Vafþrúðnismál

Old Norse

Normalized Old Norse · Guðni Jónsson edition · Source ↗

Óðinn kvað:

Stanza 1"Ráð þú mér nú, Frigg, alls mik fara tíðir at vitja Vafþrúðnis; forvitni mikla kveð ek mér á fornum stöfum við þann inn alsvinna jötun."

Frigg kvað:

Stanza 2"Heima letja ek mynda Herjaföðr í görðum goða; því at engi jötun ek hugða jafnramman sem Vafþrúðni vera."

Óðinn kvað:

Stanza 3"Fjölð ek fór, fjölð ek freistaða, fjölð ek reynda regin; hitt vil ek vita, hvé Vafþrúðnis salakynni sé."

Frigg kvað:

Stanza 4"Heill þú farir! heill þú aftr komir! heill þú á sinnum sér! æði þér dugi, hvars þú skalt, Aldaföðr, orðum mæla jötun.

Stanza 5Fór þá Óðinn at freista orðspeki þess ins alsvinna jötuns; at höllu hann kom, ok átti Íms faðir; inn gekk Yggr þegar.

Óðinn kvað:

Stanza 6"Heill þú nú, Vafþrúðnir, nú em ek í höll kominn á þik sjalfan sjá; hitt vil ek fyrst vita, ef þú fróðr sér eða alsviðr jötunn."

Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Stanza 7"Hvat er þat manna er í mínum sal verpumk orði á? Út þú né komir órum höllum frá, nema þú inn snotrari sér."

Óðinn kvað:

Stanza 8"Gagnráðr ek heiti, nú emk af göngu kominn, þyrstr til þinna sala; laðar þurfi - hef ek lengi farit - ok þinna andfanga, jötunn."

Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Stanza 9"Hví þú þá, Gagnráðr, mælisk af golfi fyr? Far þú í sess í sal! Þá skal freista, hvárr fleira viti, gestr eða inn gamli þulr."

Óðinn kvað:

Stanza 10"Óauðigr maðr, er til auðigs kemr, mæli þarft eða þegi; ofrmælgi mikil, hygg ek, at illa geti hveim er við kaldrifjaðan kemr."

Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Stanza 11"Seg þú mér, Gagnráðr, alls þú á golfi vill þíns of freista frama, hvé sá hestr heitir, er hverjan dregr dag of dróttmögu."

Óðinn kvað:

Stanza 12"Skinfaxi heitir, er inn skíra dregr dag of dróttmögu; hesta beztr þykkir hann með Hreiðgotum; ey lýsir mön af mari."

Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Stanza 13"Seg þú þat, Gagnráðr, alls þú á golfi vill þíns of freista frama, hvé sá jór heitir, er austan dregr nótt of nýt regin."

Óðinn kvað:

Stanza 14"Hrímfaxi heitir, er hverja dregr nótt of nýt regin; méldropa fellir hann morgin hvern; þaðan kemr dögg um dala."

Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Stanza 15Seg þú þat, Gagnráðr, alls þú á golfi vill þíns of freista frama, hvé sú á heitir, er deilir með jötna sonum grund ok með goðum."

Óðinn kvað:

Stanza 16"Ífing heitir á, er deilir með jötna sonum grund ok með goðum; opin renna hon skal of aldrdaga; verðr-at íss á á."

Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Stanza 17Seg þú þat, Gagnráðr, alls þú á golfi vill þíns of freista frama, hvé sá völlr heitir, er finnask vígi at Surtr ok in svásu goð."

Óðinn kvað:

Stanza 18"Vígriðr heitir völlr, er finnask vígi at Surtr ok in svásu goð; hundrað rasta hann er á hverjan veg; sá er þeim völlr vitaðr."

Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Stanza 19"Fróðr ertu nú, gestr, far þú á bekk jötuns, ok mælumk í sessi saman; höfði veðja vit skulum höllu í, gestr, of geðspeki.

Óðinn kvað:

Stanza 20"Seg þú þat it eina, ef þitt æði dugir ok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitir, hvaðan jörð of kom eða upphiminn fyrst, inn fróði jötunn."

Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Stanza 21"Ór Ymis holdi var jörð of sköpuð, en ór beinum björg, himinn ór hausi ins hrímkalda jötuns, en ór sveita sær."

