Vafþrúðnismál

Óðinn kvað:"Ráð þú mér nú, Friggalls mik fara tíðirat vitja Vafþrúðnis;forvitni miklakveð ek mér á fornum stöfumvið þann inn alsvinna jötun."Frigg kvað:

Odin said:"Counsel me now, Frigg —I mean to go and find Vafthrudnir.An old hunger to test myself is on me:I want to match witswith that all-knowing giant."

"Heima letjaek mynda Herjaföðrí görðum goða;því at engi jötunek hugða jafnrammansem Vafþrúðni vera."Óðinn kvað:

Frigg said:"I'd keep the Father of Hosts at home,here in the gods' own courts —no giant, I think,matches Vafthrudnir in might."

"Fjölð ek fórfjölð ek freistaðafjölð ek reynda regin;hitt vil ek vitahvé Vafþrúðnissalakynni sé."Frigg kvað:

Odin said:"Much I have traveledmuch I have triedmuch I have tested the gods:this I want to know —what kind of hall Vafthrudnir keeps."

"Heill þú farir!heill þú aftr komir!heill þú á sinnum sér!æði þér dugihvars þú skalt, Aldaföðrorðum mæla jötun.

Frigg said:"Safe may you go,safe may you come back,safe be your road between —let your wits serve you, Father of Ages,wherever you must trade words with the giant."

Fór þá Óðinnat freista orðspekiþess ins alsvinna jötuns;at höllu hann komok átti Íms faðir;inn gekk Yggr þegar.Óðinn kvað:

Then Odin wentto test the wisdomof that all-knowing giant;he came to Vafthrudnir's halland walked straight in.

"Heill þú nú, Vafþrúðnirnú em ek í höll kominná þik sjalfan sjá;hitt vil ek fyrst vitaef þú fróðr séreða alsviðr jötunn."Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Odin said:"Hail, Vafthrudnir —now I've come into your hall to see you myself.First I want to know:are you truly learned,or just an all-wise giant?"

"Hvat er þat mannaer í mínum salverpumk orði á?Út þú né komirórum höllum fránema þú inn snotrari sér."Óðinn kvað:

Vafthrudnir said:"Who is this manthrowing words at mein my own hall?You'll not get out of these hallsunless you're the wiser."

"Gagnráðr ek heitinú emk af göngu kominnþyrstr til þinna sala;laðar þurfi -hef ek lengi farit -ok þinna andfanga, jötunn."Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Odin said:"Gagnrad is my name.I've come off the road, thirsty,to your hall —I've traveled long, and I need welcome,and your hospitality, giant."

"Hví þú þá, Gagnráðrmælisk af golfi fyr?Far þú í sess í sal!Þá skal freistahvárr fleira vitigestr eða inn gamli þulr."Óðinn kvað:

Vafthrudnir said:"Why do you speak from the floor, Gagnrad?Come sit in the hall.Then we'll testwho knows more —the guest, or the old sage."

"Óauðigr maðrer til auðigs kemrmæli þarft eða þegi;ofrmælgi mikilhygg ek, at illa getihveim er við kaldrifjaðan kemr."Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Odin said:"A poor man who comes to a rich man's houseshould say what's useful, or say nothing.Too much talk, I think,goes badlyfor whoever meets a cold heart."

"Seg þú mér, Gagnráðralls þú á golfi villþíns of freista framahvé sá hestr heitirer hverjan dregrdag of dróttmögu."Óðinn kvað:

Vafthrudnir said:"Tell me, Gagnrad — since you want to prove yourself from the floor —what is that horse calledthat draws the day for mankind,every day?"

"Skinfaxi heitirer inn skíra dregrdag of dróttmögu;hesta beztrþykkir hann með Hreiðgotum;ey lýsir mön af mari."Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Odin said:"Skinfaxi is his name —he draws the bright day for men.Among the Hreidgothshe's held the best of horses;his mane always shines."

"Seg þú þat, Gagnráðralls þú á golfi villþíns of freista framahvé sá jór heitirer austan dregrnótt of nýt regin."Óðinn kvað:

Vafthrudnir said:"Tell me, Gagnrad — since you want to prove yourself from the floor —what is that steed calledthat draws night out of the eastfor the good gods?"

"Hrímfaxi heitirer hverja dregrnótt of nýt regin;méldropa fellir hannmorgin hvern;þaðan kemr dögg um dala."Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Odin said:"Hrimfaxi is his name —he draws the night, every night, for the good gods.Each morning he drops foam from his bit;that's where the dew in the valleys comes from."

