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Happy Lief Erikson Day!!!

Sessrumnir Kindred Will Soon Celebrate Ten Years!

When I think about the last ten years of my life, I think about Sessrumnir Kindred. I was emerging from a troubled period of my life that began in youth. I had the fortuitous luck to meet a group of people who were mostly fairly new to the area who were starting a group for local heathens. I had little idea about asatru at the time. I had been following a wiccan path for a time and was still kind of looking for my spiritual path.

Through a local public pagan group I met the original core group of people and many others who's paths we've shared for a short time. In the early years it was not uncommon to have 20 or 30 people at ritual, because they knew the party afterward was going to be phenomenal. We have had members leave in dispute and have been involved in public pagan politics which is playing with fire in itself. We eventually removed ourselves from unproductive battles. After the fall out of trying to serve a larger purpose in the pagan community and having our efforts undercut by a few shortsighted community leaders we settled into a small core group with other members that have moved due to jobs and such. We are happy when we see them and think about them often. The local group still here meets as the feeling arises. We gather for ritual and socially. I count them among my closest family.

Soon Sessrumnir Kindred will celebrate its ten year anniversary. I present the new beacon for Sessrumnir Kindred on the web for the second ten years. Happy ten years SK, and thanks for being there.

Völuspá - The Song of the Sybil

(Translated by W. H. Auden & P. B. Taylor)

Heidi men call me when their homes I visit,
A far seeing Volva, wise in talismans.
Caster of spells, cunning in magic.
To wicked women welcome always.
Arm rings and necklaces, Odhinn you gave me
To learn my lore, to learn my magic:
Wider and wider through all worlds I see.
Outside I sat by myself when you came,
Terror of the gods, and gazed in my eyes.
What do you ask of me? Why tempt me?
Odhinn, I know where your eye is concealed,
Hidden away in the well of Mimir:
Mimir each morning his mead drinks
From Valfather's pledge.
Well would you know more?

Of Heimdal too and his horn I know.
Hidden under the holy tree
Down on it pours a precious stream from Valfather's pledge
Well would you know more?

Silence I ask of the sacred folk,
Silence of the kith and kin of Heimdal:
At your will Valfather, I shall well relate
The old songs of men I remember best.
I tell of giants from times forgotten.
Those who fed me in former days:
Nine worlds I can reckon, nine roots of the tree.
The wonderful ash, way under the ground
When Ymir lived long ago
Was no sand or sea, no surging waves.
Nowhere was there earth nor heaven above.
But a grinning gap and grass nowhere.
The sons of Bur then built up the lands.
Moulded in magnificence middle-Earth:
Sun stared from the south on the stones of their hall,
From the ground there sprouted green leeks.
Sun turned from the south, sister of Moon,
Her right arm rested on the rim of Heaven;
She had no inkling where her hall was,
Nor Moon a notion of what might he had,
The planets knew not where their places were.
The high gods gathered in council
In their hall of judgment. All the rulers:
To Night and to Nightfall their names gave,
The Morning they named and the Mid-Day,
Mid-Winter, Mid-Summer, for the assigning of years.
At Ida's Field the Aesir met:
Temple and altar they timbered and raised,
Set up a forge to smithy treasures,
Tongs they fashioned and tools wrought;
Played chess in the court and cheerful were;
Gold they lacked not, the gleaming metal
Then came three, the Thurs maidens,
Rejoicing in their strength, from Giant-home.
The high Gods gathered in council
In their hall of judgment: Who of the dwarves
Should mould man by master craft
From Brimir's blood and Blain' s limbs?
Motsognir was their mighty ruler,
Greatest of dwarves, and Durin after him:
The dwarves did as Durin directed,
Many man forms made from the earth.
Nyi and Nidi, Nordri, Sudri, Austri and Vestri,
Althjof, Dvalin, Bivor, Bavor Bombur, Nori, An and Anar,
Ai, Mjodvitnir, Veignr and Gandalf, Vindalf, Thorin,
Thror and Thrain, Thekkur, Litur, Vitur, Nar and Nyradur,
Fili, Kili, Fundin, Nali Hefti, Vili, Hanar, Sviur, Billing,
Bruni, Bildur, and Buri, Frar, Hornbori Fraegur, Loni,
Aurvangur, Jari, Eikinskjaldi:
(All Durin's folk I have duly named,)
I must tell of the dwarves in Dvalin' s host;
Like lions they were in Lofar's time:
In Juravale's marsh they made their dwelling,
From their Stone hall set out on journeys,
There was Draupnir and Dolgthrasir, Har, Haugspori,
Hlevangur, Gloi, Dori, Ori, Dufur, Andvari, Skirvir,
Virvir Skafidur, Ai, Alf and Yngvi, Eikinskjaldi, Fjalar
and Frosti, Finn and Ginnar:
Men will remember while men live
The long line of Lofar's forbears.
Then from the host three came,
Great, merciful, from the God's home:
Ash and Elm on earth they found,
Faint, feeble, with no fate assigned them
Breath they had not, nor blood nor senses,
Nor language possessed, nor life-hue:
Odhinn gave them breath, Hoenir senses,
Blood and life hue Lothur gave.
I know an ash tree, named Yggdrasil:
Sparkling showers are shed on its leaves
That drip dew, into the dales below,
By Urd's well it waves evergreen,
Stands over that still pool,
Near it a bower whence now there come
The Fate Maidens, first Urd,
Skuld second, scorer of runes,
Then Verdandi, third of the Norns:
The laws that determine the lives of men
They fixed forever and their fate sealed.
The first war in the world I well remember,
When Gullveig was spitted on spear-points
And burned in the hall of the high god:
Thrice burned, thrice reborn,
Often laid low, she lives yet,
The gods hastened to their hall of judgment,
Sat in council to discover who
Had tainted all the air with corruption
And Odhinn's maid offered to the giants,
At the host Odhinn hurled his spear
In the first world-battle; broken was the plankwall
Of the gods fortress: the fierce Vanes
Caused war to occur in the fields.
The gods hastened to their hall of judgment,
Sat in council to discover who
Had tainted all the air with corruption
And Odhinn's maid offered to the giants.
One Thorr felled in his fierce rage;
Seldom he sits when of such he hears:
Oaths were broken, binding vows,
Solemn agreements sworn between them.
Valkyries I saw, coming from afar,
Eagerly riding to aid the Goths;
Skuld bore one shield, Skogul another
Gunn, Hild, Gondul and Spearskogul:
Duly have I named the daughters of Odhinn,
The valiant riders the Valkyries.
Baldur I saw the bleeding God,
His fate still hidden, Odhinn's Son:
Tall on the plain a plant grew,
A slender marvel, the mistletoe.
From that fair shrub, shot by Hodur,
Flew the fatal dart that felled the god.
But Baldur's brother was born soon after:
Though one night old, Odhinn's Son
Took a vow to avenge that death.
His hands he washed not nor his hair combed
Till Baldur's bane was borne to the pyre,
Deadly the bow drawn by Vali,
The strong string of stretched gut,
But Frigga wept in Fensalir
For the woe of Valhalla.
Well, would you know more?

