File:Sigurboði - Hrafnagaldr Óðins Icelandic + English Lyrics (Skaldic Poetry & Norse Mythology)

Hrafnagaldr Óðins (Odin's Raven-Magic) involves several known figures from Norse mythology, including Odin, Iðunn, Heimdallr, Loki and Bragi, but does not appear to describe a myth known from other sources but is composed as an introduction to Vegtamskviða (The Death of Baldur)

Lyrics:

Alföður orkar álfar skilja vanir vitu vísa nornir elur íviðja aldir bera þreyja þursar þrá valkyrjur.

Ætlun æsir illa gátu veður villtu vættar rúnum; Óðhræris skyldi Urður geyma máttk at verja mestum þorra.

Hverfur því Hugur himna leitar, grunar guma grand ef dvelur; þótti er Þráins þunga draumur, Dáins dulu (dvergur) draumur þótti.

Dugur er með dvergum dvína, heimar niður að Ginnungs niði sökkva; oft Alsviður ofan fellir, oft af föllnum aftur safnar.

Stendur æva strind né röðull, lofti með lævi linnir ei straumi mærum dylst í Mímis brunni vissa vera; vitið enn, eða hvað?

Dvelur í dölum dís forvitin, Yggdrasils frá aski hnigin; álfa ættar Iðunni hétu, Ívalds eldri yngsta barna.

Eirði illa ofankomu, hárbaðms undir haldin meiði; kunni síst að kundar Njörva, vön að værri vistum heima.

Sjá sigtívar syrgja Naumu viggjar að véum; vargsbelg seldu, lét í færast, lyndi breytti, lék að lævísi, litum skipti.

Valdi Viðrir vörð Bifrastar Gjallar sunnu gátt að frétta, heims hvívetna hvert er vissi; Bragi og Loftur báru kviðu.

Galdur gólu, göndum riðu, Rögnir og Reginn að ranni heimis; hlustar Óðinn Hliðskjálfu í; leit braut vera langa vegu.

Alföður orkar álfar skilja vanir vitu vísa nornir elur íviðja aldir bera þreyja þursar

þrá valkyrjur.

Translation by Benjamin Thorpe: Alfather works, the Álfar discern, the Vanir know, the Nornir indicate, the Íviðja brings forth, men endure, the Þursar await, the Valkyrjur long.

The forebodings the Æsir suspected to be evil; treacherous Vættir had the runes confounded. Urðr was enjoined to guard Óðhrærir, powerfully to protect it against the increasing multitude.

Hugr then goes forth, explores the heavens, the powers fear disaster from delay. ‘Twas Þráin’s belief that the dream was ominous; Dáin’s thought that the dream was dark.

Among the dwarfs virtue decays; worlds sink down to Ginnung’s abyss. Oft will Ásvið strike them down, oft the fallen again collect.

Stand no longer shall earth or sun. The stream of air with corruption laden shall not cease. Hidden is in Mímir’s limpid well men’s certain knowledge. Understand ye yet, or what?

In the dales dwells the prescient Dísir, from Yggdrasil’s ash sunk down, of Álfa-race, Iðun by name, the youngest of Ívaldi’s elder children.

She ill brooked her descent, under the hoar tree’s trunk confined. She would not happy be with Njörvi’s daughter, accustomed to a pleasanter abode at home. 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, practiced guile, alter’d her aspect.

Viðrir selected Bifröst´s guardian, of the Giöll-sun’s keeper to inquire all that she knew of every world; Bragi and Loftr should witness bear.

Magic songs they sung, rode on wolves the god and gods. At the heavenly house, Odin listened, in Hliðskjálf; let them go forth on their long way.

Alfather works, the Álfar discern, the Vanir know, the Nornir indicate, the Íviðja brings forth, men endure, the Þursar await, the Valkyrjur long.

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