The Prose Edda, passage 597

Then Regin made the sword which is hight Gram (wrath), and which was so sharp that when Sigurd held it in the flowing stream it cut asunder a tuft of wool which the current carried down against the sword’s edge. In the next place, Sigurd cut with his sword Regin’s anvil in twain. Thereupon Sigurd and Regin repaired to Gnita-heath.

The Prose Edda, passage 635

But Frode being the mightiest king in the northlands, this peace was attributed to him by all who spake the Danish tongue, and the Norsemen called it the peace of Frode. No man injured the other, even though he might meet, loose or in chains, his father’s or brother’s bane. There was no thief or robber, so that a gold ring would be a long time on Jalanger’s heath.

The Prose Edda, passage 1027

Mimer, 10, 19, 72, 73, 142, 143, 224, 227, 228, 234, 243. Mist, 99. Mithridates, 222, 229. Mjodvitner, 70. Mjoll, 241. Mjolner, 6-8, 64, 83, 111-130, 134, 148, 149, 171, 176. Mjotud, 246. Möbius (Th.), 18. Mode, 45, 148, 149, 168. Modgud, 135, 249. Modsogner, 70. Moin, 75. Mokkerkalfe, 171, 173. Moldau, 228. Mongolians, 225. Moon, 66. Moongarm, 67. Morn, 185, 186. Morris (Wm.), 224, 266. Müller (Max), 244. Müller (P. E.), 18, 20. Mummius, 223. Munch (P. A.), 18. Mundilfare, 66. Munin, 105.

The Prose Edda, passage 551

How shall Idun be named? She is called the wife of Brage, the keeper of the apples; but the apples are called the medicine to bar old age (ellilyf, elixir vitæ). She is also called the booty of the giant Thjasse, according to what has before been said concerning how he took her away from the asas. From this saga Thjodolf, of Hvin, composed the following song in his Haustlong:

The Prose Edda, passage 448

But what will seem wonderful to you is that the sun has brought forth a daughter not less fair than herself, and she rides in the heavenly course of her mother, as is here said:

The Prose Edda, passage 486

One is to name everything by its own name; another is to name it with a pronoun, but the third sort of diction is called _kenning_ (a poetical periphrasis or descriptive name); and this sort is so managed that when we name Odin, or Thor or Tyr, or any other of the asas or elves, we add to their name a reference to some other asa, or we make mention of some of his works. Then the appellation belongs to him who corresponds to the whole phrase, and not to him who was actually named.

The Prose Edda, passage 88

Another proof of this nature is, that every year there grow on the earth grass and flowers, and the same year it falls and withers; thus, also, on beasts and birds do hair and feathers grow and fall off each year. The third nature of the earth is, that when it is opened and dug into, then grass grows on the mould which is uppermost on the earth. Rocks and stones they explained to correspond to the teeth and bones of living things.

The Prose Edda, passage 52

His Heimskringla, embracing an elaborate history of the kings of Norway, is famous throughout the civilized world, and Emerson calls it the Iliad and Odyssey of our race. An English translation of this work was published by Samuel Laing, in London, in 1844. Carlyle’s Early Kings of Norway (London, 1875) was inspired by the Heimskringla.

The Prose Edda, passage 146

And stand now forth While you ask; He who answers shall sit.

The Prose Edda, passage 161

From the Elivogs Sprang drops of venom, And grew till a giant was made. Thence our race Are all descended, Therefore are we all so fierce.[16]

The Prose Edda, passage 1

An English Version of the Foreword; The Fooling of Gylfe, The Afterword; Brage’s Talk, The Afterword to Brage’s Talk, and the Important Passages in the Poetical Diction (Skaldskaparmal).

The Prose Edda, passage 382

And Thor grew so wroth at the giant that he came near letting the hammer ring on his head straightway, but he restrained himself, for he intended to try his strength elsewhere. He asked Hymer what they were to have for bait, but Hymer replied that he would have to find his own bait. Then Thor turned away to where he saw a herd of oxen, that belonged to Hymer. He took the largest ox, which was called Himinbrjot, twisted his head off and brought it down to the sea-strand.

The Prose Edda, passage 756

He taught all these arts in runes and songs, which are called incantations, and therefore the Asaland people are called incantation-smiths. Odin also understood the art in which the greatest power is lodged, and which he himself practiced, namely, what is called magic.

