《欺騙吉爾菲》原典

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And here the giant Vafthrudnir says:

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

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

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

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

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

Then Gangleri said: “What nourished the cow?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

That was how things were before this happened.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And she gives these names of the dwarfs:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And he himself says in Heimdall's Chant:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Then Gangleri said: “Who are the goddesses?”

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

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

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

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

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

“She answers:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“And elsewhere it says:

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

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

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

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

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

“But it is worst in Hvergelmir:

There Nidhogg torments
the bodies of the dead.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

吉爾菲王統治著如今稱為瑞典的土地。據說，他曾賞賜一名四處遊歷的女子，酬謝她為他帶來的歡娛，准她在自己的國土上，取得四頭公牛一晝夜所能犁出的土地。這名女子出自阿薩神族，名叫格芙昂。她從北方的約頓海姆帶來四頭公牛，牠們是她與某個巨人所生的兒子。她給牠們套上犁，犁得又廣又深，竟把整片土地犁了起來。公牛便將那片土地向西拖入海中，在一道海峽裡停下。格芙昂把土地安放在那裡，為它取名，稱作西蘭島。土地被犁起的地方，留下了一片湖水，如今在瑞典稱為梅拉倫湖。湖中的灣汊，恰與西蘭島的岬角相合。老詩人布拉基如此說道：

格芙昂歡喜地從吉爾菲手中
拖走深厚的圓形田土，
為丹麥增添疆域；
奔馳的拉獸蒸氣騰騰。
公牛負著八輪
額上的明月，四顆頭顱，
走在遼闊草島的
掠獲之土前方。

吉爾菲王是個睿智而精通法術的人。他對阿薩神族的本領深感驚奇，因為萬事都能順遂他們的心意。他思忖，這究竟是出於他們自身的天性，還是他們所祭拜的神靈之力所致。他啟程前往阿斯嘉，暗中行路，變成一個老人的模樣，藉此隱藏身分。然而，阿薩神族具有預知之能，比他更為明察；他還沒抵達，他們便已看見他的行程，於是布下幻象迎接他。他進入城中時，看見一座高聳的大廳，高得幾乎望不見頂端。屋頂鋪著鍍金的盾牌，如同木瓦一般。赫維尼爾的修多爾夫如此說英靈殿以盾牌覆頂：

精明的戰士讓
斯瓦夫尼爾廳堂的屋瓦
在背上閃耀；
它們遭石塊擊打。

吉爾菲看見廳門口有個人正在拋耍短刀，同時有七把在空中。那人先問他的姓名。他自稱岡格雷里，說自己從偏僻的小徑而來，請求借宿一夜，又問這座大廳是誰的。那人答說，是他們國王的——「我可以帶你去見他。到時你自己問他的名字吧。」——那人便轉身領他進入廳堂，他跟在後頭；他才跨過門檻，門便在身後關上。他看見裡面有許多廳室，也有許多人，有的玩遊戲，有的喝酒，有的拿著武器交戰。他四下張望，覺得眼前許多景象都不可思議。於是他說：

所有門口，
在邁步進入之前，
都該仔細察看，
因為誰也無法確知，
敵人會坐在
前方廳堂的何處。

他看見三張高座，一張比一張高，各坐著一個人。他便問，這幾位首領叫什麼名字。領他進來的人答道，坐在最下方高座上的是國王——「名叫哈爾；接著那位叫亞夫恩哈爾，最上面那位叫斯里迪。」哈爾問來客還有什麼事要辦，並說他與哈爾廳堂裡所有人一樣，都可以享用食物與飲料。他說，自己首先想問，這裡是否有學識淵博的人。哈爾說，除非他更有學問，否則休想平安出去——

「站到前面來，
你發問的時候；
回答的人應當坐著。」

岡格雷里這樣開口問道：「眾神之中，誰最尊貴，誰最年長？」

哈爾說：「我們的語言稱他為眾神之父，但在古老的阿斯嘉，他有十二個名字。第一是眾神之父，第二是赫蘭或赫爾揚，第三是尼卡爾或赫尼卡爾，第四是尼庫德或赫尼庫德，第五是菲約爾尼爾，第六是奧斯基，第七是奧米，第八是比弗利迪或比弗林迪，第九是斯維杜爾，第十是斯維德里爾，第十一是維德里爾，第十二是雅爾格或雅爾克。」

岡格雷里又問：「那位神在哪裡？他有什麼本領？他做過哪些偉大的功業？」

哈爾說：「他亙古長存，治理自己的全部國度，掌管一切大事小事。」

亞夫恩哈爾說：「他造了天、地與穹蒼，以及其中的一切。」

斯里迪說：「然而最偉大的事，是他造了人，賦予人靈魂。那靈魂將永遠活著，絕不消亡，即使肉身腐爛成土，或焚燒成灰。凡品行端正的人，都將繼續活著，在稱為吉姆雷或溫戈爾夫的地方，與他本人同住；惡人則前往赫爾，再從那裡進入尼福爾赫爾，那是在下方第九個世界。」

岡格雷里說：「在天地尚未造成以前，他在做什麼？」

哈爾答道：「那時他與霜巨人在一起。」

岡格雷里說：「最初是什麼情形？一切如何開始？在那之前又有什麼？」

哈爾答道：「正如《女巫的預言》所說：

遠古之初，
一切尚不存在，
沒有沙，也沒有海，
沒有冰涼的波浪；
不見大地，
也不見上方的天空，
唯有金倫加裂隙，
寸草不生。」

亞夫恩哈爾說：「在大地造成之前許多個世代，尼福爾海姆便已形成。它的中央有一口泉，名叫赫瓦格密爾，下列河流都從那裡流出：斯沃爾、貢恩斯勞、菲約爾姆、芬布爾蘇爾、斯利德河與赫里德、敘爾格與于爾格、維德河、雷普特河。吉奧爾最靠近赫爾之門。」

斯里迪說：「然而最早存在的，是南方那個叫穆斯貝爾的世界。它光明而熾熱，那個方位烈焰熊熊，燃燒不息。對於外來者，以及在那裡沒有祖產的人，那是無法進入的地方。有一個名叫史爾特的，坐鎮國土邊界，守衛疆域。他持有一柄燃燒的劍；世界終結之時，他將出征，擊敗眾神，以烈火焚燒整個世界。正如《女巫的預言》所說：

史爾特自南方而來，
帶著枝條的災禍，
戰神的太陽
從劍上閃耀；
石山轟然崩裂，
女巨人踉蹌倒下，
人們踏上赫爾之路，
天空迸裂。」

岡格雷里說：「在各族出現、人類繁衍以前，萬物是如何形成的？」

哈爾說：「那些稱為埃利伐加爾的河流，流到遠離源頭的地方，當中夾帶的毒液便像從火中流出的熔渣那樣凝固，化成了冰。冰停止流動、停留原地之後，表面便結起冰層；毒液升起的水氣凍成白霜，白霜一層疊著一層，不斷向整個金倫加裂隙伸展。」

亞夫恩哈爾說：「金倫加裂隙朝北的部分，填滿了厚重的冰與霜，更深處則是水氣與寒風；金倫加裂隙南邊的部分，卻因穆斯貝爾海姆飛來的火花與熾熱碎屑而變得輕暖。」

斯里迪說：「正如尼福爾海姆散發寒氣，一切都嚴酷凜冽，靠近穆斯貝爾的一帶則處處熾熱明亮，而金倫加裂隙溫和得如同無風的空氣。當白霜遇上熱氣，便融化滴落；藉著那送來熱力者的力量，這些流動的水滴萌生了生命，形成一個人的模樣，名叫尤彌爾，霜巨人則稱他為奧爾格爾米爾。霜巨人的各族都源自他，正如《女巫的短預言》所說：

所有女先知
都出自維多爾夫，
所有巫師
都出自維爾梅德，
而施行賽德巫術的人
都出自斯瓦爾特霍夫迪，
所有巨人
都源於尤彌爾。

巨人瓦夫蘇魯德尼爾也這樣說：

從埃利伐加爾
濺出毒液的水滴，
不斷增長，直到化為巨人；
我們所有的氏族
全都源自那裡，
因此始終如此凶悍。」

岡格雷里說：「各族是怎樣從他繁衍出來的？又怎麼會造出更多人？你相信你剛才說的那一位是神嗎？」

哈爾答道：「我們絕不承認他是神。他和他的所有族裔都邪惡。我們稱他們為霜巨人。據說，他睡著時出了一身汗，於是左腋下長出了一男一女，他的一隻腳又與另一隻腳生下一個兒子，各族便從他們繁衍而來。他們就是霜巨人。那位古老的霜巨人，我們稱他為尤彌爾。」

岡格雷里接著說：「尤彌爾住在哪裡？他靠什麼維生？」

哈爾答道：「接下來，霜融化滴落，從中出現了一頭叫奧德姆布拉的母牛。牠的乳頭流出四條乳河，牠便這樣餵養尤彌爾。」

岡格雷里說：「那母牛靠什麼維生？」

哈爾答道：「牠舔舐結著霜、帶有鹽味的石頭。牠舔石頭的第一天，到了傍晚，石頭裡露出一個人的頭髮；第二天露出一個人的頭；第三天，整個人都出來了。他名叫布利，容貌俊美，身形高大，力量強盛。他生了一個兒子，名叫波爾。波爾娶了名叫貝斯特拉的女子，她是巨人波爾索恩的女兒。他們生了三個兒子，一個叫奧丁，第二個叫威利，第三個叫維。我相信，這位奧丁和他的兄弟，便是天地的主宰。我們認為，他應當就是這個名字。我們所知最偉大、最卓越的那個人便叫這個名字，你們也儘可這樣稱呼他。」

岡格雷里接著說：「那麼，他們彼此相處得如何？哪一方更強大？」

哈爾答道：「波爾的兒子們殺了巨人尤彌爾。他倒下時，傷口湧出大量鮮血，他們便藉此淹死了整個霜巨人族，只有一個帶著家人逃脫。巨人們稱他為貝爾格爾米爾。他和妻子爬上自己的木槽，在那裡保住了性命。後來的霜巨人各族都源於他們，正如這裡所說：

在大地造成之前，
無數個寒暑以前，
貝爾格爾米爾已經誕生；
我最早記得的事，
就是那位睿智的巨人
被放上木槽。」

岡格雷里接著說：「既然你相信波爾的兒子們是神，那麼他們後來做了什麼？」

哈爾說：「這可有許多事可說。他們帶走尤彌爾，把他移到金倫加裂隙中央，用他的身體造出大地，用他的血造出海洋與湖泊。大地是用他的肉造的，山巒是用他的骨頭造的。他們用他的牙齒、臼齒和斷骨造出岩石與碎石堆。」

亞夫恩哈爾說：「他們用從傷口流出、四處奔流的血造出海洋；他們造好大地，將它連結牢固，再把海洋環繞在它四周。大多數人想必都會覺得，那是無法渡過的。」

斯里迪說：「他們又取了他的頭骨，用來造出天空，把它架在大地上方，撐出四角，每一角下都安置一個矮人。他們的名字是：奧斯特里、威斯特里、諾德里、蘇德里。接著，他們取來從穆斯貝爾海姆噴出、四處飄飛的熾熱碎屑與火花，安放在金倫加裂隙中央的天上，上下都有，照亮天地。他們替所有發光之物定了位置，有些在天上，有些在天空下自由運行，但也都為它們定了所在，安排了運行的路徑。古老的傳說說，晝夜與年歲便是從那時開始劃分的。正如《女巫的預言》所說：

太陽還不知道，
自己的居所在何方；
月亮還不知道，
自己擁有什麼力量；
星辰還不知道，
自己的位置在何方。

在這些事發生以前，便是如此。」

岡格雷里說：「我如今聽到的，都是了不起的事。那真是非凡的造物，造得如此巧妙。大地又是什麼樣子？」

哈爾答道：「大地的外緣是圓的，外面環繞著深海。他們沿著海岸，劃出土地給巨人各族居住。但在大地內側，他們為世間築起一道環牆，防禦巨人的侵擾。他們用巨人尤彌爾的眉毛造了這道城牆，稱之為米德加爾特。他們也取出他的腦，拋向空中，用它造出雲，正如這裡所說：

大地由尤彌爾的肉
造成，
海洋則由他的血，
山巒由骨頭，
樹木由毛髮，
天空由頭骨。
而慈惠的眾神
用他的眉毛
為人類之子造了米德加爾特，
又用他的腦
造出了所有那些
陰沉險惡的雲。」

岡格雷里說：「他們造出大地與天空，安置太陽與群星，劃分晝夜，在我看來，這已完成了極大的功業。那麼，居住在世上的人又是從何而來的呢？」

哈爾說：「波爾的兒子們沿著海岸行走時，發現了兩根樹木。他們拾起樹木，從中造出了人。第一位賜予氣息與生命，第二位賜予心智與活動的能力，第三位賜予容貌、言語、聽覺與視覺；他們又給了兩人衣服與名字。男子名叫阿斯克，女子名叫恩布拉。人類便由他們繁衍而來，米德加爾特被賜給他們作為居所。隨後，諸神在世界中央為自己建起一座城，名叫阿斯嘉。我們稱它為特洛伊。諸神及其族裔住在那裡，此後，大地上與天空中便發生了許多事，也有了許多變故。

