HRAFNAGALDUR ÓÐINS Compiled, edited and (where necesary) translated by Gunivortus Goos (GardenStone) Usingen, 2014

* * Forspjallsljóð * *

(Prelude poem)

Odin's raven magic Foreword

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Once again one of my smaller projects has reached its realization and can be ticked off - the (re) introduction of the poem or song with the Oldnorse name 'Hrafnagaldur Odin "(Odin's raven magic), also called Forspjallsljóð' (prelude poem). Have fun with it. Gunivortus, Usingen, July, 2014. Introduction

Backgrounds The Hrafnagaldr Óðins (Odin's raven-magic), also called Forspjallsljóð (prelude poem) is an Icelandic poem, written in the style of the poems of the Poetic Edda. It has passed down only in paper manuscripts. In the edition of the Poetic Edda from 1867 the translator Sophus Bugge argued that the poem only was created in the 17th-Century. According to Bugge, it was composed as an introduction to the 'Baldrs draumar' poem. Since Bugge's argumentation it was not part anymore of editions of the Poetic Edda; before, it was added to the English Thorpe edition from 1866 and to the German Simrock edition from 1851. In 1886 the Swedish scholar and author Viktor Rydberg accepted the poem as authentic and sought to explain its narrative as referring to the time Idun was taken from Asgard by Thjazi. In 2002 the Icelandic scholar Jónas Kristjánsson published arguments that would point to a much earlier date of origin than Bugge proposed, the 13th or 14th Century was targeted. Kristjánsson based his view on linguistic evidence and on the apparently corrupt state of the left poem. Others disputed that with the argument that the metrical system of the poem would differ too much from the Eddic poems. At first, the scholar Annette Lassen saw the poem on the same level as the Svipdagsmál (Lay of Svipdagr) which contains the two poems Grógaldr (Spell of Gróa) and the Fjölsvinnsmál (Sayings of Fjölsvinnr) which also were discovered in the 17th Century but are considered by many related scholars as part of the Poetic Edda. Some years later Lassen revised her view and stated that the poem would be post medieval. One of her arguments was the use of the Middle Low German word 'máltíd', which would at earliest appear in the middle of the 14th Century – but she dates the poem later. According to analysis of the best manuscripts, the various copies all derive from a single archetype. Whether prior to the paper manuscript also a vellum manuscript existed, is unknown, but Árni Magnússon makes reference to the poem in a letter dated June 18, 1729 to Jón Halldórsson, Dean of Hítardalur, raising the possibility that such a vellum manuscript was lost in the Great Fire in Copenhagen of 1728, which destroyed a large part of Arni's library, including as many as 15 bound manuscripts of Eddic poetry. The letter reads, in a translation of William P. Reaves, as follows: "I had (which burned) blessed Reverend Ólafur's (our principal's) letter regarding one of these odes (I believe Hrafnagaldur Odins) a song that Magister Brynjólfur had allowed to be copied from one old, dirty leaf, and as I recall, he said that there was something missing at the end, and that it may have occurred in the same manner. This is all as if in a fog, the documents are gone." Obviously, the discussion whether the poem originate from the 13th or 14th Century or from the 16th or 17th Century has not come to a conclusive end yet. The contents in short The poem begins with five stanzas of ominous introduction, the narrative proper setting is in stanza 6. Idunn falls from the world-tree (stanzas 6-7) and is given a wolfskin to wear (stanza 8). Alarmed, Odin sends a trio of messengers led by Heimdall to get news from a woman designated as "the doorpost of Gjöll's sun" (Giallar sunnu gátt, a kenning for woman) (stanza 9). The identity of the woman that Heimdall and his companions visit in the lower world is not revealed. She has been variously identified as Idunn, Hela (Emil Doepler, 1881), and as Urd. The messengers ask her the beginning, duration and end of heaven, the world, and hel (stanza 11). Tears are her only response (stanzas 12-13). The failed messengers return to Asgard, joining a feast in progress (stanzas 14-15). Heimdall tells the gods of their mission; Loki informs the goddesses (stanzas 16-19). The festivities conclude (stanza 21), and the onset of night is described in mythological terms (stanzas 22-26). In the final verse, Heimdall lifts his horn toward heaven. Interest in the poem has been renewed after 1998, when Eysteinn Björnsson and William P. Reaves posted an edition of the poem with an English translation and commentary online. Only the English translation of this whole project is still online available. In 2005 the Icelandic post-rock band Sigur Rós together with Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson, and Steindór Andersen composed a choral and orchestral work 'Hrafnagaldur Óðins'.

