"Alföðr orkar,

álfar skilja,

Vanir vitu,

vísa nornir,

elr íviðja,

aldir bera,

þreyja þursar,

þrá valkyrjur."

"Alfather works,

the Alfar discern,

the Vanir know,

the Nornir indicate,

the Ividia brings forth,

men endure,

the Thursar await,

The Valkyruir long."

"Ætlun Æsir

illa gátu,

verpir villtu

vættar rúnum;

Óðhrærir skyldi

Urðr geyma

máttk at verja

mestum þorra."

"The forebodings of the Æsir

suspected to be evil;

treacherous Vættar had

the runes confounded.

Urd was enjoined

to guard Odhroerir,

powerfully to protect it

against the increasing multitude."

"Hverfr því Hugr,

hinna leitar,

grunar guma

grand, ef dvelr;

þótti er Þráins

þunga draumr;

Dáins dulu

draumr þótti."

"Hug then goes forth,

explores the heavens,

the powers fear

disaster from delay.

Twas Thráin’s belief

that the dream was ominous;

Dáin’s thought that

the dream was dark."

"Dugir með dvergum

dvína, heimar

niðr at Ginnungs

niði sökkva;

oft Alsviðr

ofan fellir

oft of föllnum

aftr safnar."

"Among the dwarfs

virtue decays;

worlds sink down

to Ginnung’s abyss

Oft will Alswid

strike them down,

often the fallen

again collect."

"Stendr æva

strind né röðull,

lofti með lævi

linnir ei straumi;

mærum dylst

í Mímis brunni

vissa vera;

vitið enn eða hvað?"

"Stand no longer shall

earth or sun.

The stream of air

with corruption laden

shall not cease.

Hidden is in Mim’s

limpid well

men’s certain knowledge.

Understand ye yet, or what?"

"Dvelr í dölum

dís forvitin,

Yggdrasils frá

aski hnigin;

álfa ættar

Iðunni hétu

Ívalds eldri

yngsta barna."

"In the dales dwells

the prescient Dis,

from Yggdrasil’s

ash sunk down,

of alfen race,

Idun by name,

the youngest of Ivaldi’s

elder children."

"Eirði illa

ofankomu

hárbaðms undir

haldin meiði;

kunni sízt

at kundar Nörva

vön at værri

vistum heima."

"She ill brooked

her descent,

under the hoar tree’s

trunk confined.

She would not happy be

with Nörvi’s daughter,

accustomed to a pleasanter

abode at home."

"Sjá sigtívar

syrgja Naumu,

Viggjar at véum

vargsbelg seldu;

lét í færast

lyndi breytti,

lék at lævísi,

litum skipti."

"The triumphant gods saw

Nanna sorrowing

in earth’s deep sanctuaries;

a wolf’s skin they gave her,

in which herself she clad,

changed her feelings,

practised guile,

alter’d her aspect."

"Valdi Viðrir

vörð Bifrastar

Gjallar sunnu

gátt at frétta,

heims hvívetna

hvert er vissi.

Bragi ok Loftr

báru kviðu."

"Vidrir selected

Bifröst’s guardian,

of the Giöll-sun’s

keeper to inquire

all that she knew

of every world;

Bragi and Lopt

should witness bear."

"Galdr gólu,

göndum riðu

Rögnir og Reginn

at ranni heimis;

hlustar Óðinn

Hliðskjálfu í,

lét braut vera

langa vegu."

"Magic songs they sung,

rode on wolves

the god and gods.

At the heavenly house,

Odin listened,

in Hlidskiálf;

let them go forth

on their long way."

"Frá enn vitri

veiga selju

banda burða

ok brauta sinna;

hlýrnis, heljar,

heims ef vissi,

ártíð, æfi,

aldrtila."

"The wise god asked

the cupbearer

of the gods’ progeny

and their associates,

Whether of heaven, or Hel,

or earth, she knew

the origin, duration,

or dissolution?"

"Né mun mælti

né mál knátti

Gefjun greiða

né glaum hjaldi;

tár af tíndust

törgum hjarnar,

eljun faldin

endrrjóða."

"She spoke not,

she could no words

to the anxious gods

bring forth,

nor a sound uttered;

tears flowed from the head’s orbs;

with pain repressed

they flow anew"

"Eins kemr austan

úr Elivágum

þorn af akri

þurs hrímkalda,

hveim drepr dróttir

Dáinn allar

mæran of Miðgarð

með nátt hver."

"As from the east

from Elivágar,

the thorn is impelled by

the ice-cold Thurs,

wherewith Dáin

all people strikes

over the fair mid-earth;"

"Dofna þá dáðir,

detta hendr,

svífr of svimi

sverð áss hvíta;

rennir örvit

rýgjar glýgju

sefa sveiflum

sókn gjörvallri."

