Then went the gods to their judgment-seats and held counsel, and asked each other who could have advised to give Freyja in marriage in Jotunheim, or to plunge the air and the heavens in darkness by taking away the sun and the moon and giving them to the giant; and all agreed that this must have been advised by him who gives the most bad counsels, namely, Loke, son of Laufey, and they threatened him with a cruel death if he could not contrive some way of preventing the builder from fulfilling his part of the bargain, and they proceeded to lay hands on Loke. The other wolf will devour the moon, and this too will cause great mischief. The first gave them spirit and life; the second endowed them with reason and power of motion; and the third gave them form, speech, hearing and eyesight. The present selection includes the whole of Gylfaginning (The deluding of Gylfi)--a guide to mythology that forms one of the great storybooks of the Middle Ages--and the longer heroic tales and legends of Skldskaparml (Poetic diction). First is the tale of King Gylfi of Sweden, and how he lost land that became Zealand to a beggar-woman, a disguised woman of the sir. Then Thor stood up and called his companions. From his horns fall so many drops down into Hvergelmer, that thence flow the rivers that are called Sid, Vid, Sekin, Ekin, Svol, Gunthro, Fjorm, Fimbulthul, Gipul, Gopul, Gomul and Geirvimul, all of which fall about the abodes of the asas. The goats draw the chariot; wherefore he is called Oku-Thor. There stands a beautiful hall near the fountain beneath the ash. The mountain I brought before the blows without you seeing it. Nörfi or Narfi was the name of a giant who lived in Giantland4. Do you suppose that Alfather invites kings, jarls, or other great men, and gives them water to drink? He girded himself with his Megingjarder, whereby his asa-might increased. In Hvergelmer with Nidhug are more serpents than tongue can tell. From that time Tyr is one-handed, and he is now called a peacemaker among men. Just click the "Edit page" button at the bottom of the page or learn more in the Plot Summary submission guide. Know, then, that I have deceived you with illusions. Furthermore, there is a dwelling, by name Himinbjorg, which stands at the end of heaven, where the Bifrost-bridge is united with heaven. Frigg asked this woman whether she knew what the asas were doing at their meeting. He may even have made some things up! The fields unsown produce their harvests. The present selection includes the whole of Gylfaginning (The deluding of Gylfi)--a guide to mythology that forms one of the great storybooks of the Middle Ages--and the longer heroic tales and legends of Skldskaparml (Poetic diction). Kevin Crossley-Holland's The Norse Myths He was afraid that if they found out he, a king, did not know so many things, they would punish him or take away his kingdom. Hermod mounted him and galloped away. The people wanted to know where the Sun came from, why it got so cold in the winter, and what will happen to the world in the future. Thus it is said: Then Ganglere heard a terrible noise on all sides, and when he looked about him he stood out-doors on a level plain. The Gylfaginning, in a nutshell, is a conversation between the king of Sweden and the king of Asgard, Odin. He is the strongest of all gods and men, and rules over the realm which is called Thrudvang. MyNDIR: The Deluding of Gylfi (0) $10.16 2x sold + learn more Full Summary And Class Notes of Pirates and Poets: Viking encounters in the British Isles Summary 95 pages 2019 When the asas came to the house, he entered first who was wisest of them all, and whose name was Kvaser; and when he saw in the fire the ashes of the net that had been burned, he understood that this must be a contrivance for catching fish, and this he told to the asas. The Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson - Paperback - University of It is a saying that a woman becomes vor (ware) of what she becomes wise. But just then Skrymer awoke and asked: What is that? As is here said: But true it is, as you said, that Odin is a great chief. Then said Utgard-Loke: That is well drunk, still it is not very much. 10 Dagr. From this you can judge of the beauty both of his hair and of his body. She has since carried her love of mythological stories into adulthood also studying diverse aspects of the Viking culture in general. Even though Gylfi disguises himself as a humble traveler named Gangleri, the sir gods anticipate his arrival and devise a scheme. He wondered much that the asa-folk was so mighty in knowledge, that all things went after their will. One is there called Alfheim. This place is called Gladsheim. It is said that of this wolf race one is the mightiest, and is called Moongarm. Said Utgard-Loke: You must lay yoursefl more forward, Thjalfe, if you want to win the race; but this I confess, that there has never before come anyone hither who was swifter of foot than you. Then Skrymer bound all their provisions into one bag, laid it on his back, and led the way all the day, taking gigantic strides. But of Hermod it is to be told that he rode nine nights through deep and dark valleys, and did not see light until he came to the Gjallar-river and rode on the Gjallar-bridge, which is thatched with shining gold. The dart pierced him and he fell dead to the ground. When the gods saw how much he grew every day, and all prophecies declared that he was predestined to become fatal to them, they resolved to make a very strong fetter, which they called Lading. Thor replied that he preferred to compete with someone in drinking. This is why he journeys to Asgard, but on the way he is tricked by the gods and arrives in some other place, where he finds a great palace. HE has a conversation with 3 Aesir and wins a competition in which the Aesir's idea of the afterlife is disproved. When these three boys grew to be men, they decided to kill the giant.". You have already said that all men shall live in some world through all ages. The Gylfaginning deals with the creation and destruction of the world of the Norse gods, and many other aspects of Norse mythology. He took the ring Draupner and sent it as a keepsake to Odin. Then the asas made another fetter, by one-half stronger, and this they called Drome. Har gave answer: Then was he with the frost-giants. