60. "Meanwhile, Hermod was proceeding on his mission. For the space of nine days, and as many nights, he rode through deep glens so dark that he could not discern anything until he arrived at the river Gjoll, which he passed over on a bridge covered with glittering gold. Modgudur, the maiden who kept the bridge, asked him his name and lineage, telling him that the day before five bands of dead persons had ridden over the bridge, and did not shake it so much as he alone. 'But,' she added, 'thou hast not death's hue on thee, why then ridest them here on the way to Hel?'
"'I ride to Hel,' answered Hermod, 'to seek Baldur. Hast thou perchance seen him pass this way?'
"'Baldur,' she replied, 'hath ridden over Gjoll's bridge, but there below, towards the north, lies the way to the abodes of death.'
"Hermod then pursued his journey until he came to the barred gates of Hel. Here he alighted, girthed his saddle tighter, and remounting, clapped both spurs to his horse, who cleared the gate by a tremendous leap without touching it. Hermod then rode on to the palace, where he found his brother Baldur occupying the most distinguished seat in the hall, and passed the night in his company. The next morning he besought Hela (Death) to let Baldur ride home with him, assuring her that nothing but lamentations were to be heard among the gods. Hela answered that it should now be tried whether Baldur was so beloved as he was said to be.
"'If therefore,' she added, 'all things in the world, both living and lifeless, weep for him, then shall he return to the Æsir, but if any one thing speak against him or refuse to weep, he shall be kept in Hel.'
"Hermod then rose, and Baldur led him out of the hall and gave him the ring Draupnir, to present as a keepsake to Odin. Nanna also sent Frigga a linen cassock and other gifts, and to Fulla a gold finger-ring. Hermod then rode back to Asgard, and gave an account of all he had heard and witnessed.
"The gods upon this dispatched messengers throughout the world, to beg everything to weep, in order that Baldur might be delivered from Hel. All things very willingly complied with this request, both men and every other living being, as well as earths and stones, and trees and metals, just as thou must have seen these things weep when they are brought from a cold place into a hot one. As the messengers were returning with the conviction that their mission had been quite successful, they found an old hag named Thaukt sitting in a cavern, and begged her to weep Baldur out of Hel.
"It was strongly suspected that this hag was no other than Loki himself who never ceased to work evil among the Æsir."
THE FLIGHT AND PUNISHMENT OF LOKI.
61. "Evil are the deeds of Loki truly," said Gangler; "first of all in his having caused Baldur to be slain, and then preventing him from being delivered out of Hel. But was he not punished for these crimes?"
"Ay," replied Har, "and in such a manner that he will long repent having committed them. When he perceived how exasperated the gods were, he fled and hid himself in the mountains. There he built him a dwelling with four doors, so that he could see everything that passed around him. Often in the daytime he assumed the likeness of a salmon, and concealed himself under the waters of a cascade called Franangursfors, where he employed himself in divining and circumventing whatever stratagems the Æsir might have recourse to in order to catch him. One day, as he sat in his dwelling, he took flax and yarn, and worked them into meshes in the manner that nets have since been made by fishermen. Odin, however, had descried his retreat out of Hlidskjalf, and Loki becoming aware that the gods were approaching, threw his net into the fire, and ran to conceal himself in the river. When the gods entered the house, Kvasir, who was the most distinguished among them all for his quickness and penetration, traced out in the hot embers the vestiges of the net which had been burnt, and told Odin that it must be an invention to catch fish. Whereupon they set to work and wove a net after the model they saw imprinted in the ashes. This net, when finished, they threw into the river in which Loki had hidden himself. Thor held one end of the net, and all the other gods laid hold of the other end, thus jointly drawing it along the stream. Notwithstanding all their precautions the net passed over Loki, who had crept between two stones, and the gods only perceived that some living thing had touched the meshes. They therefore cast their net a second time, hanging so great a weight to it that it everywhere raked the bed of the river. But Loki, perceiving that he had but a short distance from the sea, swam onwards and leapt over the net into the waterfall. The Æsir instantly followed him, and divided themselves into two bands. Thor, wading along in mid-stream, followed the net, whilst the others dragged it along towards the sea. Loki then perceived that he had only two chances of escape, either to swim out to sea, or to leap again over the net. He chose the latter, but as he took a tremendous leap Thor caught him in his hand. Being, however, extremely slippery, he would have escaped had not Thor held him fast by the tail, and this is the reason why salmons have had their tails ever since so fine and thin.
"The gods having thus captured Loki, dragged him without commiseration into a cavern, wherein they placed three sharp-pointed rocks, boring a hole through each of them. Having also seized Loki's children, Vali and Nari, they changed the former into a wolf, and in this likeness he tore his brother to pieces and devoured him. The gods then made cords of his intestines, with which they bound Loki on the points of the rocks, one cord passing under his shoulders, another under his loins, and a third under his hams, and afterwards transformed these cords into thongs of iron. Skadi then suspended a serpent over him in such a manner that the venom should fall on his face, drop by drop. But Siguna, his wife, stands by him and receives the drops as they fall in a cup, which she empties as often as it is filled. But while she is doing this, venom falls upon Loki, which makes him howl with horror, and twist his body about so violently that the whole earth shakes, and this produces what men call earthquakes. There will Loki lie until Ragnarok."
OF RAGNAROK, OR THE TWILIGHT OE THE GODS, AND THE CONFLAGRATION OF THE UNIVERSE.
63. "I have not heard before of Ragnarok," said Gangler; "what hast thou to tell me about it?"
"There are many very notable circumstances concerning it," replied Har, "which I can inform thee of. In the first place will come the winter, called Fimbul-winter, during which snow will fall from the four corners of the world; the frosts will be very severe, the wind piercing, the weather tempestuous, and the sun impart no gladness. Three such winters shall pass away without being tempered by a single summer. Three other similar winters follow, during which war and discord will spread over the whole globe. Brethren for the sake of mere gain shall kill each other, and no one shall spare either his parents or his children.
