The Prose Edda, passage 1033

Rachel, 255. Radgrid, 99. Redsvid, 71. Rafn, 215. Rafnagud, 105. Ragnar, 206. Ragnar (Lodbrok), 205. Ragnarok, 8, 88, 96, 104, 139-145, 167, 219, 228, 247, 249, 264, 266. Ran, 188. Randgrid, 99. Randver, 202-205. Rask (Rasmus), 18. Ratatosk, 75. Rate, 163. Refil, 196. Regin, 193-200. Reginleif, 99. Reidartyr, 165. Reidgotaland, 46. Rek, 71. Remus, 222, 223. Resen (P. J.), 17. Rhine, 201, 230. Rind, 89, 100. Ritta, 46. Roddros, 167. Rolf Krake, 214-217. Rogner, 246. Rome, 31, 43, 221-230. Romulus, 222, 223. Romulus (Augustulus), 223. Roskva, 114, 115. Rosta, 100. Rugman (Jon), 17. Russia, 225, 230.

The Prose Edda, passage 260

28. Hoder hight one of the asas, who is blind, but exceedingly strong; and the gods would wish that this asa never needed to be named, for the work of his hand will long be kept in memory both by gods and men.

The Prose Edda, passage 319

In the beginning, when the town of the gods was building, when the gods had established Midgard and made Valhal, there came a certain builder and offered to make them a burg, in three half years, so excellent that it should be perfectly safe against the mountain-giants and frost-giants, even though they should get within Midgard. But he demanded as his reward, that he should have Freyja, and he wanted the sun and moon besides.

The Prose Edda, passage 721

[Footnote 116: This shows that the vans must have belonged to the mythological system of some older race that, like the ancient Romans (Liber and Libera), recognized the propriety of marriage between brothers and sisters, at least among their gods. Such marriages were not allowed among our Odinic ancestors. Hence we see that when Njord, Frey and Freyja were admitted to Asgard, they entered into new marriage relations. Njord married Skade, Frey married Gerd, and Freyja married Oder. Our ancestors were never savages!]

The Prose Edda, passage 403

She asked him for his name, and of what kin he was, saying that the day before there rode five fylkes (kingdoms, bands) of dead men over the bridge; but she added, it does not shake less under you alone, and you do not have the hue of dead men. Why do you ride the way to Hel? He answered: I am to ride to Hel to find Balder. Have you seen him pass this way? She answered that Balder had ridden over the Gjallar-bridge; adding: But downward and northward lies the way to Hel.

The Prose Edda, passage 254

But when the asas would not loose the Fenris-wolf, he bit Tyr’s hand off at the place of the wolf’s joint (the wrist; Icel. _úlfliðr_[41]). From that time Tyr is one-handed, and he is now called a peacemaker among men.

The Prose Edda, passage 963

One of the streams flowing from Hvergelmer. GELGJA. The fetter with which the Fenris-wolf was chained. GERD. A beautiful giantess, daughter of Gymer. GERE. One of Odin’s wolves. GERSAME. One of the daughters of Freyja. GILLING. Father of Suttung, who possessed the poetic mead. GIMLE. The abode of the righteous after Ragnarok. GINNAR. A dwarf. GINUNGAGAP. The premundane abyss. GIPUL. One of the streams flowing from Hvergelmer. GISL. One of the horses of the gods. GJALLAR-BRIDGE.

The Prose Edda, passage 108

And from this and many other secret gifts of power that he had, men believed him to be God, and from him arose another error among the Cretans and Macedonians like the one before mentioned among the Assyrians and Chaldeans from Zoroaster. And when Saturn finds how great strength the people think they have in him, he calls himself God, and says that he rules heaven and earth and all things.

The Prose Edda, passage 664

A king in Denmark hight Rolf Krake, and was the most famous of all kings of olden times; moreover, he was more mild, brave and condescending than all other men. A proof of his condescension, which is very often spoken of in olden stories, was the following: There was a poor little fellow by name Vog. He once came into King Rolf’s hall while the king was yet a young man, and of rather delicate growth. Then Vog went before him and looked up at him.