The Prose Edda, passage 755

Odin carried with him Mimer’s head, which told him all the news of other countries. Sometimes even he called the dead out of the earth, or set himself beside the burial-mounds; whence he was called the ghost-sovereign, and the lord of the mounds. He had two ravens,[127] to whom he had taught the speech of man; and they flew far and wide through the land, and brought him the news. In all such things he was preëminently wise.

The Prose Edda, passage 441

There is also an excellent hall which stands on the Nida mountains. It is built of red gold, and is called Sindre. In this hall good and well-minded men shall dwell. Nastrand is a large and terrible hall, and its doors open to the north. It is built of serpents wattled together, and all the heads of the serpents turn into the hall and vomit forth venom that flows in streams along the hall, and in these streams wade perjurers and murderers. So it is here said:

The Prose Edda, passage 653

Such were our deeds In former days, That we heroes brave Were thought to be. With spears sharp Heroes we pierced, So the gore did run And our swords grew red.

The Prose Edda, passage 386

He pulled the serpent up to the gunwale; and in truth no one has ever seen a more terrible sight than when Thor whet his eyes on the serpent, and the latter stared at him and spouted venom.

The Prose Edda, passage 191

13. Then asked Ganglere: What is the path from earth to heaven? Har answered, laughing: Foolishly do you now ask. Have you not been told that the gods made a bridge from earth to heaven, which is called Bifrost? You must have seen it. It may be that you call it the rainbow. It has three colors, is very strong, and is made with more craft and skill than other structures.

The Prose Edda, passage 1037

Sokvabek, 97, 259. Sol, 99. Solvarg, 67. Son, 164, 165. Sorle, 202-206 Spain, 225. Steinthor, 235. Stephens (Geo.), 230. Strabo, 226. Sturle (Thordsson), 21, 249. Styx, 248. Sudre, 61, 70. Sun, 66. Surt, 8, 57, 78, 142-149, 168, 249. Suttung, 164, 165. Svade, 241. Svadilfare, 110, 111. Svafner, 76, 243, 246, 247. Svanhild, 199-206. Svarin, 71, 259. Svartalfaheim, 94. Svarthofde, 58, 250. Svasud, 80. Sveinsson (Br.), 17. Sviagris, 215, 217. Svid, 246. Svidar, 54. Svidr, 236. Svidrer, 54, 245.

The Prose Edda, passage 593

What more is there to be told of this gold? Hreidmar accepted the gold as a ransom for his son, but Fafner and Regin demanded their share of it as a ransom for their brother. Hreidmar was, however, unwilling to give them as much as a penny of it. Then the brothers made an agreement to kill their father for the sake of the gold. When this was done, Regin demanded that Fafner should give him one half of it.

The Prose Edda, passage 807

Svidur and Svidre Hight I at Sokmimer’s, And fooled the ancient giant When I alone Midvitne’s, The mighty son’s, Bane had become.

The Prose Edda, passage 1043

Vafthrudner, 58, 243, 244. Vafud, 81, 246. Vafurloge, 199, 200. Vag, 214, 215. Vainamoinen, 84. Vak, 81, 246. Valaskjalf, 77, 80, 259. Valdemar (King), 23, 27. Vale, 71, 89, 100, 139, 148, 153, 260. Valfather, 73, 243. Valhal, 6, 7, 28, 51, 81, 99, 104-109, 132, 170-176, 188, 235, 243. Vanadis, 97. Vanaheim, 226, 227, 259. Vanaland, 226-228. Vanaquisl, 225-226. Var, 98. Vartare, 192. Vasad, 80. Ve, 60, 227, 230, 243, 249. Vedas, 253. Vedfolner, 75. Veggdegg, 45. Vegsvin, 106. Vegtam, 247, 264.

The Prose Edda, passage 616

On that night she went to the king when he had fallen asleep, and had with her her son Hogne. They slew him, and thus he ended his life. Then they set fire to the hall, and with it all the people who were in it were burned. Then she went to the sea and sprang into the water to drown herself; but she was carried across the fjord, and came to the land which belonged to King Jonaker. When he saw her he took her home and made her his wife.

The Prose Edda, passage 695

For, as William Morris so beautifully says of the Volsung Saga, this is the great story of the Teutonic race, and should be to us what the tale of Troy was to the Greeks, and what the tale of Æneas was to the Romans, to all our race first and afterward, when the evolution of the world has made the Teutonic race nothing more than a name of what it has been; a story, too, then, should it be to the races that come after us, no less than the Iliad, and the Odyssey and the Æneid have been to us.[101] We sincerely trust that we shall see Odin wrought into a Teutonic epic, that will present in grand outline the contrast between the Roman and the Teuton.

