎击
众人的威慑者,从不疲倦。
在诗歌的隐喻称谓中,再其次是那些称作赫尔西尔的人。可以像称说君王或雅尔那样称说他们,称他们为黄金的折断者、财富的慷慨施予者、执旗者与军队的统率者,也可以称他们为队伍或战阵的先锋。因为每一位统治许多国土的一国之君,都会委派纳贡之王和雅尔,同他一起治理国土,在远离君王的地区依据当地法律裁断争讼,保卫国土免遭战乱;他们所作的裁决和施行的惩罚,应当与君王亲自施行的一样公正。
一个国家之内又有许多地区,君王惯常委派司法官,治理他交付其管辖的若干地区。这些人用丹麦语称作赫尔西尔或领地贵族,在萨克森称作伯爵,在英格兰称作男爵。他们也应当在交付其治理的领地内,公正地执法,尽职地保卫国土。若君王不在近旁,作战时就应当在他们面前举旗;此时,他们统率军队的权力便与君王或雅尔相同。
再其次,是那些称作霍尔德的人。他们是家世显贵、享有全部权利的农场主。可以称他们为财富的施予者、守护者,以及众人的调解者。这些隐喻称谓也适用于首领。
君王和雅尔身边随从的人,称作侍从和家臣;领地贵族也有向自己效忠的人,这些人在丹麦和瑞典称作侍从,在挪威称作家臣。他们同样宣誓效忠,如同侍从向君王宣誓一样。古时,君王的家臣通常称作侍从。索尔瓦尔德·布伦杜斯卡尔德这样吟道:
君王啊,愿你安康;
你那勇敢而奋战的家臣,
口中传诵着我的诗篇,
那精心写就的赞歌。
哈拉尔德·西格尔达松国王作了这首诗:
满怀力量的家臣队伍
紧随雅尔的脚跟,等待
君王宝座上的席位补齐;
我常觉得前来的人太少。
君王的侍从与首领的家臣,可以称作近侍、扈从,或受赐之士。西格瓦特这样吟道:
我听说,君王的扈从
近来曾在水上交战;
这场矛尖的风暴,
我认为绝不是微不足道的一战。
他又吟道:
在缆绳之马上,
兵刃相迎之际,
可不像有女子向这些
君王的受赐之士奉上蜜酒。
首领赐予的薪俸和礼物,称作酬赐之财。黑色奥塔尔这样吟道:
我需要得到战争火光
折断者的厚待。
英明君王的身旁,
有一群满怀勇气的近侍。
雅尔、赫尔西尔与侍从,也可以称作君王的密友、谈伴或同席者。哈尔弗雷德这样吟道:
君王善战的密友,喜爱勇举,
顷刻燃起怒火,
使霍格尼的锤子锻打的衣裳,
在自己身上铿然作响。
正如斯奈比约恩所吟:
君王的谈伴让舵索之木,
把钢铁舱盖之剑,
抵向船舷下方
坚硬的浪峰。
阿尔诺尔这样吟道:
我的幼子眼看着我,
为这位以征战闻名的君王同席者,
忍受着极深的悲苦;
愿这悲痛终于止息。
君王的谈伴,正如哈尔弗雷德所吟:
谋划终于实现,此后,
君王那善于谋断的谈伴,
得到了奥纳尔那
长满林木的独生女。
也应当依照亲族关系来称说人,正如科尔马克所吟:
愿希尔之子,那位
真正考验哈拉尔德的人倾听;
我向众人慷慨倾泻出
沼泽之齿的酵沫莱茵河。
他称雅尔为君王的真正考验者,又称哈康雅尔为西格尔德雅尔之子。而肖多尔夫这样吟咏哈拉尔德:
奥拉夫之父掀起的
铁刃风暴愈加强烈,
每一桩英勇的事迹,
都值得赞颂。
他又这样吟道:
雅里斯莱夫看见了,
君王的命运如何转折。
那位神圣君王的兄弟,
已挺身向前。
他又吟道:
那位出类拔萃的人
已经死去,
那是鹰栖之台的子孙,
哈拉尔德兄弟的儿子。
阿尔诺尔又在《勒格恩瓦尔德颂》中这样吟道:
海蒂那有益于军队的子孙,
决意同我结为姻亲。
与雅尔缔结的亲缘,
因此使我的声名大为增盛。
他又这样吟咏索尔芬雅尔:
在马恩岛南方,锋薄的剑刃
咬入盾下的躯体;
老勒格恩瓦尔德的后裔面前,
强大的军队在那里折损。
他又吟道:
愿神使权势极盛的
草皮埃纳尔那高贵的光宗耀祖者远离灾祸;
我为这位忠诚的贵重君王,
祈求慈悲。
埃纳尔·斯卡拉格拉姆又吟道:
希尔迪坦恩的族中,
不会再有比这位催发战威的家族支柱
更慷慨的人;
我有义务以赞歌维护他的声名。
诗歌中不使用隐喻的表达是怎样的?就是按每一种事物本来的名称称呼它。诗歌有哪些不含隐喻的名称?有布拉格、赫罗德、奥德、迈尔德和洛夫。老布拉吉在一个深夜乘车穿过一片树林时,吟了下面这首诗。当时,一个女巨魔向他吟诗发问,问经过那里的是谁:
人们称我为巨魔,
居所毁灭者的月亮,
巨人的财富吸取者,
暴风雨之太阳的灾殃,
女巫的良伴,
尸身大地的守护者,
天空之轮的吞食者。
若非如此,巨魔又是什么?
