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THE LAY OF SVIPDAG
Svipdagsmal (1)
The two poems her printed under a common heading are handed down
only in a
number of late paper manuscripts none of which is older than the
second half
of the seventeenth century. Notwithstanding many
descrepancies and
obscurities, necessitating numerous emendations, all of these
manuscripts are
seen to go back to a common lost original.
That these poems do belong together is evident from the
connection, and from
the similarity in their style, language, and metre
(ljodhahattr). Moreover,
we have the witness of a number of closely related Swedish and
Danish ballads
(2) which treat the material as a unit. But it is difficult
to decide whether
both poems were orifinally an undivided whole, united by a stanza
or stanzas
now lost---which would account for the abrupt beginning of the
"Fjolsvinnsmal"
proper, or independent treatments, by the same poet, of the two
phases of the
myth----the fairy-story motif of Sleeping Beauty.
I. "The Spell of Groa"
("Grogaldr"): Young Svipdag is given, by an evil
stepmother, the task of winning the hand of Mengloth in
Giant-Land (we gather
from the ballads that he has nver seen Mengloth, but loves her
nevertheless).
He seeks the grave of his mother Groa, a wise woman, and wakes
her from her
death sleep to ask for the help she had promised to give him in
his hour of
need. She chants for him nine spells which are to aid him
in his dangerous
undertaking.
II. "The Lay of Fjolsvith"
("Fjolsvinnsmal"): Svipdag (after overcoming
all terrors of the journey, as we must assume) at last stands
before a castle
perched on a mountain top, surrounded by a wal of flickering
flames. A giant
watchman, Fjolsvith, rudely bids him be gone and asks his name,
which Svipdag
conceals. However, the hero learns, in set question and
answer, that Mengloth
dwells in the castle, and that it is inaccessible save to one
chosen
hero---Svipdag. He reveals his true name, the gates open,
and the maiden
hails him as her deliverer.
These poems are peculiar in that they, to a far greater extent
than any
other, are a conglomerate of mythical elements and verse
fragments borrowed
from a score or so of unquestionably older poems in the
collection. This fact
stamps them as unauthentic. And yet the poet---no doubt a
scholar of the
Icelandic Renaissance, living, say, at the end of the twelfth
century---has
shown remarkable skill in putting these borrowed feathers
together to form a
well-organized and (but for the interminable didactic portions)
engaging whole
which simulates the Old Norse color surprisingly well, so well,
in fact, that
several scholars of weight have been led to assign it to the
tenth century.
The lyrical portions, in particular Mengloth's expression of
longing and
exultation, are most pleasing.
THE SPELL OF GROA
Grogaldr
(Svipdag{3} said:)
1. "Awake, Groa, (4)
good woman, awake!
At the door of the dead (5) I wake thee:
dost bear in mind
how thou badest thy son
to thy grave-hill to go?"
(Groa said:)
2. "What aileth now
my only son,
what maketh heavy thy heart,
that thy mother thou callest under mould who lieth,
and hath left the world of the living?"
(Svipdag said:)
3. "To a cursed task called me the crafty woman (6)
in her arms who folded my father:
where come one cannot,
to
come she bade me,
fair Mengloth (7) to meet."
(Groa said:)
4. "Long is the way
and wearisome,
but longer man's love doth last;
if thou winn'st what thou wishest
'tis well
for thee,
but the norns work natheless." (8)
(Svipdag said:)
5. "Speak thou such spells as
will speed my way!
Shield and shelter thy son!
Full of danger, ween I, the dreaded journey
for one so young in years."
(Groa said:)
6. "That first then heed, which most helpful I
know,
the which Rind spoke for Ran: (9)
from thy shoulders shake
what shocking seemeth;
seek thou thy way thyself!
7. "This other heed thou: if ever
thou
must wearily wend thy way:
may Urth's magic songs (10) on all sides guard thee,
when with mocking words thou art met.
8. "This third heed thou: if in threat'ning
waters
thou fearest to find thy death:
to Hel hence let
fare Hronn and Uth, (11)
may be dry the deeps for thee!
9. "This fourth heed thou: if foemen beset
thee,
ready to do thee to death:
let their hearts withhold
their hands from thee,
and be made to meet thee halfway.
10. "This fifth heed thou: if fettered
thou art,
fastened hand and foot:
a loosening spell
I will speak o'er thy limbs,
so the locks will burst off thy legs,
the fetters from off thy feet. (12)
11. "This sixth heed thou: if on sea riseth
weather more wild than men wot:
wind and water will my
witchcraft lull;
then fearlessly fare thou forth! (13)
12. "This seventh heed thou:
if
searing frost
beset thee on fell high faring:
may the deadly cold not o'ercome thee ever,
nor rob thy limbs of their litheness.
