Völuspá / The Prophecy of the Völva (Seeress)

Джерело: Edda Sæmundar Hinns Frôða, Benjamin Thorpe, 1865. http://www.germanicmythology.com/

 

¹ For silence I pray all

sacred children,

great and small,

sons of Heimdall^[1]

they will that I Valfather´s

deeds recount,

men´s ancient saws,

those that I best remember.

 

² The Jötuns I remember

early born,

those who me of old

have reared.

I nine worlds remember,

nine trees,^[2]

the great central tree,^[3]

beneath the earth.

 

³ There was in times of old,

where Ymir dwelt,

nor sand nor sea,

nor gelid waves;

earth existed not,

nor heaven above,

‘twas a chaotic chasm,

and grass nowhere.

 

⁴ Before Bur´s sons

raised up heaven´s vault,

they who the noble

mid-earth shaped.

The sun shone from the south

over the structure´s rocks:

then was the earth begrown

with herbage green.

 

⁵ The sun from the south,

the moon´s companion,

her right hand cast

about the heavenly horses.

The sun knew not

where she^[4] a dwelling had,

the moon knew not

what power he possessed,

the stars knew not

where they had a station.

 

⁶ Then went the power all

to their judge-ment seats,

the all-holy gods,

and thereon held council:

to night and to the waning moon

gave names;

morn they named,

and mid-day,

afternoon and eve,

whereby to reckon years.

 

⁷ The Æsir met

on Ida’s plain;

they altar-steads and temples

high constructed;

their strength they proved,

all things tried,

furnaces established,

precious things forged,

formed tongs,

and fabricated tools;

 

⁸ at tables played at home;

joyous they were;

to them was naught

the want of gold,

until there came

Thurs-maidens three,

all powerful,

from Jötunheim.

 

⁹ Then went all the powers

to their judgement-seats,

the all-holy gods,

and thereon held council,

who should of the dwarfs

the race create,

from the sea-giant’s blood

and livid bones.^[5]

 

¹⁰ Then was Mötsognir

created greatest

of all the dwarfs,

and Durin second;

there in man’s likeness

they created many

dwarfs from the earth,

as Durin said.

 

¹¹ Nýi and Nidi,

Nordri and Sudri,

Asutri and Vestri,

Althiöf, Dvalin

Nár and Náin,

Niping, Dáin,

Bivör, Bavör,

Bömbur, Nori,

An and Anar,

Ai, Miödvitnir,

 

¹² Veig and Gandálf,

Vindálf, Thráin,

Thekk and Thorin,

Thror, Vitr, and Litr,

Núr and Nýrád,

Regin and Rádsvid.

Now of the dwarfs I have

rightly told.

 

¹³ Fili, Kili,

Fundin, Nali,

Hepti, Vili,

Hanar, Svior,

Billing, Bruni,

Bild, Búri,

Frár, Hornbori,

Fræg and Lóni,

Aurvang, Iari,

Eikinskialdi.

 

¹⁴ Time ´tis of the dwarfs

in Dvalin´s band,

to the sons of men,

to Lofar up to reckon,

those who came forth

from the world´s rock,

earth´s foundation,

to Iora´s plains.

 

¹⁵ There were Draupnir,

and Dólgthrasir,

Hár, Haugspori,

Hlævang, Glói,

Skirvir, Virvir,

Skafid, Ai,

Alf and Yngvi,

Eikinskialdi,

 

¹⁶ Fjalar and Frosti,

Finn and Ginnar,

Heri, Höggstari,

Hliódolf, Móin:

that above shall,

while mortals live,

the progeny of Lofar,

accounted be.

 

******************

 

¹⁷ Until there came three

mighty and benevolent

Æsir to the world

from their assembly.

They found on earth,

nearly powerless,

Ask and Embla,

void of destiny.

 

¹⁸ Spirit they possessed not,

sense they had not,

blood nor motive powers,

nor goodly colour.

Spirit gave Odin,

sense gave Hoenir,

blood gave Lodur,

and goodly colour.

 

*        *        *

     *        *

 

¹⁹ I know an ash standing

Yggdrasil hight,

a lofty tree, laved

with limpid water:

thence come the dews

into the dales that fallæ

ever stands it green

over Urd´s fountain.

 

²⁰ Thence come maidens,

much knowing,

three from the hall,

which under that tree stands;

Urd hight the one,

the second Verdandi, -

on a tablet they graved –^[6]

Skuld the third.

Laws they established,

life allotted

to the sons of men;

destinies pronounced.

 

²¹ Alone she^[7] sat without,

when came that ancient

dread Æsir´s prince;

and in his eyes she gazed.

 

²² “Of what wouldst thou ask me?

Odin! I know all,

where thou thine eye didst sink

in the pure well of Mim.”

Mim drinks mead each morn

from Valfather’s pledge.^[8]

Understand ye yet, or what?

 

²³ The chief of hosts gave her

rings and necklace,

useful discourse,

and a divining spirit:

wide and far she saw

o’er every world.