「那裡有個地方叫希利德斯凱爾夫。奧丁坐上那裡的高座時，便能望見所有世界，以及每個人的作為；凡是他所看見的，他都知曉。他的妻子名叫弗麗嘉，是菲約爾金的女兒。我們稱為阿薩神族的各支族裔，便出自他們的血脈，曾居住在古老的阿斯嘉及其所屬的國土；這整個氏族都有神的血統。他之所以能稱為眾神之父，是因為他是所有神與人的父親，也是所有由他及其力量創造完成之物的父親。大地約爾德既是他的女兒，也是他的妻子。他與她生下第一個兒子，就是阿薩神族的索爾。索爾天生具有力量與剛勁，因此能戰勝一切生靈。」

「有個巨人名叫諾爾菲，也叫納爾菲，住在約頓海姆。他有個女兒名叫諾特。她膚色黝黑，容貌幽暗，正如她的出身。她嫁給一個名叫納格爾法利的男子，兩人的兒子名叫奧德。接著，她嫁給名叫安納爾的人，兩人的女兒名叫約爾德。最後娶她的是德林，他出身阿薩神族。他們的兒子是達格，他承襲父親的血統，明亮而俊美。

「眾神之父於是帶來諾特與她的兒子達格，給他們兩匹馬與兩輛車，把他們送上天空，讓他們每一晝夜繞行大地一周。諾特先行，駕著名叫赫里姆法克西的馬；每天早晨，牠銜鐵上滴落的泡沫便化為露水，潤濕大地。達格的馬名叫斯金法克西，牠的鬃毛照亮整片天空與大地。」

岡格雷里說：「他如何掌管太陽與月亮的運行呢？」

哈爾說：「有個人名叫蒙迪爾法利，育有兩個孩子。他們十分美麗俊秀，於是他把兒子取名為瑪尼，把女兒取名為蘇爾，又把女兒嫁給名叫格倫的男子。諸神被這份傲慢激怒，便把這對姊弟帶走，安置在天上，讓蘇爾駕馭拉動太陽車的馬。那太陽是諸神用穆斯貝爾海姆飛出的火星造就的，用以照亮各個世界。那兩匹馬名叫阿爾瓦克與阿爾斯維德。諸神在馬的肩下放了兩個風囊，替牠們降溫；有些典籍把這稱為伊薩恩科爾。

「瑪尼掌管月亮的運行，支配新月與殘月。他從地上帶走兩個孩子，名叫比爾與休基。當時他們正從名叫比爾吉爾的井邊走回來，肩上抬著名叫賽格爾的水桶，抬桶的長桿名叫西穆爾。他們的父親名叫維德芬。這兩個孩子跟隨著瑪尼，從地上便能看見。」

岡格雷里說：「太陽走得真快，簡直像是在害怕；就算害怕自己喪命，恐怕也不能跑得更快了。」

哈爾回答：「她跑得這麼急，並不奇怪。追逐她的那個傢伙已逼近了，她除了逃跑，別無出路。」

岡格雷里說：「是誰給她帶來這般苦惱？」

哈爾說：「有兩匹狼；追在她後面的那匹名叫斯庫爾。她害怕牠，而牠終將捉住她。跑在她前面的那匹名叫哈提，是赫羅德維特尼爾之子；牠想捉住月亮，而這也終將成真。」

岡格雷里說：「這些狼出自什麼血統？」

哈爾說：「米德加爾特東邊有座森林，名叫鐵森林，裡面住著一個女巨人。那座森林裡住著一群稱為鐵林女的女巨魔。那老女巨人生下許多巨人兒子，全都具有狼的形貌，這兩匹狼便出自其中。據說，這一族中最強大的那個名叫瑪納加姆。牠吞噬所有死者的生命，填滿肚腹，又吞下月亮，將血濺滿天空與整片大氣。此後太陽失去光輝，狂風四起，從四面八方呼嘯而來。《女先知的預言》中如此說道：

東方住著那老嫗，
住在鐵森林裡，
她在那裡養育
芬里爾的子孫；
在牠們之中，
終有一個
化作巨魔之形，
奪走月亮。

牠以生命填滿肚腹，
那是將死之人的生命，
將諸神的居所
染上鮮紅的血；
此後的夏日，
日光將變得漆黑，
一切風候皆險惡。
你們還想知道更多——還是怎樣？」

岡格雷里說：「從大地通往天空的路在哪裡？」

哈爾笑著回答：「這一問可顯得無知了。難道你沒聽說，諸神造了一座從大地通往天空的橋，名叫比弗霜橋嗎？你一定見過它，也許你把它叫作彩虹。它有三種顏色，十分堅固，建造所用的技藝與巧思遠勝其他造物。然而，儘管如此堅固，當穆斯貝爾的兒子們策馬上橋時，它仍會斷裂；他們的馬將游過大河，他們便這樣向前進。」

岡格雷里說：「既然諸神能隨心所欲地創造，卻造出一座可能斷裂的橋，我看他們造橋時並不盡心。」

哈爾說：「諸神不該因這項造物受到責難。比弗霜橋是座好橋；然而，當穆斯貝爾的兒子們進軍時，這世界上沒有任何事物能確保自身安然無恙。」

岡格雷里說：「阿斯嘉建成後，眾神之父做了什麼？」

哈爾說：「起初，他讓諸位主事者就座，請他們與自己一同裁定人類的命運，商議城中的安排。那地方就在城中央，名叫伊達沃爾原野。他們最先做的，是建起一座神殿，裡面除了眾神之父的高座，另有他們的十二個座位。這是大地上建造得最精美、也最宏偉的殿宇，內外全都宛如純金。人們稱那地方為格拉茲海姆。他們又造了一座廳堂，是屬於女神們的聖殿，極其美麗。人們稱這座殿宇為溫戈爾夫。

「接著，他們造了一間屋子，在裡面安置鍛爐，並為此製作了鎚子、鉗子與鐵砧，再由此製成其餘一切工具。隨後，他們加工金屬、石頭與木材，尤其大量鍛造名叫黃金的金屬，使所有家具與馬具都用黃金製成。這個時代稱為黃金時代，直到那些女人到來，才遭到敗壞。她們來自約頓海姆。

「接著，諸神登上各自的座位，施行裁決，並思量矮人如何在泥土與地下萌生，如同血肉中的蛆蟲。矮人最初在尤彌爾的血肉中成形，獲得生命，當時還是蛆蟲；但經諸神裁定，他們有了人的心智，也有了人的形貌，卻仍住在土中與石裡。其中以莫德索格尼爾為首，其次是杜林。《女先知的預言》中如此說道：

於是，一切神明
登上議事之座，
至聖的諸神
共同商議，
該由誰來造出
矮人的族群，
用那血紅的海水，
用布拉因的腿骨。

那裡造出了
許多人的形體，
矮人身在土中，
正如杜林所言。

「她又說出了這些矮人的名字：

尼伊、尼迪，
諾德里、蘇德里，
奧斯特里、威斯特里，
阿爾索夫、德瓦林，
納爾、納因，
尼平、達因，
比弗爾、巴弗爾，
邦布爾、諾里，
奧里、奧納爾，
奧因、米約德維特尼爾。

維格與甘道夫，
溫達爾夫、索林，
菲利、基利，
芬丁、瓦利，
索爾、索因，
塞克、利特與維特，
尼爾、尼拉德，
雷克、拉茲維德。

「下面這些也是矮人，住在石裡，前面那些則住在泥土裡：

德羅普尼爾、多爾格斯瓦利，
哈爾、胡格斯塔利，
赫雷迪約爾夫、格洛因，
多里、奧里，
杜夫、安德瓦利，
赫夫提菲利，
哈爾、斯維亞爾。

「而下面這些則從斯瓦林丘來到約魯原野的奧爾旺加，洛法爾便出自他們這一支。他們的名字如下：

斯基爾菲爾、維爾菲爾，
斯卡菲德、艾，
阿爾夫、英格維，
艾金斯基亞爾迪，
法爾、弗羅斯提，
菲德、金納爾。」

岡格雷里說：「諸神的主要居所，或是聖地，在哪裡？」

哈爾回答：「在尤克特拉希爾梣樹那裡。諸神每天都要在那裡開庭議事。」

岡格雷里說：「關於那地方，有什麼可說的？」

亞夫恩哈爾說：「那棵梣樹是所有樹木中最雄偉、最美好的。它的枝條伸展至整個世界，聳立於天空之上。三條樹根支撐著它，伸向極遠之處。一條在阿薩神族那裡，另一條在霜巨人那裡，就是從前金倫加裂隙所在之處。第三條位於尼福爾海姆上方，那條樹根下面是赫瓦格密爾，尼德霍格則從底下啃咬樹根。

「伸向霜巨人的那條樹根下面，有密米爾之泉，裡面蘊藏著智慧與才智。泉水的主人名叫密米爾。他滿腹學識，因為他用加拉爾號角飲取泉水。眾神之父曾來到那裡，請求喝一口泉水，卻直到押上自己的一隻眼睛，才得以如願。《女先知的預言》中如此說道：

我全都知道，奧丁，
你把眼睛藏在何處，
就在那聞名遐邇的
密米爾之泉裡。
密米爾每天清晨
都飲下蜜酒，
取自戰歿者之父的抵押。
你們還想知道更多——還是怎樣？

「梣樹的第三條根位於天上，那條根下面有一口極其神聖的泉，名叫烏爾德之泉。諸神的議事庭就在那裡。阿薩神族每天騎馬經由比弗霜橋上去，那座橋也叫阿薩之橋。

「阿薩神族的馬匹名字如下：斯雷普尼爾最好，牠屬於奧丁，有八條腿。第二匹是格拉德，第三匹是吉利爾，第四匹是格倫，第五匹是斯凱德布里米爾，第六匹是西爾弗林托普，第七匹是西尼爾，第八匹是吉斯爾，第九匹是法爾霍夫尼爾，第十匹是古爾托普，第十一匹是雷特費提。巴德爾的馬與他一同火化了。索爾則步行前往議事庭，涉過下面這些河流：

科爾姆特、奧爾姆特，
以及兩條凱爾勞加爾，
索爾都須涉過，
日復一日，
當他前往議事，
來到尤克特拉希爾梣樹下；
因為阿薩之橋
全都燃起烈焰，
神聖的河水沸騰。」

岡格雷里說：「比弗霜橋上燃燒著火焰嗎？」

哈爾說：「你看見虹橋上的紅色，就是燃燒的火焰。假如任何想過橋的人都能通行比弗霜橋，霜巨人與山巨人便會走上天來。天上有許多美麗的地方，處處都有神力守護。

「梣樹下、泉水旁，矗立著一座美麗的廳堂，三位少女從那廳堂中走出，名字分別是烏爾德、薇兒丹蒂與詩蔻蒂。這些少女決定人類一生的命運，我們稱她們為諾恩。此外還有更多諾恩，每個孩子出生時，她們都會前來，決定孩子一生的命運。她們有些出自神族，有些出自精靈族，第三種則出自矮人族，正如此處所說：

我說諾恩們
出身各異，
並非同出一族；
有些出自阿薩神族，
有些出自精靈族，
有些是德瓦林的女兒。」

岡格雷里說：「假如諾恩掌管人類的命運，她們分配得也太不公平了：有些人生活美滿富足，有些人卻少有財富與聲望；有些人長壽，有些人短命。」

哈爾說：「善良、出身高貴的諾恩賜予美好的一生；而那些遭逢厄運的人，則是邪惡的諾恩所致。」

岡格雷里接著說：「關於那棵梣樹，還有什麼奇事可說？」

哈爾說：「可說的多著呢。有一隻鷹棲在梣樹的枝頭，牠知曉許多事情；在牠兩眼之間，棲著一隻名叫維德佛爾尼爾的隼。一隻名叫拉塔托斯克的松鼠沿著梣樹上下奔跑，在鷹與尼德霍格之間傳遞惡言。另有四頭鹿在梣樹的枝間奔走，啃食樹葉，名字分別是達因、德瓦林、杜內爾、杜拉索爾。赫瓦格密爾裡還有許多蛇與尼德霍格同住，多得任誰也數不清。這裡如此說道：
尤克特拉希爾梣樹
承受的苦難
遠超世人所知；
鹿在上頭啃咬，
樹身兩側腐朽，
尼德霍格從底下嚙蝕。

又有這樣的詩句：
盤踞在尤克特拉希爾
梣樹底下的蛇，
比任何愚蠢猿猴所能想像的還多。
戈因與莫因，
牠們是格拉夫維特尼爾的兒子，
還有格拉巴克與格拉夫沃爾杜德，
奧夫尼爾與斯瓦夫尼爾，
我想，牠們永遠都會
啃噬這棵樹的枝條。

還有一事，住在烏爾德泉畔的諾恩，每天都從泉中取水，連同泉邊的泥土一起澆在梣樹上，使它的枝條不致枯槁腐爛。那泉水十分神聖，凡是進入泉中的東西，都會變得像緊貼蛋殼內側、名叫蛋膜的薄膜一樣潔白，正如這裡所說：
我知道一棵梣樹，
名叫尤克特拉希爾，
高大而神聖的樹，
澆灌著潔白的泥漿；
露水從那裡來，
落入山谷；
它永遠蒼翠，矗立在
烏爾德泉之上。

