The Poetic Edda
Henry Adams Bellows (translator)
3,671 passages indexed from The Poetic Edda (Henry Adams Bellows (translator)) — Page 10 of 74
License: Public Domain
The Poetic Edda, passage 1350
32. Freyr, Gerth, Gymir: cf. Skirnismol. Aurbotha: a giantess, mother
of Gerth. Thjazi and Skathi: cf. Lokasenna, 49, and Harbarthsljoth, 19.
The Poetic Edda, passage 1977
Prose. The manuscript gives the poem no title. Gripir: this uncle of
Sigurth’s was probably a pure invention of the poet’s. The Volsungasaga
mentions him, but presumably only because of his appearance here. On
Eylimi and Hjordis see Fra Dautha Sinfjotla and note. Geitir, the
serving-man, is likewise apparently an invention of the poet’s.
The Poetic Edda, passage 598
16. Noatun (“Ships’-Haven”): the home of Njorth, who calms the waves;
cf. stanza 11 and Voluspo, 21.
The Poetic Edda, passage 3444
Lodd′-fāf-nir, a singer, 28, 52–59, 67.
The Poetic Edda, passage 2767
30. Apparently all that is left of a full stanza. The manuscript does
not name Atli as the speaker, and Grundtvig inserts: “Then Atli called,
| the king of the Huns,” as a first line. Some editors combine this
line with the two lines of stanza 33. Wagon: in Brot, 16, Gunnar is led
to his death in the serpents’ den on horseback, not in a wagon.
The Poetic Edda, passage 965
62. “A long time still | do I think to live,
Though thou threatenest thus with thy hammer;
Rough seemed the straps | of Skrymir’s wallet,
When thy meat thou mightest not get,
(And faint from hunger didst feel.)”
The Poetic Edda, passage 2453
41. At this point there seem to be several omissions. Brynhild’s
statement in lines 1–2 seems to refer to the episode, not here
mentioned but told in detail in the Volsungasaga, of Sigurth’s effort
to repair the wrong that has been done her by himself giving up Guthrun
in her favor, an offer which she refuses. The lacuna here suggested,
which is not indicated in the manuscript, may be simply a single line
(line 1) or a stanza or more. After line 2 there is almost certainly a
gap of at least one stanza, and possibly more, in which Brynhild states
her determination to die.
The Poetic Edda, passage 3153
Beyl′-a, servant of Freyr, 152, 153, 169.
The Poetic Edda, passage 2196
22. Then first I rede thee, | that free of guilt
Toward kinsmen ever thou art;
No vengeance have, | though they work thee harm,
Reward after death thou shalt win.
The Poetic Edda, passage 3497
Ō′-kōl-nir, a volcano (?), 16.
The Poetic Edda, passage 608
26. Eikthyrnir (“The Oak-Thorned,” i.e., with antlers, “thorns,” like
an oak): this animal presumably represents the clouds. The first line,
like that of stanza 25, is too long in the original. Lærath: cf. stanza
25, note. Hvergelmir: according to Snorri, this spring, “the
Cauldron-Roaring,” was in the midst of Niflheim, the world of darkness
and the dead, beneath the third root of the ash Yggdrasil. Snorri gives
a list of the rivers flowing thence nearly identical with the one in
the poem.
The Poetic Edda, passage 2394
47. Her byrnie of gold | she donned, and grim
Was her heart ere the point | of her sword had pierced it;
On the pillow at last | her head she laid,
And, wounded, her plan | she pondered o’er.
The Poetic Edda, passage 841
21. The lord of the goats | bade the ape-begotten
Farther to steer | the steed of the rollers;
But the giant said | that his will, forsooth,
Longer to row | was little enough.
The Poetic Edda, passage 2928
40. These two lines, which most editions combine with stanza 39, may be
the first or last two of a four-line stanza. The Volsungasaga gives
Atli’s speech very much as it appears here.
The Poetic Edda, passage 3471
Myrk′-heim, Myrkwood (Atli’s land), 498.
The Poetic Edda, passage 3470
Mū′-spells-heim, home of the fire-dwellers, 3, 21, 73, 100.
The Poetic Edda, passage 3665
Ylf′-ings, a Danish race, 221, 291, 292, 301, 305, 307, 311, 313–315,
329.
The Poetic Edda, passage 2138
14. Surt: ruler of the fire world; the reference is to the last great
battle. Sword-sweat: blood.
The Poetic Edda, passage 195
1. Within the gates | ere a man shall go,
(Full warily let him watch,)
Full long let him look about him;
For little he knows | where a foe may lurk,
And sit in the seats within.
The Poetic Edda, passage 3611
Thrūth′-heim, Thor’s home, 88.
The Poetic Edda, passage 3111
Ag′-nar, a warrior, 390, 444, 445.
The Poetic Edda, passage 1776
53. The manuscript does not indicate the speaker, and a few editors
assume the loss of one or two lines embodying the phrase “Hothbrodd
spake.” In the manuscript line 3, which many editors have suspected of
being spurious, stands before line 2. Possibly lines 4–5 are the
remains of a separate stanza. Reginthing (“The Great Council”):
apparently the council-place for the whole country, as distinct from
the local council, or “herathsthing.” Melnir (“Bit-Bearer”), Mylnir
(“The Biter”) and Sporvitnir (“Spur-Wolf”): horses’ names. Myrkwood: a
not uncommon name for a dark forest; cf. Lokasenna, 42, and Atlakvitha,
3. Sparinsheith (“Sparin’s Heath”): nothing more is known of Sparin or
his heath. Flame of wounds: sword.