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. All things did so,men and beasts, the earth, stones, trees and all metals, just as you must have seen these things weep when they come out of frost and into heat. Then said one of them: There are still others who are to serve in Valhal, bear the drink around, wait upon the table and pass the ale-horns. First, there is a winter called the Fimbul-winter, when snow drives from all quarters, the frosts are so severe, the winds so keen and piercing, that there is no joy in the sun. So, one night, Gylfi secretly left his home in his kingdom and went on a long journey. ", Gylfi was concerned, "Uh, what about Ymir, the giant? Her man-servants name is Ganglate; her maid-servants, Ganglot. Gylfi - Wikiwand Those horses are named like so: Early-Waker and All-Strong. Thor held his hammer by the handle, ready to defend himself. Of this you may hear what the Lay of Grimner says: Then said Ganglere: A mighty band of men there is in Valhal, and, forsooth, I know that Odin is a very great chief, since he commands so mighty a host. Then said Frigg: Neither weapon nor tree can hurt Balder, I have taken an oath from them all. Har answered: Frigg is the first; she possesses the right lordly dwelling which is called Fensaler. Thus it is said in the Valas Prophecy: And on this point, when Vafthrudner, the giant, was asked by Gangrad: Then asked Ganglere: How were the races developed from him? Ginnunga means something like "magical, mighty" and himin literally means "heaven". Because of this, we need to keep in mind, when reading his material, that the myths we are reading may not be exactly the same as the myths told by pre-Christian Scandinavians. Odin rides first; with his golden helmet, resplendent byrnie, and his spear Gungner, he advances against the Fenris-wolf. When he encounters High One, Just-as-High, and Third, they are all sitting on ornate thrones in Asgard. The Gylfaginning deals with king Gylfis encounters with the sir, and his disguised journey as Gangleri to Asgard. She was swarthy and dark like the race she belonged to. The gods became exceedingly wroth, as might be expected. Balders corspe was borne out on the ship; and when his wife, Nanna, daughter of Nep, saw this, her heart was broken with grief and she died. Shortly before daybreak he heard that Skrymer had fallen asleep. He stretched out his hand and picked up his glove. "East, West, North, and Southoh, yes, I see" mumbled Gylfi. Thus he gets information about many things, and hence he is called Rafnagud (raven-god). But this woman was of the asa-race; her name was Gefjun. Thus it is said in the very words of the asas themselves: On the first day of winter he began to build the burg, but by night he hauled stone for it with his horse. He has a flaming sword in his hand, and at the end of the world he will come and harry, conquer all the gods, and burn up the whole world with fire. Har answered: You have no knowledge of Sleipner, nor do you know the circumstances attending his birth; but it must seem to you worth the telling. I have never heard any man tell more about the universe than I just have. At daybreak the next day Thor and his companions arose, dressed themselves and were ready to depart. 473. 15 The poem Vlusp describes the destruction of the world when the sun and moon are devoured by these wolves. He alighted from his horse, drew the girths tighter, remounted him, claped the spurs into him, and the horse leaped over the gate with so much force that he never touched it. Loke addressed himself to him, and asked: Why do you not shoot at Balder? Loke had eaten all the flesh off from the bones, but Loge had consumed both the flesh and the bones, and the trough too. The other hight Hate, Hrodvitners son; he bounds before her and wants to catch the moon, and so he will at last. But the father of winter has two names, Vindlone and Vindsval. One stood under his shoulders, another under his loins, and the third under his hams, and the fetters became iron. Then happens what will seem a great miracle, that the wolf devours the sun, and this will seem a great loss. Then asked Ganglere: What was he doing before heaven and earth were made? ", Gylfi wondered about poor Sun driving those horses, keeping them so cool at the same time. Then said Ganglere: Who guards this palace when Surts fire burns up heaven and earth? He surpasses other men in the craft of cunning, and cheats in all things. THE DELUDING OF GYLFI. The sir responded with many myths and stories. Again, it is said that the norns, that dwell in the fountain of Urd, every day take water from the fountain and take the clay that lies around the fountain and sprinkle therewith the ash, in order that its branches may not wither or decay.