他这样回答:
人们称我为诗人,
维杜尔的心意铸造者,
高特赠礼的寻获者,
从不吝言的歌者,
伊格的啤酒侍者,
诗兴的创造者,
诗歌的巧匠。
若非如此,诗人又是什么?
又如科尔马克所吟:
我为西格勒德声名显赫的儿子
再作更多赞歌;
我献上神之海的酬礼。
索尔坐在战车之中。
又如索尔德·科尔贝恩松所吟:
这位不吝赞歌的盾牌之槭,
让许多战船、商船与长船
在海浪上轰鸣;
诗人的诗篇随之增长。
迈尔德,正如乌尔夫·乌加松所吟:
众人的赞歌至此流向海洋;
我先前已完成了
剑雨的颂诗,
如今我如此献上。
这里,诗歌被称作洛夫。
诸神有哪些名称?他们称作“纽带”,正如功业诗人埃约尔夫所吟:
慷慨许下长矛赌注的埃里克,
顺从诸神的心愿,将国土
置于自己治下,并发动战争。
也称作“束缚”,正如赫温的肖多尔夫所吟:
那欺诈的驯鹿,在众骨之间,
难以由诸神分割。
头戴战盔的诸神增荣者,
说这究竟是何缘故?
称作“众权能者”,正如埃纳尔·斯卡拉格拉姆所吟:
我说,力量大增的众神,
使哈康的统治愈加强盛。
称作“尤尔诸神”,正如埃温德所吟:
我们又酿成了
尤尔诸神的宴饮,
献给君王的赞歌,
如同一座石桥。
称作“迪亚尔”,正如科尔马克所吟:
大地的获得者以额带,
酬赠诸神峡湾的倾注者;
那额带束住了
挺直的桅顶。伊格施法求取琳德。
这里记下了天空的这些名称,但我们尚未在诗歌中找到所有这些称呼。我认为,对于这些诗歌用名以及其他同类名称,除非先在大诗人的作品中找到类似的用法,否则不宜用于诗歌。
天空:赫吕尔尼尔、海德索尔尼尔、赫雷格密米尔、安德朗格、利约斯法里、德里凡迪、斯卡提尔尼尔、维德法德米尔、韦特密米尔、雷夫特尔、赫廖德尔、维德布莱因。
太阳:苏娜、勒杜尔、埃格洛娅、阿尔斯基尔、叙尼、法格拉赫韦尔、利克恩斯金、德瓦林的玩伴、阿尔夫勒杜尔、伊夫勒杜尔、米林。
月亮:玛尼、新月、残月、纪年者、穆林、芬加里、格拉姆、斯金迪尔、斯基亚尔格、斯克拉姆。
大地有哪些名称?她称作“大地”,正如提约多尔夫所吟:
伯爵,这金环的摧折者,
常令矛尖之雨化作
猛烈的风暴,而后才把
大地压服在自己脚下。
“土地”,正如奥塔尔所吟:
战阵的巴德尔守卫土地,
少有国王能如此;
奥拉夫使鹰欢欣,
他是瑞典人英勇的君王。
“地面”,正如哈尔弗雷德所吟:
辽阔的地面受缚,伏在
海岛枷锁之路的树下;
砺石之地的霍德尔损耗珍宝,
以那施弄毒计的蛇。
“疆土”,正如埃纳尔所吟:
光辉君王麾下的勇士
以利剑奋力保卫疆土;
头盔常在狂暴的
锋刃风暴前迸裂。
“国土”,正如索尔德·科尔贝因松所吟:
战后,从北方的韦加起,
直至南方的阿格迪尔,国土
不久便归服了,或还更远——
那场战斗,实难用言语描述。
“陆地”,正如奥塔尔所吟:
乌鸦不曾挨饿之处,你守住陆地,
你果断勇决,
威猛的恐怖之杖啊,你抗拒两位君王,
抗拒众人的族类。
“赫洛德温”,正如沃卢-斯泰因所吟:
我记得,往昔,碧绿的赫洛德温
骨骼上的黑土,为丹尔话语的
传扬者,张开了
一张挖出的嘴。
“尘寰”,正如乌尔夫·乌加松所吟:
那僵硬的尘寰之绳,目光炯炯,
从船舷外盯着
大地之骨族众的花楸,
喷吐着毒液。
“弗约尔金”,正如此处所吟:
我曾忠于那慷慨施予
弗约尔金之鳗的鸣响之床的人;
愿荣耀也归于那卷走
河砧之埃尔迪尔话语的风暴。
有一种兽叫作狼。以血或尸体来构成它的譬称,把这些称作它的食物或饮料,是恰当的。其他兽类则不宜这样称说。狼也称作“乌尔夫”,正如提约多尔夫所吟:
为格里备下的宴席丰盛,
而狼从北方的森林而来;
西格尔德之子
须诱它前来舔食创伤。
这里也称它为“格里”。“弗雷基”,正如埃吉尔所吟:
当矛尖的碎浪
在船首撞击乌鸦之时,
弗雷基
撕扯着伤口。
“维特尼尔”,正如埃纳尔所吟:
冰冷刺骨的河流,被滚热的
创伤之浪染红;
维特尼尔温热的麦酒随流水
流进卡尔姆特的项链。
“母狼”,正如阿尔诺尔所吟:
母狼凶恶的亲族
吞食着残损的尸体;
碧绿的大海混入了鲜血,
从绿变成了红。
“狼”,正如伊卢吉所吟:
我主使许多人溃逃,
这使狼心满意足;
项链的摧折者以剑刺穿
森林里的黑鳟鱼。
这些也是狼的名称,正如哈尔所吟:
荒野行者的饥饿消退,
灰色的贪狼享用创伤;