64. "Then shall happen such things as may truly be accounted great prodigies. The wolf shall devour the sun, and a severe loss will that be for mankind. The other wolf will take the moon, and this too will cause great mischief. Then the stars shall be hurled from the heavens, and the earth so violently shaken that trees will be torn up by the roots, the tottering mountains tumble headlong from their foundations, and all bonds and fetters be shivered in pieces. Fenrir then breaks loose, and the sea rushes over the earth, on account of the Midgard serpent turning with giant force, and gaining the land. On the waters floats the ship Naglfar, which is constructed of the nails of dead men. For which reason great care should be taken to die with pared nails, for he who dies with his nails unpared, supplies materials for the building of this vessel, which both gods and men wish may be finished as late as possible. But in this flood shall Naglfar float, and the giant Hrym be its steersman.
"The wolf Fenrir advancing, opens his enormous mouth; the lower jaw reaches to the earth, and the upper one to heaven, and would in fact reach still farther were there space to admit of it. Fire flashes from his eyes and nostrils. The Midgard serpent, placing himself by the side of the wolf, vomits forth floods of poison which overwhelm the air and the waters. Amidst this devastation heaven is cleft in twain, and the sons of Muspell ride through the breach. Surtur rides first, and both before and behind him flames burning fire. His sword outshines the sun itself. Bifrost, as they ride over it, breaks to pieces. Then they direct their course to the battlefield called Vigrid. Thither also repair the wolf Fenrir and the Midgard serpent, and also Loki, with all the followers of Hel, and Hrym with all the Hrimthursar. But the sons of Muspell keep their effulgent bands apart on the field of battle, which is one hundred miles long on every side.
65. "Meanwhile Heimdall stands up, and with all his force sounds the Gjallar-horn to arouse the gods, who assemble without delay. Odin then rides to Mimir's well and consults Mimir how he and his warriors ought to enter into action. The ash Yggdrasill begins to shake, nor is there anything in heaven or earth exempt from fear at that terrible hour. The Æsir and all the heroes of Valhalla arm themselves and speed forth to the field, led on by Odin, with his golden helm and resplendent cuirass, and his spear called Gungnir. Odin places himself against the wolf Fenrir; Thor stands by his side, but can render him no assistance, having himself to combat with the Midgard serpent. Frey encounters Surtur, and terrible blows are exchanged ere Frey falls; and he owes his defeat to his not having that trusty sword he gave to Skirnir. That day the dog Garm, who had been chained in the Gnipa cave, breaks loose. He is the most fearful monster of all, and attacks Tyr, and they kill each other. Thor gains great renown for killing the Midgard serpent, but at the same time, recoiling nine paces, falls dead upon the spot suffocated by the floods of venom which the dying serpent vomits forth upon him. The wolf swallows Odin, but at that instant Vidar advances, and setting his foot on the monster's lower jaw, seizes the other with his hand, and thus tears and rends him till he dies. Vidar is able to do this because he wears those shoes for which stuff has been gathering in all ages, namely, the shreds of leather which are cut off to form the toes and heels of shoes, and it is on this account that those who would render a service to the Æsir should take care to throw such shreds away. Loki and Heimdall fight, and mutually kill each other.
"After this, Surtur darts fire and flame over the earth, and the whole universe is consumed."
OF THE ABODES OF FUTURE BLISS AND MISERY.
66. "What will remain," said Gangler, "after heaven and earth and the whole universe shall be consumed, and after all the gods, and the heroes of Valhalla, and all mankind shall have perished? For ye have already told me that every one shall continue to exist in some world or other, throughout eternity."
"There will be many abodes," replied Thridi, "some good, others bad. The best place of all to be in will be Gimli, in heaven, and all who delight in quaffing good drink will find a great store in the hall called Brimir, which is also in heaven in the region Okolni. There is also a fair hall of ruddy gold called Sindri, which stands on the mountains of Nida, (Nidafjoll). In those halls righteous and well-minded men shall abide. In Nastrond there is a vast and direful structure with doors that face the north. It is formed entirely of the backs of serpents, wattled together like wicker work. But the serpents' heads are turned towards the inside of the hall, and continually vomit forth floods of venom, in which wade all those who-commit murder, or who forswear themselves."
THE RENOVATION OF THE UNIVERSE.
67. "Will any of the gods survive, and will there be any longer a heaven and an earth?" demanded Gangler.
"There will arise out of the sea," replied Har, "another earth most lovely and verdant, with pleasant fields where the grain shall grow unsown. Vidar and Vali shall survive; neither the flood nor Surtur's fire shall harm them. They shall dwell on the plain of Ida, where Asgard formerly stood. Thither shall come the sons of Thor, Modi and Magni, bringing with them their father's mallet Mjolnir. Baldur and Hodur shall also repair thither from the abode of death (Hel). There shall they sit and converse together, and call to mind their former knowledge and the perils they underwent, and the fight of the wolf Fenrir and the Midgard serpent. There too shall they find in the grass those golden tablets (orbs) which the Æsir once possessed. As it is said,—
In the gods' holy seats,
When slaked Surtur's fire is
But Modi and Magni
Will Mjolnir possess,
And strife put an end to.'
"Thou must know, moreover, that during the conflagration caused by Surtur's fire, a woman named Lif (Life), and a man named Lifthrasir, lie concealed in Hodmimir's forest. They shall feed on morning dew, and their descendants shall soon spread over the whole earth.
"But what thou wilt deem more wonderful is, that the sun shall have brought forth a daughter more lovely than herself, who shall go in the same track formerly trodden by her mother.
"And now," continued Thridi, "if thou hast any further questions to ask, I know not who can answer thee, for I never heard tell of any one who could relate what will happen in the other ages of the world. Make, therefore, the best use thou canst of what has been imparted to thee."
Upon this Gangler heard a terrible noise all around him: he looked everywhere, but could see neither palace nor city, nor anything save a vast plain. He therefore set out on his return to his own kingdom, where he related all that he had seen and heard, and ever since that time these tidings have been handed down by oral tradition.
ÆGIR'S JOURNEY TO ASGARD.
