The two poems here printed under a common heading are handed down only in a number of late paper manuscripts none of which is older than the second half of the seventeenth century. Notwithstanding many discrepancies and obscurities, necessitating numerous emendations, all of these manuscripts are seen to go back to a common lost original.
That these poems do belong together is evident from the connection, and from the similarity in their style, language, and metre (ljóðaháttr). Moreover, we have the witness of a number of closely related Swedish and Danish ballads2 which treat the material as a unit. But it is difficult to decide whether both poems were originally an undivided whole, united by a stanza or stanzas now lost—which would account for the abrupt beginning of the “Fjolsvinnsmál” proper, or independent treatments, by the same poet, of the two phases of the myth—the fairy-story motif of Sleeping Beauty.
I. “The Spell of Gróa” (“Grógaldr”): Young Svipdag is given, by an evil stepmother, the task of winning the hand of Mengloth in Giant-Land (we gather from the ballads that he has never seen Mengloth, but loves her nevertheless). He seeks the grave of his mother Gróa, a wise woman, and wakes her from her death sleep to ask for the help she had promised to give him in his hour of need. She chants for him nine spells which are to aid him in his dangerous undertaking.
II. “The Lay of Fjolsvith” (“Fjǫlsvinnsmál”): Svipdag (after overcoming all terrors of the journey, as we must assume) at last stands before a castle perched on a mountain top, surrounded by a wall of flickering flames. A giant watchman, Fjolsvith, rudely bids him be gone and asks his name, which Svipdag conceals. However, the hero learns, in set question and answer, that Mengloth dwells in the castle, and that it is inaccessible save to one chosen hero—Svipdag. He reveals his true name, the gates open, and the maiden hails him as her deliverer.
These poems are peculiar in that they, to a far greater extent than any other, are a conglomerate of mythical elements and verse fragments borrowed from a score or so of unquestionably older poems in the collection. This fact stamps them as unauthentic. And yet the poet—no doubt a scholar of the Icelandic Renaissance, living, say, at the end of the twelfth century—has shown remarkable skill in putting these borrowed feathers together to form a well-organized and (but for the interminable didactic portions) engaging whole which simulates the Old Norse color surprisingly well, so well, in fact, that several scholars of weight have been led to assign it to the tenth century. The lyrical portions, in particular Mengloth’s expression of longing and exultation, are most pleasing.
(Svipdag3 said:)
1. “Awake, Gróa,4 good woman, awake!
At the door of the dead5 I wake thee:
dost bear in mind how thou badest thy son
to thy grave-hill to go?”
(Gróa said:)
2. “What aileth now my only son,
what maketh heavy thy heart,
that thy mother thou callest under mould who lieth,
and hath left the world of the living?”
(Svipdag said:)
3. “To a cursed task called me the crafty woman6
in her arms who folded my father:
where come one cannot, to come she bade me,
fair Mengloth7 to meet.”
(Gróa said:)
4. “Long is the way and wearisome,
but longer man’s love doth last;
if thou winn’st what thou wishest ’tis well for thee,
but the norns work natheless.”8
(Svipdag said:)
5. “Speak thou such spells as will speed my way!
Shield and shelter thy son!
Full of danger, ween I, the dreaded journey
for one so young in years.”
(Gróa said:)
6. “That first then heed, which most helpful I know,
the which Rind spoke for Rán:9
from thy shoulders shake what shocking seemeth;
seek thou thy way thyself!
7. “This other heed thou: if ever thou
must wearily wend thy way:
may Urth’s magic songs10 on all sides guard thee,
when with mocking words thou art met.
8. “This third heed thou: if in threat’ning waters
thou fearest to find thy death:
to Hel hence let fare Hronn and Uth,11
may be dry the deeps for thee!
9. “This fourth heed thou: if foemen beset thee,
ready to do thee to death:
let their hearts withhold their hands from thee,
and be made to meet thee halfway.
10. “This fifth heed thou: if fettered thou art,
fastened hand and foot:
a loosening spell I will speak o’er thy limbs,
so the locks will burst off thy legs,
the fetters from off thy feet.12
11. “This sixth heed thou: if on sea riseth
weather more wild than men wot:
wind and water will my witchcraft lull;
then fearlessly fare thou forth!13
12. “This seventh heed thou: if searing frost
beset thee on fell high faring:
may the deadly cold not o’ercome thee ever,
nor rob thy limbs of their litheness.