I see one in bonds by the boiling springs;
Like Loki he looks, loathsome to view:
There Sigyn sits, sad by her husband,
In woe by her man.
Well would you know more?

From the east through Venom Valley runs
Over jagged rocks the River Gruesome.
North, in Darkdale, stands the dwelling place
Of Sindri's kin, covered with gold,
A hall also in Everfrost,
and the banquet hall of Brimir the giant.
A third I see, that no sunlight reaches,
On Dead Man's Shore: the doors face northward,
Through its smoke vent venom drips,
Serpent skins enskein that hall.
Men wade there tormented by the stream,
Vile murderers, men forsworn
And artful seducers of other men's wives:
Nidhogg sucks blood from the bodies of the dead
The wolf rends them.
Well, would you know more?

In the east dwells a crone, in Ironwood:
The brood of Fenris are bred there
Wolf-monsters, one of whom
Eventually shall devour the sun.
The giants' watchman, joyful Eggthur
Sits on his howe and harps well:
The red cock, called All-Knower
Boldly crows from Birdwood.
Goldencomb to the gods crows
Who wakes the warriors in Valhalla:
A soot red hen also calls
From Hel's hall, deep under the ground.
Loud howls Garm before Gnipahellir,
Bursting his fetters, Fenris runs:
Further in the future afar I behold
The twilight of the gods who gave victory.
Brother shall strike brother and both fall,
Sisters' sons defiled with incest,
Evil be on earth, an age of whoredom,
Of sharp sword-play and shields clashing,
A wind-age, a wolf-age till the world ruins:
No man to another shall mercy show.
The waters are troubled, the waves surge up:
Announcing now the knell of Fate,
Heimdal winds his horn aloft,
On Hel's road all men tremble
Yggdrasil trembles, the towering ash
Groans in woe; the wolf is loose:
Odhinn speaks with the head of Mimir
Before he is swallowed by Surt's kin.
From the east drives Hrym, lifts up his shield
The squamous serpent squirms with rage
The great worm with the waves contending
The pale-beaked eagle pecks at the dead,
Shouting for joy: the ship Naglfar
Sails out from the east, at its helm Loki
With the children of darkness, the doom-bringers
Offspring of monsters, allies of the wolf,
All who Byleists's brother follow.
What of the gods? What of the elves?
Gianthome groans the gods are in council
The dwarves grieve before their door of stone,
Masters of walls.
Well, would you know more?
Surt with the bane of branches comes
From the south, on his sword the sun of the Valgods,
Crags topple, the crone falls headlong,
Men tread Hel's road, the Heavens split open.
A further woe falls upon Hlin
As Odhinn comes forth to fight the wolf;
The killer of Beli battles with Surt:
Now shall fall Frigga's beloved.
Now valiant comes Valfather's son,
Vidar, to vie with Valdyr in battle,
Plunges his sword into he son of Hvedrung,
Avenging his father with a fell thrust.
Now the son of Hlodyn and Odhinn comes
To fight with Fenris; fiercest of warriors
He mauls in his rage all Middle-Earth;
Men in fear all flee their homesteads;
Nine paces back steps Bur's son
Retreats from the worm of taunts unafraid.
Now death is the portion of doomed men,
Red with blood the buildings of gods,
The sun turns black in the summer after,
Winds whine.
Well, would know more?