君王染红芬里尔的嘴,
狼前往伤口饮血。
又如索尔德所吟:
盖尔普的马群涉行于血中,
幽暗的一群得到了
充足的弗雷基之麦,
贪狼享用了格里的麦酒。
熊又叫作宽步者、幼熊、越冬者、公熊、牡兽、尖牙者、棕熊、咆哮者、吼叫者、瘦腹者、母熊、驱马者、攀行者、贪食者、壮熊、喧闹者。
牡鹿又叫作莫特罗德尼尔、达拉尔、达尔、戴因、德瓦林、杜内尔、杜拉索尔。
《索尔格里姆名目歌》中列举了这些马名:
赫拉芬与斯雷普尼尔,
皆是出众的骏马;
瓦尔与莱特费蒂,
还有提亚尔达里,
古尔托普与戈蒂,
我听人说起索蒂,
莫尔、伦格和马尔。
维格与斯图夫
同斯凯瓦迪在一起;
布拉克能驮载勇士,
还有西尔弗托普和西尼尔;
我也听人提起法克,
古尔法克西和诸神中的约尔。
有匹马名叫布洛杜格霍菲,
据说它曾驮载
强大的阿特里迪;
还有吉斯尔与法尔霍夫尼尔,
格莱尔与斯凯德布里米尔,
也提到了吉利尔。
《卡尔夫之歌》中又列举了这些名字:
达格骑德勒西尔,
德瓦林骑莫德尼尔,
希亚尔姆骑哈费蒂,
哈基骑法克;
贝利的杀戮者骑着
布洛杜格霍菲,
哈丁族的首领
则骑斯凯瓦迪。
韦斯泰因骑瓦尔,
维维尔骑斯图夫,
梅因肖夫骑莫尔,
莫尔金骑瓦克尔,
阿利骑赫拉芬,
他们骑马上了冰面;
另一匹灰马却在东方,
驮着阿迪尔斯,
被长矛刺伤,
徘徊回旋。
比约恩骑布拉克,
比亚尔骑凯尔蒂,
阿特利骑格劳米,
阿迪尔斯骑斯伦格维,
霍格尼骑赫尔克维,
哈拉尔德骑弗尔克维,
贡纳尔骑戈蒂,
格拉尼则驮着西格尔德。
阿尔瓦克和阿尔斯维德拉着太阳,前文已有记述。赫利姆法克西,又名菲约尔斯瓦特尼尔,拉着黑夜。斯基法克西,又名格拉德,伴随白昼。
《索尔格里姆名目歌》中有这些公牛的名字:
年老公牛的名字,
我已详细听闻:
劳德与海维尔,
雷金与希尔,
希明赫廖德与阿普利,
阿尔夫与阿尔弗尼。
蛇的名称有这些:龙、法夫尼尔、耶梦加得、毒蛇、尼德霍格、长蛇、蝮蛇、戈因、莫因、格拉夫维特尼尔、格拉巴克、奥弗尼尔、斯瓦弗尼尔、格里姆。
牛:母牛、牛犊、种公牛、小母牛、一龄牛、壮公牛、公牛。
羊:公羊、种公羊、母羊、羊羔、阉公羊。
猪:母猪、小母猪、野公猪、公猪、猪崽。
空中与风有哪些名称?空中称作金伦加裂隙、中间世界、鸟的世界、风的世界。风称作暴风、顺风、狂风、寒风、劲风、风。《阿尔斯温之歌》中这样说:
人间称它为风,
诸神称它为摇荡者,
至高的神明称它为嘶鸣者;
巨人称它为号叫者,
精灵称它为喧行者,
在赫尔那里,它称作轰响者。
风也称作阵风。
有两种鸟,无须另作譬称,只须把血或尸体称作它们的饮料或食物即可。它们就是乌鸦和鹰。其他一切阳性的鸟名,都可以用血或尸体来构成譬称,这时所指的便是鹰或乌鸦,正如提约多尔夫所吟:
君王以血松鸡的谷粒,
使雄鹰欢欣;
霍达人的国王把高特天鹅的镰刀
送到鲜血的谷粒上。
喂养尸鹫之海上雄鹰的人,
使卫队以矛尖丈量
南方每一片浅滩,
那是他须守卫的地方。
乌鸦有这些名字:黑鸦、福金、穆宁、博尔金莫迪、阿尔弗洛格尼尔、阿尔塔利、霍尔德博迪。埃纳尔·斯卡拉格拉姆这样吟道:
召集军队的人使惯居山间的
乌鸦饱餐;兵刃铿锵,
乌鸦吃着母狼的食物,
填满了肚腹。
埃纳尔·斯库拉松这样吟道:
尊贵的壮士能驾驭
珍贵的战斗鸬鹚;
闪光之日的恶犬饱受痛苦,
那痛苦驱散了福金所负的悲愁。
他又这样吟道:
战斗中,勇士伏地之处,
国王的心豪气满溢;
青黑的穆宁
从伤口中饮血。
正如维加-格卢姆所吟:
当时,我们持盾站在
血项链女神渴求喧响的沙洲上;
博尔金莫迪
得到了鲜血的食物。
正如斯库利·索尔斯泰因松所吟:
在那最后的时刻,
我在百人的队伍中为阿尔弗洛格尼尔送上伤口;
赫勒克不会在
赫维廷族中看见我。
鹰有这些名称:鹰、格姆利尔、赫雷格斯科尔尼尔、埃格迪尔、金纳尔、温德斯科尔尼尔、加洛普尼尔。正如埃纳尔所吟:
他以鲜血染红铁萨克莎那匹马
暗黑的嘴须;鹰撕食格里的饵,
钢铁取得了
鹰的食物。
正如奥塔尔所吟:
鹰饮着尸体流出的液汁,
母狼得到了午餐;
狼常染红双颚,
鹰在那儿得到食物。
正如提约多尔夫所吟:
不久以前,姑娘的狼
披着古老的格姆利尔之形,
迎着讲述故事的
众人飞来。
又如此处所吟:
