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Original lyrics
Vafþrúðnismál
Óðinn kvað:
1.
"Ráð þú mér nú, Frigg,
alls mik fara tíðir
at vitja Vafþrúðnis;
forvitni mikla
kveð ek mér á fornum stöfum
við þann inn alsvinna jötun."
Frigg kvað:
2.
"Heima letja
ek mynda Herjaföðr
í görðum goða;
því at engi jötun
ek hugða jafnramman
sem Vafþrúðni vera."
Óðinn kvað:
3.
"Fjölð ek fór,
fjölð ek freistaða,
fjölð ek reynda regin;
hitt vil ek vita,
hvé Vafþrúðnis
salakynni sé."
Frigg kvað:
4.
"Heill þú farir!
heill þú aftr komir!
heill þú á sinnum sér!
æði þér dugi,
hvars þú skalt, Aldaföðr,
orðum mæla jötun.
5.
Fór þá Óðinn
at freista orðspeki
þess ins alsvinna jötuns;
at höllu hann kom,
ok átti Íms faðir;
inn gekk Yggr þegar.
Óðinn kvað:
6.
"Heill þú nú, Vafþrúðnir,
nú em ek í höll kominn
á þik sjalfan sjá;
hitt vil ek fyrst vita,
ef þú fróðr sér
eða alsviðr jötunn."
Vafþrúðnir kvað:
7.
"Hvat er þat manna
er í mínum sal
verpumk orði á?
Út þú né komir
órum höllum frá,
nema þú inn snotrari sér."
Óðinn kvað:
8.
"Gagnráðr ek heiti,
nú emk af göngu kominn,
þyrstr til þinna sala;
laðar þurfi -
hef ek lengi farit -
ok þinna andfanga, jötunn."
Vafþrúðnir kvað:
9.
"Hví þú þá, Gagnráðr,
mælisk af golfi fyr?
Far þú í sess í sal!
Þá skal freista,
hvárr fleira viti,
gestr eða inn gamli þulr."
Óðinn kvað:
10.
"Óauðigr maðr,
er til auðigs kemr,
mæli þarft eða þegi;
ofrmælgi mikil,
hygg ek, at illa geti
hveim er við kaldrifjaðan kemr."
Vafþrúðnir kvað:
11.
"Seg þú mér, Gagnráðr,
alls þú á golfi vill
þíns of freista frama,
hvé sá hestr heitir,
er hverjan dregr
dag of dróttmögu."
Óðinn kvað:
12.
"Skinfaxi heitir,
er inn skíra dregr
dag of dróttmögu;
hesta beztr
þykkir hann með Hreiðgotum;
ey lýsir mön af mari."
Vafþrúðnir kvað:
13.
"Seg þú þat, Gagnráðr,
alls þú á golfi vill
þíns of freista frama,
hvé sá jór heitir,
er austan dregr
nótt of nýt regin."
Óðinn kvað:
14.
"Hrímfaxi heitir,
er hverja dregr
nótt of nýt regin;
méldropa fellir hann
morgin hvern;
þaðan kemr dögg um dala."
Vafþrúðnir kvað:
15.
Seg þú þat, Gagnráðr,
alls þú á golfi vill
þíns of freista frama,
hvé sú á heitir,
er deilir með jötna sonum
grund ok með goðum."
Óðinn kvað:
16.
"Ífing heitir á,
er deilir með jötna sonum
grund ok með goðum;
opin renna
hon skal of aldrdaga;
verðr-at íss á á."
Vafþrúðnir kvað:
17.
Seg þú þat, Gagnráðr,
alls þú á golfi vill
þíns of freista frama,
hvé sá völlr heitir,
er finnask vígi at
Surtr ok in svásu goð."
Óðinn kvað:
18.
"Vígriðr heitir völlr,
er finnask vígi at
Surtr ok in svásu goð;
hundrað rasta
hann er á hverjan veg;
sá er þeim völlr vitaðr."
Vafþrúðnir kvað:
19.
"Fróðr ertu nú, gestr,
far þú á bekk jötuns,
ok mælumk í sessi saman;
höfði veðja
vit skulum höllu í,
gestr, of geðspeki.
Óðinn kvað:
20.
"Seg þú þat it eina,
ef þitt æði dugir
ok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitir,
hvaðan jörð of kom
eða upphiminn
fyrst, inn fróði jötunn."
Vafþrúðnir kvað:
21.
"Ór Ymis holdi
var jörð of sköpuð,
en ór beinum björg,
himinn ór hausi
ins hrímkalda jötuns,
en ór sveita sær."
Óðinn kvað:
22.
