The Prose Edda, passage 174

Of Ymer’s flesh The earth was made, And of his sweat the seas; Rocks of his bones, Trees of his hair, And the sky of his skull; But of his eyebrows The blithe powers Made Midgard for the sons of men. Of his brains All the melancholy Clouds were made.[19]

The Prose Edda, passage 706

[Footnote 106: Blueland, the country of the blacks in Africa, the country south of Serkland, the modern Ethiopia.]

The Prose Edda, passage 689

Just as Odin, a heroic defender of Mithridates, after traversing various unknown countries, finally reaches the north of Europe, organizes the various Teutonic kingdoms, settles his sons upon the thrones of Germany, England, Denmark, Sweden and Norway, and instructs his people to gather strength and courage, so as eventually to take revenge on the cursed Romans; so Æneas, one of the most valiant defenders of Troy, after many adventures in various lands, at length settles in Italy, and becomes the founder of a race that in course of time is to wreak vengeance upon the Greeks.

The Prose Edda, passage 446

In a place called Hodmimer’s-holt[73] are concealed two persons during Surt’s fire, called Lif and Lifthraser. They feed on the morning dew. From these so numerous a race is descended that they fill the whole world with people, as is here said:

The Prose Edda, passage 789

The story goes on to tell how Goe, the sister, was lost, and how the brothers went to search for her, until they finally found him who had robbed her. He was Hrolf, from the mountain, a son of the giant Svade, and a grandson of Asa-Thor. They settled their trouble, and thereupon Hrolf married Goe, and Nor married Hrolf’s sister, settled in the land and called it after his own name, Norvegr, that is, Norway. By this story we are reminded of Kadmos, who went to seek his lost sister Europa.

The Prose Edda, passage 195

This place is called Gladsheim. Then they built another hall as a home for the goddesses, which also is a very beautiful mansion, and is called Vingolf. Thereupon they built a forge; made hammer, tongs, anvil, and with these all other tools. Afterward they worked in iron, stone and wood, and especially in that metal which is called gold. All their household wares were of gold. That age was called the golden age, until it was lost by the coming of those women from Jotunheim.

The Prose Edda, passage 245

Sleep I could not On my sea-strand couch, For the scream of the sea-fowl. _There_ wakes me, As he comes from the sea, Every morning the mew.

The Prose Edda, passage 986

RADGRID. A valkyrie. RADSVID. A dwarf. RAFNAGUD. A name of Odin. RAGNAROK. The last day; the dissolution of the gods and the world; the twilight of the gods. RAN. The goddess of the sea; wife of Æger. RANDGRID. A valkyrie. RANDVER. A son of Jormunrek. RATATOSK. A squirrel in Ygdrasil. RATE. An auger used by Odin in obtaining the poetic mead. REGIN. Son of Hreidmar. REGINLEIF. A valkyrie. REIDARTYR. A name of Odin. REK. A dwarf. RIND. Mother of Vale. ROGNER. A name of Odin. ROSKVA. Thor’s maiden follower.

The Prose Edda, passage 503

It was very foolish of me, he said, that I left my shield and my flint-stone at home; had I my weapons here, you and I would try a holmgang (duel on a rocky island); but as this is not the case, I declare you a coward if you kill me unarmed. Thor was by no means the man to refuse to fight a duel when he was challenged, an honor which never had been shown him before. Then Hrungner went his way, and hastened with all his might back to Jotunheim.

The Prose Edda, passage 555

The mountain-wolf from Honer Asked for his fill From the holy table: It fell to Honer to blow the fire. The giant, eager to kill, Glided down Where the unsuspecting gods, Odin, Loke and Honer, were sitting.

The Prose Edda, passage 940

Then he opened the door to the sitting-room, but before long that room was filled too, and the man had all he could do to get hold of the door-latch down in this flood of gruel. When he got the door open he did not remain long in the room. He ran out as fast as he could, and there was a perfect flood of fish gruel behind, deluging the yard and his fields.

The Prose Edda, passage 1058

He impersonated all that was good and holy _text reads “al”_

The Prose Edda, passage 818

HVERGELMER. This word is usually explained as a transposition for Hvergemler, which would then be derived from Hver and gamall (old) = the old kettle; but Petersen shows that gelmir must be taken from galm, which is still found in the Jutland dialect, and means a gale (compare Golmstead = a windy place, and _golme_ = to roar, blow). Gelmer is then the one producing galm, and Hvergelmer thus means the roaring kettle.

