The Poetic EddaThe collection of Norse-Icelandic mythological and heroic poetry known as thePoetic Eddacontains the great narratives of the creation of the world and the coming of Ragnarok, the Doom of the Gods. The mythological poems explore the wisdom of the gods and giants, narrating the adventures of the god Thor against the hostile giants and the gods' rivalries amongst themselves. The heroic poems trace the exploits of the hero Helgi and his valkyrie bride, the tragic tale of Sigurd and Brynhild's doomed love, and the terrible drama of Sigurd's widow Gudrun and her children. Many of the poems predate the conversion of Scandinavia to Christianity, allowing us to glimpse the pagan beliefs of the North. Since the rediscovery of thePoetic Eddain the seventeenth century, its poetry has fascinated artists as diverse as Thomas Gray, Richard Wagner, and Jorge Luis Borges. This is the first complete translation to be published in Britain for fifty years, and it includes a scholarly introduction, notes, a genealogy of the gods and giants, and an index of names. With a new, modern package this title is an invaluable classic for your bookshelf. |
Contents
THE SEERESSS PROPHECY | 3 |
SAYINGS OF THE HIGH ONE | 14 |
VAFTHRUDNIRS SAYINGS | 39 |
GRIMNIRS SAYINGS | 50 |
SKIRNIRS JOURNEY | 61 |
HARBARDS SONG | 69 |
HYMIRS POEM | 78 |
LOKIS QUARREL | 84 |
FRAGMENT OF A POEM ABOUT SIGURD | 174 |
THE FIRST LAY OF GUDRUN | 177 |
A SHORT POEM ABOUT SIGURD | 182 |
BRYNHILDS RIDE TO HELL | 192 |
THE DEATH OF THE NIFLUNGS | 195 |
THE SECOND LAY OF GUDRUN | 196 |
THE THIRD LAY OF GUDRUN | 203 |
ODDRUNS LAMENT | 205 |
THRYMS POEM | 97 |
THE LAY OF VOLUND | 102 |
ALLWISES SAYINGS | 109 |
THE FIRST POEM OF HELGI HUNDINGSBANI | 114 |
THE POEM OF HELGI HIORVARDSSON | 123 |
A SECOND POEM OF HELGI HUNDINGSBANI | 132 |
THE DEATH OF SINFIOTLI | 142 |
GRIPIRS PROPHECY | 143 |
THE LAY OF REGIN | 151 |
THE LAY OF FAFNIR | 157 |
THE LAY OF SIGRDRIFA | 166 |
THE LAY OF ATLI | 210 |
THE GREENLANDIC POEM OF ATLI | 217 |
THE WHETTING OF GUDRUN | 234 |
THE LAY OF HAMDIR | 238 |
BALDRS DREAMS | 243 |
THE LIST OF RIG | 246 |
THE SONG OF HYNDLA | 253 |
THE SONG OF GROTTI | 260 |
Explanatory Notes | 264 |
Annotated Index of Names | 298 |
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Common terms and phrases
Æsir Atli Atli's avenge Baldr battle Bodvild brother Brynhild Budli called Codex Regius daughter death drink dwarf earth elves Fafnir fate father Fenrir fight Freyia Freyr Frigg Geirrod giant giantess girl Giuki gods gold Gripir Gudrun Gunnar and Hogni hall Harbard heart Heimdall Helgi Hundingsbani hero Hiorvard Hogni horse Hymir Hyndla Iormunrekk journey killed king kinsmen lady land Lay of Gudrun live Loddfafnir Loki Loki's lord magic married mead mighty mythological never Nidud night Niord norns Norse Oddrun Odin Odin's Ottar Poem of Helgi Poetic Edda poetry prince prose Ragnarok Regin ride rings runes Seeress's Prophecy serpent shining ship Sigmund Sigrdrifa Sigrun Sigurd silent Sinfiotli sister Skirnir slayer sleep Snorri Song sons story Svanhild sword take this advice Tell Thiazi Thor Thor's Vafthrudnir Valhall valkyrie Vanir verse Volsunga saga Volund warriors weep wisdom wise wolf woman women Yggdrasill Ynglinga saga young