The Prose Edda, passage 1059

This chapter of _Skaldskaparmal_ _text reads “Skaldkaparmal”_

The Prose Edda, passage 481

Then Bolverk drew forth the auger which is called Rate, and requested Bauge to bore a hole through the rock, if the auger was sharp enough. He did so. Then said Bauge that there was a hole through the rock; but Bolverk blowed into the hole that the auger had made, and the chips flew back into his face. Thus he saw that Bauge intended to deceive him, and commanded him to bore through. Bauge bored again, and when Bolverk blew a second time the chips flew inward.

The Prose Edda, passage 707

[Footnote 110: The Tanais is the present Don river, which empties into the Sea of Asov.]

The Prose Edda, passage 643

We grind for Frode Wealth and happiness, And gold abundant On the mill of luck. Dance on roses! Sleep on down! Wake when you please! That is well ground.

The Prose Edda, passage 533

Thor did not long let Loke Invite him to the arduous journey. They were eager to crush Thorn’s descendants. When he, who is wont to swing Megingjard, Once set out from Odin’s home To visit Ymer’s children in Gandvik,

The Prose Edda, passage 673

The same did also his men, one after the other, and then they took those who had put fuel on the fire and cast them into it. Now Yrsa came and handed Rolf Krake a deer’s horn full of gold, and with it she gave him the ring Sviagris, and requested them to ride straightway to their army. They sprang upon their horses and rode away over the Fyrisvold. Then they saw that King Adils was riding after them with his whole army, all armed, and was going to slay them.

The Prose Edda, passage 336

All can understand how frightened the bonde became when he saw that Thor let his brows sink down over his eyes. When he saw his eyes he thought he must fall down at the sight of them alone. Thor took hold of the handle of his hammer so hard that his knuckles grew white. As might be expected, the bonde and all his household cried aloud and sued for peace, offering him as an atonement all that they possessed. When he saw their fear, his wrath left him.

The Prose Edda, passage 219

The dew which falls on the earth from this tree men call honey-fall, and it is the food of bees. Two birds are fed in Urd’s fountain; they are called swans, and they are the parents of the race of swans.

The Prose Edda, passage 772

[Footnote 132: He gave himself nine wounds in the form of the head of a spear, or Thor’s hammer; that is, he marked himself with the sign of the _cross_, an ancient heathen custom.]

The Prose Edda, passage 769

To Saming Jarl Hakon the Great reckoned up his pedigree.[131] This Svithjod (Sweden) they call Mannheim, but the great Svithjod they call Godheim, and of Godheim great wonders and novelties were related.

The Prose Edda, passage 235

[Footnote 33: Oku is derived from the Finnish thunder-god, Ukko.]

The Prose Edda, passage 423

Surt rides first, and before him and after him flames burning fire. He has a very good sword, which shines brighter than the sun. As they ride over Bifrost it breaks to pieces, as has before been stated. The sons of Muspel direct their course to the plain which is called Vigrid. Thither repair also the Fenris-wolf and the Midgard-serpent. To this place have also come Loke and Hrym, and with him all the frost-giants. In Loke’s company are all the friends of Hel.

The Prose Edda, passage 41

All the paraphrases of the asas and asynjes, of the world, the earth, the sea, the sun, the wind, fire, summer, man, woman, gold, of war, arms, of a ship, emperor, king, ruler, etc., are of interest only as they help to explain passages of Old Norse poems. The same is true of the enumeration of metres, which contains a number of epithets and metaphors used by the scalds, illustrated by specimens of their poetry, and also by a poem of Snorre Sturleson, written in one hundred different metres.

The Prose Edda, passage 933

“Christmas eve he was so needy that he came to me and asked me for mercy’s sake to give him a little food, and now he gives a feast as though he were both count and king,” said he to the others.

The Prose Edda, passage 266

33. There is yet one who is numbered among the asas, but whom some call the backbiter of the asas. He is the originator of deceit, and the disgrace of all gods and men. His name is Loke, or Lopt. His father is the giant Farbaute, but his mother’s name is Laufey, or Nal. His brothers are Byleist and Helblinde. Loke is fair and beautiful of face, but evil in disposition, and very fickle-minded. He surpasses other men in the craft called cunning, and cheats in all things. He has often brought the asas into great trouble, and often helped them out again, with his cunning contrivances. His wife hight Sygin, and their son, Nare, or Narfe.

