ALVÍSSMÁL Alvíss kvað: 1. "Bekki breiða, nú skal brúðr með mér heim í sinni snúask, hratat of mægi mun hverjum þykkja, heima skal-at hvílð nema." Þórr kvað: 2. "Hvat er þat fira? Hví ertu svá fölr um nasar? Þursa líki þykki mér á þér vera, ert-at-tu til brúðar borinn." Alvíss kvað: 3. "Alvíss ek heiti, bý ek fyr jörð neðan, á ek und steini stað, vagna vers ek em á vit kominn, bregði engi föstu heiti fira." Þórr kvað: 4. "Ek mun bregða, þvíat ek brúðar á flest of ráð sem faðir, vark-a ek heima, þá er þér heitit var, at sá einn, er gjöf er, með goðum." Alvíss kvað: 5. "Hvat er þat rekka, er í ráðum telsk fljóðs ins fagrglóa, fjarrafleina, - þik munu fáir kunna, - hverr hefr þik baugum borit?" Þórr kvað: 6. "Vingþórr ek heiti, hef ek víða ratat, sonr em ek Síðgrana; at ósátt minni skal-at-tu þat it unga man hafa ok þat gjaforð geta." Alvíss kvað: 7. "Sáttir þínar er ek vil snemma hafa ok þat gjaforð geta, eiga vilja ek, heldr en án vera, þat it mjallhvíta man." Þórr kvað: 8. "Meyjar ástum mun-a þér verða vísi gestr of varit, ef þú ór heimi kannt hverjum at segja allt þat er vilja ek vita." 9. "Segðu mér þat Alvíss, - öll of rök fira vörumk, dvergr, at vitir, hvé sú jörð heitir, er liggr fyr alda sonum heimi hverjum í?" Alvíss kvað: 10. "Jörð heitir með mönnum, en með ásum fold, kalla vega vanir, ígrœn jötnar, alfar gróandi, kalla aur uppregin." Þórr kvað: 11. "Segðu mér þat Alvíss, - öll of rök fira vörumk, dvergr, at vitir, hvé sá himinn heitir erakendi, heimi hverjum í?" Alvíss kvað: 12. "Himinn heitir með mönnum, en hlýrnir með goðum, kalla vindófni vanir, uppheim jötnar, alfar fagraræfr, dvergar drjúpansal." Þórr kvað: 13. "Segðu mér þat Avlíss, - öll of rök fira vörumk, dvergr, at vitir, hversu máni heitir, sá er menn séa, heimi hverjum í?" Alvíss kvað: 14. "Máni heitir með mönnum, en mylinn með goðum, kalla hverfanda hvél helju í, skyndi jötnar, en skin dvergar, kalla alfar ártala." Þórr kvað: 15. "Segðu mér þat Alvíss, - öll of rök fira vörumk, dvergr, at vitir, hvé sú sól heitir, er séa alda synir, heimi hverjum í?" Alvíss kvað: 16. "Sól heitir með mönnum, en sunna með goðum, kalla dvergar Dvalins leika, eygló jötnar, alfar fagrahvél, alskír ása synir." Þórr kvað: 17. "Segðu mér þat Alvíss, - öll of rök fira vörumk, dvergr, at vitir, hvé þau ský heita, er skúrum blandask, heimi hverjum í?" Alvíss kvað: 18. "Ský heita með mönnum, en skúrván með goðum, kalla vindflot vanir, úrván jötnar, alfar veðrmegin, kalla í helju hjalm huliðs." Þórr kvað: 19. "Segðu mér þat Alvíss, - öll of rök fira vörumk, dvergr, at vitir, hvé sá vindr heitir, er víðast ferr, heimi hverjum í?" Alvíss kvað: 20. "Vindr heitir með mönnum, en váfuðr með goðum, kalla gneggjuð ginnregin, œpi jötnar, alfar dynfara, kalla í helju hviðuð." Þórr kvað: 21. "Segðu mér þat Alvíss, - öll of rök fira vörumk, dvergr, at vitir, hvé þat logn heitir, er liggja skal, heimi hverjum í?" Alvíss kvað: 22. "Logn heitir með mönnum, en lœgi með goðum, kalla vindlot vanir, ofhlý jötnar, alfar dagsefa, kalla dvergar dagsveru." Þórr kvað: 23. "Segðu mér þat Alvíss, - öll of rök fira vörumk, dvergr, at vitir, hvé sá marr heitir, er menn róa, heimi hverjum í?" Alvíss kvað: 24. "Sær heitir með mönnum, en sílœgja með goðum, kalla vág vanir, álheim jötnar, alfar lagastaf, kalla dvergar djúpan mar." Þórr kvað: 25. "Segðu mér þat, Alvíss, - öll of rök fira vörumk, dvergr, at vitir, hvé sá eldr heitir, er brennr