從樹上落到地面的露水，人們稱為蜜露，蜜蜂便以此為食。烏爾德泉中養育著兩隻鳥，牠們叫作天鵝；所有同名的鳥類，都是這兩隻鳥的後代。」

岡格雷里接著說：「你能說出天上許多重大的事情。除了烏爾德泉，天上還有哪些重要的所在？」

哈爾說：「那裡有許多宏偉的地方。其中一處叫作亞爾夫海姆，居住著名叫光精靈的族類；暗精靈則住在地底，外貌與他們不同，實際的性情更是大不相同。光精靈的容貌比太陽還美，暗精靈卻比瀝青還黑。有一處地方叫作布雷達布利克，沒有別處比那裡更美。還有一處叫作格利特尼爾，牆壁、所有梁柱都由赤金打造，屋頂則是白銀。又有一處叫作希敏比約格，坐落在天的邊際、橋的盡頭，就是比弗霜橋通往天上的地方。還有一處宏偉的地方叫作瓦拉斯卡爾夫，歸奧丁所有。那是諸神建造的，屋頂覆以純銀。這座殿堂裡有希利德斯凱爾夫，那是這張高座的名字；當眾神之父坐在座上，便能看遍所有世界。在天空南方的盡頭，有一座名叫吉姆雷的殿堂，是所有殿堂中最美的，比太陽還明亮。即使天地都已毀滅，它仍將屹立不搖；善良正直的人將永世居住在那裡。《女巫的預言》中如此說道：
我知道有一座殿堂矗立，
比太陽更美，
屋頂覆滿黃金，
坐落在吉姆雷；
忠厚的人們
將在那裡安居，
世世代代
享受歡愉。」

岡格雷里接著說：「當史爾特的烈焰焚燒天地時，是什麼護住了那個地方？」

哈爾說：「據說在這層天空的南方、更高的地方，另有第二層天空，名叫安德朗；在它上方還有第三層天空，名叫維德布萊因。我們認為那個地方就在第三層天空之中。我們也認為，如今只有光精靈住在那些地方。」

岡格雷里接著說：「風從哪裡來？它的力量強大，足以攪動浩瀚的海洋，助長火勢。可是，儘管它如此強大，卻看不見它，真是奇妙的造物。」

哈爾接著說：「這我可以清楚告訴你。在天空北方的盡頭，坐著一名叫作赫拉斯瓦爾格的巨人。他披著鷹的形體，每當他振翅欲飛，風便從他的雙翼底下湧出。這裡如此說道：
他名叫赫拉斯瓦爾格，
坐在天的盡頭，
是披著鷹形的巨人；
據說風從
他的雙翼吹來，
掠過所有世人。」

岡格雷里接著說：「為何差異如此之大，夏天炎熱，冬天卻寒冷？」

哈爾說：「有學問的人不會這樣問，因為人人都知道這件事，都說得出來。但如果只有你如此無知，連這也沒聽過，我倒仍覺得，你寧可無知地問上一回，也不願繼續蒙在鼓裡，不懂應當知道的事，這是可取的。夏天的父親名叫斯瓦蘇德，日子過得如此幸福愉快，因此一切溫柔可親的事物，都依他的名字稱為『斯瓦斯利格』。至於冬天的父親，有時叫作溫德洛尼，有時叫作溫德斯瓦爾。他是瓦薩德的兒子，那一家族全都兇狠而心冷，冬天也承襲了他們的性情。」

岡格雷里接著說：「人們應當信奉哪些阿薩神族的神？」

哈爾說：「出身神裔的阿薩男神共有十二位。」

亞夫恩哈爾接著說：「阿薩女神同樣神聖，力量也不遜於他們。」

斯里迪接著說：「奧丁是阿薩神族之中最尊貴、最年長的。他主宰萬事，其他諸神儘管神通廣大，仍全都像孩子侍奉父親一般侍奉他。他的妻子是弗麗嘉，她知道世人的命運，卻不說出預言。正如此處所述，奧丁親口對那名叫洛基的阿薩神說：
洛基，你瘋了，
失去了理智，
洛基，你怎麼還不停口？
我想弗麗嘉
知道一切命運，
雖然她自己不說。

奧丁稱為眾神之父，因為他是所有神祇的父親。他也稱為陣亡者之父，因為凡在戰場上陣亡的人，都是他收納的義子。他為他們安排英靈殿與溫戈爾夫，他們便稱為英靈戰士。他又稱為縊者之神、囚徒之神、負載之神。他來到蓋爾羅德國王那裡時，還用過更多不同的名字：
我曾名為格里姆
與岡格雷里，
赫爾揚、希亞爾姆貝里，
塞克、斯里迪，
蘇德、烏德，
赫爾布林迪、哈爾、薩德、斯維帕爾，
桑蓋塔爾，
赫爾泰特、赫尼卡爾，
比雷格、巴雷格，
博爾維爾克、菲約爾尼爾，
格里姆尼爾、格拉普斯維德、菲約爾斯維德，
西德霍特、西德斯凱格，
西格弗德、赫尼庫德，
眾神之父、阿特里德、法爾馬提爾，
奧斯基、奧米，
亞夫恩哈爾、比夫林迪，
貢德利爾、哈爾巴德，
斯維杜爾、斯維德里爾，
雅爾克、基亞拉爾、維杜爾，
斯羅爾、伊格、松德，
瓦克、斯基爾芬格，
瓦夫德、赫羅夫塔提爾，
高特、維拉提爾。」

岡格雷里接著說：「你們給了他多得驚人的名字。依我看，誰能明白這些名字的含義與典故，知道每一個名字各自源於什麼事，必定十分博學。」

哈爾說：「要仔細追述這些，需要深厚的學識。不過，最簡短的說法是，世上有多少種不同的語言，各民族便都認為，為了自己呼求、祈禱，必須把他的名字改成自己的語言；大多數名字都是這樣來的。另有一些名字，源於他旅途中發生的事，那些事都已編入故事。如果你不會講述那些大事，便稱不上有學問的人。」

岡格雷里接著說：「其他阿薩神族的神各叫什麼名字？他們從事什麼，又做過哪些揚名的事蹟？」

哈爾說：「他們之中最出眾的是索爾，人們稱他為阿薩索爾，或駕車的索爾。他是所有神祇與人類之中力量最強大的。他的領地叫作斯魯德旺，殿堂則叫比爾斯基爾尼爾。那座殿堂共有五百四十間廳室，是人們所知最大的屋宇。《格里姆尼爾之歌》中如此說道：
五百間廳室，
再加上四十間，
我想比爾斯基爾尼爾的曲廊間共有這麼多；
在我所知
一切覆有屋頂的屋宇中，
我知道我兒子的最大。

索爾有兩隻公山羊，名字是坦格尼奧斯特與坦格里斯尼爾，還有一輛他乘坐的車，由這兩隻公山羊拉動。因此，他被稱為駕車的索爾。他還有三件寶物，其中一件是鎚子妙爾尼爾。當它在空中揮起時，霜巨人與山巨人都認得它，這也不奇怪，因為它曾打碎他們許多父輩與親族的頭顱。他還有另一件極好的寶物，力量腰帶；每當他把腰帶繫在身上，神力便增強一半。他的第三件東西也極為珍貴，那就是鐵手套。握持鎚柄時，他不能少了這副手套。沒有誰博學到能夠一一說盡他的偉業，不過我能告訴你的事蹟已經很多，要把我所知道的全說完，可得花上不少時間。」

岡格雷里接著說：「我想再聽聽其他阿薩神族的事。」

哈爾說：「奧丁的另一個兒子是巴德爾，關於他的事，說來都是好的。他最為美善，人人都讚頌他。他容貌俊美，光彩照人，甚至周身都散發光輝。有一種草潔白無比，人們將它比作巴德爾的睫毛。那是所有草木之中最潔白的，從這點，你便能想見他的頭髮與形貌有多美。他是阿薩神族之中最睿智、言語最優美、最仁慈的，然而他有一項特性，就是他的任何判決都無法實現。他住在名叫布雷達布利克的地方，那裡位於天上。在那個地方，任何不潔之物都不能存在，正如此處所說：
那裡名叫布雷達布利克，
巴德爾在那裡
為自己建起殿堂，
那片土地，
據我所知，
凶兆最少。

第三位阿薩神名叫尼約德。他住在天上名叫諾阿通的地方。他掌管風的行進，平息海浪與火焰。航海與漁獵時，都應向他祈求。他極為富有，財貨豐饒，能賜人土地或動產之財；為求這些，也應向他祈禱。尼約德並非出身阿薩神族。他在華納海姆長大，華納神族將他送到諸神那裡作人質，換回名叫海尼爾的神作人質。他成了諸神與華納神族和解的憑證。

尼約德的妻子名叫絲卡蒂，是巨人夏基的女兒。絲卡蒂想住在她父親從前的居所，那是在群山之間，名叫索列姆海姆；尼約德卻想住在海邊。他們商定，在索列姆海姆住九夜，再到諾阿通住九夜。然而，當尼約德從山中返回諾阿通時，便吟道：
我厭惡山巒，
在那裡住得並不久，
不過短短九夜；
與天鵝的歌聲相比，
狼群的嚎叫
令我十分難受。

絲卡蒂於是吟道：
我在海邊的床榻上
無法入眠，
只因鳥兒的啼叫；
每天清晨，
從海上飛來的海鷗
總將我喚醒。

於是絲卡蒂回到山上，住在索列姆海姆。她經常踏著雪板、帶著弓，射獵野獸。她被稱為雪板之神或雪板女神。詩中如此說道：
那裡名叫索列姆海姆，
夏基曾住在那裡，
那位力大無窮的巨人；
如今絲卡蒂住在那裡，
眾神明麗的新娘，
住在父親昔日的宅院。

住在諾阿通的尼約德後來生了兩個孩子，兒子名叫弗雷，女兒名叫芙蕾雅。他們容貌俊美，神力強大。弗雷是阿薩神族中最卓越的。他掌管雨水與日光，也因此掌管大地的收成；祈求豐年與和平時，向他祈禱甚好。他也掌管人們的財富與興旺。芙蕾雅則是女神中最卓越的。她在天上有一處居所，名叫弗爾克旺。無論她騎馬前往何處作戰，戰死者的一半歸她，另一半歸奧丁，正如此處所言：
那地方名叫弗爾克旺，
芙蕾雅在那裡掌管
殿堂中座位的分配；
戰死者的一半，
她每日挑選，
另一半歸奧丁。
她的殿堂名叫塞斯魯姆尼爾，宏偉而美麗。她出行時，坐在車上，由兩隻貓拉車。人們向她祈求，她最樂於垂聽；貴婦被尊稱為『夫人』，這個稱號便來自她的名字。她十分喜愛情歌。祈求愛情時，向她祈禱甚好。」

岡格雷里說：「我看這些阿薩神族都十分強大。你們既然通曉諸神的情形，知道各種祈願該向誰祈求，擁有強大的力量也就不足為奇了。還有其他神嗎？」

哈爾說：「還有一位阿薩神，名叫提爾。他最勇敢，也最有膽識，戰場上的勝利多半由他決定。勇士向他祈求甚好。俗語說，一個人若勇氣過人，奮不顧身，便是『勇如提爾』。他也很有智慧，因此也有人說，最有智慧的人是『智如提爾』。有一件事足以證明他的勇氣：阿薩神族誘使巨狼芬里爾讓他們將格萊普尼爾鎖鏈套在牠身上時，牠不相信他們會替牠解開，直到他們把提爾的手放進牠嘴裡作為擔保。後來阿薩神族不肯放開牠，牠便從如今稱為『狼關節』的地方將那隻手咬斷了。因此提爾只有一隻手，也不被稱為調解紛爭的神。

有一位神名叫布拉基。他以智慧聞名，尤其擅長言辭，口才出眾。他最精通詩藝，詩歌因他而稱為『布拉格』；一個女人或男人若比旁人更能言善道，也會依他的名字，被稱為女人中的『布拉格』或男人中的『布拉格』。他的妻子是伊登。她將那些蘋果保存在自己的梣木匣裡；諸神衰老時，只要咬一口，就會全都恢復年輕，直到諸神黃昏都是如此。」

岡格雷里說：「依我看，諸神的命運實在大大仰賴伊登的照料與忠誠。」

哈爾笑著說：「有一次，這差點釀成大禍。我可以把那件事說給你聽，不過你現在應當先聽聽其他阿薩神族的名字。

有一位神名叫海姆達爾，被稱為白色的阿薩神。他偉大而神聖。九位少女生下了他，而她們全是姊妹。他也叫哈林斯基迪和古林坦尼。他的牙齒是金子做的。他的馬名叫古爾托普。他住在比弗霜橋旁的希敏比約格。他是諸神的守衛，坐鎮天際，守護橋梁，防備山巨人。他所需的睡眠比鳥還少，無論晝夜，都能看見百拉斯特以外的事物。他也能聽見地上的草生長、羊身上的毛長出，以及一切比這些更響的聲音。他有一支號角，名叫加拉爾號角，吹響時，所有世界都聽得見。海姆達爾的劍被稱為『人頭』。這裡如此說道：
那地方名叫希敏比約格，
人們說海姆達爾在那裡
掌管聖所；
諸神的守衛在那裡，
在安寧的殿堂裡，
欣然飲用上好的蜜酒。
他自己也在《海姆達爾之咒》中說：
我是九位母親所生的孩子，
我是九位姊妹所生的兒子。