13. “This eighth heed thou, if without find thee
a misty night on the moors,
lest ill overtake thee, or untowardness,
from the wraith of a Christian wretch!14
14. “This ninth heed thou: if with haughty thurs
thou wouldest war with words:15
wit nor words be wanting ever,
at behest of thy heart!
15. “May thy errand no longer seem evil to thee,
nor let thee from thy love:
on earth-fast stone16 I stood within doors,
these spells while I spoke for thee!
16. “Of thy mother’s words mindful thou be,
in thy heart let, darling, them dwell:
luck everlasting in life shalt have,
the while my words thou heedest!”
1. 1From far without up he saw rise
the high-timbered hall of the etins2
“What foul fiend is it in the forecourt who stands,
about the flickering fire hovering?”3
(Fjolsvith4 said:)
2. “What seekest thou, for what thy search,
wayfarer, and what thy wish?
On wet ways5 thou wend straight henceward:
no hearth for the homeless here!”
(Svipdag said:)
3. “What foul fiend is it in the forecourt who stands
and welcomes not the wayfarer?”
(Fjolsvith said:)
“A good name, I ween, thou never had’st,
so hie thee home from hence!
4. “I am Fjolsvith hight, famed for my lore,
but of my food am not free:6
within this court comest thou never:
be off now, outlaw, away!”
(Svipdag said:)
5. “To feast his eye full eager is he
on a lovely thing who looketh:
the gates do gleam about golden hall:
my home would I fain have here.”
(Fjolsvith said:)
6. “To whom art born, and of what blood,
youth, from what house dost hail?”7
“Vindkald8 my name, Várkald my father,
Fjolkald his father was.
7. “Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
who holdeth sway in this seemly hall,
so richly wrought with gold?”
(Fjolsvith said:)
8. “She is Mengloth9 hight, whom her mother bore
to Svafrthorin’s son:
’tis she who holds sway in this seemly hall,
so richly wrought with gold.”
(Svipdag said:)
9. “Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
how the wicket is hight than which ’mong the gods
none is more fraught with fear?”
(Fjolsvith said:)
10. “Thrymgjoll10 is hight that wicket which three
sons of Sólblindi11 made;
with fast fetters the wayfarer it holds
who would heave it from its hinges.”12
(Svipdag said:)
11. “Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
how that wall is hight than which ’mong the gods
none is more fraught with fear?”
12. “’Tis Gastropnir13 hight, which most goodly I built
of Leirbrimir’s,14 the etin’s, limbs;
’tis so stanchly built that stand it will
as long as men do live.”
(Svipdag said:)
13. 15“Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
how that ash is hight which out doth spread
its limbs over all the land?”
(Fjolsvith said:)
14. “’Tis hight Mimameith,16 but no man knoweth
from what roots it doth rise;
by what it falleth the fewest guess:
nor fire nor iron will fell it.”17
(Svipdag said:)
15. “Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
of the fruit18 what becomes of that far spreading tree,
since nor fire nor iron will fell it?”
Fjolsvith said:
16. “Of its berries thou shalt bear on fire,19
for ailing women to eat:
then out will come what within was held—
such strength is bestowed on that tree.”
17. “Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
how that cock is hight, in the high tree sitting,
which gleameth all golden?”
(Fjolsvith said:)
18. “He is Vithofnir hight and watchful20 standeth
on the branches of Mimameith:
with dreadful fear he filleth the hearts
of Surt21 and Sinmara.”
(Svipdag said:)
19. “Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
how the hounds are hight which about the hall
(grim and greedy prowl)?”22
(Fjolsvith said:)
20. “Gifr is one hight, Geri23 the other,
if to wit thou wishest:
strong24 watchdogs they, and watch they keep,
till draws nigh the doom of the gods.”
(Svipdag said:)
21. “Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
whether any man within may come,
when the hungry hounds do sleep?”
22. “At the same time never asleep they were,
since to their watch they were set:
sleeps one at night, at noontide the other,
so no one without may enter.”
(Svipdag said:)
23. “Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer me as I ask:
if morsel there be which men might throw them,
and slip in the while they eat.”