The Prose Edda, passage 668

But Rolf Krake could not go to his assistance, on account of the war which he was then waging against the Saxons. Still he sent twelve berserks to King Adils. Among them were Bodvar Bjarke, Hjalte the Valiant, Hvitserk the Keen, Vot, Vidsete, and the brothers Svipday and Beigud. In that war fell King Ale and a large part of his army. Then King Adils took from the dead King Ale the helmet called Hildesvin, and his horse called Rafn.

The Prose Edda, passage 568

At this feast all things passed around spontaneously, both food and ale and all the utensils needed for the feasting. Then the asas became aware that Ran had a net in which she caught all men who perish at sea.

The Prose Edda, passage 427

He contends with Tyr, and they kill each other. Thor gets great renown by slaying the Midgard-serpent, but retreats only nine paces when he falls to the earth dead, poisoned by the venom that the serpent blows on him. The wolf swallows Odin, and thus causes his death; but Vidar immediately turns and rushes at the wolf, placing one foot on his nether jaw.

The Prose Edda, passage 189

He is filled with the life-blood Of men doomed to die; The seats of the gods He stains with red gore; Sunshine grows black The summer thereafter, All weather gets fickle. Know you yet or not?[21]

The Prose Edda, passage 638

Therewith the Frode-peace ended. Mysing took with him Grotte, and also Fenja and Menja, and bade them grind salt, and in the middle of the night they asked Mysing whether he did not have salt enough. He bade them grind more. They ground only a short time longer before the ship sank. But in the ocean arose a whirlpool (Maelstrom, mill-stream) in the place where the sea runs into the mill-eye. Thus the sea became salt.

The Prose Edda, passage 564

The holy gods soon built a fire-- They shaved off kindlings-- And the giant was scorched. This is said in memory Of the dwarf’s heel-bridge.[94] A shield adorned with splendid lines From Thorleif I received.

The Prose Edda, passage 996

A dwarf. VIGRID. The field of battle where the gods and the hosts of Surt meet in Ragnarok. VILE. Brother of Odin and Ve. VILMEIDE. The ancestor of all wizards. VIMER. A river that Thor crosses. VIN. A river that flows from Hvergelmer. VINA. A river that flows from Hvergelmer. VINDALF. A dwarf. VINDLONG. One of the names of the father of winter. VINDSVAL. One of the names of the father of winter. VINGNER. A name of Thor. VINGOLF. The palace of the asynjes. VINGTHOR. A name of Thor. VIRFIR.

The Prose Edda, passage 617

They had three children, whose names were Sorle, Hamder and Erp. They all had hair as black as ravens, like Gunnar and Hogne and the other Niflungs.

The Prose Edda, passage 586

They took the salmon and the otter with them, and came to a byre, where they entered. But the name of the bonde who lived there was Hreidmar. He was a mighty man, and thoroughly skilled in the black art. The asas asked for night-lodgings, stating that they had plenty of food, and showed the bonde their game. But when Hreidmar saw the otter he called his sons, Fafner and Regin, and said that Otter, their brother, was slain, and also told who had done it.

The Prose Edda, passage 621

She laid the plan for them, that when they came to King Jormunrek, they should attack him in the night whilst he was sleeping. Sorle and Hamder should cut off his hands and feet, and Erp his head. On the way they asked Erp what assistance they were to get from him, when they came to King Jormunrek. He answered them that he would give them such assistance as the hand gives the foot. They said that the feet got no support from the hands whatsoever.

The Prose Edda, passage 332

Said Jafnhar: We have heard tell of adventures that seem to us incredible, but here sits one near who is able to tell true tidings thereof, and you may believe that he will not lie for the first time now, who never told a lie before. Then said Ganglere: I will stand here and listen, to see if any answer is to be had to this question. But if you cannot answer my question I declare you to be defeated.

The Prose Edda, passage 160

Whence came Aurgelmer Originally to the sons Of the giants?--thou wise giant![15]

The Prose Edda, passage 513

But Groa became so glad that she forgot her magic songs, and so the flint-stone became no looser than it was, and it sticks fast in Thor’s head yet. For this reason it is forbidden to throw a flint-stone across the floor, for then the stone in Thor’s head is moved. Out of this saga Thjodolf of Hvin has made a song:

The Prose Edda, passage 492

When Achilleus was drawn into this danger, on account of his daring, it was the salvation of his life that he fled from the fatal blows of Hektor, although he was wounded. It is also said that Hektor waged the war so mightily, and that his rage was so great when he caught sight of Achilleus, that nothing was so strong that it could stand before him. When he missed Achilleus, who had fled, he soothed his wrath by slaying the champion called Roddros.