Earth sinks in the sea, the sun turns black,
Cast down from Heaven are the hot stars,
Fumes reek, into flames burst,
The sky itself is scorched with fire.
I see Earth rising a second time
Out of the foam, fair and green;
Down from the fells fish to capture,
Wings the eagle; waters flow.
At lda's Field the Aesir meet:
They remember the worm of Middle-Earth,
Ponder again the great twilight
And the ancient runes of the high god
Boards shall be found of a beauty to wonder at,
Boards of gold in the grass long after,
The chess boards they owned in the olden days,
Unsown acres shall harvests bear,
Evil be abolished, Baldur return
And Hropt's hall with Hod rebuild,
Wise gods.
Well, would you know more?

Hoenir shall wield the wand of prophecy,
The sons two brothers set up their dwelling
In wide Windhome. Well, would you know more?

Fairer than sunlight, I see a hall
A hall thatched with gold in Gimle:
Kind Lords shall live there in delight forever.
Now rides the Strong One to Rainbow Door,
Powerful from heaven, the All-Ruler:
From the depths below a drake comes flying
The dark dragon from Darkfell,
Bears on his pinions the bodies of men,
Soars overhead I sink now.

Þrymskviða The Lay of Thrym

Thor was distraught when upon awakening one morning he discovered that his mighty hammer Mjölnir was missing. His shaggy head and his beard quivered as he, the first-born of Mother-Earth reached around for it.

His first words were: "Loki, listen to me! I have suffered a loss beyond perception. My hammer has been stolen!"

They hurried to Freyja's home, and he said: "Freyja, will you lend me your feather-robe so that I can find and retrieve my hammer?"

Freyja said: "I would give it to you, even if it were made of gold or silver."

Loki then flew, with whirring feathers, from the home of the Æsir to the land of the giants.

Thrym, the King of the Thurse, [Note 1] was sitting on a mound, pleating golden halters for his hounds and smoothing the manes of his mares.

Thrym said: "How are the Æsir, and how are the alfs, and what brings you to the land of the giants?"

Loki said: "It's not well with the Æsir, nor with the alfs. Are you the one who hid Thor's hammer?"

Thrym said: "Yes, I hid Thor's hammer a full eight leagues beneath the ground. And no one can get it from me unless he brings Freyja here to be my bride."

Loki then flew, with whirring feathers, from the home of the giants to the land of the Æsir. Thor met him in the central courtyard, and he said:

What good news do you have to report? Have your efforts been rewarded? Tell me, even before you light, what you have learned. A sitting person is often forgetful, and a lying person lies. [Note 2]

Loki said: "My efforts have been rewarded. Thrym, the King of the Thurse, has your hammer. But no one can get it from him unless he brings him Freyja to be his bride."

They hurried to Freyja's home, and Thor said: "Freyja, dress yourself in bridal linen! The two of us are going to the land of the giants."

Freyja grew angry and foamed with rage. The entire hall shook with her fury. The necklace of the Brisings [Note 3] broke apart. She said: "I would have to be the man-craziest of all to go with you to the land of the giants."

All the gods and goddesses of the Æsir hurriedly assembled at the Thing to discuss how they might retrieve Thor's hammer.

Heimdall, the fairest of the gods and one of the prophetic Vanir, foretold the future:

"We shall dress Thor in bridal linen, and adorn him with the necklace of the Brisings. Let him wear a woman's clothes with a bundle of housewife's keys dangling about him and with bridal jewels at his breast and on his head."

Thor, the mighty god, said, "the Æsir will call me cowardly and womanish if I allow myself to be dressed in bridal linen."

Then Loki, the son of Laufey, said: "Save your words, Thor. The giants will soon take over Asgard if you do not retrieve your hammer from them."

So they dressed Thor in women's clothes and bridal linen and adorned him with the necklace of the Brisings, with a bundle of housewife's keys dangling about him and with bridal jewels at his breast and on his head.

Then Loki, the son of Laufey, said: "I will be your servant girl, and the two of us will go to the land of the giants."

The goats were driven home and tied with ropes to run with them. The mountains burst and the earth broke into flames as the son of Odin rode to the land of the giants.