我要精心酿成赫雷格斯科尔尼尔的
高贵手中蜜酒。
又如斯库利所吟:
在此之前、此后,我都曾警醒,
不让加洛普尼尔的战死者之海缺乏;
诗人此时听取
有益的言谈。
海有哪些名称?它称作马尔、埃吉尔、吉密尔、赫勒尔、海洋、航路、外海、盐海、水域、沧海。正如阿尔诺尔所吟,前文也已记述:
请众人听,果决的君王
怎样出海寻访诸伯爵;
无畏的君主在埃吉尔面前
不曾无力搏击。
这里用了“海”,也用了“埃吉尔”。“马尔”,正如霍恩克洛维所吟:
当时,伤人的海之牙迎击者
向外面的马尔驶去,
为求荣誉,驱动了
诺克维船旗之路的疾蛇。
这里也提到了“水域”。埃纳尔这样吟道:
水域洗刷船只,秀美的
风向标鸣响;洪流的浪涛冲洗海马,
海水在船身的
左右两侧轰鸣。
这里也称作“洪流”。雷夫这样吟道,前文也已记述:
浪涛破碎之处,吉密尔那
湿冷的女巫,常把
绞索之熊
送进埃吉尔的嘴里。
“海洋”,正如哈尔瓦尔德所吟:
项带寒冰的挥动者,你曾将
环绕诸国之带上那匹劲马的
船首,
指向西方的海洋。
“航路”,正如此处所吟:
我们离开芬人滑行的陆地,
来到了海上航路;
从船只的行程中,我看见东方的山峦
闪耀着光芒。
“外海”,正如埃吉尔所吟:
我向西越过外海,
而我带来维德里尔的
心岸之海,
我的旅途便是如此。
“马尔”,正如埃纳尔所吟:
冰冷的马尔,长日洗刷
仁厚君王身下黑色的船木;
暴风裹挟的榆树之悲,
为君王啃啮着莫恩的绳索。
“盐海”,正如阿尔诺尔所吟:
勇敢的万民之王从东方驶来,
倾斜的船腹划开盐海;
褐色的风,把巴拉浪焰的摧折者
送往西格蒂纳。
“沧海”,正如博尔维克所吟:
次年,你从美丽的国土
整备水军;水浪涌过船只,
你以光耀的浪涛之马群
划开沧海。
这里也把海称作“浪涛”。“浩海”,正如雷夫所吟:
船首雕花的撑木之马,以胸膛
抵住船板的世界;木材承受重压,
猛烈的浩海却被抛进
船舷以内。
“幽海”,正如焚屋案中的尼亚尔所吟:
女子啊,我们十六个人,
在四处舱位一同舀水,浪涛却愈涨;
幽海的水沫飞溅到
航海大船的两舷。
这些也是海的名称,用来构成船或黄金的譬称,都是恰当的。据说澜是埃吉尔的妻子,正如此处所吟:
海把炽红的火炭抛上天空,
海水以强力奔腾;
我想,船首切开了云层,
澜的道路撞击着月亮。
埃吉尔与澜有九个女儿,她们的名字前文已有记载:希明格莱瓦、杜法、布洛杜格哈达、赫夫林、乌德、赫伦、比尔吉娅、德勒芬、科尔加。埃纳尔·斯库拉松在这首诗中列举了她们的六个名字:
希明格莱瓦猛烈地向勇士
激起海上的呼啸,
[希明格莱瓦、乌德、杜法、布洛杜格哈达、科尔加、赫夫林]。
“赫伦”,正如瓦尔加尔德所吟:
泡沫铺进了卧铺,
汹涌的大海戏弄着黄金;
赫伦们为战船
洗刷可怖的头颅。
“比尔吉娅”,正如黑肤奥塔尔所吟:
你们用削平的船舵划开
高涨欲吞的比尔吉娅;
女子们纺织的东西,在滑船木的驯鹿上
贴着桅顶舞动。
“德勒芬”,正如奥尔姆所吟:
鹰之地的守护斯露德
尽享麦酒的种种好处;
德勒芬火焰的洛芬忠于情谊,
却把过失记在心中。
“波浪”,正如俊美的索尔莱克所吟:
海水呼啸,波浪把明亮的
泡沫送上赤红的船木;
饰金的滑船木野牛张着嘴,
在那儿露出灰白。
“海涌”,正如埃纳尔所吟:
勇猛的人们未曾更早遇到
我们的朋友;我想,他们不曾平息海涌,
那儿,大海向着
船首猛烈地扑落。
“满潮”,正如雷夫所吟:
满潮的山岳崩落到长船上;
格拉米的雪板越冬熊,如今向前猛冲,
那是古西之牛的
帆角之熊。
“暗礁浪”,正如此处所吟:
暗礁浪猛然扑到我身上;
汪洋邀我随它回家,
我没有领受海水的邀请。
“碎浪”,正如奥塔尔所吟:
碎浪呼啸,冲断了
水面以上狭窄的船板;船木愈加损毁,
人们遭逢了
一场强烈的风暴。
“海涛”,正如布拉吉所吟:
海涛之风的派遣者,
不愿同扭曲的埃吉尔搏斗;
他曾在索尔面前切断
海鸥之地的纤细绳索。
“海峡”,正如埃纳尔所吟:
我乘船划开海峡,
在赫伦德以南;
我的手得了装饰,
当我与仁厚的君王相见。
“峡湾”,正如埃纳尔所吟:
接着,我看见一条蛇,清晰地绘在
潮水酵液的华美衣衫上;
峡湾之火的施予者,请听我
怎样把这幅图景说出。
“沧溟”,正如马尔库斯所吟:
我决不会诋毁沧溟之日的
