Alvissmal

"To put bolster on bench shall my bride now with me
make haste homeward;
a hasty match this to many will seem:
they'll not rob me my rest at home."

"What wight is this? Why so wan about thy nose?
Didst dwell with the dead last night?
Like to thurses methinks thou art,
nor born to have this bride."

"Alvis am I, dwell the earth beneath,
there standeth my house under stones;
(for the weapon's worth) to Valhalla I came:
Let none his bounden faith break!"

"I shall break it; for the bridegroom's choosing
falls as father on me;
in Valhalla I was not when was wedded to thee
among Gods whom but I can offer."

"What man is this, of the winsome maid
who feigns he is father?
Thee feckless fellow but few will know:
what bitch bore thee, pray?"

"I am hight Vingthor-- I have wandered far--
Sithgrani's son I am;
by my leave never shalt the maiden take,
and have her as wedded wife."

"Thy leave full soon thou wilt let me have,
to win her as wedded wife;
to marry I mean, nor to remain without,
the slender, snow-white maiden."

"The maiden's love I shall let thee have,
thou wise guest, as thou wishest,
if of every world thou canst tell me all
that I list to learn.

"Tell me, Alvis-- for all wights' fate
I deem that, dwarf, thou knowest--
how the earth is hight, before all outspread,
in all the worlds so wide?"

"'Tis hight 'Earth' among men, among Aesir, 'Land';
call the Vanir it 'Ways,'
'All-Green,' the Etins, the Alfs, 'Burgeoning,'
the mighty Gods, 'Mud.'"

"Tell me, Alvis-- for all wights' fate
I deem that, dwarf, thou knowest--
how the heaven is hight, that to Hronn was born,
in all the worlds so wide?"

"'Tis hight 'Heaven' among men, 'High-Arched' among Gods;
call the Vanir it 'Wind-Weaver,'
the Etins, 'Upper-World,' the Alfs, 'Fair Roof,'
the Dwarves, 'Dripping Hall.'"

"Tell me, Alvis-- for all wights' fate
I deem that, dwarf, thou knowest--
how the moon is hight, which men do see,
in all the worlds so wide?"

"'Tis hight 'moon' among men, 'Mild Light' among Gods;
call the wights in Hel it 'Wheel,'
the Etins, 'Speeder,' the Dwarves, 'Splendor,'
the Alfs, 'Teller-of-Time.'"

"Tell me, Alvis-- for all wights' fate
I deem that, dwarf, thou knowest--
how the sun is hight, which is seen by men,
in all the worlds so wide?"

"'Tis hight 'Sun' among men, but 'Sunlight' among Gods;
call the Dwarves it 'Dvalin's Doom,'
the Etins, 'Everglow,' the Alfs, 'Fair Wheel,'
'All Bright,' the Asa-Sons."

"Tell me, Alvis-- for all wights' fate
I deem that, dwarf, thou knowest--
how the clouds are hight, that carry showers,
in all the worlds so wide?"

"'Tis hight 'Clouds' among men, 'Rain-Carriers' among Gods;
call the Vanir them 'Windblown,'
the Etins, 'Rain-Hope,' the Alfs, 'Weather-Might,'
the Hel-Dwellers, 'Hiding Helm.'"

"Tell me, Alvis-- for all wights' fate
I deem that, dwarf, thou knowest--
how the wind is hight, which widest fares,
in all the worlds so wide?"

"'Tis hight 'Wind' among men, but 'Wafter' among Gods;
call the most high it 'Whinnier,'
the Etins, 'Roarer,' the Alfs, 'Din Farer,'
the Hel-Dwellers, 'Whistler.'"

"Tell me, Alvis-- for all wights' fate
I deem that, dwarf, thou knowest--
how the calm is hight, which quietly lies,
in all the worlds so wide?"

"'Tis hight 'Calm' among men, 'Sea-Quiet' among Gods;
call the Vanir it 'Wind-Lull,'
the Etins, 'Sultry,' the Alfs, 'Day-Balm,'
the Dwarves, 'the Day's Haven.'"

"Tell me, Alvis-- for all wights' fate
I deem that, dwarf, thou knowest--
how the sea is hight, which sailed by men,
in all the worlds so wide?"

"'Tis hight 'Sea' among men, 'Main' among Gods;
call the Vanir it 'Wave,'
the Etins, 'Eel Home,' the Alfs, 'Water,'
the Dwarves, 'the Deep.'"

"Tell me, Alvis-- for all wights' fate
I deem that, dwarf, thou knowest--
how the fire is hight, which flames among men,
in all the worlds so wide?"

"'Tis hight 'Fire' among men, but 'Flame' among Gods;
call the Vanir it 'Warmth,'
the Etins, 'Greedy,' 'All-Devourer,' the dwarves,
the Hel-Wights, 'Fast Welmer.'"

"Tell me, Alvis-- for all wights' fate
I deem that, dwarf, thou knowest--
how the wood is hight, in men's world that grows,
in all the worlds so wide?"

"'Tis hight 'Wood' among men, 'Earth's Mane' among Gods;
call the Hel-Wights it, 'Seaweed-of-Slopes.'"
the Etins, 'Firewood,' the Alfs, 'Fair Bough,'
call the Vanir it 'Wand,'

"Tell me, Alvis-- for all wights' fate
I deem that, dwarf, thou knowest--
how the night is hight, which to Nor was born,
in all the worlds so wide?"

"'Tis hight 'Night' among men, but 'Murk' among Gods;
call the mighty powers it 'Mask,'
the Etins, 'Lightless,' the Alfs, 'Sleep's Ease,'
the Dwarves, 'Weaver-of-Dreams.'"

"Tell me, Alvis-- for all wights' fate
I deem that, dwarf, thou knowest--
how the seed is hight, which is sowed by men,
in all the worlds so wide?"

"'Tis hight 'Barley' among men, but 'Breadstuff' among Gods;
call the Vanir it 'Well-Grown,'
the Etins, 'Eating,' the Alf-Kin, 'Grain,'
the wights of Hel, 'Hanging.'"

"Tell me, Alvis-- for all wights' fate
I deem that, dwarf, thou knowest--
how the beer is hight, which is brewed by men,
in all the worlds so wide?"

"'Tis hight 'Ale' among men, among Aesir 'Beer';
call the Vanir it 'Wassail-Brew,'
'Clear-Must,' the Etins, 'Mead,' the Hel-Wights,
the sons of Suttung, 'Feast Draught.'"

"I never learned like lore to dwell
in the breast of any wight born;
with wiley words outwitted thou art:
above ground finds thee, dwarf, the day;
now the sun is seen in thy hall."