The Prose Edda
Snorri Sturluson (Rasmus Anderson translation)
1,062 passages indexed from The Prose Edda (Snorri Sturluson (Rasmus Anderson translation)) — Page 7 of 22
License: Public Domain
The Prose Edda, passage 269
There waxed the serpent so that he lies in the midst of the ocean, surrounds all the earth, and bites his own tail. Hel he cast into Niflheim, and gave her power over nine worlds,[45] that she should appoint abodes to them that are sent to her, namely, those who die from sickness or old age. She has there a great mansion, and the walls around it are of strange height, and the gates are huge. Eljudner is the name of her hall. Her table hight famine; her knife, starvation.
The Prose Edda, passage 864
Probably the later monkish establishment of the Three Holy Bournes had taken the place of a similarly named heathen sanctuary where the three Sisters of Fate were once adored. Indeed, the name of all the corresponding fays in yet current German folk-lore is connected with holy wells.
The Prose Edda, passage 627
Jormunrek once, In an evil dream, waked In that sword-contest Against the blood-stained kings. A clashing of arms was heard In the house of Randver’s father, When the raven-blue brothers of Erp The insult avenged.
The Prose Edda, passage 598
Here Sigurd dug a ditch in Fafner’s path and sat down in it; so when Fafner crept to the water and came directly over this ditch, Sigurd pierced him with the sword, and this thrust caused his death. Then Regin came and declared that Sigurd had slain his brother, and demanded of him as a ransom that he should cut out Fafner’s heart and roast it on the fire; but Regin kneeled down, drank Fafner’s blood, and laid himself down to sleep.
The Prose Edda, passage 435
Odin’s son goes To fight with the wolf, And Vidar goes on his way To the wild beast.[67] With his hand he thrusts His sword to the heart Of the giant’s child, And avenges his father.
The Prose Edda, passage 796
Thinking thatchers, etc. Literally transposed, this passage would read: Reflecting men let shields (literally Svafner’s, that is Odin’s roof-trees,) glisten on the back. They were smitten with stones. To let shields glisten on the back, is said of men who throw their shields on their backs to protect themselves against those who pursue the flying host.
The Prose Edda, passage 1053
a great sea goes into / Njorvasound Footnote 102: Njorvasound ... _spelling as in original: should probably be “Njorvasund”_
The Prose Edda, passage 233
21. Then said Ganglere: What are the names of the other asas? What is their occupation, and what works have they wrought? Har answered: Thor is the foremost of them. He is called Asa-Thor, or Oku-Thor.[33] He is the strongest of all gods and men, and rules over the realm which is called Thrudvang. His hall is called Bilskirner. Therein are five hundred and forty floors, and it is the largest house that men have made. Thus it is said in Grimner’s Lay:
The Prose Edda, passage 232
Then said Ganglere: A very great number of names you have given him; and this I know, forsooth, that he must be a very wise man who is able to understand and decide what chances are the causes of all these names. Har answered: Much knowledge is needed to explain it all rightly, but still it is shortest to tell you that most of these names have been given him for the reason that, as there are many tongues in the world, so all peoples thought they ought to turn his name into their tongue, in order that they might be able to worship him and pray to him each in its own language. Other causes of these names must be sought in his journeys, which are told of in old sagas; and you can lay no claim to being called a wise man if you are not able to tell of these wonderful adventures.
The Prose Edda, passage 751
_Bär_ = _ursus_), which is greatly to be preferred, for in olden ages athletes and champions used to wear hides of bears, wolves and reindeer (as skins of lions in the south), hence the names Bjalfe, Bjarnhedinn, Ulfhedinn (hedinn, _pellis_),-- “pellibus aut parvis rhenonum tegimentis utuntur.” Cæsar, Bell. Gall. VI, 22.
The Prose Edda, passage 373
You saw near my burg a mountain cloven at the top into three square dales, of which one was the deepest,--these were the dints made by your hammer. The mountain I brought before the blows without your seeing it. In like manner I deceived you in your contests with my courtiers. In regard to the first, in which Loke took part, the facts were as follows: He was very hungry and ate fast; but he whose name was Loge was wildfire, and he burned the trough no less rapidly than the meat.
The Prose Edda, passage 517
Swiftly the gray shield flew ’Neath the heels of the giant. So the gods willed it, So willed it the valkyries. Hrungner the giant, Eager for slaughter, Needed not long to wait for blows From the valiant friend of the hammer.
The Prose Edda, passage 243
[Footnote 37: Compare Vainamoinen, the son of Ukko, in the Finnish epic Kalevala.]