"Seg þú þat annat,
ef þitt æði dugir
ok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitir,
hvaðan máni kom,
sá er ferr menn yfir,
eða sól it sama."
Vafþrúðnir kvað:
23.
"Mundilfari heitir,
hann er mána faðir
ok svá Sólar it sama;
himin hverfa
þau skulu hverjan dag
öldum at ártali."
Óðinn kvað:
24.
"Seg þú þat it þriðja,
alls þik svinnan kveða
ok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitir,
hvaðan dagr of kom,
sá er ferr drótt yfir,
eða nótt með niðum."
Vafþrúðnir kvað:
25.
"Dellingr heitir,
hann er Dags faðir,
en Nótt var Nörvi borin;
ný ok nið
skópu nýt regin
öldum at ártali."
Óðinn kvað:
26.
"Seg þú þat it fjórða,
alls þik fróðan kveða,
ok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitir,
hvaðan vetr of kom
eða varmt sumar
fyrst með fróð regin."
Vafþrúðnir kvað:
27.
"Vindsvalr heitir,
hann er Vetrar faðir,
en Svásuðr sumars."
Óðinn kvað:
28.
"Seg þú þat it fimmta,
alls þik fróðan kveða,
ok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitir,
hverr ása ellztr
eða Ymis niðja
yrði í árdaga."
Vafþrúðnir kvað:
29.
"Örófi vetra
áðr væri jörð of sköpuð,
þá var Bergelmir borinn,
Þrúðgelmir
var þess faðir,
en Aurgelmir afi."
Óðinn kvað:
30.
"Seg þú þat it sétta,
alls þik svinnan kveða,
ok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitir,
hvaðan Aurgelmir kom
með jötna sonum
fyrst, inn fróði jötunn."
Vafþrúðnir kvað:
31.
"Ór Élivágum
stukku eitrdropar,
svá óx, unz varð jötunn;
þar eru órar ættir
komnar allar saman;
því er þat æ allt til atalt."
Óðinn kvað:
32.
"Seg þú þat it sjaunda,
alls þik svinnan kveða,
ok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitir,
hvé sá börn gat,
inn baldni jötunn,
er hann hafði-t gýgjar gaman."
Vafþrúðnir kvað:
33.
"Undir hendi vaxa
kváðu hrímþursi
mey ok mög saman;
fótr við fæti
gat ins fróða jötuns
sexhöfðaðan son."
Óðinn kvað:
34.
"Seg þú þat it átta,
alls þik svinnan kveða,
ok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitir,
hvat þú fyrst of mant
eða fremst of veizt,
þú ert alsviðr, jötunn."
Vafþrúðnir kvað:
35.
Örófi vetra
áðr væri jörð of sköpuð,
þá var Bergelmir borinn;
þat ek fyrst of man,
er sá inn fróði jötunn
á var lúðr of lagiðr."
Óðinn kvað:
36.
"Seg þú þat it níunda,
alls þik svinnan kveða,
ok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitir,
hvaðan vindr of kemr,
svá at ferr vág yfir;
æ menn han sjalfan of sjá."
Vafþrúðnir kvað:
37.
"Hræsvelgr heitir,
er sitr á himins enda,
jötunn í arnar ham;
af hans vængjum
kvæða vind koma
alla menn yfir."
Óðinn kvað:
38.
"Seg þú þat it tíunda,
alls þú tíva rök
öll, Vafþrúðnir, vitir,
hvaðan Njörðr of kom
með ása sonum -
hofum ok hörgum
hann ræðr hundmörgum -
ok varð-at hann ásum alinn."
Vafþrúðnir kvað:
39.
"Í Vanaheimi
skópu hann vís regin
ok seldu at gíslingu goðum,
í aldar rök
hann mun aftr koma
heim með vísum vönum."
Óðinn kvað:
40.
"Seg þú þat et ellifta,
hvar ýtar túnum í
höggvask hverjan dag;
val þeir kjósa
ok ríða vígi frá,
sitja meir of sáttir saman."
Vafþrúðnir kvað:
41.
"Allir einherjar
Óðins túnum í
höggvask hverjan dag,
val þeir kjósa
ok ríða vígi frá,
sitja meirr of sáttir saman."
Óðinn kvað:
42.
"Seg þú þat it tolfta,
hví þú tíva rök
öll, Vafþrúðnir, vitir,
frá jötna rúnum
ok allra goða
segir þú it sannasta,
inn alsvinni jötunn."
Vafþrúðnir kvað:
43.