The Prose Edda, passage 724

He himself went northward to the sea, and took up his abode in an island which is called Odinse (see note below), in Funen. Then he sent Gefjun across the sound to the north to discover new countries, and she came to King Gylfe, who gave her a ploughland.

The Prose Edda, passage 518

The slayer[84] of Bele’s evil race Made fall the bear of the loud-roaring mountain;[85] On his shield Bite the dust Must the giant Before the sharp-edged hammer, When the giant-crusher Stood against the mighty Hrungner,

The Prose Edda, passage 131

The land there seemed good to Odin, and he chose there for himself a place for a burg, which is now called Sigtuna.[6] He there established chiefs, like unto what had formerly existed in Troy; he appointed twelve men in the burg to be judges of the law of the land, and made all rights to correspond with what had before been in Troy, and to what the Turks had been accustomed.

The Prose Edda, passage 261

29. Vidar is the name of the silent asa. He has a very thick shoe, and he is the strongest next after Thor. From him the gods have much help in all hard tasks.

The Prose Edda, passage 774

Frey took the kingdom after Njord, and was called drot by the Swedes, and they paid taxes to him. He was like his father, fortunate in friends and in good seasons. Frey built a great temple at Upsala, made it his chief seat, and gave it all his taxes, his land and goods. Then began the Upsala domains, which have remained ever since.

The Prose Edda, passage 962

GAGNRAD. A name of Odin. GALAR. A dwarf. GANDOLF. A dwarf. GANG. A giant. GANGLARE. A name of Odin. GANGLATE. Hel’s man-servant. GANGLERE. A name of Odin. GANGLOT. Hel’s maid-servant. GANGRAD. A name of Odin. GARDROFA. A horse. GARM. A dog that barks at Ragnarok. GAUT. A name of Odin. GEFJUN. A goddess; she is present at Æger’s feast. GEFN. One of the names of Freyja. GEIRAHOD. A valkyrie. GEIRROD. A giant visited by Thor. GEIR SKOGUL. A valkyrie. GEIRVIMUL.

The Prose Edda, passage 778

Freyja alone remained of the gods, and she became on this account so celebrated that all women of distinction were called by her name, whence they now have the title Frue (Germ. _Frau_), so that every woman is called frue (that is, mistress) over her property, and the wife is called the house-frue. Freyja continued the blood-sacrifices. Freyja had also many other names. Her husband was called Oder, and her daughters Hnos and Gersame. They were so very beautiful that afterward the most precious jewels were called by their names.

The Prose Edda, passage 251

[Footnote 40: Icel. _frú_ (Ger. _frau_; Dan. _frue_), pl. _frúr_, means a lady. It is used of the wives of men of rank or title. It is derived from Freyja.]

The Prose Edda, passage 413

When the net was made, the asas went to the river and cast it into the force. Thor held one end of the net, and all the other asas laid hold on the other, thus jointly drawing it along the stream. Loke went before it and laid himself down between two stones, so that they drew the net over him, although they perceived that some living thing touched the meshes. They went up to the force again and cast out the net a second time.

The Prose Edda, passage 353

No one can stay with us here, unless he is skilled in some craft or accomplishment beyond the most of men. Then answered he who came in last, namely Loke: I know the feat of which I am prepared to give proof, that there is no one present who can eat his food faster than I. Then said Utgard-Loke: That is a feat, indeed, if you can keep your word, and you shall try it immediately.

The Prose Edda, passage 331

But though there have been things so mighty and strong that Thor has not been able to gain the victory, they are such as ought not to be spoken of; for there are many proofs which all must accept that Thor is the mightiest. Then said Ganglere: It seems to me that I have now asked about something that no one can answer.

The Prose Edda, passage 1025

Laage, 231. Lading, 93. Laing (Samuel), 22, 224. Landvide, 259. Laomedon, 43. Latin, 222. Laufey, 91, 110, 113, 137. Leidre (See Hleidre), 231. Leipt, 56, 248. Lerad, 106, 263. Letfet, 73, 260. Liber, 228. Libera, 228. Lif, 149. Lifthraser, 149. Lit, 71, 134. Lithraborg, 231. Ljosalfaheim, 259. Loder, 243. Lofn, 98. Loge, 120, 126, 240, 243. Logrinn, 49. Loke, 6-8, 80, 91-96, 109-145, 151, 153, 155-158, 176-187, 188-199, 240, 260, 261, 264, 265. Lopt, 91, 186. Loptsson (Jon), 20. Lora, 44. Loricos, 44. Loride, 44. Lovar, 71. Lybia, 230, 242. Lyngve, 94.