This introduction is based on theWikipedia entry at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hrafnagaldr_Óðins Several other translations exist, below another English and another German translation. The poem contains quite a few 'kennings' (Oldnorse poetical descriptions of names or terms). These are explained alongside the stanzas. The Poem

Old Norse English 1 1 Alföður orkar, Allfather works, álfar skilja, elves understand, vanir vitu, vanir know, vísa nornir, norns reveal, elur íviðja, gives birth, íviðja :A troll wife or giantess aldir bera, men endure, þreyja þursar, thurses wait, þrá valkyrjur. valkyries yearn. 2 2 Ætlun æsir The Æsir suspected illa gátu, an evil scheme, veður villtu wights confounded vættar rúnum; the weather with magic; Óðhræris skyldi Urður was appointed Urður geyma, Óðhrærir's keeper, Urður: fate máttk at verja powerful to protect it mestum þorra. from the mightiest winter. 3 3 Hverfur því Hugur, Hugur then disappears Hugur: the raven Huginn? himna leitar, seeking the heavens, grunar guma men's ruin is suspected, grand ef dvelur; if he's delayed; þótti er Þráins Þráinn's thought Þráinn: name of a dwarf þunga draumur, is an opressive dream, Dáins dulu Dáinn's dream Dáinn: dwarf or elf name draumur þótti. was thought enigmatic. 4 4 Dugir með dvergum The dwarves' powers dvína, heimar dwindle, the worlds niður að Ginnungs sink down niði sökkva; towards Ginnung's abyss; oft Alsviður Often Alsviður Alsviður: Odin? ofan fellir, fells from above, oft of föllnum often he gathers aftur safnar. the fallen again. 5 5 Stendur æva Earth and Sun strind né röðull, cannot stand firm; lofti með lævi malignant winds linnir ei straumi; do not cease; mærum dylst hidden in the glorious í Mímis brunni well of Mímir vissa vera; lies all knowledge; vitið enn, eða hvað? know ye yet, or what? 6 6 Dvelur í dölum Dwells in dales dís forvitin, the curious dís, Yggdrasils frá from Yggdrasill's aski hnigin; ash descended; álfa ættar of elven kin, Iðunni hétu, Iðunn was her name, Ívalds eldri youngest of Ívald's yngsta barna. elder children. 7 7 Eirði illa Ill she endured ofankomu, the fall from above, hárbaðms undir under the hoar-tree's haldin meiði; trunk confined; kunni síst disliked staying að kundar Nörva, at Nörvi's daughter's, Nörvi's daughter: night vön að værri used to better vistum heima. abodes back home. 8 8 Sjá sigtívar The divinities see syrgja Naumu Nauma grieving viggjar að véum; in the wolf's home; Wolf's home: Yggdrasil vargsbelg seldu, given a wolf-skin, lét í færast, she clad herself therein, lyndi breytti, changed disposition, lék að lævísi, delighted in guile, litum skipti. shifted her shape. 9 9 Valdi Viðrir Viðrir selected Viðrir: Odin vörð Bifrastar Bifröst's guardian Bifröst's guardian: Heimdall Gjallar sunnu to inquire of gátt að frétta, the bearer of Gjöll's sun, bearer of Gjöll's sun: woman heims hvívetna whatever she knew hvert er vissi; of the world's affairs; Bragi og Loftur Bragi and Loftur Loftur: Loki báru kviðu. bore witness. 10 10 Galdur gólu, Sorcery they sang, göndum riðu, wolves they rode, Rögnir og Reginn Rögnir and Reginn, Rögnir: Odin að ranni heimis; against the world's house; hlustar Óðinn Óðinn listens Hliðskjálfu í; in Hliðskjálf; leit braut vera watched the travellers' langa vegu. distant journey. 11 11 Frá enn vitri The wise one asked veiga selju the server of mead, server of mead: woman banda burður scion of gods og brauta sinnar; and his road-companions, hlýrnis, heljar, if she knew the origin, heims ef vissi duration, and end ártíð, æfi, of heaven, of hel, aldurtila. of the world. 12 12 Né mun mælti, Her mind she spoke not, né mál knátti nor was Gefjun able Gefjun greiða, to utter a word, né glaum hjaldi; nor express any joy; tár af tíndust tears trickled, törgum hjarnar, from the skull's shields, skull's shields: eye holes eljunfaldin the mighty one endurrjóða. was bereft of power. 13 13 Eins kemur austan As from the East, úr Élivágum out of Élivágar, þorn af akri comes a thorn from the þurs hrímkalda, Field of the rime-cold giant, hveim drepur dróttir with which Dáinn Dáinn allar smites all men mæran of Miðgarð of glorious Midgard með nátt hverri. every night. 