Óðinn kvað:

Stanza 22"Seg þú þat annat, ef þitt æði dugir ok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitir, hvaðan máni kom, sá er ferr menn yfir, eða sól it sama."

Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Stanza 23"Mundilfari heitir, hann er mána faðir ok svá Sólar it sama; himin hverfa þau skulu hverjan dag öldum at ártali."

Óðinn kvað:

Stanza 24"Seg þú þat it þriðja, alls þik svinnan kveða ok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitir, hvaðan dagr of kom, sá er ferr drótt yfir, eða nótt með niðum."

Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Stanza 25"Dellingr heitir, hann er Dags faðir, en Nótt var Nörvi borin; ný ok nið skópu nýt regin öldum at ártali."

Óðinn kvað:

Stanza 26"Seg þú þat it fjórða, alls þik fróðan kveða, ok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitir, hvaðan vetr of kom eða varmt sumar fyrst með fróð regin."

Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Stanza 27"Vindsvalr heitir, hann er Vetrar faðir, en Svásuðr sumars."

Óðinn kvað:

Stanza 28"Seg þú þat it fimmta, alls þik fróðan kveða, ok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitir, hverr ása ellztr eða Ymis niðja yrði í árdaga."

Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Stanza 29"Örófi vetra áðr væri jörð of sköpuð, þá var Bergelmir borinn, Þrúðgelmir var þess faðir, en Aurgelmir afi."

Óðinn kvað:

Stanza 30"Seg þú þat it sétta, alls þik svinnan kveða, ok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitir, hvaðan Aurgelmir kom með jötna sonum fyrst, inn fróði jötunn."

Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Stanza 31"Ór Élivágum stukku eitrdropar, svá óx, unz varð jötunn; þar eru órar ættir komnar allar saman; því er þat æ allt til atalt."

Óðinn kvað:

Stanza 32"Seg þú þat it sjaunda, alls þik svinnan kveða, ok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitir, hvé sá börn gat, inn baldni jötunn, er hann hafði-t gýgjar gaman."

Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Stanza 33"Undir hendi vaxa kváðu hrímþursi mey ok mög saman; fótr við fæti gat ins fróða jötuns sexhöfðaðan son."

Óðinn kvað:

Stanza 34"Seg þú þat it átta, alls þik svinnan kveða, ok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitir, hvat þú fyrst of mant eða fremst of veizt, þú ert alsviðr, jötunn."

Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Stanza 35Örófi vetra áðr væri jörð of sköpuð, þá var Bergelmir borinn; þat ek fyrst of man, er sá inn fróði jötunn á var lúðr of lagiðr."

Óðinn kvað:

Stanza 36"Seg þú þat it níunda, alls þik svinnan kveða, ok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitir, hvaðan vindr of kemr, svá at ferr vág yfir; æ menn han sjalfan of sjá."

Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Stanza 37"Hræsvelgr heitir, er sitr á himins enda, jötunn í arnar ham; af hans vængjum kvæða vind koma alla menn yfir."

Óðinn kvað:

Stanza 38"Seg þú þat it tíunda, alls þú tíva rök öll, Vafþrúðnir, vitir, hvaðan Njörðr of kom með ása sonum - hofum ok hörgum hann ræðr hundmörgum - ok varð-at hann ásum alinn."

Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Stanza 39"Í Vanaheimi skópu hann vís regin ok seldu at gíslingu goðum, í aldar rök hann mun aftr koma heim með vísum vönum."

Óðinn kvað:

Stanza 40"Seg þú þat et ellifta, hvar ýtar túnum í höggvask hverjan dag; val þeir kjósa ok ríða vígi frá, sitja meir of sáttir saman."

Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Stanza 41"Allir einherjar Óðins túnum í höggvask hverjan dag, val þeir kjósa ok ríða vígi frá, sitja meirr of sáttir saman."

Óðinn kvað:

Stanza 42"Seg þú þat it tolfta, hví þú tíva rök öll, Vafþrúðnir, vitir, frá jötna rúnum ok allra goða segir þú it sannasta, inn alsvinni jötunn."

Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Stanza 43"Frá jötna rúnum ok allra goða ek kann segja satt, því at hvern hef ek heim of komit; níu kom ek heima fyr Niflhel neðan; hinig deyja ór helju halir."

Óðinn kvað:

Stanza 44"Fjölð ek fór, fjölð ek freistaðak, fjölð ek of reynda regin: Hvat lifir manna, þá er inn mæra líðr fimbulvetr með firum?"

Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Stanza 45"Líf ok Lifþrasir, en þau leynask munu í holti Hoddmímis; morgindöggvar þau sér at mat hafa, en þaðan af aldir alask."

Óðinn kvað:

Stanza 46"Fjölð ek fór, fjölð ek freistaðak, fjölð ek of reynda regin: Hvaðan kemr sól á inn slétta himin, er þessa hefr fenrir farit?"

Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Stanza 47"Eina dóttur berr alfröðull, áðr hana fenrir fari; sú skal ríða, þá er regin deyja, móður brautir, mær."

Óðinn kvað:

Stanza 48"Fjölð ek fór, fjölð ek freistaðak, fjölð ek of reynda regin: Hverjar ro þær meyjar, er líða mar yfir, fróðgeðjaðar fara?"

Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Stanza 49"Þríar þjóðár falla þorp yfir meyja Mögþrasis; hamingjur einar þær er í heimi eru, þó þær með jötnum alask."

Óðinn kvað:

Stanza 50"Fjölð ek fór, fjölð ek freistaðak, fjölð ek of reynda regin: Hverir ráða æsir eignum goða, þá er sloknar Surta logi?"

Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Stanza 51"Víðarr ok Váli byggja vé goða, þá er sloknar Surta logi, Móði ok Magni skulu Mjöllni hafa Vingnis at vígþroti."

Óðinn kvað:

Stanza 52"Fjölð ek fór, fjölð ek freistaðak, fjölð ek of reynda regin; Hvat verðr Óðni at aldrlagi, þá er of rjúfask regin?"

Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Stanza 53"Ulfr gleypa mun Aldaföðr, þess mun Víðarr vreka; kalda kjafta hann klyfja mun vitnis vígi at."

Óðinn kvað:

Stanza 54"Fjölð ek fór, fjölð ek freistaðak, fjölð ek of reynda regin; Hvat mælti Óðinn, áðr á bál stigi, sjalfr í eyra syni?"

Vafþrúðnir kvað:

Stanza 55"Ey manni þat veit, hvat þú í árdaga sagðir í eyra syni; feigum munni mælta ek mína forna stafi ok of ragnarök. Nú ek við Óðin deildak mína orðspeki; þú ert æ vísastr vera."

English translation

Henry Adams Bellows · First published 1923 · Source & commentary ↗

Othin spake:

Stanza 1"Counsel me, Frigg, for I long to fare, And Vafthruthnir fain would find; fit wisdom old with the giant wise Myself would I seek to match."

Frigg spake:

Stanza 2"Heerfather here at home would I keep, Where the gods together dwell; Amid all the giants an equal in might To Vafthruthnir know I none."

Othin spake:

Stanza 3"Much have I fared, much have I found. Much have I got from the gods; And fain would I know how Vafthruthnir now Lives in his lofty hall."

Frigg spake:

Stanza 4"Safe mayst thou go, safe come again, And safe be the way thou wendest! Father of men, let thy mind be keen When speech with the giant thou seekest."

Stanza 5The wisdom then of the giant wise Forth did he fare to try; He found the hall | of the father of Im, And in forthwith went Ygg.

Othin spake:

Stanza 6"Vafthruthnir, hail! | to thy hall am I come, For thyself I fain would see; And first would I ask | if wise thou art, Or, giant, all wisdom hast won."

Vafthruthnir spake:

Stanza 7"Who is the man | that speaks to me, Here in my lofty hall? Forth from our dwelling | thou never shalt fare, Unless wiser than I thou art."

Othin spake:

Stanza 8"Gagnrath they call me, | and thirsty I come From a journey hard to thy hall; Welcome I look for, | for long have I fared, And gentle greeting, giant."

Vafthruthnir spake:

Stanza 9"Why standest thou there | on the floor whilst thou speakest? A seat shalt thou have in my hall; Then soon shall we know | whose knowledge is more, The guest's or the sage's gray."