Seg þú þat, Gagnráðralls þú á golfi villþíns of freista framahvé sú á heitirer deilir með jötna sonumgrund ok með goðum."Óðinn kvað:

Vafthrudnir said:"Tell me, Gagnrad — since you want to prove yourself from the floor —what is that river calledthat divides the giants' landfrom the gods'?"

"Ífing heitir áer deilir með jötna sonumgrund ok með goðum;opin rennahon skal of aldrdaga;verðr-at íss á á."Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Odin said:"Ifing is the river's name —it divides the giants' land from the gods'.It runs open all our days;no ice ever forms on it."

Seg þú þat, Gagnráðralls þú á golfi villþíns of freista framahvé sá völlr heitirer finnask vígi atSurtr ok in svásu goð."Óðinn kvað:

Vafthrudnir said:"Tell me, Gagnrad — since you want to prove yourself from the floor —what is that field calledwhere Surt and the gentle godswill meet in battle?"

"Vígriðr heitir völlrer finnask vígi atSurtr ok in svásu goð;hundrað rastahann er á hverjan veg;sá er þeim völlr vitaðr."Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Odin said:"Vigrid is the field's name —where Surt and the gentle gods will meet in battle.A hundred leagues it runs,every way;that field is set for them."

"Fróðr ertu nú, gestrfar þú á bekk jötunsok mælumk í sessi saman;höfði veðjavit skulum höllu ígestr, of geðspeki.Óðinn kvað:

Vafthrudnir said:"You're wise now, guest.Come to the giant's bench —let's sit and speak together.We'll wager our heads on it, guest,here in the hall: whose wit is sharper."

"Seg þú þat it einaef þitt æði dugirok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitirhvaðan jörð of komeða upphiminnfyrst, inn fróði jötunn."Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Odin said:"Tell me the first, Vafthrudnir — if your wit avails, you'll know:where did the earth come from,or the sky above,first of all, wise giant?"

"Ór Ymis holdivar jörð of sköpuðen ór beinum björghiminn ór hausiins hrímkalda jötunsen ór sveita sær."Óðinn kvað:

Vafthrudnir said:"Out of Ymir's flesh the earth was made,and out of his bones, the mountains;the sky from the skullof that frost-cold giant,and out of his blood, the sea."

"Seg þú þat annatef þitt æði dugirok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitirhvaðan máni komsá er ferr menn yfireða sól it sama."Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Odin said:"Tell me the second, Vafthrudnir — if your wit avails, you'll know:where did the moon come from,that crosses the sky over men,and the sun the same?"

"Mundilfari heitirhann er mána faðirok svá Sólar it sama;himin hverfaþau skulu hverjan dagöldum at ártali."Óðinn kvað:

Vafthrudnir said:"Mundilfari is his name —he fathered the moon,and the sun the same.They must cross the sky every day,to keep the years for men."

"Seg þú þat it þriðjaalls þik svinnan kveðaok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitirhvaðan dagr of komsá er ferr drótt yfireða nótt með niðum."Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Odin said:"Tell me the third, Vafthrudnir — they call you wise, so you'll know:where did day come from,that crosses over men,or night with its waning moon?"

"Dellingr heitirhann er Dags faðiren Nótt var Nörvi borin;ný ok niðskópu nýt reginöldum at ártali."Óðinn kvað:

Vafthrudnir said:"Delling is his name —he fathered Day;and Night was born of Nor.The new moon and the old,the gods made,to keep the years for men."

"Seg þú þat it fjórðaalls þik fróðan kveðaok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitirhvaðan vetr of komeða varmt sumarfyrst með fróð regin."Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Odin said:"Tell me the fourth, Vafthrudnir — they call you learned, so you'll know:where did winter come from,or the warm summer,first, among the wise powers?"

"Vindsvalr heitirhann er Vetrar faðiren Svásuðr sumars."Óðinn kvað:

Vafthrudnir said:"Vindsval is his name —he fathered Winter.And Svasud fathered summer."

"Seg þú þat it fimmtaalls þik fróðan kveðaok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitirhverr ása ellztreða Ymis niðjayrði í árdaga."Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Odin said:"Tell me the fifth, Vafthrudnir — they call you learned, so you'll know:who was the oldest of the gods,or of Ymir's kin,in the earliest days?"

"Örófi vetraáðr væri jörð of sköpuðþá var Bergelmir borinnÞrúðgelmirvar þess faðiren Aurgelmir afi."Óðinn kvað:

Vafthrudnir said:"Countless winters before the earth was made,Bergelmir was born.Thrudgelmir was his father,and Aurgelmir his grandfather."