68. Ægir, who was well skilled in magic, once went to Asgard, where he met with a very good reception. Supper time being come, the twelve mighty Æsir,—Odin, Thor, Njord, Frey, Tyr, Heimdall, Bragi, Vidar, Vali, Ullur, Hoenir and Forseti, together with the Asynjor,—Frigga, Freyja, Gefjon, Iduna, Gerda, Siguna, Fulla and Nanna, seated themselves on their lofty doom seats, in a hall around which were ranged swords of such surpassing brilliancy that no other light was requisite. They continued long at table, drinking mead of a very superior quality. While they were emptying their capacious drinking horns, Ægir, who sat next to Bragi, requested him to relate something concerning the Æsir. Bragi instantly complied with his request, by informing him of what had happened to Iduna.
IDUNA AND HER APPLES.
69. "Once," he said, "when Odin, Loki, and Hoenir went on a journey, they came to a valley where a herd of oxen were grazing, and being sadly in want of provisions did not scruple to kill one for their supper. Vain, however, were their efforts to boil the flesh; they found it, every time they took off the lid of the kettle, as raw as when first put in. While they were endeavouring to account for this singular circumstance a noise was heard above them, and on looking up they beheld an enormous eagle perched on the branch of an oak tree. 'If ye are willing to let me have my share of the flesh,' said the eagle, 'it shall soon be boiled;' and on their assenting to this proposal, it flew down and snatched up a leg and two shoulders of the ox—a proceeding which so incensed Loki, that he laid hold of a large stock, and made it fall pretty heavily on the eagle's back. It was, however, not an eagle that Loki struck, but the renowned giant Thjassi, clad in his eagle plumage. Loki soon found this out to his cost, for while one end of the stock stuck fast to the eagle's back, he was unable to let go his hold of the other end, and was consequently trailed by the eagle-clad giant over rocks and forests, until he was almost torn to pieces. Loki in this predicament began to sue for peace, but Thjassi told him that he should never be released from his hold until he bound himself by a solemn oath to bring Iduna and her apples out of Asgard. Loki very willingly gave his oath to effect this object, and went back in a piteous plight to his companions.
70. "On his return to Asgard, Loki told Iduna that, in a forest at a short distance from the celestial residence, he had found apples growing which he thought were of a much better quality than her own, and that at all events it was worth while making a comparison between them. Iduna, deceived by his words, took her apples, and went with him into the forest, but they had no sooner entered it than Thjassi, clad in his eagle-plumage, flew rapidly towards them, and catching up Iduna, carried her treasure off with him to Jotunheim. The gods being thus deprived of their renovating apples, soon became wrinkled and grey; old age was creeping fast upon them, when they discovered that Loki had been, as usual, the contriver of all the mischief that had befallen them. They therefore threatened him with condign punishment if he did not instantly hit upon some expedient for bringing back Iduna and her apples to Asgard. Loki having borrowed from Freyja her falcon-plumage, flew to Jotunheim, and finding that Thjassi was out at sea fishing, lost no time in changing Iduna into a sparrow and flying off with her; but when Thjassi returned and became aware of what had happened, he donned his eagle-plumage, and flew after them. When the Æsir saw Loki approaching, holding Iduna transformed into a sparrow between his claws, and Thjassi with his outspread eagle wings ready to overtake him, they placed on the walls of Asgard bundles of chips, which they set fire to the instant that Loki had flown over them; and as Thjassi could not stop his flight, the fire caught his plumage, and he thus fell into the power of the Æsir, who slew him within the portals of the celestial residence. When these tidings came to Thjassi's daughter, Skadi, she put on her armour and went to Asgard, fully determined to avenge her father's death; but the Æsir having declared their willingness to atone for the deed, an amicable arrangement was entered into. Skadi was to choose a husband in Asgard, and the Æsir were to make her laugh, a feat which she flattered herself it would be impossible for any one to accomplish. Her choice of a husband was to be determined by a mere inspection of the feet of the gods, it being stipulated that the feet should be the only part of their persons visible until she had made known her determination. In inspecting the row of feet placed before her, Skadi took a fancy to a pair which she flattered herself, from their fine proportions, must be those of Baldur. They were however Njord's, and Njord was accordingly given her for a husband, and as Loki managed to make her laugh, by playing some diverting antics with a goat, the atonement was fully effected. It is even said that Odin did more than had been stipulated, by taking out Thjassi's eyes, and placing them to shine as stars in the firmament.[137]
THE ORIGIN OF POETRY.
71. Ægir having expressed a wish to know how poetry originated, Bragi informed him that the Æsir and Vanir having met to put an end to the war which had long been carried on between them, a treaty of peace was agreed to and ratified by each party spitting into a jar. As a lasting sign of the amity which was thenceforward to subsist between the contending parties, the gods formed out of this spittle a being to whom they gave the name of Kvasir, and whom they endowed with such a high degree of intelligence that no one could ask him a question that he was unable to answer. Kvasir then traversed the whole world to teach men wisdom, but was at length treacherously murdered by the dwarfs, Fjalar and Galar, who, by mixing up his blood with honey, composed a liquor of such surpassing excellence that whoever drinks of it acquires the gift of song. When the Æsir inquired what had become of Kvasir, the dwarfs told them that he had been suffocated with his own wisdom, not being able to find any one who by proposing to him a sufficient number of learned questions might relieve him of its superabundance. Not long after this event, Fjalar and Galar managed to drown the giant Gilling and murder his wife, deeds which were avenged by their son Suttung taking the dwarfs out to sea, and placing them on a shoal which was flooded at high water. In this critical position they implored Suttung to spare their lives, and accept the verse-inspiring beverage which they possessed as an atonement for their having killed his parents. Suttung having agreed to these conditions, released the dwarfs, and carrying the mead home with him, committed it to the care of his daughter Gunnlauth. Hence poetry is indifferently called Kvasir's blood, Suttung's mead, the dwarf's ransom, etc.