 

²⁴ She the Valkyriur saw

from afar coming,

ready to ride

to the gods’ people:

Skuld held a sheild,

Skögul was second,

then Gunn, Hild, Göndul,

and Geirskögul.

Now are enumerated

Herian´s maidens,

the Valkyriur, ready

over the earth to ride.

 

²⁵ She that war remembers,

the first on earth,

when Gullveig^[9] they

with lances pierced,

and in the high one´s^[10] hall

her burnt,

thrice burnt,

thrice brough her forth,

oft not seldom;

yet she still lives.

 

²⁶  Heidi they called her,

whithersoe´r she came,

the well-forseeing Vala:

wolves she tamed,

magic arts she knew,

magic arts practised;

ever was she the joy

of evil people.

 

²⁷ Then went the powers all

to their judgement-seats,

the all-holy gods,

and thereon held council,

whether the Æsir should

avenge the crime,^[11]

or all the gods

receive atonement.

 

²⁸ Broken was the outer wall

of the Æsir´s burgh.

The Vanir, forseeing conflict

tramp oér the plains.

Odin cast (his spear),

and mid the people hurled it:

that was the first

warfare in the world.

 

*        *        *

     *        *

 

²⁹ Then went the powers all

to their judgement-seats,

the all-holy gods,

and thereon held council:

who had all the air

with evil mingled?

or to the Jötun race

Od´s maid had given?

 

³⁰ There alone was Thor

with anger swollen.

He seldom sits,

when of the like he hears.

Oaths are not held sacred;

nor words, nor swearing,

nor binding compacts

reciprocally made.

³¹  She knows that Heimdall’s

horn is hidden

under the heaven-bright

holy tree.

A river she sees flow,

with foamy fall,

from Valfather’s pledge.

Understand ye yet, or what?^[12]

 

³²  East sat the crone,

in Iárnvidir,^[13]

Fenrir´s progeny:

of all shall be

one especially

the moon’s devourer,

in a troll’s semblance.^[14]

 

³³ He is sated with the last breath

of dying men;

the gods’ seat he

with red gore defiles:

swart is the sunshine then

for summers after;

all weather turns to storm.

Understand ye yet, or what?

 

³⁴ There on a height sat,

striking a harp,

the giantess’s watch,

the joyous Egdir;

by him crowed,

in the bird-wood,

the bright red cock,

which Fialar hight.

 

³⁵ Crowed o’er the Æsir

Gullinkambi,

which wakens heroes

with the sire of hosts;

but another crows

beneath the earth,

a soot-red cock,

in the halls of Hel.

 

³⁶ I saw of Baldr,

the blood-stained god,

Odin’s son,

the hidden fate.

There stood grown up,

high on the plain,

slender and passing fair,

the mistletoe.

 

³⁷  From that shrub was made,

as to me it seemed,

a deadly, noxious dart.

Hödr shot it forth;^[15]

But Frigg bewailed,

in Fensalir,

Valhall’s calamity.

Understand ye yet, or what?

 

³⁸ Bound she saw lying,

under Hveralund,^[16]

a monstrous form,

to Loki like.

There sits Sigyn,

for her consort’s sake,

not right glad.

Understand ye yet, or what?

 

³⁹ Then the Vala knew

the fatal bonds were twisting,

most rigid,

bonds from entrails made.

 

⁴⁰ From the east a river falls,

through venom dales,

with mire and clods,^[17]

Slid is its name.

 

⁴¹ On the north there stood,

on Nida-fells,

a hall of gold,

for Sindri’s race;

and another stood

in Okolnir,

the Jötuns beer-hall

which Brimir^[18] hight.

 

⁴² She saw a hall standing,

far from the sun,

in Náströnd;

its doors are northward turned,

venom-drops fall

in through its apertures:

entwined is that hall

with serpent’s backs.

 

⁴³ She there saw wading

the sluggish streams

bloodthirsty men

and perjurers,

and him who the ear beguiles

of another’s wife.

There Nidhögg sucks

the corpses of the dead;

the wolf tears men.

Understand ye yet, or what?

 

⁴⁴ Further forward I see,

much can I say

of Ragnarök

and the gods´ conflict.

 

⁴⁵ Brothers shall fight,

and slay each other;

cousins shall

kinship violate.

The earth resounds,

the giantesses flee;

no man will

another spare.

 

⁴⁶ Hard is it in the world,

great whoredom,

an axe age, a sword age,

sheilds will be cloven,

a wind age, a wolf age,

ere the world sinks.

 

⁴⁷ Mim’s sons dance,

but the central tree takes fire,^[19]

at the resounding

Gjallar-horn.

Loud blows Heimdall,

his horn is raised;

Odin speaks

with Mim’s head.

 

⁴⁸ Trembles Yggdrasil’s

ash yet standing;

groans that aged tree,

and the jötun^[20] is loosed.

Loud bays Garm

before the Gnupa-cave,

his bonds he rends asunder;

and the wolf runs.