Then Thrym, the King of the Thurse, said: "Stand up, you giants, and cover the benches! Bring me Freyja, the daughter of Njörd from Noatun, to be my wife!"

In my yard I have cows with golden horns, pure black oxen, everything a giant could want; I have riches and treasures; Freyja alone is all that I lack.

That evening they brought ale to the giant's table, and Sif's husband ate an entire ox, eight salmon, and all the baked goods that they brought for the women, and then he drank three measures of mead.

Then Thrym, the King of the Thurse, said: "Have you ever seen a bride bite more sharply? I have never seen a bride bite more broadly, nor have I ever seen a maiden drink more mead."

The maiden quickly responded to the giant's words: "Freyja was so eagerly awaiting the land of giants that she ate nothing for eight full nights!"

He peeked beneath her veil, wanting to kiss her, but then jumped to the back of the hall with a single bound. "Why are Freyja's eyes so terrifying? They seem to be aglow with fire!"

The maiden quickly responded to the giant's words: "Freyja was so eagerly awaiting the land of giants that she did not sleep for eight full nights."

The giant's poor sister entered and begged for a bridal gift: "If you want my friendship and love, then please give me those red-gold rings from your arm."

Then Thrym, the King of the Thurse, said, "Bring the hammer so that we may consecrate the bride. Lay Mjölnir in her lap, from the hand of Vár [Note 4], and let us be consecrated as a pair.

Hlórithi's [Note 5] heart laughed within him when he saw his hammer. First he struck down Thrym, the King of the Thurse, and then he slew all the giant's kin.

He also killed the giant's poor sister who had begged for a bridal gift. Instead of shillings she received blows and instead of rings, a hammer hit. And thus Odin's son retrieved his hammer.

Skírnismál The Lay of Skírnir

Translated by Lee M. Hollander

Freyr, the son of Njordhr, one day had seated himself on Hlidhskjalf and looked
over all the worlds. To sit upon Hlidhskjalf was forbidden to all but Odhinn and Frigg,
by Odhinn's decree. Then saw he in the world of Etins a fair maiden as she went from
the hall of her father to her bower. And that sight made him heavy of heart. Skirnir was
the name of Freyr's servitor. Njordhr bade him to make Freyr speak out.

(Skathi said:)
1. Arise now, Skirnir, and ready make thee
to summon my son,
and find out this from the wise youth,
whom he doth hate.

(Skinir said:)
2. For waspish words I well may look,
if I summon thy son
to find out this from the wise youth,
whom he doth hate.

3. Wilt tell me, Freyr, foremost among Gods,
and answer me as I ask:
Why sittest thou lonely, my Lord, all day
with heavy heart in thy hall?

(Frey said:)
4. How tell thee my yearning, oh youth, as thou wishest--
Why heavy my heart?
The alf's beam shineth all these long days,
but lighter groweth not my longing.

(Skinir said:)
5. Thy heart's not so heavy, I hold, but thou mayest
open it to another;
for in days of yore we young were together:
truly thou mightest trust me.

(Frey said:)
6. From on high I beheld in the halls of Gymir
a maiden to my mind;
her arms did gleam, their glamor filled
all the sea and the air.

7. This maiden is to me more dear
than maiden to any man;
but Aesir and alfs all will have it
that strangers ay we stay.

(7a). (In my behalf her hand shalt ask,
and home bring her hither,
her father let or allow it:
good shall thy reward shall be.)

(Skinir said:)
8. Thy steed then lend me to lift me o'er wyrrd
ring of flickering flame,
the sword also that swings itself
against the tribe of trolls.

(Frey said:)
9. My steed I lend thee to lift thee o'er wyrrd
ring of flickering flame,
the sword also which swings itself,
if wise he who wields it.

(Skirnir said to his steed:)
10. Night it is now, now we shall fare
over moist mountains,
to the thurse's throng;
scatheless we both shall 'scape their might,
or else both be o'erborne by the Etins.

Skirnir rode to Jotunheimr and to Gymir's hall. There were savage
dogs tied to the gate of the enclosure about Gerdh's bower.

Skirnir rode to where a shepherd sate on a mound, and greeted him:

11. Say thou, shepherd, sitting on hill,
who dost watch all ways:
how win I the welcome of the winsome maid
through the grim hounds of Gymir?

(The shepherd said:)
12. Whether art thou doomed, or dead already,
(in the stirrup who standest)?
Never shalt thou win the welcome to have
of the good daughter of Gymir.

(Skinir said:)
13. Ne'er a whit will whine, whatso betide,
who is eager on errand bent;
my fate is foretold me to the time of a day,
allotted is all my life.

(Gerth said:)
14. What outcry and uproar within out courts
hear I now, handmaid?
The earth doth shake and all my father
Gymir's high halls.