ODIN BEGUILES THE DAUGHTER OF BAUGI
72. Æsir then asked how the gods obtained possession of so valuable a beverage, on which Bragi informed him that Odin being fully determined to acquire it, set out for Jotunheim, and after journeying for some time, came to a meadow in which nine thralls were mowing. Entering into conversation with them, Odin, offered to whet their scythes, an offer which they gladly accepted, and finding that the whetstone he made use of had given the scythes an extraordinary sharpness, asked him whether he was willing to dispose of it. Odin, however, threw the whetstone in the air, and in attempting to catch it as it fell, each thrall brought his scythe to bear on the neck of one of his comrades, so that they were all killed in the scramble. Odin took up his night's lodging at the house of Suttung's brother, Baugi, who told him that he was sadly at a loss for labourers, his nine thralls having slain each other. Odin, who went under the name of Baulverk, said that for a draught of Suttung's mead he would do the work of nine men for him. The terms agreed on, Odin worked for Baugi the whole summer, but Suttung was deaf to his brother's entreaties, and would not part with a drop of the precious liquor, which was carefully preserved in a cavern under his daughter's custody. Into this cavern Odin was resolved to penetrate. He therefore persuaded Baugi to bore a hole through the rock, which he had no sooner done than Odin, transforming himself into a worm, crept through the crevice, and resuming his natural shape, won the heart of Gunnlauth. After passing three nights with the fair maiden, he had no great difficulty in inducing her to let him take a draught out of each of the three jars, called Odhroerir, Bodn, and Son, in which the mead was kept. But wishing to make the most of his advantage, he pulled so deep that not a drop was left in the vessels. Transforming himself into an eagle, he then flew off as fast as his wings could carry him, but Suttung becoming aware of the stratagem, also took upon himself an eagle's guise, and flew after him. The Æsir, on seeing him approach Asgard, set out in the yard all the jars they could lay their hands on, which Odin filled by discharging through his beak the wonder-working liquor he had drunken. He was however, so near being caught by Suttung, that some of the liquor escaped him by an impurer vent, and as no care was taken of this it fell to the share of the poetasters. But the liquor discharged in the jars was kept for the gods, and for those men who have sufficient wit to make a right use of it. Hence poetry is also called Odin's booty, Odin's gift, the beverage of the gods, &c, &c.
FOOTNOTES:
[125] This chapter is probably the interpolation of an early copyist, for it has evidently no connection with the following one, and is not found in the Upsal MS. of the Prose Edda, which is supposed to be the oldest extant. Gefjon's ploughing is obviously a mythic way of accounting for some convulsions of nature, perhaps the convulsion that produced the Sound, and thus effected a junction between the Baltic and the Northern Ocean.
[126] Rime Giants, or Giants of the Frost.
[127] Literally, "It is light and hot, insomuch so that it is flaming and burning, and it is impervious to those who are outlandish (foreign), and not indigenous there" (or who have no home or heritage therein).
[128] More properly speaking, to the earth which it encircled.
[129] A ferreous or glacial refrigeration.
[130] i.e. If Thor drove over Bifrost with his thunder chariot.
[131] i.e. Present, Past, and Future.
[132] Namely, his having killed Baldur.
[133] Mind or Thought, and Memory.
[134] i.e. Devouring flame.
[135] i.e. Spirit or thought.
[136] i.e. Eld or Old Age.
[137] Finn Magnusen's explanation of this myth is, that Iduna—the ever-renovating Spring—being in the possession of Thjassi—the desolating winter—all nature languishes until she is delivered from her captivity. On this being effected, her presence again diffuses joy and gladness, and all things revive; while her pursuer, Winter, with his icy breath, dissolves in the solar rays indicated by the fires lighted on the walls of Asgard.
GLOSSARY.
ÆGIR or OEGIR, horror, terror.
ÆSIR, sing. AS; God, Gods. ASYNJA, ASYNJOR; Goddess, Goddesses.
AI, from a, a river.
ALFADIR, or ALFODUR, All-Father, or the Father of All.
ALFR, Elf.
ALSVIDR, All-scorching.
ALTHJOFR, lit. All-thief, an accomplished rascal.
ALVISS, All-wise.
AMSVARTNIR, grief, black, gloomy, swart.
ANDHRIMNIR, soul, spirit, breath: from hrim, congealed vapour, rime.
ANDLANGR, from aund, spirit, breath; and langr, long.
ANDVARI, prob. from aund, spirit; cautious, timid.
ANGURBODI, Anguish-boding, announcing or presaging calamity.
ARVAKR, awakening early; ar, the dawn, Aurora.
ASGARD, prop. ASGARDR, lit. God's-ward, or the abode of the gods.
ASKR, an ash-tree.
AUDHUMLA, void, vacuity, darkness, tenebrosity.
AUDR, rich, wealthy.
AURBODA, prop. AURBODA, snow, rain, storm; to announce whence; a messenger; hence an ambassador.
AUSTRI, East, Oriental.
BALDUR, prop. BALDR or BALLDR, fire, flame, bold.
BALEYGR, Bale-eyed, i.e. endowed with a clear, piercing vision.
BAREY, the Frondiferous-isle; an island.
BAULVERKR, Evil-worker; producing evil, calamity.
BAUMBURR, prob. cog. with bumbr, belly, cavity.
BELI, prob. from belja, to bellow.
BERGELMIR, Mountain-old, i.e. the old man of the mountain.
BIFLINDI, the Inconstant: from bif, motion; and lyndi, disposition, mind.
BIFROST, BIF-RAUST, the Tremulous-bridge of the Aerial-bridge, signifying also aerial: a certain space, a mile, a rest.
BIL, a moment, an interval, an interstice.
BILEYGR, endowed with fulminating eyes, a tempest, especially a fulminating tempest or thunder-storm.
BILSKIRNIR, sometimes stormy, and sometimes serene; which, as Thor's mansion prob. denotes the atmosphere, would be a very appropriate term; or storm-stilling, i.e. imparting serenity to the tempest.
BIVAURR, BIVORR, or BIFUR, the Tremulous.
BODN, originally signified an offer-table or altar; an oblation; also one of the jars in which the dwarfs' poetical beverage was kept.