摧折者,那善辩的人;
毁坏诗歌的人才是恶人,
鞘中之鳗的神啊。
火有哪些名称?如下诗所言:
这火燃烧,绝非罕见,
忠勇的君王焚毁村落,
屋舍在王者面前喷吐
浓烟,马格努斯点起烈火。
“焰”,如瓦尔加德所作:
烈焰狂如飞石,猛然从烟灰中
迸射炭火,席卷屋宇;
此后,团团浓烟
直立升腾。
“柴火”,如下诗所言:
哈基在柴堆上被焚烧,
那里海浪涌过航道。
“炽火”,如格拉尼所作:
我想,格拉米之路上的炽火
烧倒了房屋,君王如此纵火。
“烈焰”,如阿特利所作:
斧刃染红,烈焰升腾,
数不尽的厅堂燃烧,
房屋焚毁,猛火肆虐,
良民倒在血泊中。
这里也把火称为“猛火”。“火烟”,如下诗所言:
君王的居所燃烧起来,
我想,烈火烧倒了厅堂;
火烟把霜灰抛向军队,
就在尼德河畔的房屋旁。
“烈火”,如阿尔诺尔所作:
愤怒的岛丹麦人摧折者
毫不怜悯劳马人。
海纳人的威吓渐渐平息,
烈火使他们安静下来。
“火光”,如埃纳尔所作:
火光迅速燃起,
希辛岛的军队
迅速逃走,
他们吃了败仗。
“炽焰”,如瓦尔加德所作:
明亮的炽焰翻腾,
海盗猛烈攻破
强大君王城中的壁垒,
悲伤降临少女心头。
“焰火”,如哈尔多尔·斯克瓦尔德里所作:
你们在那里分取他们的
珍宝;盾牌的焰火
吞噬那些居所;你从未
被夺去胜利。
以下是时日的名称:时代、往昔、岁月、很久以前、年、半年、冬、夏、春、秋、月、周、昼、夜、晨、晚、暮、清早、早、迟、某时、前日、紧接着、昨日、明日、时刻、片刻。
《阿尔斯温之歌》中还有以下夜的名称:
在人间称为夜,
在神间称为幽冥,
大能诸神称它为面幕,
巨人称它为无忧,
精灵称它为睡眠之乐,
矮人称它为梦之女神。
从昼夜等长之日起是秋季,直到太阳落在西南方的位置。此后是冬季,直到昼夜等长。此后是春季,直到迁居日。此后是夏季,直到昼夜等长。冬季之前的一个月叫秋月,冬季第一个月叫屠宰月,随后是霜月,随后是公羊月,随后是索里月,随后是戈伊月,随后是末月,随后是杜鹃月和播种时节,随后是产卵时节和羊圈时节,随后是太阳月和山间牧场月,随后是忙于割草的时节,随后是收谷月。
人的不加修饰的名称有哪些?每个人都称为“人”;人的称号中,第一等也是最高等的是“皇帝”,其次是“国王”,再其次是“雅尔”。这三等人共同享有以下所有称号。
“统治一切者”,如下诗所言:
我知道东方和南方
所有统治船舶居所的君主,
经得起考验的斯温之子,
胜过其中每一位君王。
这里也用了“君王”这一称号。他之所以被称为“统治一切者”,是因为他独掌自己整个国土的大权。
“列阵者”,如吉祖尔所作:
列阵者在战斗中使女巨人的坐骑
和赫拉克的天鹅欢喜;
奥拉夫以斯科古尔的风暴
款待伊格欣喜的雁群。
国王被称为“列阵者”,是因为他把自己的军队编成阵列。
“领袖”,如黑奥塔尔所作:
领袖在东方取得战斗之弗雷
无可置疑的爱妻;
统治一切者享有
人世间美好的生活。
“主君”或“主人”,如阿尔诺尔所作:
主君在每一场设得兰的剑刃雷鸣中
获胜,他是众豪杰中最尊贵者;
诗人愿将
君王的荣耀传扬。
雅尔称为“统军者”,国王也这样称呼,因为他带领军队出战。如提约多尔夫所作:
统军者的摧折者命人
刺出被俘的坟丘奔行者
头上的双眼;
我颂扬他的功业。
“尊主”或“长上”,如西格瓦特所作:
挪威的尊主,如今也让穷苦者
像富足者一样受惠于你的法律;
慷慨施予,
信守你的诺言。
“慷慨者”,如马尔库斯所作:
慷慨者以烈火扫荡恶民,
那些人便注定死亡。
盗贼的镇压者,你在南方的约姆
点起高耸的火光。
“显贵者”,如哈尔瓦尔德所作:
在大地的榛树之下,没有显贵者
比你更接近修士之主;
你这背弃对丹麦人誓言的人,
抵御着尘土之龙。
“国土驱驰者”,如提约多尔夫所作:
无可指摘的国土驱驰者
撒出克拉基明亮的谷粒,
正如前文所引。他之所以这样称呼,是因为他驱使军队驰过其他国王的土地,或把军队逐出自己的国土。