"Frá jötna rúnum
ok allra goða
ek kann segja satt,
því at hvern hef ek
heim of komit;
níu kom ek heima
fyr Niflhel neðan;
hinig deyja ór helju halir."
Óðinn kvað:
44.
"Fjölð ek fór,
fjölð ek freistaðak,
fjölð ek of reynda regin:
Hvat lifir manna,
þá er inn mæra líðr
fimbulvetr með firum?"
Vafþrúðnir kvað:
45.
"Líf ok Lifþrasir,
en þau leynask munu
í holti Hoddmímis;
morgindöggvar
þau sér at mat hafa,
en þaðan af aldir alask."
Óðinn kvað:
46.
"Fjölð ek fór,
fjölð ek freistaðak,
fjölð ek of reynda regin:
Hvaðan kemr sól
á inn slétta himin,
er þessa hefr fenrir farit?"
Vafþrúðnir kvað:
47.
"Eina dóttur
berr alfröðull,
áðr hana fenrir fari;
sú skal ríða,
þá er regin deyja,
móður brautir, mær."
Óðinn kvað:
48.
"Fjölð ek fór,
fjölð ek freistaðak,
fjölð ek of reynda regin:
Hverjar ro þær meyjar,
er líða mar yfir,
fróðgeðjaðar fara?"
Vafþrúðnir kvað:
49.
"Þríar þjóðár
falla þorp yfir
meyja Mögþrasis;
hamingjur einar
þær er í heimi eru,
þó þær með jötnum alask."
Óðinn kvað:
50.
"Fjölð ek fór,
fjölð ek freistaðak,
fjölð ek of reynda regin:
Hverir ráða æsir
eignum goða,
þá er sloknar Surta logi?"
Vafþrúðnir kvað:
51.
"Víðarr ok Váli
byggja vé goða,
þá er sloknar Surta logi,
Móði ok Magni
skulu Mjöllni hafa
Vingnis at vígþroti."
Óðinn kvað:
52.
"Fjölð ek fór,
fjölð ek freistaðak,
fjölð ek of reynda regin;
Hvat verðr Óðni
at aldrlagi,
þá er of rjúfask regin?"
Vafþrúðnir kvað:
53.
"Ulfr gleypa
mun Aldaföðr,
þess mun Víðarr vreka;
kalda kjafta
hann klyfja mun
vitnis vígi at."
Óðinn kvað:
54.
"Fjölð ek fór,
fjölð ek freistaðak,
fjölð ek of reynda regin;
Hvat mælti Óðinn,
áðr á bál stigi,
sjalfr í eyra syni?"
Vafþrúðnir kvað:
55.
"Ey manni þat veit,
hvat þú í árdaga
sagðir í eyra syni;
feigum munni
mælta ek mína forna stafi
ok of ragnarök.
Nú ek við Óðin
deildak mína orðspeki;
þú ert æ vísastr vera."
Translation
The Ballad of Vafthruthnir
Othin spake:
1.
"Counsel me, Frigg,
for I long to fare,
And Vafthruthnir fain would find;
fit wisdom old
with the giant wise
Myself would I seek to match."
Frigg spake:
2.
"Heerfather here
at home would I keep,
Where the gods together dwell;
Amid all the giants
an equal in might
To Vafthruthnir know I none."
Othin spake:
3.
"Much have I fared,
much have I found.
Much have I got from the gods;
And fain would I know
how Vafthruthnir now
Lives in his lofty hall."
Frigg spake:
4.
"Safe mayst thou go,
safe come again,
And safe be the way thou wendest!
Father of men,
let thy mind be keen
When speech with the giant thou seekest."
5.
The wisdom then
of the giant wise
Forth did he fare to try;
He found the hall
of the father of Im,
And in forthwith went Ygg.
Othin spake:
6.
"Vafthruthnir, hail!
to thy hall am I come,
For thyself I fain would see;
And first would I ask
if wise thou art,
Or, giant, all wisdom hast won."
Vafthruthnir spake:
7.
"Who is the man
that speaks to me,
Here in my lofty hall?
Forth from our dwelling
thou never shalt fare,
Unless wiser than I thou art."
Othin spake:
8.
"Gagnrath they call me,
and thirsty I come
From a journey hard to thy hall;
Welcome I look for,
for long have I fared,
And gentle greeting, giant."
Vafthruthnir spake:
9.
"Why standest thou there
on the floor whilst thou speakest?
A seat shalt thou have in my hall;
Then soon shall we know
whose knowledge is more,
The guest's or the sage's gray."
Othin spake:
10.
"If a poor man reaches
the home of the rich,
Let him wisely speak or be still;
For to him who speaks
with the hard of heart
Will chattering ever work ill."