The Prose Edda, passage 603
Then Sigurd rode on until he found a house on the mountain. In it slept a woman clad in helmet and coat-of-mail. He drew his sword and cut the coat-of-mail off from her. Then she awaked and called herself Hild. Her name was Brynhild, and she was a valkyrie. Thence Sigurd rode on and came to the king whose name was Gjuke. His wife was called Grimhild, and their children were Gunnar, Hogne, Gudrun, Gudny; Gothorm was Gjuke’s step-son. Here Sigurd remained a long time.
The Prose Edda, passage 931
“It makes no difference where I have gotten it; you see the mill is a good one, and that the water does not freeze,” said the man.
The Prose Edda, passage 291
I fly not, Though I fare And glide through the air On Hofvarpner, That Hamskerper, Begat with Gardrofa.[47]
The Prose Edda, passage 889
This was no easy task, for no one could enter Freyja’s bower without her consent. He went away whimpering, but most were glad on seeing him in such tribulation. When he came to the locked bower, he could nowhere find an entrance, and, it being cold weather, he began to shiver. He then transformed himself into a fly and tried every opening, but in vain; there was nowhere air enough to make him to get through [Loke (fire) requires air].
The Prose Edda, passage 846
_2d Witch_. When the hurly-burly’s done, When the battle’s lost and won.
The Prose Edda, passage 1044
Venus, 42, 256. Veratyr, 81, 247. Verdande, 74, 243, 252, 256. Verer, 46. Vesete, 240. Vestfal, 46. Vestre, 61. Vid, 56, 106. Vidar, 8, 89, 143, 145, 148, 153, 168, 177, 187, 259, 260. Vidblain, 78. Vidfin, 66. Vidolf, 58, 250. Vidrer, 54, 247. Vidsete, 215. Vidur, 81. Vifil, 240. Vifilsey, 240. Vig, 70. Vigfusson (G.), 9, 26, 75, 223, 248, 265. Vigrid, 142, 146. Viking, 240. Vile, 60, 230, 243, 249, 277. Villenwood, 251. Vilmeide, 58, 250. Vimer, 177, 178. Vin, 106. Vina, 106. Vindalf, 70.
The Prose Edda, passage 139
2. King Gylfe was a wise man and skilled in the black art. He wondered much that the asa-folk was so mighty in knowledge, that all things went after their will. He thought to himself whether this could come from their own nature, or whether the cause must be sought for among the gods whom they worshiped. He therefore undertook a journey to Asgard. He went secretly, having assumed the likeness of an old man, and striving thus to disguise himself.
The Prose Edda, passage 1054
the much-traveled man, the / ἀνὴρ πολύτροπος _text reads “πολύθροπος”_
The Prose Edda, passage 512
So he related to her how he had waded from the north over the Elivogs rivers, and had borne in a basket on his back Orvandel from Jotunheim; and in evidence of this he told her how that one toe of his had protruded from the basket and had frozen, wherefore Thor had broken it off and had cast it up into the sky, and made of it the star which is called Orvandel’s toe. Finally he added that it would not be long before Orvandel would come home.
The Prose Edda, passage 132
13. Thereupon he fared north until he reached the sea, which they thought surrounded all lands, and there he established his son in the kingdom, which is now called Norway; he is hight Saming, and the kings of Norway count their ancestors back to him, and so do the jarls and other mighty men, as it is stated in the Haleygjatal.[7] But Odin had with him that son who is called Yngve, who was king in Sweden, and from him is descended the families called Ynglings (Yngvelings).
The Prose Edda, passage 543
The giants of Iva’s[90] capes Made a rush with Geirrod; The foes of the cold Svithiod Took to flight. Geirrod’s giants Had to succumb When the lightning wielder’s[91] kinsmen Closely pursued them.
The Prose Edda, passage 1046
Wafurloge, 263. Wainamoinen, 239. Wallachia, 228. Warburton, 253. Weird Sisters, 253-256. Welsh, 240. Wenern, 215. Wessebrun Prayer, 256. Wilbet, 255. Wilkin (E.), 18, 19, 20. Williamstown, 232. Witches, 253-256. Wodan, 244. Worbet, 255. Worm (Chr.), 17. Worm (Ole), 17.
The Prose Edda, passage 1013
Gere, 105, 261. Germania (of Tacitus), 244. Germany, 30, 222, 230, 239, 250-256. Gersame, 238. Gertraud, 255. Gibraltar, 225, 230. Gill, 250. Gilling, 161. Gimle, 9, 54, 77, 78, 147, 247. Ginnar, 71. Ginungagap, 5, 56, 57, 58, 61, 72, 243, 247-249. Gipul, 106. Gisl, 73, 260. Gissur, Jarl, 24. Gjallar-bridge, 135, 249. Gjallarhorn, 72, 88, 142. Gjallar-river, 135. Gjalp, 178, 179, 180, 182. Gjoll, 56, 96, 248. Gjuke, 199, 204, 206, 266. Gjukungs, 193-201. Glad, 73, 260. Gladsheim, 28, 69, 259.