(The handmaid said:)
15. By his steed here stands a stranger youth,
unbridles and baits him;
(He wishes, I ween, welcome to have
from the good daughter of Gymir).

(Gerth said:)
16. Bid to my bower the bold-minded come,
to meet me and drink our mead;
though far from us, I fear me, is not
my brother's banesman

17. Whether art of the alf's or Aesir come,
or art thou a wise Van?
Through furious fire why farest alone
to behold our halls?

(Skinir said:)
18. Neither alf am I, nor Aesir come
nor a wise Van;
through furious fire yet fared I alone
to behold your halls.

19. Apples eleven have I all golden;
to thee, Gerdh, I shall give them,
to hear from thy lips thou lovest Freyr,
and deemest him dearest to thee.

(Gerth said:)
20. The Apples eleven not e'er shall I take
to do any wight's will;
nor shall I ever with Njordhr's son Freyr
dwell while our lives do last.

(Skinir said:)
21. Draupnir, the ring, then thy dowry shall be,
which with Baldr was burned;
eight rings as dear will drop from it
every ninth night.

(Gerth said:)
22. Draupnir, the ring, I do not want,
though it with Baldr was burned;
gold I lack not in Gymir's halls,
to deal out daily.

(Skinir said:)
23. This mottled blade, dost, maiden, see it
which here I hold in my hand?
Thy haughty head I hew from thy neck
but thou yield thy love to the youth.

(Gerth said:)
24. Nor gold nor sword will gain it over me
any wight's will to do;
if Gymir, my father, did find thee here,
fearless warrior, ye would fight to the death.

(Skinir said:)
25. This mottled blade, dost, maiden, see it
which here I hold in my hand?
Before its edge the Etin falls,
and is thy father fey.

26. With this galdrwand bewitch thee I shall,
my will, maiden, to do;
where the sons of men will see thee no more,
thither shalt thou!

27. On eagle-hill shalt ever sit,
aloof from the world, lolling toward Hel.
To thee men shall be more loathsome far
than to mankind the slimey wyrm.

28. An ugly sight, when out thou comest,
even Hrimnir will stare at and every hind glare at,
more widely known than the warder of Gods,
and shalt gape through the gate.

29. Shalt drivel and dote, and drag through life,
with salt tears shalt sorrow;
shalt sit as I say, with sadness heavy,
feel twofold torment
with heavy heart.

30. Imps shall nip thee, all the long days
thou art with the Etins;
to Rime Thurses' hall shalt hobble all days,
cringe under curse,
cringe under care.
For play shall weeping thy pastime be:
live a loathly life with tears!

31. With three-headed thurse, thwarted, thou shalt live,
or else unwedded be;
lust shall lash thee,
weakness waste thee:
be like the thistle which is thrust under,
when the harvest is harbored.

32. To the woods I wended, to the wet forest,
a galdrwand me to make,
and a galdrwand I made me.

33. Thou hast angered Odhinn, the uppermost God;
Freyr will frown on thee,
thou wicked wench! Woe betide thee,
thou hast the great God's wrath.

34. Hear ye rime thurses, hear ye etins,
ye sons of Settung, all ye sibs of the Aesir:
how I forbid, how I debar
men's mirth to the maid,
men's love to the maid.

35. Hrimgrimnir is hight who shall have thee, a thurse,
Niflhelheimr beneath:
there, slavering slaves shall serve thee 'neath tree roots
with staling of stinking goats.
No other drink shalt ever get,
wench at thy will,
wench at my will!

36. A 'thurs' rune [Thurisaz] for thee, and three more I scratch:
lechery, loathing, and lust;
off I shall scratch them, as on I did scratch them,
if of none there be need.

(Gerth said:)
37. Hail, rather, hero, and hold to thy lips
this crystal cup with mead;
though hardly thought I that hence I should fare,
to be a Van's wife.

(Skinir said:)
38. My errand I would know altogether,
ere hence I ride home.
When art minded to meet the strong one,
and welcome the wise son of Njordhr?

(Gerth said:)
39. Barri is hight, as both we know,
for true love a trysting glade.
after nights nine to Njordhr's son there
will Gerdh grant her love.

Then rode Skirnir home. Freyr stood without and greeted him
and asked him what tidings he brought:

40. Say now, Skirnir, ere thou unsaddled the steed
and set one foot foreward:
what errand bringest thou from Jotunheimr,
of mark for thee or me?

(Skinir said:)
41. Barri is hight, as both we know,
for true love a trysting glade.
after nights nine to Njordhr's son there
will Gerdh grant her love.

(Frey said:)
42. Long is a night, longer are two--
how shall I thole three?
Shorter to me a month oft seemed,
than part of this night of pining.

Rígsþula The Lay of Rig

Translated by Lee M. Hollander

It is told by men in olden tales that one of the gods whose name was
Heimdall, fared forth along the seashore until he came to a farm. There
he called himself Rig. The following poem treats of this tale.