BOLTHORN, lit. Calamitous or Evil-thorn.
BOR, prop. BORR, and BUR, prop. BURR or BURI, means born, to bear; whence also the Old G. barn, and the Scotch, bairn, a child.
BRAGI, the name of the God of Poetry; from braga, to glisten, to shine, or from bragga, to adorn; ph. cog. with G. pracht, splendour.
BREIDABLIK: lit. Broad-blink—wide-glancing, Expanded splendour, to blink.
BRIMIR, prob. from brimi, flame.
BRISINGR, may prob. mean flaming.
BYLEISTR, a dwelling, a town; to destroy, to break to pieces.
BYRGIR, prob. from v. byrgja, to conceal; E. to bury, whence barrow, a tumulus.
DAINN, prob. the Soporiferous; from da, a swoon, or complete repose.
DELLINGR—a day-ling. with the dawn, daybreak.
DIS, pi. DISIR, it originally sig. a female, but was afterwards used in the sense of Nymph and Goddess. It enters into the composition of several female names, as Thordis, Freydis, Vegdis, &c.
DOLGTHRASIR: a dolgr, a warrior; contentious, obstinate, persisting, from the v. thrasa, to litigate, to quarrel.
DRAUPNIR, from the v. drupa, to droop, or the v. drjupa, to drip.
DROMI, strongly binding.
DUNEYRR, a hollow sound, from the v. dynja, to sound, to resound.
DURATHROR. The first sylb. may be derived either from dur, a light sleep, or from dyr, a door; and the last, either from the v. threyja, to expect, to wait for; or from throa, to increase, to enlarge.
DURINN, prob. from dur, a light sleep, to fall asleep; whence prob. the E. to doze, and ph. also dusk.
DVALJNN, from dvali, sleep.
EIKINSKJALDI, furnished with an oaken shield, scarlet oak.
EIKTHYRNIR. Eik is the ilex or scarlet oak; thyrnir, a thorn; metaphorically for a stag's antlers.
EINHERJAR, a hero; select, chosen heroes.
EIR, to befriend, to tranquilize.
ELDHRIMNIR: eldr, elementary flre: brim, congealed vapour, rime, also soot; hence (a kettle) sooty from flre.
ELIVAGAR, stormy waves; a storm; the sea; an estuary; water; wave.
ELLI, old age.
ELVIDNIR, ph. from el, a storm; and vidr, wide.
EMBLA. The etymologies of the name of the first woman given by the E.E. are merely conjectural. Grimm says the word embla, emla, signifies a busy woman, from amr, ambr, amil ambl, assiduous labour; the same relation as Meshia and Meshiane, the ancient Persian names of the first man and woman, who were also formed from trees.
FALHOFNIR, a nail, a lamina, hoof.
FARMAGUD, the God of Carriers and Sea-farers.
FENRIR, FENRIS-ULFR, may mean dweller in an abyss, or the monster wolf.
FENSALIR, lit. Fen-saloon, from fen, a fen, but which it would appear may also be made to sig. the watery deep, or the sea; and salr, a hall, mansion, saloon. See Valhalla.
FIMBUL. From fimbulfambi comes the E. provincialism, to fimble-famble; and the D. famle, to stammer, to hesitate in speaking.
FIMBULTHUL. Thulr means an orator or reciter, to speechify.
FIMBULVETR: vetr, winter; according to Grimm's explanation of fimbul, the Great Winter.
FJALARR and FJOLNIR. Multiform: in composition fjol, many.
FJOLSVIDR or FJOLSVITHR, to scorch: or ph. from svithr, wise, powerful, potent, strong.
FJORGYN. Grimm, we think, has satisfactorily shown that fjorg is the G. berg, a mountain.
FOLKVANGR, lit. the folk's field, or habitation.
FORSETI, lit. the Fore-seated, i.e. the Judge.
FRANANGURS-FORS, prob. from frann, glittering, and ongr, narrow.
FREKI, G. frech, froward: the word has also the sig. of voracious.
FREYR and FREYJA. The name of the deity who was the symbol of the sun—to mean Seminator, the Fructifler, Freyja—the symbolical representation of the moon—means the Seminated, the Fructified; the original sig, is that of glad, joyful, imparting gladness, beautous, lovely.
FRIGGA, prop. FRIGG. Grimm has shown that the root of this word is, if not strictly syn., at least very nearly allied with that of the word Freyja, and explains it to mean the Free, the Beauteous, the Winsome.
FROSTI, the E. frosty.
FULLA, abundance; from fullr, full.
FUNDINN, found; from v. finna, to find.
GANDALFR. Alfr, an elf, prob. sig. a wolf, a serpent.
GANGLER, the tired wanderer; to debilitate, to tire.
GANGRAD, prop. GANGRADR, indicates a person directing his steps.
GARDROFA, Fence-breaker; to break, to break through.
GARMR, voracious; to gorge; gourmand.
GAUTR, ph. may sig. a keeper, to keep.
GEFJON, the earth; also separation, disruption.
GEFN, from the v. gefa, to give.
GEIROLUL, lit. Spear-alimentrix: from the v. ala, to aliment, to nourish.
GEIRRAUDR, lit. spear-red; hence King Spear-rubifler.
GEIRVIMUL, a river rushing or vibrating like a spear or javelin.
GELGJA, from galgi, a gallows.
GERDA, prop. GERDUR, to gird. Both gerd and gard are common terminations of female names, as Hildigard, Irminigard, Thorgerda, &c.
GERI. Geri may be derived from gerr, covetous, greedy.
GIMLI, had the same sig. as himill, heaven, the original sig. of which may have been fire, but afterwards a gem, as in the N. word gimsteinn; whence also our colloquial words, gim, gimmy (neat), and gimcrack.
GINNARR, Seducer; from v. ginna, to seduce.
GINNUNGA-GAP may be rendered the gap of gaps; a gaping abyss.
GJALLAR (horn); from the v. gjalla, to resound, to clang; to yell.
GJOIX, prob. from gjallr, sonorous, fulgid.
