The Prose Edda
Snorri Sturluson (Rasmus Anderson translation)
1,062 passages indexed from The Prose Edda (Snorri Sturluson (Rasmus Anderson translation)) — Page 21 of 22
License: Public Domain
The Prose Edda, passage 208
The third root of the ash is in heaven, and beneath it is the most sacred fountain of Urd. Here the gods have their doomstead. The asas ride hither every day over Bifrost, which is also called Asa-bridge. The following are the names of the horses of the gods: Sleipner is the best one; he belongs to Odin, and he has eight feet. The second is Glad, the third Gyller, the fourth Gler, the fifth Skeidbrimer, the sixth Silfertop, the seventh Siner, the eighth Gisl, the ninth Falhofner, the tenth Gulltop, the eleventh Letfet. Balder’s horse was burned with him. Thor goes on foot to the doomstead, and wades the following rivers:
The Prose Edda, passage 326
The builder hurried after them with all his might, and wanted to catch the steed, but these horses kept running all night, and thus the time was lost, and at dawn the work had not made the usual progress. When the builder saw that his work was not going to be completed, he resumed his giant form. When the asas thus became sure that it was really a mountain-giant that had come among them, they did not heed their oaths, but called on Thor.
The Prose Edda, passage 1035
Sidhot, 81, 245, 247. Sidskeg, 81, 245, 247. Sif, 44, 89, 170, 187, 189-192. Sigar, 46. Sigfather, 81, 245, 247. Sigfrid, 19, 232, 263. Sigge, 46. Sighan, 257. Sighvat, 20. Sigmund, 196-204. Sigtuna, 47, 230, 232. Sigtyr, 165, 189, 247. Sigurd, 196-204, 262, 267. Sigyn, 139, 153, 185. Silvertop, 73, 260. Simrock (K.), 18, 19, 253, 263. Simul, 66. Sindre, 147, 190-192. Siner, 73, 260. Sinfjotle, 204. Sjafne, 98. Sjofn, 98. Skade, 84, 85, 139, 158, 159, 185, 187, 228, 236, 259. Skeggold, 99.
The Prose Edda, passage 540
Thjalfe and his companion, With their heads above water, Got over the river,-- To Thor’s belt they clung. Their strength was tested,-- Geirrod’s daughters made hard the stream For the iron rod. Angry fared Thor with the Gridarvol.
The Prose Edda, passage 107
He also foretold harvests and many other secret things, and for such, and many other deeds, he was chosen chief of the island. And when he had ruled it a short time, then there speedily enough became a great abundance of all things. No money circulated excepting gold coins, so plentiful was this metal; and though there was famine in other lands, the crops never failed in Crete, so that people might seek there all the things which they needed to have.
The Prose Edda, passage 90
From such things they suspected that some one must be the ruler of the heavenly bodies who could stay their course at his own will, and he must be strong and mighty; and of him they thought that, if he ruled the prime elements, he must also have been before the heavenly bodies, and they saw that, if he ruled the course of the heavenly bodies, he must rule the sunshine, and the dew of the heavens, and the products of the earth that follow them; and thus, also, the winds of the air and therewith the storms of the sea.
The Prose Edda, passage 201
But the following come from Svarin’s How to Aurvang on Joruvold, and from them is sprung Lovar. Their names are:
The Prose Edda, passage 589
The dwarf begged him not to take the ring away from him, for with this ring he could increase his wealth again if he kept it. Loke said the dwarf should not keep as much as a penny, took the ring from him and went out. But the dwarf said that that ring should be the bane of every one who possessed it. Loke replied that he was glad of this, and said that all should be fulfilled according to his prophecy: he would take care to bring the curse to the ears of him who was to receive it.