The Prose Edda, passage 360

But when his breath gave out, and he looked into the horn to see how it had gone with his drinking, it seemed to him difficult to determine whether there was less in it than before. Then said Utgard-Loke: That is well drunk, still it is not very much. I could never have believed it, if anyone had told me, that Asa-Thor could not drink more, but I know you will be able to empty it in a second draught.

The Prose Edda, passage 238

[Footnote 35: The author of the Younger Edda is here mistaken. See note on page 82 {Footnote 33}.]

The Prose Edda, passage 539

But the warriors, The oath-bound protectors of Asgard,-- The experienced vikings,-- Waded fast and the stream sped on. Thou god of the bow! The billows Blown by the mountain-storm Powerfully rushed Over Thor’s shoulders.

The Prose Edda, passage 359

Said Utgard-Loke: From this horn it is thought to be well drunk if it is emptied in one draught, some men empty it in two draughts, but there is no drinker so wretched that he cannot exhaust it in three. Thor looked at the horn and did not think it was very large, though it seemed pretty long, but he was very thirsty. He put it to his lips and swallowed with all his might, thinking that he should not have to bend over the horn a second time.

The Prose Edda, passage 873

Of the Swedish elves, Arndt gives the following sketch: Of giants, of dwarfs, of the alp, of dragons, that keep watch over treasures, they have the usual stories; nor are the kindly elves forgotten. How often has my postillion, when he observed a circular mark in the dewy grass, exclaimed: See! there the elves have been dancing. These elf-dances play a great part in the spinning-room.

The Prose Edda, passage 729

Then they go on to tell how the Roman empire had arrived at its highest point of power, and saw all the then known world--the orbis terrarum--subject to its laws, when an unforeseen event raised up enemies against it from the very heart of the forests of Scythia, and on the banks of the Don river. The leader was Mithridates the Great, against whom the Romans waged three wars, and the Romans looked upon him as the most formidable enemy the empire had ever had to contend with.

The Prose Edda, passage 754

Odin could transform his shape; his body would lie as if dead or asleep, but then he would be in the shape of a fish, or worm, or bird, or beast, and be off in a twinkling to distant lands upon his own or other peoples’ business. With words alone he could quench fire, still the ocean in tempest, and turn the wind to any quarter he pleased. Odin had a ship, which he called Skidbladner,[126] in which he sailed over wide seas, and which he could roll up like a cloth.

The Prose Edda, passage 68

Then follows Skaldskaparmal, wherein is an analysis of the various circumlocutions practiced by the skalds, all illustrated by copious quotations from the poets. How much of these three parts is written by Snorre is not certain, but on the other hand, there is no doubt that he is the author of Hattatal (Clavis Metrica), which gives an enumeration of metres. To these four treatises are added four chapters on grammar and rhetoric.

The Prose Edda, passage 542

And the war companions-- Weapons despising-- ’Mong the giants made havoc, Until, O woman! The giant destroyers The conflict of helmets With the warlike race Did commence.

The Prose Edda, passage 879

5. GLADSHEIM, where there are twelve seats for the gods, besides the throne occupied by Alfather.

The Prose Edda, passage 529

Under the seat were Geirrod’s daughters, Gjalp and Greip, and he had broken the backs of both of them. Then quoth Thor:

The Prose Edda, passage 1062

... from the mouth {of the} chained Fenris-wolf. ... out of whose body the world was cr{eated.} _page image incomplete; words and letters in braces supplied from context_

The Prose Edda, passage 273

But as soon as he spurned against it the fetter burst asunder, and he was free from Lading. Then the asas made another fetter, by one-half stronger, and this they called Drome. They wanted the wolf to try this also, saying to him that he would become very famous for his strength, if so strong a chain was not able to hold him. The wolf thought that this fetter was indeed very strong, but also that his strength had increased since he broke Lading.

The Prose Edda, passage 485

6. Then said Æger: In how many ways do you vary the poetical expressions, or how many kinds of poetry are there? Answered Brage: There are two kinds, and all poetry falls into one or the other of these classes. Æger asks: Which two? Brage answers: Diction and meter. What diction is used in poetry? There are three sorts of poetic diction. Which?

