Lokasenna
11-09-2010, 11:19 AM
One of my many jobs is running my University's Old Norse Reading Group. As we've had a lot of new members, I decided not to make them buy any of our source texts for the first week, and instead took it upon myself to produce my own critical edition, glossary and translation of the Old Norse poem Völuspá. While I slightly under-estimated just how much work this would take, it has proven to be an enjoyable exercise, and I thought I'd share it here with you all.
Völuspá (or the 'Propechy of the Seeress' if you prefer) is the first, and arguably the greatest, of the poems that make up the Poetic Edda, the great collection of Old Norse Mythological and Heroic poetry. The manuscript in which it is found, the Codex Regius, dates from c. 1270, but the poem is substantially older (it is, for example, quoted and referenced in earlier texts). No one is quite sure of its origins, but my own opinion is that we are looking at a poem from the early-to-mid 10th century, probably composed in Iceland.
It is, in many ways, THE poem of Old Norse mythology. The poem is given in the first person by a Völva (or 'seeress'). She also alternates between the first and third person, so most references to 'she' are the Völva reffering to herself. She has been summoned, probably from the dead, by the god Óðinn (or 'Odin' in modern parlance), who demands (as he so often does) that she reveal her knowledge of fate. This she does, though grudgingly, and gives a complete run-down of Norse cosmology from the creation of the world through to its final destruction, and even beyond.
I could lecture for hours on the wonders of this poem, but I won't - however, if you have any questions, please ask and I shall respond! I also pride myself on the fact that this translation of mine (of a very difficult poem) is extremely accurate, more so than any published translation:
1. I ask for silence from
all you hallowed beings,
greater and lesser,
the sons of Heimdallr;
you wish me, Father of the slain
to narrate well
the old stories of men,
those which I remember first.
2. I remember giants,
born long ago,
those who long ago
had raised me;
I remember nine worlds,
nine wood-giantesses,
the famous measure-tree
over the soil beneath.
3. It was early in age,
when Ymir built his dwelling:
there was no sand or sea
or cold waves;
the earth could not be found,
nor the sky above:
there was a chasm of void,
and grass nowhere.
4. Until the sons of Burr
raised up the land,
they who shaped
glorious Miðgarðr;
the sun shone from the south
on the stones of the ground;
then the surface was overgrown
with green plants.
5. The sun moved from the south,
the moon’s companion,
her right hand
around the rim of heaven.
The sun did not know
where she had dwellings,
the stars did not know
where they had stations,
the moon did not know
what power he possessed.
6. Then the gods all went
to their seats of judgement,
sacred powers,
and thought about this:
to Night and her offspring
names they gave,
named morning
and mid-day,
afternoon and evening,
to count out the years.
7. The Æsir met
in Iðavöllr
when they built high
halls and temple;
they set hearths,
forged treasure,
shaped tongs
and made tools
8. They played at table in the hall,
they were cheerful
they had no lack
of golden things,
until three came,
giant maidens,
tremendously powerful,
out of Jötunheim.
9. Until three came
of that host,
powerful and benevolent,
Æsir to the home,
they found on the land,
little able,
Askr and Embla,
unfated.
10. They possessed no breath,
nor had feeling,
blood nor voice
nor good colour;
Óðinn gave breath,
Hœnir gave feeling,
blood gave Lóðurr
and good colour.
11. I know an ash to stand
named Yggdrasill,
a high tree, sprinkled
with white mud;
from there comes the dew
which falls in the dales;
it stands ever green over
Urðr’s well.
12. Thence come maidens,
much knowing,
three of them from the lake
which stands beneath the tree;
(Urðr they named one,
another Verðandi,
Skuld the third)
they laid down the laws,
they chose lives
for the children of humanity,
the fates of men.
13. She remembers that battle,
the first in the world,
when Gullveig
was pressed with spears
and in Grey-hair’s hall
she was burned,
thrice burned,
thrice reborn,
(often and again,
yet she still lives).