有一位阿薩神名叫霍德爾。他雙目失明，力氣卻極大。諸神寧願不必提起這位神，因為他親手做下的事，將長久留在諸神與人類的記憶裡。

有一位神名叫維達，是沉默的阿薩神。他穿著一隻厚鞋。他力大無窮，僅次於索爾。諸神遭逢任何危難時，都十分倚重他。

有一位神名叫阿利，又叫瓦利，是奧丁與琳德的兒子。他作戰勇敢，射箭極為精準。

有一位神名叫烏勒，是希芙的兒子、索爾的繼子。他的箭術與滑雪本領都十分高強，無人能與他匹敵。他容貌俊美，也具備戰士的才幹。決鬥時，向他祈求也甚好。

福爾塞提是巴德爾與內普之女南娜的兒子。他在天上有一座殿堂，名叫格利特尼爾。凡因訴訟爭端前來找他的人，離去時全都已經和解。對諸神與人類而言，那是最好的審判之所。這裡如此說道：
那殿堂名叫格利特尼爾，
以黃金支撐，
又以白銀覆頂；
福爾塞提在那裡
度過大半的日子，
平息一切爭訟。

還有一位也列在阿薩神族之中，有人稱他為阿薩神族間的挑撥者、欺詐的始作俑者，以及一切神與人的恥辱。他名叫洛基，又叫洛夫特，是巨人法布提的兒子。他的母親名叫勞菲，又叫娜爾。他的兄弟是比雷斯特與赫爾布林迪。洛基外貌俊美，性情邪惡，行事變化多端。他有一種勝過旁人的智慧，叫作狡詐，對任何事都能想出詭計。他總使阿薩神族陷入重重困境，又時常用計謀替他們解圍。他的妻子名叫西格恩，兩人的兒子名叫納利，又叫納爾維。

洛基還有其他孩子。約頓海姆有一位女巨人名叫安格爾波達，洛基與她生了三個孩子：第一個是巨狼芬里爾，第二個是耶夢加得，也就是米德加爾特巨蛇，第三個是赫爾。諸神得知這三個兄妹在約頓海姆長大，又從預言推知，他們會給諸神帶來巨大的傷害與災禍。大家都認為，單看他們的母系血統，就大可料想他們會帶來許多禍害，而他們的父系血統更糟。於是眾神之父派諸神去捉住那些孩子，帶到他面前。他們被帶來之後，他便將巨蛇拋進環繞所有陸地的深海。那條巨蛇不斷長大，如今盤踞在海中央，環繞所有陸地，嘴裡咬著自己的尾巴。

他將赫爾拋進尼福爾海姆，賜她統治九個世界的權力，要她為一切被送到她那裡的人分配食宿；那些人便是因疾病或衰老而死的人。她在那裡擁有廣大的居所，圍牆高得驚人，門也十分巨大。她的殿堂名叫埃琉德尼爾，盤子名叫飢餓，刀名叫饑荒，男奴名叫遲行，女奴名叫慢步，入口的門檻名叫墜落險坑，床名叫病榻，床帷名叫閃耀災殃。她的身體一半青黑，一半是肉色，因此很容易辨認，神情又頗為陰沉凶狠。

阿薩神族將巨狼養在自己的居所，只有提爾敢走近牠，給牠餵食。諸神看見牠每天都長大許多，而所有預言都說牠注定會傷害他們，於是阿薩神族想出一個辦法，製作了一副極為堅固的鐐銬，稱為萊丁。他們將鐐銬帶到巨狼面前，要牠試試自己的力氣，能否掙斷鐐銬。巨狼覺得這並不超出自己的力量，便任由他們擺布。然而，巨狼才一使勁，那副鐐銬就斷了。牠就這樣掙脫了萊丁。

接著，阿薩神族又製作了另一副鐐銬，比先前那副堅固一倍，稱為德羅米。他們再次要巨狼試試這副鐐銬，還說，若連這樣的龐大鎖具都鎖不住牠，牠必會因力大無窮而聲名遠播。巨狼心想，這副鐐銬的確十分堅固，但自從掙斷萊丁以來，自己的力氣也增長了；牠又想到，要成名就得冒險，便讓他們將鐐銬套在自己身上。阿薩神族認為一切都已就緒時，巨狼便抖動身體，將鐐銬砸向地面，全力掙扎，猛然一蹬，便將鐐銬掙斷，碎片飛向遠處。牠就這樣衝破了德羅米。從此，每當有人奮力追求某件事，人們便用『掙脫萊丁』或『衝破德羅米』作為俗語。

此後，阿薩神族開始害怕自己無法綁住巨狼。於是眾神之父派弗雷的使者斯基爾尼爾下到斯瓦爾特亞爾夫海姆，去找一些矮人，請他們製作名叫格萊普尼爾的鎖鏈。它由六種東西製成：貓的腳步聲、女人的鬍鬚、山的根、熊的筋、魚的氣息，以及鳥的唾液。即使你以前不曾聽過這些事，如今也能立刻找到確實的證據，知道我並未騙你。你想必見過，女人沒有鬍鬚，貓奔跑時沒有腳步聲，山底下也沒有根。我確信，我告訴你的一切都同樣真實，儘管其中有些事情，你無法親自驗證。」

岡格雷里說：「我確實能明白，這是真話。你剛才舉為例子的那些事，我都能親眼看見。可是那鎖鏈做成了什麼樣子？」

哈爾說：「這我很能告訴你。那鎖鏈平滑柔軟，像一條絲帶，至於它多麼堅韌牢固，你馬上就會聽見。鎖鏈送到阿薩神族手中後，他們十分感謝使者辦成了這件事。隨後，阿薩神族來到名叫阿姆斯瓦特尼爾的湖上，登上名叫林格維的小島，並將巨狼也叫了來。他們把絲帶給牠看，要牠扯斷它，還說它雖然纖細，卻比外表看來更為結實。他們彼此傳遞，輪流用手使勁拉扯，絲帶始終沒有斷，然而他們仍說巨狼一定扯得斷。

巨狼回答：『依我看，這條帶子如此纖細，即使扯斷了，我也得不到什麼名聲。但它若是用法術與詭計製成，即使看來微不足道，我也不會讓這條帶子套上我的腳。』

阿薩神族說，牠從前既然掙斷過巨大的鐵鐐銬，要扯斷纖細的絲帶，必定不費吹灰之力。『可是，如果你扯不斷這條帶子，你也就無法威脅諸神。到時我們便會放開你。』

巨狼說：『要是你們將我綁得無法掙脫，你們就會百般推託，我要得到你們的幫助，可不知得等到何時。我不願讓你們把這條帶子套在我身上；不過，我也不願你們譏笑我膽怯，因此，你們當中得有一個人把手放進我嘴裡，作為此事毫無欺詐的擔保。』

阿薩神族面面相覷，覺得這下進退兩難，誰也不願伸出自己的手，直到提爾伸出右手，放進巨狼嘴裡。巨狼一使勁，帶子便收緊了；牠掙扎得越厲害，帶子就勒得越緊。這時，眾神全都笑了，只有提爾沒有笑；他失去了自己的手。

阿薩神族看見巨狼已被牢牢綁住，便拿起從鎖鏈延伸出來、名叫蓋爾吉亞的繫索，穿過一塊名叫吉奧爾的大石板，再將石板深埋地下。他們又拿來一塊名叫斯維提的巨石，將它埋得更深，用這塊石頭作為繫索的固定樁。巨狼張大嘴巴，拚命掙扎，想咬他們。他們便將一把劍塞進牠嘴裡，劍柄抵住下顎，劍尖頂住上顎，成為撐開牠嘴巴的支柱。牠淒厲地嚎叫，唾液從嘴裡流出，化成了名叫萬的河流。牠將躺在那裡，直到諸神黃昏。」

岡格雷里說：「洛基生下的孩子真是壞得驚人，而這幾個兄妹又都如此強大。可是，阿薩神族既然預料巨狼會帶來禍害，為什麼不殺了牠？」

哈爾回答：「諸神極為尊重自己的聖所與庇護之地，因此不願用巨狼的血玷污它們，儘管預言說，牠將會殺死奧丁。」

於是岡格雷里問道：「女神有哪些？」哈爾說：「弗麗嘉地位最高。她擁有一處名為芬薩里爾的居所，十分壯麗。第二位是薩迦。她住在瑟克瓦貝克，那是個廣大的地方。第三位是埃爾。她是最好的醫者。第四位是格芙昂。她是處女，凡以處女之身死去的女子，都侍奉她。第五位是芙拉。她也是處女，披散著頭髮，頭上繫著金帶。她替弗麗嘉拿著匣子，照管她的鞋履，也與她共知祕密的計謀。

芙蕾雅與弗麗嘉同為最尊貴的女神。她嫁給一個名叫奧德的男子。他們的女兒是赫諾絲。她如此美麗，凡美麗而珍貴的事物，都以她的名字稱為珍寶。奧德遠行去了，芙蕾雅為他的離去哭泣，流下的淚水是赤金。芙蕾雅有許多名字，這是因為她到陌生的民族之間尋找奧德時，給自己取了各種稱號。她又名瑪爾德爾、赫恩、格芬、敘爾。芙蕾雅擁有布里希嘉曼項鍊。她也被稱為華納女神。

第七位是修芬。她極力使人心轉向愛情，無論男女；愛戀因此以她的名字稱為夏夫尼。第八位是洛芬。她如此溫厚，樂於垂聽祈求，因此能得到眾神之父或弗麗嘉的允許，讓男女結合，即使這樁姻緣先前曾遭禁止，或被斷然拒絕。『許可』一詞便來自她的名字，人們也因此大加讚頌她。第九位是瓦爾。她聆聽人們的誓言，以及男女彼此訂下的私約。這些約定因此稱為『瓦拉爾』。她也懲罰背約的人。第十位是沃爾。她聰慧而好問，沒有任何事物能瞞過她。因此有這樣的說法：女子得知一件事，就說她『察覺』了。第十一位是敘恩。她看守殿堂的門，把不該進去的人關在門外；她也在庭會上擔任辯護，駁斥她認為不實的指控。因此，人們否認某事時，便有『拒絕擋在前頭』的說法。第十二位是赫林。她奉命守護弗麗嘉想要救離危難的人。因此，逃過危難的人便被說成『得了庇護』。第十三位是斯諾特拉。她聰慧而舉止端莊。凡謙和有節的男女，都以她的名字稱為明慧之人。第十四位是格娜。弗麗嘉派她到各個世界辦事。她有一匹名為霍夫瓦爾普尼爾的馬，能奔行於空中與水上。有一次她騎馬出行，幾位華納神族看見她在空中馳騁。其中一位說：

『那裡是什麼在飛，
什麼在行進，
或在空中飄過？』

她回答：

『我並沒有飛，
卻仍在行進，
在空中飄過，
騎著霍夫瓦爾普尼爾，
那是哈姆斯凱爾皮爾
與加爾德羅法所生。』

凡是高高升起的事物，都因格娜的名字而被說成『高聳』。蘇爾與比爾也列在女神之中，她們的身世先前已經說過了。」

「此外還有一些女神，負責在英靈殿侍奉，端送飲料，照管餐具和酒器。《格里姆尼爾之歌》中如此列舉她們的名字：

赫里斯特與密斯特，
我願她們為我端來酒角，
斯凱格爾德與斯科古爾，
希爾德與斯魯德，
赫勒克與赫爾菲約特爾，
格爾與蓋爾拉赫德，
蘭德格里德與拉德格里德，
還有雷金蕾芙，
她們為英靈戰士端送啤酒。

她們稱為女武神。每逢戰役，奧丁都派她們前去。她們選定誰將死去，也決定勝負。岡恩、羅塔，以及最年輕、名叫詩蔻蒂的諾恩，總是騎馬出行，挑選戰死者，裁定戰鬥中的生死。索爾的母親約爾德，以及瓦利的母親琳德，也列在女神之中。」

「有一個人名叫吉密爾，他的妻子叫奧爾波達。她出身山巨人一族。他們的女兒是葛德，是所有女子中最美麗的。有一天，弗雷登上希利德斯凱爾夫，眺望所有世界。他望向北方時，看見一處居所中有棟高大而美麗的房屋。一名女子走向那棟房屋，她舉起雙手，在面前推開門時，雙手發出的光照亮了天空與海洋，所有世界都因她而明亮。他竟坐上那神聖的座位，如此狂妄，便遭到報應，滿懷愁苦地離開了。他回家後，一句話也不說。他不睡，也不喝。沒有人敢開口問他。