The Prose Edda, passage 817

GINUNGAGAP. Ginn means wide, large, far-reaching, perhaps also void (compare the Anglo-Saxon _gin_ = gaping, open, spacious; ginian = to gap; and ginnung = a yawning). Ginungagap thus means the yawning gap or abyss, and represents empty space. The poets use ginnung in the sense of a fish and of a hawk, and in geographical saga-fragments it is used as the name of the Polar Sea.

The Prose Edda, passage 151

It was Time’s morning, When there nothing was; Nor sand, nor sea, Nor cooling billows. Earth there was not, Nor heaven above. The Ginungagap was, But grass nowhere.[12]

The Prose Edda, passage 519

And the flint-stone (So hard to break) Of the friend of the troll-women Into the skull did whiz Of Jord’s son,[86] And this flinty piece Fast did stick In Eindride’s[87] blood;

The Prose Edda, passage 566

Why is gold called Æger’s fire? The saga relating to this is, as has before been told, that Æger made a visit to Asgard, but when he was ready to return home he invited Odin and all the asas to come and pay him a visit after the lapse of three months. On this journey went Odin, Njord, Frey, Tyr, Brage, Vidar, Loke; and also the asynjes, Frigg, Freyja, Gefjun, Skade, Idun, Sif. Thor was not there, for he had gone eastward to fight trolls.

The Prose Edda, passage 800

This chapter gives twelve names of Odin. In the Eddas and in the skaldic lays he has in all nearly two hundred names. His most common name is Odin (in Anglo-Saxon and in Old High German _Wodan_), and this is thought by many to be of the same origin as our word _god_. The other Old Norse word for god, _tivi_, is identical in root with Lat. _divus_; Sansk. _dwas_; Gr. Διός (Ζεύς); and this is again connected with _Tyr_, the Tivisco in the Germania of Tacitus.

The Prose Edda, passage 119

And so much power accompanied these men for many ages after, that when Pompey, a Roman chieftain, harried in the east region, Odin fled out of Asia and hither to the north country, and then he gave to himself and his men their names, and said that Priamos had hight Odin and his queen Frigg, and from this the realm afterward took its name and was called Frigia where the burg stood.

The Prose Edda, passage 133

The asas took to themselves wives there within the land. But some took wives for their sons, and these families became so numerous that they spread over Saxland, and thence over the whole north region, and the tongue of these Asiamen became the native tongue of all these lands.

The Prose Edda, passage 13

We would recommend our readers to omit the Forewords and Afterwords until they have perused the Fooling of Gylfe and Brage’s Speech. The Forewords and Afterwords, it will readily be seen, are written by a later and less skillful hand, and we should be sorry to have anyone lay the book aside and lose the pleasure of reading Snorre’s and Olaf’s charming work, because he became disgusted with what seemed to him mere silly twaddle.

The Prose Edda, passage 351

47. Thor and his companions went their way and continued their journey until noon. Then they saw a burg standing on a plain, and it was so high that they had to bend their necks clear back before they could look over it. They drew nearer and came to the burg-gate, which was closed. Thor finding himself unable to open it, and being anxious to get within the burg, they crept between the bars and so came in. They discovered a large hall and went to it.

The Prose Edda, passage 257

[Footnote 42: Compare the Anglo-Saxon _brego_ = princeps, chief.]

The Prose Edda, passage 147

3. Ganglere then made the following question: Who is the highest and oldest of all the gods? Made answer Har: Alfather he is called in our tongue, but in Asgard of old he had twelve names. The first is Alfather, the second is Herran or Herjan, the third Nikar or Hnikar, the fourth Nikuz or Hnikud, the fifth Fjolner, the sixth Oske, the seventh Ome, the eighth Biflide or Biflinde, the ninth Svidar, the tenth Svidrer, the eleventh Vidrer, the twelfth Jalg or Jalk.

The Prose Edda, passage 849

This feature in Shakspeare appears to me to merit closer investigation; all the more so because a less regular alliteration, but still a marked one, is found in not a few passages of a number of his plays. Only one further instance of the systematic employment of alliteration may here be noted in passing. It is in Ariel’s songs in the _Tempest_, Act i, scene 2. Schlegel and Tieck evidently did not observe this alliterative peculiarity.