有一位国王名叫老哈夫丹,是所有国王中最杰出的一位。他在隆冬举行盛大的祭祀,祈求自己能在王位上活三百个冬天。但他得到的答复是,他至多只能享有一个漫长的人生;不过,此后三百个冬天之内,他的家族中将没有女人,也没有身份卑微的人。他是一位伟大的战士,曾遍历东方诸地。在那里,他在决斗中杀死了一位名叫西格特里格的国王。随后他娶了一位名叫智者阿尔维格的女子,她是霍尔姆加德的埃蒙德国王之女。他们有十八个儿子,每九个同时出生。他们的名字如下:第一个是滕吉尔,人称众人之滕吉尔;第二个是雷西尔,第三个是格拉姆剑,第四个是吉尔菲,第五个是希尔米尔,第六个是约弗尔,第七个是提吉,第八个是斯基利或斯库利,第九个是哈尔里或赫拉。这九兄弟在征战中如此卓越,以至于后世所有的记述都把他们的名字用作尊贵的称号,如同国王或雅尔的称号。他们没有孩子,全都战死沙场。
黑奥塔尔如此作诗:
君主年少时便已
勇武过人,善战好斗。
我祈求他长寿,
我认为他是人中之杰。
马尔库斯如此作诗:
统帅让莱茵河的太阳
从染红的头颅上照向海山。
埃吉尔如此作诗:
君王已将大地的
围墙岩石推倒。
埃温德如此作诗:
欢悦的君王
与众人相戏,
他须守卫国土,
立在金盔之下。
格卢姆·盖拉松如此作诗:
君王头戴战盔,在约特人身上
染红了磨刀石的凹地。
黑奥塔尔如此作诗:
请君王听这开篇,
对国王的赞颂将会增长;
愿他细听我赞歌的格律,
这是献给他的诗篇。
斯图夫如此作诗:
荣耀环绕的君王双手挥剑,
砍向战士的队伍;
军队欣然举盾前进,
就在南方的尼兹河前。
哈尔弗雷德如此作诗:
我已与君王分离,
是毁谤的言语造成此事。
人们君主的心意与威仪
最为崇高,多数人难以窥知。
马尔库斯如此作诗:
我以珍贵的赞颂诗篇
歌唱丹麦国土上心如鹰隼的主君。
哈夫丹夫妇另有九个儿子,名字如下:希尔迪尔,希尔丁家族出自他;第二个是内菲尔,尼伯龙根家族出自他;第三个是奥迪,奥德林家族出自他;第四个是英格维,英格林王朝出自他;第五个是达格,达格林家族出自他;第六个是布拉吉,布拉格宁家族出自他。慷慨的哈夫丹便属于这一家族。第七个是布德利,布德隆家族出自他。阿特利和布伦希尔德出自布德隆家族。第八个是洛夫迪。他是一位伟大的征战之王,追随他的军队称为洛夫达人,他的族人称为洛夫敦家族。埃利米便出自这一家族,他是屠龙者西格尔德的外祖父。第九个是西加尔,西克林家族出自他。沃尔松的姻亲西格盖尔属于这一家族,绞死哈格巴德的西加尔也属于这一家族。红须哈拉尔出自希尔丁家族,他是黑哈夫丹的外祖父。吉尤基出自尼伯龙根家族,基亚尔出自奥德林家族,善辩的埃里克出自于尔芬家族。
以下也是显赫的王族:英格林王朝出自英格维;斯基约尔敦家族出自丹麦的斯基约尔德;法兰克之地的沃尔松,其后裔称为沃尔松家族。有一位征战之王名叫斯凯尔菲尔,他的家族称为斯基尔芬家族。这一家族在东方诸地。诗人把方才列举的这些家族名称全都用作尊贵的称号。
如埃纳尔所作:
我听说君王们在岛旁
向前展开灰色的长矛之会;
绿色的椴木盾牌
裂成两半。
如格拉尼所作:
君王让鹰的雏鸟
喝上丹麦人的鲜血。
如格奈瓦德的诗人加姆利所作:
年轻的君王,在我年轻时,
于船舷之内,把剑的中柄
和言辞的力量
钉入我的舌头。
如约伦所作:
君王使恶民的战场染血,
军队承受国王的怒火;
房屋屡屡在烈焰前
倾倒。
埃纳尔如此作诗:
君王的剑刃劈砍,
鲜血落在长矛上。
[希尔德的云朵
在白城旁破裂。]
阿尔诺尔如此作诗:
女巨人之子惯于使
君王们的战船倾侧。
他以鲜血染红战舰内部,
这便是给乌鸦的美餐。
如提约多尔夫所作:
勇敢君王的一生就此结束,
我们全都身陷困境;
备受赞颂的君王
遭逢性命的毁灭。
追随洛夫迪国王的军队称为洛夫达人。
如阿尔诺尔所作:
君王啊,太阳之下永远不会
再诞生比你更高贵的斯基约尔敦之王。
“沃尔松”,如铁锤诗人索尔凯尔所作:
越过冰冷的大海,
沃尔松的后裔
命人给我送来
镶金的兵器。
“英格林王朝之王”,如黑奥塔尔所作:
在你之前,大地上从未有过
如此勇猛的英格林王朝之王,
从西方的岛屿到东方的岛屿,
尽皆收归自己统治。
“英格维”也是国王的称号,如马尔库斯所作:
世人将听到对埃里克的赞颂,
无人知道有更卓越的君王;
英格维在这世间长享声名,
稳坐诸王的宝座。
“斯基尔芬”,如瓦尔加德所作:
斯基尔芬之王率领大军
驶过辽阔的国土,战船震颤;
终于,南方的
西西里遭到劫掠。
“尊主”,如西格瓦特所作,前文也已引过:
挪威的尊主,如今也让穷苦者受惠,
并且慷慨施予。
