Prose Edda - Brodeur Trans.
Skáldskaparmál
LIV. "How are the gods named? They are called Fetters, as Eyjólfr the Valiant Skald sang:
Eiríkr draws the lands beneath himAnd Bonds, as Thjódólfr of Hvin sang:
At the pleasure of the Fetters,
And fashions the Spear-Battle.
The skilful God-DeceiverPowers, as Einarr Tinkling-Scale sang:
To the Bonds proved a stern sharer
Of bones: the Helmet-Hooded
Saw somewhat hindered seething. (1)
I say, the Mighty PowersJólnar, (2) as Eyvindr sang:
Magnify Hákon's empire.
We have fashionedDeities, (3) as Kormákr sang:
The Feast of Jólnar,
The Prince's praise-song,
Strong as a stone bridge.
1. See page 130.
2. This word, in the singular, is one of the names of Odin. I can find no etymology for it.
3. A rare and doubtful word. According to Cl.-Vig., the word occurs only twice: Yngl. S., ch. ii, and here. Cl.-Vig. holds that the word probably means priests: "The díar of the Yngl. S. were probably analogous to the Icel. godi, from god (deus)" (p. 1oo).
206
The Giver of Lands, who bindethLV. "These names of the heavens are recorded (but we have not found all these terms in poems; and these skaldic terms, even as others, are not meet for use in skaldic writing, methinks, unless one first find such names in the works of Chief Skalds): Heaven, Hlýrnir, Heidthornir, StormMímir, Long-Lying, Light-Farer, Driving, Topmost Sky, Wide-Fathom, Vet-Mímir, Lightning, Destroyer, Wide-Blue. The solar planet is called Sun, Glory, Ever-Glow, All-Bright, Sight, Fair Wheel, Healing Ray, Dvalinn's Playmate, Elfin-Beam, Doubtful-Beam, Luminary. The lunar planet is called Moon, Waxer, Waner, Year-Teller, Mock-Sun, Fengari, (2) Glamour, Haster, Crescent, Glare.
The sail to the top, with gold-lace
Honors him who pours Deities' verse-mead;
Odin wrought charms on Rindr. (1)
LVI. "Which are the simple terms for Earth? She is called Earth, as Thjódólfr sang:
The hardy Point-Rain's UrgerField, as Óttarr sang:
Oft caused the harsh sword-shower,
Ere under him the broad Earth
With battle he subjected.
The Prince guards the Field:1. See page 100.
Few kings are so mighty;
2. "Byzant. feegg£ri; an ¥p. leg." (Cl.-Vig., p. 151).
207
Óleifr fattens the eagle,-Ground, as Hallvardr sang:
Foremost is the Swedes' King.
The broad Ground, 'neath the venom-cold AdderHaudr, (1) as Einarr sang:
Bound, lies subject to the Warrior
Of the Island-Fetter's heaped gold;
The Hone-Land's Lord the hoard dispenseth.
Brave heroes are defendingLand, as Thórdr Kolbeinsson sang:
The hard Haudr of famous princes
With the sword; oft splits the helmet
Before the furious edge-storm.
The Land, after the battle,Fief, as Óttarr sang:
Was laid low from Veiga northward
To Agdir south, or farther:
Hard is song in conflict.
Thou, fierce War-Staff, maintainedst1. "Etymology not known" (Cl.-Vig., p. 241).
The Fief despite two Monarchs
With heroes' kin, where the ravens
Starved not; keen-hearted art thou. (3)
2. See pages 180, 181.
208
Hlödyn, (1) as Völu-Steinn sang:
I remember how murky earth yawnedCountry, as Úlfr Uggason sang:
With graven mouth for the Sender
Of the Gold-Words of the Giant
Of the hard bones of Green Hlödyn.
But the flashing-eyed stiff Edge-RopeFjörgyn, (3) as is said here:
Of the Earth stared past the gunwale
At the Rowan-Tree of the Country
Of Stone, the Giant-Tester. (2)
I was faithful to the free PayerLVIII. "It is correct to periphrase blood or carrion in terms of the beast which is called Strangler, (4) by calling them his Meat and Drink;, it is not correct to express them in terms of other beasts. The Strangler is also called Wolf. As Thjódólfr sang:
Of the stream-bed of Fjörgyn's Serpent;
May honor be closely guarded
By the Giver of the Giant's Stream-gold.
Enough guesting to the Ravener1. A personification.
Was given, when the Son of Sigurdr
2. See page 179.
3. Cf. Goth. fairguni ( a mountain) and A.-S. fyrgen. A personification: Fjörgynn is father of Frigg and of Jörd (Earth).
4. Vargr; cf. A.-S. wearg, Ger. -würgen.
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