Vafthruthnir spake:
11.
"Speak forth now, Gagnrath,
if there from the floor
Thou wouldst thy wisdom make known:
What name has the steed
that each morn anew
The day for mankind doth draw?"
Othin spake:
12.
"Skinfaxi is he,
the steed who for men
The glittering day doth draw;
The best of horses
to heroes he seems,
And brightly his mane doth burn."
Vafthruthnir spake:
13.
"Speak forth now, Gagnrath,
if there from the floor
Thou wouldst thy wisdom make known:
What name has the steed
that from East anew
Brings night for the noble gods?"
Othin spake:
14.
"Hrimfaxi name they
the steed that anew
Brings night for the noble gods;
Each morning foam
from his bit there falls,
And thence come the dews in the dales."
Vafthruthnir spake:
15.
"Speak forth now, Gagnrath,
if there from the floor
Thou wouldst thy wisdom make known:
What name has the river
that 'twixt the realms
Of the gods and the giants goes?"
Othin spoke:
16.
"Ifing is the river
that 'twixt the realms
Of the gods and the giants goes;
For all time ever
open it flows,
No ice on the river there is."
Vafthruthnir spake:
17.
"Speak forth now, Gagnrath,
if there from the floor
Thou wouldst thy wisdom make known:
What name has the field
where in fight shall meet
Surt and the gracious gods?"
Othin spake:
18.
"Vigrith is the field
where in fight shall meet
Surt and the gracious gods;
A hundred miles
each way does it measure.
And so are its boundaries set."
Vafthruthnir spake:
19.
"Wise art thou, guest!
To my bench shalt thou go,
In our seats let us speak together;
Here in the hall
our heads, O guest,
Shall we wager our wisdom upon."
Othin spake:
20.
"First answer me well,
if thy wisdom avails,
And thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now:
In earliest time
whence came the earth,
Or the sky, thou giant sage?"
Vafthruthnir spake:
21.
"Out of Ymir's flesh
was fashioned the earth,
And the mountains were made of his bones;
The sky from the frost-cold
giant's skull,
And the ocean out of his blood."
Othin spake:
22.
"Next answer me well,
if thy wisdom avails,
And thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now:
Whence came the moon,
o'er the world of men
That fares, and the flaming sun?"
Vafthruthnir spake:
23.
"Mundilferi is he
who begat the moon,
And fathered the flaming sun;
The round of heaven
each day they run,
To tell the time for men."
Othin spake:
24.
"Third answer me well,
if wise thou art called,
If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now:
Whence came the day,
o'er mankind that fares,
Or night with the narrowing moon?"
Vafthruthnir spake:
25.
"The father of day
is Delling called,
And the night was begotten by Nor;
Full moon and old
by the gods were fashioned,
To tell the time for men."
Othin spake:
26.
"Fourth answer me well,
if wise thou art called,
If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now:
Whence did winter come,
or the summer warm,
First with the gracious gods?"
Vafthruthnir spake:
27.
"Vindsval he was
who was winter's father,
And Svosuth summer begat;"
Othin spake:
28.
"Fifth answer me well,
if wise thou art called,
If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now:
What giant first
was fashioned of old,
And the eldest of Ymir's kin?"
Vafthruthnir spake:
29.
"Winters unmeasured
ere earth was made
Was the birth of Bergelmir;
Thruthgelmir's son
was the giant strong,
And Aurgelmir's grandson of old."
Othin spake:
30.
"Sixth answer me well,
if wise thou art called,
If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now:
Whence did Aurgelmir come
with the giants' kin,
Long since, thou giant sage?"
Vafthruthnir spake:
31.
"Down from Elivagar
did venom drop,
And waxed till a giant it was;
And thence arose
our giants' race,
And thus so fierce are we found."
Othin spake:
32.
"Seventh answer me well,
if wise thou art called,
If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now:
How begat he children,
the giant grim,
Who never a giantess knew?"
Vafthruthnir spake:
33.
"They say 'neath the arms
of the giant of ice
Grew man-child and maid together;
And foot with foot
did the wise one fashion
A son that six heads bore."
Othin spake:
34.
"Eighth answer me well,
if wise thou art called,
If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now:
What farthest back
dost thou bear in mind?
For wide is thy wisdom, giant!"
Vafthruthnir spake:
35.
"Winters unmeasured
ere earth was made
Was the birth of Bergelmir;
This first knew I well,
when the giant wise
In a boat of old was borne."
Othin spake:
36.
"Ninth answer me well,
if wise thou art called
If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now:
Whence comes the wind
that fares o'er the waves
Yet never itself is seen?"