The Prose Edda, passage 972
The seat of Odin, whence he looked out over all the world. HLIN. One of the attendants of Frigg; Frigg herself is sometimes called by this name. HLODYN. Thor’s mother. HLOK. A valkyrie. HLORIDE. A name of Thor. HNIKER. A name of Odin. HNIKUD. A name of Odin. HNITBJORG. The place where Suttung hid the poetic mead. HNOS. Freyja’s daughter. HODER. The slayer of Balder; he is blind. HODMIMER’S-HOLT. The grove where the two human beings, Lif and Lifthraser, were preserved during Ragnarok. HOFVARPNER.
The Prose Edda, passage 869
ELVES. The elves of later times seem a sort of middle thing between the light and dark elves. They are fair and lively, but also bad and mischievous. In some parts of Norway the peasants describe them as diminutive naked boys with hats on. Traces of their dance are sometimes to be seen on the wet grass, especially on the banks of rivers.
The Prose Edda, passage 822
In the song of Sturle Thordson, on the death of Skule Jarl, it is said that “the king’s kinsman went over the Gjoll-bridge.” The farther part of the horizon, which often appears like a broad bright stream, may have suggested this river.
The Prose Edda, passage 793
Gefjun is usually interpreted as a goddess of agriculture, and her name is by some derived from γῆ; and _fjon_, that is, _terræ separatio_; others compare it with the Anglo-Saxon _geofon_ = the sea. The etymology remains very uncertain.
The Prose Edda, passage 792
The passage in verse, which has given translators so much trouble in a transposed form, would read as follows: Gefjun glad drew that excellent land (djúpródul = the deep sun = gold; öðla = udal = property; djúpródul öðla = the golden property), Denmark’s increase (Seeland), so that it reeked (steamed) from the running oxen. The oxen bore four heads and eight eyes, as they went before the wide piece of robbed land of the isle so rich in grass.
The Prose Edda, passage 911
This chapter of _Skaldskaparmal_ contains much valuable material for a correct understanding of the Nibelungen-Lied, especially as to the origin of the Niblung hoard, and the true character of Brynhild. The material given here, and in the Icelandic Volsunga Saga, has been used by Wm. Morris in his Sigurd the Volsung and the Fall of the Niblungs.
The Prose Edda, passage 414
This time they hung a great weight to it, making it so heavy that nothing could possibly pass under it. Loke swam before the net, but when he saw that he was near the sea he sprang over the top of the net and hastened back to the force. When the asas saw whither he went they proceeded up to the force, dividing themselves into two bands, but Thor waded in the middle of the stream, and so they dragged the net along to the sea.
The Prose Edda, passage 358
Utgard-Loke now asked Thor what feats there were that he would be willing to exhibit before them, corresponding to the tales that men tell of his great works. Thor replied that he preferred to compete with someone in drinking. Utgard-Loke said there would be no objection to this. He went into the hall, called his cup-bearer, and requested him to take the sconce-horn that his thanes were wont to drink from. The cup-bearer immediately brought forward the horn and handed it to Thor.
The Prose Edda, passage 901
Gradually, however, the myth was changed from a symbol of the departing and returning summer, and applied to the departing and returning of the world year, and thus the death of Balder prepares the way for Ragnarok and Regeneration. Balder goes to Hel and does not return to this world. Thokk refuses to weep for him. His return is promised after Ragnarok. The next spring does not bring him back, but the rejuvenated earth.
The Prose Edda, passage 421
The sea rushes over the earth, for the Midgard-serpent writhes in giant rage and seeks to gain the land. The ship that is called Naglfar also becomes loose. It is made of the nails of dead men; wherefore it is worth warning that, when a man dies with unpared nails, he supplies a large amount of materials for the building of this ship, which both gods and men wish may be finished as late as possible. But in this flood Naglfar gets afloat. The giant Hrym is its steersman.
The Prose Edda, passage 832
While the etymology of the names in the myths are very obscure, the myths themselves are clear enough. Similar myths abound in Greek mythology. The story about Bil and Hjuke is our old English rhyme about Jack and Gill, who went up the hill to fetch a pail of water.