1. In old times, say they, on earth-paths green
there wended his way a wise god ancient,
rugged and mighty-- Rig was he hight.

2. Walked unwearied (in middle ways);
to a dwelling he came, was the door bolted.
In gan he go, on the ground was a fire,
at the hearth, hoary, sate husband and wife---
Ai and Edda, in old headgear.

3. Well knew Rig wisely to counsel;
on middle seat he sate him down,
betwixt the twain of the toft benched him.

4. Then took Edda a thick loaf heavy
of bread hard-baked and full of bran;
a bowl then bore on the board Edda,
filled with the broth of boiled calf-meat.

5. Well knew Rig wisely to counsel;
he rose up thence, ready for sleep;
on middle bedstead his berth he made,
betwixt the twain of the toft laid him.

6. And there stayed he three days together;
then walked unwearied in middle ways.
Moons full nine went meanwhile by.

7. Gave Edda birth to a boy child then,
(in clouts she swathed) the swarthy-skinned one.
Thrall they called him, and cast on him water
(dark was his hair and dull his eyes).

8. On his hand the skin was scraggy and wrinkled,
(nasty his nails), his knuckles gnarled,
his fingers thick, his face ugly,
his back hulky, his heels were long.

9. He gan to grow and gain in strength,
betimes took him to try his might:
to bind bast ropes, burdens to pack,
to bear faggots home the whole day long.

10. Came to his cot a crook-legged wench---
were her soles dirty, and sunburnt her arms,
her nose bent downward; her name was Thir.

11. On middle seat she sate her down,
by her side did sit the son of the house;
whispered and laughed and lay together
Thrall and Thir whole days through.

12. In their hut, happy, they had a brood:
I ween they were hight Hay-Giver, Howler,
Bastard, Sluggard, Bent-Back and Paunch,
Stumpy, Stinker, Stableboy, Swarthy,
Longshanks and Lout: they laid fences,
put dung on fields, fattened the swine,
herded the goats, and grubbed up peat.

13. Their daughters were Drudge and Daggle-Tail,
Slattern, Serving-Maid, and Cinder-Wench,
Stout-Leg, Shorty, Stumpy and Dumpy,
Spindleshanks eke, and Sputterer:
thence are sprung the breed of thralls.

14. At his staff Rig strode, and straight forth fared;
to a dwelling he came, was the door ajar.
In gan he go, on the ground was a fire,
sate husband and wife there with their work busy.

15. A weaver's beam out of wood he shaped--
his beard was brushed, and banged, his hair--
in kirtle tight-fitting; were planks on the floor.
16. The good wife sate and swayed her distaff,
braided the yarn to use for weaving,
with a snood on her head and a smock on her breast,
on her neck, a kerchief, and clasps on her shoulders.
Afl and Amma owned that house.

17. Well knew Rig wisely to counsel,
(on middle seat he sate him down,
betwixt the twain of the toft benched him).

18. (Then took Amma .... .. ..... ...
..... .... ..... ..... ....
(a full trencher on the table she put
with boiled calf-meat, the best she had.)

19. (Well knew Rig wisely to counsel),
he rose up thence, ready for sleep;
on middle bedstead his berth he made,
betwixt the twain of the toft laid him.

20. And there stayed he three days together
(then walked unwearied in middle ways).
Moons full nine went meanwhile by.

21. Gave Amma birth to a boy child then.
Karl they called him, clothed him in linen;
ruddy his hue, and rapid his eyes.

22. Then gan he grow and gain in strength,
tamed the oxen and tempered ploughshares,
timbered houses, and barns for the hay,
fashioned carts, and followed the plough.

23. A bride they brought him with bunch of keys dangling,
in goatskin kirtle, gave her to Karl.
Snoer was she hight and sate under veil,
[a house they reared them and rings bestowed,]
their linen they spread, and the larder stocked.

24. In their homestead, happy, they had a brood,
hight Man and Yeoman, Master, Goodman,
Husbandman, Farmer, Franklin, Crofter,
Bound-Beard, Steep-Beard, Broad, Swain, and Smith.

25. By other names were known their daughters:
Woman, Gentlewoman, Wife, Bride, Lady,
Haughty, Maiden, Hussif and Dame:
thence are come the kin of carls.

26. At his staff Rig strode steadfastly on;
a hall he saw then, was southward the door,
raised on high, with a ring in the doorpost.

27. He strode in straightway, was straw on the floor.
Sate there the good folk, gazed at each other,
Father and Mother, with their fingers playing?

28. On the bench he sate, a bowstring twining,
bent the elmwood, and arrows shafted.
Sate the lady, looked at her arms,
stroked the linen, straightened her sleeves.

29. Was a brooch on her breast, and a bonnet on her head,
a long train of silk, and sark all blue.
Was her brow brighter, her breast lighter,
her neck whiter, than whitest snow.

