wild colonial boy

Gylfaginning
++++++++++

King Gylfi ruled the lands that are now called Sweden. It is told of
him that he gave a plough land in his kingdom, the size four oxen
could plough in a day and a night, to a beggar-woman as a reward for
the way she had entertained him. This woman, however, was of the
family of the Æsir; her name was Gefjon. From the north of Giantland
she took four oxen and yoked them to a plough, but those were her sons
by a giant. The plough went in so hard and deep that it loosened the
land and the oxen dragged it westwards into the sea, stopping in a
certain sound. There Gefjon set the land for good and gave it a name,
calling it Zealand. But the place where the land had been torn up was
afterwards a lake. It is now known in Sweden as 'The Lake' (Malar).


And there areas many bays in 'The Lake' as there are headlands in
Zealand. As the poet Bragi the Old says:


Gefjon dragged with laughter from Gylfi liberal prince
what made Denmark larger, so that beasts of draught
the oxen reeked with sweat;
four heads they had, eight eyes to boot
who went before broad island-pasture ripped away as loot.


King Gylfi was a wise man and skilled in magic. He marvelled that the
Æsir were so knowledgeable that everything came to pass by their will,
and he wondered if that was on account of their own strength or
whether the divinities they worshipped brought that about. He set out
on a secret journey to Asgarð, changing himself into the likeness of
an old man by way of disguise. But the Æsir were wiser than he, in
that they had foreknowledge. They saw his journey before he came, and
worked spells against him. When he came into the stronghold, he saw a
hall so lofty that he could scarcely see over it; its roofing was
covered with golden shields like a shingled roof . So Thjóðólf of Hvin
says that Valhalla was roofed with shields:

Fighting men showed prudence when with stones being pelted;
they let the War-God's (Sváfnir's, i.e. Óðin's) roofing glitter on
their backs.


Gylfi saw a man in the doorway who was juggling with knives, of which
he had seven in the air at a time. This man at once asked him his
name. He said he was called Gangleri and that he had come a long way,
and he requested a lodging for himself for the night, asking who owned
the hall. The other replied that it was their king. 'I can take you to
see him, but you must ask him his name yourself'; and he wheeled round
into the hall. Gylfi went after him, and at once the door shut on his
heels. There he saw many rooms and a great number of people, some
playing, others drinking, some had weapons and were fighting. As he
looked about him much of what he saw puzzled him, and he said:


'At every door before you enter look around with care; you never know
what enemies aren't waiting for you there.'


He saw three high-seats one above the other, and a man seated in each
of them. Then he asked what names those chieftains had. The man who
had taken him inside answered that the one sitting on the lowest seat
was a king called High One, the next was Just-as-high, and the topmost
one was called Third. Then High One asked the stranger if he had any
more business, although he was as welcome to food and drink as anyone
else in High-hall. Gylfi replied that first of all he wanted to know
if there was anyone within who was a well-informed man. High One said
that he would not get out safe and sound unless he was still better
informed:


'Whilst you ask, stand forward please,
the answerer shall sit at ease.'


Gylfi began his questioning:
'Who is the foremost or oldest of all the gods?'


High One, replied:
'He is called All-father in our tongue, but in ancient Asgarð he had
twelve names:
one is All-father;
the second, Herran or Herjan (Lord or Raider);
the third, Nikar or Hnikar (Spear-thruster);
the fourth, Nikuz or Hnikuð (Spear- thruster);
the fifth, Fjölnir (Much-knowing);
the sixth, Óski (Fullfiller-of-desire);
the seventh, Ómi (One-whose-speech-resounds);
the eighth, Biflidi or Biflindi (spear-shaker);
the ninth, Sviðar;
the tenth, Sviðrir;
the eleventh, Viðrir; (ruler-of-weather)
the twelfth, Jálg or Jálk. (Gelding)'


Then Gangleri asked:
'Where is that god What power has he What great deeds has he done?'

High One said: 'He lives for ever and ever, and rules over the whole
of his kingdom and governs all things great and small.'


Then Just-as-high said:
'He created heaven and earth and the sky and all that in them is.'


Then Third said:
'His greatest achievement, however, is the making of man and giving
him a soul which will live and never die, although his body may decay
to dust or burn to ashes. All righteous men shall live and be with him
where it is called Gimlé (lee-of-fire) or Vingólf, (friendly door) but
wicked men will go to Hel and thence to Niflhell (adobe of darkness):
that is down in the ninth world.'