The Poetic Edda, passage 182
62. Baldr: cf. stanza 32 and note. Baldr and his brother, Hoth, who
unwittingly slew him at Loki’s instigation, return together, their
union being a symbol of the new age of peace. Hropt: another name for
Othin. His “battle-hall” is Valhall.
The Poetic Edda, passage 2233
23. Wolf of his word: oath-destroyer, oath-breaker.
The Poetic Edda, passage 3303
Hǣm′-ing, son of Hunding, 311.
The Poetic Edda, passage 1618
Helgi spoke thus because he foresaw his death, for his
following-spirits had met Hethin when he saw the woman riding on the
wolf. Alf was the name of a king, the son of Hrothmar, who had marked
out a battle-place with Helgi at Sigarsvoll after a stay of three
nights. Then Helgi spake:
The Poetic Edda, passage 822
3. The word-wielder toil | for the giant worked,
And so revenge | on the gods he sought;
He bade Sif’s mate | the kettle bring:
“Therein for ye all | much ale shall I brew.”
The Poetic Edda, passage 1008
54. Hlorrithi: Thor. Line 5 is probably spurious.
The Poetic Edda, passage 1413
43. “Now answer me, Fjolsvith, | the question I ask,
For now the truth would I know:
May a man come thence | who thither goes,
And tries the sword to take?”
The Poetic Edda, passage 3498
Ol′-mōth, father of Isolf, 224.
The Poetic Edda, passage 1304
35. The sybils arose | from Vitholf’s race,
From Vilmeith all | the seers are,
And the workers of charms | are Svarthofthi’s children,
And from Ymir sprang | the giants all.
The Poetic Edda, passage 3253
Geir′-mund, kinsman of Atli, 478.
The Poetic Edda, passage 1200
26. Thence went Rig, | his road was straight,
A hall he saw, | the doors faced south;
The portal stood wide, | on the posts was a ring,
Then in he fared; | the floor was strewn.
The Poetic Edda, passage 174
56. The warder of earth: Thor. The son of Fjorgyn: again Thor, who,
after slaying the serpent, is overcome by his venomous breath, and
dies. Fjorgyn appears in both a masculine and a feminine form. In the
masculine it is a name for Othin; in the feminine, as here and in
Harbarthsljoth, 56, it apparently refers to Jorth.
The Poetic Edda, passage 469
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.”
The Poetic Edda, passage 2106
26. “Afar didst thou go | while Fafnir reddened
With his blood my blade so keen;
With the might of the dragon | my strength I matched,
While thou in the heather didst hide.”
The Poetic Edda, passage 3149
Bel′-i, a giant, 22, 110, 112.
The Poetic Edda, passage 2605
6. “Gunnar comes not, | Hogni I greet not,
No longer I see | my brothers loved;
My sorrow would Hogni | avenge with the sword,
Now myself for my woes | I shall payment win.
The Poetic Edda, passage 3328
Helg′-i (Had″-ding-ja-skat′-i), Helgi the Haddings’-Hero, 311, 330,
331.
The Poetic Edda, passage 286
92. Soft words shall he speak | and wealth shall he offer
Who longs for a maiden’s love,
And the beauty praise | of the maiden bright;
He wins whose wooing is best.
The Poetic Edda, passage 3400
Hross′-thjōf, son of Hrimnir, 228.
The Poetic Edda, passage 296
102. Many fair maids, | if a man but tries them,
False to a lover are found;
That did I learn | when I longed to gain
With wiles the maiden wise;
Foul scorn was my meed | from the crafty maid,
And nought from the woman I won.
The Poetic Edda, passage 41
Vreiþr vas Vingþórr, | es vaknaþi
ok síns hamars | of saknaþi;
skegg nam hrista, | skǫr nam dýja,
réþ Jarþar burr | umb at þreifask.
The Poetic Edda, passage 1832
30. “The ship shall sail not | in which thou sailest,
Though a favoring wind | shall follow after;
The horse shall run not | whereon thou ridest,
Though fain thou art | thy foe to flee.
The Poetic Edda, passage 744
24. “In Valland I was, | and wars I raised,
Princes I angered, | and peace brought never;
The noble who fall | in the fight hath Othin,
And Thor hath the race of the thralls.”
The Poetic Edda, passage 1555
35. The manuscript does not name the speaker; Vigfusson again makes two
full stanzas with the line, “Then did Völund speak, | sagest of
elves.” Some editors begin a new stanza with line 4, while others
reject as interpolations lines 2–3 or 5–7. Völund’s wife: the reference
is to Bothvild, as Völund wishes to have his vengeance fall more
heavily on her father than on her.
The Poetic Edda, passage 1766
43. The phrase “under houses,” which follows the manuscript, may be an
error for “in wolf-caves.” Line 3 (or 4) may be an interpolation. The
manuscript indicates line 5 as the beginning of a new stanza. Siggeir:
cf. stanza 38, note.
The Poetic Edda, passage 3454
Meil′-i, brother of Thor, 125.
The Poetic Edda, passage 2953
68. Line 5 is very probably a later addition, though some editors
question line 3 instead.
The Poetic Edda, passage 2477
67. Cf. Gripisspo, 41 and note. After line 1 the manuscript adds the
phrase “bright, ring-decked,” referring to the sword, but it is
metrically impossible, and many editions omit it.