於是尼約德召來弗雷的侍從斯基爾尼爾，叫他去找弗雷，請他開口，問問他對誰如此憤怒，竟不肯與人說話。斯基爾尼爾說他會去，卻不情願，說恐怕只會得到難聽的回答。他來到弗雷面前，便問弗雷為何如此垂頭喪氣，不肯與人說話。弗雷回答說，他看見了一個美麗的女子，為了她，他如此悲苦，若不能得到她，便活不了多久——『現在你要去替我向她求婚，把她帶回這裡，無論她父親答應與否，我都會好好酬謝你。』

斯基爾尼爾回答說，他願意出這趟差使，但弗雷必須把自己的劍給他。那把劍如此精良，能自行戰鬥。弗雷沒有因此作罷，便把劍給了他。於是斯基爾尼爾出發，替他向那女子求婚，得到她的允諾；九夜之後，她將到名為巴雷的地方，與弗雷成婚。斯基爾尼爾向弗雷稟報出使的結果時，弗雷便吟道：

一夜漫長，
第二夜漫長，
三夜教我如何熬過？
往往一個月，
我都覺得比這
半個婚前之夜更短。

正因如此，弗雷與貝利交戰時才沒有兵器，用鹿角殺了他。」

於是岡格雷里說：「真是奇事，像弗雷這樣的首領，竟肯把劍送人，自己卻沒有另一把同樣好的劍。他與那個叫貝利的交戰時，這必定使他大受其害。我敢說，他當時必定後悔送出了那份禮物。」

哈爾回答：「他和貝利交手時，那算不了什麼。弗雷徒手也能殺死他。但穆斯貝爾之子們出兵攻來時，弗雷便會覺得失去那把劍，是更為不幸的事了。」

於是岡格雷里說：「你說，自世界初始以來，所有在戰鬥中陣亡的人，如今都已到英靈殿的奧丁那裡去了。他有什麼食物可供養他們？我想，那裡的人數一定極多。」

哈爾回答：「你說得對，那裡的人數極多。但還會再多出許多；即便如此，巨狼來到時，仍會嫌人手太少。然而，英靈殿無論有多少人，那頭名叫瑟赫里姆尼爾的公豬，肉都足夠他們吃。牠每天被煮來吃，到了傍晚又完好如初。不過，你現在問的這個問題，我想很少有人有足夠的見識，能據實回答。廚師名叫安德赫里姆尼爾，鍋子名叫埃爾德赫里姆尼爾。這裡如此說道：

安德赫里姆尼爾
在埃爾德赫里姆尼爾鍋裡
煮熟瑟赫里姆尼爾，
那是最好的豬肉，
卻少有人知道，
英靈戰士以何為食。」

於是岡格雷里問：「奧丁也和英靈戰士吃同樣的飯食嗎？」

哈爾說：「他把擺在自己桌上的食物，給了他養的兩匹狼，牠們名叫格里與弗雷基。他自己不需要食物，葡萄酒既是他的飲料，也是他的食糧。這裡如此說道：

格里與弗雷基，
由慣於征戰、
榮耀的軍旅之父餵飽；
而以兵器為榮的
奧丁，永遠
只靠葡萄酒維生。

兩隻烏鴉棲在他的肩上，在他耳邊訴說所見所聞的一切消息。牠們名叫福金與穆寧。他在黎明派牠們飛遍整個世界，牠們在早飯時分回來。他因此得知許多消息。所以人們稱他為烏鴉之神，正如詩中所說：

福金與穆寧
每天飛越
遼闊的大地；
我擔心福金
一去不返，
卻更為穆寧憂心。」

於是岡格雷里問：「英靈戰士喝什麼，能像食物一樣充足，永不匱乏？還是那裡喝的是水？」

哈爾說：「你這一問可真奇怪，難道眾神之父會邀請國王、雅爾或其他權貴到他那裡，卻給他們水喝？我敢說，許多人受盡創傷與痛楚而死，來到英靈殿，若那裡沒有更好的款待可享，他們必定覺得，為了喝水而付出的代價未免太高。

我還能告訴你那裡的另一件事。有一隻名叫海德倫的母山羊，站在英靈殿頂上，啃食一棵極富盛名、叫作萊拉德的樹的枝葉。牠的乳頭流出蜂蜜酒，每天都能裝滿一大桶。酒量如此之多，足以讓所有英靈戰士喝個酩酊大醉。」

於是岡格雷里說：「這隻母山羊對他們真是大有用處。牠啃食的那棵樹，想必也是非比尋常的好樹。」

哈爾說：「那頭名叫艾克瑟尼爾的雄鹿，更有值得一說之處。牠站在英靈殿上，啃食那棵樹的枝葉。牠的鹿角滴下如此多的水，流入下方的赫瓦格密爾，從那裡流出這些河：錫德河、維德河、塞金、埃金、斯沃爾、岡斯羅、菲約爾姆、芬布爾蘇爾、吉普爾、戈普爾、格穆爾、蓋爾維穆爾。這些河流經阿薩神族的居地。另有這些河名：辛、溫、瑟爾、赫爾、格拉德、岡斯拉因、尼特、內特、南恩、赫倫、維納、韋格斯溫、休德努瑪。」

於是岡格雷里說：「你方才說的，都是奇異的事。英靈殿想必是極其龐大的房屋。門前想必時常十分擁擠。」

哈爾回答：「你怎麼不問，殿堂有多少扇門，門有多大？你聽到答案後，便會說，若還有人無法隨意進出，那才是奇事。不過，說實在的，殿裡要容納眾人，也不比讓眾人進門更擁擠。你可以聽聽《格里姆尼爾之歌》中的這段：

五百扇門，
再加上四十，
我想英靈殿便有這麼多；
八百名英靈戰士
同時走出一扇門，
當他們出征與巨狼交戰之時。」

岡格雷里說：「英靈殿裡的人實在多。我憑自己的信念起誓，奧丁統率如此龐大的軍隊，確實是位了不起的首領。那麼，英靈戰士不喝酒的時候，都以什麼為樂呢？」

哈爾說：「每天，他們穿好衣服，便披掛武裝，走到庭院裡交戰，彼此砍殺。這就是他們的遊戲。等到早飯時分將近，他們便騎馬回英靈殿，坐下飲酒，正如這裡所說：
所有英靈戰士，
在奧丁的庭院裡，
每日互相砍殺；
他們選定陣亡者，
騎馬離開戰場，
隨後又和睦地坐在一起。

你說的確實不錯。奧丁本領高強，有許多事例可以證明。阿薩神族自己便這樣說：
尤克特拉希爾這株梣樹，
在眾樹之中最尊貴，
斯基德普拉特尼爾在眾船之中，
奧丁在阿薩神族之中，
斯雷普尼爾在眾馬之中，
比弗霜橋在眾橋之中，
布拉基在眾詩人之中，
哈布羅克在眾鷹之中，
加姆在眾犬之中。」

岡格雷里說：「斯雷普尼爾那匹馬是誰的？關於牠有什麼故事可說？」

哈爾說：「你不知道斯雷普尼爾的來歷，也不知道牠如何出世；不過，你一定會覺得這件事值得一說。那是在眾神定居之初，眾神已建立米德加爾特，也建好了英靈殿。這時來了一名工匠，表示願意在一年半內替他們築起一道城牆，堅固可靠，足以抵擋山巨人與霜巨人，即使那些巨人進入米德加爾特也不必擔心。但他開出的報酬，是要得到芙蕾雅，還要太陽和月亮。

阿薩神族於是聚在一起商議，最後與工匠訂下契約：只要他能在一個冬天之內築好城牆，就能得到他索求的報酬；但到了夏季第一天，城牆若還有任何部分尚未完工，他便得不到報酬。他也不得接受任何人幫忙施工。他們向他提出這些條件時，他要求准許自己的馬斯瓦迪爾法利幫忙；而准許他這項要求，正是洛基出的主意。

工匠在冬季第一天動工築牆，每到夜裡，便用馬拖來石料。阿薩神族看見那匹馬拖動的岩石如此巨大，都十分驚訝；馬完成的苦工，比工匠還多出一半。他們的契約有可靠的見證人，也立下了許多誓言，因為巨人認為，若沒有安全的保證，與阿薩神族待在一起並不穩妥，尤其索爾一旦回來就更危險；當時索爾正到東方去打巨怪。

冬天漸漸過去，築牆的工程進展迅速；城牆又高又堅固，無從攻破。距離夏季只剩三天時，連城門也快造好了。眾神便坐上各自的審判座，商議對策，彼此質問：是誰出的主意，要把芙蕾雅嫁到巨人國，或是如此毀壞天空與蒼穹，把太陽和月亮取下來送給巨人？大家一致認為，出這主意的一定是那個最常惹出禍事的傢伙，勞菲之子洛基。他們說，洛基若想不出辦法使工匠拿不到報酬，就該死得淒慘，並且向他動起手來。洛基害怕了，便發誓無論付出什麼代價，都要設法使工匠拿不到報酬。

就在當晚，工匠帶著斯瓦迪爾法利出去運石頭時，一匹母馬從樹林裡跑出來，奔向公馬，對牠嘶鳴。公馬一察覺那是匹什麼馬，便狂躁起來，掙斷繩索，朝母馬跑去；母馬逃進樹林，工匠也跟在後面，想把公馬捉回來。然而，兩匹馬奔跑了整夜，那一夜的工程就這樣耽擱了，接下來的一天，施工也無法像先前那樣順利。

工匠一看工程將無法完成，便大發巨人之怒。阿薩神族確定來的是個山巨人，便不再顧惜誓言，呼喚索爾。索爾立刻趕到，隨即將鎚子妙爾尼爾舉向空中。他就這樣付了工錢，給的既非太陽，也非月亮，反而使工匠再也無法住在巨人國：他第一鎚就把工匠的頭骨打得粉碎，將他送到尼福爾海姆之下。

至於洛基，他與斯瓦迪爾法利那番來往，竟使他過了些時候生下一匹小馬。那匹馬是灰色的，長著八條腿，是眾神與人間最好的馬。《女先知的預言》如此說：
於是，一切神明，
登上議事的座位，
那些無比神聖的眾神，
共同商議此事：
是誰使整片天空
摻入了奸詐，
又將奧德的女子
送給巨人的族類。
誓言遭到踐踏，
諾言與盟誓，
以及彼此訂下的
一切莊嚴約定；
唯有索爾出手擊殺，
滿懷盛怒，
每逢聽見這等事，
他很少安坐不動。」

岡格雷里說：「斯基德普拉特尼爾既是最好的船，關於它有什麼可說的？難道沒有船和它一樣大嗎？」

哈爾說：「斯基德普拉特尼爾是最好的船，造得極為精巧；但最大的船是納吉爾法，屬於穆斯貝爾。幾名矮人，也就是伊瓦爾迪的兒子們，造了斯基德普拉特尼爾，將船送給弗雷。它大得足以讓所有阿薩神族攜帶武器與戰具登船；只要揚起帆，無論要往哪裡，都有順風相送。不出海時，由於它是以許多零件、極為精巧的技藝造就的，便可以像布一樣摺起，收在自己的袋子裡。」

岡格雷里說：「斯基德普拉特尼爾真是艘好船，不過，要造出這樣的船，一定得施展極大的魔法。索爾可曾在旅途中遇見如此強大有力的對手，憑力量或魔法勝過了他？」

哈爾說：「我想，知道這種事的人很少；不過，他確實曾遇過許多難關。即使曾有什麼東西那麼強悍有力，連索爾也無法戰勝，也不該拿來說，因為有許多事例足以證明，而且人人都應相信，索爾最有力量。」

岡格雷里說：「看來，我問了你們一件誰也回答不了的事。」

亞夫恩哈爾說：「我們聽人說過那些遭遇，卻覺得難以相信會是真的。不過，這裡應當坐著一位知道實情、能夠講述的人；你也應當相信，他從前從未說謊，如今不會頭一回說起謊來。」

岡格雷里說：「只要這件事能有個答覆，我便站在這裡聽；否則，若你們答不出我的問題，我就要說你們已經被難倒了。」

斯里迪說：「現在很清楚了，儘管我們覺得說出來不光彩，他還是想知道這些事。事情的開頭，是御車的索爾駕著山羊出行，和他同行的是名叫洛基的那位阿薩神。他們傍晚來到一名農夫家，在那裡借宿。當晚，索爾捉來自己的兩隻山羊，將牠們都宰了。接著，山羊被剝了皮，放進鍋裡。肉煮熟後，索爾和同伴便坐下吃晚餐。索爾邀請農夫、他的妻子和孩子一起吃。農夫的兒子叫夏爾維，女兒叫蘿絲克瓦。

索爾把羊皮鋪在離火遠些的地方，吩咐農夫與家人把骨頭丟到羊皮上。農夫的兒子夏爾維拿著一根山羊的腿骨，用自己的刀劃開，再敲破骨頭取骨髓。索爾在那裡過了一夜。天亮以前，他起身穿好衣服，拿起鎚子妙爾尼爾，舉起來為羊皮祝聖。山羊便站起身來，但其中一隻的後腿瘸了。索爾發現後，便認為農夫或他的家人沒有好好處置羊骨。他察覺那根腿骨已經折斷。