30. Well knew Rig wisely to counsel,
on middle seat he sate him down,
betwixt the twain of the toft he benched him.

31. Of bleached flax then a broidered cloth
did Mother take, and the table covered;
a light-baked loaf she laid on the table,
of wheaten meal, white and thin.

32. A full trencher on the table she put,
silver-plated, and set forth then
flitches of bacon and steaked fowl also;
there was wine in a crock, were the cups gold-plated;
they drank and chatted till the day was ended.

33. Well could Rig wisely counsel;
he rose up thence, ready for sleep;
(on middle bedstead his berth he made,
betwixt the twain of the toft he laid him.)

34. And there stayed he three days together;
then walked unwearied in middle ways.
Full nine months went meanwhile by.

35. A son bore Mother, in silk they swathed him,
sprinkled water on him and called him Earl.
Was his hair flaxen, and fair-hued his cheek,
his eyes awfully like an adder's, blazed.

36. Up grew Earl within the hall,
gan bucklers wield and the bowstring fasten,
gan the elmwood bend and arrows shaft;
gan hurl the spear and speed the lance,
gan hunt with hounds, and horses ride,
gan brandish swords and swim in the sea.

37. Out of woodlands came Rig walking,
came Rig walking, and taught him runes;
his own name gave him as heir and son,
bade him make his own the udal lands,
the udal lands and olden manors.

38. He dauntless rode through darkling woods,
over frosty fells, to a faraway hall.
Shields he shattered and shafts he hurled,
brandished his sword and swiftly rode;
he wakened war and warriors slew,
with wound-red weapons he won him land.

39. He made himself master of manors eighteen,
gan share his wealth and shower it on all'
silver and gold and gender steeds;
squandered arm rings and scattered gold?

40. His heralds drove on dew-wet paths,
and came to the hall where Hersir dwelled;
a daughter had he, dainty-fingered,
fair-haired and wise, was she hight Erna.

41. For her hand they asked, and home drove her,
gave her to Earl, gowned in linen;
they lived together and loved each other,
had many children, and lived cheerfully.

42. Boy was the oldest, Bairn the second,
then Issue and Child, Heir, Youth, and Squire,
Offspring and Lad-- they sports did learn--
Son and Scion-- swimming and "tables";
Kund one was called, was Kon the youngest.

43. Up within hall grew Earl's children;
spearshafts they shook, with shields they fended,
swift steeds bestrode, and straightened arrows.

44. But Kon only could carve runes,
runes lasting ay, life-keeping runes;
to bring forth babes birth runes he knew,
to dull sword edges and to calm the sea.

45. Fowls' speech he knew, and quenched fires,
could soothe (sorrows) and the sick mind heal;
in his arms the strength of eight men had.

46. In runes he rivaled Rig the Earl;
with wiles he warred, outwitting him;
thus got for himself, and gained to have,
the name of Rig and runic lore.

47. Rode Kon the young through copse and woods,
birds he snared, used bow and arrow.

48. Then quoth a crow, croaking on branch:
"Why snarest thou birds, scion of kings?
Rather should'st thou ride swift horse,
(brandish swords) and slay foemen.

49. "Have Dan and Danp a dwelling richer,
and lands larger, than are left to thee;
are they skilled in steering on stormy seas,
in trying swords and slaying heros."

Sigrdrífumál The Lay of Sigrdrífa

Translated by W. H. Auden and P. B. Taylor

Sigurd rode up to Hindfell and headed south towards Frankland. On the mountain
he saw a bright light like a fire burning and shining towards Asgardhr. But when he
arrived he found a shield-wall and over it a banner. Sigurd went to the shield-wall and
saw a man in full armour lying asleep. He took the helmet from his head whereupon he
saw that it was a woman. The byrnie was stuck fast as if it had grown into her flesh.
With his sword Grani he slit the byrnie through from the neck down and through both
sleeves, and removed it from her. She awoke, sat up and said:

Who has slit my byrnie and from sleep roused me,
Who has broken the spell that bound me so long?

Sigmund's son, Sigurd, who lately
Killed the Raven's Carrion Tree.

Long have I slept, long was I sleeping,
Long are the miseries of men: Odhinn chose to charm me to sleep
When he spoke a spell over me.

Sigurd sat down and asked her her name. She took a horn full of mead and gave
him a remembrance drink.

Hail Day, Hail, Sons of Day!
Hail Night and New Moon!
With kind eyes look hither and grant us
Victory while we live.

Hail Gods! Hail Goddesses!
Hail bountiful Earth!
Grace us both with the gift of speech
And leech hands while we live.