 

⁴⁹ Hrym steers from the east,

the waters rise,

the mundane snake is coiled

in jötun-rage.

The worm beats the water,

and the eagle screams:

the pale of beak tears carcases;

Naglfar is loosed.

 

⁵⁰ That ship fares from the east:

come will Muspell’s

people o’er the sea,

and Loki steers.

The monster’s kin goes

all with the wolf;

with them the brother is

of Byleist on their course.

 

⁵¹ Surt from the south comes

with flickering flame;

shines from his sword

the Val-god’s sun.

The stony hills are dashed together,

the giantesses totter;

men tread the path of Hel,

and heaven is cloven.

 

⁵² How is it with the Æsir?

How with the Alfar?

All Jötunheim resounds;

the Æsir are in council.

The dwarfs groan

before their stony doors,

the sages of the rocky walls.

Understand ye yet, or what?

 

⁵³ Then arises

Hlin´s second grief,

when Odin goes

with the wolf to fight,

and the bright slayer

of Beli with Surt.

Then will Frigg´s

beloved fall.

 

⁵⁴ Then comes the great

victor-sire’s son,

Vidar, to fight

with the deadly beast.

He with his hands will

make his sword pierce

to the heart of the giant’s son^[21]:

then avenges he his father.

 

⁵⁵ Then comes the mighty

son of Hlódyn:

(Odin’s son goes

with the monster to fight);

Midgárd´s Veor in his rage

will slay the worm.

Nine feet will go

Fiörgyn´s son,

bowed by the serpent,

who feared no foe.

All men will

their homes forsake.

 

⁵⁶ The sun darkens,

earth in ocean sinks,

fall from heaven

the bright stars,

fire´s breath assails

the all-nourishing tree,

towering fire plays

against heaven itself.

 

⁵⁷ She sees arise,

a second time,

earth from ocean,

beauteously green,

waterfalls descending;

the eagle flying over,

which in the fell

captures fish.

 

⁵⁸ The Æsir meet

on Ida´s plain,

and of the mighty

earth-encircler speak,

and there to memory call

their mighty deeds,

and the supreme god’s^[22]

ancient lore.

 

⁵⁹ There shall again

the wondrous

golden tables

in the grass be found,

which in days of old

had possessed

the ruler of the gods,

and Fjölnir´s race.

 

⁶⁰ Unsown shall

the fields bring forth,

all evil be amended;

Baldr shall come;

Hödr and Baldr,

the heavenly gods,

Hropt´s glorious dwellings shall inhabit.

Understand ye yet, or what?

 

⁶¹ Then can Hoenir

choose his lot,^[23]

and the two brother´s

sons inhabit

the spacious Vindheim.

Understand ye yet, or what?

 

⁶² She a hall sees standing

than the sun brighter,

with gold bedecked,

in Gimill:

there shall the righteous

people dwell,

and for evermore

happiness enjoy.

 

⁶⁴ Then comes the mighty one

to the great judgement,

the powerful from above,

who rules o’er all.

He shall dooms pronounce,

and strifes allay,

holy peace establish,

which shall ever be.

 

*        *        *

 

⁶⁵ There comes the dark

dragon flying from beneath,

the glistening serpent,

from Nida-fells.

On his wings bears Nidhögg,

flying oér the plain,

a corpse.

Now she will descend.

 

Примітки:

[1] In the Rigsmál we are informed how Heimdall, under the name Rig, became the progenitor of the three orders of mankind.

[2] See Index, v. Iviðjur, and Yggdrasil.

[3] Miötviðr. See Index.

[4] In the Germanic tongues, as in the Semitic, the sun is fem., the moon masc.

[5] i.e. the earth’s.

[6] This line seems introduced for the sake of alliteration with the following one:

Skâru â skiði

Skuld ena þriðju:

Urd, Verdandi and Skuld, are the three Norns, or Fates.

[7] The Vala here speaks of herself in the third person.

[8] His eye; here understood to signify the sun.

[9] A personification of gold. With the introduction of gold was the end of the golden age.

[10] i.e. Odin’s; his hall is the world.

[11] Of introducing the use of gold.

[12] This strophe appears unconnected with both the preceding and the following one; at the same time, we ought not perhaps to assume a chasm in the poems whenever we find an abrupt transition, but rather to regard such abruptness as a characteristic of similar compositions.

[13] i.e. Ironwood, apparently a proper name.

[14] Managarm. See Index.

[15] After this line some Mss. insert strophe 11 of Vegtamskvida, where it seems more properly to belong.

[16] The hot spring’s grove.

[17] Or, according to another reading, swords, which is the one admitted in the texts of the original.

[18] Rask understands Brimir to be the name of the giant (jötun) to whom, the drinking hall belonged, and not the name of the hall itself: in which case who must be substituted for which. In Snorri’s Edda, it is evidently understood as the name of the hall. See p. 75. edit. Rask.

[19] See Str. 2.

[20] Loki.

[21] Loki.

[22] Odin.

[23] He will return to his kin having been given as a hostage to the Vanir.