fyr alda sonum, heimi hverjum í?" Alvíss kvað: 26. "Eldr heitir með mönnum, en með ásum funi, kalla vág vanir, frekan jötnar, en forbrenni dvergar, kalla í helju hröðuð." Þórr kvað: 27. "Segðu mér þat Alvíss, - öll of rök fira vörumk, dvergr, at vitir, hvé viðr heitir, er vex fyr alda sonum, heimi hverjum í?" Alvíss kvað: 28. "Viðr heitir með mönnum, en vallarfax með goðum, kalla hlíðþang halir, eldi jötnar alfar fagrlima, kalla vönd vanir." Þórr kvað: 29. "Segðu mér þat Alvíss, - öll of rök fira vörumk, dvergr,at vitir, hvé sú nótt heitir, in Nörvi kennda, heimi hverjum í?" Alvíss kvað: 30. "Nótt heitir með mönnum, en njól með goðum, kalla grímu ginnregin, óljós jötnar, alfar svefngaman, kalla dvergar draumnjörun." Þórr kvað: 31. "Segðu mér þat Alvíss, - öll of rök fira vörumk, dvergr, at vitir, hvé þat sáð heitir, er sáa alda synir, heimi hverjum í?" Alvíss kvað: 32. "Bygg heitir með mönnum, en barr með goðum, kalla vöxt vanir, æti jötnar, alfar lagastaf, kalla í helju hnipin." Þórr kvað: 33. "Segðu mér þat Alvíss, - öll of rök fira vörumk, dvergr, at vitir, hvé þat öl heitir, er drekka alda synir, heimi hverjum í?" Alvíss kvað: 34. "Öl heitir með mönnum, en með ásum bjórr, kalla veig vanir, hreinalög jötnar, en í helju mjöð, kalla sumbl Suttungs synir." Þórr kvað: 35. "Í einu brjósti sá ek aldrigi fleiri forna stafi; miklum tálum kveð ek tælðan þik, uppi ertu, dvergr, of dagaðr, nú skínn sól í sali." THE WORDS OF ALL-WISE Alvis said: 1. Put away the benches: for my bride and me. It is time to be turning homeward. I am eager for this wedding: They are wondering there why I linger so long. Thor said: 2. Of what race are you, White-Nose? Were you clasped in the night by a corpse? I think you must be Thurse-begotten: You were never born for a bride. Alvis said: 3. All-Wise I am called: under the ground I dwell in the dark among stones. From the Lord of Chariots I look for good faith: It is ill to break an oath. Thor said: 4. I never swore one: I was not at home When the gods gave you this pledge. The bride's father has the best right: Permission is for me to give. Alvis said: 5. Declare your name, who claim to be The father of the fair maid. Far-wanderer, few know you: Whose arm-rings do you wear? Thor said: 6. The lord Ving-Thor, Longbeard's son, Who has traveled wide in the world: Unless I agree, give my consent, You shall never marry the maid. Alvis said: 7. You will agree, give your consent That I shall marry the maid, The snow-white woman I desire to have Rather than live alone. Thor said: 8. Wise guest, I give you my promise: I will not deny your her hand, If you know what I wish to know concerning All the worlds there are. 9. Say, Dwarf, for it seems to me There is nothing you do not know: What is earth called, the outstretched land, In all the worlds there are? Alvis said: 10. Earth by men, The Fold by gods, Vanes call it The Ways, Giants Ever-green, Elves Growing, High gods call it Clay. Thor said: 11. Say, Dwarf, for it seems to me There is nothing you do not know: What is heaven called, that all know, In all the worlds there are? Alvis said: 12. Heaven by men, The Arch by gods, Wind-Weaver by vanes, By giants High-Earth, by elves Fair-Roof By dwarves The Dripping Hall. Thor said: 13. Say, Dwarf, for it seems to me There is nothing you do not know: What is the moon called, that men see, In all the worlds there are? Alvis said: 14. Moon by