13. "This eighth heed thou,
if without find thee
a misty night on the moors,
lest ill overtake thee, or untowardness,
from the wraith of a Christian wretch! (14)
14. "This ninth heed thou: if with
haughty thurs
thou wouldest war with words: (15)
wit nor words be
wanting ever,
at behest of thy heart!
15. "May thy errand no longer seem evil to thee,
nor let thee from thy love:
on earth-fast stone (16) I stood within
doors,
these spells while I spoke for thee!
16. "Of thy mother's words
mindful thou be,
in thy heart let, darling, them dwell:
luck-everlasting
in
life shalt have,
the while my words thou heedest!"
THE LAY OF FJOLSVITH
Fjolsvinnsmal
1. (1)From far without up he saw rise
the high-timbered hall of the etins (2)
(Svipdag said:)
"What foul fiend is it in the forecourt who stands,
about the flickering fire hovering?" (3)
(Fjolsvith{4}said:)
2. "What seekest thou, for what thy search,
wayfarer, and what thy wish?
On wet ways (5) thou wend-straight henceward:
no hearth for the homeless here!"
(Svipdag said:)
3. "What foul fiend is it in the forecourt who
stands
and welcomes not the wayfarer?"
(Fjolsvith said:)
"A good name, I ween, thou never had'st,
so hie thee home from hence!
4. "I am Fjolsvith hight, famed for my lore,
but of my food am not free: (6)
within this court
comest thou never:
be off now, outlaw, away!"
(Svipdag said:
5. "To feast his eye
full eager is he
on a lovely thing who looketh:
the gates do gleam about golden hall:
my hove would I fain have here."
(Fjolsvith said:)
6. "To whom art born, and of what blood,
youth, from what house dost hail?" (7)
(Svipdag said:)
"Vindkald (8) my name,
Varkald my father,
Fjolkald his father was.
7. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
who holdeth sway in this seemly hall,
so richly wrought with gold?"
(Fjolsvith said:)
8. "She is Mengloth (9) hight, whom her mother bore
to Svafrthorin's son:
'tis she who holds sway
in this seemly
hall,
so richly wrought with gold."
(Svipdag said:)
9. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
how the wicket is hight than which
'mong the gods
none is more fraught with fear?"
(Fjolsvith said:)
10. "Thrymgjoll (10)is hight that
wicket which three
sons of Solblindi (11) made;
with fast fetters
the
wayfarer it holds
who would heave it from its hinges." (12)
(Svipdag said:)
11. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
how that wall is hight than which 'mong the gods
none is more fraught with fear?"
(Fjolsvith said:)
12. " 'Tis Gastropnir (13) hight, which most goodly I built
of Leirbrimir's, (14) the etin's, limbs;
'tis so stanchly built that stand it will
as long as men do live."
(Svipdag said:)
13. (15)"Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain
would know;
answer thou as I ask:
how that ash is hight which out doth spread
its limbs over all the land?"
(Fjolsvith said:)
14. " 'Tis hight Mimameith, (16) but no man knoweth
from what roots it doth rise;
by what it falleth
the
fewest guess:
nor fire nor iron will fell it." (17)
(Svipdag said:)
15. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
of the fruit (18) what becomes of that far spreading tree,
since nor fire nor iron will fell it?"
(Fjolsvith said:)
16. "Of its berries thou shalt bear on fire, (19)
for ailing women to eat:
then out will come what within was held----
such strength is bestowed on that tree."
(Svipdag said:)
17. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
how that cock is hight, in the high tree sitting,
which gleameth all golden?"
(Fjolsvith said:)
18. "He is Vithofnir hight and watchful (20) standeth
on the branches of Mimameith:
with dreadful fear
he filleth the hearts
of Surt (21) and Sinmara."
(Svipdag said:)
19. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
how the hounds are high
which about the hall
(grim and greedy prowl)?" (22)
(Fjolsvith said:)
20. "Gifr is one hight,
Geri (23) the other,
if to wit thou wishest:
strong (24) watchdogs they, and watch they keep,
till draws night the doom of the gods."
(Svipdag said:)
21. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
whether any man
within may come,
when the hungry hounds do sleep?"
(Fjolsvith said:)
22. "At the same time never
asleep they were,
since to their watch they were set:
sleeps one at night, at noontide the other,
so no one without may enter."
(Svipdag said:)
23. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer me as I ask:
if morsel there be
which men might throw them,
and slip in the while they eat."
(Fjolsvith said:)
24. "'Neath Vithofnir's limbs
lie wing-bits (25) twain,
if to wit thou wishest:
that meat alone may men throw
them,
and slip in the while they eat."