"Seg þú þat it séttaalls þik svinnan kveðaok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitirhvaðan Aurgelmir kommeð jötna sonumfyrst, inn fróði jötunn."Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Odin said:"Tell me the sixth, Vafthrudnir — they call you wise, so you'll know:where did Aurgelmir come from,first, among the giants' sons,wise giant?"

"Ór Élivágumstukku eitrdroparsvá óx, unz varð jötunn;þar eru órar ættirkomnar allar saman;því er þat æ allt til atalt."Óðinn kvað:

Vafthrudnir said:"Out of the Elivagar, drops of venom sprang;they grew, until they became a giant.That's where all our kind comes from,every line together —and that's why we're fierce to this day."

"Seg þú þat it sjaundaalls þik svinnan kveðaok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitirhvé sá börn gatinn baldni jötunner hann hafði-t gýgjar gaman."Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Odin said:"Tell me the seventh, Vafthrudnir — they call you wise, so you'll know:how did that bold giantfather children,with no giantess at all?"

"Undir hendi vaxakváðu hrímþursimey ok mög saman;fótr við fætigat ins fróða jötunssexhöfðaðan son."Óðinn kvað:

Vafthrudnir said:"Under the frost-giant's arm, they say,a girl and a boy grew together;and foot against foot,the wise giant fathereda six-headed son."

"Seg þú þat it áttaalls þik svinnan kveðaok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitirhvat þú fyrst of manteða fremst of veiztþú ert alsviðr, jötunn."Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Odin said:"Tell me the eighth, Vafthrudnir — they call you wise, so you'll know:what's the first thing you remember,the farthest back you know —you're all-wise, giant."

Örófi vetraáðr væri jörð of sköpuðþá var Bergelmir borinn;þat ek fyrst of maner sá inn fróði jötunná var lúðr of lagiðr."Óðinn kvað:

Vafthrudnir said:"Countless winters before the earth was made,Bergelmir was born.This is what I first remember:when that wise giantwas laid in a boat."

"Seg þú þat it níundaalls þik svinnan kveðaok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitirhvaðan vindr of kemrsvá at ferr vág yfir;æ menn han sjalfan of sjá."Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Odin said:"Tell me the ninth, Vafthrudnir — they call you wise, so you'll know:where does the wind come from,that moves across the water —no one ever sees it?"

"Hræsvelgr heitirer sitr á himins endajötunn í arnar ham;af hans vængjumkvæða vind komaalla menn yfir."Óðinn kvað:

Vafthrudnir said:"Hraesvelg is his name —he sits at heaven's edge,a giant wearing an eagle's shape.From his wings, they say,comes the wind that moves over every man."

"Seg þú þat it tíundaalls þú tíva rököll, Vafþrúðnir, vitirhvaðan Njörðr of kommeð ása sonum -hofum ok hörgumhann ræðr hundmörgum -ok varð-at hann ásum alinn."Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Odin said:"Tell me the tenth, Vafthrudnir — since you know all the fates of the gods:where did Njord come from,among the sons of the gods —he rules over hundreds of temples and shrines —though he wasn't born among them?"

"Í Vanaheimiskópu hann vís reginok seldu at gíslingu goðumí aldar rökhann mun aftr komaheim með vísum vönum."Óðinn kvað:

Vafthrudnir said:"In Vanaheim the wise powers made him,and gave him to the gods as a hostage.At the end of the worldhe'll come back home,to the wise Vanir."

"Seg þú þat et elliftahvar ýtar túnum íhöggvask hverjan dag;val þeir kjósaok ríða vígi frásitja meir of sáttir saman."Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Odin said:"Tell me the eleventh:where do the warriors, every day,cut each other down in the yard,choose their slain,ride back from the fight,and sit down reconciled together?"

"Allir einherjarÓðins túnum íhöggvask hverjan dagval þeir kjósaok ríða vígi frásitja meirr of sáttir saman."Óðinn kvað:

Vafthrudnir said:"All the einherjar, every day,cut each other down in Odin's yard;they choose their slain,ride back from the fight,and sit down reconciled together."

"Seg þú þat it tolftahví þú tíva rököll, Vafþrúðnir, vitirfrá jötna rúnumok allra goðasegir þú it sannastainn alsvinni jötunn."Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Odin said:"Tell me the twelfth, Vafthrudnir — since you know all the fates of the gods:of the giants' secrets,and all the gods',you speak the truest —all-knowing giant."