men, The Ball by gods, The Whirling Wheel in Hel, The Speeder by giants, The Bright One by dwarves, By elves Tally-of- Years. Thor said: 15. Say, Dwarf, for it seems to me There is nothing you do not know: What is sol called, that is seen by men, In all the worlds there are? Alvis said: 16. Sol by men, Sun by gods, By dwarves, Dvalin's Doll, By giants Everglow, by elves Fair-Wheel, All-Bright by sons of gods. Thor said: 17. Say, Dwarf, for it seems to me There is nothing you do not know: What are clouds called, that carry rain, In all the worlds there are? Alvis said: 18. Clouds by men, Hope-of-Showers by gods, Wind-Ships by vanes, By giants Drizzle-Hope, by elves Weather-Might, In Hel Helmet-of-Darkness. Thor said: 19. Say, Dwarf, for it seems to me There is nothing you do not know: What is wind called, that widely fares In all the worlds there are? Alvis said: 20. Wind by men, Woe-Father by gods, By holy powers The Neigher, The Shouter by giants, Traveling-Tumult by elves, Squall-Blast they call it in Hel. Thor said: 21. Say, Dwarf, for it seems to me There is nothing you do not know: What is calm called, that cannot stir, In all the worlds there are? Alvis said: 22. Calm by men, Stillness by gods, Idle-Wind by vanes, Over-Warmth by giants, by elves Day-Quiet, And Day-Rest by dwarves. Thor said: 23. Say, Dwarf, for it seems to me There is nothing you do not know: What is sea called, that is crossed by men, In all the worlds there are? Alvis said: 24. Sea by men, Still-Main by gods, The vanes call it Wave, Eel-Home by giants, by elves Water-Charm, The Dark Deep by dwarves. Thor said: 25. Say, Dwarf, for it seems to me There is nothing you do not know: What is fire called, so fierce to men, In all the worlds there are? Alvis said: 26. Fire by men, Flame by gods, The Flickering One by vanes, The Wolfish by giants, All-Burner by elves, In Hel The Corpse-Destroyer. Thor said: 27. Say, Dwarf, for it seems to me There is nothing you do not know: What is forest called, that flourishes for men, In all the worlds there are? Alvis said: 28. Forest by men, Field's-Mane by gods, By heroes Mountain Sea-Weed, Fire-Wood by giants, Fair-Bough by elves, By vanes Wand-of-Charms. Thor said: 29. Say, Dwarf, for it seems to me There is nothing you do not know: What is night called, that Nor fathered, In all the worlds there are? Alvis said: 30. Night by men, The Dark by gods, By holy powers The Hood, Unlight by giants, by elves Sleep-Pleasure, By dwarves Spinner-of-Dreams. Thor said: 31. Say, Dwarf, for it seems to me There is nothing you do not know: What is the seed called, that is sown by men, In all the worlds there are? Alvis said: 32. Brew by men, Barley by gods, Vanes call it The Growth, Oats by giants, by elves Water-Charm, In Hel they call it The Drooping. Thor said: 33. Say, Dwarf, for it seems to me There is nothing you do not know: What is ale called, that is quaffed by men, In all the worlds there are? Alvis said: 34. Ale by men, Beer by gods, The vanes call it Strength, Water-Pure by giants, Mead in Hel, Feast by Sutting's Sons. Thor said: 35. Never have I met such a master of lore With such a wealth of wisdom. I talked to trick you, and tricked you I have: Dawn has broken, Dwarf, Stiffen now to stone. Original English translation by WH Auden and PB Taylor is in the public domain. This edition has been edited and corrected and is Copyright (c) 2001 Joseph Bloch