The Prose Edda, passage 690
The prophecy contained in the Roman legend was fulfilled by Metellus and Mummius, in the years 147 and 146 before Christ, when the Romans became the conquerors of Greece. The prophecy contained in our Teutonic legend foreshadowed with no less unrelenting necessity the downfall of proud Rome, when the Teutonic commander Odoacer, in the year 476 after Christ, dethroned, not Romulus, brother of Remus, but Romulus Augustulus, son of Orestes. Thus history repeats itself.
The Prose Edda, passage 580
Then Brok produced his treasures. He gave to Odin the ring, saying that every ninth night eight other rings as heavy as it would drop from it; to Frey he gave the boar, stating that it would run through the air and over seas, by night or by day, faster than any horse; and never could it become so dark in the night, or in the worlds of darkness, but that it would be light where this boar was present, so bright shone his bristles.
The Prose Edda, passage 375
Furthermore he said: Nor did it seem less wonderful to me that you lifted up the cat; and, to tell you the truth, all who saw it were frightened when they saw that you raised one of its feet from the ground, for it was not such a cat as you thought. It was in reality the Midgard-serpent, which surrounds all lands. It was scarcely long enough to touch the earth with its tail and head, and you raised it so high that your hand nearly reached to heaven.
The Prose Edda, passage 169
Jafnhar remarked: Of the blood that flowed from the wounds, and was free, they made the ocean; they fastened the earth together and around it they laid this ocean in a ring without, and it must seem to most men impossible to cross it. Thride added: They took his skull and made thereof the sky, and raised it over the earth with four sides. Under each corner they set a dwarf, and the four dwarfs were called Austre (east), Vestre (West), Nordre (North), Sudre (South).
The Prose Edda, passage 567
When the gods had taken their seats, Æger let his servants bring in on the hall floor bright gold, which shone and lighted up the whole hall like fire, just as the swords in Valhal are used instead of fire. Then Loke bandied hasty words with all the gods, and slew Æger’s thrall who was called Fimafeng. The name of his other thrall is Elder. The name of Æger’s wife is Ran, and they have nine daughters, as has before been written.
The Prose Edda, passage 484
But Suttung’s mead Odin gave to the asas and to those men who are able to make verses. Hence we call songship Odin’s prey, Odin’s find, Odin’s drink, Odin’s gift, and the drink of the asas.
The Prose Edda, passage 211
Far asunder, I think, The norns are born, They are not of the same race. Some are of the asas, Some are of the elves, Some are daughters of Dvalin.[25]
The Prose Edda, passage 498
Brage told Æger that Thor had gone eastward to crush trolls. Odin rode on his horse Sleipner to Jotunheim, and came to the giant whose name is Hrungner. Then asked Hrungner what man that was who with a golden helmet rode both through the air and over the sea, and added that he had a remarkably good horse. Odin said that he would wager his head that so good a horse could not be found in Jotunheim.
The Prose Edda, passage 608
Once it happened that Brynhild and Gudrun went to the water to wash their hair. When they came to the river Brynhild waded from the river bank into the stream, and said that she could not bear to have that water in her hair that ran from Gudrun’s hair, for she had a more high-minded husband.
The Prose Edda, passage 655
The hands shall stop, The stone shall stand; Now have I ground For my part enough. Yet to the hands No rest must be given, ’Till Frode thinks Enough has been ground.
The Prose Edda, passage 337
He was appeased, and took as a ransom the bonders children, Thjalfe and Roskva. They became his servants, and have always accompanied him since that time.
The Prose Edda, passage 701
The country of the people on the Vanaquisl was called Vanaland or Vanaheim, and the river separates the three parts of the world, of which the easternmost is called Asia and the westernmost Europe.
The Prose Edda, passage 377
When Thor heard this tale he seized his hammer and lifted it into the air, but when he was about to strike he saw Utgard-Loke nowhere; and when he turned back to the burg and was going to dash that to pieces, he saw a beautiful and large plain, but no burg. So he turned and went his way back to Thrudvang. But it is truthfully asserted that he then resolved in his own mind to seek that meeting with the Midgard-serpent, which afterward took place.