Her name was Sigrdrifa, meaning Victory-Granter, and she was a Valkyrie. She said
that two kings had fought. One was named Helm Gunnar; he had grown old but was still
the greatest warriors, and to him Odhinn had decreed victory. The other Agnar, Hauda's
brother, who never had hopes of being favoured. Victory-Granter felled Helm Gunnar in
battle. In revenge Odhinn pricked her with a sleep thorn and said that she should never
there-after fight for victory but should be married. But, she said him, I in my turn bind myself
by a vow to marry no man except one who knows no fear. Sigurd asked her to make her
wisdom known to him, since she had knowledge of all the worlds, Sigrdrifa said :

Sea runes you should know to save from wreck
Sail steeds on the Sea:
Carve them on the bow and the blade of the rudder,
Etch them with fire on the oars;
Though high the breakers and blue the waves.
You shall sail safe into harbour.

Limb-runes you should know if a leech you would be,
Who can properly probe wounds:
It is best to carve them on the bark of trees
Whose limbs lean to the east.

Speech-runes you should know, so that no man
Out of hatred may do you harm:
These you shall wind" these you shall fold,
These you shall gather together,
When the people throng to the Thing to hear
Just judgements given.

Thought-runes you should know if you would be thought by all
The wisest of mortal men:
Hropt devised them,
Hropt scratched them
Hropt took them to heart
From the wise waters the waters then run
From the head of Heidraupnir
From the horn of Hoddrofnir.

On the Ben he stood with Brimir's sword"
A helmet upon his head:
Then Mimir's head uttered for the first time
Words of great wisdom.

He spoke runes on the shied that stands before the shining god,
In the ear of Early Awake and on the hoof of All-Wise
On the wheel that turns ever under Hrungnir's chariot,
On the sled straps and on Sleipnir's teeth.

On the bears paw and on Bragi's tongue,
On the wolfs foot and the falcons beak,
On the bloody wings and at the bridges end,
On the palm of child loosener and the path of comfort .

On glass and on gold and the fore-guesses of men,
In wine and in malt and in the mind's seat,
On Gungnir's point and on Grani's breast,
On the nails of the Norns and the Night Owls beak.


All were scratched off which were scratched on,
Mingled with holy mead
And sent on the wide ways,
Some to gods some to elves,
Some to the wise Vanes,
Some to the sons of men

There are Beech runes, there are Birth Runes,
And all the ale runes
Precious runes of power!
Unspoiled they are un-spoiled they are,
Learn them and use them long
Till the high powers perish.

Now you shall choose, for the choice is given you,
Maple - of - well - forged - weapons,
Speech or silence, you shall say which:
Evil is allotted to all.

I shall not flee, though fated to die,
For never have I known fear.
Grant me but this give me all
Your love counsel while I live."

I counsel you first , among kinsmen remain
Free from fault and reproach:
Be slow to wrath though they wrong you much,
This will do you good in death.

I counsel you second; swear no oath
But what you mean to abide by:
A halter awaits the word breaker,
Villainous is the wolf-of-vows.

I counsel you third; at the Thing never bandy
Words with unwise men,
For the unwise man often speaks
worse words than he knows.

But speak your mind; of the silent it is often
Believed they are low-born cowards,
That their foes are speaking the truth .
Famous-at-home may fail abroad
When strangers test his truth:
The reward of the liar is not long in coming;
He dies the very next day.


I say to you fourth; if a sorceress dwell,
A witch by the way side,
It is better to leave than to be her guest
Though night fall on your faring.


Fore sighted eyes need the sons of men
Whenever they come to combat;
By the broad road may sit bale wise women
Who blunt both blades and courage.


I counsel you fifth; though fair be the maids
On the benches within the hall,
Let your sleep not be ruled by the silver of marriage,
Nor beguile the girls with kisses


I counsel you sixth; if you sit with warriors
And the ale talk turns ill,
Bandy no words with bragging drunkards:
Wine steals the wits of many.


Quarrels and ale have often been
The cause of ill to heroes:
Death to some, to some bewitchment,
Many are the grief's of men.

I counsel you seventh; if you Come disputing
With fierce hearted fighters,
To battle is better than to be burned in the hall,
Although it gleam with gold.

I counsel you eighth; of evil beware,
Of charming smiles of deceit:
Let no maidens entice you, nor men's wives,
Nor lead them into lawless pleasures.

I counsel you ninth; cover the dead
Whenever on earth you find them,
Be they dead of sickness. or drowned in the river,
Or warriors slain by weapons.

Dead corpses you should clean with water,
Wash their hands and heads,
Comb and dry them. in their coffins lay them,
And bid them a blessed sleep.


I counsel you tenth; trust not ever
the words of a wolf's kin,
If you have killed his kin
Or felled his father:
Wolf's bane is in his blood
Though he be glad of your gold.

Anger and hate are ever awake,
So is harm also:
The boar visored, when vain-glorious.
Lack both wit and weapons.

I counsel you eleventh; there lurks evil
Round each bend of the road:
A long life you must not look to have,
So great are the hatreds grown.