(Svipdag said:)
25. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
if weapon there be which Vithofnir may
send to the halls of Hel?" (26)
(Fjolsvith said:)
26. " 'Tis Laevatein (27) hight,
which Lopt
(28) did forge,
Niflhel beneath;
in an iron kettle
keeps it
Sinmara,
there hold it hard locks nine."
(Svipdag said:)
27. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
will home wend him the wight who goes
and seeketh to win that wand?"
(Fjolsvith said:)
28. Home will wend him the wight who goes
and seeks to win that wand,
if that he fetch which few do own,
to give to that goddess-of-gold."(29)
(Svipdag said:)
29. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
if anyone owns ought of great worth,
to make fain that fallow (30) ogress?"
(Fjolsvith said:)
30. "The shining feather then shalt thou pluck
which from Vithofnir's start thou must steal,
ere sullen Sinmara will sell to thee
the weapon to lay him low." (31)
(Svipdag said:)
31. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
what the hall is hight which is hedged about
by wall of flickering flame?"
(Fjolsvith said:)
32. "Lyr it is hight, and long will
it
hover on sword's point on high; (32)
of this shining hall from hearsay ever
men have learned alone."
(Svipdag said:)
33. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
of the gods, who made (the golden floor), (33)
within the hall so high?"
(Fjolsvith said:)
34. (34)"Uni and Iri,
Ori and Bari,
Var and Vegdrasil,
Darri and Uri and Delling were there,
(the time Hlithskjalf was locked)." (35)
(Svipdag said:)
35. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
what the mountain is hight
which the maiden doth
dwell on, aloft and alone?"
(Fjolsvith said:)
36. " 'Tis Lyfja Mount (36) hight, and long has it been
for the sick and the halt a help:
for hale grows wholly, though hopeless
she seems,
the woman who wins its hight."
(Svipdag said:)
37. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
what the maids are hight
before Mengloth's knees
that sit in sisterly wise?"
(Fjolsvith said:)
38. "Hlif one is hight,
Hlifthrasa another,
a third, Thjothvara;
eke Bjort and Bleik, Blith and Frith,
Eir and Aurbotha." (37)
(Svipdag said:)
39. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
do they help award to their worshippers,
if need of help they have?"
(Fjolsvith said:)
40. "(Ay they help award) (38)
to
their worshippers,
in hallowed stead if they stand; (39)
there is never a need that neareth a man,
but they lend a helping hand."
(Svipdag said:)
41. "Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
if to any man Mengloth will grant
in her soft arms to sleep?"
(Fjolsvith said:)
42. "No man liveth
to whom Mengloth
will grant
in her soft arms to sleep;
to Svipdag only
the sunbright maiden
for wedded wife was given."
(Svipdag said:)
43. "Let gape the gates, and give wide berth!
Here mayst thou Svipdag see.
Now hie thee hence, in the hall to learn
if lief to Mengloth my love."
(Fjolsvith said:)
44. "Hear thou, Mengloth, a
man hath come;
go thou to greet the guest!
The hounds bay welcome,
the house hath opened:
meseems that Svipdag it be."
(Mengloth said:)
45. "May greedy ravens gouge out they eyes,
as high on gallows thou hangest,
if a lie it be
that
from long ways afar
the hero hath come to my hall.
46. "Whence comest thou, and what thy
kin,
what wert hight at home?
Thy father's name tell, that token I have
that I should be thy bride."
(Svipdag said:)
47. "I am Svipdag hight, Solbjart (40) my father;
thence wandered I wind-cold ways;
'gainst Urth's (41) decree
'tis idle to strive,
though loath be thy lot."
(Mengloth said:)
48. "My wish have I won: welcome be
thou;
with kiss I clasp thee now;
the loved one's sight is sweet to her
who has lived in longing for him.
49. "Full long sat I on Lyfja
Mount,
bided thee day after day:
now has happened what I hoped for long,
that, hero, art come to my hall.
50. "Heartsick was I;
to have thee I yearned,
whilst thou didst long for my love.
Of a truth I know:
we
two shall live
our life and lot together."
_____________
1. The name of "Svipdagsmal" as a name for both
poems was suggested by
Bugge.
2. Grundtvig, Danmarks Gamle Folkeviser II, 245.
3. "He Whose Countenance Shines Like the Day" (?)
4. [From Cymric groach, "witch."] Like Heith in
"Voluspa," St. 22 and
"Voluspa en skamma," St. 5) this is a typical name for
a witch or seeress.
5. That is, her grave
6. His stepmother.
7. "Glad in Her Necklace."
8. The interpretation in not certain. The meaning
seems to be that, betide
what may, or whatever help I may give, you will succeed only if
you are fated
to succeed: which is, indeed, the gist of the fairy story.
