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Poetic Eddas

The Original Poetic Eddas

VOLUSPO (THE WISE-WOMAN’S PROPHECY)

1.  Hearing I ask   |   from the holy races,    From Heimdall’s sons,   |   both high and low;   ...

HOVAMOL (THE BALLAD OF THE HIGH ONE)

1.  Within the gates   |   ere a man shall go,      (Full warily let him watch,)      Full long l...

VAFTHRUTHNISMOL (THE BALLAD OF VAFTHRUTHNIR)

Othin spake: 1.  “Counsel me, Frigg,   |   for I long to fare,      And Vafthruthnir fain would ...

GRIMNISMOL (THE BALLAD OF GRIMNIR)

King Hrauthung had two sons: one was called Agnar, and the otherGeirröth. Agnar was ten winters o...

SKIRNISMOL (THE BALLAD OF SKIRNIR)

Freyr, the son of Njorth, had sat one day in Hlithskjolf, and lookedover all the worlds. He looke...

HARBARTHSLJOTH (THE POEM OF HARBARTH)

Thor was on his way back from a journey in the East, and came to asound; on the other side of the...

HYMISKVITHA (THE LAY OF HYMIR)

1.  Of old the gods   |   made feast together,    And drink they sought   |   ere sated they were...

LOKASENNA (LOKI’S WRANGLING)

Ægir, who was also called Gymir, had prepared ale for the gods, afterhe had got the mighty kettle...

THRYMSKVITHA (THE LAY OF THRYM)

1.  Wild was Vingthor   |   when he awoke,      And when his mighty   |   hammer he missed;    He...

ALVISSMOL (THE BALLAD OF ALVIS)

Alvis spake: 1.  “Now shall the bride   |   my benches adorn,      And homeward haste forthwith;...

BALDRS DRAUMAR

BALDRS DRAUMAR BALDR’S DREAMS Once were the gods | together met, And the goddesses came |...

RIGSTHULA

RIGSTHULA THE SONG OF RIG They tell in old stories that one of the gods, whose name was Heimdall,...

HYNDLULJOTH

HYNDLULJOTH THE POEM OF HYNDLA Freyja spake: “Maiden, awake! | wake thee, my friend, My sis...

SVIPDAGSMOL

SVIPDAGSMOL THE BALLAD OF SVIPDAG I. GROUGALDR GROA’S SPELL Svipdag spake: “Wake thee, Groa! |...

VÖLUNDARKVITHA

VÖLUNDARKVITHA THE LAY OF VÖLUND There was a king in Sweden named Nithuth. He had two sons and on...

HELGAKVITHA HJORVARTHSSONAR

HELGAKVITHA HJORVARTHSSONAR THE LAY OF HELGI THE SON OF HJORVARTH (I) OF HJORVARTH AND SIGRLIN Hj...

HELGAKVITHA HUNDINGSBANA I

HELGAKVITHA HUNDINGSBANA I THE FIRST LAY OF HELGI HUNDINGSBANE In olden days, | when eagles...

HELGAKVITHA HUNDINGSBANA I

HELGAKVITHA HUNDINGSBANA II THE SECOND LAY OF HELGI HUNDINGSBANE King Sigmund, the son of Volsung...

GRIPISSPO

GRIPISSPO GRIPIR’S PROPHECY Gripir was the name of Eylimi’s son, the brother of Hjordis; he ruled...

REGINSMOL

REGINSMOL THE BALLAD OF REGIN Sigurth went to Hjalprek’s stud and chose for himself a horse, who ...

FAFNISMOL

FAFNISMOL THE BALLAD OF FAFNIR Sigurth and Regin went up to the Gnitaheith, and found there the t...

SIGRDRIFUMOL

SIGRDRIFUMOL THE BALLAD OF THE VICTORY-BRINGER Sigurth rode up on Hindarfjoll and turned southwar...

BROT AF SIGURTHARKVITHU

BROT AF SIGURTHARKVITHU FRAGMENT OF A SIGURTH LAY Hogni spake: “(What evil deed | has Sigurt...

GUTHRUNARKVITHA I

GUTHRUNARKVITHA I THE FIRST LAY OF GUTHRUN Guthrun sat by the dead Sigurth; she did not weep as o...

SIGURTHARKVITHA EN SKAMMA

SIGURTHARKVITHA EN SKAMMA THE SHORT LAY OF SIGURTH Of old did Sigurth | Gjuki seek, The Vol...

HELREITH BRYNHILDAR

HELREITH BRYNHILDAR BRYNHILD’S HELL-RIDE After the death of Brynhild there were made two bale-fir...

GUTHRUNARKVITHA I

GUTHRUNARKVITHA II, EN FORNA THE SECOND, OR OLD, LAY OF GUTHRUN King Thjothrek was with Atli, and...

GUTHRUNARKVITHA I

GUTHRUNARKVITHA III THE THIRD LAY OF GUTHRUN Herkja was the name of a serving-woman of Atli’s; sh...

ODDRUNARGRATR

ODDRUNARGRATR THE LAMENT OF ODDRUN Heithrek was the name of a king, whose daughter was called Bor...

ATLAKVITHA EN GRÖNLENZKA

ATLAKVITHA EN GRÖNLENZKA THE GREENLAND LAY OF ATLI Guthrun, Gjuki’s daughter, avenged her brother...

ATLAMOL EN GRÖNLENZKU

ATLAMOL EN GRÖNLENZKU THE GREENLAND BALLAD OF ATLI There are many who know | how of old did...

GUTHRUNARHVOT

GUTHRUNARHVOT GUTHRUN’S INCITING Guthrun went forth to the sea after she had slain Atli. She went...

HAMTHESMOL

HAMTHESMOL THE BALLAD OF HAMTHER Great the evils | once that grew, With the dawning sad |...