14 14 Dofna þá dáðir, Actions are numbed, detta hendur, the arms slump, svífur of svimi a swoon hovers over sverð áss hvíta; the white god's sword; white god's sword: head rennir örvit stupor dispels rýgjar glyggvi, the wind of the giantess, wind of the giantess: into the mind sefa sveiflum the mind's workings sókn gjörvallri. of all mankind. 15 15 Jamt þótti Jórunn Thus the gods perceived jólnum komin, the state of Jórunn, Jórunn: a seeress sollin sútum, swollen with sorrow, svars er ei gátu; when no answer came forth; sóttu því meir they grew more persistent að syn var fyrir, as response was denied, mun þó miður but all their words mælgi dugði. were to no avail. 16 16 Fór frumkvöðull Went forth the leader fregnar brauta, of the expedition, hirðir að Herjans guardian of Herjan's guardian of …: Heimdall horni Gjallar; Gjallarhorn; Herjan: Odin Nálar nefa chose as companion nam til fylgis, the kinsman of Nál, Kinsman of Nál: Loki greppur Grímnis Grímnir's poet Grímmir: Odin grund varðveitti. guarded the ground. 17 17 Vingólf tóku Arrived at Vingólf Viðars þegnar, Viðar's thains, Viðar’s: Óðinn’s? Fornjóts sefum by Fornjót's sons Fornjót's sons: the winds fluttir báðir; both transported; iðar ganga, they walk within, æsi kveðja greet the Æsir Yggjar þegar forthwith at Yggur's Yggur’s: Odin's við ölteiti. merry ale-feast: 18 18 Heilan Hangatý, "Hale be, Hangatýr, Hangatýr: Odin heppnastan ása, happiest of Æsir, virt öndvegis may you preside over valda báðu; the mead at the high-seat!" sæla að sumbli "Sit, gods, in delight sitja día, at the drinking-feast; æ með Yggjungi may you, with Yggjungur, Yggjungur: Odin yndi halda. enjoy eternal bliss!" 19 19 Bekkjarsett Seated on benches að Bölverks ráði at Bölverk's bidding Bölverk: Odin sjöt Sæhrímni the tribe of gods saddist rakna; were with Sæhrímnir sated; Sæhrímnir: name of a boar Skögul að skutlum Skögul, at the tables, Skögul: name of a valkyrie skaptker Hnikars with horns meted out mat af miði Mímir's mead Mímis hornum. from Hnikar's vat. Hnikar: Odin 20 20 Margs of frágu Much was asked máltíð yfir during the banquet Heimdall há goð, of Heimdallur by the gods, hörgar Loka, of Loki by the goddesses, spár eða spakmál whether the woman had spoken sprund ef kenndi, prophecies or wisdom; undorn of fram, all day they asked unz nam húma. until twilight approached. 21 21 Illa létu Badly, they deemed, orðið hafa had gone amiss erindisleysu their futile errand oflítilfræga; of little glory; vant að væla it would prove hard verða myndi, to find the ploy needed svo af svanna to get an answer svars of gæti. from the woman. 22 22 Ansar Ómi, Ómi answers, Ómi: Odin allir hlýddu: all listened: "Nótt skal nema "Night is the time nýræða til; for new advice; hugsi til myrgins think until morning hver sem orkar each that is able ráð til leggja to provide counsel rausnar ásum!" for the Æsir's benefit!". 23 23 Rann með röstum Ran along the eddies Rindar móður of Rindur's plains fóðurlarður the wolf's tired fenris valla; food supply; gengu frá gildi the gods left goðin, kvöddu the feast and saluted Hropt og Frigg, Hroptur and Frigg, Hroptur: Odin sem Hrímfaxa fór. as Hrímfaxi ascended. Hrímfaxi: Nótt's horse 24 24 Dýrum settan Delling's son Delling's son: Dagr Dellings mögur urged on his horse, jó fram keyrði well adorned jarknasteinum; with precious stones; mars of Manheim the horse's mane glows Manhreim: human world mön af glóar, above Man-world, dró leik Dvalins the steed in his chariot drösull í reið. drew Dvalin's playmate. Dvalin's playmate: the sun 25 25 Jörmungrundar At Jörmungrund's Jörmungrund: the earth í jódyr nyrðra northern border, und rót yztu under the outermost root aðalþollar of the noble tree, noble tree: Yggdrasil gengu til rekkju went to their couches gýgjur og þursar, giantesses and giants, náir, dvergar dead men, dwarves, og dökkálfar. and dark-elves. 26 26 Risu raknar, The gods arose, rann álfröðull, álfröðull ran, Álfröðull: the sun norður að Niflheim njóla advanced Njóla: night, darkness njóla sótti; north towards Niflheimur; upp nam Árgjöll Úlfrún's son Úlfrún’s son: Heimdall Úlfrúnar niður, lifted up Árgjöll, Árgjöll: Gjallarhorn hornþytvaldur the mighty hornblower Himinbjarga. in Himinbjörg. Himinbjörg: Heimdall's Hall