9. In explanation of the names, Gering suggests that the
Rind here referred
to is Vali's mother (See "Baldrs draumar," St. 11), and
that, hence, Ran
stands for Vali, the avenger of Baldr.
10. Doubtful.
11. Following Bugge's emendation of these names:
Hronn----possibly also Uth,
"Wave"---is one of the rivers flowing to Hel
(Grimnismal," St. 28).
12. For this spell, see Havamal, St. 149, and the first
Merseburg Charm.
13. The same charm occurs in "Havamal," St. 154.
14. In the original, "Christian
Woman." The line certainly points to the
conception that the ghosts of Christian women are especially
dangerous to a
heathen hero.
15. See the situation in "Vafthrudhnismal."
16. Instanced also elsewhere as a practice of sympathetic
magic: the spells
are as trustworthy as bedrock.
____________
1. As to the abrupt beginning, see the Introduction.
I follow Bugge in the
ordering of the first four helmings as well as in the attribution
to the
speakers.
2. Possibly a kenning for "mountain". The
entire first part of the stanza
is controversial.
3. The "flickering flame" surrounds Mengloth's
castle like Brynhild's wall
of fire; "Sigrdrifumal, " Introductory Prose.
4. "The Very Wise", which is also an epithet of
Othin ("Grimnismal," St.
48).
5. Over the high mountains.
6. That is, not hospitable to strangers.
7. See "Fafnismal," St. 2, where, too, the
hero attempts to conceal his
identity. Not acknowledging himself as the chosen hero,
Svipdag must inquire
into the conditions---impossible of fulfillment---through which
access to the
castle may be gained.
8. Vindkald, "Wind-Cold"; Varkald,
"Spring-Cold"; Fjolkald, "Very Cold."
Gering suggests that, by giving these fictitious names, Svipdag
wishes to make
Fjolsvith believe that he, too, is of giant kin.
9. See "Grogaldr" St. 3, Note 7. The name
and status of her kin remain
unexplained.
10. "The Loud-Grating."
11. "Sun-Blinded," dwarfs whose abode is in the
darkness.
12. Like the gate described in "Sigurtharkvidha hin
skamma," St. 68. The
Old Norse door raised up. See "Rigsthula,"
St. 26, Note 23.
13. "Strangling the Intruder" (?).
14. "Clay-Giant" (?); is it built of bricks?
15. In the original, Sts. 13 to 18, dealing with the tree
Yggdrasil (see
"Voluspa," St. 19), come after St. 24. They are
probably interpolated, having
nothing to do with the subject in hand.
16. "Mimir's Tree." His well is under
Yggdrasil ("Voluspa," St. 28).
17. See "Grimnismal," St. 36
18. Conjectural. The word in the original is
unexplained.
19. Possibly its roasted fruit, which, in some trees, has
an emmenagogic
effect; but the interpretation is conjectural.
20. The word in the original is not well understood.
21. The fire giant (see "Voluspa," St. 51).
His wife (?) Sinmara is unknown
elsewhere. According to "Voluspa," St. 41 ff, the
crowing of the cocks gives
warning of the approach of the destroying elements.
22. This line is supplied conjecturally.
23. Both names signify "Greedy." Geri is
also the name of one of Othin's
wolves in "Grimnismal," St. 19.
24. Strangely, the manuscripts here have
"eleven".
25. The exact meaning of the word in the original is not
clear.
26. That is, slay him.
27. "Wand-of-Destruction," a kenning for
"sword".
28. Loki; see "Lokasenna," St. 6.
29. Conjectural. If correct, it is a kenning for
"woman": Sinmara.
30. She is pale yellow because she dwells in a cave.
See "Alvismal," St. 2
and Note 5.
31. The interpretation of these lines is doubtful.
However, the circle of
impossibilities is closed: no one may enter the castle.
32. Following Bugge's interpretation. In other words
it is inaccessible.
33. Following Grundtvig's emendation. The half-stanza
is difficult. Both
this and the following seven stanzas are irrelevant and,
possibly,
interpolated.
34. Most of the following names (of dwarfs) remain
unexplained. Several
occur also in "The Catalogue of Dwarfs." The holy
number nine plays a
considerable role in both poems.
35. Conjectural. If this reading is adopted the
castle bears the same name
as Othin's seat in Valholl. See
"Grimnismal," Introductory Prose and Note 4.
36. "Mountain of Healing."
37. The nine maidens bear names appropriate to their
salutiferous
activities.
38. A lacuna in the manuscript is supplied here following
Bugge.
39. To offer up sacrifice.
40. "Sun-Bright."
41. One of the norns. See "Voluspa," St. 19
and note: "all is ordered by
fate."
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