這裡不必多說。大家都能明白，農夫看見索爾雙眉低壓在眼睛上方，會有多麼害怕；他只瞥見索爾眼睛露出的部分，就覺得單憑那目光已足以讓自己倒斃。索爾緊握鎚柄，連指節都發白了。農夫和全家人也如人所料，高聲哀求，請他饒命，願將所有家當交出來賠償。索爾見他們如此恐懼，怒氣便消了，平靜下來，收下他們的孩子夏爾維與蘿絲克瓦，作為和解的條件。兩人從此成了服侍他的僕役，此後總是隨侍在側。」

他把山羊留在那裡，動身往東前往巨人國，一直來到海邊，接著渡過那片深海。他到了陸地，便上岸前行，洛基、夏爾維和蘿絲克瓦也與他同行。他們走了不久，面前便出現一大片森林。他們在林中走了一整天，直到天黑。夏爾維是所有人當中跑得最快的，索爾的行囊由他背著，但他們的糧食並不充裕。

天黑後，他們尋找過夜的地方，發現前面有一座極大的廳堂。門開在一端，與整座廳堂同寬。他們便在裡面找地方睡下。到了半夜，大地猛烈震動，地面在他們身下陣陣搖晃，屋子也跟著發抖。索爾起身呼喚同伴，大家四處摸索，在廳堂中段的右側找到一間偏室，便走進去。索爾坐在門口，其餘的人待在他身後的內側，心裡十分害怕；索爾握住鎚柄，準備自衛。他們聽見巨大的轟鳴與喧響。

天將亮時，索爾走到外面，看見不遠處的樹林裡躺著一個人，身形可不小。他睡得正熟，鼾聲響亮。索爾這才明白夜裡的聲響是怎麼回事。他繫上力量腰帶，神力隨之增長。就在此時，那人醒來，迅速站起身。據說，索爾這一回竟不敢拿鎚子打他，只問他的名字。那人自稱斯克里米爾，接著說：「不過，我倒不必問你的名字。我認得你是阿薩神族的索爾。可是，你是不是把我的手套拖走了？」

斯克里米爾伸手拿起手套。索爾這才看出，自己夜裡當作廳堂的就是它，而那間偏室便是手套的拇指。斯克里米爾問索爾願不願意與他同行，索爾答應了。斯克里米爾便解開自己的乾糧袋，準備吃早飯；索爾與同伴則在另一處進食。斯克里米爾提議把糧食合在一起，索爾也答應了。於是，斯克里米爾把他們所有的糧食綁成一袋，背在自己背上。白天由他走在前面，步子跨得相當大。到了傍晚，斯克里米爾在一棵大橡樹下替大家找了過夜的地方。

斯克里米爾對索爾說，他要躺下睡了：「你們拿乾糧袋去，自己準備晚飯吧。」

斯克里米爾隨即睡著，鼾聲大作。索爾拿起乾糧袋，想把它解開；然而，說來令人難以置信，他竟連一個繩結也解不開，連一條皮帶的末端也無法挪動，使它比原先鬆些。他眼看這番工夫全無用處，便發起怒來，雙手抓住鎚子妙爾尼爾，朝斯克里米爾躺著的地方跨出一腳，一鎚打在他頭上。斯克里米爾醒來，問是不是有片樹葉落在自己頭上，又問他們是不是已經吃過飯，準備睡了。索爾說，他們正要去睡。於是，他們走到另一棵橡樹底下。老實告訴你，他們睡下時，心裡可並不安穩。

到了半夜，索爾聽見斯克里米爾沉睡打鼾，震得整座森林轟轟作響。他便站起身，走到斯克里米爾身旁，迅猛地掄起鎚子，朝他的頭頂正中砸下。他感覺到鎚頭深深陷進了他的腦袋。就在這時，斯克里米爾醒來，說：「怎麼了？是不是有顆橡實掉在我頭上？索爾，你又怎麼了？」

索爾連忙退回去，回答說自己也是剛醒，又說現在才半夜，還該繼續睡。索爾心想，要是再有機會打下第三鎚，這傢伙就再也見不到自己了。他於是躺著，留心斯克里米爾是否又睡熟了。

天亮前不久，他聽出斯克里米爾應當已經睡著，便站起來，奔到他身邊，使出全身力氣掄鎚，朝他向上的那側太陽穴砸下。鎚子一直陷到柄邊。斯克里米爾卻坐起身，揉著臉頰，說：「是不是有什麼鳥停在我上頭的樹上？我醒來時，覺得彷彿有些枝梢的碎屑掉在我頭上。索爾，你醒著嗎？該起來穿衣服了。你們離那座叫作烏特加爾德的城，已經沒有多遠。我聽見你們彼此低聲議論，說我的個頭不小；不過，你們要是到了烏特加爾德，就會看見比我更高大的人。

「現在，我給你們一句好心的勸告：別太自大。烏特加爾德洛基的侍從，可不會好好忍受你們這種小不點的狂言。要不就掉頭回去，我想這才是你們比較好的選擇。若你們還想往前走，就往東去；我現在得朝北，前往你們眼前看得見的那些山。」

斯克里米爾拿起乾糧袋，甩到背上，轉身離開他們，岔入林中。至於阿薩神族有沒有祝他日後平安相見，故事裡可沒有提到。

索爾與同伴繼續趕路，一直走到正午。他們看見一座城堡矗立在一片平原上，得把頭往後仰，直到後腦貼著背，才能望見頂端。他們走向城堡，城門前有一道柵門，緊緊關著。索爾上前推門，卻打不開。他們設法要進城，便從柵條間鑽了進去。接著看見一座大廳，便朝那裡走去。廳門敞開著，他們走進去，看見兩排長凳上坐著許多人，大多身軀十分龐大。

隨後，他們來到國王烏特加爾德洛基面前，向他致意。他過了好一會兒才看向他們，咧嘴露齒一笑，說：「遠道而來的消息，可真等了許久。莫非我想錯了，這個小伙子竟是駕車的索爾？不過，你的本領想必比看起來大些。你們幾位同伴，自認擅長什麼技藝？不懂得某種技藝或本事，勝過大多數人的，就不能留在我們這裡。」

走在最後、名叫洛基的那人便說：「我有一項本事，隨時都可以較量：這廳裡沒有人吃東西能比我快。」

烏特加爾德洛基回答：「你若辦得到，這確實算是一項本事，那就來比試吧。」他朝長凳較外頭的地方喊去，要一個名叫洛吉的人走到廳中央，與洛基較量。

於是，有人拿來一個木槽，搬到廳堂的地上，裡面裝滿了肉。洛基坐在一端，洛吉坐在另一端，兩人都盡可能吃得飛快，最後在木槽中央碰頭。洛基已將骨頭上的肉全吃光，洛吉卻連肉帶骨全吃了，連木槽也一併吃掉。眾人都認為，這場比試是洛基輸了。

接著，烏特加爾德洛基問那個年輕人會什麼技藝。夏爾維說，他願意與烏特加爾德洛基挑選的人賽跑幾趟。烏特加爾德洛基說，這是一項好本事，並說，既然要比這一項，想必他對自己的腳程很有把握；不過，他也立刻讓他們試試。

烏特加爾德洛基站起身，走到外面，那裡有一片平坦的原野，很適合賽跑。他叫來一個名叫胡吉的小伙子，吩咐他與夏爾維比快。兩人跑了第一趟，胡吉領先得那麼多，到了終點，還轉過身來迎向夏爾維。

烏特加爾德洛基說：「夏爾維，你若要贏這場比試，就得再加把勁。不過說真的，到這裡來過的人，我還沒見過誰的腳程比你更快。」

兩人又跑了第二趟。胡吉到達終點，轉過身來時，夏爾維還落後一大段距離，足有一箭之遙。

烏特加爾德洛基說：「我看夏爾維跑得很好，不過如今我不信他能贏了。等他們跑第三趟，就能見分曉。」

兩人又跑了一趟，胡吉到達終點、轉過身來時，夏爾維連一半路程都還沒跑到。眾人於是說，這項比試已有定論。

接著，烏特加爾德洛基問索爾，既然人們傳述了那麼多關於他豐功偉業的故事，他想在他們面前展示哪一項本事。索爾說，他最願意挑的，就是找個人比酒量。烏特加爾德洛基說，這當然可以，便走進廳裡，叫來侍酒的僕人，吩咐他取來侍從們慣常用來喝罰酒的角杯。

不久，僕人便拿著角杯上前，交到索爾手裡。烏特加爾德洛基說：「這只角杯，若能一口喝乾，就算酒量好。有些人分兩口喝乾，但這裡沒有人酒量差到三口還喝不完。」

索爾看了看角杯，覺得並不大，只是頗長。他口渴得很，便開始喝，大口大口吞嚥，心想自己用不著再低頭喝第二次。然而，等他一口氣用盡，從角杯抬起頭來，看看喝掉了多少，卻覺得杯裡的酒幾乎沒有比先前低多少。

烏特加爾德洛基說：「喝得不錯，只是喝得不太多。要是有人告訴我，阿薩神族的索爾只能喝這麼一口，我還真不信。不過我知道，你會想在第二口把它喝乾。」

索爾一言不發，把角杯放到嘴邊，心想這回一定要喝得更多，便使出全力，喝到一口氣耗盡，卻仍覺得角杯的尖端怎麼也抬不到他想要的高度。他把角杯從嘴邊移開，往裡頭一看，覺得這次喝掉的似乎比上次更少。不過，杯裡的酒面如今已低於杯口，端著走也不致灑出了。

烏特加爾德洛基說：「索爾，這是怎麼回事？你是不是為了留待最後一口，省力省得太過頭了？依我看，你若要在第三口把角杯喝乾，這一口就得是最大的一口。你在其他比試裡若也拿不出更多本事，和眼前這場一樣，那麼在我們這裡，你就稱不上阿薩神族所說的那般了不起。」

索爾這下發怒了，把角杯放到嘴邊，拚命猛喝，盡全力喝下最多的酒。他再往杯裡看時，這回總算看出一些明顯的差別。他便把角杯交還，不肯再喝了。

烏特加爾德洛基說：「現在很清楚了，你的本領並沒有我們想的那麼大。不過，你還想試試別的比賽嗎？看來你在這裡是撈不到什麼好處了。」

索爾回答：「我還可以試試別的比賽。不過，要是我在家，和阿薩神族在一起時，聽見有人把這樣的酒量說得如此微不足道，我一定會覺得奇怪。你們現在要讓我比什麼？」

烏特加爾德洛基說：「這裡的小孩子會玩一種遊戲，想來算不上什麼，就是把我的貓從地上抱起來。要不是先前親眼看見，你的本領遠比我想的小，我本來也不會向阿薩神族的索爾提出這種事。」

隨即，一隻灰貓跳到廳堂的地上，身形相當大。索爾走上前，把一隻手伸到牠肚子中央下方，往上舉起。但索爾的手往上伸，貓的身子也跟著拱起。索爾把手盡可能伸到最高時，貓才有一隻腳離地，這項比試他再也做不到更多了。

烏特加爾德洛基說：「這場比試果然如我所料。貓的身形頗大，索爾與我們這裡的高大人物相比，卻又矮又小。」

索爾說：「就算你們說我小，現在也該有人上來，和我摔一跤！我現在可火了。」

烏特加爾德洛基望了望兩旁的長凳，回答說：「我看這廳裡沒有誰會不覺得，與你摔角有失身分。」他又說：「先這樣吧，把我的老乳母艾莉叫來，索爾若願意，就和她摔角。她摔倒過的人，在我看來，體格並不比索爾弱。」

隨後，一個老太婆走進廳來。烏特加爾德洛基吩咐她與阿薩神族的索爾摔角。這事不必多說：索爾摔得越用力，她站得就越穩。接著，老太婆開始施展招式，索爾的腳步便不穩了。兩人激烈扭鬥，沒過多久，索爾便一腿屈膝跪倒。

烏特加爾德洛基於是走上前，叫他們停手，並說，索爾不必再向他手下的其他人挑戰摔角了。這時也已入夜，烏特加爾德洛基領索爾與同伴入座。他們在那裡過了一夜，受到盛情款待。

翌日清晨，天一亮，索爾與同伴便起身穿衣，準備動身離開。烏特加爾德洛基這時來了，命人替他們擺桌設宴。盛情款待、美食佳釀，樣樣不缺。吃過飯後，他們便啟程。烏特加爾德洛基送他們出門，陪著走出城堡。臨別時，烏特加爾德洛基問索爾，覺得這趟旅程如何，是否曾遇見比自己更強大的人。

索爾說，他不能不承認，自己在雙方的較量中大大丟了臉。「不過我知道，你們會說我本領低微，這實在讓我很不痛快。」

烏特加爾德洛基說：「現在你已出了城堡，我就告訴你實情：只要我還活著，還能作主，你就永遠別想再進去。我敢發誓，要是我事先知道你有這麼大的力量，就絕不會讓你進城。你幾乎替我們惹來大禍。不過，我用幻術蒙蔽了你。最初在森林裡，是我前去與你們相遇；你要解開乾糧袋時，我早已用鐵絲把它綁好，你才找不到該從哪裡解開。

「後來，你用鎚子打了我三下，第一下最輕，卻也重得只要打中，就足以要我的命。你在我廳堂附近看見一座平頂岩山，從上面望見三道四四方方的山谷，其中一道最深，那些就是你鎚子留下的痕跡。我把那座岩山移來擋住鎚擊，你卻沒有看見。