The Prose Edda, passage 569
Then the saga goes on telling how it happens that gold is called the fire, or light or brightness of Æger, of Ran, or of Æger’s daughters; and from these periphrases it is allowed to call gold the fire of the sea, or of any of the periphrases of the sea, since Æger and Ran are found in periphrases of the sea; and thus gold is now called the fire of waters, of rivers, or of all the periphrases of rivers. But these names have fared like other periphrases.
The Prose Edda, passage 973
Gna’s horse. HOGNE. A son of Gjuke. HONER. One of the three creating gods; with Odin and Loder he creates Ask and Embla. HOR. A dwarf. HORN. A name of Freyja. HRASVELG. A giant in an eagle’s plumage, who produces the wind. HREIDMAR. The father of Regin and Fafner. HRIB. One of the streams flowing from Hvergelmer. HRIMFAXE. The horse of Night. HRINGHORN. The ship upon which Balder’s body was burned. HRIST. A valkyrie. HRODVITNER. A wolf; father of the wolf Hate. HRON.
The Prose Edda, passage 64
The most important portion is written, or perhaps better, compiled, by Snorre Sturleson, and the whole is finally edited and furnished with forewords and afterwords, early in the fourteenth century,--according to Keyser, about 1320-1330.
The Prose Edda, passage 582
The decision of the gods was, that the hammer was the best of all these treasures and the greatest protection against the frost-giants, and they declared that the dwarf had fairly won the wager. Then Loke offered to ransom his head. The dwarf answered saying there was no hope for him on that score. Take me, then! said Loke; but when the dwarf was to seize him Loke was far away, for he had the shoes with which he could run through the air and over the sea.
The Prose Edda, passage 26
The Younger Edda (also called Snorre’s Edda, or the Prose Edda), of which we now have the pleasure of presenting our readers an English version, contains, as usually published in the original, the following divisions:
The Prose Edda, passage 362
Are you not leaving more for the third draught than befits your skill? It seems to me that if you are to empty the horn with the third draught, then this will be the greatest. You will not be deemed so great a man here among us as the asas call you, if you do not distinguish yourself more in other feats than you seem to me to have done in this.
The Prose Edda, passage 870
Their exhalation is injurious, and is called _alfgust_ or _elfblæst_, causing a swelling, which is easily contracted by too nearly approaching places where they have spat, etc. They have a predilection for certain spots, but particularly for large trees, which on that account the owners do not venture to meddle with, but look on them as something sacred, on which the weal or woe of the place depends.
The Prose Edda, passage 738
We can understand how it became possible for “those vast multitudes, which the populous north poured from her frozen loins, to pass the Rhine and the Danube, and come like a deluge on the south, and spread beneath Gibraltar and the Libyan sands;” how it were possible, we say, for them so largely to remodel and invigorate a considerable part of Europe, nay, how they could succeed in overrunning and overturning “the rich but rotten, the mighty but marrowless, the disciplined but diseased, Roman empire; that gigantic and heartless and merciless usurpation of soulless materialism and abject superstition of universal despotism, of systemized and relentless plunder, and of depravity deep as hell.” In connection with this subject we would refer our readers to Mallet’s Northern Antiquities, pp.
The Prose Edda, passage 171
The sun knew not Where her hall she had; The moon knew not What might he had; The stars knew not Their resting-places.[18]
The Prose Edda, passage 227
19. Then said Ganglere: How comes it that summer is so hot, but the winter so cold? Har answered: A wise man would not ask such a question, for all are able to tell this; but if you alone have become so stupid that you have not heard of it, then I would rather forgive you for asking unwisely once than that you should go any longer in ignorance of what you ought to know. Svasud is the name of him who is father of summer, and he lives such a life of enjoyment, that everything that is mild is from him called sweet (svasligt). But the father of winter has two names, Vindlone and Vindsval. He is the son of Vasad, and all that race are grim and of icy breath, and winter is like them.