诗人称为“格雷普”,在诗中,任何人只要愿意,都可以这样称呼。追随哈尔夫国王的人称为“雷克”,战士便因他们而称为“雷克”,也可以这样称呼所有人。诗中也把人称为“洛夫达”,如前文所述。追随那位被称为慷慨的斯卡蒂的国王的人,称为“斯卡特纳”。因他的名字,凡慷慨之人都称为“斯卡蒂”。追随老布拉吉国王的人称为“布拉格纳”。评断人们诉讼的人称为“维尔达”。保卫国土的人称为“菲尔达”“菲拉”和“韦拉”。“海盗”和“船兵”,指船上的军队。追随贝穆尼国王的人称为“贝马”。队伍的首领称为“古姆纳”或“古马”,正如婚礼上把新郎称为“古米”。
“哥特纳”得名于一位名叫哥蒂的国王,哥特兰也因他而得名。他的名字取自奥丁的名字,由“高特”这一名字衍生而来,因为高特兰或哥特兰是以奥丁之名命名的,而瑞典则以斯维杜尔之名命名。那也是奥丁的一个名字。当时,奥丁拥有的全部大陆称为雷德哥特兰,所有岛屿则称为埃哥特兰。如今这些地方称为丹麦王国和瑞典王国。
尚未成家立业、正在谋取财富或声望的年轻人,称为“德伦格”。往来各国的称为“远行青年”,侍奉首领的称为“国王的青年”,侍奉富人或农人的也称为“青年”。勇健而有进取心的人称为“德伦格”。“塞格”“克尼亚”和“利达”也都是人的称呼,指随从。“塞格纳”和“霍尔达”是农人的称呼。为人调解争端的人称为“廖纳”。
有些人被称为斗士、勇士、猛士、能手、勇者、硬汉、豪杰、英雄。与这些名称相对,可以把人称为懦夫、弱者、怯汉、懦汉、软骨头、无用之人、胆小鬼、窝囊废、孱夫、软汉、卑劣者、恶棍、败类、怯懦者、呆子、懒汉、庸人、可怜虫、下贱之人、苦命汉。
慷慨的人称为施惠者、显贵者、豪爽者、众人中的豪爽者、挥金者、人中豪杰、福人、享福者、巨富、有势力者、首领。与此相对的称呼是吝啬鬼、守财奴、斤斤计较者、寒酸者、惜财者、不肯施舍者。
智者称为谋划之主。愚蠢的人也称为傻子、蠢材、莽汉、受骗者、粗人、呆子、笨汉、愚人、狂人、疯子、癫狂者。
讲究仪表的人称为爱炫耀者、俊杰、华服之人、摆架子的人、修饰仪容的人。也有人称为邋遢汉、粗汉、躯壳、叉腿汉、游荡者、懒骨头、牛棚汉、懒汉、迟钝之人。
“民众”指一国的百姓,也称为“众民”。奴隶也称为受缚者、仆役、劳作者、奴仆。
一人称为个人,
若有两人,称为一双,
若有三人,称为一伙,
四人是一行,
五人是一队,
若有六人,称为一班,
七人凑成一群,
八人足当众人责议,
九人称为同伴,
若有十人,称为一簇,
十一人足称一众,
若有十二人同行,
便是一列,
十三人是喧闹的一帮,
十四人是一支行伍,
十五人相逢,
便是一场聚会,
十六人是一席,
十七人是一支攻阵,
若与十八人为敌,
敌人便算够多,
拥有十九人者,
便有一支伙伴队伍,
二十人是一支随从。
三十人是一族,
四十人是一部,
五十人是一阵,
六十人是一支集众,
七十人是一大群,
八十人是一方民众,
一百二十人是一军。
还有一些称谓,人们用来代替人的名字。我们称之为关系称谓、实质称谓或代称。所谓关系称谓,就是用另一事物本来的名字称呼它,再把想要说的那个人称为它的主人,或称为所说之物的父亲、祖父。再往上一辈称为曾祖。还有儿子、承嗣者、继业者、孩子、婴孩、男儿、继承人等称呼。还有兄弟、同血者、同胞、手足、至亲等称呼。还有后裔、侄甥、宗亲、子孙、族裔、亲属、族根、苗裔、宗族支柱、同宗兄弟、血脉分支、家族枝条、子嗣、后代、主干、旁枝等称呼。还有姻亲、婚亲、联姻者等称呼。还有朋友、共谋者、顾问、谈伴、知己、交谈者、世人的同伴、挚友、同席者、座伴等称呼。同伴指共坐半张划桨座板的人。还有敌人、仇敌、对头、死敌、毁灭者、加害者、杀人者、压迫者、摧毁者、蛮横者等称呼。这些称谓,我们称为关系称谓;以一个人的庄园、有名字的船只,或获有专名的财产来称呼他,也是如此。
所谓实质称谓,就是称人为智者、善谋者、言语睿智者、妙策之士、慷慨的富人、不屈者、谨慎者、仪表堂堂者。这些都是代称。