Othin spake:

Stanza 10"If a poor man reaches | the home of the rich, Let him wisely speak or be still; For to him who speaks | with the hard of heart Will chattering ever work ill."

Vafthruthnir spake:

Stanza 11"Speak forth now, Gagnrath, | if there from the floor Thou wouldst thy wisdom make known: What name has the steed | that each morn anew The day for mankind doth draw?"

Othin spake:

Stanza 12"Skinfaxi is he, | the steed who for men The glittering day doth draw; The best of horses | to heroes he seems, And brightly his mane doth burn."

Vafthruthnir spake:

Stanza 13"Speak forth now, Gagnrath, | if there from the floor Thou wouldst thy wisdom make known: What name has the steed | that from East anew Brings night for the noble gods?"

Othin spake:

Stanza 14"Hrimfaxi name they | the steed that anew Brings night for the noble gods; Each morning foam | from his bit there falls, And thence come the dews in the dales."

Vafthruthnir spake:

Stanza 15"Speak forth now, Gagnrath, | if there from the floor Thou wouldst thy wisdom make known: What name has the river | that 'twixt the realms Of the gods and the giants goes?" Othin spoke:

Stanza 16"Ifing is the river | that 'twixt the realms Of the gods and the giants goes; For all time ever | open it flows, No ice on the river there is."

Vafthruthnir spake:

Stanza 17"Speak forth now, Gagnrath, | if there from the floor Thou wouldst thy wisdom make known: What name has the field | where in fight shall meet Surt and the gracious gods?"

Othin spake:

Stanza 18"Vigrith is the field | where in fight shall meet Surt and the gracious gods; A hundred miles | each way does it measure. And so are its boundaries set."

Vafthruthnir spake:

Stanza 19"Wise art thou, guest! | To my bench shalt thou go, In our seats let us speak together; Here in the hall | our heads, O guest, Shall we wager our wisdom upon."

Othin spake:

Stanza 20"First answer me well, | if thy wisdom avails, And thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now: In earliest time | whence came the earth, Or the sky, thou giant sage?"

Vafthruthnir spake:

Stanza 21"Out of Ymir's flesh | was fashioned the earth, And the mountains were made of his bones; The sky from the frost-cold | giant's skull, And the ocean out of his blood."

Othin spake:

Stanza 22"Next answer me well, | if thy wisdom avails, And thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now: Whence came the moon, | o'er the world of men That fares, and the flaming sun?"

Vafthruthnir spake:

Stanza 23"Mundilferi is he | who begat the moon, And fathered the flaming sun; The round of heaven | each day they run, To tell the time for men."

Othin spake:

Stanza 24"Third answer me well, | if wise thou art called, If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now: Whence came the day, | o'er mankind that fares, Or night with the narrowing moon?"

Vafthruthnir spake:

Stanza 25"The father of day | is Delling called, And the night was begotten by Nor; Full moon and old | by the gods were fashioned, To tell the time for men."

Othin spake:

Stanza 26"Fourth answer me well, | if wise thou art called, If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now: Whence did winter come, | or the summer warm, First with the gracious gods?"

Vafthruthnir spake:

Stanza 27"Vindsval he was | who was winter's father, And Svosuth summer begat;" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Othin spake:

Stanza 28"Fifth answer me well, | if wise thou art called, If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now: What giant first | was fashioned of old, And the eldest of Ymir's kin?"

Vafthruthnir spake:

Stanza 29"Winters unmeasured | ere earth was made Was the birth of Bergelmir; Thruthgelmir's son | was the giant strong, And Aurgelmir's grandson of old."

Othin spake:

Stanza 30"Sixth answer me well, | if wise thou art called, If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now: Whence did Aurgelmir come | with the giants' kin, Long since, thou giant sage?"

Vafthruthnir spake:

Stanza 31"Down from Elivagar | did venom drop, And waxed till a giant it was; And thence arose | our giants' race, And thus so fierce are we found."

Othin spake:

Stanza 32"Seventh answer me well, | if wise thou art called, If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now: How begat he children, | the giant grim, Who never a giantess knew?"

Vafthruthnir spake:

Stanza 33"They say 'neath the arms | of the giant of ice Grew man-child and maid together; And foot with foot | did the wise one fashion A son that six heads bore."