GLADR, glad; from v. gledja, to gladden.
GLADSHEIMR: lit. Glad's-home; the abode of gladness or bliss.
GLÆR, from glær, clear, pellucid; cog. with E. glare.
GLEIPNIR, the Devouring; from the v. gleipa, to devour.
GLITNIR, the Glittering; from the v. glitra; to glitter, and to glisten.
GLOINN, the Glowing; from v. gloa, to glow.
GOD. The Old N. lang. has two words for God, viz. God and Gud; and it would appear that the n. god was used for an idol, and the m. gud. for a God. Both words are, however, frequently applied to denote a celestial deity. The Scandinavian Pontiff-chieftains were called Godar (in the sing. Godi).
GOMUL, prob. from gamall, old.
GRABAKR, Gray-back.
GRAFJOLLUDR, Gray-skin; the skin of an animal.
GRAFVITNIR, from the v. grafa, to dig, to delve; cog. with E. grave: and the v. vita, to know; to wit, wist, wot.
GRIMAR, and GRIMNIR, a helmet, or any kind of a covering; used poetically for night, the sun being then veiled or covered.
GULLINBURSTI, Golden-bristles.
GULLTOPPR, Golden-mane; crest, the top of anything, hence mane.
GUNNTHRA. The first sylb. of this word is from gunnr, war, a combat; to increase, to enlarge; thra sig. grief, calamity; and thro, a cavity, a fosse. From gunnr is derived the N. gunn-fani, a war-banner.
HABROK. The E.E. render this word by Altipes, from bar, high; and brok, lit. breeches, brogues, but which they assume may also sig. a bird's leg.
HALLINSKITHI, to decline; hence it would be an appropriate term for the post-meridian sun.
HAMSKEKPIR, prob. from hams, hide; and the v. skerpa, to sharpen, also to dry, to indurate.
HAPTAGUD, ph. from haupt, a nexus, a tie, a band.
HAR, prop. HARR, may mean either high or hairy. As a designation of Odin it has undoubtedly the former signification. As the name of a dwarf, the latter sig. would be more appropriate.
HARBARDR, Hairy-beard.
HEIDRUN, serene, etherial; a heath.
HEIMDALLR: heimr, home, the world.
HELA, prop. HEL., gen. HELJAR, the Goddess of the Infernal Regions, used instead of Helheimr for those regions themselves.
HELBLINDI: hel, see the preceding word; blindi, from blundr, slumber.
HEPTI, prob. means impeding, constraining; to seize, to take by force, to adhere to.
HERFJOTUR, lit. Host's-fetter, i.e. having the power to impede or constrain an army at will: her, an army, a host, a multitude.
HERJANN, the leader of an army; from her.
HERMOD, prop. HERMODR: her from her, courage, (see Modgudur).
HERTEITR, gay amongst warriors, a jovial soldier; glad, joyful.
HILDUR (Hilda), war, a combat. Hence we find it in a number of Teutonic prop, names both m. and f., as Hilderic, Childeric, Hildegrim (the Helm of War), Brynhildr (Brunhilda), Clothild (Clothilda), &c.
HIMINBJORG, the Heavenly-Mountains, the Comprehending, the All-embracing.
HIMINBRJOTR, Heaven-breaking: from the v. brjota, to break.
HJALMBERI, Helmet-bearing.
HJUKI, to keep warm, to nourish, to cherish.
HLIDSKJALF, a slope, a declivity; also to waver, to tremble.
HLINA, prop. HLIN, the support on which a person leans, i.e. a tutelary deity.
HLJODALFR, the Genius or Elf of Sound.
HLODYN, the name of Frigga, as the symbol of the earth; protectress of the hearth—of the household. The Romans also worshipped a goddess of the earth and of fire under the common name of Fornax, dea fornacalis. Grimm mentions a stone found at Cleves with the remarkable inscription—DEAE HLUDANAE SACRVM C. TIBERIVS VERVS, and remarks that Hludana was neither a Roman nor a Celtic goddess, and could be no other than Hlodyn, which shows the identity of the German and Scandinavian Mythology.
HLOKK, or HLAUKK, to exalt, to clang, to cry like an eagle.
HNIKARR, or NIKARR, victor, a conqueror; to move, to agitate; to thrust forward, to take by violence; to repel, to impede. G. m. Nix, fern. Nixe, an aquatic genius. We may remark that the monks having transformed Odin into the devil, our designation of his Satanic Majesty, as Old Nick appears to be a mere corruption of these appellations of the Teutonic divinity.
HNOSSA, a ball of yarn, a clew of thread, a knot.
HODUR, prop. HODR. Grimm thinks that the original signification may have been war, combat.
HOFVARPNIR, a horse that plies well its hoofs, a good goer.
HRÆSVELGUR, lit. Raw-swallower, i.e. swallowing raw flesh like an eagle.
HRAFNAGUD, the Ravens' god; brafn; G. rabe; E. raven.
HRIMFAXI: brim, rime, or hoar frost; fax, a crest, a mane. The E. prop, name Fairfax, means fair-haired.
HRIMTHURSAR, the Rim or Frost Giants: thurs, a giant.
HRINGHORN, lit. a ringed or annulated horn.
HRIST, from v. hrista, to shake, to agitate.
HRYM, HRYMUR, prob. from brim, rime—hoar frost.
HUGI, and HUGINN, from hugr, spirit, breath, thought, mind, reason.
HVERGELMIR, the roaring cauldron; a spring of hot water.
HYRROKIN, lit. Smoky-fire; utter darkness, also smoke.
IDAVOLLR: vollr, a field, a place; to flow together; to ramble, to take a pleasant walk.
IDUNA, prop. IDUNN or ITHUNN. May mean one who loves either the confluence of waters, or to work, or to take a pleasant ramble.
JAFNHAR. The Equally High; lit. even so high.
JARNVIDR, Iron-wood.
JORD, JORTH, the earth.
JORMUNGANDR. Gandr sig. serpent, and more prop, wolf: jormun is a word of uncertain origin, but appears in all the anc. Teutonic lang. to have expressed the idea of great, maximus, universal. The reader will find much curious information on this subject in Grimm's admirable work.