The Prose Edda, passage 334
When the flesh was boiled, Thor and his companion sat down to supper. Thor invited the bonde, his wife and their children, a son by name Thjalfe, and a daughter by name Roskva, to eat with them. Then Thor laid the goat-skins away from the fire-place, and requested the bonde and his household to cast the bones onto the skins. Thjalfe, the bonde’s son, had the thigh of one of the goats, which he broke asunder with his knife, in order to get at the marrow, Thor remained there over night.
The Prose Edda, passage 647
Hard was Hrungner And his father; Yet was Thjasse Stronger than they, And Ide and Orner, Our friends, and The mountain-giants’ brothers, Who fostered us two.
The Prose Edda, passage 471
But at parting the gods, being unwilling to let this mark of peace perish, shaped it into a man whose name was Kvaser, and who was so wise that no one could ask him any question that he could not answer. He traveled much about in the world to teach men wisdom. Once he came to the home of the dwarfs Fjalar and Galar. They called him aside, saying they wished to speak with him alone, slew him and let his blood run into two jars called Son and Bodn, and into a kettle called Odrarer.
The Prose Edda, passage 992
TANGNJOST. } Thor’s goats. TANGRISNER. } THEK. A dwarf; also a name of Odin. THJALFE. The name of Thor’s man-servant. THJASSE. A giant; the father of Njord’s wife, Skade. THJODNUMA. One of the streams flowing from Hvergelmer. THOK. Loke in the disguise of a woman. THOL. One of the streams flowing from Hvergelmer. THOR. Son of Odin and Fjorgyn. The god of thunder. THORIN. A dwarf. THORN. A giant. THRIDE. A name of Odin. THRO. A dwarf; also a name of Odin. THROIN. A dwarf. THROR. A name of Odin. THRUD. A valkyrie. THUD. A name of Odin. THUL. A stream flowing from Hvergelmer. THUND. A name of Odin. THVITE. A stone used in chaining the Fenris-wolf. THYN. One of the streams flowing from Hvergelmer. TYR. The one-armed god of war.
The Prose Edda, passage 1038
Svidrir, 81. Svidur, 245. Svipdag, 46, 215, 262. Svipol, 81, 245. Svithjod, 46, 49, 181, 207, 211, 225, 228, 236. Svebdegg, 46. Svol, 56, 106, 248. Svolne, 174. Sylg, 56, 248. Syn, 98. Syr, 97.
The Prose Edda, passage 902
Thus the death of Balder becomes the central thought in the drama of the fate of the gods and of the world. It is inseparably connected with the punishment of Loke and the twilight of the gods. The winter following the death of Balder is not an ordinary winter, but the Fimbul-winter, which is followed by no summer, but by the destruction of the world.
The Prose Edda, passage 930
“Oh, I could not come any sooner. I had several errands to do, and I had a long way to go too. But now I will show you,” said the man. He set the mill on the table, and had it first grind light, then a table-cloth, then food and ale and all sorts of good things for Christmas, and as he commanded the mill ground. The woman expressed her great astonishment again and again, and wanted to know where her husband had gotten the mill, but this he would not tell.
The Prose Edda, passage 48
He is said to have been the first Icelander who laid plans to subjugate his fatherland to Norway, and in this connection is supposed to have expected to become a jarl under the king of Norway. In this effort he found himself outwitted by his brother’s son, Sturle Thordsson, and thus he came into hostile relations with the latter.
The Prose Edda, passage 733
As fast as he subdued the countries in the west and north of Europe he gave them to one or another of his sons to govern. Thus it comes to pass that so many sovereign families throughout Teutondom are said to be descended from Odin. Hengist and Horsa, the chiefs of those Saxons who conquered Britain in the fifth century, counted Odin in the number of their ancestors. The traditions go on to tell how he conquered Denmark, founded Odinse (Odinsve = Odin’s Sanctuary; comp.
The Prose Edda, passage 210
Then asked Ganglere: Does fire burn over Bifrost? Har answered: The red which you see in the rainbow is burning fire. The frost-giants and the mountain-giants would go up to heaven if Bifrost were passable for all who desired to go there. Many fair places there are in heaven, and they are all protected by a divine defense. There stands a beautiful hall near the fountain beneath the ash. Out of it come three maids, whose names are Urd, Verdande and Skuld. These maids shape the lives of men, and we call them norns. There are yet more norns, namely those who come to every man when he is born, to shape his life, and these are known to be of the race of gods; others, on the other hand, are of the race of elves, and yet others are of the race of dwarfs. As is here said:
The Prose Edda, passage 294
Hrist and Mist I want my horn to bring to me; Skeggold and Skogul, Hild and Thrud, Hlok and Heifjoter, Gol and Geirahod, Randgrid and Radgrid, And Reginleif; These bear ale to the einherjes.[49]