The Prose Edda, passage 143

In the door of the hall Gylfe saw a man who played with swords so dexterously that seven were in the air at one time. That man asked him what his name was. Gylfe answered that his name was Ganglere;[10] that he had come a long way, and that he sought lodgings for the night. He also asked who owned the burg. The other answered that it belonged to their king: I will go with you to see him and then you may ask him for his name yourself. Then the man turned and led the way into the hall. Ganglere followed, and suddenly the doors closed behind him. There he saw many rooms and a large number of people, of whom some were playing, others were drinking, and some were fighting with weapons. He looked around him, and much of what he saw seemed to him incredible. Then quoth he:

The Prose Edda, passage 753

During these fits they were, according to a popular belief, proof against steel and fire, and made great havoc in the ranks of the enemy. But when the fever abated they were weak and tame. Vigfusson Cleasby’s Icelandic-English Dictionary, _sub voce_.]

The Prose Edda, passage 979

LADING. One of the fetters with which the Fenris-wolf was bound. LANDVIDE. Vidar’s abode. LAUFEY. Loke’s mother. LEIPT. One of the rivers flowing out of Hvergelmer. LERAD. A tree near Valhal. LETFET. One of the horses of the gods. LIF. } The two persons preserved in Hodmimer’s-holt during LIFTHRASER.} Ragnarok. LIT. A dwarf. LJOSALFAHEIM. The home of the light elves. LODER. One of the three gods who created Ask and Embla. LOFN. One of the asynjes. LOGE. A giant who tried his strength at eating with Loke in Jotunheim. LOKE. The giant-god of the Norse mythology. LOPT. Another name for Loke. LOVAR. A dwarf. LYNGVE. The island where the Fenris-wolf was chained.

The Prose Edda, passage 164

Answered Har: She licked the salt-stones that were covered with rime, and the first day that she licked the stones there came out of them in the evening a man’s hair, the second day a man’s head, and the third day the whole man was there. This man’s name was Bure; he was fair of face, great and mighty, and he begat a son whose name was Bor.

The Prose Edda, passage 354

He then summoned from the bench a man by name Loge, and requested him to come out on the floor and try his strength against Loke. They took a trough full of meat and set it on the floor, whereupon Loke seated himself at one end and Loge at the other. Both ate as fast as they could, and met at the middle of the trough. Loke had eaten all the flesh off from the bones, but Loge had consumed both the flesh and the bones, and the trough too. All agreed that Loke had lost the wager.

The Prose Edda, passage 954

BIFLIDE. A name of Odin. BIFLINDE. A name of Odin. BIFROST. The rainbow. BIFUR. A dwarf. BIKKE. A minister of Jormunrek; causes Randver to be hanged, and Svanhild trodden to death by horses. BIL. One of the children that accompany Moon. BILEYG. A name of Odin. BILSKIRNER. Thor’s abode. BLAIN. A dwarf. BLODUGHOFDE. Frey’s horse. BODN. One of the three jars in which the poetic mead is kept. BODVAR BJARKE. One of Rolf Krake’s berserks. BOL. One of the rivers flowing out of Hvergelmer. BOLTHORN.

The Prose Edda, passage 898

In Heimskringla Skidbladner is called Odin’s ship. This is correct. All that belonged to the gods was his also.

The Prose Edda, passage 405

In the morning he asked Hel whether Balder might ride home with him, and told how great weeping there was among the asas. But Hel replied that it should now be tried whether Balder was so much beloved as was said. If all things, said she, both quick and dead, will weep for him, then he shall go back to the asas, but if anything refuses to shed tears, then he shall remain with Hel. Hermod arose, and Balder accompanied him out of the hall.

The Prose Edda, passage 152

Jafnhar remarked: Many ages before the earth was made, Niflheim had existed, in the midst of which is the well called Hvergelmer, whence flow the following streams: Svol, Gunnthro, Form, Fimbul, Thul, Slid and Hrid, Sylg and Ylg, Vid, Leipt and Gjoll, the last of which is nearest the gate of Hel. Then added Thride: Still there was before a world to the south which hight Muspelheim. It is light and hot, and so bright and dazzling that no stranger, who is not a native there, can stand it. Surt is the name of him who stands on its border guarding it. He has a flaming sword in his hand, and at the end of the world he will come and harry, conquer all the gods, and burn up the whole world with fire. Thus it is said in the Vala’s Prophecy:

The Prose Edda, passage 204

15. Then said Ganglere: Where is the chief or most holy place of the gods? Har answered: That is by the ash Ygdrasil. There the gods meet in council every day. Said Ganglere: What is said about this place? Answered Jafnhar: This ash is the best and greatest of all trees; its branches spread over all the world, and reach up above heaven.

