Gods then
began their toil,
the wondrous world
they well builded.
From the South the Sun
from seas rising
gleamed down on grass
green at morning.
3 They hall and hallow
high uptowering,
gleaming-gabled,
golden-posted,
rock-hewn ramparts
reared in splendour,
forge and fortress
framed immortal.
4 Unmarred their mirth
in many a court,
where men they made
of their minds’ cunning;
under hills of Heaven
on high builded
they lived in laughter
long years ago.
5 Dread shapes arose
from the dim spaces
over sheer mountains
by the Shoreless Sea,
friends of darkness,
foes immortal,
old, unbegotten,
out of ancient void.
6 To the world came war:
the walls of Gods
giants beleaguered;
joy was ended.
The mountains were moved,
mighty Ocean
surged and thundered,
the Sun trembled.
7 The Gods gathered
on golden thrones,
of doom and death
deeply pondered,
how fate should be fended,
their foes vanquished,
their labour healed,
light rekindled.
8 In forge’s fire
of flaming wrath
was heaviest hammer
hewn and wielded.
Thunder and lightning
Thór the mighty
flung among them,
felled and sundered.
9 In fear then fled they,
foes immortal,
from the walls beaten
watched unceasing;
ringed Earth around
with roaring sea
and mountains of ice
on the margin of the world.
*
10 A seer long silent
her song upraised –
the halls hearkened –
on high she stood.
Of doom and death
dark words she spake,
of the last battle
of the leaguered Gods.
11 ‘The horn of Heimdal
I hear ringing;
the Blazing Bridge
bends neath horsemen;
the Ash is groaning,
his arms trembling,
the Wolf waking,
warriors riding.
12 The sword of Surt
smoketh redly;
the slumbering Serpent
in the sea moveth;
a shadowy ship
from shores of Hell
legions bringeth
to the last battle.
13 The wolf Fenrir
waits for ódin,
for Frey the fair
the flames of Surt;
the deep Dragon
shall be doom of Thór –
shall all be ended,
shall Earth perish?
14 If in day of Doom
one deathless stands,
who death hath tasted
and dies no more,
the serpent-slayer,
seed of ódin,
then all shall not end,
nor Earth perish.
15 On his head shall be helm,
in his hand lightning,
afire his spirit,
in his face splendour.
The Serpent shall shiver
and Surt waver,
the Wolf be vanquished
and the world rescued.’
*
16 The Gods were gathered
on guarded heights,
of doom and death
deep they pondered.
Sun they rekindled,
and silver Moon
they set to sail
on seas of stars.
17 Frey and Freyia
fair things planted,
trees and flowers,
trembling grasses;
Thór in chariot
thundered o’er them
through Heaven’s gateways
to the hills of stone.
18 Ever would ódin
on earth wander
weighed with wisdom
woe foreknowing,
the Lord of lords
and leaguered Gods,
his seed sowing,
sire of heroes.
19 Valh?ll he built
vast and shining;
shields the tiles were,
shafts the rafters.
Ravens flew thence
over realms of Earth;
at the doors an eagle
darkly waited.
20 The guests were many:
grim their singing,
boar’s-flesh eating,
beakers draining;
mighty ones of Earth
mailclad sitting
for one they waited,
the World’s chosen.
*
I
ANDVARA-GULL
(Andvari’s Gold)
Here first is told how ódin and his companions were trapped in the house of the demon Hreidmar, and his sons. These dwelt now in the world in the likeness of men or of beasts.
1 Of old was an age
when ódin walked
by wide waters
in the world’s beginning;
lightfooted Loki
at his left was running,
at his right Hoenir
roamed beside him.
2 The falls of Andvari
frothed and murmured
with fish teeming
in foaming pools.
As a pike there plunged
his prey hunting
Dwarf Andvari
from his dark cavern.
3 There hunted hungry
Hreidmar’s offspring:
the silver salmon
sweet he thought them.
Otr in otter’s form
there ate blinking,
on the bank brooding
of black waters.
4 With stone struck him,
stripped him naked,
Loki lighthanded,
loosing evil.
The fell they flayed,
fared then onward;
in Hreidmar’s halls
housing sought they.
5 There wrought Regin
by the red embers
rune-written iron,
rare, enchanted;
of gold things gleaming,
of grey silver,
there Fáfnir lay
by the fire dreaming.
Hreidmar 6 ‘Do fetters fret you,
folk of ásgard?
Regin hath wrought them
with runes binding.
Redgolden rings,
ransom costly,
this fell must fill,
this fur cover!’
7 Lightshod Loki
over land and waves
to Rán came running
in her realm of sea.
The queen of ?gir
his quest granted:
a net she knotted
noosed with evil.
Loki 8 ‘What fish have I found
in the flood leaping,
rashly roaming?
Ransom pay me!’
Andvari ‘I am Andvari.
óin begot me
to grievous fate.
Gold I bid thee!’
Loki 9 ‘What hides thy hand
thus hollow bending?’
Andvari ‘The ring is little –
let it rest with me!’
Loki ‘All, Andvari,
all shalt render,
light rings and heavy,
or life itself!’
10 (The Dwarf spake darkly
from his delvéd stone:)
Andvari ‘My ring I will curse
with ruth and woe!
Bane it bringeth
to brethren two;
seven princes slays;
swords it kindles –
end untimely
of ódin’s hope.’
11 In Hreidmar’s house
they heaped the gold.
Hreidmar ‘A hair unhidden
I behold there yet!’
Out drew ódin
Andvari’s ring,
cursed he cast it
on accurséd gold.
ódin 12 ‘Ye gold have gained:
a god’s ransom,
for thyself and sons
seed of evil.’
Hreidmar ‘Gods seldom give
gifts of healing;
gold oft begrudgeth
the greedy hand!’
13 Words spake Loki
worse thereafter:
Loki ‘Here deadly dwells
the doom of kings!
Here is fall of queens,
fire and weeping,
end untimely
of ódin’s hope!’
ódin 14 ‘Whom ódin chooseth
ends not untimely,
though ways of men
he walk briefly.
In wide Valh?ll
he may wait feasting –
it is to ages after
that ódin looks.’
Hreidmar 15 ‘The hope of ódin
we heed little!
Redgolden rings
I will rule alone.
Though Gods grudge it
gold is healing.
From Hreidmar’s house
haste now swiftly!’
*
II
SIGNY
Rerir was the son of the son of ódin. After him reigned V?lsung, to whom ódin gave a Valkyrie as wife. Sigmund and Signy were their eldest children and twins. They had nine sons beside. Sigmund was of all men the most valiant, unless his sons be named. Signy was fair and wise and foresighted. She was given unwilling and against her foreboding to Siggeir king of Gautland, for the strengthening of the power of King V?lsung. Here is told how hate grew between Gauts and V?lsungs, and of the slaying of V?lsung. The ten brothers of Signy were set in fetters in the forest and all perished save Sigmund. Long time he dwelt in a cave in the guise of a dwarvish smith. By Signy was a fierce vengeance devised and fulfilled.
1 On the coasts of the North
was king renowned
Rerir sea-roving,
the raven’s lord.
Shield-hung his ships,
unsheathed his sword;
his sire of old
was son of ódin.
2 Him V?lsung followed
valiant-hearted,
child of longing,
chosen of ódin.
Valkyrie fair
di