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Fjolsvinnsmál The Lay of Fjolsvith From Norse Poems Translated by W. H. Auden and P. B. Taylor Back to Source Texts Index |
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1. 1 From afar he saw rise the high-timbered hall of the etins 2
"What foul fiend is it in the forecourt who stands, about the flickering fire hovering?" 3
Fjolsvith said: "What are you searching for, wayfarer 4, what do you want? On wet roads 5 turn straight around, there's no fire for the homeless here!"
Svipdag said: "What foul fiend is it in this forecourt who doesn't welcome the wayfarer?"
"A good name, I think, you never had, so run along home!
"I am called Fjolsvith, famed for my lore, but do not give of my food freely: 6 I've never seen you within this court before: be off now, outlaw, away!"
Svipdag said: "This place is a feast for the eyes, such a lovely thing to behold; the gates gleam about its golden hall: I would love to warm up here."
Fjolsvith said: "To whom where you born, and of what blood, youthl; from what house do you hail?" 7
"Vindkald 8 my name, Varkald my father, Fjolkald his father was.
"Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; please answer: who owns this seemly hall, so richly wrought with gold?"
Fjolsvith said: "She is called Mengloth 9, whom her mother bore to Svafrthorin's son: it is she who owns this seemly hall, so richly wrought with gold."
Svipdag said: "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer as I ask: what is the little gate called which 'mong the gods is feared like no other?" 10. Fjolsvith said: "Thrymgjoll 10 is the gates name which three sons of Solblindi 11 made; with strong fetters the wayfarer it would stop from taking it off its hinges." 12
Svipdag said: "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer as I ask: what is the wall called which 'mong the gods is feared like no other?"
" It is called Gastropnir 13, which I built well out of Leirbrimir, 14 the etin's, limbs; 'it is so stanchly built that it will stand as long as men do live."
15 "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer as I ask: what the ash is called which spreads its limbs over the whole land?"
" 'It is called Mimameith, 16 but no man knows from what roots it does rise; no one knows how to fell such a tree: neither fire nor iron will cut it down." 17
"Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer as I ask: of the fruit 18 can it be eaten, since not fire nor iron will fell it?"
"Of its berries you can roast, 19 for ailing women to eat: then out will come the vitality held within - such strength is bestowed on that tree."
"Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer as I ask: what is the cock called, in the high tree, which sits gleaming all golden?"
"He is Vithofnir called and watchful 20 he stands on the branches of Mimameith: with dreadful fear his sound fills the ears of Surt 21 and Sinmara."
"Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer as I ask: what are the hounds on high, which prowl about the hall?" 22
"Gifr is one called, Geri 23 the other, if you want to know: strong 24 watchdogs they are, and they keep their watch until the night when the doom of the gods draws near."
"Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer as I ask: whether any man might come within when the hungry hounds do sleep?"
"They have never both slept at the same time, since the beginning of their watch: one sleeps one night and the other sleeps at noon, so no outsider may enter."
"Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer me as I ask: is there any food that men might throw them and slip in the while they eat."
"'Underbeeth Vithofnir's limbs lie two wing-bits 25, if you want to know: that meat alone may men throw them, and slip in the while they eat."
"Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer please as I ask: what weapon exists which might Vithofnir may send him to the halls of Hel?" 26
" 'There is one called Laevatein 27, which Lopt 28 did forge, found underneath Niflhel; in an iron kettle Sinmara 29 keeps it safe with nine hard locks."
"Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer as I ask: may any wight return who goes and seeks to win that sword?"
The ghost who seeks to win that sword could return home if he fetches that which few do own, to give to that goddess-of-gold."30
"Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer as I ask: who owns anything of such worth, that would it would make that fallow 31 ogress want to (give up that fine sword)?"
"You must pluck the shining feather from in front of Vithofnir's gaze and steal it, only then will that sullen Sinmara sell you the weapon able to lay (Vithofnir) low." 32
"Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer as I ask: what is the hall called which is hedged about by a wall of flickering flame?"
"Lyr it is called, and long will it hover over this high sword's pointed mountain; 33 only from hearsay have men ever heared of this place."
"Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer as I ask: of the gods, who made the golden floor, 34 within the hall so high?"
35"Uni and Iri, Ori and Bari, Var and Vegdrasil, Darri and Uri and Delling were there, at the time Hlithskjalf was locked." 36
"Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer as I ask: what is the mountain is called which the maiden does dwell on, aloft and alone?"