JOTUNHEIMR, lit. Giants'-home, the region of the Giants.
KERLAUG: ker, any kind of vessel, cup, bowl, &c; also used to denote the bed of a river.
KJALARR, prob. from v. kjala, to transport, to convey; a ship, a keel.
KVASIR. This word seems to be used in the sense of a drinking bout.
LAUFEY, lit. Frondiferous-isle; an island.
LETTFETI, Lightfoot: light.
LIFTHRASIR, vital energy, longevity, life; enduring a long time.
LITUR, colour, complexion, form, the face.
LODURR, LODR, LOTHR, from the ob. N. lod, fire.
LOFNA, prop. LOFN, appears allegorlcally to denote perennial and unchangeable love.
LOGI, Flame; a log of wood burnt or to be burnt.
LOKI, to shut; whence the E. to lock, to finish.
LOPTUR, the Aerial, the Sublime; the air; whence the E. lofty and aloft, also a (hay) loft.
LYNGVI, from lyng or ling, the sweet broom, heath or ling.
MAGNI, the Potent, the Powerful; force, energy.
MANAGARMR, lit. the moon's wolf; a monster wolf or dog, voracious.
MANI, the moon.
MARDOLL, Sea-nymph; mere, the sea; whence our word mere, as Windermere, Buttermere, &c: doll, a nymph; poetically a woman.
MEGINGJARDIR, the Girdle of Might, the Belt of Prowess.
MIDGARD, middleweard, the middleward; see Asgard. Middling, mean.
MIMIR, or MIMER, to keep In memory; to be fanciful; mindful.
MJODVITNIR, lit. knowing in mead; wine; madja, palm-wine,
MJOLNIR, or MJOLLNIR, prob. from v. melja, to pound, or v. mala, to grind; E. mill, and prob. with L. malleus, a mallet.
MODGUDUR, a valiant female warrior, animosa bellona: courage; mind; E. mood; gracefulness, delectation.
MODSOGNIR, lit. sucking in courage or vigour.
MOINN, dwelling on a moor.
MUNINN, mind; memory, recollection; G. minne, love.
MUSPELLHEIMR, Muspell's region or home; used in the sense of elemental or empyreal fire.
NAGLFAR, a nail from nagl, a human nail; according to the Prose Edda, "constructed of the nails of dead men"; a seafaring man.
NAL. G. nadel; A.S. nædl; E. a needle.
NANNA. Grimm derives this word from the v. nenna, to dare.
NAR, a corpse.
NASTROND, a corpse; The Strand of the Dead.
NAUDUR, necessity; need.
NAUT, ph. from the v. njota, to make use of.
NIDAFJOLL, a rock, a mountain.
NIDHOGG, a phrase used to indicate the new and the waning moon.
NIDI, from nidr, downwards.
NIFLHEIMR, lit. Nebulous-home—the shadowy region of death.
NIFLHEL, from nifi and hel. See the latter word.
NIFLUNGAR, the mythic-heroic ghosts of the shadowy realms of death.
NIPINGR, handsome; to contract, to curve.
NJORD, prop. NJORDR, humid; Sk. nar, nir, water; a wave; and Neriman, an aquatic man.
NOTT; D. nat; M.G. naht; G. nacht; A.S. niht; E. night.
NYI, these dwarfs were symbolical of the new and the waning moon.
ODIN. E. to wade through, consequently the Omnipotent Being that permeates all things.
ODUR, the name of Freyja's husband. Odur may, like Kvasir, be the personification of poetry.
ODHROERIR, Mind-exciting; the name of a vessel or kettle.
OFNIR, E. to weave. The word would thus sig. the textile or creating power of Odin.
OMI, from omr, a sound, a crash; a name given to Odin, when like, the Brahmlnlc Indra, he rattles aloft during a battle, or at daybreak.
ONDURDIS, Snow skates; E. to wander; dis, a nymph, a goddess.
ORGELMIR, Primordial Giant; also to roar, to howl, to clang, to resound.
ORI, delirious (with love), one of the Erotic Genii.
OSKI, hence one who listens to the wishes of mankind.
RADGRID, lit. seeking power with avidity; power, empire council.
RADSVITHR, wise, powerful.
RAGNAROKR. The n. ragin signified rath, council, the pl. of which, regin, Is used in the Eddaic Poems for the gods; that is to say, the consulting, deliberating deities. It answers in fact fully to the E. word rack, Indicating atmospheric nebulosity; hence Ragnarok is very approp. rendered by "The Twilight of the Gods."
RAN, to plunder; her spoil being those who were drowned at sea.
RANDGRID: rand, from rond, a shield.
RATATOSKR, from the v. rata; to permeate; the last sylb. may be derived from G. tasche, a pocket or pouch; hence the Permeating Pouch?
REGIN, Is often used In the sense of vast, immense; the vast sea.
REGINLEIF, dear to the gods, see Regin.
RIGR, Rajah, a king.
RINDA, prop. RINDUR, sig. symbolically, the crust of the earth.
ROSKA, quick, lively, active.
SADR, SATHR, just, true, in sooth, verily.
SÆGR, a large vessel of any kind. The word was used by the Skalds metaphorically for the sea.
SAGA. The personified saga or narration, from the v. segja, to say; G. sage; E. a saying; L. Saga, a sorceress; sagax, saga-clous, to foretell.
SANNGETALL, inquiring after; guessing at truth.
SESSRUMNIR, lit. Seat-roomy, i.e. having room for plenty of seats.
SID, declining, hanging, tending downward.
SIDHOTTR, lit. Hanging-hat or hood.
SIDSKEGGR, lit. Hanging-beard; E. shag and shaggy.
SIF, signifying peace, friendship, relationship, a goddess, Sibja, Sippia, and Sib.
SIGFADIR, or SIGFODUR, the Father of Victory; L. pater.
SILFRINTOPPR, Silver-mane; E. silver: toppr, see Gulltoppr.
SINDRI, either scintillating or producing dross.
