Wednesday, 3 September 2025

THE VIKING PROPHECY (IV), THE POEM VÖLUSPÁ (EDDA)

The prophetess then tells what she remembers as the first war in the world, between the godly families of the Æsir and the Vanir.

The latter is rather linked to fertility and prosperity, although it must be said that Norse gods, in general, cannot be limited to well-defined characteristics. Either way, the story in the Völuspá mentions the goddess Gollveig (gold-might) as a reason for the war, as she was accused of bewitching the gods. The outcome of this war was that all gods received equal right to worship, possibly an allusion to the acceptance of other regional deities into their system of beliefs.

In a sudden change of topic, we then get a glimpse of other major mythical events, such as the rebuilding of Asgard, the fortress of Odin and his family, and possibly one of the nine worlds the prophetess was speaking of. When the giant assigned the task demands the love goddess Freyja as a reward, Loki is requested to play a trick on him to prevent this from happening. As expected, the giant ends up slain by Thor, the mightiest of the gods, which infuriates the giants who eagerly battle the Æsir. The giants were in fact another family of gods -their name does not refer to their size- and many were romantically involved with the gods of the Æsir family.

 

Þórr einn þar vá þrunginn móði,
hann sjaldan sitr er hann slíkt um fregn;
á gengust eiðar, orð ok sœri,
mál öll meginlig er á meðal fóru.

Veit hon Heimdallar hljóð um fólgit
undir heiðvönum helgum baðmi;
á sér hon ausask aurgum forsi
af veði Valföðrs. Vituð ér enn eða hvat?´

Ein sat hon úti, þá er inn aldni kom
yggjungr ása ok í augu leit. Hvers fregnið mik?
Hví freistið mín? Allt veit ek,
Óðinn, hvar þú auga falt, í inum mæra Mímisbrunni.
Drekkr mjöð Mímir morgun hverjan af veði Valföðrs.
Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?

Valði henni Herföðr hringa ok men,
fekk spjöll spaklig ok spá ganda,
sá hon vítt ok of vítt of veröld hverja.

Sá hon valkyrjur vítt of komnar,
görvar at ríða til Goðþjóðar; Skuld helt skildi,
en Skögul önnur, Gunnr, Hildr, Göndul ok Geirskögul.
Nú eru talðar nönnur Herjans, görvar at ríða
grund valkyrjur.

Ek sá Baldri, blóðgum tívur,
Óðins barni, örlög folgin;
stóð of vaxinn völlum hæri
mjór ok mjök fagr mistilteinn.

Varð af þeim meiði, er mær sýndisk,
harmflaug hættlig, Höðr nam skjóta;
Baldrs bróðir var of borinn snemma,
sá nam Óðins sonr einnættr vega.

Þó hann æva hendr né höfuð kembði,
áðr á bál of bar Baldrs andskota;
en Frigg of grét í Fensölum
vá Valhallar. Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?

Þá kná Váli vígbönd snúa,
heldr váru harðgör höft ór þörmum.

Haft sá hon liggja und Hveralundi,
lægjarns líki Loka áþekkjan;
þar sitr Sigyn þeygi of sínum
ver vel glýjuð. Vituð ér enn -eða hvat? 


In swelling rage, then rose up Thor,
Seldom he sits, when he such things hears,
And the oaths were broken, the words and bonds,
The mighty pledges, between them made.

I know of the horn, of Heimdall, hidden
Under the high-reaching, holy tree;
On it there pours ,from Valfather's pledge
A mighty stream:  would you know yet more?

Alone I sat, when the Old One sought me,
The terror of gods, and gazed in mine eyes:
"What hast thou to ask? why comest thou hither?
Othin, I know, where thine eye is hidden."
I know where Othin's, eye is hidden,
Deep in the wide-famed, well of Mimir;
Mead from the pledge, of Othin each mom
Does Mimir drink: would you know yet more?

Necklaces had I, and rings from Heerfather,
Wise was my speech, and my magic wisdom;
Widely I saw, over all the worlds.

On all sides saw I, Valkyries assemble,
Ready to ride, to the ranks of the gods;
Skuld bore the shield, and Skogul rode next,
Guth, Hild, Gondul, and Geirskogul.
Of Herjan's maidens, the list have ye heard,
Valkyries ready, to ride o'er the earth. 

I saw for Baldr, the bleeding god,
The son of Othin, his destiny set:
Famous and fair, in the lofty fields,
Full grown in strength, the mistletoe stood.

From the branch which seemed, so slender and fair
Came a harmful shaft, that Hoth should hurl;
But the brother of Baldr, was born ere long,
And one night old, fought Othin's son.

His hands he washed not, his hair he combed not,
Till he bore to the bale-blaze, Baldr's foe.
But in Fensalir, did Frigg weep sore
For Valhall's need: would you know yet more?

Then did Váli slaughter bonds twist:
made farily grim were those fetters of guts.

One did I see, in the wet woods bound,
A lover of ill, and to Loki like;
By his side does Sigyn, sit, nor is glad
To see her mate: would you know yet more?

 

Syster kjær
Vil du heim att vende?
Utan ande
Er livet stutt
Skogen er feigd
Utan sin hyrde


Dear sister
Will you come back home?
Without breath
Life is short
The forest is bound to die
Without its shepard

Wardruna

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