The Prose Edda, passage 1024

Kadmos, 241. Kalevala, 84. Kalmuks, 225. Kann, 254. Kare, 240-243. Kemble, 258. Kerlangs, 73. Keyser (Rud.), 18, 19, 20, 23, 25, 26. Kesfet, 45. Kile, 71. Kingsley (Chas.), 230. Kjalar, 81, 245. Knue, 211. Kormt, 73. Kvaser, 137, 160-165, 227.

The Prose Edda, passage 284

But why did not the asas kill the wolf when they have evil to expect from him? Har answered: So great respect have the gods for their holiness and peace-stead, that they would not stain them with the blood of the wolf, though prophecies foretell that he must become the bane of Odin.

The Prose Edda, passage 450

And if you now can ask more questions, said Har to Ganglere, I know not whence that power came to you. I have never heard any one tell further the fate of the world. Make now the best use you can of what has been told you.

The Prose Edda, passage 321

When they told him these terms, he requested that they should allow him to have the help of his horse, called Svadilfare, and at the suggestion of Loke this was granted him.

The Prose Edda, passage 406

He took the ring Draupner and sent it as a keepsake to Odin. Nanna sent Frigg a kerchief and other gifts, and to Fulla she sent a ring. Thereupon Hermod rode back and came to Asgard, where he reported the tidings he had seen and heard.

The Prose Edda, passage 218

An ash I know Hight Ygdrasil; A high, holy tree With white clay sprinkled. Thence come the dews That fall in the dales. Green forever it stands Over Urd’s fountain.[28]

The Prose Edda, passage 604

Then he got the hand of Gudrun, Gjuke’s daughter, and Gunnar and Hogne entered into a sworn brotherhood with Sigurd. Afterward Sigurd and the sons of Gjuke went to Atle, Budle’s son, to ask for his sister, Brynhild, for Gunnar’s wife. She sat on Hindfell, and her hall was surrounded by the bickering flame called the Vafurloge, and she had made a solemn promise not to wed any other man than him who dared to ride through the bickering flame.

The Prose Edda, passage 136

1. King Gylfe ruled the lands that are now called Svithjod (Sweden). Of him it is said that he gave to a wayfaring woman, as a reward for the entertainment she had afforded him by her story-telling, a plow-land in his realm, as large as four oxen could plow it in a day and a night But this woman was of the asa-race; her name was Gefjun. She took from the north, from Jotunheim, four oxen, which were the sons of a giant and her, and set them before the plow.

The Prose Edda, passage 224

Then said Ganglere: Who guards this palace when Surt’s fire burns up heaven and earth? Har answered: It is said that to the south and above this heaven is another heaven, which is called Andlang. But there is a third, which is above these, and is called Vidblain, and in this heaven we believe this mansion (Gimle) to be situated; but we deem that the light-elves alone dwell in it now.

The Prose Edda, passage 1006

Cæsar, 233. Cain, 265. Carlyle, Sir Thomas, 22, 252. Carthage, 31, 242. Cato, the Elder, 31. Caucasian, 226. Celtic, 239, 240, 244. Cerberos, 41. Chaldeans, 40. Chasgar, 226. China, 28. Chlotildis, 255. Christ, 201, 221, 223. Cicero, 229. Columbus, 30. Cottle, A. S., 15. Crete, 28, 39-42.

The Prose Edda, passage 834

In the appendix to the German so-called Hero-Book we are told that the dwarfs were first created to cultivate the desert lands and the mountains; thereupon the giants, to subdue the wild beasts; and finally the heroes, to assist the dwarfs against the treacherous giants. While the giants are always hostile to the gods, the dwarfs are usually friendly to them.

The Prose Edda, passage 395

Hoder took the mistletoe and shot at Balder under the guidance of Loke. The dart pierced him and he fell dead to the ground. This is the greatest misfortune that has ever happened to gods and men. When Balder had fallen, the asas were struck speechless with horror, and their hands failed them to lay hold of the corpse. One looked at the other, and all were of one mind toward him who had done the deed, but being assembled in a holy peace-stead, no one could take vengeance.

The Prose Edda, passage 554

Suspected of malice Was the giant toward the gods. Who causes this? Said the chief of the gods. The wise-worded giant-eagle From the old tree began to speak. The friend of Honer Was not friendly to him.

The Prose Edda, passage 19

R. B. ANDERSON. University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis., _September, 1879_.