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Vafrudnismal
(The Lay Of Illusion)
translation adapted from
the Codex Regius
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ODIN: Advise me, Frigg, as I
wish to journey Vaftrudnir, the riddler, (1) to seek in his hall! I crave
to sound the ancient wisdom Of him, the all-wise titan.
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FRIGG: At home would I rather
see Hostfather tarry, in the courts of the gods; For no other giant I know
has the equal Of Vaftrudnir's power.
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ODIN: Much have I traveled,
much have I tested; Much from the various powers I learned. Now I will
study in Vaftrudnir's hall. How that one is furnished.
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FRIGG: Fortune go with you,
and then, in returning, may happiness be on the roads that you take! Nor
fail you your wits, oh, Father of Ages, when you Vaftrudnir engage in debate.
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Hence journeyed Odin to probe
by a discourse. The wisdom and wit of the all-knowing titan: Arrived at
the hall of the father of Im, forthwith the Thinker entered therein.
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ODIN: Hail thee, Vaftrudnir,
here am I come in your own hall to see you. First would I know if it's
wise you are or all-knowing, giant?
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VAFTRUDNIR: Who is this man,
who in my hall hurls such words at me? Never shall you leave this place
if you are not the wiser.
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ODIN: Gagnrad (2) is my name.
I am come on foot and athirst to your hall; I have wandered afar and need
a welcome and your hospitality, giant.
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VAFTRUDNIR: Why stand you, then,
Gagnrad, and speak from the floor? Step forward and sit in the hall. Then
shall we measure whether the stranger or this old bard is more knowing.
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GAGNRAD: A poor man who comes
to a rich man's house should be silent or wisely speak; Idle talk serves
him ill who comes to a cold-ribbed (3) host.
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VAFTRUDNIR: Tell me then, Gagnrad,
as you from the floor will try your success: What name has that steed that
draws each day over the sons of the ages?
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GAGNRAD: Brightmane is he; the
rose-colored one draws the day over the sons of ages; Held the most
excellent steed by the people; His mane ever radiates sunlight.
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VAFTRUDNIR: Tell me, then, Gagnrad,
as you from the floor will try your success: What name has that steed that
draws from the east the night over useful powers?
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GAGNRAD: Frostmane is the steed
that draws in space each night over useful powers; Each morning the froth
falls from his bridle: Thence drops the dew in the dells.
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VAFTRUDNIR: Tell me Gagnrad,
as you from the floor will try your success: What name has that stream
that is shared and divides the grounds of the gods and the titans?
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GAGNRAD: Doubt is the stream
that is shared and divides the grounds of the gods and the titans; He shall
run free and open forever; No ice ever forms on that river.
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VAFTRUDNIR: Tell me, then, Gagnrad,
as you from the floor will try your success: What name has that plain where
the battle is fought between Surt and the beneficent gods?
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GAGNRAD: Vigrid is the plain
where the battle is fought between Surt and the beneficent gods. One hundred
days' journey on every side, that plain is created for them.
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VAFTRUDNIR: Wise are you, guest.
Go to the bench and let us speak, seated together. Our heads we shall wager
here in the hall on our wisdom and wit, Guest.
CAPITULUM
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GAGNRAD: Tell me first, if your
wit suffices, and, Vaftrudnir, if you know it: Whence came the earth or
the heaven above it, first, thou knowing giant?
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VAFTRUDNIR: Of Ymer's flesh
was the earth formed, the mountains were built of his bones; Of the frost-cold
giant's brainpan heaven, and the billowing seas of his blood.
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GAGNRAD: Tell me second, if
your wit suffices, and, Vaftrudnir, if you know it: Whence came the
moon that over men wanders, or likewise the sun?
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VAFTRUDNIR: Mundilfore is father
of moon and equally so of the sun; Both are borne across heaven each day
to measure the years for man.
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GAGNRAD: Tell me thirdly, as
you are called knowing, Vaftrudnir if you know it: Whence comes the day
that moves over men and the night with its dark of waning?
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VAFTRUDNIR: Dawn it is that
fathers the Day, while Night is the daughter of Dusk. Waxing and
Waning the useful powers made for man's measure of ages.
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GAGNRAD: Tell me fourthly, as
you are named forewise, Vaftrudnir, if you know it: Whence came the winter
or the warm summer first to the forewise powers.
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VAFTRUDNIR: Windcool is named
the father of Winter but Mild is the summer's sire; (4)
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GAGNRAD: Tell me fifthly, as
you are named pastwise, Vaftrudnir, if you know it: Who first of the Aesir's
or Ymer's kin arose in the times of old?
