The Younger Edda Part 4

[Footnote 28: Elder Edda: The Vala's Prophecy, 22.]

The dew which falls on the earth from this tree men call honey-fall, and it is the food of bees. Two birds are fed in Urd's fountain; they are called swans, and they are the parents of the race of swans.

17. Then said Ganglere: Great tidings you are able to tell of the heavens. Are there other remarkable places than the one by Urd's fountain? Answered Har: There are many magnificent dwellings. One is there called Alfheim. There dwell the folk that are called light-elves; but the dark-elves dwell down in the earth, and they are unlike the light-elves in appearance, but much more so in deeds. The light-elves are fairer than the sun to look upon, but the dark-elves are blacker than pitch. Another place is called Breidablik, and no place is fairer.

There is also a mansion called Glitner, of which the walls and pillars and posts are of red gold, and the roof is of silver. Furthermore, there is a dwelling, by name Himinbjorg, which stands at the end of heaven, where the Bifrost-bridge is united with heaven. And there is a great dwelling called Valaskjalf, which belongs to Odin. The G.o.ds made it and thatched it with, sheer silver. In this hall is the high-seat, which is called Hlidskjalf, and when Alfather sits in this seat, he sees over all the world. In the southern end of the world is the palace, which is the fairest of all, and brighter than the sun; its name is Gimle. It shall stand when both heaven and earth shall have pa.s.sed away. In this hall the good and the righteous shall dwell through all ages. Thus says the Prophecy of the Vala:

A hall I know, standing Than the sun fairer, Than gold better, Gimle by name.

There shall good People dwell, And forever Delights enjoy.[29]

Then said Ganglere: Who guards this palace when Surt's fire burns up heaven and earth? Har answered: It is said that to the south and above this heaven is another heaven, which is called Andlang. But there is a third, which is above these, and is called Vidblain, and in this heaven we believe this mansion (Gimle) to be situated; but we deem that the light-elves alone dwell in it now.

[Footnote 29: Elder Edda: The Vala's Prophecy, 70.]

CHAPTER VIII.

THE ASAS.

18. Then said Ganglere: Whence comes the wind? It is so strong that it moves great seas, and fans fires to flame, and yet, strong as it is, it cannot be seen. Therefore it is wonderfully made. Then answered Har: That I can tell you well. At the northern end of heaven sits a giant, who hight Hrasvelg. He is clad in eagles' plumes, and when he spreads his wings for flight, the winds arise from under them. Thus is it here said:

Hrasvelg hight he Who sits at the end of heaven, A giant in eagle's disguise.

From his wings, they say, The wind does come Over all mankind.[30]

[Footnote 30: Elder Edda: Vafthrudner's Lay, 37.]

19. Then said Ganglere: How comes it that summer is so hot, but the winter so cold? Har answered: A wise man would not ask such a question, for all are able to tell this; but if you alone have become so stupid that you have not heard of it, then I would rather forgive you for asking unwisely once than that you should go any longer in ignorance of what you ought to know. Svasud is the name of him who is father of summer, and he lives such a life of enjoyment, that everything that is mild is from him called sweet (svasligt). But the father of winter has two names, Vindlone and Vindsval. He is the son of Vasad, and all that race are grim and of icy breath, and winter is like them.

20. Then asked Ganglere: Which are the asas, in whom men are bound to believe? Har answered him: Twelve are the divine asas. Jafnhar said: No less holy are the asynjes (G.o.ddesses), nor is their power less. Then added Thride: Odin is the highest and oldest of the asas. He rules all things, but the other G.o.ds, each according to his might, serve him as children a father. Frigg is his wife, and she knows the fate of men, although she tells not thereof, as it is related that Odin himself said to Asa-Loke:

Mad are you, Loke!

And out of your senses; Why do you not stop?

Fortunes all, Methinks, Frigg knows, Though she tells them not herself.[31]

[Footnote 31: Elder Edda. Loke's Quarrel, 29, 47.]

Odin is called Alfather, for he is the father of all the G.o.ds; he is also called Valfather, for all who fall in fight are his chosen sons.

For them he prepares Valhal and Vingolf, where they are called einherjes (heroes). He is also called HangaG.o.d, HaptaG.o.d, FarmaG.o.d; and he gave himself still more names when he came to King Geirrod:

Grim is my name, And Ganglare, Herjan, Hjalmbore, Thek, Thride, Thud, Ud, Helblinde, Har, Sad, Svipal, Sangetal, Herteit, Hnikar, Bileyg, Baleyg, Bolverk, Fjolner, Grimner, Glapsvid, Fjolsvid, Sidhot, Sidskeg, Sigfather, Hnikud, Alfather, Atrid, Farmatyr, Oske, Ome, Jafnhar, Biflinde, Gondler, Harbard, Svidur, Svidrir, Jalk, Kjalar, Vidur, Thro, Yg, Thund, Vak, Skilfing, Vafud, Hroptatyr, Gaut, Veratyr.[32]

[Footnote 32: Elder Edda: Grimner's Lay, 46-50.]

Then said Ganglere: A very great number of names you have given him; and this I know, forsooth, that he must be a very wise man who is able to understand and decide what chances are the causes of all these names.