Then Gangleri said:
'What was he doing before heaven and earth were made?'


High One replied:
'At that time he was with the frost ogres.'

Gangleri said:
'What was the origin of all things How did they begin What existed
before?'


High One answered:
'As it says in the Sibyl's Vision:


In the beginning not anything existed, there was no sand nor sea nor
cooling waves; earth was unknown and heaven above only Ginnungagap
(open void) was - there was no grass.


Then Just-as-high said:
'It was many aeons before the earth was created that Niflheim was
made, and in the midst of it is a well called Hvergelmir, (bubbling
cauldron) and thence flow the rivers with these names:


Svól (cool), Gunnthrá (battle defiant), Fjörm, Fimbulthul (loud
bubbling), SlÃ*ð (fearsome), HrÃ*ð (storming), Sylg, Ylg, VÃ*ð (broad),
Leipt (fast as lightning), and Gjöll which is next Hel's gate.'


Then Third said:
'The first world to exist, however, was Muspell in the southern
hemisphere; it is light and hot and that region flames and burns so
that those who do not belong to it and whose native land it is not,
cannot endure it. The one who sits there at land's end to guard it is
called Surt; he has a flaming sword, and at the end of the world he
will come and harry and will vanquish all the gods and burn the whole
world with fire. As it says in the Sibyl's Vision:


Surt from the south comes with spoiler of twigs (fire) blazing his
sword (like) sun of the Mighty Ones mountains will crash down,
troll-women stumble, men tread the road to Ret, heaven's rent
asunder.'


Gangleri asked:
'How were things arranged before families came into existence or
mankind increased?'


High One said:
'When those rivers which are called Elivágar (rivers whipped by
passing showers) came so far from their source that the yeasty venom
accompanying them hardened like slag, it turned into ice. Then when
that ice formed and was firm, a drizzling rain that arose from the
venom poured over it and cooled into rime, and one layer of ice formed
on top of the other throughout Ginnungagap.


Then Just-as-high said:
'That part of Ginnungagap which turned northwards became full of the
ice and the hoar frost's weight and heaviness, and within there was
drizzling rain and gusts of wind. But the southern part of Ginnungagap
became light by meeting the sparks and glowing embers which flew out
of the world of Muspell.'


Then Third said:
'Just as cold and all harsh things emanated from Niflheim, so
everything in the neighbourhood of Muspell was warm and bright.
Ginnungagap was as mild as windless air, and where the soft air of the
heat met the frost so that it thawed and dripped, then, by the might
of that which sent the heat, life appeared in the drops of running
fluid and grew into the likeness of a man. He was given the name Ymir,
but the frost ogres call him Aurgelmir, and that is where the families
of frost ogres come from, as is said in the Shorter Sibyl's Vision:


All the sibyls are from Viðólf, all the wizards from Vilmeið, but the
sorcerers from Svarthöfði, all the giants have come from Ymir.


And here is what the giant Vafthrúðnir (strong in difficult riddles)
said (in answer to Óðin's question):


"Whence first from giant-kin came Aurgelmir the well-informed
From the Élivágar oozed drops or venom
that grew till they fashioned a giant,
all our kindred came from thence.
Because of this birth they are aye far too barbarous.'


Then Gangleri said:
'How did families grow thence? How was it arranged that men became
numerous?
Do you believe it was a god you were speaking about just now?'


High One replied:
'In no wise do we consider he was a god. He and all his family were
evil; we call them frost ogres. But it is said that while he slept he
fell into a sweat; then there grew under his left arm a man and woman,
and one of his legs got a son with the other, and that is where the
families of frost ogres come from. We call that old frost ogre Ymir.'


Then Gangleri said:
'Where was Ymir's home, and what did he live on?


High One replied :
'As soon as the frost thawed, it became a cow called Auðhumla, and
four rivers of milk ran from her teats, and she fed Ymir.'


Then Gangleri asked: 'What did the cow live on?'