14. Heiðr they called her,
wherever she came to houses,
the seeress wise in prophecy,
she enchanted magic staves;
wherever she was she knew magic,
by magic she played with minds,
she was always the delight
of an evil woman.
15. Then the gods all went
to their seats of judgement,
sacred powers,
and thought about
whether the Æsir should
give payment,
or all gods should
receive honour.
16. Óðinn let loose
and fired into the host;
that was the first
battle in the world;
the plank wall of the Æsir’s fortress
was broken,
by battle-magic could the Vanir
walk the field.
17. Then the gods all went
to their seats of judgement,
sacred powers,
and thought about
who had mixed
the air with treachery
and given to giant-kind
Óðr’s woman.
18. Þórr alone struck there,
consumed with wrath,
he seldom sits inactive
when he hears of such;
oaths were trampled,
words and promises,
all the powerful agreements
that passed between them.
19. She knows where
Heimdallr’s hearing is hidden
beneath the sacred tree
accustomed to the clear sky;
she sees a river sprinkle
a muddy waterfall
from Valföðr’s wager.
Would you know more yet, or what?
20. She sat out alone,
when the old one came,
Yggjungr of the Æsir,
and looked into her eyes –
What do you ask of me?
Why do you test me?
21. I remember everything, Óðinn,
where you hid your eye
in the famous
well of Mímir;
Mímir drinks mead
every morning
from Valföðr’s wager.
Would you know more yet, or what?
22. Herföðr chose for her
rings and necklaces;
he received wise spells
and wands of prophecy;
she sees far and wide through
every world.
23. She saw valkyries
come from far,
ready to ride
to the race of men.
Skuld held a shield,
and Skögul another,
Gunnr, Hildr, Göndul,
and Geirskögul;
now they are set forth,
the Warrior’s women,
Valkyries ready
to ride the earth.
24. I saw Baldr,
the blood-stained god,
Óðinn’s son,
with fate concealed;
there grew,
high in the vale,
famous and most beautiful,
the mistletoe.
25. There came from the tree
that seemed so glorious,
a dangerous missile,
Höðr did shoot.
Baldr’s brother was
soon born,
the son of Óðinn did
fight at one night old.
26. He never washed his hands
nor combed his head,
until he had carried on to the funeral pyre
Baldr’s opponent.
But Frigg wept
in Fensalir,
for Valhöll’s grief.
Would you know more yet, or what?
27. A prisoner she saw lie
under Hveralundr,
like the form
of treacherous Loki;
there sits Sigyn
but not happily,
over her husband.
Would you know more yet, or what?
28. A river flows from the east
through ice-cold valleys
with daggers and swords,
it is called Slíðr.
29. There stood to the north
at Níðavellir
a hall of gold
of Sindri’s race;
and another stood
at Ókólnir,
the beer hall of a giant
and he is named Brimir.
30. She saw a hall stand,
distant from the sun,
in Náströnd,
its doors face northwards;
drops of poison fall
in through the smoke-hole,
that hall is woven
with snakes’ backs.
31. There she saw,
wading in the fast-flowing stream,
oath-breaking men,
and murderers,
and those who seduce
the wives of others.
32. There the Níðhöggr sucks
on dead corpses;
the monster tears men.
Would you know more yet, or what?
33. In the east sat the old one
in Járnviðr,
and there birthed
the kin of Fenrir;
from them all shall come
one alone,
the sun’s destroyer,
in a troll’s shape.
34. She fills herself on the blood
of doomed men,
the dwelling of the gods was reddened
with red blood,
the sunshine became black
the summer after,
the weather all treacherous.
Would you know more yet, or what?
35. There sat on a mound,
and struck a harp,
the ogresses’ guardian,
happy Eggþér;
by him crows,
in the great tree,
a brilliantly red ****,
he who is called Fjallar.
36. Among the Æsir crowed
Gullinkambi,
he woke all the lords
at the Herjaföðr’s home;
and another crowed
beneath the earth,
a dark red ****
at Hel’s hall.