Old Norse: Source: http://www.vsnrweb-publications.org.uk/Text Series/Hrafnagaldur Odins.pdf English: Eysteinn Björnsson and William P. Reaves translation Another English translation

The Annette Lassen translation Published in: Viking Society for Northern Research. Volume XX, London, 2011.

1. All-father exerts power, elves understand, Vanir know, norns show, Íviðja (a trollwife) strives, humans bear, giants endure, valkyries are distressed.

2. [But] the Æsir divined the whole plan, the unpredictable ones caused muddle with the god’s runes (or secrets). Óðhrærir had to look after Urður (fate), he could not protect [her] from the greater part [of the plan].

3. Therefore his courage fails, he looks for the others, the people (dwarves?) suspect harm if he delays; Þráinn’s thought is [filled with] a weighty dream, Dáinn’s thought [with] a deceitful dream.

4. That’s enough of the dwarves. Worlds dwindle away, they sink down to the darkness of Ginnungur. Alsviður (Óðinn?) often fells from above and often gathers up the fallen again.

5. flow] in a stream; the wise being hides itself in Mímir’s renowned spring; do you understand yet, or what?

6. The enquiring goddess, descended from dwarves, sunk down from the ash Yggdrasill, stays in the valleys. The elder ones of the children of Ívaldur called the youngest Iðunn.

7. Held beneath the hard tree’s branch, she was unhappy with her coming down; accustomed to pleasanter lodging at home, she was least of all pleased at Nörvi’s son’s (night’s) dwelling.

8. The victory-gods (or battle-gods) see the lady grieve by the horse’s dwelling/sanctuary (= Yggdrasill); they gave her a wolf’s hide, she let herself be clothed in it, changed her nature, played with mischief, changed her shape.

9. Viðrir (Óðinn) chose Bifröst’s guardian (Heimdallur) to ask the doorpost of the sun of Gjöll (= woman) whether she knew anything at all about the world; Bragi and Loftur (Loki) were filled with apprehension.