High One answered:
'She licked the ice-blocks which were salty, and by the evening of the
first day of the block~licking appeared a man's hair, on the second
day a man's head, and on the third day the whole man was there. He was
called Buri. He was handsome and tall and strong. He had a son called
Bor, who married a woman called Bestla, daughter of the giant
Bólthorn. They had three sons; the first Óðin; the second, Vili; the
third, Vé; and it is my belief that that Óðin, in association with his
brothers, is the ruler of heaven and earth. We think that that is his
title; it is the name given to the man we know to be greatest and most
famous, and you can take it that that is his (Óðin's) title.'


Then Gangleri asked:
'How did they get on together? Was one group more powerful than the
other?'


Then High One answered:
'Bor's sons killed the giant Ymir, and when he fell, so much blood
poured from his wounds that they drowned the whole tribe of frost
ogres with it - except for one who escaped with his household; this
one is known to the giants as Bergelmir. He climbed up on to his "lur"
(boat hollowed out of a tree trunk; it can also mean coffin).and his
wife with him, and there they were safe. From them spring the families
of frost ogres, as it is said here:


"Innumerable years ago, before the earth was made, was born the giant
Bergelmir; the first thing I remember was when they laid that wise one
down on a lur".


Then Gangleri said:
'What did the sons of Bor do next, since you believe they are gods?'


High One said:
'There is a great deal to be told about this. They took Ymir and
carried him into the middle of Ginnungagap, and made the world from
him: from his blood the sea and lakes, from his flesh the earth, from
his bones the mountains; rocks and pebbles they made from his teeth
and jaws and those bones that were broken.'


Just-as-high said:
'From the blood which welled freely from his wounds they fashioned the
ocean, when they put together the earth and girdled it, laying the
ocean round about it. To cross it would strike most men as
impossible.'


Third added:
'They also took his skull and made the sky from it and set it over the
earth with its four sides, and under each corner they put a dwarf.
These are called: East, West, North, and South. Then they took the
sparks and burning embers that were flying about after they had been
blown out of Muspell, and placed them in the midst of Ginnungagap to
give light to heaven above and earth beneath. They gave their stations
to all the stars, some fixed in the sky; others (planets) that had
wandered at will in the firmament were now given their appointed
places and the paths in which they were to travel. So it is said in
ancient poems that from that time sprang the reckoning of days and
years, as it is said in the Sibyl's Vision:


"The sun did not know where she had her home,
the moon did not know what might he had,
stars did not know where their stations were."


Thus it was before this was done.'


Then Gangleri said:
'Great tidings I'm hearing now. That was a marvellous piece of
craftsmanship, and skilfully contrived. How was the Earth fashioned?'


Then High One answered:
'It is round, and surrounding it lies the deep sea, and on the strand
of that sea they gave lands to the families of giants to settle, but
inland they (Bor's sons) built a stronghold round the world on account
of the hostility of the giants; for this stronghold they used Ymir's
eyebrows, and they called it Miðgarð. They took his brains too and
flung them up into the air and made from them the clouds, as it is
said here:


"From Ymir's flesh the earth was made
and from his blood the seas,
crags from his bones,
trees from his hair,
and from his skull the sky.
From his eyebrows the blessed gods
made Miðgarð for the sons of men,
and from his brains were created
all storm-threatening clouds."'


Then Gangleri said:
'It seems to me they made great progress when heaven and earth were
created and the sun and the stars given their stations and
arrangements made for day and night, but whence came the men who
inhabit the world?'


Then High One answered:
'When they were going along the sea-shore, the sons of Bor found two
trees and they picked these up and created men from them The first
gave them spirit and life; the second, understanding and power of
movement; the third, form, speech, hearing, and sight. They gave them
clothes and names. The man was called Ask (ash tree) and the woman
Embla; (elm?) and from them have sprung the races of men who were
given Miðgarð to live in. Next they built a stronghold for themselves
in the middle of the world, which is called Asgarð: we call it Troy.
There the gods and their kindred lived, and from then on came to pass
many events and memorable happenings both in heaven and earth.'
There is a place there called Hliðskjálf, (hall of many rooms or hall
of one big doorway) and when Óðin sat there on his high seat he saw
over the whole world and what everyone was doing and he understood
every-thing he saw. His wife, the daughter of Fjörgvin, was named
Frigg, and from that family has come the kindred that inhabited
ancient Asgarð and those kingdoms belonging to it; we call the members
of that family the Æsir and they are all divinities. He (Óðin) may
well be called All-father for this reason - he is the father of all
the gods and men and of everything that he and his power created. The
earth was his daughter and his wife; by her he had his first son,
�sa-Thór. Might and strength were Thór’s characteristics, by these he
dominates every living creature.'