SJOFNA. F. Mag. derives it from the v. sja, to see.
SKADI, the magpie received its name from this goddess.
SKAFIDR, shaving, scraping.
SKEGGOLD, lit. Old-beard; also denoted a particular kind of battle-axe.
SKEIDBRIMIR, any space of time that is elapsing.
SKIDBLADNIR, lath, shingle, billet of wood, a sheath; E. blade, a blade or leaf of grass.
SKILFINGR, prob. to shake, to shatter.
SKINFAXI, Shining-mane: skin, splendour, light.
SKIRNIR, serene, pure, clear; E. sheer, which had formerly the same meaning.
SKOGUL, prob. from v. skaga, to jut out; whence skagi, a promontory.
SKOLL, to stick to, to adhere, to strike, to smite.
SLEIPNIR. E. slippery.
SLIDRUGTANNI, cruel, fierce, savage.
SNOTRA, to blow the nose; a person, even a goddess, being much more tidy when the nostrils are thoroughly emunctated.
SOKKVABEKKR, lit. Sinking-brook; to sink; an estuary, a shore, a brook.
SON, sound, song, sonus, cantus.
SURTUR, obscure, invisible; and invisible, unintelligible!! Surtur, according to Fin Magnusen, the invisible, unintelligible being whom the ancient Scandinavians regarded as "the great First Cause least understood" of all things.
SVADILFARI, lubricity, also slippery ice.
SVAFNIR, prob. from v. svefa, to cast asleep; sleep, quiet, repose.
SVALINN, the Refrigerating; to cool, to refrigerate.
SVARTALFAHEIMR, lit. Black or Swart Elves' home, region of the Elves of Darkness in contradistincition to that of the Elves of Light.
SVARTHOFDI, Black-head; svartr, black, swart.
SVASUTHR, Sweet-south; blithe, jocund, dear.
SVIDR and SVIDRIR, from v. svida, to scorch; or wise, powerful.
SVIPALL, to hasten, to vibrate; to wave, to hover; also with E. v. to sweep.
SYLGR, a draught or deglutition; to swallow; to swill; to guzzle, to feast.
SYN, signifying equity; syn. defence, excuse, negation, impediment, which has been personified into a judicial goddess.
SYNIR, having a fine appearance.
TANNGNIOSTR, Gnashing-teeth; to bruise, crack, grind, gnash.
THEKKR, to know; E. to think. The adj. thekkr means also amiable.
THODNUMA, men, people, nations.
THOR, contraction of Thonar, a word indicating a God who, like Thor, presided over thunder and atmospherical phenomena.
THORINN, from thor, audacity; whence the v. thora; to dare.
THRAINN, the Pertinacious; from the v. thra, to desire vehemently.
THRIDI, The Third.
THROR, ph. from v. throa, to increase, to amplify.
THRUDUR. Thrudr is an obsolete N. word signifying fortitude, firmness; but it appears to have originally had, in most of the Teutonic languages the sig. of maiden, virgin; and was afterwards used in the sense of witch, sorceress.
THRUDVANGR, the Abode or Region or Fortitude.
THRYM. F. Mag. says the word is undoubtedly derived from thruma, thunder.
THUNDR, can be derived from thund, a breastplate, a coat of mail.
THYN, to thunder, to make a thundering noise, as a rapid current does.
TYR, signifying God; as well as the L. Jupiter, for which he assumes a nom. Ju or Jus, Jupiter.
URD, VERDANDI, and SKULD, the Present, Past, and Future. The names of the Destinies of the Present and Past.
UTGARD, prop. UTGARDR, lit. Outer-ward. See Midgard.
VAFTHRUDNIR, from the v. vefa, to involve, prop, to weave.
VAFUDR, the Weaver, or the Constrainer.
VAKR, VAKUR, alert, lively, vigilant.
VALASKJALF, choice, election.
VALFADIR, or VALFODUR, lit. the Choosing Father.
VALHALLA, prop, VALHOLL, lit. the Hall of the Chosen: may also have originally indicated a temple.
VALKYRJOR, or VALKYRJUR, sing. VALKYRJA, lit. Choosers of the Slain; denoted the slain in battle; a poetical word for a field of battle.
VANADIS, prop, a Goddess of the Vanir. See that word, and Dis.
VANIR, beautiful; with the L. venustus and Venus, and ph. with the E. wench.
VASADR, from vas, moisture, a word cog. with the E. wet and wash.
VE. Was used in the m. sing, to express a particular god; that in the pi. it would be vear, gods, idols; a temple.
VEDURFOLNIR might be rendered Storm-stilling; causing serenity.
VEGSVINN, lit Road-knowing.
VERATYR, lit. the Man-god.
VESTRI, west, occidental.
VIDAR, a tree; wood; and prob. also weed and withy.
VIDBLAINN, expanded azure (lit. Wide-blue).
VIDFINNR, wide, vast.
VIDOLFR, or VIDALFR, lit. Sylvan Elf.
VIDRIR, Moderator of the weather; to still the weather.
VIGRID, from vig, a battle; battle craft, the art of war.
VILI, Will. To will; to choose; to elect.
VILMEITHR, an old word for tree.
VIN, and VINA, a friend, to love, to favour; winsome.
VINDALFR, Wind Elf.
VINDSVALR; vindr, wind: and svalr, cold, glacial.
VINGOLF, lit. the Abode of Friends; golf means lit. a floor.
VOLUNDR. The word denotes a skilful artificer, in which sense it is still used by the Icelanders; he is a famous workman—a Wayland—in iron; and they very appropriately term a labyrinth a Wayland-house.
VOLUSPA, a sybil or prophetess.
YGGDRASILL, from Ygg, one of Odin's names (see the following word) and drasill, bearing; hence, according to F. Mag., it would sig. bearing (producing) rain, or bearing Odin.
YGGR., to meditate, and also to fear; hence the word might be rendered by either the Meditating or the Terrible.
YLG, the Howling; to howl.
YMIR, a confused noise, like the rustling of trees when shaken by the wind; also the clang of metals.