「你們與我的侍從們較量的那些比試，也是一樣。首先是洛基那一場。他餓得很，吃得也快，但那個叫洛吉的，其實是野火，燒掉木槽和燒掉肉一樣快。夏爾維與那個叫胡吉的人賽跑時，對方其實是我的心念，夏爾維自然不可能比他更快。

「至於你用角杯喝酒，覺得酒怎麼也喝不下去時，我敢發誓，那時發生了一件奇事，原本我絕不相信會有這種事。角杯的另一端通入大海，你卻沒有看見。等你到了海邊，就能看出自己喝掉多少海水了。那就是如今所說的退潮。」

他又說：「你把貓舉起來的事，在我看來同樣驚人。老實告訴你，所有看見你讓牠一隻腳離地的人，全都嚇壞了。那隻貓其實並非你看見的模樣，而是環繞一切陸地的耶夢加得。牠幾乎得使盡全長，頭尾才勉強碰得到地面；你把手伸得那麼高，離天空已沒多遠了。

「你與艾莉摔角，能夠支撐那麼久，最後也只一膝跪地，同樣是一大奇事。因為從來沒有誰，將來也不會有誰，活到足以等來衰老的年紀，卻不被衰老摔倒。

「如今說真的，我們該分別了。對雙方都好的辦法，就是你們別再來找我。我還會用同樣的詭計，或是其他手段，守護我的城堡，讓你們無法奈何我。」

索爾聽了這番話，立刻抓住鎚子，高高舉起；正要揮下時，卻再也看不見烏特加爾德洛基的蹤影。他回頭望向城堡，打算把城堡砸毀，卻只見一片遼闊美麗的原野，哪裡還有什麼城堡。他於是轉身繼續趕路，直到回到斯魯德旺。

不過，確實可以說，他那時已打定主意，要設法與耶夢加得碰上一面，後來也果真如此。如今，我想再也沒有人能比我更如實地向你講述索爾這趟旅程了。」

這時岡格雷里說：「烏特加爾德洛基本領真大，卻也慣於運用詭計與巫術。他麾下的侍從個個力大無窮，由此就看得出他的能耐。索爾難道沒有報這個仇嗎？」

哈爾回答：「即使不是博學之人，也知道索爾後來挽回了方才所說那趟旅程的失利。他在家裡沒待多久，便又動身上路，出發得如此倉促，既沒有帶車，也沒有帶山羊，更沒有任何隨從。他像個年輕小伙子一般，徒步走出米德加爾特，某天傍晚，獨自來到一個名叫希密爾的巨人家裡。索爾在那裡借宿了一夜。

「天剛亮，希密爾便起身穿衣，準備划船出海捕魚。索爾也跳起身，迅速整裝完畢，請希密爾讓他一同划船出海。希密爾卻說，他身材矮小，又只是個年輕人，恐怕幫不上什麼忙——『要是我照往常那樣，划到那麼遠的海上，待上那麼久，你會凍壞的。』

「索爾說，儘管把船划得遠離陸地便是，還不知道誰會先嚷著要划回來呢。索爾對巨人氣憤極了，幾乎就要當場揮鎚打他，但還是忍了下來，因為他打算在別的地方試試自己的力量。他問希密爾要拿什麼當餌，希密爾叫他自己去找。索爾於是轉身走到希密爾的一群牛那裡。他抓住其中最大的一頭，名叫希敏赫廖德，扯下牛頭，帶到海邊。這時希密爾已把小船推下了水。

「索爾上了船，在舀水的位置坐下，拿起兩支槳划起來。希密爾覺得，他划得船飛快前進。希密爾坐在前頭的船首划槳，兩人很快便划出老遠。希密爾說，他們已到了他平常停船釣比目魚的海域，但索爾說還想划得更遠，於是兩人又奮力划了一陣。希密爾這才說，他們已經離岸很遠，再往外停船，就有遇上米德加爾特巨蛇的危險了。索爾卻說還要再划一會兒，也果真如此做了，希密爾這時已十分不安。

「索爾收起船槳，備好一條相當結實的釣索，釣鉤也同樣碩大堅固。他把牛頭掛上釣鉤，拋到船外，釣鉤便沉入海底。老實告訴你，索爾這回誘騙米德加爾特巨蛇，絲毫不下於烏特加爾德洛基先前讓索爾用手托起巨蛇時，對索爾所施的戲弄。米德加爾特巨蛇張嘴吞下牛頭，釣鉤便刺進牠的上顎。巨蛇一察覺，猛然一扯，索爾的雙拳便撞上船舷。

「索爾這下勃然大怒，施展神力，雙腳猛蹬，竟把船底踏穿，兩腳直抵海床。他撐住身子，把巨蛇拉到船邊。可以這麼說：誰若沒看見索爾瞪著巨蛇，而巨蛇從下方回瞪、噴吐毒液的情景，誰就還沒見過真正駭人的景象。據說，巨人希密爾看見巨蛇，又看見海水在小船裡外翻湧，頓時變了臉色，面色慘白，驚恐萬分。

「就在索爾抓起鎚子、高高舉起的當下，巨人摸到切餌刀，貼著船舷砍斷索爾的釣索，巨蛇便沉入海中。索爾隨即朝牠擲出鎚子。有人說，他在浪濤間打掉了巨蛇的頭；不過，我認為該如實告訴你，米德加爾特巨蛇至今仍活著，躺在環繞大地的海裡。索爾接著掄起拳頭，朝希密爾耳邊打去，把他打得翻出船外，連腳底都露了出來。索爾自己則涉水上岸。」

這時岡格雷里說：「阿薩神族之中，還發生過更大的事嗎？索爾這趟旅程，可真做出了了不起的壯舉。」

哈爾回答：「接下來要說的事，阿薩神族認為更加重大。故事的起頭，是善良的巴德爾做了幾個關乎自身性命、預示重大凶險的夢。他把夢告訴阿薩神族，眾神便共同商議，決定為巴德爾求取保障，使他免受各種危害。弗麗嘉於是取得誓言，要火與水、鐵與各種金屬、石頭、大地、樹木、疾病、走獸、飛鳥、毒液和蛇，全都不得傷害巴德爾。

「這件事辦妥，也為眾神所知後，巴德爾與阿薩神族便以此為樂：集會時，讓巴德爾站起來，其他人有的朝他射擊，有的揮砍，有的拿石頭砸他。然而，無論怎樣對付他，他都毫髮無傷，眾神都覺得這是極大的榮耀。

「勞菲之子洛基看見巴德爾絲毫不受傷害，心裡很不痛快。他變成女人的模樣，到芬薩里爾去見弗麗嘉。弗麗嘉問這女人，知不知道阿薩神族在集會上做些什麼。她說，眾神都在朝巴德爾射擊，他卻絲毫沒有受傷。弗麗嘉便說：『武器和木頭都傷不了巴德爾。我已經取得它們全體的誓言。』女人問：『所有東西都起誓不傷害巴德爾了嗎？』弗麗嘉回答：『英靈殿西邊長著一株嫩枝，叫作槲寄生。我覺得它太年幼，就沒要求它起誓。』

「女人隨即離去，洛基便去拔起槲寄生，帶到集會場上。霍德爾站在人群的外圈，因為他雙目失明。洛基對他說：『你怎麼不朝巴德爾射擊？』他回答：『因為我看不見巴德爾在哪裡，再說，我也沒有武器。』洛基說：『你還是該照其他人的樣子，像大家一樣向巴德爾致敬。我會指引你，告訴你他站在哪裡。拿這根枝條射他吧。』霍德爾接過槲寄生，依照洛基的指引，朝巴德爾射去。枝條飛穿巴德爾的身體，他便倒地身亡。這是眾神與人類之間，曾經發生過的最大不幸。

「巴德爾倒下時，所有阿薩神族都說不出話，雙手也僵住了，無法伸手扶他。他們面面相覷，對做出這件事的人，心中都懷著同樣的憤恨，卻誰也不能報仇，因為那地方受到極嚴格的和平庇護。眾神試著開口，卻總是先哭了出來，誰也無法用言語向別人訴說自己的悲傷。奧丁比其他眾神更難承受這場災禍，因為他最清楚，巴德爾的逝去，對阿薩神族是多麼重大的摧折與損失。

「眾神恢復神智後，弗麗嘉開口問，阿薩神族之中，有誰願意贏得她全部的愛與眷顧，騎上通往赫爾的道路，試著找尋巴德爾，並向赫爾提出贖金，求她讓巴德爾回到阿斯嘉。承擔這趟旅程的，是奧丁之子、勇敢的赫爾莫德。眾神牽出奧丁的坐騎斯雷普尼爾，赫爾莫德跨上馬背，便飛馳而去。

「阿薩神族則抬起巴德爾的遺體，送往海邊。巴德爾的船名叫赫林霍尼，是所有船隻中最大的一艘。眾神想把它推下水，在船上為巴德爾舉行火葬，船卻紋風不動。於是，他們派人到約頓海姆，請來名叫希羅金的女巨人。她騎著狼，以毒蛇為韁繩，來到這裡便躍下坐騎。奧丁叫來四名狂戰士看管她的坐騎，他們卻非得把牠撂倒，才能制住牠。

「希羅金走到船首，只推了一下便把船推了出去，力道之大，使船底滾木迸出火花，四方大地全都震動起來。索爾頓時大怒，抓起鎚子，就要打碎她的頭，幸而眾神全都為她求情。接著，巴德爾的遺體被抬上船。他的妻子、涅普之女南娜見了，便悲痛欲絕，心碎而死。眾神也把她抬上火葬柴堆，然後點火。索爾站在一旁，以妙爾尼爾祝聖柴堆。有個名叫利特的矮人，從他腳前跑過，索爾便一腳把他踢進火裡，燒死了。

「前來參加這場火葬的，有各式各樣的族類。先說奧丁，與他同行的是弗麗嘉、女武神，以及他的烏鴉。弗雷乘著車，由名叫古林布爾斯提、又名斯利德魯格坦尼的野豬拉車。海姆達爾騎著名叫古爾托普的馬，芙蕾雅則乘著由她的貓拉的車。此外，還來了大批霜巨人與山巨人。

「奧丁把名叫德羅普尼爾的金環放上柴堆。這只金環具有一種特性：每逢第九夜，便會從環上滴落八只同樣重量的金環。巴德爾的馬也披著全副馬具，被牽上柴堆。

「再說赫爾莫德。他騎馬穿過幽暗深邃的山谷，走了九夜，一路什麼也看不見，直到來到吉奧爾河，騎上吉奧爾橋。橋面覆著閃耀的黃金。守橋的少女名叫莫德古德。她問他的姓名和家世，並說，前一天曾有五隊死者騎馬過橋——『可是他們在橋上激起的聲響，也不比你獨自一人來得大。你又沒有死者的面色，為什麼騎馬走上這條通往赫爾的路？』

「他回答：『我要騎馬到赫爾那裡尋找巴德爾。你可曾在這條路上見到巴德爾？』她說，巴德爾已從這裡騎馬過了吉奧爾橋，『通往赫爾的路，朝下，朝北。』

「赫爾莫德繼續騎行，直到來到赫爾的大門前。他下了馬，把肚帶繫緊，再跨上馬背，用馬刺催馬。馬猛然躍起，越過大門，絲毫沒有碰到門。赫爾莫德接著騎到宮殿前，下馬走進殿裡，看見他的兄弟巴德爾坐在上座。赫爾莫德在那裡待了一夜。

「到了早晨，赫爾莫德請求赫爾，讓巴德爾與他一同騎馬回家，並向她訴說阿薩神族如何痛哭。赫爾卻說，要用這個辦法，試試巴德爾是否真如所說的那樣，受到眾生愛戴：『如果世上萬物，無論活物死物，都為他哭泣，他就可以回到阿薩神族那裡；但只要有誰反對，或不願為他哭泣，他就得留在赫爾這裡。』

「赫爾莫德於是起身，巴德爾送他走出宮殿，取下德羅普尼爾金環，託他帶給奧丁，留作紀念。南娜送給弗麗嘉一塊亞麻布，還有其他幾件禮物，又送給芙拉一只金戒指。赫爾莫德沿原路騎馬返回，來到阿斯嘉，把自己的所見所聞全都告訴眾神。

「阿薩神族隨即派使者走遍全世界，請求萬物為巴德爾哭泣，好讓他離開赫爾。萬物都照做了：人、動物、大地、石頭、樹木，以及一切金屬。你想必也見過，這些東西從寒冷之處進入溫暖之處時，都會流淚。