'There was a giant living in Giantland called Nörfi or Narfi. He had a
daughter named Night. She was dark and swarthy, like the family to
which she belonged. Her first marriage was with a man called Nagifari,
their son was called Auð. Next she was married to Annar, their
daughter was called Earth. Last, Delling (shining one) married her,
and he was of the family of the gods. Their son was Day, lie was
bright and beautiful like his father's side. Then All-father took
Night and her son, Day, and gave them two horses and two chariots and
put them up in the sky, so that they should ride round the world every
twenty-four hours. Night rides first on a horse called HrÃ*mfaxi,
(frosty mane) and every morning he be-dews the earth with the foam
from his bit. Day's horse is called Skinfaxi, (shining mane) and the
whole earth and sky are illumined by his mane.'


Then Gangleri said:
'How does he guide the course of the sun and moon?


High One replied:
'There was a man called Mundilfari who had two children. They were so
fair and beautiful that he called one of them Moon and the other, a
daughter, Sun; he married her to a man called Glen. The gods, however,
were angered at his arrogance and took the brother and sister and put
them up in the sky. They made Sun drive the horses which drew the
chariot of the sun that the gods had made to light the worlds from a
spark which flew from Muspell. The horses are called �rvak and Alsvið.
(early walker and all strong) Under the shoulder-blades of the horses
the gods put two bellows to cool them, and in some poems that is
called iron-cold. (literally ‘ iron coal ’) Moon governs the
journeying of the moon and decides the time of its waxing and waning.
He took from earth two children, known as Bil and Hjúki, as they were
coming away from the spring called Byrgir carrying on their shoulders
the pail called SÅ“g and the pole SÃ*mul. Their father's name is
Viðfinn. These children accompany Moon, as may be seen from earth.'


Then Gangleri said:
'The sun moves fast and almost as if she were afraid; she could not
travel faster if she were in fear of her life.'


Then High One answered:
'It is not surprising that she goes at a great pace; her pursuer is
close behind her and there is nothing she can do but flee.'


Then Gangleri asked:
'Who is it that torments her like this?'

High One replied: 'There are two wolves, and the one pursuing her who
is called Skoll is the one she fears; he will (ultimately) catch her.
The other that runs in front of her, however, is called Hati
Hróvitnisson, and he wants to catch the moon and will in the end.'


Then Gangleri asked:
'What family do the wolves come from?'

High One said:
'To the east of Miðgarð in a forest called Iron Wood lives a giantess.
Troll women known as Ironwoodites live in that forest. The aged
giantess gave birth to many giant sons, all of them in the shape of
wolves, and these two wolves have come about in that way. It is said
that the one called Mánagarm (moon dog) became the most powerful
member of that family; he gorges on the flesh of all who die, and he
will swallow the moon and bespatter the sky and all the air with
blood. Because of this the sun will lose its brightness, and the winds
will then become wild and rage on every side. As it says in the
Sibyl's Vision:


"The ancient one lives in the east in the Wood of Iron and there gives
birth to Fenrir's brood;
one of them all especially in form of a troll will seize the sun.
He is gorged with the flesh of the death-doomed and with red blood he
reddens the dwellings of the gods;
sunlight of summers to come will be black and all weathers bad


Do you know any more or not?"


Then Gangleri asked:
'What is the way from earth to heaven?'


Then High One answered, laughing:
'No one well informed would ask such a question. Have you never been
told that the gods built a bridge from earth to heaven called
Bifröst?' (Quivering roadway)You will have seen it, (but) maybe you
call it the rainbow. It has three colours and is very strong, and made
with more skill and cunning than other structures. But strong as it
is, it will break when the sons of Muspell ride out over it to harry,
and their horses (will) swim over great rivers; and in this fashion
they will come on the scene.'


Then Gangleri said:
'It doesn't seem to me that the gods built a reliable bridge when it
is going to break, and (yet) they can do what they will.'


High One said:
'The gods are not to blame for this structure. Bifröst is a good
bridge, but there is nothing in this world that can be relied on when
the sons of Muspell are on the warpath.'

<continued>

hulk_arnold_hercules

Thanks, Nik. Anyone up for a discussion of any sections that might
stand out or to talk about their application to our lives today?

Eric