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VAFTRUDNIR: Unnumbered winters
ere earth was formed was Bargalmer born; His father, it's said, was Trudgalmer;
Orgalmer his father's sire.
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GAGNRAD: Tell me sixthly, as
you are named knowing, Vaftrudnir, if you know it: Whence came Orgalmer
first among giant-sons in the dawn of time, wise giant?
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VAFTRUDNIR: From Elivagor (5)
sprang drops of venom, Until they became a giant; (6)
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GAGNRAD: Tell me seventhly,
as you are named skillful, Vaftrudnir, if you know it: How begat offspring
the bold giant, as he had known no giantess?
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VAFTRUDNIR: By degrees from
the word of the frostgiant grew man and maid together; foot mated with
foot and bore to the giant a many-headed son.
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GAGNRAD: Tell me eighthly, as
you are named pastwise, Vaftrudnir, if you know it: What is the first you
remember or earliest know, thou all-wise giant?
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VAFTRUDNIR: Unnumbered winters
ere earth was formed, Bargalmer was born; The first I remember, the forewise
giant was laid in the flour-bin. (7)
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GAGNRAD: Tell me ninthly, as
you are called clever, Vaftrudnir, if you know it: Whence comes the wind
that wafts on the wave, though himself unseen?
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VAFTRUDNIR: Rasvalg is perched
at the end of the heavens, a giant in eagle guise; From his wings are wafted
the wandering winds that howl o'er the human host.
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GAGNRAD: Tell me tenthly, as
the gods' fates thou knowest, Vaftrudnir, to the full: Whence came Njord
to the Asa-sons? He reigns over courts and sanctuaries, begotten of Asa-stock.
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VAFTRUDNIR: In the home of the
Vaner wise powers created and sent him as hostage to the gods; In the fullness
of ages he shall return home with the wisdom of woe.
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GAGNRAD: Tell me eleventhly,
where the heroes each day slay one another:
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VAFTRUDNIR: They select the
Chosen, ride from the battle, then sit reconciled together.
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GAGNRAD: Tell me twelfthly,
Vaftrudnir, how the endless reach you know of the gods' destiny. Of eons'
runes and of the gods' you say what is truest, allwise giant.
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VAFTRUDNIR: Of giants' runes
as well as of gods' the truth I tell; For I have come into nine worlds,
from hells below deepest Niflhel.
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GAGNRAD: Much have I traveled,
much have I tested, much from the various powers I learned: What humans
live when for man has expired the dread Fimbul-winter?
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VAFTRUDNIR: Life and Survivor,
but they lie concealed in the memory-hoard of the sun. Morning dew is their
food, and from them will be born ages to come.
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GAGNRAD: Much have I traveled,
much have I tested, Much from the various powers I learned: Whence will
come the sun on a trackless sky when Fenris has overtaken this one?
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VAFTRUDNIR: One daughter only
the Elf-wheel bears before Fenris o'ertakes her; The radiant maid shall
ride her mother's roads when the gods are gone.
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GAGNRAD: Much have I traveled,
much have I tested, much from the various powers I learned: Who are the
maids who, o'er watery waste unerringly find the way?
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VAFTRUDNIR: Three mighty rivers
flow through the lands of the maids of the son-in-law seeker: (8) They
are hamingjor in their own right though they were fostered by giants.
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GAGNRAD: Much have I traveled,
much have I tested, much from the various powers I learned: Which of the
Aesir remain as gods when the flames of Surt have subsided?
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VAFTRUDNIR: Vidar and Vale shall
dwell in the shrines of the gods when the flames of Surt have subsided.
Mode and Magne shall then have Mjolnir and do Vingner's (9) work.
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GAGNRAD: Much have I traveled,
much have I tested, much from the various powers I learned: What shall
become of Odin the aged, when the rulers' reign is riven?
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VAFTRUDNIR: The wolf shall devour
the Father of Ages, but Vidar shall come to avenge him; Vidar shall cleave
the icy jaws with Vingner's sacred weapon. (10)
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GAGNRAD: Much have I traveled,
much have I tested, much from the various powers I learned: What whispered
Odin in the ear of his son, (11) as the latter was borne on the pyre?
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VAFTRUDNIR: None knows what
you in the foretime spoke at the pyre in the ear of your son. With the
lips of one dead have I told my tale, Runes of old and of Ragnarok.
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Vaftrudnir: weaver of the webs of illusion.
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Gainful counsel.
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Cunning.
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The rest of the verse is missing in the Codex Regius.
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Icicle waves.
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The rest of the verse is missing in the Codex Regius.
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Mill: dissolver and creator of matter.
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Or kin-seeker.
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Thor.
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Mjolnir, Thor's Hammer.
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Balder
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