(Fjolsvith said:)
24. “’Neath Vithofnir’s limbs lie wing-bits25 twain,
if to wit thou wishest:
that meat alone may men throw them,
and slip in the while they eat.”
(Svipdag said:)
25. “Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
if weapon there be which Vithof nir may
send to the halls of Hel?”26
(Fjolsvith said:)
26. “’Tis Lævatein27 hight, which Lopt28 did forge,
Niflhel beneath;
in an iron kettle keeps it Sinmara,
there hold it hard locks nine.”
(Svipdag said:)
27. “Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
will home wend him the wight who goes
and seeketh to win that wand?”
28. “Home will wend him the wight who goes
and seeks to win that wand,
if that he fetch which few do own,
to give to that goddess-of-gold.”29
(Svipdag said:)
29. “Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
if anyone owns ought of great worth,
to make fain that fallow30 ogress?”
(Fjolsvith said:)
30. “The shining feather then shalt thou pluck
which from Vithofnir’s start thou must steal,
ere sullen Sinmara will sell to thee
the weapon to lay him low.”31
(Svipdag said:)
31. “Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
what the hall is hight which is hedged about
by wall of flickering flame?”
(Fjolsvith said:)
32. “Lýr it is hight, and long will it
hover on sword’s point on high;32
of this shining hall from hearsay ever
men have learned alone.”
(Svipdag said:)
33. “Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
of the gods, who made (the golden floor),33
within the hall so high?”
(Fjolsvith said:)
34. 34“Uni and lri, Ori and Bari,
Var and Vegdrasil,
Darri and Uri, and Delling were there,
(the time Hlithskjalf was locked).”35
(Svipdag said:)
35. “Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
what the mountain is hight which the maiden doth
dwell on, aloft and alone?”
(Fjolsvith said:)
36. “’Tis Lyfja Mount36 hight, and long has it been
for the sick and the halt a help:
for hale grows wholly, though hopeless she seems,
the woman who wins its hight.”
(Svipdag said:)
37. “Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
what the maids are hight before Mengloth’s knees
that sit in sisterly wise?”
(Fjolsvith said:)
38. “Hlíf one is hight, Hlífthrasa another,
a third, Thjóthvara;
eke Bjort and Bleik, Blíth and Fríth,
Eir and Aurbotha.”37
39. “Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
do they help award to their worshippers,
if need of help they have?”
(Fjolsvith said:)
40. “(Ay they help award)38 to their worshippers,
in hallowed stead if they stand;39
there is never a need that neareth a man,
but they lend a helping hand.”
(Svipdag said:)
41. “Tell me, Fjolsvith, for I fain would know;
answer thou as I ask:
if to any man Mengloth will grant
in her soft arms to sleep?”
(Fjolsvith said:)
42. “No man liveth to whom Mengloth will grant
in her soft arms to sleep;
to Svipdag only the sunbright maiden
for wedded wife was given.”
(Svipdag said:)
43. “Let gape the gates, and give wide berth!
Here mayst thou Svipdag see.
Now hie thee hence, in the hall to learn
if lief to Mengloth my love.”
(Fjolsvith said:)
44. “Hear thou, Mengloth, a man hath come;
go thou to greet the guest!
The hounds bay welcome, the house hath opened:
meseems that Svipdag it be.”
45. “May greedy ravens gouge out thy eyes,
as high on gallows thou hangest,
if a lie it be that from long ways afar
the hero hath come to my hall.
46. “Whence comest thou, and what thy kin,
what wert hight at home?
Thy father’s name tell, that token I have
that I should be thy bride.”
(Svipdag said:)
47. “I am Svipdag hight, Sólbjart40 my father;
thence wandered I wind-cold ways;
’gainst Urth’s41 decree ’tis idle to strive,
though loath be thy lot.”
(Mengloth said:)
48. “My wish have I won: welcome be thou;
with kiss I clasp thee now;
the loved one’s sight is sweet to her
who has lived in longing for him.
49. “Full long sat I on Lyfja Mount,
bided thee day after day:
now has happened what I hoped for long,
that, hero, art come to my hall.
50. “Heartsick was I; to have thee I yearned,
whilst thou didst long for my love.
Of a truth I know: we two shall live
our life and lot together.”