37. Garmr barks greatly
before Gnipahellir,
the fetter will break
and the wolf run free;
I know much wisdom,
and I see further on
to the fall of powers,
the mighty battle-gods.
38. Brothers will fight each other
and become slayers,
cousins will
spoil the bonds of kinship,
it is harsh in the world,
great wickedness,
(axe age, sword age,
shields, splittings,
storm age, wolf age,
before the world is overthrown),
no man will
show mercy to another.
39. The sons of Mímir play,
and the fate-tree burns
at the resounding
Gjallarhorn;
Heimdallr blows loudly,
the horn is in the air,
Óðinn speaks
with Mímir’s head.
40. The standing ash
Yggdrasill shakes,
the ancient tree groans
and the giant is loosed,
(all are terrified
on the road to Hel,
until that kinsman of Surtr
devours everything).
41. How is it with the Æsir?
How is it with the elves?
All Jötunheimr resounds,
the Æsir are in council;
the dwarves groan
before their doors of stone,
wise about rock walls.
Would you know more yet, or what?
42. Now Garmr barks greatly
before Gnipahellir,
the fetter will break
and the wolf run free;
I know much wisdom,
and I see further on
to the fall of powers,
the mighty battle-gods.
43. Hrymr drives from the east,
holds up a shield,
Jörmungandr writhes
in giant rage;
the serpent beats the waves,
the eagle screams
and tears darkly pale corpses;
Naglfar is loosed.
44. Kjóll travels from the east,
the people of Múspell will come
over the sea,
and Loki will lead them;
the sons of monsters
all travel with the wolf;
Býleist’s brother is
in that company.
45. Surtr comes from the south
with brushwood’s destroyer,
the sun shines on the sword
of the gods of slaughter;
stones clash,
and witches fall,
men tread the road to Hel,
and heaven splits.
46. Then came forward
Hlín’s second grief,
when Óðinn goes
to fight against the wolf,
and the bright slayer
of Beli goes against Surtr;
then Frigg’s delight
will fall.
47. Then comes the great one,
the son of the Sigföðr,
Víðarr goes to battle
with the wolf;
he makes a sword
stand in the heart
of Hveðrungr’s son:
so is his father avenged.
48. Then comes the glorious
son of Hlóðyn,
Ódinn’s son goes
to meet the serpent.
Miðgarð’s defender
strikes with wrath;
all men will abandon
their homes;
he will walk nine steps,
Fjörgyn’s son,
exhausted, from the serpent,
without fear of reproach.
49. The sun darkens,
the earth sinks into the sea,
the bright stars
turn from heaven;
smoke rages
with fire;
the lofty heat plays
against the sky itself.
50. Now Garmr barks greatly
before Gnipahellir,
the fetter will break
and the wolf run free;
I know much wisdom,
and I see further on
to the fall of powers,
the mighty battle-gods.
51. She sees it rise up
another time,
the land from the sea,
eternally green;
waterfalls flow,
an eagle flies over,
he who on the mountains
catches fish.
52. The Æsir meet
at Iðavöllr,
and discuss
the might earth-rope,
and also there remember
the mighty events
and old Fimbultýr’s
secrets.
53. Afterwards, there will be found
wonderful
golden playing pieces
in the grass,
those which they had
owned in ancient days.
54. Unsown fields
will grow;
all wrongs will be set right,
Baldr will come;
Höðr and Baldr will live
in Hroptr’s victorious ruins.
(well, god of the slain,
would you know more yet, or what?)
55. Then can Hœnir choose
the blood-sprinkling twig
and the sons
of the brothers of Tveggi
will settle the wide heavens.
Would you know more yet, or what?
56. She sees a hall stand,
more beautiful than the sun,
thatched with gold,
at Gimlé;
there shall worthy
companies dwell,
and enjoy pleasure
throughout eternity.
57. The great one
comes into his godhood,
powerful from on high,
he who rules everything.