The Prose Edda, passage 15
We have done this, not only on account of the material it furnishes as the groundwork of a Teutonic epic, which we trust the muses will ere long direct some one to write, but also on account of the vivid picture it gives of Teutonic life as shaped and controlled by the Odinic faith.
The Prose Edda, passage 393
Frigg asked this woman whether she knew what the asas were doing at their meeting. She answered that all were shooting at Balder, but that he was not scathed thereby. Then said Frigg: Neither weapon nor tree can hurt Balder, I have taken an oath from them all. Then asked the woman: Have all things taken an oath to spare Balder? Frigg answered: West of Valhal there grows a little shrub that is called the mistletoe, that seemed to me too young to exact an oath from.
The Prose Edda, passage 669
Then the berserks each demanded three pounds of gold in pay for their service, and also asked for the treasures which they had chosen for Rolf Krake, and which they now desired to bring to him. These were the helmet Hildegolt; the byrnie Finnsleif, which no steel could scathe; and the gold ring called Sviagris, which had belonged to Adils’ forefathers. But the king refused to surrender any of these treasures, nor did he give the berserks any pay.
The Prose Edda, passage 281
The one asa looked at the other, and thought there now was a choice of two evils, and no one would offer his hand, before Tyr held out his right hand and laid it in the wolf’s mouth. But when the wolf now began to spurn against it the band grew stiffer, and the more he strained the tighter it got. They all laughed except Tyr; he lost his hand.
The Prose Edda, passage 396
When the asas at length tried to speak, the wailing so choked their voices that one could not describe to the other his sorrow. Odin took this misfortune most to heart, since he best comprehended how great a loss and injury the fall of Balder was to the asas.
The Prose Edda, passage 438
[Footnote 69: Elder Edda: The Vala’s Prophecy, 50-52, 54-57, 59, 60, 62, 63.]
The Prose Edda, passage 644
Here shall no one Hurt the other, Nor in ambush lie, Nor seek to kill; Nor shall any one With sharp sword hew, Though bound he should find His brother’s bane.
The Prose Edda, passage 329
44. Then asked Ganglere: What is there to be said of Skidbladner, which you say is the best of ships? Is there no ship equally good, or equally great? Made answer Har: Skidbladner is the best of ships, and is made with the finest workmanship; but Naglfare, which is in Muspel, is the largest. Some dwarfs, the sons of Ivalde, made Skidbladner and gave it to Frey. It is so large that all the asas, with their weapons and war-gear, can find room on board it, and as soon as the sails are hoisted it has fair wind, no matter whither it is going. When it is not wanted for a voyage, it is made of so many pieces and with so much skill, that Frey can fold it together like a napkin and carry it in his pocket.
The Prose Edda, passage 777
Now when Frey died they bore him secretly into the mound, but told the Swedes he was alive, and they kept watch over him for three years. They brought all the taxes into the mound, and through the one hole they put in the gold, through the other the silver, and through the third the copper money that was paid. Peace and good seasons continued.
The Prose Edda, passage 620
Then King Jormunrek riding out of the woods from the chase with his courtiers, while Queen Swanhild sat dressing her hair, had the courtiers ride onto her, and she was trampled to death beneath the feet of the horses. When Gudrun heard of this, she begged her sons to avenge Swanhild. While they were busking themselves for the journey, she brought them byrnies and helmets, so strong that iron could not scathe them.