Vafthruthnir spake:
37.
"In an eagle's guise
at the end of heaven
Hræsvelg sits, they say;
And from his wings
does the wind come forth
To move o'er the world of men."
Othin spake:
38.
"Tenth answer me now,
if thou knowest all
The fate that is fixed for the gods:
Whence came up Njorth
to the kin of the gods
Rich in temples
and shrines he rules,
Though of gods he was never begot?"
Vafthruthnir spake:
39.
"In the home of the Wanes
did the wise ones create him,
And gave him as pledge to the gods;
At the fall of the world
shall he fare once more
Home to the Wanes so wise."
Othin spake:
40. "Eleventh answer me well,
if thou knowest all
The fate that is
fixed for the gods
What men in Othin's home
Each day to fight go forth?"
Vafthruthnir spake:
41.
"The heroes all
in Othin's hall
Each day to fight go forth;
They fell each other,
and fare from the fight
All healed full soon to sit."
Othin spake:
42.
"Twelfth answer me now
how all thou knowest
Of the fate that is fixed for the gods;
Of the runes of the gods
and the giants' race
The truth indeed dost thou tell,
And wide is thy wisdom, giant!"
Vafthruthnir spake:
43.
"Of the runes of the gods
and the giants' race
The truth indeed can I tell,
(For to every world have I won
To nine worlds came I,
to Niflhel beneath,
The home where dead men dwell."
Othin spake:
44.
"Much have I fared,
much have I found,
Much have I got of the gods:
What shall live of mankind
when at last there comes
The mighty winter to men?"
Vafthruthnir spake:
45.
"In Hoddmimir's wood
shall hide themselves
Lif and Lifthrasir then;
The morning dews
for meat shall they have,
Such food shall men then find."
Othin spake:
46.
"Much have I fared,
much have I found,
Much have I got of the gods:
Whence comes the sun
to the smooth sky back,
When Fenrir has snatched it forth?"
Vafthruthnir spake:
47.
"A daughter bright
Alfrothul bears
Ere Fenrir snatches her forth;
Her mother's paths
shall the maiden tread
When the gods to death have gone."
Othin spake:
48.
"Much have I fared,
much have I found,
Much have I got of the gods:
What maidens are they,
so wise of mind.
That forth o'er the sea shall fare?"
Vafthruthnir spake:
49.
"O'er Mogthrasir's hill
shall the maidens pass,
And three are their throngs that come;
They all shall protect
the dwellers on earth,
Though they come of the giants' kin."
Othin spake:
50.
"Much have I fared,
much have I found,
Much have I got of the gods:
Who then shall rule
the realm of the gods,
When the fires of Surt have sunk?"
Vafthruthnir spake:
51.
"In the gods' home Vithar
and Vali shall dwell,
When the fires of Surt have sunk;
Mothi and Magni
shall Mjollnir have
When Vingnir falls in fight."
Othin spake:
52.
"Much have I fared,
much have I found,
Much have I got of the gods:
What shall bring the doom
of death to Othin,
When the gods to destruction go?"
Vafthruthnir spake:
55.
"The wolf shall fell
the father of men,
And this shall Vithar avenge;
The terrible jaws
shall he tear apart,
And so the wolf shall he slay."
Othin spake:
55.
"Much have I fared,
much have I found,
Much have I got from the gods:
What spake Othin himself
in the ears of his son,
Ere in the bale-fire he burned?"
Vafthruthnir spake:
55.
"No man can tell
what in olden time
Thou spak'st in the ears of thy son;
With fated mouth
the fall of the gods
And mine olden tales have I told;
With Othin in knowledge
now have I striven,
And ever the wiser thou art."
Guest on 2017-04-21✕
Collections with "Vafþrúðnismál"
| 1. | Viking inspired songs (part 1) |
Old Norse & Viking Chants: Top 3
| 1. | Þat mælti mín móðir |
| 2. | Darraðarljóð |
| 3. | Drøymde mik ein draum i nótt |
Idioms from "Vafþrúðnismál"
| 1. | Bear in mind |
Comments
In Norse mythology, Vafþrúðnismál (Vafþrúðnir's sayings) is the third poem in the Poetic Edda. It is a conversation in verse form conducted initially between the Æsir Odin and Frigg, and subsequently between Odin and the giant Vafþrúðnir. The poem goes into detail about the Norse cosmogony and was evidently used extensively as a source document by Snorri Sturluson in the construction of the Prose Edda who quotes it. The poem is preserved in Codex Regius and partially in AM 748 I 4to. There are preservation problems relating to stanzas 40-41.