Othin spake:

Stanza 34"Eighth answer me well, | if wise thou art called, If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now: What farthest back | dost thou bear in mind? For wide is thy wisdom, giant!"

Vafthruthnir spake:

Stanza 35"Winters unmeasured | ere earth was made Was the birth of Bergelmir; This first knew I well, | when the giant wise In a boat of old was borne."

Othin spake:

Stanza 36"Ninth answer me well, | if wise thou art called If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now: Whence comes the wind | that fares o'er the waves Yet never itself is seen?"

Vafthruthnir spake:

Stanza 37"In an eagle's guise | at the end of heaven Hræsvelg sits, they say; And from his wings | does the wind come forth To move o'er the world of men."

Othin spake:

Stanza 38"Tenth answer me now, | if thou knowest all The fate that is fixed for the gods: Whence came up Njorth | to the kin of the gods,-- (Rich in temples | and shrines he rules,--) Though of gods he was never begot?"

Vafthruthnir spake:

Stanza 39"In the home of the Wanes | did the wise ones create him, And gave him as pledge to the gods; At the fall of the world | shall he fare once more Home to the Wanes so wise."

Othin spake:

Stanza 40"Eleventh answer me well, | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . What men . . . . . . | in . . . . . . home Each day to fight go forth?"

Vafthruthnir spake:

Stanza 41"The heroes all | in Othin's hall Each day to fight go forth; They fell each other, | and fare from the fight All healed full soon to sit."

Othin spake:

Stanza 42"Twelfth answer me now | how all thou knowest Of the fate that is fixed for the gods; Of the runes of the gods | and the giants' race The truth indeed dost thou tell, (And wide is thy wisdom, giant!)"

Vafthruthnir spake:

Stanza 43"Of the runes of the gods | and the giants' race The truth indeed can I tell, (For to every world have I won;) To nine worlds came I, | to Niflhel beneath, The home where dead men dwell."

Othin spake:

Stanza 44"Much have I fared, | much have I found, Much have I got of the gods: What shall live of mankind | when at last there comes The mighty winter to men?"

Vafthruthnir spake:

Stanza 45"In Hoddmimir's wood | shall hide themselves Lif and Lifthrasir then; The morning dews | for meat shall they have, Such food shall men then find."

Othin spake:

Stanza 46"Much have I fared, | much have I found, Much have I got of the gods: Whence comes the sun | to the smooth sky back, When Fenrir has snatched it forth?"

Vafthruthnir spake:

Stanza 47"A daughter bright | Alfrothul bears Ere Fenrir snatches her forth; Her mother's paths | shall the maiden tread When the gods to death have gone."

Othin spake:

Stanza 48"Much have I fared, | much have I found, Much have I got of the gods: What maidens are they, | so wise of mind. That forth o'er the sea shall fare?"

Vafthruthnir spake:

Stanza 49"O'er Mogthrasir's hill | shall the maidens pass, And three are their throngs that come; They all shall protect | the dwellers on earth, Though they come of the giants' kin."

Othin spake:

Stanza 50"Much have I fared, | much have I found, Much have I got of the gods: Who then shall rule | the realm of the gods, When the fires of Surt have sunk?"

Vafthruthnir spake:

Stanza 51"In the gods' home Vithar | and Vali shall dwell, When the fires of Surt have sunk; Mothi and Magni | shall Mjollnir have When Vingnir falls in fight."

Othin spake:

Stanza 52"Much have I fared, | much have I found, Much have I got of the gods: What shall bring the doom | of death to Othin, When the gods to destruction go?"

Vafthruthnir spake:

Stanza 53"The wolf shall fell | the father of men, And this shall Vithar avenge; The terrible jaws | shall he tear apart, And so the wolf shall he slay."

Othin spake:

Stanza 54"Much have I fared, | much have I found, Much have I got from the gods: What spake Othin himself | in the ears of his son, Ere in the bale-fire he burned?"

Vafthruthnir spake:

Stanza 55"No man can tell | what in olden time Thou spak'st in the ears of thy son; With fated mouth | the fall of the gods And mine olden tales have I told; With Othin in knowledge | now have I striven, And ever the wiser thou art."