「使者們順利辦妥使命，踏上歸途，卻在一處洞穴裡，看見一名女巨人坐在那裡。她自稱索克。他們請她為巴德爾哭泣，好讓他離開赫爾。她說：

『索克將以
乾乾的眼淚，
哭悼巴德爾的火葬；
無論他生前死後，
我都未曾受惠於那老者之子，
就讓赫爾留住她所有的吧。』

「人們猜想，那其實就是勞菲之子洛基，他在阿薩神族之中做過的壞事最多。」

岡格雷里說：「洛基先是造成巴德爾遇害，接著又使他無法從赫爾那裡獲釋，真是幹下了大事。他可曾為此受到什麼報復？」

哈爾說：「他為此付出了代價，而且會長久承受。諸神對他大為震怒，本也是理所當然；他便逃走，躲到一座山上，在那裡蓋了一間屋子，開了四道門，好從屋內望見四方。他白天常變成鮭魚，藏在名叫弗拉南格瀑布的地方。他心裡盤算，阿薩神族會想出什麼辦法，在瀑布裡捉住他。他坐在屋裡時，拿起亞麻線，交叉打結，做成後世漁網的樣子，面前燃著一堆火。這時他看見阿薩神族已離他不遠，原來奧丁從希利德斯凱爾夫上看見了他的藏身之處。他立刻跳起來，將網扔進火裡，自己躍入河中。

「阿薩神族來到屋前，其中最有智慧的克瓦希爾先走進去。他看見火中漁網燒成的灰痕，便明白這應是捕魚的工具，於是告訴其他諸神。接著，他們照著灰痕所顯出的樣式，仿製了洛基做的網。網做好後，阿薩神族便來到河邊，將網撒入瀑布。索爾握住網的一端，其他阿薩諸神共同握住另一端，拖網前進。洛基游在網前，伏在兩塊石頭之間。他們將網從他身上拖過，察覺前方有活物，便第二次回到瀑布上方撒網，並在網上繫了重物，使他無法從網底鑽過。洛基於是游在網前。他見離海已近，便躍過網綱，游回瀑布上方。

「這下阿薩諸神看見了他的去向，又回到瀑布上方，分成兩隊，索爾則沿河中央涉水而行，就這樣往海邊推進。洛基見自己只剩兩條路：一是躍入海中，那會有性命之危；另一條則是再躍過漁網。他便選了後者，飛快地躍過網綱。索爾伸手抓住他，他卻從索爾手中滑過，直到手掌卡在尾部才停住；鮭魚的後身因此細窄。

「洛基就這樣被捉住，得不到任何饒赦，被帶進一座山洞。他們取來三塊石板，豎立起來，在每一塊上鑿了一個洞。接著，他們捉來洛基的兒子瓦利和納利，又名納爾維。阿薩神族將瓦利變成狼，他便把自己的兄弟納爾維撕成碎片。阿薩神族取出他的腸子，將洛基綁在那三塊側立的石板上：一塊在肩下，一塊在腰下，第三塊在膝彎下；那些繩索隨即化成了鐵。

「絲卡蒂又拿來一條毒蛇，懸在他上方，使蛇毒滴到他臉上。他的妻子西格恩站在身旁，拿著一只盆接住毒液。盆滿了，她便走開，倒掉毒液；這時毒液就滴在洛基臉上。他痛得猛烈抽搐，震動整片大地。這就是你們所說的地震。他將一直被綁在那裡，直到諸神黃昏。」

岡格雷里說：「關於諸神黃昏，有什麼事情可說？我從未聽人提過。」

哈爾說：「那時將有許多重大事件。首先會降臨一個稱為芬布爾之冬的嚴冬。雪從四方飄來，寒霜酷烈，狂風凜冽，陽光也無濟於事。這樣的冬天將接連持續三個，當中沒有夏季。在這之前，另有三個冬天，整個世界戰亂不休。兄弟因貪欲互相殘殺，殺人與斷絕親族情義之時，連父子也不留情。《女巫的預言》中如此說：

兄弟將彼此交戰，
互相奪取性命，
姊妹的兒子們
將毀棄親族情義；
人間殘酷，
淫亂猖獗，
斧鉞之世，刀劍之世，
盾牌劈裂，
狂風之世，群狼之世，
直到世界傾覆。

「接著將發生一件大事：巨狼吞噬太陽，人們視之為莫大的災難。另一頭狼攫取月亮，也造成巨大的禍害。星辰從天空消失。隨後，整片大地與山嶽劇烈震動，樹木連根拔起，山岩崩塌，所有鐐銬與繩索都斷裂。芬里爾巨狼於是掙脫束縛。海水奔湧，淹上陸地，因為米德加爾特巨蛇正翻騰著，發起巨人般的狂怒，向陸地而來。

「這時，名叫納吉爾法的船也脫離了繫泊。這艘船是用死人的指甲做成的。因此，若有人臨死時指甲未剪，這件事就值得提防，因為他會為納吉爾法添上許多材料；諸神與人類都巴不得這艘船永遠造不成。然而在這片洶湧的海潮中，納吉爾法浮了起來。掌舵的是名叫赫呂姆的巨人。

「芬里爾巨狼張著血盆大口前進，下顎貼地，上顎抵天；若還有空間，牠會張得更大。牠的眼睛與鼻孔噴出火焰。米德加爾特巨蛇噴吐毒液，灑遍天空與海洋，模樣極其可怖，就在巨狼身旁。在這片轟鳴之中，天空裂開，穆斯貝爾的兒子們騎馬從裂縫而來。史爾特騎在最前，前後烈火熊熊。他的劍極為精良，放出的光比太陽更亮。他們騎過比弗霜橋時，橋便如先前所說的斷裂了。

「穆斯貝爾的兒子們前往名叫維格利德的原野。芬里爾巨狼與米德加爾特巨蛇也來到那裡。洛基、赫呂姆和跟隨赫呂姆的所有霜巨人也都到了；追隨洛基的則是赫爾的全部臣民。穆斯貝爾的兒子們獨自列成一陣，光芒耀眼。維格利德原野縱橫各有一百拉斯特（古北歐長度單位）。

「這些事發生時，海姆達爾便站起身，奮力吹響加拉爾號角，喚醒所有諸神；諸神於是聚集議事。奧丁騎馬前往密米爾之泉，向密米爾求取自己與部眾的對策。這時，尤克特拉希爾梣樹震顫，天上地下，萬物無不驚懼。阿薩神族與全體英靈戰士披掛武裝，進軍原野。奧丁戴著金盔，身披精美的鎧甲，手持名叫岡格尼爾的長矛，騎馬率先前行，迎向芬里爾巨狼。索爾走在他身旁，卻無法援助他，因為他光是與米德加爾特巨蛇交戰便已分身乏術。

「弗雷迎戰史爾特，雙方激戰一場，弗雷終於倒下。他喪命的原因，便是失去了那把贈給斯基爾尼爾的寶劍。此時，綁在格尼帕洞穴前的獵犬加姆也已掙脫束縛。牠是極其可怕的怪物，與提爾交戰，雙方同歸於盡。索爾殺死米德加爾特巨蛇，從那裡走出九步，便倒地身亡，死於巨蛇向他噴出的毒液。巨狼吞下奧丁，使他喪命。

「維達隨即上前，一腳踩進巨狼的下顎。他那隻腳所穿的鞋，是歷代不斷積攢材料做成的。那些材料，就是人們裁鞋時從腳尖或腳跟處剪下的皮片。因此，凡有心幫助阿薩神族的人，都應將那些皮片扔掉。他一手抓住巨狼的上顎，將牠的嘴撕裂，巨狼便因此而死。洛基與海姆達爾交戰，雙方同歸於盡。隨後，史爾特將火焰撒遍大地，焚毀整個世界。《女巫的預言》中如此說：

海姆達爾高聲吹響，
號角舉向天空，
奧丁向
密米爾的頭顱說話；
挺立的尤克特拉希爾
梣樹震顫，
古樹呻吟，
巨人掙脫了束縛。

阿薩神族如何了？
精靈又如何？
整個約頓海姆轟鳴，
阿薩神族聚集議事，
矮人在石門前
發出呻吟，
他們是岩壁的主人。
你們可還想知道些什麼？

赫呂姆從東方駛來，
盾牌舉在身前，
耶夢加得翻騰，
發起巨人般的狂怒；
巨蛇激起波濤，
蒼鷹將歡聲啼叫，
蒼白的喙撕扯屍體，
納吉爾法脫離了繫泊。

船從東方駛來，
穆斯貝爾的子民
將渡海而至，
洛基掌舵；
怪物的子嗣們
全都與巨狼同來，
隨行的是
比雷斯特的兄弟。

史爾特從南方而來，
帶著枝條的禍害，
劍上閃耀著
戰神的太陽；
山岩轟然崩裂，
女巨人踉蹌而行，
人們踏上赫爾之路，
天空裂開。

這時赫琳的
第二重悲傷降臨，
奧丁前去
與巨狼交戰，
貝利的斬殺者光芒煥發，
迎向史爾特；
弗麗嘉的心愛之人
將在那裡倒下。

奧丁之子前去
與巨狼交戰，
維達上前迎擊
那食屍的野獸；
他用手將利劍
刺入赫維德隆之子
心中；
父仇就此得報。

赫洛丁那位
聲名遠播的兒子走去，
被那無懼惡意的巨蛇
逼得奄奄一息；
所有人都將
離棄家園，
米德加爾特的守護者
在盛怒中擊殺巨蛇之時。

太陽將變黑，
大地沉入海中，
明亮的星辰
從天空消失，
濃煙與滋養生命的烈火
猛烈翻湧，
熾熱的火舌高竄，
直舔蒼穹。

「另有這樣的詩句：

維格利德是那原野之名，
史爾特與親愛的諸神
將在那裡交戰；
縱橫各有
一百拉斯特（古北歐長度單位）；
那是為他們定下的戰場。」

岡格雷里說：「整個世界焚毀，所有諸神、所有英靈戰士和全人類都死去之後，還會剩下什麼？你們先前也說過，每個人都將在某個世界永遠活下去。」

斯里迪回答：「那時有許多美好的居所，也有許多險惡的居所。最好的是住在天上的吉姆雷。對於喜歡飲酒的人，名叫布里米爾的殿堂裡也有極充裕的佳釀；它座落在奧科爾尼爾。尼達山上也有一座美好的殿堂，以赤金建成，名叫辛德里。善良而品行端正的人將住在這些殿堂中。

「納斯特隆德有一座廣大而險惡的殿堂，大門朝北。整座殿堂以蛇的脊背編成，如同枝條編造的房屋；所有蛇頭都朝向屋內，噴出毒液，使殿中流起毒河，背誓者與殺人兇手都得涉過那些河流。正如這裡所說：

我知道有一座殿堂，
遠離陽光，
座落在納斯特隆德，
大門朝北；
毒液滴落，
穿過屋頂的天窗；
那座殿堂
以蛇的脊背編成。

在那裡涉過
洶湧水流的，
將是作偽誓之人
與殺人兇手。

「然而赫瓦格密爾最為險惡：

尼德霍格在那裡折磨
死去之人的屍體。」

岡格雷里問道：「那時還有哪幾位神活著嗎？那時還有大地或天空嗎？」

哈爾說：「那時，大地會從海中升起，一片青翠秀美。未經播種的田地也會長出莊稼。維達與瓦利活了下來，海水與史爾特的烈焰都未曾傷害他們。他們住在伊達沃爾原野，也就是從前阿斯嘉所在的地方。索爾的兒子莫迪與曼尼隨後也來到那裡，帶著妙爾尼爾。接著，巴德爾與霍德爾從赫爾那裡歸來。眾人一同坐下交談，憶起彼此的密語，談論從前發生的事，談到米德加爾特巨蛇與芬里爾巨狼。隨後，他們在草地裡找到阿薩神族從前擁有的黃金棋子。詩中如此說道：

維達與瓦利
將居於諸神的聖所，
當史爾特的烈焰暗去；
莫迪與曼尼
將擁有妙爾尼爾，
當溫格尼爾戰歿之後。

在名叫霍德密米爾林地的地方，有兩個人在史爾特的烈焰中躲藏，名叫利夫與利夫斯拉希爾，以晨露為食。這兩人的後代將繁衍得極其眾多，遍居全世界，正如此處所說：

利夫與利夫斯拉希爾，
他們將藏身於
霍德密米爾的林地；
清晨的露水
便是他們的食糧，
世世代代將由他們繁衍。

還有一件事，你想必會覺得驚奇：太陽已生下一個女兒，姿容絲毫不遜於她；那女兒屆時會循著母親的道路前行，正如此處所說：

一個女兒，
精靈之光將生下，
在芬里爾吞噬她之前；
當諸神死去，
這少女將駕車
行過母親的道路。

倘若你還能問起更遙遠的將來，那我便不知道你從何得知這些事了，因為我從未聽過任何人把世間的歷程說到更遠的未來。如今，就好好受用你所學得的一切吧。」

緊接著，岡格雷里聽見四面八方傳來巨響，便轉頭向旁邊望去。等他再環顧四周，卻發現自己站在外頭一片平坦的原野上，既看不見殿堂，也看不見城堡。他便動身離去，回到自己的國土，講述他所見所聞的一切。此後，人們依據他的講述，將這些故事彼此傳述。

阿薩神族隨後坐下商議，籌劃對策，回顧向他講述的所有故事，並將先前提到的那些名字，賦予當地的人與地方，好讓漫長的歲月過去之後，人們不會懷疑：方才故事中所說的阿薩神族，與當時獲賦相同名字的這些人，全都是同一批人。當時，其中一人被稱為索爾，他便是古時阿薩神族的索爾。