"It is called Lyfja Mount 37, and long has it been there for the help of the sick: for one becomes completely healthy when hopeless she does seem, the woman who wins it is called."
"Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer as I ask: what are the maids called that sit before Mengloth's knees in sisterly wise?"
"Hlif one is called, Hlifthrasa another, a third, Thjothvara; eke Bjort and Bleik, Blith and Frith, Eir and Aurbotha." 38
"Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer as I ask: do they give help to their worshippers, if they are in need?"
"Yes, they do give help 39 to their worshippers who stand loyal with holy gifts; 40 there is never a man that remains in need, but they are lent a helping hand."
"Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I want to know; answer as I ask: if to any man Mengloth will grant in her soft arms to sleep?"
"No man lives to whom Mengloth will grant in her soft arms to sleep; only Svipdag the sunbright maiden for whom wedded wife was she given."
"Open then the gates, and give a wide berth! Behold it is Svipdag you are seeing. Now go into the hall to tell Mengloth my love I am here."
"Mengloth, do you hear me? A man has arrived; come and greet the guest! The hounds bid welcome, the house has opened: it looks like Svipdag has returned."
"May greedy ravens gouge out your eyes and may you hang high on gallows if you lie and that from long ways afar the hero has come to my hall.
Tell me your father's name, that I may have a token to prove I am to be your bride."
"I am called Svipdag, Solbjare 41 was my father; here wandered I wind-cold 42 ways; 'gainst Urth's decree 'it is idle to strive, though loath be your lot." 43
"My wish have I won: welcome be you; with kiss I clasp you now; the loved one's sight is sweet to her who has lived in longing for him.
Of a truth I know: we two shall live our life and lot together." Back to Top ________________________________________________________________________ From Norse Poems, Translated by W. H. Auden and P. B. Taylor Faber and Faber Ltd., ISBN 0-571-13028-3 _________________________________________________________________________ Notes 1.
As to the abrupt beginning, see the Introduction. I follow Bugge in
the orderingof the first four helmings as well as in the attribution
to the speakers. 5.
Over the high mountains. 8.
Vindkald, "Wind-Cold"; Varkald, "Spring-Cold"; Fjolkald,
"Very Cold." Gering suggests that, by giving these fictitious
names, Svipdag wishes to make Fjolsvith believe that he, too, is of
giant kin. 11. "Sun-Blinded," dwarfs whose abode is in the darkness. 12. Like the gate described in "Sigurtharkvidha hin skamma," St. 68. The Old Norse door raised up. See "Rigsthula," St. 26. 13. "Strangling the Intruder" ?. 14. "Clay-Giant" ?; is it built of bricks? 15. In the original, Sts. 13 to 18, dealing with the tree Yggdrasil see "Voluspa," St. 19, come after St. 24. They are probably interpolated, having nothing to do with the subject in hand. 16. "Mimir's Tree." His well is under Yggdrasil "Voluspa," St. 28. 17. See "Grimnismal," St. 36 18. Conjectural. The word in the original is unexplained. 19. Possibly it's roasted fruit, which, in some trees, has an emmenagogic effect; but the interpretation is conjectural. 20. The word in the original is not well understood. 21. The fire giant see "Voluspa," St. 51. His wife ? Sinmara is unknown elsewhere. According to "Voluspa," St. 41 ff, the crowing of the cock gives warning of the approach of the destroying elements. 22. This line is supplied conjecturally. 23. Both names signify "Greedy." Geri is also the name of one of Othin's wolves in "Grimnismal," St. 19. 24. Strangely, the manuscripts here have "eleven". 25. The exact meaning of the word in the original is not clear. 27. "Wand-of-Destruction," a kenning for "sword". 28. Loki; see "Lokasenna," St. 6. 30. Conjectural. If correct, it is a kenning for "woman": Sinmara. 31. She is pale yellow because she dwells in a cave. See "Alvismal," St. 2. 32. The interpretation of these lines is doubtful. However, the circle of impossibilities is closed: no one may enter the castle. 33.
Following Bugge's interpretation. In other words it is inaccessible. 35. Most of the following names of dwarfs remain unexplained. Several occur also in "The Song of the Sybil." The holy number nine plays a considerable role in both poems. 36. Conjectural. If this reading is adopted the castle bears the same name as Othin's seat in Valholl. 38. The nine maidens bear names appropriate to their salutiferous activities. 39. A lacuna in the manuscript is supplied here following Bugge. 42. It may be unrelated, but Wind-Cold was Winter's father. 43.
difficult to translate.
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