以下是诗歌中不加修饰的女子称谓:已经嫁人的女子称为妻子、新妇、妇人。十分傲慢、讲究装扮的女子称为丽人、佳人。善于辞令的女子称为慧女。性情安静的女子称为淑女,骄矜自大的女子称为悍妇、傲妇。性情刚毅的女子称为烈女。权势最大的女子称为贵妇。腼腆的人,如年轻的少女或胆怯的女子,称为羞女。丈夫远赴异国的女子称为独居妇。丈夫被杀的女子称为遗孀。丈夫病死的女子称为寡妇。每个女子起初都称为少女,年老的则称为老妇。还有一些用来辱骂女子的称谓,虽未写在这里,却可在诗歌中找到。共事一夫的女子互称情敌。儿子的妻子称为儿媳。丈夫的母亲称为婆母。还有母亲、祖母,再往上一辈是曾祖母。母亲也称为阿娘。还有女儿、孩子、婴孩等称呼。还有姐妹、女神、少女神等称呼。女子也被称为丈夫的枕伴、谈伴、知己,这便是关系称谓。
人身上有头。可以这样用隐喻称呼它:颈项的劳苦或重担,头盔、帽子、脑、头发、眉毛、头皮、耳朵、眼睛、嘴的土地。也可称为海姆达尔的剑;任取剑的一种称谓,再配上海姆达尔的任一种名字,都是合宜的。头的不加修饰的称谓有头颅、脑壳、颔首、脑袋。
眼睛称为视力、目光、眼神、锐目。可以这样用隐喻称呼它们:睫毛、眉毛、眼睑或额头的太阳、月亮、盾牌、玻璃、宝石或石头。耳朵称为听器、听觉。可以这样用隐喻称呼它们:听觉的土地,或用大地的其他称谓;若创制新的隐喻,也可称为听觉的嘴、通道、视力或眼睛。
嘴可以这样用隐喻称呼:舌头、牙齿、言语、上腭、嘴唇或诸如此类事物的土地或房屋。若创制新的隐喻,人们便把嘴称为船,把嘴唇称为船舷,把舌头称为船桨或船舵。牙齿有时称为言语、嘴或舌头的石块或礁石。舌头常被称为言语或嘴的剑。
胡须称为髭须,长在嘴唇上的称为上唇须或髭。头发称为发丝,女子的头发称为秀发。头发也称为毛发。头发可以这样用隐喻称呼:称为头颅、脑壳或头的森林,或用树木的其他称谓;胡须则与下巴、脸颊或咽喉相联来称呼。
心脏也称为内核。可以这样用隐喻称呼它:称为胸膛或心思的谷粒、石头、苹果、坚果、球体或类似的东西;也可称为心思的房屋、土地或岩石。胸膛可以这样用隐喻称呼:心脏、气息或肝脏的房屋、庭院或船,毅力、心思与记忆的土地。
心思也称为心意、情意、爱意、恋情、意愿、欲念。可以这样用隐喻称呼心思:称为女巨人的风,任取哪一位女巨人的名字都合宜;也可以说出巨人的名字,再以他的妻子、母亲或女儿来构成称谓。心思也称为性情、好感、毅力、勇气、意愿、记忆、才智、脾性、心性、忠诚。心思也称为愤怒、敌意、怨恨、凶狠、悲苦、哀伤、忧愁、恶念、暴躁、虚妄、背信、无心、轻浮、轻率、冷酷、狂躁。
手可称为手掌、手臂、肢臂、巨掌。手臂上的部位有肘、前臂、腕、关节、手指、指间、手掌、指甲、指尖、掌缘、甲床。手可以称为武器或护具的土地,肩膀、衣袖、手掌或掌部的树,金环、隼、鹰以及鹰的一切别称的土地;创制新的隐喻时,也可称为肩膀的脚、弓的强迫者。
脚可称为脚底、脚背、足部或诸如此类部位的树,道路、行走或步履的疾驰之矛。可以把脚称为这些事物的树或支柱。也可用滑雪板、鞋和裤子来构成脚的隐喻。腿脚上的部位有大腿、膝、小腿肚、骨、胫、脚背、脚掌外缘、脚底、脚趾。所有这些都可以用来构成腿脚的隐喻,称它为这些部位的树;腿脚也称为这些事物的桅杆和帆桁。
言语也称为话语、措辞、口才、谈话、叙说、争吵、争辩、歌唱、咒歌、吟诵、言谈、颤声、争嚷、闲谈、喧嚷、欢闹、吵嘴、讥嘲、絮叨、吹嘘、夸耀、闲聊、胡言、诗狂、空话、尖叫。也称为声音、声响、嗓音、回响、呼啸、尖鸣、轰鸣、铿鸣、雷鸣、隆隆声、爆裂声、掠动、挥动、行进。
才智称为智慧、谋略、理解、记忆、思量、思虑、算术之能、远见、机巧、言语之智、干练。也称为暗算、诡计、奸谋、背信之谋。
“læti”有两种意思。“læti”指声音,“læti”也指举止,而举止也可指坏脾气。“reiði”也有两种意思。“reiði”指一个人心怀怒气,也指船只或马匹的行装。“far”也有两种意思。“fár”是愤怒,“far”是船。人们常用这类词语来写含义隐晦的诗,这便称为“过于明白”。
人们把人体骨头相接的地方称为“lið”;船称为“lið”,人众称为“lið”,一个人给予另一个人的帮助也称为“lið”;啤酒称为“líð”。围墙上的门称为“hlið”,人们也把公牛称为“hlið”,而“hlíð”则是山坡。
这些不同的词义可以用在诗歌中,使诗变得“过于明白”:若所要取的词义并非前面的诗句起初似乎指向的那一个,便很难理解。还有许多其他词语也是如此,许多事物共用同一个名称。