The Prose Edda, passage 662

All the old world Shook and trembled, But the giant’s maid Speedily said: We have turned the mill, Frode! Now we may stop. By the mill long enough The maidens have stood.

The Prose Edda, passage 46

He and his two elder brothers, Thord and Sighvat, who were but little inferior to him in wealth and power, were at one time well-nigh supreme in Iceland, and Snorre sometimes appeared at the Althing at Thingvols accompanied by from eight hundred to nine hundred armed men.

The Prose Edda, passage 178

There dwelt the gods and their race, and thence were wrought many tidings and adventures, both on earth and in the sky. In Asgard is a place called Hlidskjalf, and when Odin seated himself there in the high-seat, he saw over the whole world, and what every man was doing, and he knew all things that he saw.

The Prose Edda, passage 214

The ash Ygdrasil Bears distress Greater than men know. Stags bite it above, At the side it rots, Nidhug gnaws it below.

The Prose Edda, passage 989

SKIFID. A dwarf. SKIFIR. A dwarf. SKILFING. A name of Odin. SKINFAXE. The horse of Day. SKIRNER. Frey’s messenger. SKOGUL. A valkyrie. SKOL. The wolf that pursues the sun. SKRYMER. The name assumed by Utgard-Loke; a giant. SKULD. The norn of the future. SLEIPNER. Odin’s eight-footed steed. SLID. One of the streams flowing from Hvergelmer. SLIDRUGTANNE. Frey’s boar. SNOTRA. One of the asynjes. SOKMIMER. A giant slain by Odin. SOKVABEK. A mansion, where Odin and Saga quaff from golden beakers.

The Prose Edda, passage 62

Olaf Thordsson is unmistakably the author of the grammatical and rhetorical portion of the Younger Edda, and its date can therefore safely be put at about 1250. The author of the treatise on the alphabet is not known, but Professor Keyser thinks it must have been written, its first chapter, about the year 1150, and its second chapter about the year 1200. The forewords and afterwords are evidently also from another pen.

The Prose Edda, passage 182

11. Then said Ganglere: How does he steer the course of the sun and the moon? Answered Har: Mundilfare hight the man who had two children. They were so fair and beautiful that he called his son Moon, and his daughter, whom he gave in marriage to a man by name Glener, he called Sun.

The Prose Edda, passage 466

On Balder there are few blemishes. But it was Njord, from Noatun. In the second place, it was stipulated that the asas were to do what she did not deem them capable of, and that was to make her laugh. Then Loke tied one end of a string fast to the beard of a goat and the other around his own body, and one pulled this way and the other that, and both of them shrieked out loud. Then Loke let himself fall on Skade’s knees, and this made her laugh.

The Prose Edda, passage 325

He in his fright then promised with an oath that he should so manage that the builder should lose his wages, let it cost him what it would. And the same evening, when the builder drove out after stone with his horse Svadilfare, a mare suddenly ran out of the woods to the horse and began to neigh at him. The steed, knowing what sort of horse this was, grew excited, burst the reins asunder and ran after the mare, but she ran from him into the woods.

The Prose Edda, passage 684

The historical or anthropomorphized Odin, described in the Foreword to the Fooling of Gylfe, becomes interesting when we compare it with Snorre’s account of that hero in Heimskringla, and then compare both accounts with the Roman traditions about Æneas. Of course the whole story is only a myth; but we should remember that in the minds and hearts of our ancestors it served every purpose of genuine history.

The Prose Edda, passage 75

What if we then should suffer the fate of that unhappy people--be scattered over all the world and lose our fatherland? In these Eddas our fathers have bequeathed unto us all their profoundest, all their sublimest, all their best thought. They are the concentrated result of their greatest intellectual and spiritual effort, and it behooves us to cherish this treasure and make it the fountain at which the whole American branch of the Ygdrasil ash may imbibe a united national sentiment.

The Prose Edda, passage 1045

Vindlone, 80. Vindsval, 80. Vingener, 45, 149. Vingethor, 44. Vingolf, 54, 69, 81, 247. Vinland, 30. Virfir, 71. Virgil, 222, 223, 242. Vit, 71. Vitrgils, 46. Vodin, 45. Vog, 214, 215. Volsungs, 46, 196-205. Volsung saga, 224, 266. Volukrontes, 167. Von, 96. Vor, 98. Vot, 215. Votan, 244.

The Prose Edda, passage 810

First he was a mere sound in the air (Thund), then he took to thinking (Ygg), and at last he became the inspiring soul of the universe. Although we are unable to define all these names, they certainly each have a distinct meaning, and our ancestors certainly understood them perfectly.