The Prose Edda, passage 230
Odin is called Alfather, for he is the father of all the gods; he is also called Valfather, for all who fall in fight are his chosen sons. For them he prepares Valhal and Vingolf, where they are called einherjes (heroes). He is also called Hangagod, Haptagod, Farmagod; and he gave himself still more names when he came to King Geirrod:
The Prose Edda, passage 974
One of the streams flowing from Hvergelmer. HROPTATYR. A name of Odin. HROTTE. Fafner’s sword. HRUNGNER. A giant; Thor slew him. HRYM. A giant, who steers the ship Naglfar at Ragnarok. HVERGELMER. The fountain in the middle of Niflheim. HUGE. A person (Thought) who ran a race with Thjalfe, in Jotunheim. HUGIST. One of Odin’s ravens. HUGSTORE. A dwarf. HYMER. A giant with whom Thor went fishing when he caught the Midgard-serpent. HYNDLA. A vala visited by Freyja. HYRROKEN.
The Prose Edda, passage 1002
Aslaug, 204. Asmund, 245, 246. Aspargum, 226. Asov, 225. Assor, 229. Asynjes, 97-100. Assyrians, 37, 40, 225. Atlas, 226. Atle, 198-202, 251. Atra, 45. Atrid, 81, 245. Aud, 65. Audhumbla, 59, 246. Audun, 235. Aurgelmer, 58, 250. Aurvang, 71. Austre, 61, 70. Austria, 255.
The Prose Edda, passage 560
Hymer’s kinsman demanded That the leader of hosts The sorrow-healing maid, Who the asas’ youth-preserving apples keeps, Should bring to him. Brisingamen’s thief Afterward brought Idun To the gard of the giant.
The Prose Edda, passage 457
They talked among themselves about how this could happen. Then they heard a voice in the oak above them, and he who sat there said that he was the cause that the broth did not get boiled. They looked up and saw an eagle, and it was not a small one. Then said the eagle: If you will give me my fill of the ox, then the broth will be boiled. They agreed to this.
The Prose Edda, passage 971
A helmet, which King Adils took from King Ale. HIMINBJORG. Heimdal’s dwelling. HINDFELL. The place where Brynhild sat in her hall, surrounded by the Vafurloge. HJALMBORE. A name of Odin. HJALPREK. A king in Denmark; collects a fleet for Sigurd. HJATLE THE VALIANT. One of Rolf Krake’s berserks. HJORDIS. Married to Sigmund, and mother of Sigurd. HJUKE. One of the children that accompany Moon. HLEDJOLF. A dwarf. HLER. Another name of Æger. HLIDSKJALF.
The Prose Edda, passage 60
This part of the Younger Edda may thus be said to date back to the year 1230, though the material out of which the mythological system is constructed is of course much older. We find it in the ancient Vala’s Prophecy, of the Elder Edda, a poem that breathes in every line the purest asa-faith, and is, without the least doubt, much older than the introduction of christianity in the north, or the discovery and settlement of Iceland.
The Prose Edda, passage 345
Skrymer awoke and asked whether some leaf had fallen upon his head; whether they had taken their supper, and were ready to go to sleep. Thor answered that they were just going to sleep. Then they went under another oak. But the truth must be told, that there was no fearless sleeping. About midnight Thor heard that Skrymer was snoring and sleeping so fast that it thundered in the wood.
The Prose Edda, passage 33
3. _Codex Upsaliensis_. This is preserved in the Upsala University Library. Like the other two, it was found in Iceland, where it was given to Jon Rugmann. Later it fell into the hands of Count Magnus Gabriel de la Gardie, who in the year 1669 presented it to the Upsala University. Besides these three chief documents, there exist four fragmentary parchments, and a large number of paper manuscripts.
The Prose Edda, passage 422
The Fenris-wolf advances with wide open mouth; the upper jaw reaches to heaven and the lower jaw is on the earth. He would open it still wider had he room. Fire flashes from his eyes and nostrils. The Midgard-serpent vomits forth venom, defiling all the air and the sea; he is very terrible, and places himself by the side of the wolf. In the midst of this clash and din the heavens are rent in twain, and the sons of Muspel come riding through the opening.
The Prose Edda, passage 984
One of the streams flowing from Hvergelmer. NY. A dwarf. NYE. A dwarf. NYRAD. A dwarf.