10. Rögnir (Óðinn) and the gods chanted spells, rode on magic poles to the dwelling place (or roof) of the world; Óðinn listens in Hliðskjálf, he said the route was a long journey.

11. The wise one asked the server of drinks (woman) about the gods’ ancestry/ offspring and their own paths, if she knew heaven’s, Hel’s, the world’s date of death, life, end.

12. She spoke not her mind, she did not grant the greedy(?) ones words, she did not chat about merrymaking; tears dripped from her skull-shields (eyes), they make the energy-cloaks (eyelids) red again.

13. In the same way there comes from the east out of Élivogar a thorn from the rime-cold giant’s cornfield with which Dáinn pricks all people every night over all Miðgarður.

14. Then deeds become sluggish, hands fall idle, stupor hovers over the white god’s sword (over the head); insensibility flows into the trollwife’s wind (into the mind), these things calm in waves the whole parish.

15. Just so seemed Jórunn to the gods to be affected, swollen with sorrows, when they could not get a reply; they sought the more in that they were faced with refusal; a lot of talking, however, helped much less.

16. The originator of the questioning, the keeper of Herjan’s (Óðinn’s) Gjallarhorn (Heimdallur), went on his way; he took as his companion Nál’s kinsman (Loki); Grímnir’s (Óðinn’s) poet (the god Bragi) looked after the woman.

17. Viðar’s (Óðinn’s?) men, both conveyed by Fornjótur’s kinsmen (winds), reached Vingólf; they go in there, greet the Æsir straight away at Yggur’s (Óðinn’s) merry drinking feast.

18. They wished Hangatýr (Óðinn), the most fortunate of gods, happiness as he ruled over the high seat ale, [they wished] the gods good luck as they sat at the feast, forever to enjoy pleasure with Yggjungur (Óðinn).

19. The gods’ host, seated in accordance with Bölverkur’s orders, were replete with Sæhrímnir (meat from the boar Sæhrímnir); Skögul meted out Hnikar’s vat with mead onto trays in toast horns.

20. The high gods asked Heimdallur, the holy ones asked Loki many things over the meal on after mid-afternoon until it grew dark, about whether the woman had imparted any prophecy or wise sayings. 21. They said their fruitless errand had turned out badly, too little glorious; it would be hard to engineer it so that an answer would be got from the lady.

22. Ómi (Óðinn) replies, they all listened: ‘Night shall be used for new counsels, let him ponder until morning whoever labours to propose plans to the glory of the gods.’

23. The mother of Rind ran with long strides, [she and] the scarcely tired father of Fenrir (Loki) left the feast; the deities said farewell to Hroptur (Óðinn) and Frigg, who went with Hrímfaxi (night).

24. Dellingur’s son (Dagur, day) drove forward his steed, adorned with precious jewels; the horse’s mane shines from it across the world of men, his charger drew Dvalinn’s plaything (the sun) in a chariot.

25. Trollwives and giants, corpses, dwarves and dark-elves went to bed further north on the edge of the mighty earth under the outermost root of the foremost tree (Yggdrasill).

26. The gods rose up, Álfröðull (the sun) rose, Njóla (darkness, i.e. night) went north to Niflheimur; early Úlfrún’s son (Heimdallur), ruler of Himinbjörg, began the sound of the horn with Gjöll (Gjallarhorn).

Recommendations http://www.germanicmythology.com/works/elderedda/hrafnagaldur_odins.html http://www.vsnrweb-publications.org.uk/Text%20Series/Hrafnagaldur%20Odins.pdf https://notendur.hi.is//~eybjorn/ugm/hrg/hrg.html

Hrafnagaldur Óðins (Forspjallsljóð). Edited with introduction, notes and translation by A.Lassen. Text Series XX. 2011. ISBN 9780903521819. £6/£12. A good book in which Annette Lassen argues well for a late composition of the poem. Nevertheless, it seems not convincing all interested people.

One chapter of Sigur Ros' and companions Odin's Raven Magic (Hrafnagaldur Óðins) can be listened here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2pYP9IuNXY If you like it, please order the album.