58. There comes the dark
dragon flying,
the glittering serpent
from under Niðafjöll;
in his wings,
as he flies over the field,
the Niðhoggr carries corpses.
Now she must sink down.
Völuspá (or the 'Propechy of the Seeress' if you prefer) is the first, and arguably the greatest, of the poems that make up the Poetic Edda, the great collection of Old Norse Mythological and Heroic poetry. The manuscript in which it is found, the Codex Regius, dates from c. 1270, but the poem is substantially older (it is, for example, quoted and referenced in earlier texts). No one is quite sure of its origins, but my own opinion is that we are looking at a poem from the early-to-mid 10th century, probably composed in Iceland.
It is, in many ways, THE poem of Old Norse mythology. The poem is given in the first person by a Völva (or 'seeress'). She also alternates between the first and third person, so most references to 'she' are the Völva reffering to herself. She has been summoned, probably from the dead, by the god Óðinn (or 'Odin' in modern parlance), who demands (as he so often does) that she reveal her knowledge of fate. This she does, though grudgingly, and gives a complete run-down of Norse cosmology from the creation of the world through to its final destruction, and even beyond.
I could lecture for hours on the wonders of this poem, but I won't - however, if you have any questions, please ask and I shall respond! I also pride myself on the fact that this translation of mine (of a very difficult poem) is extremely accurate, more so than any published translation:
1. I ask for silence from
all you hallowed beings,
greater and lesser,
the sons of Heimdallr;
you wish me, Father of the slain
to narrate well
the old stories of men,
those which I remember first.
2. I remember giants,
born long ago,
those who long ago
had raised me;
I remember nine worlds,
nine wood-giantesses,
the famous measure-tree
over the soil beneath.
3. It was early in age,
when Ymir built his dwelling:
there was no sand or sea
or cold waves;
the earth could not be found,
nor the sky above:
there was a chasm of void,
and grass nowhere.
4. Until the sons of Burr
raised up the land,
they who shaped
glorious Miðgarðr;
the sun shone from the south
on the stones of the ground;
then the surface was overgrown
with green plants.
5. The sun moved from the south,
the moon’s companion,
her right hand
around the rim of heaven.
The sun did not know
where she had dwellings,
the stars did not know
where they had stations,
the moon did not know
what power he possessed.
6. Then the gods all went
to their seats of judgement,
sacred powers,
and thought about this:
to Night and her offspring
names they gave,
named morning
and mid-day,
afternoon and evening,
to count out the years.
7. The Æsir met
in Iðavöllr
when they built high
halls and temple;
they set hearths,
forged treasure,
shaped tongs
and made tools
8. They played at table in the hall,
they were cheerful
they had no lack
of golden things,
until three came,
giant maidens,
tremendously powerful,
out of Jötunheim.
9. Until three came
of that host,
powerful and benevolent,
Æsir to the home,
they found on the land,
little able,
Askr and Embla,
unfated.
10. They possessed no breath,
nor had feeling,
blood nor voice
nor good colour;
Óðinn gave breath,
Hœnir gave feeling,
blood gave Lóðurr
and good colour.
11. I know an ash to stand
named Yggdrasill,
a high tree, sprinkled
with white mud;
from there comes the dew
which falls in the dales;
it stands ever green over
Urðr’s well.
12. Thence come maidens,
much knowing,
three of them from the lake
which stands beneath the tree;
(Urðr they named one,
another Verðandi,
Skuld the third)
they laid down the laws,
they chose lives
for the children of humanity,
the fates of men.
13. She remembers that battle,
the first in the world,
when Gullveig
was pressed with spears
and in Grey-hair’s hall
she was burned,
thrice burned,
thrice reborn,
(often and again,
yet she still lives).
14. Heiðr they called her,
wherever she came to houses,
the seeress wise in prophecy,
she enchanted magic staves;
wherever she was she knew magic,
by magic she played with minds,
she was always the delight
of an evil woman.