Har answered: Much knowledge is needed to explain it all rightly, but still it is shortest to tell you that most of these names have been given him for the reason that, as there are many tongues in the world, so all peoples thought they ought to turn his name into their tongue, in order that they might be able to wors.h.i.+p him and pray to him each in its own language. Other causes of these names must be sought in his journeys, which are told of in old sagas; and you can lay no claim to being called a wise man if you are not able to tell of these wonderful adventures.

21. Then said Ganglere: What are the names of the other asas? What is their occupation, and what works have they wrought? Har answered: Thor is the foremost of them. He is called Asa-Thor, or Oku-Thor.[33] He is the strongest of all G.o.ds and men, and rules over the realm which is called Thrudvang. His hall is called Bilskirner. Therein are five hundred and forty floors, and it is the largest house that men have made. Thus it is said in Grimner's Lay:

Five hundred floors And forty more, Methinks, has bowed Bilskirner.

Of houses all That I know roofed I know my son's is the largest.[34]

[Footnote 33: Oku is derived from the Finnish thunder-G.o.d, Ukko.]

[Footnote 34: Elder Edda: Grimner's Lay, 24.]

Thor has two goats, by name Tangnjost and Tangrisner, and a chariot, wherein he drives. The goats draw the chariot; wherefore he is called Oku-Thor.[35] He possesses three valuable treasures. One of them is the hammer Mjolner, which the frost-giants and mountain-giants well know when it is raised; and this is not to be wondered at, for with it he has split many a skull of their fathers or friends. The second treasure he possesses is Megingjarder (belt of strength); when he girds himself with it his strength is doubled. His third treasure that is of so great value is his iron gloves; these he cannot do without when he lays hold of the hammer's haft. No one is so wise that he can tell all his great works; but I can tell you so many tidings of him that it will grow late before all is told that I know.

[Footnote 35: The author of the Younger Edda is here mistaken. See note on page 82 {Footnote 33}.]

22. Thereupon said Ganglere: I wish to ask tidings of more of the asas.

Har gave him answer: Odin's second son is Balder, and of him good things are to be told. He is the best, and all praise him. He is so fair of face and so bright that rays of light issue from him; and there is a plant so white that it is likened unto Balder's brow, and it is the whitest of all plants. From this you can judge of the beauty both of his hair and of his body. He is the wisest, mildest and most eloquent of all the asas; and such is his nature that none can alter the judgment he has p.r.o.nounced. He inhabits the place in heaven called Breidablik, and there nothing unclean can enter. As is here said:

Breidablik it is called, Where Balder has Built for himself a hall In the land Where I know is found The least of evil.[36]

[Footnote 36: Elder Edda: Grimner's Lay, 12.]

23. The third asa is he who is called Njord. He dwells in Noatun, which is in heaven. He rules the course of the wind and checks the fury of the sea and of fire. He is invoked by seafarers and by fishermen. He is so rich and wealthy that he can give broad lands and abundance to those who call on him for them. He was fostered in Vanaheim, but the vans[37] gave him as a hostage to the G.o.ds, and received in his stead as an asa-hostage the G.o.d whose name is Honer. He established peace between the G.o.ds and vans. Njord took to wife Skade, a daughter of the giant Thja.s.se. She wished to live where her father had dwelt, that is, on the mountains in Thrymheim; Njord, on the other hand, preferred to be near the sea. They therefore agreed to pa.s.s nine nights in Thrymheim and three in Noatun. But when Njord came back from the mountains to Noatun he sang this:

[Footnote 37: Compare Vainamoinen, the son of Ukko, in the Finnish epic Kalevala.]

Weary am I of the mountains, Not long was I there, Only nine nights.

The howl of the wolves Methought sounded ill To the song of the swans.

Skade then sang this:

Sleep I could not On my sea-strand couch, For the scream of the sea-fowl.

_There_ wakes me, As he comes from the sea, Every morning the mew.

Then went Skade up on the mountain, and dwelt in Thrymheim. She often goes on skees (snow-shoes), with her bow, and shoots wild beasts. She is called skee-G.o.ddess or skee-dis. Thus it is said:

Thrymheim it is called Where Thja.s.se dwelt, That mightiest giant.

But now dwells Skade, Pure bride of the G.o.ds, In her father's old homestead.[38]

[Footnote 38: Elder Edda: Grimner's Lay, 11.]

24. Njord, in Noatun, afterward begat two children: a son, by name Frey, and a daughter, by name Freyja. They were fair of face, and mighty. Frey is the most famous of the asas. He rules over rain and suns.h.i.+ne, and over the fruits of the earth. It is good to call on him for harvests and peace. He also sways the wealth of men. Freyja is the most famous of the G.o.ddesses. She has in heaven a dwelling which is called Folkvang, and when she rides to the battle, one half of the slain belong to her, and the other half to Odin. As is here said:

Folkvang it is called, And there rules Freyja.

For the seats in the hall Half of the slain She chooses each day; The other half is Odin's.[39]

[Footnote 39: Elder Edda: Grimner's Lay, 14.]

Her hall is Sesrynmer, and it is large and beautiful. When she goes abroad, she drives in a car drawn by two cats. She lends a favorable ear to men who call upon her, and it is from her name the t.i.tle has come that women of birth and wealth are called frur.[40] She is fond of love ditties, and it is good to call on her in love affairs.

[Footnote 40: Icel. _fru_ (Ger. _frau_; Dan. _frue_), pl. _frur_, means a lady. It is used of the wives of men of rank or t.i.tle.

It is derived from Freyja.]