"Frá jötna rúnumok allra goðaek kann segja sattþví at hvern hef ekheim of komit;níu kom ek heimafyr Niflhel neðan;hinig deyja ór helju halir."Óðinn kvað:

Vafthrudnir said:"Of the giants' secrets, and all the gods',I can speak the truth —I've been to every world.Nine worlds I've crossed, down below Niflhel —the dead go no further than that."

"Fjölð ek fórfjölð ek freistaðakfjölð ek of reynda regin:Hvat lifir mannaþá er inn mæra líðrfimbulvetr með firum?"Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Odin said:"Much I have traveledmuch I have triedmuch I have tested the gods:who among mankind will live on,when the great fimbul-winterpasses over men?"

"Líf ok Lifþrasiren þau leynask munuí holti Hoddmímis;morgindöggvarþau sér at mat hafaen þaðan af aldir alask."Óðinn kvað:

Vafthrudnir said:"Lif and Lifthrasir.They'll hide themselvesin Hoddmimir's Wood.The morning dewwill be their food,and from them all mankind will be born again."

"Fjölð ek fórfjölð ek freistaðakfjölð ek of reynda regin:Hvaðan kemr sólá inn slétta himiner þessa hefr fenrir farit?"Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Odin said:"Much I have traveledmuch I have triedmuch I have tested the gods:where does the sun come from,back into the empty sky,once Fenrir has hunted this one down?"

"Eina dótturberr alfröðulláðr hana fenrir fari;sú skal ríðaþá er regin deyjamóður brautir, mær."Óðinn kvað:

Vafthrudnir said:"One daughter the shining sun bears,before Fenrir takes her.She will ride her mother's pathswhen the gods have died —that maiden."

"Fjölð ek fórfjölð ek freistaðakfjölð ek of reynda regin:Hverjar ro þær meyjarer líða mar yfirfróðgeðjaðar fara?"Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Odin said:"Much I have traveledmuch I have triedmuch I have tested the gods:who are those maidenswho cross the sea,wise in their minds, traveling?"

"Þríar þjóðárfalla þorp yfirmeyja Mögþrasis;hamingjur einarþær er í heimi eruþó þær með jötnum alask."Óðinn kvað:

Vafthrudnir said:"Three great rivers runover the dwellings of Mogthrasir's maidens.They alone, of all in the world,are guardian spirits —though they were raised among giants."

"Fjölð ek fórfjölð ek freistaðakfjölð ek of reynda regin:Hverir ráða æsireignum goðaþá er sloknar Surta logi?"Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Odin said:"Much I have traveledmuch I have triedmuch I have tested the gods:which of the gods will ruletheir kingdom,once Surt's fire has burned out?"

"Víðarr ok Válibyggja vé goðaþá er sloknar Surta logiMóði ok Magniskulu Mjöllni hafaVingnis at vígþroti."Óðinn kvað:

Vafthrudnir said:"Vidar and Valiwill live in the gods' shrines,once Surt's fire has burned out.Modi and Magniwill hold Mjollnir,once Thor's battles are done."

"Fjölð ek fórfjölð ek freistaðakfjölð ek of reynda regin;Hvat verðr Óðniat aldrlagiþá er of rjúfask regin?"Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Odin said:"Much I have traveledmuch I have triedmuch I have tested the gods:what will be Odin's death,when the powers are torn apart?"

"Ulfr gleypamun Aldaföðrþess mun Víðarr vreka;kalda kjaftahann klyfja munvitnis vígi at."Óðinn kvað:

Vafthrudnir said:"The wolf will swallowthe Father of Ages —Vidar will avenge that.He'll tear apartthe cold jaws,and kill the wolf for it."

"Fjölð ek fórfjölð ek freistaðakfjölð ek of reynda regin;Hvat mælti Óðinnáðr á bál stigisjalfr í eyra syni?"Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Odin said:"Much I have traveledmuch I have triedmuch I have tested the gods:what did Odin say,before he climbed the pyre,into his son's ear?"

"Ey manni þat veithvat þú í árdagasagðir í eyra syni;feigum munnimælta ek mína forna stafiok of ragnarök.Nú ek við Óðindeildak mína orðspeki;þú ert æ vísastr vera."

Vafthrudnir said:"No one knows what you said,in the early days,into your son's ear.With a doomed mouthI've spoken my old lore,and the fate of the gods.Now I've matched my wisdomagainst Odin himself —you are, forever, the wisest of all."