15. Then the gods all went
to their seats of judgement,
sacred powers,
and thought about
whether the Æsir should
give payment,
or all gods should
receive honour.
16. Óðinn let loose
and fired into the host;
that was the first
battle in the world;
the plank wall of the Æsir’s fortress
was broken,
by battle-magic could the Vanir
walk the field.
17. Then the gods all went
to their seats of judgement,
sacred powers,
and thought about
who had mixed
the air with treachery
and given to giant-kind
Óðr’s woman.
18. Þórr alone struck there,
consumed with wrath,
he seldom sits inactive
when he hears of such;
oaths were trampled,
words and promises,
all the powerful agreements
that passed between them.
19. She knows where
Heimdallr’s hearing is hidden
beneath the sacred tree
accustomed to the clear sky;
she sees a river sprinkle
a muddy waterfall
from Valföðr’s wager.
Would you know more yet, or what?
20. She sat out alone,
when the old one came,
Yggjungr of the Æsir,
and looked into her eyes –
What do you ask of me?
Why do you test me?
21. I remember everything, Óðinn,
where you hid your eye
in the famous
well of Mímir;
Mímir drinks mead
every morning
from Valföðr’s wager.
Would you know more yet, or what?
22. Herföðr chose for her
rings and necklaces;
he received wise spells
and wands of prophecy;
she sees far and wide through
every world.
23. She saw valkyries
come from far,
ready to ride
to the race of men.
Skuld held a shield,
and Skögul another,
Gunnr, Hildr, Göndul,
and Geirskögul;
now they are set forth,
the Warrior’s women,
Valkyries ready
to ride the earth.
24. I saw Baldr,
the blood-stained god,
Óðinn’s son,
with fate concealed;
there grew,
high in the vale,
famous and most beautiful,
the mistletoe.
25. There came from the tree
that seemed so glorious,
a dangerous missile,
Höðr did shoot.
Baldr’s brother was
soon born,
the son of Óðinn did
fight at one night old.
26. He never washed his hands
nor combed his head,
until he had carried on to the funeral pyre
Baldr’s opponent.
But Frigg wept
in Fensalir,
for Valhöll’s grief.
Would you know more yet, or what?
27. A prisoner she saw lie
under Hveralundr,
like the form
of treacherous Loki;
there sits Sigyn
but not happily,
over her husband.
Would you know more yet, or what?
28. A river flows from the east
through ice-cold valleys
with daggers and swords,
it is called Slíðr.
29. There stood to the north
at Níðavellir
a hall of gold
of Sindri’s race;
and another stood
at Ókólnir,
the beer hall of a giant
and he is named Brimir.
30. She saw a hall stand,
distant from the sun,
in Náströnd,
its doors face northwards;
drops of poison fall
in through the smoke-hole,
that hall is woven
with snakes’ backs.
31. There she saw,
wading in the fast-flowing stream,
oath-breaking men,
and murderers,
and those who seduce
the wives of others.
32. There the Níðhöggr sucks
on dead corpses;
the monster tears men.
Would you know more yet, or what?
33. In the east sat the old one
in Járnviðr,
and there birthed
the kin of Fenrir;
from them all shall come
one alone,
the sun’s destroyer,
in a troll’s shape.
34. She fills herself on the blood
of doomed men,
the dwelling of the gods was reddened
with red blood,
the sunshine became black
the summer after,
the weather all treacherous.
Would you know more yet, or what?
35. There sat on a mound,
and struck a harp,
the ogresses’ guardian,
happy Eggþér;
by him crows,
in the great tree,
a brilliantly red ****,
he who is called Fjallar.
36. Among the Æsir crowed
Gullinkambi,
he woke all the lords
at the Herjaföðr’s home;
and another crowed
beneath the earth,
a dark red ****
at Hel’s hall.
37. Garmr barks greatly
before Gnipahellir,
the fetter will break
and the wolf run free;
I know much wisdom,
and I see further on
to the fall of powers,
the mighty battle-gods.