"when every faculty is lulled,

the hands sink,

totters with drowsiness

the bright, sword-girt As;

drives away the current

the giantess’s blandishment

of the mind’s agitations

of all people,"

"Jamt þótti Jórunn

jólnum komin,

sollin sútum,

svars er ei gátu;

sóttu því meir

at syn var fyrir,

mun þó miðr

mælgi dugði."

"so the gods appeared

Jorun to be affected,

with sorrows swollen,

when they no answer got;

the strove the more

the greater the repulse;

still less than they had hoped

did their words prevail."

"Fór frumkvöðull

fregnar brauta

hirðr at Herjans

horni Gjallar;

Nálar nefa

nam til fylgis,

greppr Grímnis

grund varðveitti."

"When then the leader

of the inquiring travellers,

the guardian of Herian’s

loud sounding horn

took the son of Nál

for his companion,

Grimnir’s skalld

at the place kept watch."

"Vingólf tóku

Viðars þegnar,

Fornjóts sefum

fluttir báðir;

iðar ganga,

æsi kveðja,

Yggjar þegar

við ölteiti."

"Vingólf reached

Vidur’s ministers,

both borne

by Fornióts kin.

They entered,

and the Æsir

forthwith saluted,

at Ygg’s convivial meeting."

"Heilan Hangatý

heppnastan ása,

virt öndvegis

valda báðu;

sæla at sumbli

sitja día,

æ með Yggjungi

yndi halda."

"Hangatýr they hailed,

of Æsir the most blissfull;

potent drink in the high seat

they wished him to enjoy,

and the gods to sit

happy at the feast,

ever with Yggiung

pleasure to share."

"Bekkjarsett

at Bölverks ráði

sjöt Sæhrímni

saddist rakna;

Skögul at skutlum

skaptker Hnikars

mat af miði

Mímis hornum."

"On the benches seated,

at Bölverk’s bidding,

the company of gods

where with Sæhrímnir sated.

Skögul at the tables,

from Hnikar’s vessel

measured out the mead,

in Mimir’s horns."

"Margs of frágu

máltíð yfir

Heimdall há goð,

hörgar Loka,

spár eða spakmál

sprund ef kenndi,

undorn of fram,

unz nam húma."

"Of many things inquired,

when the meal was over.

the high gods of Heimdall,

the godesses of Loki,

where the maid had uttered

divinations or wise words?

from noon

until twilight’s advent."

"Illa létu

orðið hafa

erindisleysu

oflítilfræga;

vant að væla

verða myndi,

svá af svanna

svars of gæti."

"Ill they showed

it had fallen out,

their errand bootless,

little to glory in.

A lack of counsel

seemed likely,

how from the maiden they

might an answer get."

"Ansar Ómi,

allir hlýddu:

Nótt skal nema

nýræða til;

hugsi til myrgins

hverr sem orkar

ráð til leggja

rausnar ásum!"

"Omi answered;

all listened;

"Night is the time

for new counsels;

till the morrow let reflect

each one competent

to give advice

helpful to the Æsir.""

"Rann með röstum

Rindar móðr

föðrlarðr

Fenris valla;

gengu frá gildi

goðin, kvöddu

Hropt ok Frigg

sem Hrímfaxa fór."

"Ran along the ways

of mother Rind,

the desired repast

of Fenrisulf.

Went from the guild,

bade the gods farewell

Hropt and Frigg,

as, before Hrimfaxi,"

"Dýrum settan

Dellings mögr

jó fram keyrði

jarknasteinum;

mars of manheim

mön af glóar,

dró leik Dvalins

drösull í reið."

"the son of Delling

urged on his horse

adorned with precious jewels.

Over Mannheim shines

the horse’s mane,

the steed Dvalin’s deluder

drew in his chariot."

"Jörmungrundar

í jódyr nyrðra

und rót yztu

aðalþollar,

gengu til rekkju

gýgjur ok þursar,

náir, dvergar,

ok dökkálfar."

"In the north boundary

of the spacious earth,

under the outmost root

of the noble tree,

went to their couches

Gýgiar and Thursar,

spectres, dwarfs,

and Murk Alfs."

"Risu raknar,

rann álfröðull,

norðr at Niflheim

njóla sótti;

upp nam árgjöll

Úlfrúnar niðr,

hornþytvaldr

Himinbjarga."

"The powers rose,

the Alf’s illuminator

northwards towards Niflheim

chased the night.

Up Argiöll ran

Ulfrún’s son,

the mighty hornblower

of heaven’s hights."