38. Brothers will fight each other
and become slayers,
cousins will
spoil the bonds of kinship,
it is harsh in the world,
great wickedness,
(axe age, sword age,
shields, splittings,
storm age, wolf age,
before the world is overthrown),
no man will
show mercy to another.
39. The sons of Mímir play,
and the fate-tree burns
at the resounding
Gjallarhorn;
Heimdallr blows loudly,
the horn is in the air,
Óðinn speaks
with Mímir’s head.
40. The standing ash
Yggdrasill shakes,
the ancient tree groans
and the giant is loosed,
(all are terrified
on the road to Hel,
until that kinsman of Surtr
devours everything).
41. How is it with the Æsir?
How is it with the elves?
All Jötunheimr resounds,
the Æsir are in council;
the dwarves groan
before their doors of stone,
wise about rock walls.
Would you know more yet, or what?
42. Now Garmr barks greatly
before Gnipahellir,
the fetter will break
and the wolf run free;
I know much wisdom,
and I see further on
to the fall of powers,
the mighty battle-gods.
43. Hrymr drives from the east,
holds up a shield,
Jörmungandr writhes
in giant rage;
the serpent beats the waves,
the eagle screams
and tears darkly pale corpses;
Naglfar is loosed.
44. Kjóll travels from the east,
the people of Múspell will come
over the sea,
and Loki will lead them;
the sons of monsters
all travel with the wolf;
Býleist’s brother is
in that company.
45. Surtr comes from the south
with brushwood’s destroyer,
the sun shines on the sword
of the gods of slaughter;
stones clash,
and witches fall,
men tread the road to Hel,
and heaven splits.
46. Then came forward
Hlín’s second grief,
when Óðinn goes
to fight against the wolf,
and the bright slayer
of Beli goes against Surtr;
then Frigg’s delight
will fall.
47. Then comes the great one,
the son of the Sigföðr,
Víðarr goes to battle
with the wolf;
he makes a sword
stand in the heart
of Hveðrungr’s son:
so is his father avenged.
48. Then comes the glorious
son of Hlóðyn,
Ódinn’s son goes
to meet the serpent.
Miðgarð’s defender
strikes with wrath;
all men will abandon
their homes;
he will walk nine steps,
Fjörgyn’s son,
exhausted, from the serpent,
without fear of reproach.
49. The sun darkens,
the earth sinks into the sea,
the bright stars
turn from heaven;
smoke rages
with fire;
the lofty heat plays
against the sky itself.
50. Now Garmr barks greatly
before Gnipahellir,
the fetter will break
and the wolf run free;
I know much wisdom,
and I see further on
to the fall of powers,
the mighty battle-gods.
51. She sees it rise up
another time,
the land from the sea,
eternally green;
waterfalls flow,
an eagle flies over,
he who on the mountains
catches fish.
52. The Æsir meet
at Iðavöllr,
and discuss
the might earth-rope,
and also there remember
the mighty events
and old Fimbultýr’s
secrets.
53. Afterwards, there will be found
wonderful
golden playing pieces
in the grass,
those which they had
owned in ancient days.
54. Unsown fields
will grow;
all wrongs will be set right,
Baldr will come;
Höðr and Baldr will live
in Hroptr’s victorious ruins.
(well, god of the slain,
would you know more yet, or what?)
55. Then can Hœnir choose
the blood-sprinkling twig
and the sons
of the brothers of Tveggi
will settle the wide heavens.
Would you know more yet, or what?
56. She sees a hall stand,
more beautiful than the sun,
thatched with gold,
at Gimlé;
there shall worthy
companies dwell,
and enjoy pleasure
throughout eternity.
57. The great one
comes into his godhood,
powerful from on high,
he who rules everything.
58. There comes the dark
dragon flying,
the glittering serpent
from under Niðafjöll;
in his wings,
as he flies over the field,
the Niðhoggr carries corpses.
Now she must sink down.